By Trend Iran's oil sale have been effected by recent global events, while the oil ministry seeks to involve universities to boost technological development in the industry, said an oil analyst Nersi Ghorban commenting a contract recently concluded between the Oil Ministry and universities in an interview with Trend. "There is no proper estimation of the signed contracts with universities over past years," the analyst said. Iran's Oil Ministry has signed 26 major contracts with Iranian universities in November 2019. Two of them were signed with Sahand and Tabriz universities on technology and geological studies in western and northwestern Iran. "The oil price has increased after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, but then it started to fall due to drop of China's economic growth caused by the outbreak of coronavirus," Ghorban said. "Iran's budget for next Iranian year (begins March 21, 2020) forecasts sale of 1 million barrels of oil per day at the price of $57. Given the latest developments, the price can be even more. By my estimations, the fluctuation of oil price will be from $60 to $70," noted the expert. "As for the oil export, nobody knows the process of sale. Oil minister Bijan Zangeneh has repeatedly told press that he would not reveal the process of oil sale, since it will create an obstacle for export, so media should not be aware of the process in the sanctions' situation," said Ghorban. "Iran's oil sale has been challenged by the sanction as well as by the problem of returning oil export foreign currency revenue. In addition to supply and demand that are main factors in setting the price, tensions and international situation have effected the global oil price," the analyst added. "At the moment, there is pressure from investors and market on how the Iranian oil shall be supplied to the global market, whether the export shall be more than 3 million barrel per day or less, or if production and supply will remain at the same level," Ghorban noted. "The global oil market situation depends only on regional stability. Iran should increase the return of foreign currency revenue from export even under such limited circumstances," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Donna Rotunno Hollis Johnson/Insider New York Times reporter Megan Twohey interviewed Harvey Weinstein's defense attorney Donna Rotunno for Friday's episode of The Daily. In the interview, Rotunno shared her views on vulnerability, safety and defendants' rights to a fair trial. About 24 minutes in, she's asked whether she's ever been a victim of sexual assault and responds she hasn't "because I would never put myself in that position." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Attorney Donna Rotunno's interview with New York Times reporter Megan Twohey for Friday's episode of The Daily started out like any other profile of the woman representing Harvey Weinstein. She told the reporter what she had for breakfast nothing and then went on to share her thoughts on the #MeToo movement and how it tends to compromise defendants' right to due process. About 24 minutes into the interview, though, it took a turn. Twohey was about to end her interview, asked her colleagues if they had anything they wanted to ask, and then remembered one last query: if Rotunno herself had ever been sexually assaulted. "I have not," she said, pausing for a few palpable seconds, "because I would never put myself in that position." When pushed, she continued. "I've always made choices, from college-age on, I never drank too much. I never went home with someone who I didn't know," Rotunno said. "I just never put myself in a vulnerable circumstance, ever." Of course, Twohey followed up, and asked if Rotunno thinks that everyone who has ever been sexually assaulted has put themselves in a position for it to happen. "Absolutely not," she said. "But just as we make smart decisions when you walk out on the street at night, I think you have to make the same decisions when you're putting yourself in circumstances with other people." Story continues Twohey, who is one of the reporters who broke the Weinstein scandal and wrote the related book "She Said," told Rotunno that she felt like she was insinuating that the burden should rest on the victims and not the perpetrators. "We can't have it both ways," Rotunno said. "We can't have things like Tinder, where you swipe right and go meet whoever you meet, and most of the time those things are sexual interactions, and then say, you know, I went out with them and I went to their house and we were flirting and kissing and say 'I had no idea that he was going to do this." "I think women need to be very clear about their intentions. I think women need to be very prepared for the circumstances they put themselves in and I think absolutely women should take on equal risk that men are taking on." Then Twohey asked if the attorney thought men needed to do anything differently. "Sure, I think men also need to be very clear about their intentions," she said. "And if I was a man in today's world, before I was engaging in sexual behavior with any woman today, I would ask for then to sign a consent form." "You're being serious?" Twoey said, with a tone of disbelief. "I'm being dead serious," Rotunno responded. "Why not? Why not? Take all of the question out of it. Make it easier for everyone." The prosecution in the New York Harvey Weinstein trial has rested their case. He is charged with five felony counts of rape and sexual assault. The trial is moving faster than anticipated and a verdict could come as early as mid-February. Rotunno recently told Insider's Michelle Mark that she'd try to convince jury that they don't have to like Weinstein, but they can still find him not guilty. The two concepts aren't mutually exclusive. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit their website to receive confidential support. Read the original article on Insider A Sydney train driver and guard were left traumatised after they were allegedly told to drive over a dead body. The alarming allegation made by a rail union source has sparked outrage and led the NSW Rail Tram and Bus Union to call for a review. The train travelling toward Gosford on the Central Coast had come to a halt as police investigated a self-harming incident on the tracks. Under these circumstances, passengers are usually ordered off the train before it is sent to a maintenance yard, the Daily Telegraph reported. A Sydney train driver and guard were left traumatised after they were allegedly told to drive over a dead body (stock) After police conducted their inspection, a replacement crew were told to move the train forward for removal of the body. 'With the deceased victim still under the train, this meant the driver was told to actually drive over the body,' a source told the paper. The driver questioned whether the passengers would be dropped off at Flemington following the incident, but was told to continue the journey to Gosford. 'The decision to continue running the train as a passenger service shows a blatant disregard of everything except running trains, including decency, humanity and respect for the deceased and any possible emotional impacts on the passengers on the train at the time.' It is understood that the shaken-up guard is seeking counselling for the terrifying ordeal. The train driver and guard were ordered to continue their journey to Gosford station RTBU secretary Alex Claassens described the incident as 'shocking' and has called for the procedure to be changed. 'The way this situation was handled showed no respect or empathy for workers, passengers or the family of the deceased. The union simply won't accept that the handling of this incident was OK,' he said. A similar incident occurred 10 years ago when a victim of self-harm was found on the train tracks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the source claims. The driver was reportedly told to continue the journey, but they refused. Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink said they are 'committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff'. An Employee Assistance Program is offered to all employees. Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A day after he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, an inmate of Bathinda central jail committed suicide by hanging himself inside the jail premises on Saturday morning. Angrej Singh, 32, a resident of Jeeda village, was convicted by the court of district sessions judge Kamaljit Lamba on Friday for killing his wife Sandeep Kaur. Jail superintendent Manjit Singh said Angrej hanged himself with a rope inside the barrack at about 8.30 am. The deceaseds body was sent to the civil hospital for post-mortem. Angrej had strangulated his wife to death on January 26 last year allegedly because she used to stop him from consuming liquor. A case under Section 302 (murder) of IPC was registered against the accused on the complaint of Sukhpal Singh, brother of Sandeep Kaur. Sandeep, who belonged to Lalianwali village of Mansa district, got married to Angrej nine years ago. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cleveland man severely injured a woman by stabbing her more than a dozen times during a domestic-violence attack, according to court records. Samuel Davis III stabbed the woman 14 times in the face, back of the head, chest and hand, according to court records. She suffered possible punctures to her esophagus and lung, and was confined at MetroHealth after the attack, court records say. Davis, 33, is charged with kidnapping and felonious assault in the incident and made his first court appearance Monday. He remains in custody at the Cuyahoga County Jail on $100,000 bond. The attack happened Jan. 31 at Davis home on Tampa Avenue near Broadview Road, according to court records. Davis sat on top of the woman as he stabbed her with a small, silver knife, court records say. He also punched her and used his hands and an extension cord to choke her, court records say. The woman needed stitches for several of the stab wounds, and staples to close the wounds on the back of her head, court records say. She also suffered a broken thumb. Cleveland police arrested Davis the day of the attack. He requested a preliminary hearing when he appeared Monday in Cleveland Municipal Court. The hearing is scheduled Feb. 10. Read more crime stories: To comment on this story, visit Fridays crime and courts comments section. Vandals deliver damage to more than 30 Lorain County mailboxes, sheriffs office says Man shot to death in Clevelands Hough neighborhood Lorain County man hid camera in bathroom and took video of woman and underage relatives, sheriffs office says Cleveland mom charged after 2-month-old daughter found with multiple brain injuries, broken bones Chairing an enlarged government meeting on the results of 2019, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made appointments in the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan. By the presidential decree, Gochmyrat Myradov has been relieved of his post as Deputy Prime Minister for economic issues due to his transfer to another job. He has been replaced with Gadyrgeldi Mushikov, previously Chairman of the Supreme Control Chamber of Turkmenistan. Durdyly Durdylyev, previously deputy head of the Supreme Control Chamber, has been appointed new head of this organization. Charymyrat Purchchekov has been appointed Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan and relieved of his post as Deputy Prime Minister. Shamuhammet Durdylyev, former mayor of Ashgabat, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the electric power engineering, construction and industry. Batyr Bazarov has been relieved of his post as Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan due to his transfer to another job. He has been replaced with Ezizgeldi Annamuhammedov, who served as deputy head of this ministry. Soenchnazar Selimov has been dismissed from the post of Minister of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan. He was replaced with Rakhym Gandymov, who previously held the post of deputy head of this ministry. Takhyrberdi Durkhanov has been relieved of the post of Minister of Industry and Communication in connection with the abolition of this ministry. By the presidential decrees, Guichgeldi Baygeldiev, former Deputy Chairman of Turkmenneft State Concern, has been appointed Chairman of this organization. Guizgeldi Baijanov has been appointed Chairman of the State Committee for Water Management. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Automakers and parts suppliers have shut factories in China, in line with government guidelines, or have flagged a hit to profits following the coronavirus outbreak. Below is a list of latest announcements by car companies: BMW said production at its plant in Shenyang will resume on Feb. 17. Daimler said it plans to resume passenger car production in Beijing on Feb. 10. Fiat Chrysler warned on Thursday that disruption to parts supplies could threaten production at one of its European plants within two to four weeks. Ford plans to resume production on Feb. 10 at its factories in Chongqing and Hangzhou with joint venture partner Chongqing Changan Automobile. Ford this week excluded any potential impact from its already weaker-than-expected forecast for the year, saying it was too early to make an estimate. Honda confirmed on Friday it would restart its three plants in Wuhan, which it operates with Dongfeng Motor Group, on Feb. 13. Honda, which raised its annual profit forecast on Friday, said there were currently no supply chain issues that would impede production. Hyundai said this week it would suspend production in South Korea due to the outbreak disrupting its supply chain, the first major automaker to do so outside China. Most of Hyundai's South Korean plants will be shut from Feb. 7, with some production lines expected to restart on Feb. 11 or Feb. 12, a union official said. Nissan said it is considering restarting production in China at its venture with Dongfeng sometime after Feb. 10. Production in Hubei will start sometime after Feb. 14, it said. PSA Peugeot Citroen, which is in the process of merging with Fiat, said last week its three plants in Wuhan will remain closed until Feb. 14. Suzuki said on Friday it was considering sourcing vehicle components from outside China because the outbreak is threatening to disrupt vehicle production in its biggest market, India. Tesla said last week that a delay to an increase in production in Shanghai due to a factory closure would hit profitability slightly. On Wednesday, a senior executive said Tesla would delay deliveries of Model 3 sedans built in that plant. The company is also evaluating whether the supply chain for cars built in its Fremont, California, plant will be affected. Story continues Toyota on Friday extended the shutdown of its China factories from Feb. 9 to Feb 16. The Japanese automaker operates 12 car and parts factories in regions such as the northern city of Tianjin and the southern province of Guangdong. Valeo, a French car parts maker, said last week its three sites in Wuhan will remain shut until at least Feb. 13. On Wednesday, it said it was not experiencing any major disruption to its supply chain in China. I want justice for what happened to me, says pandal victim Surali By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): A young woman who was seriously injured when an unauthorised pandal put up to welcome then Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa collapsed in Maharagama will never walk again, doctors have confirmed. Meanwhile, the victim alleges that those responsible for erecting the pandal are now threatening her not to file legal action against them. Sulari Laknima (27) from Rathgama, Galle, had come to Maharagama on September 8 last year for an appointment with an employment agency to make final preparations to go to Malaysia. She had been making her way towards Pamunuwa when the pandal suddenly collapsed onto the road, trapping her under it. She was rushed to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital and then the National Hospital for further treatment. After surgery, she was taken to the Rheumatology & Rehabilitation Hospital in Ragama, where she has remained for nearly three months. The pandal had been put up by supporters of Maharagama Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) organiser Kanthi Kodikara and her husband, Western Provincial Councilor Upali Kodikara. The pandal had been put up without the approval of the Maharagama Urban Council and Maharagama Police have filed a case over the incident. Mr Kodikara is out on bail and the case will be taken up again on February 28. They will discharge me from hospital soon, but I dont know how I will survive at home. We live in a small house with just my mother, myself and my sister, who is married. Theres not even room inside to move my wheelchair and theres no proper toilet either, she told the Sunday Times. Sulari said she had planned to go abroad to earn enough money to build a small house for herself and her mother. I wanted to look after her, but she has now lost her own job as she has to take care of me. Sularis mother S.M. Samanthika (49), lost her job at a garment factory in Rathgama as she had to remain by her daughters side constantly since the accident five months ago. We only briefly went back home for five days during the election, but had to come back to hospital as a germ had got into Sularis system, she revealed. Life at the hospital is hard on them, Mrs Samanthika said. We have to buy our meals from outside. We also need to buy medicines, pampers and eau de cologne among other things. All this costs us about Rs 50, 000 a month. Sulari said both Kanthi Kodikara and Upali Kodikara had visited her soon after the tragedy and had sent some money, but were now acting as if they had forgotten the entire thing. We have to constantly call them and tell them of our plight. They sent Rs 10,000 in December and Rs 15, 000 in January, but both times, we had to make multiple calls. They dont even visit us now. I told them recently that I will have to file a case against them to seek damages if this goes on and they threatened me and said to go ahead and see. Sulari said she held Ms Kodikara personally responsible for the incident since it was her name and face that was displayed prominently on the pandal that crashed on top of her. We are not blaming President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa or anyone else in their party for this. We just want word to get out about our situation, she added. SLPP Maharagama Organiser Kanthi Kodikara insisted that they were doing all they could for Sulari. She claimed the victim and her family were being manipulated by our political enemies for their own ends. We visit them when we can, but we have a lot of work as peoples representatives and so we cant do so every day. We could have washed our hands of the whole thing since it was others who put up the pandal. But my husband accepted responsibility because we are not ones to pass blame onto others. She said there was no need for Sulari and her family to pressure them and stressed they would do all that they can for the family. Sulari however, said Mrs Kodikara had only visited her once since the accident, while Mr Kodikara had done so twice. All I want is justice for what happened to me. I hope the President sees this and intervenes, she added. A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft sits atop Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia on Feb. 5, 2020. WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. The number 13 may have a bad wrap among the superstitious, but Northrop Grumman is taking it in stride as the company prepares to launch its 13th Cygnus cargo flight to the International Space Station on Sunday (Feb. 9). "There's no superstitions," Frank DeMauro, Northrop Grumman vice president and general manager for Tactical Space Systems, told reporters here today. "It's just the number after 12." The weather forecast sure seems lucky. There's a 95% chance of good weather for Sunday's launch. Liftoff for the Cygnus NG-13 mission is set for 5:39 p.m. EST (2239 GMT) on a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport here at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. The weather forecast does fall to a dismal 20% chance of good weather on Monday, if Northrop Grumman has to delay the launch 24 hours, agency officials said. You can watch the launch live here and on Space.com's homepage, courtesy of NASA TV, beginning at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT). The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the space station in the wee hours of Tuesday morning (Feb. 11). In photos: Antares rocket launches Cygnus NG-12 cargo craft to space station In a coincidence, Sunday is a busy day for space launches. In addition to Northrop Grumman's Cygnus launch, NASA and the European Space Agency will launch the powerful new Solar Orbiter on a mission to study the sun's polar regions. That mission, which will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, will lift off at 11:03 p.m. EST (0403 GMT Feb. 10) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. "With this launch, we do not have any conflicts," said Jeff Reddish, NASA's Wallops launch range project manager for Antares. NASA's Solar Orbiter launch webcast will begin at 10:30 p.m. EST (0330 GMT). A packed Cygnus Northrop Grumman's 13th Cygnus cargo resupply ship, christened the "S.S. Robert H. Lawrence" in honor of the first African American astronaut, is prepared for mating to a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. (Image credit: Northrop Grumman) Cygnus is packed with more than 7,500 lbs. (3,401 kilograms) of supplies, science experiments and other gear to the space station's three-person Expedition 62 crew, NASA officials have said. The spacecraft is also carrying some fresh fruit, candy and -- in a first -- conditioned cheeses for space station astronauts, said NASA's Ven Feng, manager of the International Space Station Transportation Integration Office. "I think it's hard cheddar and manchego," Feng told reporters in a prelaunch briefing today. In addition to that hard cheese, there's some hard science riding up to the station on Cygnus NG-13. The spacecraft is carrying 2,293 lbs. (1,040 kg) of gear for 20 different science experiments to be performed by station astronauts. That haul includes the Mobile Space Lab to grow tissues and cells in space, a bone-loss experiment to study the effects of microgravity exposure and a batch of genetically engineered E. coli bacteria that may produce a potential biofuel. There are also cowpeas aboard as part of a space food growth experiment and equipment to set a fire inside the Cygnus spacecraft (after it leaves the space station, of course) to study how fires can spread in weightlessness. U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., the first African-American ever selected as an astronaut, stands next to an F-104 Starfighter supersonic jet in this photo. The Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft is named the "S.S. Robert H. Lawrence" to honor the astronaut, who died in a training accident in 1967 before he could launch. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force) Northrop Grumman has named the Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft the S.S. Robert H. Lawrence to honor Air Force Maj. Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr., who was the first African-American ever selected to fly in space. In June 1967, Lawrence was selected to be an astronaut for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory, a military space station, but was killed on Dec. 8, 1967 in a tragic accident when his F-104 Starfighter supersonic jet crashed. He was 32 at the time. Related: Manned Orbiting Laboratory: Inside a US Military Space Station More cargo for NASA The @NorthropGrumman #Antares rocket is vertical on the @NASA_Wallops launch pad. Launch to the International Space Station is planned for 5:39 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 9. More https://t.co/IyVl9dA5yV pic.twitter.com/csGN26VQT5February 5, 2020 See more Northrop Grumman is one of two companies currently flying delivery missions to the International Space Station for NASA. (The other company is SpaceX.) NASA picked the two companies in 2008 under the agency's Commercial Resupply Services program. In 2016, NASA selected them again, along with Sierra Nevada Corp., for deliveries under the follow-up Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) program. The NG-13 mission is Northrop Grumman's second cargo flight for NASA under the CRS-2 program. It's also the second flight of the company's Antares 230+ rocket configuration, which can carry an additional 800 lbs. (363 kg) of mass than its predecessor, the company has said. Sunday's launch also comes just over a week after another Cygnus spacecraft, the NG-12 cargo ship, departed the space station on Jan. 31. That spacecraft will remain in orbit for a short while, marking the second time that Northrop Grumman has had two Cygnus vehicles in orbit at the same time. Tonight, Northrop Grumman engineers will add some final cargo to the Cygnus spacecraft as part of a "late-load" process for sensitive biological experiments and other gear. The rocket will be hoisted into position early Sunday morning. While NG-13 is Northrop Grumman's 13th cargo mission for NASA, it's the 14th launch of a Cygnus overall. A flight in October 2014 failed just after liftoff, with the Antares rocket exploding just above its launchpad. Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences and Orbital ATK) launched two Cygnus vehicles from Florida on United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets before resuming Antares flights from Wallops in 2016. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a revised cargo weight of 7,500 lbs. (3,401 kilograms) aboard NG-13, according to NASA. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party led by Prime Minister Imran Khan has suspended the general secretary of its Lahore chapter over posters that featured an insulting slogan targeting the minority Hindus after public backlash, a media report said on Saturday. Mian Akram Usman put up the poster in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed across the country on February 5, with the slogan "Hindu baat se nahi, laat se maanta hai" (Hindus cannot be reasoned with using words but by force). Usman, who came under fire from netizens and his party, apologised for the posters that were put up in public spaces in Lahore. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has suspended the general secretary of its Lahore chapter over a poster that had featured an insulting remark targeting Hindus, Geo News reported. In the show-cause notice to Usman after his suspension, the party noted that the words that appeared on the posters violated the party's policy, it said, adding that the notice was issued by party's Lahore president Zuhair Abbas Khokhar. The matter has been referred to a special committee, it said. Usman had blamed printer for the derogatory posters, saying he had wanted to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the printer "mistakenly" substituted Modi's name with the word "Hindu". "I apologise [to] all peaceful Hindus living on both sides of the border. All posters [were] removed immediately when they came [to] my notice. I'm not the one who [is] stuck on mistakes," he tweeted. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari in a tweet on Thursday said Usman had been "reprimanded and posters were taken off immediately". She termed it "a shameful and ignorant approach by the individual". In March last year, another member of the ruling party Fayyazul Hassan Chohan was removed as the Punjab information and culture minister amid intense criticism over his derogatory remarks against the Hindu community. A CROOM man was up in court for setting fire to papers on a noticeboard in Newcastle West garda station. Stephen OSullivan, aged 27, of Skagh, Croom, denied committing criminal damage. Garda Colin Benson said he was on duty in the station in the early hours of October 22, 2018. Stephen OSullivan was in the public area of the public office. He had come and gone from the station a number of times. He requested that we drive him home. He said he was entitled to be driven home. He was told numerous times this could not happen and would not be facilitated, said Garda Benson. The garda said he was sitting inside the hatch. There is a blind covering the hatch for privacy when we are dealing with prisoners. I heard a number of clicks outside. You can hear everything as there are numerous holes in the window. I pulled back the blind. I saw sheets of paper on fire on the noticeboard and I saw Stephen OSullivan running out the door. I had been dealing with him for quite a while. I have no doubt it was him. No other persons were in that area at the time, said Garda Benson, who ran out to extinguish the fire and alerted other gardai in the station at the time. He added that, as a former smoker of 16 years, he knows what a lighter sounds like. Garda Benson said he was worried the rest of the noticeboard would go up. After the fire was put out, Garda Benson said he and a colleague commenced a search for the defendant in the locality but were unable to locate him on the night. On October 29, 2018, Garda Benson said he arrested Mr OSullivan at the Croom address and conveyed him to the garda station. During interviews, Mr OSullivan made no admissions. Garda Benson read out the transcript in which Mr OSullivan said he saw no fire and was baffled. Robin Lee, solicitor for Mr OSullivan, said no prosecution resulted from why his client was in Newcastle West garda station in the first place. Mr Lee and Garda Benson agreed that Mr OSullivan was in custody for four and a half hours and was released at 4.18am. Mr Lee said his client returned on at least two occasions to the station. Mr Lee, reading from the interview notes, said Mr OSullivan asked the way to Croom. He said a group of Travellers were congregating at the Square so returned to the station and asked for his cell back. This was declined. Mr OSullivan went out again but returned as the Travellers were still there, said Mr Lee. The third time Mr OSullivan continued past the Travellers who took no notice of him and arrived home at Skagh, Croom, just after 11am. Mr Lee asked Garda Benson what Mr OSullivan was wearing on the night in question. A jacket over a red hoodie. I cant remember exactly. I dont recall, said Garda Benson. Mr Lee said: He will say he was not wearing a jacket or a hoodie when he left Skagh, Croom. That he was wearing a black T-shirt only. This will be supported by three members of his family. Mr Lee asked Garda Benson what time he saw his client running out of the station. I dont have the time, said Garda Benson. One of your colleagues will say around 6am, said Mr Lee. Approximately that time, said Garda Benson. Mr Lee said the distance to Skagh, Croom was 31.8kms. Mr OSullivan has since established that he passed the CCTV at his house at 8.30am, said Mr Lee. Didnt he say 11am in his interview? asked Garda Benson. Since the interview he discovered he passed CCTV at 8.27am. Could he get home from 6am to 8.30am? asked Mr Lee. He must have run some of it, said Garda Benson. Mr Lee said it proves that what happened in Newcastle West garda station does not involve Mr OSullivan. It is inconceivable that Mr OSullivan could run the distance in two hours and 27 minutes on a freezing October night, said Mr Lee. Garda Sharon Farrell and then Garda John Moriarty took the stand. Answering questions from Mr Lee, they said they couldnt remember what Mr OSullivan was wearing. They said it occurred 17 months ago. Mr OSullivan denied wearing a jacket or a red hoodie. I was wearing jeans and black T-Shirt, said Mr OSullivan in Kilmallock Court. Mr Lee asked him what happened when he was released at 4.18am? I gave a walk down. I saw a group of Travellers. I felt a bit intimidated. I came back to the station. I asked could I have my cell back. It was cold. My smartphone was dead. I went out a second time but they were still there. I came back to the station, rolled a few cigarettes and waited for the Travellers to leave. I then left again, they didnt bother me. I walked home, said Mr OSullivan. Mr Lee asked if it was possible for him to walk home to Croom between 6am and 8.27am. It was too little time, said Mr OSullivan. Mr Lee said they made several attempts to retrieve this CCTV evidence but they werent able to. His mother and sister gave evidence that Mr OSullivan was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Inspector Marianne Cusack asked them both how they could remember so clearly a year and half later. They both said because Mr OSullivan was being stubborn and argumentative on the night he was arrested by gardai. In summation, Mr Lee said it was an unusual, enough case. The defendant absolutely, categorically denies the charge - no ifs, buts or maybes. If he began his journey home at 6am and arrived at 8.27am it couldnt have been Stephen OSullivan who set light to the papers on the noticeboard. There are three separate pieces of evidence that he was no wearing a jacket and a hoodie. He sought refuge in a safe spot. He is hardly likely to set fire to his place of refuge, said Mr Lee. Insp Cusack said Garda Farrell told the court that nobody else entered the garda station on the night in question. Garda Benson heard the clicks of the lighter, pulled back the blind, saw sheets of paper on fire and saw the defendant leaving the station. The defendant said he lit cigarettes on the night. He said in his own interview he returned home at 11am. There is no evidence of this apparent CCTV, said Insp Cusack. Judge Marian OLeary found Mr OSullivan guilty of criminal damage. In my view he was very drunk and may not remember exactly what transpired, said Judge OLeary. The judge said if Mr OSullivan pays 200 to the court poor box she will strike the matter out. What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips The Indian Embassy in Beijing on Saturday urged all Indian citizens residing in China's Hubei province - epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak -- and elsewhere in mainland China to exercise precaution as the number of deaths due to the acute virus reached 722. "We are touch with Indian citizens in Hubei and elsewhere in China. Pls be aware that restrictions on movement have increased in recent days. Our citizens are advised to continue taking health precautions and follow the advice of local authorities," the Embassy tweeted. The Mission also shared hotline numbers and email in case of any emergency. +8618610952903 +8618612083629 helpdesk.beijing@mea.gov.in The virus has prompted several governments to ban arrivals from China and urge their citizens to avoid travelling to the country. Some have recommended that their citizens leave China. Major airlines have suspended flights to and from China. The United States has provided additional support of USD 100 million to help China fight the coronavirus outbreak. The virus was diagnosed first in December in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and has spread to most parts of the Moreover, the Health Organisation declared a global health emergency in the wake of the outbreak. The southern Indian state of Kerala has three cases who have tested positive for the virus. All of them are students who studied in Wuhan, the capital of central Chinese province of Hubei, and are currently kept under isolation in the state. A special flight of Air India was deployed for evacuating Indians from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan to New Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In their most substantive debate statements to date on abortion, several of the leading Democratic presidential candidates reaffirmed on Friday night that if elected, they would put forward only Supreme Court nominees who supported Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing a womans right to abortion. Historically, many presidential candidates have shied away from an outright litmus test on abortion or any other issue, arguing that Supreme Court justices should not be selected based on their political positions but on their experience and jurisprudence. But that has changed this campaign cycle. The Democratic candidates have also gone a step further and urged that the right to abortion be legislated, a call that several repeated on Friday during the discussion of an issue whose absence from previous debates has angered advocates. Ive lived in an America in which abortion was illegal, and rich women still got abortions, and thats what we have to remember about this, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said, arguing that Roe v. Wade should be codified. A 'fag house' operator who sold counterfeit cigarettes to children as young as six has avoided a jail sentence. Brian Joseph Dixon faced ten separate charges for selling fake cigarettes and tobacco from his terraced house on Thorndyke Avenue in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough. Four of the charges were for selling cigarettes to children as young as six, according to Middlesbrough Council. The 54-year-old appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court dressed in a grey hooded top and chequered shirt before pleading guilty to all counts. Brian Joseph Dixon faced ten separate charges for selling fake cigarettes and tobacco from his terraced house on Thorndyke Avenue in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough. Pictured: Young child buying goods on Dixon's doorstep Catherine Cunningham, prosecuting for Middlesbrough Council, told the court that the case had been brought to the attention of the authorities after complaints were made to a housing group. Middlesbrough Council's Trading Standards set up covert CCTV cameras to monitor Dixon's front door. Ms Cunningham said that 95 suspected tobacco sales from Dixon's door step were caught on camera - 14 of which were to children - over the course of just four days in July 2019. Trading Standards officers and Cleveland Police raided Dixon's house on October 7. She said: 'As a result, 15,980 cigarettes were seized as well as 258 pouches of illicit hand-rolling tobacco - a very high seizure for a residential premises. The large quantity of tobacco was found hidden in kitchen cupboards, behind the kickboards of the kitchen units and in the microwave. It represented 'one of the biggest hoards ever from a domestic premises'. The seized tobacco was later sent for analysis and was found to be counterfeit. Similarly, the packaging did not have the required health warnings and was not in the required pantone colour. Ms Cunningham added that in interview Dixon had admitted selling cigarettes on and off from his home for about two years. The 54-year-old appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court dressed in a grey hooded top and chequered shirt before pleading guilty to all counts. Pictured: Thorndyke Avenue Neil Douglas, mitigating, said his client had only sold cigarettes to people he knew in his community and that the sales to children were 'repeat orders' for their parents. He said: 'There was a steady trade to his door including children - all of whom he knew. 'He knew they were coming to his house for repeat orders - collections for their parents. 'That doesn't make it right but it does put it in some sort of context. 'Mr Dixon's motive was financial. He was making a small amount of profit on each sale. 'He was tempted and seduced by the additional income the sales brought. 'I think it's right to say and fair to say that Mr Dixon was in no way corrupting members of the public or seducing them into the use of tobacco. 'He provided an alternative outlet to the legitimate sales of the products at a cheaper rate.' Mr Douglas added that Dixon had not sold the illegal tobacco to fund an addiction but had 'fallen foul to greed in trying to earn some money' while believing he was doing so with the approval of his neighbours. He added: 'The term "fag house" entered the vocabulary some years ago. 'These sort of things might be unusual but are not unique. 'He now knows that what he was doing was wrong. He is not a serious offender who is going to repeat these offences.' Mr Douglas concluded saying that his client had no previous convictions for similar offences and was 'not a man with a significant criminal background'. Delivering the verdict, chairman of the bench Sally Ferard told Dixon that the custody threshold had been crossed and that it was now up to the court to decide whether or not to send him straight to prison. She said: 'There is the high level of cigarettes - 16,000 almost - it was done in a domestic context, on and off for two years.' Ms Ferard added that the 14 sales to 'young children' had put them at risk of harm and added that the number of visits to Dixon's home meant he had become a 'nuisance' to his neighbours. 'But we do accept that you're a man of previous good character and that you weren't doing it to fund a habit,' she said. Dixon was given an eight-month prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work and to pay a total of 3,596 in costs and charges. Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council's head of public protection, said: 'The surveillance we carried out on Mr Dixon showed regular sales of cigarettes to young children. 'There are strict laws to prevent children accessing cigarettes which are in place to protect their health. 'Mr Dixon was clearly flouting these for his own personal gain. Some of these children were purchasing cigarettes for others, this case should serve as a stark reminder to parents to ensure sure that their children are not put at risk in this way.' Cllr Dorothy Davison, executive member for adult services and health, said: 'Officers from the Public Protection Service work hard to protect our communities from the harms caused by illicit tobacco and in particular we aim to protect the most vulnerable, such as children. 'This case and the sentence which Mr Dixon has received should be a strong warning not to sell illicit tobacco and a message to the public not to buy.' Sri Lankas main opposition United National Party (UNP) has given Government Nursing Officers Union (GNOU) leader Saman Ratnapriya a parliamentary position. The long-time union bureaucrat, who replaces resigning national list parliamentarian Jayampathy Wickramaratne, was sworn in on Wednesday. The pro-US party has rewarded Ratnapriya for his treacherous service to the previous UNP-led government, and more broadly for his more than 20-year defence of capitalist rule in Sri Lanka. Ratnapriya is a close confidant of UNP leader and former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Whilst Sri Lankan union bureaucrats are often bribed with parliamentary and even ministerial positions, Ratnapriyas appointment is particularly significant. It further exposes the transformation and degeneration of the trade unions as direct tools of big business and the capitalist state. Saman Ratnapriya Ratnapriya emerged as one of those union bureaucrats who previously proclaimed the virtues of independent and non-political, militant unions, as an alternative to the widely discredited established unions. Many so-called independent unions emerged in Sri Lanka in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1964, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) betrayed its socialist and internationalist principles and joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Partys bourgeois coalition government. Then again, in 1970, it joined another SLFP coalition government. The Stalinist Communist Party (CP) readily joined these coalitions. The trade unions aligned with the LSSP and the CP backed these governments and supported their attacks on the social and democratic rights of working people. During these coalitions, the LSSP and CP barred all politics in their unions. They did this to prevent the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), the predecessor of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), from opposing these attacks and raising the critical political issues that lay behind them. The UNP government of President J. R. Jayawardene was able to defeat the July 1980 public sector general strike by politically exploiting the betrayals of the LSSP and CP trade unions, and of the unions affiliated with the left-talking Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP). The NSSP had been formed in 1976 by several LSSP members, including Wickremabahu Karunaratne, who falsely claimed to be a political alternative. Under conditions of widespread anger and disillusionment amongst workers about these unions, a new variety of so-called independent unions, promising more militant action, began to emerge. Saman Ratnapriya was expelled from the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU) in 1997 for criticising its leader Muruththetuwe Ananda, who was a Buddhist monk and notorious for his close connections with every Sri Lankan government. Ratnapriya established the GNOU, promising an independent and non-political militant organisation as the way forward for public service nurses. These claims were rapidly exposed, as Ratnapriya and the GNOU leadership moved against all political discussion inside the new union. This was particularly directed against the RCL, and then the SEP, which fought for discussion on the political issues faced by nurses and other sections of the working class. Two decades on, it is very hard to identify any differences between the degenerated character of the independent GNOU and the other unions. While the PSUNU is aligned with President Rajapakse and his ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna government, both the GNOU and Ratnapriya have joined hands with Wickremesinghe and the UNP. The degeneration and transformation of the unions is not just a matter of the corruption and treachery of their leaderships, but expresses more fundamental processes. Where once the unions worked within the national framework, as limited defence mechanisms for their members, this was undermined by the globalisation of capitalist production and the rapid ability of international capital to seek out cheap labor platforms for the extraction of surplus value anywhere in the world. Saman Ratnapriya with NSSP leader Wickremabahu Karunaratna wearing dark glasses on his right An SEP statement was issued on April 3, 2006, on the eve of national strike action and protests by 200,000 public sector workers, who were fighting for a 65 percent pay rise. Entitled, The way forward for Sri Lankan public sector workers, the statement explained the political issues facing this section of the working class. The SEP unequivocally warns that without a socialist perspective this campaign is facing defeat, no matter how large or apparently militant. The leaders who shout no politics in the trade unions are preparing to lead their members into a blind alley once again. Behind closed doors, there will be plenty of politics in the discussions with government ministers and state bureaucrats, but it will not be in the interests of the working class. The same slogan of no-politics was used to oppose the intervention of the SEPs forerunner, the RCL, in the last major public sector strike in 1980. The LSSP, Communist Party and NSSP all vigorously opposed the RCLs demand for a political struggle against the government of President J.R. Jayawardene and its program of economic reforms. Public sector workers are still paying the price for that catastrophic defeat, which resulted in the sacking of 150,000 employees. The national pay campaign was called by the Public Sector Salary Review Trade Union Committee (PSSRTUC), a grouping of independent unions, with Ratnapriya as convener of the health sector unions. Attempting to prevent the SEPs intervention, a group of Ratnapriyas supporters threatened physical violence. When challenged over this anti-democratic threat, Ratnapriya declared, There is no such democracy anywhere. In a more recent act of treachery by Ratnapriya, he joined forces with other union leaders to help Maithripala Sirisena become president, in January 2015. The move was part of a regime-change operation, initiated by Washington and backed by New Delhi, to oust then Mahinda Rajapakse because of his close alliance with China. Sirisena had, in fact, been a senior SLFP leader and Mahinda Rajapakses health minister. Ratnapriya initiated the Trade Unions for Social Justice front to back Sirisena and promote him as a democrat and pro-people. He also became convener of Purawesi Balaya (Peoples Power), an alliance of pseudo-left groups and academics tasked with campaigning for Sirisena. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity government anchored Sri Lanka within the US camp and implemented the International Monetary Funds austerity measures. The unity government, however, broke apart, as increasing numbers of workers came into struggle against the governments reactionary social policies. Ratnapriya stood with Wickremesinghe, denouncing strikes and protests by workers and students, describing them as anti-government conspiracies. During last years presidential election, he sided with UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa, claiming the pro-US party leader was a democrat, against fascist Gotabhaya Rajapakse. This was part of a campaign by various unions, fake-left groups, academics and Tamil parties to corral the masses behind Premadasa. The treacherous campaign to prevent any independent mobilisation of the working class only aided Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Ratnapriya is an implacable enemy of the working class. His ever-rightward political trajectory, over the past two decades, underscores, yet again, the necessity for workers to break from the unions, build their own action committees and mobilise on a socialist and internationalist program, against all factions of the Sri Lankan capitalist class and their trade union defenders. St Aidan's Parish primary school in Enniscorthy has been given authorisation from the Department of Education to proceed to tender for the development of a new ASD unit that is expected to cost in excess of 1m to complete. The news was welcomed by school Principal, Frank Murphy, who described it as 'fantastic' and Minister Paul Kehoe, who said the development will cost 'a substantial amount of money'. Mr Murphy said that while the final figure has not yet been ascertained the project will be cost 'in excess of 1m' to complete. 'It's been three years since the main school was completed and this will enable the whole campus to be finished,' Mr Murphy told this newspaper. While an 'ideal scenario' would see the unit completed by October Mr Murphy said it's 'very much expected' to be built 'within the calendar year'. Once it's completed Mr Murphy said the new unit will be able to cater for an additional ASD class. The school already has a waiting list of parents hoping to get their child into the school. 'Each class has a maximum of six places and we have an extensive waiting list for the school from within the wider area,' he said. The new unit will be developed in what was the old school hall which, by Mr Murphy said is 'widely regarded as a bit of an eyesore'. 'The new unit will have plenty of space as well and it will have its own safe play area,' he said. Minister Kehoe had worked with the school in trying to secure funding for the new unit to be developed and in welcoming the news that the project is to go tender stage he said it will make a massive difference for the school. 'This is something I have been working on for quite some time with the Minister for Education,' said Minister Kehoe. 'This is very welcome news and it will allow more families access to special education needs for their children,' he said. Minister Kehoe, whose three children attend St Aidan's Primary School, said it's a fantastic education provider for everyone who attends. In a letter from the Department and seen by this newspaper, authorisation was given for the project to go to Stage 3 (tender action). Meanwhile Mr Murphy said that ideally work will begin on the project towards the end of term leading up to the summer holidays. 'The preferred scenario would be having the builder on-site in May or June and that should enable the work to be completed by October,' he said. US President Donald Trump has punished officials who testified in the impeachment proceedings in a move seen as exacting revenge in the aftermath of the his acquittal in by the senate. Lt Colonel Alexander Vindman, a member of the presidents national security council was escorted out of the white House premises on Friday and Gordon Sondland, the US envoy to the European Union, said in a statement he had been recalled with immediate effect. Vindmans twin brother Lt Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, who also served int he NSC, was also relieved of his duties. The two brother are serving US military officers and will be reassigned. More firings of officials are expected. Several officials who also testified have already left. Former US ambassador to Ukraine Maria Yovanovitch, a career foreign service official, retired last month; her replacement in acting capacity William Taylor, was recalled . Vice-Presidential aide Jennifer Williams and NSC official Tim Morrison left on their own. Some, however, remain in service. Well, Im not happy with him, the president told reporters just hours before Vindmans removal from the NSC. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not. Vindman, and Williams, had listened in on the July 25 phone call in which President Trump had pressed the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice-President Joe Biden, the potential Democratic rival for the White House in the November 2020 election, and his son Hunter Biden. He had testified in the House of Representatives that they had found the presidents investigation request improper.inappropriate and concerning. Sondland had testified there was a qui pro quo in the White Houses efforts to force Ukraine to probe the Bidens. Based on these and other testimonies the House of Representatives impeached Trump in December, making him only the third American president impeached. The Wednesday acquittal prevented his dismissal from office as urged by the House Democrats, but it did no overturn his impeachment. The president is now calling for the House to expunge his impeachment saying it was a hoax. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-08 12:42:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 957 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 JAIPUR, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / FEBRUARY 8, 2020 / Pratima Totla has been an icon for women all over the country due to her success and an interesting life story. Today there is so much competition in the beauty industry that everyone claims to be an expert. In such an industry people like Pratima Totla are changing the rules and setting the bar high for the newcomers.There are so many young girls who look up to Pratima Totla for various reasons. Starting from her impeccable style sense to her stunning personality, there are so many things that amaze these young souls. This nationwide popularity is mainly because of her being the Mrs. India Fashion Icon in 2017. Ever since she won that title she has constantly been on the news with the media not getting enough of her, no matter how many interviews she gave. It's not hard to imagine why the country's youth is going gaga over her the past few years!This is not all, she was also declared to be the brand ambassador of Mrs. Heritage World 2017 which can be considered to be a massive achievement in such a glamorous industry. Many models, as well as aspiring contestants of countless beauty pageants, follow her footsteps to achieve success. There are so many who follow her styles closely, while there are others who strictly follow her lifestyle and try to develop a peppy personality like her. So in her own way, she has encouraged millions of girls who wish to make a name in this industry. This is a major reason why she won the Top 50 Indian Icon awards right in 2017. She is surrounded by a loving and passionate group of fans wherever she goes and especially on social media. Her widespread popularity in this country is also the reason why she was the ultimate choice for the talk show The Star Gazers Of India'. The show is aired on India TV' and is hosted by none other than the incredible Pratima Totla.She brings plenty of charm and charisma to the show with her years of experience and expertise in this industry. Her personality takes this show to a whole new level and makes it such an enjoyable show for people of all ages. The ratings have been high since day one as the youth of the entire nation including her fans stay tuned to know what new element is yet to be uncovered in the upcoming episodes. As a host, no one could have handled the unique elements of the show better than her. Due to her popularity following this show and the numerous awards she received for her remarkable work in the others sections of the society, soon she became an international celebrity who is loved and cherished worldwide.Today vibrant young girls and guys from almost every part of the world recognize her due to her beauty, class and universal humanitarian works which is why on 2018 she won the World Icon award. Not just this, in 2019 she also became the brand ambassador of the World Icon awards at Sri Lanka. In all these years she has been invited in multiple shows as well as beauty pageants to become a jury or for hosting it. Apart from this, Pratima Totla is also internationally famous as a motivational speaker, model, and even as a writer! Once she was even honored at the globally renowned Vishnu Temple in Bangkok.What makes her stand apart from the crowd, in this volatile industry is the fact that there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She is not only a legend in the beauty industry but is also widely known because of her intelligence and humanitarian works. She is what you can say, A beauty with a brain! No wonder she has been given multiple awards for both of these aspects in the past few years. While the Dr. APJ AbdulKalam campaign was announced Pratima Totla was declared as the national brand ambassador. Some of the other awards she achieved are:Asia pride award 2018National excellence award 2018National superwoman award 2018Top 10 most powerful personality of Rajasthan 2017, 2019Pride of Rajasthan 2018Rashtra Gaurav awardIndia excellence prize award 2018Top 100 most powerful women in IndiaAll these achievements, but what many people aren't aware of, is that the journey started after she turned 40. Her story is an inspiration for married women all over the country who are still searching for their identity and doubting themselves at every step. She motivates all housewives to come out of their comfort zones and work hard to conquer the world and live their dreams. In fact, to inspire more people and make them realize that it's never too late to start, she has started the I Can' campaign. Hopefully, more and more women will join the campaign in the near future and find the right path to achieving their dreams.About Dr. Pratima TotlaPeople all over the world know Pratima Totla as a renowned model and host. Only a few know that she is also a doctorate which makes her so appealing to the youth that craves for an idol who is not just a pretty face but also has an intelligent & bright mind with a heart of gold that yearns to assist people who are in need of it. Her doctorate degree was awarded by the Academy of universal global peace - the USA due to her awards and achievements. Due to her groundbreaking works for the society, she even became the International Chairperson of the Anti-corruption foundation of India.Media ContactName: Pratima TotlaEmail: pratimatotla@ gmail.com Website: http://www.pratimatotla.com/ Facebook: https://m. facebook.com/DrPratimaTotla/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/pratimatotla Twitter: https://twitter.com/pratimatotla SOURCE: Pratima Totla Revealed in internal emails, the City of Winnipeg's reaction to two residents' attempt at a good deed is "baffling" to one of the men responsible for clearing ice and snow from a well-used Wolseley footbridge this winter. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Revealed in internal emails, the City of Winnipeg's reaction to two residents' attempt at a good deed is "baffling" to one of the men responsible for clearing ice and snow from a well-used Wolseley footbridge this winter. "The duplicity of what they communicated privately and what they communicated publicly in their news release, it's just baffling... Saying one thing privately and another thing publicly, you know, making us look bad," Brad Hignell said. TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Wolseley resident Chris Beauvilain. The Wolseley homeowner joined forces with fellow neighbourhood resident Chris Beauvilain to clear the bridge over Omand's Creek after the city closed it in early December. Internal emails obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation via a freedom-of-information request and shared with the Winnipeg Free Press show city staff initially weren't planning to clear the bridge because it would take a "big effort." "It may have to wait until spring," a city staffer wrote in one of the emails. After the two men cleared the bridge using handtools, their work was described as "reckless" and showing a disregard for public safety. "Actions of the citizens to remove signing and barricades and ice is reckless and should be dealt with," bridge planning and operations engineer Darren Burmey emailed communications staff. "And they have not recognized slip hazards nor could of know (sic) the bridge was not closed for structural reasons." Hignell said the emails seem to cast a bad light on the work he and Beauvilain completed in one afternoon. "They went and blamed Chris and I," he said in an interview Friday. "Meanwhile, we did them a favour and we got things rolling. It was completely rude." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Despite a suggestion the two men could be fined for taking the ice and snow removal into their own hands, a city spokesperson said Friday it hasn't happened. "The city is not taking any action against the residents at this time," Julie Dooley wrote in an email. Hignell said it would be a "PR nightmare" for the city to issue fines over this; the issue has already attracted much more attention than he ever thought it would. He said he doesn't regret his actions, especially as someone who grew up in Wolseley and used the footbridge frequently over the years. "Not at all. It made the community happy; it makes it easier for anybody who lives in Wolseley to access the park and anybody who's coming to the park to access Wolseley, and people use it a lot," Hignell said. "Hopefully, it encourages people to just do the right thing you don't need the city or any other government, for that matter, to solve simple problems for you. And if they're going to cut services, why the heck aren't they going to cut my taxes, you know, I think I pay enough." President Donald Trump's campaign strategy came into sharp focus during the State of the Union address, and the Democrats are horrified at the mirror held up to their faces. The campaign strategy has three components. The president will tout the incredible record of achievement hidden by the media. He will engage in sustained and aggressive outreach to minority voters who have been victimized the most by Democrat policies. Finally, he will force the Democrats to defend the indefensible. It is those last two components that left the Democrats stuck on stupid. Frozen Face, whose attempt to be the equivalent of the prepubescent heckler making fart noises behind the teacher's back was somewhat stymied by her inability to show any emotion, clearly planned her in-kind contribution to the Republicans long before the speech. She was transformed into the equivalent of a toddler angrily holding her breath on national television because she knows that every lethal word is scoring true while she is powerless to do a thing about it. The president has an amazing record to run on. She has her failed impeachment gambit and crazy pen ceremony, ensuring that House Democrats have nothing to run on. Consider a few of the indefensible Democrat positions that were artfully highlighted: 1. Socialism. One of the best lines in a speech loaded with them was "Socialism destroys nations. But always remember: Freedom unifies the soul." The president's team will hammer this theme between now and the election. This issue creates a conundrum for Democrats in 2020. The younger core of the party, largely indoctrinated at Marxist educational factories, is pining for socialism and will tolerate nothing less. But many of the older voters they still need with a better understanding of history are horrified at the prospect. The president needs to drive this issue home in the hopes of reaching history-illiterate younger voters because America is nearing a disastrous tipping point on this issue. The speech also did a nice job of showing how socialism is an immediate threat to wiping out the private health plans of 180 million Americans. 2. Opposition to School Choice. Poorer Americans, many of them minorities, are harmed disproportionately when forced to send their children to failing schools. The Democrats, buried in the pockets of the teachers' unions, have no room to maneuver on this issue. The fiscal argument also strongly favors school choice since it is costing more by the year to send kids to public schools. In the Northern Virginia area, where I live, it costs between $15,000 and close to $20,000, depending on the county, to educate each student every year. To spend that much to send students into often unsafe environments where they are certain to fail is ludicrous. As the president noted, "no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing government school." My only quibble is that schools are failing only when examined from an American perspective, since they are doing exactly what Democrats want, which is cranking out postmodern anti-American anti-religious future Democrat voters by the truckload. 3. Favoring noncitizens over Americans. I'm not sure any issue so clearly illustrates Democrat extremism as this one. In a country where we are already borrowing at an obscenely unsustainable rate, the idea of committing to "free" health care for noncitizens is the very definition of asinine. Yet the Democrats fell over each other to box themselves into this corner during the earlier debates. There is now a fundamental divide between Republicans and Democrats, best viewed as pro-American and anti-American. One side views America as the greatest sovereign nation in the world, a beacon of liberty and freedom. The other side views it as an abomination, a patriarchal, colonial, and racist toxic brew that can be remedied only through apology tours, elevating foreigners over Americans, and having no borders. Thanks to academia's influence, that message now reverberates beyond university faculty lounges. In the Democrat-dominated suburbs in Northern Virginia, there is barely an American flag in sight. In small towns in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, it is almost an anomaly to drive by a house that doesn't display a flag. 4. Late-term abortions. In my younger years, when I watched many of my close friends become Democrats, horror at abortion was the anchor that ensured I could never follow suit. Nobody could convince me that abortion was anything other than the murder of an unborn child, which by its nature denies Americans their lives and liberty. In a country where ultrasounds abound, there is no excuse for anyone not realizing that a third-term abortion is a horrible evil. President Trump has emerged, to the surprise of many, as America's greatest president in espousing and advancing a culture of life. But running on the issue is also good politics. The Democrats' position here is beyond extreme, which is why they howl whenever it is highlighted. Credit to the president's team for pointing out the wonder of life in a child born at 21 weeks. 5. Support for "sanctuary" lawlessness. Favoring hardened criminals over citizens isn't just radical; it is also stupid. As I've noted before, this is the issue that Republicans should be pounding in the suburbs. Suburbanites who may be uneasy at the tone of some of the president's comments or tweets, particularly as spun by the media, will be horrified when they realize that their families are being put in real danger by a party that is for tossing rapists, drug-dealers, and murderers back into their midst. I live in one of these jurisdictions, so I've had a front-row seat to observe how quickly this can damage what were once model communities. Elections are binary propositions. There are plenty of people who don't personally like the president who will vote for him when the other choice is somebody promising to put their families in danger. 6. Destruction of America's Energy Industry. The president pointed to the incredible achievement of energy independence under his watch, a reality once thought impossible. This was a game-changer in that it provided a powerful economic boost to all Americans while also delivering a profound national security advantage, ensuring that America is no longer reliant on hostile regimes while weakening those regimes. Left unsaid was that the Democrats have all promised to destroy this industry, gutting the economy and returning America to the equivalent of an addict under the sway of malevolent drug-pushers. This brilliant State of the Union address was bristling with optimism and was unabashedly pro-American. My vote for best line: "In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline, and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny." It was the perfect contrast between a party that believes that America's best days are in front of it and a party that thinks it needs to accelerate and manage America's decline for the good of the world. The speech signaled the president will tout his record while going on the attack on these six key vulnerabilities for the Democrats. This is where the adoring Democrat media cocoon is about to smother them. Because national media members applauded and egged on these positions instead of challenging them, Democrat candidates raced to become Bernie-lite and left themselves out on an anti-American limb. It's a little late to realize that voters won't go for an inauthentic facsimile when a true believer is offering the same failed recipe. The president will now serve Democrats the hemlock tea they ordered up with a smile, and no amount of robotically tearing up papers will save them. Fletch Daniels can be found on Twitter at @fletchdaniels. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis is running unopposed in this Novembers election, but two other incumbents on the City Council are facing competition Bill Baber and Guy McWhirter. Baber, 59, is an elections attorney and former member of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Board. McWhirter, 62, works in the field of insurance and financial services. The two newcomers are Dave Myers, 57, a retired sheriffs commander, and Akilah Weber, 40, a doctor and professor. The San Diego Union-Tribune asked the candidates their thoughts on a variety of topics, including the citys fiscal health and recreational marijuana. La Mesa has a proposition on the ballot that looks to tax its medical cannabis stores. Advertisement Mark Arapostathis (Courtesy photo) The city is looking into approving recreational marijuana use, which it will also be able to tax, if Proposition V passes. Baber said he is cautious but optimistic about La Mesas financial future and that the city has been doing well keeping the budget balanced without any new sales tax increase but that each budget year brings new challenges. We have a very good city treasurer watching our investments, Baber said. We have a wise and prudent finance team. We have employees who are willing to work for us at the county median pay. Our employees give back a portion of their salaries to help offset rising pension costs. We have an experienced and fiscally conservative City Council. All of those things have helped maintain our citys fiscal health. Bill Baber (Courtesy photo) Baber said he was hopeful that Prop. V would help La Mesa earn $1.5 million to $2 million annually. Prop. V will tax both medicinal and adult-use cannabis, Baber said. We believe these businesses should be regulated and pay their fair share of taxes. We are working on a reasonably balanced adult-use ordinance. We have enlisted the legal businesses to help us eliminate the illegal businesses that need to be removed. McWhirter also said he was guardedly optimistic about La Mesas financial picture and emphasized the citys focus on being smart and secure on its spending. We have a great tax base, Costco is expanding, downtown is booming and we have a lot of new home sales, he said. We try to be tight on our spending. Many residents keep asking for us to build this and that. Our priority is police, fire, safe roads and activities for families. Guy McWhirter (Courtesy photo) McWhirter said that while he is not a fan of recreational marijuana and hoped people will be responsible and keep it from being a problem to those around you, similar to alcohol, he is pro-Prop. V and also mentioned moving forward with the city on its fair adult-use ordinance. Whenever he meets newcomers to La Mesa, McWhirter said he tries to ask them why they moved there. The charm of the city, its reputation as a safe city, the downtown and its many activities, good schools, no need to leave the city to purchase things, good parks in their neighborhood, he said is what he hears. That being said, I think our biggest challenge is to ensure the reasons they moved here continue for many years into the future. Police, fire, good roads and financially strong. Myers, a deputy and then a commander with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, lost the 2018 primary election against Sheriff Bill Gore. He has 33 years in law enforcement and understands the relationship of public safety with businesses and residents. Dave Myers (Courtesy photo) Myers took aim against the city for criminalizing the homeless, wasting time and resources to say, Go somewhere else, wants the city to build a bigger library, and said the city has been dragging its feet implementing safe access for both medical and recreational marijuana. When municipalities create safe access along with law enforcement for brick and mortar legal sales, it decreases crime and illegal dispensaries actually go away, Myers said. He said he was concerned that the area around El Cajon Boulevard on the west end looks like a Third-World country compared to the Village and other areas, and that he is hopeful the city will look into by-district elections. Im the only candidate that actually lives in the west end, Myers said. Lets treat the entire area, all nine square miles, the same. Myers said that in canvassing the west end of the city, he saw 19 vacant spots for businesses from University Avenue to 70th Street. He said seeing places boarded up means lost sales tax revenue and lower property values. Myers said he is concerned that there is not a certified financial report that the city offers residents and that he would like to see a report by an outside party made available on the citys website for residents to access. Weber, the daughter of state Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, is director of the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Childrens Hospital and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of OB/GYN at UC San Diego. Akilah Weber (Courtesy photo) Weber said she sees many positive aspects in La Mesas financial picture and that like other cities, La Mesa needs to be forward-thinking and collaborative when dealing with certain budget items, such as the increase in pension costs. She said the city needs to better support and promote its businesses so they can remain profitable, and work to attract new businesses to the city. New residents are also on her radar. The city needs to work with residents, developers and all other stakeholders to determine which areas in La Mesa should be developed into housing units, Weber said, This will not only tackle our issues of housing availability, but also contribute to our property tax, thus allowing La Mesa to remain fiscally healthy. Weber said she is open to working with residents, public safety and other cities to see if a recreational marijuana use policy is a good fit for La Mesa. I am aware that other cities have adopted responsible and effective recreational use marijuana policies that have led to increased revenue that fund city staff, public safety and other vital programs, Weber said. Weber calls La Mesa a community with a small town, cozy feel, and one that can also be a hub of cutting-edge ideology and progress. That is our challenge and commitment to our families, Weber said. La Mesa is an amazing city. I tell people all of the time that my family moved to La Mesa because it is not just a city. but we are also a community. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com A man tries on a face mask at a pharmacy in Kitwe, Zambia in this Feb. 6 file photo. A new coronavirus that has spread through much of China has yet to surface in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat as health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak. AP At a Chinese-run hospital in Zambia, some employees watched as people who recently returned from China showed up with coughs but were not placed in isolation. A doctor tending to those patients has stopped coming to work, and health workers have been ordered not to speak publicly about the new coronavirus that has killed hundreds in China The virus that has spread through much of China has yet to be confirmed in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat to the continent where an estimated 1 million Chinese now live, as some health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak. Countries are racing to take precautions as hundreds of travelers arrive from China every day. Safeguards include stronger surveillance at ports of entry and improved quarantine and testing across Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and some of the world's weakest systems for detecting and treating disease. But the effort has been complicated by a critical shortage of testing kits and numerous illnesses that display symptoms similar to the flu-like virus. ''The problem is, even if it's mild, it can paralyze the whole community,'' said Dr. Michel Yao, emergency operations manager in Africa for the World Health Organization. Those growing worried include employees at the Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital in the mining city of Kitwe in northern Zambia, near the Congo border. Chinese companies operate mines on the outskirts of the city of more than half a million people. One company has its headquarters in Wuhan, the city at the center of the virus outbreak. Hundreds of workers traveled between Zambia and China in recent weeks. ''We're definitely not prepared. If we had a couple of cases, it would spread very quickly,'' physiotherapist Fundi Sinkala said. ''We're doing the best we can with what resources we have.'' The Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital, or Sinozam, a low-slung facility near the city's train station, has taken some precautions, including checking patient temperatures with infrared thermometers and establishing isolation areas. Employees wear masks; and gloves, disinfectant and oxygen inhalers have been stockpiled. Sinozam treats many Chinese in Kitwe and its precautions go further than other hospitals in the area. But the employees and others familiar with the matter, some of whom spoke anonymously under new rules, say some Chinese patients checked in with coughs and fevers but did not get placed in isolation. Visiting Zambian health officials concluded the patients did not merit special treatment and did not take samples to test for the virus. After the people recovered, they were sent home with antibiotics, employees said. On Wednesday, the hospital set up a new fever clinic, which people arriving with a high temperature are now ushered to right away. It's "unfortunate'' the clinic wasn't set up earlier, Sinkala said. Two people familiar with the matter say a doctor tending to the sick has fallen ill. Dr. Yu Jianlan has not come to work in the past week and hospital administrators have not explained her absence, Sinkala said. The other person spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Hospital administrator Li Zhibing said there were no patients with a fever and said Yu had a urinary tract infection, not a fever. But a notice posted by the Zambia-China Cooperation Zone, which manages the hospital, quoted an employee as saying Jan. 27 that the facility ''probably sees 120 fever patients a day, and at least 70 of them have germs'' carrying various diseases. Earlier this week, a Zambian official acknowledged for the first time that his country was following up on an unspecified number of suspected cases. Zambia is one of 13 African countries identified by the WHO as a high priority because of its travel links with China. Copperbelt provincial health director Dr. Robert Zulu, who oversees Kitwe and the surrounding region, told The Associated Press he would not discuss details, citing privacy. But he added, ''when any case is confirmed, you will be informed.'' Crucially, no one in Zambia has been able to test for the virus so far. Like most African countries, it has been waiting for a substance known as a reagent, which labs require to confirm whether a patient is infected. Labs in just six of Africa's 54 countries were equipped as of mid-week. That means a wait of two or more days to know whether a sample shipped to South Africa or even outside the continent tests positive. Without testing, officials are ''just relying on the symptoms'' and whether they persist. ''But from what we are learning right now, some people show hardly any symptoms at all,'' Sinkala said, calling that the hospital's biggest worry. Zambia is one of the additional countries the WHO planned to equip by the end of the week. As of Friday, WHO emergencies chief Dr. Mike Ryan said 28 labs across the continent could diagnose the new virus. Adding to concerns at Sinozam, three employees say Zambian health officials visited Tuesday and have been testing the bodies of two Chinese patients that have been in the morgue for days, though some added it was out of an overabundance of caution. Li, however, dismissed the accounts of testing the bodies as ''rumors.'' He said one died last month of malaria and the other of a heart attack. The bodies are still there because family members in China wish to come and pay their respects but cannot travel because of the outbreak, he said. Zambia's health ministry spokesman, Dr. Abel Kabalo, called the employee accounts of events at the hospital ''very strange.'' He vowed that if Zambia confirms a case, the authorities ''will definitely inform the world.'' It's ''pointless to hide information,'' Kabalo said. The WHO says countries are obligated to inform it of any confirmed cases and are requested to report suspected cases as well. The WHO chief has publicly urged countries to share information. So far, African countries appear to be complying, a WHO adviser on health security, Dr. Ambrose Talisuna, told reporters. Several African nations such as Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia have announced their precautions, including updates on negative test results for suspected cases and demonstrations of surveillance and quarantine capabilities. Ethiopian Airlines, however, faces questions by some in Africa about why it continues to operate more than 30 China flights a week while other African airlines have suspended theirs. Adding to the difficulties in diagnosing the new virus are numerous diseases in Africa with symptoms that include fever or coughing or both. It's impossible to diagnose the new virus by symptoms alone, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said, adding that there is a ''significant likelihood'' that the virus will be confirmed in Africa. And there is a risk that ''panic overtakes good public health and good science.'' The foundation has committed up to $20 million to help the health authorities in Africa and South Asia, another vulnerable region, improve their disease surveillance, isolation and treatment for the virus. Concerns are high among some in Kitwe. A local pharmacy manager, Edward Goma, estimated that his business had sold more than 800 face masks in the past few days. ''So far everyone is scared,'' he said. And yet he has not noticed the stricter surveillance measures seen in other countries, beyond temperature checks at the international airport, an hour's drive away. The 15th Metallurgical Construction Group, based in Wuhan, said on its website that its overseas operations in Zambia and Congo must purchase masks, disinfect living quarters and workspaces daily and check workers' temperatures three times a day. Chinese employees are temporarily barred from returning to Africa, while those in Zambia are not allowed to go to China, said Li, the hospital administrator. Chinese embassies in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa have been unusually outspoken, giving news conferences and television interviews to discuss their response to the outbreak. Embassies require arriving Chinese citizens to declare where they have been in China. They also urge citizens to voluntarily isolate themselves for 14 days. ''We are now practicing hygiene, even in the mines,'' said the Kitwe-based president of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia, Joseph Chewe. ''Any report of a person with coronavirus here will be very disastrous.'' (AP) Correction An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the name and age of the U.S. citizen who died of the virus in Wuhan. The American who died was 60 years old. Hong Ling, who also died in Wuhan, was 53 years old and spent many years in the United States but was not a U.S. citizen. The article has been updated. Deposed cleric of Lal Masjid in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Maulana Abdul Aziz is testing the nerves of the government by occupying the state-owned mosque, asserting his claim to be its prayer leader. Maulana Aziz was removed from the post on the orders of the court in 2004 following a fatwa he issued against the army and the operation against terrorists in Waziristan. However, he was reinstated after his release from prison in 2009, but he stirred another controversy in 2014 after he openly extended support to the perpetrators of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar by calling it a reactionary move by the terrorists. Lal Masjid is a state-owned mosque and Maulana Abdullah, father of Maulana Aziz, was its first cleric. After his assassination in the 1990s, Maulana Aziz was appointed the cleric by the Islamabad Capital Territory's (ICT) Auqaf Department. Maulana Aziz is taking advantage of the situation when the authorities seemed to be busy with other issues, and the slackness of the ICT administration to notify either a prayer leader or a deputy, Maulana Aziz re-entered the mosque two weeks ago, the Dawn reported on Saturday. Currently, the capital administration has laid a siege to the area outside the mosque and Maulana Aziz along with female students is holed up inside. None of the sides seem to back off from their position and the standoff continues. Possibly to test the reaction of the authorities, the cleric delivered a Friday sermon last week. Around 100 female students of Jamia Hafsa in G-7 area of Islamabad, broke into the sealed building of the branch the seminary located at H-11 on Thursday night. As a result, officers from the capital administration approached Lal Masjid to meet Maulana Aziz. But talks remained inconclusive as the cleric insisted that a senior authority equivalent to a federal minister should negotiate with him. "They are all bent upon committing the same mistake again. They are not honouring the verdict of the Supreme Court and reluctant to enforce the supremacy of Sharia in the country," Maulana Aziz told Dawn over phone from inside the mosque. "They have given us a deadline to vacate Jamia Hafsa in H-11 with the threat to launch an operation again. Food supply too has been stopped but we are determined to remain steadfast for the sake of Islam," he said. As the area has been closed since Thursday night after the authorities warned the cleric to vacate the mosque, citizens were allowed to enter the mosque to offer Friday prayers under strict conditions. Maulana Aziz delivered a fiery sermon on Friday, stopping just short of declaring the state authorities not being the true followers of Islam and even working against the interest of the country. An official of the capital administration acknowledged that there was no khateeb or naib khateeb at Lal Masjid after Amir Siddique was transferred two months ago. "The problem is that Maulana and his group threaten the cleric notified by the Auqaf Department," the officer said. He added that the demands of Maulana Aziz cannot be fulfilled as he wants to become the prayer leader of the mosque again. He also wants Rs 250 million along with a large piece of land to establish Jamia Hafsa and the possession of the adjacent old children's library plot, he added. "First of all, we are hopeful that he will leave the place in two or three days," the official said, adding the authorities could use the status of Jamia Hafsa in G-7 as a bargaining chip if the maulana remained adamant on his move. Almost all the land of Jamia Hafsa where the maulana resides has been built on encroached land after covering a natural water course. Aziz was caught during the 2007 operation when he was trying to escape clad in a woman's full veil (burqa). Several cases were registered against him but he was not convicted and allowed to walk free from imprisonment after some time. He has been living in Islamabad since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FILE PHOTO: PG&E works on power lines to repair damage caused by the Camp Fire in Paradise By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - A California lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at making PG&E Corp a publicly owned utility, a year after liabilities from wildfires traced back to some of its equipment pushed the power producer into bankruptcy. "Today I'm introducing legislation to force PG&E to become a publicly owned utility," California State Senator Scott Wiener said on Monday, adding it was time for a new approach at the utility company. "PG&E has failed. It's failed on safety & reliability. PG&E has forfeited its privilege to operate as an investor-owned monopoly in California," he said in a tweet http://bit.ly/2v317Ik. The company said it opposed the bill from Wiener. "PG&E's facilities are not for sale," a company spokesman told Reuters in an emailed statement. "Changing the structure of the company would not create a safer or cleaner operation. Recent takeover attempts have largely failed due to a range of factors," the spokesman said. The power producer said on Saturday it had submitted an updated reorganization plan including a new board of directors and new roles aimed at addressing concerns raised by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom last month rejected an earlier PG&E reorganization plan saying it lacked major changes in governance and tougher safety enforcement mechanisms mandated under a recent state wildfire statute. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January last year, citing potential liabilities in excess of $30 billion from deadly wildfires in 2017 and 2018 linked to its equipment. Separately, it came under renewed criticism last year for precautionary power outages to guard against the risk of wildfires posed by extremely dry and windy weather. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Sorry! 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The official data further revealed that more than 280 square kilometres were cleared which is an increase of 108 per cent. It was reportedly the largest area cleared in the month of January since 2015 as last year 136 square kilometres were cleared. According to official reports, 183 square kilometres in 2018 was cleared and 58 square kilometres in 2017. The INPE data published in mid-January further found that deforestation in the Amazon in northern Brazil had soared 85 per cent in 2019, clearing 9,166 square kilometres which is the highest number in at least five years. The sharp increase also overlapped the first year in office of President Jair Bolsonaro, who reportedly eased restrictions on exploiting the Amazon's vast riches. READ: Indigenous Groups Protest Against Brazil Government's New Moves On Their Lands Mining operation to start in Amazon Rainforest Earlier this week, Bolsonaro sparked controversy with the introduction of a bill that could see the start mining operations in the Amazon Rainforest. In a controversial statement, Bolsonaro called it his 'dream' and said he wants to see it 'come true'. The bill proposed by Bolsonaro on February 5 would not only allow mining but also farming and hydroelectric power projects that were previously prohibited in the protected regions of the world's largest rainforest. Even though the bill has not been approved yet, if the legislation passes, it would further pave the way for agriculture and tourism on those lands. The country's administration has reportedly not disclosed the details of the bill. The uproar among the indigenous people was first caused due to the announcement at Funai. READ: Brazil Tourism Board 'by Mistake' Shares Tourist's Social Media Post About Being Robbed The dissatisfaction further grew among the indigenous groups as the Brazillian government appointed a former evangelical missionary, Ricardo Lopes Dias, to the head the government department responsible for the protection of isolated groups in the country which is also home to 100 uncontacted indigenous tribes. According to international reports, in interviews with the Brazilian media, Dias has ensured that he would not harm the indigenous communities and would not evangelize them. Instead, he asserted that he would be purely technical, and also defended the knowledge of indigenous groups. Dias further insisted that there has been prejudiced against him because of his faith. READ: Brazil To Evacuate Citizens Stuck In Wuhan READ: Brazil Starts To Plan For Wuhan Evacuation An earlier version of this story attributed a statement of Marc Spiegler, global director of Art Basel, to Bernd Stadlwieser, chief executive of MCH Group, the Swiss-based company behind the show. After weeks of speculation, Art Basel, one of the most prestigious international art fairs, has cancelled its Asia edition in Hong Kong over public health concerns around the fast-moving coronavirus outbreak, dealing a blow to the festival that has weathered a tumultuous year in the semi-autonomous region. With 241 exhibitors lined up, the show had been slated from March 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Art Central, another art fair in Hong Kong which coincides with Art Basel, has also been cancelled. The decision to cancel Art Basel Hong Kong was an extremely difficult one for us. We explored every other possible option before doing so, gathering advice and perspectives from many gallerists, collectors, partners and external experts, said Marc Spiegler, global director of Art Basel. Unfortunately, the sudden outbreak and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus radically changed the situation. The statement cited several factors informing the decision, including health concerns. As the worldwide toll surpasses 29,000 cases with 638 deaths, predominantly in mainland China, fears over the new mystery virus are shaking Hong Kong, with the number of cases in the Chinese territory rising to 24 infections and one death, reported on Tuesday. Hong Kong and the Philippines are the only places outside mainland China to have reported the death of an infected patient. Long queues are forming outside shops in Hong Kong as the city faces a shortage of masks, schools are closed until at least March and museums are shut indefinitely. The decision was inevitable after the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency, says Meg Maggio, director of Pekin Fine Arts, a Beijing and Hong Kong-based contemporary art gallery and arts consultancy. I was expecting it, we were all expecting it, says Maggio. They really didnt have much choice. The cancellation also comes amid mounting travel restrictions to and from mainland China, one of the major players in Art Basel. While Hong Kong has not gone as far as many airlines and countries in cancelling all mainland China flights, it has imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone arriving from the mainland. With thousands of people arriving from mainland China every day, the citys embattled leader Carrie Lam has come under fire for not shutting the border entirely, prompting thousands of public health workers to strike, demanding a sealed border. 200204023002884 While many flight restrictions to China exclude Hong Kong, some airlines are beginning to cancel flights to the territory, including United Airlines and American Airlines. Hong Kongs flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, called on its 27,000 staff to take three weeks of unpaid leave in the coming months as it grapples with the outbreak. Art Basel had already been under pressure since the eruption of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in June of last year. In spite of millions taking to the streets and months of demonstrations, there was still an attitude of the show [must] go, says Daphne King Yao, director of the Hong Kong-based Alisan Fine Arts. But in January, galleries started getting cold feet, with three dropping out and 15% of exhibitors taking up an offer to reduce the size of their booths, which would lower their financial commitment, the Financial Times reports. Two dozen high-profile participating galleries also had penned a scathing letter to Art Basel in January for what they saw as a poor response to the political unrest, ArtNet news reports. On top of many indications people would not attend the fair, the letter said many of our artists are unwilling to have their work shown at the fair because the threat of Chinese control in Hong Kong is not consistent with their core belief in the freedom of expression. Last years show drew 88,000 visitors. The cancellation is not unprecedented. The last time Art Basel cancelled a fair was in Miami, in the US state of Florida, due to the September 11, 2011, attacks. Art Basel said it remains committed to Hong Kong and will host its next edition there next year from March 25 to March 27, 2021. Asperger's Syndrome or (AS) is a neurological condition marked by delay in the development of motor skills, difficulty in social interactions, strange facial expressions, misplaced gestures and fixed routines. Asperger's Syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by delay in the motor skills development, extreme difficulty in social interactions, abnormal fixation with routines, portraying a marked tendency to perform repetitive tasks. Strange facial expressions, odd gestures and overriding clumsiness are characteristic of victims suffering this disorder. Asperger's syndrome portrays a strong genetic link. Family history of any of the 'Pervasive Developmental Disorders' enhances the risks of this condition. Dr Hans Asperger first described this condition in Vienna. He was intrigued by the abnormal behavior of four boys between the ages of 6 to 11. The boys demonstrated normal language development and cognitive skills despite the abnormal behavior. Asperger's syndrome is more common in males than females. It may represent a milder form of autism and the child may possess normal intelligence, language development and cognitive skills. Asperger's syndrome can coexist alongside other mental health conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Learning Disability. Diagnosis of the syndrome can be done by Mental Health Experts and Speech and Language Experts in children between the ages of five and nine. A few standard screening tools are also available to look for the red flags that characterize this condtion. The earlier the diagnosis is made the better it is likely for the child to cope with different situation and succeed in overcoming the emotional shortcomings. One must remember that each child is unique and the treatment needs to be custom made for the child depending on the environment and temperament of the child. Encouragement and support can do wonders. Sometimes watching a movie or reading a book related to the subject can be inspiring, educative and may help in creating awareness about the condition. Examples of such movies include the following Rain Man (Dustin Hoffman) - based on a autistic character. Tare Zamin Par (2007 in Hindi) Based on a Dyslexic child. Mozart and the Whale" (2006) - This is a movie inspired by the lives of two people with Asperger's Syndrome. Joining a 'Support Group' can be an enriching experience for both the child and the parents. Sharing, learning and caring can help the family and the child to come to terms with the condition and accept it; rather than fight it. You learn how to cope and avoid difficult situations. "We each have our own way of living in the world, together we are like a symphony. Some are the melody, some are the rhythm, some are the harmony. It all blends together, we are like a symphony, and each part is crucial. We all contribute to the song of life." By - Sondra Williams The government is aiming for a dam that can produce 1,460 megawatts of electricity for export to Thailand and Vietnam. Construction is expected to begin in late 2020 or early 2021. Critics want data on its economic, environmental and social impact. Vientiane (AsiaNews/Agencies) The imposing dam Laos wants to build in the northern province of Luang Prabang threatens the Mekong River and the survival of the millions of people who depend on it, this according to various civil society groups who raised concerns at 9th MRC Regional Stakeholder Forum, held in the city of Luang Prabang on Wednesday and Thursday. Organised by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the meeting brought together activists, academics, private sector representatives and investors as well as government officials from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Participants focused on Laoss latest hydroelectric venture and the progress in the Mekong Basin Development Strategy 2021-2030. The consultation process is set to end in April. According to an agreement signed by Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995, no country can exercise a veto on a project approved by another nation. Laotian authorities intend to build their new dam near Houygno, a village about 25 kilometres from Luang Prabang, capital of the province with the same name, which is 2,036 kilometres from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Laos aims for the dam to produce 1,460 megawatts of electricity for export to Thailand and Vietnam with construction to begin either at the end of 2020 or in early 2021. Meanwhile, residents of neighbouring villages say they still don't know if and when they will be relocated, whilst critics of the project want the Laotian government and other stakeholders to provide more data on the dams potential economic impact on downstream countries and communities. Environmental groups stress that the dam is likely to cause greater river bank erosion, with devastating effects for agriculture. Fish migration and welfare would also be at great risk. More generally, experts are worried by the impact of dam construction, pollution, and sand and gravel mining on the health of South-East Asias biggest river and the fate of its communities. Stretching 4,350 km, the Mekong is the largest inland fishing reserve in the world and is second only to the Amazon in terms of biodiversity. It is a source of livelihood for about 60 million people living in settlements along its course, which runs from the Tibetan plateau to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where it reaches the South China Sea. For years, its waters have been intensively exploited, and some of its effects are already visible. For the 2,390 km of the lower Mekong, 2019 was a difficult year with water levels at their lowest in 50 years. The villages along the waterway are the most exposed to climate change and 11 dams that China built on its territory, which many believe are holding back water. After years of opposition from environmentalists, Laos inaugurated the first two dams on the Lower Mekong in the past four months: the 1,200 MW Xayaburi and the smaller Don Sahong. For the past 15 years, Laos has sought to become the "battery of Asia", building some 50 dams along its rivers and streams with at least another 50 under construction and a further 288 in the planning stage. According to the Stimson Center in Washington, if all the projects were carried out, the country's hydropower capacity would reach 27,000 MW, up from just 700 MW in 2005. Mumbai: Shivsena MLA Ravindra Waikar was appointed as Chief Coordinator for the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office and he will be holding the rank of Cabinet Minister. The appointment was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Chief Coordinator's responsibility involves coordinating with the public representatives and the Chief Minister on fast-tracking projects and fund allocations. MLA Ravindra Waikar has been elected to Vidhan Sabha for three consecutive terms in 2009, 2014 and 2019. In the year 2014 he took charge as Maharashtra's minister of state, Higher & Technical Education. Waikar is one of the oldest and most trusted leader of Shiv Sena. In the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led government, Ravindra Waiker held the post of Minister of State, housing, higher and technical education minister. Waiker is the Shivsena MLA from Mumbai Jogeshwari East constituency. Attacks perpetrated by militants who infiltrate Afghan military units have posed a long-standing threat to U.S. and Afghan forces, though such incidents have abated in recent years as the U.S. presence in Afghanistan has shrunken. The Taliban and factions linked to the Islamic State have footholds in the countrys east. Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat on Saturday exercised his franchise here at Sanchar Bhawan and said Delhi should get a government that does not divide people. Speaking to ANI after casting vote, Karat said: "In Delhi, we should get a government, which do not divide people and gives solutions to their problems. I am sure people's mandate will be against that party." "People should vote in large numbers to form the government of their choice," he added. Polling for the Delhi Assembly polls is slowly picking up as 42.20 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 4 pm, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bruins returned to the Albuquerque Convention Center for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, with juniorand freshmanposting impressive performances to lead UCLA in the first day of competition.Wilson won the women's weight throw competition with a launch of 21.85m (71-08.25), good for her third victory in the event this indoor season. The Jackson, N.J., native also has three individual shot put titles to her credit in 2020 and is in action in the event tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. MT/9:00 a.m. PT.Okoro made her 200m debut for the Bruins and did not disappoint, clocking a time of 23.84 to take ninth place overall and move into fourth on the UCLA all-time indoor list in the event. Freshmenandwent 15-16 in the event, posting times of 24.07 and 24.14, respectively. Pierre-Webster is now eighth in indoor history in the event while Leger's time of 24.02 from the Dr. Sander Invite (Jan. 25) is still good for sixth all-time. Fellow first-yeartook 27th place with a personal-best time of 24.68.With today's performances from Okoro and Pierre-Wesbter, the No. 4 (Okoro), No. 6 (Leger), and No. 8 (Pierre-Webster) positions on UCLA's all-time indoor 200m record list are held by current freshmen.The men's 200m competition saw freshmanalso clock a PR, going 21.54 for 16th place overall. Redshirt freshmanfinished in 31st at 21.89.A quartet of first-yearr Bruins took to the runway forthe women's pole vault.led the way with a second-place finish in the unseeded flight, clearing a personal-best 3.89m (12-09.00)., andall cleared 3.74m (12-03.25), finishing in ninth, 11th, and 12th, respectively, on attempts. Grant and Cervantes both notched new PRs with their respective performances.Sophomoretoed the line for the Bruins in the women's 400m, taking 15th place with a career-best time of 57.96. It marked the first time Brown ducked under the 58-second barrier as a Bruin.The men's long jump saw seniorlead the way for the Bruins with a ninth-place finish and a mark of 7.29m (23-11.00). Juniorfollowed in 11th with a clearance of 7.08m (23-02.75).The Bruins are back tomorrow for day two of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Competition begins with the men's pole vault competition at 9:30 a.m. MT/8:30 a.m. PT. The first track action of the day is the qualifying heats of the women's 60m hurdles at 9:15 a.m. PT. From left, Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tom Steyer stand on stage at the start of the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Read more MANCHESTER, N.H. Three days before the critical New Hampshire primary, seven Democratic presidential candidates debated, with many of them fighting to survive in the race to challenge President Donald Trump. Here are some key takeaways. Mayor Pete makes his case Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend., Ind., was the candidate of the moment Friday. All eyes were on him Friday night to see if he could make his case. And he did with one significant stumble. Attacked for his thin resume, Buttigieg shot back, If youre looking for the person with the most years of Washington, D.C., experience under their belt, that candidate is not me. He promoted his youth compared with the lawmakers onstage talking their achievements from decades ago. We cannot solve the problems before us by looking back, Buttigieg said. We have to be ready to turn the page. A former military intelligence officer, Buttigieg seemed comfortable discussing foreign affairs, such as the Trump administrations killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. There is no evidence that that made our country safer, he said, adding later, This is not an episode of 24. But Buttigieg's trouble spot has long been race. Asked about a spike in arrests of black people for marijuana possession in his city after he became mayor, Buttigieg began to decry systemic racism but seemed to acknowledge he couldn't escape it in the city that he ran. Sanders under attack It didnt take long for the candidates to make clear whom they saw as the front-runner. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was piled on by competitors fighting to become the moderate alternative to the self-declared democratic socialist. There were two lines of attack Sanders uncompromising liberal positions and, specifically, his proposal to immediately have the federal government take over the entire health care system. The most notable punch was thrown by Buttigieg, who said Democrats will have a problem working to unite this country at a moment when we need unification when our nominee is dividing people. Asked if he meant Sanders, he said yes. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar scoffed at Sanders health care proposal. Former Vice President Joe Biden noted that Sanders says he has no idea how much his proposal could cost, though experts have put it at at least $30 trillion. But he showed a characteristic durability. In the deeply divided field, Sanders is now leading in many polls by virtue of that following. Biden bounce back? After his disappointing showing in Iowa, Biden was fighting to survive. Sometimes it didnt seem like it, but Biden also displayed flashes of the fire and emotion that have traditionally endeared him to Democratic voters. Offered a chance early to swing at his two main rivals Sanders and Buttigieg Biden opened by basically admitting he was going to lose New Hampshire. Bernie won by 20 points last time, Biden said softly. His criticisms of Sanders and Buttigieg werent nearly as sharp as those offered by other candidates. Biden's had difficulty talking about the GOP investigation into his own son that triggered Trump's impeachment and that has coincided with the former vice president's slide in the polls. The former vice president was left asking the crowd to give a standing ovation to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was led out of the White House hours earlier. Vindman had testified in December before Democrats investigating Trumps dealings with Ukraine. Biden, 77, was more energized in the later hours of the debate. He was visibly enraged at Trumps dismissive comments on U.S. casualties during the Iranian retaliation for the U.S. killing of an Iranian general. He sharply attacked Sanders over the Vermont senator's prior support for gun rights, defended his long record on the Supreme Court and promoted his historic support from African-Americans. But its not clear whether his performance will quell worries. Warren didnt have a plan for breaking through Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren invested deeply in neighboring New Hampshire as a key part of her 2020 run, but she struggled to find a standout moment as she begins to make her final case to the states voters. Warren skipped a chance to differentiate herself more from Sanders, a fellow progressive whom she calls a longtime friend. Given the chance to create some distance, Warren said, "We have a lot of things in common, we have a lot of things that we differ on." She quickly shifted to making a party unity plea and echoing her stump speech lines about big money in politics and corruption. "We bring our party together, it's an issue we can all agree on and fight to end the corruption," Warren said. "We're the Democrats. We should be the party on the side of hardworking people and we can bring in independents and Republicans on that. They hate the corruption as well." Warren also did little to explicitly come to Sanders defense as her Vermont rival was attacked by the more moderate candidates over his prized Medicare for All policy goal, an idea Warren supports. Klobuchar made a mark Klobuchar was quick with the quips as she tried gain an edge in the primarys moderate lane. She repeatedly made a virtue of her ability to compromise and work with Republicans. There was an urgency to her presentation, with good reason: She needs an upset in New Hampshire. She hit familiar notes of criticizing Medicare for All as she touted her Midwestern appeal and legislative success in the Senate. Klobuchars plea boiled down to making a case for Democratic sensibility as a break from the smash-mouth nature of Trumps presidency. "I didn't come from money," Klobuchar said, insisting voters "want to have someone that they can understand" in the White House. Steyers fiery play ... for South Carolina Billionaire activist Tom Steyer does not have much of a chance in New Hampshire. So he used the debate to make a strong appeal to African American voters in South Carolina, where his campaign has invested heavily and black voters make up two-thirds of the primary electorate. The billionaire noted that well into the debate, "we have not said one word tonight about race." "Are you kidding me?" he asked as a discussion of race ensued. He added later, "I am for reparations to African Americans in this country and anyone who thinks that racism is a thing of the past and not an ongoing problem is not dealing with reality." Yang not burdened Businessman Andrew Yang was not burdened by low expectations. He was at ease and having fun on the debate stage Friday night, even though his chances to win New Hampshire, let alone the Democratic nomination, are minuscule. He bounced onto the stage without a tie, in stark contrast to his more buttoned-up male rivals. But Yang was largely left out of the heated exchanges that simmered through the debate, focusing instead on stepping back and looking at the larger picture. Donald Trump is not the cause of all of our problems," Yang said. And we are making a mistake when we act like he is. He is a symptom of a disease that has been building up in our communities for years and decades. The elephant not in the room Two words were spoken Friday night that have rarely come up on the trail or in prior debates: Mike Bloomberg. The former New York mayor and multibillionaire is skipping the early nominating states and instead spending hundreds of millions on Super Tuesday states with far more delegates at stake. A viewer-submitted question asked why the candidates were better than Bloomberg. I dont think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States, Warren said. I just simply dont think people look at the guy in the White House and say, Can we get someone richer? Klobuchar said. There are millions of people who can desire to run for office but I guess if youre worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred millions of dollars on advertising you have a slight advantage, Sanders said. The responses were clear signals that they take Bloomberg seriously. Syrian film-maker Waad al-Kateab and her husband Hamza - Aleppo hospital manager and her co-star in the documentary For Sama - will be rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of Hollywood tomorrow night for the second time in a week, looking to add an Oscar to their Bafta. Their film, co-directed by Englishman Edward Watts, is making a big impact across the world. Taking the form of a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, it evocatively combines the story of Waad and Hamza falling in love, marrying and having daughter Sama, now aged four, in the chaotic surroundings of a hospital in war-torn Aleppo amidst bombings by the regime forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the Russian military. Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett - a UN High Commission for Refugees ambassador - hosted a screening of the film, and Prince William and his wife Kate have also been moved by it. Kate told Waad last Sunday that the film left her "heartbroken," and she found it "so engaging". US film-maker Michael Moore, who hosted screenings in New York, called it "one of the most powerful and important documentaries ever". Expand Close Award: Waad al-Kateab with the Best Documentary Bafta last Sunday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Award: Waad al-Kateab with the Best Documentary Bafta last Sunday Last Sunday, it won Best Documentary at the Baftas, and hopes are high ahead of the Oscars in the early hours of Monday morning. When he's not posing for photos on red carpets, 32-year-old Hamza is now the operations director of Amanacard, a financial technology social impact organisation based in London that works in refugee and conflict zones. 'A lack of everything' Amanacard makes aid fully traceable from governments to the point money is spent by the recipient (from vulnerable families to paid workers in hospitals and schools to businesses providing goods and services). It also reduces risks for people who would otherwise have to carry cash in dangerous areas or have their personal data shared across multiple levels of an NGO. It could help Irish NGOs become more transparent in showing donors where the aid they fund ends up. Hamza's work takes him to London and Turkey, among other places. He deferred a scholarship to do a Masters degree in public health at a university in London until later this year, after deciding to commit to his job. Video of the Day The role gives him an ongoing insight into the experience of a hundred Syrian hospitals, he says. "I know many of their managers," he says. "While there are the challenges ordinary hospitals in Britain or Ireland experience day-to-day, in Syria, it's just about a lack of everything: communication, staff, trained staff, and often fuel to provide stable electricity using generators. "They take huge risks [to operate], and then they could be shut down for any reason. In Syria especially - and also in Yemen where Amanacard also works - hospitals have been one of the main targets of bombings by aircraft. "One of the most difficult things is that you need to make the hospital a very obvious, known place for casualties to come to. But the more obvious you make it, the more danger it will be attacked. "Hospitals are a source of life. But also a bomb could be dropped on them at any moment. A lot of people living near hospitals moved away. Some families refused to stay at the hospital, preferring to take patients home." Waad continues to work for Channel 4 News, and is embarking on her next projects related to the same cause to "stop bombing Syria". She also has 2-year-old Thaima to think about now, as well as Sama. Hamza meets me at a busy east London coffee shop close to where he and the family live. Waad, 28, is at home looking after their daughters. Sama has also enjoyed the glamour of the red carpet, and loves seeing herself in photos, even gently teasing her infant sister that it's not about her. "It's also an excuse if we want a night out. If Sama starts crying, saying she doesn't want us to go out, if we say it's for the film, she doesn't mind, and says, okay then go," says Hamza. Despite the chaos of war in which he and Waad were living, in the documentary he never appeared to be very stressed by everything that was going on around them. "As well as being responsible for Waad and Sama, I was obviously also responsible for the hospital. I needed to keep calm, telling myself that I knew what I was doing, and it would all be fine," he laughs. "I maybe had faith in what we were doing. Not religious faith, because I'm not strictly religious, though I do believe in God. It was more that I knew if I hesitated about something, it could shake the hospital's and the community's faith in me and my staff. "People needed to come to us, see that we knew what we were doing, giving them some sense of confidence it would all be fine." During one 20-day period, the hospital treated over 6,000 patients, carrying out over 890 operations, which must have taken an unimaginable toll on Hamza and his team. "One of those days there had been a massacre, and our X-ray technician said we couldn't do any more X-rays that day or the X-ray machine would explode from overuse. It shocked me, because I hadn't realised we'd seen so many patients." Is he hopeful about Syria's fate these days? "I can't be optimistic. Assad now controls about 80pc of Syria, and a lot of governments state that we need to deal with that reality. But there should still be a fight for justice and accountability. "The Caesar Act sanctioning anyone dealing with the regime is a beginning of that. It's a starting point before one day the country can be rebuilt and refugees can return." One thing he does feel is that former US president Barack Obama not sticking to his 'red line' on Syria in relation to Assad's use of chemical weapons in 2013 was "a game changer". "While I understand countries fearing a repeat of the Iraq war debacle, and not wanting to interfere, they also didn't attempt to stop Russia interfering. Russia then came to feel all-powerful [supporting Assad militarily]. I think the diplomatic word for that is that it was unfair." 'For Sama' can be viewed on free streaming service All4 Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg entered debate leading in the polls and came out largely unscathed. Seven candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination took the stage Friday night, hoping to win over New Hampshire voters ahead of the February 11 primary. It was a standout night for three candidates, in particular, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, in no particular order. More: While the debate saw some candidates choose unity when given the chance to slam their opponents, there were still plenty of attacks. Candidates were also asked about foreign policy, including whether they would have ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani. After a serious reporting delay at the Iowa caucuses this week and no clear frontrunner, the stakes could not be higher. New Hampshire typically finishes the job that Iowa starts in terms of rendering a verdict of whos viable and whos not, explained Dante Scala, professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire. A Monmouth University Poll released Friday found that half of those polled 49 percent were firmly decided on their candidate of choice, leaving lots of room for candidates to win over undecided voters. Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Centre, explained that the high turnout in New Hampshire primaries means it is regular voters, not activists, who determine the vote in New Hampshire. 200205164006485 People tend to make up their minds a few days before the vote, or on election day, Smith told Al Jazeera. You really cant think there are these blocks of voters who are locked down for any candidate. Scala said New Hampshire voters are looking for a combination of electability and likability. For the average voter, the policy distinctions among the candidates are quite subtle, he said. Theyre not sitting at home with a big spreadsheet in front of them that shows policy positions step by step; theyre going more on feel. Sanders versus Buttigieg Going into the debate, Sanders and Buttigieg were both leading the polls. The Monmouth poll showed that, among New Hampshire Democrats and unaffiliated voters who are likely to participate in the primary who were asked who they would vote for if the primary election was held today, Sanders was in the lead with 24 percent, followed by Buttigieg at 20 percent. Bernie Sanders is competing to regain a primary he won four years ago, which puts a lot of expectations on him, Scala explained. 200207150547264 But for Buttigieg, who is surging in the polls, Scala said: Theres pressure on him to convert that into a victory next Tuesday, which would be a big upset and would really thrust him forward in the nomination process. It was no surprise, then, to see the two candidates using every tool at their disposal. During the debate, Sanders hyped his average donation of $18.50, contrasting himself against Buttigiegs big money funders. In terms of money in politics, our campaign, and I am enormously proud of this, our campaign unlike some of the folks up here, I dont have four billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign, coming from the pharmaceutical industry, coming from Wall Street, and all the big money interests, Sanders said. Were going into the fight of our lives, Buttigieg responded. Donald Trump, according to news reports, and his allies raised $25 million today. We need to go into that fight with everything that weve got. Ive been very clear on both my record, where I have sued pharmaceutical companies, and what Im campaigning for, which includes raising wages and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Buttigieg differentiated himself from the other candidates by emphasising that he is younger than the rest, and an outsider. If youre looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, then youve got your candidate, and of course its not me. Sanderss strong showing in Iowa indicates he could perform well next week, too, Smith said. Bernie is a force to be reckoned with and, jumping to the conclusion, hes likely to win New Hampshire. Who needed a win? Scala said several candidates needed strong performances during the debate after weak finishes in Iowa Klobuchar, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. Klobuchar rose to the occasion, connecting with the crowd. At one point, she drew applause when she said Trump always sides with tyrants over innocents, dictators over allies but I think youve got to have some friends. We have a president that literally blames everyone in the world and we have not talked about this enough, she continued. 200206184452595 He blames Barack Obama for everything that goes wrong. He blames his federal reserve chair that he appointed himself. He blames the king of Denmark who does that? she asked, prompting laughter. Warren hit all her usual points she is running a grassroots campaign, focusing on taking power from billionaires and emphasising that she is a woman who could be president. She received cheers when she said her two-cent wealth tax would help close the wealth gap between black and white people who have student loans. But there were no huge standout moments for Warren that would have helped differentiate her from the other progressive in the race, Sanders. Joe Biden, meanwhile, was stuck in a noticeable slump he did not seem able to break through Friday night. Hes a front runner who is all of a sudden trying to regain his balance after a very difficult night in Iowa, so hes struggling to get back on his feet, Scala said. I think Biden is going to do very poorly in New Hampshire, Smith predicted. Hes already reduced staff, cut back on advertising, etcetera, here some time ago, and his team has been reducing expectations for New Hampshire. If he has another performance in New Hampshire like he did in Iowa, his campaign may be done. Qassem Soleimani Early in the debate, candidates were asked if they would have ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani. Buttigieg, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, said, There is no evidence that that made our country safer. This president has moved us this much closer to the brink of war, but it did not start with the Soleimani strike, it started with withdrawing us from the Iran nuclear deal that his own administration certified was working. 200205044132668 Asked again whether he would have ordered the attack, he did not give a yes or no answer. It depends on the circumstances, it depends if there was an alternative, and it depends what the different effects would be, thats my point. This is not an episode of 24, this is a situation that requires that you actually evaluate the entire intelligence picture. Asked the same question, Joe Biden said he would not have ordered the attack. Theres no evidence yet of an imminent threat that was gonna come from him. These America first policies made America alone. Sanders said he would not have ordered the attack. There are bad leaders all over the world, he explained. You cannot go around saying, youre a bad guy, were going to assassinate you. If that happens, youre opening the door to international anarchy. He said the US has to strengthen the Department of State and its diplomatic capabilities, and bring countries together to work out their differences. Moments of unity During the debate, candidates emphasised unity against their common foe, President Donald Trump. Scala explained that that was likely because candidates who stay positive are often the most appealing. The risk with attacks is, Democrats dont like Democrats going after other Democrats. Buttigieg was asked whether there is a danger in nominating a candidate who is still under the threat of investigation, referring to the Republicans investigating Bidens son. 200206165944341 Instead of attacking his opponent, Buttigieg said, Were not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden, this is about abuse of power by the president. Asked if Sanders will be able to get the support he needs from Republicans across the aisle, Klobuchar said: I like Bernie just fine. We actually worked together on a number of things, including pharmaceuticals. We actually had a vote late at night one time, Klobuchar-Sanders amendment Sanders-Klobuchar, Sanders interjected, drawing laughs from the crowd. No, no, it was not, Klobuchar continued, with a smile. She said their amendment to bring in less expensive drugs from other countries garnered 14 Republican votes. They might not have noticed what was happening late at night, but we got those. And I think thats just an example of what we need to do here. Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid reportedly meet to discuss a potential deal for Gareth Bale. Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid reportedly met on Wednesday to discuss a potential deal for Gareth Bale before the January window closes on Friday night. The 30-year-old has only made 15 appearances for Zinedine Zidane's side during the 2019-20 campaign, having again struggled with a number of injury problems. The Wales international still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract at the Bernabeu, however, which is believed to pay the former left-back in excess of 600,000 a week. According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham and Madrid met for talks on Wednesday to discuss Bale, who is wanted by Jose Mourinho at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The report claims that there are 'many obstacles to overcome', though, with Spurs not prepared to pay a substantial transfer fee, while the Premier League club will also not be able to get anywhere near the attacker's wages in the Spanish capital. Bale turned out for Tottenham between 2007 and 2013, scoring 55 times in 203 appearances before arriving at the Bernabeu, where he has won four Champions League crowns. Editors Note: Fisher Investments favors no party nor any candidate. We assess political developments exclusively for their market impact (or lack thereof), and we dont believe any candidate or party is inherently superior for stocks or the economy. With the primaries getting underway, the remaining Democratic presidential hopefuls are making a final push to woo voters in early primary states. Given the still-crowded field, candidates have an incentive to differentiate themselves by touting bold ideas many see as radical. Investors are increasingly taking notice and fretting the possibility this or that proposal becomes law. One such policy: Medicare for All, which would effectively nationalize parts of Americas healthcare system. Many worry this jeopardizes a wide range of Health Care firms. Yet Ken Fisher, Founder and Chairman of Fisher Investments, thinks these concerns are premature. It would be extremely hasty to start considering Medicare for All in your investment decisions now. Most Medicare for All blueprints aim to largely or entirely replace private health insurance with a single-payer system of taxpayer-funded and government-administered coverage. Senator Bernie Sanders is the ideas principal public face, having written legislation on the subject, a fact he has colorfully reminded would-be voters of several times in the Democratic debates. When he introduced said legislation last April, co-sponsors included four other Democratic candidates. Several other non-senator presidential hopefuls have voiced support for the general idea, too. Many argue Health Care firms would suffer under the law, as it would significantly disrupt the industry. Seismic changes like these could create winners and losers on a grand scale. Many fear private health insurance would vanishmuch as private unemployment insurance did during the New Deal. That doesnt sound great if you own shares in a health insurance company. Others speculate that healthcare providersincluding hospitalsmight also suffer. They currently lose money overall on Medicare patients. Seeing the American system adopt these principles broadly could cause losses to mount. Proponents claim this would be offset by a reduction in Americas big healthcare expenses relative to GDP, even after considering the higher taxes that would likely be required fund it. Maybe so. But Ken Fisher believes such legislation would change the playing field for businesses dramatically, with the losers feeling the pain of loss more than the potential winners appreciating their gain. Ken Fisher does believe all this speculation has stoked negative sentiment, hurting Health Care stocks. In mid-April 2019, when Medicare for All chatter spiked, the sector dropped -4.9% in three days.[i] The Providers and Services industry fell most (-7.2%), likely because it includes the firms that would potentially be squarely in Medicare for Alls crosshairshospitals and insurers.[ii] While this weakness reversed relatively quickly, Ken Fisher thinks it shows Health Care stocks sensitivity to Medicare for All hype. This is likely in part why Health Cares 20.8% return last year was the second-worst of the 11 equity sectorsand behind the S&P 500s 31.5%.[iii] Prior to a Q4 rally amid cooling hype over Medicare for All, it was the worst-performing sector.[iv] But that sensitivity overrates the likelihood this becomes law. Though Medicare for All seems popular with left-leaning voters that comprise some Democratic candidates base, overall voters views seem more nuanced. Some polls show how a Medicare for All plans wording can elicit different support levels. For example, a majority of those polled support a proposal stating Medicare for All will eliminate private health insurance, as long as it still allows people to choose their doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.[v] But if people hear their taxes will increase, a majority opposeeven if overall healthcare costs decrease.[vi] Voters malleable views thereby influence candidates presentation of the healthcare issue as they try to appeal to their base. Candidates must also walk a fine line between currying partisan voters favor and not alienating moderate voters. One poll taken in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin showed 62% of Democratic voters supported a Medicare for All plan that eliminated private insurance.[vii] Yet the same percentage of swing voters in those states said that plan is a bad idea.[viii] Winning over swing voters is key for the general election, and some leading Democratic candidates have started softening their messaging. For example, Senator Elizabeth Warrenwho earlier strongly backed Medicare for Alllater emphasized that Americans would have a choice to opt into her plan. This apparent backtrack follows her poll numbers recent deterioration, likely an attempt to moderate and garner more mainstream support. This evolution shows how much can change on the campaign trail, to say nothing of the realities of governing. Passing highly polarizing bills is extremely difficult if the opposition party holds a House or Senate majority, and Congresss 2021 makeup is unknowable now. Even if one party controls the presidency and both houses of Congress, success isnt assured. President Obama had a Senate supermajority for his first two years in office, but just two major billsthe Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Dodd-Frank financial reformscrossed his desk. Both were vastly watered down from campaign trail proposals, with the ACA lacking a government-sponsored insurance plan. That is largely why Medicare for All is an issue in 2020 at all. When Republicans held both chambers in 2017 2018, intraparty gridlock forestalled substantial changes except for tax reformand even that was less ambitious than initial proposals. While fears of a sweeping healthcare industry overhaul will grab eyeballs, nothing is inevitable at this point. With the election still months away, Ken Fisher believes investors shouldnt extrapolate todays campaign trail talk to tomorrows laws. Investing in stock markets involves the risk of loss and there is no guarantee that all or any capital invested will be repaid. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. International currency fluctuations may result in a higher or lower investment return. This document constitutes the general views of Fisher Investments and should not be regarded as personalized investment or tax advice or as a representation of its performance or that of its clients. No assurances are made that Fisher Investments will continue to hold these views, which may change at any time based on new information, analysis or reconsideration. In addition, no assurances are made regarding the accuracy of any forecast made herein. Not all past forecasts have been, nor future forecasts will be, as accurate as any contained herein. [i] Source: FactSet, as of 5/16/2019. S&P 500 Health Care Total Return Index, 4/15/2019 4/17/2019. [ii] Ibid. S&P 500 Health Care Providers and Services Total Return Index, 4/15/2019 4/17/2019. [iii] Source: FactSet, as of 1/9/2020. S&P 500 Total Return Index and S&P 500 Health Care Total Return Index, 12/31/2018 12/31/2019. [iv] Source: FactSet, as of 1/10/2020. S&P 500 sector total returns, 12/31/2018 9/30/2019. [v] Source: Lunna Lopes, Liz Hamel, Ashley Kirzinger, Audrey Kearney and Mollyann Brodie, KFF, KFF Health Tracking Poll November 2019: Health Care in the 2020 Election, Medicare-for-all, and the State off the ACA, 11/20/2019. https://www.kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/kff-health-tracking-poll-november-2019/ [vi] Ibid. [vii] Source: Drew Altman, Axios, Democrats Like Medicare for All, but Swing Voters Dont, 11/19/2019. https://www.axios.com/medicare-for-all-politics-democratic-primary-2020-election-ecf9b139-cccb-4249-a595-3ac50e1c88d4.html [viii] Ibid. THE AMERICAN STORY: Conversations with Master Historians. By David M. Rubenstein. Simon & Schuster. 416 pages. $30. Museums, historic sites, schools and universities all share similar missions: to inspire learning and to have positive impacts on our communities. David Rubenstein, the well-known benefactor and champion of American history, is on a similar mission, one scaled up to the capacity of a billionaire. He joined Warren Buffett in dedicating the majority of his wealth to philanthropy. To have any significant impact on an organization or a cause, one must ... make transformative gifts, Rubenstein wrote. His "transformative" multimillion-dollar contributions now support the preservation and expanded programs at George Washingtons Mount Vernon, Thomas Jeffersons Monticello and James Madisons Montpelier. Not only did he help cement the stories of these important founding fathers, but also the enslaved people who built and sustained these National Historic Landmarks. One of his high-profile gifts to America paid the lions share of the Washington Monuments restoration bill, and hes now pledged many more millions to other national monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial. Perhaps, one day, he could be persuaded to look farther south, remembering the significant role of the Southern Colonies and their residents, in winning the Revolution and forming the country. His new book, "The American Story: Conversations With Master Historians," is another important gift helping to preserve our shared history. The book is born out of Rubensteins idea that elected men and women serving in Congress would benefit from a deeper understanding of the past. In 2013, he convinced the head of the Library of Congress to host a series of interviews, or Congressional Dialogues, with the greatest historians and biographers of our age. Senators and representatives were invited to help demonstrate Rubensteins lifelong belief that history is more about the present than the past. Thus began one of the greatest "distinguished lecture series" ever conceived. For those of us unable to matriculate at the Congressional Dialogues, the transcribed interviews in "The American Story" provide a seat at 16 of the most memorable assemblies. The books contents page is a veritable historians hall of fame, with David McCullough discussing John Adams, Jon Meacham on Thomas Jefferson, Ron Chernow on Alexander Hamilton, Walter Isaacson on Benjamin Franklin, Doris Kearns Goodwin on Lincoln and FDR and Taylor Branch on Martin Luther King Jr. Even so, I must admit that, on first glance (because Ive already read many of these authors), I was not excited about another brief history survey. But the interview format allows readers to get to know these great historians as much as the subjects of their research. Perhaps one of the most memorable conversations included Doris Goodwin, one of only two female scholars in the book. Her storytelling prowess and sense of humor are clear in the amusing story she relates of when Roosevelt accidentally walked in on a naked Winston Churchill who had just stepped out of the bathtub at the White House. Roosevelt said, Im sorry, Ill come back ... But Churchill had the presence of mind, with nothing on, to say, Oh no, please stay. The prime minister of Great Britain has nothing to hide from the president of the United States. Rubenstein eventually refocuses the interview with Goodwin, author of "Team of Rivals," on Lincoln. And that conversation alone is worth the price of the book. Time after time, the flaws and failings of these historical figures, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan, come out during the interviews. The result is a much better understanding that these great men of the past were human beings, with the same needs, wants and desires that we all have today, but not always the same sensibilities. David McCullough said, History is human and we certainly see that in Cokie Roberts retelling of Ben Franklins reaction to his daughters engagement announcement. Keep the wedding cheap Franklin wrote to his wife. Good humor aside, with the recent passing of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Im reminded of a young speaker who quoted Dr. King, saying, Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. ... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Its good to be reminded now and again that history is made by individuals. That same young speaker also said that King was the only black person guaranteed to be in her classroom curriculum. And, in fact, he is the only black person featured in this book, besides Carla Hayden, the current Librarian of Congress, who wrote the foreword. The major shortcoming of the book is its lack of inclusiveness and diversity in both the scholars chosen and in the historical subjects. Lovers of history and good storytelling can only hope that there is a sequel planned, as the "Congressional Dialogues" continue. A second volume could include female and black scholars like Jill Lepore and Henry Louis Gates, and great figures of the past like Harriet Tubman or Frederick Douglass. Only time will tell, but for now, thank you David Rubenstein for being Americas patriotic philanthropist and for all the gifts youve given to our nation. As the late Ginger Baker lay dying in hospital last autumn, he made clear the deep affection he felt for his eldest daughter. Ravaged by an infection, the legendary Cream drummer still managed to raise a smile. He was really, really sick, recalls Nettie Baker. But he knew me straight away and said, Thank you for coming. He even made a little joke about my leather jacket because I used to borrow his years ago. That tender memory is now all the more precious to his daughter, because it was one of the last moments of affection that they shared. Ginger Baker is pictured with his fourth wife Kudzai Machokoto who has been accused of terrible behaviour in trying to come between a man and his family on his deathbed. Machokoto has been reported to the police for harassment by Baker's daughter Nettie For the heartbreaking reality is that the relationship between rockstar father and daughter had become increasingly fractured and, indeed, ended in terrible sadness after what Nettie describes as the musicians irresponsible decision to marry his fourth wife, Kudzai Machokoto, in 2010. Now, just a few weeks away from a special Ginger Baker tribute concert in London, that decision has erupted into a row of almost incomprehensible bitterness. Yesterday, Kudzai launched a broadside against her late husbands children, claiming she had organised a lovely funeral for Ginger, but that she was left to mourn on her own after his family, including Nettie and her siblings, failed to turn up. Speaking for the first time since her father died, aged 80, in October last year, Nettie now feels obliged not just to answer back, but to paint a shocking picture of a man who as she sees it was taken away from his children by a wife 42 years his junior. Nettie accuses South African-born Kudzai of terrible behaviour in trying to come between a man and his family on his deathbed. And even that was only the final chapter in a story of unbridled animosity. Nettie, 59, reveals that before her fathers death, she reported Kudzai to the police for harassment and informed social services officials of her concerns that her father was being subject to coercive control. Kudzai dismisses that claim as laughable' and in a 2016 interview with the Mail on Sunday, Ginger himself described such allegations of abusive behaviour as 'the most ludicrous thing imaginable'. Important details about Gingers ailing health were kept from his children, including the fact that he was suffering from sepsis, a condition which is frequently fatal. And there has been an extraordinary row about Gingers will, in which Nettie and her siblings were all-but cut out. As for the funeral, Nettie says the family were left believing they had no choice but to stay away. For all Gingers stardom, it remains the sort of tragic domestic drama all-too frequently played out when a parent remarries later in life. This isnt a family feud, says Nettie. I dont regard Kudzai Machokoto as a member of my family. The mounting tensions are laid bare in a string of chaotic and disturbing emails sent to her by Kudzai, and seen by The Mail on Sunday. In them, she accuses Nettie of being evil and bad and a jealous, wicked old woman and implores her to get a man of u [sic] own. Nettie (pictured) informed social services officials of her concerns that her father was being subject to coercive control a claim that Machokoto dismisses as laughable, and that Ginger himself had earlier rejected. The situation is so dire that Nettie and her siblings Leda, 51, and Kofi, 50, Gingers only children from his first marriage to Liz Finch have no idea where her fathers ashes are In what seems like a particularly cruel taunt, Kudzai even makes a barbed reference to Netties partner, who died of a brain aneurism in 2004, writing: Look at you how many man died when they try to come close to you [sic] not a good record It is a traumatic and complicated postscript to an extraordinary life. The situation is so dire that Nettie and her siblings Leda, 51, and Kofi, 50, Gingers only children from his first marriage to Liz Finch have no idea where her fathers ashes are. For his eldest daughter, there is particular sadness given the great loyalty she has shown her famously wayward father as the custodian and chronicler of his legacy. She still runs Gingers website, for example without payment and is in regular contact with his record company Universal, which sells Creams music on the site. Nettie cared for her fathers expensive polo ponies for years, one of the many ways along with hard drugs, women and disastrous business ventures in which he spent his millions. In fact, this sad state of affairs is perhaps a reflection of the recklessness which has always characterised his behaviour towards those closest to him. For even during her childhood, Nettie accepts that her life with Ginger was strange and disruptive. Ginger, born Peter Baker, grew up in Lewisham, South-East London, the son of a bricklayer. His 1959 marriage to Liz was fiery and passionate, fuelled by copious amounts of narcotics after his musical career took off. A self-taught musical genius with flaming red hair and a distinctive drumming style, he started out on the London jazz scene while still in his teens. In 1966, he formed Cream with Eric Clapton, the rising star of British blues, on guitar, and Jack Bruce on bass. The bands success brought fame and fortune, but it lasted just two years, largely because Ginger and Bruce loathed one another and fought on stage. Bruce, who died in 2014 aged 71, wrote most of the songs and earned the lions share of the royalties from the bands massive album sales. Still, Ginger and Liz were able to afford a lavish mansion, the loftily named Camelot, in Harrow on the Hill, North-West London. Having three children failed to dampen their hedonistic lifestyle. At one particularly debauched party in 1976, George Harrison insisted 15-year-old Nettie should be offered as first prize in a game of pool. Although nothing happened, a line was definitely crossed, she recalled. When I was a toddler, Dad would hand me a spliff and say to me, Take a puff of this, its much better than cigarettes. At 13, 14, I would go out with my parents and we would all get drunk together. I thought it was great, that they were the best parents. It was only later that she realised just how damaging that chaotic upbringing was. It wasnt consistent parenting you never knew whether the two of them were going to be OK, she says. Liz often flew into violent rages over Gingers infidelities and it was later discovered that she also suffered from a personality disorder. She took several overdoses and, on one occasion, had to be sectioned. Ginger eventually left her for an 18-year-old lover, Sarah, a friend of Netties. They eloped to Tuscany after the collapse of a recording studio business he had set up in Lagos, Nigeria, leaving Liz and the children to be evicted from Camelot because he could no longer pay the mortgage. Success: Ginger Baker with Cream bandmates Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. By the late 1990s, much of his fortune had been blown on drugs, women and disastrous business ventures. He then moved to Tulbagh, on South Africas Western Cape, where he met Machokoto on a dating site It was like a light switch flicking off we went from rich to poor, Nettie explains. It was much worse for Leda and Kofi, because they were eight and nine years younger than me. Having started out in a pretty sheltered environment in private schools, suddenly they had to go to the local comprehensives. Ginger and Sarah divorced after a year and his third marriage to Karen Loucks was also short-lived. By the late 1990s, much of his fortune had been blown on drugs, women and disastrous business ventures. He then moved to Tulbagh, on South Africas Western Cape, to build a polo ranch, where he was fleeced by a beautiful young accountant, triggering a two-year legal battle which left him broke. It was during this period that Ginger met Kudzai on a dating site. They married in Cape Town in 2010 when he was 70 and she was 28 in a ceremony witnessed by only two people and none of his family. Ginger's family 'weren't invited to the wedding, says Nettie (pictured, holding a photograph of her drummer father). The rocker arrived with his fourth wife without any money on her Aunty Pat's doorstep in December 2011, she alleged The family werent invited to the wedding, says Nettie. We didnt know anything about it. We just knew it was all going wrong for him with this court case and then suddenly he left South Africa, owing 10,000 out there. He and Kudzai arrived with no money on my Aunty Pats [Gingers sisters] doorstep in December 2011. The family decided, with great magnanimity, to try to make the best of things, despite early concerns about the pairs apparently volatile relationship. Nettie says she once discovered her father with a ripped shirt and glass on the floor, just one of several worrying incidents. Between 2012 and 2016, we were still trying to be Kudzais friends for his sake, explains Nettie. In 2014, Leda and I even paid six months rent for them. Dad didnt have any money so we said, Okay, well do it. But Ginger blamed Nettie for the ensuing rift. In one interview, he explained: When Kudzai and I first got together, Nettie caused trouble and they had a really big row. I dont want to go into the ins and outs of it, but Nettie has always been against us being together. Nettie says she was simply concerned for her fathers failing health. He suffered from deafness, degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, meaning he needed to carry oxygen with him. And in 2016 he had heart bypass surgery. Nettie organised his state pension, but this marked a turning point in her relationship with Kudzai, who was clearly unhappy about this meddling in Gingers financial affairs. She rang me at work about it and I was so exasperated that I asked her to leave me alone. I told her I was fed up with always having to say how wonderful she was to please Dad, says Nettie. What followed was a series of emails from Kudzai, many of them cruel and abusive. In one, Kudzai threatens to make Ginger change his will and disinherit his own children. Some of them even referred to Nettie as a devil and an unclean spirit. After the first one, I emailed her with the sarcastic reply, How deeply charming, Nettie admits. She refused to be provoked, but was so shaken that she reported Kudzai to police for harassment. No further action was taken but, says Nettie, the angry emails soon stopped. He poses for a portrait with Rock group Cream in 1968. Ginger's daughter organised his state pension, but this marked a turning point in her relationship with his wife, who was clearly unhappy about this meddling in Gingers finances. She rang me at work about it and I was so exasperated that I asked her to leave me alone. I told her I was fed up with always having to say how wonderful she was to please Dad, says Nettie Ginger continued to side with his new wife, insisting that Nettie was afraid of being cut out of the will. While it is true that there was no fortune to speak of, substantial royalty cheques meant there was still a desirable inheritance. But at the time, Ginger warned: Ill only cut her [Nettie] out if she doesnt stop [her attacks on Kudzai.] The executors of Gingers will who happen to be Kudzais immigration lawyers and who are organising her application for British citizenship are not revealing further details until probate is granted. I never rang Dad about the will, only about whether he had declared his health problems to the insurance for performing because if not, there would have been big repercussions, she says. He was being worked to death when his doctor had said, a year before he died, that he was far too ill to perform. We, his family, all knew he had no property and no money left only fluctuating royalties that he told us, in one of his 2010 emails from abroad, were 75 per cent down on what they had been. Sadly, Nettie no longer had any means of contacting her father directly because she believes Kudzai controlled his phone. Despite everything, however, what Nettie cannot forgive is being excluded from her fathers care during his final weeks. He had been in hospital for three weeks before any of the family were told, she claims. She believes that Kudzai further frustrated the familys efforts to see him by agreeing a secret password with the hospital, without which they were denied access. It meant Nettie only saw her father once before he died. I was my mothers carer till she died [in 2014] and we were all prepared to care for Dad too, but Kudzai was actively stopping us from looking out for him, she says. Ginger continued to side with his new wife, insisting that Nettie (pictured) was afraid of being cut out of the will. While it is true that there was no fortune to speak of, substantial royalty cheques meant there was still a desirable inheritance What sort of person does that? And then to claim that his family wanted nothing to do with him thats absolutely, unequivocally not true. Mum wouldnt have allowed this treatment of Dad in his old age to happen. Kudzai, of course, has her own version of events. Her late husband, she says, had been angered by Netties behaviour, which explains the lack of communication with his daughter. Certainly, the wording of his letter of wishes which has been seen by The Mail on Sunday suggests a degree of anger towards Nettie, who has been left no more than one twelfth of the estate. Speaking yesterday, Kudzai denied excluding the family from his life, saying: The world knows Ginger could never be controlled or coerced into anything. That never changed right up to his dying moments. Its laughable to say otherwise. Her late husband, she says, could phone who he wanted and continued to speak to other relatives. She didnt tell Nettie about Gingers sepsis because I didnt think Nettie had the right to know. There was a special door code to his hospital ward because she wanted to keep fans not the family away from his bedside. Kudzai admits to writing the aggressive and insulting emails, but says: Nettie put both Ginger and me under a lot of duress by sending the police and the social services to our house at all times of the day and night. Pictured: Kudzai Baker (bottom right) with her late husband Ginger Baker (centre), his daughter Netty (right) and grand-daughter Zara (left) As a result, I became furious with her and sent her several messages expressing my anger at her behaviour towards me. My mental health was at breaking point. It is regrettable and a sign of the shock and stress she had put me under. Relations were so bad that the family did not even feel able to attend the funeral. Gingers son Kofi, who plays drums in a Cream tribute band in the United States, had intended to pay tribute to his father using his iconic drumkit at the modest service. But the family claim Kudzai refused to tell them the arrangements until a couple of hours before it began, which meant they felt unwelcome and excluded and, as a result, they did not attend. We felt that we had been so mucked about that we just gave up, says Nettie. I have nothing but contempt for her. She says she is now determined to think not of the past but of her fathers future reputation. Most of all, she says, I just want my dad to be remembered as a great musician. An Australian couple stuck on board a cruise ship in Japan have had two cases of wine delivered by drone. The Diamond Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, was quarantined on Monday upon arriving at Yokohama. An 80-year-old man who disembarked from the cruise in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus, putting the health of all passengers who were on the ship with him at risk. Since Wednesday, the number of passengers confirmed infected has jumped to 64, as the remaining 3,700 passengers huddle in their quarters and wait to see if symptoms of the deadly virus appear. Dave Binskin and his wife Jan, from Palm Beach, on the Gold Coast, were confined to their cabin for three days before they started to struggle with boredom. The enterprising couple decided to get in touch their wine club on Friday, who offered to deliver them some booze by drone. Mr Binskin uploaded another picture of on his bed enjoying his wine with the caption 'happy hour drone wine, going troppo' Writing on Facebook Mr Binskin said: 'On a lighter note in the middle of the Kaos yesterday we get a ring from our wine club I asked if they do free freight to Japan we have arranged for two cases to be delivered by drone.' Within hours of ordering his wines,a happy Mr Binskin shared a photo of a bottle pinot noir and two wine glasses on his dresser. He said the Japanese guard was confused when he spotted the drone but did nothing to stop the delivery. Mr Binskin uploaded another picture of on his bed enjoying his wine with the caption 'happy hour drone wine, going troppo'. After successfully receiving his order, he joked asking for some knitting needles for his wife. Mr and Mrs Binskin look over the moon after receiving two cases of booze to their cabin via drone Dave Binskin and his wife Jan contacted his wine club and ordered some drinks while he's quarantined on a cruise ship The pair are expected to remain on the ship (pictured stock) for another 11 days with more than 3,000 passengers Despite the situation, Mr Binskin thanked the captain and the crew for their 'fabulous job in a very difficult situation'. The pair are expected to remain on the ship for another 11. There are currently 15 cases of coronavirus identified in Australia. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday that Japan will deny entry of foreign passengers on another cruise ship heading to Japan - Holland America's cruise ship Westerdam, on its way to Okinawa from Hong Kong - because of suspected coronavirus patients found on the ship. The new immigration policy takes effect Friday to ensure border control to prevent the disease from entering and spreading further into Japan, Abe said. David and Judy Holst, from South Australia, are aboard a Holland America vessel currently circling around in the ocean east of Taiwan. As Japanese officials loaded the Diamond Princess with supplies to make the quarantine as bearable as possible, passengers took to social media to highlight kindnesses by the crew and to complain about dwindling medicine, the quality of the food and the inability to exercise or even leave their cabins. The lead defendant in a drug trafficking organization case that operated heavily in Smyth County was sentenced on Thursday in federal court. According to a release from U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullens office, 44-year-old Daniel Augusto Rosa-Suarez, of Texas, admitted to leading the organization, which distributed methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin into Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana, Texas and other jurisdictions. He also admitted to traveling throughout the United States to acquire drugs for his trafficking organization to distribute to sub-distributors, the release said. Rosa-Suarez was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distributing 500 or more grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and cocaine. According to the release, court documents show Rosa-Suarez conspired with at least 12 other individuals to traffic the drugs from Texas and Indiana into Southwest Virginia for redistribution. The case arose from a series of indictments that stemmed from an ongoing methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy ring that primarily operated in Smyth County. "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... At least four persons were charred to death ina huge fire that erupted at a cloth factory in Narol locality of Ahmedabad in Gujarat onSaturday evening, police said. The blaze broke out around 6 pm, fire brigade officials said, adding it was brought under control after four hours. "Four charred bodies were recovered from the denim factory after the fire was doused. Their identification is underway," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 6) Bipin Ahire. Around a dozen fire fighters struggled to put out the flames. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, officials added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Director for European Affairs, exits Longworth House Office Building after testifying before the House Intelligence Committee during the second week of impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 19, 2019. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) Trump Defends Ousting NSCs Vindman, Calls Him Very Insubordinate President Donald Trump on Feb. 8 defended the ousting of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, calling the former National Security Council (NSC) staffer very insubordinate. Vindman, who testified against Trump during the Houses impeachment inquiry in 2019, was escorted from the White House on Feb. 7. Trump said that cable news kept speaking of Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I dont know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I dont believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my perfect calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information, Trump wrote in a statement on Twitter. In other words, OUT.' It was the first official confirmation of Vindman being removed from his position on the National Security Council. Tim Morrison, former top national security adviser to President Donald Trump, arrives for a closed door meeting to testify as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, Washington, on Oct. 31, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) Trump appeared to be referring to testimony from Tim Morrison, another former council official who told lawmakers he considered Vindman unreliable and said Vindman may have leaked information. Morrison said that Fiona Hill, another NSC official, and others had concerns about Vindmans judgment. Vindmans attorney, David Pressman, denied Trumps claims, in a statement to media outlets on Feb. 8. The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, Pressman said in the statement. They conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military. Asked about the concerns during the House inquiry, Vindman last year produced an evaluation from Hill saying he exercises excellent judgement and said Morrisons concerns may have stemmed from a difference in stance toward approaching work. Vindman spoke extensively during the House inquiry of his feelings about Trumps July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vindman, who said he was offered a top post in the Ukrainian government multiple times, described the call as shocking. I couldnt believe what I was hearing, Vindman told lawmakers in November 2019. It was probably an element of shockthat maybe, in certain regards, my worst fear of how our Ukraine policy could play out was playing out, and how this was likely to have significant implications for U.S. national security. Vindman said he reported his concerns to John Eisenberg, a White House lawyer. The official White House Twitter account criticized Vindman as he was testifying, alleging that the impeachment efforts against Trump were a sham. Trump was impeached the following month but acquitted by the Senate this month. President Donald Trump waves as he walks from Marine One as he departs Washington for travel to North Carolina at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Feb. 7, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Trump told reporters earlier on Feb. 7 that he was not happy with Vindman. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not, he said, adding that White House officials would decide whether to fire or reassign Vindman. Vindman, who was scheduled to stay on the council until July, could be reassigned to the Pentagon, according to several reports citing anonymous sources. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said when questioned about the situation that we welcome back all of our service members, wherever they serve, to any assignment they are given. We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that, he said. Another person who took the stand during the House hearings said on Feb. 7 that he was going to be recalled from his position. Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, said through his lawyer that he was told that Trump intends to recall me effective immediately. The White House and the Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment. Jack Phillips, Mimi Nguyen Ly, and Janita Kan contributed to this report. Update: The article was updated to include a statement from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindmans lawyer. It is impossible for Mumbaikars not to glimpse themselves or someone they know in Sudhir Patwardhan's paintings, notes Ranjita Ganesan. In Sudhir Patwardhan's Paying the Bill (2005), a woman stands stoically at the counter of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board office, umbrella tucked under one arm and her mouth gripping a purse so that her hands are free to rummage in a plastic bag. She is likely searching for the bill. Just hours before seeing this work at the retrospective of the artist at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, I had hiked to one such ramshackle office myself, to pay dues that wouldn't go through on the Internet. It is impossible for Mumbaikars not to glimpse themselves or someone they know in Patwardhan's oeuvre. It is as if he was there, observing as you went about the ungainly performance of everyday tasks, and chronicling on canvas the many ways in which people sweat the small stuff. He had arrived in the city back in the mid-1970s, leaving behind a close-knit community in Pune. "It was a culture shock, being suddenly exposed to this megacity where you are completely anonymous. The scale of the city and number of people in it also made a great impact," he recalls. The city did not let him remain an onlooker. Taking up work, as a radiologist at the KEM Hospital, meant he was soon a participant in the city's choreographed chaos. IMAGE: Sudhir Patwardhan, doctor and painter. Photograph: Kind courtesy Avid Learning/Facebook The traumatic yet deadpan navigation of buses, trains and autorickshaws, so often captured in his paintings, owes as much to observation as it does to his own daily experience in the early years. "It is not like I was doing that in order to imbibe the city, I was living that life like so many others going to work." The trains were not as crowded then, he says, and it was possible to sketch a lot. He would draw versions of people he saw, sometimes even after they had got up and left. At home, he drew them from memory. In later years, he took photographs of sites too. Every so often, he found one of the sketches could become a painting if he added references and developed its forms. In his middle-class upbringing, there had not been a great deal of exposure to art. But his father, who was talented in the crafts, dabbled in carpentry and neatly stencilled his name on trunks each time his transferrable job took him elsewhere. From his mother, Patwardhan learned to enjoy reading. The painter in him only awakened while studying at Pune's Armed Forces Medical College. There he was moved by books about Impressionist art, and began relating them to his own surroundings -- a sunny hostel in the city. He also began reading to understand what it means to be an artist. Handling paint, cleaning brushes, painting, all seemed to come naturally to him. It was in college that he was also exposed to Leftist thinking. For a young man living through a time of social unrest, with strikes in industry and the farm sector, it presented a way to understand these churns. Though not one for active politics, Patwardhan remained engaged with the ideology. "I saw myself as a painter and not an activist. Representing the lives of the people, that was my work." He made a series of works in 1977 documenting sensitively the labouring body and its exertion of muscle -- the unadorned, sari-clad Running Woman, the wearied labourer peeling off his vest in Construction Site, the worker hanging on an eponymous Truck, the waiter resting at a table in Irani Restaurant. These works are as much about the city as about the "tragic human species". The piece de resistance of the retrospective curated by Nancy Adajania is Mumbai Proverbs, a wall-sized seven-panel mural made for the Mahindra family and which usually hangs in one of their corporate offices. Here, like a partisan historian, Patwardhan records the city's development from its colonial architecture to the rise of industry. He juxtaposes cubicles and cramped housing, luxurious highways and overcrowded streets. States of flux have been a source of inspiration for him. In his Lower Parel (2002), for instance, the old railway footbridge, the tiny enterprises beneath, a closed-down mill in the background and the first of the skyscrapers co-exist, at once peaceably and turbulently. He also captured the natural beauty of far-off Ulhasnagar (2001), being rapidly corrupted by effluents from its many industries. In the 1980s, the artist had moved to Thane, where he later ran his own radiology practice until 2005. This distant, verdant suburb, while on the periphery of the city, was still considered a small town then. A deluge in 1991 submerged his ground-floor home and the paraphernalia of his art in several feet of water. Patwardhan based a set of works on this moment -- Floods has a morose man bailing out water from his house, while another is seen wading with a television on his head in Man with TV. He captured the atmosphere of unease created by the Bombay riots, when the artist felt a flicker of doubt about taking his usual route through Thane's Muslim neighbourhood of Rabodi, in the lowered gaze of the subjects in Shaque (1998). One of his preoccupations has been to get those who are not normally associated with art involved with art. So he painted a series titled Pokharan, an area in Thane, and exhibited it to residents there. As the artist, now 71, ages and uses public transport less frequently, there is more of the indoors in his recent work. Some of it signals stillness, some a sense of melancholic joy. His own family, particularly his wife Shanta, appears in several of the paintings. Take Transmigrations, in which he reflects on home in various contexts on a single canvas. His ancestral home in Sangli merges with the Pune house where his brother stayed which melds into Chicago where his son Tanmay lives. Patwardhan says the artist's response to violent times should be to identify the capacity for harm within himself. A pile of corpses is on a table in Inner Room (2017), where a man, woman and child are in a warped house. The destruction raging outside their windows is evident in their own home too. He notes that in any group of people, even during times of strife, there is a kind of rhythm that connects them. When he painted Killing in 2007, he depicted a violent stabbing where the victim and killer end up in an intimate dance-like embrace. He quotes in this context Carl Sagan's description in Pale Blue Dot of an image of the Earth taken from very far away. 'Every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there,' the astronomer wrote. "In art, we must hold things together so that one understands something beyond violence is possible," Patwardhan concludes, "That we are actually one." Photographs: Kind courtesy sudhirpatwardhan.com The father of a self-confessed killer has been ordered to do 90 hours community service for assaulting a journalist. Gavin Smyth (42) was also told he must pay the journalist 200 compensation for the shocking attack. Lisburn Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that Smyth, from Granville Place in Belfast, had been involved in an altercation with a journalist who was taking pictures outside court following a hearing involving his 22-year-old son Lee Smyth. Last month at Belfast Crown Court, Lee Smyth was handed a nine-year sentence after he admitted to the manslaughter of Chris Meli, a 20-year-old father-of-one who was beaten by a crowd of up to 15 people in an area known as Docs Path in Twinbrook in December 2015. Jailing Smyth, Mr Justice Colton said he had no doubt he had played a leading role in the attack on Mr Meli. On Thursday, Gavin Smyth was sentenced for the November 9, 2018, attack outside Lisburn court having pleaded guilty to common assault last month. His defence barrister told the court the journalist had been taking pictures of Smyths son and other defendants in the Christopher Meli case as they left the court. He claimed the victim had put the camera in the face of the accused and that the mother of another defendant in the Meli case slapped the camera out of the victims hands. She has since accepted a caution for attempted criminal damage. The defence barrister said the picture of exactly what happened next is confusing as there was some ambiguity as to who struck the journalist but he added that although Smyth accepted striking him it was more of a push than a full blown punch. District Judge Rosemary Watters said she accepted the Meli case was an emotive one but said that did not justify Smyths actions. She went on to say she regarded the incident as serious but also recognised the emotiveness of the case Mr Smyths son was involved in at the time. Judge Watters revealed that Smyth was assessed as a low risk of reoffending and while he had a lengthy record for motoring offences, he had no previous for assault. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Fleeing persecution and atrocities in the form of forced religious conversions and abduction of Sikh and Hindu girls so that they could be married against their will to Muslims, Pakistani Hindus, in surging numbers, have been crossing over into India. Factor this. Over the last three months, as many as 2,604 Hindus crossed over through the Attari-Wagah border. Only 1,328 of these people, who arrived on 25-day tourist visas to visit shrines, returned to their homeland. The passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which holds up the promise of permanent residency to persecuted non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, prompted the remaining 1,276 to stay back. A hundred more Pakistani Hindus crossed over in the first week of February in the quest of citizenship and many more are expected to follow in their footsteps. Sources at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the Attari border confirmed the surging numbers of Pakistani migrants, saying as many as 1,200 minority Hindus, the highest in the last three months, crossed over this January. Only a fraction of them, 200 to be precise, went back, sources said. Last December, as many 870 Pakistani Hindus arrived from across the border, they said, adding that while 659 of them went back to their homeland, the rest didnt. In November, 534 minority Hindus crossed over into India and only 378 of them returned, sources said. It is learned that the strength of a Jatha, group of minority Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, has gone up from 50 to 200. Sources attributed the spike to the fact that unlike previously when the pilgrims didnt have their kin in tow, the ones arriving now are accompanied by their family members. This is our country and it has taken us a lot of trouble to reach here. Abduction of our girls had become a routine affair in Pakistan, as the authorities did nothing about it. We lived in fear, said a Pakistani migrant. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said he personally received four such families who fled religious persecution in Pakistan. He said he would meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to request him to grant them Indian citizenship. He said they feared their daughters would be abducted and forced to convert. Sikhs waiting for visas The Duke of Sussex has reportedly admitted that he was getting therapy to overcome the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a tragic accident back in 1997. According to international media reports, Prince Harry made comments about his mental health during a speech at a JP morgan-sponsored event in Miami. It was also his first public appearance since he and his wife Meghan decided to step down as royal and move to Canada. Prince Harry reportedly said that he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother. He further also talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional. As per international media reports, Prince Harry also admitted that things had been difficult and said that he did not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child. READ: Prince Harry Labelled The 'best Husband In The World' After Viral Video This is not the first time Prince Harry spoke about his mother. Back in 2017, he also opened about seeking counselling after two years of 'total chaos' brought in by spending two decades 'not thinking' about the death of his mother, Diana. Harry and Meghan step down as Royals The couple has been making headlines ever since they stepped down as Senior Royals and moving out of Britain to settle in Canada. Prince Harry reportedly wanted to start a new life with his wife Meghan Markle and his 8-month-old son Archie away from the scrutiny of the British media. READ: Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Treat Guards Like 'skivvies': Reports He has also reportedly issued a legal warning to the media over the photographs of his wife. There have been rumours, according to the reports, that the photographers often spied from behind the bushes in order to capture photographs of Meghan walking her dog near seaside bolthole or carrying her son in public. The Duke of Sussex has often been upset about the press scrutiny and cited it a major reason for stepping away from royal duties, suggest reports. READ: Brad Pitt Jokes About Prince Harry At Film Awards READ: Prince Harry's Complaint Against Tabloid Article Rejected By Press Watchdog Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 01:16:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SOFIA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A group of 20 Bulgaria's customs officers and border policemen serving at the Kalotina checkpoint on the country's border with Serbia were charged with bribery, an official said here on Friday. Siyka Mileva, spokesperson of Bulgaria's Prosecutor General, said that the group, which was led by the head of the checkpoint and included also 15 customs inspectors and four border policemen, was arrested on Thursday. The group has been active since the beginning of 2019, and its members have illegally requested and received money from drivers, mainly Turkish nationals, Mileva said at a press conference. The bribes varied depending on the driver, goods and vehicle, Mileva said. The total amount of the bribe received by the group reached some 2,900 euros (3,175 U.S. dollars) per shift, Mileva said. In late January 2020, High Country Humane appointed Joanne Keene to its board of directors. Keene, the executive vice president and chief of staff at Northern Arizona University, joins 10 other board members as the organization moves into its second year of operations as the city of Flagstaff and Coconino Countys partner in the sheltering and welfare of companion animals. Keene has been in her current role at NAU since 2015. Prior to joining the university, she worked in federal, state and local government roles, including as government relations director for Coconino County and public information Officer for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Keene also spent eight years working for the U.S. House of Representatives, five of which were spent in Washington, D.C. She has both a masters degree in public administration and a bachelors degree in English and broadcast journalism from NAU. She is also a certified public manager through Arizona State University and a Flinn-Brown Fellow. Keene and her husband have one dog, Indie, who was adopted from Second Chance 12 years ago. The Second Chance shelter location, which closed its doors in 2017, now houses High Country Humane. Joannes passion for animals and her strong professional background will bring insightful perspectives to High Country Humanes Board, Liz Bohlke, interim executive director of High Country Humane, said. We are thrilled to add her to our expanding team. High Country Humanes mission is to transform lives by providing exceptional animal care and ad option services, supporting and strengthening the bond between pets and people, and advocating for the wellbeing of all animals. For more information, visit www.highcountryhumane.org Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 If I will die, let it ... Two Cancun cops arrested for allegedly uttering death threats Cancun, Q.R. Two men who were arrested by Cancun police for allegedly making a death threat are reported to be city police officers. Elements of the Quintana Roo Police made the arrests after a couple reported being threatened with death while at a Cancun gas station. Authorities specify that Quintana Roo Police officers were making a prevention and surveillance tour in the 97 region when they assured two men who were traveling in a gray car. Both suspects are allegedly responsible for threatening a motorist. According to the report, the victim told the agents that moments before, he was at a gas station with his partner when they were approached by the pair in a gray car. One of them took out a firearm and threatened him with death. The man said he immediately accelerated his car to leave and that his assailants followed him several blocks until he requested police support. The alleged aggressors were identified as 40-year-old Eddi N and 26-year-old and Roger N. The detainees presented identification that accredits them as elements of the Ministerial Police and the Quintana Roo Police, respectively. Both detainees belong to police corporations and are accused of abuse of authority and threats. During the arrest, police located a backpack where inside they found a firearm and stocked magazines. Both were arrested and transferred to the Municipal Secretariat. Partner Africa, a UK-registered business-social audit firm, engaged by FrieslandCampina WAMCO following a PREMIUM TIMES investigation that exposed child labour in the Dutch multinational companys supply chain in Nigeria, has released its report, containing claims that substantially differ from the truth. From our research we observed that the Fulani children working in the communities supplying milk to FrieslandCampina WAMCO are best categorised as working children rather than child labour, Partner Africas executive director Sara Clancy said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES last Friday. This conclusion is made on the basis that, as we state in our report, Fulani children who are involved in light work around the homes and the farms have access to education, time to play and are not in hazardous conditions, the official said, summarily restating the key point of the firms report shared with PREMIUM TIMES on January 21 by FrieslandCampina. However, crucially, the Partner Africas report does not indicate it visited the farms where and when milking takes place to determine incidence of child labour. The Fulani children who work to extract the milk sold to FrislandCampina in Nigeria are not able to attend school and some of them sleep in hovels on isolated farms, bare of any water and sanitation facility. This is child labour as defined by the International Labour Organisation and Nigerias child rights law. Following months-long investigation that included visits to over a dozen cattle farms across Oyo State, western Nigeria, where FrieslandCampina sources raw milk, PREMIUM TIMES in December 2019 reported rampant child labour incidences in the supply chain of the Dutch dairy giant. The report was published with motion and still pictures presenting evidence of child labour. After the publication, FrieslandCampina engaged Partner Africa for an investigation of its supply chain. After a review and fieldwork that the firm says took six days, it released its report. The Dutch government also reacted to PREMIUM TIMES investigation saying it was taking the matter seriously. Flawed submission The report by Partner Africa refutes the routine incidences of child labour found by PREMIUM TIMES but the purported research, which the group says it conducted, lacked rigour and was conditioned by FrieslandCampina, our review and findings showed. The report is flawed and demonstrates no sound premise for its findings, an analyst said, suggesting a rushed step to help the company cover up the adverse human rights issue in its Nigerian supply chain. My first impression here is that this is a whitewash and an attempt to deny, said Seun Kolade, development expert and senior lecturer in strategic management at Leicester Castle School of the De Montfort University of the United Kingdom. As I feel that it is great that (the company) took action after being accused of child labour, which is an abuse of childrens rights, I wonder whether this organisation (Partner Africa) has actually gone to the farms which you investigated and spoke with the children and the people involved, commented Miriam Mannak, South African development journalist, who writes for publications in Europe and South Africa. It almost feels the researchers of Partner Africa havent gone to the farms and have spoken to stakeholders who are not directly involved in child labour. Ms Mannak received the Partner Africas report. While Partner Africa reports medium risk of child labour, it says also we identified no actual instances of child labour or of childrens engagement in hazardous work in the settled milk-producing Fulani communities supplying WAMCO and participating in the Dairy Development Programme we sampled as part of this investigation. First Flaw: A guided and conditioned research In the wake of our publication in December, sources among the Fulani suppliers of FrieslandCampina described how they were subtly intimidated by the company as its officials expressed worries about disclosures assumed to have helped PREMIUM TIMES uncover routine child labour incidence. The suppliers then held a series of meetings, and in a particular case in Iseyin, those identified or suspected as having spoken with PREMIUM TIMES were blamed. Many of them feared our report could affect their relationship with FrieslandCampina and they resolved against further disclosures in respect of child labour. That was the context of the field at which Partner Africa conducted its research after it was hired by FrieslandCampina. The firms report appears to recognise that the respondents during the research were influenced and had previous awareness of the questions. We note that the stakeholders consulted were well-informed on the contents of the journalists report (PREMIUM TIMES investigation) and it is possible that they had time to prepare answers to our researchers questions in advance, the report says, disclosing research limitations. A number of stakeholders were keen to stress the positive impact of the DDP and the social investment from WAMCO on their communities livelihoods. We recognise that it may be in these communities best interest to dismiss these allegations in order to protect their relationship with WAMCO and the continuation of social investment. Partner Africa admits FrieslandCampina compiled the field plan, and helped provide access to information, suggesting the research was not independent. Advertisements The field researchers (of Partner Africa) were accompanied by (FrieslandCampina) WAMCO extension officers; however, these representatives were not present during KIIs (key informant interviews) and were only present at the discretion of the field research lead during FGDs (focus group discussions), says the report. We are wondering if this can be regarded as the outcome of an independent investigation, commented PREMIUM TIMES Editor-in-Chief Musikilu Mojeed in a reply to the company after receiving the report. Especially given the fact that the NGO which carried it out was contracted by WAMCO itself to do so. More often than not, he who pays the piper calls the tune. It is possible that only a few people will take this report seriously. Partner Africa also suggests FrieslandCampina required the research be limited to only direct engagement with stakeholders within the supply chain without involving external actors such as NGOs, local organisations or the media, which would have helped a greater level of transparency. This (engagement with external actors) was not included in this study and we recommend further external engagement going forward, says Partner Africa. Loopholes This is almost something of a hatchet job, an elaborate plan to cover whats happening, said Mr Kolade. The report from a method point of view does not inspire much confidence. The method section is sketchy and fishy. They didnt give details about the method. You can still adhere to the principles of anonymity but provide details about when the interviews took place, where they took place, what were the criteria for selection- for individual interviews and the focus group discussions. What were the exclusion criteria? The development expert then queried: What measures, given the sensitivity of the case, did you (firm) take to ensure that both individuals and groups give unbiased, free-minded responses? However, Ms Clancy, Partner Africas executive director, said our report was independent and the findings were in no way guided or influenced by FrieslandCampina. Partner Africa researchers are trained to identify inconsistencies and manipulation of information and we take our position as an independent NGO working to safeguard the rights of individuals in global supply chains and improve working conditions very seriously. Flaw two: No evidence Partner Africa visited any farm where and when milking actually takes place Partner Africa reports it found no incidence of child labour after having only purportedly been to the Fulani pastoralists communities, the companys collection centres, three commercial farms, and interacted with 123 respondents. The firm reports no visit to the Fulani farms at the time milking takes place in the morning. Reporting no child labour in the supply chain, therefore, suggests a concoction to help FrieslandCampina cover its corporate sustainability failure. PREMIUM TIMES authoritatively reported that unpaid child labour routinely goes into the extraction of milk sold to FrieslandCampina as the company fails to implement necessary due diligence that could have helped check that adverse human rights incidence. This followed our visits to several farms at the time the milking of cows took place. The milking takes place at about 5 6:30 AM each morning and we obtained videos and photos of children involved. To ensure evidence was obtained from farms actually supplying FrieslandCampina, PREMIUM TIMES was led to the farms by milk collectors engaged by the company. Partner Africa only probably visited Fulani settlements, which are different from the farms where milking takes places; and observed domestic work such as cleaning and sweeping being carried out by children as commonly seen in other homes. If you want to know what is going on with children, speak with children, not adults because theyd be protecting one another, said Ms Mannak, South Africas development journalist, who criticised the absence of children among the respondents interviewed by Partner Africa. Partner Africas report says the researchers could not interview children because of limited access citing the Fulanis conservative culture. PREMIUM TIMES mentioned this flaw to Partner Africa. The firms reply through Ms Clancy, however, does not address the concern that its researchers were not at the Fulani farms where and when milking actually takes place to determine presence of child labour. Flaw three: No mention of schools purportedly attended by the pastoral children Stakeholders told us that 100 per cent of the children of the appropriate age in their communities attend school and are not employed in child labour, Partner Africa reports. Although the firm says it visited 13 schools purportedly attended by the Fulani children, it only saw two open as the others were on holiday. Apart from not mentioning the schools it visited, it admits it was difficult to confirm the school attendance rates of Fulani children or speak to as many teachers as we would have liked to. Also, if the respondents indeed reported that 100 per cent of their children, that was likely because the research conducted was guided by FrieslandCampina, which Partner Africa admits helped compile the field plan. The reality, as our investigation showed, is that the children, involved in the supply chain of FrieslandCampina, are not in school and their role may pose a risk to their development against international principles and Nigerian law. At 5 AM each day, they begin the first task of extracting milk from cows. By 11 AM, they herd the animals to graze in the bushes and urban areas, trekking several kilometres in keeping with an outdated animal husbandry method still common in sub-Saharan Africa. They return at dusk. Their ages notwithstanding, they sleep in hovels on the isolated farm apparently to ensure the security of the animals in a country where farmers and herders frequently clash over land rights and resources. It is ironic that FrieslandCampina accepted Partner Africas report having previously told PREMIUM TIMES repeatedly that the Fulani pastoral groups were conservative and ill-disposed to education and the company should not be blamed for the rampant incidence of non-schooling and working children. Ms Clancy said, at the two schools researchers saw open, we were able to visually confirm Fulani childrens attendance and speak to teachers who were able to confirm community sentiment towards education as good. It is not clear why the said two schools opened during holidays, while others did not. Though the children are not in direct contract with FrieslandCampina, the results of their labour are clearly linked with the operation and the products of the company. This type of linkage situation will be the leading source of child labour risks, according to the ILO and the International Organisation of Employers Child Labour Guidance Tool for Business, which is grounded in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, 2011. The report also ignored the video published by PREMIUM TIMES containing evidence of child labour. Repetition Despite the flaws in the report, Partner Africa recommends that FrieslandCampina should develop an ongoing localised due diligence programme around tracking and monitoring child labour risks and human rights impacts, including through the engagement of external stakeholders such as local NGO, youth associations and civil society organisations, and aim to access womens and childrens voices through continued engagement in the Fulani milk-producing communities, building trust and rapport. READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES had already reported that in its dealing with those Fulani pastoralists in Oyo State, the company did not implement necessary due diligence to check adverse human rights and sustainability issues as required by international principles on business. The corporate responsibility failure by FrieslandCampina breaches Nigerias child rights and basic education laws. It is also potentially a crime in the companys home country, The Netherlands, where the Child Labour Due Diligence Law obliging companies to check child labour in their supply chain home and abroad was adopted last year (though not immediately enforced). It also runs contrary to the duties expected of businesses in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite not reporting incidence of child labour, Ms Clancy said, we flagged the risks as there are many improvements that could be made by FrieslandCampina WAMCO in their engagement with the communities, including a need to continue to undertake due diligence on the supply chain, particularly with the aim of building enough trust and rapport to hear women and childrens voices. We have assurances from FrieslandCampina that they are committed to acting upon our recommendations. Fire service personnel salute as the coffin of Charlie Bell is carried into Seagoe Parish Church in Portadown A former fire chief who was on the scene of many of Northern Ireland's worst terrorist atrocities, including the Enniskillen bombing, was given a fitting tribute yesterday as two fire engines led his funeral cortege. Charlie Bell (79) died in hospital on Monday after battling a series of cancers for a remarkable 23 years. And it was revealed that the former Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Northern Ireland narrowly escaped death off-duty as well as on it. In August 1988 he was driving in Lisburn right behind the car of an RUC detective, John Warnock, who died after an IRA booby-trap bomb exploded. Mr Bell sustained facial injuries but eye-witnesses talked of how he scrambled bleeding from his car to direct traffic away from the danger at Sloan Street in Lisburn. The policeman's death devastated Mr Bell who told friends and family that "I got off lightly". Mr Bell's daughter Helen Stephenson said that her father, who was born in Dungiven, "lived and breathed for the Fire Service and dedicated himself to helping people from both sides of the community". He became a retained fire officer in his home town in 1960 before going full-time in Londonderry and he was later promoted to oversee the service in the south of the province before moving to headquarters in Lisburn as Assistant Chief Fire Officer. Mrs Stephenson said her father sometimes talked to his family about "the truly awful things" he had seen throughout his career. "They were terrible, terrible days for him," she said. "His experiences at Enniskillen where 11 people were killed and at Narrow Water where 18 soldiers died and at countless other terrorist incidents throughout Northern Ireland left a legacy. But there was no such thing as counselling for members of the emergency services or the police in those days. "They just had to get on with it. "But his admiration for what his fire officers did throughout the troubles never dimmed. She added: "And he also spoke about other dreadful calls he had attended that weren't connected to the Troubles, like house fires, road accidents and the sad, sad deaths of children." Mr Bell was also tasked on occasions to talk to the media about major terrorist atrocities. Mrs Stephenson said she and the rest of his family constantly worried about Mr Bell and she added: "It was always a joy for us to see his white Vauxhall Cavalier car coming into the driveway." Mr Bell was awarded an MBE in recognition of his work in the Fire Service in 1978. Having retired in 1990 after 30 years of service, Mr Bell had a farm smallholding and served on a number of organisations including the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. In 1997 he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and he underwent surgery and chemotherapy. He survived, but some years later he developed prostate cancer and underwent radiotherapy. However, the disease spread to different parts of his body and one of his kidneys was removed along with other organs. Mrs Stephenson said: "He fought his illness bravely, quietly and honourably. He was guided by his faith, love and hope... he also looked after my mother Olive through difficult times too and he wouldn't take any help at all until she had to move into a care home. They'd been married for nearly 58 years." Yesterday fire officers carried Mr Bell's coffin from his home in Portadown. The cortege led by the fire engines was given a police escort to Seagoe Parish Church where he had been church warden and member of the select vestry. Mr Bell was later buried at Seagoe Cemetery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday once again called upon Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for the minority Tamils in the island nation. "I am confident that the Sri Lankan government will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within united Sri Lanka," he said. The Prime Minister held delegation-level talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, which focussed on expanding cooperation over terrorism as well as promoting joint economic projects in the island nation. "India and Sri Lanka are neighbours as well as close friends. We share common bonds. Terrorism is a big problem in our region. Both of us have fought it befittingly. We will further increase our cooperation against terror," said Prime Minister Modi. He also recalled the painful and barbaric Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in April last year that killed 259 people. "These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity as a whole," Modi stressed. The meeting focussed on promoting joint economic projects in Sri Lanka and enhancing bilateral relations over trade and investment. The two leaders also discussed ways to increase people-to-people contact and encourage tourism between the two neighbours. "Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future are connected with each other in every region. Stability, security, and prosperity in Sri Lanka are in India's interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region," Modi said. "India has been a trusted partner in the development efforts of Sri Lanka. The new Lines of Credit announced last year will give more strength to our development cooperation," he added. Rajapaksa, on the occasion, noted that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed several important issues. "I am very pleased to be here my first official visit abroad after assuming office as a Prime Minister. Today, our discussions were based on the outcome of the discussion that the Prime Minister and President Gotabaya had during his very successful visit to India in November last year," he said. Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. Rajapaksa arrived here on Friday. A delegation of Congress Party led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi met the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on the same day. The visiting dignitary is further scheduled to call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irked by new banknote, India tells Saudi to take urgent steps and depict right map 2G mobile data services extended in J&K till Feb 15 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday announced the extension of the 2G mobile data service in the union territory till February 15. The order to this effect was issued by the principal secretary, home department, Shaleen Kabra, in the evening. It also increased the whitelisted sites available for mobile data users in the union territory to 481. The order said Kabra reviewed the restrictions on mobile data services with regard to its impact on the overall security situation and after due consideration of reports of law enforcement agencies, which have, among other things, brought out the usage of the internet for carrying out terror activities at various places as well as use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for this purpose despite measures taken by the telecom service providers (TSP). Govt plans another foreign delegation visit to Jammu and Kashmir: Sources The order referred to the recent encounter at Ban Toll Plaza in the Nagrota area of Jammu; grenade attack in Pratap Park, Srinagar and a gunfight near Shalteng on Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway. While three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed and three overground workers arrested when security forces intercepted a Kashmir-bound truck at Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, eight persons including two CRPF jawans were injured in the grenade attack in Srinagar. Two terrorists were killed and another arrested near Shalteng when they were intercepted by security forces while moving towards Srinagar. "The directions or restrictions contained in dated January 31 shall continue to remain operative till February 15, unless modified earlier," Kabra said in the order. Hours after restoration, low speed mobile internet snapped in Valley The 2G internet facility on mobile phones was restored for a week in Jammu and Kashmir on January 25 after remaining suspended since August 5 last year when the Centre announced nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution applicable to the erstwhile state and also bifurcated it into union territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. It was reviewed on January 31 and was extended for another week, which was ending on Friday. JetBlue's founder David Neeleman says Breeze Airways could fly as early as this year. Nearly 20 years to the day of JetBlue Airways' first flight, the New York-based carrier's founder filed an application with the Department of Transportation to operate a new airline: Breeze Airways. David Neeleman's new U.S. leisure-focused carrier would start out providing point-to-point domestic service, flying used subleased Embraer planes from another airline he founded, Brazil's Azul. It could fly as early as the end of this year, he told CNBC. Breeze, which vows to become "the world's nicest airline," will focus on mid-sized cities "abandoned by our current air transportation network," the company said in its Friday filing. Years of mega-mergers left four airlines Delta, United, American and Southwest in control of about three-quarters of the domestic market. "We're going to fly where no one else is flying," Neeleman said. Neeleman said he's considering about 500 city pairs but hasn't yet settled on a network. Passengers largely would bypass large hubs to connect. Point-to-point flying is a go-to model for discount carriers including Allegiant. Breeze's chief commercial officer Lukas Johnson worked at Allegiant for almost a decade. "He understands those markets...and if we have a plane that's smaller with a lower trip cost, there's a lot of opportunity," said Neeleman. Its now been several weeks since the Texas Department of Emergency Management asked President Donald Trump to award public assistance for Tropical Depression Imelda-related costs to specific counties, despite the entire state not reaching the damage threshold. If approved, such an action would be unprecedented. But Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin said if his and other counties that sustained substantial storm damage dont get reimbursed, it will be the first time in his 20 years with the department. I dont remember a storm before this where we got a direct hit and didnt get assistance, he said. After that storm that popped up overnight, Humberto, we didnt get assistance. But we didnt meet the damage threshold then. Many school districts, cities and counties still are tallying damage and costs from the storm. But as of early February, it seems Southeast Texas school districts will bear the brunt of a potential lack of reimbursement. Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District, where the namesake towns recorded 40.59 and 42.52 inches of rainfall respectively, has tallied about $15 million in damage, $11 million of which was uninsured. We are not sure yet what the impacts will be on our budget, superintendent Dwaine Augustine said. I dont think we are going to be cutting teachers or anything like that. I know FEMA hasnt declared the area yet, but Im not sure why we havent gotten to that threshold. For the seven-county area affected by Imelda to get the declaration from FEMA allowing reimbursement for expenses spent as a result of the storm, each county has to prove its met its portion of the required $37.7 million. Ardoin said Orange County has easily met its threshold, which is about $300,000. The cost of overtime, damage to one county building and other related costs totals about $950,000. He said adding in the two impacted school districts increases that total by about $4.5 million. Nearly $3 million of that comes from Vidor Independent School District, which only has to pay part of the $5.6 million in damage because of flood insurance. Superintendent Jay Killgo said the district has had to dip into its reserve fund to cover Imelda-related purchases. Because we had these funds set aside in reserve, there has been no major impact of staffing our regular maintenance and operations budget, he said. In Jefferson County, Auditor Patrick Swain previously said the county likely will be out about $3 million to cover debris, emergency measures and damage to buildings and other property without the FEMA declaration. However hes not concerned that the impact will be too damaging as the money will come out of the countys disaster fund. Representatives from Lamar University previously said they expected the total Imelda cost to hit about $2.1 million after repairs are done $700,000 more than the total cost from Topical Storm Harvey. And even though the City of Beaumont has started pursuing some necessary repairs, CFO Todd Simoneaux said the city still is holding off on others with a glimmer of hope that FEMA will make the declaration. Projects are not reimbursed if not approved by FEMA prior to construction. Were still communicating with the state agencies trying to determine how close we are to meeting the state threshold, he said. It seems to change every time we talk to someone. I dont think we have a hard date on when well give up on assistance though. Through January, the city spent $2.3 million on Imelda-related expenses, an amount Simoneaux expects can be absorbed by the countys healthy reserve fund. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain A former care home boss has been jailed for six years after he raped a drunk woman in a train toilet and even called out to his oblivious wife during the assault. Timothy Davies, 45, tricked his partner into thinking he was helping the victim when he took her into the cubicle on a Southeastern service to Ramsgate from Canterbury. During the short 20 minute journey, he attacked the woman even when she was sick and called to wife Cheryl when she tried to open the locked door. At his the trial Davies said: 'I told my wife she was being sick because I didn't want her knowing I was having sex with another woman.' Timothy Davies, 45, (pictured) has been jailed for six years after he raped a woman in the toilet cubicle on a Southeastern service to Ramsgate from Canterbury CCTV played in court showed Davies leaving the row of seats where he was sat with his wife, and escorting the drunk woman to the toilet. When the pair entered the cubicle his wife could be seen pacing up and down the carriage, seemingly looking for her husband. She stood outside and tried the handle as the attack unfolded, and Davies claimed he couldn't let her in as the victim was being ill. Giving evidence from behind a screen, Davies' victim said she was drunk and helpless at the time of the assault. She said her life was thrown into turmoil after the attack, which she was made to feel was her 'own fault'. Since the incident she has been suffering panic attacks, uncontrollable crying and stress-related fits. Davies called out to his wife, who was standing outside the door, during the attack and said she couldn't come in as the victim was ill (stock picture of a Southeastern train in Kent) The woman also told the court giving evidence in the same room as her attacker was the 'toughest experience in my life.' While giving evidence on Thursday Davies said he was 'embarrassed for cheating' on his wife and had 'no idea' why his victim wanted him locked up, reports KentOnline. After his arrest Davies schemed to persuade the authorities his victim initiated intercourse. He accused her of lying, suggesting the sex was consensual. But a jury unanimously convicted him of rape at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday. The ex-manager of Margate's Durham House, run by Ethelbert Children's Service, stared straight ahead as his friends and family gasped in the public gallery when the verdict was announced. Jailing Davies for six years Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC, said: 'Her life was turned upside down because of these five minutes inside the toilet cubicle. 'Not only did you do it you called out to your wife outside, while she was being sick. 'While those words were being uttered you were having sex with the drunken woman.' Police had reported he died but later said he was taken with a chest wound to the University of Chicago Medical Center and was in critical condition. He underwent surgery but was pronounced dead, according to the medical examiners office. Troy Price, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, addresses the media about the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa on Feb. 7, 2020. (Steve Pope/Getty Images) Iowa Democratic Party Chair Calls for Independent Investigation Into Chaotic Caucuses The Iowa Democratic Party chairman called for an independent probe into the recent caucuses in Iowa, which have been plagued by technological and reporting issues. Troy Price, the chairman of the party, or IDP, said that 100 percent of the results were reported, but the party is still working on ensuring the results were accurate. Even when the results are finalized, an independent investigation of what happened is necessary, Price said in a statement Friday night, just hours before the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire. We will be undergoing an independent, forensic review, Price added to reporters on Friday in Des Moines, according to The Associated Press. What went right? What went wrong? Start to finish. Though 100 percent of the results were released, due to delays in reporting and some inconsistencies in data, the IDP continues to be fully committed to ensuring the data reported matches the precinct records of result, the party said in a statement. Both South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have declared victory in Iowa, and the muddied results have led to infighting in the party as voters seek a nominee to challenge President Donald Trump. Prices call for a probe came after Tom Perez, the Democratic National Committee chairman, called for a recanvass of the state on Thursday. He later clarified his call, saying he only wanted a recanvass of precincts with reporting inconsistencies. Price rebuffed Perezs call, saying it was up to campaigns to ask for a recanvass or recount, as outlined in the partys rules. If a campaign did request a recanvass, the party would audit the paper records of the report, as provided by the precinct chairs and signed by representatives of presidential campaigns, Price said. This combination of Jan. 26, 2020, photos show at left, Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Jan. 26, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa; and at right Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Sioux City, Iowa. (AP Photo) This is the official record of the Iowa Democratic caucus, and we are committed to ensuring the results accurately reflect the preference of Iowans, he said in a statement. While I fully acknowledge that the reporting circumstances on Monday night were unacceptable, we owe it to the thousands of Iowa Democratic volunteers and caucusgoers to remain focused on collecting and reviewing incoming results. The party said a deadline initially slated for Feb. 7 for campaigns to request a recanvass would be extended until noon Central Time on Monday after a vote by its Party Recanvass/Recount Committee. Campaigns would also have an opportunity to submit any documentary evidence of what campaign officials believed were discrepancies in the results. The deadline to submit such evidence was Saturday at noon. Price told reporters at a press conference in Des Moines that the party would be allocating national delegates over the weekend. The allocation is based on the third number reached during the caucuses, state delegate equivalents. Buttigieg said at a CNN town hall meeting on Thursday that Democratic officials should do whatever they need to do in order to make sure that the information is clear and verified. Asked if hed request a recanvass, Buttigieg suggested he would not. Ill leave it to the party to get into that, he said. Sanders told a CNN reporter on Friday that he would also not ask for a recanvass. He said there were some pretty apparent irregularities in some precincts, adding: I think we will ask the Iowa Democratic Party to take a look at those precincts. Polls have just closed close in the election for the 33rd Dail and it appears turnout is slightly up. Across the Dublin County constituencies turnout is over 60% with turnout in the city also reported as high. It is above 50% across both Galway constituencies while Louth had turnout tipping above 50% just after dinnertime. Cavan Monaghan is also heading towards 60%. While in County Laois, there's a high 65% turnout in Ballyfin and a 60 per cent turnout in Emo and Clonaslee. Turnout remains strong despite Storm Ciara with less than one hour until polls close There is less than one hour to go before the polls close in the election for the 33rd Dail. Despite dire weather warnings turnout has been strong in many constituencies, with turnout exceeding 40% of the electorate in some areas. There is a turnout of over 62% in Salthill in Galway West, while in Athenry in Galway East there's a 54% turnout and a 58% turnout in Kinvara. There are 515 candidates running in 39 constituencies, while 3.4 million citizens are eligible to vote. Voter turnout strong but bad weather could dampen evening numbers Voter turnout has been strong throughout the day as people got out early to vote. Sean O Donovan, Coolmoyne, Fethard, Co Tipperary, where the polling sation is situated in his home pictured with Monica Aherne where they serve a cup of tea and apple tart after voting. Photo: John D Kelly Polls are open in the general election until 10pm tonight. Tipperary is one of a number of counties with turnout figures higher than 40%. More than half of the electorate had voted in Terryglass in the north of the county by lunchtime. Turnout is approaching the 40% in Cavan Monaghan this afternoon. Across both Galway consistencies you're seeing a similar trend including more than 47% turnout in Salthill. Average attendance in Mayo is also in the low 40s. Slightly slower across Laois where attendance was about 27% approaching 4pm. The polling station in the home of Sean O'Donovan, Coolmoyne, Fethard, Co Tipperary, helping out are Aisling O Donovan and Monica Aherne. Photo: John D Kelly Despite the strong turnout so far there is an expectation bad weather this evening could see things slow. Turnout at 45% in places but will the bad weather have effect on numbers? People are being encouraged not to let the opportunity to vote in today's general election slip by. Voting has been steady in many constituencies throughout the day, with a final flurry expected at polling stations this evening. One polling station in Kildare is reporting a turn-out of 45% at St. Joseph's Boys National School in Kilcock. In County Laois, Abbeyleix is on 26.5% turnout, while Portlaoise Urban Knockmay is on 33.1%, with over 40% in Waterford and around 20% in Dublin. However, with bad weather affecting much of the country, Ian Power from SpunOut.ie said voting today is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed. "Really if you care about issues like mental health, climate, health care, housing and access to third-level education, you only get a chance to have say in the people who are going to decide these issues once every four or five years," he said. "While it might be more comfortable to stick at home...really you have to weigh up "what is the cost of this?"." Turnout up to 24% in places as party leaders cast ballots in General Election All the main party leaders have cast their ballots as voting in General Election 2020 continues this afternoon. Micheal Martin voting with his wife in Ballinlough, Cork. Photo: PA; Mary Lou McDonald voting in Cabra, Dublin. Photo: RollingNews.ie; Leo Varadkar casting his vote in Castleknock, Dublin. Photo: PA. Leo Varadkar, Mary Lou McDonald and Micheal Martin all cast their votes earlier as the country went to the polls from 7am this morning. On the rare Saturday election, early reports indicated that turnout was steady. As of 10am this morning Dublin County was averaging about 6.4%turnout with some boxes headed for double figures But turnout has picked up since then and is strong across most of the country. Mary Lou McDonald casting her vote this afternoon in Dublin. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire The Dublin constituencies are ranging between a low of 12% in one Dublin Central station to highs of 22% in Dublin Bay North. Typically turnout is in the high teens and early 20s. Turnout in some Limerick polling centres has been in and around 40.5%. In Mayo the turnout approaching lunchtime was averaging 14% with Ballina boys National School the highest at 17%. Wicklow turnout has been high with 15-20% reported in Tinahealy and 19-20% in east Wicklow. Turnout across Galway is also high with an average of 18% and St Enda's in Salthill recording 23% turnout. At noon in Tipperary turnout was up on the last election with Clonmel a very busy 23%and the rest of the county averaging around 17%. Social Democrats candidate for Cork South-East Holly Cairns. Picture: Andy Gibson At 12.30 across Cavan Monaghan turnout also high ranging between almost 24% in Virgina National School to 17.5% in Castleblaney. A lot of returning officers reporting slightly higher than usual morning turnout with people perhaps voting early ahead of Storm Ciara. In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25%, with Fianna Fail second on 23% and Fine Gael on 20%. Sinn Fein are only running 42 candidates in the 39 constituencies , making it is unlikely they will secure the most seats. Earlier: Varadkar, Martin and McDonald all cast their votes as early turnout strong Leo Varadkar has cast his vote in the General Election as voting is well underway in 39 constituencies around the country. Leo Varadkar casting his vote this afternoon. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.i The Taoiseach cast his ballot in Scoil Thomais, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald cast her vote at St. Josephs School, Navan Road. Earlier this morning in Cork, Micheal Martin cast his vote at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25%, with Fianna Fail second on 23% and Fine Gael on 20%. Earlier: Turnout steady as Healy-Raes met with 'vegan' protest Carmelite Nuns Sr. Catharina Murphy and Sr. Magdalene Dinneen and Making sure to cast their voice at the general election in Loughrea, Co. Galway. Picture: Hany Marzouk Polling stations in Co Wicklow and Co Limerick have seen some of the highest turnouts in the early hours of voting in the General Election. St Peter's polling station in Bray is among the highest turnouts early on with 11% in one booth and there is a 10% turnout in Ballybrown, Co Limerick by 10am. In Carlow, Ballinkillen and Bagenalstown stands at 12% and 15% respectively. Under 4% of voters had cast their ballots in south Roscommon by 9.30am. Just voted in #Cork North West. Busiest Ive ever seen it at our poling station. One woman leaving said it was as busy as the school drop! Pre #StormCiara rush?#GE2020 Eoin English (@EoinBearla) February 8, 2020 In early to vote in Kerry were TDs Micheal and Danny Healy-Rae Around 50 supporters of the Healy Raes had also arrived. First into vote was Cllr Johnny Healy Rae, county councillor, followed by his father Danny the TD and Michael the TD. However, they were also met by two protesters. A woman dressed as celery was ejected from a polling station in Kilgarvan early this morning as she attempted to accompany the TDs into vote in his home village. Gardai were at the scene. It appears the pair are vegan and involved in anti-meat eating campaigns. Speaking afterwards Johnny Healy Rae said: I have no meas on celery- theres no meat in it. Mr Burke said gardai had identified the protestors and were on the alert. Meanwhile after an early surge in Killarney voting in Kerry has slowed. Elsewhere, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has cast his vote in the Muslim National School, Dublin. Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote in the Muslim National School, Dublin this morning. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie Earlier: Micheal Martin and Michael D Higgins cast their votes Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has cast his vote as the polling stations around the country have opened for the General Election. Mr Martin cast his vote alongside his family at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork. Micheal Martin and family voting in the General Election at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane President Michael D Higgins went to St Marys Hospital in Phoenix Park in Dublin to vote. He was accompanied by his wife Sabina Higgins and they said hello to the assembled press. President Michael D Higgins casts his vote as the polls open in the Irish General Election #GE2020 @PA pic.twitter.com/C66hpxOYj5 Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) February 8, 2020 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald are expected to cast their votes around 12 noon. In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25%, with Fianna Fail second on 23% and Fine Gael on 20%. Earlier: Ireland goes to the polls Voting will take place today in the 2020 General Election. Polling stations are open between 7am to 10pm today, Saturday. This is the first time since 1918 that voting has taken place on a Saturday. Voters do not need a polling card to vote, but may be asked to show a photo ID at their polling station - a driving licence, passport or student/ employee identity card are among the IDs accepted. A total of 516 candidates are running in 39 constituencies in this General Election. The 33rd Dail will have 160 seats - two more than the outgoing one. This is due to a population increas since the last Dail was formed in 2016. A party or coalition must win 80 seats to form a government. A man leaves a Polling Station in Moone, Co Kildare as polls open for the Irish General Election. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire This is the breakdown of the out-going Dail: Fine Gael - 47 seats Fianna Fail - 45 (excludes Ceann Comhairle) Sinn Fein - 22 seats Labour - seven seats Solidarity-People Before Profit - six seats Independents - 22 seats Green Party - three seats Social Democrats - two seats Independents 4 Change - one seat Aontu - one seat Counting of the votes will begin at 9am tomorrow, Sunday. One person was killed and several others were injured in a firecracker explosion during a religious procession in Punjab's Tarn Taran district on Saturday, police said. Firecrackers, being carried in a tractor trolley, exploded during the 'nagar kirtan' (religious procession) near Pahu village in Tarn Taran. "One person has died and many are injured in the explosion," Punjab Inspector General of Police (Border Range) SPS Parmar told PTI over phone. During the procession, crackers were being burst by people. The explosion took place when sparks from the crackers landed on the tractor-trolley, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump has defended the firing of National Security Council advisor Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, who testified in the House impeachment inquiry. 'Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about Lt. Col. Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was,' Trump wrote in a tweet on Saturday morning, purposely conflating MSNBC with the Democratic National Committee. 'Actually, I dont know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I dont believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my perfect calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information,' he continued. 'In other words, OUT,' Trump concluded. He is spending the weekend at the White House after dramatically firing Vindman and EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland on Friday. Vindman's attorney fired back in a statement, saying: 'The president this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman; the conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware.' 'While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military,' continued the statement from attorney David Pressman, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner. President Donald Trump has defended the firing of National Security Council advisor Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, who testified in the House impeachment inquiry Vindman was fired and escorted from the White House on Friday after Trump's acquittal The firings came less than 48 hours after the Senate acquitted the president on all impeachment charges. Sondland released a statement on Friday night which read: 'I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately'. The statement continued: 'I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. 'I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career.' The bombshell announcement came just hours after Trump fired Vindman from the National Security Council after the Army officer testified against him during the impeachment inquiry. Vindman was escorted out of the building and told his services were no longer needed, CNN reported. Vindman and Gordon Sondland (above) both testified in the impeachment inquiry Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr tweeted about the purge on Friday evening, quipping: 'Allow me a moment to thankand this may be a bit of a surpriseAdam Schiff. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam #FullOfSchiff'. Earlier in the day, Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, released a statement about his client's firing from the White House. 'Today, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President'. 'He does so having spoken publicly once, and only pursuant to a subpoena from the United States Congress.' He indicated Vindman was fired for his testimony to the House. 'There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,' Pressman said. Vindman's twin brother Yevgeny Vindman, a National Security Council attorney, walked off the White House grounds alongside him. He was also fired. Earlier in the day, the president did not deny the reports of Alexander Vindman's imminent dismissal. 'I'm not happy with him. Am I supposed to be happy with him? I'm not,' he said to reporters at the White House on Friday who asked him about Vindman. Vindman, a National Security Council aide, oversaw American policy on the Ukraine in his role on the NSC. President Donald Trump is preparing to push Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman out of White House National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, left, and his twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, right, in November of last year Vindman, who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, had told officials at the NSC that he intended to take an early exit from that assignment and leave by the end of the month, sources told the newspaper, but Trump wants to make a symbol out of the Army officer now that the president has been acquitted by the Senate. Vindman testified at Trump's impeachment inquiry on November 19, while Sondland delivered his damning testimony the following day. Vindman, a Ukrainian immigrant whose father brought his family to the United States from the former Soviet Union, testified in the House impeachment inquiry after receiving a subpoena from Congress. Vindman was the first White House aide who was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to testify in the inquiry. Dressed in his full Army dress uniform, he told lawmakers that he believed Trump acted 'improper' on the call. At the time of the call, Vindman reported his concerns that President Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden, particularly Hunter's work for the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. 'I was concerned by the call. I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. Government's support of Ukraine. I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security,' he told House investigators. Meanwhile, Sondland's damning testimony came the following day. Sondland told lawmakers there was a 'quid pro quo' at play in U.S. policy toward the Ukraine. Vindman was the first White House aide who was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to testify in the inquiry Sondland told lawmakers there was a 'quid pro quo' at play in U.S. policy toward the Ukraine during his testimony The ambassador, who Trump put in charge of relations with the Ukraine, said it was his understanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request for a White House meeting with Trump was contingent upon his opening investigations into the Bidens and the 2016 election. Sondland said he was not told why U.S. aid to the Ukraine was put on hold but said he guessed that was part of the 'quid pro quo.' Republicans point out the Ukraine did get the aid although Democrats argue that happened only after it was revealed Trump was holding it up. Trump responded by claiming he 'barely knows' Sondland. Jennifer Williams, who worked for Mike Pence and testified in the House impeachment inquiry, left the vice president's office Additionally, White House aides are now reportedly weighing to remove or reassign other officials who testified. Jennifer Williams, who worked for Mike Pence and testified in the House impeachment inquiry, left the vice president's office for a new position in Central Command. Her exit came two months ahead of a planned March departure. Trump also fired a warning shot to Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. The West Virginia senator hails from a state the president carried in the 2016 election. Trump has tried to woo Manchin to the Republican Party with no result. Manchin voted to convict Trump on both charges in the Senate impeachment trial, which the president took note of. He also noted Manchin's fellow West Virginia senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, voted for his acquittal on both charges. Donald Trump also fired a warning shot at West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin 'I was very surprised & disappointed that Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia voted against me on the Democrat's totally partisan Impeachment Hoax. No President has done more for the great people of West Virginia than me (Pensions), and that will always continue,' the president tweeted Friday afternoon. 'Every Republican Senator except Romney, many highly religious people, all very smart, voted against the Impeachment Hoax. @SenCapito was all in (a great person). I was told by many that Manchin was just a puppet for Schumer & Pelosi. That's all he is!,' he added. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who voted to convict the president on the abuse of power charge, is also expected to feel Trump's wrath. On Thursday, during his acquittal celebration at the White House Trump told Sen. Mike Lee - the other senator from Utah - to deliver a message to the people of that state: 'Tell them I'm sorry about Mitt Romney.' 'We can say, by far, Mike Lee is the most popular senator in the state,' Trump said. When he announced his decision on the president Wednesday, Romney said he expected the Trump to retaliate. 'I'm aware that there are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision, and in some quarters I will be vehemently denounced. I'm sure to hear abuse from the president and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe that I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before god demanded it of me?,' he said during his speech on the Senate floor. Mitt Romney cited his faith as the reason for his guilty vote on Trump Trump slammed Romney for using his faith to justify his decision during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning. He did not mention Romney name but his meaning was clear. 'I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,' the president said. Romney, a devout Mormon, cited his faith as one of the reasons for his guilty vote. He voted to acquit the president on the second charge: obstruction of Congress. 'The allegations made in the articles of impeachment are very serious. As a senator juror, I swore an oath before god to exercise impartial justice. I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am. I take an oath before god as enormously consequential. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the president, the leader of my own party would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced,' Romney said. The White House has indicated the president is in a vengeful mood. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump wasted little time Friday opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing two of the most prominent witnesses in the House inquiry against him barely 48 hours after being acquitted by the Senate. Emboldened by his victory and determined to strike back, Trump ordered Gordon Sondland, the founder of a hotel chain who donated $1 million to the presidents inaugural committee, recalled from his post as the ambassador to the European Union on the same day that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran on the National Security Council staff, was marched out of the White House by security guards. The ousters of Sondland and Vindman along with Vindmans brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, an Army officer who also worked on the NSC staff may only presage a broader effort to even accounts with the presidents perceived enemies. In the two days since his acquittal in the Senate, Trump has railed about those who stood against him, calling them evil, corrupt and crooked, while his press secretary declared that those who hurt the president should pay for it. Even as he began purging administration officials who testified in the House impeachment inquiry, Trump assailed a Democratic senator who he had hoped would side with him during the trial but did not and called on the House to expunge his impeachment because he deems it illegitimate. The flurry of actions and outbursts drew quick condemnation from Democrats, who said the president was demonstrating that he feels unleashed, and complicated the politics of impeachment for moderate Republicans who stood by him while arguing that he had learned his lessons and would be more restrained in the future. There is no question in the mind of any American why this mans job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House, David Pressman, Vindmans lawyer, said in a statement. Lt. Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful. Vindman spoke publicly only once, after being ordered to under subpoena, Pressman added. And for that, the most powerful man in the world buoyed by the silent, the pliable and the complicit has decided to exact revenge. Sondland took a more measured approach, confirming that he had been dismissed without offering any protest. I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union, he said in a statement hours after Vindmans dismissal. I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. Sondland and Vindman were two of the most crucial witnesses in the House impeachment hearings. Sondland, who was deeply involved in the effort to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Trumps Democratic rivals, testified that we followed the presidents orders and that everyone was in the loop. Vindman testified that he brought concerns about Trumps July 25 phone call with Ukraines president to NSC officials. The White House made no effort to portray the ousters as anything other than a response to the impeachment battle now that it has ended. Trump foreshadowed Vindmans fate hours ahead of time. Well, Im not happy with him, the president said. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not. The president continued to assail lawmakers who voted for conviction, targeting Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, who bitterly disappointed Trump by sticking with his party. I was told by many that Manchin was just a puppet for Schumer & Pelosi, Trump wrote on Twitter, referring to Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Thats all he is! Even as Trump flew to North Carolina to highlight his economic record, he called on the House to expunge his impeachment, an idea with no precedent or basis in the Constitution. They should because it was a hoax, he told reporters. It was a total political hoax. And he accused Pelosi of committing a crime by ripping up a copy of his State of the Union address. She broke the law, he asserted. The presidents critics had warned that he would feel unbound if acquitted, and some said that the dismissal of Sondland and the Vindman brothers proved their point, quickly calling it the Friday night massacre, as Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., put it. These are the actions of a man who believes he is above the law, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead House impeachment manager. Schumer said the White House was running from the truth. This action is not a sign of strength, he said. It only shows President Trumps weakness. Pelosi said, This goes too far. At the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire, former Vice President Joe Biden asked the audience to stand in support of Vindman. The White House would not discuss the decision. We do not comment on personnel matters, said John Ullyot, a spokesman for the NSC. Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, celebrated the dismissals, offering mock thanks to Schiff for investigating his father. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired, he tweeted. The president had every right to make the moves that he did today, Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said in an interview. Moving Lt. Col. Vindman, for example, is a good move based on the fact that there is a lack of trust. He disagrees with the presidents policies. As for Sondland, the president can recall an ambassador at any time with or without cause, and in the case of Gordon Sondland, the guy was a hot mess, anyway. Other impeachment witnesses have left with less drama in recent weeks. Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine who was recalled from her post last spring because she was seen as an obstacle to the presidents plans, retired last month from the Foreign Service. William Taylor, who replaced her in an acting capacity, was essentially brought back early as well. And Jennifer Williams, a career official detailed to Vice President Mike Pences office, quietly left recently to return to the Defense Department. Several had already left the government, like Fiona Hill, the Europe policy chief at the NSC, and Kurt Volker, the special envoy for Ukraine, who resigned days before testifying. But others, so far, remain at their posts, including George Kent at the State Department, Laura Cooper at the Defense Department and David Holmes at the embassy in Ukraine. Sondland began discussions with senior officials about leaving his post shortly after he testified in November, according to two people briefed on the matter. He believed that remaining as ambassador would be untenable given his role in impeachment and hoped to exit gracefully, they said. A decision on when to step down was put off until after impeachment, but Friday, State Department officials told Sondland that they wanted him to resign, the people said. Sondland relayed to them that he would not step down amid what was clearly a purge of impeachment witnesses and that he would have to be fired, the people said. In response, State Department officials recalled him. Vindmans brother seemed to be collateral damage. Yevgeny Vindman, who goes by Eugene, worked as a lawyer for the NSC and had no role in the impeachment hearings other than showing up to sit behind his brother when he appeared in November. He was given no explanation for his dismissal despite over two decades of loyal service to this country, said Pressman, the lawyer. He deeply regrets that he will not be able to continue his service at the White House. Both Vindmans, whose tours at the White House were scheduled to last until July, will retain their Army ranks and return to military service. Alexander Vindman, who had been expecting the move and had begun removing personal items, was told he would go to the Pentagon before moving to the National War College in July as originally planned. Yevgeny Vindman was more surprised and was told he would report to the office of the Army general counsel. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said service members who return to the military would be welcomed back. We protect all of our persons, service members, from retribution or anything like that, he told reporters. Trump, on the other hand, has made clear his personal antipathy for both Vindmans. Lt. Col. Vindman and his twin brother, right? the president said Thursday during a rambling hourlong venting session at the White House, his voice dripping with disdain. We had some people that really amazing. On Friday morning, the president retweeted a message from a supporter advocating Alexander Vindmans dismissal: Vindmans behavior is a scandal. He should be removed from the @RealDonaldTrump White House ASAP to protect our foreign policy from his machinations. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voted to acquit the president but expressed hope that he would learn a lesson from the impeachment, said that witnesses should not be punished. I obviously am not in favor of any kind of retribution against anyone who came forward with evidence, she said in Maine, according to the Portland Press Herald. Vindman has been subjected to virulent attacks on his patriotism on Fox News and social media. The president called him a Never Trumper, a term the colonel rejected. Fox aired a segment suggesting his service in the White House might amount to espionage. And Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., attacked him on Twitter. How patriotic is it to bad-mouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, Americas greatest enemy? With impeachment over, Trump is debating additional personnel changes. Some advisers are encouraging him to part ways with his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, who was involved in freezing security aid to Ukraine, which paved the way for impeachment. Other advisers are telling Trump that he should wait to make major changes until after the election in November. Some advisers hope that Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., will join the White House as a senior adviser. Meadows traveled with Trump to North Carolina on Friday. Trump denied that Mulvaney would be pushed out in favor of Meadows. I have a great relationship with Mick, the president told reporters Friday. I have a great relationship with Mark. And its false. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor African lady Jacqueline Makhalira will create a little bit of amateur theatrical history in Charleville when she will become the first African native to appear in the latest production, Cypress Avenue from the Shoestring Theatre Company, that opens at the Schoolyard on the last week in February. This will be Ms Makhalira's first time on stage in Ireland, but she has done theatre productions when she was a student in her native Malawi, and she is delighted to have the opportunity of being on stage in Charleville, and to be directed by Kevin O'Shea, in what he says will be his final production with the Shoestring group. Jacqueline, who has been in Ireland since 2012, first came to Charleville in 2014 before finally settling in Bruree in 2016 with her five-year old daughter, Ebbie. Initially, she found employment in the Nursing Home in Bruree but is now a full time mum to Ebbie, who attends the local National School in the county Limerick village. She was always interested in the Arts and particularly in drama when she was in High School and was in a production that came fourth in a national schools' competition in Malawi. When Kevin O'Shea was looking for an African actor to play the part of a psychiatrist in Cypress Avenue, the play by David Ireland set in Belfast, he enquired from local man Jim Walsh if he knew of any African people in the locality, and Jim immediately supplied Jacqueline's name. Kevin met her, gave her the script, and she read the part flawlessly and became part of the cast. "I love the part of the psychiatrist and was drawn to it through its dealing with the mental health issues of the play's leading actor, and exploring the struggle and suffering he is plagued with, until finally he reaches breaking point on the brink of insanity," said Jacqueline. "I love working with the other members of the cast, who have made me feel so welcome, and have been so helpful, and I am having the time of my life," said Jacqueline. "I enjoy working with the director, Kevin O'Shea, who has been very patient in directing me, as this is my first adult role in the amateur theatre. It is an honour for me to be part of this wonderful cast, and I thank Kevin for giving me the part, and Jim Walsh who recommended me to him, and also to Breda Lynch, for her assistance," she said. On living in Bruree, Jacqueline says she loves living there, where the people there are very friendly and pleasant to talk to, and her daughter Ebbie has integrated very well in the local school. She also finds Charleville a friendly town and has not encountered racism of any kind in her dealings with local people. Jacqueline explains that Malawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa that got its independence from Britain in 1964, where the English language is taught to school children from the fifth grade up. Prior to that in the lower classes they converse in their own tribal language. Jacqueline herself is a member of the Lonwe people, which is the second largest ethnic grouping in Malawi after the Chewa tribe. The head of a World Health Organization-led international team investigating the coronavirus outbreak will leave for China on Monday or Tuesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Tedros, asked whether the team would include experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), told a press conference on Saturday: We hope so. The death toll in mainland China rose to 723 on Saturday, the WHO said, looking likely to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Across mainland China, the number of cases stood at 34,598, the WHO said. Dr. Mike Ryan, WHOs top emergency expert, said there had been a stabilisation in the number of new cases reported from Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus, over the past four days. Thats good news, and may reflect the impact of the control measures put in place. But remember there are also lots of suspected cases still to be tested. Ryan, speaking later to Reuters, said: The daily number of new cases has been stable over a four-day period. The same number each day, around. He added, Its not a decline. That can just mean four days of relative calm before it accelerates. A three-storey commercial building collapsed while digging work was on at an adjoining site in Punjab's Mohali district on Saturday, leaving one person dead, officials said. Taking a serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the Mohali additional district magistrate to conduct a thorough probe into the matter and submit his report within a week. The officials said three persons have been rescued and efforts are on to find out if more people were trapped under the debris. "The commercial building collapsed when a JCB machine was digging an adjoining plot for construction of basement," Kharar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Himanshu Jain said. The officials said the heavy earth moving machine might have hit the foundation of the building, but added that the exact cause of the incident would be known after the inquiry. A JCB machine operator, who was trapped under the debris, has died, the officials said. Two persons were rescued earlier and one, who sustained a fracture in his arm, was taken out of the debris in the evening, Jain said. The sub-divisional magistrate said that the exact number of persons trapped under the debris is not clear. "Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to help trace the trapped people," he said. According to information received from Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan, two or three persons were believed to be still under the debris and rescue operation was underway on war footing, a statement issued by the state government said. "We have made all arrangements for undertaking rescue operation at night to ensure nobody remains under the debris," Jain said. A 30-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was engaged in the rescue operation and one more NDRF team from Ludhiana has also been called, the SDM, adding that police and civil administration personnel and members of some NGOs were also providing assistance in the rescue operation. The chief minister directed the district administration to take all possible steps to rescue those trapped under the debris. As per the chief minister's order, the entire cost of the treatment of those injured in the incident would be borne by the Punjab government, a state government spokesperson said. Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dayalan said the SDM of Kharar has been ordered to inquire into the incident and submit a report within three days. "How did this happen and did they (builder) have requisite permission to do this will be known only after the inquiry," said Dayalan. The probe would also ascertain if the construction was illegal or not, the statement said. The army has also been put on a standby to assist in the rescue operation incase the need arises, the DC said. Requisite machinery and equipment were pressed into service in the rescue operation, the SDM said. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh earlier expressed anguish over the incident and said he has sought a detailed report from the Mohali deputy commissioner. "Anguished to learn of the collapse of a three-storeyed building in Kharar today with 2 people trapped. @NDRF , Fire Brigade & Mohali Admin are on the spot for immediate rescue and relief. Have asked DC Mohali @GirishDayalan to send a detailed report on what caused this collapse," Singh tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mrs. Lam has now tightened access through most border points with an unanticipated ripple effect: Rumors started circulating online that goods from the mainland would be delayed, maybe even cut off. When Mrs. Lam announced more restrictions on entry into the city, the people of Hong Kong didnt sigh with relief: We ran to supermarkets and panic-bought three-ply toilet tissue. We Hong Kongers have to take care of ourselves, because we cant trust the government to do it, my 30-something friend Frankie, a social worker, said to me the other day. Public trust in the citys government, institutions and police is at a historic low. The determination and grit displayed by Hong Kongers during a long season of pro-democracy protests last year is now channeled into fighting the coronavirus epidemic at the street level, day after day. A few months ago, Hong Kongers stood in lines of thousands to vote in local elections and, before that, in parades of hundreds of thousands to demand universal suffrage. Now we all wear surgical masks, cough into our elbows and wash our hands (Back and front! Get those finger webs! At least 20 seconds!) 10 times a day. These are sensible, rational actions, and they arguably are protecting us all. As of Saturday, Hong Kong, a city of 7.5 million, had 26 confirmed cases of coronavirus and one death fewer than Singapore, some 1,600 miles away from China. But rational actions can only go so far in the face of the unknown, and panic has an infection rate far higher than any coronavirus. The empty products shelves of our village Wellcome brought back memories of other times, and other places, when Ive found myself in the middle of stress-hoarding. On days before hurricanes in New York, certain items predictably vanish from stock: bottled water, white bread, peanut butter. Im old enough to remember the special shelf that my parents kept in the back of our New Jersey basement during the J.F.K. years, lined with cans of tomatoes, beans and tuna fish, our first line of defense in the event of nuclear attack. And now, as I stand in a toilet paperless Wellcome, panic strikes again. If toilet paper has disappeared, what else is gone? By instinct, I head for the bread aisle: all there, phew. Peanut butter, check. Water, ditto. Why hasnt anyone loaded up on those? Then I remember that only about 100 Westerners live on my island of 5,000. Different culture, different scarcity anxieties. Memories of plagues, wartime occupation, SARS and bird flu are etched in Hong Kongs DNA. Sure enough, the rice shelves are bare, save for a bag of pricey, imported, short-grain organic brown rice. The instant-noodle aisle is depleted, and the vegetable section is down to a few lonely scraps of bok choy. Washington, Feb 8 : US President Donald Trump has dismissed two prominent witnesses who had testified against him in the impeachment trial, it was reported. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was the main expert of the National Security Council of the White House in Ukraine, and Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland's removals on Friday came just two days after Trump was acquitted in the trial he faced in the Senate for his alleged pressure on Kiev to gain political advantage over his election opponents, reports Efe news. In a statement, David Pressman, one of Vindman's lawyers, said the testimony had cost the lieutenant colonel his job, adding that he had no doubt that it was an act of political revenge. At the November 19, 2019 pre-trial hearing in the House of Representatives, Vindman said it was "inappropriate" that Trump had asked Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Vindman said it was inappropriate for the US President to require a foreign government to investigate a political opponent. The lower house inquiry sought to determine whether Trump intentionally blocked the delivery of military aid of nearly $400 million to Ukraine to obtain a Kiev investigation into Biden and the business of his son Hunter, who worked for Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Vindman said he thought then Ukrainian attorney general Yuri Lutsenko and Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Guiliani "promoted a false narrative" that undermined US policy in Ukraine, adding that the military serves the country and not a particular political party. The lieutenant colonel then complained about the government's and Trump's attacks on public officials, who testified in the investigations prior to the impeachment. Vindman also said he personally heard the July 25, 2019 call in which Trump asked Zelenski to investigate Biden, a Democratic candidate for November's presidential elections, and alerted superiors after considering it inadequate. It was revealed hours after Vindman's dismissal that Sondland, who said Trump ordered the Ukraine proposal through Giuliani by conditioning military aid to the country to an investigation into the Bidens family. Sondland announced his dismissal in a statement on Friday released by local media, in which he thanked Trump for giving him the chance to serve the country. During his statement to the Lower House, Sondland confirmed the existence of "quid pro quo", a Latin expression that means giving something in exchange for something else and that is at the centre of the investigation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Sat, February 8, 2020 18:08 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206355099 2 People Prince-Andrew,royals,Britain,Jeffrey-Epstein,scandal Free Britain's Prince Andrew is to defer an honorary Royal Navy promotion after he stepped back from full royal duties over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The former naval officer, who saw service as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 war with Argentina in the Falklands Islands, was set to become an admiral for his 60th birthday on February 19. But a palace spokeswoman said Andrew would push back the promotion until he can resume full royal duties. He retreated from his royal roles in November after denying allegations that he had had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein, a wealthy financier found dead in a US prison last August while awaiting charges of trafficking minors. Senior royals are treated as serving military members. "By convention, the Duke of York (Andrew) would be in line for military promotion on his 60th birthday," the spokeswoman said. "Following the decision by His Royal Highness to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, the Duke of York has asked the Ministry of Defence if this promotion might be deferred until such time that His Royal Highness returns to public duty." The announcement came hours after the British government said it had changed the policy of flying flags on royal birthdays. The government said there was "no requirement" for local officials to raise flags for Andrew's 60th because of his decision to step back from public duties. But Westminster Abbey -- the historic central London location of every royal coronation since 1066 and host of 16 royal weddings -- said it would still sound its bells for the prince. "The bells are rung for the birthdays of HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and their children," a spokeswoman said. The landmark birthday comes weeks after a backlash against Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, for a television interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein. A US prosecutor last month said Andrew had provided "zero cooperation" to the investigation into Epstein's activities. WASHINGTON Exacting swift punishment against those who crossed him, an emboldened President Donald Trump ousted two government officials who had delivered damaging testimony against him during his impeachment hearings. The president took retribution just two days after his acquittal by the Senate. First came news Friday that Trump had ousted Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats impeachment case. Vindmans lawyer said his client was escorted out of the White House complex Friday, told to leave in retaliation for telling the truth. The truth has cost Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy, attorney David Pressman said in a statement. Vindmans twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, also was asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer on Friday, the Army said in a statement. Both men were reassigned to the Army. Next came word that Gordon Sondland, Trumps ambassador to the European Union, also was out. I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union, Sondland said in a statement. The White House had not been coy about whether Trump would retaliate against those he viewed as foes in the impeachment drama. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Thursday that Trump was glad it was over and maybe people should pay for that. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that Vindmans ouster was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the Presidents fear of the truth. The Presidents vindictiveness is precisely what led Republican Senators to be accomplices to his cover-up. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., called it the Friday Night Massacre, likening the situation to President Richard Nixons so-called Saturday night massacre, when top Justice Department officials resigned after refusing to do his bidding by firing a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. (The prosecutor himself was fired anyway.) Speier added in her tweet, Im sure Trump is fuming that he cant fire Pelosi. Senate Republicans, who just two days prior acquitted Trump of charges he abused his office, were silent Friday evening. Many of them had reacted with indignation during the Senate trial when Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead prosecutor, suggested Trump would be out for revenge against the lawmakers who crossed him during impeachment. Since his acquittal, Trump has held nothing back in lashing out at his critics, including Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only Republican to vote against him. On Friday, he also took after Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia who Trump had hoped would vote with the Republicans for his acquittal but who ended up voting to convict. Trump tweeted that he was very surprised & disappointed with Manchins votes, claiming no president had done more for his state. He added that Manchin was just a puppet for the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate. From the White House on Saturday, the president tweeted that some television coverage portrayed Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Trump said he didnt know Vindman and had never met or spoken with him but considered him very insubordinate. Sondland, too, was a crucial witness in the House impeachment inquiry, telling investigators that everyone was in the loop on Trumps desire to press Ukraine for politically charged investigations. He told lawmakers how he came to understand that there was a quid pro quo connecting a desired White House visit for Ukraines leader and an announcement that the country would conduct the investigations Trump wanted. Sondland chose to be terminated rather than resign, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official had not been authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Alexander Vindmans lawyer issued a one-page statement that accused Trump of taking revenge on his client. He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day: he followed orders, he obeyed his oath, and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril, Pressman said. And for that, the most powerful man in the world buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit has decided to exact revenge. The White House did not respond to Pressmans accusation. We do not comment on personnel matters, said John Ullyot, spokesman for the National Security Council, the foreign policy arm of the White House where Vindman was an expert on Ukraine. The Democrats angling to replace Trump took notice of Vindmans ouster during their evening debate in Manchester, New Hampshire. Former Vice President Joe Biden asked the audience to stand and applaud the lieutenant colonel. Vindmans status had been uncertain since he testified that he didnt think it was proper for Trump to demand that a foreign government investigate Biden and his sons dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. Vindmans ouster, however, seemed imminent after Trump mocked him Thursday during his post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. Im not. They are going to be making that decision. Vindman, a 20-year Army veteran, wore his uniform full of medals, including a Purple Heart, when he appeared late last year for what turned out to be a testy televised impeachment hearing. Trump supporters raised questions about the immigrants allegiance to the United States his parents fled the Soviet Union when he was a child and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine, offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed. In gripping testimony, Vindman spoke of his familys story, his father bringing them to the U.S. some 40 years ago. Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family, he testified. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, recalled Vindmans testimony that he would be fine and tweeted, Its appalling that this administration may prove him wrong. Some of Trumps backers cheered Vindmans removal. Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., tweeted that Vindman should not be inside the National Security Council any longer. Its not about retaliation. Its because he cannot be trusted, he disagrees with the Presidents policies, & his term there is coming to an end regardless. News that both Vindman twins had been ousted led Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., to tweet, The White House is running a two for one special today on deep state leakers. Defense Secretary Mark Esper was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution. We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that, Esper said. Weve already addressed that in policy and other means. Alexander Vindman is scheduled to enter a military college in Washington, D.C., this summer, and his brother is to be assigned to the Army General Counsels Office, according to two officials who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity. Several career diplomats whose testimony during the impeachment hearings also helped Democrats build their case against Trump remain in their posts, in Washington and in Kyiv. The former ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, whose ouster in spring 2019 was a focus of the hearings and who testified herself, has recently retired from government service. ___ AP writers Lisa Mascaro, Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, Eric Tucker and Bob Burns contributed to this report. : Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said certain vested interests were seeking to create a negative impression in the world about India even as he asserted that no other country has any business to interfere in India's internal affairs. Addressing a gathering, including students, after releasing a book 'A Child of Destiny', authored by noted academician Prof K Ramakrishna Rao here, the Vice-President referred to the abrogation of Article 370 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said certain vested interests were trying to create a negative impression about India over these. "The CAA does not discriminate against Indian citizens. It only seeks to provide citizenship to those who faced persecution on religious grounds in neighbouring countries," Venkaiah Naidu noted. He asked people to read and understand the legislations first before forming an opinion. "Read and understand about abrogation of Article 370 and the CAA. No country has any business to interfere in our internal affairs," Venkaiah Naidu added. The Vice-President said India has the potential to be a five trillion dollar economy because of its youth force. "India has enormous opportunities to grow into a five trillion dollar economy. Reason for this is our youth population. We must not fail to reap this incredible demographic dividend, the great growth potential that this enormous youth population presents," he observed. He, however, said the economic potential of this youth population could only be harnessed if quality education, good health and decent employment opportunities were provided to them. "It is laudable that Budget-2020 allocated Rs 99,300 crore for the education sector and Rs 3,000 crore for skill development for the next fiscal. We must focus on improving education along the three dimensions; that of equity, affordability and quality. I am very happy to learn that the government has decided to let the top 100 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to start full-fledged, degree level online education programme for students of deprived sections of society. We need to overhaul and democratize our entire education system, taking it to the masses," the Vice-President said. Naidu stressed the need to teach more about Indian history and make young students aware of our heritage, culture and the contributions of freedom fighters and many other national icons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The daughter of a Queensland MP tried to flush cocaine and heroin down a toilet after police arrived at her friend's apartment. Brianna Costigan pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and having stolen goods in custody and received no conviction after an incident in Maroubra in April. The 20-year-old had a bag of cocaine and a bag of heroin in her purse when she arrived at the Boyce Road apartment and found police there. Brianna Costigan (pictured) pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession after attempting to flush heroin and cocaine down a toilet in a Maroubra apartment in April 2019 She told the officers she was collecting her passport from her handbag, when she fled to the bathroom and attempted to flush the drugs down the toilet. 'Police pulled the accused away from the toilet and arrested her,' the court facts stated, as reported by The Sunshine Coast Daily. The daughter of embattled Whitsundays MP Jason Costigan appeared in Waverley Local Court with her mother on Friday - but without the headscarf she had been wearing after converting to Islam in January. Police found a stolen black and silver trolley, Ryobi generator and Coleman Cooker in the apartment that were reported missing from a locker on Anzac Parade. Advertisements for the sale of the stolen goods were found posted from Ms Costigan's Facebook profile, with her lawyer Ihab Jamal telling the court they were posted by her ex-partner. Mr Jamal told the court Ms Costigan had been 'pressured' into holding the drugs for him. 'I hope that partner stays ex,' Magistrate Alison Hawkins said. In January, the UNSW scholarship student announced that she had married Ahmed Taha and changed her name to Brianna Taha on social media. The pair have been accused of being involved in a dial-a-dealer cocaine syndicate. Mr Taha is facing 14 charges, with six of those related to cocaine supply between Pyrmont and Maroubra. Ms Costigan's lawyer previously argued in court that she was 'not the brains of the operation', and that she was relying on income made from dealing drugs while studying her full time law degree at university. Mr Jamal said Ms Costigan was remorseful, and she was given an 18-month community release order for the stolen goods charge and a 12-month good behaviour bond for the drugs charge. Before she moved to Sydney, Ms Costigan expressed an interest in local politics like her father and was a youth member for the Whitsundays. Ms Costigan is accused of being a member of a dial-a-dealer syndicate with her husband Ahmed Taha In January, Mr Costigan was expelled from the Liberal Party following accusations he harassed an 18-year-old woman. She claimed he 'stroked her on the back and hair'. Mr Costigan denied the allegations. Queensland's LNP booted out the embattled MP in January. However, MP Costigan later announced that he will not resign despite being expelled from the LNP. Fridges, blankets and clothes were yesterday delivered to a conference centre in Milton Keynes, where more than 200 Britons on the next UK Government flight from Wuhan will be taken for a 14-day spell in quarantine. A 10ft metal fence has also been erected around Kents Hill Park, a training and conference venue on the outskirts of the Buckinghamshire town, as preparations are made for the passengers. A lorry was seen delivering bags of clothes from Primark yesterday afternoon and a security hut has also been built on the site, where the British nationals will be taken later today. A 10ft metal fence has also been erected around Kents Hill Park (pictured), a training and conference venue on the outskirts of the Buckinghamshire town, where 200 Britons will be quarantined A lorry was seen delivering bags of clothes from Primark (pictured) yesterday afternoon After they arrive, passengers will continue to be monitored and anyone who shows symptoms during their two-week stay will be tested for the virus. If they test positive they will be isolated and given specialist NHS care. The NHS said those at the hotel will have access to Netflix, magazines, books, baby equipment including highchairs, children's toys and games, mobile phones, and tablets for reading, games, and internet. Pictures showing preparation for the guests' arrival feature packets of underwear from Primark and brown paper bags containing toiletries. A statement from Milton Keynes University Hospital said: The British citizens are being flown from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the current outbreak of coronavirus, back to the UK on Sunday. Everyone being repatriated will be assessed before boarding the plane in China, monitored during the flight and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK. Pictures showing preparation for the guests' arrival feature packets of underwear from Primark and brown paper bags containing toiletries (pictured) A facility at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes is being used to house these returning citizens and they will remain at the site in isolation for 14 days. During this time their health will be regularly assessed. The flight took off from Wuhan at 7.20pm UK time last night. Britons on two earlier repatriation flights are at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. The statement added: The isolation of the guests in Milton Keynes is being undertaken as a highly precautionary measure as they have been at the epicentre of the outbreak and at increased risk of exposure to the virus. Medical workers in protective suits are seen talking while at the Wuhan Parlor Convention Center on Friday. Wuhan has around 14 million residents, but it remains unknown how many people would be quarantined or where they will be kept China has demanded four types of people in Wuhan to be put into mandatory isolation in quarantine stations: confirmed cases, suspected cases, people who have close contact with the former two, and those who have fever. Pictured, patients rest at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan Briton Alan Steele, pictured with his new wife Wendy, was taken off the Diamond Princess cruise liner yesterday and sent to hospital after testing positive for the virus The presence of this group in Milton Keynes does not present any risk to local people. No one showing symptoms of the coronavirus would have been allowed to board the plane in China. It said that all staff working at the facility would be wearing appropriate protective equipment. There have been more than 37,000 cases of the virus worldwide, mostly in China. More than 800 people have died but only two of the victims were outside mainland China. U.S. and European defence firms backed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's military modernisation drive at a defence exhibition on Friday, despite a lengthy procurement process running into years and limited funds. An Indian Air Force personnel arranges ammunitions in front of MIG-21 fighter plane at DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow, February 5, 2020. Airbus SE and U.S.-based Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co. are eying multi-billion dollar deals under Modi's aim to upgrade an ageing fleet of aircraft and enhance local arms manufacturing to cut imports. "I feel encouraged overall," Anand Stanley, President and managing director of Airbus India and South Asia, told Reuters. "Every year the government is doing capital allocation. They are spending," he said. The military is also looking to buy submarines, warships and battlefield communication systems. But these have made little headway. Airbus is offering to set up an assembly line in India in partnership with the Tata Group to produce the C295W military transport aircraft as a replacement for Indian Air Force's Avro fleet. The Rs 85,000 crore Avro replacement programme has been in the pipeline for almost a decade. Airbus on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India's Adani Aerospace and Defence, part of the diversified Adani Group, for aircraft services in India and South Asia. Boeing, which has pitched its F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet fighter for the India air force and navy and is competing with Lockheed Martin's F-21, said it plans to push India's armed forces' drive for modernisation through a suite of five products - the Super Hornet, KC-46 tanker, P-8I aircraft, AH-64E Apache and CH-47(I) Chinook helicopters. The company said it wants to build a global defence and aerospace ecosystem "that creates jobs and industrial capacity with Make in India," said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India in a statement during the exhibition. Boeing and Lockheed will be competing with Sweden's Saab AB with its Gripen fighter and France's Dassault Aviation SA Rafale and Russian fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin, as part of its fighter jet F-21 proposal for the Indian Air Force, signed an MoU with Bharat Electronics Ltd on Friday to explore industrial opportunities around the F-21 fleet, which is essentially building up a spare and supply ecosystem. The three aerospace giants, with huge displays at the Defence Expo 2020 held in the northern city of Lucknow, displayed miniaturised versions of the latest aircraft and helicopters that they have pitched to India. Another French defence firm, Dassault, which recently delivered its first Rafale aircraft to the government in October under a contract to supply 36 units, said it is developing its facility in central India to make the Rafale jets in the subcontinent. Also read: DefExpo: Over 40 countries to participate; PM Modi to inaugurate event today Also read: Indo-US trade deal likely during Trump's India visit Also read: Budget 2020: Will 'josh' be high for defence budget? ) WorldRemit, the market-leading money transfer provider, has revealed that Zimbabwe was one of the top five recipient countries in Africa for remittances in 2019, and continues to grow rapidly. The other African countries who received the most remittances in 2019 were Ghana, Kenya, Uganda with Nigeria receiving the most. WorldRemit recorded a 49% increase in transactions to Africa in 2019. The growth in digitisation and mobile money across the continent has contributed to the substantial growth of remittances. Pardon Mujakachi , Head of Sub Saharan Africa said: The Zimbabwean diaspora continues to drive increases in remittances to Zimbabwe. We know that Zimbabweans receiving money from abroad need guaranteed access to cash across the entire country, regardless of where they live. We recognise the transformative impact of remittances and remain committed to serving this region and the whole African continent, through further expanding our coverage. Data from the company also shows that members of the Zimbabwean diaspora are predominantly sending money back home from the United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The UK for example, has a vibrant and active Zimbabwean community and is home to over 120,000 people who were born in Zimbabwe and thousands more of Zimbabwean origin. Analysis from the World Bank suggests that real GDP growth is projected to increase to 2.7% in Zimbabwe this year. The Bank goes on to state that macroeconomic challenges could remain, in the absence of external financial support. Remittances therefore, from the diaspora prove to be crucial to social and economic development in Zimbabwe. These funds are mainly used for school fees, health expenditure and general household provisions. As previous sponsors of Zimbabwe Fashion Week and the ZimAchievers Awards, WorldRemit has proudly celebrated the many achievements of the Zimbabwean diaspora. WorldRemit provides a low-cost and convenient service to customers, with a cash guarantee. We also have the largest cash pick up network in Zimbabwe and over 250 hard currency collection points. WorldRemit has formed partnerships with mobile money providers, bureaux de change and leading banks on the ground to broaden accessibility to all customers, regardless of location. In Zimbabwe, the firm has partnerships with development finance institutions, retailers, mobile money firms such as EcoCash and several banks including CBZ, ZB & Steward Bank and BancABC. From Victoria falls to Mutare, WorldRemit has Zimbabwe covered. Last year, WorldRemit launched South Africa as a send country for remittances and has already witnessed impressive growth with the highest rate of remittances in the first 12 months in comparison to any other country. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires SAN DIEGO Ben Capon and Nadine Bialostozky, Torrey Pines High School sweethearts who grew up in Carmel Valley, have been living in Israel for the past six years and boarded Holland America's Westerdam on Feb. 1 to start a long journey home. With their wedding in five weeks, the couple has found that the global coronavirus outbreak has turned what was expected to be a relaxing prelude to starting a life together into a confusing float in the South China Sea. After an initial port call scheduled for Manila on Feb. 3 was canceled due to corona concerns, the ship was denied entry to Keelun and Kaohsiung ports in Taiwan, Capon said in an email dated Feb. 6. What follows are unedited comments from Capon that offer a view of what is happening aboard the Westerdam: "The two of us are actually in really high spirits. "Cruises are basically floating resorts so we are still enjoying ourselves. The same cannot be said for everyone on board though. There is a lot of grumbling about the goings on of the ship, as well as rumors of where we are heading next. Last night they had an open bar, which seemed to quiet the crowds for a brief spell, only for the captain to release another statement declaring we would not stop in Ishigaki, our first port in Japan. "This morning the captain made the announcement that Japan has denied us entry to all ports for the remainder of our trip and the cruise has been canceled, as well as the following two week cruise, which my fiancee and I were also supposed to be on. Apparently Holland America is in contact with the US State Department, the US Navy, and the Dutch government to decide what to do next. At this moment we are still sailing in an eastward direction, but the passengers aren't sure why. We have heard rumors that we will be docking in either Hawaii or Alaska, where will not be placed under quarantine for the necessary two weeks because the ship itself is basically under self-quarantine. Officially, the destination has not been determined. "The feeling on board about skipping each port is justifiable frustration. Each night before the expected stop the captain makes an announcement over the speakers that he regrets to inform us the Filipino/Taiwanese/South Korean/Japanese authorities have decided to deny our entry the following day. "Initially we were supposed to complete our cruise in Shanghai, which was then switched to Tokyo, so everyone was requested to alter their travel plans to fly home from there. Holland America has only offered $250 of compensation for flight changes. At this moment, unsure of where we are headed, we are being advised to change flight plans again, but we don't know where we are headed! It's a bit odd they would say this. Also, upon request, passengers can receive a voucher for two hours worth of free WiFi. "At every table are seated couples and families speculating the next move. The feeling of anxiety in the room is palpable. People do not seem to be holed up in their rooms yet, but with the news online about a potential case of the virus on board from the Dailymail and other news outlets, surely nerves will be rattled and folks will retreat to their staterooms. To be clear, the cruise has not definitely said one of the passengers is infected with the virus, but yesterday we asked a nurse what was happening in the sick bay, to which she sort of evaded the question but did note there was a lot of activity. Also, as a side note, very few people are wearing masks. If the cruise is offering complimentary masks to guests, we aren't aware of it (we have our own). "To tell you a little bit about us, we are currently in transit back to San Diego. We have been living in Israel for the past six years and slowly making our way home. We both grew up in Carmel Valley (Torrey Pines graduates and high school sweethearts)! We have been living abroad for six years and slowly making our way home. My fiancee imports arts and crafts supplies from China to Mexico. We were supposed to go to China for two weeks to visit factories, but those plans were cancelled. I am a small business owner. Both of us are having trouble connecting to our business partners and colleagues without the internet we would be able to access on the expected port stops since we aren't stopping! ___ (c)2020 The San Diego Union-Tribune Visit The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Baftas 2020: Sam Mendes film 1917 dominates awards View(s): World War One film 1917 was the big winner at the Bafta Film Awards recently, with seven prizes in total. The trophies for Sir Sam Mendess movie included best film, best British film, best director and best cinematography. Joker won three awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, while Renee Zellweger was named best actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland. Phoenix took aim at systemic racism and oppression within the film industry in his acceptance speech. His words, and those of the Duke of Cambridge later, came in the wake of a diversity row prompted by the all-white line-up of acting nominees. South Korean film Parasite won two prizes for original screenplay and film not in the English language. There were no major upsets or surprise winners, with 1917 unarguably dominating the evening. I couldnt be more thrilled, director Sir Sam told BBC. Theres the personal delight in seeing a story very close to me and my family be developed and enlarged but the massive thing has been audiences going in large numbers. None of us knew if an audience would turn up, it wasnt certain at all. It coincided with awards season and the fact this is still number one in the UK after four weeks, [the awards have] really alerted people to the fact the movie is on, it rarely happens like that. Sir Sam is the first British winner of best director at the Baftas since Danny Boyle won for Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. Brad Pitt won best supporting actor for his role in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and made a Brexit joke in a message read out by his co-star Margot Robbie. Hey, Britain, hear youve become single welcome to the club! Wishing you the best with the divorce settlement, the actress read. She added: He says he is going to name this Harry because he is really excited about bringing it back to the States with him. His words not mine. Laura Dern was named best supporting actress for her performance as a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story. Thank you Bafta, thank you for including me in this room of extraordinary artists as we get to tell stories and do the job we love, she said. It is the first time since 1977 that all four of the Bafta awards for acting have been won by Americans. Accepting the leading actress award for her performance in Judy, Zellweger said: This is very humbling. Miss Garland, London town, which you have always loved so much, still loves you back. This is for you. Zellweger, Phoenix, Dern and Pitt have now won their acting categories at every major ceremony of awards season so far. In addition to their Baftas, they have won at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics Choice Awards. All four are highly likely to triumph at next weekends Oscars. Joker picked up best original score for its composer Hildur Gudnadottir and the inaugural casting award, which went to Shayna Markowitz. I feel very honoured and privileged but I have to say that I also feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving dont have that same privilege, Phoenix said as he accepted his best actor award for the film. I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that youre not welcome here, I think thats the message that were sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from. His comments follow a row about the lack of diversity among this years Bafta nominations. (BBC) A young Australian girl evacuated from China and in quarantine on Christmas Island has been tested for coronavirus after developing an illness. But Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says her sickness isnt serious and could be all sorts of things. He is also confident Chinese authorities will approve another Qantas airlift of Australians from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan. Professor Kelly confirmed on Saturday that a child who is among almost 300 evacuees on Christmas Island is awaiting results from a coronavirus test, after developing symptoms which may be linked to the disease. It could be all sorts of other things, we dont have a test positive at this point, he told reporters in Canberra on Saturday. That person is well, it is certainly not a serious illness at this stage. They have been further isolated from the other people that are on the island, and the appropriate steps in infection control and indeed clinical care are being taken. So far two groups of Australian citizens or permanent residents have been evacuated to Christmas Island, with 241 leaving on a Qantas flight and 35 departing on a later Air New Zealand flight. They all face a two-week quarantine process. Another Qantas airlift of Australians from Wuhan was originally scheduled to leave on Friday night, but did not get the go-ahead to land in the city from China. The ABC reports the flight is now scheduled to leave Wuhan at 3.15am (AEDT) on Sunday once it gets approval. Professor Kelly said Australia is working with Chinese authorities to get clearance as soon as possible. Asked whether he was confident of an airlift, he said: Yes, I am confident, but I cant absolutely guarantee it because it is indeed on Chinese soil. The Qantas flight in presently in Hong Kong. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says many flights out of Wuhan have been delayed. We are in contact with all passengers on the manifest about the status of the flight, they told AAP. The assisted departure is a complex operation under difficult circumstances. Any such departure is always subject to operational requirements and to Chinese government final approval. Once the Australians are extracted they will be sent to the Manigurr-ma Village at Howard Springs, an old mining camp about 30km from Darwin. Christmas Island was unable to house another couple of hundred evacuees. The federal government said on Friday evacuees would be screened before boarding the plane in China and continuously monitored by medical staff during the flight. Anyone found to be unwell on arrival at Darwin will be taken directly to hospital where they will be quarantined, the government said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned people not to assume any further evacuation flights will be possible, either from Wuhan or mainland China. Australia has so far had 15 confirmed coronavirus cases: five in Queensland, four each in NSW and Victoria and two in South Australia. By Marnie Banger and Colin Brinsden The West Bengal CID grilled BJP Lok Sabha MP from Ranaghat constituency Jagannath Sarkar on Saturday in connection with its ongoing investigation into the killing of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas, sources said. The BJP leader was grilled for nearly four hours at Bhabani Bhaban, the CID headquarters in the city, they said. In January, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court granted Sarkar an interim protection from arrest till February 28. The high court, however, while hearing his anticipatory bail plea, directed Sarkar to cooperate with the CID in its probe into the murder of Biswas. Satyajit Biswas, who was a TMC MLA from Krishnaganj Assembly Constituency in West Bengal's Nadia district, was shot dead during a cultural programme there in February last year. Biswas's family members had lodged complaint against 43 people including BJP leaders Mukul Roy and Jagannath Sarkar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When some industries in China have been put into temporary stagnation due to the sudden coronavirus epidemic outbreak, the country's booming digital economy, however, is playing an increasingly important role in hedging economic risks and uncertainty. As an effective measure to prevent crowds and control the spread of the virus, many Chinese are avoiding going outdoors, driving more vigorous development of the thriving fresh food e-commerce and food delivery. Shanghai resident Qi Yongjun placed an order Thursday on Ele.me, a food delivery app, for fresh vegetables, eggs, pastries and dairy products. "The prices are the same as usual, but maybe due to a large number of orders, it took longer, about two hours, to be delivered. But it's understandable since we are in a special time," Qi said. The number and amount of orders on many Chinese online fresh food platforms have soared since the Spring Festival, which fell on Jan. 25 this year. The online fresh food platform of e-commerce giant JD.com said its sales grew by 215 percent year-on-year from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, with more than 15,000 tonnes of fresh products sold nationwide. Zhang Yu, manager of a warehouse of Dingdong Maicai, a fresh vegetable e-commerce platform, said amount of each order has nearly doubled to over 100 yuan (about 14.3 U.S. dollars), compared to only 60 or 70 yuan in the past. Facing a substantial increase in business volume, some delivery platforms have adopted measures to cope with the issue of being short-handed. Freshhippo, an online and brick-and-mortar supermarket chain backed by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba, has worked with well-known Chinese catering companies with more than 500 employees from restaurants including Yunhaiyao joining Freshhippo's stores and delivery services. The move a is win-win cooperation, according to Hu Qiugen, general manager of operations management of Freshhippo. "The need for online delivery is far higher than usual, requiring more labor, while many catering companies have suspended operations, creating a more available workforce," Hu said. "The two sides are working together to get through difficulties." "As long as services such as express delivery and logistics are back to normal, the decline in offline sales caused by the epidemic may be largely offset by the increase in online shopping," said Rui Meng, a professor at China Europe International Business School. Also, the popularity of telecommuting apps to facilitate those working from home amid the epidemic has prompted the development of China's digital economy. Downloads of telecommuting apps such as DingTalk and WeChat Work ranked high in the Apple App Store. More than 10 million companies and organizations have been using Alibaba's mobile office tool DingTalk since the end of the Spring Festival holiday, according to the company. Ping An Insurance, a financial giant, said nearly 10,000 of its staff across the country used audio and video teleconferencing systems during the Spring Festival holiday. On Thursday, the Shanghai municipal government issued a letter for all enterprises in the city, encouraging them to take measures such as flexible working hours and telecommuting amid the coronavirus outbreak. "We believe the epidemic will push telecommuting to a new inflection point, with more people realizing that working efficiency is more important than where to work," said Zhang Zhouping, senior analyst of the E-Commerce Research Center. "China's digital economy has been a stabilizer amid the virus outbreak, hedging economic risks. Provided that we give play to the respective advantages of corporate, social and government mechanisms, we will definitely see 'spring comes after winter,'" Rui Meng said. A family-owned business was targeted by three men in balaclavas who smashed up the shop, causing customers to run for their lives. Three masked men armed with steel poles and hammers stormed Fel-Fella Egyptian restaurant in Torrensville, in Adelaide's west, about 10pm on Friday. A Muslim family were seen fleeing the restaurant in fear before CCTV footage captured the men smashing a fridge, the glass counter and the front window. A family-owned business was targeted by three men in balaclavas who smashed up the shop, causing customers to run for their lives The owner said he thought the men were robbing the store before they smashed everything up and left empty-handed, Nine News reported. Footage shows the owners running out from behind the counter in an attempt to defend themselves, but the offenders had already fled. Police arrived at the restaurant shortly after the attack but the offenders are still on the run. Landlord Tony Trolio assessed the damage on Saturday morning and said the owner's children no longer want to work at the restaurant because they are too scared. 'It's horrifying. They're a good family, good people,' Mr Trolio said. '(The shop owner) is a bit terrified, he's said his kids don't want to come to work, which you can't blame them.' Police are currently investigating the incident, which they believe is a targeted attack. There is now a sign on the front of the door announcing the restaurant's closure. 'Due to a random attack on Fel-Fella, we are going to be closed until further notice,' the sign reads. A Muslim family were seen fleeing the restaurant in fear before CCTV footage captured the men smashing a fridge There is now a sign on the front of the door announcing the restaurant's closure Riversoft A Peakwork Company is the new official company brand. Launched in 2008, by Managing Director, Matt Jiang, the Taipei based technology company has been supporting the digitization of the Taiwanese travel market since its foundation. The company focusses on solutions for tour operators and travel sales by integrating the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and more, into the travel sector. Riversoft has already implemented Peakworks Player Hub Technology which allows Taiwanese travel companies and tour operators to bundle travel packages dynamically. Riversoft also combines hotel + flight offers sourced from the Peakwork Leisure Travel Network, opening up a new sales market for international Peakwork hotel and flight suppliers. Riversoft has also integrated Peakwork technology into local applications. The company demonstrated an application in Line a social platform for instant communication and additional services in Taiwan which offers a new sales service for Taiwanese travelers using AI, NLP and packaging technology. Via voice control, end users can search for their holiday packages and Peakwork technology (via Peakworks Hub service) responds with the corresponding travel offer. Alex Kuo, Chairman of the Board of Riversoft, explained: Peakwork technology offers us great benefits: We can access worldwide travel offers with maximum speed along with packaging technology, which is completely new for Taiwan. Not only can Taiwans travel operators fulfill the needs of outbound travel, they can also expand their inbound travel business, too. Matt Jiang, Managing Director of Riversoft, added: Our team of experienced technical engineers work on cutting edge booking solutions by implementing a new generation of technology to sell travel offers via various sales channels. By cooperating with Peakwork, Riversoft can assist travel operators handling the entire cycle of a travelers behavior: Before travel (searching and booking), during the travel (emergency and additional purchase) and after travel (sharing and feedback). Jan Gerlach, CEO of Peakwork, said: We are very excited about this new partnership. The Riversoft team has already combined and integrated various technologies which even for the German market demonstrate new sales opportunities. We welcome all partners in the travel industry to join the Peakwork Leisure Travel Network providing the right travel products that meet customers expectations. Riversoft will present the latest developments at the upcoming trade fairs on the Peakwork booth: At ITB Berlin, from 4-7 March 2020 and at the Aviation Festival Asia 2020 in Singapore. Riversoft is Peakworks second investment in Asia: Besides Riversoft in Taiwan, Peakwork also holds a stake in Zhouyou Technology in China. Image Credit: Peakwork Shivsena MLA Ravindra Waikar on Saturday was appointed as Chief Coordinator for the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office and he will be holding the rank of Cabinet Minister. The appointment was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Waikar's responsibility would mainly involve coordinating with the public representatives and the Chief Minister on fast-tracking projects and fund allocations. The Shivsena MLA, who is considered to be one of the oldest loyals of Chief Minister Thackeray, was earlier not made part of the Maharashtra portfolio in the expansion. In the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led government, Ravindra Waiker held the post of Minister of State, housing, higher and technical education minister. Waiker is the Shivsena MLA from Mumbai Jogeshwari East constituency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hafiz Saeed, once again got away from getting convicted in Pakistan, after the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore deferred from announcing the verdict on the 26/11 mastermind. On Saturday, a Pakistan Court deferred the matter until 11 February 2020. Reportedly, the terror financing case in Lahore was deferred after the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief asked the Court to hear other pending cases then pronounce a verdict together. Yet another delay in Hafiz Saeed's conviction comes amid the global pressure on Islamabad to rein in terror groups. Previously, on December 7, 2019, an ATC failed to indict Saeed, as authorities failed to produce his co-accused in the court. The ATC Lahore judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta reserved the verdict against Hafiz Saeed in two terror financing cases on Thursday. The defense and prosecution completed their arguments in a six-hour hearing, the court official told PTI after the hearing. The official further said the prosecution produced some 20 witnesses in the ATC who testified against Hafiz Saeed and his close aides for their alleged involvement in terror financing. READ| Pakistan & Terrorism: 6 Freudian slips by Pak leaders on Osama, Hafiz Saeed & Masood Azhar that give it all away Hafiz Saeed was produced before the ATC amid tight security. "As the defence had already completed its arguments on January 30, the prosecution presented more arguments and evidence before the court on Thursday," the official said. The ATC had indicted Hafiz Saeed and others on December 11. Hafiz Saeed has already recorded his statement before the court in two terror financing cases against him in which he pleaded "not guilty". If convicted, this would Hafiz Saeed's first conviction in 20 years. Hafiz Saeed terror cases The CTD had registered 23 FIRs against Hafiz Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. He is held at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. Hafiz Saeed-led JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. In December 2008, Saeed was put under house arrest in Pakistan under the Maintenance of Public Order Law, only to be freed nearly 10 months later on orders of the Lahore High Court. In 2019, Pakistan's counter-terrorism department held Saeed and his Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) guilty of 'terror financing'. READ| Hafiz Saeed pulling strings in Pakistan from behind bars: Pak media (With PTI inputs) Greece aims to outflank Turkey in Mediterranean Athens, Feb 8 (AFP) Feb 08, 2020 Greece has sought to bolster its Mediterranean presence in recent weeks in response to heightened tension with Turkey, ramping up its meanoeuvres but sparking accusations of adventurism at home. Over the past month, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has revamped a defence agreement with the United States, sent a warship to join a French naval battle group and will deliver defensive missiles to Saudi Arabia. The latest flurry has exposed the recently elected, US-educated prime minister to accusations of "adventurism" in a particularly volatile Middle East. "You are embroiling the country in adventures that lie beyond its capacity and change decades-old foreign policy," leftist former PM Alexis Tsipras told Mitsotakis last month. Mitsotakis, who became prime minister in July, has shrugged off the criticism as short-sighted. "We are strengthening the framework of our strategic alliances, not just with the US... our military cooperation (with France) has never been better," he told lawmakers in January as parliament prepared to approve the US defence deal. A few days earlier, a Greek warship had joined the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, whose battle group is on a mission against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. According to diplomats, France has encouraged Greece to be more "autonomous" and play a more active role in EU defence initiatives. And after a decade-long debt crisis that saw Greek arms spending drop by over 70 percent, the Mitsotakis government wants to be heard, says Spyridon Litsas, professor of international relations at the University of Macedonia. - 'Idle is risky' - "Being idle during these days of high volatility is equally risky and has nothing substantially to offer to Greece's attempt to achieve a return to international politics after the economic crisis of 2010," he says. Greek relations in Turkey -- never particularly warm -- have taken a turn for the worse in recent months under the added burden of migration and an energy exploration scramble in the eastern Mediterranean. Right now, "France is the ideal Greek ally", Panagiotis Tsakonas, a professor of international law at Athens University, told AFP. "The two countries share views on the situation in the eastern Mediterranean," he said, citing involvement of French firms in energy exploration off Cyprus, historically Greece's chief ally. Turkey has pushed ahead with drilling activity in Cyprus's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) despite EU threats of sanctions. Greece last month signed an agreement with Cyprus and Israel on EastMed, a huge pipeline project to ship gas to Europe. The rivalry has extended to Libya. Turkey signed a maritime and military cooperation memorandum with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in November, carving out energy spheres of influence in the Mediterranean at the expense of Greece. Athens retaliated by expelling the GNA ambassador and by seeking to build ties with Khalifa Haftar, a general based in the east who controls three-quarters of Libyan territory. Other Middle Eastern states wooed by Athens -- the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt -- are foes of Turkey and back pro-Haftar forces. Constantinos Filis, executive director of the Athens-based Institute of International Relations, agrees that Athens "must demonstrate its presence and secure backing in the face of Turkish claims in the region". But he is less sanguine about Greece's February 4 announcement that it would send a batch of US-made Patriot defensive missiles to Saudi Arabia to guard energy facilities. "This could risk involving (Greece) in a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran," says Filis. Mitsotakis, whose father Constantine served as prime minister in the early 1990s and cultivated close links with the family of US President George HW Bush, has faced furious criticism of being too pliable towards Western allies, especially Washington. The PM drew fire last month when, ahead of a visit to the White House, he called Greece "the most reliable and predictable ally of the United States in NATO in this region", according to state agency ANA. - Fighter jet upgrade - Rejecting the attacks, Mitsotakis insists that "predictability in foreign policy is a big advantage". "In the United States I said it's good to be predictable. All alliances are based on the notion of predictability," he told parliament. Athens has agreed a $1.5 billion upgrade to its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and is also interested in US-made drones and possibly F-35 warplanes. The Greek defence ministry also insists that a greater US presence is good for the country's struggling arms industry. It says US forces will invest over 12 million euros ($13 million) on airbase infrastructure in Larissa and around six million euros at Marathi, part of the US base of Souda, Crete. It's typically a party when The SteelDrivers hit Jefferson Center. On Friday, the band's third time in front of a packed house there, band and fans had a bonus reason to celebrate. It was CD release day for the bluegrass quintet's latest, "Bad For You." Onstage to sing the songs was Kelvin Damrell, the third lead vocalist in the band's history, after country music superstar Chris Stapleton and Gary Nichols. Not an easy position to be in, but the band trusted him. "He has ridden a lot of miles with us," bassist Mike Fleming told the audience of more than 900 in Jefferson Center's sold-out Shaftman Performance Hall. "He's earned his stripes." And after he got his voice good and loose a few songs in, he began earning the crowd's shouts of approval with one gymnastic vocal kicker after another. The Berea, Kentucky native is an ideal fit for the energy The SteelDrivers put out there. Just as important would be the vibe on the new songs. The band opened its 100-minute set with the "Bad For You" title cut, a mid-tempo number warning a woman about a rambling man, sung from first-person perspective. "Ain't it kind of me to tell you the truth?" Damrell sang, before a chorus loaded with harmony work from fiddler Tammy Rogers and Fleming. "I Choose You," a sweet and swinging love song, was the least edgy of the night, but with the feel of one that will be around for a while. Rogers said the band made a video for it, joking that folks should look for it on their "facepage or Instagram, or whatever you kids do these days." The hopping number "The Bartender" explores the mixed feelings of the guy who serves your adult beverages. "I don't pull the trigger / I just load the gun," Damrell sang, closing it with a vocal flourish that got the crowd worked up and would have made his predecessor, Stapleton, proud. Those eastern Kentucky cats can blow chops with soul and power. Damrell, like Stapleton, is a good flat-picking guitarist, too. Given that he claims to have been a hard rock fan coming up, with no experience in bluegrass, he has picked it up with impressive speed since he joined the band in January 2018, after Rogers' daughter reportedly saw him singing a Stapleton song on Youtube. Damrell's rock and blues chops on guitar and vocals kept the band's musical tension tight, and his tone was an excellent blend with Rogers' and Fleming's well-honed harmonies. The zydeco-flavored "Glad I'm Gone" which Rogers told the crowd she co-write with Stapleton and another Nashville, Tennessee, songwriting ace, Dean Dillon provided one of many examples of those three-part gems. The vocal blends surely weren't a surprise to many of the "SteelHeads" in the room. Damrell was a member of the band last time it swung by Jefferson Center in April 2018, a show this reporter missed. It wasn't all about the vocals. A new instrumental, banjo man Richard Bailey's "Mama Says No," got a big response from the audience. Introducing the peppy romp, Rogers said the band asked Bailey for a new banjo song, since his "California Chainsaw" had been such a streaming/download hit in the neighborhood of two million, she said from the band's last album, Grammy Award-winning "The Muscle Shoals Recordings." "We said Richard, come on, you made $49 off that last record," Rogers said, joking about the relatively small pay that songwriters receive from streaming services. Bailey then bent over to speak into his banjo microphone, which would have been funny regardless of the context. "I'd like to thank Spotify for allowing me to go on a shopping spree at Dollar General," he said, as the audience cracked up. "It got me caught up on my paper products till probably the start of summer." "Paper products are important," Fleming said. "The are at my house," Bailey replied before rising to kick off the song. There were plenty more streaming hits that have been going over big with SteelDrivers' fans from the Stapleton era, 2008-2010, and the following seven years, which featured Nichols. "Blue Side of the Mountain," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "Heaven Sent" and encore "Where Rainbows Never Die" have held up well, with mandolinist Brent Truitt, Rogers and Bailey delivering tasteful, toneful instrumental solos, and Damrell nailing the gritty essence of The SteelDrivers' lead vocal tradition. A new era is well underway. Contact Tad Dickens at tad.dickens@roanoke.com or 777-6474. Follow him on Twitter: @cutnscratch. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. THE scramble for votes is intense throughout county Limerick as election day looms and all 12 candidates make the last big push before polling booths open on Saturday. The big question on everybodys mind however, is: Will the status quo hold? Can Fine Gaels Patrick ODonovan and Tom Neville and Fianna Fails Niall Collins retain their seats even as the mood for change is blowing through the constituency? Fine Gael is clearly hoping that once again, it can buck the national trend where support for the party has been falling and win enough votes to secure their dominance and retain two seats. Realists within the party accept the vote might be down but holding on will be the key and they believe the party can shade it despite some concern that the addition of Cllr Michael Collins to the Fianna Fail ticket could damage Patrick ODonovans vote in Newcastle West. Other party wisemen however believe that the town will not give up its minister lightly. They also believe that, in the end, caution will win the day. Fianna Fail has made no secret of wanting to reclaim Limerick as natural Fianna Fail territory where the party holds two out of the three seats and is very keen to increase its vote share. Niall Collins seat is as secure as any seat can be, though whether his first preference vote will be affected by his running mate, Cllr Michael Collins, remains to be seen. Party leader Micheal Martin told Leader reporter Nick Rabbits earlier this week they were in competition for a second seat. If we can spread the vote there, and get Michael up, I think we can do it, he said. While the national polls have identified Sinn Fein as the party with momentum, Independent Richard ODonoghue is considered by many as the candidate most likely to benefit from the winds of change in Co Limerick. And both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are acutely aware since the last election that there is a big swathe of as many as 15,000 first preference votes floating about. In ODonoghues favour also is the geographic spread of candidates, a non-inconsiderable fact. The majority of candidates are clustered west of the N20 while he has roots in the east of the constituency. He could also benefit from a protest vote where people dont want to move too far from the centre or from voters who dont want to return Fianna Fail to government. Against that, the possibility that Fianna Fail might be the anchor party in the next coalition with a possibility of a seat at the Cabinet table might be enough for people to stay loyal to Fianna Fail. The Sinn Fein candidate, former city councillor Seighin O Ceallaigh will be hoping that with such a strong wind behind the party nationally, he will be in contention for a seat. In particular, what should not be forgotten is that in the local elections of 2014, three, virtual unknowns stood for Sinn Fein and got elected to the council. He could also benefit from a youth vote. The Green Partys Claire Keating is expected to deliver a good vote. Her appeal to return a woman TD for the first time in the history of the county has found an echo and young voters in particular will be attracted to her Green credentials. But the Green wave is unlikely to be enough, this time. Other candidates, Conor ODonoghue Aontu, John Dalton RENUA, Cristin Ni Mhaoldhomhnaigh, National Party and Independents Con Cremin and Rob ODonnell are also standing. With a big field of candidates and only three seats, second and further preferences will be crucial in this election. Overall, it promises to be an exciting count at Limerick Racecourse on Sunday. Meanwhile in Limerick City, Fianna Fails Willie ODea, Sinn Feins Maurice Quinlivan are expected to hold their seats comfortably, with a long and almighty battle to fill the two remaining seats from among the ranks of Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party. Polling booths open at 7am this Saturday and close at 10pm. x x Comfortable in his skin, 11-year-old Michael Carr of Bloomingdale sometimes peels off his shirt when he makes his rounds. Im known for it there, Michael says of the shirtless look hes perfected during his more than four years as a cancer patient at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago. Im the mayor of the 18th floor. I like to play with kids, make them laugh and help them, even if they have tubes and everything. Michael helps raise the spirits of adults, too. Michael Carr is an exceptional young man. I like to call him the mayor of Lurie Childrens, says Dr. Stewart Goldman, the division head of hematology, oncology, neuro-oncology and stem cell transplantation at the hospital, who says he finds absolute joy in treating patients such as Michael who still want to be kids. Hell come up and rub my belly and ask if I have twins in there, which I love. Hes an inspiration. You cant help but be happy when you spend time with Michael Carr. With his shirt off, Michael can show off the faint scar near the center of his chest where doctors inserted a port for his chemotherapy. Three years ago this month, Michael got to make the triumphant walk in front of family, friends and his medical team to ring the End of Chemo bell and celebrate. That summer his family hosted a Done With Chemo party in the familys backyard with bounce houses and waterslides. Michaels cancer returned in October 2017, and Michael has been enduring a new trial of oral chemotherapy ever since. His parents, Gia and Michael, recall how Michael got sick as a first-grader at Erickson Elementary School in Bloomingdale. I threw up every morning, the boy says. Then there was the day they picked me up at school and took me to the hospital and I got an IV. On Oct. 20, 2015, Michael was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor that starts at the base of the skull and affects between 250 and 500 kids a year. Three days later, two days before his seventh birthday, he had his first brain surgery at Lurie Childrens Hospital to remove the tumor. Then came 30 days of radiation at the Northwestern Medicine Proton Center in Warrenville. Thats where I got the stickers, Michael says proudly, rushing off to his Chicago Blackhawks-themed bedroom to grab the laminated sheet of stickers awarded him after treatments. I enjoyed that. They always kept me asleep for it. While Michael, and his parents, acknowledge the stages of fighting cancer are not pleasant, Michael has found a way to make the best of it. At first, getting my port in hurt. Next thing you know, I got used to it, Michael says. I really enjoy the hospital, the doctors and nurses. I have ice cream, Coke and Goldfish, and sometimes Oreos. He loves being the big brother to Frankie, 9, and 7-year-old Joey. His smile knows no boundaries. He does make it easy, his mom says. He handles everything just like this, says his dad, who owns GMC Realty. All the pokes, probes and potions dont seem to bother him. Sometimes, Michael says, lowering his voice as if hes telling a secret, just to be dramatic, I fake it. He even finds a silver lining in that first chemo session that made all his brown hair fall out. I didnt even have to get haircuts, Michael gushes. The cancer returned in the form of a tumor on the left side of his head, requiring a second surgery where part of the tumor was too difficult to remove from his brain. He had a third surgery after he had a seizure, stared off into space and starting drooling while at a local restaurant with his dad. That was kind of weird, Michael says of the seizure. I felt like I needed to throw up and then I couldnt remember anything. I just woke up in the hospital. With a slight eye roll, Michael nods in his dads direction. To him, it was scary, Michael concedes. I was talking to you and you just started drifting away, his dad recalls. It was terrifying, his mom says. While the cancers return was devastating news, the fifth-grader now is part of a new and novel trial where he takes a combination of oral chemo drugs to keep his cancer from getting worse. Given all thats happened to him, hes doing remarkably well, says Goldman, who notes that Lurie Childrens is one of 11 top hospitals nationwide that make up the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, which is dedicated to curing illnesses in children such as Michael. Things are stable now, Gia says, noting that her son gets scanned every two months to check on the tumors progress. There are still options out there, she said. In the meantime, Michael and his family are doing all they can to support other kids and families. On Jan. 26, Michael participated in Aons Step Up for Kids climbing 1,643 steps to raise money to support Family Services at Lurie Childrens. This was the fourth year the Carr family has participated with their Miracles for Michael team. The steps will be difficult, but Michael has experience with difficult journeys. How about when Im done with all this, you put that in the paper? says Michael, who knows the thrill of ringing that End of Chemo bell. That was nice, and Im going to be able to do it again. Australians fleeing the coronavirus in China could have been screened by medical personnel at the Richmond RAAF base in western Sydney and quarantined in hospitals here under a NSW Health plan, but that was rejected by the federal government. The state had "made it clear" it was willing and able to safely screen evacuees from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province at Richmond and provide isolation, political and departmental sources said, but the federal government opted to send them to remote Christmas Island instead. The alternative plan can be revealed as the government hoped a second Qantas flight would be cleared to land in Wuhan overnight and rescue a further 200 stranded Australians. One of the evacuees already sent to Christmas Island, a young girl, is now being tested for coronavirus, while a third cruise ship was stuck at sea after the virus was found on board yesterday. The first Qantas flight from Wuhan arrived at Learmonth RAAF base before evacuees were taken to Christmas Island. Credit:Defence Fast-moving discussions were underway on January 29 when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced evacuees would be taken to Christmas Island's immigration detention centre, 2000 kilometres north-west of Broome, and quarantined for 14 days. New York: A psychologist called by Harvey Weinstein's defense team said memories of an incident can become "contaminated" over time by new information, as testimony in his rape trial entered its closing stages on Friday. Elizabeth Loftus, a University of California, Irvine professor, said leading questioning about an event sometimes causes a "misinformation effect," where false details are incorporated into someone's memory. "If you are urged to remember more, in trying to produce more to satisfy that situation, you may produce something like a guess and then it starts to feel like a memory," she testified. Since testimony began on January 22, six women have taken the stand to say they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein. All of the allegations against the former Hollywood titan are at least six years old, while one of them dates back three decades. Weinstein, 67, faces life imprisonment if convicted of predatory sexual assault charges related to ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi. Mann says Weinstein raped her in March 2013 while Haleyi alleges he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006. The defense says the women willingly had sex to advance their own careers and that Weinstein was in relationships with them. Mann admitted to the court that she had had "non-coerced" sexual contact with Weinstein, producer of "Pulp Fiction" and "Sin City," up to 2016. Sexual assault allegations against Weinstein made headlines worldwide in October 2017, igniting the #MeToo movement. Loftus -- who testified in about 300 trials, mostly for the defense -- said media coverage can lead people to change their recollection of an incident. "If it is relabeled, it can be remembered as more upsetting and traumatic than it was at the time," she said, adding that it did not mean that the person is lying but that memory has been transformed. The psychologist said memory can also be distorted from the start by alcohol or drugs, particularly Valium, a sedative. "The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra testified that she was taking Valium around the time she says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s. Under cross-examination Loftus said that for traumatic events it is mostly "peripheral memories" that become distorted, "not the core of the event." The prosecution rested its case on Thursday and closing arguments are expected next week, well ahead of schedule. The trial has raised complicated issues surrounding consent for the jury of 12 to grapple with. "It was much more clear-cut in the Bill Cosby case. He drugged the victim," said Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman, referring to the US comedian convicted of sexual assault in 2018. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict. If it can't then the judge may be forced to declare a mistrial. "It takes just one juror to say, 'I don't buy it,'" said criminal defense lawyer Julie Rendalman. "I think it's going to be difficult to reach a verdict," she added. Rose Escort of the Year and 26-year-old Dingle man Jamie Flannery is preparing himself for an experience unlike any other. Next Wednesday, February 15, he will join two other Rose escorts and 13 Roses as they fly from Dublin to volunteer for Chernobyl Children International (CCI) in the Vesnova Children's Mental Asylum in Belarus. Rose of Tralee Sinead Flanagan, whom had Jamie as her Rose Escort in 2019, will also be among those travelling to Eastern Europe. It's an initiative the Rose of Tralee Festival has embraced for a number of years, and it's one that Jamie is looking forward to being a part of. "I've volunteered in the past in Tanzania and Haiti, in 2014, 2015, and 2017," Jamie told The Kerryman. "I was part of a team of UCD volunteers, and our work mainly consisted of teaching computers and English. "Those of us travelling over will assist the team providing care to the children in the asylum. I'm a teacher myself [in Gaelscoil Charraig Ui Leighin, Carrigaline, Cork], and the team travelling over will also include doctors, people with experience in childcare, for example. And we're hoping to pool those abilities to make a difference." Those taking part must raise funds themselves as part of the initiative. To date, Jamie has raised more than 250 through an everydayhero web page, but he has also received some strong local support. He has thanked Garvey's SuperValu, Dingle, where he held a bucket collection in recent weeks, and he also had very kind words for Dingle's three pharmacies - Grogan's, O'Keeffe's, and Walsh's - all of whom have donated medical supplies for Jamie to bring to Belarus. In total, Jamie is hoping to raise in excess of 1,000. The state-run Vesnova institution is still home to some 150 children, many of whom live with severe disabilities and health problems. Its conditions have improved enormously since Adi Roche's CCI began taking action following the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. Over the past 34 years, the charity has delivered well over 100m in aid to regions affected by the disaster; brought more than 25,000 children to Ireland on rest and recuperation visits; and has committed to and brought about significt de-institutionalisation of people affected by the horrors of the 1986 explosion. These are just samples of the work CCI has carried out for more than three decades. For Jamie and his Rose colleagues - some of whom are travelling from as far away as North America, and will be accompanied on the near-week-long stay by Ms Roche - it's sure to be an intense experience, but it's one he is determined to make the most of. "At the end of the day, I know it's going to be a tough challenge," Jamie admitted. "But I am sure the skills we have will be beneficial to the children and the team at Vesnova, and I'm trying to think of the joy and happiness we can bring to the people there. "This came about through my involvement with the Rose of Tralee Festival, and when I got the opportunity to go, I was delighted to take it," the Dingle man added. His everyday hero page is titled Jamie Flannerys Chernobyl Children Fundraiser. BRIDGEPORT City officials said the incoming class of Bridgeport firefighter recruits are all city residents. Bridgeport Fire Department Recruit Class #65 met with Mayor Joe Ganim on Thursday before the head off to the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks on Monday for weeks of training. Officials said the class of 15 recruits are made up of 13 men and two women, with eight of them being white, three being African-American and four Hispanic. The recruits range in age from 20 to 45. City officials did not respond to Hearst Connecticut Medias request for comment about where in the city the 15 recruits live. The class are all CPAT candidate physical ability test certified. All through the ranks, youll find that the leadership in our fire department understands the challenges of the job, but also how to engage with and serve the community, Ganim said in a statement. When they head to Windsor Locks on Monday, theyll begin a 14-week resident course that focuses on developing the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to effectively be a firefighter. In June 2020, the recruit class will return to Bridgeport and be officially sworn in. Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil more than doubled in January compared with the previous year, according to official data published Friday. More than 280 square kilometers (110 square miles) were cleared, an increase of 108 percent. It was the largest area cleared in the month of January since 2015, when such data started being collected, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The data was collected by the INPE's satellite-based DETER system, which monitors deforestation in real time. In comparison, 136 square kilometers were cleared in January 2019, 183 square kilometers in 2018 and 58 square kilometers in 2017. INPE data published in mid-January found that deforestation in the Amazon in northern Brazil had soared 85 percent in 2019, clearing 9,166 square kilometers -- the highest number in at least five years -- versus 4,946 square kilometers cleared in 2018. The sharp increase overlapped the first year in office of President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic who has eased restrictions on exploiting the Amazon's vast riches. Bolsonaro made headlines in August when he attempted to minimize the resurgence of forest fires that had shocked the world. On August 2, INPE then-president Ricardo Galvao was sacked by Bolsonaro's administration, which accused him of exaggerating the extent of the deforestation. On Wednesday, Bolsonaro unveiled a sweeping plan for the Amazon rainforest that would open indigenous lands to mining, farming and hydroelectric power projects. Many NGOs said this would further increase deforestation. The bill, which has yet to be approved by Congress, is a "dream" for the far-right leader but a "nightmare" for environmentalists and tribal leaders. A handout picture released by the Communication Department of the State of Mato Grosso shows deforestation in the Amazon basin in the municipality of Colniza, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, on August 29, 2019 Watch President Donald Trump blasted "dishonest and corrupt" people Thursday morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, bashing his impeachment before the nonpartisan event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just steps away. Posted February 07, 20202 Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter FULL REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE 68TH NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST Washington Hilton Washington, D.C. February 06, 2020 - 9:11 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, thank you very much. I'm working very hard for you, I will tell you. (Laughter.) And sometimes you don't make it easy, and I certainly don't make it easy on you. (Laughter.) And I will continue that tradition, if I might, this morning. And, Arthur, I don't know if I agree with you. (Laughter.) But I don't know if Arthur is going to like what I'm going to say. (Laughter.) But I love listening to you. It's really great. Thank you very much. And thank you, congressmen, for the great job you've been doing and the relationship and the help. You're a warrior. Thank you very much. And, Kevin, you're a warrior. Thank you. The job you've done is incredible. It wasn't supposed to be that way. A lot of extra work. Unnecessary work. It's wonderful to be with the thousands of religious believers for the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast. I've been here from the first one, where I had the privilege of being asked. I've been with you for a long time before then. And we've made tremendous progress. Tremendous progress. You know what we've done. I don't think anybody has done more than all of us together during these last three years. And it's been my honor. But this morning, we come together as one nation, blessed to live in freedom and grateful to worship in peace. As everybody knows, my family, our great country, and your President, have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people. They have done everything possible to destroy us, and by so doing, very badly hurt our nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country. Weeks ago, and again yesterday, courageous Republican politicians and leaders had the wisdom, the fortitude, and strength to do what everyone knows was right. I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like people who say, "I pray for you," when they know that that's not so. So many people have been hurt, and we can't let that go on. And I'll be discussing that a little bit later at the White House. We're joined today by two people whose faith inspires us all: our amazing, wonderful friend, Vice President Mike Pence -- (applause) -- and his wonderful wife, Karen. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all of our great political leaders out there -- so many that I've been working with so hard over the last three years. And we've accomplished so much. And to members of my Cabinet in attendance -- Secretary Mike Pompeo, Mark Esper, David Bernhardt -- (applause) -- Gene Scalia, Alex Azar, Ben Carson, Dan Brouillette, Betsy DeVos, Robert Wilke, and Administrator Jovita Carranza. Joining us -- (applause) -- for this cherished tradition are a lot of friends in the audience. And many, really, have become friends. They are political leaders. They've become great friends. That's all I get to meet anymore. (Laughter.) That and the enemies and the allies. And we have them all. We have allies. We have enemies. Sometimes the allies are enemies, but we just don't know it. (Laughter.) But we're changing all that. But thank you all, and thank you all for being here. I also want to welcome foreign dignitaries from more than 140 countries. That's something. (Applause.) That's something. Everyone here today is united by a shared conviction. We know that our nation is stronger, our future is brighter, and our joy is greater when we turn to God and ask him to shed his grace on our lives. On Tuesday, I addressed Congress on the state of the Union and the great American comeback. That's what it is. (Applause.) Our country has never done better than it is doing right now. Our economy is the strongest it has ever been. And for those of you that are interested in stocks, it looks like the stock market will be way up again today. According to the latest Gallup poll that just came out a little while ago, a few minutes ago, American satisfaction is at the highest level ever recorded. Can you imagine? And that's from Gallup -- no friend of mine. (Applause.) Ninety percent of Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives. How about that? Isn't that something? Just came out today. (Applause.) They must have known I was going to be here. (Laughter.) In everything we do, we are creating a culture that protects freedom, and that includes religious freedom. (Applause.) As I said on Tuesday in the House Chamber, "In America, we don't punish prayer. We don't tear down crosses. We don't ban symbols of faith. We don't muzzle preachers." We don't muzzle pastors. "In America, we celebrate faith, we cherish religion, we lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the Glory of God." (Applause.) So much of the greatness we have achieved, the mysteries we've unlocked, and the wonders we've built, the challenges we've met, and the incredible heights that we've reached has come from the faith of our families and the prayers of our people. Before America declared independence, patriots in all 13 colonies came together in days of fasting and prayer. In the bitter cold of Valley Forge, Washington and his men had no food, no supplies, and very little chance of victory. It reminded me a little bit of 2016. We had very little chance of victory. (Laughter.) Except for the people in this room and some others believed we were going to win. I believed we were going to win. But what they did have was have an unwavering belief that God was with them. I believe that too. God is with the people in this room. Before a single skyscraper rose up in New York City, thousands of poor American families donated all they could to build the magnificent St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Applause.) When Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon, he said, "Houston, I would like to request a few moments of silence." Then, he read from the Bible. (Applause.) At every stage, our nation's long march for civil rights was inspired, sustained, and uplifted by faith, prayer, and devotion of religious believers. To protect faith communities, I have taken historic action to defend religious liberty, including the constitutional right to pray in public schools. (Applause.) We can also talk about the Johnson Amendment. We can talk about Mexico City Policy. We've done a lot. But I also recently took executive action to stop taxpayer dollars from going to colleges and universities that spread the poison of anti-Semitism and bad things about Christianity. (Applause.) We are upholding the sanctity of life -- sanctity of life. (Applause.) And we are doing that like nobody has ever done it before from this position. You better get out and vote on November 3rd -- (laughter) -- because you have a lot of people out there that aren't liking what we're doing. And we're pursuing medical breakthroughs to save premature babies because every child is a sacred gift from God. (Applause.) Together, we are building the world's most prosperous and inclusive society. We are lifting up citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed. We are bringing hope to forgotten communities. And more Americans are working today -- 160 million. A little bit short. Just a little bit. One hundred and sixty million. We've never been even close -- than ever before. Think of it: More Americans are working today -- almost 160 million -- than ever before. Our unemployment numbers are the best in the history of our country. (Applause.) A more specific number and numbers that you hear me say, if you listen: African American, Asian American, Hispanic American -- the best unemployment numbers in the history of our country. Women -- best in 71 years. Sorry. We'll have you there soon. Soon, it will be "historic." I have to apologize to the women; it's only 71 years. But the best unemployment numbers, we have -- we're doing things that nobody thought possible. We're setting records that nobody thought achievable. And to give former prisoners a second chance at life, which so many people in this room have worked on for so long -- (applause) -- we passed criminal justice reform into law, and I signed it nine months ago. And it's proving more and more that America is indeed a nation that believes in redemption. What's happened with prisoners is a miracle. Prisoners would come out and nobody would give them a job. And oftentimes, most of the time -- almost all of the time -- they'd go back into prison. They'd get caught doing something bad. They had no money. They had no hope. They had no job. Now they're coming out into a booming economy. And employers are hiring them, and to a certain extent, maybe because they're having a hard time getting people. First time in our country's history, actually, we're running out of people. We have plants moving in by the thousands. We have car companies coming from Japan and from Germany, from lots of other places, and we need people. And employers are hiring prisoners, and they would have never done it, except for what we've done with criminal justice reform. But even before that, because the economy has become so powerful. And these prisoners have done an incredible job. The employers are saying, "Why didn't I do this 20 years ago?" So it's an incredible thing what's happening to people that are given a second chance, and sometimes a third chance, in all fairness. And it's something that everybody in this room should be very proud about, because you've always felt that way long before it was fashionable. So I want to thank you for that. (Applause.) As we revive our economy, we are also renewing our national spirit. Today we proudly proclaim that faith is alive and well and thriving in America. And we're going to keep it that way. Nobody will have it changed. (Applause.) It won't happen. As long as I'm here, it will never, ever happen. (Applause.) Something which wasn't done nearly enough -- I could almost say wasn't done at all -- we are standing up for persecuted Christians and religious minorities all around the world -- (applause) -- like nobody has ever done. Last year, at the United Nations, I was honored to be the first President to host a meeting of religious freedom. It was based all on religious freedom. That was the first meeting of its kind ever held at the United Nations. There I called upon all nations to combat the terrible injustice of religious persecution. And people listened. And countries that we give billions of dollars to, they listened because they had to listen. (Laughter.) It's amazing how that works, isn't it? (Laughter.) That nobody ever played that game before. (Laughter.) Weeks ago, a 21-year-old woman, who goes by the name of Mary, was seized and imprisoned in Iran because she converted to Christianity and shared the Gospel with others. In Venezuela, the dictator Maduro has arrested church leaders. At the State of the Union, I was honored to host the true and legitimate President of Venezuela, Juan Guaido. (Applause.) Good man. I told him that all Americans stand with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom. Yesterday, our administration launched the International Religious Freedom Alliance, the first-ever alliance devoted to promoting religious liberty. It was something. Really something. (Applause.) More than 25 countries have already joined our campaign. I want to thank Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, along with Ambassador Sam Brownback, who are both here this morning, for leading this historic initiative. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mike. (Applause.) Thank you. All of us here today reaffirm these timeless truths: Faith keeps us free. Prayer makes us strong. And God alone is the author of life and the giver of grace. (Applause.) With us this morning is a pastor who embodies the miracle of faith and the power of prayer: Reverend Gerald Toussaint from Louisiana. Reverend Toussaint is an Army veteran, a truck driver, and a pastor. He leads the same church that his father led, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, which has been a pillar of the community for more than 140 years. Last year, Mount Pleasant was one of three African American churches in Louisiana that was destroyed in a fire set by a wicked, hate-filled arsonist. Yet, in the wake of such shocking evil, America witnessed the unshakable unity, devotion, and spirit of Reverend Toussaint and his entire highly spirited, beautiful congregation. Families quickly came together in prayer. Soon, people from all across Louisiana came to help any way they could. Americans in all 50 states and 20 different countries heard about it and they donated more than $2 million to help rebuild Mount Pleasant -- (applause) -- and the other two churches that were (inaudible). On Easter Sunday, just days after he lost his church, Reverend Toussaint preached about what it all meant. What does it mean? "The Easter season," he said, "is a fitting metaphor for recent events. It was dark the day that Jesus was crucified. It was dark [at] night when they burned our church. What has happened since is like a resurrection." Old things are gone, but it's going to be a brand-new start, and it's going to be better than ever, Reverend. (Applause.) Better than ever. Fantastic. And today, just 10 months later, the ground is cleared. Careful plans have been made, and they're beautiful plans. And construction is about to begin on the new and very, very magnificent Mount Pleasant Church. Congratulations. (Applause.) You know, the Reverend says that we're rebuilding because that's what Jesus does. He rebuilds, he lives, and he breathes. It's what he does. He wants it to be rebuilt. It was torn apart, but it's being rebuilt again, and I'll bet you it will indeed be bigger, better, and nicer than before. What do you think, Reverend? Yes? And it's going to have your mark on it. It did have and now it will have even great. And your father is looking down on you right now and he's very, very proud of the job that you've done. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Very much inspire us, Reverend. Thank you. Well, I want to just thank everybody. This has been very special. Tell your congregation that -- and all of your people -- that we have 350 million people in our country. They're proud Americans. And they respect what we're doing, even those that you don't think so much like us, respect us, want to be with us. They're respecting our fight, and we are in a fight. Religion in this country and religion all over the world -- certain religions in particular -- are under siege. We won't let that happen. We are going to protect our religions. We are going to protect Christianity. We are going to protect our great ministers and pastors and rabbis and all of the people that we so cherish and that we so respect. America is eternally in the debt of our nation's African American churches all throughout this country. That's why it's so fitting and so -- it's one of the reasons we chose this particular church in Louisiana. For generations, they bravely fought for justice and lifted up the conscience of our nation. And we're grateful beyond any measure. But I can say that going beyond that, we're grateful to the people in this room for the love they show to religion. Not one religion, but many religions. They are brave. They are brilliant. They are fighters. They like people. And sometimes they hate people. I'm sorry. I apologize. I'm trying to learn. (Laughter.) It's not easy. It's not easy. (Applause.) When they impeach you for nothing, then you're supposed to like them? It's not easy, folks. (Laughter.) I do my best. But I'll tell you what we are doing: We're restoring hope and spreading faith. We're helping citizens of every background take part in the great rebuilding of our nation. We're declaring that America will always shine as a land of liberty and light unto all nations of the world. We want every nation to look up to us like they are right now. We were not a respected nation just a few years ago. We had lost our way. Our country is respected again by everybody. (Applause.) This morning, let us ask Father in Heaven to guide our steps, protect our children, and bless our families. And with all of our heart, let us forever embrace the eternal truth that every child is made equal by the hand of Almighty God. Thank you. God Bless you. And God bless America. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) END 9:37 A.M. EST Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi at 110, cast her ballot on Saturday in Greater Kailash assembly constituency of Delhi, where elections are being held to elect the 70-member house. Mandal, who voted at SDMC Primary School in Chittaranjan Park, was welcomed by poll officials with flowers as they picked her up from her home. She will also be dropped back, officials said. Mandal, who hails from Barishal which is now in south-central Bangladesh, has said she remembered voting in pre-Independence India and in the Lok Sabha elections held last year. She is among the more than 130 centenarian voters eligible to exercise their franchise in the Delhi assembly election on Saturday. I will vote till I am alive. I had first voted before the Partition while I still lived in Barishal, said Mandal. Mandal has said she did not remember whom she voted for before the Partition, but she recalled voting for former prime minister Indira Gandhi after Independence. After the Partition, we lived in a refugee camp for a long time. We were then given a place in Chhattisgarh and we moved there. I remember the hand (Congress party symbol) party coming to the doorsteps of the people who had just moved, she said in an interview with HT. Mandal came to Delhi when her eldest son moved here in 1978 and became a permanent resident after her second son moved here and set up a business in 1984. When asked if she knows the current political leaders in Delhi, she said she only knows hath or hand and phool or flower - the election symbols of two political parties. The office of the Delhi chief electoral officer (CEO) had identified 150 centenarian voters but the number was revised after physical verification was revised to 13268 men and 64 women. The highest number of centenarians, 21, was found in West Delhi district and the lowest, seven, in New Delhi district, the official said. Bachchan Singh, 111, the oldest voter in the 2019 elections in the city who lived in Tilak Nagar, died last December. Delhi poll officials had identified 96 centenarian voters in the city, and women had outnumbered men in that category, in the last parliamentary elections. Five British nationals including one child tested positive for the new coronavirus after staying at a ski chalet in France, health officials said on Saturday. The five people were staying in the same accommodation as a British man who was in Singapore from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. That man became infected with the coronavirus. After arriving in France on Jan. 24, the man stayed in the chalet in Contamines-Montjoie in eastern France, according to Agnes Buzyn, Frances health minister. Those positive cases and the contacts this British national had with others11 British people in totalwere all staying in the same chalet and were hospitalized during the night in four hospitals, the university hospitals of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, and Grenoble, Buzyn said at a press conference. They are not in a serious clinical condition. The total number of people infected with the virus in France has now reached 11. The six others include one man in a serious condition; the others have shown signs of improvement in recent days, according to medical officials. Regional health official Jean-Yves Grall told a televised news conference later Saturday that two schools near the ski resort were being closed. He said that the 11 who were hospitalized include three children, including a 9-year-old who recently spent time in a school in Contaminesa mountain village of which he was also a residentas well as in another establishment where he attended French lessons. Singapore Conference The French government has been in touch with Singapore and the United Kingdom, and Singaporean authorities are looking into a business congress that took place in a hotel there, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. Ninety-four foreigners attended the business conference, authorities said, including Chinese nationals. The British man now known to be at the origin of the latest French outbreak had traveled to that meeting, according to health officials in Singapore, which recently raised its coronavirus alert to SARS level. Multiple other cases have been linked to the meeting, including a 41-year-old Malaysian man and two South Koreans. Based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, the UKs chief medical officers advised Thursday that anyone returning from Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau, as well as mainland China, should immediately stay inside and avoid contact with people and contact the National Health Service if they have symptoms of a cough, a fever, or experience shortness of breath. People should do so even if symptoms are mild, the officers said. These areas have been identified because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and number of reported cases. This list will be kept under review, the UK government said in a statement. There are three confirmed cases in the UK. The infections in France came as two foreigners, a Japanese national and an American, died in Wuhan from the new virus. The Japanese man was in his 60s, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, while the American was 60. The new virus started in Wuhan, a city of some 11 million in China, and the vast majority of cases have been in the country. A growing number of cases have been confirmed outside of China, with patients testing positive in more than two dozen countries. Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times An army corporal has killed a mobile police officer with an anti-aircraft gun (AAG) after an altercation at Makara Area of Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno State. The army corporal killed Sergeant Rowland Tafida who was among the MOPOL Special Forces Team deployed to Gwoza last August, on counter-insurgency operations. PRNigeria gathered that the late police officer would have completed his six months anti-terrorism operation on February 8, 2020. It was also learnt that Mr Rowland, a father of two young girls, had already planned to depart Borno this coming Saturday before he was murdered by the unidentified soldier. An eyewitness who spoke to PRNigeria described the killing of Mr Rowland as unfortunate and disheartening. He said the whole drama started with an altercation between the army corporal and another police personnel over a girlfriend. The eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named, said: Some people intervened and settled the matter when the aggrieved army corporal asked a driver of an anti-aircraft gun Hilux belonging to his military base, to turn and directly face the Limankara Police Training Camp. Immediately after turning the vehicle, they opened fire and shot at the Camps facility. It was at that moment, Rowland Tafida, the late police sergeant, was killed by a stray bullet because he was not involved in the earlier altercation. The blast of the anti-aircraft vehicle totally disfigured his left leg thigh as he was returning to the camp after he went to charge his phone somewhere. The young MOPOL officer could have survived the terrible assault, but nobody could take him to a medical facility as he lied in his own pool of blood, bleeding profusely and bled to death. Another eyewitness, a woman, stated that other police officers at the Limankara camp swiftly mobilized and immediately came out to protest against the brutal killing of Mr Rowland by the soldier. She added that it took the intervention of an army major, who is the most senior officer in the location, to douse the rising tension. It was the army major that came out to beg the aggrieved MOPOL personnel. He was the one who restored order and normalcy, otherwise, a mayhem would have erupted. After begging the police officers, the major arrested the killer corporal, and thereafter, the Army Theatre Command, contacted the Borno Police Command. PRNigeria later gathered that both the military and police constituted a joint fact-finding committee to unravel the circumstances that gave rise to the ugly incident. The committee had apprehended the culprit and took him to Maimalari Barrack in Maiduguri. The military has also taken responsibility for the damaged facilities at the police camp. Speaking with PRNigeria, his aunt, Zwancit Dazang, said nobody from either the police or army authorities have called to inform them of Mr Rowlands death. She said their murdered son was on his way to his police camp at Limankara, last Sunday afternoon, without even knowing what earlier transpired between his fellow MOPOL officer and a soldier when he was shot and died on the spot. We only got to know about our sons tragic death in the social media. He was dressed in combat boot, jeans and a MOPOL T-shirt, with his rifle strapped on his shoulder, when he was shot. said Mrs Dazang who wondered why an anti-aircraft gun will be used on a fellow security officer by another security personnel. She said: The anti-aircraft truck, which is a lethal ammunition, has the ability to bring down a plane or helicopter from the sky. This is a dangerous firearm or ammunition that can even destroy an armoured tank. That a soldier will use it to eliminate an innocent, but a fellow security officer like him, is unimaginable. Mrs Dazang, pointed out that her and the distraught family of Mr Rowland are yet to recover from the grim shock of his death. She said: A vibrant police officer, with a very young family, in a twinkle of an eye, was deliberately killed; His life wasted just like that: What was his fault? He wasnt killed while fighting terrorists but by a soldier while walking, unprovoked and also did not provoked anyone. So, why take his life? That is barbaric, and wicked. She added: As I speak to you now, the late Rowlands wife is emotionally-broken. She has not seen her husband for so long. And both she and their two lovely daughters of five and two years respectively were looking forward to a reunion with their husband, and father, before this unavoidable tragedy struck. What has Rowland done for anyone to take his life? The soldier who killed Rowland must be brought to book. Our son was there in Borno to defend his country. So, why should he be eliminated by someone he never hurt, or offended? Attempts by PRNigeria to get reactions from both the spokespersons of the Nigerian Army and the Police, Colonel Sagir Musa and DCP Frank Mba proved abortive as their mobile line could not be reached while text messages sent were not replied. Source: PRNigeria Share this: By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/07/2020 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Zach Justice has revealed his reasoning for repeatedly telling wife Mindy Shiben he wasn't attracted to her after their wedding.During Wednesday night's episode of : Unfiltered, Zach watched back a clip from the show's tenth season in which Mindy was crying to him in their hotel room about how she felt like she had to be "perfect" for him and worried getting married was a mistake."Zach, what's it like seeing Mindy so upset there?" Unfiltered host Jamie Otis asked."I'm a sucker when it comes to emotion, and seeing someone hurting, yeah, it's not awesome," Zach replied.On Mindy breaking down and expressing herself, Zach explained "It's interesting to see how [what I said] is being taken differently and she feels lousy from it, like, 'Oh, I need to be the perfect girl,' and that's not the context I was trying to put it in."Jamie then asked Zach to reveal his intention behind telling Mindy he was not attracted to her."In the past, I would not have an attraction and maybe I'd be standoffish in my actions, and I would just be distant and not really explain why -- because I didn't want to tell someone I'm not attracted to them," Zach explained."So coming into this situation, it was different. I was going to be very transparent no matter what it felt like and not just leave it as, 'Sorry, this is the end.'"'s tenth-season grooms Brandon Reid and Michael Watson also joined Zach on Unfiltered, and Brandon offered his opinion on Zach and Mindy's conversation about a lack of an attraction."It's like the cart before the horse," Brandon said."Those are the type of things that are worked out before we got to our honeymoon. That's a tough, tough, tough convo to have, and I think [Zach] handled it very well."Jamie then attempted to give Zach some reassurance because she was actually not attracted to Doug Hehner, whom she wed on Season 1 of and is still happily married to.Jamie and Doug also have a daughter, Henley Grace, and are currently expecting their second child together."I stuck it out and I tried to keep my mind open," Jamie shared. "And obviously we are pregnant and we're so happy, so there's hope.""Hope to say the least," Zach acknowledged. "I can see why we were matched. So there are a lot of things that do give me hope to say, like, 'This can evolve.'"So why did experts Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Dr. Viviana Coles match Zach and Mindy?Zach insisted he has more in common with Mindy than just the facial moisturizer they both use.In an earlier episode of , Mindy joked with the other four couples during her Panama honeymoon that moisturizer was the only thing she and her husband had in common -- or at least the first thing that came to her mind."I applaud her for being light-hearted about it," Zach said of the figure skater, "but there are a lot of things we had in common.""But it was a funny moment we shared together," Zach added. "And I was just happy that she brought it up, and I didn't care."Jamie challenged Zach to list their similarities, and the personal trainer replied, "So, she's incredibly brilliant when it comes to nutrition and biology and physiology, [and] art. She loves art. She has great taste in music... We shared a lot of common interests there."Jamie, being her optimistic self, told Zach in reply, "So there's a reason the experts matched you!""One hundred percent," Zach interjected."And you're starting to put it together," Jamie continued."Exactly, yeah," Zach noted.The latest episode of 's tenth season featured Mindy and Zach trying to move on from their awkward exchanges about Zach's lack of attraction towards his wife.The pair seemed to bond during a Panama excursion and have a good time together as friends, but Mindy left her honeymoon feeling disappointed and rejected.Mindy viewed Zach as being confusing and cold, and she vented about how her husband barely kissed her or even held her hand during what was supposed to be a romantic, exotic honeymoon.The couple's relationship issues will seemingly linger once they return to the Washington, D.C. area and are supposed to move in together.'s tenth season also stars Brandon's wife Taylor Dunklin and Michael's wife Meka Jones as well as Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group We passed the concealed carry act in 2013, we charged a really healthy amount for a five-year license, of which state police gets $120, and the purpose of that money was to hire staff to process FOID cards and CCL permits in a timely manner, Pearson said. Were asking for is restoration of those funds. Those funds were not tax money, they were fees paid by users to get a service which they did not get. Just in time for Mardi Gras, Mobiles Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel plans to debut its own signature beer, custom-brewed in a partnership with a Birmingham brewery. The launch party for Riverview Blonde will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, in the hotel courtyard off Royal Street. Festivities will continue through the evening, which also brings the Order of Inca parade starting at 6:30 p.m. According to information provided by RTJ Resorts, Riverview Blonde is a collaboration with Birmingham-based Ghost Train Brewing Co., which will bring its Beerbulance to the party. The new brews logo features a mermaid, in keeping with the hotels waterfront location and theme. Its described as a light-bodied blonde ale with citrus notes. Ghost Train is known for making exceptional Alabama craft beers and we were delighted to partner with them to create Riverview Blonde, Kent Blackinton, general manager of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, said in a statement announcing the launch party. The blonde ale should appeal to our hotel guests and locals. According to the release, the hotels food and beverage managers have had the dream of having their own house craft beer for quite some time now and had been hunting for an partner who could offer a truly unique experience. Blackinton said Friday that hotel officials had sounded out some Mobile-area breweries, but didnt find a fit that matched both the hotels desire and the breweries goals. We did have some conversations, he said, adding that the hotel bar carries Fairhope Brewing and Haint Blue beers. Ghost Train was enthusiastic about the prospect and had capabilities to execute it, including in-house graphic design and promotion, Blackinton said. They jumped all over it, he said. Luckily, we at Ghost Train were able to sit down with our friends at the Riverview and gain a better understanding of their business, as well as what they were looking for in their house brew, said Ghost Train sales representative John Avent. After sampling through many different styles of beer, we decided that our Select Blonde would be the perfect fit, and thus the Riverview Blonde was established. Riverview Blonde will be sold on draft at the hotels outdoor bar on Royal Street bar through Fat Tuesday. Itll become a year-round offering on tap and in cans at Fathoms Bar inside the hotel. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, the countrys biggest labour federation and a key ally of the ruling party, said it wants the R104 billion of Eskoms debt held by the state pension fund manager to be converted into equity owned by workers. The proposal, made in an opinion piece in Business Day newspaper by Cosatus General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, is part of a deal the labor federation is trying to reach with business and government to rescue Eskom. The utility cant supply sufficient power to the country and has 454 billion rand in debt. This will result in workers becoming shareholders in the power utility, he said, without giving further details. Eskom is seen as key to South Africas economic performance and the countrys ability to hold onto its last investment grade credit rating. Regular power cuts are hindering output in Africas most industrialized economy. Ntshalintshali also recommended that at least 10% of all pension funds, whether private or government owned, be invested in government bonds geared toward social investment and employment creation. Workers believe that their retirement funds can contribute toward economic growth, socially desirable investments and employment creation, he said. The raising of the possibility of so-called prescribed assets is likely to anger investors who are opposed to having their investments dictated by government. Now read: Cosatu in talks with government to fund Eskom using pensions Daniel Magee was arrested and charged after searches of his home in December (Picture: SWNS) A man has admitted to hiding explosives inside 14 chocolate Kinder Eggs found at his home in Bristol. Daniel Magee, 38, was arrested after a bomb squad searched his property in December, which is just half a mile from a hospital. People were evacuated from their homes on December 28 and 29 and a 50-metre cordon was set up by police along Shetland Road. Factory worker Magee appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday via video link from prison, where he pleaded guilty to four charges relating to 14 homemade explosive devices. Police at Shetland Road, in Bristol, after people were evacuated (Picture: SWNS) The charges included making an explosive substance nitro-glycerine gunpowder and blank ammunition for an unlawful purpose, possessing three stun guns, possessing a 12-inch sword and importing a telescopic baton with intent to evade a prohibition. At Bristol Magistrates' Court in December prosecutor May Li said police found explosives and blank ammunition in 14 chocolate Kinder Eggs which were allegedly taped together in Magee's home. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Ruthless gang who robbed sex workers at knife-point in their own homes are jailed Three men stabbed within minutes of each other in separate London incidents Rapist photographer who lured models to studio with fake website is jailed Magee told the court the charges of fraudulently evading prohibition related to weapons imported from China. He is due to be sentenced on 27 March. Avon and Somerset Constabulary previously said the incident was not terror-related. UTEP Announces New Scholarship to Increase Opportunities for Top Students Last Updated on February 05, 2020 at 12:00 AM Originally published February 05, 2020 By UC Staff UTEP Communications The University of Texas at El Paso will offer a new scholarship for top undergraduate students to help them finish their last semesters at UTEP. President Heather Wilson announced the establishment of the Hawkins Scholarship at UTEP's inaugural Honors, Scholars and Fellows Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The new scholarship will be awarded for the first time during the Fall of 2020. President Heather Wilson announced the establishment of the Hawkins Scholarship at UTEP's inaugural Honors, Scholars and Fellows Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The new scholarship will be awarded for the first time during the Fall of 2020. Photo: Laura Trejo / UTEP Communications President Wilson established the scholarship for exceptional undergraduate students who intend to pursue graduate education following their graduation from UTEP. The Hawkins Scholarship will ensure our top students have the resources to take part in enriching experiences as UTEP students that help prepare them for graduate studies and beyond, President Wilson said. The new program will provide two $10,000 scholarships to UTEP students of outstanding intellect and character who are committed to the service of others, and who show promise of becoming leaders capable of addressing important challenges facing humanity. The scholarships may be awarded to undergraduate students in any field. Each $10,000 scholarship may be used to pay for tuition, fees, room, board, books or other educational expenses, including the cost of special educational experiences abroad or away from campus, or other expenses to complete or enhance the applicants undergraduate education at UTEP in preparation for the students graduate education. This scholarship is an excellent opportunity to reward high-achieving UTEP students across disciplines, not only for their academic achievements but for their impeccable character, leadership and the positive impact they are having on society, said Catie McCorry-Andalis, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students. Regardless of financial need, the Hawkins Scholarship provides access to opportunities and resources that help build students undergraduate experience and prepare them to apply for highly competitive graduate awards, fellowships and scholarships. Students eligible for the Hawkins Scholarship must: Be an undergraduate UTEP student who intends to apply for admission and attend graduate school in the fall of 2022 usually Fall of the Junior year. Be at least 17 years old and must not have passed their 23rd birthday on Oct. 1, 2020 Have completed an undergraduate degree at UTEP not later than July 2022 Be citizens of any country Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale The Hawkins Scholarship is named for First Lieutenant William Deane Hawkins. A resident of El Paso and an excellent student, Hawkins graduated from El Paso High School when he was 16 and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Texas College of Mines (now UTEP), where he studied engineering. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawkins joined the Marine Corps. In November 1943, Hawkins selflessly led his men into action against Japanese-held Tarawa located in the Gilbert Islands. He was killed in action during this effort. He risked his life to accomplish the mission and inspired his comrades during the most crucial phase of the battle. Hawkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic acts above and beyond the call of duty. For more information on the Hawkins Scholarship visit utep.edu/honors More than 130 centenarian voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the 8 February election and they will be treated 'as a VIP' on the polling day New Delhi: More than 130 centenarian voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the 8 February election and they will be treated "as a VIP" on the polling day, officials said on Thursday. Earlier, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office had identified 150 centenarian voters but the number was revised after physical verification. "A total of 150 voters, aged 100 and above were initially identified by our officials. Later, physical verification was done but many of the centenarian voters were found to be dead, and some of them had shifted out of Delhi, so the final figure was revised," a senior official of the Delhi CEO office told PTI. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 After physical verification, the number of centenarian voters was revised to 132 68 men and 64 women. The highest number of centenarians, 21, was found in West Delhi district and the lowest, 7, in New Delhi district, the official said. Kalitara Mandal, 110, a resident of CR Park in South Delhi's Greater Kailash constituency, is the oldest voter in Delhi. Bachchan Singh, 111, the oldest voter in the 2019 elections in the city who used to reside in Tilak Nagar, died last December. Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh on Wednesday said members of Bharat Scouts and Guides assisted the poll officials in the physical verification process and "documenting their stories". During physical verification, officials check if such voters are alive or still living in Delhi. "Of the 18 centenarians who were not found at home, most of them had died and some of them had shifted base from Delhi," the senior official said. Singh said these voters will be extended of all the facilities they had enjoyed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "A senior officer will go to the houses of each of these centenarian voters, residing nearest to the polling station in a constituency, and escort them to the booths. They will also motivate them to vote unless they are bedridden and their health doesn't permit," the CEO said. "But if such voters are still eager to vote despite their frailty, we will make all possible arrangements to ensure they exercise their franchise. They will also be given priority in voting, so they don't have to stand in line," he said. At polling stations, they will be greeted with bouquets and election staff would take selfies with them, he said. Click here for detailed coverage of Assembly Elections 2019 "Our staffers are going to each of these centenarians to physically check them, and on polling day, they will get pick-and-drop facility to the polling station," he said. Elections in Delhi are due on 8 February and the Delhi CEO office is making all arrangements to facilitate elderly citizens and voters with a disability. "Special arrangements would be made for Delhi voters who are aged 100 and above. They will be made to feel like ''VVIPs'," Singh said. In the 2019 general elections, the Delhi CEO office had identified 96 centenarian voters in the city, and women had outnumbered men in that category. According to data shared by the Delhi CEO office, there were 42 male centenarian voters and 54 females in that category during last year's polls. "We have been trying for the last four months to identify all voters who are aged 100 or above. This is the first such initiative to cater to such elderly voters who were born before Independence and saw the first general elections in 1952. For us, they are VVIP voters and they will be treated as such," Singh had said last year ahead of the 2019 polls. Huge crowds attended the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia on Saturday, with many seeming undeterred by concerns over the recent virus outbreak that continues to spread from China across the globe. Tens of thousands of Malay Hindus attended the festival at the Batu Caves temple on a limestone hill in Selangor state, with hardly anyone wearing face masks. Batu Caves Temple Committee estimate that some 1.5 million people, including many tourists, were expected to turn up from Friday night to watch devotees pierce their skins with hooks and skewers and carry offerings up a flight of 272 steps to the temple. Special precautionary measures have been put in place at the temple, which is a popular pilgrimage site and as well as a key tourist attraction. Visitors have been urged to observe personal hygiene and wear masks to minimize the spread of the virus.There have been 15 confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus infection in Malaysia. Image: Unsplash On application by giant stevedoring company DP World Australia (DPWA), the Australian Federal Court last week issued an interim injunction imposing a ban on further industrial action by 1,800 workers, members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), employed at the companys container terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle. The ban will remain in force until March 13 this year. The application to prevent industrial action was made on the spurious grounds that at least one of the unions claims in bargaining for a new enterprise work agreement was not permitted under the Fair Work Act 2009. It is the latest in a series of provocations by the Dubai-based transnational. The companys actions are aimed at forcing through the raft of regressive demands it has been making since the previous agreement expired in February 2019. In July last year, even as negotiations were in progress, the company slashed 247 jobs at its Sydney and Melbourne terminals, which were carried out without any opposition by the MUA despite its loud protestations. In January this year, in a bid to intimidate the workforce, the company arbitrarily cancelled the already approved holiday leave of numbers of employees. DPWA is determined to impose sweeping changes at its terminals to massively drive up productivity and boost profits at the direct expense of the workforce. The companys demands include the scrapping of limits on casual and contract employment, the abolition of a union-operated income protection scheme, ongoing job reductions and other cuts to working conditions. At the same time, it is insisting that workers accept a pay increase of just 2.6 percent per annum, an amount that does not compensate for rapidly rising living costs such as rent, fuel and electricity. Following the Federal Courts decision, a spokesman for the MUA, the maritime division of the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU), declared that the injunction will not only prevent waterfront workers taking legally protected industrial action, but was an alarming attack on democratic rights that will give companies open slather to strip all Australian workers of long-held workplace conditions. The unions warning of the far-reaching implications for the entire working class of the offensive being carried out by DPWA is undoubtedly correct. In fact, the companys highly aggressive actions, together with the intervention into the dispute by the Federal Court, telegraphs a new offensive by the employers. Amid a gathering global economic slump and intensifying domestic and international competition for market share, the corporate elite are seeking to slash jobs and conditions to drastically cut costs. Despite its warning of the consequence of DPWAs attacks, the MUA has refused to organise any unified industrial action by its members across the waterfront, including at other major stevedoring companies such as Patrick and Hutchison. Nor is the CFMMEU organising action by its 100,000-strong membership in key economic sectors, such as construction, mining, energy and timber processing. In contrast, Patrick and Hutchison have rushed to assist their rival DPWA by taking on some of its work during the current dispute so as to lessen the impact on its clients. Both companies recognise that if the DPWA succeeds in inflicting a defeat on its workforce and imposes its demands, then it will open the way for similar attacks on the conditions across their operations. In balloting in March last year, DPWA workers expressed their growing militancy and determination to fight the companys assault by voting 98 percent for a campaign of industrial action, including strikes and work bans. However, the MUAs abject bowing before the Federal Courts directive makes clear that the union will continue to act has it has done throughout the disputecontaining and suppressing workers opposition while working feverishly behind the scenes to broker a deal that will be acceptable to the company. Moreover, the Courts intervention was carried out under the provisions of the highly repressive Fair Work (FW) industrial laws that were introduced in 2009 under the former Labor government with the full support of the unions including the MUA, and the then CFMEU. The FW laws feature draconian anti-strike provisions that outlaw all industrial action other that so-called protected action which is permitted only at the discretion of Fair Work Commission (FWC), the pro-business tribunal, and restricted to the limited bargaining period for new work enterprise work agreements. Even after workers run a gauntlet of hurdles, including state-controlled secret ballots to obtain the FWCs permission to take any action, the laws contain a raft of provisions that allow the FWC, the government and the Federal Court to terminate industrial action that is deemed to be damaging to the company, a third party or the national economy. These union-backed provisions have been used since their introduction by successive Labor and Liberal governments to straightjacket workers and impose regressive outcomes demanded by the employers. Throughout the dispute at DP World, the unions primary concern has been to prevent the company from moving away from its reliance on the MUA to police the workforce and turning other means to impose its demands. The exclusion of the union from negotiations would jeopardise the MUAs role in bargaining away workers jobs, wages and conditionsa setup that is an essential part of the privileged and lucrative position of the union officialdom. The MUA has a long history of sabotaging workers resistance to the stevedoring companies cost-cutting demands and regressive workplace restructuring. The way was paved for what has been an ongoing corporate offensive against waterside workers by the MUAs betrayal of the 1998 dispute, when it struck a deal with the Howard Coalition government and Patrick Stevedoring to end a six-week long struggle by workers in opposition to major restructuring across the companys national operations. The Patricks sell-out allowed the elimination of more than 650 jobsalmost half the companys permanent workforcefollowed by similar conditions being imposed at other stevedoring operations. It opened the way for the massive casualisation of the workforce that exists across the waterfront today. As the MUAs record demonstrates, the relentless global restructuring offensive that is at the heart of DP Worlds current attack on waterfront workers cannot be fought through national-based trade unions, which collaborate in the process of making their national economies and national-based companies globally competitive. To go forward waterfront workers need to establish new independent organisations of struggle, including rank-and-file committees, that will work to develop a unified campaign of industrial and political action by all port and stevedoring workers, along with other sections of the working class in Australia and internationally. Such organisations need to be based on a socialist perspective that rejects the dictates of the profit system and aims to establish a workers government that will place the ports, shipping and other basic industries, along with the banks, under public ownership and democratic workers control. Dozens of terrified shoppers were evacuated from a Thai mall early Sunday as armed police said they had taken control of the ground floor of the complex from a gunman who killed at least 20 people. But authorities did not give any firm details on the whereabouts of the attacker - a junior army officer identified as Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma. There were fears the shooter in the Terminal 21 mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, better known as Korat, could try to hide in the panicked crowd. Police from the Crime Suppression Division urged fleeing shoppers to raise their hands and identify themselves on the ground floor and authorities will evacuate you. Earlier Jakrapanth relayed his shooting spree through Facebook posts which charted the attack from army barracks in the city to the mall, where an unknown number of shoppers remained trapped. Hospitals across the country braced for a grim night ahead. There are about 20 dead, Kongcheep Tantravanich, defence ministry spokesman said. Police, military commandos and sharp shooters are surrounding Terminal 21, he said. The Thai Health Minister told reporters around 10 people were already in hospital in a serious condition. The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when Jakrapanth shot three people -- among them at least one soldier -- at an nearby army barracks. He stole an army vehicle and drove into the town centre, police Lieutenant-Colonel Mongkol Kuptasiri. There the gunman used weapons stolen from the army arsenal to bring carnage to a town centre, walking into the Terminal 21 mall. He used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead, police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said. Jakrapanths motive remains unclear. But throughout the day he posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded, including should I surrender? and no one can escape death. In one Facebook video -- since deleted -- the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open jeep saying, Im tired... I cant pull my finger anymore and making a trigger symbol with his hand. There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol. A Facebook spokesperson said we have removed the gunmans accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it. Army in place A witness who was inside the mall before the attack told AFP the Terminal 21 shopping centre was thronging with shoppers on a long weekend. There were loads of people at the mall today, a 32-year-old from the city said, requesting anonymity. I was pretty shocked when I found out because I just left the mall not long before. Street lights below the shopping centre were switched off as army and police units sealed off the mall. The city is home to one of Thailands largest barracks in a country where the military is enmeshed in politics and society. Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. Several shootings at courthouses late last year renewed concern about gun violence in the southeast Asian country. In another high-profile case, a two-year-old boy was among three people killed when a masked gunman robbed a jewellery shop last month. Late last year two lawyers were shot dead by a clerk at a court in the east of the country during a hearing over a land dispute. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Baha'i community living in Iran is experiencing a surge in persecution following the tension between the US and Iran. History shows that, in times of national crisis in Iran, persecution of the minority religious group intensifies, Natalie Mobini, spokeswoman for the Australian Baha'i Community, said. Iranian authorities have restricted Bahais across the country from obtaining national identification cards, depriving them of basic civil services. The personal data of this card holder have been blurred so the person cant be identified. Credit:Arshia.jumong CC BY-SA/ Bahai World News Service In the past three months, Baha'is have experienced multiple home raids, attacks on properties, confiscation of possessions, dismissals from employment and denial of access to higher education, Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community in Geneva, said. Dozens of Baha'is have been arrested and dozens more have received lengthy prison terms. The story of Anil Ambani will probably go down in history as an unparalleled one. While there are any number of rags to riches stories, how Anil Ambani went on from being the sixth richest man in the world to being bankrupt could be one of a kind. On Friday Anil, the younger brother of India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani told a UK court that his net worth was zero and that he was bankrupt. The younger Ambani is being sued by three Chinese banks, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC), China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China for a loan default of over $700 million (around Rs 5,000 crore) by Reliance Communications (RCom). BCCL RCom, which was one of the pioneers in mobile communication in India has since run out of business and in 2019 filed for bankruptcy. It has an estimated debt of 50,000 crores against assets worth 18,000 crores. "The value of Mr. Ambani's investments has collapsed since 2012. The Indian telecom sector, in particular, has been dramatically hit by the Indian government's change of policy in relation to the grant of the spectrum," Ambani's legal team told the court. "Whereas Mr. Ambani's investments were worth more than USD 7 billion in 2012, they are now worth USD 89 million, and his net worth is zero once his liabilities are taken into account... Quite simply, he was a wealthy businessman, now he is not," said his barrister Robert Howe. BCCL The Chinese banks had sought summary judgment against Ambani over an alleged breach of a personal guarantee on a debt refinancing loan of around USD 925 million in February 2012. Ambani, 60, denies providing authority for any such guarantee, resulting in the High Court action in the UK the jurisdiction agreed to as part of the terms of the loan agreement. The banks' counsel called Ambani's claims into question and repeatedly referred to his "lavish lifestyle", involving access to 11 or so luxury cars, a private jet, a yacht and rent-free access to the exclusive Seawind penthouse in South Mumbai. BCCL "So, Mr. Ambani's assertion is that he is massively personally insolvent, is bankrupt. Has he filed for bankruptcy in India," questioned Justice David Waksman during the course of the half-day hearing. They also pointed to a series of instances where Ambani family members had stepped in to bail him out, even as Ambani's defence sought to establish that their client had no access to the assets and shares under the name of his mother Kokila, wife Tina Ambani and sons Anmol and Anshul in the form of loans. BCCL "Are we seriously to believe that his own mother, wife, and sons can't help him in his hour of need for the purpose of complying with a conditional order," said Thanki, who claimed Ambani's evidence was akin to the proverbial "glossy lipstick on the collar" in terms of some "blatant" lies despite the burden of proof lying with him in the case. The court, however, rejected Ambani's defence that his net worth was nearly zero or that his family would not step in to assist him when "push came to shove" and directed him to pay USD 100 million within six weeks towards a conditional order granted to three Chinese banks. This is not the first time, Anil whose Reliance Defence has been awarded the offset contract for Rafale fighter jets has expressed his inability to pay off his past debts. Last year, the Supreme Court had threatened to put him in jail if he failed to pay the pending dues worth Rs 550 crore to Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson AB. Later, his brother and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani saved him by making the payment. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday termed as 'mahakumbh' the gathering of defence equipment manufacturing companies at DefExpo-2020. He said through this event a strong base for the defence corridor has been laid and Uttar Pradesh will now become a "new hub" of defence production. "Through this event everyone witnessed and felt the pride of India. This was the mahakumbh of defence manufacturing companies," the chief minister said addressing the closing ceremony of DefExpo-2020. Mahakumbh is a Hindu festival held after every 144 years and attended by millions of devotees. DefExpo-2020 was held at the Uttar Pradesh capital city from February 5-8 with the theme 'India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub'. Adityanath said defence ministers of 40 countries and over 3,000 delegates from 70 nations attended the event. Over 1,000 delegates from India also participated in it, he added. The chief minister said that in the last two and a half years, the government organized a number of events aimed at the development of the state. "Our government held the first Investors' Summit here in February 2018. There was a perception among people that there will be no investment in Uttar Pradesh, but I am happy to inform you that we had received proposals worth Rs 5 lakh crore for investment, of which work has already started on projects worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore," he said. "I am happy that the Uttar Pradesh government along with the Ministry of Defence has taken this event (DefExpo-2020) to a new level of success," he said thanking Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the event. During this event, twenty-three MoUs have been inked with the state government and we have received proposals for investment worth Rs 50,000 crore which would generate employment opportunities for over three lakh youths in the state, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) According to the Ukrainian president, the pontiff is doing everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky turned to Pope Francis with a request to help with the release of Ukrainians who were captured in Donbas, in Crimea and Russia. Zelensky's Twitter page stated this information in a message. "The Pope is doing everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world. Two months after the Normandy talks in Paris, I asked for help with the release of Ukrainians captured in Donbas, Crimea and Russia. Inspired by our conversation about peace in Ukraine," the president wrote. As we reported before, on February 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would pay an official visit to the Vatican, where he would meet with Pope Francis. The President will also meet with the Secretary of State of the Holy See Pietro Parolin and with the participation of Secretary of the Interstate Relations of the Holy See Paul Richard Gallagher. On February 7, Zelensky paid a visit to Italy. During the visit, meetings are scheduled with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe It's official: Los Angeles County has submitted a new bid to buy the bankrupt St. Vincent Medical Center so it can transform the facility into housing for the homeless and the poor. "The County has submitted a bid for the St. Vincent Medical Center but the terms of the bid itself [are] confidential," said County spokesman Jesus Ruiz. Friday was the deadline to submit bids. The Board of Supervisors voted at its Jan. 21 meeting to submit a bid; it unsuccessfully bid last year but the sale fell through, leading the hospital's owner to announce that it would shut down. County CEO Sachi Hamai told the board on Jan. 21 that she preferred to buy the hospital with cash. "I don't want to enter into any short-term or long-term obligations," she said. Supervisor Hilda Solis said at the meeting that the opportunity to try again to buy St. Vincent is "unique." She noted that the facility sits in an area that hosts the county's largest concentration of homeless people, "over 16,000." The hospital, near downtown L.A., sits in Solis' supervisorial district. "My vision is it wouldn't just be for [the] adult population, we could have a combination of seniors and also transitional age youth," Solis said. She's hoping for funding from the state to help with that. "I wholeheartedly support the County's bid to acquire St. Vincent Medical Center!" L.A. City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said in a statement Friday. St. Vincent is in his council district. "There remain many unknown variables in this matter, and I will continue to lead the charge to explore all options," O'Farrell said. Wade Trimmer, executive director of housing and homeless services for the National Health Foundation, said it's never a good thing for a community to lose a large hospital like St. Vincent, but he added that the county's plan is "still staying within the spirit of what that hospital was designed to do." What's more Trimmer said, hospital rooms are already temporary housing, so they should be fairly easy to convert. HOW WE GOT HERE St. Vincent Medical Center's owner, Verity Health System, filed for bankruptcy in 2018. After various efforts to sell the facility fell through, Verity sought permission to close the hospital, which employs more than 1,000 people and has more than 350 beds. On Jan. 8, a bankruptcy judge approved Verity's request. It's not clear exactly when the doors will close. Here's what we do know: Doctors with offices on the premises have been given until the end of April to vacate. Current St. Vincent patients will receive care until they're discharged or can be safely transferred to nearby hospitals. The company also said that ambulance service will be diverted to emergency rooms in the vicinity. That will include the eight hospitals within a three-mile radius of St. Vincent. GO DEEPER: New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) As the voting began for the Delhi Assembly polls at 0800 hrs on Saturday, prominent leaders urged the voters of national capital to exercise their franchise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people, especially youth, to come out and vote in record numbers. "Today is the polling day for the Delhi Legislative Assembly...Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers," PM said in a tweet. The polling began at 0800 hrs and will conclude at 1800 hrs in a single phase today, and the results will be out on February 11. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to twitter and appealed the voters to elect a government that is far-sighted and have strong intentions. "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and a house for every poor, only a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions can make it the best capital of the world. I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and votebank politics", he tweeted. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed the women voters to take the responsibility of Delhi in their own hands, just like they take responsiblity of their home. "You must go to vote. Special appeal to all women - Just like you bear the responsibility of home, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is also on you. All of you ladies must go to vote and also take the men of your house. Make sure to discuss with men about who are the right ones to vote for," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda urged the voters to be part of the great cause of democracy. "I appeal to all the voters of Delhi to vote in greater numbers and participate in the great cause of democracy. Your one vote is important for the unity, integrity and overall development of Delhi. Your vote will write the golden future of your Delhi. First voting, then refreshments. Jai Hind", Nadda, too, tweeted in Hindi. UNI JAL RHK1003 U.S. President Donald Trump says the highest-ranking member of the country's legislative branch, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, "broke the law" when she shredded a copy of the State of the Union speech he delivered to Congress. The president told reporters Friday that Pelosi's act, which was caught on camera just after Trump completed his address late Tuesday, was "disrespectful to our country, and actually very illegal." A Florida congressman of Trump's Republican party, Matt Gaetz, has filed an ethics complaint against Pelosi, accusing her of potentially violating federal law (18 U.S. Code 2071). The regulation prohibits the destruction of government records, but it only applies to documents that have been "filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States." 'Brilliant' or 'tasteless' "That's really a law about preserving official documents, such as the official copy that would make it to the National Archives," said Ajay Mehrotra, executive director and research professor at the American Bar Foundation "I don't think what Pelosi had was an official document." The made-for-meme moment was "brilliant political theater" by a rival of Trump, but not a violation of any law, Mehrotra told VOA. Others see it differently, contending that defacing even a non-official reproduced copy of the State of the Union speech could technically violate the law. "I think it's a legitimate question," said Aaron Coleman, associate professor and chair of the Department of History and Political Science at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. If Trump "sought to pursue this as a legal matter that would call into question the nature of a speech given by a U.S. president," he added. "I think this is going to be a non-issue when it comes to any legality," said Coleman. "It's hard to imagine given all the other real serious issues that the president and Congress would have to face that tax dollars would be devoted to it." Legalities aside, the political science professor said, "It's incredibly tasteless and tactless what she did." Impeachment outcome Tension between Trump and Democratic lawmakers has escalated since the House, controlled by the opposition Democratic party, impeached the president late last year. The Senate, controlled by the Republicans, on Wednesday did not reach the two-thirds majority vote needed to remove Trump from office, rejecting both articles of impeachment delivered by the House. Senators, acting as jurors, all voted along party lines, except for Republican Mitt Romney of Utah, who agreed with Democrats that the president abused the power of his office. Romney, however, did not vote in favor of the second article of impeachment accusing the president of obstructing Congress. Trump is only the third president in U.S. history to have faced an impeachment trial. Advertisement Several dozen gun toting Utah residents convened on the state's capitol on Saturday to protest changes made to the 2nd Amendment. Firearm owners convened at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, holding their weapons and various signs advocating for gun ownership. Signs at the rally read: 'Weaken the 2nd and you Weaken America', 'More Gun Laws, More Crime' and 'Live Free or Die.' One person even held a sign condemning Mitt Romney after the Senator was the only Republican to vote against President Donald Trump on one count during the impeachment trial. Firearm owners convened at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City to protest gun control on Saturday Signs at the rally read: 'Weaken the 2nd and you Weaken America', 'More Gun Laws, More Crime' and 'Live Free or Die' One person even held a sign condemning Mitt Romney after the Senator was the only Republican to vote against President Donald Trump during the impeachment trial Several rally-goers could be seen wearing hats endorsing Trump and sporting the Betsy Ross version of the United States Flag. The flag has recently been associated with extremist groups and white supremacists across the country as it calls for reverting back to more segregated times. The rally was held in response to the latest 2020 legislative session in Utah where various lawmakers proposed four bills tackling gun control in the state. House Bill 109, sponsored by Rep. Brian S. King (Dem), calls for universal background checks for firearm purchases. A law sponsored by Rep. Andrew Stoddard, House Bill 115, states that firearm custodians could be found liable for damage caused by someone else using their firearm. There are no official numbers as to how many were in attendance at the rally 'In 1776 they demanded we turn in our weapons,' a man's sign reads. 'We the people, shot them in the face' The rally was held in response to the latest 2020 legislative session in Utah where various lawmakers proposed four bills tackling gun control in the state Another potential law, House Bill 136, makes it a criminal offense to store a firearm in a place where a minor or someone legally restricted from possessing a gun, can gain access to. Firearm dealers would also have to put up a written notices stating that people could be prosecuted if they were negligent, according to the bill which is sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Weight. House Bill 229, sponsored by Rep. Stephen G. Handy, allows family members to ask law enforcement to ask a court to restrain a person from having a firearm or ammunition for a specific length of time. The law would require a court to determine whether the person in question has made threats, acted violently, violated a recent protected order, is dangerous, has attempted or threatened self harm, or has demonstrated a pattern of violence. The bill would allow courts to issue search warrants in the event that the person did not want to hand over their firearms. The rally comes weeks after more than 20,000 people converged in the streets of Richmond, Virginia, to protest their right to bear arms in the face of state gun control laws set to be enacted later this year. Several rally-goers could be seen wearing hats endorsing Trump and sporting the Betsy Ross version of the United States Flag Another rally goer can be seen holding a 'Don't Tread On Me' flag Photo credit: GENYA SAVILOV - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics The U.S. Air Force is proposing to retire many older planes to make room for new ones. The service would get rid of most of its F-15 Eagle fighters, as well as older F-16s. Retiring planes would free up funds--as well as spare parts--for the air fleet that remains. The U.S. Air Force is planning major cuts to its fleet of fighters and bombers, many of which are three decades old or older. The cuts are designed to divert funds away from keeping older, less capable planes in service while funding a new generation of fighters and bombers. Among those on the chopping block are large numbers of F-15 Eagles and the B-1B bomber. The cuts, as Foreign Policy writes, are part of a process of modernizing the Air Forces fleet of warplanes to deal with modern threats. The average age of Air Force aircraft, as a recent Heritage Foundation report pointed out, is 28 years. Retired aircraft will be replaced with new ones, though the plan has been considerably watered down since it was originally proposed months ago. The Air Force wants to retire all 250 F-15C air superiority fighters and F-15D trainer jets. According to Air Force Magazines annual almanac , thats the entire F-15 fighter force tasked with the air combat mission. The service would retain 218 F-15E Strike Eagles, dual-role jets capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. In addition to being capable of both types of combat the F-15E fleet is significantly younger than the F-15C/D fleet, with production running from the late 1980s to 2001. The Air Force also plans to buy at least 72 brand new F-15EXs , procuring the first two in this years defense budget. Photo credit: JUNG YEON-JE - Getty Images The service also plans to retire a number of F-16C Block 25 fighters, many of which are over thirty years old. There are 787 F-16Cs on active and reserve duty. These jets will largely be replaced by the F-35A, though its unclear if the Air Force plans to replace them on a one to one basis. The Air Force will also retire 17 B-1B bombers, dropping the total active duty force to 45 B-1Bs. The B-1 force is old, with the last bomber rolling off the production line 32 years ago. Spare parts are hard to find and airframes are fatigued, in large part to the bombers role as a close air support aircraft over Afghanistan. Fast, heavily armed and with a long range, ground troops liked the B-1B for its ability to quickly respond to air support requests and then loiter over the battlefield, dropping bombs as needed. Story continues Photo credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND - Getty Images The B-1B bomber (and the B-2 Spirit bomber) are scheduled to be replaced by the B-21 Raider bomber starting in the late 2020s, and as Foreign Policy points out, this is simply an acceleration of the retirement schedule. Its also likely a compromise to keep the remaining bombers in service by cannibalizing the retired jets for usable parts. The B-1B, like many of the Air Forces planes, has been out of production for so long the contractors that would otherwise supply spare parts are no longer in business or do not have the capability to produce them. The 15 B-1Bs that are retired will probably be sent to Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, home of "The Boneyard," and stripped of parts as needed. Satellite imagery of the base shows 17 B-1Bs already at the Boneyard, many without wings and other parts. The Air Force wanted to retire other aircraft, including the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle, the U-2 spy plane, and others, but Congress balked. Trading a F-16 for a F-35 is one thing, but retiring the MQ-9 would leave a hole in the services capability set. The same goes for the RC-135 Rivet Joint, a reconnaissance aircraft that currently has no planned replacement. Source: Foreign Policy. You Might Also Like The delay in the execution of the Delhi gang rape convicts is in the news. Apart from the appalling crime, it brings up the issue of the lack of safe public transport for women. This is one reason why many women either do not enter the workforce or opt out of it, and explains the 21.8% labour force participation for women in India, among the lowest in the world. This suggests the need for innovative thinking. Better street lighting and policing alone are not enough. While women need access to safe transport, they hardly have a presence in the transport provision sector. It is almost exclusively a male preserve. While male public transport providers have to be sensitised on how to deal with threats to women in public transport, more women should be encouraged to enter the transport sector. Women are generally safer in domains where there is an adequate number of other women. To that end, the Delhi governments free of cost travel for women will encourage more women to come out into public spaces. But this does not mean that women will be safer in public transport. Many studies, notably by the NGO, Jagori, have shown that women face some form of sexual harassment while waiting for public transport or once they are in it. An initiative which merits some attention is the Women with Wheels programme pioneered by Azad Foundation that aims to bring women into the transport sector as service providers. This challenges patriarchal barriers which keep women out of non-traditional occupations, affords them a livelihood with dignity, and enables them to access opportunities which do not require specialised education. Under this scheme, which is well worth emulating in other places, over 2,000 women have been trained to become professional drivers. This has had a transformative effect on their lives. While the idea of women drivers found little traction when it was first mooted in 2008, today, several private sector organisations are becoming more open to offering women driving jobs, and there are several new initiatives to train women as chauffeurs. There are several benefits of having more women bus drivers. For a start, buses will become less threatening spaces for women. Women bus drivers could serve as role models for young girls and break the stereotype of what a girl can or cannot do. But this needs support, in the form of GPS monitoring and prompt responses from the police, to ensure that women drivers themselves are safe first. There are other problems, which need to be ironed out too. One is the problem of height. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), for example, stipulates a height of 53 for drivers, both for men and women. This means many women do not qualify. Last year, the Delhi government launched 104 buses with adjustable seats, making it safe for anyone under the stipulated height to drive. Along with this, there have to gender sensitisation efforts for the DTC staff to prevent harassment of women drivers. The next step should be to push for women conductors as well. There is a similar scheme which has been initiated at Delhi airport to have women taxi drivers to cater to women. Men are required to be accompanied by a woman to use the taxi. These are small initiatives and limited in their reach. But this is something worth considering to address the dual challenge of womens safety and employment. Imagine how different it would have been if the bus that the Delhi gang rape victim had boarded had been driven by a woman. Of course, this was not a public transport bus, but a private bus masquerading as public transport. The idea should be to find innovative avenues for women to enter the workforce, starting from public transport. lalita.panicker@hindustantimes.com The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BANGKOK A soldier shot multiple people in northeastern Thailand on Saturday, killing at least 16, and was holed up in a popular shopping mall. It was unclear how many people were wounded. The authorities put nearby hospitals on alert and asked for blood donations. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Facebook that a doctor was shot while helping an injured person. It also was not clear whether the gunman had taken hostages inside the mall or how many people might still be inside. Noppadol Sirijanya, a member of the Sawang Metta Tham Rescue Center in Nakhon Ratchasima, said a rescue team had successfully evacuated more than 100 people from the mall, where they had been trapped for hours. The center is a voluntary emergency aid organization that helps during accidents and disasters. The shooter appeared to be armed with an assault rifle, based on security camera video aired on Thai Rath television. Thai Rath said the incident began at about 3:30 p.m. A police officer contacted by phone in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima said the soldier initially shot dead another soldier and a woman and wounded a third person, apparently over a land dispute. Nakhon Ratchasima is also known as Korat. City and neighborhood police officers, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to release information, said the man took a gun from his base and drove to the Terminal 21 Korat mall, shooting along the way. Several Thai media reported that he traveled in a military vehicle. Video taken outside the mall and shared on social media showed people taking cover in a parking lot as gunshots were fired. The mall was shut down and the street outside was closed while the authorities tried to arrest the gunman and rescue shoppers inside. Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanich identified the suspect as Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma. He said police and military units had locked down the mall and the surrounding area. A video posted on social media from inside a car before all surrounding streets were shut down shows a man driving while a woman shouts, "What's happening? Why are they running?" Several gunshots are heard as they drive away from the mall, and the woman says, "Is it a robbery?" The man believed to be the gunman posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage with statements including "No one can escape death" and "Should I give up?" In a later post he wrote, "I have stopped already." His profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. In a photo circulated on social media that appeared to be taken from his Facebook page, the suspect can be seen wearing a green camouflaged military helmet while a fireball and black smoke rage behind him. The Facebook page was made inaccessible after the shooting began. Nakhon Ratchasima is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok. It is a hub for Thailand's relatively poorer and rural northeastern region. Terminal 21 Korat is part of a small chain of Thai shopping centers run by Bangkok-based property developer LH Mall & Hotel Co. The malls feature floors modeled after major cities around the world. The size of the mall could pose a challenge for security forces as they try to capture the gunman. It consists of seven main retail floors, including one below ground level, and scores of shops and restaurants. It also houses a movie theater on the top floor. Many malls in Thailand, including Terminal 21's namesake in Bangkok, have metal detectors and security cameras at entrances manned by uniformed but unarmed security guards. Checks on those entering are often cursory at best. Gun violence is not unheard of in Thailand. Firearms can be obtained legally, and many Thais own guns. Mass shootings are rare, though there are occasional gun battles in the far south of the country, where authorities have for years battled a long-running separatist insurgency. The incident came just a month after another high-profile mall shooting, in the central Thai city of Lopburi. In that case, a masked gunman carrying a handgun with a silencer killed three people, including a 2-year-old boy, and wounded four others as he robbed a jewelry store. A suspect, a school director, was arrested less than two weeks later and reportedly confessed, saying he did not mean to shoot anyone. -- The Associated Press DEAL OF THE WEEK Avon Touts #OwnVoices Winners After running what it described as an open submission for romance novels last summer, Avon Books acquired two titles. Thien-Kim Lam and Preslaysa Williams inked world rights contracts with the publisher for their contemporary #OwnVoices books after seeing a call for compelling, heartfelt romances featuring authentic perspectives. Erika Tsang acquired the novel by Lam, who, Avon said, is focused on stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. Williams, an author and professional actor, writes, Avon said, contemporary romance and womens fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. May Chen bought Williamss book. Lam was represented by Tara Gelsomino at One Track Literary. Williams did not use an agent in the deal. FROM THE U.S. Duchovnys Lightning Strikes FSG Actor, director, and author David Duchovny sold a novel titled Truly Like Lightning to Jonathan Galassi at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book, which agent Andrew Blauner sold world rights to, is, FSG said, an epic story about America, religion, family, sex, pop culture, the 60s, education, environmentalism, greed, murder, love, and blood atonement set in a Mormon enclave in the outskirts of Los Angeles. Duchovny, in a release, added that the novel follows a charismatic former Hollywood stuntman turned Mormon homesteader, Bronson Powers, who lives with his three sister wives and 10 children on a sprawling ranch that abuts the famous Joshua Tree National Park. Duchovny is the author of three previous novels: Bucky F*cking Dent, Holy Cow, and Miss Subways. Herman Gets Presidential at Morrow After what Inkwell Management agent Stephen Barbara described as a competitive situation, William Morrows Lucia Macro bought world English rights to Eleanor Hermans Sex with Presidents. In the book, Barbara said, Herman (Sex with Kings and Sex with the Queen) offers an account of the bedroom secrets of American presidents and politicians. Like in her previous books, the bestselling author, he went on, delves into the sex scandals and transgressions of a number of commanders in chief. Morrow promised that the title will offer fresh insights into how the countrys views on sex and power are changing. Sex with Presidents is slated for the fall. Stringfellows Memphis to Dial Pushcart Prizenominee and former attorney Tara Stringfellow sold a novel titled Memphis to Katy Nishimoto at Dial Press. The North American rights agreement, closed at auction, is Nishimotos first at the imprint. Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts at HG Literary represented the author. Dial said the novel is a multigenerational tale based on the authors family and that it traces the effects of violence on the family after the patriarch, the first black detective in Memphis, is lynched by members of his own squad. New Carlan Trilogy to HQN For HQN Books, Susan Swinwood acquired three new works by bestselling author Audrey Carlan (Calendar Girl). The first book in the world English rights agreement, What the Heart Wants, will launch a romantic womens fiction trilogy and will be released in August as a trade paperback. The series, HQN said, features sisters who, through the messages contained within personalized letters from their late mother, rethink the direction of their lives and their relationships. Carlan, who was represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, is the author of more than 40 novels, and, according to HQN, her books have been translated into more than 30 languages. Morrow Tackles Gortners Adventuress In another William Morrow acquisition, Rachel Kahan nabbed world English rights to C.W. Gortners The American Adventuress, about Jennie Churchill. Jennifer Weltz at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency sold the book, which tells the tale of the American-born socialite and mother of Winston Churchill. Weltz said Gortner uncovers the life of the passionate, intelligent, sexually liberated, and often controversial woman who conquered the world into which she wed to forge a path for herself, campaigning for her husbands political career and setting the stage for their son, Winston. The book is slated for fall 2021. Bonoboss Dunn Sells Memoir A memoir by Bonobos cofounder Andy Dunn, about how he kept his mental illness a secret for over a decade, was preempted by Paul Whitlatch at Currency. Self Disrupt, which Kirsten Neuhaus at Foundry Literary + Media sold world English rights to, reveals, Currency explained, how this secret initially fueled Dunns rise as a startup CEO, then caused him to nearly lose everything when his business was on the brink of success. The publisher added that the book was pitched as Brain On Fire meets The Hard Thing About Hard Things. MOVIE DEALS Jack Fairweathers The Volunteer (Custom House) has been optioned by House Productions. The title is a biography of Witold Pilecki, a Polish resistance fighter who volunteered to be imprisoned in Auschwitz in order to gather evidence about the horrors being committed there. In what Deadline called a very competitive situation, PKM Productions (which has a deal with Amazon Studios) optioned Grady Hendrixs novel The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires (Quirk, Apr.) after a ten-buyer bidding war. INTERNATIONAL DEALS Audible has bought world English audio rights to Canadian author Samra Zafars A Good Wife. Samantha Haywood handled the sale, in association with Stephanie Sinclair, and noted that the book is a bestseller in Canada. In it, Haywood said, Zafar shares the story of how she was suddenly married to a stranger at 17 and left Pakistan for Canada. The Bookseller reported that after a five-way auction, U.K.-based Bodley Head won Charlotte Lydia Rileys Imperial Island. The Bookseller described it as a revisionist history of postwar imperial Britain, with the publisher noting its a tale of post-war immigration and decolonisation, from the Suez Crisis to the Falklands. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the protagonist's name in Truly Like Lightning. Additionally, the number of wives and children of the protagonist of that novel has been updated, to correct a publisher error. The agency is likely to recommend that people who can consistently wear N95 or KN95 masks, rather than cloth masks, should do so. Coming Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed issues relating to development partnership and security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day trip, his first overseas visit after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. Officials said a number of issues relating to defence, security and trade figured in the meeting between the Sri Lankan prime minister and Jaishankar. After his official engagement in Delhi, Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of tChe longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November which was also his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office. Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. ANN ARBOR, MI Earth Day has a special tie to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. In March 1970, UM held the nations first Environmental Teach-In, which served as a model for the first-ever Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Now, 50 years later, UM is hosting Earth Day 2020: Rise Up for the Environment, which will feature a wide range of events, teach-ins and activities across campus from March 9-14. More activities are being planned leading up to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, organizers said. I was alive when the first Earth Day occurred, and it was all about creating an environmental movement back then, said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of UMs School for Environment and Sustainability. Fast forward 50 years later and its about trying to reignite a stronger focus on the climate. Events include: Teach-in for the Environment 2020, March 9-14: Workshops throughout campus and the city that will be practical, participatory and oriented toward action. Events will address topics like transportation, ecology, business, humanities, engineering, human health and public policy. Environmental Action for Survival: The History and Legacies of UMs 1970 Teach-In on the Environment , March 11: A panel discussion from six leaders of UM student organization Environmental Action for Survival (ENACT) that honors the history of UMs Teach-In on the Environment. Michigan Climate Action Summit, March 12: A summit that will bring together the general public, climate advocates, activists and policymakers to set a bold new agenda for Michigan to move forward on climate and justice. The Peter M. Wege Lecture , March 12: Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, Jr., will speak at Hill Auditorium on his conservation efforts and sustainability. Along with the Wege Lecture on March 12, SEAS will also the Rise Up for the Environment Rally. The event will feature musical performances and dynamic sustainability and environmental justice leaders that will inspire audiences to take action and rise up for the environment. Speakers and performers for the double-event include New York Times author and journalist Naomi Klein, National Wildlife Vice President of Environmental Justice Mustafa Santiago Ali, Little Miss Flint youth activist Mari Copeny and many others. Overpeck said the School for Environment and Sustainability has been listening to students, faculty and staff to gather feedback on topics to discuss during these events. For Matt Lasseter, professor of history at UM, putting Earth Day and its ties to Michigan into historical context is key. Its not well-known that the state of Michigan was a leader in environmental policy during the 1960s and 70s, said Matt Lasseter, a history professor at UM. I dont think the activists in 1970 had the global understanding that we do today. In 1970, UM held a massive student-organized event known as Teach-In on the Environment. More than 50,000 people attended, and the crowd gathered at The Crisler Arena to hear Ralph Nader, Edmund Muskie, then-Gov. William Milliken, ecological leaders, scientists and television stars. Five weeks later, the United States celebrated its first Earth Day, building on the momentum generated by UMs event. Carole Love, a School for Environment and Sustainability spokesperson, said organizers are working closely with community groups to get some of the events planned. Our goal with this event was to create something everyone can find themselves in, Love said about the commemorative week in March. We wanted to create a platform for everyone to organize. More information on Earth Day 50 can be viewed here. Describing the Public Safety Act as draconian, the DMK on Saturday slammed the Centre for extending the detention of Kashmiri leaders, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and demanded their immediate release. The Centre had booked the two former chief ministers under the stringent Act on February 6, barely hours before their six-month-long "preventive detention" was to end. Hitting out at the centre, the main opposition in Tamil Nadu alleged the PSA was draconian and condemned their further detention. Alleging that such draconian laws could be implemented in any State and against any leader, DMK president M K Stalin said such a scenario was not appropriate for both the country and Centre-State relations. Keeping leaders who have faith in India's integrity under detention went against human rights and personal liberty and it was tantamount to ridiculing people's faith in Constitution and democracy, he alleged, adding the abrogation of Article 370 without "respecting the Assembly and people was a burial of democracy." "The BJP is making a mockery of federalism by bending laws since it got a majority by winning (Lok Sabha) elections," he said in a statement here. Further, Stalin, who has been demanding the release of all Kashmiri leaders ever since they were first detained in August last year, said no one could accept BJP using the government machinery and laws as per its "whims and fancies." Continuing to keep leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah in detention, "is a blatant misuse of power," impinging on fundamental rights and freedom of expression, he alleged. Dubbing their detention as something that did not appear to be a "honest act of the Central government," he alleged it was due to the BJP's "selfishness," and it has raised a suspicion among the people whether the saffron party desired to maintain Kashmir as a restless province. Detaining Kashmiri leaders by coming up with "new, artificial reasons should be given up," he said and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately release all the leaders and "open up the doors of democracy," in Kashmir. Political parties had reacted sharply to the slapping of the PSA on four prominent Kashmiri politicians and said the move belied the Centre's claim of normalcy in the union territory. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah and two political stalwarts -- National Conference leader and former minister Ali Mohammed Sagar and PDP leader Sartaj Madani -- were booked under the PSA by the administration on Thursday. The People's Democratic Party had said the BJP-led government at the Centre was "testing the patience" of the people by such "undemocratic moves". The CPI(M)'s Jammu and Kashmir unit condemned the slapping of the PSA on the prominent Kashmiri leaders, while the Congress termed the decision "unfortunate." Omar's father, Farooq Abdullah was booked under the PSA in September last year which was reviewed again in December for a period of three months. The PSA was enacted by Omar's grandfather Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in 1978 initially to check timber smuggling. The law, which came handy for police force to book separatists and militant sympathisers, has two sections -- 'public order' and 'threat to security of the state'. The former allows detention without trial for six months and the latter for two years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after withdrawing the 'state calamity' warning in the wake of the novel cornavirus (nCov) scare, the Kerala government on Saturday said over 3,000 people are still under observation. Of the 3,114 people under watch, 3,099 are under home quarantine and 45 in hospitals as they had minor symptoms of the virus, state health minister K K Shailaja said. "Till now, 330 samples have been sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, of which 288 turned out to be negative. We are waiting for the rest of the results," the minister told reporters. Though the 'state calamity' alert was withdrawn, the state has not lowered its guard and the (28-day) quarantine period would continue, she said. The Kerala government had on Friday withdrawn the 'state calamity' warning, saying no new positive cases of infection had been detected over the last few days. The Minister also said that two of the 72 people who had returned to the state from Wuhan, were from Tamil Nadu. "Those who come from the affected areas will still have to report to health officials and remain home quarantined," Shailaja said. The state had on February 3 declared the novel coronavirus epidemic as a "state calamity" after a third student tested positive for the infection. India's all three positive coronavirus cases so far-- reported from Thrissur, Alappuzuha and Kasaragod districts-- are Keralite students, two of them medicos, of a university at Wuhan, the epicenter of the nCoV. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia's foreign minister met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in a show of support for his embattled socialist administration. Sergey Lavrov's stop in Caracas followed a trip by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to Washington, where officials in the Trump administration said they were preparing to escalate efforts to force out Maduro. Following his talks with Maduro, Lavrov said he would offer "technical military cooperation" to Venezuela "in the face of external threats." He added that Russia had offered its "full support" for Maduro's government to "establish a national dialogue" to advance from the country's political impasse. The US and nearly 60 nations back Guaido and have said Maduro claimed victory in fraudulent elections in 2018. Scheduling surrounding Xiaomi's eagerly-anticipated Mi 10 flaghip pair has bee one of the many things unfortunately disrupted by the current Corona virus crisis in China. As per the latest development on that front, Xiaomi has now sent out invitations for a product launch on February 23 in Barcelona, Spain. In other words, we are expecting global announcements as part of MWC 2020 to take place. Most likely - the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro flagships. The big 10 on the banner is kind of a major giveaway, if nothing else. That being said, though, this doesnt necessarily entirely negate the company's domestic plans for the pair of devices. At least the ones we know of from a previous leak, that is. Those hinted at an early pre-order campaign for the Mi 10 Pro, kicking-off on February 10, only then followed by an online unveiling event for both phones on February 13. Actual sales were said to commence on February 14 and February 18 for the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro, respectively. Xiaomi Mi 10 China event banners Xiaomi's official Weibo account just dropped a couple of banners as well, confirming the aforementioned February 13 unveiling event, as well as its "pure online live broadcast" nature, Further adding that it was a difficult decision. So, even though we have at least two official dates, this sounds like a soft schedule at best, given the circumstances. One of the two Weibo images does confirm UFS 3.0 storage for at least one of the Mi 10 phones, which is great to know. Alleged live images of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Whatever the final release schedule turns out to be, rumors and leaks seems to be increasing in both volume and quality. So, it shouldn't be long now. Recently, the Mi 10 pair was spotted in a promo banner, offering a good, all-round look at the design. Hints of both the Snapdragon 865 and a 108MP camera have been dropping left and right. Most sources seem to agree that both the vanilla and the Pro variants will be getting the new Samsung high-resolution snapper and possibly a 5x zoom module as well, which we already have a couple of stills from. The bigger Pro is also said to rock a 6.4-inch, FullHD+, 120Hz OLED panel, up to 16GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM and a 5,250 mAh battery, with a 66W fast charger and a full top-up time of just 35 minutes. Source | Source 2 (in Chinese) Four of the five largest law firms in Singapore currently leverage the power of VenioOne OnDemand through their use of the CaseRoom eDiscovery solution. Litigation Edge is poised to continue this momentum in 2020 Venio Systems, the fastest growing e-Discovery technology provider, today announced a sizable contract expansion with Singapore-based Litigation Edge, Venio partner and Asias premier eDiscovery specialists. This expansion supports the increased demand for Litigation Edges CaseRoom eDiscovery System powered by VenioOne OnDemand. In 2019, the CaseRoom eDiscovery System powered by VenioOne was one of three platforms approved by the Singapore Ministry of Law and Law Society of Singapore as an advanced technology solution for eDiscovery eligible for Tech-celerate for Law funding. This innovative initiative enables Singapore law firms to adopt legal technology solutions with up to 70% funding support in the first year of implementation. Four of the five largest law firms in Singapore currently leverage the power of VenioOne OnDemand through their use of the CaseRoom eDiscovery solution. Litigation Edge is poised to continue this momentum in 2020 with larger cases from existing clients and wider adoption of CaseRoom throughout Asia, all supported by this VenioOne expansion. VenioOne OnDemand has proven to be an excellent platform to power our CaseRoom eDiscovery System for the Singapore market. We are confident that our investment to expand VenioOne will support our continued growth throughout Southeast Asia, stated Brad Mixner, Litigation Edge Co-Founder and Technology Strategist. President of Venio Systems Bimal Tamrakar said, Were very pleased that Litigation Edge has had such great success with the self-service eDiscovery model enabled by VenioOne OnDemand, because we know it also means great success for their clients. We are always excited to see our software help a partner experience growth in their business and meaningful impact for their clients. About Litigation Edge With over 40 years of combined experience in electronic discovery, litigation support and legal practice, Singapore-based Litigation Edge provide a unique one-stop solution for international law firms and service providers engaged in matters across Asia. CaseRoom from Litigation Edge powered by VenioOne is a pre-approved eDiscovery solution under the Singapore Tech-celerate for Law funding initiative. Further information is available via info@litiedge.com, litigationedge.asia, or +65 6236 2846. About Venio Systems Venio Systems is a team of innovators and developers with over 40 years of experience in providing eDiscovery solutions with unparalleled agility and ease-of-use while being scalable. Venio Systems was created to address the industry's lack of a complete eDiscovery solution that powers every phase of eDiscovery. VenioOne, a unified eDiscovery platform, is designed to provide law firms, corporations and government entities with the ability to manage all phases of discoveryprocessing, ECA, culling, document review, and productionfrom a single tool. Venio Systems remains on the forefront of innovation to provide solutions any litigator and eDiscovery professional can use. For more information and a demo, visit https://veniosystems.com/. What a week. Lets get right to it. We have Iowa results. Sort of. You probably thought wed know who won Iowa by now. So did we. But the Iowa Democratic Party newly tasked with releasing multiple sets of results failed to release any on caucus night, then dripped them out slowly over the rest of the week. A tenth of a percentage point separates Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and there are enough reports of number discrepancies that The Associated Press said it couldnt make a final call. But the picture looks roughly like this: Mr. Buttigieg and Mr. Sanders functionally tied at 26 percent apiece in the state delegate count, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in third with 18 percent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in fourth with 16 percent and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota in fifth with 12 percent. What went wrong with the caucus results An extremely bare-bones version of what happened is this: Iowans showed up at more than 1,600 caucus sites on Monday, including some satellite locations outside official precincts. The actual caucusing went pretty normally. But when precinct officials tried to report their results to the state party, they ran into a slew of problems with a new app created for that purpose. The app fell apart, phone lines were jammed, math errors were made, and the party which had to tabulate and reconcile not one but three sets of results was overwhelmed. File Photo: People queue up to buy protective face masks at a store in Manila, Philippines, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) A 57-YEAR-OLD Chinese man became the third person under investigation (PUI) for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to have died in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. In a press conference, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo disclosed that the patient died of pneumonia while admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. He, however, had "underlying restrictive lung disease" and tested negative for the 2019-nCoV twice. "It was confirmed yesterday (Thursday). It is a case of pneumonia in a patient with underlying restrictive lung disease," said Domingo. Two other Chinese men who were also both classified as PUIs had also died at the San Lazaro Hospital. The first, a 29-year-old Chinese male who was found positive for human immunodeficiency virus, died of pneumonia. He was later found negative for the 2019-nCoV. The second fatality, a 44-year-old Chinese male, tested positive for the 2019-nCoV and was the first recorded 2019-nCoV death outside China. The second fatality had traveled with a 38-year-old Chinese woman, who was identified as the first confirmed 2019-nCoV case in the country. She remains confined at the San Lazaro Hospital. Including the 2019-nCoV-positive man who died, there are three confirmed cases in the Philippines. The third is a 60-year-old Chinese woman who initially tested negative for the virus and was discharged from a hospital in Bohol in Central Visayas. She had returned to China. Domingo said they were studying the legality of imposing forced hospital admission for PUIs who refuse to be admitted, thus putting their close contacts at risk. "Actually, the government really has the authority, especially if we can already see that their health is deteriorating... It might come to forced quarantine. We have the quarantine law, which gives us the authority when really needed," said Domingo. We want them in hospitals if they have symptoms. This is so if their case worsens, we can treat them." Story continues Still, health officials said they don't want to exercise the authority as much as possible believing they can still convince PUIs to get admitted. "We are urging everyone, especially the PUIs who refused admission, to cooperate with the DOH, their local government units and the Philippine National Police (PNP). We owe it to the Filipino people to do our part in preventing the spread of this disease and put everyones minds at ease," DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a separate statement. "Of course, as much as possible, we want it to be a dialogue and in a manner where we can convince them," said Domingo. "Some are afraid of the hospital expenses. Although, at this point, the government is shouldering the expenses of all patients." In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella has allowed the DOH and the Bureau of Quarantine to use a rehabilitation facility in Sitio Sudlon in Barangay Lahug as a quarantine center for persons under monitoring (PUMs) and PUIs. Although the City Government is still negotiating with the building owner, the latter's feedback has so far been positive, he said. The mayor said the public need not panic that a quarantine center will be located in a residential area, adding that PUMs and PUIs do not necessarily mean they are already infected. As this developed, the DOH Epidemiology Bureau said 36 people who have had contact with the three confirmed 2019-nCoV cases have exhibited symptoms of flu and respiratory infection. Of the 36, 32 were traced through the Chinese couple, the first two confirmed 2019-nCoV cases, while four were contacts of the third case. Of the total, 184 are currently admitted and isolated, nine refused admission and 17 have been discharged but are under strict monitoring. All three 2019-nCoV-positive persons entered the Philippines through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). As of Saturday, Feb. 8, the DOH recorded 267 people being checked for suspected 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease (ARD). Of the 267 cases, 16 are in Central Visayas. Meanwhile, it is not yet known if Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia's Executive Order (EO) 5-A, which issues stricter protocols to be observed in seaports amid the 2019-nCoV outbreak, will have any effect on the import sector. This is an unprecedented issue and I still have to check with our members if what would be the impact, said Steven Yu, president of the Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce. But if, based on the EO, the cargo can be unloaded from a vessel upon arrival at the port and only the crew will be quarantined, then its effects will be minimal and manageable, he said. It is just minimal because I think the supplies of the vessel, they can find a way to bring these inside through crane or something and the crew can just stay inside, he said. Under Garcias EO5-A, no cargo vessel from China or any of its Special Administrative States that went to these states 14 days before their arrival in Cebu will be allowed to dock in Cebu Province unless cleared by the quarantine team. The head of the vessel is expected to report any case of flu-like symptoms among his crew so that the symptomatic person who qualifies as a PUI will be brought to the referral hospital. If the PUI tests positive of the 2019-nCoV ARD, the entire ship will be placed under 14-day quarantine. If a cargo vessel is assessed and cleared by the quarantine team, the cargo vessel shall be allowed to dock but only for purposes of unloading its cargo. One of the hardest hit sectors by the 2019-nCoV outbreak is Central Visayas' tourism industry. However, Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Shalimar Tamano refused to divulge the extent of the problem until they've collected all the data. The official met with tourism officers and other stakeholders to discuss ways to address the temporary travel ban on visitors from mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions that include Hong Kong and Macau. China is the country's second biggest source of foreign visitors after South Korea with 1.499 million arrivals from January to October 2019, according to DOT records. Mainland Chinese tourists had been flocking to Cebu, given the several direct routes available from Cebu to several Chinese cities. However, local and Chinese airline carriers have temporarily suspended flights between Cebu and China in light of the 2019-nCoV outbreak. Jia Li, Chinese consulate-general of the People's Republic of China in Cebu, said not less than 700,000 Chinese tourists visited Central Visayas last year. (SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES, WBS, JJL, HBL / PJB) Science has transformed our society and culture. One of the remarkable aspects of science is the effect over years: as more is discovered, so our pool of knowledge gets bigger and bigger. In theory, at least, this should lead to the human race gradually becoming more informed, and closer to the "real" truth of the world around us. I've recently come across a new scientific paper which investigated the reputed benefits of dog ownership to human health by gathering and analysing the combined research of the past seventy years. This has significantly added to our understanding on the benefits brought to us by pets. For a long time, there have been hints that dog ownership may be associated with decreased cardiovascular risk, but up until now, the research has sometimes seemed ambivalent. A series of studies suggested associations of dog ownership with lower blood pressure levels, improved lipid profile, and diminished sympathetic responses to stress. These results were enough to persuade the American Heart Association to issue a statement in 2013 which concluded that "dog ownership is probably associated with decreased cardiovascular risk'. But other studies were less certain, claiming that the overall impact of living with a dog was neutral. The paper that I read recently was a systematic review and meta-analysis, titled "Dog Ownership and Survival". This has added definite evidence to the debate, by reviewing a very high number of studies, published between 1950 and 2019. The background to this is that animal companionship, in particular dog ownership, has become increasingly common. It's estimated that two thirds of Irish homes own a dog. The recognised health benefits of dog ownership include reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children exposed to pets in their early years, improvement in well-being and alleviation of social isolation in elderly individuals, and increased physical activity in people of all ages. I've always said that doctors should write prescriptions for pet ownership for some people. Despite these benefits, the definite evidence for an impact of dog ownership on actual mortality has been frustratingly conflicting. There has been a lack of randomised clinical trials evaluating the impact of dog ownership on cardiovascular disease prevention: this is the gold standard for evidence. It's like doing an experiment: give half of the people dogs, and watch what happens. One trial of this type was done recently: an interventional study of nearly fifty people with high blood pressure involved choosing a random selection of them to acquire a pet. This showed that pet owning was linked to lower blood pressure when faced with mental stress six months later. In addition, among dog owners, the act of petting a dog has been specifically been shown to lower blood pressure levels when compared with other activities. Other interventional studies have been more difficult to do, especially when looking at overall mortality. That is why the authors of this recent paper decided to tale a different research approach: an evaluation of as much observational data as they could find. They carried out a detailed long term analysis of all past studies that have looked at the association of dog ownership with cardiovascular mortality. They started out with over a thousand research papers over seventy years, but narrowed these down to just ten that were specific enough, and high enough quality, to be included: these studies included data from nearly four million people, making the results very significant. The researchers compared the number of deaths in dog owners (so-called "exposed group") to the number of deaths in individuals who do not own dogs ("control group"). The results are remarkable: dog ownership conferred a 65% risk reduction for mortality following myocardial infarction, as well as a 31% risk reduction on cardiovascular mortality overall. This is enough evidence to strongly support dog ownership as a way of helping people to be healthier and live longer. Why is dog owning so positive in these ways? The simplest answer is to suggest that the physical activity of dog walking brings benefits. It is true that dog owners walk significantly more than non-owners, and are more likely to achieve recommended level of physical activity . My own sense is that the benefits come from far more than just physical exercise: owning a dog changes your life in a wide range of positive ways, from making you more social (everyone who has a dog knows that you're far more likely to stop to talk to other dog owners when on walks), to making your home more cosy (there is a huge difference between coming home to a cold empty house, or being greeted by a friendly, enthusiastic dog). There's the positive psychological impact of a dog forcing you to look outwards rather than inwards. I could write an entire column about the many ways that a dog makes you feel better. So it isn't all about heart disease. But given that this is such a common cause of mortality in our culture, the positive effect of dogs on survival is a message well worth spreading. Tell all your friends! Drews name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Korean War. Agency officials said a rosette will be placed next to his name on the memorial to indicate he has found. ALBANY Well, impeachment is mercifully over. I know some of you, depending on your politics, are either angry or elated with the foregone result the acquittal of one Donald John Trump. Many of you, on the other hand, paid impeachment little heed. Given the general dispassion, the political ramifications are unlikely to be significant. When the mud of spring and the glories of another summer have passed, when we're finally ready to cast meaningful ballots in November, the impeachment trial that ended Wednesday will be but a distant memory for voters in most corners of the nation. But not in the North Country. There, impeachment has permanently changed the congressional race between Elise Stefanik and Tedra Cobb. Stefanik? Impeachment transformed her. In mere months, she went from being a risk-averse, relatively obscure congresswoman from an out-of-the way district to something very close to a national household name, at least for the people who watch Fox, where she's a hero, or MSNBC, where she's a villain. The Saratoga resident, who in 2016 endorsed her "party's nominee" without saying the man's name, so distasteful did she apparently find him, used impeachment to raise a Trump flag and put on a MAGA hat. Suddenly, she's a scrapper taking on the libs and the coastal elites. Suddenly, she's the president's top most aggressive defender. It's a disingenuous transformation, of course. If you really believe the graduate of Albany Academies and Harvard University, a politician previously allied with George W. Bush, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, has undergone a genuine conversion to Trump-style populism and theatrics, then I'd like to offer you a very good deal on the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge. Stefanik, 35, has made a calculated, cynical political choice. So far, it's paying off. Thanks to her time in the spotlight, Stefanik raked in a remarkable $3.2 million in campaign contributions during the last quarter of 2019. Even better, perhaps, she's become a presidential favorite. "People from all over the country are contributing to her campaign," Trump gushed as Stefanik stood nearby on Thursday. "They were so enthralled with the way you handled yourself, what you said, the way you said it. I will always be your friend. I think it's really an amazing story. What a great future you have." Now, that's praise. There's even speculation Stefanik's "great future" could include becoming Trump's secretary of state assuming she's self-destructive enough to want the job, and assuming he wins reelection. If he doesn't, Stefanik's decision to tie herself to the Trump Train might not seem like such a resume booster. Her he-did-no-wrong-but-so-what-if-he-did defense of the president's Ukraine misconduct (sorry Elise, but that's the right word for it) was so vociferous, memorable and, at times, dishonest that Stefanik will forever be associated with this moment in American history. That's not the brand I'd want to carry for posterity. So let's talk about Tedra Cobb, who was for impeachment before she was kind of against it. "I supported sending articles of impeachment to the Senate," Cobb, 52, said in a statement Wednesday. "However, the Senate failed to conduct a proper trial that included witnesses. While I am incredibly disturbed by the behavior of the president, I could not support removal without a fair trial." And with that, Cobb's flowing out-of-state fundraising spigot will go dry. Refusing to support removal is not the position the activist Democratic base will tolerate, no matter how much it reviles Cobb's opponent. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Cobb's stance generated no small amount of mocking laugher, but I had some sympathy for her conflicted take. Impeachment is not an easy thing. It is possible to believe, as I do, that Trump did something both terribly wrong and impeachable, while also believing, as I do, that removing him would have been a mistake, given the lack of overwhelming public support, the backlash that would have ensued and the proximity of the election. That's essentially the position taken by Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican, and it's reasonable. But that isn't what Cobb is saying. Her position makes much less sense. It's ludicrous, actually. Trump didn't receive a fair Senate trial?! Well, who's fault was that? It was Senate Republicans, at Trump's direction, who cowardly refused to call witnesses or allow evidence. It was cowed Republicans and a bullying president who made the trial a farce. Cobb and Stefanik must be seeing polls showing that impeachment is deeply unpopular in the North Country. If so, this isn't the first time Cobb has tried to dodge her way around a position that would cost her votes. More Information Columnist Chris Churchill can be reached at cchurchill@timesunion.com or 518-454-5442 See More Collapse When she first challenged Stefanik two years ago, Cobb dashed her already slight chance of winning when she was caught saying, in a surreptitiously recorded video, that she supported banning assault weapons but couldn't admit so publicly. "I can't say that out loud," Cobb said, later adding: "I won't win." So much for political courage and standing up for what you believe. But maybe we shouldn't be too hard on Cobb alone. If impeachment taught us anything, it's that political courage is in terribly short supply. Want more from Chris Churchill? Sign up for his weekly newsletter. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill WALKER, MI -- A pedestrian somehow escaped serious injury after he was struck by a stolen car that crashed at a busy Walker intersection while fleeing from police. That was the grace of God, said Wayne McNeal of Maryland. I should be dead right now. McNeal said he was thrown about 20 feet and landed near a gas station pump at a Speedway station at Alpine Avenue NW and Three Mile Road. He said he had some soreness but did not need to go to the hospital. The crash happened after a Walker police officer tried to stop a stolen car at Alpine Avenue and Center Drive NW. The driver took off south on Alpine Avenue and ran a red light at Three Mile Road, crashing into a full-size van and another vehicle. The stolen car, a smaller Ford, then spun out of control and jumped the curb near the gas station where McNeal was standing. He did not have time to move. I heard the crash and by the time I turned around it was coming full speed at me. It just hit me, he said. I flew 20 feet and landed right here by the pump and Im still alive." Walker police Sgt. Joel Bartels said there were no serious injuries in the incident. The driver of the stolen vehicle, believed to be a juvenile, fled the crashed car but was apprehended a few addresses south on Alpine Avenue. He had minor injuries. A passenger in the full-size van also had minor injuries. Bartels said the crash happened just moments after the officer initiated a pursuit. Police also were investigating a report of shoplifting in the area of Center Drive at the time, but its not clear if the two incidents were related. More from MLive Election changes proposed in Grand Rapids Donations will 'diminish if Lake Michigan beach erosion goes unaddressed, Peter Secchia tells lawmakers Grand Rapids honors punk rockers The Clash The Zanu-PF Youth League has dismissed the push for exclusive dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as the tonic needed to grow the economy. The Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) is the only platform for genuine dialogue, the Youth League said. The Leagues acting deputy secretary, Tendai Chirau said it was committed to using properly laid down procedures in fighting corruption through State institutions that were created specially to eliminate the vice. The wings secretary, Cde Pupurai Togarepi, was relieved of his deputies by the Politburo last week, while deputy secretary Cde Lewis Matutu and secretary for the commissariat Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu were suspended for unilaterally convening a press conference and calling out local businessmen they alleged were responsible for grand corruption. In a statement yesterday, Cde Chirau said youths had to remain vigilant and flag corrupt practices through submitting incontrovertible evidence to crime-fighting institutions in order to rein in corrupt individuals. He, however, reiterated calls for organisations that are waging war against corruption to exercise their duties diligently. The Youth League remains deeply and heartily perturbed about the calamitous effects of corruption on national economic growth and recovery. We are genuinely aware of the existence of institutions which are constitutionally mandated to combat corruption such as ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission), SACU (Special Anti-Corruption Unit) to aid the ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police), the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and the JSC (Judicial Service Commission), Cde Chirau said. It is against this background that as the Youth League the vanguard of the ruling Zanu-PF we petition for perseverance from our patriotic youth since such an arduous fight cannot be won overnight. It must be borne in mind that most corruption cases fail on account of dearth of empirical evidence. To this end, we call upon all morally upright Zimbabweans with evidence of any corruption cases to bring forth such evidence to the attention of the relevant corruption-fighting organisations. We call upon the relevant organs created to combat corruption to conscientiously discharge their duties meticulously and boldly without fear or favour or regard to status, class, gender, tribe or otherwise, he said. The decisions by the partys highest decision-making bodies, Cde Chirau added, are binding and would be followed religiously by the Youth League. He said grievances need to be handled through proper communication channels. The Zanu-PF Youth League stands ready to abide and fulfil all decisions made by governing structures of the party; in particular, the Secretariat of the Central Committee, the Politburo, he said. We, as the frontline of the ruling party, boldly declare that when the authentic leadership of the party which in principle is the deployment of the masses who elect and install leaders in these positions make decisions, the Youth League stands guided, informed and bound by such pronouncements. If and when the Youth League feels disgruntled with any such pronouncements, it will strongly voice its concerns through laid down communication etiquettes and conventions of the party. New Delhi, Feb 8 : India and Sri Lanka on Saturday agreed to furthering cooperation with each other in combating terrorism in South Asia. During a visit of the recently elected Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Terrorism is a major danger in our region. We both countries have fought this problem firmly. There were painful and barbaric terror attacks on Easter in Sri Lanka in April last year. These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. Today, we discussed furthering our cooperation against terrorism." Prime Minister Modi also revealed that Sri Lankan police officers have started participating in anti-terrorism courses in India's training institutes. "We are also committed to further strengthening the contacts and cooperation between the agencies of the two countries," he said. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more An Garda Siochana in Granard, Co Longford, have announced details of an information and social evening, for anyone and everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. The social gathering takes place on Thursday, February 20, in John V. Donohoes Bar, Granard town, kicking off at 8:30pm sharp. The event is welcome to anyone who identifies as being in the LGBTQ+ community, or anyone with a friend or family member who does. The evening is expected to run until late, with special guest speaker on the evening, Granard native Rebecca Tallon de Havilland. Rebecca was born in Granard in 1958 as Eamon Tallon and after a long and arduous journey became the first person in Ireland to have gender reassignment surgery in 1991. Also read: Great night at the Granard GAA dinner dance Over the years Rebecca has been on the receiving end of abuse and prejudice because of her choices, though the abuse and prejudice thankfully now are a rarity. The aim of the evening is to inform people that because of their sexual orientation or gender, nobody should be subject to verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault or indeed any crime as they now constitute hate crimes. All reports of hate crime will be investigated thoroughly and sensitively by An Garda Siochana and Garda Diversity Officers and Community Policing Gardai will be present on the night to meet members of the LGBTQ+ community, family members or friends so they can have a confidential point of contact if they have any issues or queries either then or in the future. It is hoped there will be a big turnout on the night, for what will be an informative and very social evening. Also read; Vox pop reveals interesting insights on forgotten Longford issues Salman Khan Leaves Aditya Roy Kapur Embarrassed, Reveals Actor Asked For A Kiss From A Girl He Had A Crush On New Delhi, Feb 8 : The India centre of New York's Cornell Law School has launched operations with a public lecture by jurist and Member of Parliament Abhishek Singhvi outlining a series of urgent reforms needed in the Indian justice system. Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice A.K. Sikri, presided over the event which was hosted here in collaboration with the Jindal Global Law School of O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, on Friday. The Cornell India Law Centre was founded last September to promote engagement in the US legal academy with Indian law and legal institutions and foster international collaborations among legal scholars. The Cornell India Law Centre is the only programme based in a US law school that focuses exclusively on the comparative study of Indian law across a range of different subject areas. "India has a rich constitutional tradition and jurisprudence that lends itself to comparative legal studies. India and United States are both pluralistic, democratic, and common law systems. Yet, historically only disciplines in the humanities and social sciences have engaged in the study of India," said Sital Kalantry, Faculty Director of the centre and Clinical Professor of Law. "The comparative study of Indian law and legal institutions in the United States is more important today than it has ever been before and we are proud to have Cornell Law School to be a focal point for it," Dean of Cornell Law School Eduardo Penalver added. Cornell Law School is the law school of Cornell University, a private Ivy League university in New York. In addition to a speaker series and conferences bringing together legal scholars and lawyers from India and the US, the programme features a visiting scholar programme for legal scholars from India interested in visiting Cornell Law School to conduct research and participate in faculty events. Cornell Law School will also offer a fully-funded summer internship for Cornell Law students to work at a public interest organisation in New Delhi, starting in the summer of 2020. The centre is guided by a distinguished advisory board and affiliated faculty from law schools in the US and India. The centre builds on the strengths of the existing India-related programmes at the Cornell Law School. Cornell Law School has partnered with Jindal Global Law University in India on a fast-track dual degree programme, allowing students to earn Indian and American law degrees in just six years, two years less than what it would otherwise take. Students enrolled in the International Human Rights Clinic regularly travel to India to conduct research on human rights issues. "The Jindal Global Law School has been collaborating with the Cornell Law School and has implemented many forms of collaboration over the past one decade," C. Raj Kumar, VC, O.P. Jindal Global University, said. "Students and faculty members from both sides immensely benefited from this mutually beneficial academic collaboration. The establishment of Cornell India Law Centre and proposed comparative study of Indian Law will prove very useful," he added. After reading Meghan Mangrums article in the Times Free Press regarding the school board considering a new contract for Superintendent Bryan Johnson and attending the State of our System address at The Howard School on Thursday, Feb. 6, I felt compelled to write to you. Will you create a new contract for Superintendent Bryan Johnson? In my 18 years of teaching I have come to understand the importance of stability in leadership. Hamilton County Schools have shown significant improvements since Dr. Johnson arrived in 2017. Ive always believed that one person can make a difference, and Superintendent Bryan Johnson has illustrated this once again for me. I feel it is crucial that we secure Dr. Johnson as superintendent now so we continue the positive momentum in our school system. Our students need the consistency of Dr. Johnsons visionary leadership; it is the key to the transformation we have seen in our schools. Under Dr. Johnsons leadership we became the fastest improving school district in the state of Tennessee. I have heard Superintendent Bryan Johnson say that he is a teacher at heart. As teachers strive to do with their students, Dr. Johnson saw the potential in our school system and drew out the best in us. He is working tirelessly to help us achieve our full potential. I believe this is because Dr. Johnson is focused on kids. He did not come to Chattanooga to be inactive, and he is willing to have courageous conversations, even if it makes people uncomfortable. With urgency Dr. Johnson reorganized how we use data so it is meaningful to teachers and moves instruction forward. He amplified what is going well, reduced variability in the quality of instruction, and improved communication to all stakeholders. As a direct result of Superintendent Bryan Johnsons focus on teaching and learning we all have Clear Learning Targets, and weve grown in our understanding of how to teach to the depth and demand of the standards. The questions we ask students are fully aligned to the standards. In literacy instruction our practices reflect the science of reading. Throughout the last three years Dr. Johnson has strategically built capacity by equipping and empowering educators. He knows how to think strategically and which levers will improve outcomes for all students. Remarkably, he makes time to attend small group sit-downs with the superintendent where he has conversations with teachers. As a parent of one Hamilton County graduate and a senior, I am grateful for Dr. Johnsons support of creating Future Ready Institutes. My oldest daughter participated in one of Hamilton Countys Future Ready Institutes and earned her CNA license which she uses as she works as a tech at a local emergency room. This daughter was on Superintendent Bryan Johnsons student advisory council and she still remembers how he asked them what was going on that was good and what could be improved. This type of commitment to listening and valuing student perspective is integral to Dr. Johnsons success. My younger daughter wants to be an elementary school teacher and she will graduate in May with 18 hours of college credit. Dr. Johnson has promoted Early Post Secondary Opportunities and although my daughters feel called to different professions, both of them began preparing for their future while still in high school. I am impressed with how Dr. Johnson has prioritized for results by first addressing the people part-students and educators- and now he is moving onto the facilities aspect. As a teacher I have grown and improved my instruction as a direct result of Superintendent Bryan Johnsons initiatives. More importantly, my students are better prepared for their futures. Three years ago I did not dream that each of my students would have a chromebook or that I would have timely access to the quarterly benchmark data and be able to truly use it to adjust and tailor my teaching. Our students have demonstrated unprecedented growth in Hamilton County since Dr. Johnson took the helm in 2017; and make no mistake, I firmly believe that this improved student learning is a direct result of his compelling leadership . Will you please offer Superintendent Bryan Johnson a new contract? Carrie Bishop 8th Grade Reading Language Arts Teacher Hixson Middle School Proud Parent of a Senior at Hixson High School * * * Id like to echo the thoughts Carrie Bishop shared about securing a new contact for Dr. Bryan Johnson. Ive worked for several superintendents and by far Dr. Johnson is the most visible, visionary, and approachable leader we have had in recent years. I understand there is hesitation with some because we know how this ended the last couple times a contract was extended. However, Dr. Johnson is not one of those previous leaders. He has truly blazed his own path and approach and it is working. We are not the same system that we were three years ago. Parents across the county entrust their children to our care five days a week almost 10 months of the year. It is time to value our thoughts on what we have witnessed since 2017. I have not talked to a single staff member in the system who does not have complete confidence in Dr. Johnsons leadership. Hes intelligent and driven, and another system will snatch him up in a heartbeat if we as a community do not unite and show that we want to continue to build on the foundation he has started. Ive always been proud to be a Hamilton County parent and educator. However, Dr. Johnson incites an excitement and zeal that I dont think we have ever seen in a superintendent. We are on our way to being the best school system in Tennessee. Lets make sure we keep building on the momentum that Dr. Johnson has started and do what it takes to keep him as our leader. I hope to see a vote on February 20th that affirms his leadership and what has been accomplished so far. Jennifer Rimback Middle Valley Elementary parent Hixson Middle School parent Hixson High School Counselor * * * Dr. Johnson has stated that he desires to see the graduation rates increase. That is an admirable goal. However, I worry about some of the changes that have been made. Board policy 4.609 was revised on 12/13/18 from the 6/19/14 version. In the revision it no longer states that a student must pass classes to be promoted. This change is a board policy and not directly from Dr. Johnsons office but it causes me to pause. I also am concerned by the seeming increase in central office staff and resulting budget increases from these and non-teaching positions added to local schools. I do not stand opposed to a contract renewal but I also have a degree of hesitation. Jerry Harwood Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to members of the United Nations to channel additional resources to support Nigerian security forces and displaced victims of the raging Boko Haram violence. Mr Guterres call came at a press briefing held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on Saturday afternoon. The UN chief has been meeting with African leaders as part of the ongoing African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital. Our agencies will continue to provide humanitarian efforts to Boko Haram victims, Mr Guterres said while responding to a question from PREMIUM TIMES on palliatives for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians. We are appealing for support from UN member countries towards the crisis. Several countries have offered support to Nigeria since the country started appealing for international support to ameliorate the pains inflicted by Boko Haram on civilians. But redeeming the promises has proved difficult for many countries, leaving not only Nigeria but other multi-national bodies like the UN and African Union frustrated. The sect began its deadly campaign in July 2009, following a controversial execution of its fundamentalist leader Mohammed Yusuf. Ten years on, the insurgency has lingered, with its tactics and dynamics also becoming increasingly complex for security agencies to contain. Although the sect began its campaign by targeting civilians, its focus since 2018 has dwelt largely on military assets and humanitarian workers. READ ALSO: In March 2018, four UN aid workers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on Rann, a village in Nigerias northeastern state of Borno, where the insurgency has been largely concentrated. The attacks had forced the UN and other humanitarian agencies to temporarily pull their staff members from the region. It sometimes took months for some of the aid workers to be returned, further compounding the humanitarian crisis. Security forces have also not been spared of Boko Haram ruthlessness, with Nigerian Army alone recording over 2,000 deaths of soldiers in less than three years. The military has since instituted a new counter-terrorism strategy to reduce exposure of personnel to insurgents, with a sense of relative calm prevailing since October 2019. Assurances Mr Guterres reaffirmed his position that journalists and humanitarian workers are becoming increasingly targeted in armed conflicts across the world. He also said supporting security agencies engaged in combat against deadly non-state actors should take priority amongst global issues. Security agencies across sub-Saharan Africa should be supported in order to have the capacity to respond better to violent attacks on civilians, including humanitarian workers, the secretary-general said. African Union member countries are in Addis Ababa for a week-long summit of the unions 33rd assembly. Leaders would seek consensus solutions to the continents challenges under this years theme: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. Heavy rain was raising hopes Friday for an end to Australia's unprecedented bushfire crisis, as downpours douse blazes that have burned out of control for months. The devastating fires, fuelled by prolonged drought and record-high temperatures, have raged since September, burning more than 10 million hectares (25 million acres) and killing 33 people. An estimated billion animals have perished in the fires that destroyed more than 2,500 homes. The rains in New South Wales (NSW), which began earlier in the week in some areas and are forecast to extend into next week, are expected to drench a number of the remaining fires and help contain others. "It's breaking the back of this bushfire season, there's no doubt about it," said Shane Fitzsimmons, the head of rural firefighters in NSW, the state worst hit by the crisis. By Friday afternoon there were no bushfires burning in NSW at the most dangerous emergency or "watch and act" levels -- a situation virtually unseen in almost half a year. Beleaguered volunteer firefighters who have fought the blazes day-in-day-out declared themselves "over the moon" at the rain. Even Fitzsimmons -- who became the public face of the crisis through stoic daily TV briefings and consoling children who, like him, lost their firefighting fathers in bushfires -- expressed joy at listening to the rain fall overnight and driving with windscreen wipers on. "Obviously we don't want to see lots of widespread damage and destruction from flooding, but it is certainly a welcome change to the relentless campaign of hot, dry weather" he told public broadcaster ABC. As the bushfire crisis abates, authorities are now bracing for possible flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a string of flood warnings and said some parts of NSW will see their highest rainfall totals in four years. Bushfires are an annual problem during the southern summer, but flared far more widely and earlier than usual following months of severe drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. "Even if we get a return to hot, dry weather, which has the potential as we go through the balance of February and into March, of course, we're certainly not going to have the underlying conditions of such profound moisture deficit and drought" of past months, Fitzsimmons said. Australia's central bank governor on Friday said the fires would likely trim 0.2 percentage points off GDP growth in the December and March quarters. "The fires have had a devastating personal and economic impact on the areas affected, and the whole country has been affected by these fires," Philip Lowe told lawmakers. He added that "there has been extensive damage to farms, businesses and public infrastructure", but said spending on rebuilding would likely cancel out the economic impact over the course of the year. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Saturday that time has come for militant groups in the state to engage in talks for bringing peace. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, the chief minister said that everywhere across the world peace and settlement are achieved only through political dialogue. "Time has come for the Manipur-based militants to come out and engage in talks with both the state and the Centre," he said. He emphasised that the state government has appealed multiple times to the Centre for talks with Manipur militants to reach an agreement. He also said that there has been a decrease in violence in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) Pete Buttigieg emerged as a major target, while Amy Klobuchar was earning high marks Friday night for a strong debate showing as seven Democrats took the stage in Manchester, New Hampshire. Specifically, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, and Tom Steyer participated. Highlights follow, but also read about applause for two non-candidates and Sanders' response to Hillary Clinton's criticism. Biden not hopeful: Right off the bat, Biden lowered expectations for himself in the state's primary next week. "I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, he said at the start of the debate, reports CNN. Right off the bat, Biden lowered expectations for himself in the state's primary next week. "I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, he said at the start of the debate, reports CNN. Zinging Pete: Klobuchar ("one of the main aggressors of the night," per Politico) went after Buttigieg in particular over the impeachment trial. Noting that three of the candidates on stage served as senator-jurors, she quoted Buttigieg as joking from afar that he would have rather watched cartoons than the trial. Knocking DC service is easy, but that's not leadership, she said, adding that Buttigieg is trying to be the "cool newcomer." Then she drew a parallel to Trump. "We have a newcomer in the White House and look where that got us." Klobuchar ("one of the main aggressors of the night," per Politico) went after Buttigieg in particular over the impeachment trial. Noting that three of the candidates on stage served as senator-jurors, she quoted Buttigieg as joking from afar that he would have rather watched cartoons than the trial. Knocking DC service is easy, but that's not leadership, she said, adding that Buttigieg is trying to be the "cool newcomer." Then she drew a parallel to Trump. "We have a newcomer in the White House and look where that got us." Big close: Vox adds that Klobuchar ended the night in "particularly strong" fashion in her closing statement: "There is a complete lack of empathy in this guy in the White House right now, and I will bring that to you," she said. "If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent, I know you. I will fight for you. If you have trouble deciding if you are going to pay for your child care or your long-term care, I know you and I will fight for you. If you have trouble figuring out if youre going fill your refrigerator or prescription, I know you and I will fight for you." Vox adds that Klobuchar ended the night in "particularly strong" fashion in her closing statement: "There is a complete lack of empathy in this guy in the White House right now, and I will bring that to you," she said. "If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent, I know you. I will fight for you. If you have trouble deciding if you are going to pay for your child care or your long-term care, I know you and I will fight for you. If you have trouble figuring out if youre going fill your refrigerator or prescription, I know you and I will fight for you." Warren's efficient slam: In a question about Michael Bloomberg (who wasn't on stage) entering the race, Warren accused him of trying to buy the election. I dont think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I dont think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it, Warren said. The New York Times sees that single line as a shot against Bloomberg, fellow billionaire Steyer, and Buttigieg, who has the backing of large donors. The AP thinks it also hits Biden for the same reason. story continues below Sanders vs. Buttigieg: Sanders also took a shot at Buttigieg on donors: "Unlike some of the folks up here, I dont have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign, he said, per Politico. Buttigieg reiterated that he was the only non-millionaire or non-billionaire on stage. He also decried "my way or the highway politics" and answered yes when asked if he was referring to Sanders, reports the Hill. Sanders also took a shot at Buttigieg on donors: "Unlike some of the folks up here, I dont have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign, he said, per Politico. Buttigieg reiterated that he was the only non-millionaire or non-billionaire on stage. He also decried "my way or the highway politics" and answered yes when asked if he was referring to Sanders, reports the Hill. On race: Warren had another pointed putdown of Buttigieg. After he defended his handling of racial issues in South Bend, particularly on arrests for marijuana possession, Warren was asked if his answer was sufficient. No, she said, to audience applause. Then: You have to own up to the fact. And it is important to own up to the fact, about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system. Warren had another pointed putdown of Buttigieg. After he defended his handling of racial issues in South Bend, particularly on arrests for marijuana possession, Warren was asked if his answer was sufficient. No, she said, to audience applause. Then: You have to own up to the fact. And it is important to own up to the fact, about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system. Buttigieg's plea: The 38-year-old celebrated his lack of "Washington establishment experience," saying he had plenty of real-world experience as openly gay man, a military veteran, and a former mayor. We need a perspective right now that will finally allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past, turn the page and bring change to Washington before its too late. Biden, 77, responded, "The politics of the past, I think, are not all that bad." The 38-year-old celebrated his lack of "Washington establishment experience," saying he had plenty of real-world experience as openly gay man, a military veteran, and a former mayor. We need a perspective right now that will finally allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past, turn the page and bring change to Washington before its too late. Biden, 77, responded, "The politics of the past, I think, are not all that bad." Sanders gets hit, too: Biden warned that Trump would have a heyday if a Democratic socialist won the nomination, and Klobuchar also warned against nominating a divisive candidate. They won't beat the "divider in chief" that way, she warned. Biden warned that Trump would have a heyday if a Democratic socialist won the nomination, and Klobuchar also warned against nominating a divisive candidate. They won't beat the "divider in chief" that way, she warned. Strong line: Buttigieg had one of the better-received lines of the night in regard to the prospect of Republicans investigating the Bidens. "No, were not going to let them change the subject, he said. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or anybody. This is about an abuse of power by the president. Buttigieg had one of the better-received lines of the night in regard to the prospect of Republicans investigating the Bidens. "No, were not going to let them change the subject, he said. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or anybody. This is about an abuse of power by the president. Steyer warns: Steyer said Democrats were missing the boat on Trump. If you look at what Mr. Trump is saying, hes saying those words: Its the economy, stupid,'" Steyer said. I trust every one of these people a million times more (than Trump). But were going to have to take Mr. Trump down on the economy, because if you listen to him, hes crowing about it every single day. And hes going to beat us unless we can take him down on the economy, stupid. As Aaron Blake of the Washington Post notes, however, Democrats don't seem to have an answer to Trump on the economy. Steyer said Democrats were missing the boat on Trump. If you look at what Mr. Trump is saying, hes saying those words: Its the economy, stupid,'" Steyer said. I trust every one of these people a million times more (than Trump). But were going to have to take Mr. Trump down on the economy, because if you listen to him, hes crowing about it every single day. And hes going to beat us unless we can take him down on the economy, stupid. As Aaron Blake of the Washington Post notes, however, Democrats don't seem to have an answer to Trump on the economy. Yang's complaint: Yang pushed back against the focus on Trump. "Donald Trump is not the cause of all of our problems. And we're making a mistake when we act like he is," he said. "He is a symptom of a disease." (Read more Democratic debate stories.) Vietnam's face mask exports to China rose 260 percent in January over the 2019 monthly average. This included a shipment of over 4.2 million medical masks to China through border gates in the northern province of Lang Son between January 29 and February 3, deputy head of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh said at a government meeting Thursday. He did not mention specific figures for face mask exports in January or for 2019. In addition to medical masks, the Lang Son Customs Department processed nearly 800,000 masks of other types, including dust-proof, 3-layer, 4-layer and 5-layer masks to China in the above 6-day period, the agency said. As of Tuesday, another shipment of 150,000 masks was awaiting export clearance in the provinces Huu Nghi border gate, while a total of 1.3 million medical masks were awaiting the completion of similar procedures at the Chi Ma border gate, Lang Son Customs said. Due to the sudden increase in demand amidst the ongoing novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, there was a shortage of goods such as masks and antiseptics in the local market, and their prices have been inflated, while the antibacterial filter cloth used to make facemasks is mainly imported from China. Mask prices have been soaring across the country and drugstores are running out of supply as people seek protection from the nCoV, which has so far recorded 13 confirmed infections in Vietnam. Mask manufacturers are running at full capacity but are struggling to source feedstock since China has banned exports as it seeks to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Some mask producers are considering importing from other countries such as India, whose prices are higher than that of China. As of Saturday the epidemic had killed 724 people, mostly in mainland China, and infected nearly 34,900. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) Filipinos who are showing flu-like symptoms in the Chinese city of Wuhan center of the novel coronavirus outbreak will not be evacuated, health officials said Saturday ahead of the repatriation. Gloria Balboa, director of the Department of Health's Emergency Management Bureau, said there will be a scanning process before any of the 56 repatriates can board the plane that will bring them to the Clark City International Airport in Pampanga. Those who have red-flag symptoms for the new coronavirus or 2019-nCoV such as fever, cough, and cold, will be sent to a hospital in China instead for quarantine. "Ang policy is hindi na isasama yung mga may (The policy is to not include those with) flu-like symptoms. We will repatriate the asymptomatic ones kaya meron ulit thermal scanning and medical assessment just before boarding the plane," Balboa said. Repatriates are expected to arrive in the country Sunday morning. They will go through another scanning process. Those who will show signs of flu upon disembarking will be isolated at the Jose B. Lingad Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. Officials assured that the hospital has adequate facilities to attend to patients who are under watch for possible coronavirus infection. Finally, those who will be cleared after the second screening, meaning those who do not exhibit any symptoms, will be brought to the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Vicente Zaldivar, station chief of the Bureau of Quarantine in Clark, said the medical team and other personnel who assisted in the repatriation will be screened as well. All members of the repatriation team and the flight crew will also be quarantined for 14 days. LOOK: PH repatriation team distributes relief goods to Filipinos in Wuhan There are about 300 Filipinos working in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. At least 56 of them asked to be repatriated as the number of deaths and cases of nCoV continued rising. The new coronavirus has killed 724 people, mostly in China, the world's most populous country. It has also infected more than 34,400 people across 27 countries and territories, according to Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering that tracks coronavirus cases across the world. In the Philippines, there are now three cases of the nCoV, all of them are Chinese visitors. One of them, a 44-year-old Chinese man died of acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on February 1. He is the first reported fatality outside China's mainland. Mallow-based Health and Safety Publications will this Friday (7th) go head-to-head with two other companies in what its owner and founder Marek Szepietowski described as a "David Vs Goliath" style battle for the inaugural Cork Business of the Year award. The ceremony will be the final stage of the inaugural Cork County Business and Tourism Awards, an exciting initiative created by Cork County Council in association with the AIB to shine the spotlight on the key movers and shakers that help make Cork such a vibrant place to live in, work in and visit. The Corkman, The Southern Star and The East Cork Journal have come on board as media sponsors for the initiative, which celebrates entrepreneurial excellence and rewards the individuals and companies behind that success. The scheme was divided across three geographical regions - North Cork, West Cork and East Cork - with 11 specific award categories open to entrants within each of the designated regions. Corkman general manager Siobhan Murphy said the newspaper was delighted to partner with Cork County Council for the North Cork section of the scheme. "These awards recognise local businesses as the bedrock of the North Cork economy and reward them for their consistent commitment to excellence and customer service," said Siobhan. Siobhan said the ultimate aim was to keep the awards evolving in order to keep them relevant and capture the ever changing nature of business in North Cork. "We understand that there is no single classification of what a business is, as it is an ever-changing environment with self-employed and large scale businesses contributing to the overall story that is North Cork business," said Ms Murphy. "The awards provide a welcome annual platform for business people to showcase and share their stories," she said. The awards attracted a total of 324 entries from 240 different business and tourism organisations across the county, with the chosen finalists taking part in a 'pitch night' during which they promoted themselves to competition judges. One of the 11 category winners from each area was last November crowned the overall regional Business of the Year - with Health and Safety Publications Ltd scooping the North Cork award. They will go up against Keohane Seafoods of Bantry (West Cork) and the Castlemartyr Resort (East Cork) for the overall Cork County Business of the Year award at the County Hall bash, which will be hosted by Mallow's own Marty Morrissey. Speaking to The Corkman Marek, who has overseen growth of his fledgling company from scratch to the point where it has sold 1.5million books in the Irish market alone and is now looking at expanding across Europe, said just to get this far in the competition was "an amazing experience". "Of course I would like us to win. That said, we are small operation going up against two large companies, so in that respect I view it very much as a David vrs Goliath type scenario. To be honest, I never even dreamt we would win the North Cork section, so to be going for the top award is a proud achievement for us, whatever the outcome will be on Friday," he said. "Getting to this stage of the competition has been an amazing experience for us. It has helped raise the profile of the company and is great recognition for all of the hard work we have done as a team over the years," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged Delhi voters to turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise and create a "new voting record". Voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly is underway. The counting will be done on Tuesday. "Today is the voting day for the Delhi Assembly elections. My appeal to all voters is that they participate in this festival of democracy in maximum number and create a new voting record," he tweeted in Hindi and English. On voting days, PM Modi often uses social media to urge people to vote in large numbers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Myanmarese delegation of senior officials on Saturday got hands-on experience about the Indian electoral process as they observed the different phases of the high-stakes Delhi Assembly polls, the Delhi CEO said. The election on Saturday was held to decide the fate of 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women -- for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. "A delegation of senior poll officials from Myanmar is here in Delhi to get hands-on experience about the electoral process. They saw the conduct of the polls today by visiting polling stations in some of the constituencies falling in the South West district," Singh told PTI. The delegation had also seen the "dispersal of poll material" and mock polls on Friday. "They will also be witnessing the counting of votes on February 11," he said. Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 60 per cent on Saturday, in a keen contest that saw the AAP seeking votes on development plank, while the BJP ran an aggressive campaign on a range of issues including nationalism. A three-member Bhutanese delegation led by its election commissioner had visited the office of the Delhi poll body recently to learn about functioning of the electoral process in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New development in Oakland is stabilizing rents and may start driving rental costs down, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a State of the City address Friday evening that packed the Oakland Museum. As protesters held signs that read Stop all evictions and Housing is a human right outside the museum, Schaaf spoke of the homeless crisis, renter protections, anti-eviction efforts and safety on city streets. The mayor said the city exceeded its housing goal of adding 17,000 units by 2024. The city has added 22,000 new units. The new housing units are starting to stabilize rents in Oakland, she added. Rents have stopped going up and many predict next year, they will start going down, Schaaf said. Rents are at an expensive place in Oakland, where the average worker cannot afford them. We have much work to do. The city set a goal of adding 4,760 units of affordable, protected units by 2024. Schaaf said that 2,000 of those units have been built. The city recently came under fire after council members and housing advocates questioned why more affordable housing units werent being built. Oakland passed an affordable housing impact fee on new residential developments three years ago to jump-start the construction of affordable housing. Since then, the city has collected just under $9 million in fees and distributed $4.8 million to help fund about 160 new affordable units. Oakland has not approved any new projects that have applied for funds from the fees since 2017. On Friday, about half a dozen housing and homeless advocates protested the mayors speech. When the speech ended, the protesters chanted, Hey Libby, what do you say? How many lies have you told today? Their message was to urge the mayor to think beyond the citys existing solutions of community cabins and RV safe parking programs for the homeless, said Cole McLean, a member of United Front Against Displacement, a group that protests against illegal evictions. These solutions are not really solutions, McLean said. At best, theyre just half measures to quell dissent. Oaklands homeless population rose 47% between 2017 and 2019, one of the biggest two-year increases of any California city. Oakland had 861 sheltered people and 3,210 unsheltered people, bringing the estimated number of homeless people to 4,071. If we want to keep Oakland, Oakland, we must start by keeping Oaklanders in Oakland, Schaaf said Friday. The city has launched four safe RV parking sites the first of which opened in June. In addition, Oakland officials have focused their homelessness strategy on building community cabin sites, which are made of drywall, are insulated and have double-pane windows. Some advocates have criticized the community cabin programs saying that people transition back onto the streets after their stay. Schaaf praised the program at her address, saying the cabins allowed us to move whole encampments as a unified community into a safe community and where our unsheltered residents can go to bed at night behind a locked door. Advocates have also expressed concerns that the creation of encampments leads to evictions where encampments are cleared out and anyone who does not participate in the community cabin program is forced to relocate to another encampment. They have to displace people to build these places, McLean said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Despite the criticism, Nino Parker, a homeless resident, said he felt hopeful after Schaafs speech. I hope there is a lot of implementation in the things she talked about this evening, he said. I say, give it a chance. The event Friday was held at the Oakland Museum in downtown Oakland. The two-term mayor held previous speeches at City Hall and the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California. On Thursday, questions arose as to whether Schaaf was violating the City Charter by holding her State of the City address outside of City Hall. Chief Assistant City Attorney Doryanna Moreno said the meeting scheduled Friday is not in accord with requirements of the Charter. The Charter requires the mayor to appear at the first meeting of the City Council in October to deliver a general address on the state of the city. Alex Katz, a spokesman for the city attorneys office, said the Charter was not violated. Council President Rebecca Kaplan said she did not attend the mayors speech because I dont want to create or participate in a legally questionable situation under our open meeting and related laws. She criticized the mayor for not holding a meeting that allowed for public comment. Councilmen Dan Kalb, Loren Taylor and Noel Gallo attended the mayors speech. Its unclear why the other council members did not attend. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Speaking in the Kerala assembly, Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan on Monday has said that extremist groups like SDPI are trying to create unrest using anti-citizenship amendment act protests. He has said: "extremist groups like SDPI is trying to create unrest using anti-CAA protests. The state govt can't allow this. Police will slap cases against such people. Any attempts to create communal disharmony in the state will be strongly dealt with." This comes days after the Bengaluru police had said that 6 Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists were behind the murder attempt of a pro-CAA protestor, after which the BJP had renewed its demand for a ban on both PFI and SDPI. SDPI protests against airport bomb scare in Mangaluru SDPI involved in attack at pro-CAA rally Bengaluru police commissioner, Bhaskar Rao, speaking to Republic said, "On the 22nd of December, a day prior to a huge anti-CAA rally, a pro-CAA rally was conducted in Bengaluru at the Town Hall. There was a major attempt to murder that took place in Kalasipalyam police station limits. When we investigated it using the CCTV footages, we were able to zero in on 6 persons who actively engaged and took them into our custody. And after investigation, backed with evidence, we discovered that there was a meeting of minds to create havoc in the city by way of ensuring maiming and bringing harm to prominent persons and destroying public property. And also engaging in anti-social activities to ensure that there is mayhem in the city." The case is now being probed by the anti-terror squad of the Bengaluru police. "The case has now been cracked by the west division of Bengaluru City led by one of the deputy commissioners. Now the case has been transferred to the newly created and anti-terror squad of Bengaluru City which will go into the nitty-gritty as it is a full-fledged ATS wing. Things like what was the source of the funding will be looked into. I have named all of them as members of SDPI. They were being paid 10,000 rupees per month, which was the source of finance will be looked into right now. Because an SDPI lawyer has come forward to move bail for them and further investigation will be carried out," he said. Terror module busted, 6 SDPI members held in Bengaluru UP Police probes into SDPI-PFI links in CAA violence Earlier, Republic TV had found that the SDPI and PFI had come under the scanner of the police for their alleged role in instigating violence. This pertains mainly to the violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Uttar Pradesh and Mangaluru. As per sources, the SDPI began hiring activists a month in advance from November 1 onwards. Thereafter, pamphlets were distributed among the Muslim community spreading falsehoods about the CAA. For instance, the pamphlets stated that property rights would be snatched, bank accounts would be closed and so forth. Muslims were exhorted to gather in large numbers and asked to fight after Friday prayers. WATCH: SDPI workers who wanted to kill Tejasvi Surya caught on CCTV chasing RSS leader Karnataka Health Minister slams Congress for allegedly backing SDPI, PFI over CAA violence (Bloomberg) -- Snowflake Inc., a maker of cloud-based databases, raised $479 million in its latest funding round, boosting the companys valuation to $12.4 billion. It also announced a strategic partnership with Salesforce.com Inc. Snowflake sells a type of database that compiles information from various sources so it can be analyzed. The company competes against Amazon.com Inc.s Redshift product as well as those from industry stalwart Oracle Corp., which has stumbled in the cloud-computing market. Snowflakes use among clients more than tripled in 2019, making it the fastest-growing cloud-based business software product, according to Okta Inc.s annual Business @ Work report last month. Snowflakes new valuation will boost it to No. 13 among global startups, according to data from CB Insights. The company previously was valued at $3.9 billion. The increased valuation came about as part of the new relationship with Salesforce, Frank Slootman, Snowflakes chief executive officer, said Friday in an interview. They want to invest in the company as a condition of the partnership, he said. They want to benefit from the upside from them being a partner. Salesforce Ventures, the investment arm of the customer-relations software maker, and Dragoneer Investment Group, which led the fundraising, each contributed half of the round, he said. Slootman said the company recently added two new female board members, Kelly Kramer, the chief financial officer of Cisco Systems Inc., and Teresa Briggs, a former executive at Deloitte LLP. Snowflake is preparing to make the leap to the public markets by the end of 2021, Slootman said. Existing Snowflake backers, including Altimeter Capital, Iconiq Capital, Madrona Venture Group and others, are expected to participate in another investment closing within the next few weeks, according to Snowflake. Snowflake said its alliance with Salesforce will involve products, marketing and sales efforts. It will release further details on the relationship in June. Slootman said that Salesforce and Snowflake will make it easier to transfer data between their systems, a process he currently describes as clunky, slow, and expensive. Story continues In some past instances, Salesforce has eventually acquired portfolio companies. To contact the author of this story: Nico Grant in San Francisco at ngrant20@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Pollack at apollack1@bloomberg.net, Anne VanderMey 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. Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has achieved a new milestone for annual passenger traffic, receiving 8,924,080 passengers during 2019, a 5.9 per cent increase compared with 2018. According to statistics released by Airport International Group, aircraft movements (ACM) in 2019 reached 79,740, indicating a 3.7 per cent rise, whereas handled cargo amounted to 102,459 tons, signifying a marginal 1.6 per cent decrease. As for December 2019, QAIA welcomed 659,591 passengers, recording a 4.7 per cent surge as opposed to the same month a year earlier. Furthermore, ACM totalled at 6,121, up by 2.5 per cent, while handled cargo settled at 8,280 tons, down by 9.1 per cent. The top five travel destinations in terms of number of passengers during 2019 were Dubai, Istanbul, Cairo, Doha and Kuwait. In tandem, four new airlines joined QAIAs route network - namely SaudiGulf Airlines, Transavia (Netherlands and France) and Royal Air Maroc - and five new cities were made available - namely Casablanca, Memmingen, Malta, Thessaloniki and Lyon. 2019 has proven to be yet another fruitful year for Queen Alia International Airport. The remarkable dedication of our teams and partners has enabled us to break new records, while further strengthening our standing on the global aviation map and positioning the kingdom as a prominent travel destination within the Mena region and beyond," commented Airport International Group CEO, Nicolas Claude. "We also claimed the title of Best Airport by Size and Region: Middle East for airports that serve five to 15 million passengers for 2018, and received the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation - both of which were granted by Airports Council International, Claude said. I would like to express gratitude towards our employees, partners and stakeholders, without whom these accomplishments would not have been possible. Together, we will continue working towards attaining new achievements in 2020, giving rise to QAIA as Jordans prime gateway to the world, he said. - TradeArabia News Service Gardai in Dundalk arrested three individuals on Thursday night last (30th), in connection with burglaries carried out in the Blackrock area of County Dublin The three men were arrested on the outskirts of Dundalk after abandoning their vehicle at Junction 18 (Dundalk North/Carlingford) of the M1 motorway following a pursuit from Junction 15 of the M50. One Garda was also injured in the operation, which concluded close to the Doylesfort Road. A spokesman said: 'Gardai on patrol in Tallaght, observed a car acting in a suspicious manner. Following reports of a number of burglaries in the Blackrock area, Gardai on night patrols, with the assistance of the Air Support Unit monitored traffic and carried out patrols of the area.' 'Gardai observed this vehicle again on the M50 at Junction 13 and a managed Garda pursuit ensued. Four occupants abandoned the offending vehicle on the M1 at junction 18 and fled on foot towards fields nearby. 'Three males, one aged in his 20s, another in his late teens and one male youth also in his late teens, were also arrested a short distance away.' They were detained at Dundalk Garda Station. 'A fourth occupant of the car is still being sought by Gardai in connection with this incident. It's believed the car involved in this incident is the subject of an unauthorised taking in the UK jurisdiction.' 'One Garda member was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has since been released.' Property from one burglary in Blackrock was recovered on the M50 by Gardai. A serving soldier who found to have repeatedly defiled his daughter has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court. The sexual abuse is said to have started when the girl was nine-years-old and continued until she was 15. The convict a Sergeant (name withheld), is said to have taken advantage of the victim any time he shaved her pubic hair and threatened to pull her out of school if she reported him. Although he pleaded not guilty, the court presided over by Mrs. Justice Rita Abrokwah-Doko, however, found him guilty on the charges of defilement and incest. The court sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment on the charge of defilement and 10 years on the charge of incest. The sentences would, however, run concurrently. Handing down the sentence, the trial judge said a servicing military officer, should have known better. According to the court the convict was a threat to humanity and should be kept away to safeguard the future of girls, adding that his sentence was to serve as a deterrent to other likeminded people. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said between the year 2013 and November 2018, the victim lived under the same roof with the accused at Burma Camp. The prosecution said he had sex with the victim during that period and that the convict, in the guise of shaving her pubic hair would have sex with her and after each sexual encounter gives the victim drugs to prevent pregnancy. The prosecution said he also threatened to discontinue sponsoring the victims education if she disclosed his actions to anyone. He said however in July 2019, the victim visited her grandmother and confided in her uncle. He said a report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Police Service where a Police medical report form was issued for the victim to be examined. The Prosecution said soon after a medical report was issued, he was picked up by the Police but he denied the offence in his investigative cautioned statement to the Police. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel conducted flag marches in sensitive areas in northeast and east Delhi during polling on Saturday, officials said. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the Delhi assembly elections, they said. "The personnel, including senior officers, conducted flag marches in sensitive areas. They also conducted patrolling on motorcycles. PCR and quick response teams have also been deployed at sensitive areas" Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar said. Flag marches were conducted in Brij Puri, Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri, Seemapuri, Khajuri Khass, Jaffrabad, Mustafabad, Krishna Nagar and Mayur Vihar in northeast Delhi, Shahdara and other east Delhi areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Envoy of the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Abdulhadi Lahouij, held talks Friday in Rabat with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, while Khaled Mechri, President of the High Council of State, had a phone talk with Bourita the same day. Talks covered the latest developments in Libya. According to press reports, the Libyan envoy of the House of Representatives, siding with commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar, has been invited to Morocco to gauge Haftars partisans on the situation in Libya and assess to what extent they are genuinely committed to a peaceful settlement to the Libyan crisis. Abdulhadi Lahouij told reporters after his meeting with Bourita that his talks with Bourita covered the latest developments in the Libyan crisis, and commended the efforts made by Morocco, King, government and people, during the discussions which led to the Skhirat agreement. In this respect, the Libyan official described as good the agreement, expressing regret that its provisions have not been implemented. Morocco is capable, alongside other countries, to play a role in achieving a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis, he said. Lahouij stressed that the Libyan House of Representatives believes that the Maghreb proposals are capable of achieving a fair and lasting solution to the Libyan crisis. He commended in this connection the efforts made by Morocco to resolve the Libyan crisis, calling on the Kingdom to continue to sponsor a Maghreb, Mediterranean and African role in resolving this crisis. He stressed that the Libyan parliament would accept any solution that will lead to a State of citizenship, human rights, free of weapons, militias and terrorism. The Libyan envoy also expressed the willingness of the Libyan House of Representatives to draw on the experience of Moroccos Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) with a view to building a new Libya for all citizens without exclusion and to establish a State based on the rule of law, institutions and citizenship. On his part, Khaled Mechri, President of the Tripoli-based High Council of State, said his phone talks with the Moroccan Foreign Minister covered the latest developments in the Libyan situation. Khaled Mechri told Diplomatie.ma, the official website of the Foreign Ministry, that he reiterated the High Councils attachment to the Skhirat Agreement. He said he is favorable to Morocco hosting once again inter-Libyan dialogue. It should be remembered that Morocco is one of the architects of the Skhirat peace agreement, sealed in Dec.215 under the aegis of the UN. Recently, Ghassan Salame, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), highlighted the important role that Morocco is playing in the resolution of the Libyan crisis. Rabat insists that the solution to the crisis is in the hands of the Libyans themselves, without any foreign interference. Actually Morocco does not appreciate the intervention of foreign powers in Libyan affairs. Haftars forces, which control much of Libyas east and south, rely on military assistance from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. On the other side, Turkey, Italy and Qatar prop up the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Military representatives of the countrys warring parties are holding a meeting in Geneva on efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire that could include a monitoring role for UN. Five senior officers appointed by the GNA and five appointed by Haftars LNA are taking part in the military commission talks. The Union government on Satruday said it would help the seafood sector in all possible ways to make India number one exporter by working together with all stakeholders, including the states and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Union Minister Som Parkash said there was an urgent need to make India the prime producer of seafood, going up from the fourth position it was occupying now. Addressing the 22nd India International Seafood Show here the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry acknowledged that the sector was facing a plethora of problems in achieving the production and export targets without compromising on quality and environment. The government is willing to address each one of them as this would contribute to the country's overall economic development besides improving the employment opportunities, Prakash said. At present, the sector provides employment to about 14.5 million people. The minister was speaking at a function where he and other dignitaries, including Kerala Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma, gave away MPEDA Awards to 60 companies and individuals for their excellent performance. Parkash said in view of the economic slowdown, there was a need for "working very hard" for achieving various targets set by the seafood industry. "Whatever problems you have, the government is ready to address them," he assured the delegates. He asked MPEDA to prepare and submit a memorandum, listing the sector's requirements. Mercykutty Amma sought liberal financial assistance from the Centre for upgradation of the fishing industry in Kerala, including for replacement of the kerosene engine by more environment- friendly engines and for expansion of inland aquaculture. Finance from the Centre was required also for implementing the state's plan to popularise deep sea fishing, she said. Among others who addressed the award function, held on the second day of the three-day show, were MP Hibi Eden, MPEDA Chairman K S Srinivas, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) National President Jagdish V Fofandi, former MPEDA Chairmen SJose Cyriac and T K A Nair. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 231 Shares Share I dreamed a dream my life would be so different from this hell Im living. Twenty years ago, I would pull out my Les Miserables piano book and pound out I Dreamed a Dream while my fellow medical student/roommate would sing along with me to the line above with gusto. In the scheme of things, we didnt have it so bad. We hadnt been abandoned by our lover-baby daddies. We werent subjected to unwanted advances from factory foremen or fired from said factories. We werent being forced to sell our hair or our bodies into literal prostitution to support illegitimate children who were being maltreated by bawdy innkeepers wives. We werent dying of tuberculosis. But at the time, cramming our heads full of neuroanatomy and cardiac physiology or studying for the next big potentially career-ending standardized test seemed like more of a hell than a dream. Singing show tunes provided some brief respite from reality. In the end, we both graduated from medical school in four years and matched into the residencies of our choosing. I headed to Phoenix for pediatrics, and she moved to St. Louis for Neurology. I have seen Les Miz numerous times, starting in middle school when my great uncle Jack treated us to theater tickets that definitely were not in the budget. I have cried along to the heart-wrenching lyrics of Jean Valjean from the balcony of a community theater while eight months pregnant. Last week I took my 12-year-old daughter to her inaugural viewing when the Broadway touring company visited Omaha. I was a little apprehensive that it would be too long or a little inappropriate or possibly hard for her to follow. I tutored her in the plot basics over lunch at Jasons Deli. I read parts of the Playbill to her as we waited for the lights to dim, reinforcing the crucial plot elements and pointing out the key cast members in the bio section. She had to turn down a sleepover with a classmate in order to attend, and I was worried that she would regret it. As the familiar strains filled the theater and Fantines wretched life played out on the stage in front of us, I was taken back to the living room of my medical school duplex. I could see myself sitting at the piano and my roommate singing/screaming along to our favorite line. But this time, as I watched Fantine and Jean Valjean and the prostitutes and the homeless, I thought about the miserable circumstances in which many of the characters had found themselves. I thought about the judgmental police captain, Javert, who could not reconcile Jean Valjeans remote act of theft with his numerous instances of generosity and mercy later in life. I thought about those of us who are privileged enough to have been accepted to medical school and have been able to successfully navigate tests and classes and residencies and fellowships and end up taking care of human beings. We are often in the position of taking care of our fellow humans on their worst days, in their most miserable moments, when they have fallen from grace, when they are most in need of mercy and generosity. It is so, so easy to fall into the black and white mindset of Javert and believe that people are good or bad: That they cant change. That drug seekers are always seeking drugs. That babies who are failing to thrive arent being fed. That all femur fractures are child abuse. The shades of gray are harder because we cant cleanly disposition each of our fellow humans into a neat bucket. But in the shades of gray are real life, and they are what, in fact, make all of us human. It is a privilege and a sacred responsibility to take the time to unpack the layers of gray in our patients life stories, to believe in redemption, and to reserve judgment. As Jean Valjean sang his final scenes, I saw my daughters hand sneak up to the corner of her eye in a perfect replica of my own tear-wiping motion. To love another human is to see the face of God. We headed out into the frozen January night, and I glanced over at the 12 year old who was wearing my clothes and is nearly as tall as me. I asked, Did you like it? Are you glad you came? She quickly replied, Yes. Lisa Sieczkowski is a pediatrician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com A major ocean current in the Arctic could reverse amid warming temperatures, a change which would bring significantly colder weather to western Europe, scientists at Nasa have warned. The circular current, called the Beaufort Gyre, moves in a clockwise direction around the western Arctic Ocean, north of Canada and Alaska, where it naturally collects freshwater from glacial melt, river run-off and precipitation. This freshwater protects sea ice from salty water which would melt it faster, and helps keep the north of the planet cool. But increasingly rapid ice-melt due to climate change means the current has picked up unusually large amounts of freshwater and exposed it to the air, causing it to move faster and become more turbulent. Using 12 years of satellite data, scientists have measured how this circular current has precariously balanced an influx of unprecedented amounts of cold, freshwater, and how this equilibrium could soon break down. Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Show all 52 1 /52 Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice covers the Lake Michigan shoreline Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minnesota A firefighter walks past an ice-encrusted home after an early morning house fire AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario People walk in a park on the US side of Niagara Falls AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Massachusetts Mike Calen, left, and Steve Goyette, right, prepare to tie off as the ice covered fishing boat, Buzzards Bay, arrives at New Bedford harbour AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Pedestrians protecting their faces from the cold in New York City, in Washington DC, along Lake Michigan's ice covered shoreline, in the Brooklyn borough of New York, in Chicago, in Kingston, Ontario, and in Montreal AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Snow and ice covers Soldier Field Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Gas-burning heaters are placed on railroad tracks as Metra commuter train passes by EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice builds up along the shore of Lake Michigan Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A tree is covered in ice from the mist at park beside the falls in Niagara Falls AFP/Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Water vapor rises above St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River beneath the Stone Arch Bridge AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Massachusetts Ice flows fill the Merrimack River as it heads towards the Atlantic Ocean in Newburyport AFP/Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A tourists take pictures of the Canadian Horseshoe falls in Niagara Falls AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Sub-zero temperatures produce icicles that hang from a restaurant EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario A person takes a selfie beside on the US side of Niagara Falls AFP/Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US AFP/Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Water vapor from the Mississippi River envelopes a bridge as sub-zero temperatures produce dangerous windchills EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York Pedestrians walk through the falling snow in the Financial District Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Ontario Steam rises from the US Niagara Falls before sunrise AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Snow covers Wrigley Field entrance Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York Workers shovel at the entrance to City Hall in whiteout conditions Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US NASA's 'Blue Marble' data set of weather systems over the continental United States US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Ice and snow builds up along Lake Michigan EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis Chuck Carpenter is frost covered as he goes for a walk EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A man walks along the lakefront as temperatures hovered around -20 degrees Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Frozen Chicago River Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York A man walks next to a subway train as heavy snow falls AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A digital board shows flight cancellations at Terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago A shirt that was hung is seen frozen Terry Greenbeans/Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago People walk along the lakefront Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York A young man waits on a subway platform in freezing temperatures AFP/Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Mist rises from the city and Lake Michigan EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York People walk through the snow in lower Manhattan Getty Images Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago The James Versluis breaks ice on the frozen Chicago River near Navy Pier EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Michigan Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Michigan Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US New York AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Minneapolis AFP/Getty Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago AP Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Reuters Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago EPA Polar vortex brings temperatures colder than Antarctica to the US Chicago Getty Since the 1990s, the gyre has accumulated a large volume of freshwater 1,920 cubic miles (8,000 cubic km) or almost twice the volume of Lake Michigan in the US. The new study, published in Nature Communications, found the cause of this gain in freshwater concentration is the loss of sea ice in summer and autumn. This long-term decline of the Arctics summertime ice cover has left the unfrozen sea much more exposed to the wind, which is therefore able to spin the gyre faster, trapping the freshwater in its current. Persistent westerly winds have also dragged the current in one direction for over 20 years, increasing the speed and size of the clockwise current and preventing the freshwater from leaving the Arctic Ocean. This decades-long western wind is unusual for the region, where previously the winds would change direction every five to seven years. Scientists have been closely following the Beaufort Gyre in case the wind changes direction again. If the direction were to change, the wind would then reverse the current, pulling it anticlockwise and releasing the water it has accumulated all at once. If the Beaufort Gyre were to release the excess freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean, it could potentially slow down its circulation. And that would have hemisphere-wide implications for the climate, especially in western Europe, said Tom Armitage, lead author of the study and polar scientist at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This is because the release of the huge volume of freshwater from the Arctic Ocean into the north Atlantic could have a major effect on another vital ocean current system. Freshwater is less dense than saltwater, so scientists fear the sudden release of thousands of cubic miles of freshwater could interfere with the current system known as Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. This system keeps western Europe mild, due to the northward flow of warm, salty water in the upper layers of the Atlantic, and a southward flow of colder, deep waters. Changes to this cycle could also affect the movement of organisms in the ocean, upon which many ecosystems depend. We dont expect a shutting down of the Gulf Stream, but we do expect impacts. Thats why were monitoring the Beaufort Gyre so closely, said Alek Petty, a co-author on the paper and polar scientist at Nasas Goddard Space Flight Centre. The scientists said the results reveal a delicate balance between wind and ocean as the sea ice pack recedes under climate change. What this study is showing is that the loss of sea ice has really important impacts on our climate system that were only just discovering, said Dr Petty. Movies are always generating some kind of controversy. Look at recent worries that Joker would cause gun violence and criticisms that this years Academy Awards nominations snubbed women and people of color. But such strife is nothing new. More from Joe McClure: Telling fortunes or acting evil, the nomadic Roma fascinated central Pa. a century ago Uber of a century ago: Harrisburg jitney buses challenged trolley company Racial tensions in Harrisburg turned violent in 1969 Central Pa. teens grappled with Cold War challenges Harrisburgs first policewoman was appointed 100 years ago Fallout shelters sparked controversy in central Pennsylvania during Cold War Movies created controversy in the Harrisburg area and across the country from the beginning. They revealed racial fissures in central Pennsylvania and sparked anxieties about immoral influence on young people. But they also were recognized as conduits of education and moral uplift. As the Oscars air Sunday, here is a look at how movies were received in central Pennsylvania in the early years of the medium, more than a century ago, according to newspaper accounts. Evil influence or educational aid? Police, judges, civic groups and clergy in central Pennsylvania worried about the bad influence of movies, especially on young people. On multiple occasions, boys heading West to live the cowboy life, at least as it was portrayed in the movies, were apprehended in Harrisburg as runaways. In 1912, Harrisburg police arrested one such pair of teens running away from Lebanon who were carrying guns. That year, a 12-year-old Harrisburg boy fired a revolver at school. The gun jammed, preventing him from firing more rounds, and no one was injured. The Star-Independent reported that it was another instance in which the movies are said to be responsible for boys going wrong. In 1912, Harrisburg police Chief Joseph Hutchison met with theater owners and banned movies showing suggestive dances, facsimiles of famous crimes, holdups, robberies, lynchings, anything sacrilegious, The Star-Independent reported. Yet those who worried about the negative effects of movies also recognized their potential for education. A proper police censorship would soon prove to the objectors that they have done moving pictures a grave injustice and that instead of being an evil, they are one of the foremost agencies of education and enlightenment, the Harrisburg Telegraph said in an editorial praising Hutchisons efforts. In 1914, Harrisburg lawyer J. Clarence Funk, who was a federal representative investigating prostitution, examined 221 movies playing in nine of the citys theaters. He found that two-thirds of them were objectionable, but he also believed that the problem would solve itself. Moviegoers were tiring of Westerns and crime films, he wrote. He predicted that with well-regarded stage actors entering the movies and able authors writing screenplays, the quality of movies would increase. Segregated theater In his report, Funk mentioned that movie audiences in Harrisburg, consisting of people of all ages, classes and races, represented absolute democracy. This wasnt the case in at least one Harrisburg theater. In February 1913, the owner of the Victoria theater, Athens George, was charged with discriminating against five African Americans. Theater policy mandated that blacks sit in the balcony. Georges lawyers argued that the balcony section was furnished identically to the first floor and offered a better view of the movie screen. The jury found George guilty. He was sentenced to pay a fine and court costs. But in 1915, the state Superior Court reversed the ruling, saying the Victorias policy offered equal accommodations for black customers. Birth of a Nation causes controversy The issue of race and movies arose in a different way in 1916. The Birth of a Nation was receiving glowing reviews nationwide as a groundbreaking spectacular epic. It also drew protests from African Americans and others, including in central Pennsylvania. Set during the Civil War and Reconstruction, the movie glorifies the Confederacy and the Ku Klux Klan and portrays blacks with offensive stereotypes. Blacks and some whites in Harrisburg, York and Lancaster implored their mayors to prevent the movie from being shown. Harrisburg Mayor Ezra Meals and York Mayor E.S. Hugentugler allowed the movie to play. Before making his decision, Meals contacted other Pennsylvania towns to learn whether they experienced racial discord when showing the movie. He received a slew of telegrams in response, all praising the movie and saying no unrest occurred. Ironically, a decade before, then-Harrisburg Mayor Edward Gross urged the Lyceum theater not to show a play, The Clansman, based on the book that inspired The Birth of a Nation. Unlike his colleagues in Harrisburg and York, Lancaster Mayor Harry Trout banned the film from showing at the Fulton Opera House. Trout threatened the manager with prosecution for libel of the memory of Thaddeus Stevens, the abolitionist who represented Lancaster in Congress during Reconstruction. The film featured a villainous character based on Stevens. After the angry response to Trouts decision, Lancaster Countys Columbia Opera House showed the movie. I have seen the picture, Columbia Chief Burgess Sanderson Detweiler told members of the Negro Waiters Association who objected to the film. The members of your race would be benefited by attending it. It would make better men of them. The film drew thousands. The Conestoga Traction Co. ran extra cars from Lancaster to Columbia. In York, 8,500 people watched the movie over five performances, and in Harrisburg about 20,200 people attended 13 shows, which included a 25-piece orchestra. Harrisburg, York and Columbia had extra police on hand. No violence was reported. Eye on the Oscars So, if controversy erupts Sunday night, you might keep this in mind: Its long been part of the show. Joe McClure is a news editor for PennLive/The Patriot-News. Email him at jmcclure@advancelocal.com, and follow him on Twitter: @jmcclure59. The full-blown internet of things may seem far in the future, but IT decision-makers need to address it now. Smart home applications are becoming commonplace in the consumer world, and IoT adoption is growing quickly in the enterprise. Given that IoT is all about collecting and sharing data from a broad range of endpoints, this trend will have an impact on the security of government agencies. As internet-enabled sensors become embedded in a wide range of workplace hardware -- devices, endpoints and more -- we will soon enter the era of the smart enterprise. Unfortunately, agencies' aging IT infrastructure is simply not natively equipped for whats coming. IoT exploits accidents and vulnerabilities. To take only one example, in January 2018, it was discovered that a fitness tracking app revealed locations of U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria. Some legislation is already on the books to try to counter the vulnerability. The IoT Cybersecurity Improvements Act of 2019 requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to issue recommendations for secure development of identity management, patching and configuration management for IoT devices. The Office of Management and Budget would then issue guidelines based on these recommendations, and review them every five years. It also requires any internet-connected devices purchased by the federal government comply with those recommendations. Contractors and vendors providing IoT devices to the government must adopt coordinated vulnerability disclosure policies to disseminate information on any identified vulnerabilities. But the problem cant be solved by legislators and vendors alone. Federal IT professionals must ensure that the data flowing to and from these things can be trusted. Even in these early days of IoT, security threats already are apparent -- and we dont know what future threats will look like. Agencies must create a security awareness strategy around IoT, especially to protect data at the network edge. This strategy has two components. Strategy component #1: The IoT ecosystem The IoT ecosystem now extends beyond conventional network elements such as switches, routers and servers. Consider devices or things that can be IoT-enabled via wireless connectivity: employee ID badges, file cabinets, office doors and restricted areas (like data centers). There is almost no limit to the variety of edge elements. Data security considerations also must apply to a wider pool of vendors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Suppliers must ensure that IoT security is built-in at the source -- especially when legacy networks cannot be modernized fast enough to manage IoT from the inside. Another aspect of the IoT ecosystem concerns security for devices' full lifecycle. The starting point will be when new IoT devices are deployed, provisioned and added to the network, but there are ongoing stages where data integrity also must be protected. As new devices are added, older IoT devices may need to be removed and decommissioned. There will also be ongoing updates to IoT software or firmware, and these must be managed securely. The same holds for any maintenance required on these devices. The common element in all these scenarios is the hardware security module, which safeguards the encryption keys and digital identities. HSMs are the trust anchor ensuring that the data generated by edge devices comes from a trusted source. They are intended to provide protection from cyberattacks targeting IoT edge devices and to identify threats before they hit networks. Strategy component #2: IoT best practices Best practices will change as IoT evolves. Agencies should take some advice from the private sector for such practices -- not just in the enterprise, but also among OEMs selling into government. There are two elements to consider here, starting with what employees are bringing into the workplace from their personal lives. Bring-your-own-device policies where staff use their smartphones for work raise legitimate IoT security considerations. These devices may not have direct access to the network, but because they are consumer-grade, they are not held to enterprise standards. Because IT has no control over the use of these devices (or even knowledge of their presence at work) they are a potential vulnerability when using connectivity tied to the network. Agencies must understand that these devices will have limited security and that their users may rely on default settings or use weak passwords. Proactive worker education will be essential. As IoT devices become more common, employees should also have a higher awareness of their data security risks. If so, best practices stand a better chance of taking root. The key is to strike a balance between giving employees enough flexibility to use their preferred devices, while not being too restrictive or controlling. The second element would be development of guidelines that keep data secure in the workplace, but also can be used as selection criteria for IoT OEMs and partners. Standard best practices for general data security would apply to connected devices as well, but with IoT being an emerging trend, more specific guidance will be needed. Ensure the use of strong passwords or authentication steps for any IoT-enabled device used for work -- either in the office or remotely. Also, IoT-enabled communications devices (especially anything with a camera or a microphone) have an extensive set of connectivity options, often beyond what users are aware of. A basic checklist for employees to follow to improve security can go a long way to blocking out cyberattacks targeting an agency's network. Finally, encryption should be the standard for all data traffic with IoT-enabled devices. Employees must avoid using devices with unsecured connectivity, and IT should propose that all IoT vendors support encrypted traffic. It may not seem that IoT has present-day implications for IT decision-makers. As sensors become smaller and more powerful, however, this the technology is becoming quite pervasive, and new security risks could be quite significant. Thats why its important to adopt a proactive IoT-centric data security posture now. Agencies must understand the security risks that come with this new layer of connectivity and how objects across the broad IoT ecosystem can become cyberattack targets. Security strategies must address not only how workers interact with internet-enabled devices and endpoints, but how the agency deals with IoT technology partners across the supply chain. Paul Farnes, a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the last surviving R.A.F. ace of the Battle of Britain, in which he shot down six German aircraft and damaged a half-dozen more, died on Jan. 28 in West Sussex, England. He was 101. His death was announced by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. Mr. Farnes was one of the last survivors of the nearly 3,000 airmen called The Few, a nickname inspired by Prime Minister Winston Churchills tribute to them in August 1940 while the campaign, begun in July, raged on. Never in the field of human conflict, Churchill said, was so much owed by so many to so few. Mr. Farnes entered the Battle of Britain having destroyed three German Luftwaffe bombers, on his own or with a fellow fighter, during the Allies defeat in the Battle of France in May. With France having fallen, Britain had reached a critical point in World War II and now had to defend itself against a relentless aerial assault by the Luftwaffe. A German victory in the air would almost certainly have led to a ground invasion of Britain more than a year before the United States entered the war. As the number of coronavirus evacuees housed at U.S. military bases and put into quarantine grew Friday, officials acknowledged that some arrivals from Wuhan, China are now being hospitalized with symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified two new evacuees at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar who have developed symptoms warranting further evaluation, Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman, said in a statement released Friday night. "A child was transported to Rady Children's Hospital and an adult was transported to UC San Diego Health," he said. "This brings the total number of persons transported to hospitals for evaluation to seven." One adult and one child taken to the children's hospital Wednesday with symptoms have tested negative for the virus and returned to the base to complete the 14-day quarantine period, the statement continued, while results are still pending on the others' tests. The latest flight with evacuees from Wuhan arrived at Miramar Friday morning with 65 aboard, according to the statement, adding to the number waiting out quarantine periods at four bases around the country. Two flights chartered by the State Department with a total of about 300 U.S. citizen passengers aboard left China Thursday night. One flight with about 70 passengers aboard had a scheduled refueling stop at Travis Air Force Base in California before continuing to the Camp Ashland Army National Guard facility near Omaha, Nebraska, the Pentagon said in a statement. The second flight, with about 230 passengers aboard, was bound for Miramar after a refueling stop in Vancouver, Canada, the Pentagon said. On Wednesday, roughly 350 passengers evacuated from Wuhan traveled aboard two 747 jetliners that landed at Travis, where they will be quarantined and monitored. In the first evacuation flight Jan. 29, about 198 passengers were taken to March Air Reserve base in southern California. All of the evacuees will be subject to a 14-day quarantine, the incubation period for the virus. They will be supervised by the Department of Health and Human Services and have no contact with Defense Department personnel, according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon has also designated Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and Fort Carson, Colorado, as potential sites to house additional Wuhan evacuees. In addition, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday that 11 other bases were under consideration for housing coronavirus evacuees should HHS determine it was necessary. The death toll from coronavirus has now passed 630 and more than 31,000 cases have been confirmed, Chinese health authorities said Friday. As of Friday, 12 cases of coronavirus had been reported in the U.S. In a phone call to President Donald Trump Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "We have declared a people's war" on the coronavirus and China was "fully confident and capable of fighting the epidemic." "Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China," Trump tweeted later. "He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days. Nothing is easy, but he will be successful, especially as the weather starts to warm & the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone." However, China still has not accepted the United States' offer to send personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help with the coronavirus outbreak, officials said Friday at a White House news conference. "At this point, it's a decision for the Chinese," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said. "We're ready, willing and able to support the Chinese government." At the same news conference, Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said China has begun a clinical trial of an anti-viral agent to treat the coronavirus. The trial was looking at the effects of remdesivir, a drug made by the pharmaceutical company Gilead, in controlling respiratory illness, Fauci said. -- Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this story. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) is a good concept. However, the problem with Punes BRTS is its execution. The administration has failed to execute it effectively and there is no political will to make the BRTS successful. We welcome the new civic chiefs decision to review it, but it should for its improvement and not for scrapping it. The PMC has spent more than Rs 1,000 crore on it and it would be wrong to scrap it. It just needs rectification. Jugal Rathi, founder, PMP Pravasi Manch Wastage of taxpayers money The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is spending money on the BRTS project blindly. For six months, the BRTS lane is closed due to some repair work. Recently, the PMC had to break the infrastructure as they realised that the bus could not pass through the dedicated lane. It is a wastage of the taxpayers money. The money should be recovered from officers and consultants who are not doing proper planning for the project. Nitin Kadam, NCP Parvati constituency president Unsafe for citizens BRTS has created problems for the citizens. Private vehicles entering the BRTS lane do not follow traffic signals. Senior citizens are not able to cross the road. It is unsafe for residents. Rupa Gujar PMC should implement decision efficiently I travel using the PMPML bus daily. Since the last two years, the BRTS lane on Satara road and Hadapsar road has been closed. Even the bus stop locations keep on changing. It is difficult to cross the road on both Hadapsar and Satara road as the autorickshaw drivers, motorcycles drive rashly there. The PMC can take a decision on the project, whether they want to scrap it or use it, but the civic body should ensure that the decision is implemented efficiently. We do not want a fast bus service, we want a reliable and safe bus service. Asha Boarate Project executed in a hurry I welcome the PMC commissioners decision to review the BRTS project. When the BRTS project was approved, I was the opposition leader in the PMC and had opposed the project. Without a proper plan, the project was executed in a hurry. The commissioner, must, initiate an inquiry into the project, headed by a retired judge. Ujwal Keskar, BJP leader Solve traffic issues first I have travelled across the world for work, but never have I ever seen such a civic mess. The PMC pays more money for projects than civic bodies abroad, however, they still do not deliver on their promises. So, we do not have a problem of funds, we lack the basic focus of creating better infrastructure. Instead of the BRTS project, first, we should look at enforcing traffic rules strictly. Gaurav Kelkar No scope for revival PMC in defiance of all official Urban Development Ministry (UT Div) ref.no. 14011/44/2006-UT dated 01/11/2006 guidelines on preparation of DPR, IRCs BRT guidelines has guzzled up public funds that were made available under National Urban Renewal Mission. In addition, environment assessment impact, socio-economic impact, financial pre-feasibility traffic surveys were not conducted because of which PMC hiccupped its way through schedules, execution and funds in the midst of facing public outrage. This was essentially because there were heavy weights interested and big money involved. Strictures tabled in both Houses of Parliament in the Urban Development Report 2014-15 that BRTS was ideally suited for greenfield areas (not brownfield) with detailed planning rather than forcing it in into existing cities in a haphazard manner at the risk of safety to life, were ignored. The state government never did set up an enquiry as directed by the Maharashtra State Estimate Commission in November 2011 to investigate and hold those responsible for laying out BRTS without proper planning and bad quality material, due to which inconvenience to the public increased, fatalities and accidents occurred in view of poor planning. No outreach was conducted for public inclusivity prior to start up of BRTS project despite facing negativity from public who went ahead and purchased private two and four-wheelers increasing carbon footprint, rather than risk life and limb in an unsafe public transport for which there was no safe access to the median. To be an efficient and qualitative bus transport system, there is no need for it to be positioned in the median without safe commuter access. If PMC had logically injected PMPML with the fraction of the monumental Rs 1,000 crore plus money, public would have had a safe and robust bus system on the conventional left side without loss to life and limb. Construction of more BRTS corridors must stop until PMC gets its act together as the current status of BRTS corridors is violation of human rights. If PMC wants to exhibit credibility and accountability as a good planning authority, it must undertake to first prepare a DPR, all feasibility reports, traffic and other surveys before pouring crores of public funds into its supposed revival. Qaneez Sukhrani Think of other uses for the lanes Before scrapping the project completely, I feel the BRTS lane can be dedicated for only two-and-three-wheelers and buses, four-wheelers should use the outer roads. The PMC should think about using the BRTS lane for streamlining traffic. Dr Shantanu Deshpande Ensure better planning The proper implementation of the BRTS project is the need of our. A recent study showed that Pune is one of the major cities in India facing adverse traffic conditions. In order to solve the problem, the BRTS project can prove to be a boon, provided that the civic authorities take rapid actions for the same. The BRTS routes need to attract more attention in order to sustain themselves. These routes should be restricted to BRTS buses only. The bus stands too need maintenance. Arya Joshi The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expected to send a working team to Vietnam to evaluate the country's food safety control system for tra fish for the second time, from March 2 to 13. Workers process tra fish for export at a processing facility in Vietnam. The Food Safety and Inspection Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture will send a working team to Vietnam to evaluate Vietnams food safety control system for tra fish for the second time next month Ngo Hong Phong, deputy head of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Nafiqad), told a meeting held in Can Tho City on February 7 that Nafiqad had received a letter from FSIS on January 20 announcing that its working team will visit Vietnam for the re-evaluation. The first evaluation on the countrys food safety control system for Siluriformes fish, mainly tra fish, was conducted in May 2018. Accordingly, the inspection team launched an on-site inspection of the food safety control systems of two central surveillance agencies, a testing room run by Nafiqad, eight tra fish processing factories and two tra fish farming facilities. Phong noted that in November last year, after the evaluation, FSIS recognized the compatibility of Vietnamese tra fishs quality standards with its own standards. The U.S. teams re-evaluation is aimed at maintaining Vietnams food safety control system for tra fish being exported to the United States. To prepare for the U.S. inspection teams visit, Phong told firms to review and improve tra fish production and processing conditions to ensure food safety. In addition, all activities from breeding, farming and transportation to processing and export should be well documented. The U.S. teams evaluation of Vietnams food safety control system is part of its catfish inspection campaign in various countries, including Vietnam. SGT Trung Chanh Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice" Citizens of Afghanistan have expressed their outrage over the frequent delay in the announcement of the final results of the presidential election that was held on September 28, 2019. According to the state media, the citizens gathered on February 7 and said that an election delay has left a significant impact on the country's political and security situation. One of the participants said that if the election commission does not announce the results, then they will not have any option except to go to the door of the election commission and raise their voice. READ: Wounded Treated After Attack At Afghan Police Base Abdullah refused to accept results Another resident reportedly said that they are urging the electoral complaints commission to investigate the election process and share the results with the election commission as soon as possible. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the preliminary results on December 22, 2019. As per the preliminary results, President Ashraf Ghani had earned 923,868 votes (50.64 per cent), and on the other hand, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah followed with 720,990 votes (39.52 per cent). But Abdullah refused to accept the results and ordered a recount alleging fraud. READ: Taliban Attack Afghan Police Base, 11 Killed IECC vowed to investigate complaints The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) began the process of auditing and registering 16,400 complaints and vowed to investigate and verify them in a transparent way. IECC decided to send a small percentage of the 300,000 disputed votes for a special audit on January 5. The decision was met with backlash by a number of campaign teams on Thursday. The IEC has said that it is completely prepared to cooperate with the IECC regarding the issue of special audits of the votes, as per the reports. Mirza Mohammad Haqparast, a spokesman for the IEC said that the committee and the secretariat is fully prepared to act upon the IECC's decisions-across the country--for the verification and recounting of votes. READ: Afghan Passenger Plane Crashes In Taliban-held Eastern Area READ: Death Toll In Attack At Afghan Political Office Rises To 20 READ: Afghan Media Outlets Protest Curtailed Access To Information Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Over the last quarter-century, Amazon has transformed itself from an online bookseller into an e-commerce behemoth thats reshaping retail economics. In 2018 alone, Amazon reported more than US$232 billion in revenue a number thats sure to jump once 2019s final revenue figures are released. Those eye-popping returns mean the online seller accounts for nearly 50 percent of all e-commerce revenue. With no slowdown in sight, manufacturers and brands alike must formulate an effective Amazon strategy if they want to find e-commerce success. With that in mind, here are three Amazon trends to track in 2020. 1.The Platform Will Become More Social To keep users on the site longer and increase engagement, Amazon has been busy building a homegrown social network. Click on a profile photo above a user rating, and youll navigate to a profile page that compiles all the users reviews in one place. Within these profile pages, users can follow each other, curate wish lists and create posts. So far, Amazon has let this social community develop organically, but recently weve seen this social approach expand to brands. Amazon last year launched a product it calls Posts. Currently in beta, this feature allows participating brands to create a curated feed of shoppable product posts. As with traditional social posts, creators have access to engagement metrics like views, clicks and click-through rates. By testing different content and calls to action, users can gain valuable information about what resonates with Amazon shoppers. Because these posts include category tags, they also appear on competitor search pages, which can be a big boost for brand discovery. The more free exposure you can get on Amazon, the better, and early adopters already are seeing big traffic bumps. Amazon likely will continue expanding these social offerings in 2020, so posts could be an excellent opportunity for brands to get their feet wet while increasing engagement with Amazon shoppers. 2. More Support for Brands and Manufacturers In 2020, companies will see Amazon ramp up its support for brands and manufacturers through better content tools and improved analytics. Brand Registry Some brands and manufacturers historically have been hesitant about selling directly on Amazon due to competition from third-party sellers or counterfeiters. To address this issue, Amazon recently introduced its brand registry. This feature allows companies to establish themselves with Amazon and provides some brand protection controls. As an additional benefit, registered brands can create store pages that serve as mini-websites within Amazons platform. These pages give brands increased control over their image on Amazon while providing shoppers with a more consistent brand experience. Registered brands also gain access to improved analytics tools for more in-depth insight into the customer journey on and off Amazon. A+ Content Tools Another way Amazon is encouraging activity is through its A+ Content Tools. This feature allows registered brands to create product listings with customized descriptions, enhanced images, and different text placement. Product posts created with A+ Content Tools stand out from other Amazon products and can lead to higher conversion rates, increased traffic and more sales. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Amazon Attribution These new toys wont be very attractive unless brands can measure their ROI on the platform. Previously, users had no insight into how external ads drive buying decisions on Amazon. The online giant is trying to change that through a new tool called Amazon Attribution. This feature allows advertisers to tag Facebook, Google and Microsoft ads with a code snippet that pulls information directly to an Amazon dashboard. Now advertisers can track effectiveness down to the keyword level, which adds an essential layer of insight into their campaigns. API Improvements Amazon also is working on improvements to its application programming interface (API), which will give companies the ability to make changes and report on campaigns at scale. An improved API will encourage technology partners and agencies to develop better products and services to help their clients compete within the Amazon ecosystem. Because Amazon earns a percentage from every item sold on its site, the company is motivated to help brands and manufacturers find success. Its likely that Amazon will continue to make the platform more friendly for large sellers throughout 2020. Improved Advertising Tools In addition to providing brands and manufactures with more support, Amazon will roll out improved advertising tools to help drive sales. New Ad Types These efforts begin with several new advertising options that tap into Amazons unique targeting abilities. Sponsored Display Amazons sponsored display ads work primarily as a remarketing tool that utilizes the Amazon display network. Previously, access to this tool required a whopping $35,000 monthly minimum ad spend. However, Amazon recently debuted a slimmed-down version of display ads that users can access for as little as $35 per month. A D V E R T I S E M E N T As you might imagine, Amazon has tons of purchase data, so its easy to categorize people based on their purchases. Sponsored display ads utilize this valuable data and give users increased options around targeting. This product is ideal for new-to-market products that consumers arent aware of yet. Sponsored Brand Ads Sponsored Brand Ads are Amazons version of banner ads. Just last month, Amazon rolled out more targeting capabilities and functionality, including the option to include video. This is part of Amazons effort to get more videos on their site because they know how much people like watching them. Amazon Live Amazon also recently launched a product called Amazon Live ads, which are QVC-style video ads brands can produce themselves. I expect to see more variety of ad types and programs like Amazon Live debut on the platform in 2020. UI Improvements Amazon is making much-needed improvements to its user interface (UI) to help advertisers better manage their efforts and assess campaign performance. These improvements include adding a Change History tab and bulk editing features, which provides more tools advertisers and agencies can use to impact sales performance. Improved Insight Amazon knows that more data equals more sales. However, Amazons reporting capabilities left much to be desired. Currently, users can pull reports only over the last 60 days, which makes it impossible to compare year-over-year data. Much to everyones delight, Amazon recently announced it would expand reporting on search query and campaign level reports up to 720 days, for greater insight into historical data and past trends. I expect to see Amazon continue building out its reporting capabilities to advertisers with greater insight into user behavior. Amazon Isnt Going Away, So its Time to Dive In One things for sure: Amazons sales will increase in 2020 likely by double-digits. As the company continues dominating e-commerce sales while at the same time reshaping the entire retail sector, brands and manufacturers need to react. That means using every available tool to make your products more searchable and attractive than those of the competition. That way, when Amazon releases its final 2020 revenue figures, youll have seen some eye-popping results of your own. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Japanese counterpart agreed Saturday to seek an "ambitious, high standard" trade accord matching Japan's agreement with the EU. Raab is on a four-nation Asian tour in his first major overseas trip since Britain left the European Union on January 31 after 47 years of membership. He arrived in Tokyo Saturday morning from Australia on a two-day visit and held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo. "In line with our commitment to free trade, we will work quickly to make the new partnership as ambitious, high standard and mutually beneficial as the Japan-EU EPA," the two ministers said in a joint statement. Their planned bilateral trade accord would "send a very powerful signal of our shared commitment to free, rules-based trade," Raab told reporters. Motegi said preparations were under way for formal negotiations on a Japan-Britain free trade partnership. "We agreed that we will start and conclude the negotiations as early as possible," he added. In 2018, Japan and the EU struck a trade deal covering more than 630 million people and economies that add up to around a third of global output. They began negotiations in 2013, two years after agreeing to start talks. Following Brexit, Britain is hoping to negotiate a new trade deal not just with Brussels but also the United States, Japan and other countries. Raab is also heading to Singapore and Malaysia. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 The Jakarta administration is in a quandary over Indonesias first Formula E electric car race after the State Secretariat turned down a proposal to use the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta as the circuit. An official from the State Secretariat said the rejection was based on various reasons, including that Monas is a heritage site and any major modifications might pose a risk to its well-being. The conclusion was made in a meeting of the Medan Merdeka Area steering committee, helmed by State Secretary Pratikno, as Monas was under the supervision of the committee according to Presidential Decree No. 25/1995. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ilham (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a tendency to claim that resettlement has been a life-saving solution for the most vulnerable refugees, which includes victims of violence and torture, women and children at risk, and refugees with medical needs. For refugees transiting in Indonesia, resettlement the relocation of refugees from a country of asylum (usually a neigboring country to which refugees have fled) to a country of permanent settlement is the preferred option. The two other options the UNHCR traditionally offers to address the refugee issue, voluntary repatriation and local integration, are limited and unrealistic. I have personally met several Indonesian refugees with no specific vulnerabilities who used to be in the care of my agency, and who are now resettled in Australia with the assistance of the UNHCR office in Jakarta, and I could not help but wonder: Why resettle them and not others? to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. US President Donald Trump has fired two officials who had testified before the Congressional committee during the impeachment process by the House of Representatives, three days after he was acquitted by the Senate of all charges. The two officers are the Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council of the White House. Both Vindman and Sondland were key witnesses during the impeachment hearings by the Democrats-controlled House of Representatives. "I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as (the) United States Ambassador to the European Union," Sondland said in a statement on Friday. Hours before Vindman was escorted out of the White House security officials, his attorney said: "LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth." "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House," Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, said in a statement. "His honour, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful," Pressman added. The White House did not comment on the dismissal of two impeachment-related officials. The White House also fired Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman, twin brother of Vindman. The two worked at on the National Security Council of the White House. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mitchelstown Heritage Society will next Tuesday evening host an illustrated lecture on the infamous Battle of Clonmult, which saw the greatest loss of IRA volunteers to Crown Forces in a single engagement during the War of Independence. The lecture, which will take place in the local Town Hall at 8pm, will be delivered by historian Tom O'Neill whose recently published book 'The Battle of Clonmult' is considered to be the definitive work on one of the most pivotal engagements of the war. The battle, which took place on February 21, 1921 saw most of East cork flying column wiped out having been surprised by a British Army patrol reinforced by auxiliary police. In all, 12 members of the column were killed - seven by the auxiliaries after they had surrendered - with tow of the eight captured subsequently executed. In addition to presenting his research, Mr O'Neill will have a number of artefacts from the War of Independence on display at the lecture and copies of his book for sale. Admission to what promises to be a fascinating insight into one of the most turbulent periods in modern Irish history will be 5 for society members and 7 for non-members. Gov. Kristi Noem drafts bill limiting 'action civics' This legislation prohibits colleges and schools from directing, requiring or compelling students to protest or lobby as part of a grade or a class. Monica R. Guy, a partner in the law firm Kurtz Evans Whitley Guy & Simos, PLLC, has been included in Business North Carolinas Legal Elite. She is a North Carolina board-certified family-law specialist. Brandi Hobbs has joined Bell, Davis & Pitt, PA as the law firms chief strategy officer. She is the first person to serve in the newly created position. Hobbs will help the firm develop and implement the strategy, promote the firm and improve service by using client feedback. She has a masters degree in law-firm management from George Washington University and a Yellow Belt Certification in Legal Lean Sigma from the Legal Lean Sigma Institute. Pamela D. Whitaker of Winston-Salem has been appointed to the North Carolina State Lottery Commission by Gov. Roy Cooper as a member at-large. She was the CEO of Key Resources Inc., the largest women-owned business in the Triad for more than 14 years. Whitaker also served on the Board of Visitors for UNC-Greensboro and the United Way Development Board. The following attorneys at Allman Spry Davis Leggett & Crumpler, PA, have been recognized as 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. C. Edwin Allman, III, Joslin Davis and Kim R. Bonuomo have been selected to the 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers list. Jodi Hildebran, Anna Warburton and Karen B. Malay have been recognized as 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Submissions can be sent to business@wsjournal.com. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BJP MP Giriraj Singh was caught 'red-handed' distributing cash and liquor to voters in the Rithala area of Delhi, ahead of the Assembly election on Saturday, reports said. AAP leader Sanjay Singh, making the accusation against the BJP MP, demanded that the Election Commission take action on the matter. BJP MP Giriraj Singh was caught "red-handed" distributing cash and liquor to voters in the Rithala area of Delhi, ahead of the Assembly election on Saturday, reports said. AAP leader Sanjay Singh, making the accusation against the BJP MP, demanded that the Election Commission take action on the matter. "Union minister Giriraj Singh caught distributing cash in Rithala. MPs distributing cash and liquor in different areas," Sanjay was quoted as saying by CNN-News18. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP also tweeted on Friday evening saying, "The media have reached the spot at Budh Vihar, phase 1, Rithala constituency. The EC should arrest Giriraj Singh." 1 ECI @ECISVEEP 240 pic.twitter.com/BTHx295coa Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) February 7, 2020 CNN-News18 also quoted Sanjay as saying that Giriraj "had been caught red-handed distributing cash". On Friday, a day before 70 Assembly seats in the Union Territory goes to poll after a bitterly-fought election, a statement released by AAP said that the party had formed 272 teams in all the municipal wards of the city to keep a tight vigil after it received inputs that money and liquor are allegedly being distributed in some areas. Sanjay, addressing a press conference, said that the party had filed a complaint to the Election Commission (EC) after some reports of many BJP MPs staying at different Assembly constituencies started doing the rounds. "In this last leg of the campaign, BJP's electoral manipulations are in full swing. We have received inputs that money and liquor are being distributed in some areas. Like last time, we have formed 272 teams in all the 272 wards, which have also been equipped with sting cameras," he said in the statement. The campaign for the Delhi assembly polls ended at 6 pm on Thursday, ahead of voting on Saturday. The AAP MP said anyone who comes across such incidents, where money or liquor are being distributed by any political party, can send the party evidence over WhatsApp or call on 9355015501. "In other news, it has been reported that BJP's 240 MPs will be staying in different Assembly constituencies from 4 to 8 February. This is an open violation of the Model Code of Conduct as after the election campaign ends at 6 pm today, no MP, cabinet minister, can stay in Delhi, unless he is a resident of Delhi," Singh said. With inputs from agencies Netflix hit the headlines last year when it pulled an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj that was critical of Saudi Arabia from its streaming service in the country. As it turns out, the company has only ever removed titles or episodes nine times after formal takedown requests from governments. It has done so most often in Singapore, removing five items including The Last Temptation of Christ (which is banned in the country), Brazilian comedy The Last Hangover and a trio of weed-related shows, because cannabis is illegal there. Netflix has also pulled The Bridge in New Zealand (which deems the documentary on suicides off the Golden Gate Bridge objctionable), Full Metal Jacket in Vietnam and Night of the Living Dead in Germany. All of the requests had been made in the last five years. Netflix removes an item if it receives a written government takedown demand and can't otherwise reach an agreement with authorities, as it wants to abide by local laws. However, it does fight those takedown requests. It took Brazil to court over one related to The First Temptation of Christ, a satire that depicts Jesus as a gay man. The nation's Supreme Court ruled in Netflix's favor last month, allowing it to keep the movie in its streaming library there. The company laid out the requests and its compliance with them in an environmental, social and governance report, which it will publish once a year. The report also covers Netflix's environmental impact and energy use, as well as diversity in terms of its workforce and output. Correction, 7/22/20, 3:15PM ET: This story originally said that Netflix removed the Scandinavian TV series The Bridge from its service in New Zealand; it actually removed a documentary with the same name. We apologize for the error. Photo: Kabu After years of missed deadlines from provincial governments on ride-hailing in B.C., the service will finally be coming to the Okanagan. Exactly when is still up in the air though. On Friday, B.C.'s Passenger Transportation Board approved Kabu Ride Inc. to operate in all regions of B.C., becoming the first approved ride-hailing company in the Okanagan. While ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft may be more well known, the Richmond-based company, created by two post-secondary students in their early twenties, has actually been operating since 2016. While the City of Richmond, which opposed Kabu's PTB application, said the company continuously and flagrantly facilitated unlawful ride hailing services" between 2016 and 2019, Kabu communications director Martin van den Hemel described their past as operating in a grey space, before they shut down operations when legislation was introduced last September. If we're going to talk legalities, there was no law to break prior to Sept. 16, (2019) for our company, said Martin van den Hemel. We wanted to have a ride-hailing licence in 2016. And then in 2017. And each government, whether it was the Liberals or the NDP, disappointed us." "We were ready to put in an application to operate 100 per cent legitimately and that opportunity was never afforded to us, until the NDP government followed through. Despite its grey past, Kabu was facilitating roughly 3,000 daily rides in Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby at its peak, employing about 2,500 drivers. Van den Hemel says while the company plans to have the Okanagan as one of its core areas, they won't be able to launch service in the region until they're able to reach a critical mass of drivers. The company is looking for drivers with a Class 1, 2 or 4 licence, a clean driving record and a criminal record check. Application information can be found here. Van de Hemel doesn't think they'll have much of a problem attracting drivers, claiming their drivers will make the most money compared to other ride-hailing services and full-time drivers will even be provided dental and medical benefits. They're looking to be operating in the Okanagan as soon as possible. Much of Australias wildfire-ravaged east coast was drenched on Friday by the biggest rainfall in almost 20 years, dousing some of the most dangerous blazes and providing welcome relief to farmers battling an extended drought. The downpour came with its own risks - officials warned of flash floods and landslides across New South Wales (NSW), Australias most populous state - but was generally greeted jubilantly after months of devastating bushfires. Theres lots of smiles around the place, NSW Rural Fire Services (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who has been more accustomed in recent weeks to delivering fire evacuation orders, told reporters in Sydney. It is breaking the back of this fire season, no doubt, Fitzsimmons said. The rain is good for business and farms as well as being really good for quenching some of these fires weve been dealing with for many, many months. The deluge had the effect of calming the number of active fires in NSW by 20 in a single day, a success rate that NSW RFS said it was over the moon about. By afternoon, there were 40 active fires in NSW, less than half the number of blazes at the peak of the crisis, with all burning at the lowest level danger warning of advice only. Neighboring Victoria state had 21 active fires, also at the lowest level. Around 11.7 million hectares of Australian wilderness have been razed by a series of huge wildfires since September that have also killed 33 people and more than a billion animals and destroyed thousands of homes. The horrific extended bushfire season has followed a three-year drought across the country. The heavy rainfall across NSW and Victoria state on Friday was something of a welcome surprise after the Bureau of Meteorologys three-month forecast issued in January forecast continued high temperatures and little rainfall. Sydney alone was expected to receive as much as 130 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, the biggest one-day rainfall since Feb. 5, 2002, data on the bureaus website showed on Friday. What we are broadly expecting over the next couple of days is this coastal trough to hang around, to keep delivering this widespread, prolonged, steady rainfall, BOM forecaster Jane Golding said. Fitzsimmons said he was optimistic the continued rainfall over the coming days would help firefighters in NSW get the 17 blazes that are still categorized as uncontained under control. We expect rainfall to continue to fall across a lot of these firegrounds and that will result in a number of those being declared contained and hopefully we will be confident we wont see new ignitions from anywhere in those firegrounds, he said. CYCLONE DAMIEN Some 3,500 kilometers (2174.8 miles) to the northwest, a tropical cyclone was barreling toward the coast of Western Australia where it is expected to make landfall near Port Hedland, the worlds largest iron ore port, on Saturday. Destructive wind gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour could develop overnight Friday night as the cyclone approaches the coast, and very destructive gusts of up to 230 kilometers per hour were expected when Cyclone Damien hits on Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Authorities said Port Hedland would be cleared ahead of the cyclone and the Dampier Port also closed. Miners Rio Tinto and BHP Group said they were monitoring the situation and making preparations. The wet weather prompted some light-hearted remarks at a visit by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to the Sydney office of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca PLC. We are all very, very happy that you are here today, but also importantly that youre bringing this fine British rain with you, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot told guests. We really have brought the rain, replied Raab. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. The 2020 campaign was to be the moment when the rising coalition asserted and perhaps took power, but it has not worked out that way so far. Theres no single reason that has turned out to be the case. Some people blame it on the fact that the first two states to vote, Iowa and New Hampshire, are predominantly white. Some blame it on the inability of candidates who have fallen to the sidelines to run better campaigns. As polling began across all Assembly segments in Delhi on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the voters to exercise their franchise New Delhi: As polling began across all Assembly segments in the National Capital on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the voters to exercise their franchise. "Please go out and vote. Special appeal to all women Just as you take up the responsibility of your homes, the responsibility towards the country and Delhi is also on your shoulders. All of you ladies must go and cast your votes and also take the men of your house along. Make sure to discuss it with them that voting is their right," Kejriwal tweeted. - , Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2020 Polling for the 70 seats of Delhi Assembly began at 8 am in the national capital amid tight security on Saturday. The voting will continue till 6 pm in the evening. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. Several political heavyweights are trying their luck from their old turfs. Chief Minister Kejriwal is contesting from New Delhi seat. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against him while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabbarwal from the seat. AAP's Dillip Pandey is contesting from Timarpur, Atishi from Kalkaji, Raghav Chadha from Rajender Nagar. BJP has fielded Vijender Gupta from Rohini. Former AAP leader Kapil Mishra is the BJP candidate from Model Town in this election. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga is a BJP candidate from Hari Nagar. Click here for detailed coverage of Assembly Elections 2019 Congress has fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar. Former AAP leader Alka Lamba is a Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk. Haroon Yusuf is contesting from Ballimaran. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election. Out of the total number of eligible voters 1,47,86,382 there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. To ensure peaceful and fair polling in all 70 constituencies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel will also be deployed. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. Sixteen families of Syrian refugees will arrive in new homes in Clonmel between late March and the end of summer. The refugees, the majority of whom are under 25, will be accommodated in council houses and are among 230 people in 45 families who are also coming to Tipperary town, Nenagh and Templemore. The Syrians have fled war-torn areas of their own country and Padraig Ryan, senior social worker with Tipperary County Council, told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that they had all been security-vetted by Gardai and deemed to have been refugees by UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees). The Department of Justice and Equality had also liaised with people on the ground in Syria. Mr. Ryan said that a similar programme in Thurles had been very successful and families had integrated into the local community. Two resettlement workers and two integration workers (one of whom speaks fluent Arabic) would work with the families. Youth Work Ireland Tipperary, an organisation with vast experience working with young people, particularly the disadvantaged, will work with the refugees on behalf of the county council. They will actively support all of the families to access services and integrate into the community, both through government agencies and local community and voluntary organisations. Cora Horgan, CEO of Youth Work Ireland Tipperary, said that resettlement and intercultural workers will spend time with families, on both an individual and group basis, determining their needs, as well as working with agencies and local groups to identify available supports and to encourage a positive integration experience for all. She said that obviously there would be challenges, but she was very excited about the resettlement programme, which would help the families build better lives for themselves. Families would have access to English language classes and GP care, educational support, intercultural training and they would get to know the local community. Integration with communities is key, she stated. These were families who left their homes and travelled across the world for the safety of their children, she said. They had spent three to four years in camps in Jordan and had also spent some time in reception centres in Ireland. Cllr. Niall Dennehy said they all wanted to work with and not against the programme. He asked if there would be consultation with residents in areas where the refugees would be resettled, and how it would impact on their already strained resources in terms of health and housing. He said they would want to embrace the notion of equality through consultation. This would only work if there was consultation. If theres any secrecy around where they are going, and if it happens on Friday evening and people only find out about it on Monday morning it wont work, he said. Cllr. Pat English said he would welcome the families but a lot of people wouldnt, and the devastation that had occurred in Syria was something they would have to get across to people. He asked if the resettlement programme would displace anyone on the councils existing housing list. District Mayor Garret Ahearn said it was important that they took responsibility and showed leadership in welcoming the refugees, and that they were open and willing to do so. It was important that they sent out a positive message, while stressing that the Syrians had been vetted and assessed. Cllr. Richie Molloy said he was sure people would want to know that the refugees had been checked out properly regarding Garda vetting, but the vast majority would welcome the fact that Ireland was playing its part. Ireland was a very small country and couldnt accept too many refugees but people would accept that these people were coming from very difficult situations. It behoved all of us to ensure they were properly integrated into society and Irish people had done that over the years. Cllr. Molloy said he didnt envisage any real difficulties. County Council housing officer Sean Lonergan said there would be consultation with the elected members and the people of the town. The council would continue to house people who were most in need and they wouldnt be inconvenienced by this programme. During a four-year plan currently operating, the council would provide 1,000 new housing units throughout the county by 2021. The refugee programme would account for only one per cent of the tenancy allocations during this four-year programme, Mr. Lonergan said. For more news in Tipperary read Family overwhelmed by response to fundraising campaign 08.02.2020 LISTEN The government of President Akufo-Addo must not give up the fight against illegal gold mining - and other environmental crimes such as illegal logging and illegal sandwinning. The vast majority of Ghanaians recognise the difficulties involved in the fight against those destroying what is left of our natural heritage - and are appreciative of the fact that that menace is being confronted by the present administration. Whatever mistakes might have been made in fighting those gang-raping Mother Nature, the fact still remains that many ordinary people across Ghana are indeed glad that they have a President willing to take on those perpetrating such illegalities - because they recognise that those destroying the Ghanaian countryside are in effect ruining our quality of life as a people: and lowering living standards for both present and future generations, on top of that too. It will be highly irresponsible on the part of our current leaders to give up this crucial fight to protect what is left of our nation's natural capital, simply because the allegations of corruption amongst some of those involved in the effort to halt illegal gold mining, is proving politically embarrassing for a ruling party campaigning to retain power, in upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. That is why it is so important that President Akufo-Addo ignores the defeatist advice of those in his party who want an end to the fight against illegal gold mining (and against those who are also now busy destroying vast swathes of the Ghanaian countryside, through illegal logging and illegal sandwinning) - because of the shocking revelations of a number of seized excavators being sold unlawfully, and allegations of bribe-taking, by some of those appointed to help stop illegal gold mining across the country. Loss of face for that reason, is no reason to end the fight against those destroying the natural environment in Ghana. Perhaps the time has now come to recognise this clear and present danger for what it actually is: a national security threat: and remove the socio-economic factors driving many rural communities to collaborate with illegal gold miners, illegal loggers and illegal sandwinners. Transition green economy opportunities that could be quickly scaled-up, such as the production of coirfibre products from newly-established coconut plantations, must be made available to rural communities across Ghana. Ditto the widespread establishment of industrial hemp plantations, and development of ecotourism destinations anchored on forest reserves transformed into national parks. Twenty-year tax holidays for such transition green economy ventures will attract small-scale gold miners, for sure. The government of President Akufo-Addo should not give up the fight against illegal gold mining - it must fight smarter instead. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 12:07 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206349f3d 1 National national-press-day,awards,The-Jakarta-Post,Wamena,election Free The Jakarta Post received two awards at the 2020 Indonesia Print Media Awards (IPMA) from the Union of Print Media Companies (SPS) in a National Press Day event in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday. The Post brought home the gold award for the Best of Investigation Reporting for its Oct. 29, 2019 edition. The publication featured a special report written by reporters Victor Mambor and Syofiardi Bachyul titled Wamena investigation: What the government is not telling us. The report was a collaboration among journalists of the Post, Jakarta-based Tirto.id and Jayapura-based Jubi. They conducted an investigation in the field in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, from Oct. 3 to 10 and discovered what the government had failed to reveal. Wamena investigation: What the government is not telling us #jakpost https://t.co/UgW7jtHeTc pic.twitter.com/CugssFMAIs The Jakarta Post (@jakpost) November 26, 2019 At least 33 people were killed during a deadly unrest in Wamena on Sept. 23. One of the most important findings of the report was that the government did not reveal to the public that more than eight native Papuans died of gunshot wounds inflicted by who locals called "security officers." The government deployed a joint security force comprising members of the National Police and the Indonesian Military to its easternmost provinces during days of riots. The investigative report is important as the world had not been aware of what was taking place in the region, as the government had blocked internet access across the island during the unrest. The Post also won the bronze prize for the Best of National Newspaper for its April 18, 2019 edition, in which the story "Five More Years" was featured. The story was about how incumbent President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo secured his second term following the 2019 presidential election. The lead reporters covering the story had dedicated their time to monitoring the presidential election even before the campaign season began. They are Karina Tehusijarana, Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Made Anthony Iswara and Ghina Ghaliya. IPMA is an annual award sponsored by the SPS to recognize the best in Indonesian print publications. The SPS was established on June 8, 1946, as a union for news publishers in Indonesia. The union said it received 679 entries for the IPMA award during the nomination process between Nov. 4, 2019 and Jan. 8. This is the second time the Post has won a gold IPMA award. The newspaper received the gold award in the category of Best National Newspaper in 2015 for its July 23, 2014 edition. Photo: Martin Divisek/Bloomberg via Getty Images At the same time as Zoe Kravitzs High Fidelity remake has us comparing and contrasting record players, a fire has threatened vinyl-record production across the globe, Pitchfork reports. Californias Apollo Masters, one of the only manufacturing plants in the world that produces the lacquer used for the master disks necessary to press vinyl records, has suffered catastrophic damage after a three-alarm fire Thursday night. It is with great sadness we report the Apollo Masters manufacturing and storage facility had a devastating fire and suffered catastrophic damage, a note on the Apollo Masters website reads. The best news is all of our employees are safe. We are uncertain of our future at this point and are evaluating options as we try to work through this difficult time. Prominent figures in the industry are already expressing concerns about the shortage of lacquer, including Ben Blackwell, co-founder of Third Man Records. There are only TWO companies that make lacquers in the world, and the other, MDC in Japan, already had trouble keeping up with demand BEFORE this development, he wrote to Pitchfork (the emphasis is Blackwells). But David Read, a vinyl-production and sales coordinator at Duplication, a vinyl, CD, and DVD duplication, pressing, and printing company, offered some optimism: In my almost 40 years experience, the vinyl industry as a whole is incredibly resilient and filled with talented professionals who will, and already are, teaming together to find a way out of this current problem. In the meantime, Hulus new High Fidelity is happy to boost the vinyl industry. To celebrate the launch of the show, Hulu is taking over seven record stores across the United States for three days, starting on February 13. Half of all gross sales during this three-day period will be donated to Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit that transforms lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools, per a press release. For me, music has always been more than a hobby, but a necessary part of my life, Kravitz, who stars in and executive-produces High Fidelity, said in a statement. I was lucky enough to have grown up with the privilege of having access to instruments, music teachers, and great records, but I know for many that is not the case. I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to Little Kids Rocks commitment in empowering future generations of music lovers and makers. Two prominent witnesses in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump were recalled from their positions on Friday evening in what appeared to be a retaliatory purge after the presidents acquittal this week. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council aide, was removed from his post at the White House this afternoonalong with his twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, a lieutenant colonel in the Army. Just a couple hours later, Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, said he had been told he would be recalled. Advertisement Vindmans attorney, David Pressman, said that Vindman and his brother, who is a lawyer for the NSC, were escorted out of the White House after they received the news on Friday. Vindman had already said that he planned to leave his post months ahead of schedule. The two will now be reassigned to positions at the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the House impeachment inquiry, Vindman had emphasized that he was apolitical and motivated by nothing but loyalty to public service when he testified against Trump. In that testimony, he said that Trumps July 25 phone call in which he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens was inappropriate because of significant national security implications. In a statement Friday night, Sondland said that he was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union. During his appearance in the impeachment inquiry, Sondland said explicitly that there had been a quid pro quo in Trumps discussions with Zelensky. Sondland, unlike Vindman, was a Trump appointee with a background in business, rather than government. He was put in his position after donating $1 million to Trumps inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Pressman, the lawyer for Vindman, said in a statement that there was no doubt about the White Houses motive. There is no question in the mind of any American why this mans job is over, he said. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. He added that because of Vindmans commitment to telling the truth, the most powerful man in the world had decided to exact revenge. Earlier Friday, Trump was asked what his press secretary meant when she said the presidents opponents should be held accountable. Trump responded, Well, youll see. When asked if he would have Vindman removed, Trump indicated that his actions were driven by spite. Well, Im not happy with him, he told reporters. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? The previous day, Trump had mentioned Vindman and Vindmans twin brother in a speech boasting about his acquittal in the impeachment trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats spoke out against the president upon hearing the news on Friday. As usual, the White House runs away from the truth. LTC Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution. This action is not a sign of strength. It only shows President Trumps weakness.https://t.co/FQdYPXNtnF Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 7, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his testimony about Trumps crimes, Lt. Col. Vindman had a message for his father: "You made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth." Its appalling that this administration may prove him wrong. https://t.co/aB5eGQFil4 Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 7, 2020 After news of Sondlands firing, the presidents son appeared to confirm the critics interpretation of Trumps actions. Allow me a moment to thankand this may be a bit of a surpriseAdam Schiff, he tweeted. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam! Advertisement Despite the claims by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation that it has directed all state governments to comply with the Supreme Courts judgment forbidding governors and legislatures from dissolving elected council officials, only Oyo State has acknowledged receipt of the memo. Most of the defaulting states have denied receiving any letter on the subject matter of local government administration from the AGFs office. The office of the AGF confirmed that it sent the letters advising states to comply with the provisions of the Constitution with regard to the administration of local governments in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court. The letter notified states of the illegality of running caretaker committees in place of elected officials at the local governments. The issues came to light following a memo to the Oyo State Government in respect of the sacked local government officials by the PDP-led government in the state, and urging it to reinstate the chairpersons and councillors. Mr Malamis letter, dated January 14, and addressed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State, Oyewo Oyelowo, called for the immediate disbandment of caretaker committees and the restoration of elected local governments. His memo drew strength from the Supreme Court judgement last year in a case brought by sacked local government chairpersons in Ekiti State, which declared as illegal the governors removal of elected officials of local councils. Kayode Fayemi, as governor in 2010, reportedly announced the dissolution of the councils on October 29, 2010, when the elected council officials still had up till December 19, 2011, to end their three-year tenure. Although the Appeal Court gave judgment in favour of the sacked council chairpersons, the Ekiti State Government challenged the decision of the Appeal Court and proceeded to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in the judgment nullified the power of state governors, derived from laws passed by the Houses of Assembly, to sack elected Local government chairmen. It also stopped the state Houses of Assembly from empowering the governor to replace the sacked chairmen with interim administrators. READ ALSO: By implication, the apex court declared as illegal administrators at the local levels not duly elected as provided for in the 1999 Constitution as amended. Abubakar Malamis letter was titled, Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of caretaker committee: The urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions. The need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically elected representatives to man the local governments has therefore become obligatory, the letter partly read. In view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 States of the Federation. The common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void. So also any system of local government run by Caretaker Committees are outrightly illegal and unconstitutional. The letter covered the action of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who a few hours after his inauguration as the governor of the state, sacked all the elected officials of the local governments in the state. His reason was that the election that brought them into office was done by the previous administration against a subsisting court order. He had asked the sacked officials to challenge his action in court. After removing the chairpersons and councillors from the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas in the state, he went ahead to inaugurate caretaker committees for the councils. In spite of the AGFs directive, the Oyo State Government is adamant, denouncing the meddling of the Minister of Justice. The governor had argued that the AGF could not have intervened in such a matter while it is still a subject of litigation. Advertisements Mr Malamis letter was closely followed by another from the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammad, urging the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to facilitate the reinstatement of the sacked chairpersons and councillors, in view of the legal opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The Oyo State government has also frowned at the directive. While the Oyo State Government had acknowledged the receipt of the letter and had responded to it, other states contacted by PREMIUM TIMES and who are in breach of the same rule, claimed not to have received any letter from the office of the AGF. At the moment, 14 states are in defiance of the Supreme Court judgement on the illegality of using caretaker committees. The states are Oyo, Ondo, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Ogun. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, Umar Gwandu, in response to PREMIUM TIMES inquiry, said the letters were addressed to the 36 states of the federation. He however note that he could not confirm whether the letters were received, despite his assurance that the letters were sent to all the states. The letter was sent to all the governors of the states, all the governors; but the media chose to write only Oyo, stated Mr Gwandu. If you see the copy of the letter sent to Oyo, you will see a paragraph where he referred to all the governors. When told that the states had denied receiving the letters, Mr Gwandu said, I cannot confirm whether it has been received or not received, but I can tell you is that it has been sent. Pressure to comply However, some of the defaulting states are now under pressure to comply with the directive. PREMIUM TIMES investigations revealed that states such as Kogi, Ogun, and Ondo have stepped up plans for local government elections since the directive was issued, while Borno State has no immediate plans to end the caretaker committees, citing reasons of insecurity in the state. On its part, Ondo State has continued to run caretaker committees since the beginning of the Rotimi Akeredolu administration. Mr Akeredolu had on assumption of office in 2017, dissolved the councils, claiming that they were illegally elected into office under former Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who was of the Peoples Democratic Party. On April 3, 2017, he inaugurated caretaker committees for all the 18 local councils to run the affairs of the local governments pending the holding of elections into the councils. Again on October 18, 2018, the governor dissolved the caretaker chairmen and their committees who were party loyalists and inaugurated another one, which was also dissolved on June 13, 2019, before the emplacement of the current ones. As the governor looks forward to seeking a return ticket from the All Progressives Congress for a second term, the state has scheduled local elections for April this year. The Commissioner for Information for the state, Donald Ojogo, however, said the election to of officials into the local councils was well scheduled for April this year before the purported letter of the Attorney-General of the Federation was issued. We had scheduled our local government elections before that purported statement from the attorney-general, Mr Ojogo said. Mr Governor does not believe that non-democratic structures should suffice at the local government level and it is in light of the above that he decided that all the 18 local government areas should be democratized. ODIEC, in line with that directive, decided to issue a statement highlighting the very detailed processes in respect of the local government elections. That has been done over two or three weeks ago. The fact that elections will hold on the 18th of April had sufficed for over three weeks. That of the Attorney-General came just last week, so it has nothing to do with it. Asked why he termed Mr Malamis letter as purported statement, Mr Ojogo said he did so because the letter was not sent to Ondo State. They didnt send it to us, he said. It was sent to a state. I only read it in the newspapers that it was sent to a state, so that is the most appropriate word for me to use. The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, two weeks earlier had inaugurated what he referred to as transition committee to oversee the local governments pending the conduct of elections into the councils. The elected officials concluded their tenures in October 2019, without any transition plan by way of holding elections for new officials to take over from them. Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary the governor, told PREMIUM TIMES that the transition committees would be in place until the Ogun State Electoral Commission (OGSEIC) conducts elections to pick new council chairpersons. He said following the exit of the officials who served out their tenures, there would be a vacuum if committees were not put in place. Mr Somorin said although the Attorney-General of the Federation did not write any letter to the Ogun State Government on the need to emplace elected officials, he said the state government was already putting in place the process that would bring in new elected officials at the local government level. Kogi State has maintained caretaker committees for local governments since 2016 when Governor Yahaya Bello came into office. When he appointed them, he charged that the chairpersons would be addressed as administrators. He renewed their tenures in April, 2018 and a second time using the House of Assembly just before his reelection. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Onogwu Muhammad, said despite the retention of caretaker committees, the governor believes in the local government as a third tier of government. According to Mr Muhammad, holding the elections at a time when there was a financial crisis, was impossible. The governor believes the existence of three tiers of government, said Mr Muhammad, while giving reasons why elections had not been had in the local councils. We came on board at the time when the economy was too hard and there was a paucity of funds, and there was no way we could hold elections for local governments when we could not even pay salaries at that time. We allowed the council officials to complete their tenure, and after they completed their tenure we had no funds to immediately conduct the council elections, so we appointed administrators so that we could muscle funds for the election. It took us a long time to overcome the salary issue, after that we are still battling to ensure that we sustain the payment of salaries as we began in August last year. Right now machinery is in place to conduct the election. In the last four months, preparation of this had started, even before the letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation on local governments came. Mr Muhammad noted that he could not confirm whether a letter from the AGF had been received since a Commissioner for Justice had just been nominated and he would need to be screened by the legislature and confirmed before assuming duties. PREMIUM TIMES can confirm that many states had earlier conducted council elections, which were largely won by the ruling parties. Such states include Adamawa, Rivers, Zamfara, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Jigawa, Niger, Plateau, Osun, Kwara, Kano, Edo and Delta . No immediate plans However, Borno State has no immediate plans to comply with the directive, even though it claimed no letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation was sent to the state. The Commissioner for Information, Bakura Jato, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone that the letter was not supposed to be sent to the states since the case decided on by the Supreme Court did not join other states aside Ekiti State from where the suit emanated. There was no letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation to any state, Mr Jato said. That case was taken to court by the dissolved local government chairmen in Ekiti State. So the interpretation of the Supreme Court was that the governor had no power to dissolve the chairmen until their tenure expires, That case is personal to Ekiti State and no other state was joined as a party. Mr Jato further argued the situation with the local governments in Borno would continue with caretaker committees until the security situation in the region allows for an election. He said some parts of the state were inaccessible due to the security situation, and the state would conduct local council elections once the situation became conducive. In Anambra State, caretaker committees had been in place in the 21 local government areas since the present administration came on board. The state government claims it has yet to receive any letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, attributed the failure to hold local government elections in the state to legal hurdles. Besides, Mr Adinuba said it was improper for the AGF to give directive to the states on the administration of local government in a federal system like Nigerias. He further argued that under number circumstances, the states should decide how the local government system should run and could even decide whether it needed local governments or not. He said a political party had taken the state government to court over the constitution of transition committee for the local government areas and the court of Justice Peter Umeadi who was the then Chief Judge of Anambra State ruled in their favour, asking that an election be held. He said the matter has proceeded to the Supreme Court and until that is disposed of, it would not be possible to hold local government elections in Anambra State. [February 07, 2020] PROPETRO INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of ProPetro Holding Corp. - PUMP Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE: PUMP). On August 8, 2019, the Company disclosed a delay to its second quarter earnings report due to an ongoing review by its audit committee involving improper expense reimbursements of approximately $370,000 to executives, undisclosed related-party transactions, and a potential material weakness in its internal control over disclosure. Then, on October 18, 2019, news agencies reported that the company was the target of an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)") relating to its financial disclosures. Finally, on November 13, 2019, the Company confirmed the SEC investigation and also revealed previously-undisclosed related-party transactions totaling $3.6 million as well as "at least two material weaknesses that resulted in the Company's internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures not being effective as of a prior date." The Company has been sued in a securities class action lawsuit for failing t disclose material information, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ProPetro's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to ProPetro's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ProPetro shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-pump/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005539/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Georges Albert, a student at the Luxembourg Hotel and Tourism School, won the prize for "best cocktail" at Spa in Belgium. The 36th edition of the "European Junior Bartender Competition" took place at the end of January in Spa in Belgium. Candidates, all students in different hotel schools and under 23 years old, hailed from Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The different tests highlight the variety skills bartenders have to master, whether it involves champagne, beer, coffee or cocktails. Competitors had to make and serve two espressos and two cappuccinos, uncork and serve half a bottle of Champagne or serve two beers on tap. When it came to cocktails, this included two parts: mixing a classic cocktail drawn at random, and the creation of cocktail. It was in this final segment that Georges Albert was particularly brilliant, winning the prize for the best cocktail. His creation consisted of Hendrick's Gin, Chartreuse verte, elderflower syrup, lime juice, passionfruit juice, homemade lemonade made from matcha green tea, lime and fresh mint. Across the entire competition, Georges Albert ranked sixth. On the fourth consecutive day of their strike, lawyers of the district bar association on Saturday boycotted the Rashtriya Lok Adalat at the court premises here. The protesting lawyers barricaded the premises where the Rashtriya Lok Adalat was scheduled to take place, district bar association president Sunil Dutt Tyagi told PTI. The strike will continue till our demands of chambers, accidental claim tribunal, trade tax and railway tribunal in the court or collectorate premises are established, Tyagi said. Police tried to convince the advocates to not hinder the Lok Adalat proceedings but the protesters did not retreat. Tyagi said a committee has been constituted which would table their charter of demands in front of the chief justice of Allahabad High Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fresh off a strong showing in this weeks Iowa caucuses, Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, fought off attacks against his experience at Friday nights Democratic debate, saying Americans needed a new and better vision than what Washington, D.C. had provided for decades. Buttigieg, whos clutching a narrow lead in Iowa caucuses with recounts likely, said if voters want the Democratic nominee to be the person with the most Washington experience, hes clearly not their guy. But he argued weve got to move on from the playbook weve relied on in the past and unify this country around a new and better vision. American people from outside Washington, we feel a sense of exhaustion watching the division of political leaders, Buttigieg said to the row of candidates on the Saint Anselm College debate stage. And thats not to take away anything you and other members of Congress and Senate have done. But I see that temptation to walk away from it all in so many people I talk to in communities." Buttigieg, an Afghan war veteran, added that his mix of personal and government experience gave him what it takes to take on President Donald Trump, who refused to serve and needs reminding what serving this country is all about. He also chastised Trump for politicizing this weeks national prayer breakfast in the wake of his impeachment trial acquittal, saying God does not belong to a political party. The important thing for American people to remember: this is 2020 and if the Senate was the jury before, you are the jury now, he said. "The American people are the ones who have the final word on whos president. Biden, who had said that Buttigieg was a good person who had done good things as mayor of a small city, argued that the politics of the past werent so bad under the Obama-Biden administration. Biden touted the Violence Against Women Act, a $900 million recovery bill that put millions of dollars into Buttigiegs city, a chemical weapons ban and his early support for same sex marriage. You have to make sure you have someone who knows how to get things done and lead the free world at the same time, Biden said. Businessman Andrew Yang argued that Democrats should not operate under the belief that Trump was the cause of all problems; rather, he said, Trump is the symptom of a disease that had been brewing for years. As politicians fight over party squabbles, Americans have been losing the entire time, Yang argued. Our communities way of life is disintegrating beneath our feet, he said, citing the automation of jobs, closing of malls and companies like Amazon paying zero in taxes. These are the changes Americans are seeing and feeling around us all day. We have to get done the hard work of curing those problems and then well not just beat Trump, well move our communities forward. On Saturday, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Modi spoke on how the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will benefit Dalits who wanted to escape the religious persecution in Pakistan. Sushil Modi also spoke about how the concept of reservations would continue until everyone takes the onus of helping Dalit candidates achieve independence without a political party's aid. "Until Dalits can win Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha on their own, reservation will continue, even if it takes 100 years. This is the responsibility of everyone," said Sushil Modi. Read: Sushil Modi ready to debate CAA, NRC & NPR In Bihar assembly, demands caste-based census "There is a full effort for a Dalit and Muslim alliance these days but let me tell you, Dalits are going to benefit a lot from CAA. Pakistan's first law minister was Dalit, after partition, he went there to Pakistan and said, that he will not be able to live in India as Dalits faced a lot in India. He joined as a leader of the Muslim league however soon after 4-5 years, he had resigned." Read: Delhi Elections 2020 LIVE Updates: Turnout crawls to 40% at 3.30 PM; Kejriwal in sexism row Sushil Modi quotes Jogendranath Mandal The Deputy CM of Bihar was speaking about Jogendranath Mandal, who was a close aid of Jinnah. Mandal was disillusioned with the caste system in India and had therefore shifted to Pakistan during partition. However soon after, he submitted his resignation to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan citing the perceived "anti-Hindu bias" of Pakistani administration. He had quoted multiple incidents related to social injustice and discrimination towards non-Muslim minorities in his resignation letter. Read: Where was Shaheen Bagh?: Bihar Dy CM Sushil Modi questions silence over Kashmiri Pandits 'Ready to debate on CAA, NRC, NPR' Recently Sushil Modi had also responded to RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav demand for a debate on CAA, NPR, and NRC, in the Bihar assembly. Sushil Modi while speaking to Republic TV said, "On the issues of CAA, NPR and NRC, I would request the Chief Minister to allocate 2-4 days time for debate at the beginning of the budget session of the Bihar Vidhan sabha so that the stand of each party is clear. There should be no confusion." 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Pete Buttigieg says he will be everybody's president: Getty Pete Buttigieg, seeking to become Americas first openly gay president, has said he was saddened after learning a woman in Iowa sought to cancel her vote for him after being told of his sexuality, but said he was running to be her president too. In a video that went viral days after the caucuses, where the former South Bend mayor sneaked past Bernie Sanders to claim victory, a woman was seen displaying surprise when she learned the 38-year-old was gay. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, asks if she can change her vote. Are you saying he has a same-sex partner? Are you kidding? A member of Mr Buttigieg's team seeks to persuade her that the candidates sexuality ought not to matter. The whole point of it is, though, hes a human being, right? Just like you and me, and it shouldnt really matter, said campaign member Nikki van den Heever. After flying to New Hampshire campaigning ahead of Tuesdays primary vote, Mr Buttigieg said on ABC News he wished the woman could see his marriage meant as much to him as it did to any married person. What I want her to know is that Im running to be her president too. Later, he told TMZ he was saddened by her views. Its unfortunate you cant win everybody, but as somebody who got reelected with 80 per cent of the vote in my Indiana city, while Mike Pence was the governor of my state, Ive also seen how many people are able to move beyond prejudices when it comes to elections. This is not the first time Mr Buttigieg has confronted prejudice as he sought elected office. In his 2019 memoir, Shortest Way Home: One Mayors Challenge and a Model for Americas Future, he recounts making the decision to come out as gay before running for reelection in South Bend in 2015. I was well into adulthood before I was prepared to acknowledge the simple fact that I am gay, he wrote in the South Bend Tribune. It took years of struggle and growth for me to recognise that its just a fact of life, like having brown hair, and part of who I am. Story continues Mr Buttigiegs status in the race as the first openly gay candidate of a major party, has frequently been the focus of discussions among his supporters, those who back one of his many rivals, as well as political pundits. While some have said America is too bigoted to elect a gay mayor, others have said his candidacy might be another of Americas glass ceilings considered unbreakable until they shattered, such as Barack Obamas 2008 victory, or Hillary Clinton becoming the first woman nominated for the presidency for a major party in 2016. While Ms Clinton lost the electoral college to Donald Trump, and with it the White House, she beat him in the popular vote by almost three million ballots. Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade, which focuses on many issues of interest to the LGBT+ community, wrote this week: Is America ready for a gay president? Maybe, maybe not. But Buttigieg has changed the narrative around whats possible for openly LGBT+ public officials, in part by confounding Republican bigots with his military service and eloquent speeches about faith. Mr Naff told The Independent he preferred to be hopeful about Mr Buttigiegs candidacy, and suggested the nation was living through a time of change. These changes do not always happen immediately, he said. But we were going through this epic moment in our life time. Mr Buttigieg, who is Christian, married and a military veteran, has not had to place his sexuality at the centre of his campaign for presidency. Some members of the LGBT+ community have criticised him for not being more outspoken on issues. Other commentators have pointed out it was telling the woman in Iowa had no idea about the sexuality of her preferred candidate, until after she had voted for him. Polls commissioned by Politico and published in October suggested half of American voters said they were personally ready for a gay or lesbian president, but were divided as to whether the country was. Around 50 per cent said they were ready to have a gay president, while 37 per cent said they were not. Around 40 per cent said they believed the country was ready to elect someone such as Mr Buttigieg, while 45 per cent said America was not at that point. When The Independent visited South Bend and spoke to both supporters and critics of the former mayor, there were many who had voted for him twice, who believed he could be the break-through candidate. Eilieen Mariani, 50, a teacher who was working on a laptop in a downtown coffee shop, said she liked him and had voted for him. She said she wondered if the nation was ready. I like Pete, she said. Hes progressive, smart and kind. While Mr Buttigieg appears to have won Iowa, and has momentum in New Hampshire, his numbers are not so good in South Carolina and Nevada, which have large African American and Latino populations. Some have suggested homophobia is one reason for him scoring less well among these communities of colour, but many commentators have dismissed such claims as base racism. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University in New York, said Mr Buttigieg was scoring less well among people of colour, because of controversies relating to his tenure as mayor in South Bend. Homophobia is just an easy scapegoat, she said. Black people are no more homophobic than any other group. That does not make any sense. In his comments to ABC News about the disgruntled Iowa voter, Mr Buttigieg said even if he could not change the womans opinion of him, he nevertheless had a message for her. I am still, if Im elected president, going to get up in the morning and try to make the best decisions for her and the people she loves, he said. As I will work to serve every American whether they supported me or not. Read more Buttigieg claims Iowa is going to make him Americas next president How do you say Pete Buttigieg? Trump mocks Buttigieg as whoever the hell that is Joe Biden admits Iowa was a gut punch while attacking Pete Buttigieg Gold standard Iowa poll scrapped after Buttigieg campaign complaint Japanese man who was hospitalised for Pneumonia in Wuhan has died of Novel Coronavirus, Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement. The man who was in his sixties is reportedly the first Japanese person to die from the deadly virus. In China, the epidemic has killed nearly 722 people and infected over 37,000. His disease was labelled as Pneumonia On Saturday, Japanese foreign ministry citing Chinese medical officials revealed that the man was suspected of having been infected from coronavirus but due to difficulties in diagnosing the disease, it was labelled viral pneumonia. An official from the ministry said that this man is potentially the first Japanese to die from coronavirus as the government does not know any other who had died from the deadly virus. Read: US Citizen In Wuhan Dies From Coronavirus Infection, Confirm Officials Read: Coronavirus: 15 Kerala Students Stranded In China's Hubei Reach Kochi News of this death comes as reports about the number of passengers on the quarantined Japanese ship infected from coronavirus jumped to 64 surfaced on Saturday. The affected passengers have been subject to a two-week quarantine period. The latest report comes a day after 41 people were found to have contracted the disease. The outbreak has claimed more than 700 lives and the current number of confirmed cases stand at more than 30,000. Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Japanese Cruise Ship Confirms 3 More Cases Read: Cruise Ship Turned Away By Japan Returns To Taiwan According to reports, Japanese officials have so far tested 280 people on board the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined after an 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong was detected with flu-like symptoms. Test results of six people were released on February 8, in which three people were confirmed to have contracted the virus. Although, the Japanese health ministry did not reveal details about the passengers. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare told an international media outlet that the health screening was commenced by several dozen quarantine officers onboard the vessel that quarantined 2,666 passengers and 1,045 staff members. Further, it was also reported that there were passengers from approximately 56 countries. Seven candidates will face off in New Hampshire just days before the US state holds its primary. Seven United States Democratic presidential candidates face off on Friday night for the eighth debate of the 2020 primary cycle. The debate, hosted by ABC, WMUR-TV, and Apple News, will kick off at 8pm local time (01:00 GMT on Saturday). It is the first of three Democratic primary debates scheduled this month as the race to see which candidate will take on President Donald Trump in the November election heats up. The debate comes as the Democratic Party seeks to clean up the mess caused by the recent Iowa caucuses, in which a technical error delayed results and prompted questions of accuracy. Four days after the Midwestern state kicked off the nominating contest, no winner has been declared. With 100 percent of the precincts reported, Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg were neck and neck. Both candidates have declared themselves the winners. Former Vice President Joe Biden, once considered the Democratic frontrunner nationally, lags in fourth place, behind Senator Elizabeth Warren. The debate is the last chance for the top candidates to face off on one stage before Tuesdays primary in New Hampshire. According to RealClearPoliticss latest average of polls in New Hampshire, Sanders leads with 26.7 percent. Buttigieg has 22 percent and Warren and Biden are tied with 13 percent. As Democratic hopefuls prepare to take the stage, heres all you need to know before Fridays debate. 1. Who will take the stage? Seven of the 11 Democratic candidates have qualified for the debate stage. In addition to Sanders, Biden, Warren and Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, and entrepreneur Andrew Yang will also take the stage. As was the case in previous debates, candidates qualified through a combination of poll results and fundraising amounts. For this debate, candidates needed to poll at five percent or more in four national or early states, or, at seven percent in two qualifying early state polls. In addition, campaigns need to achieve at least 225,000 unique donors. 2. Which candidates will not be on stage? Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg, Hawaii US Congressional Representative Tulsi Gabbard, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Colorado Senator Michael Bennett did not qualify for the podium. 3. What issues will likely come up? Iowa The chaotic breakdown of the Iowa caucus reporting process is sure to come up during the debate as it is a state that traditionally kicks off presidential nominating contests. The deadlocked contest gives both Buttigieg and Sanders a burst of momentum as they seek to pull away from the crowded field. Both have declared themselves the winners, with Buttigieg pointing to the delegate chase and Sanders pointing to the popular vote. Expect candidates to weigh in on the chaos that was Iowa. Biden, who admitted his poor performance in Iowa was a gut punch, will likely have to answer for his dip in the state and the polls. Trump and electability The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday voted to acquit Trump on impeachment charges brought by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. The acquittal was Trumps biggest victory yet over his foes in Congress. Three of the candidates who will be on stage on Friday voted against Trump in the Senate. Trump celebrated his win, while Democrats suggested their investigations into the presidents alleged wrongdoings will continue. As with any debate, Trump is often a unifying topic on stage. Expect no less at Fridays debate as candidates comment on the acquittal. But also expect the candidates to go head-to-head on why they are better positioned to beat Trump in November. Opioid epidemic Many expect candidates to be asked how they will address the opioid epidemic in the US. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, New Hampshire is among the top five states with the highest rates of opioid-involved deaths. About 68 percent of the more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths across the US in 2017 involved an opioid, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sanders v Warren The two longtime friends and colleagues had a tense exchange after the last debate. Warren, who did not shake Sanderss outstretched hand, accused Sanders of calling her a liar on national television, Sanders responded that it was Warren who called him a liar and said they should not talk about the issue right then. The interaction came after Warren said Sanders told her in private in 2018 that a woman could not win the presidency. Sanders has repeatedly denied making the comment. The pair, who have similar platforms, usually do not go after each other on the stage. With the race now in high gear, it remains to be seen whether they will team up on Friday night or join in any attacks on one another. Sanders v Buttigieg The two early leaders, Buttigieg and Sanders, are separated by 40 years in age and conflicting ideologies. Sanders is a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist, and has been a progressive powerhouse for decades. Buttigieg, a 38-year-old former municipal official, represents the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Expect the moderators and candidates themselves attempt to draw on the two hopefuls weaknesses. 4. What about Trump? Trump has been relishing in the Democratic turmoil and his Senate acquittal. The Democrats, they cant count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your healthcare system, Trump said at a White House event Thursday celebrating his impeachment trial acquittal. Think of that no, think of that. Expect the president to take to Twitter to rail against the Democrats on Friday night. 5. When is the next debate? The next debate is scheduled for February 19 and will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, just before that state holds its primary. Hong Kong: Quarantine arrangement set (To watch the video with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Government today explained its new 14-day quarantine arrangement to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Starting February 8, the Department of Health will issue quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places. People meeting this criteria shall stay at home or other accommodation for a 14-day compulsory quarantine. The policy includes people who have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong, even if they entered the city via other places. This applies to those who have not developed any symptoms and passed temperature checks upon entry. Those showing symptoms will be referred to the department for further handling. Travellers without a valid visa for a 14-day period will be denied entry. For non-Hong Kong residents who have arranged to stay at hotels or other dwellings, they will conduct quarantine at the concerned hotels or dwellings. If those under compulsory quarantine are not able to arrange accommodation, the Government will provide quarantine at a temporary accommodation. At this afternoons press conference, Secretary for Food & Health Sophia Chan said the goal of the policy is to safeguard the public. The objective of this mandatory home quarantine, with the legal backing, is to reduce the cross-boundary flow of people as well as to reduce the transmissibility of the virus within the community. The mandatory quarantine for 14 days, as the Chief Secretary alluded to earlier, there are a number of checks and medical surveillance, looking into the condition of quarantine at home. But the whole idea is for this person to stay at home and not go out, so that in case they are carrying any virus, it would not be transmitted to the rest of the community. So thats the whole idea. Prof Chan further explained that those under quarantine will be monitored by the Department of Health. Other than all of these initial explanation packs, health education and telephone calls provided to the client, there will be spot checks, random checks to see whether this person is at home. Of course the condition of this person - whether for example they are running a temperature or they have any clinical signs and symptoms of not feeling well - would be checked and also for them to record themselves. There will be periodic checks by the Department of Health colleagues to monitor the situation. Prof Chan appealed to those placed in confinement to exercise self-discipline, stressing it will take a concerted effort to combat the virus. Of course, self-discipline is the most important because the whole idea is not to hold the person at home and have a lot of guards outside and so on. So it is not this. Self-discipline and then having everyone in Hong Kong fighting together for this infectious disease is the most important. This story has been published on: 2020-02-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Delhi polls: Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Saturday evening after exit polls predicted a landslide victory for Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections. Reports suggest that the party's national chief JP Nadda, along with other party leaders including Vijay Goel, Prakash Javadekar, Hardeep Singh and Nityanand Rai, are also present at the meeting. Exit polls projected AAP returning to power in the national capital with a clear majority, whereas BJP is likely to remain a distant second. According to India Today-Axis My India exit poll, AAP is set to win 59-68 seats, whereas BJP might be limited to 2-11 seats. While BJP might improve its seat tally in comparison to the last Assembly elections in Delhi. ALSO READ: Delhi Exit Poll Live Updates: India Today-Axis My India predicts another landslide victory for AAP The BJP had left no stone unturned while canvassing for the Delhi Assembly elections. Around 240 BJP MPs, 70 union ministers and even several chief ministers campaigned for several days in the national capital. Shah himself conducted door-to-door campaigns ahead of polls in Delhi. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari claimed that all exit polls will be proved wrong on the result day, February 11. In a tweet, he stated that BJP will form the next government in Delhi with 48 seats. ALSO READ: Delhi Exit poll: Who will win Delhi election? Kejriwal's AAP likely to make hat-trick Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 21:15:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A snowstorm hitting Lebanon on Saturday has blocked roads in different regions of the country, a local media outlet reported. The snowstorm was so heavy that civil defense was called in to save cars stuck in the snow, said Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. Also, the strong wind, low temperature, and heavy rain paralyzed navigation and fishing activities in southern Lebanon. Dubbed Karim, the snowstorm is expected to be accompanied by high wind speed on Saturday evening, which may lead to the collapse of billboards and the formation of ice layers at altitudes of 600 meters, according to the weather forecast of Beirut's airport. The snowstorm is expected to subside on Monday, according to weather forecasts. Hong Kong has 25 confirmed cases with one patient who died earlier this week. (Photo: AFP/Anthony WALLACE) In a major escalation of its battle against the new coronavirus, the international finance hub has said anyone arriving from the mainland from Saturday will have to undergo 14 days compulsory quarantine. Officials hope the new measures will virtually halt all cross-border traffic while allowing the city to remain stocked with food and goods from the mainland where the virus has killed more than 600 people. Cabinet ministers unveiled the quarantine plans just six hours before the new policy was due to come on. Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China will be allowed to self-quarantine at home. Chinese and international visitors will be able to self-quarantine at hotels or any other accommodation they have arranged. "If they cannot arrange accommodation, they will be taken to the temporary facilities prepared by the government," health secretary Sophia Chan said. Anyone who has been to mainland China in the past 14 days and then flies into Hong Kong from another destination will also be quarantined. Officials - backed by volunteers from the civil service and some students - will conduct spot checks or make daily phone calls to ensure people were staying at home. Those caught breaking their quarantine face up to six months in jail and a HK$25,000 (US$3,200) fine. "We will be stopping a lot of people with the new measures," Security Minister John Lee said. PANIC BUYING The new regulations have been enacted under a sweeping emergency law that allows city leaders to bypass the legislature during a disease outbreak. Exemptions would be made for a variety of key jobs, including flight and shipping crews as well as cross border truck drivers to ensure goods and food keep coming into the city. Hong Kong has been hit by a wave of panic-buying in recent days with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of crucial goods such as toilet paper, hand sanitiser, rice and pasta. The government has blamed false online rumours of shortages, saying supplies are stable. "The problem of supply shortage doesn't exist," said Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung. "Citizens do not need to worry or make excessive purchases out of panic. I urge the public not to believe in rumours." The new coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan at the end of last year has killed more than 630 people and spread around the world. The latest figures from China show there are more than 30,000 people infected there. Outside mainland China, there have been more than 320 infections reported in two dozen countries. Hong Kong has 25 confirmed cases with one patient who died earlier this week. Many of the newer infections have no history of travel to mainland China, prompting fears that the city now has a local self-sustaining outbreak. There have been growing calls for the border with China to be sealed entirely. Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leadership, which currently has record low approval ratings after months of protests, had been reluctant to make such a move. Thousands of medical workers, including some doctors and nurses, have been on strike this week in a bid to force the government to entirely seal the border. On Friday, hundreds of union members occupied the offices of the Hospital Authority. Late Friday the union called off its strike. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. You will need to purchase shares before the 13th of February to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 28th of February. CF Industries Holdings's next dividend payment will be US$0.30 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$1.20 per share. Based on the last year's worth of payments, CF Industries Holdings stock has a trailing yield of around 2.8% on the current share price of $42.17. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether CF Industries Holdings's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to investigate whether CF Industries Holdings can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. Check out our latest analysis for CF Industries Holdings Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. CF Industries Holdings is paying out an acceptable 55% of its profit, a common payout level among most companies. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 27% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:CF Historical Dividend Yield, February 8th 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. Readers will understand then, why we're concerned to see CF Industries Holdings's earnings per share have dropped 15% a year over the past five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks. Story continues The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the last ten years, CF Industries Holdings has lifted its dividend by approximately 31% a year on average. That's interesting, but the combination of a growing dividend despite declining earnings can typically only be achieved by paying out more of the company's profits. This can be valuable for shareholders, but it can't go on forever. To Sum It Up From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid CF Industries Holdings? The payout ratios are within a reasonable range, implying the dividend may be sustainable. Declining earnings are a serious concern, however, and could pose a threat to the dividend in future. Overall, it's hard to get excited about CF Industries Holdings from a dividend perspective. Ever wonder what the future holds for CF Industries Holdings? See what the 20 analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. A brave grandfather shielded his wife from gunfire after an attacker opened fire on the couple outside their home. Yusuf Kucukbas and his wife, who live in Sunbury, in Melbourne, were coming home from a wedding at about 1am on Saturday when they were ambushed by the shooter. The masked attacker aimed the gun at Mr Kucukbas's wife before shooting Mr Kucukbas in the leg and running away. The 56-year-old, who owns popular takeaway Cheeky Kebab, was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Yusuf Kucukbas (pictured) was shot in the leg after shielding his wife from a masked shooter outside their home Yusuf Kucukbas and his wife were about to step into their Belleview Drive home (pictured) in Melbourne about 1am on Friday, when they were ambushed by the shooter Police believe two men were involved in the attack and are treating it as a random incident. 'At this stage we have no indication of who it (the offenders) might be,' Detective Senior Constable Mark Walsh told the Herald Sun. 'There's nothing to indicate an underlying motive as to why this has occurred,' he said. A silver or white 4WD with covered number plates was seen around the area before the attack took place. Mr Walsh said this further indicated that the attack was in fact 'a planned incident'. Neighbours told the publication that Mr Kucukbas's family were 'nice, normal and hard-working'. Mr Kucukbas suffered a shot wound to the leg and blood was seen outside the house (pictured) Web move: Boss Bernard Looney's post on Instagram Oil giant BP's plans to go green will be undermined by its Russian partner Rosneft's poor record on the environment and human rights, major shareholder groups have warned. Since his appointment last week, new boss Bernard Looney has posted pictures on Instagram of the company's electric car charging points and spoken of how seriously he takes the 'climate crisis'. On Wednesday, he is expected to set out plans for a substantial shift to green energy at a presentation to the City. BP is keen to keep its $15.7 billion stake in Russian state-controlled Rosneft in the seismic transition to a low-carbon business not least because it says the shareholding underpins 10 per cent of BP's own dividend payouts. But research by The Mail on Sunday has uncovered a series of damaging human rights and environmental failings at Rosneft which experts said last night will increase the pressure on BP to offload its stake. On human rights, using the respected Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) ratings system which tracks the activities of 200 major global companies including blue-chip British firms such as Unilever and Marks & Spencer BP scored 53.9 out of 100 overall. Rival firm Shell scored 57.1 and Glencore, a miner which is under investigation for bribery, came in at 46.1. However, Rosneft managed an overall score of just 32.7. Worse still it was one of 95 global companies that scored zero for human rights 'due diligence' which includes managing the risks and keeping track of potential incidents. BP scored 70. The CHRB report said Rosneft reported 18 fatalities in 2018. In 2014, two of its engineers were jailed in connection with an explosion at the Achinsk oil refinery in Eastern Siberia which killed eight people. Poor pipeline operation safety was blamed. Rosneft's poor performance has prompted a coalition of US investors called the Investor Alliance for Human Rights to write to Rosneft's board, which includes former BP boss Bob Dudley, to urge them to 'do better'. BP is also under fire from Greenpeace, which protested outside the company's St James's HQ in Central London on Looney's first day as boss last week. It said Rosneft was responsible for 4,253 oil spills from their pipelines in 2018 more than half of all oil pipeline spills in Russia for that year. In charge: BP's new broom Bernard Looney A Greenpeace spokesman said: 'BP's work in Russia in connection with Rosneft undermines their work on climate change. It shows their focus remains on increasing oil production around the world.' Joe Brooks, of investor pressure group ShareAction, added: 'Bernard Looney will have to reconcile continued exploration and production of oil and gas with a commitment to prove that BP's strategy is aligned with the Paris climate goals. 'The future of BP's stake in Rosneft should come into question.' The Mail on Sunday revealed last weekend that pressure was mounting on BP to ditch its 19.75 per cent Rosneft stake to keep paying its bumper dividend, which is the third highest in the FTSE 100. Analysts warned that shifting to a more climate-friendly business model could hurt profits. They suggested that cashing in on Rosneft would help to smooth the transition without hammering shareholders. Dutch shareholder action group Follow This, which represents more than 5,300 shareholders in oil firms, filed a resolution to BP last November calling on it to include so-called Scope 3 emissions those coming from the fuel it sells to customers in its carbon reduction targets. Green vision: BP became a shareholder in Rosneft through a deal led by Bob Dudley BP has previously resisted this move despite major shareholder M&G Investments voting for the resolution at last year's AGM. But rival oil majors Equinor, Shell, Total and Repsol have adopted Scope 3 emissions targets, and Looney is expected to follow suit when he sets out his low-carbon strategy this week. BP became a shareholder in Rosneft through a 2013 deal led by former chief executive Bob Dudley. At the time BP was still reeling from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the move stabilised the firm. But a former adviser to Rosneft, who asked to remain anonymous, said BP has 'no leverage' over Rosneft or its chief executive, Igor Sechin. The only way BP can generate better returns from Rosneft, the source claimed, is by investing 'additional billions' in joint ventures. When Dudley ran the firm's previous Russian venture TNK-BP, relations with his Russian partners broke down and he was forced to flee Moscow after suffering 'sustained harassment'. The source added: 'If Russia's relations with Britain were better, BP could get much better deals. Meanwhile, better deals will go to China and India.' Last week, Dudley defended BP's interest in Rosneft as he bowed out as chief executive after a decade. Rosneft, which is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, last week put out a statement saying its human rights rating recognised the firm as 'the best among other Russian producers'. Basit, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, was thrashed by the accused, Aditya (24), while they were returning home from a wedding Jaipur: A 17-year-old Kashmiri boy, who worked at a catering firm in Jaipur, died after allegedly being beaten by his colleague over a petty issue, police said on Friday. An investigation into the incident was launched and the accused arrested, the police said. Basit, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, was thrashed by the accused, Aditya (24), while they were returning home from a wedding in a pick-up van on Wednesday night, said Jaipur Police Commissioner Anand Srivastava. An argument broke out between the two after Aditya stopped Basit from tapping the windowpane of the vehicle. Aditya then thrashed Basit but other employees intervened and the two returned to their seats, the officer said. Basit reached his rented accommodation and complained of vomiting and his friends took him to SMS hospital in the morning, the commissioner said. Doctors performed surgery to treat Basit, but he showed no signs of improvement and died on Thursday night, the officer said. The body was handed over to family members after a post-mortem and they have left for Kashmir, he said. Transition Years at Fingal Community College are engaging with a social project called Young Social Innovators. They have chosen the topic of immigration and have been spreading awareness about various cultures in our community and the struggle of asylum seekers who are living in Ireland in Direct Provision. The students organised a Culture Day in the Swords school last week, to showcase all the amazing variety of cultures and ethnicities in the school. There was over 70 students representing 15 countries around the world including Russia, Spain, the Congo, Philippines and Lithuania. This initiative was student led and all year groups had an opportunity to go and see presentations, taste some home cooked food, see some national costumes and hear some traditional music from around the world. It was a memorable day for the whole school and great credit is due to the students who came up with initiaitve and executed it with great flair. This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited's (HKG:2727) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. What is Shanghai Electric Group's P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 10.25. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 9.8%. Check out our latest analysis for Shanghai Electric Group How Do I Calculate Shanghai Electric Group's Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Shanghai Electric Group: P/E of 10.25 = CNY2.10 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CNY0.20 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.) Is A High P/E Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each CNY1 of company earnings. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. How Does Shanghai Electric Group's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. As you can see below, Shanghai Electric Group has a higher P/E than the average company (8.6) in the electrical industry. SEHK:2727 Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 8th 2020 That means that the market expects Shanghai Electric Group will outperform other companies in its industry. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases. Story continues Shanghai Electric Group saw earnings per share improve by -4.2% last year. And its annual EPS growth rate over 5 years is 4.0%. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). How Does Shanghai Electric Group's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? With net cash of CN7.0b, Shanghai Electric Group has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 11% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio. The Bottom Line On Shanghai Electric Group's P/E Ratio Shanghai Electric Group has a P/E of 10.3. That's around the same as the average in the HK market, which is 9.9. Earnings improved over the last year. And the net cash position gives the company many options. The average P/E suggests the market isn't overly optimistic, though. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. You might be able to find a better buy than Shanghai Electric Group. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Airlines, it's fair to say, are going through a rough time. On top of the environmental backlash led by 17-year-old activist Greta Thunberg and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, domestic carrier Flybe has had to seek a highly controversial Government bailout and taxpayers funded the biggest ever peacetime repatriation of Britons when Thomas Cook went bust last autumn. But despite these very public troubles for the industry, Wizz Air boss Jozsef Varadi is convinced air travel's heyday is far from over. In fact, the 54-year-old Hungarian says air travel can and must play a big part in the future of global business and leisure. The key is bosses waking up to rapidly changing attitudes among climate-conscious passengers by cleaning up their act. Tough: Wizz Air boss Jozsef Varadi says airlines should not be bailed out Varadi, who grew up in Hungary when it was controlled by the Soviets, has an extremely clear vision on what that should mean in practice. And it has nothing to do with the sort of overbearing state interference on air travel so often advocated by eco-warriors. 'We need to look at how the whole industry operates in terms of technology and our processes to create something that is much more efficient,' he explains. The first step, he says, is improving air traffic control to minimise the amount of time airplanes spend in the sky. 'Air navigation is a huge problem and that should be better managed,' he says. 'You come to Heathrow and almost without exception you will be put on hold [in the air]. And while you are circling around, you are burning fuel. So why can't that be better coordinated? 'And often air traffic controllers go on strike. Then we get rerouted, keeping the airplane in the air for up to half an hour extra. It just doesn't make any sense and you are just polluting the environment for nothing.' The second step and perhaps most controversial would be an all-out ban on business-class seats for short trips. Either that or punitive taxes to make them prohibitively expensive, says Varadi. 'Why the hell do you have to fly business class for one hour or two hours in Europe?' he says. 'When you are on business class, your footprint is going to be two or three times larger than economy class. I would just simply ban that.' And finally, he thinks the industry must start ploughing money into new technology. Flying high: Jozsef Varadi says Wizz Air is one of the greenest airlines because it has young, fuel-efficient airplanes The holy grail for air travel would be electric engines for planes. It may seem like a long way off, but Varadi is confident it's on the horizon. 'We need to keep challenging ourselves as an industry, and push ourselves to find new technologies to reduce that [environmental] impact,' he adds. All of these efforts would be underpinned by new environmental standards for airlines. Varadi says there is currently no way to compare airlines' environmental performance. 'I would welcome an initiative where you label airlines, so you know as a consumer what choice you are making,' he says. He says Wizz Air a low-cost challenger to Ryanair is one of the greenest airlines because it has young, fuel-efficient airplanes. 'I want to make the claim that we have the lowest environmental impact. But we need some measurements to make that claim transparent to the market and consumers.' Varadi's view on climate change also reflects his disdain for the more established airlines which he says have older, more polluting planes and out-of-date technology. He strongly believes these companies should be allowed to go out of business to make room for younger rivals. So was it wrong for the UK Government to step in to save regional airline Flybe? Varadi doesn't mince his words. 'If an airline is not fit to compete, and is not fit to cover its financial obligations, that airline has to go out of business,' he says. 'It is a mistake by governments to intervene and unfortunately we are seeing more of that the UK Government bailing out Flybe, the German government bailing out Condor. The market is a very strong force and it can sort things out. If you are an efficient player, then you are going to win, and if you are an inefficient player, you are going to go out of business.' Varadi co-founded Wizz Air in 2003 and has built it into a FTSE 250 company flying 40 million customers a year, of which 10 million come from the UK. It made profits of 247 million on revenues of 2 billion last year and surpassed Ryanair as the airline with the lowest operating costs in Europe. Varadi's attack on the Flybe bailout is even more significant given his past. After he left as chief executive of state-owned Malev Hungarian Airlines to set up Wizz Air, his former company went bust. Varadi says the collapse of Malev was for the best. 'Four hours after Malev went bust, its rivals had put on more flights than had been lost by the collapse. This is how quickly the market reacts,' he says. 'Back then, Budapest airport had eight million passengers a year now it is pushing 20 million. The country benefited because the industry grew faster.' Varadi's staunch support for the powers of free market capitalism is personal. His father was thrown in jail for rising up against the Communists in the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and then received a lifetime ban on working in professional jobs. He says: 'My family had a tough life, and their circumstances were bad because of this. We had food to eat, but we had no luxuries in life. I didn't get on an airplane until I was 26.' But, he laughs, he's been catching up ever since. The evangelical church at the centre of the Wrightbus scandal has reported a surplus of almost 3m in the last year, it can be revealed. Green Pastures Church, which is situated in Galgorm outside Ballymena, has posted its annual accounts to Companies House which show it had a total income of 3.98m in the last financial year. At the same time, the document shows that the church spent almost 1.17m, leaving it with a net surplus of 2.8m. This contributed to the funding of the church's construction of a new facility, according to the report. It has also revealed that the value of the capital assets belonging to the church stood at 21m at the end of April last year. According to the accounts, Green Pastures Church, which is classified as a charity meaning it is eligible for rates relief, received more than 3.8m in charitable donations over the 12-month period. It does not provide any detail on the source of the donations. Protests were staged outside Green Pastures Church in the weeks after Wrightbus went into administration with debts of 60m and the loss of 1,200 jobs. The company was founded by Sir William Wright, and it was his son, Jeff Wright, who controlled the Wright group at the time of its demise last year. He is also a pastor at Green Pastures Church. There was anger after it emerged that the Green Pastures Charity received charitable donations of around 15m over a six-year period through the Cornerstone Group, which ultimately controls Wrights Group. At the time, some workers expressed their concern that the donations had weakened the business. While hundreds of workers and their families staged a peaceful protest outside the church, Mr Wright addressed the congregation inside and said: "My heart for the company and its people means more to me than the vicious comments and the intimidation that my family have received in the last week. "But I have learned from dad that there's a time to speak and a time to be silent." The preacher later revealed his family received death threats following the collapse of the business. Meanwhile, his father stopped to speak to some of the protesters outside the church as he arrived for the service and was applauded by many of them. The directors' report for Green Pastures Church, which was submitted to Companies House on January 31, said it welcomed more than 60,000 people of all ages to services every Sunday over the last financial year. In addition to this, it said there were many more people who took part in various ministry activities during the week. It continued: "We celebrated with 89 people who came to a new faith in Jesus Christ, 38% of whom actively engaged in a discipleship programme, and 62 people were baptised throughout the year. "The church also provided regular and accessible pastoral care, not only to its 900-plus adult members, but also to the wider community. "During the reporting period, the church had 493 active volunteers contributing an estimated 40,000 plus volunteer hours toward its charitable aims. "A significant portion of this investment is focused on community work, some of which is in connection with our partner charity, Connect Ministries. "The church also continued to progress its vision for the 97-acre site in the south of Ballymena. "The Gateway Project exists for the benefit of the local area, particularly Ballymena, and seeks to be a blessing to our city by providing social value and helping to stimulate the spiritual, social and economic regeneration. "The company plans to continue its activities in the forthcoming years." The report continued: "The church's desire is to be a reflection of God's heart through a vibrant 21st century church. "We are committed to building a spirit-filled people who are inspired by Christ enjoying us, enjoying Him. "A people who are driven by compassion to reach lost and hurting people, and to be a transforming presence in the communities we serve. "The income of Green Pastures, The People's Church, is testament to the lovely giving heart of its people and to God's promise that if we act in faith with careful planning, He will release His provision." Wrightbus had been in business for about 70 years, and was best known for manufacturing the red double-decker London bus, when it collapsed in September last year. It was subsequently bought by the Bamford Bus Company. It has since emerged that creditors of the bus building company were likely to receive no more than 3% of what they were owed. Islamabad, Feb 8 : Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, who was responsible for the terror attacks on activist Malala Yousafzai and at the Peshawar Army School, escaped from the custody of the Pakistan Army during an anti-terror operation being conducted on the basis of information extracted from him, a news report said on Saturday. In an audio recording released on Thursday and shared via an online private messaging platform, Ehsanullah claimed that he along with his family had managed to escape from the custody of Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies on January 11. Ehsanullah, who became the spokesperson for the breakaway Jamaatul Ahrar faction after the TTP split, had voluntarily turned himself in to the intelligence agencies on February 5, 2017 - and remained in custody even since. He had shared extremely sensitive and important information while in custody, which led the security forces to smash the local and international networks of the TTP and Jamaatul Ahrar, The Express Tribune quoted informed sources as saying. Several terrorists from the outlawed groups were arrested based on his leads, they added. But Ehsanullah escaped during one such operation against terrorists, the sources said, adding that "some operations are still under way based on the information" shared by the former TTP spokesman. The development came a day after netizens on Friday set off a storm of speculation about the audio recording initially posted on Facebook and then shared on other social networking sites in which he claimed to have escaped, The Express Tribune reported. The authenticity of the clip has yet to be verified, though the voice appears to be similar to that of Ehsanullah's. There has been no official word on the audio clip or the alleged escape. Ehsanullah is responsible for several terror attacks in Pakistan and had a bounty of $ 1 million on him. In 2012, he was involved in the attack on Malala, when she was shot in the head for defying Taliban diktats and pursuing her education, while highlighting the atrocities of the militant outfit. He is also a prime accused in the 2014 attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar which killed 134 school children and 15 staff members. Ehsanullah was involved in the suicide bombing of Shiites in Rawalpindi and Karachi, killing of nine foreign tourists and their guide in Gilgit-Baltistan area, twin blasts targeting peace committee volunteers in Mohmand agency, suicide attack near the Wagah border and the 2016 bombing of an Easter gathering in a Lahore park that killed at least 75 people and injured more than 300 others. Isaac Emokpae is a Nigerian visual artist, painter, and photographer whose works focus on duality and abstract expressionism. His late father, Erhabor Emokpae, was a notable Nigerian painter and sculptor popularly regarded as one of the pioneers of modern arts in Nigeria. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he speaks about the gradual extinction of painting in Nigeria as well as his artistic journey. PT: Whats a typical creative process like for you? Isaac: Most of my work always starts with my writing. I take a notebook and start writing. I write everything that I think of or when I hear about something. The next step is to try to illustrate it. Thats why I have writings here on the floor because most of the things that come to my head are just words that cant be put into pictures. Other things are translating emotions and making it appear real. Then, of course, evaluating the location to make sure that the medium I have is right. For example, looking around and thinking can it work? Is it good enough? Is it fun enough? You have to take cognizance of the location as well. PT: Have you always wanted to be an artist? Isaac: Being an artist wasnt my first choice, to be honest. When I was younger, I wanted to separate myself from my fathers shadows so I started studying medicine. But along the line, I realised that I wasnt cut out to be a doctor. Ive had mentors that helped me through the process, even though it wasnt my initial choice but I came back to it. I started out studying medicine at the University of Ibadan but ended up studying Creative Arts at the University of Lagos. PT: What was it like transiting from medicine to the creative arts? Isaac: This happened in the early 90s. My dad had an influence because of how much he did and achieved in his time. I just had to leave his shadow. He wasnt around to essentially guide me, at the time that I could have used some of his advice. It still worked out well. PT: How do you describe yourself? Isaac: I actually just call myself an artist. We draw lines where there are no lines. In our culture, there are no words for the arts. You do beautiful work and youre celebrated for doing it. But you cant name the work. Creativity is like a force of interest. Creativity sometimes can behave like a baby. If you see something you want, it begins to go after it. It does not care whether your life is facing another direction. It will draw you every day, to face that direction. So Ill describe myself as an artist. PT: Would you say that growing up in the house of a legend rubbed off on you? Isaac: Yes, it did. Watching my dad when I was growing up helped me realise that I wanted to be an artist. Like I said, because of the circumstances of his passing, by the time when I had questions about myself, there was really no one I could ask. The choices made would sound like I had decided something but in truth, there were actually still questions but there was no one to help me navigate those choices. My mum was there and she encouraged me either way. Fortunately, when I said I wasnt going to be happy for the rest of my life as a doctor, she said, I told you, this was what youre meant to do. So, I have no regrets. One of Isaac Emokpaes works PT: Do you also strongly combine poetic depth with artistic flair like your dad? Isaac: I think I do the same to a large extent. For starters, the principle he always talked about is part of me. He was fascinated by art and so am I. It is a useful way of trying to describe your mind. They are playing out a system where everything struggles to balance themselves, to balance, there must be an opposition kind of. That is what we illustrate. PT: Any major differences too? Isaac: Well, he was more of a sculptor than I am. I dont do sculptures as much as he did. He did a lot of sculptures. I do photography quite a lot. PT: Which gives you more joy between painting and photography? Isaac: Its actually between writing and painting because its very personal. Whenever I make portraits, I can assure you that that is the first time anyone has ever seen it. Paintings are becoming lost arts in Nigeria. We have more that is being done mechanically now. Things that we take for granted because it is always there, one day well wake up and its not there again. I remember when I started doing photography, it was film and film just quietly died and we cant remember it again. Theres a typewriter in my installation here, when I got it, I was testing it and the guy selling it said its like you know how to use this thing. I said, of course, we did business studies and I learned how to type. He said people now press it like a computer. You just realise that oh wow, there was a time like that. Times like that will come when people dont know what typewriters are for or what digital cameras are for. PT: What does the gradual extinction of painting in Nigeria portend for your industry? Isaac: If you master traditional art and you use it a lot like music, for example, people use local instruments to spice up normal words. If people realise that this thing is made by machine, it is difficult to leave a long-lasting impression. PT: What are some of your memorable work moments? Isaac: To be able to reap rewards from your work as an artist is a very fulfilling thing. The trend in the world now is that the world is responding to intellectual properties like never before. Africans have been able to generate one thing, intellectual properties. The world is now more attuned to what Africa is doing. Without proving too far a point, if youre working as a creative in Africa now, you shouldnt get restless because this is the time it gets better. It is possible to live a decent life as an artist now because when you look at our film and music industry, youll say, for example, that you cant compare Wizkid with Fela because the latter is a legend. But the earnings that people have now, the people we call legend never got that in their time. Not like they were suffering but they are even richer in death. Advertisements PT: Whats your creative partnership with RnB Communications tagged Idea Loom all about? Isaac Emokpaes work on display Isaac: Idea Loom represents how everybodys point of view comes together to generate a variety of networks but also a cohesive theme at the end. Even when things are crisscrossing, they are not necessarily opposing themselves. It is a divergent point of view for certain things at certain times. The first in its series, The Idea Loom is my interpretation of the synergy between R&B Communications and its publics; a unique call for unison, harmony, and sustainability in business. The Idea Loom is a homage to ideas; a celebration of thought and its power, which when properly weaved and harnessed can achieve great and far-reaching consequences. Threads run across the workspace with significant meaning as I use them to represent the interconnectivity of the human experience at work and in personal relationships. By The Associated Press Feb. 07, 2020 | 08:38 AM | WASHINGTON Long before Donald Trumps impeachment landed in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had one piece of advice for the president: Focus on the House. Gin it up. Use maximum effort. Make sure Republicans are united. And leave the Senate to him. The Republican leader encouraged the president not to turn attention on wayward GOP senators, like Mitt Romney, who were troubled by Trumps actions toward Ukraine, but to stir the partisan passions of the House. It was the GOP leader's central strategy to produce as partisan an impeachment as possible -- too polarizing for any centrists to touch -- to secure Republican acquittal in the Senate. He understood right from the start, this was crooked politics, said Trump, singling McConnell out for praise Thursday at the White House. You did a fantastic job. In the aftermath of only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, McConnells power over the Senate is now without doubt. His approach reflects the times of the Trump era, but also is shaping them. Even before the senators even took the oath to uphold impartial justice, it was all but over. The Senate would have nowhere near the two-thirds majority needed to convict the president. McConnell announced he was not an impartial juror, but one working closely with the White House, and few strayed from his plan for speedy acquittal. The Kentucky Republican may be less Master of the Senate, as historian Robert Caro indelibly labeled Lyndon B. Johnson, than master of a Senate that is being transformed in the age of Trump. McConnells political brand centers on being an institutionalist, a keeper of traditions of the Senate he yearned to join since young adulthood. Yet in leading the majority, he is breaking old norms, introducing new ones and capitalizing on Trump's hold over the party. Much like the way he rewrote the Senate rules to ensure confirmation of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on largely party-line votes, McConnell became the architect of a presidential impeachment trial that drifted from precedent. It was first without new witnesses or Senate deliberations, a shift for the chamber long heralded as the world's greatest deliberative body. Far from preserving the Senates historic role, McConnell is demonstrably changing it. Mitch McConnell, from the beginning, sided with the president in conceiving the entire impeachment process as illegitimate, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical professor of history at New York University, and co-author of a book on impeachment. The Senate is often referred to as a cooling saucer, tempering the House heat. McConnell drew on that tradition to impress on senators their historic role in cooling the House's partisan passions. "House Democrats may have descended into pure factionalism, but the United States Senate must not," he said on the eve of the trial. The Senate was designed to stabilize our institutions. To break partisan fevers. To stop short-term passions from destroying our long-term future, McConnell told them. After McConnell encouraged the president to fire-up partisan fervor in the House to ensure a party-line impeachment vote in December, the Senate followed suit, delivering the first party-line presidential acquittal in the nations history. The passions that he should have been cooling in the Senate were the Republican partisan passions of the House, Naftali said. Romney was the only Republican to cross party lines to convict. Ahead of the trial, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he tried three times to engage McConnell on terms before the House's articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate. But he says he was rebuffed. I said, Mitch, whenever yourre ready, I want to sit down and talk, Schumer told The Associated Press. I got no bites. When McConnell presented GOP senators with his own plan for organizing the trial, he found little dissent. He had been discussing it privately with them for months. The main objection was his proposed 12-hour sessions, so a hand-scribbled change allowed for shorter days. It was an easy fix. By the time the trial was ready to begin, "Hes already finished, said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell aide. Its the hallmark of his career. It wasn't all McConnell's doing that brought Republicans in line. Trump maintains an extraordinary hold on his party. And Democrats own partisan passions against the president made it easier for Republicans to defend him. The House approved the articles of impeachment in December on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's disciplined timeline, resulting in in the quickest, most partisan impeachment vote in history. Once the trial began, GOP senators soured on the first day when Schumer protested McConnell's refusal to allow more witnesses, forcing a series of midnight votes that some Republicans saw as overtly partisan. When Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., asked Chief Justice John Roberts during the trial if he would cast a tie-breaking vote, one key centrist, GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, was done. "Enough," she said later, announcing she would not vote to convict, blaming all sides for what she viewed as a new partisan low. Trent Lott, the Republican Senate leader during then-President Bill Clinton's impeachment two decades ago, acknowledges times are different than when his party joined with Democrats to acquit the president of charges stemming from a sex scandal at the White House. One thing thats different we had a center, Lott said in an interview. "The center has just disappeared."' What McConnell rarely did, though, throughout the months long impeachment inquiry, was publicly dispute the facts of the case against Trump. Democrats say Trump pressured a fragile ally, Ukraine, to conduct political investigations of Democratic rival Joe Biden, or risk losing its U.S. military aid. He then obstructed Congress as it probed a whistleblower's complaint about it. A half-dozen Republican senators spoke of their unease with the president's actions. Wrong," said Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander. Shameful," said Murkowski. Susan Collins, Marco Rubio, Rob Portman and others called his behavior inappropriate. But they also said the charges didn't rise to impeachable offenses and it would be better to let the voters in the 2020 election decide. McConnell and Trump both face re-election in fall. Ahead of Wednesday's vote, McConnell told his colleagues, The United States Senate was made for moments like this. Then, without further debate, the Senate voted to acquit. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. The Head of Iran's Space Organization on Saturday said launching the Zafar satellite into orbit has been delayed "in order not to sacrifice accuracy to swiftness" while the Spokesman of Iranian Defense Ministry's Space Department maintained that the satellite will be launched "at the first opportunity when everything is prepared". Morteza Barari who heads Iran's Space Organization and is also the Secretary of Iran's Space High Council did not explain the details but claimed that Zafar which was scheduled to be launched last week has passed all tests and there are "no issues for putting it in orbit". On Friday in a tweet Barari had said that more than 100 reporters, as well as a large group of elite students, were waiting at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan Province to witness the launch. State officials including Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari-Jahromi last week said the launch of Zafar [Victory] satellite was imminent. Zafar was expected to be launched on the National Space Technology Day in Iran (14th of Bahman in Iranian calendar) which falls on February 8 this year. The National Space Technology Day has been celebrated by unveiling new satellite models since February 2, 2009 when Iran's first satellite called Omid (Hope) was launched. Last year, three attempts to launch a satellite by Iran failed, with one explosion on the launch pad. An earlier report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on January 26 quoted Azari-Jahromi as saying Tehran planned to launch six satellites into orbit this year, including the Zafar 1 and 2. IRNA described the Zafar 1 and 2 as communication satellites aimed at broadcasting a single message to all users, establishing one-way voice communication between two users and sending a message to 256 direct users. Officials at the Iranian Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (ITC) say it took 80 Iranian engineers three years to build the satellite which is to be launched into space with a Simorgh satellite carrier missile. The United States has accused Iran of using its satellite launch program as a cover for developing long-range ballistic missiles. Srinagar, Feb 8 : An Indian soldier was killed as Pakistan violated the LoC ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday evening, defence officials said. According to a defence statement, Pakistani troops initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation at around 3.45 p.m. by firing small arms and mortar shells along the Line of Control (LoC) in Degwar sector of Poonch, killing the Indian soldier. "Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," the statement said. In the coming weeks famed West Kerry musician Breanndan Begley will submit yet another application to Kerry County Council seeking planning permission for a small house on his land in Baile na bPoc. The application will begin the 13th year of his quest for planning permission, which so far has yielded nothing but frustration and the threat of jail and massive fines over a 'log cabin' style mobile home that he lives in on the site. The mobile cabin, built on a truck chassis, was intended to serve as a temporary home while Breanndan went through the process of securing planning permission for a permanent house on his site. However, the cabin was deemed an unauthorised development by Kerry County Council and for most of the five years that Breanndan has lived there he has faced the threat of jail or a fine of up to 12.6 million or both for failing to comply with orders to remove it. Until he has a new house to move into, Breanndan will neither abandon his temporary home nor pay any fine. This leaves jail as the remaining option and it holds no fear over him. "I'll willingly accept my artist in residency in Mountjoy. I have a few things I want to compose," he told The Kerryman. The jail threat is just one of many low points in Breanndan's long-running campaign to secure planning permission for a modest house on land that was farmed by his father and grandfather before him in Baile na bPoc. It has been a campaign, marked by frustration and failure, that has left Breanndan at a loss to comprehend the logic of the planning system. The musician, television presenter, adventurer and former teacher couldn't have imagined the saga that would unfold when he first applied in 2008 for planning permission for a house designed in the style of the cottages to be found on the Great Blasket Island. He felt confident that he met the aspirations and requirements of the Kerry County Development Plan when he submitted his initial planning application. He was a native of Baile na bPoc and a native Irish speaker seeking to build on his own land in a gaeltacht area. He planned to build a house that was in keeping with the vernacular architecture of the rural area and there were no objections to the application. But things didn't work out as Breanndan hoped and so began a debilitating routine of planning applications that were modified and re-modified followed by refusal after refusal. At the end of it all he can't understand why he won't be allowed build in a village that had a population of 235 people before the Famine and is now reduced to a mere dozen or so locals. He even has a map from 1840 showing a house on "the exact spot" where he wants to build. Neither can he understand why one small house can make such a difference when the landscape of West Kerry is peppered with houses, over a third of them holiday homes in which a light rarely glows. "They turned me down because the [planning application] notice was too high, because it was too low because the notice was hand-written rather than printed... There was a problem another time because I had a caravan parked on the site," he recalls. "I was told that I had failed to prove I was from the locality. I had to get a letter from the Parish Priest, who was the same age as myself, to say I was a local," he added.The great irony in this is that Baile na bPoc is known to the world outside the narrow confines of West Kerry because the Begley family of famed traditional musicians come from there. However, Breanndan still had to get a letter from the priest. As the tedious cycle of application and rejection dragged on Breanndan put up a mobile home on his roadside site in June 2015, believing this would require no planning permission. He didn't go for a conventional mobile home but instead built what looks like a wooden cabin mounted on a truck chassis. The structure, which was designed in consultation with environmentalist Duncan Stewart, is entirely passive - water comes from a well, sewage goes to a bio-toilet specially imported from Sweden, it needs only minimal heating and it's designed to blend into the landscape. In fact it is so well concealed in a hollow scooped out of the sloping field that it is almost invisible from the road. The mobile was intended as a temporary stop-gap until Breanndan got planning permission for a permanent house, and because it was mounted on a truck chassis that could be towed he felt confident he was on the right side of the planning regulations. However, Kerry County Council deemed the structure an 'unauthorised development' and ordered Breanndan to remove it. Last March Breanndan sought planning permission to retain the mobile home, including with his application a petition signed by dozens of locals as well as a raft of letters of support from the arts and cultural community in Ireland and abroad. There were no objections to the application for planning permission, but again it was unsuccessful. The council planning officer who examined the application stated that "the proposal is for the retention of a living unit/log cabin type structure located on what appears to be a moveable base/trailer on a site located in a Rural Area within the line of Protected Views and Prospects. The applicant has had two pre planning meetings, both with negative outcomes and has submitted four previous applications for a dwelling on site all which have been refused permission mainly on grounds of visual impact. One such application . was appealed to An Bord Pleanala who also refused for reasons relating to visual impact A refusal of permission is again recommended." The Council accepted the recommendation and in May informed Breanndan that his application was refused, principally because: "The structure would be unduly obtrusive on the landscape and would seriously injure the visual amenities and natural beauty of the area. The proposed development would extend and consolidate the pattern of and set a precedent for undesirable ribbon development of an excessive density and of a suburban nature in an exposed and sensitive rural setting. The structure would therefore interfere with the character of the landscape, which is necessary to preserve in accordance with the Kerry County Development Plan. In June Breanndan appealed the council's decision to An Bord Pleanala, stating among other things that the impact on the landscape would be eliminated, that he had a genuine housing need, that his place within his community was deep rooted, and that his contribution to and preservation of the cultural and linguistic heritage of Corca Dhuibhne was well documented. In August the appeal to An Bord Pleanala was withdrawn and in November Breanndan submitted a new application seeking permission to build a permanent stone-fronted cottage and to remove the mobile cabin. That application was withdrawn after the council pointed out a technical failure - the site notice had got wet and was illegible. In the next week or two Breanndan will submit a new application in the hope that he will finally get permission to build in the townland where his people have lived for generations. "This world of planning is all new to me. All I want to do is build a house that I can live in. An ait a tsaolaionn and t-ean is a fearr leis a bheith [A bird prefers to be in the place where he was born]," he says. Breanndan's experience has left him with the view that the council's planning policies have room for improvement - to put it politely. He can look out from Baile na bPoc and see houses scattered across the landscape, farm buildings that stand out against the skyline, houses that got planning permission in areas prone to flooding, and it makes no sense to him that a wooden cabin, let alone a house built in the style of a Blasket Island cottage, could "seriously injure the visual amenities and natural beauty of the area". "Kerry County Council has about ten arms and they're all pulling against each other. What's suffering as a result is not the tourists, not the cows but the Kerry people," he says. Tangled web of priorities surrounds rural planning Throughout West Kerry houses dot the landscape, ribbon development is widespread, mini housing estates stand out on hillsides, over a third of the houses are holiday homes with vacant windows staring out on the majestic scenery. It's not easy to discern any plan or pattern; the houses might just as well have fallen randomly out of the sky. Some of these houses pre-date planning regulations, some come from the time when county councillors could use the power of a Section 4 Motion (later called a Section 140 Motion) to force a planning application through the system regardless of the views of planning officials, many more were built during the boom years. Yet, even though the sprawl of houses across the countryside might give the impression of a planning free-for-all, the kind of difficulties Breanndan Begley has encountered in his efforts to build a house on his own land are familiar to many in West Kerry where planning remains a contentious issue. Since the Local Government Reform Act of 2014 curtailed the use of Section 140 Motions, planners have been freed from councillors canvassing on behalf of their constituents. Planners now refer to the Kerry County Development Plan 2015 - 2021 as the basis for their decisions and it takes a successful appeal to An Bord Pleanala to force a change of tack. While planning applications can by rejected for a very wide number of reason, two are frequently cited in West Kerry: 'injurious to the landscape' and 'extending an undesirable pattern of ribbon development'. In an area as scenic as West Kerry it's difficult for any house to have no impact on the landscape and even though the County Development Plan provides design guidelines for blending houses into a rural setting, following the guidelines is no guarantee of success with a planning application. Meanwhile, the ribbon development that planners now want to avoid was previously allowed spread across West Kerry to such an extent that it's difficult to find any roadside site that doesn't add to it. Both the impact on the landscape and undesirable ribbon development were cited by the council when it rejected Breandan's planning application last year. However, retired consulting engineer Jim Ryan, who supports Breanndan's planning application, believes that in coming to this decision the council is failing on another commitment: to "promote the use of Irish within the wider community and provide linguistic support for the gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking community". "The County Development Plan includes aspirations about maintaining and developing gaeltacht areas. But how can you foster these areas when somebody like Breanndan can't get planning permission on his own land?" he said. Jim Ryan also argues that Breanndan's house would fall within the existing settlement of Baile na bPoc and therefore should not be considered as an extension to ribbon development. Set against this the County Development Plan points out that, "the difficulty for the Planning Authority is that the rural landscape can only accommodate a certain number of such houses before irreparable and irreversible damage is done" It would seem that Breanndan Begley's hopes of living among his own people are bogged down in the very uncertain ground between this harsh assessment and the council's aspirations about supporting rural (gaeltacht) communities. And he is not alone, but the difference between Breanndan and others who have gone down the same road is that he isn't giving up. As voting for the Delhi assembly elections ended on Saturday evening, five exit polls predicted a comfortable victory for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal with the party expected to win anything between 47 seats (Times Now-Ipsos poll), which was the lowest estimate, to 68 seats (India Today-Axis poll), which was the highest estimate, in the assembly of 70 members. Most polls expected the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to improve its performance from the last assembly elections, when it won just three seats, but the party was far behind the incumbent. The lowest estimate for the party was two seats (India Today-Axis) and the highest 23 (Times Now-Ipsos). The Congress, all polls suggested, would come a distant third either failing to secure any seat, according to two polls, or, at best, winning three seats (ABP News-CVoter). Hindustan Times did not conduct any exit poll and cannot independently vouch for the methodology and the outcome of the different exit polls. Polls have also, in the past, read results wrong though they have usually succeeded in capturing the larger trend. The official results will be out on February 11. Voting on Saturday happened in the backdrop of an acrimonious campaign over the past few weeks. Delhi appeared to see a dip in voter turnout compared to the 2015 assembly polls, when a record 67.47% voters exercised their choice. On Saturday, according to the Election Commission, the turnout was 61.7%. But this is a provisional figure, subject to change when the final figures are released on Sunday. Over the course of the past month, the AAP focused mainly on the issues of local leadership, projecting Kejriwal as the CM, and fought the elections on its governance record particularly improvements in public health, government schools, and providing electricity and water at subsidised rates. The BJP sought votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and banked heavily on polarisation, as it made the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, particularly in Shaheen Bagh, a central poll issue and alleged that the AAP was backing the Muslim-dominated protests. The India Today-Axis poll, which has a credible record in predicting recent elections both at the national and state level, estimated that the AAP would win anywhere between 59 and 68 seats, and gave the BJP between two to 11 seats. The Congress, according to Axis, would not win any seat. Axis also provided a regional break-up of the city giving the AAP 9-10 seats in east Delhi, 9-10 in south Delhi, 9-10 seats in New Delhi, 7-9 seats in north-east Delhi, 9-10 seats in Chandni Chowk, 7-9 in north-west Delhi, and 9-10 seats in west Delhi. This indicates support across demographic segments, caste groups, urban and rural pockets, and classes for the AAP. Among other surveys, the ABP-C Voter poll gave 51-65 seats to AAP and 3-17 seats to the BJP; the Republic-Jan ki Baat poll gave AAP 48-61 seats and BJP 9-21; the Times Now-Ipsos poll gave AAP 47 and BJP 23 seats; and the News X-Neta poll gave 53-57 seats to AAP and 11-17 seats to the BJP. All parties, however, continued to project confidence. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari rejected the exit polls. In a tweet in Hindi, he said, All exit polls will fall flat. Save this tweet of mine. The BJP will form the government in Delhi by winning 48 seats. Kindly do not blame the EVMs {electronic voting machines} and look for alternate excuses. Deputy chief minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said that the party was winning with a big margin. I thank all the party workers and volunteers who tirelessly worked for the AAP in this election. Congress partys national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that exit polls are only indicators, and there are several instances where these have horribly gone wrong. In Haryana, one exit poll was giving us two seats but we ended up winning 31 seats there. You can never truly know what the voter is thinking, he said. The AAP and BJP each held meetings on Saturday evening to discuss the exit polls. Commenting on the exit polls, Milan Vaishnav, political scientist and the director of the South Asia programme of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, If the exit polls hold true, this will be a significant victory for the AAP and, correspondingly, a big defeat for the BJP. The less said about the Congress performance the better. Vaishnav added that BJP ran one of the most polarising elections in recent memory, ranging from fear-mongering about Pakistan to outright incitement. The fact that such polarisation did not work will give succour to the Opposition. In the AAP, one saw a campaign uniquely fought on the back of programmatic development and public goods a rarity in India. He pointed out that the outcome if the polls hold true also shows that the BJP did not thrive as a challenger in the city. In recent memory, the BJP has done well to topple existing incumbents; it has fared less well when it was an incumbent itself. But Vaishnav added that it was important to look at the big picture. Lets not forget, Delhi is not representative of the Union and the lessons of this election cannot be simply extrapolated to the nation. Diplomatic sources said Moncef Baati went further than President Kais Saied wanted in his criticism of Trumps plan. Tunisia has fired its ambassador to the United Nations after accusing him of failing to consult the foreign ministry on key issues, which diplomatic sources said included US President Donal Trumps controversial Middle East peace plan. Tunisias ambassador to the United Nations has been dismissed for purely professional reasons concerning his weak performance and lack of coordination with the ministry on important matters under discussion at the UN, a foreign ministry statement said. Diplomatic sources believe that Ambassador Moncef Baati, who has occupied a seat at the UN Security Council since the start of the year, had gone further than President Kais Saied wanted in his criticism of Trumps long-delayed peace plan. Saied, a political outsider who took office in November after a surprise election victory, was concerned that Baatis expressions of support for the Palestinians risked damaging Tunisias relations with the US, the sources said. It was quite a shock to hear that. I dont know all the details, the reason behind this, Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve of Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said of the firing. He was a very good colleague and I really very much regret to see him leave, he added. Another diplomat and member of the Security Council, who did not wish to be identified, said Baati was the right person to negotiate a resolution wanted by the Palestinians. Baatis swift recall to Tunis meant that he missed a closed-door briefing to the Security Council on Thursday by the US plans architect, Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The US plan proposes to allow Israel to annex all its illegal settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley. The Palestinian Authority (PA) government wants an independent state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. After the briefing, Kushner blamed PA President Mahmoud Abbas for a spike in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since the plan was unveiled on January 28. Abbas calls for days of rage in response and he said that even before he saw the plan, Kushner told reporters in New York. Abbas is due at the UN next week to oppose the plan and demand adherence to international law. The Palestinian leadership hopes to push for a Security Council resolution condemning the Trump plan, but any text will almost certainly be vetoed by the US. A veteran diplomat, Baati was in retirement last year when he was asked to return to active duty and represent Tunisia at the UN. 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 Burger Fuel Group Limited (NZSE:BFG). Burger Fuel Group has a ROE of 10%, based on the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every NZ$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn NZ$0.10. View our latest analysis for Burger Fuel Group How Do You Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for Burger Fuel Group: 10% = NZ$1.1m NZ$11m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets. What Does ROE Signify? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. Does Burger Fuel Group 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. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Burger Fuel Group has a similar ROE to the average in the Hospitality industry classification (10%). Story continues NZSE:BFG Past Revenue and Net Income, February 7th 2020 That's not overly surprising. ROE doesn't tell us if the share price is low, but it can inform us to the nature of the business. For those looking for a bargain, other factors may be more important. I will like Burger Fuel Group better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. How Does Debt Impact ROE? Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Burger Fuel Group's Debt And Its 10% ROE Shareholders will be pleased to learn that Burger Fuel Group has not one iota of net debt! Its solid ROE indicates a good business, especially when you consider it is not using leverage. After all, when a company has a strong balance sheet, it can often find ways to invest in growth, even if it takes some time. In Summary Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. Check the past profit growth by Burger Fuel Group by looking at this visualization of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfree list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Criterion Edition A bill sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque), SB 139 or the Medical Marijuana Qualified Patient bill, intends to clarify that persons who are eligible for enrollment in the state medical cannabis program must be residents of New Mexico. As noted in coverage by New Mexico Political Report, The Senate Public Affairs Committee voted in favor of passing SB 139. The sole dissenting vote was cast by Sen. Jeff Steinborn, (D-Las Cruces), who played a sort of legislative devils advocate, positing the notion that the state of New Mexico could offer Texansand presumably residents of all other US states without a medical cannabis program of their ownthe opportunity to take advantage of cannabis medical benefits. In practical terms, SB 139 would amend the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act by shoring up the definition of key terms related to the state medical cannabis program, namely by defining a qualified patient as a resident of New Mexico who has been diagnosed by a practitioner as having a debilitating medical condition and has received written certification and a registry identification card pursuant to the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. The bill also defines a reciprocal participant as an individual who holds proof of authorization to participate in the medical cannabis program of another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or commonwealth of the United States or a New Mexico Indian nation, tribe or pueblo. SB 139 now awaits approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Situating Anxiety Stateside, the pace of reforming cannabis lawfrom decriminalizing possession to providing medical access via state programs all the way up to legalizing recreational adult usemay still frustrate American cannabis advocates but in a lot of places outside the US, things are still worse. International newcomers to the cause of cannabis law reform include Canada and Uruguay, with legal recreational access and the longtime cannabis cultures of Amsterdam and Jamaica. As reported by VICE correspondent Manisha Krishnan in The Worst Places in the World to Get Busted with Weed, There are [still] many countries that consider weed evil, as dangerous as meth and heroin, while consumers are vilified and written off as addicts. Depending on how much a person is caught with, serious jail time or even the death penalty is a possible punishment. For instance, in Indonesia, cannabis is classed as a Group 1 drug, alongside cocaine, crystal meth and heroin, and punishment ranges from a maximum of four years in prison for personal use to anywhere from five years to a life sentence for possession of distribution quantities. While Malaysia is looking into reforming cannabis law, drug traffickersthose caught with over 200 grams (a little more than 7 ounces) of cannabispossession of cannabis is currently punishable by at least five years in jail and cultivation of a single cannabis plant could mean life in prison. To learn more about cannabis possession penalties in destinations ranging from Japan, Thailand and Singapore to the UK and United Arab Emirates, read Krishnans article here. A 26-year-old man acquitted in one murder and serving time for another has now pleaded guilty in a separate killing at a Birmingham nightclub. Jimbroski Quantez Peterson this week pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of provocation manslaughter in the 2017 shooting death of Maurice Morris at the then-Onyx Lounge. The deadly shooting happened Oct. 15, 2017 in the back-patio area of the club near Legion Field about 2:45 a.m. that Sunday. Authorities said the suspect walked up to the 31-year-old Morris, a father of five, and fired one shot, striking Morris in the chest. Morris then ran inside the club and collapsed near the front door. He was taken to Princeton Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Peterson was initially arrested Nov. 4, 2017 in connection with the death of Morris. Prior to Petersons arrest, police announced a murder charge against 23-year-old Taneria McGlown in Morris death. The charge against McGlown was dismissed in December 2017. Acquitted in 2013 Bessemer homicide Peterson in February 2015 was found not guilty in the June 19, 2013 shooting death of a Bessemer man who had identified his killers in a dying declaration. Peterson and another man, Ronald Ross, had been charged in the shooting death of 28-year-old Jimmy Bernard Hannah. The shooting happened in the 2700 block of Carolina Terrace in Bessemer. Hannah had identified Peterson and Ross as his killers with his dying words, police had said. Ross pleaded guilty in April 2015 to manslaughter in the case and was sentenced to a 20-year-old split sentence and five years of probation, with credit for time served in jail. Pleaded guilty to manslaughter 2013 Birmingham robbery, homicide In 2016, Peterson pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the May 17, 2013 shooting and robbery of Arthur Green III on Rayfield Drive in Birmingham. Initially charged with capital murder, Peterson was able to avoid a possible death sentence with his manslaughter plea. Prosecutors at the time said that a witness had disappeared in the case and thats what led to the plea deal. They said neither they, nor Greens family, was happy with the plea deal but it was the only way to guarantee that Peterson would be held accountable for his crime. In that case, Peterson was sentenced to a 20-year split sentence with three years to serve and five years of probation. According to court records, he violated his probation with a drug charge. The remainder of his 17- year sentence was put into effect, with two years to serve in the Jefferson County Community Corrections Program. Just a few days later, however, he was charged with murder in Morris slaying. Back to prison after latest guilty plea A Birmingham police detective testified that three people identified Peterson as the person who shot Morris, and each also identified him through a photo lineup. One of the witnesses initially identified someone else on Facebook. The shooting was caught on video, but the camera angle was not sufficient to get an independent ID of the shooter. In the video, the victim and the defendant are engaged in a verbal altercation. Morris begins to throw a punch, and Peterson pulls a gun and fires a single shot. After his arrest in the Morris murder, Peterson was removed from community corrections and sent back to state prison for the killing of Green. He is eligible for parole in that case in March of 2022. Jury selection in the Morris case was completed on Tuesday and testimony was set to begin Wednesday. Despite there being numerous people inside the club when the shooting occurred, only one witness who was willing to come forward and testify, said Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Julie McMakin. Then, the morning testimony was to start, the witness notified prosecutors that (the witness) felt threatened by the defendants supporters when leaving the courtroom the previous evening. "The witness was not going to coming to court, and would not testify,'' McMakin said. We made repeated attempts to contact the witness and bring him/her to court but were not able to get in touch with the witness. Without the witness, who up to that point had been cooperative, prosecutors were faced with either resolving the case or a dismissal due to the witness refusing to testify. "We met with Maurices family and when faced with the decision of reaching a plea agreement or facing dismissal, the family agreed that they would rather hear Peterson admit that he killed Maurice than allow him to go back to prison having not been held accountable for what he had done to their family,'' the prosecutor said. Neither Maurices family nor the District Attorneys Office is satisfied with the outcome of this case. Our cases are only as strong as the witnesses we can present at trial, and every person in that club who refused to cooperate bears some responsibility for the outcome of this case. With his guilty plea this week, Peterson has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Morris case, to run concurrent with his previous sentence. He also was ordered to pay $10,427 in restitution to cover Morris funeral costs. Jefferson County Jail records show Peterson was sent back to state prison on Friday. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.8 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 8. 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. The Mumbai Police have beefed up security for the Maharashtra Navnirman Senas (MNS) Sunday rally at Azad Maidan, anticipating a huge crowd will take part. At the rally which police said will start from Hindu Gymkhana, proceed to Vardhaman Chowk and end at Azad Maidaan MNS activists will demand the ouster of illegal Bangladesh and Pakistan immigrants. Police, in a statement, said they will use drones and the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera network to keep an eye on the rally. Mumbai Police will press into action service officers and police constables from the region, while combat teams such as Quick Response Team, Riot Control team, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) will be kept on stand-by. An additional 600 policemen will be part of the bandobast, read the statement. Plain-clothed policemen will also be deployed. Parking arrangements have been made at the BEST bus depot and Parsi Gymkhana, said Mumbai Police spokesperson Pranay Ashok. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When amiskwaciy Academy opened 20 years ago, it was considered groundbreaking and still is, says principal Fred Hines. "We're very proud of who we are and what we do here," he says. Hines has been at the helm of the Grade 7 to 12 Edmonton public school, which is steeped in Indigenous language, culture and traditions, for the last decade. You can see more from amiskwaciy Academy on Our Edmonton Sunday at 3 p.m. and Monday and Friday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV and the CBC GEM. "We have strong academy programming, but we also want to make sure our kids are getting strong cultural teaching," Hines said. The academy, on the grounds of what was Edmonton's city centre airport, was the first Indigenous public high school of its kind in Canada when it opened two decades ago. Adrienne Lamb/CBC About 200 students from across Western Canada attend the school. Founding principal Phyllis Cardinal died in 2016 but the academy is part of her legacy. In 2000, only a quarter of Indigenous students in Alberta were graduating high school. Cardinal believed students needed to learn together from Indigenous teachers. The school's name, amiskwaciy, with a lower-case a, is the Cree word for Beaver Hills. The Cree called the Edmonton area Beaver Hills House. The academy has a sweat lodge in the courtyard, a teepee in the cafeteria and smudging ceremonies in tradition rooms. "This school really helped to adjust my mindset, taking my education to further levels," said Shaunteya English Eagle Child, a Grade 12 student set to graduate this year. Originally from the Kainai Nation, Treaty 7, near Lethbridge, Alta., the 18-year-old says before moving to the academy she was bullied. "When I transferred over to amiskwaciy, all of that dissolved. We walk down the hallway we see traditional words, we talk to each other using our languages and we can understand one another," she said. The school day starts the same way, everyday, the morning song with drum and rattle, English Eagle Child said. Story continues Adrienne Lamb/CBC "That encourages me to get to school every single day on time because I don't like to miss it. It's really become a part of me." For Larissa De La Salle, being a student at amiskwaciy has encourages her to explore her artistic side. "That's where l learned how to bead," she said sporting a pair of earrings she crafted. "These are actually the second pair I made, it was hard at first, but after awhile it gets really easy and it kind of just calms you down," said De La Salle, 17. The Grade 12 student said she knew little of her culture or her family's past before attending amiskwaciy. Now De La Salle can trace her connections to both the Elizabeth and Peavine Metis settlements in central Alberta. She said the bond between staff, elders and students at amiskwaciy is strong. "I consider everyone here family," De Le Salle said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 01:55:22|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Syrian soldiers are seen in the town of al-Eis in the southern countryside of Aleppo province, Syria, on Feb. 9, 2020. The army forces captured the town of al-Eis, one of the important areas in the army's quest to fully secure the Damascus-Aleppo highway, on Saturday. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces captured a strategic town in the south of Aleppo province in northern Syria on Saturday, a war monitor reported. The army forces captured the town of al-Eis, one of the important areas in the army's quest to fully secure the Damascus-Aleppo highway, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The Syrian government, backed by its ally Russia, has kept up a military offensive in Idlib province and the southern Aleppo countryside, aimed at securing the strategic highway that runs along the rebel-controlled territory. DAVISON, MI -- A jury convicted a former Davison Middle School student of a 20-year felony for making threats to shoot up the school, according to the Genesee County Prosecutors Office. A police investigation was conducted in May 2019 after numerous students made complaints that a 7th grader had been talking daily about shooting up the school cafeteria using a rifle and pistol and that he had made a map of the lunch room, Prosecutor David Leyton said in a news release. Davison police were given consent by the students father to search the familys home where they found several rifles and a pistol which were collected by the police for safe keeping. The student had also made concerning posts on Instagram including references to the trenchcoat mafia, according to the investigation and testimony at trial. The trenchcoat mafia is a term connected with the two individuals who killed twelve students and one teacher in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the news release explains. The student was suspended and later expelled from Davison schools. The court remanded him to the Genesee Valley Regional Center, a high secure juvenile detention facility pending his sentencing later this month. School shooting threats are "no joke and will be dealt with seriously by my office, Leyton said. The student testified that he did not intend to carry out his threats and that his statements were being misinterpreted, according to Leyton . I have said it before -- I am not going to second guess someones motives or intentions; if threats are made, we will take them at face value, Leyton said. He said he is thankful the situation was resolved without incident after several students and parents spoke out and alerted school officials of the threats. Advertisement The researchers, whose work is funded by the National Cancer Institute, developed an agent that can target certain receptors -- in this case, chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The receptor is overexpressed in common metastasis organs, such as the liver, among people who have cancer.The CXCR4 targeted protein-based MRI contrast agent is expected to overcome major barriers in early diagnosis by showing even tiny instances of cancer cells on multi-color scans called precision MRI (pMRI), a new imaging methodology.Using MRI technology, contrast agents carry the element gadolinium to enhance the images. During her previous work analyzing calcium, Yang decided to test how a metal, like gadolinium, would interact with protein. The protein wraps around the element and carries it to the site for imaging. Yang's team found that protein design is much more effective in targeting the signs of disease."Currently, it is difficult to see early stages of disease in the liver, even in invasive biopsy," said Yang. "Diagnostic testing using this contrast agent can not only identify the presence of disease but differentiate the stages of disease with high sensitivity and accuracy. That's the beauty of this work."The findings are so promising, the targeted protein contrast agent is now being fast-tracked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first step toward clinical trials to gauge its efficacy in humans."We have already met with the FDA, so we have a blueprint," said Yang. "We hope within 18 months to two years we can conduct our first clinical trials in patents."Yang, who is also the associate director of the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, holds 17 U.S. and 18 foreign patents in protein engineering. She recently became the university's first professor to be awarded a fellowship by the National Academy of Inventors. Her start-up company InLighta Biosciences has been a key channel to allow her to compete for important funding and bring new discoveries to the marketplace.The research builds on a 2019 study published in the journal Nature Communications, in which Yang's team identified the first early detection of liver fibrosis using a collagen-targeted protein contrast agent. Combined, these studies represent the work of more than a dozen scientists from universities across the U.S., and their discoveries could help transform a $300 million industry that has seen few advances in the past several decades."We have been using the same contrast agents for 30 years with few breakthroughs," said Yang. "I think this is my biggest scientific contribution. And I hope there are many more to come."Source: Eurekalert Re: Winning Tenure, in Court (ZZ) [:][ananpig] , 2020020810:52:42 ,, APP 0 [:1 ] ananpig board=Faculty&u=ananpig [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [ 1 ] : ananpig ( ), : Faculty : Re: Winning Tenure, in Court (ZZ) : BBS (Sat Feb 8 10:52:54 2020, ) jiaos rogue1 (MT Sinai School of Medicine) : : https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/09/30/california-appeals-court- : sides-professor-tenure-denial-case : California appeals court sides with professor in tenure-denial case, : agreeing that San Francisco State retaliated against her for speaking out : about bullying and possible discrimination. : By Colleen Flaherty : September 30, 2019 : Rashmi Gupta : A California appeals court last week upheld a jurys earlier verdict that : San Francisco State University retaliated against a professor in denying her : ................... -- :BBS mitbbs.com [FROM: 24.] pacific board=Faculty&u=pacific [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [ 2 ] : pacific (hh), : Faculty : Re: Winning Tenure, in Court (ZZ) : BBS (Sat Feb 8 11:23:00 2020, ) -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 134.] biosynthesis board=Faculty&u=biosynthesis [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [ 3 ] : biosynthesis (biosynthesis), : Faculty : Re: Winning Tenure, in Court (ZZ) : BBS (Sun Feb 9 03:39:38 2020, ) rogue1 (MT Sinai School of Medicine) : : https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/09/30/california-appeals-court- : sides-professor-tenure-denial-case : California appeals court sides with professor in tenure-denial case, : agreeing that San Francisco State retaliated against her for speaking out : about bullying and possible discrimination. : By Colleen Flaherty : September 30, 2019 : Rashmi Gupta : A California appeals court last week upheld a jurys earlier verdict that : San Francisco State University retaliated against a professor in denying her : ................... -- iPhone 1.24.11 -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 98.] [:1 ] 0 [] [ ] [] After the dramatic turn of events inside the Bigg Boss house, things will get even more dramatic as it inches closer towards the finale. If sources are to be believed, the last weekend ka vaar is going to be an interesting one. Salman Khan will slam Paras Chhabra for canceling every single task and not being a sport. Colors TV He will also slam Asim for adding medicine in Aarti's tea so that she could fail the task. Like always, Salman will again scold the contestants for failing tasks and not taking Bigg Boss seriously. Voot Apart from Salman Khan grilling the contestants on the 'shell' task, Journalist Rajat Sharma too will enter the house with a set of questions. Rajat will begin grilling Salman Khan first. Pictures of Rajat questioning Salman are doing the rounds on the internet. When Rajat Sharma was asked why he chose to enter and grill the contestants, he said, Who are you supporting in this season of Bigg Boss? Tell us in the comments below! United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Donald Trump's son-in-law and architect of the new US peace plan for the Middle East, Jared Kushner, has called on the UN Security Council to break its "habits" and solve the "hardest problem in the world", in a rare interview. Kushner on Thursday presented the US peace plan to the UN Security Council, using maps and graphics to illustrate his contention that the parallel developments of Israeli settlements and Palestinian aspirations would lead to a point of no return for the creation of a Palestinian state. Several countries, including Britain and Belgium, said the meeting was "very interesting", while a diplomat said some members of the Security Council were given the US plan in the form of a large book, signed by Kushner. "People want to see fresh thinking and progress," Kushner told reporters from six media outlets, including AFP. "We are having very constructive discussions with everyone and we want to work together with the Council and other countries to make progress." "What we are doing is just trying to fight against habits. People have been in a habit for so long of just saying the same things, putting out the same statements," he said. - "A ton of cracks" - The plan's recent publication has caused a "ton of cracks" in the approach taken by several states, Kushner said, pointing in particular to the European Union, which he said "was not able to get a consensual statement" about the proposal. He also said members of the Arab League had either been neutral or supportive of the ideas and he had seen "very few critical statements". "We are able to convince more and more people that this is the way to go. People are tired of this issue, they realize that it's in their national interest to see a resolution," he added. The US plan retains a two-state solution and proposes making Abu Dis -- a run-down neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem -- the capital of a Palestinian state. Palestinians however want all of east Jerusalem to be the capital of any future state. Story continues The US proposal also gives consent for Israel to annex Israeli settlements as well as the Jordan Valley, a narrow strip of land much of which is inside the West Bank, a key part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967. Asked whether Israel could be flexible on the question of east Jerusalem, Kushner said that was up to the two parties themselves to decide. "This was what we were able to get Israel to agree to as a starting point to have negotiations on the basis of. The only way to find out what flexibility Israel will have is for the Palestinians to sit at the table and try to negotiate," he said. The plan "may be the last chance" for the Palestinians to have a state, he added, which is "why it's important to move forward with a recognition deal in exchange for a freeze" on Israeli settlements. Kushner said a US-Israeli commission will be set up to look more closely at how a contiguous Palestinian state could be created, but said that would be difficult to achieve. - "High principles" - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas "does have a responsibility" for a spike in violence in Israel over the last few days, after the peace plan was unveiled, Kushner said, while signalling the door to negotiation remains open. "If the Palestinians come to the table maybe there is some flexibility from the Israeli government," he said. A Palestinian-backed resolution condemning the US plan is set for a vote in the UN on Tuesday, where Kushner expected to hear "the same tired talking points". "The most constructive thing they can do is go line by line and take things they agree with and things they don't agree with. "People who are ready to have a state don't go out and call for Days of Rage and encourage their people to pursue violence if they are not getting what they want," he said. Kushner also accused Abbas of not wanting to reach a peace deal, saying he had met him four times. "I never felt like he was willing to get into details either because he is not a detail-oriented person or because he didn't know what he wanted to accomplish." "He liked high level principles, but you can't solve problems with high level principles," he added. Those whove been keeping up with Little People, Big World over the years probably have mixed feelings about Caryn Chandler. Once Matt and Amy Roloff announced their separation years ago, Matt made it known he was getting romantically involved with Chandler. Chandler worked on Roloff Farms for a decade and then lived on Matts side of the farm when he and Amy split. But according to Amy, Matt and Chandler had an inappropriate romantic relationship prior to their divorce. Many of Amys fans cant stand Chandler, as they think shes the reason for the divorce in the first place. But even the haters cant deny how good Chandler is with the Roloff grandkids. And it looks like she and Matt recently took a trip to Disneyland with Zach and Tori Roloffs family. Fans adore how great Matt Roloffs girlfriend, Caryn Chandler, is with the Roloff grandkids Chandler might never be best friends with Amy, but shes certainly growing close to Amys kids. She frequently posts photos and videos to her Instagram of her babysitting Zach and Toris young son, Jackson, as well as Jeremy and Audreys daughter, Ember. And the kids appear to adore her, as they have their own nickname for her: Cha Cha. From visits with Jackson and Ember on Roloff Farms to taking the toddlers to the zoo, Chandler adores spending time with Matts grandkids. And now that Zach and Tori, as well as Audrey and Jeremy, both have newborns, were sure Chandler will get plenty of time with them, too. Ah cha cha 4 little roloff babies to cherish and watch as they grow into there unique selves. You and grandpa matt will spoil them with lots of love and fun, one follower commented on Chandlers photo of her holding baby Bode James. I love watching your bond with these two kiddos! Its awesome! another wrote. Chandler went to Disneyland with Zach and Tori Roloffs family Its no secret Chandler and Matt love the sunshine, as they have a home in Surprise, Arizona, they often retreat to. But this time, they took a vacation to Anaheim, California, to head to Disneyland with Zach and Tori Roloff as well as their two little ones. Disney Magic really is a thing, Chandler captioned her Instagram post of her with Matt, Zach, Tori, Jackson, and baby Lilah. The post shows every family member wearing a matching shirt as well as Lilah sleeping in Chandlers arms. Matt posted multiple photos from the trip, too. He added a photo showing a moment of celebration after their family was randomly chosen to get on the newest Disney ride at Star Wars: Galaxys Edge. And he also posted multiple photos of Jackson, as he was probably the most excited out of anyone to be there. Jackson posed in his Buzz Lightyear garb along with Buzz himself, and he seemed to have a blast walking around the park with the family. Fans love that Chandler went on the trip Not only did Chandler attend the Roloff vacation, but she also wore a shirt to show off the nickname the kids gave her. And fans are loving Chandlers happy spirit as she spent time with Matts family. You can see the love in your eyes for that sweet baby girl! one of Chandlers fans commented on her photo of her with the whole family at Disneyland. Im glad you Matt zack tori and Jackson and Lilah are having fun and making memories to cherish, another wrote. What lucky little babies to be surrounded by so much love, yet another fan wrote. While it doesnt look like Amy joined the family for the trip, we know shes busy moving her things off of Roloff Farms and into her new house. And its nice for the grandkids to get to spend some quality time with Chandler, too. Were still waiting for the day Matt proposes, but it doesnt look like its in the cards just yet. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! The work Valitutto and others did in Myanmar is just one piece of that massive effort, but it is an important one because it led to the discovery of a new coronavirus in bats. That coronavirus unlike the one that has killed more than 800 people in China, including a doctor in recent days is not believed to pose a health threat to humans at the moment. The number of deaths from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 717 on Saturday, surpassing the toll from the SARS outbreak on the mainland and Hong Kong almost two decades ago. Another 81 people died from the virus in central Hubei province, where the disease emerged in December, according to the regional health commission. In its daily update, the commission also confirmed another 2,841 new cases. There are now more than 34,000 confirmed infections across the country. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a disease in the same family as the new coronavirus, left nearly 650 people dead in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. China has struggled to contain the current virus despite having placed some 56 million people under effective lockdown in Hubei and its provincial capital, Wuhan. Other cities far from the epicentre have also taken measures to keep people indoors, limiting the number of individuals who can leave their home. Friday's death of a 34-year-old Wuhan doctor who was punished for raising the alarm about the virus in December sparked an outpouring of grief and anger over the government's handling of the crisis. The virus has spread to two dozen countries, prompting several governments to ban arrivals from China and urge their citizens to avoid travelling to the country. Some have recommended their citizens leave China. Major airlines have suspended flights to and from China. At least 61 people on board a cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, with thousands of passengers and crew facing a two-week quarantine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Responding to an Instagram message from a woman named Arabella in September 2018, NRL star Josh Reynolds didnt realise it would be the start of a relationship that would result in him being dragged before the courts and jeopardise his league career. Less than 18 months later the Wests Tigers five-eighth is defending assault allegations from a woman he claims faked multiple pregnancies and medical conditions, and to whom he gave thousands of dollars. Reynolds was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in late 2019 after his relationship with Melbourne woman Arabella Del Busso broke down. Several weeks later, a video she had filmed of him shouting at her in his southern Sydney home was released to the media, intensifying coverage of the latest NRL scandal. MLA of Manipur's Sekmai Assembly Constituency, Heikham Dingo Singh, was on Saturday injured after his car collided with a truck near Khonghampat area in Imphal West district, police said. Singh, his personal security officer (PSO) and the driver received injuries in the mishap, they said. The condition of the MLA is stated to be out of danger, sources in Raj Medicity Hospital, where he was admitted, said. The PSO, however, is in critical condition, the sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A four-year-old boy has died from the flu after his mother reportedly treated him with advice offered by members of an anti-vaccine Facebook group, according to reports. Last week, Geneva Montoya, from Pueblo, Colorado, sought advice from the Facebook group "Stop Mandatory Vaccination" after two of her four children had been diagnosed with the flu, according to NBC News. Although the youngest child, Najee, had not yet been diagnosed, he had a 102-degree fever and had a seizure when Ms Montoya told the group that the doctor had prescribed Tamiflu, an antiviral medication to treat the flu, but I did not pick it up. I am in desperate need of help with what to do for my pore (sic) kiddos! the post reads, according to a screenshot. Ms Montoya concluded the post asking the groups more than 144,000 members what she could give the children to help the fever or the symptoms subside. According to NBC News, members of the group suggested she try breast milk and thyme and elderberry, which are not medically recommended treatments for the flu. Flu: How to beat the bugs Show all 2 1 /2 Flu: How to beat the bugs Flu: How to beat the bugs 532881.bin Alamy Flu: How to beat the bugs 532416.bin Alamy Perfect, Ill try that, the mother responded, according to the outlet. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed the child died from the flu and told NBC News that it did not have records showing whether the boy had been vaccinated. The death is the second paediatric flu death in Colorado this season, the department said in a statement. Following the four-year-olds death, his father Najee Jackson Sr explained what happened to his son and spoke out in defence of his family. His heart stopped, he told Fox31. He wasnt breathing. They got his heart going back at the hospital in Pueblo. The child, who tested positive for Influenza B and Paraflu, was later declared brain dead and taken off life support, according to a GoFundMe page set up by Ms Montoya. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has donated money for me son Najee! an update posted Thursday read. It is my deepest sorrow to inform those of you that dont already know that my son has been taken off of life support and has passed. Myself and all those who love Najee are devastated and broken. Regarding criticisms over the familys association with the anti-vaxx Facebook group, Mr Jackson said: I dont look at none of it. The negative comments - keep to yourself because at the end of the day, whats important is that each one of these parents goes home and kisses their kids. In a statement to KKTV, Ms Montoya said: "I'm hurting so bad right now and so is his dad and brothers. Our whole family is hurting and it feels like we failed him because we did what we had to do, but did not comment on whether the child was vaccinated. According to Mr Jackson, his wife and the couples three other sons, including a 10-month-old whose symptoms required hospitalisation, are still battling the flu. The four-year-old's death comes after a survey from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) found that 59 per cent of parents said that their child has missed a flu shot at least once due to misinformation or a misunderstanding. From 1 October 2019 through 1 February 2020, there have been anywhere from 12,000 to 30,000 deaths from the flu in the US, according to estimates from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Central government is set to organise a second visit of diplomats, including several ambassadors from the European Union (EU) nations, on a tour of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming week. This visit comes in the aftermath of the European Parliaments joint draft resolution on Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), according to reports. According to reports, about 20 to 25 envoys from different geographical regions are being invited to join the delegation. Originally, the government had planned to organise a visit for the EU diplomats in early summer. However, the visit could now be moved ahead in the wake of the European Parliaments debate last week over a joint draft resolution on Kashmir and the CAA. READ | 'Jammu & Kashmir Is Now Corruption Free' Claims Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi European Parliament's vote on Kashmir Reports state that unlike the last visit in January, when European Union (EU) members declined to travel and asked to be sent as a combined group of 27 members, this time, several members of the EU have agreed to visit. At the time, the EU had said it would not be keen on a visit to the Valley, which will be solely designed by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and that they would want to assess the real situation there. After the debate on 29 January, the European Parliament decided to defer the vote on the resolution. India has called it a diplomatic victory. The voting is likely to take place in the next plenary sitting of the European Parliament that could be held on 31 March-1 April, as per reports. READ | Envoys Praise Government On Kashmir Security Situation After Visit To The Valley Envoys visit Kashmir On January 9, a group of 15 envoys, including the US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, visited the new Union Territories where they interacted with select political representatives, civil society members, as well as the military top brass. The visit came after India abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and imposed communication restrictions on the region, which is being lifted in a phased manner. The group of foreign envoys included those from United States, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Morocco, Fiji, Norway, Philippines, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Guyana. In October, a delegation of 23 European Union MPs visited Sri Nagar for a first-hand assessment of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the State's special status under Article 370. The team originally comprised 27 parliamentarians. Amongst them, four members did not travel to Kashmir and had reportedly returned to their respective countries, officials said. READ | 'Never Doubted Indian Policies, Kashmir Strictly Internal Matter': Russian Envoy READ | Envoys Of 15 Countries Visit Jammu And Kashmir To Assess On-ground Situation Beijing: India's Foreign Minister S.K. Jaishankar has said that about 80 Indian students are still in China amid the devastation caused by the deadly coronavirus, of which 70 are staying at their own free will. They told that we are in constant contact with them. Two people from the embassy took a risk and went to China. We not only saved our own lives but also those of our neighbors. We made this offer to all the neighbors, but only Maldives accepted it. China is suffering from Corona virus, search for victims going from house to house in Wuhan The task of bringing back the trapped Indians in Wuhan city of China, the epicenter of the Coronavirus epidemic, has been completed. About 650 people have been brought to India in two phases. On Sunday, 323 Indians from the Maldives were brought to New Delhi along with 323 Indians from China on an Indian aircraft. Earlier on Saturday, 324 Indians were brought to India by Air India Boeing 747 aircraft. So far more than 700 people have been killed in China by this virus, while 31 thousand 161 people have been infected. WHO presents shocking report, female genital mutilation will adversely affect women In the Upper House, the Foreign Minister said that most of the Indian students who were trapped in the Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, most of them have been brought back to India. Along with this, the Foreign Minister also said that no information has been received so far of any Indian student getting infected with the coronavirus. Indian students who have returned home are being closely investigated and they have been kept under surveillance. All investigations have been found to be negative. Big revelation of the impeachment case, Windman will get farewell from NSC Lawsuit is the latest in a continuing feud over immigration between the Trump administration and Democratic NYC leaders. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday that the state will file a lawsuit challenging the United States Department of Homeland Securitys decision to block New Yorkers from participating in trusted traveller programmes in retribution for a new state law that could hinder federal immigration enforcement. Its an abuse of power. Its extortion. It is hurting New Yorkers to advance their political agenda. And were going to fight back, said Cuomo, a Democrat. The lawsuit is the latest salvo in an escalating fight over immigration policy between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in his home state. In December, a new state law took effect allowing New York residents to apply for drivers licences without having to prove they are in the US with documents. Part of that law also prohibited the states Department of Motor Vehicles from giving records to federal immigration agents. On Thursday, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retaliated, saying it would no longer allow New Yorkers to enroll, or renew their membership in, certain federal programmes that make it easier for people travelling internationally to get through border security, including the Global Entry programme. In announcing the change, acting DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said New York had endangered public safety by barring federal agents from quickly accessing vehicle and criminal records to check for fugitive warrants or confirm someones identification. Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, speaking to the news media at the White House in Washington, DC [Leah Millis/Reuters] The move is expected to affect at least 175,000 New Yorkers now enrolled in the programmes, who will be kicked out as their permits expire, plus around 30,000 commercial truck drivers enrolled in a programme that eases their crossings into the US from neighbouring Canada. Several other states have similar policies of allowing unauthorised immigrants to get drivers licences, but New York is the only state that bans the sharing of motor vehicle records with immigration agents, DHS officials said. Trump has been singling out New York in recent months for especially harsh criticism over so-called sanctuary policies for immigrants. The president assailed New York City officials in his State of the Union address over the citys policy of not turning over some criminal defendants wanted for immigration violations. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also recently sent subpoenas to law enforcement in Denver and New York seeking information on immigrants who the agency hopes to deport. Ayanna Pressley, a Congresswoman for Massachusetts, US, wore her hair in a signature protective style, however, recently she revealed that she is totally bald due to alopecia. Since then she has been targeted by trolls and has reportedly been also called names like 'Mr Clean', a bald brand mascot. However, Pressley in a recent tweet responded to the trolls and also to those who mocked her. Dear Trolls. You really think I look like "Mr. Clean" ? Please. He never looked THIS clean. Sorry not sorry my unapologetically rockin' my crown triggers you. Proud #alopecian pic.twitter.com/rcVTRsuply Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) February 6, 2020 Earlier in an interview with an international media outlet, Pressley also said that her twists had become such a synonymous and conflated part of not only of her personal identity but her political brand as well. She further opened up about her condition and said that it is important for her that she becomes transparent about her 'new normal' and living with alopecia. Pressley also received outpouring support from her fellow Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as well. READ: Kobe Bryant's Helicopter Had Nearly Cleared Blinding Clouds Cortez in an earlier tweet wrote, Could you imagine losing all your hair on the eve of an enormously public day? And then turning that intensely intimate ordeal to make space for others? Ayanna, you are a living blessing. 'Absolutely stunning' Pressley's recent tweet has also received a lot of love and support from several netizens and of course from Cortez as well. A Twitter user wrote, trolls are just mad that they have to live their lives as trolls while you get to be your amazing self. thanks for being you. Another user wrote, My 9yo daughter wants to tell you to believe in yourself! You look gorgeous and you are a brilliant congresswoman, added another. Dont pay any mind to them sis - Theyre just mad because you pull off any & every look thrown at you, meanwhile they cant even put on a hat on their head without looking like baby peanut Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 6, 2020 As someone who struggled with severe alopecia as a teenager, I wish there had been more people who were in the public eye who visibly owned their condition. Go Ayanna! https://t.co/rQf1wezwLE Adele-Momoko Fraser (@AMFraserNBCSKY) February 7, 2020 I dont agree with you politically even remotely, but making fun of you for having alopecia and choosing to embrace your natural self is ridiculous. We should be debating ideas, not trying to tear each other down for things we cant control. I wish you the best on your journey. Freckled Liberty (@FreckledLiberty) February 6, 2020 READ: Republican Senators Urge Twitter To Ban Accounts Of Khamenei, Iranian Foreign Minister Ayanna stay strong ignore the IGNORANCE they cant help themselves those are folks who have NOTHING to offer in life. (@elephantgurl24) February 6, 2020 I do not like your politics, but I LOVE the message you're sending to these haters! God bless & keep up the good fight on people that put your looks down. Rock that crown! That's What She Said (@LiberalFodder) February 6, 2020 Screw them. You rock what you got because what you got rocks!!!!!! Shawn (@Tyrionical) February 6, 2020 READ: US Man Posts Dance Video For Every Day His Premature Son Spends In Hospital READ: US Citizen In Wuhan Dies From Coronavirus Infection, Confirm Officials 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. Organizers with the Ontario Standardbred Horse Show Series are gearing up for another great show season, and theyve released details of this years schedule. A grassroots show series for strictly standardbreds will see horses and riders learn in a neutral setting to develop skills, find mentors and practice a range of disciplines before embarking with a finished horse into the open show world. Anyone that has recently adopted a standardbred in 2019-2020 will be eligible for one free class at each show. For more information on the show series, please visit www.standardbredshowcase.com. Standardrama (Orono Fairgrounds) - June 21 Contact Tammi Hughes - [email protected] Showcase Summer Classic Horse Show (Ancaster Fairgrounds) - August 2 Contact Renee Sutton - [email protected] South Western Ontario Standardbred Horse Show (Warwick Equestrian Development Inc., Mossley, ON) - August 16 Contact Jennifer Graham - [email protected] The Ontario Standardbred Horse Show Series will also hold its annual general meeting Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the Mountsberg Community Hall, 2133 Centre Rd, Freelton, ON. Membership registration starts at 12 p.m. and the meeting will commence at 1 p.m. For more information please contact: Renee Sutton President [email protected] Jennifer Graham Vice President [email protected] (Ontario Standardbred Horse Show Series) Pornographic French writer Pierre Guyotat, whose controversial book Eden, Eden, Eden was banned for its graphic content, has died aged 80. Born in Lyon in 1940, Guyotat is probably best known for his 1967 work "Tombeau Pour Cinq Cent Mille Soldats" (Tomb for 500,000 Soldiers), which is hailed as one of the most important books on the Algerian war. Most of Guyotat's novels, stories, poems and essays are deeply marked by his traumatic experience as a soldier in the Algerian war. Following the success of his first novel, the second brought scandal. Eden, Eden, Eden which details graphic sex acts was deemed too sensational and was banned from publicity, public display or sale to minors from 1970 to 1981. The controversial book missed out on the Medicis literature prize by a single vote, causing a member of the jury to resign, but Guyotat got his revenge 48 years later when he won the 2018 prize for his book Idiotie (Idiocy). He died overnight Thursday surrounded by family. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Nepal has donated 100,000 protective masks to China, which is battling against the new strain of coronavirus that has claimed the lives of 722 people in that country alone, Nepali Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced. The masks were handed over by Nepali Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Minister for Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, to Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi here, as per a statement by the ministry. "The Government of Nepal has decided to donate 100,000 units of protective masks to the Government of China as a gesture of friendship to the Chinese people and the government and solidarity with China's fight against Novel Coronavirus," the statement read. The new strain of coronavirus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year and has since spread to several countries across the world, including India and Nepal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over several months, Wilkie shared his findings with his senior staff at morning meetings on at least six occasions, three current or former senior VA officials confirmed. Wilkie said his inquiry found that the Navy veteran, who currently serves as a Navy Reserve intelligence officer, had filed multiple complaints while in the service, according to three people with knowledge of what Wilkie said. Wilkie also served as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. One of the four passengers screened for coronavirus upon arriving in Bayonne on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship Friday morning has tested positive for the flu, according to the cruise line. More than two dozen passengers on Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas cruise ship were required to undergo screenings Friday for the virus. Of the 27 passengers evaluated all of whom recently traveled to mainland China 23 were promptly cleared, and four were sent to University Hospital in Newark for further evaluation, officials said. On Twitter, the cruise line said none of the four being tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed any clinical signs and symptoms of coronavirus and had not been in China since Jan. 26. All other guests were permitted to disembark, the cruise line added. The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 600 people and infected more than 31,000 worldwide the majority in China according to the CDC. Cases have been confirmed in 28 countries, including 11 in the U.S. The results of 76 more tests are pending. In a statement, Gov. Murphy said there are currently no confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey and the risk to residents remains low." (1/3) You may have seen news about Anthem today and may be wondering about our guests and upcoming cruise. None of the four guests being tested by CDC showed any clinical signs and symptoms of coronavirus. One tested positive onboard for Influenza A. Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) February 7, 2020 The sick cruise ship passenger had contracted the influenza A flu strain. Experts have said the flu poses a much greater threat in New Jersey than the coronavirus. While the cruise ship had been scheduled to depart from Bayonne on Friday afternoon, Royal Caribbean ultimately decided to delay it until Saturday, saying the decision was made merely to reassure our guests. Royal Caribbean has taken additional measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak, including prohibiting all guests holding a Chinese, Hong Kong or Macau passport from boarding its ships regardless of when they were there last, according to a statement. The cruise line said it is sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after trips and conducting "special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day. It is also adding more medical personnel on board. The situation on the cruise ship comes after U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker called on the federal government to include Newark airport on the list of U.S. ports of entry screening for coronavirus. Its unclear whether additional measures would be proposed to screen at other points of entry, like ports. In a statement issued through a spokeswoman Friday, Booker said, it is for this exact reason that Senator Menendez and I first called for Newark Airport to be a screening site for the virus. As this evolves, Ill be continuing to push for the resources that our state needs to protect New Jerseyans, while ensuring the Trump Administration which has consistently attempted to underfund CDC and (National Institute of Health) is stepping up to do its part, the statement added. Similar funding concerns were voiced by Menendez on Friday afternoon. In a statement issued by his office, Menendez called on the Trump administration to fully fund pandemic preparedness and response efforts in light of the global Coronavirus outbreak. Menendez, joined by three fellow Democratic senators, said that the Trump administration is proposing to cut funding for pandemic preparedness and response efforts, which he says could threaten the governments ability to effectively combat the spread of the deadly virus. The Trump administration presented a 2020 budget proposal that cut critical pandemic response programs by nearly 20 percent, according to Menendezs office. In light of the current novel Coronavirus outbreak and the persistent threat of global pandemics, we urge you to fully fund infectious disease and pandemic preparedness and response efforts in your fiscal year 2021 proposed budget, the statement said. A failure to do so would not only be a danger to the health and welfare of all Americans, but also a threat to our national security. Gov. Phil Murphy launched a task force Monday to ensure New Jersey is ready and equipped for the coronavirus. The state recently created a website and a hotline 1-800-222-1222 to answer any questions residents may have about the virus. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. 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. Advertisement A mom and her six children have died in a devastating fire that ravaged their home in Mississippi. The children's badly injured father managed to escape from the blaze in Clinton, which broke out early Saturday morning, after he tried in vain to rescue his children and their mom, The Clarion Ledger reported. The Hinds County Coroner identified the victims as Brittany Presley, 33, and her children Landon, 15; Lane, 13; Lawson, 12; Grayson, six; Malcom, four; and Felicity, one. The father of the family, who has not yet been named, was taken to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, burns, cuts and bruises. 'He was worried and concerned. He did not want to leave the scene. He was very concerned about his family,' said City of Clinton spokesman Mark Jones. WJTV have reported that Mrs Presley was a second-grade teacher at the Reuben B. Myers Canton School of Arts and Sciences in the local area. Her son, Malcom, was a Pre-K student at the school. The cause of fire is not yet known, but foul play is not suspected. Scroll down for video Mississippi mom Brittany Presley, 33, and her six children perished in a house fire in Clinton early Saturday morning. Her husband managed to escape the blaze after trying in vain to rescue his wife and kids. He is currently recovering in hospital Pictures show the charred wreckage after flames tore through the home in the middle of the night. The father was the the only survivor of the fire that claimed the lives of his six children and their mom Facebook photos show the Presley clan appeared incredibly close to one another, often taking picnics and bike trips together. Photographs taken just last year show Brittany Presley in the hospital after giving birth to her daughter, Felicity. Meanwhile, heartbreaking images captured in the aftermath of the blaze and show children's clothing among ashes and charred remains. As news spread through the small community of Clinton on Saturday mornin, tributes poured in for the tight-knit family. Family member Erica Mitchell Nero wrote on Facebook: 'My family will never be the same without them all this is soo much to take in right now. I lost my only sister and all my nephews and only niece'. A neighbor paid tribute to the family as he told WLBT3 they were 'really good folks' whose deaths have left the whole neighborhood distraught. Mom-of-six Brittany Presley, 33, is pictured with her husband in a recent Facebook photo. He is the sole survivor of the blaze which killed all seven others inside the home Happy family: Facebook photos show the Presley clan appeared incredibly close to one another, often taking picnics and bike trips together Baby Felicity is pictured in a recent Facebook snap with her father. The one-year-old and her five older brothers perished in the house fire on Saturday night Heartbreaking images captured in the aftermath of the blaze and show children's clothing among ashes and charred remains 'I've known these kids ever since they moved into this neighborhood and they were really good folks,' he said. 'The kids were really nice and the whole neighborhood is distraught. It's devastating. It's heartbreaking,' The Clinton Public Schools District released a statement saying services would be available for all students and teachers affected by the deaths. 'Clinton is a close-knit community and this loss is devastating for our entire school family. As students and employees return on Monday, counseling services will be available at each campus for anyone who needs support. 'We will also work with community partners to share information on events and activities to support the family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this time of loss'. Photographs taken just last year show Brittany Presley in the hospital after giving birth to her daughter, Felicity Elementary school teacher Brittany and her husband had been together for nearly two decades and were raising six children together The State Fire Marshall has been called in to lead the investigation into the blaze The whole neighborhood was said to be distraught after the tragedy in Clinton, Mississippi The fire broke out at about 12.30am on Saturday morning on Old Vicksburg Road and Hobby Farm Road, Jeff Blackledge, the Clinton fire chief said. The State Fire Marshall has been called in to lead the investigation. The cause of the fire is not thought to be known but foul play is not suspected, WLBT3 reported. The home's age, which was built in 1951, may have been a factor. Firefighters with four fire engines and a ladder truck battled for about 45 minutes to control the blaze. Pictures show the charred wreckage after flames tore through the building Clinton residents have paid tribute to the victims who have been described as 'really good folks' The Wi-Fi calling feature will let users make calls directly from their smartphone to any other mobile or landline via a Wi-Fi network. Users on the above Nokia smartphones can also make Vo-Wi-Fi calls to a person who doesnt have the feature enabled on their phone. HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announced that voice over any Wi-Fi (Vo Wi-Fi) is being enabled on a range of Nokia smartphones for Jio and Airtel users. Jio users on Nokia 9 PureView, Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8.1, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6.2, Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 6.1 will be able to use Vo Wi-Fi. Airtel users on Nokia 9 PureView, Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8.1, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 6.1 will be able to use Vo Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi calling feature will let users make calls directly from their smartphone to any other mobile or landline via a Wi-Fi network and without the use any third-party app. Moreover, as users move from Wi-Fi into a non-Wi-Fi location, the call is seamlessly moved to their telecom network. This is great news especially for users who face network coverage and quality issues indoors. Moreover, users on the above Nokia smartphones can also make Vo-Wi-Fi calls to a person who doesnt have the feature enabled on their phone. Check with your operator (Jio or Airtel) to know the charges to make Vo-Wi-Fi locally, while roaming and internationally. How to enable and use Vo Wi-Fi The Pakistani Taliban has confirmed that one of its key leaders and another member of the group were killed in a clash with security forces in Afghanistan. In a statement published by the SITE monitoring group Friday, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, who served on the groups consultative council and had been a deputy leader, had been killed January 31. Haqqanis close confidant Qari Saifullah Peshawari was also killed in the clash that took place inside Afghanistan during a mission, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader told AFP. Afghan security forces declined to comment, and it was not immediately clear what type of mission Haqqani may have been on. Haqqani was not thought to be related to the Haqqani network, which is also affiliated to the Afghan Taliban. Both Islamabad and Kabul have long accused each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability. Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade, with thousands of civilians and security personnel dying in extremist attacks, especially after the TTP began their campaign of violence in 2007. But overall levels of extremist-linked violence dropped dramatically last year, with 2019 seeing the fewest deaths since 2007 -- the year the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group was formed. Analysts have credited the fall to military offensives against the Taliban in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and Khyber where they were headquartered, as well as operations in the countrys largest city of Karachi. In 2018, the TTP was further degraded after a US strike in Afghanistan killed their leader Maulana Fazlullah, who was notorious for allegedly having ordered the attack on education activist Malala Yousafzai. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yulia Savitri (The Jakarta Post) Palembang, South Sumatra Sat, February 8, 2020 17:31 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206354b1f 1 Event Palembang,South-Sumatra,cap-go-meh,Chinese-New-Year,coronavirus Free Kemaro Island, a little piece of land in South Sumatras Musi River, is something like the Chinatown of Palembang since Thursday night. Thousands of lanterns and candles in temples, along with the flickering lights of pagodas, lend a sense of festivity to the annual Cap Go Meh celebration on the island. It began with a prayer ritual at midnight. Also known as the happy day, Cap Go Meh, which translates to the fifteenth night, closes 15 days of Chinese New Year festivities. This year, Cap Go Meh falls on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people have visited Kemaro Island since Thursday afternoon some to pray and others to watch Chinese puppetry and lion dance performances. All have enjoyed the culinary attractions. Read also: Jakarta celebrates Cap Go Meh with festival, performances Despite global fears over the novel coronavirus, Palembang is open to local and international tourists. As a precautionary measure, most visitors wore masks while enjoying the festivities, including during prayers. Husin, caretaker of Kemaro Island, said most of the visitors came from South Sumatra as well as from Malaysia, Singapore and China, but he even met travelers from Europe on Thursday afternoon. Husin appeared unconcerned about the coronavirus, saying he trusted the government for anticipating and controlling the virus. Fahroji, the general manager of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II in Palembang, said the state-owned company had installed thermal scanners and prepared isolation rooms prior to Indonesias travel ban to and from China on Monday. He added that there were no direct flights between China and Palembang. (wng) An uncrewed test flight of a Boeing spacecraft designed to carry NASA astronauts may have narrowly avoided catastrophic failure in December. A software error that could have resulted in loss of the spacecraft was discovered and fixed while the capsule, known as Starliner, was in orbit, and not long before it returned to Earth. Jim Bridenstine, the NASA administrator, said the mission had a lot of anomalies but that it was important that the agency continue to work with Boeing to fix them. The agency is conducting an ongoing review with the company to assess what went wrong. But Douglas Loverro, NASAs associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said the review had already found multiple failures in Boeings processes that should have caught the mistakes on the ground. It told us that we have a more fundamental problem, he said, not just the flaws that were identified last week. Boeing will now review 1 million lines of Starliner software code. Officials from the company declined to speculate how long that might take. Neither the agency nor the company would set a schedule for when the Starliner capsule would be ready to carry astronauts to space. But Bridenstine said NASA needs more than one way for getting astronauts to the International Space Station. The agency has also hired SpaceX, which has developed a different spacecraft, Crew Dragon, to transport astronauts. The additional software problem, first reported Thursday during a meeting of NASAs Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, is the second major flaw known to have marred Starliners trip in December, the first orbital flight of the spacecraft. During its trip to orbit, the spacecraft set its clock to the wrong time, causing it to deplete its propellant. A planned docking at the space station was called off, and the mission was cut short, to two days instead of eight. Because of the clock problem, Boeing engineers started searching to see if there were other flaws in the software. On the evening before landing, they found one. It is our belief we wouldnt have found it if we hadnt gone looking, said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of the space and launch division at Boeing. The newly disclosed flaw would have compromised Starliners preparations for re-entry. Engineers on Earth were able to fix the software problem within a few hours of finding it. Kenneth Chang is a New York Times writer. Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com Great new spots that have opened since 2016 all across the state. Don't Edit BY AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com and JOHN GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com Sunday February 9 is National Pizza Day and it's the perfect day to celebrate with a slice of great pizza. In honor of this special day, we've worked together with our MLive readers to compile a list of fantastic new pizza spots across the state. We asked you to share your new favorites, places that have opened since our last search in 2016. We absolutely love pizza here at Michigan's Best, and have gone on the hunt for the very best pizza twice, once in 2013 and again in 2016. During our searches, we focused on locally owned, independent restaurants. High quality ingredients were the first thing we looked for, with a great crust that was true to the style, and a flavorful sauce. There are a lot of different styles here in Michigan, and we decided to not compare apples to oranges. From thin crust, Chicago style square cut in the Upper Peninsula, to heavy toppings on the western lakeshore, to deep dish square in Detroit, we've got a lot to choose from. We picked the pizzas whose memories stayed with us over our journey, the ones that we continued to eat in the car on the way to the next stop, and the ones that still make our mouths water in remembrance. Michigan's Best Pizza 2013: our top ten. Michigan's Best Pizza 2016: see our top 12 choices. Both searches uncovered both old school, long standing establishments, as well as newly opened gems. We know how quickly the restaurant business can change, and how often new spots open. Our readers know their own communities best, so we asked you to share your expertise with us, and let us know where the best new pizzerias are in Michigan. These are spots that have opened in the last few years, and have already made an impact on their communities, serving up slice after slice of awesome pizza. Check out our list, and maybe try a new place this weekend. Did we miss your favorite new pizzeria? Feel free to shoot us an email, we always love to here about great places in Michigan. John Gonzalez can be found at gonzo@mlive.com Amy Sherman can be emailed at asherma2@mlive.com Don't Edit Don't Edit Grotto Pizzeria & Tavern 2441 Van Horn Road Trenton, Michigan 48183 (734) 692-4300 From Karen on Facebook: Outstanding pizza!! Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit DHOP-Downtown House of Pizza 401 Center Ave. Bay City, Michigan 48708 (989) 414-7418 From MLive reader Matthew: "DHOP is located inside City Market in Downtown Bay City. They offer whole pies or pizza by the slice. They have some delicious pizza! They opened in 2019. A few of my favorites- breakfast pizza, pesto artichoke mushroom, and chicken bacon ranch. They have delicious pizza pinwheels- think of a cloud of pizza full of chewy mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. DHOP has a crust that will have you going back- it is on the thinner side with a great crunch, but there is still some chewiness." Don't Edit **EVERY THURSDAY** $30 PIZZA FLIGHTS (thats $4 off!) $10 BEER FLIGHTS $40 FOR BOTH FLIGHTS GET BOTH, WE CALL IT A... Posted by Vin Trofeo's on Thursday, January 23, 2020 Don't Edit Vin Trofeo's 120 S. University Ave Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 (989) 400-4120 From MLive reader Stephanie: "We were just here. Great people, great food and beer and mixed drinks. Awesome atmosphere in Mt Pleasant." From Robin: The ambiance is excellent. The staff is the friendliest around. The pizza is the absolute best! Their blend of cheeses leaves you wanting more even though youre stuffed! My favorite pizza happens to be ham and pepperoni. Its a struggle between that and the Zoodles every time I go." From Gretchen: "You should definitely try the new pizzeria in Mt. Pleasant called Vin Trofeos. They have hand crafted pizzas with fresh ingredients. Even their sauce is homemade! They also have a large selection of keto, gluten free & vegan options. A cauliflower crust pizza, grinders, breadsticks & cinnisticks! There is so much flavor in every bite! I recommend the margarita pizza. My 11 year old loves the club grinders & my 7 year old loves the cheeseburger pizza. I also love their zoodles. I vote them for best pizza!" From Melanie: "They opened a few months ago after moving their established business from Edmore, Michigan. They are doing so well. Adding new taps regularly including local draft root beer. Yes, root beer on TAP! Run by two really cool guys, Tim & Will.Fun types of pizza, wings, cocktails, Sunday Funday Bar with Bloody Marys & MimosasBUT.the thing that gets me is somehow, this pizza melts in your mouthLITERALLY..the sauce is brightly colored and very light in texture with flavor like they JUST made it. They have a 4-cheese combination which is great but somehow the crustthe crust is chewy.. but crunchy..but also so light and airy? Im not sure how they do that. I cant describe it and I wish I could, but I know others agree the pizza is very melty..Best Pizza I have ever had. And the pepperoni.another story! I rarely eat carbs, but I could not stop eating it!" Don't Edit Don't Edit Lombardo's Pizzeria and Sports Bar 2190 Whitehall Rd Muskegon, Michigan 49445 (231) 744-7507 From a reader's email: "Lombardo's Sicilian Pizza on Sherman Blvd is the best and they have $1-$2 slices 11-2 Mon-Fri. on Sherman Blvd is the best and they have $1-$2 slices 11-2 Mon-Fri." Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Bella Bolla 309 Huron Ave. Port Huron, Michigan 48060 (810) 990-8106 From reader Sindy's email: "We love Bella Bolla Pizzeria in Port Huron Michigan. it is a brick oven pizzeria serving up traditional pizzas as well as more modern twists. It has a gluten free and vegan menu and every pizza is totally customizable. It opened in the fall of last year and definitely should be on your list!" Don't Edit Too busy to cook with all the Christmas shopping going on? Stop on by and grab yourself a delicious 8 corner pizza! Be sure to grab a side of our homemade ranch. Posted by Palazzo Di Pizza on Thursday, December 19, 2019 Don't Edit Palazzo di Pizza 1222 E. 11 Mile Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 (855) 233-7872 From a tweet we got from Derek: "I love Detroit style, started with classic pepperoni then bbq chicken. They have unique pizza toppings." Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit 313 Pizza Bar 37 East Flint Street Lake Orion, Michigan 48362 (248) 690-9362 Don't Edit What is the #1 way to make Mondays amazing? PIZZA! $2 off all our pizzas - all day long! #PizzaMondays #Yum #Cheesy Posted by 5 Lakes Brewing Co. on Monday, February 3, 2020 Don't Edit 5 Lakes Brewing Company 1638 142nd Ave Dorr, Michigan 49323 (616) 359-9555 From an MLive reader: "My favorite place to get pizza is 5 Lakes Brewing on 142nd Avenue in Dorr. " From Eric: "My favorite place to get pizza is 5 Lakes Brewing on 142nd Avenue in Dorr. The sauce makes the pizza - it's a special recipe that is a little sweet. Their sausage is outstanding, and crust is just thin and thick enough to make it a meal. Give 'em a try, there isn't another pie in the GR area that has this taste!" Don't Edit Don't Edit The Angry Oven 2570 N Saint Helen RD Saint Helen, Michigan 48656 (989) 632-3035 Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Probasco Pizza 359 Maple St Muir, Michigan 48860 (989) 855-3444 From Sarah: I drive from Grand Rapids to Muir to eat there. Derek Kacos is the owner operator and has a true talent in the pizza biz!!! I dare ya to make the trip...after 4 pm please. Don't Edit Don't Edit Pizza Baker 240 E Main St (west unit) Midland, Michigan 48640 (989) 486-1898 From an email from Sherry in Saginaw: "I'd like to nominate Pizza Baker in Midland. Not only do they make my favorite Margherita pizza, but I travel over from Saginaw to eat it. Their background story is awesome, too. It's a family business, all working alongside, son Jameson, who is special needs. When we wanted a food truck for our son's wedding in our own barn we chose Pizza Baker, who brought their portable oven! Our guests loved it! Anyway I hope this is enough accolades to get Pizza Baker on the list! Check.them out! You'll love the family and their pizza!" From a Facebook message: "Amazing!!! Get the hot honey drizzle!" Don't Edit ATTENTION We are switching our Chicago Bear game pizza specials from Sunday's to THURSDAYS!! DINE IN OR TAKE... Posted by Curious Pig on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Don't Edit Don't Edit Curious Pig 117 S. 5th Street Crystal Falls, Michigan 49920 (906) 282-7575 An email from Char: The Curious Pig in Crystal Falls, Michigan has the best pizza. I would say everyone's favorite is The Barnyard pizza. It has brisket, pork, chicken, and bacon with smoked cheeses on it with (owners) Scion and Pam's special sauce . It is out of this world. They specialize in a thin crispy crust. They also have non-gluten and cauliflower crusts available. They must have 8 to 10 different kinds of pizza. You can even build your own pizza. Definitely wonderfully awesome pizza, friendly service and a great atmosphere for the whole family. Don't Edit Don't Edit Enzo's Pizzeria 9523 S. Saginaw St. Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439 (810) 606-0526 From Matt: Awesome pie and people. Don't Edit Don't Edit The Draft Bar & Grill 9128 Miller rd Swartz Creek, Michigan 48473 (810) 644-7176 Brandon loves the "handmade pizzas". Don't Edit Don't Edit Check out our PIZZA OF THE MONTH!!!! 14 Grilled chicken BLT ranch pizza!! Posted by Jenn's Place on Thursday, February 6, 2020 Don't Edit Jenn's Place 13675 Gratiot Rd Hemlock, Michigan 48626 (989) 301-0345 Jennifer Ann said on Facebook: "Best pizza around!! Allison promptly chimed in: "I second that!!!" Don't Edit Butter masala sauce pizza topped with Japanese Shishito peppers, onion and fajita chicken. #inspiredpizza #originalspicyslices #spicyslices Posted by Spicy Slices on Monday, August 12, 2019 Don't Edit Spicy Slices 30750 Beck Rd Novi, Michigan 48377 (248) 859-4129 Don't Edit Start the week off right with pizza!!!! Dine-in, Carry-our or GRUBHUB. Gluten free crust and soy cheese available. Posted by Zeoli's Restaurant on Monday, January 13, 2020 Don't Edit Don't Edit Zeoli's Restaurant 110 E 14 Mile Rd Clawson, Michigan 48017 (248) 397-8050 Jeremy says: "EVERYTHING is fresh. Get the Spicy!" Don't Edit Don't Edit The Bricks Pizzeria 15201 Kercheval Ave Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan 48230 (313) 925-3430 Don't Edit Enjoy a classic New York slice while you're on the move. Posted by Mootz Pizzeria + Bar on Friday, December 27, 2019 Don't Edit Mootz Pizzeria + Bar 1230 Library St. Detroit, Michigan 48226 (313) 243-1230 From a reader email: "Hope youre well! I saw your call for the best new pizzerias in Michigan and I have to share an iconic new spot in Detroit. Mootz Pizzeria + Bar, located at 1230 Library St, is Detroits only authentic New York Pizzeria. The menu was created by six time World Pizza Games champion Bruno DoFabio and features a thinner crust alternative to the Detroit style seemingly everywhere else around town. Mootz (New York slang for MOOTZARELLA) just celebrated their first anniversary in the city on 1/28 and have exceptional online reviews (Yelp, Google and Facebook). Theyve taken the Detroit pizza scene by storm. " Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Grandma Bob's 2135 Michigan Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48216 (313) 315-3177 From Greg: They're innovative on the toppings that they put on their pizzas, and are a wonderful local neighborhood/city pizza place. They always make you feel welcome!" Don't Edit Congratulations to our FREE Pickle Pizza Winners! Stop by or call in and claim your pizza! Laurie Wittenbach Liz... Posted by Michigan Farmhouse Pizza on Monday, January 20, 2020 Don't Edit Michigan Farmhouse Pizza 109 N Main Street Clarksville, Michigan 48815 (616) 504-5040 From a reader: "Michigan Farmhouse Pizza in Clarksville Michigan has the best pizza around here. My personal favorite is their pickle pizza. Great homemade and unique pies. Friendly service and a nice atmosphere." From Cody: "The pizza is the best. They're always asking customers what they like and want to see. The owners and staff are very friendly." From Kim: "Michigan Farmhouse Pizza in Clarksville has quite an assortment of delicious pies. Their mac n cheese is, hands down, the best anywhere...and then they add bacon!" Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Pizza Plex 4458 W Vernor Hwy Detroit, Michigan 48209 (313) 757-4992 Don't Edit Beautiful photo by Martin Vecchio Posted by Pie-Sci on Thursday, August 17, 2017 Don't Edit Pie Sci 5163 Trumbull St Detroit, Michigan 48208 (313) 818-0290 Don't Edit Don't Edit Nonno's Homestyle Italian and Pizzeria 4025 17 mile rd Cedar Springs, Michigan 49319 (616) 696-0999 Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Pizza Vibez 8701 90th Ave Mecosta, Michigan 49332 (231) 972-2522 From Patty: "It's been open less than one year, delicious." Don't Edit Don't Edit Novella's Pizza 56849 Grand River Ave New Hudson, Michigan 48165 (248) 617-3371 From Michael: "A younger brother. Thin crust. Deelish. We have had a few meet and greets there. Gotta help a brother build their business." Don't Edit Fritz Klug, used with permission. Amy and Gonzo enjoy Bell's Eccentric Day in Kalamazoo with Fritz Klug and Jessica Shepherd. Don't Edit Don't Edit Follow us on social media: @mlivemibest on Twitter @mlivemibest on Instagram On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/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. Mr OSullivans friend Peter Donnelly was stabbed to death in Dublin last year A father-of-five has died after being viciously assaulted in an early morning attack by a man known to him. The victim, named locally as Liam O'Sullivan (46), was found lying in a pool of blood at a house in Kilkenny city on Thursday. Emergency services were alerted to the scene at High Hayes Terrace, Castlecomer Road, and rushed him to hospital. The victim was treated at the intensive care unit in St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny, but died at 10.45pm on Thursday. Detectives arrested a 33-year-old man shortly after Mr O'Sullivan was found and detained him on suspicion of assault causing harm. He was being questioned under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for a total of 24 hours. The Herald has learned that the suspect was also hospitalised with injuries to his hands. He was scheduled to have undergone surgery yesterday morning but this was later cancelled and he was returned to Kilkenny Garda Station for questioning. Detectives believe the suspect and Mr O'Sullivan were known to each other and were socialising at the property when a row broke out and Mr O'Sullivan was assaulted. A woman in her 20s, who is well-known to the man in custody, was also arrested as part of the garda investigation. It is understood she was in the property at the time of the incident. She was quizzed for a number of hours but was released without charge on Thursday. A file is now being prepared in relation to her for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Friends of Liam O'Sullivan have paid tribute to the father-of-five on his social media account after he passed away. One friend wrote: Rest in peace. Such a cruel world we live in... thinking of the kids and family at this heartbreaking time." Stabbing The victim was also a friend of Peter Donnelly, who died following an alleged stabbing incident outside the GPO in Dublin last year. Mr Donnelly was homeless at the time of the incident but was originally from Kilkenny and was close to Liam O'Sullivan. A post-mortem examination was due to be completed at St Luke's General Hospital yesterday afternoon. Gardai sealed off the property to allow a forensic examination by specialist officers. Officers have also been carrying out door-to-door inquiries close to the scene and canvassing the local area for any potential witnesses to the incident. "A male in his 30s and a female in her 20s were arrested in relation to this incident by investigating gardai," a garda spokesman said. "The female was released without charge on Thursday, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. "The male in his 30s remains in garda custody under the provisions of Section Four Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Kilkenny Garda Station. "The scene is preserved for a technical examination. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow." The Google Pixel 4a will seemingly miss out on 5G support in arguably the best possible way; by continuing its predecessors aggressive pursuit of value. A new report indicates the upcoming Android smartphone will utilize the Snapdragon 730, an SoC whose network capabilities peak with LTE. Googles choice isnt surprising but this is the first report of it based on more than just intelligent guesses. The Snapdragon 730s name was allegedly spotted in direct reference to a Pixel-series device code-named Sunfish. The sighting is understood to have originated from an unspecified code base. Advertisement Previous leaks already strongly suggested the Sunfish moniker denotes the Pixel 4a. According to existing industry rumblings, Google is also developing a successor to the Pixel 3a XL. The handset, supposedly code-named Bramble, is expected to debut as the Pixel 4a XL in Q2. Naturally, Qualcomms Snapdragon 730 is nearly a year old now, which is often an eternity in this industry. Not that its age is catching up to it just yet, mind you; it still has a reputation of one of the best-value mobile silicon options on the market. Even if proven accurate, the new report doesnt guarantee the Pixel 4a XL will use the same SoC as its smaller sibling. It does increase the likelihood of that scenario. After all, the Pixel 3a series launched last year also shared a value-focused Qualcomm chip across the board. Advertisement However, insiders recently claimed Google actually is planning to launch a 5G-ready Pixel mid-ranger this spring. If that device truly is the Pixel 4a XL, it certainly wont ship with the Snapdragon 730. Instead, it will most likely integrate the Snapdragon 765G, a more capable piece of silicon Qualcomm unveiled in December. To 5G or not to 5G it doesnt matter Whats widely believed to be the final look of the Pixel 4a leaked online late last year. The rumored design, depicted above, continues Googles minimalist approach to mobile hardware. Assuming the Pixel 4a truly launches with a year-old silicon, Google should at the very least be able to match the aggressive price tag of its predecessor. Released in May 2019, the Pixel 3a started retailing in the U.S. at $399, or half as much as the regular Pixel 3. Advertisement The next few Android mid-rangers from Google are ostensibly moving toward a spring unveiling. As for whether the Pixel 4a family misses out on 5G support partially or entirely that really doesnt matter. Its quite obvious Google will once again target price-conscious, value-oriented consumers with these phablets. At the end of the day, thats hardly a demographic desperate to reside on the bleeding edge of mobile tech no matter what. Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Kilcurry celebrated a long held school tradition, making St. Brigid's Crosses, ahead of the February 1st Feast of St. Brigid. The school is situated in the heart of Faughart Parish, and cross making has been a tradition in the area and local schools for many, many decades. Some staff members even remember making them in school when Teddy Lambe was principal, a tradition continued by Frank Short and current principal, Kevina Goss. In January 2020, Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Kilcurry continued the tradition of St. Brigid's Cross making in the school, with mass on Friday last, where staff and pupils attended mass and the crosses were blessed. SNA Briege Casey assisted by SNA Breda Marmion organised the preparation of rushes and teaching the children how to make the crosses. Deputy Principal, Mrs. Sinead Callan and Fifth Class were also delighted to welcome Una Casey into the school last week to participate and speak to the fifth class children about her own school days. Principal Ms. Ross said: 'The school is very grateful to Michael Conlon for supplying the school with rushes, which are short in supply this year.' She explained: 'There are many legends and stories about St Brigid. Perhaps the best loved one tells of the day she visited a pagan chieftain, who was dying. The chieftain had no wish to see Brigid, and he wouldn't speak to her. Brigid, however, stayed by his bed and took care of him. The floor of the room was covered with fresh rushes, and Brigid took a handful of these and began to weave a cross.' The story, which pupils have been learning in the school told old man was asked to become a Christian before his death 'To this day, a cross of rushes - a St. Brigid's Cross - are hung in many Irish homes on the first day of February, which is St. Brigid's Day.' Love Island related complaints to Ofcom doubled overnight after Callum left Shaughna heartbroken when he returned to the villa with new girl Molly on Thursday. Complaints soared after viewers watched Shaughna breakdown when she was told Callum hadn't stayed loyal and had chosen Manchester native Molly over her. Shaughna was left speechless when Callum walked back into the villa, before telling him 'congrats hun' and confiding in the girls that she wanted to leave. Gutted: Love Island related complaints to Ofcom doubled overnight after Callum left Shaughna heartbroken when he returned to the villa with new girl Molly on Thursday Ofcom figures obtained by the Sun reveal that complaints doubled compared to those received following the previous night's episode of the show. On Twitter, viewers were threatening to complain to Ofcom after Shaughna's heartache over her partner Callum. Many were outraged and pointed out how producers played Casa Amor previously - after Ofcom received a record 4000 complaints in 2018 when Dani Dyer was left distressed by a misleading video of her partner Jack Fincham. Dumped: Complaints soared after viewers watched Shaughna breakdown when she was told Callum hadn't stayed loyal and had chosen Manchester native Molly over her Shocking: On Twitter, viewers were threatening to complain to Ofcom after Shaughna's heartache over her partner Callum Casa Amor kicked off earlier in the week, with the shift seeing the villa divided with new bombshells entering and tempting the currently-coupled stars. Couples can either stay together or pair with a newbie. While Shaughna opted to stay single, Callum returned with Molly, who he'd previously confessed he is more sexually attracted to than his previous partner. Flooding Twitter, users were left complaining about both the cliffhanger ending during Thursday's episode and the distress caused to Shaughna on the show. Painful: After much speculation over the results of the annual stunt on the show, all Shaughna's worst fears were confirmed when he returned with new girl Molly - leaving the Democratic Services Officer single and fans devastated Fans penned: 'Actually considered phone ofcom to complain... Gonna make a complaint to Ofcom about #loveisland having me in tears tonight #loveisland2020... 'Totally feel for Demi and Shaughna seeing it played out in front of millions of people. People deserve to be treated better @Ofcom... Officially preparing my complaint to ofcom about these frigging cliffhangers #LoveIsland... 'Me writing a complaint to ofcom for leaving us on a cliffhanger at such an intense moment which weve been waiting for ALL DAY... Ofcom must have to get extra staff once is on cos everyday.l people scream ofcom... Im writing to ofcom.' Shocking: Many were outraged and pointed out how producers played Casa Amor previously - after Ocom received a record 4000 complaints in 2018 when Dani Dyer was left distressed by a misleading video of her partner Jack Fincham Shocking: Twitter was awash with heartbreaking reaction to the moment After former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon killed themselves in the wake of their time on the show, much has been made of the stars' mental health - leading one fan to call for the show to be 'shut down'. The viewer wrote: 'I say a tweet yesterday about how ofcom will have love island shut down soon due too the damage it does mentally too some of them and i can see it.' Recalling previous Casa Amor moments - including Amber Gill's heartache over Michael Griffiths' return to the main villa with new girl Joanna Chimonides - fans insisted the star should see the upside, as Amber went on to win. Pained: Flooding Twitter, users were left complaining about both the cliffhanger ending and the distress caused to Shaughna on the show The fan wrote: 'How uncomfortable was that to watch! Hate the #CasaAmor part of @LoveIsland....however @Shaughna_P just remember what happened last year to @AmberRoseGill #propthatcrownbackup #lovelsland... 'My heart has just dropped to my stomach, poor Shaughna. Callum what have you done! I cant bare to see tomorrows episode of #LoveIsland2020 Im gutted!... 'You really cant compare Georgia and Ambers Casa Amor recoupling with and Shaughnas. Shaughna and Callum have been together from the start. What he has done is brutal... #LoveIsland'. News about initial coin offerings (ICOs) is back with a vengeance. Only this time, its not about how much money there is to be raised, but how much money there is to be paid back. In January, two new ICOs completed in 2018 were charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with fraudulent sales of unregistered digital asset securities. The individuals and entities charged in these cases are still awaiting a final judgment and fine. However, in both cases, the SEC has recommended all funds raised by the ICOs be paid back to investors. ICOBench reports that, as of Feb. 6, almost 5,700 projects have collectively raised over $27 billion since the first ICO in July 2014. ICOs are a way to fund early stages of a crypto venture by selling a certain number of tokens created by the startup in advance of product launch. New breeds of ICOs called initial exchange offerings (IEOs), which capitalize on the sale of exchange tokens specifically, have begun to emerge in the last year. Related: CFTC Asked to Provide Opinion in SEC Case Against Telegram ICO For now, token sales of any sort that are sold to U.S. residents and not registered with the SEC remain in violation of federal securities laws and subject to fines. The SEC issued warnings as recently as last month advising individuals and entities against participating in or launching ICOs. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has proposed safe havens for companies launching token sales to help nurture early-stage blockchain network growth and development. But right now the frequency of ICO-related charges has been rising each year. Consider: Between 2016 and 2020, the SEC filed charges against 27 completed ICOs. This number does not include the number of ongoing investigations by the regulator or the cases that have yet to publicly disclose settlement terms. Related: SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Proposes 3-Year Safe Harbor Period for Crypto Token Sales As a result of the SECs strong enforcement, there has been greater caution among cryptocurrency investors who have participated, or are planning to participate, in this form of fundraising. ICOBench reports the total monthly funds raised by ICOs declined from a high of $3.45 billion in 2018 to $18 million at the start of 2019. Story continues How the SEC operates The majority of token offerings the SEC has gone after were completed during the ICO boom of 2017 when over 550 sales raised $7.3 billion, according to figures from Smith and Crown. However, the earliest recorded token sale to have been penalized by the SEC was completed in May 2014 during the offering for Sianotes, which ultimately raised $120,000. In 2016, the Boston-based Nebulous, which conducted the Sianotes offering, was required to pay back the full amount raised during the offering, plus $24,602 in prejudgement interest and a civil money penalty of $80,000. The three main monetary weapons at the disposal of the SEC to fine companies that conduct unregistered securities offerings are disgorgement, civil penalties and prejudgment interest. Disgorgement is the repayment to investors of gains the SEC deems to be from illegal or unethical actions. It is meant to be a restorative rather than a punitive charge. Civil penalties, on the other hand, are intended as a punishment for wrongdoing, with the harshest penalties handed down on cases with clear evidence of fraud and substantial risk of or actual investor harm. Finally, prejudgement interest is a calculated fee based on the amount of disgorgement and civil penalties that has been negotiated during a trial. The SEC can also seek remedy for the violation of federal securities laws by placing injunctions and restrictions on an individuals ability to work in the securities industry or serve as an officer or director of a public company. The SEC cannot, however, put people in jail. Notable cases Looking at the SECs punitive charges over time against companies or individuals that have conducted ICOs, amounts vary wildly from $0 to as much as $24 million. In the cases where there was no civil penalty, the SEC specified its rationale in filings, highlighting the remedial actions already taken by the company or individual. For example, in the case of Gladius, a Nevada-based blockchain cybersecurity services company, the SEC wrote that the company took prompt remedial steps to self-report to the commission, cooperated with SEC staff and promised to comply with federal securities laws in future. The largest civil penalty ever handed down by the SEC for an ICO was against Block.One, the startup that raised the largest amount of money ever in a token offering. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Block.One managed to sell $4.1 billion worth of its EOS ERC-20 token. In September 2019, the SEC levied a $24 million fine for conducting an unregistered securities sale. Not all civil penalties are proportional to the amount raised in offerings. More art than science The SEC also looks at factors other than the amount raised when judging which offering companies to go after and how much to penalize, according to securities lawyer Mark Hunter. These factors include (but are not limited to) where the victims and wrongdoers are located, whether or not there is an identifiable group that was targeted for a sale and the press-worthiness of a company, individual or product. Are they [the company or individual] the hot topic of the month or quarter? Hunter said, referencing cases like Block.One, which received wide news coverage for being the largest ICO in history. At the end of the day, measuring how the SEC picks and handles its cases is more art than science, Hunter said. There were times when [I] was sure the SEC was going to go after a particular person or group and they didnt. Other times, when [I] thought this didnt seem like something the SEC would use its resources for and theyre all over it. Anybody that could forecast with certainty would be some extremely successful counsel. What to expect in 2020 In the first month of 2020, the SEC has already laid charges against two new ICOs. The amount of disgorgement, civil penalty and prejudgement interest has not yet been settled for these cases. Given the lack of transparency into the process, details such as the timing and state of SEC investigations into ICOs that are ongoing or soon to launch are difficult to predict. What can be expected with some level of certainty from public filings in years prior is the number of charges is set to increase significantly this year. As the number of SEC-penalized ICOs goes up, the importance of regulatory compliance for investors strengthens. High-profile cases carried over from 2019, such as the Telegram and Kik ICOs, will act as important bellwethers for U.S. regulatory sentiment regarding blockchain technology and its reach in consumer markets. The outcome of Peirces Token Safe Harbor proposal unveiled this month will also be a crucial signal from regulators to the public. Each new enforcement action this year will teach us much about ICO financing and business models, and the SECs regulatory focus. The creation of new ICOs, IEOs and other forms of financial innovation in the crypto markets is be affected, for better or for worse. Full chart of SEC filings against completed ICOs, from 2016 to Jan. 31, 2020, is below: Related Stories The talent gap, Feb. 3 One of the most shocking facts in Josh Rubins piece on Toronto 2030 is that, according to the province, we will need 8,000 family doctors within the next five years. In light of the new coronavirus crisis around the world and the inefficient and overburdened health-care system we already have, is anyone paying attention to this? How many people out there have trouble finding a family doctor right now? Medical school enrolment and medical residencies for those who studied in Canada or abroad should be increased. This should be a wake up call to our federal and provincial policy-makers. Lets train more doctors now. Ways to make an ever-popular New Year's resolution a reality Getting started on a healthy program can be easy with some professional help. Former Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik has made no secret of wanting to break into the acting world. And on Friday, the 28-year-old certainly proved she's spending time with all the right people for her big break in Hollywood. The Australian beauty looked simply stunning in a gold ensemble as she attended the WME Pre-Oscar's Party in Tinseltown. Golden girl! Former Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik, 28, (pictured) oozed elegance in a golden co-ord at the WME Pre-Oscar's Party in Los Angeles on Friday night Shanina highlighted her slender figure while wearing a satin off-the-shoulder top. The beauty paired the chic top with a matching long skirt, which clung to her sensational catwalk-ready curves. The model finished the outfit with a pair of mauve-hued strappy heels, which she paired with a small matching clutch. Elegant: Shanina put her slender figure on show wearing an off-the-shoulder top Shanina kept her accessories minimal, wearing diamond drop earrings and a number dainty bracelets. She opted for a glossy makeup-style for the event, contrasting a smokey eye with a matte lipstick. She wore her raven tresses tied elegantly back. Low key: Shanina kept her accessories minimal, wearing diamond drop earrings and a number bracelets to the Hollywood party Beauty: Shanina opted for a glossy makeup-style for the event, with her pairing a smokey eye with a matte lipstick. The statuesque stunner has no secret of her acting ambitions, starring in the film Greed last year. Speaking to Daily Mail recently, the beauty said she wanted to try to balance her health and wellness interests with acting pursuits. 'I am really passionate about health and wellness, so would love to have my own business in that area in the future,' she said. Transition: Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik had a bit part in the movie Greed last year, which was filmed in Greece. Pictured: alongside comedian Steve Coogan (L) 'I have been loving acting, so am looking to continue working in film,' the supermodel added. It comes after a tumultuous time in Shanina's personal life, after the Australian beauty divorced her husband, DJ Ruckus. The former couple, who married in 2018, finally had their settlement signed off by a judge, according to TMZ on last month. The divorce became official as of January 23. A plane is due to evacuate 24 critically ill Yemenis from the rebel-held capital on Friday, a World Heath Organization source said, as the UN seeks to consolidate a medical air bridge. A first "mercy flight" evacuated seven children from Sanaa on Monday for medical treatment in the Jordanian capital Amman and the United Nations is eager to build the necessary confidence between the warring parties to enable more. "A plane carrying 24 patients and their companions is scheduled to leave today from Sanaa to Amman," a World Health Organization source told AFP. A Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting in support of the beleaguered Yemeni government since 2015, has kept Sanaa airport closed to commercial flights since 2016. But in November, the coalition announced that it was prepared to allow medical evacuations from the airport as a confidence-building measure to support UN peace efforts. "This is the first of what we hope will be a number of flights in the medical air bridge," UN Resident Coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande told AFP after Monday's flight. She said she hoped their would be more evacuations in the coming days, to Egypt as well as Jordan. The reopening of Sanaa airport is a key demand of the Huthi rebels and one of the issues being pursued by UN mediators as they seek to relaunch peace talks. ANN ARBOR, MI University of Michigan Provost Martin Philbert was placed on administrative leave last month amid allegations of sexual misconduct, but it wasnt the first time he was accused of inappropriate behavior. Philbert was involved in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former UM researcher Thomas Komorowski in December 2003. Court documents from 2004 show Philbert was accused of offering to show a male colleague nude pictures of a female UM researcher. The documents also show allegations that the woman touched Philberts buttocks in a lab one night. University of Michigan provost accused of sexual misconduct, placed on leave In his complaint, Komorowski said his salary was to be funded from various grants secured by the university. Philbert told Komorowski upon laying him off that there would be no funding for his position because it was paid 90 percent from an asthma grant the laboratory had lost. The lawsuit claimed substantial grants were continued or renewed around the time of his termination. The lawsuit claimed Philbert hired Komorowski to manage his lab as a senior research associate, and he was hired for his special skills with a microscope. Komorowski replaced the female researcher in the position after she left to move with her family to Illinois, but she returned to work sporadically for Philberts lab while living in Illinois, according to the lawsuit. Lawyers for UM sought to get details of alleged interactions between Philbert and the female researcher excluded from trial, arguing the evidence would cause the jury to decide upon an emotional, rather than factual, legal basis, court records show. They added there was no evidence of the allegations. A couple incidences of alleged horseplaying in a lab which led to no complaints has nothing to do with the plaintiffs contractual or statutory claims, wrote attorney Richard Seryak. A doctoral assistant told Komorowski he once saw the woman grabbing Martins rear-end, but denied seeing her touch Philbert in a deposition. In a deposition, the female researcher said she had sent nude pictures to her husband in an email and deleted the emails. She didnt recall touching Philberts buttocks, but Philbert said the incident happened. I dont remember the substance of the conversation, but that it was fairly jovial, at which point (the researcher) made a comment and to my recollection smacked me on the butt," he said during a deposition. The person Philbert offered to show the nude pictures to said he never believed Philbert had the pictures and that he was joking, according to court documents. The female researcher also said she gave Philbert a hug in the office, that he gave her a hug and that Philbert may have given her a kiss on the cheek. The Ann Arbor News obtained the settlement agreement through a Freedom of Information Act, which said UM paid Komorowski $191,937.50 under the agreement Komorowski agreed to retire from employment at the university. Regarding the settlement agreement, it is standard practice for the university to release such agreements through the FOIA process, said UM spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald. In many cases, the settlement agreements themselves require the university to release the agreements only through the FOIA process. Philbert was placed on administrative leave Jan. 21 after the university received multiple complaints alleging sexual misconduct. Part of Philberts role as provost was overseeing the office for Institutional Equity, which handles sexual misconduct investigations. UM President Mark Schlissel announced in January that Washington, D.C.-based law firm WilmerHale would lead the investigation into the allegations against Philbert. The university on Jan. 30 named an acting provost, Susan M. Collins, former dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. More: UM settles professors lawsuit over due process in harassment case UM promises serious sexual misconduct probe into provost as some express doubt, frustration UM students hold vigil for sexual assault survivors: We must demand UMich do better University of Michigan names former Ford School acting provost Police officers from the Northern Regional Police Command were forced to fire warning shots to disperse youth from Yong, a suburb of Tamale metropolis in the Northern region over Chieftaincy issues at the Bugu Lana palace in Tamale. In the process , one person from the yong community was arrested and sent to the police station in Tamale. The youth from the Dakpema Naa and Bugu Lana palaces started attacking each other with stones and other objects but with the help of the military and police the situation was put under control. The misunderstanding started when Zama was enskinned by the Dakpema Naa some weeks ago as the chief of Yong. Two brothers Zama (senior) who the Dakpena Naa enskinned as the Yong chief and Fuseini (given the tail as the chief) are all claiming to be chiefs. The youth of Yong wanted Fuseini as their chief and protested at the Bugu Lana palace. They claimed the Zama bribed the Dakpema Naa to be given the Chieftaincy title. DGN Online, understands that there was a meeting between the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC ) and Dakpema Naa, Guma Naa, Belpila Naa yesterday to find lasting solution to the Chieftaincy issue in the area. REGSEC reportedly ordered the Dakpema Naa and Belbila Naa to return the magic tail to Dakpema Naa to be given to the rightful person for the Yong skin. The Bugu Lana palace Pubic Relations Officer, Abdul Wahab S. Kamal told DGN Online that the views of the youth of yong will be addressed by the palace and appealed to them to remain calm. According to him, the Metro police commander has assured the palace that the person who was arrested will be released to the palace to be handed over to the yong people. Supt Yusif Tanko, Metro Police Commander, appealed to the youth from both factions not to take the law into their own hands. Meanwhile, military and police personnel have been stationed at the Dakpema Naa and Bugu Lana palaces respectively to protect lives and properties. ---Daily Guide Authorities with an Ohio sheriff's office are applauding two young boys who spent their snow day shoveling sidewalks and streets. Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office posted photos of the young boys J'mar Blanton, 7, and Quron Blanton, 10 shoveling sidewalks and streets Friday morning in their Dayton neighborhood. Asta Juskauskiene (pictured) arranged a deadly 'medieval duel' between her ex-husband and her lover to see which of her two admirers would win her hand The moment a mother-of-four waved goodbye to her lover as she sent him off on the bus to murder her ex-husband has been revealed in chilling CCTV images. Asta Juskauskiene, 35, arranged a 'medieval duel' to the death to see which of her two admirers would win her hand and has since been jailed for life. She left her husband Giedruis Juskauskas for Mantas Kvedaras, after meeting the 25-year-old online following his release from a Lithuanian prison for rape. The care worker ended the relationship with Mr Juskauskas, 42, who continued to provide financial support for their daughter. But both men claimed Juskauskiene as their own and she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford, east London. Kvedaras stabbed his love rival 35 times to the body and neck on June 17 last year and then bought Juskauskienea pizza to celebrate. The CCTV images show Mantas Kvedaras waving goodbye to Asta Juskauskiene from a bus just before the murder. The murder weapon - a knife - was found in a bin. Chilling CCTV images show Mantas Kvedaras waving goodbye to Asta Juskauskiene from a bus just before the murder Juskauskiene's ex-husband Giedruis Juskauskas, 42, (left), was stabbed 35 times by her lover Mantas Kvedaras, 25, (right), when they met in Stratford, east London, on July last year Juskauskiene had been warned Kvedaras was dangerous but said: 'I think I will play until I get into trouble. I probably like the risks, dangers.' She was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice after a five week trial at Kingston Crown Court. Juskauskiene stood expressionless in the dock as Judge Peter Lodder jailed her for life with a minimum term of 24 years Kvederas was sentenced to life with a minimum off 22 and a half years for murder. The murder weapon - a knife - was found in a bin. Kvedaras stabbed his love rival 35 times to the body and neck on June 17 last year Juskauskiene was still in a physical relationship with her ex-husband despite their divorce in December 2018 when her lover Kvedaras flew to stay at her east London home. Both men claimed her as their own so she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford - a duel that she meticulously arranged while at home looking after her children, the youngest of which she shared with Mr Juskauskas. Kvedaras, who admitted murder, stabbed his love rival 35 times to his body, chest and neck on June 17 last year, leaving Mr Juskauskas to bleed to death at the scene But both men claimed Juskauskiene (pictured with Mantas in a shop before he left on the bus) as their own and she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford, east London Juskauskiene (pictured) was yesterday jailed for live with a minimum term of 24 years for arranging the fight to the death between her two male admirers In sentencing her today at Kingston Crown Court, Judge Peter Lodder QC said: 'You deliberately and cynically lured Mr Juskauskas into a dark alley where just after midnight you, Mantas, slaughtered this drunk and defenceless man. 'Such was the speed and the surprise of your brutal knife attack, that he suffered 35 individual wounds to his neck, head, arms and body, by contrast you, Mantas walked away without a mark. 'The force you used was sufficiently great that he suffered many wounds that were deep enough to cut through bone, and one passed through his neck. He bled to death in but a few minutes. 'That he was taken off-guard is clearly demonstrated by the circumstances of this attack. 'Mr Juskauskas had been Asta's third husband and was the father of her five year old daughter. 'But you two regarded him as an unwelcome irritation to your relationship and so you resolved to get rid of him. Juskauskiene (pictured) had denied the charges but was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court Kvedaras (pictured) had begun a relationship with Juskauskiene following his release from prison in Lithuania 'It was your joint plan that he would be seen as victim of a drug deal that had gone wrong, and you meticulously planned it in the belief that the police would not be able to track this attack back to you.' Earlier Hugh Davies, prosecuting, had told the court that Juskauskiene had discussed the purpose of the fatal meeting with her friend Jurgita Sulciene. 'That purpose was for the men to settle the issue in relation to the defendant with violence - in effect a latter-day medieval duel.' Kvedaras had begun a relationship with Juskauskiene following his release from prison in Lithuania. 'Giedrius was however still on the scene,' said Mr Davies. 'He regularly visited the address to see his daughter. 'He had not wanted the divorce. He was providing financial support for his daughter and maintaining a sexual relationship with the defendant. 'In their different ways each man felt that they had claims over Asta Juskauskiene. The situation was inevitably going to come to a head. Mantas Kvedaras (circled) on his way to the location in Stratford, east London where the 'duel' took place Juskauskas was found dying from multiple stab wounds this lane in Stratford, East London 'It did come to a head in Whalebone Lane on that Monday morning. 'Giedrius and Mantas had obviously met there by arrangement rather than by chance: neither was anywhere near where they lived, and telephone records demonstrate there was repeated communication between them during the day of Sunday 16 June as they travelled from different locations to the scene. 'Juskauskiene is a manipulative and controlling figure central to the orchestration of these events. 'She knew in advance that Mantas Kvederas was intending to use serious violence and cause at least serious harm to Giedrius and she encouraged, assisted and intended to do this. 'Juskauskiene then actively assisted Mantas in removing his important documents from her house. 'She harboured him at her house following the murder, she selectively deleted text messages from her mobile phones before they were seized by police, and she lied repeatedly in interview. Mr Juskauskas was found with stab wounds to the body and neck, probably from a single knife, with 11 wounds to the neck alone. The case is being heard at Kingston Crown Court in South West London (file picture) Juskauskiene, a care worker, of Iron Mill Lane, Dartford, Kent, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing. She was sentenced to two years for perverting course of justice to be served concurrently. Kvedaras, of no fixed address, admitted murder. BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday urged certain individuals in the United States and Taiwan region to stop all political hype and manipulation using the epidemic as an excuse. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at an online news briefing when commenting on claims by relevant department of Taiwan that the mainland has provided the World Health Organization (WHO) with incorrect information about Taiwan's epidemic situation. She was also commenting on U.S. allegation that WHO needs to engage in direct contact with Taiwan's public health department regarding the response to the epidemic. According to Hua, since the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the National Health Commission (NHC), attaching high importance to Taiwan compatriots' health, has kept the region informed with timely updates with a view to strengthening cross-strait technical exchange to jointly tackle the epidemic. It has shared with Taiwan 16 technical documents covering, among others, diagnostic and treatment solutions, prevention and control plans, guidelines on medical protective gear's scope of use as well as the virus' genome sequence and how this information was obtained. With regard to Taiwan compatriots in the mainland confirmed to be infected with the virus, Hua said Chinese mainland has been feeding instant information to Taiwan, sharing latest developments and tracing close contacts. "Upon verification with NHC, as of 10:00 February 7, Chinese mainland has updated Taiwan altogether 42 times on the epidemic and Taiwan has sent the mainland its 19th update. The statistics on Taiwan that the NHC reports to the WHO is based on information provided by Taiwan," said the spokesperson. Hua reiterated that the WHO is a special UN agency consisting of sovereign states. Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organizations such as the WHO must be arranged through cross-strait consultations under the one-China principle. According to arrangements between China and the WHO, medical and health experts from Taiwan can attend WHO technical meetings and WHO experts can travel to Taiwan to conduct research or provide assistance when such needs arise. The Taiwan region has timely access to information on global public health emergencies released by the WHO and information can also flow readily the other way. With these arrangements in place, Taiwan is able to cope promptly and effectively with local or global public health emergencies, the spokesperson said. Nollywood actor and rapper, Jim Iyke has hit heavy on an Internet troll who asked him a question about his marital status. The actor had posted a picture of himself posing in a car when the man asked the question in the comment section. The man, identified as Kingsley3154 had said in part: Hope you are married. READ ALSO Fans React To Real Sex Scene Between Jim Iyke, Ghanaian Actress (Video) Replying to the Kingsley3154, Mr Iyke answered positively, till the point he called him a young idiot as he encouraged him to mind his business. See His Post Here: The GSMA regret to see Ericssons decision not to attend MWC Barcelona this year as they are an important player in our ecosystem. We respect their decision and are reassured by their commitment that they will be at MWC Barcelona 2021 in full force and our rebook trends for next years event remain high. Ericssons cancellation will have some impact on our presence at this time and will potentially have further impact. It is of great importance to the GSMA to continue to convene the industry at this critical time where connectivity is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. Advocating across the industry through government and ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders has never been more critical. The GSMA continues to monitor and assess the potential impact of the Coronavirus on MWC Barcelona 2020 as the health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees and staff are of paramount importance. MWC Barcelona 24-27 February 2020, will proceed as planned, across all venues at Fira Gran Via Fira Montjuic and La Farga LHospitalet, including YoMo and Four Years From Now (4YFN). The GSMA is in contact with exhibitor companies and is discussing preparedness measures being put in place both by the GSMA and by exhibitors. It is reassuring to know that colleagues around the world are taking active measures to contain and lessen any further spread of the virus. These measures include not only adhering to advice from the WHO and other health authorities, by respecting travel restrictions where they exist but also by arriving early in Spain to allow time for self-quarantine, ensuring access to masks and replacing attendees from high-risk countries with local European-based colleagues and representatives. As previously stated, the GSMA has implemented many measures to help to mitigate the spread of the virus and is continuing to add other actions regularly. In particular, there are extensive additional health measures that have been put in place. The GSMA is building on its existing plans to protect the health of our attendees, clients and staff at MWC Barcelona. We strongly urge exhibitors and attendees to implement appropriate guidelines and protocols as suggested by the WHO and other health authorities to contain and mitigate against any further spread of the virus. Up-to-date WHO advice can be found here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance and the most recent press release issued by WHO is here: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov). Further updates from the GSMA, answers to the most frequently asked questions and an outline of the measures that have been implemented, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com. -ENDS- About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005260/en/ Bombardier Inc.s ill-fated foray into building jetliners may be nearing an end, and investors are applauding. The company is in advanced talks to sell its stake in Airbus SEs A220 program to the European aerospace giant, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. A deal for Bombardiers 34 per cent holding in the venture could be reached as early as next week, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter. Quebec, which owns 16 per cent of the program, would retain its stake. Walking away from the A220 would close the book on Bombardiers involvement in an aircraft program in which the company invested more than $6 billion (U.S.) amid a series of development delays and cost overruns. Bombardier, creaking under heavy debt and struggling to sell the all-new single-aisle plane, ceded control of the program to Airbus in 2018 while retaining a minority participation. Financial terms of the Airbus-Bombardier deal couldnt be learned, the Journal said. The talks could still fall apart and the outlines of any agreements could change, the newspaper said. Both companies are scheduled to report earnings Feb. 13. Bombardier climbed 4.5 per cent to $1.49 (Canadian) at 3:34 p.m. in Toronto, reversing losses after the Journals story. A sale of the companys stake in the A220, which was originally known as the C Series, would also be a milestone for cash-strapped Bombardier as it weighs selling other key businesses in a potentially far-reaching revamp. Saddled with a $10-billion (U.S.) debt load, the Montreal-based company has held talks to combine its rail-equipment operation with Frances Alstom SA. Its also exploring a sale of its private-jet unit to Textron Inc., the Journal reported earlier this week. Read more about: In this May 7, 2018, photo, patients are seen in their room at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Pyongyang, North Korea. As the coronavirus epidemic rages on in China, authorities in North Korea have quarantined a group of 15 refugees that were captured in China and repatriated with the help of Chinese police, placing them in a facility meant to isolate patients with open cases of tuberculosis, RFA has learned. Sources say that the government has little regard for the health of the refugees, and does not care if they contract tuberculosis while under quarantine for the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Yesterday an acquaintance of mine who works in the medical industry told me that some North Korean refugees who were sent back from China last month were put in isolation at a tuberculosis hospital, a resident of North Hamgyong province told RFAs Korean Service Thursday. The source said the 15 repatriated North Koreans, originally part of a group of about 20, crossed the border into China from somewhere in North Hamgyongs Musan county in early January. But they were arrested by the Chinese police and sent back to North Korea, said the source. [Their escape] caused an emergency situation where the entire military was thrown into utter confusion, since it was the beginning of the New Year, said the source. A team was urgently dispatched by the provincial security department under orders from the Central Committee [of the Korean Workers Party]. They were able to catch 15 of them with the help of the Chinese police. Among them were 14 adults and one child, the source added. According to the source the 15 were not taken first to a detention center in China, they were immediately sent to the Security Department in Onsong county via the Namyang customs office. The source said that official procedures for repatriated North Koreans dictate that they should be handed over to their local security department after going through a preliminary investigation in the jurisdiction where they reentered the country, in this case, Onsong county. But since coronavirus is a thing in China now, they were sent back to North Korea in strict secrecy and immediately handed over to Musans security department, the source said. Musan cleared out a ward of the Sopungsan tuberculosis hospital and dropped the 15 repatriated refugees there, the source added. But placing them in Sopungsan could put them at risk. Sopungsan tuberculosis hospital is famous because patients are sent there when they have the most dangerous types of open-case tuberculosis [including the drug-resistant Super-TB], said the source. Its like the authorities dont even care if these people become infected with tuberculosis, the source said, adding that their families have been made aware of the situation. The State Security Department normally does not inform families of repatriated escapees when they are still under investigation. This time, however, they told family members to bring food, clothes, and firewood because they believe the new coronavirus crisis wont end any time soon, the source said. It was this request to family members that made allowed news of the situation to go public. Many people know that the group who fled to China from Musan county last month were sent back to North Korea and quarantined at Sopungsan tuberculosis hospital because word got out when the State Security Department asked their family members for food and clothes, a second source, also a resident of North Hamgyong, told RFA. Seopungsan tuberculosis hospital is where terminal TB patients go to die. They are put there to prevent the spread of the highly-contagious tuberculosis bacteria, the second source said. According to the World Health Organizations 2019 Global Tuberculosis Report, in 2018 there were 131,000 cases of tuberculosis in North Korea. The country had an estimated TB case fatality ratio of 16%. North Korea has not reported a single confirmed case of nCoV as of Friday. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Photo: The Canadian Press Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe sits for a year end interview at the Legislative Building in Regina on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. A delegation of premiers will be in Washington this weekend to reinforce cross-border business ties with their American counterparts, hedging their bets at the dawn of a new and uncertain era of managed North American trade. Post-election tensions between the West and the federal Liberal government are showing signs of easing, two of Canada's premiers suggested Friday as provincial leaders fanned out across the U.S. capital to argue for cross-border trade and investment under a new trade agreement. With Ottawa's work on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement gradually receding, a delegation from the Council of the Federation took its turn in Washington, hoping to convince gubernatorial counterparts of the importance of closer trade ties with the provinces. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan's Scott Moe, speaking at a panel discussion at the Wilson Center's Canada Institute, acknowledged the cold front that moved in after voters in their provinces froze out the climate-conscious federal Liberals last October, in large part over perceived federal hostility to Canada's emissions-causing oilpatch. But there have been cracks in the ice of late, said the leaders, crediting the work of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. The Alberta-born former foreign minister was dispatched by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead the outreach. "It seems to be an attitude change, it really does," Moe said. "The outreach from the deputy prime minister to Saskatchewan has been good, it's been appreciated, and it's a relationship we'll be looking forward to continuing in the future." Added Kenney: "We have a long way to go yet, but at least we feel that some of our issues are being listened to." The stated goal of this weekend's mission is to thank U.S. federal and state lawmakers for their support during the drawn-out negotiations to replace NAFTA, and to celebrate the imminent dawn of the USMCA, which awaits only Canada's ratification. Most experts anticipate it will be the law in all three countries by mid-summer. But they also intend to promote the importance to Alberta of resurrecting the Keystone XL pipeline expansion, a project to deliver landlocked Alberta oilsands bitumen to refiners and shippers along the U.S. Gulf Coast. It was rejected by the previous Obama administration a rejection Trudeau seemed to abet with his "co-ordinated surrender" to Barack Obama shortly after becoming prime minister in 2015, Kenney said. "What could he have done? He could have done something," said Kenney, a former Harper-era cabinet minister who accused the government of promising the Obama White House ahead of time that it wouldn't contest the decision. "They never wanted that project, and they were not willing to employ any political or diplomatic leverage against a political decision by a U.S. administration to violate the spirit of NAFTA, which was about, in part, open access to the U.S. markets for our energy exports." The net result of Canada's inability to build pipelines has resulted in more oil travelling by rail, added Moe, who pointed to the derailment Thursday in Saskatchewan as evidence of what can happen. "That is not the way we should be moving that product," he said, noting that much of the U.S. Midwest has a similar problem. "We're cramping our rail capacity capacity that we need if we're going to be producing and exporting other goods that should be on rail." Ontario Premier Doug Ford and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs were also part of the delegation that met with state leaders at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, which got underway Friday. In a discussion with Scotty Greenwood of the Canadian American Business Council, Ford called on his federal Conservative counterparts to set politics aside on Parliament Hill long enough to get the government's USMCA implementation bill passed. "This is not the time to play politics," he implored. "Let's get this deal signed." Real rain is arriving in Australia - a deluge big enough to extinguish major bush fires. But dry New Zealand has a longer wait. WeatherWatch.co.nz head forecaster Philip Duncan says it's a straight forward set up for eastern Australia this weekend, but for New Zealand the forecast is made more complicated due to extra high pressure in the area. "It's a significant positive sign to see rain arrive back in eastern Australia like this. The positive for New Zealand is that if we caught the same dry they have, we may also get their rain in time too, says Philip. "An ex tropical cyclone may help bring further rain to eastern Australia next week, after it forms in the Coral Sea this weekend. The future of that low may see NZ getting rain too". Parts of New South Wales will get a staggering 400mm near the coast over the weekend, which will almost certainly lead to some flooding - but will also put out fires and bring major relief to years-long-drought further inland. Philip says the long range data isn't yet locked in for New Zealand - and high pressure stuck over drought stricken parts of the North Island means it's unclear yet if any rain from Australia will actually get into northern NZ. "We often think of a tropical storm or cyclone as coming in to NZ's north first, but as we've seen in recent years these big tropical rainmakers can miss the North Island entirely and bring heavy rain to the West Coast of the South Island instead. One computer model suggests that is likely, others say the North Island does have some chance, but with limited totals due to high pressure being stuck in the area. Either way, WeatherWatch.co.nz isn't ready to confirm rain for the North Island yet. But as we've been saying since late January, we believe the middle to later part of February offers some of the better chances for northern NZ rain due to the tropics waking up. There may be an even bigger tropical storm later in February directly north of NZ - or at least another chance of tropical low pressure pulling rain southwards. It's important to note that drought conditions are likely to get worse before they get better in New Zealand - but relief may still be on the way, says Philip. We'll give another detailed update on Monday - including more info on the potential of a second tropical cyclone this month north of New Zealand. Map above: Forecast rainfall accumulation to February 17 - ECMWF Map above: Forecast rainfall accumulation to February 17 - GFS Map above: Forecast rainfall accumulation to February 24 - GFS Next seven days rainfall compared to usual rainfall for this time of the year - Red=drier than average. White= normal rainfall. Blue = wetter than usual NEW YORK Deborah A. Batts, the nations first openly gay federal judge, has died. She was 72. Batts, a Philadelphia native was found dead on Monday, three months before she was set to preside over a trial of California lawyer Michael Avenatti on charges that he cheated porn star Stormy Daniels, a former client, of proceeds of a book deal. No cause of death was immediately released. In June 1994, Batts was sworn in after a smooth confirmation process following her appointment to the bench by President Bill Clinton. During her confirmation proceedings, it was never mentioned that she was a lesbian. But, at that time, she told the New York Law Journal that she did not want to be known as the gay judge. I'm a mother, I'm an African American. I'm a lesbian, she said. Deborah Batts was a trailblazer in every respect: an openly gay African-American woman who became a United States District Judge after a distinguished career as a federal prosecutor and law professor, Chief Judge Colleen McMahon said in a statement. It will be difficult to replace her. Our hearts are broken at her premature passing. McMahon said one of the judge's greatest contributions to the court was her last, when she provided oversight to a unique program that enabled people convicted of crimes to earn reductions in their period of supervised release by participating in a special rehabilitative program under intense judicial supervision. She will be remembered by her colleagues for her devotion to the work of the court, for her mentorship of a cadre of young lawyers of all backgrounds, and for her infectious smile and extraordinary collegiality, McMahon said. Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a tweet that he was Saddened to hear of the passing of Deborah Batts, a giant of the legal community who blazed new trails for justice and equality. He called it a major loss for our judiciary and our movement. Batts received her undergraduate degree from Radcliffe College in 1969 before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1972. She worked at Cravath Swaine & Moore before joining the U.S. attorney's office in 1979. In 1984, she joined the faculty at Fordham University School of Law, becoming a tenured professor in 1990. Apple is rethinking the move of Airpods production to Vietnam due to coronavirus hold-ups Apple's plan to drastically ramp up the productionof AirPods is threatened by the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced suppliers in China to halt operations for two weeks and could leave them short of components even after work resumes on Monday, multiple sources told the Nikkei Asian Review. The US tech giant had ordered its suppliers to produce up to 45 million units in the first half of the year to keep up with surging demand for the wireless earphones. Now, however, the current stock of AirPods is running low, with most of the finished products reserved for Apple's own online and offline stores, the sources said. Currently, the standard AirPods are still in stock, according to Apple's official online store, while there is a one-month waiting time for the premium AirPods Pro launched in last September. Luxshare Precision Industry (Luxshare-ICT), Goertek, and Inventec, the three key AirPods manufacturers, have halted the majority of production since the Lunar New Year break began, some resources told Nikkei Asian Review. The three companies now have at most two weeks' worth of materials and components needed to assemble AirPods and must wait for component makers across China to restart operations in order to receive fresh supplies, the company representatives said. In addition, travel restrictions across China are expected to create labour shortages at factories, which could slow the ramping up of production. Companies are also carefully weighing how quickly they should resume production. Several months ago, information.com reported that Apple was trying to diversify its supply chain while continuing to shift manufacturing outside of China. Luxshare-ICTand Goertek were seeking funding to begin moving some of the manufacturing processes to Vietnam, amid the ongoing trade tensions between China and the US. One of the firms had started trialling production earlier this year, but as the trade war rumbled on with no sure sign of settling, the companies were ramping up efforts towards the move. Apples audio factory in northern Vietnam has long made the companys wired earbuds, and this was expected to be the first time the plant would take on the wireless variety. However, amid signs that tensions between Washington and Beijing are easing, Apple is no longer in such a hurry to build up AirPods capacity in the country, people familiar with the plans told Nikkei. The majority of AirPods production remains in China. It is unlikely that Apple could immediately switch production to Vietnam to deal with the coronavirus threat, sources said, because Hanoi has banned the entry of Chinese nationals into Vietnam to prevent the spread of the virus, which means the two Chinese AirPods suppliers cannot send managers and other employees, who are mainly Chinese, to the country. Moreover, many of the parts needed for AirPods assembly are still produced in China. Once her two grown sons were out of the house, Debra Maltz began thinking about moving from the Alamo Heights home she and her husband Tonio Athens have lived in for more than three decades. Maybe to downtown. Or King William. Or even Northwood nearby. But Athens quickly disabused her of that notion. He doesnt like change, so he told me he wasnt going anywhere, said Maltz, a real estate agent and owner of Centro Properties, a residential property management and leasing firm. He said our house is the perfect size, all on one level and convenient to everything. He refused to move. ENTER TO WIN: Four tickets to Morgan Wallen at the San Antonio Stock & Rodeo Show So Maltz and Athens agreed instead to do an almost complete redo of their 1940s three-bedroom, two-bathroom house. Theyd previously fixed it up shortly after moving in, but the 90s-era renovation had started to look a little tired, and they wanted to make the house more comfortable, to make it safer and more secure as they get older and to give the backyard a spalike feel. So they enlisted Kristin Hefty, partner and project architect with the Dado Group, to oversee the project, which finished two years ago. They told me they wanted this to be their dream house, Hefty said. Both Maltz, 68, and Athens, 61 and retired from the North East Independent School District, had a different item at the top of their respective wish lists: he wanted a pool, she a screened-in porch. For Athens, 61, Hefty designed a 15- by 6-foot pool just steps from the master bedroom and connected by a cedar deck. Part hot tub, part endless lap pool, its close enough to the house that many evenings the couple is able to scoot from to it while au naturel. We call it Hippie Hollow, Maltz said with a smile, referring to the clothing optional park on Lake Travis in Austin. For Maltz, she designed a handsome, steel-framed screened-in porch with a cedar floor and Douglas fir trim ceiling. They initially considered attaching the porch to the master bedroom, but eventually decided to build it off the living room instead. Its closer to the kitchen and easier for guests to get to, Maltz said. Although they tried to keep things on one level throughout the house, they had to build both the porch floor and the pool deck one step lower than the living room and bedroom floors, respectively. We needed that step down to prevent water from getting into the house during heavy rains, Hefty explained. The pool and porch, both shaded by decades-old live oaks, have created a relaxing backyard sanctuary for the couple. And several design cues subtly emphasize the spalike quality they were aiming for. On ExpressNews.com: 1927 Alta Vista home gets modern addition in San Antonio Wall sconces in the porch, for example, suggest paper lanterns while the cement fiber-clad sidings smooth finish recalls the look of a Japanese tea house. They achieved that effect simply by installing the boards with the faux wood grain facing in and the flat side facing out. Although the pier and beam house sits several feet above ground level, they rejected the idea of adding a ramp to the front door at least for now and instead leveled the ground around the side of the house leading to the screened-in porch. Maltz said Athens elderly mother already uses that path when she visits, rather than trying to climb the front stairs. Inside the house, they reconfigured the master suite to create a master bath with a safer, zero-curb shower as well as a walk-in closet and a commode closet with a door. Its way more usable than it used to be, Maltz said. Renovating the bath area also required taking the walls down to the studs and so they used the opportunity to add wood block supports that were eventually covered over by drywall. Sometimes in the future, these will be used to anchor grab bars in the shower and toilet area. I didnt want them now, Maltz said. But sometime in the future, maybe. All of the kitchen work they did was cosmetic, including replacing and painting the cabinet fronts, installing new pulls and adding marble countertops. On ExpressNews.com: Preserved 1910 home in San Antonios Beacon Hill might have been a mail-order kit house Since we love how the kitchen functioned (Athens) cooks and I clean were very happy with it, Maltz said. The marble is already getting a nice patina from use. Finally, they carved out a space inside the house from one of the bedroom closets to make a laundry room, so they could move the washer and dryer from the detached garage out back and into the house. They also installed a Pinterest-ready sliding barn door so it can can be opened and closed without the door impinging on the narrow hallway where its located. Although it took 11 months to complete the work, Maltz said shes happy they decided to improve the house where they already live rather than move somewhere else theyd likely have to renovate anyway. Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/08/2020 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoilers Warning: This article contains spoilers revealing if couple Emily Larina and Sasha Larin are still together or have gotten divorced.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So are Emily and Sasha still together? Has the couple's wedding bliss continued? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Emily Larina and Sasha Larin were just shown getting married on Season 7 of the TLC reality series, but did the couple make their marriage work and are they still together now?Emily, a 29-year-old from Portland, OR, and Sasha, a 32-year-old from Moscow, Russia, are one of the couples starring on 's seventh season, which is airing its season finale on TLC on Sunday.Emily met Sasha, a personal trainer, when she joined a gym in Russia, where she was living after finishing college.As they dated, Emily was able to tutor Sasha in English, and after a couple of years together, she got pregnant.One day, the couple got takeout for dinner and Sasha proposed marriage to her in an elevator. Emily said it was such a huge surprise but she said "yes." Afterward, Emily applied for a K-1 visa so they could live in America together.But Sasha had a lot of baggage. Specifically, Emily learned that Sasha was already twice divorced and has a son with each of his two ex-wives."Sasha just made mistakes in the past and he happened to marry those mistakes, but we're different. Our relationship it perfect," Emily said in a TLC video.Although there was a pattern of Sasha getting women pregnant and the relationships falling apart, Emily insisted, "I am going to be Sasha's third wife. This is his third child with another woman, but we're going to last."In the premiere episode of 's seventh season, Emily was just over 39 weeks pregnant, so she was unable to travel back to America to have her baby. The baby was due in just four days and Emily didn't want to leave her fiance behind.Emily's family was concerned Sasha would eventually leave her for Wife No. 4 and she'd be stuck raising a child alone, but Emily had confidence in Sasha and their relationship.Emily told Sasha that he was all she had and she needed him, so Sasha promised he would stay with her and take care of her. Sasha insisted he wasn't going to divorce again because he's "actually a good guy" and wanted to prove that to his new fiancee.Emily and Sasha were then shown meeting up with Sasha's first ex-wife, Masha, at a restaurant when Emily was nine months pregnant.Emily said Sasha married Masha at age 22 and they welcomed a son named Daniel together. Emily said their relationship was "doomed to fail," and Sasha claimed it was because Masha was "a difficult" and "crazy" person.After the divorce, Emily claimed Sasha met his second wife "a few years" after he divorced his first wife and the pair also welcomed a son.Sasha said everything was okay in the beginning, but when he became more muscular due to landing a job in fitness, the wife was no longer attracted to him. Sasha therefore divorced her and began looking for someone else.Emily wanted to meet Masha so they could establish a friendly relationship and Masha would trust her going forward with Daniel. Emily was hoping Daniel would be able to visit her in the United States once she and Sasha moved there together.Masha, however, had a different story about her breakup from Sasha, alleging to the cameras Sasha had left her for another woman."Sasha and I dated for a year. Then we were married for a year and got divorced because he met his second wife. She got pregnant, and he came to me and said, 'I want a divorce,'" Masha claimed.Masha wasn't happy about the idea of Sasha leaving the country when he had two other children to worry about and take care of. She called him a selfish man."Where the wind blows... a man flies," Masha vented to 's producers during a recent episode. "His family will not keep him. His children will not keep him.. Men only think about themselves."After a long and apparently exhausting conversation, Masha gave her blessing for Daniel to visit America, as long as that's what Daniel would like to do."I don't know if Sasha will leave Emily the way he left his first two wives. He left me for his second wife," Masha told the cameras."She was also good, kind, calm. But still, he left her for his third. I think America is the next step forward in his life. And Emily is just an excuse."Emily later welcomed her son with Sasha in a Russian hospital via Caesarean section because the baby was not positioned correctly to be delivered the natural way.Sasha, who remained by Emily's side throughout her labor and delivery, said in a confessional he didn't even remember where he was when his first two children were born.Sasha immediately broke down into tears when he saw his son for the first time. He called his baby boy "beautiful" and was overwhelmed with emotion.Sasha and Emily named their son Dave, and Emily called him "perfect."When Sasha's K-1 visa to come to America was finally approved, unfortunately, he and Emily were still waiting for their son's Russian passport.Six months of time had passed following David's birth, and Emily couldn't help feeling a little resentful because Sasha hadn't applied for the passport right when their son was born like he was supposed to.Emily admitted she and Sasha fought often about his mistake.Emily was also exhausted from taking care of the baby all on her own since Sasha apparently worked "all the time" from 5:30AM to 11PM. Emily said she and Sasha had no time as a couple and she felt very isolated and alone. Emily was also sad Sasha hadn't been able to bond with his child.Emily said Sasha spent about five hours a week with his son, so she was worried Sasha may not be able to handle the responsibilities of being a father while she works a day job in America.Sasha had always been the working parent while his exes stayed home with his children, so Emily pointed out Sasha had a lot to learn -- from changing diapers to taking the baby on daytime strolls."Speak to him, play with him. He can't just be in the chair all day," Emily said."Okay. Do I have a choice?" Sasha asked.Emily wanted Sasha to take advantage of the time he had with his baby, but Sasha thought Emily was worrying too much and he didn't deserve to be nagged.Sasha said Emily was constantly finding reasons to argue, which is what happened in one of his past relationships when a child was welcomed into the picture.Emily alleged Sasha had a dismissive attitude, and she was hoping to see more emotion from him, especially when it became time to move to America.As for Emily, she was overwhelmed with emotion. Not only was she sad to leave Sasha's parents and feared traveling a long way with an infant, but Emily knew she'd have to find a new job and a place for her family to live since Sasha wouldn't be able to work.Emily and Sasha then said goodbye to Sasha's parents at the airport and it was an emotional moment for all involved."Everything will be fine," Sasha's father told him while they embraced. "We all love you. You did all this. Everything is for a reason. It's not in vain, understand? You grab your luck and you hold it."Sasha promised his parents that he wouldn't let them down, and then his father said, "We want you to live a good normal life. Not like we do here."Once the couple arrived in America, Sasha met Emily's mother Karen and sister Betsy at the airport in Indiana.Emily was so happy to be reunited with her family, her were even more thrilled to meet David, who was already grown and big.Sasha's 90 days in America had begun, and Emily knew they had a lot to do. Sasha really believed America is the land of opportunity, and so he planned to work as a personal trainer and fitness model to buy a house and nice cars.Sasha looked forward to a happy life with Emily and their son.Emily and Sasha planned to stay with Betsy until they found a place of their own, but it turned out Sasha and Betsy didn't really get along. For example, Sasha didn't approve of the unhealthy food Betsy was buying for the household.Betsy also thought Sasha was pushing Emily to get back into the gym and return to her pre-pregnancy weight. Emily apparently even feared Sasha might leave her for a more fit woman.Sasha felt trapped in Betsy's home because it was clear Emily's sister didn't like him. Sasha said he felt like he was in a prison and things were just getting worse and worse.Emily told Betsy that Sasha was just in a bad mood and it was going to take time for him to get used to life in America. Emily said Sasha's concerns were coming from a place of love, but Betsy insisted that's what everyone says who's in an unhealthy relationship.Betsy wanted Sasha to return to Russia, and this was not how Emily had imagined her first week in America playing out. Emily didn't know what to do, but she begged Betsy to give Sasha a chance.Emily didn't want the situation to become more awkward, so Emily said they could move out. However, their savings were quickly depleting."I think it's better if we get married ASAP," Emily said."Yeah, sure," Sasha said with a sigh."Yeah, sure? That's all you have to say about us getting married? Yeah, sure?" Emily asked.Emily seemed upset but quickly realized Sasha just didn't know what "ASAP" meant.While Emily always wanted a big, beautiful wedding, she said it would be okay to have a small wedding because she loved Sasha and wanted to be his wife. Sasha agreed they didn't need all the luxuries of a fancy wedding because it was just about them as a couple.Emily then went shopping for a wedding gown and fell in love with a lace dress that wasn't too ostentatious.Betsy suggested Emily should try on something more carefree and casual, but Emily asked her sister not to be a "debbie downer.""I am happy for you. I'm just nervous," Betsy said. "I think you have the right dress. I just hope you've got the right groom."Betsy told the cameras Emily tended not to make the most sound decisions and she just hoped Emily wasn't making a big mistake by marrying Sasha.The sisters, however, ended up having a magical moment in the bridal shop when Betsy cried after Emily put on a veil.'s latest episode showed Emily and Sasha's beachside wedding in Portland, OR.Betsy still didn't think the wedding was a great idea, but she decided to support her sister and give Sasha a chance to earn her trust. Betsy just hoped history wouldn't repeat itself and that Sasha was "in it for the long haul."The night before the wedding, Betsy asked Sasha to promise to love her sister forever, and Sasha said, "Of course I promise to love her, if she will not stop loving me."Sasha vowed to love Emily and do his best, and he told Betsy he's not the type of guy who cheats on his wife. Betsy hoped Sasha would prove her wrong and he'd be a wonderful husband and father who takes his marriage very seriously.On her wedding day, Emily was a little nervous because the wedding was so rushed and details were not well-planned out. However, she was excited, and Sasha and Betsy were finally getting along.Sasha was glad he and Emily were having a small wedding after his two previous marriages ended in divorce, but he said he was convinced he had finally found the love of his life.The couple then exchanged vows and said, "I do."Emily and Sasha are definitely still together and happy, and they're apparently living in Portland, OR, together.On February 5, 2020, Emily and Sasha both shared photos on Instagram of a nice dinner out they had together.In the caption of her post, Emily expressed regret over how TLC had edited her relationship with Sasha, insisting viewers didn't get to see the real Sasha."For a while, I was disappointed that the world didn't get to meet the Sasha I know. The man I know is always thinking about how he can be a better provider for his family. The man who sees something in the store and says, 'I want to send this to my father, son, brother, etc,'" Emily wrote alongside the slideshow of photos."The man who doesn't have a lot of possessions because he's so giving. I remember asking why he was always giving his clothes away to his brother, and he'd say, 'Because it's better that he has them than me.'"Emily continued of her husband in her post, "He would work split shifts but still come home on a long metro ride to check on me. He's the kind of man who will help others and expect nothing in return. He's never afraid to chase his dreams.""When his family calls, he answers. I love you, and I'll forever appreciate you for all you've done. I've come to terms with everything. I'll keep the real you to myself. @alexander.g.larin #90dayfiance," she concluded.In the comments section of her post, Emily revealed Sasha gets along better with her sister Betsy now and he's "the most determined person" she's "ever met."In response to criticism Sasha didn't seem like an attentive father on the show to David, Emily said, "I know I've also been guilty of scrolling on my phone while my son is playing. Sasha has also told me to put my phone down and vice-versa. My inattentive moments weren't recorded."Emily also insisted the past should not define Sasha considering he's twice divorced and had welcomed a child with each of his two former wives."God knows if I married the person I was with at 21, I'd be in the same situation," Emily wrote.When a follower noted the franchise is "heavily edited for dramatic purposes," Emily responded, "They film hours and hours the good and the bad, and it's up to them what they air... and they love to air the bad."Earlier that week, Emily revealed to the world she and Sasha were celebrating six months of marriage, meaning they had tied the knot in August 2019."6 months married. Since we never took a honeymoon, I was thinking of planning a short get away here in the US. I want to celebrate new jobs and making it through immigration paperwork (even though we aren't quite done)," Emily captioned a happy selfie of the couple."I don't want to blow a bunch of money, so I was thinking Miami or So Cal would be fun. Where would you vacation in the US? #90dayfiance #honeymoon."Emily moved to Volgograd in January 2016, according to Starcasm, and began dating Sasha in June 2016.The first photo of them looking like a couple on social media was posted by Emily on September 2016."Missing you already," Emily captioned the picture. "See you soon in #Moscow babe #love."In December 2016, Emily wrote that she couldn't wait to move to Moscow.Emily reportedly moved to Moscow not long after that post because most of her photos from 2017 were taken in Moscow, and Sasha is present in many of them.Emily and Sasha announced their engagement on Facebook on February 27, 2017.The couple welcomed their son together in Russia in November 2018.Emily, Sasha and their son moved to the United States in May 2019, according to Starcasm.After Emily and Sasha wed in America during the 90-day requirement of Sasha's K-1 visa, Emily changed her name to Emily Larina -- the traditional Russian feminine version Sasha's surname -- on Instagram on February 17, 2019."I haven't changed the name on my passport yet. But I wanted to take this username before anyone else. Also, I love my fam #family #happiness," Emily captioned a photo of Sasha, herself and their baby.Emily made it clear she was living in America in October 2019, and then one month later, she hinted her relationship with Sasha was still going strong by defending him on Instagram.Emily took to her Instagram Stories and denied that Sasha got his second wife pregnant while still married to his first wife, Masha, according to screenshots captured by Instagrammer John Yates.Emily posted alleged photos of Sasha and Masha's Russian divorce certificate as well as what appeared to be the Russian birth certificate of Sasha's second child."Sasha and Masha's divorce certificate from 2012," Emily wrote on one document, which appeared to be written in Russian.And on another document, Emily claimed, "Sasha's second son wasn't born until 2014."Considering there was allegedly a two-year gap from when Sasha and Masha divorced and when his second wife welcomed her baby, the documents -- if valid -- appear to demonstrate Sasha was no longer married to Masha when he got his second wife pregnant.Emily also shared a slideshow of photos of her son David, some of which also featured Sasha, on November 17 on Instagram, which was a few days after the episode showing his birth aired on TLC."I'm so glad the world got to meet our perfect, sweet David Alexandrovich Larin. He is the sweetest baby I could ever ask for. Thank you Dr. Vitaliy Vladimirovich for your kindness and making me feel safe while I was giving birth in Russia. Thank you nurse Galina (I don't know your patronym you wouldn't let me address you so formally) for your support during the labor," Emily wrote."Our little baby is quite an international guy. He's Russian/Ukrainian/Armenian/Irish etc. I think he'll grow up to be a diplomat. P.s. Sasha DOES remember where he was the day his other sons were born. He's told me many times. He was just exhausted. #90dayfiance #babyboy."As for Sasha, he hinted he was in the United States by posting a photo of himself driving a car, which he had captioned, "Exploring... new places. Our land is so interesting."When Sasha thanked a couple people for being able to explore in his Mercedes Benz, Emily commented, "And Emily!"Emily's comment suggested Sasha should thank her as well for his new opportunities in America.In mid-December, Sasha gave away he was still living in the United States by posting a photo of himself next to an American flag. He added hashtags such as "far from home," "michigan," and "great lakes."And then on December 12, Sasha posted a selfie with Emily and wrote alongside it, "Sometimes you need to clean your mind from negative emotions. The best way is just walking around and enjoying the beautiful nature #anotherland #nature #walking #fitnesseverywhere #enjoinglife #lifeisgood #cleanyourmind #america #usa #lifemotivation #90dayfiance #90dayfianceseason7."As for Emily, she conducted a Q&A session with her followers on Instagram on mid-December and gushed about Sasha, showing they're still an item.When asked how she and Sasha are doing as well as their baby, Emily replied, "All I can say now is Sasha is a great father. The baby is doing great!"One fan hoped Sasha is spending more time with his son, and Emily assured the person, "He's a very good father."Emily also made it clear she loves Sasha enough to give up her life in the United States."If Sasha would've been denied a visa to the US, would you have stayed in Russia to be with him?" a follower asked."Yes," Emily replied.Emily also revealed she'd "maybe" be interested in starring on a spinoff with Sasha but she doesn't want to welcome another baby for about five years.As for whether she regrets appearing on Season 7 of , Emily replied, "Yes and no. I'm so glad to have an amazing video of my son being born. They did cut out a lot of our back story. Too complicated I guess."In late December, Emily shared a photo of Sasha and their son poolside."Father and littlest son @sasha.90.day.fiance I miss summer!! I need to move to where it's warm all the time. #summer #boys," Emily wrote.On January 1, 2020, Emily conducted another Q&A session with her followers in Instagram Stories and revealed she does not think Sasha will cheat on her and they were saving up for a trip back to Russia.Emily also shared she and Sasha moved out of her sister Betsy's place.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage! A Hudson County judge dismissed a nearly 2-year-old lawsuit accusing Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis of sending sext messages to a former city employee. The plaintiff, Stacie Percella, failed to present evidence and depositions requested during the lawsuits discovery phase, Superior Court Judge Kimberly Espinales Maloney ruled. Percella never provided the logs of text exchanges she had with Davis and did not answer supplemental questions she was required to respond to by Nov. 8, the decision says. She also did not provide fact witnesses, it says. Plaintiff has unquestionably provided discovery that is both untimely and piecemeal, at best, Espinales Maloney wrote. The judge also pointed out that despite plaintiffs claim that she has found her phone, which contains the text messages crucial to her case, she does not seem to have possession or control over it and now does not appear to know where it is. Espinales Maloneys frustration with the pace of this case was evident in her decision. Plaintiff has not provided full discovery and her violations of the courts orders are long standing and egregious, and at times appear to border on willful, the ruling says. ... In short, arduous and tortured discovery production is in the rearview and further delay lies ahead. Discovery in this case is on a road to nowhere. Percellas current attorney, Elizabeth Foster, was not her first, and Percella has asked her to withdraw from the case, the judge wrote. Foster declined to comment, but told HudsonCountyView.com that she plans to file a motion for reconsideration and potentially appeal the case. The case will move forward, Percella wrote in an email. It is clear that Judge 3 Names does not know the court rules, and there is a 2 step process for discovery issues. Davis declined to comment. The 2018 suit alleged that Davis sent Percella lewd messages, including a plea to meet him at a hotel in Atlantic City and references to oral sex. The conversations took place during and after Davis 2014 mayoral campaign, it said. Percella has also sued the city in federal court, accusing two former city officials of sexually harassing her and discriminating against her because of her gender. That suit, filed in 2014, is still pending. She worked for the city from 2001 to 2016 as a deputy register/keyboard clerk, according to the lawsuit against Davis. Davis and Percella were close friends for over 35 years and the mayor never denied trading text messages with Ms. Percella that contained playful, adult banter over a period of many years, according to a 2018 statement by Vision Media Marketing, which represented Davis. Percella is bitter and angry with Mayor Davis because he refused to save her from being fired from a city job ...," it said. Her goal is to win millions of dollars in a legal settlement that she knows the Davis administration would never approve. According to Zelensky, the Pope is doing everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican has asked for help with the release of Ukrainians captured in Donbas, Crimea and Russia. Read alsoZelensky: Important for Ukraine to build relations with Italy as strong member of EU, NATO "The Pope is doing everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world. Two months after the Normandy [Four summit] in Paris, I have asked for help with the release of Ukrainians captured in Donbas, Crimea and Russia," the president wrote on Twitter on February 8, 2020. Zelensky added he remained "inspired" by the conversation with Pope Francis about peace in Ukraine. Businesses and workers in Dublin are being encouraged to donate blood this Spring under a new initiative between Dublin Chamber and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). The Chamber, which represents 1,300 companies in Dublin, has teamed up with IBTS to promote the BloodWorks initiative, which encourages companies - both big and small - to facilitate their staff to donate blood during working hours. The partnership between the Chamber and the IBTS was announced at a blood drive being held by Vodafone and IBTS at Vodafone's headquarters in Mountainview, Leopardstown. Vodafone's employees have been donating blood during working hours for many years. According to Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke: "One in four people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. However, only 3% of the eligible population are currently donating blood. We are proud to support this initiative to promote blood donation among businesses in the Greater Dublin Region and we encourage all businesses to get involved to ensure a stable and regular supply of blood over the coming months. " The IBTS regularly holds blood donation days in the premises of large companies around Ireland. The organisation also offers a lift and drop service for small groups of employees who want to visit blood clinics in order to donate. According to Irish Blood Transfusion Service CEO Andy Kelly: 'BloodWorks is an initiative aimed at encouraging and facilitating group blood donations. Whether a business is big or small, we want to make it their business to give blood.' Istanbul used to be the old capital city in Turkey, serving as the city centre during the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. Being one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul is the only city that spans over two continents. The city is famous for its architecture, food and dining, nightlife and historical sites, with the most attractive tourist places, namely Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the world-famous Blue Mosque. Check out some of the best and popular food places to try when in Istanbul. Also Read | Mashobra travel tips: Things to do at the picturesque hill station Adana Ocakbasi Adana Ocakbasi is famously known for serving delicious 'Kebabs'. It is one of Istanbul's popular spots, tucked away on a side street in the busy Kurtulus neighbourhood. The grill was once just another hidden gem in the city but now its reputation has spread all over the city. Adana kebab is its signature dish, served with grilled tomatoes and peppers, thin lavash bread, and onions with sumac. Also Read | THESE Chinese food dishes are only available and made in India Deraliye Ottoman Palace Deraliye Ottoman Palace offers a wide range of flavours inspired by Ottoman, Turkish, middle eastern and central Asian cuisines. This restaurant is known to be perfect for all lamb lovers. They have great vegan options as well. Ritzy interiors, sumptuous meals, and decent prices are the highlights of this unique restaurant. Also Read | Top OTT shows all fashion ehusiasts should binge-watch on Petra Roasting Co. Kaan Bergsen opened Petra Coffee Roasting in 2013 after third-wave coffee hit the town. In a very short time, the cafe became one of the best roasters in town. To serve a fresh coffee, the shop buys beans from the source and roasts them in small batches. An Espresso Julep or sparkling Americano are always good ideas if you need something cold. Delhi Darbar Extremely close to Taksim Square, Delhi Darbar, a South Asian restaurant, is simply the best Indian restaurant in Istanbul. Delhi Darbar is popularly known for serving Butter Chicken, Biryani or spicy lentils. It is not just popular with tourists from South Asia but with other tourists and locals as well. If you are a vegetarian, then Delhi Darbar also has an elaborate vegetarian menu. Also Read | Travel To Turkey And Experience The Grandeur Istanbul And Popular Turkish Cuisine Damla Dondurma Moving towards desserts, it is noticed that everyone has a favourite flavour at this old-school ice cream parlour. Whether it is the fruity flavoured tutti frutti or sour cherry to seasonal flavours like strawberry, lemon, and caramel, Damla serves ice creams all year long. People line up for a taste of childhood either by the scoop or to take home by the kilo, served by the Tufan brothers since 1989. Image Source - Unsplash by Anna A former principal and a health-care non-profit CEO are angling for the Democratic nomination in the race for North Carolina House District 72. Amber Baker, the former principal of Kimberly Park Elementary, and LaShun Huntley, CEO of the non-profit United Health Centers, are running to fill the seat previously held by State Rep. Derwin Montgomery, a Democrat. Montgomery opted not to run for reelection in 2020, and is instead running for U.S. Congress for the newly formed 6th District. Whichever candidate wins the March 3 primary will face Republican challenger Dan Lawlor in the November general election. While neither Baker or Huntley have prior political experience, both say they are running with the community in mind. As an educator in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and having personally been homeless and a recipient of welfare assistance in her past, Baker said shes uniquely equipped to understand what many of her potential future constituents might be experiencing. Because of that experience, Baker said if shes elected she will advocate for increased state funding for social services and affordable housing. Pushkar Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday landed in the capital months after his brother and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa too chose India for his first foreign visit after assuming power. The Rajapaksa brothers, who are perceived to be pro-China, choosing India to be their first foreign visit is being seen as a shift of stance by the island nation. I will be in Delhi on a state visit, meeting my good friend PM @narendramodi, the President, the External Affairs Minister & other govt.officials. Looking forward to building new avenues of cooperation with this visit & strengthening the already existing ties between our nations, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister tweeted before his departure from Colombo. Experts say that Lanka is now keen on keeping both India and China in good humour. It has become important for Sri Lanka to maintain a balance between India and China. A lot of developmental grant, around 60 per cent, comes from India while the Chinese keep pouring in aid to the country. After Hambantota, they cannot afford to anger the Chinese, a research scholar from the Indian council of World Affairs said. The Sri Lankan government was forced to hand over the Hambantota port to the Chinese after they failed to repay debts. The Chinese government was severely criticized by activists for indulging in debt-trap diplomacy. A JNU researcher specializing on India-Sri Lanka relations was of the opinion that the free trade agreement that the island nation has with New Delhi is one of the prime reasons that Colombo needs to keep India in good stead. The FTA has boosted trade between the two countries drastically in the past four years. Lankan exports to India have increased by over 300 per cent. It is a boost to their economy, she said. Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday and have discussions on various issues like trade, defence cooperation and fishermen issues. He will then proceed to Varanasi, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati before heading back home. According to sources, the NSA-level India-Maldives-Lanka dialogue would be re-launched during the Lankan Prime Ministers visit. The trilateral talks were shelved due to the political situation in the Maldives. Mauritius and Seychelles, sources said, could also be added to the dialogue as per the original plan. The president of the Congress also stressed that, in order to be effective and sustainable, all elements of the reform must be prepared and implemented in consultation with all stakeholders. On the occasion of the appointment of Denys Shmyhal to the post of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, Congress President Anders Knape addressed a letter to the new minister on February 6, 2020, reaffirming the Congress' support for the ongoing territorial and decentralisation reforms in Ukraine. Read alsoUkraine's parliament appoints Shmyhal as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Community Development "Substantial legislative and constitutional changes are needed in Ukraine to finalise the ongoing decentralisation and reform of local self-government," the Congress President stated, welcoming the determination of Ukrainian leaders to move the reform process forward, according to the Council of Europe's official website. "The Congress stands ready, together with the other Council of Europe partners the Venice Commission and the intergovernmental sector to assist the Ukrainian authorities in implementing the reforms." The president of the Congress also stressed that, in order to be effective and sustainable, all elements of the reform must be prepared and implemented in consultation with all stakeholders. This process and the results to be achieved must be based on the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and its additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority, as well as other Council of Europe instruments. The Congress' next monitoring visit to Ukraine, scheduled for March 4-6, 2020, will assess the application of the Charter's principles as well as the implementation of the road map for the implementation of the Congress' recommendations, signed by the Ukrainian government in 2015. SANTA FE A former Santa Fe police lieutenant has filed a lawsuit against the city of Santa Fe alleging the city violated the states Inspection of Public Records Act in handling her request for documents. Former Lt. Michele Williams, who retired from the Santa Fe Police Department in November, requested records on Dec. 11 of all complaints referred to SFPDs Internal Affairs division during 2018 and 2019. She also asked for the city to disclose the number of investigations that resulted from those complaints and their outcomes. On Dec. 26, a paralegal from the City Attorneys Office responded by saying the city was partially granting and partially denying her request. The portion being denied, according to the citys response, were records that contained personal identifiers and those exempt from IPRA as otherwise provided by law. It also said that some of what was requested did not constitute a public record to the extent it contains sensitive personal information. The city asserts it complied with a portion of her request by providing Williams with a link to certain police documents. The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Williams Albuquerque attorney, Thomas Grover, claims the city improperly denied her request, failed to identify what records were being excluded from disclosure and concealed records that were otherwise responsive to her request. A spokeswoman told the Journal Friday that the city does not comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit quotes from the public records law in saying that citizens are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officers and employees and that providing public records is an essential function of a representative government. The outstanding records Ms. Williams seek are wholly factual, are not opinion-based, and are not subject to any known blanket exemption provided by IPRA, according to the complaint. Williams lawsuit isnt the only one alleging Santa Fe unlawfully denied records having to do with police disciplinary action. Last month, a District Court judge denied a motion by the city to dismiss a case brought by the Santa Fe Reporter, an alternative weekly newspaper, seeking records for police officers disciplined for misconduct. That case is still pending. A medical board constituted by Pakistan's Punjab government has sent back the medical reports of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Home Department with the objection that they are unacceptable and 'incomplete'. The medical reports had been submitted by Sharif's physician on January 31 after being asked the same by the Punjab government to decide on his application seeking an extension of his stay abroad for medical treatment. The board -- which had been constituted to assess the health of Sharif -- informed the Punjab government that a meeting had been held to examine the medical reports but it failed to arrive at a meaningful conclusion as the reports were incomplete, Geo News reported. The board's chair said that several medical reports, including cardiac function test, genetic testing, bone marrow tests, PET scan, and platelets were missing from the documents sent by Sharif's family. In a letter written by the provincial Home Department, dated January 28, Sharif has been asked to submit the requisite reports, failing to which the concerned authorities would decide on his application, seeking an extension of his stay abroad, on the basis of existing records. Sharif had gone to London in November 2019 after the government gave him one-time permission to travel abroad for medical treatment during his bail period of four weeks without the condition of submitting indemnity bonds. Later in December, last year, the former Prime Minister had sought an extension to his stay abroad on the expiry of the four-week period granted by the Lahore High Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Centre has no plan to decrease the funds for the states. "We have no plan to cut the funds for states. We are already giving what the 14th Finance Commission recommended. Now, we will fully honour the report of 15th Finance Commission," Sitharaman said at a press conference here. "We will soon return the share of GST to Tamil Nadu in two instalments," she added. Regarding the payments to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, the Finance Minister said: "During September, October, and November, we worked hard to ensure the payments to them are cleared. Nearly 60 per cent of the amount, which was pending, has been cleared." Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said that helping agriculture in the country was one of the main focusses of the Union Budget. "There is a total allocation of Rs 2.83 lakh crore for agriculture sector. This covers water-deficient districts and others. Over and above, there is an agriculture credit of Rs 15 lakh crore, which is an increase from Rs 12 lakh crore, which was given earlier," said Kumar. Sitharaman said that a similar interaction will be held in Kolkata on Sunday too, which will be followed by a few others in other cities. The conferences are being held by the Finance Minister with her subordinates to hold talks with representatives of industries and other sectors, seeking their opinions on the Budget. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Curragh Internment Camp is the inspiration behind a new play called Tintown, written by Bob Kelly whose own grandfather was interned in the Curragh Camp during World War 2. Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge is presenting Tintown, the play which is set in an internment camp in the Curragh during WW2 on Thursday February 20 at 8pm. Written and performed by Kelly, Tintown follows fictional character Bernard Carroll a naive young Dubliner who believes he is a revolutionary who was swept up with hundreds of others when the Irish government introduced internment without trial for all suspected IRA members and placed in a ramshackled internment camp on the plains of the Curragh (Tintown). Produced by leading Irish company Blue Raincoat, the play encompasses our violent past, the development of socialism and fascism within Ireland, and the political contradictions and absurdities of the time. Bob Kelly is an actor and theatre maker from the west of Ireland. In recent years he has worked with the acclaimed director John Tiffany on two hugely successful productions, Once: The Musical and Let the Right One in. He is currently collaborating with Duke Special on a musical adaptation of Pat McCabes Breakfast on Pluto, which will premiere in Galway International Arts Festival in July. His play Tintown, first staged by Blue Raincoat in 2019, received excellent reviews and will be at Riverbank Arts Centre for one night only as part of a National tour. Meticulously researched through access to rare internee interviews, Kelly also has a personal connection to the story with his grandfather interned in the Curragh in the war. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen successfully evolved from child stars to fashion moguls over the span of their 30+ year careers. And with New York Fashion Week in full swing, the 33-year-old twins were spotted enjoying a stress relieving smoke break in the Big Apple on Saturday, just days before their The Row Fall 2020 collection hits the runway. The Row, which was established by the stylish sisters in 2006, is a high fashion brand 'focusing on exceptional fabrics, impeccable details, and precise tailoring.' Fashionistas: Mary-Kate (right) and Ashley Olsen (left)were spotted enjoying a smoke break in New York City on Saturday afternoon Mary-Kate and Ashley puffed away on their cigarettes outside of an undisclosed NYC building. With clouds hovering overhead and the chill in the air coming in at a high of 40 degrees, the famous faces made sure to bundle up, but not without adding a healthy dose of style. Mary-Kate let her familiar blonde locks flow out of her black beanie and onto her black duster coat, similar to that of her sister's. The twins rounded out their looks with black trousers and modern white kicks. Stressed sisters: The pair appeared on edge during their smoke break, possibly due to the fact their Fall 2020 collection debuts for the first time at Fashion Week on Monday in NYC Discussion: Even though Ashley had her ears plugged with headphones, the siblings appeared to engage in a small discussion before heading back indoors Sister Ashley had her headphones secured in her ears as she sipped on coffee out of a reusable mug. Mary-Kate could be seen carrying a huge black leather bag that appeared to be filled to the brim. The duo appeared on edge during their quick smoke break, even tensely conversing with one another before heading inside. And the Full House alums have plenty of reasons to be stressed since their Fall 2020 collection is the first to take NYFW for Monday's fashion line up. The Row: Mary-Kate and Ashley established The Row in 2006 when Ashley sought out to design the 'perfect t-shirt' which evolved into a seven piece collection; The twins are pictured here on the red carpet at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York The label's origin dates back to 2006 when Ashley decided to personally challenge herself to the task of designing the 'perfect t-shirt' during her brief stint as a student at New York University, according to an interview with Vogue in 2011. From there, Mary-Kate would join in and the pair would end up with a seven piece collection. At first, the famous duo didn't want their names attached to the label, wanting it to succeed on its own accord. Due to their star status, they feared the brand would fail to be taken seriously and struggle to obtain financiers and buyers. Double trouble: Mary-Kate and Ashley showed off their slender frames in matching leather gowns with yellow silk lining during the 2019 Met Gala celebrating 'Camp' in NYC Fearful beginnings: Due to their star status, Mary-Kate and Ashley feared the brand would fail to be taken seriously and struggle to obtain financiers and buyers. 'It was hard in the beginning,' admitted Mary-Kate in a rare interview the twins gave to British Vogue in 2019. Since the 2006 start up, The Row has held intimate fashion shows every year during New York Fashion week and this year is no exception. Following the The Row, fashion brands Alice + Olivia, Anna Sui, Helmut Lang, and more will also send their Fall 2020 collections down the runway for NYFW on Monday. While the sisterly pair are now celebrated fashion mavens, regularly credited for flaunting and starting various trends, they got their start as the viciously cute Michelle Tanner on the hit late '80s sitcom Full House. Full House: Mary Kate and Ashley got their start as the viciously cute Michelle Tanner on the hit late '80s sitcom Full House From the success of that show, the pair were able to leverage their popularity into a small media empire that spawned 'The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley' video series, as well as numerous film appearances. Eventually, the sisters evolved and left acting behind in order to pursue careers in fashion, which happened thanks in part to the naturally high level of interest from fans and the public at large in their fashion choices as famous actresses. After their first forays into the world of fashion design, which included a partnership with Wal-Mart, Mary-Kate and Ashley quickly climbed the ranks, associating themselves with brands such as Badgley Mischka and Toms Shoes before creating their own series of labels. The exchange between Vietnamese and Chinese border residents, initially scheduled on February 10, is set to take place later this month due to impact of the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Vietnamese residents have body temperature checked at Huu Nghi International Border Gate before returning home. The Lang Son Department of External Affairs on February 7 received a notice on this issue from the Vietnamese General Consulate in Chinas Nanning. The General Consulate was informed the same day that the exchange programme had been rescheduled due to a personnel shortage facing Nannings customs agency as many officers of the Chinese side are being quarantined for nCoV testing. It has asked the Guangxi Department of Commerce to soon send an official notice to Vietnam. Auxiliary border gates and border markets in Lang Son will remain closed until further notice. The Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Cao Loc district and the Chi Ma National Border Gate in Loc Binh district, Lang Son province, will maintain their normal operation but must seriously observe regulations on the prevention and control of nCoV set by competent authorities of both sides./. VNA Hyderabad: A semi-automatic assault rifle AK-47 that had gone missing from the Husnabad police station three years ago was found on Thursday in the possession of a shepherd of Akkannapet village in Siddipet district, who fired it at a neighbour over a petty issue. Fortunately, no one was injured in the firing. The shepherd, Devini Sadanandam, had a running dispute with his neighbor Gunti Gangaraji (32), from whom his family bought cement bricks to construct a common boundary. Recently, Sadanandams wife Krishnaveni and Gan-garajus mother Yellavva had a heated argument on this same issue. Gangaraju took the matter up with Sadanandam on Thursday around noon, and threatened him with a sword. That night around 9 pm, an infuriated Sadanandam took out the AK-47 and opened two rounds of fire on his neighbours house. Locals alerted me that Sadanandam was approaching my home with a gun, so we locked the doors from inside, Gangaraju told the media. I was about to turn off the lights when he saw through the window and fired at me. As I ducked to the ground, the bullet went over my head and hit the wall, he explained. Gangaraju escaped unhurt, while Sadanandam fled with the weapon. Though the reports emerged that he was later taken into custody at Koheda, the police refused to confirm it. We had a petty issue over cement bricks for a compound wall, Gangaraju said. He was angry though we tried to talk to pacify him. Luckily, none of us suffered any injuries. Sadanandam was known for his hot temper in his village, and had left in 2000 only to return in 2010, after which he got married. He was a shepherd since. The Siddipet police, investigating the attempt to murder, believe the rifle is the same as the one missing from the Husnabad police station in 2016. Sadanandam used to frequent this particular police station in 2016, in connection with a family dispute. This raised suspicion that Sadanandam might have gone underground during the decade away from home during which time he was trained to use the rifle. Police suspect he stole the gun from the police station. It could be the same weapon but it can only be verified after the accused is caught, a senior police official told DC. We cannot rule out the possibility that he picked up the weapon in a forested area. This is an embarrassment to the police, particularly on their investigation to recover the missing AK-47. Siddipet in-charge commissioner and Kama-reddy SP N. Swetha Reddy said that special teams had been formed for the investigation. They comprise Husna-bad ACP Mahendar, Siddipet ACP (Traffic) Balaji, and Siddipet ACP Rameshwar. They are also questioning Sadanandam and his family. The retribution of Donald Trumps impeachment began quickly as Alexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland, two key witnesses in the case against the president, were fired from their jobs. Lt Col Vindman, who had implicated Mr Trump in a quid pro quo to smear the presidents political rivals, was escorted out of the White House after Mr Trump said hours earlier he was not happy with the National Security Councils director of European affairs and top Ukraine expert. The decorated Iraq veterans twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, who was not involved in the impeachment hearings, was also fired from his role at the NSC. Later Mr Sondland announced that he had been removed from his role as US ambassador to the European Union. A hotelier who had won his appointment after donating to the Trump campaign, he was closely involved with efforts in Ukraine to persuade officials to announce investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter. At the impeachment hearings he explicitly said Mr Trump had withheld aid from Ukraine in return for help cheating in the election, saying: Was there a quid pro quo? The answer is yes. Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Show all 26 1 /26 Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Donald Trump Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clintons deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Whistleblower Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Second Whistleblower The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rudy Giuliani Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trumps personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the presidents enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a shadow foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trumps behalf and has called himself a hero. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Volodymyr Zelensky The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the favour he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin. AFP/Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pence The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had one or two phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trumps actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rick Perry Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didnt even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Joe Biden The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trumps opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Bidens son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Hunter Biden Joe Bidens son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Bidens lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Barr The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trumps preoccupations with the Bidens and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a cover-up of a cover-up. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pompeo The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works. Gordon Sondland testified that Pompeo was "in the loop" and knew what was happening in Ukraine. Pompeo has been criticised for not standing up for diplomats under his command when they were publicly criticised by the president. AFP via Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Nancy Pelosi The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Adam Schiff Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a parody of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a four Pinocchios rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Taylor The most senior US diplomat in Ukraine and the former ambassador there. As one of the first two witnesses in the public impeachment hearings, Taylor dropped an early bombshell by revealing that one of his staff later identified as diplomat David Holmes overheard a phone conversation in which Donald Trump could be heard asking about investigations the very day after asking the Ukrainian president to investigate his political enemies. Taylor expressed his concern at reported plans to withhold US aid in return for political smears against Trumps opponents, saying: It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House. It's another thing, I thought, to leverage security assistance -- security assistance to a country at war, dependent on both the security assistance and the demonstration of support." Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal George Kent A state department official who appeared alongside William Taylor wearing a bow tie that was later mocked by the president. He accused Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trumps personal lawyer, of leading a campaign of lies against Marie Yovanovitch, who was forced out of her job as US ambassador to Ukraine for apparently standing in the way of efforts to smear Democrats. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Marie Yovanovitch One of the most striking witnesses to give evidence at the public hearings, the former US ambassador to Ukraine received a rare round of applause as she left the committee room after testifying. Canadian-born Yovanovitch was attacked on Twitter by Donald Trump while she was actually testifying, giving Democrats the chance to ask her to respond. She said she found the attack very intimidating. Trump had already threatened her in his 25 July phone call to the Ukrainian president saying: Shes going to go through some things. Yovanovitch said she was shocked, appalled and devastated by the threat and by the way she was forced out of her job without explanation. REUTERS Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Alexander Vindman A decorated Iraq War veteran and an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Lt Col Vindman began his evidence with an eye-catching statement about the freedoms America afforded him and his family to speak truth to power without fear of punishment. One of the few witnesses to have actually listened to Trumps 25 July call with the Ukrainian president, he said he found the conversation so inappropriate that he was compelled to report it to the White House counsel. Trump later mocked him for wearing his military uniform and insisting on being addressed by his rank. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Jennifer Williams A state department official acting as a Russia expert for vice-president Mike Pence, Ms Williams also listened in on the 25 July phone call. She testified that she found it unusual because it focused on domestic politics in terms of Trump asking a foreign leader to investigate his political opponents. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Kurt Volker The former special envoy to Ukraine was one of the few people giving evidence who was on the Republican witness list although what he had to say may not have been too helpful to their cause. He dismissed the idea that Joe Biden had done anything corrupt, a theory spun without evidence by the president and his allies. He said that he thought the US should be supporting Ukraines reforms and that the scheme to find dirt on Democrats did not serve the national interest. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Tim Morrison An expert on the National Security Council and another witness on the Republican list. He testified that he did not think the president had done anything illegal but admitted that he feared it would create a political storm if it became public. He said he believed the moving the record of the controversial 25 July phone call to a top security server had been an innocent mistake. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Gordon Sondland In explosive testimony, one of the men at the centre of the scandal got right to the point in his opening testimony: Was there a quid pro quo? Yes, said the US ambassador to the EU who was a prime mover in efforts in Ukraine to link the release of military aid with investigations into the presidents political opponents. He said that everyone knew what was going on, implicating vice-president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo. The effect of his evidence is perhaps best illustrated by the reaction of Mr Trump who went from calling Sondland a great American a few weeks earlier to claiming that he barely knew him. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Laura Cooper A Pentagon official, Cooper said Ukrainian officials knew that US aid was being withheld before it became public knowledge in August undermining a Republican argument that there cant have been a quid pro quo between aid and investigations if the Ukrainians didnt know that aid was being withheld. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Hale The third most senior official at the state department. Hale testified about the treatment of Marie Yovanovitch and the smear campaign that culminated in her being recalled from her posting as US ambassador to Ukraine. He said: I believe that she should have been able to stay at post and continue to do the outstanding work. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Fiona Hill Arguably the most confident and self-possessed of the witnesses in the public hearings phase, the Durham-born former NSC Russia expert began by warning Republicans not to keep repeating Kremlin-backed conspiracy theories. In a distinctive northeastern English accent, Dr Hill went on to describe how she had argued with Gordon Sondland about his interference in Ukraine matters until she realised that while she and her colleagues were focused on national security, Sondland was being involved in a domestic political errand. She said: I did say to him, Ambassador Sondland, Gordon, this is going to blow up. And here we are. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Holmes The Ukraine-based diplomat described being in a restaurant in Kiev with Gordon Sondland while the latter phoned Donald Trump. Holmes said he could hear the president on the other end of the line because his voice was so loud and distinctive and because Sondland had to hold the phone away from his ear asking about the investigations and whether the Ukrainian president would cooperate. REUTERS On Friday evening he released a statement saying: I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union. The testimony of the two men, and 15 other current or former officials, led the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives to impeach the president in December on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of congress. This week the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted the president on both charges, prompting an angry and rambling victory speech by Mr Trump at the White House. On Friday afternoon, the president, as he departed the White House for a jobs event in Charlotte, suggested Mr Vindmans expected departure was part of an NSC shakeup but acknowledged his frustration over the Russia experts testimony. Well, Im not happy with him. Do you think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not, Mr Trump said. Theyll make that decision, he said. Youll be hearing. Indeed. Around 16.00 local time [21.00 GMT], Mr Vindmans attorney, David Pressman, said the Army officer was escorted out of the White House, where he has dutifully served his country and his president. He is expected to remain on active service and be reassigned by his army commanders. When the president returned to the White House just after 17.00, he ignored shouted questions about the matter and walked straight into the executive mansion. Mr Pressman said the president, buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit had decided to exact revenge, adding: Lt Col Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. The truth has cost Lt Col Alexander Vindman his job, his career and his privacy. Among other revelations during the House Intelligence Committees public impeachment hearings was Mr Vindman claiming that during a July meeting at the White House with senior Ukrianian officials, Mr Sondland brought up the presidents desire for the government there to probe his political rivals, including the Bidens. Mr Vindman told House lawmakers he found Mr Trumps 25 July call with Ukraines new president in which the US president asked his counterpart to do us a favour strange and inappropriate. I was concerned by the call, what I heard was improper, and I reported my concerns to [White House lawyers], he told the House Intelligence Committee. It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and political opponent. It was also clear that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the 2016 election, the Bidens, and Burisma, it would be interpreted as a partisan play. This would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing bipartisan support, undermine US national security, and advance Russias strategic objectives in the region. He offered equally damning testimony under questioning. Its not entirely accurate, Mr Vindman told a House committee when asked if the White Houses contention that Mr Trumps main goal was to root out corruption in Ukraine. His evidence ended with an emotional tribute to his late father, who had brought him and his family to America when he and his brother were children. He said: Dad, that Im sitting here today in the US Capitol talking to our elected professionals is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family. Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth. Trump impeachment hearing: Witness hits out at 'vile character attacks' following president's tweets Mr Vindmans testimony appeared to get under the presidents skin. During the House inquiry, Mr Trump retweeted anti-Vindman tweets from GOP lawmakers and other conservatives, including one from Congressman Thomas Massie saying, if he were Mr Trump, Id fire him. Another tweet the president shared called Mr Vindmans testimony a scandal, and yet another called him a political activist. Mr Trump railed against his Democratic accusers and said Mr Vindmans name during his post-acquittal celebration event on THursday at the White House in a mocking way. But Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and his twin brother, right, we had some people that, really amazing, Mr Trump said, not hiding his disgust. Gordon Sondland says Donald Trump 'directed' quid pro quo Democratic House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told reporters earlier on Friday about the likelihood Mr Vindman would be sacked: Its worse than settling scores if he actually removes military officers its subversion of justice. Its another subversion of justice. Walter Shaub, a senior White House ethics official under President Barack Obama, tweeted that Mr Vindmans dismissal was reprehensible. There was no need to humiliate Vindman this way, nor was it appropriate to retaliate against him for testifying before Congress, Mr Shaub added. Ned Price, an Obama NSC official, took umbrage with talk in Trump circles that the moves were about trimming the councils staff, something other presidents also have sought to do. The previous admin downsized the NSC staff; precisely ZERO staffers were escorted out, Mr Price said. It was done through attrition, just as this process was billed. This is about chilling whistleblowers and eliminating potential witnesses, not streamlining. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham sent a shot across the bow of individuals like Mr Vindman on Thursday during a Fox News appearance. The president wanted everyone to know how horribly he was treated, and maybe, you know, people should pay for that. Some Democrats interpreted Mr Trumps comments as a threat that he might seek revenge on those he believes wronged him. Weve been going through this now for over three years. It was evil. It was corrupt. It was dirty cops. It was leakers and liars, the president said on Thursday of the various investigations of his 2016 campaign and presidency. And this should never, ever happen to another president, ever. He has yet to explain what he and Ms Grisham meant. But his foes got a clue when Mr Vindman was escorted from his desk. It was big news this week that Canadas Competition Bureau is investigating complaints of anti-competitive behaviour by large agricultural companies against the California upstart Farmers Business Network. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion It was big news this week that Canadas Competition Bureau is investigating complaints of anti-competitive behaviour by large agricultural companies against the California upstart Farmers Business Network. Details are scant but documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada list several large crop-input suppliers and retailers in an investigation into how they reacted to the arrival of the network to the Canadian market in 2018. The network is a data-driven startup that originated in the Silicon Valley in 2013 with a mission "to create a future of farming that puts farmers first by democratizing information, providing unbiased analytics, and creating competition for farmers business." For a flat annual fee of $800, farmers can access an array of platforms that offer pools of aggregated data collected from other members on the platform and analytics that offer unbiased insights into seed, chemical and fertilizer pricing along with financial tools such as benchmarking. As well, the company helps farmers bypass the usual local retail outlets and buy inputs online. The combination of giving farmers more market power by aggregating and leveraging their individual data and negotiating group pricing on inputs harkens back to the early 1900s when farmers formed their own grain companies to squeeze a better deal out of the grain trade. It is potentially hugely disruptive to the status quo, just as those early co-operatives proved to be. In 2018, the network moved into Canada with the purchase of a crop-input supplier in Yorkton, Sask. According to published reports, the Competition Bureau is probing whether the crop-supply sectors response to its business model might delay or impede its expansion into Canada or cause it to leave altogether. The companies under investigation, which include Bayer AG, Corteva Inc., BASF, Cargill Inc. and Univar Solutions Inc., arent saying much except that they dont think theyve done anything wrong. The case is representative, however, not only as an example of how the power of data could transform the business of farming but an escalation in the battle over who will profit most from it. Another model thats emerging in this new era is called "output-based pricing" currently being piloted on some U.S. corn farms by Bayer CropScience. Instead of buying a jug of product or bag of seed from a supplier, the cost the farmer pays would be tied to how well it performs. Its a way of sharing the colossal risk farmers take on every year buying seed, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizer in hopes of getting a crop that pays back the cost and puts some money in the bank. The idea is far from a commercial reality but proponents believe they now have the technology to use data science to predict how inputs will perform in certain fields and use that to take much of the guesswork out of farmers decisions. In this case, the company is using data collected from the farmer on its FieldView platform to estimate a yield outcome based on the farms productive history. If the farmers yield falls short, the company compensates. There is a catch, however. The company would also want a bigger piece of the reward if the farmer achieves those yield goals. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. That might be a hard sell. Farmers tend to be entrepreneurial by nature. Sharing the risks is one thing, but if they have to share the rewards too, farming starts to feel like a regular job, except with long hours and no paid overtime. Some have likened output-based pricing to the vertically integrated intensive livestock operations where the farmer owns the barn and gets paid to look after the companys chickens. The protests of barn operators suggest they dont come out ahead in that scenario. It depends whether this approach can deliver a bigger pie, in which case, farmers might not mind sharing a bigger piece of it. Its hard to say which way this data play will go. Will farmers find ways to garner market power and harness the value of data, or will their suppliers gain the lions share? What either scenario means for the cost of that bowl of breakfast cereal is anybodys guess. Laura Rance is vice-president of content for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com blackwasp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 2,900 Thanked: 25,215 Times View My Garage Re: Okinawa Scooters @ Auto Expo 2020 Pillion can rest his feet on this small section: Note the 2 horn buttons! Useful in India, but also shows that this is just petrol scooter switchgear (specifically the starter button) that has been converted into an additional horn button! Dial on the levers to adjust reach/grip: The app shows your current speed (not sure why this would be useful), battery level, vehicle health, etc.: The app is used to unlock the scooter. They said they don't give a key! Q: What if the mobile phone battery is dead? A: The scooter has a charging port. Sounds like more of a problem than a solution... You can also lock/unlock the handle, unlock the seat and activate the anti-theft mode which locks the rear wheel if the scooter is being rolled along: Incoming call alert: Navigation on the MID is cool: Praise Pro with app control was displayed:Pillion can rest his feet on this small section:Note the 2 horn buttons! Useful in India, but also shows that this is just petrol scooter switchgear (specifically the starter button) that has been converted into an additional horn button!Dial on the levers to adjust reach/grip:The app shows your current speed (not sure why this would be useful), battery level, vehicle health, etc.:The app is used to unlock the scooter. They said they don't give a key!Q: What if the mobile phone battery is dead?A: The scooter has a charging port.Sounds like more of a problem than a solution...You can also lock/unlock the handle, unlock the seat and activate the anti-theft mode which locks the rear wheel if the scooter is being rolled along:Incoming call alert:Navigation on the MID is cool: Last edited by blackwasp : 8th February 2020 at 17:53 . The DEAs emergency classification of fentanyl analogs as Schedule I substances has been extended for another 15 months, after President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. The signing came on Feb. 6, the same day that the emergency classification was set to expire, but it now runs until May 6, 2021. Fentanyl and its analogues contributed to more than 10,000 overdose deaths in Ohio between 2014 and 2018, according to the Ohio Department of Health. In February 2018, the DEA took an emergency step against fentanyl analogues, making them Schedule I drugs, placing them in the same category as drugs like heroin and cocaine. U.S. Department of Justice officials have said the emergency scheduling has made it easier for federal agents to seize fentanyl-like substances and, investigate traffickers of these substances, and for prosecutors to prosecute such traffickers. Due to their high potential for abuse, fentanyl and various fentanyl-like substances were controlled in Schedule I or Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) on a substance-by-substance basis, DOJ officials told a Senate committee last year. Unfortunately, clandestine chemists have with relative ease created new synthetic variations of fentanyl by introducing minor structural modifications, resulting in new, non-controlled fentanyl-like substances. These substances are specifically engineered to skirt U.S. law. An extension was in the hands of Congress and theres been debate over whether to make the scheduling permanent. The Senate unanimously passed the 15-month extension Jan. 16 in what Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio called a compromise. Portman is hoping to make the classification permanent. The U.S. House of Representatives then passed the bill in a 320-88 Jan. 29, sending it to the presidents desk. The DEA is grateful for the Presidents leadership on this issue as we continue our fight to combat the nations opioid epidemic, the agencys acting director, Uttam Dhillon, said in a Feb. 6 statement. This legislation is critical to DEAs mission to keep Americans safe by keeping these dangerous drugs off the streets. We look forward to working with our partners in the administration and Congress to permanently schedule these drugs. Opponents of a long-term Schedule I classification like the ACLU, Drug Policy Alliance and NAACP argued the approach merely repeats the mistakes of the past by exacerbating our incarceration problem. The committee should move away from the belief that increased enforcement powers for the DEA will translate into reduced overdose deaths, a coalition of opposing organizations to a Senate committee last year. Instead, the committee should embrace public health approaches to the overdose crisis. Other concerns from opponents include concern that the classification would make it harder for researchers to win approval to study the analogues to potentially develop new approaches to fighting the opioid epidemic. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan want to achieve "great philanthropic work" after stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family. In January, Harry, 35 and Meghan, 38, announced that they were quitting the UK to move to Canada with their son Archie, nine months, and their close friend David Furnish has revealed their charitable ambitions for their new lives. David said: "They're just at an interesting juncture of their life right now. "And I know how passionately they want to give back and they really feel that they have a platform and an awareness and an opportunity to really do great, great philanthropic work." David - who is married to Sir Elton John - said the pair are "like family" to him and Elton and he is "excited" to see what they achieve in the future. He added: "We have a lot in common with Harry and Meghan. Elton and Prince Harry launched our MenStar Coalition at the International Aids Conference in Amsterdam, we've raised money and given money to Sentebale, his HIV/Aids children's charity work in Lesotho. "And Meghan and he both share a great love of Africa and so much of the work we do is based in Africa." Meanwhile, it was previously revealed that Elton had been a "constant support" to Harry and Meghan as they made their decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. A source said: "Elton speaks to Harry and Meghan every day. He's an inspiration, an almost 'motherly' figure. They made their decision alone, but he's a shoulder to lean on and listened as they spoke about their plans. He is a constant support, especially to Meghan, and is very protective of them both." Whilst a second source, close to Elton added: "He has been their rock. So while he would never tell them what to do he has been a listening ear and support throughout." The 'Rocketman' hitmaker has been close to the royal family for many years, and was a guest at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018. Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Kentucky...Illinois...Missouri... Ohio River at Paducah. Ohio River at Cairo. Ohio River at Olmsted Lock and Dam. .Recent heavy rainfall and snow melt will continue to keep water levels on the lower Ohio River in or near minor flood this week. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...Until early tomorrow afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CST Monday the stage was 38.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 39.0 feet tomorrow morning. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa covering the entire expanse of bilateral ties between the two countries including in areas of defence and security. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. Officials said a range of key bilateral issues, including trade and investment, as well as defence and security figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the countrys president from 2005-2015, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. His tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. However, ties between the two countries have been on an upswing in the last four years. President Gotabaya Rajpaksa visited India in November in his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office. Both sides resolved to further deepen bilateral defence and security ties during the Sri Lankan presidents visit. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. By Jonathan Browning Anil Ambani, the brother of Asias richest man has pleaded poverty in his dispute with three Chinese banks seeking $680 million in defaulted loans. The value of my investments has collapsed, Anil Ambani said, according to a court filing by the banks in a London lawsuit. The current value of my shareholdings is down to approximately $82.4m and my net worth is zero after taking into account my liabilities. In summary, I do not hold any meaningful assets which can be liquidated for the purposes of these proceedings. The lawsuit was filed by three state-controlled Chinese banks which argue that they provided a loan of $925 million to Ambanis Reliance Communications Ltd. in 2012 with the condition that he personally guarantee the debt. The comments were disclosed on Friday as Ambani sought to avoid depositing hundreds of millions of dollars with the court ahead of a trial. The embattled Indian tycoon says that while he agreed to give a non-binding personal comfort letter, he never gave a guarantee tied to his personal assets -- an extraordinary potential personal liability. The 60-year-old is the brother of Mukesh Ambani, whos worth $56.5 billion and is the wealthiest man in Asia. Anil, on the other hand, has seen his personal fortune dwindle over recent years, losing his billionaire status. His Reliance Communications filed for bankruptcy last year. The banks asked Judge David Waksman to force Ambani to put up $656 million into the courts account. Representatives for Ambanis Reliance Group said they couldnt immediately comment. They said the group will issue a statement once the court issues the final order. Ambanis lawyer, Robert Howe, said the court shouldnt order his client to make a payment he cant make. The tycoon argues that an order requiring him to do so would hinder his ability to defend himself in the case, Howe said. Theres no evidence of some giant pot of gold that he can pull $1 million, let alone $10 million, let alone $100 million, Howe said. Bankim Thanki, an attorney representing Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, said in a filing that Ambanis statements are plainly a yet further opportunistic attempt to evade his financial obligations to the lenders. Ambani was caught up in another legal wrangle last year when Indias Supreme Court threatened him with prison after Reliance Communications failed to pay Rs 5.5 billion ($77 million) to Ericsson ABs Indian unit. The judges gave him a month to find the funds, and his brother, Mukesh, stepped in just in time to make the payment. Anil said in a filing that he recognized that the judge would want to know if he could satisfy any order to put up funds from outside resources, including his family. I can confirm that I have made enquiries but I am unable to raise any finance from external sources, he said. Judge Waksman had said in an earlier ruling that he believed Ambanis defence would be shown to be opportunistic and false. Ambanis lawyer told the judge that as a result of the comments the tycoons relatives were unlikely to lend any funds. There is a very substantial risk they will never get it back, Howe said. WASHINGTON Mondays Iowa Democratic caucuses, marred by technical difficulties and irregularities that delayed the vote count, were not our finest hour, Gov. Phil Murphy said Saturday. Murphy, the new chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, acknowledged the problems in Iowa at a press conference here to tout the record of the partys chief executives going into the 2020 election. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders appeared to have more support than the rest of the Democratic field, but the Associated Press said it could not declare a winner. The computer system that was supposed to be used to report the results failed, some results were not accurately tabulated, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has asked that the numbers be added up again. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, whose state will hold its own caucus Feb. 22, said, Clearly, we are not using an app. Murphy, who endorsed New Jersey favorite son Cory Booker for president along with almost every other prominent Democrat in the state, said he had talked to most of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates but would not endorse any of them at this time. Were staying back for the time being, Murphy said. Murphy said it was too early to know who would be the partys standard bearer in the fall. Im going to support whoever our nominee is and Ill lay across the tracks to get them elected president over President Trump, Murphy said. Any one of our candidates will be meaningful, materially, not-even-close better in terms of a choice. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Judge allows Boston to ban the flying of Christian flag outside City Hall Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge ruled this week that the city of Boston, Massachusetts, does not have to raise a Christian flag at City Hall Plaza even though the city has raised flags representing other cultural and social groups, including flags indicating support for LGBT rights. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper, an Obama-appointee, issued an order Tuesday denying summary judgment to a Christian man who sued the city in 2018 after the city government rejected his request in 2017 to fly a Christian flag on a public flagpole outside City Hall. The plaintiff, Harold Shurtleff, runs the organization called Camp Constitution. Camp Constitution exists to enhance understanding of our Judeo-Christian moral heritage. The organization hosts annual Constitution Day and Citizenship Day events at City Hall. But Shurtleffs request for the Christian flag (featuring a cross in the upper lefthand corner) on Constitution Day (September 17) 2017 was denied by the city on the basis of a policy that gives discretion to the city to determine which flags can fly. Shurtleff believes that the citys rejection of the flag equates to censorship of the Christian viewpoint. The city of Boston raised nearly 300 flags by private organizations on the City Hall flagpole between 2005 and 2017, according to court documents. The conservative religious freedom legal group Liberty Counsel, which is representing Shurtleff, argued that the flagpole is designated by the city as a public forum for private speech. According to Liberty Counsel, the city had never censored any flag until Shurtleffs request to fly the Christian flag on Constitution Day 2017. Casper rejected the plaintiffs argument that the flagpole is designed to be a public forum for private speech, saying that the display of flags outside City Hall is government speech. The [then-head of the property management department Gregory Rooney] had never considered a religious flag prior to the Plaintiffs application, the judge reasoned in her ruling. There are no additional facts in the record that would suggest any improper preference for non-religion over religion or selective treatment of any person or group based on religion. The City did not alter its procedures for review of flag applications because of Camp Constitutions request, instead, Camp Constitutions request presented a novel issue for the Citys consideration, which the City considered consistent with its practice and policy. Liberty Counsel has already filed an appeal of Caspers ruling. The city of Bostons open censorship continues against Camp Constitutions Christian viewpoint, Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver said in a statement. There is a crucial difference between government endorsement of religion and private speech, which government is bound to respect. Censoring religious viewpoints in a public forum where secular viewpoints are permitted is unconstitutional. A statement issued from the office of Bostons Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh contends that the use of the flagpoles is the citys sole and complete discretion. The City maintains that its flag poles are a forum for government speech, the statement from the mayors office reads, according to The Boston Herald. As such, the City maintains selectivity and control over the messages conveyed by the flags flown on our flag poles. The mayors office further argued that Camp Constitutions request to fly the Christian flag can properly be denied because such a flag would send an overt religious message, and could reasonably be construed to be an endorsement of Christianity by the City. The city claims flying a Christian flag would equate to a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Shurtleff told The Boston Herald that he and his legal team will take the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. The Supreme Court ruled last year that religious symbols on public property are permissible. In June 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that a giant 40-foot cross sitting on public property in Bladensburg, Maryland, does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The Religion Clauses of the Constitution aim to foster a society in which people of all beliefs can live together harmoniously, and the presence of the Bladensburg Cross on the land where it has stood for so many years is fully consistent with that aim, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion. Shurtleff and his attorneys had argued that the city regularly flies flags that contain explicit religious symbols, such as the Boston city flag which contains the Latin phrase for "God be with us as He was with our fathers." However, Casper contended that state, national and municipal flags that use religious symbols in part of its field are not inherently religious flags. Although Boston has approved the flying of an LGBT rainbow flag at City Hall Plaza, the only other flag the city has refused to fly was a straight pride flag last year. Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton on Saturday claimed that BJP leaders from the state had been asked to "not utter a single word" on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. Patton was replying to Opposition leader T R Zeliang's query in the assembly as to why BJP legislators from the state remained silent during a consultative meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the CAA in Delhi. "Why we did not utter a single word is because our central leaders told us not to participate," Patton, the leader of BJP Legislature Party, said in reply. Nagaland Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Saturday, as opposition NPF protested against the new citizenship law, and insisted that an anti-CAA resolution be passed in the House, taking a cue from states such as Kerala and Bengal. Rejecting the demand of the Naga People's Front (NPF), Patton iterated that the law would not affect the Nagas, as states with Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime have been exempted from its purview. Zeliang, along with NPF MLAs Chotisuh Sazo and Chumben Murry, during a discussion on matters of public importance, however, reasoned that the ILP would not impede influx of illegal immigrants. Patton said the Union home minister, in December, had given assurances that the CAA would not have any impact on the people of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France's Competition and Fraud body, DGCCRF, has fined Apple 25 million ($27.3 million) for intentionally slowing the performance of older iPhones. The issue, which centered on battery management, was seen by many as an attempt to force users to upgrade before they needed to. Apple would eventually disclose the feature, but has agreed to pay the fine, and display a press release prominently on its French website. Apple has been dogged by the suggestion that it artificially slowed the performance of older iPhones to force users to upgrade. In 2017, the company said that this was true, but claimed the intention wasn't a cynical method of fattening its bottom line. Instead, these slowdowns were designed to reduce demand on the CPU for older devices where battery performance may be compromised. Essentially, the phones slow down to prevent premature shutdowns and jerky performance, and it was all above board. Users, consumer groups and governments were all equally outraged, especially since Apple had never made it clear before then. In early 2018, French authorities began investigating the program, looking to see if there was truth to the idea that Apple was making functional devices appear obsolete. Apple, at the time, apologized and offered discounted battery replacements, with 11 million people paying $29 for a new one. Since then, Apple has said that it has redeveloped the power management system of the iPhone 11 to keep the battery healthier for longer. And told France24 that it welcomed the settlement, saying that it is committed to making smartphones that last "as long as possible." For the next month, there is also a banner on Apple France's iPhone page, saying that Apple was found to have committed a deceptive business practice, and that it has paid a fine to settle the matter. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) The government team tasked with bringing home Filipinos from Hubei, China has already left for Wuhan the Chinese city at the center of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. The team composed of members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Health left the Philippines Saturday evening Filipinos at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. The DFA at 8 p.m. said there were 26 Filipinos already waiting at the airport, while ten more were on their way to join them. While there, the team will also drop off 52 boxes of relief goods from the DFA, to be distributed to residents of Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. Earlier, the DFA and the DOH said returning Filipinos would have to be checked for flu-like symptoms before they board the plane. Those who have fever, cough or other symptoms will not be allowed to join the batch and will have to be taken by Chinese authorities to their facilities for treatment. Filipinos cleared for travel will land in Clark International Airport by Sunday early morning. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they will undergo another screening upon arrival. Those with symptoms will be isolated at the Jose B. Lingad Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. On the other hand, those without symptoms will stay at Athletes' Village in New Clark City, Tarlac. They will remain quarantined there for 14 days. There are about 300 Filipinos working in Hubei province. The DFA initially said 56 of them sought to return to the Philippines as the number of deaths and cases continues to rise. However, before the team left for China, the DFA said several have backed out at the last moment, due to issues with their visas and immigration status. Technavio has been monitoring the marine scrubber market and it is poised to grow by USD 5.9 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 42% 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/20200207005355/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global marine scrubber market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Compliance with MARPOL regulations has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, frequent changes in regulations might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Marine Scrubber Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Marine Scrubber Market is segmented as below: Product Hybrid Open loop Others Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40474 Marine Scrubber 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 marine scrubber market report covers the following areas: Marine Scrubber Market Size Marine Scrubber Market Trends Marine Scrubber Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growth in global seaborne trade as one of the prime factors driving the marine scrubber market growth during the forecast period. Marine Scrubber Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the marine scrubber market, including some of the vendors such as Alfa Laval, Clean Marine AS, CR Ocean Engineering LLC, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Langh Tech Oy AB, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Shanghai Bluesoul Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., Valmet, Wartsila Corp. and Yara Marine Technologies. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the marine scrubber 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 Marine Scrubber Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist marine scrubber market growth during the next five years Estimation of the marine scrubber market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the marine scrubber market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of marine scrubber market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005355/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/ With the financial crisis deepening, the Punjabi University, Patiala, is toiling hard every month to meet its committed expenditure, which includes salaries and pension. Even this month, the varsity has failed to release salaries of its teaching and non-teaching staff. A senior professor said that the financial condition of the varsity is at an all time low. The university is forced to make stopgap arrangements every month in order to arrange finances for meeting its committed expenditures. It is the duty of the university authorities to pay salaries and pensions to the employees by first of every month, but the dues are being delayed every month now, the professor added. Another member of the teaching staff said that the teachers body has to sit on protests every month to get their salaries released. This trend is not suitable for the academic atmosphere of the varsity. Teachers should not be forced to protest for their genuine rights, he said. The total monthly salary budget of the university is pegged at 33 crore. In its budgetary allocation for 2019-2020, the university had proposed a budget of 717 crore, against an income of 344 crore. The deficit was pegged at 373 crore. Moreover, at present, the university has an overdraft of 132 crore, which is expected to touch 150 crore by the end of the year. Registrar Prof Manjit Singh Nijjar said that salaries will be disbursed by Monday. The university has made arrangements to meet its committed expenses, he said. The salaries were delayed due to confusion over secretariat pay allowance of the non-teaching staff. We have cleared all glitches and resolved the issue following which, the provisions are being made to release the salaries, Prof Nijjar said. 108 WILL CONTINUE TO GET SECRETARIAT PAY ALLOWANCE Meanwhile, the university has decided that 108 non-teaching staff at the university will continue to get the secretariat pay allowance. Prof Nijjar said that following a petition, the Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) had given relief to only 108 staffers, who were named in the petition and gave interim on the varsity orders. Other members of the non-teaching staff are also demanding relief but we have decided that only those who had approached court will get relief as per the HC orders, he said On January 22, the varsity had decided to adopt the orders of the Punjab government related to withdrawing secretariat allowance of its employees. With this decision, the non-teaching staff of the university, from deputy registrars to drivers, are facing a salary cut, ranging from 600 to 7,000. In December, the state government had directed all state varsities to withdraw the said allowance. The Panjab University, Chandigarh, had also decided not to pay secretariat allowance to its employees. Secretariat allowance is a special allowance given to the clerical staff of the civil secretariat of Punjab government, which is also being paid to the non-teaching employees of the state universities since 1970s. On Jan. 30, Antonio Carlisle helped oversee the graduation of 15 inmates from a vocational training program at Florida State Prison in Raiford. A crowd of 45, including proud relatives, watched from wooden pews in the prison chapel as Pomp and Circumstance played over speakers and student/inmates in caps, gowns and yellow and black tassels stepped forward to receive their certificates from the State Contracted Electrical Program. Our students have overcome many obstacles, declared Carlisle, the prisons education supervisor. They have shown great perseverance. On Thursday, one week later, Carlisle was arrested at his Jacksonville home. The charge was sexual battery. The alleged victim: one of his students. On the same day as the graduation, his DNA swab had been sent to the lab for testing. The Florida prison system knew about the allegation since August, but let Carlisle keep his job, run the program, interact with other inmate/students and oversee the graduation, which was profiled in a news article by the local PBS affiliate. Only after the DNA match confirmed the allegation was Carlisle removed from his $50,000-a-year post. Asked directly by email to comment on why Carlisle remained on the job despite an active criminal investigation, Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch referred the matter to the departments press office. The press office issued a statement saying as this is an ongoing criminal investigation by the FDC [Office of Inspector General] releasable, information pertaining to the case is limited at this time. In its press release earlier in the day announcing the arrest, the FDC said the department takes all allegations of abuse or mistreatment of inmates seriously and any employee found to have acted inappropriately or illegally will face the consequences of those actions. Inmates diagnosed with Legionnaires disease at prison already beset by sex abuse allegations The press release provided a statement from Secretary Inch: The charges against Antonio Carlisle are deeply disturbing and abhorrent. His actions are absolutely contrary to the core values of the Florida Department of Corrections. FDC is moving forward with his immediate dismissal. Story continues Carlisle was quoted prominently in the story about the event by TV station station WUFT. The online article was headlined Learning to be electricians leads Florida inmates to a graduation. Some were told they would never graduate, Carlisle said. But, today, that has been proven wrong. The 45-year-old is charged with one count of sexual battery and one count of sexual misconduct in connection with the incident that is alleged to have occurred on Aug. 6, 2019. According to the arrest warrant, Carlisle physically overpowered the inmate while helping him with his educational needs at approximately 5:30 p.m., his arrest warrant states. He then penetrated the victims rectum with his penis and began to have sex with him, the warrant states. The victim, whose name and inmate number were blacked out of the documents, reported the alleged assault the same day and agreed to undergo a rape kit test the next day, according to the probable cause affidavit. The victims underwear was also taken as evidence. The documents do not state where in the prison the assault allegedly happened. The victims statements are also blacked out. The FDC did not answer a question about whether Carlisle was confronted about the allegation after it was reported and whether he denied it. The rape kit was submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Laboratory in late August. A lab report produced on Dec. 3 indicated that there was a presence of a mixture consistent with two donors, including at least one male contributor. Although that would have lent credence to the inmates allegation, Carlisle remained on the job. On Jan. 29, nearly two months later, investigators requested and obtained a search warrant authorizing them to swab Carlisles mouth for saliva and skin cells for a DNA analysis at the Florida Department of Law Enforcements laboratory. His swab of DNA was taken on the 30th and sent to the lab on the same day as the graduation. Days later, the results were in. It was a match, according to the affidavit. The profile obtained from the defendant is greater than 700 billion times more likely to occur if the sample originated from Antonio Carlisle than from an unrelated individual, the arrest affidavit states. Calls to Carlisles phone Friday went straight to voicemail. Correction: This article initially stated that the prison system provided the above statement from Secretary Inch after the Miami Herald sent him follow-up questions about the arrest of Antonio Carlisle. That was inaccurate. The quote was provided by the Department of Corrections with the original press release sent earlier in the day. - The cars, a Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, BMW 530d, BMW X5 and a Volkswagen Tiguan were on transit to Uganda - Two motorbikes were also seized in the operation - Waqar Qureshi, the first secretary for the British High Commission to Kenya said they will work with Kenyan authorities to ship the vehicles back to the UK Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has impounded five high-end vehicles allegedly stolen from the United Kingdom (UK) at the port of Mombasa. The cars, a Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, BMW 530d, BMW X5 and a Volkswagen Tiguan were on transit to Uganda when the taxman in partnership with the UK, local and international security agents intercepted them. READ ALSO: Be united, know Jesus Christ: Daniel Mois last words to Kenyans, his children The vehicles were on transit to Uganda. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: South African MP left envious by privileges Kenyan MPs enjoy: "I am an MP for the wrong country" KRA said they also seized two motorbikes in the operation. "KRA in collaboration with the UK and international police security agents, have today seized 5 high-end motor vehicles and two motorbikes at the port of Mombasa. The consignment is suspected to have been stolen from the UK and was suspected to be on transit to Uganda," the taxman said in a statement. Kenneth Ochola, the southern region's new commissioner, said the Range Rover Sport, BMW 530d, Range Rover Vogue and two motorbikes were packed in one container and the rest of the vehicles in another. The bill of lading for the container with the three vehicles and two motorcycles indicated the cargo was shipped from the Port of Jabel Ali, and that the consignor was Jason Abayomi, from London," he was quoted by Daily Nation. In September 2019, the taxman also intercepted 21 high end vehicles stolen from the UK. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Misa ya wafu yaandaliwa kwa ajili ya wanafunzi 14 walioangamia Kakamega Ochola said the consignee was listed as one Kwizera Jimmy from Entebbe, Uganda. "The consignors address was flat 15145, Seymour Place, Mary Lesbone while the consignee was listed as Kwizera Gilbert Jimmy of Entebbe" he added. Shipping documents on the Volkswagen Tiguan and the BMW X5 indicated they were imported from the Antwerpen port and that the shipper was Belgo Malienne NV AS. The recipient was listed as Vumilia Investments, Uganda. After the verification exercise, it was confirmed the vehicles were stolen on diverse dates between March and May 2019. Waqar Qureshi, the first secretary for the British High Commission to Kenya said they will work with Kenyan authorities to ship the vehicles back to the UK. Between March and September 2019, the government in collaboration with the British High Commission in Nairobi also intercepted and seized 21 high-end vehicles stolen in the UK. The cars were worth over KSh 130 million. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I did not steal from Betty Kyalo- former househelp tells her side of the story | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Chennai, Feb 8 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday told micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to make a complaint if banks deny loans without reason. Explaining the proposals in the Union Budget 2020-21 presented by her in Parliament recently to traders and industry here, Sitharaman said if the banks are denying loans without reason then the MSMEs can send a complaint to the special centre to be announced shortly. She said a copy of the complaint should also be sent to the concerned bank manager. Sitharaman said the foreign exchange reserves are at a high level as the fundamentals are good. On her long Budget speech Sitharaman said that officials had worked hard to come out with proposals for all sections of the society. Stressing that the macro economic fundamentals are good Sitharaman said our focus is on creating assets and investing in infrastructure. Earlier banks resorted to "phone banking for loan disbursal" lending to "uncles and brother-in-laws" which resulted in high non-performing assets (NPAs). "It took four years for us to set right the NPA," she said. Sitharaman said lessons have been learnt on how to prevent such a situation again. She said with responsibility the government has not resorted to useless spending. The government has decided to create assets investing in infrastructure. She said public expenditure should go for infrastructure. The US killing of the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in war-torn Yemen raises questions about the jihadist group's operations and its future. President Donald Trump said the United States "conducted a counterterrorism operation" that eliminated Qassim al-Rimi, according to a White House statement released on Thursday. But what does this mean for AQAP and for Yemen, where a five-year war between the government -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- and the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels has crippled the country? - How significant was Qassim al-Rimi? - Al-Rimi was named AQAP leader after his predecessor, Nasir al-Wuhayshi, was killed in a US drone strike on Yemen in June 2015. He was one of the group's founders in 2009 and its first military commander. "Al-Rimi's death is significant," said Gregory Johnsen, a non-resident fellow at the Sana'a Center think tank. "However, he was not a good leader for AQAP and since he took over in 2015, the group's international terrorist wing has atrophied badly." Johnsen said the two most likely candidates to succeed Al-Rimi were Khalid Batarfi, reportedly running the group's external operations, and Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the group's leader in Yemen's Shabwa province. According to Peter Salisbury, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, a successor will most likely be announced soon. But, he added, it will not be "someone with the name brand recognition Al-Rimi had, and certainly not of the stature of his predecessor, Al-Wuhayshi". - How will this affect AQAP's operations in Yemen? - AQAP, along with other jihadist groups, has flourished in the chaos of the war between the Yemeni government and the Huthi rebels. But analysts say the group's abilities on the ground have dwindled over the years. "Al-Rimi's skills as a military planner will be missed, but AQAP's ability to operate on the ground in Yemen had already diminished greatly," said Elisabeth Kendall, a researcher at the University of Oxford. "In operational terms, its activity peaked in 2017 with over 270 domestic attacks, albeit mostly small scale." Johnsen also said that AQAP's ability on the ground has weakened over the past decade, describing it as "a shadow of its former self". AQAP has carried out operations against both the Huthis and government forces as well as sporadic attacks abroad, including on the offices of the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo in 2015. Andreas Krieg of King's College London said Al-Rimi's killing has a "PR value" for the United States but will not affect AQAP's ground operations. - How will it affect AQAP's ability to strike abroad? - The killing of Al-Rimi comes after AQAP claimed responsibility for a December 6 shooting at the US Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, where a Saudi officer killed three American sailors. The attacker was identified as Mohammed Alshamrani, 21, a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force and a student naval flight officer. The SITE monitoring group said he had posted a short manifesto on Twitter before the attack that condemned America "as evil" and that it included a quote from Al-Qaeda's slain leader Osama bin Laden. "It is still unclear how much of a hand AQAP had in directing, as opposed to inspiring, the Pensacola shooting," Johnsen said. According to Johnsen, Al-Rimi's killing "is one more blow" to attacks by the group overseas. "Prior to the Pensacola attack, the last time AQAP claimed any credit for an overseas attack was in 2015," he added. The group's focus has "shifted onto inspiring rather than directing attacks", said Kendall. Salisbury noted that AQAP has not executed a major overseas operation for the past decade. "Attacks associated with the group have either come from legacy, former operatives or 'lone wolf' attacks by people inspired and sometimes in limited contact with the group over the internet," he said. The United States has waged a long-running drone war against the leaders of AQAP, which it considers Al-Qaeda's most dangerous branch. According to the White House, Al-Rimi's killing "further degrades AQAP and the global Al-Qaeda movement". "It brings us closer to eliminating the threats these groups pose to our national security," it said. AQAP leader Qassim al-Rimi, who was killed in a US strike, seen in two undated Yemeni interior ministry documents Yemen's five-year war between the government -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- and the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels has crippled the country A member of the Yemeni security forces secures an area in the southern city of Aden AQAP claimed responsibility for a December 6 shooting at the US Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, where a Saudi officer killed three American sailors Mike Groll/Associated Press The nasty weather forecast for most of Newfoundland on Saturday is easing, as Environment Canada has lifted the majority of weather warnings around the province. A number of warnings were issued earlier in the day, including wind warnings, which were lifted late Saturday afternoon. Wreckhouse had the highest wind gusts, recorded at 134 km/h, while Green Island in Fortune Bay had gusts of 124 km/h. Meteorologist Samantha Roch said "winds will continue to be strong through the day, and will eventually taper off overnight to about 50 km/h on Sunday morning." Jeremy Eaton/CBC Bruce Street between Kenmount Road and Glenco Drive in Mount Pearl was closed Saturday afternoon after debris from the roof of a commercial building was blown into the road. The RNC says the road will not reopen until the winds subside and crews can begin the repairs to the roof. Storm surge warnings for the entire south coast have been lifted. Higher than normal water levels with large waves were expected to continue near the coast until early afternoon Saturday. Submitted by Clifford Doran Meanwhile, winter storm warnings issued for central Newfoundland, Corner Brook and the west coast as well as the Northern Peninsula were lifted Saturday afternoon. Heavy snow with blowing snow is forecast for Saturday. A snowfall warning has also been lifted for interior sections of Newfoundland from the Humber Valley to Grand Falls-Windsor after heavy snow and gusty winds caused blowing snow over exposed areas at times on Saturday. Western Labrador and the Churchill Valley are under an extreme cold warning. Wind chill values of -45 are forecast through the day and into Sunday morning. As of 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Roch said Deer Lake had received 26 centimetres of snow. Travel impacted The Department of Transportation and Works is advising motorists to not travel on a number of provincial highways and secondary roads, especially in the central, western, northern and eastern parts of the island. Travel is also not recommended on the southern Labrador highway. The department is reporting the road from Red Bay to Lodge Bay has been closed due to drifting snow and poor visibility. Story continues A number of departures and arrivals have been cancelled or delayed at St. John's, Gander and Deer Lake airports. Marine Atlantic has also rescheduled its Saturday morning crossing from Port aux Basques to North Sydney. On Friday, the provincial government warned people to prepare to hunker down, potentially without power, for at least 72 hours, as a combination of snow, freezing rain and high winds could cause ice buildup and outages. Newfoundland Power reported two outages overnight, but crews restored power to those areas by morning, and there were scattered outages throughout the day Saturday. As of 4 p.m., Newfoundland Power said there were no known outages. Colleen Connors/CBC But some are celebrating all the snow. Richard Wells, marketing manager at Marble Mountain in Steady Brook, says close to 20 cm of snow fell on the mountain, but the weather wasn't as fierce as what was forecast. Wells says skiing conditions were excellent Friday night, with a few hundred people hitting the slopes. "The buzz was really high throughout the lodge last night, and you could tell that people were really champing at the bit to get into this storm today not knowing the severity, of course," he said. Despite a delayed opening Saturday with the snow and some freezing rain overnight, Wells said Saturday was "some of the best skiing Marble Mountain has had in many years." Roch said the weather's not over just yet though. Once this current system moves through, another wintry mix is en route to Newfoundland. "We are expecting some snow, possibly changing over to rain, Monday into Monday night," she said. "Though that should be fairly brief, so there is a chance of some higher snowfall accumulations along the south coast." Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador Jammu and Kashmir police arrested three associates of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit in Budgam district, officials said on Saturday. Police in Budgam arrested three terrorist associates linked to proscribed outfit HM after a specific tip-off. They have been identified as Amir Shafi Dar, Shabir Ahmed Ganie, both residents of Chadoora, and Mudasir Ahmed Khan resident of Pulwama, said a police spokesperson. As per police records, the men were assisting HM militants operating in Budgam by providing logistic support and shelter, the spokesman said. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from their possession. A case under relevant sections was registered at Police Station Chadoora and further investigation was on. In another operation, security forces apprehended two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) associates from the Hajin area of Bandipora district. Irfan Aziz Bhat and Mohammad Asif Parray were allegedly behind posting of threatening posters in Hajin and adjacent areas, officials said, adding that a laptop and a printer, allegedly used for printing posters, were seized. On Friday, three associates of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit were arrested for lobbing a grenade at Lal Chowk last Sunday. Nine persons, including two CRPF men, were injured in the attack. In a gunfight, two militants and a CRPF jawan were killed at Shalteng on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday while one militant was captured alive. However, the family of the captured man claimed he had no terror links and was injured in the crossfire. The two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that it is important for Ukraine to build relations with Italy as a strong member of the European Union and NATO. "It is important for Ukraine to build relations with Italy as a powerful member of the EU and NATO," he said at a meeting with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Italy, according to the Ukrainian president's press service. Read alsoUkraine's president, Italy's PM discuss Markiv case The two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues, including the development of political dialogue, prospects for trade, economic and investment cooperation, Italy's support for the reform process in Ukraine, and the integration of our country into the Euro-Atlantic structures. The Ukrainian president said that new opportunities were being opened to intensify cooperation between the two countries. Mattarella, in turn, praised the role of the Ukrainian community in Italy, which makes an important contribution to the development of interpersonal contacts between the countries. The Ukrainian president also briefed his Italian counterpart on the situation in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and on the implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting in the Normandy format in Paris. Zelensky said he was hopeful that Italy would continue to support solidary international efforts aimed to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This essay is part of a series this month, coinciding with the concept of Flagship February, wherein we intend to revisit the flagship beers of regional craft breweries, reflect on their influence within the beer scene, and assess how those beers fit into the modern beer world. Click here to see all the other entries in the series. Looking back to my early days of craft beer imbibing, I distinctly remember a time when brewmasters used to say things like craft breweries dont have time to make lagers. Lagers, to be certain, are a considerably more onerous family of beer to produce than the arguably more forgiving world of ales. They require ample cooling for a brewerys fermenters, and because lager yeast ferments at a slower rate, they tie up fermenters and brite tanks for longer periods of time that could otherwise be used to crank out another batch of pale ale or IPA. Most lager styles are less forgiving in terms of off-flavors and other brewing flaws, which are that much easier for the average drinker to detect when set against a more subtle, neutral background of flavor. And on a more existential level, even though a handful of lagers (such as Samuel Adams Boston Lager) were brands that led the craft beer charge in the 1980s, the craft beer space for decades defined itself in opposition to bland macro lager brands from the likes of Budweiser, Miller and Coors. For brewers who saw themselves as part of a punk uprising, craft lager held little appeal, and was viewed as tantamount to selling out. Then there was the economic argument: If craft breweries have to charge more for their lagers than the macro guys, will consumers really deign to buy them? For all the reasons listed above, flagship craft lagers were something of a rare commodity in the 1980s and 1990s, but that isnt to say they didnt exist. At one of the Midwests most beloved regional breweries, in fact, it was lager that built the business: Great Lakes Brewing Co.s Dortmunder Gold. In production since 1988, Dortmunder Gold truly would have been a novelty in its earlier years. Most local drinkers in Cleveland had likely never sampled microbrew lager at allassuming theyd had ANY of what wed now call craft beer, of coursewhen this beer was new on the scene, and through the 2000s it still wouldnt have had much direct style competition. It was a beer that helped prove doubters wrong about the marketability of craft lager and the willingness of consumers to pay extra for a quality product, and one might say that the current wave of drinkable mainstay lagers from the likes of Founders, Firestone Walker or Avery have their roots in Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. It is odd, however, to think that of all styles it was Dortmunder export or European-style export lager that Great Lakes used to get its message across. Ill defined and occasionally debated, Dortmunder lager has been described as the city of Dortmund, Germanys answer to pilsners popularity in the Czech Republic, and it blends hallmarks of both German helles and pilsner into something that sits in a nebulous midpoint between the two. Hoppier on average than beers labeled as helles, but perhaps more malt-accented and a bit less bitter than true pilsners, it strikes for a balanced middle ground between the two. It may also be a bit stronger in terms of ABVGreat Lakes flagship clocks in at a more than respectable 5.8% ABV, suggesting that this was perhaps more of a pint beer than a liter stein beer. It was also, I must admit, the type of beer I largely ignored during my early days of exploring the craft beer scape. Like so many other nascent beer geeks in the mid-2000s, my tastes were drawn toward the more robust and bombastic ends of the spectrumI wanted hop bombs, Belgian oddities and dark beers rather than craft beers that reminded me in any way of the tasteless macro junk that surrounded me at college parties and backyard cookouts. Why drink something like Dortmunder Gold, I would have asked, when Great Lakes classic porter Edmund Fitzgerald was right there on the shelf next to it? In those days, the choice practically made itself. Today, in 2020, things are different. My palate has grown and changed, readjusted itself and become far more fond of subtlety and delicate flavors. I developed a passion for floral noble hops, pilsner and the hidden complexities of German lager styles, Dortmunder export included. Still, until this essay, I hadnt returned to visit Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold in what was likely years. So with all that said, lets re-taste some Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. Tasting: Great Lakes Dormunder Gold First, heres how the brewery describes Dortmunder Gold: A classic award-winning balance of sweet malt and dry hop flavors, proudly waving the flag for Cleveland and refreshing beer drinkers everywhere since 1988. A humble hometown hero, draped in a people-pleasing blend of smooth malt and crisp hop flavors. On the nose, my first impressions are of sweet German malt, with a delicately floral honey sweetness and slightly wheat-y character, followed by flashes of herbal hops. Its all-around a more assertive and interesting profile than I remembered, but thats really no surprise to memy assessment of these types of beers has changed quite a bit since the last time I revisited this one. On the palate, Dortmunder Gold is fresh, grainy, crisp and full of flavor. Its slightly bready in character, like chewing on a strand of wheat, complemented by slightly honeyed sweetness, although theres also a subtle note of vanilla. Hop notes are slightly herbal and floral, and certainly more pronounced on the palate than I remembered them being, which again isnt really a surprise to me. At the same time, these hop impressions are more subtle than most pilsners, which likely means its sitting right where it should be as Dortmunder export lager. The hop character is refreshing, with a mild but persistent bitterness and a slightly mineral, dry finish. Its dangerously drinkable, especially considering the 5.8% ABV. It may not seem like that big of a bump over the dominant domestic lagers, but lest we forget, even the likes of Bud Ice only clocked in at 5.5% ABV. Brewing anything this crisp and drinkable is increasingly more difficult, the closer you get to 6% ABV. In summation: Yeah, its really beers like this one that best make the case for an undertaking like Flagship February in the first place, and have the most to gain from re-approaching them with the benefit of new context and an enlightened palate. If youre like me, and have come to a newfound appreciation for lagers in the last few years, Dortmunder Gold is an obvious choice to revisit. Of course, given that its been around since 1988, its probably not going anywhere. Jim Vorel is a Paste staff writer and resident craft beer geek. You can follow him on Twitter for much more drinks writing. The deaths of the three Abdallah children and their cousin, mown down by an alleged drunk driver in Oatlands last weekend, has shocked the nation. What has shocked people even more, perhaps, was the astonishingly grace-filled response of the childrens mother, Leila Geagea Abdallah. The Abdallah children's mother, Leila, at the scene of the accident last Sunday. Credit:Edwina Pickles "I think in my heart to forgive him ... Im not going to hate him, because this is not who we are," she told reporters, unconsciously, perhaps, echoing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns statement after the Christchurch mosque massacre. Forgiveness is one of the most fraught and painful human virtues. Some might claim it is not a virtue at all, that, once wronged, it is only just and right that we pursue those who have wronged us until we are avenged in some way. I hope I never have to endure a fraction of the Abdallah familys anguish. I cannot imagine losing one child, let alone three, or predict how I would react in such a scenario. I expect that there will be years of grief and excruciating work ahead for the parents and siblings of the slain children. British Radio presenter James O Brien recently asked his listeners about the EU laws which should be dispensed, now that UK had exited European Union. On January 31 this year, Britain officially ceased from being a member of the European Union. Relevant protections for bats On his show, OBrien questioned the listeners after Sajid Javid, the Chancellor of the Exchequer revealed that he wanted UK citizens to name the regulations that should be removed to improve their lives. However, the audience had answers that left everybody stunned. The first caller went on to rant about washing machine regulations and the way they're written before claiming the country needs relevant protections for bats. A subsequent caller expressed his desire for employees to have longer working hours. Another caller proposed a hilarious demand. He suggested a return of the death penalty for people like Rose West, who is already dead. Yet another caller, demanded bendy banana regulations, a claim that has been rubbished from pillar to post for the last 20 years according to the presenter. Read: Macron Seeks Leading Role In Post-Brexit EU Nuclear Strategy Read: Bomb Planted On UK-bound Lorry To Cause Explosion On Brexit Day: Police Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab visited Australia as a part of his first overseas trip since the UK officially left the European Union and met with Australian foreign secretary Marise Payne. As the current trade between UK and Australia was worth 18.3billion in 2019, Britain is now aiming an early trade deal with the island country while it still remains in an 11-month transition period with the EU. Raab arrived in Australia on February 6 as a part of a four-country visit to the Asia-Pacific region and discussed the future trade and investment opportunities along with the scope of an early free trade deal. While British FM called the UK to be the 'natural partner' of Australia, Payne said her country is 'ready to seize the opportunity of the new era'. Read: Europe And UK Prepare For Next Phase Of Brexit Talks Read: EU Sets Out New Criteria On Enlargement Post-Brexit THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATIONS ban on some of the most popular types of flavored e-cigarettes came into force on Thursday. Except FDA officials want to be clear that it is not technically a ban it is a guidance on how federal regulators will wield their wide-ranging enforcement powers which means that the potentially deadly gaps in the policy are not really loopholes, they argue. The FDA, they stress, can use its powers anytime it wants to crack down on any e-cigarette product that seems to be marketed to or hooking children, whether or not it was specifically mentioned in the enforcement policy. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to defray costs for the family of Ruth Reyes Severino and her two children, who were found stabbed to death in their Penns Grove apartment Wednesday. The fundraiser was established to help with funeral costs for Reyes and her children: daughter Eurianny, 5, and son Eury, 2. The funeral will take place in Reyess home country of the Dominican Republic, where her immediate family lives. Yahaira Perez, a cousin of Reyess, told NJ Advance Media Saturday it will be expensive to bring Reyes and her children back to their mothers home country, especially because they will have to travel to a remote area three hours outside of Santo Domingo, the nations capital. Perez said Reyess mother is devastated over the news of her daughters death. Reyes has three brothers and she was the familys only daughter, Perez said. A cousin told NJ Advance Media that Reyes would send money home to her mother to support her and that she never forgot about her family in the Dominican Republic. She was an amazing mother to her kids and an amazing daughter to her mother, she said. We never thought anything like this would happen to her, she was so young. Reyes and her children were found stabbed to death in their Penns Grove apartment Wednesday. Her husbands body was found in a wooded area nearby, the Salem County Prosecutors Office said. Authorities still have not labeled the deaths of the Severino family murder-suicide. A family member told NJ Advance Media that the couple had marital problems and that Reyes had obtained a restraining order against her husband a few weeks ago after he threatened to kill her. Investigators confirmed that a temporary restraining order was issued Jan. 12 and a final order was issued Jan. 16. GoFundMe said they are working directly with the organizer of the fundraiser to ensure the money goes directly to Reyes family. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Lerner and Rowe Sponsor 2020 Tucson Heart and Stroke Ball We couldn't be more pleased to continue our annual support of the Tucson Heart and Stroke Ball. The local chapter of American Heart Association does so much to support those affected by heart disease and to promote critical heart health programs. Kevin Rowe, ESQ. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is pleased to once again sponsor the Tucson Heart and Stroke Ball benefiting the American Heart Association. On February 15, 2020 guests will be transported to an exotic locale as the venue at the Westin La Paloma Resort is transformed into 1001 Persian Nights. A cocktail reception kicks off the festivities at 6:00 p.m. to be followed by a delightfully authentic Persian dinner and exciting live auction. A portion of ticket purchase(s), heart appeal donations, and winning auction bids will be used to fund lifesaving research and educational programs to fight heart disease and stroke in the Tucson area. We couldn't be more pleased to continue our annual support of the Tucson Heart and Stroke Ball. The local chapter of American Heart Association does so much to support those affected by heart disease and to promote critical heart health programs, said attorney Kevin Rowe. On a personal note, my family is especially appreciative of their efforts since both my grandfather and dad have dealt with heart related health concerns. For more information about the 2020 Tucson Heart and Stroke Ball, please contact McKensie Neff with the American Heart Association at 520-917-7526 or McKensie.Neff@heart.org. More about Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is a powerhouse law firm representing personal injury clients. Attorneys Glen Lerner and Kevin Rowe have grown their law firm into one of the largest personal injury firms in the country, with over 50 attorneys and nearly 400 support employees located in Arizona, Nevada, California, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee. The law firms continuous exalted levels of success can be attributed to the high levels of respect and dignity shown to victims and family members hurt in an accident. For those injured outside one of the previously listed states, Lerner and Rowe has an established network of attorneys across the country, ready to help. The firm takes pride in nourishing these relationships as they know a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in obtaining fair compensation for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims of tortious conduct. For more information about Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys in Tucson, please call 520-977-1900. To connect with the law firm socially, follow Lerner and Rowe on Twitter and Instagram, or become a fan of its Facebook page. Also, visit lernerandrowegivesback.com to learn more about the many other community services that the lawyers and legal support team of Lerner and Rowe actively support. Young people who care about the planet take part in the protest. Picture: Gerry Mooney Hundreds of secondary school students flocked to Dublin city centre yesterday for a climate action protest. It was the 61st week in a row that such a protest had taken place at the gates of the Dail, and around 300 students turned up to spread one final green message on the eve of the general election. Shocked One of the organisers, Beth Doherty (16), said her schoolmates were shocked to see reports on climate change and decided to take action. "I read that we only have 10 years to change," the fifth-year student said. "Myself and a group of friends got together and decided we wanted to do something about it. "The student climate movement has brought climate change to the fore and it's very much now top of the priority list." Many at the protest were moved to tears while listening to a recording of children in Australia describing their exper- iences with bushfires. They held hands and sang a song in solidarity. Evan Pereira (16), from Athy College, Kildare, said: "Our politics are broken. The two-party system of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail has let us down time and time again. Take on the politicians head-on." With the start of early voting Feb. 6 in Madison County, the 2020 election campaign is in full swing for both the March 17 primary and the Nov. 3 general election. Our five-county area with two U.S. Senators, three U.S. Representatives, five state Senators and six state Representatives is filled with news from local lawmakers and those who want to challenge them. Starting today, The Telegraph will present Campaign Notebook in every Sunday edition through the November Election, sharing briefs about our local lawmakers as well as their election opponents. As space alows, well also share information from candidates seeking judicial, regional, county and local offices. We invite candidates to share their information by emailing it to news@thetelegraph.com. And we invite our readers to check out the Campaign Notebook every Sunday in The Telegraph. # Local lawmakers last week gave Gov. J.B. Pritzker a rare loss when they easily overrode his veto of House Bill 3902 that reinstated Illinois sales tax exemption for aircraft materials. Both state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, and state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, said the veto was needed to protect more than 500 jobs at West Star Aviation in East Alton and other aviation facilities in Illinois. Today, the Illinois House sent a strong, bipartisan message that we value good-paying jobs in our state and will do what it takes to protect them, Bristow said. # After the U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to acquit President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who voted against the acquittal, said the American people deserved a more full and fair trial. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also voted against the acquittal, saying America has weathered greater storms than this impeachment and our current political standoff. U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, issued a statement saying it was time for Washington to get back to doing the peoples business. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said it was time for Congress to stop these partisan fights and address issues that directly impact the lives of the people we serve. # State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, is backing the recently filed Senate Bill 2535 under which people wanting to buy firearms would no longer need to possess a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card. The reality is, the requirement of FOID cards was a bureaucratic push to make it harder for Illinois residents to exercise their Second Amendment rights, said Plummer. We should be seeking ways to prevent criminals from accessing firearms, not adding to the red tape, costs and hurdles placed on law-abiding gun owners. The FOID Act was created in 1968. # State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, says recent problems with improper voter registration and the processing of FOID card applications illustrates the bureaucratic challenges within Illinois. Taxpayers deserve to know their tax dollars are used appropriately and in a manner that allows for the efficient delivery of services, she said in a released statement. # Before they can debate, 12th District Congressional candidates Ray Lenzi and Joel Funk are debating how many debates to have. Lenzi initially released a statement saying 12 events were planned. The next day Funk issued a statement saying the two had only agreed to three debates. They will meet in the March 17 Democratic primary for the right to face Bost in the Nov. 3 election. Urban Cree reclaim their heritage by learning the most common Indigenous language in Metro Vancouver In the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleilwaututh First Nations, the most commonly understood Indigenous mother tongue isn't Halkomelem. It's Cree, according to Statistics Canada. Inside a warm classroom in East Vancouver's Native Education College (NEC) on a cold rain-slicked night, language instructor Dorothy Visser teaches her first lesson in Plains Cree to a packed classroom. "Tawow," welcome Visser said. "Ta-wow," 40 students said in unison. "Tansi," she continued. "Tansi," students responded how are you? For the mostly Cree students, it's their first time speaking their mother-language. More than 87 Indigenous languages in Canada are at risk of dying, according to a UNESCO report. But in this small Vancouver classroom, lessons are not only breathing life into Cree, they're instilling a sense of identity in people whose Cree homeland is east of the Rocky Mountains. Learning Cree in the city Back in the classroom, Visser and co-instructor Pauline Johnston put students through their paces with language exercises and a song. Wawmeesh Hamilton There are five dialects of Cree. Visser and Johnston teach students the Y-dialect of Plains Cree, which Visser grew up speaking, she says. Cree originated with the Algonquin people in Quebec and Ontario, and the language migrated west across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, she said. Cree is also a relative to the Ojibway language, lessons in which are also taught at the Native Education College. According to the. 2016 Census, Cree is listed as the most commonly understood Indigenous mother tongue in Metro Vancouver. Visser is a study in language resilience and defiance. Her parents and grandparents spoke only Cree when she grew up. She retained her language in residential school. And she still retained it after spending 18 months in the hospital recovering from TB, away from her home on the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in central Alberta. Story continues "I used to write home to my grandfather using the Cree syllabics," Visser said. 'To see her without shame and with pride': Cree mother weeps as her daughter who is learning the language beams For Visser, 80, teaching the language at this stage of her life is about doing her part to heal an old wound. "So many have lost our language and have a sorrow because it was prevented from being spoken in residential school," she said. "It feels so good to see all these people eager to learn every week." Her students 36 women and four men introduced themselves before the lesson. All had Cree ancestry, and nearly all said they wanted to reclaim their language. I didn't know who I was For student Dawn Johnson, learning Cree is instilling the identity that was taken away from her when she was placed in foster care as a child. "There was shame around my identity and Indigeneity. I learned to exist by being white-passing," said Johnson, who has a fair complexion. Gordon Loverin Johnson says her daughter won't experience the same humiliation because she is learning about her identity and culture. "Growing up in the child care system, I didn't know who I was," said Johnson. "I see her with so much pride and so much strength in who she is as a Cree and Dene woman, I've never witnessed shame in her and that is healing," a teary-eyed Johnson said. The 10-week program was founded by the Pacific Association of First Nations Women two years ago. The organizations' lead matriarch Diana Day said the group is applying for funding to host a Cree language immersion program, at which students would only speak Cree. Women are the cornerstone of culture, Visser explained. "Women teach it to their children as mothers and they carry on the culture." The Cree language classes are also underwritten with a grant from the First Peoples' Cultural Council. The Native Education College donates the classroom space. By Jerry Kroth February 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - It looks like a very rare bird finally landed on our planet. Moodys Analytics called the coronavirus a Black Swan like no other. [1] Ditto for Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who says, Its very, very transmissible, and it almost certainly is going to be a pandemic. [2] One respected Wall Street analyst said the disease will impact both global supply and demand and ultimately paralyze China. [3] But Wall Street shrugged off these prognostications and is in such a mania of late, it managed to convince itselfon almost no evidence at all that the virus is curable. Not only has it discounted the pandemic, but its ditzy moods pushed markets to all time highs as if to show its scorn for any intrusion sanity which might otherwise interrupt the frenzy. Stephen Roach, former Morgan Stanley chief economist, says Wall Streets mania is ludicrous: This is a market where if you declared it was World War III, they would rally on reconstruction! [4] Tesla doubled in value in less than a month. Nothing seems to temper the delirium. But Frances Collins, NIH Director, says this disease is serious and transmissibility is incredible. One person was infected after only 15 seconds of exposure and that was at a distance. [5] The fact is this disease is only in its incipient stages, its transmissibility is horrific, and frankly we havent seen anything yet. So let us dig down into some of the implications. Take a look for a moment at the house of cardsthat is the world economy over which this black swan is flying. It sits upon a foundation of an unimaginable $253 trillion in debt, something the IMF repeatedly has warned is excessive and egregious. [6] Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The debt is 3 times greater than the entire global gdp. Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, once said if you borrow $10,000 from a bank and lose your job, youre in trouble, but if you borrowed a million dollars, the bank is in trouble. [7] If the coronavirus precipitates a global recession, or worse, what will happen to the $253 trillion in obligations that cant be paid back? Weve heard a lot about too big to fail, but far less about too big to save! Such gargantuan debt levels, particularly in emerging markets, may simply be too large to be saved by more money printing. Besides pointing to a market crash, a collapsing dollar, or the repetition of the Great Depressionsomething forewarned by the IMFs Kristaline Georgievea [8]the teetering house of cards has one more problem to consider, the shadowy vicissitudes of the derivatives market. Derivatives were the primary culprit which caused the Great Recession, but most observers felt that derivatives were roundly chastised with the Volker rules and werent going to be a threat anymore. So we havent been paying much attention. Actually, today the derivatives market has grown to $1.4 quadrillion. [9] The volume of derivatives trading rocketed to obscene proportions. Believe it or not, derivatives speculation is 3 times greater than it was on the eve of the financial crisis. Over $6.5 trillion per day is being wagered as gamblers flock into this casino like there was no tomorrow. [10] (Well, actually, maybe theyre right, and maybe there isnt!) But lets not be too negative. We should try a little optimism, or at least some healthy fantasy: Maybe a real cure has been found for the virus, and Wall Streets giddiness is fully justified. If so, we can sit back and watch this black swan fly harmlessly off into the distance missing the market mania and the ever-ascending Dow, the impossibly-sized valuations, the ballooning derivatives speculation, and the mountainous levels of corporate, private, and sovereign debt. The virus is cured. The black swan flew away. Whew! What a relief! Ah! How sweet to relax into the ersatz world of repos, QE, and all that sumptuous debt and leverage which continues to prop up the pretty house of cards we still can call home . . . . at least for now. Jerry Kroth, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor Emeritus from Santa Clara University in California and may be reached through his website www.collectivepsych.com Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here Notes [1] https://www.ai-cio.com/news/chinese-virus-black-swan-like-no-moodys-says/ [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/02/health/coronavirus-pandemic-china.html [3] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/03/el-erian-says-coronavirus-to-paralyze-china-dont-buy-stock-dips.html [4] https://www.barrons.com/articles/coronavirus-could-push-global-economy-into-recession-why-one-economist-calls-market-complacency-ludicrous-51581081300 [5] https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/v747jx/chinese-authorities-say-it-takes-just-15-seconds-for-coronavirus-to-spread [6] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/15/global-debt-surged-to-a-record-250-trillion-in-the-first-half-of-2019-led-by-the-us-and-china.html [7] Varoufakis address to Oxford Union, 2019. [8] EU Times, Jan. 2020 [9] https://www.goldonomic.com/education-hall/category/derivatives [10] https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/interest-rate-derivatives-trading-explodes-to-6-5-trillion-day/ ==See Also== Hong Kong shoppers snap up rice and noodles as coronavirus fears mount GUANGZHOU, China For Julie Zhong, this Chinese New Year was supposed to be a time of transition. The 24-year-old native of Wuhan, China, had gone to celebrate the holiday with her family on the southern island of Hainan. After the three-week trip, she was going to move to Shanghai and take up a new job with the Canadian Consulate there. Then the outbreak happened. After an initial visit by local officials in Hainan to take the family members temperature, they began a self-imposed quarantine for 14 days. Daily life slowed down and focused on rituals like cooking and games of mahjong as they waited out their isolation in an apartment near the beach. Hainan, a fast-developing holiday island that sits off Chinas southern coast in the South China Sea, is sometimes called Chinas Hawaii. Ms. Zhongs family travels there regularly in hopes that the warmer climate will strengthen the health of her grandparents. Each evening, her grandparents watched the television for updates on the epidemic. The family also shared news on WeChat, a popular messaging app. When the self-imposed quarantine was over, Ms. Zhong went to the beach with family members for exercise. The weather was cold and the ocean was gray. Still wearing masks, they stayed just 15 minutes before heading back to the apartment. Several fashion retailers that manufacture clothing in coronavirus-hit China are in talks with Turkish firms about shifting production to Turkey, two sector officials told Reuters, with one predicting new orders worth up to $2 billion. An outbreak of the newly-identified coronavirus has killed 637 people in mainland China, where it is believed to have started, prompting many factories to suspend operations until next week or later as authorities try to contain its spread. Polish fashion retailer LPP has said it is in talks with factories in Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam as a backup plan if Chinese production delays continue. Turkish manufacturers have in recent years shifted their clothing production up-market as Chinas dominance grew globally. But the outbreak has sent some European companies back to Turkey, the officials said. Purchasing managers and designers cant go to China due to coronavirus worries and travel restrictions. So several well-known brands started discussions for production of new seasonal items in Turkey, said Hadi Karasu, head of Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TGSD). Rising Chinese manufacturing costs and a 36% slide in the value of the Turkish lira in the last two years, on the back of a currency crisis in 2018, has already made Turkey an affordable option, Karasu added. As manufacturing costs leveled between China and Turkey, some European firms were (already) considering shifting orders towards here, Karasu said. China has some $170 billion ready-to-wear exports, he added. According to our calculations some 1% of orders will (now) be shifting to Turkey initially which could amount to $2 billion. Turkey exported some $17.7 billion ready-to-wear products last year. Any rise could help the import-heavy economy keep a lid on its current account deficit and hit the governments ambitious 5% economic growth forecast this year. Mustafa Gultepe, head of the Istanbul Apparel Exporters Association (IHKIB), said the sector has capacity to take on additional orders as both new and existing clients increasingly contact Turkish factories. There are clothing retailers asking around for prices and products in Turkey after the coronavirus outbreak, Gultepe said. I think the impact of the outbreak will continue for 5-6 months...and I think there will be a major shift from China that we will see after May, he added. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 06:47:38|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ROME, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The northeastern Italian city of Padua in Veneto region officially marked its status of European Capital of Volunteering 2020 with a ceremony held on Friday. The yearlong program would see several initiatives with a focus on seven core areas, including health and well-being, technology and innovation, and environment and urban planning, according to the local organizing committee. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, addressing some 5,000 volunteers from all over Italy at the opening event, stressed that "volunteering is the indispensable energy for our society." "Italy is rich in terms of solidarity, and the same goes for Veneto (region). Volunteering has ancient and deep roots in our country," he said. "Padua represents its cutting edge, having had some of the most relevant witnesses of the Italian volunteering world," he added. Following Denmark's Aarhus in 2018 and Slovakia's Kosice in 2019, Padua has chosen the theme "Mending Italy" to mark its status and to inspire all initiatives running throughout the year. The initiatives will be open to the voluntary participation of civic associations from all over Italy and Europe, local authorities, private citizens, and private firms as well if interested. Panels and thematic conferences on how to further develop the sector will also take place throughout the year, according to organizers. Regional Governor Luca Zaia and Padua Mayor Sergio Giordani both hailed the extensive network of volunteers in the area. "Not by chance has Padua been chosen as European Capital of Volunteering ... Veneto counts some 2,500 volunteering organizations, and about 1,500 of them working in social services," the governor said. "Such activities involve at least one person out of five in the region, meaning some 900,000 people offering their leisure time to help the community every day," he continued. Giordani added that Padua province counts 6,466 volunteering groups operating in Italy and developing countries, with some of the oldest starting their activities over 70 years ago. "This ceremony," said Giordani," is a reward to the commitment and the attitude of an entire community." Promoters and partners of the initiative include the municipality of Padua, local volunteer group Center Volunteer Services(CSV), and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union. The whole project has been run since 2013 by Brussels-based European Volunteer Center (CEV), which bestows the title to a city noteworthy for its traditions in this sector after a specific contest every year. Helping Your Child Succeed Do you have children who can read, but do not enjoy reading, and almost never pick up a book or anything else to read for pleasure? Would your Read more Former governor of Taraba State, Rev. John Nyame has been sent to 12 years imprisonment by the Supreme Court which affirmed his earlier sentence by the court of Appeal. However, the Apex court set aside the ruling of the Appellate court which imposed fines running into hundreds of millions. Read Also: Former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame sentenced to 14 Years in Prison The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on November 16th, 2019 ordered the former Taraba state governor, to pay a fine of N495 million for alleged misappropriation of funds while he was governor from 1999 to 2007. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The start of a new decade offers a good opportunity to reflect on the past ten years of pro-life work. When the decade began, the pro-life movement was playing defense. President Obama, a staunch supporter of legal abortion, was in the White House. The pro-life movement rallied to oppose the Affordable Care Act out of concern that it would result in taxpayer funding for elective abortions. But despite the eventual passage of the ACA and Obamas reelection in 2012, the anti-abortion cause actually had an impressive decade. During the 2010s, pro-lifers were able to expose some of the more nefarious actions at Planned Parenthood clinics and enacted some policies partially defunding the abortion group, among other successes. One key development was that groups were able to expose misconduct by Planned Parenthood executives and others in the abortion industry. In 2015, pro-life activist David Daleiden released a series of undercover videos showing numerous Planned Parenthood employees discussing their contracts to illegally profit from fetal tissue and fetal body parts of aborted babies. The videos received substantial coverage, though some of it was inaccurate and biased against Daleiden. As a result of these videos, the House of Representatives formed a Select Committee to further investigate Planned Parenthood. That committee, as well as the Senate Judiciary Committee, found that the videos offered enough evidence of illegal activity to merit referring several Planned Parenthood affiliates and biotech companies to the FBI and Justice Department for criminal investigation. In addition, Live Action released a series of videos showing abortion-facility employees admitting that their clinics would perform sex-selective abortions. And in 2018, Americans United for Life reported on unsafe conditions at various Planned Parenthood clinics and other abortion facilities. As a result of these investigations, political efforts to defund Planned Parenthood gained some momentum. Eighteen states have placed limits on abortion facilities receiving public funds and instead have begun funding pregnancy help centers, which provide life-affirming alternatives to abortion. At the federal level, Planned Parenthood withdrew from the federal Title X program last year after refusing to comply with the Trump administrations Protect Life rule preventing grantees from co-locating with abortion facilities or providing abortion referrals. Since the Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe v. Wade in 1973, much pro-life legislative progress has taken place at the state level. Over the past decade, states passed more than 400 pro-life laws, which is more than one-third of the total laws limiting abortion at the state level since Roe. Last year, state legislators were particularly ambitious: Six states enacted heartbeat bills, which would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, and Alabama enacted legislation that would provide legal protection for nearly all unborn children. There are several reasons for this surge in pro-life legislative efforts. The Republican party has become more uniformly pro-life, and the GOP has obtained control of state legislatures in many states, particularly in the south. In fact, in 2010 Alabama became the final state legislature in the south to flip from Democratic to Republican control. At the same time, changes to the Supreme Court and other federal courts have spurred elected officials to take substantial policy steps toward protecting the preborn. The Supreme Court is another reason for optimism. In 2018, Justice Anthony Kennedy resigned. During his tenure, Kennedy often voted to strike down pro-life laws. He was replaced by Brett Kavanaugh, who many believe has a legal outlook more conducive to upholding abortion restrictions. This summer, the Supreme Court will hear June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee, considering the constitutionality of Louisiana abortion-clinic health-and-safety regulations, an opportunity for the Court to slowly roll back its jurisprudence that prevents states from enacting pro-life laws. Meanwhile, over the past decade, public opinion on abortion remained fairly stable. The pro-life position achieved majority support in a 2012 Gallup poll, and a Gallup poll in May 2019 indicated that a plurality of Americans identifies as pro-life. Political scientists Clyde Wilcox and Patrick Carr published an article analyzing the General Social Survey (GSS) and found that, while young adults in the 1970s were the age demographic most supportive of legal abortion, starting in 2000, young adults had become the age demographic most opposed to legal abortion. But the most important reason for pro-life optimism is that the long-term decline in the U.S. abortion rate continues. According to recent Guttmacher Institute estimates, the U.S. abortion rate declined by more 23 percent between 2010 and 2017; Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a similar decline, showing that the U.S. abortion rate has declined by approximately 50 percent since 1980. A key reason for this decline is that a higher percentage of women with unintended pregnancies carry them to term, illustrating that pro-life educational, legislative, and service efforts have been effective. Of course, there were some setbacks over the past decade. Many Democratic politicians have become more aggressive in their support for legal abortion. Every 2020 Democratic presidential candidate opposes the Hyde Amendment, which limits the ability of the federal government to use Medicaid funds to pay for elective abortions. Last year, New York governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation legalizing abortion throughout pregnancy. Both Illinois and Maine have enacted legislation requiring taxpayer funding of elective abortions through state Medicaid programs. Many Democratic state legislators in Massachusetts support the Roe Act, which would repeal the states 1981 pro-life parental-involvement law. Even so, pro-lifers should look back on the past decade with a great deal of satisfaction, having made gains politically, legislatively, and in public opinion, paving the way for more impressive wins in the future. As we meet in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life tomorrow, we will have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. Originally posted at nationalreview.com Michael J. New is a Visiting Associate Professor at Ave Maria University and an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_J_New Six persons were arrested on Friday for running a fraudulent Aadhaar card centre in Chakkarpur for the last several months. The police said as many as 1,500 fake Aadhaar cards in the names of different people, 1,200 Aadhaar forms,1,500 blank Aadhaar cards, and around 2 lakh have been seized from their possession. Scanners for iris and fingerprints as well as laptops have also been recovered. On Friday evening, the chief ministers flying squad, along with personnel of the Sector 29 police station and district administration raided two shops in Chakkarpur, acting on a tip from the CID intelligence wing. According to the police, the biometric machines had been procured from a Rajasthan-based operator, who provided his thumbprint to run the machine. The perpetrator would allegedly charge between 1,500-2,500 per Aadhaar card. They were also allegedly involved in making PAN (permanent account number) cards, ration cards and identity cards of private companies fraudulently, Chander Mohan, deputy commissioner of police (east), said. The police said the perpetrators would issue at least 40 Aadhaar cards a day, though they operated only twice or thrice a week, and paid 6,000 per day to Mahender Sen, the operator whose thumb impression they had taken on silicon, wrapped on a rubber thumb, to operate his auhorised account and gain access to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The suspects were identified as Chitranjan Yadav and Ashish of Najafgarh in Delhi, Happy Singh of Uttar Pradesh, Karan of Nepal, Pawan of Jind in Haryana and Gufram of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. The police said Mahender Sen was on the run. The DCP said the suspects have been booked under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 120 B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Sector 29 police station. The suspects were arrested from two shops in Chakkarpur and have been remanded to police custody. The police said that they are trying to zero in on those involved from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The police said they recovered 74,550 from one shop and 1,25,500 from a rack in the second shop. During the investigation, the police found that the suspects had downloaded certain software on their laptops and had a complete kit for preparing identity cards, PAN cards, and Aadhaar cards. DCP Mohan said they were conducting raids at suspected locations and questioning suspects to reveal names of other aides involved in the forged documentation work. We want to tell residents to not fall prey to these fraudsters and to get their identification cards made from authorised places. If caught getting forged documents made, action will be initiated against consumers too, he said. Delhi is heading for polling in a single phase on February 8 to elect a fresh Legislative Assembly. Voting began at 8.00 am and will end across all 70 constituencies at 6.00 pm. Counting of votes for the 2020 Delhi Assembly election will happen on February 11. Anyone, whose name appears in the final electoral roll (also known as voter list) can cast their ballot. According to the draft election roll, Delhi had over 1.4 crore eligible voters. Out of these, 11,556 are service voters. The number of polling stations that will be used by voters across the state is 13,750. This number is 16.8 percent higher than last time. Here's how you can verify your name on the voter's list: > To check if your name is on the voter list, visit the official website of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at: ceodelhi.gov.in or the official website of Election Commission of India (EC) at: eci.gov.in > Find and click on options 'Check Your Name in The Voter's List (Electoral Roll) By Voter's Name' or 'Check Your Name in The Voter's List (Electoral Roll) by Voter ID No' on the home page. > You will be directed to another web page where you would have to fill in all your details like name, father's name, state, district, Legislative Assembly constituency, age and the captcha code. Click on the Search button after filling the details. > The information presented on the portal will also include the designated polling station for the 2020 Delhi election. You can also find your polling booth online or via SMS: > Visit the National Voters' Services Portal: www.nvsp.in > Click on 'Search in Electoral Roll', enter your details and submit the online form > To find out your polling booth via SMS, you can send a message to the voter helpline number 1950. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Sat, February 8, 2020 14:05 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634d7e8 2 Entertainment WarnerMedia,Friends,sitcom,television,united-states,reunion,series,HBO-Max,warner-bros Free The one with the long-awaited reunion. Warner Bros is finalizing deals with the cast of Friends for a reunion special that will likely be used to launch the HBO Max streaming service this spring, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. There have been a flurry of media reports about a potential reunion since Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel in the hit sitcom series, hinted that something might be underway. The Journal reported that under terms being discussed, each of the six Friends cast members Aniston, Matt LeBlanc (Joey), Courtney Cox (Monica), Matthew Perry (Chandler), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) and David Schwimmer (Ross) would receive between $2.25 million and $2.5 million. Hollywood website Deadline said the stars will be paid between $3 million-$4 million for an unscripted reunion special. AT&T Inc's Warner Bros Television told the Journal there is no deal. A WarnerMedia spokesman did not immediately respond to Reuters queries related to the reports. HBO Max secured the rights to all 10 seasons of Friends for its streaming service scheduled to launch in April. The series has found a new lease of life on Netflix where it was the second most-watched show in 2018, according to Nielsen data. Last year, Aniston spoke to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres about a possible new Friends project saying: "We would love for there to be something, but we dont know what that something is. So we're just trying. We're working on something." (RETRANSMISSION OF THURSDAY'S BCN22) ALAMEDA (BCN) A man with a history of driving with license suspensions and revocations has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and other counts for a fatal collision in Alameda last week that claimed the life of a 34-year-old woman who lived with him, prosecutors said. Justin Benton, 38, was charged and arraigned on Tuesday for the crash in the 3000 block of Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway at about 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 that killed 34-year-old Wansiri Panyapong. Benton, who's being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $340,000 bail, is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 18 to enter a plea. Panyapong was on a sidewalk when she was struck and killed, Alameda police Officer Alan Kuboyama wrote in a probable cause statement. He's being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $340,000 bail. According to Kuboyama, when officers arrested Benton shortly after the fatal collision he admitted that he was the driver of the stolen vehicle that struck and killed Panyapong. Police and prosecutors allege that Benton was driving a vehicle he stole from a woman he was living with in Alameda. Kuboyama wrote that the woman never gave Benton permission to drive her vehicle because he is a drug addict and does not have a valid driver's license. He said she hid her spare key to prevent Benton from accessing her vehicle but Benton found the key and took her vehicle without permission. Kuboyama wrote that Benton admitted to responding officers that he was in possession of cocaine and a substance found in his pocket appeared to be consistent with powder cocaine. Kuboyama said officers who assessed Benton determined that he was under the influence of a stimulant and narcotic pain relievers and also found injection marks on his arms consistent with his statement that he injects cocaine. Kuboyama said Benton was on probation for reckless driving after a prior arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was expected to obey laws and not drive unless licensed and insured. He said Benton admitted to officers that he knew his driving privileges had been taken away. A records check found that Benton had four prior suspensions or revocations, including one requested by a child support services department and another for refusing a chemical test, according to Kuboyama. The other two were for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition to vehicular manslaughter, Benton is charged with felony counts of unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license. Alameda County prosecutors say Benton has prior felony convictions in Orange and San Bernardino counties for burglary, receipt of stolen property, grand theft and residential burglary. 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. As San Francisco prepares for its Chinese New Year parade this weekend, city officials on Thursday announced measures being taken this year to help keep event-goers safe. The Department of Emergency Management will have extra staff at the parade site, as well as in their dispatch center, ready to take calls in the event of an emergency. "If anyone needs a police officer, a firefighter, or a medical ambulance, you should call 911," said Mary Carol Ellen, DEM director. "It does not matter if you do not speak English, simply state the language you speak or the dialect, and we'll be able to connect you with a translator so we can provide service," she said. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said his deputies will coordinate with San Francisco police to help keep people safe. Police Chief William Scott said the department will have "robust staffing" this weekend during celebrations. However, he also urged members of the Chinese community to be aware of scams, like the all too popular blessings ploy. In response to allegations of xenophobia and discrimination toward the Chinese community following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, city leaders stressed that the risk of contracting the virus remains low. "Certainly there's more chance of you catching the flu more than anything else," said Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee. Members of San Francisco's Japanese American community on Friday spoke about their experiences being interred in camps during World War II, while standing in solidarity with present-day immigrants being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. Speaking at the National Japanese American Historical Society at 1684 Post St. to commemorate the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s, several survivors shared their stories. "It was really hard, because your country tells you you're no good. So, you reject your language, your food, your culture," said Sadako Kashiwagi, who was sent to the Tule Lake interment camp in Northern California along with her family. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to internment camps, mostly located along the West Coast, after President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942. The order essentially labeled Japanese people living in the U.S. as possible spies. "All I can say is know your language, be proud of who you are, be strong, be kind and so on. And that is important because you need a base," Kashiwagi said. "When Pearl Harbor happened, it was like, I didn't even know where it was or anything. It seemed very distant, or at least it didn't seem to have anything to do with me. But, of course, they rounded us all up," said Chizu Omori, who lived on a farm near San Diego before her family was sent to a camp. A suspect remains at-large after allegedly pushed a man off his wheelchair Wednesday night in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, leaving the victim on the ground immobile, police said. On Thursday around 7:45 a.m., officers responded to the corner of Fulton and Hyde streets, regarding a robbery. The 43-year-old victim told officers a suspect approached him from behind the previous night and pushed him off the wheelchair. The suspect then took the wheelchair, according to police. Unable to move, the victim was forced to stay on the ground all night before reporting the robbery, police said. The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life threatening. The Napa Special Investigations Bureau arrested a Lake County man Thursday on suspicion of pimping and pandering a 19-year-old woman in Napa County. Roy Percoats, 26, of Clearlake Oaks, was arrested during an undercover operation, Lt. Rick Greenberg said. Percoats is being held in the Napa County Jail on $1 million bail. There may be more victims, Greenberg said. The victim was offered services and an emergency protective order against Percoats, Greenberg said. A climate emergency in Silicon Valley was declared Thursday night by the Valley Transportation Board in a move to bring more immediacy to combating greenhouse gas emissions and work toward more sustainable transportation in the South Bay. "This marks a bold commitment for VTA to move forward in a more sustainable manner to solve the challenges of climate change while reducing congestion in our county," Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese said in a statement. The declaration puts the transportation authority on a fast track toward developing cleaner and more sustainable transit options that may reduce greenhouse gas pollution Silicon Valley. A community celebration will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday to mark the renovation of a popular neighborhood park in Oakland. Hardy Park, also known in the community as Frog Park for the community group Friends of the Greenbelt (FROG), is at 5500 Claremont Ave., between the Hardy Street cul-de-sac and the corner of Claremont and Hudson Street. New toddler, standard and ADA-compatible swings, and innovative new play equipment have been installed along with other play equipment, a resilient play surface and more bench seating. Oakland Public Works and FROG will hold a ribbon cutting at the grand reopening event and speakers will include City Councilman Dan Kalb, and Theresa Nelson and Carol Behr from Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. An Orinda man who initially fled from police seeking to question him Friday regarding a sexual assault case, then was in a prolonged standoff with officers, is in custody, Walnut Creek police said via social media. Police said David M. Justice fled in a vehicle "at a high rate of speed" and evaded attempts to pull him over when Walnut Creek officers went to a residence in the 200 block of Hall Drive in Orinda at 2:10 p.m. Friday to interview him about an assault incident in Walnut Creek. "Justice eventually returned to the address on Hall Drive and ran into the residence. Moments later, Justice exited the back of the residence with a shotgun pointed to his head," police said. A SWAT team responded and talks between Justice and a crisis negotiation team finally led to his surrender shortly after 6 p.m. Justice will be booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a warrant for multiple counts of rape, with bail set at $5,000, police said. Assisting agencies included the Central County Special Weapons and Tactics and Crisis Negotiations teams, the Orinda, Lafayette, and Danville police Departments and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office. Saturday will be partly cloudy in the morning before becoming sunny. Highs will be in the mid 50s to the lower 60s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Saturday night will be clear. Lows will be in the mid 40s to the mid 50s. North winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Sunday will be mostly sunny and breezy. Highs will be in lower 60s. North winds will be 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 45 mph. A Wind Advisory will be in effect from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The infection rate has doubled in the past week, surging past the 30,000 mark. Australian medical authorities fear it could be as high as 300,000 because of under-reporting and the challenges of diagnosing such a large population. The number of deaths is now set to surpass the SARS crisis in 2003, after reaching 717 on Saturday. "Its difficult for us to even watch the news now," says Zeng. Describing her group, the first to arrive on Christmas Island, as "guinea pigs", she now believes the families are "like soldiers in a battle" after almost a week in the quarantine centre. Following a tense first couple of days, she believes most of the evacuees have "accepted the reality and are ready to settle down" and the "smiles and assistance" of Australian medical workers on the island had helped with the adjustment. Illustration: Credit:Matt Golding "Everyone who comes here should adjust their mentality," she says. "Don't think it is a tropical island holiday." Zeng's group was joined by 35 more Australians that came from Wuhan via Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight on Thursday. They will be the last group of Australians fleeing China sent to Christmas Island, which the chief medical officer has declared full. From Saturday, when a third flight was scheduled to leave Wuhan, evacuees are to be sent to an Inpex mining camp 30 kilometres outside of Darwin for their two-week quarantine. Sydneysider Bon Lee, who had secured a seat on the flight to Darwin, says he was ready to go to Christmas Island. "I was happy to go anywhere the government has deemed safe for quarantine but Darwin is definitely a better option," he says. "Anyone would prefer that." Zeng dismisses concerns from some other evacuees that the Christmas Island facilities are dirty. "Yes, there are cockroaches! They are all over the Australian continent. My Sydney home has not only cockroaches but also big spiders!" she says. And she is surprised by the newfound attention she and her compatriots are receiving from reporters and long lenses behind wire fences. Australian evacuees leave by bus after arriving at the airport on Christmas Island. Credit:AAP "As soon as we went out, we saw [it was] full of reporters outside the barbed wire. Then sudden intensive flashes reached out to the dark inside the vehicle," she says. "Only when [David] Beckham came there would be such sensation." Beyond the sudden sense of celebrity, life on the island follows a familiar pattern. Food, walks, crabs, video games. Families huddle around an internet router in one of the offices attempting to get a better Wi-Fi connection. They scroll between glimpses of normal-life in Australia and the anything-but-normal pictures of deserted streets of Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan. Everyday things, like trading goods, become more difficult as families are separated in their units to stop the risk of infection spreading among the group and restarting the 14-day quarantine clock for everyone if the sickness takes hold. The Christmas Island detention centre. Credit:Department of Home Affairs Zeng now has an unwanted packet of cigarettes after they were accidentally delivered to her room. She is unable to give them to her neighbour, who ordered them. For the island's full-time residents, the episode is the latest in a series that makes them feel as though their home is a dumping ground for Australia's problems. The red crabs on Christmas Island Credit: "People are feeling that their island is being trashed to a large extent, but most also know that it will blow over," says Philip Tubb, the island's destination development manager. Tubb says the island needs to shake the impression that the coronavirus quarantine is terminal for tourism. "We should be saying that while this is a setback, it is still one of the most sensational places to come to," he says. Gordon Thomson, the shire president and a member of the Labor Party, described the quarantine on Christmas island as "hysterical and ruinous" this week. Journalists gather by the Terminal 21 shopping mall where a mass shooting took place in the northeastern Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima, on February 9, 2020. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images A Thai soldier has been shot dead by security forces after killing at least 29 people in a shooting spree that lasted from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning local time, Reuters reported. Local media reported the suspect's name to be Cpl Jakrapanth Thomma. The soldier began his attack at someone's house at 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, before stealing a Humvee, and opening fire at a Buddhist temple and a shopping mall. The suspect briefly broadcast himself on Facebook Live at one point in the attack, a source close to Facebook told Insider. The victims included Thomma's commander, who was killed before the suspect fled to a shopping center. Thai security locked down the shopping mall at 10 p.m. Saturday and eventually killed the soldier at 9 a.m. the next day, Reuters reported. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Thai soldier has been shot dead by security forces after killing a total of 29 people in an 18-hour shooting spree across various locations in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, Reuters reported. The soldier began his attack at a private home at 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, before stealing a Humvee, and moving onto and opening fire at a Buddhist temple and a shopping mall, Reuters and the Bangkok Post reported. Thai security locked down the shopping mall at 10 p.m. Saturday and eventually killed the soldier at 9 a.m. the next day, Reuters reported. The death toll was at 29 as of Sunday. Others were injured. The Post and Coconut, a local news site, named the attacker as Cpl Jakrapanth Thomma on Saturday. Reuters and The New York Times have also reported Thomma's name. Nakhon Ratchasima, where the attack too place, is a city northeast of Bangkok. It's also known as Korat. korat thailand shooting Google Maps/Insider The suspect first arrived at a house to discuss a property dispute with his commanding officer at 3 p.m. Saturday, Reuters reported. The Post reported this attack to be at the Surathampithak military camp. Story continues After an argument, he shot dead his commander and at least one other person, Reuters and the Post reported. He then stole a gun, ammunition, and a Humvee at the site, the two outlets said. He then drove the Humvee from the camp, and opened fire again at a Buddhist temple and at the Terminal 21 shopping mall in downtown Korat, the Post and Reuters reported. Video posted by local media and on social media show people running near the shopping center as shots ring out. While at the mall the attacker briefly livestreamed himself on Facebook Live, but the broadcast did not depict any violence, a source close to Facebook told Insider. The length and time of the broadcast is not known. The soldier also wrote in a Facebook post at 6:30 p.m.: "Death is inevitable for everyone," according to Reuters. He also took a selfie at the mall at 7:20 p.m. local time, the Post reported. The Post noted that the livestream and selfie were made unavailable moments afterward. Facebook said in a Saturday statement that it had removed all of the gunman's "presence on our services." The source said this included his accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Facebook said it is working with Thai law enforcement. Thai security forces stormed into the mall at 10:15 p.m. Saturday to evacuate people still inside and to find the gunman, Reuters reported. People were still in the mall at the time, and at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, at least four children were seen escaping from the building, Reuters said. Security forces eventually shot and killed the gunman at 9:05 a.m. Sunday. People put flowers and write memoirs in front of Terminal 21 shopping mall after a shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on February 10, 2020. Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters A motive was not immediately clear. Thai officialls initially said the attacker "went mad," and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha suggested his attack was an attempt to resolve an earlier dispute about selling a house, The New York Times reported. The Bangkok Post detailed some of the attacker's Facebook posts that provided commentary on the attack, including asking "Should I surrender?" Earlier posts reported by the Post also appeared to describe the gunman's intention to attack, reading: "Being rich from taking advantage of others, do they think they can use money in hell?" A Facebook spokesman said in a statement to Insider: "We are working around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this tragedy in Thailand." Read the original article on Insider Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast/ Photos Getty MANCHESTER, New Hampshire Donald Trump is dictating the terms of the 2020 Democratic primary. And if there was any doubt, it was dispelled within minutes during Friday nights debate. Appearing just days before the New Hampshire primary and after the disastrous Iowa caucuses, the seven White House aspirants spent a good chunk of their evening not debating each other but grappling with the muck that the president would throw at them. It started from the beginning with a simple question: Would Trump effectively weaponize the label of Democratic socialist against the party that its informal frontrunner, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), has so readily adopted. Why shouldn't Democrats be worried? Sanders was asked, to which he replied: Because Donald Trump lies all the time. But it only extended from there. Trumps acquittal during his Senate impeachment trial was an early topic. So too were his attacks on former Vice President Joe Bidens son, Hunter, over his business activities in Ukraine. Whoever is the nominee the president is going to make up lies about them, Biden stressed in response, his voice registering just a tinge of sorrow, as if acknowledging that the lies had, indeed, worked. At another juncture, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) admonished former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg for lacking the experience to take on the presidencya line shes used before but this time with Trumpian thematics. We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us, she stressed. For good measure, Buttigeig responded not by emphasizing the experience he had but by framing it as an effective contrast to what Trump might offer voters in the general electionfrom his Midwestern roots to his military service. If we want to beat this president we have to move on from the playbook we have relied upon in the past and unify this country around a new and better vision, he said. Every re-election contest is, to a large degree, a referendum on the incumbent in office. And 2020 is no different. But rarely is the discussion so plainly driven by fear about how that incumbent might act. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum spent 2012 debating who was more conservative, not if it was wise to make such a claim lest Barack Obama use it against them. Never was there a conversation about whether they should not run a candidate because his or her adult child may be used against them. Story continues But Trump has a unique ability to set the terms and conditions of the conversation. And the degree to which he has begun affecting the Democratic primary, just days before voters head to the polls on Tuesday, has become increasingly evident. On the trail from Iowa to New Hampshire, several voters told The Daily Beast that they were hesitant about voting for Biden, not because they didnt appreciate his candidacy but because they feared the damage that would be done to him by Trump. And back in Washington, D.C., there is a new prevailing fear among Democratic operativesmainly, that the party is depressing its own voters by focusing so intently and obsessively on Trump alone. As Buttigieg conceded at one point in the debate, there was a sense of exhaustion. That exhaustion has morphed into abject fear among top party operatives, who sense that the narrative of the election is quickly getting away. There is no doubt that Trump is a singular force and motivates a lot of people, said Guy Cecil, the head of the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, which has launched a multi-million dollar voter registration effort. But clearly that is not sufficient. And the exhaustion has manifested itself in a primary election that, at times, can feel a bit sleepy. There have been relatively few campaign events in the days since Iowaindeed, some candidates have completely left the trail. And while the candidates sparred with each other at various junctures on Fridaymost notably over who was most pure when it came to campaign financethe jabs were comically muted by historic standards. No one on stage piled on Biden when, during a question about the courts, he left out the role he played in Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination; no one pointed out that Buttigiegs campaign had made overt signals for super PAC help even as he decried super PACS. No one seemed inclined to express concerns about Hunter Bidens work in Ukraine. And when Sanders was presented with an op-ed written by a surrogate calling into question Bidens record on race, he decided to affirm his support for Biden, not his surrogate. Mortal Kombat this was not. It was barely Mario Kart. Instead, the candidates often found themselves debating the various nuances of the policies that they all agreed upon. They affirmed their support for appointing justices who would uphold abortion rights and they registered their fears about military entanglements abroad. At various junctures, they took on positions that would have seemed positively out-of-place during Democratic debates in cycles past: from decriminalizing the possession of certain drugs to proudly giving the proverbial middle finger to the gun lobby. I will not be intimidated by the NRA, said Sanders, in the process of defending his record on gun policy. What this means for the primary itself seems almost impossible to determine since no one seems to be able to determine how the primary is going at all. The debate was not without its stand out. Klobuchar, who has hovered on the cusp of the top tier for weeks, turned in a strong performance hitting the two frontrunners Sanders and Buttigieg without sustaining any jabs herself. I do not have the biggest name up on this stage, I don't have the biggest bank account, she said in her closing statement. I'm not a political newcomer with no record. But I have a record of fighting for people. Just four days from the New Hampshire primary, Sanders and Buttigieg, who have each enjoyed recent polling bumps in the state, came into the debate with targets on their backs. After each declaring victory in Iowas caucuses on Monday, the two leading contenders in the Granite State sought to extend that momentum to the stage. Biden, who finished a disappointing fourth, remarkably chose to start the debate by conceding that he would not win the primary in New Hampshire. And Warren, who has continued to lose significant ground in New Hampshire, was notably absent from much of the discourse happening in her neighboring state, until putting in some digs at Buttigeig at the end. The uncertainty of it all was underscored during a segment towards the end, when talk turned to a candidate who wasnt even on the stage: former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Hands on his lectern, Sanders could hardly conceal his disgust that all his work squeaking out a raw vote win in Iowa and positioning himself for victory in New Hampshire could be wiped out by a well placedand heavily fundedad campaign. I guess if youre worth $60 billion you have a slight advantage, the senator said about Bloomberg, who is skipping the first four contests. That is nonsense. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. A day before the Delhi Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena on Friday heaped praises on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his government's 'ideal' work in the last five years and said the Centre should have replicated the 'Delhi model' of development in other states Mumbai: A day before the Delhi Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena on Friday heaped praises on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his government's "ideal" work in the last five years, and said the Centre should have replicated the 'Delhi model' of development in other states. The Sena said Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah should have felicitated Kejriwal for fulfilling the promises in Delhi, but instead of doing that senior BJP leaders and ministers are raking up the 'Hindu vs Muslim' issue in a bid to win the elections. "PM Modi and Amit Shah are leaving no stone unturned in Delhi Assembly elections. They (BJP) could not come to power in Maharashtra and lost in Jharkhand. Therefore, the BJP wants to win Delhi and there is nothing wrong in it," the Sena said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "With the aim of winning the Delhi polls, 200 MPs from across the country, chief ministers of all the BJP-ruled states and the entire Union Cabinet are in the arena. Despite that Kejriwal has clearly emerged stronger than them," it said. There could be differences of opinion on Kejriwal's views and style of functioning, it said, adding, "But despite having limited power in hand and the hurdles created by the Centre, his government's work in the fields of healthcare, education, civic amenities is ideal." PM Modi and his cabinet should have replicated this 'Delhi model' in other states and utilised Kejriwal's vision across the country, the Sena said. "Instead, all efforts were being made to prove Kejriwal wrong. If anybody is doing good work in a state and even if that person does not follow your ideology, the country's leader should still praise him and implement his good work elsewhere. But there is no magnanimity left in politics now," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party added. "Children from poor families study in government-run schools in Delhi and such schools have turned ideal. The mohalla clinics there are doing good work. Water and electricity tariffs were either waived or halved. It means the promises that Kejriwal had given were fulfilled. "PM Modi or Amit Shah should felicitate Kejriwal for fulfilling the promises, but instead of doing that senior BJP leaders and ministers are raking up 'Hindu vs Muslim' issue in their bid to win the elections," the saffron party said. During the poll campaign, the BJP accused Kejriwal of being a 'terrorist', the Shiv Sena said, adding, "If they have proof, why don't they take action against him?" The party also lashed out at Modi for devoting his campaign speeches to the issues of Batla House and Article 370. "Modi said in his speech that those who ask for the proof of surgical strikes should be punished through voting. But if the voters in Delhi do not listen to him, then will he dub them as anti-nationals and dismiss the new government? The BJP should not lower the stature of the PM's position. The PM should exercise restraint," it said. "There is no presence of Congress in Delhi. The BJP is trying to make lotuses bloom in a dried-up lake...But Kejriwal is seeking votes on the basis of his performance in the last five years. This is a different experiment in the politics of the country, which should be welcomed," it said. Kejriwal has emerged as stronger than others. Delhi's voters are mature enough, so they don't need anybody's advice, the Shiv Sena concluded. PTI MR NP NP 02071148 NNNN WASHINGTON A leading Democrat in Congress says the partys future under Tom Perez is under scrutiny amid fallout from the Iowa caucuses and the winnowing of the presidential primary field to the exclusion of candidates of color. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat, stopped short of saying Perez must go as leader of the Democratic National Committee. Thats a decision for him, he said Friday. But the highest-ranking African American lawmaker in the House said during an interview with C-SPANs Newsmakers that Iowa shouldnt play such an outsize role as an early vote state and that debate rules left very raw feelings within the Congressional Black Caucus after the exit of black presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. There are some serious discussions taking place here on Capitol Hill as to what ought to happen at the DNC, Clyburn said. Iowa should be in the mix, but we shouldnt launch the entire campaign with such a small sampling with what the countrys all about. Perez didnt immediately comment on Clyburns remarks. Previously, the DNC chairman has defended the rules setting minimums for polling and the number of individual donors, noting that the party started at a low threshold in June and gradually raised the requirements over time. All 20 slots were filled in the first two debates, and two stages were required for much of the fall. Perez argued throughout that any candidate unable to meet the progressively higher marks wasnt likely to defeat President Trump in November. Some party officials also have noted that minority voters are still represented on the stage via their support for candidates like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden. The two white men have consistently drawn strong support among nonwhite voters, according to most polls of Democratic voters nationally. Clyburn, who fought for years to push South Carolina onto the early primary calendar, signaled he may make his own endorsement ahead of the Feb. 29 primary. Close with Biden, Clyburn is worried about the impact that Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, would have on down-ballot races for Congress as a presidential nominee, particularly in more conservative areas. Clyburn also suggested that Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg, a former mayor in Indiana, still faces significant challenges with South Carolinas black voters, who make up a sizable section of the primary electorate in the Palmetto state. Lisa Mascaro is an Associated Press writer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 04:51:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the 5th World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/JINI via Xinhua) France's Macron said he wanted to open a "strategic dialogue" with willing European partners about the role of French nuclear deterrence policy in continental security. PARIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said European Union (EU) member states "cannot remain spectators" in face of growing global threats, calling on them to reinforce the bloc's strategic autonomy and defense budget. "Let's be clear, the vital interests of France now have a European dimension," Macron said while addressing the future elites of French armed forces at Ecole de Guerre in Paris. In this context, he offered to open a "strategic dialogue" with willing European partners about the role of French nuclear deterrence policy in continental security. France "will mobilize the most concerned European partners, in order to define the basis of a common international strategy that can be proposed where Europe is active," he said. "Our independence in terms of decision-making is fully compatible with an unshakable solidarity with our European partners," Macron said, stressing the necessity of "a greater capacity for autonomous action by Europeans" and a boost in military spending. As Delhiites participated in the "festival of democracy" on Saturday, some of the citizens had to return with a heavy heart as they found their names missing from the voters list. At Shaheen Bagh, epicentre of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in the national capital, some voters complained about deletion of their names from the voters list. "A few voters could not cast their votes in Shaheen Bagh under the Okhla constituency as their names were either found deleted or incorrect in the voters list," said a poll staff on duty. In Seelampur constituency, a voter Waqil Malik, claimed that his mother Zarina (62) could not vote since her name was missing in the voters list. "My mother's name was there in the list during the last Lok Sabha polls. I have no idea why her name was deleted. She was eager to vote this time," Malik rued. Asma Rehman, ex-councilor and wife of AAP candidate from Seelampur Abdul Rehman, alleged that names of many voters were missing from the voters list this time. She also claimed that voters' slips were not properly distributed in some areas, including Chauhan Bangar and Jafarabad Gali Number 26. In Krishna Nagar constituency, a 34-year-old resident of Khureji Khas, Fallahuddin Falahi, also claimed that he could not trace his name in the electoral roll. "I have a voter ID card. I had voted in the Lok Sabha elections and the last Delhi elections. This is the first time I could not vote," he said. Meanwhile, a few voters complained of sluggish pace of voting. "I had come to vote along with my father and brother, but I was denied entry into the polling booth as my name could not be traced in the voters list," said 25-year-old student Rashid outside a polling station in Matia Mahal Assembly constituency. Ahead of the assembly polls, the Delhi CEO office had appealed to voters to get their names checked and verified from the electoral roll. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An endangered gray wold that wandered more than 8,000 miles through Oregon, California and Nevada was found dead on Wednesday. OR-54 - a female dispersion wolf believed to be approximately 3 or 4 years old - was found in Shasta County, according to a release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. No cause of death has been released by the state wildlife agency and state officials are investigating the case as gray wolves are protected by both the Federal Engendered Species Act and the California Endangered Species Act. Killing a wolf is punishable by time behind bars. OR-54 was born into the Rouge Pack in Oregon most likely in 2016 and was a cub of OR-7, the first wolf to return to California in over a century. The wolf is pictured in the summer of 2018, a year after being collared in southern Oregan OR-54 was spotted on a private trail camera in January. She weighed just 83lbs by the time she was collard by DFW biologists in October 2017 'This is a tragic development for the early stages of wolf recovery in California,' Amaroq Weiss, a West Coast wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a release. 'Like her dad, the famous wolf OR-7 who came to California years ago, OR-54 was a beacon of hope who showed that wolves can return and flourish here. Her death is devastating, no matter the cause.' Weiss later added: 'We hope OR-54 died a natural death and wasn't killed illegally. The return of wolves is a major environmental milestone in our state, and the vast majority of Californians want to see wolves recovered here.' OR-54 was born into the Rouge Pack in Oregon most likely in 2016 and was a cub of OR-7, the first wolf to return to California in over a century, the CDFW states. She was the fourth wolf from the pack to spend time in California. No cause of death has been released from the state wildlife agency and state officials are investigating the case OR-54 is known to have traveled more than 8,712 miles since she first entered California She weighed just 83lbs by the time she was collard by O(Oregon)DFW biologists in October 2017. On January 24, 2018, OR-54 crossed the state line and into eastern Siskiyou County in California. While she spent a majority of her time in California, OR-54 did make two return trips to Oregon. 'She covered more than 7,646 miles after leaving the Rogue Pack,' the CDFW release states. 'OR-54 traveled widely in northeastern California, through portions of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama counties.' OR-54 is known to have traveled more than 8,712 miles since she first entered California two years ago. OR-54 is said to have crossed into the south side of Interstate 80 in late September 2019, spending some time going back and forth between California and Nevada. The CDFW say that OR-54's travels represent the 'southernmost known wolf locations in the state since wolves returned in 2011.' According to the Center for Biological Diversity, a wolf was illegally killed in Northern California. There are believed to be approximately a dozen wolves living in California, with most coming from the Lessen pack while others are lone wolves. The Lassen pack was confirmed in 2017 and frequents the Lassen and Plumas counties. Each year Australians spend about $17.4 million on imported roses to give their sweethearts on Valentine's Day. As the annual celebration of love roles around, and the flower growing industry reels from the twin blows of drought and fire, consumers are being urged to buy farmed wildflowers or other locally-grown blooms. Wildflower farmer Craig Scott is one of the growers providing native blooms for Valentine's day to help support a drought and fire-hit industry. Credit:Kate Geraghty Craig Scott, a grower from New South Wales' central coast and a fourth generation flower farmer, specialises in Australian native wildflowers and is urging buyers to ask their florist which flowers to buy to support the Australian industry. Mr Scott, who also sells flowers grown in WA and Victoria, says some farmers in dry areas are having to buy water to keep plants in greenhouses alive, others lost crops and infrastructure in the recent bushfires. He advises romantics who also want to make sure there is locally-grown stock available on February 14 to "call the florist ahead of time." Best Blue Light Glasses Its Time to Invest in a Pair of Blue Light Blockers The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Product photos from retailer sites. Blue light blocking glasses matter because we all need better sleep, says Connecticut-based behavioral optometrist Dr. Juanita Collier. The infamous blue light from countless hours spent in front of a smartphone, computer screen, tv, etc. suppresses the production of melatonin - the main hormone that promotes and regulates sleep. She notes that blue lights damage can extend well beyond sleeping issues. Prolonged screen time can exacerbate eye teaming difficulties (how the eyes work together), depth perception issues, and cause dry eye. Studies also show blue light increases tumor growth, while melatonin can decrease tumor growth. RELATED: Sunglasses for Men Its easy to see why a pair of blue light-blocking glasses is so important. Collier advises to check an individual pairs specs to ensure they block the main light wavelengths where blue exists (450-490nm) and that expensive doesnt always mean better. With all of that in mind, check out our guide to 9 of the best blue-light blocking glasses along with two screen protectors for your favorite electronic devices. Best Two-Tone Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Barner Kreuzberg Man Of course fashion matters when it comes to eyewear and the two-tone look is always in style. This pair from B Corp-certified Barner comes in a handsome tortoise-style frame with top -quality CR39 lenses that block 40% of the blue light on the 430-450nm spectrum and 100% of the blue light at 410nm. Promising Review: Everything was easy, even down the the adding in the prescription information. Glasses were earlier than they said they would be. I really love the glasses, they are so light on my head, in comparison I think the last glasses I had were made of iron. Glasses on and off I can really notice the difference with the blue light. - Russell $123 at BarnerBrand.com Best High-End Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Krewe Jasper Krewe maintains a high standard with hand inspections of every component and two different frame composites that are plant-based and better for the environment. The Jasper style is a classic unisex cut with a keyhole nose bridge and rounded rectangular shape. $345 at Krewe.com Best Classic Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Pixel Oryc Instead of having the blue light blocking coating on the exterior, the material is embedded inside the lens itself. Pixel claims that this method filters 505 of harmful blue light and up to 95% at the strongest wavelengths without the need for a yellow tint that weve all seen on industrial eyewear. The Oryc cut is a classic style at home at the office or the home office. Promising Review: I received them a few days ago and they have work just wonderfully. I am a computer science student and i work in an office setting staring at screens all day. I wake up with no eye strain, its a great feeling, I don't feel as groggy. The frame of these are also nice, i have received a few compliments so far. Great product, ill be sporting these quite a lot. - Samuel $75 at Amazon.com Best Basic Blue Light-Blocking Glasses BluTech United Temple If youre not one to stray from an old-school glasses style, the United Temple likely fits the bill. The basic structure certainly hearkens back to the late 80s and 90s except this style is modernized with blue light protection. Its sensible eyewear at a sensible price point. $59.95 at DiscountGlasses.com Best Budget Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Zenni Blokz We like the fade look of these particular brown frames - and we like the price even better. Solid protection is promised for under $30 with 400nm to 415nm protection and reduction of transmission up to 455nm. Theyd make for a great starter pair for a child. Promising Review: Lightweight, comfortable, and barely ANY tint. I teach special education at a middle school in a setting III program, which basically means I spend a lot of time in front of a screen doing paperwork and teaching curriculum with an Internet-based book. I hate turning on our lights bc the fluorescent lights make my eyes hurt. I was getting daily headaches by noon, and those have completely gone away within two days of wearing them! Could be a placebo, but I really don't care. Pleased with the style and how it accents my look! - Rachel From $26.90 at Amazon.com Best Large Frame Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Andwood Large Frame Blue Light Blocker If youre looking to test the waters before committing to something more expensive, this sub-$20 pair from Andwood has a 4.5-star rating and plenty to like in a simple design. This style may not provide the same level of protection as our more expensive options, but its a good starting point to notice the value of protecting your eyes. Promising Review: Great find - I did not even know about these blue light glasses and we ordered them for my son who gets migraines. Well he has been online all semester taking 17 credits - that is a lot of screen time! He loves these glasses and swears they work well! No more headaches. - DontSayCant $13.98 at Amazon.com Best Value Pack Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Tanlys Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Who doesnt love a good value pack? If youre prone to losing glasses, you can get two pairs for the price of less than one and they come with lightweight TR90 lenses. Even better, the company stands behind their product with a 10-year warranty. Promising Review: For the money, I was surprised about the quality when it arrived. These do not feel like the cheap reading glasses you get from the dollar store. There is more to the frame and it comes in a hard case with a cleaning cloth and blue light test kit. I wish there were simple instructions to tell how to use the blue light. My first immediate observation about using this product is usually I only get 4-5 hours of sleep at night. For the past four nights of wearing the glasses, I've been sleeping 7-8 hours. That hasn't happened for years. - Lori $19.95 at Amazon.com Best Trendy Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Zak The Round I Glasses These glasses are certainly of a traditional, philosophical approach with enough subtle variation to be different, but still on-trend. Lens options also include those with sun protection, so if you fall in love with the style, you can take it everywhere. $100 at ZakEyes.com Best Variety Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Quay Australia Jezabell Glasses Quays Jezabell style is one of many nice diversions from standard frame styles that the brand offers. Whether youre into square, cat-eye, aviator or otherwise, there will certainly be something that fits the bill. All of that style comes at a decent price point, too. Promising Review: Ordered these on a whim and omg I love them! I do not need glasses, but I spend a lot of time working on my computer/iPad, so I wanted a nice blue-light pair to wear. These have exceeded my expectations and I am really happy with them. - Anonymous $65 at QuayAustralia.com Best Blue Light-Blocking Computer Screen Protector Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Filter If you want to take an additional step (or dont want to commit to eyewear), you can opt for a screen protector that minimizes blue light while also offering privacy from prying eyes. Although this screen protector does filter, it doesnt take away other colors that would impact the quality of what youre viewing. Promising Review: This product has made such a difference in my life! I have service connected migraines. I am also a student which means I need to be on the computer for extended periods of time and almost daily. This screen protector provided instant relief right after I attached it. I cant express how pleased and grateful I am. (I am going to get one for my phone next.) - Mary S. $79.99 at Amazon.com Best Blue Light-Blocking iPhone Screen Protector EyeJust Screen Protector Dont think you can get away without a cover for your smartphone. This option from EyeJust is not only smudge- and fingerprint-proof, its also protects from impact and is anti-bacterial. Its a lot of technology packed into a thin sheet that could save much more than your eyes. Promising Review: "I have age-related macular degeneration with chronic dry eyes. My eyes would burn so bad from looking at my phone screen for more than 20-30mins. I can look at my cell for hours now; it causes me no pain at all. This EyeJust Bluelight Blocking Screen protector is truly the best thing ever!!!! - Teresa From $30 at EyeJust.com Collier says that blue light is actually beneficial in the morning to help the body wake up naturally, so dont fret about looking at your phone to start the day. However, your circadian rhythm is crucial to your overall health, so limit or take out blue light completely after sunset or at least two hours before bed. You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. SOUDERTON Plans for new playgrounds in Souderton Community Park have been completed, Borough Manager Mike Coll told Souderton Borough Council at its Jan. 3 meeting. "Where the former softball field was is where we are looking to install two playgrounds a playground for smaller toddlers in an age group up to five and a larger playground structure for... India and Sri Lanka on Saturday agreed to furthering cooperation with each other in combating terrorism in South Asia. During a visit of the recently elected Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Terrorism is a major danger in our region. We both countries have fought this problem firmly. There were painful and barbaric terror attacks on Easter in Sri Lanka in April last year. These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. Today, we discussed furthering our cooperation against terrorism." Prime Minister Modi also revealed that Sri Lankan police officers have started participating in anti-terrorism courses in India's training institutes. "We are also committed to further strengthening the contacts and cooperation between the agencies of the two countries," he said. Monetary support and the relief material is a testimony of strong US leadership, says Pompeo US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Saturday announced that the United States will provide additional support of USD 100 million to help China fight the Coronavirus outbreak. He also said that the monetary support and the relief material is a testimony of strong US leadership. "Proud to announce an additional USD 100 million of existing funds to support China in combating the coronavirus. This commitment - along with hundreds of millions generously donated - demonstrates strong US leadership in response to the outbreak. Together we can have a profound impact," tweeted Michael Pompeo. In an earlier tweet, the state Secretary had said that their government along with several US organisation have coordinated to transport relief material to China. "We have coordinated with US organizations to transport more humanitarian relief to people in Wuhan. Personal protective equipment and other medical supplies donated by these organizations can help save lives in China and help protect people from the coronavirus," Pompeo said. The deadly virus has so far killed 638 around the world with over 31,000 cases reported in mainland China alone. The virus was diagnosed first in December in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and has spread to most parts of the world. As a precautionary measure several countries, including the US, Australia, and Singapore have temporarily shut their doors to non-citizens who have recently travelled to China. Moreover, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency in the wake of the outbreak. Trump regime unveiled the long-delayed US-Israeli plan to legalize occupation of Palestine By ICH & Agencies Abbas: Trump is a dog and the son of a dog, I won't become a traitor. - Continue ==== Killing Free Speech in U.S. By Philip Giraldi No group in the U.S. has labored so hard as the friends of Israel to destroy the First Amendment to the Constitution. - Continue ==== Why the New Silk Roads are a threat to US bloc By Pepe Escobar The Middle East is the key to wide-ranging, economic, interlinked integration, and peace. - Continue ==== Fact or fiction? Murderer of Soleimani Killed in US Plane Downing in Afghanistan; Report By IFP Editorial Staff Russian intelligence sources have confirmed that the head of US intelligence operations against Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, has been killed. - Continue ==== The Air War In Afghanistan Expands On Both Sides By Moon Of Alabama The Taliban can hit back at helicopters and planes and, they now have found effective means to do so. . - Continue ==== ==== MIDDLE EAST Iraq protests: 2 killed, dozens wounded At Least 5 Rockets Hit U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Propaganda alert: Pompeo expresses outrage over Iran's targeting of U.S. facilities in Iraq US stops all weapon deliveries to Iraq, citing security concerns Air Force spokesman Jihadist defenses collapse east Idlib as Syrian troops capture several towns Russia Ignores U.S. Demand to Stop 'Liberation of Syria's Idlib 15 killed in Yemen despite peace efforts Yemeni forces intercept, shoot down Saudi-led reconnaissance drone in Jizan The Silent War: How the U.S. Media Failed Yemen Iran's Zarif rebuffs Trump's call for direct talks as 'wishful thinking' Iran blasts EU for buckling to Trump & acting like 'strong man' against Tehran Scott Ritter : No, Iran Wont Have a Nuclear Bomb in a Matter of Months Trump unveils long-hyped Middle East plan which Palestinians have already rejected (WATCH) Hamas chief supports Abbas rejecting Trump plan Palestinians rally in Gaza in protest against U.S. Mideast plan Palestinians rage as Trump prepares to unveil Mideast plan Trumps Israel-Palestine peace plan: Read the full text World leaders react to Trump's Middle East plan Denouncing Trump Plan as 'Unacceptable,' Sanders Declares It Is Time to 'End the Israeli Occupation Rotten to the core: Indictment Against Netanyahu Officially Filed in Court After PM Withdraws Immunity Bid, Netanyahu indicted for corruption in three cases AFRICA 50 killed in militia clashes in Central Africa town Libya: Three children killed, others injured in artillery shelling by Haftar's forces on southern Tripoli UN Report: Chilling Details of Libya Migrant Center Strike Opinion: Save Electricity, Keep Your Corpses at Home: A Portrait of Life in Liberated Zimbabwe! ASIA 83 killed as US plane "crashes" in Afghanistan Taliban claim responsibility for downing US plane in Afghanistan Afghan troops clash with Taliban as they try to reach U.S. plane crash site U.S. military retrieves bodies but Afghan jet crash remains a mystery CIA chief behind Soleimanis assassination killed in downed plane in Afghanistan CIA chief 'who orchestrated assassination of General Soleimani was among those killed when US military plane crashed in Afghanistan', Iranian news agency claims US military source says there were NO CIA staff on Afghanistan jet 13 Killed in Taliban Assault on Afghan Police Base 11 Afghan police officers killed in Taliban 'insider' attack UN says six civilians killed in Afghanistan airstrike North Korea: Kim Jong-uns Aunt Appears Alive After Six Years of Media Saying He Killed Her China races against the clock to build virus hospitals EUROPE Watch: France; Macron's security forces clash violently with striking firefighters. French YellowVests protesters traveled from France to rally outside of Londons Belmarsh prison in solidarity with Julian Assange. Julian Assange and the Inhumanity of the British State: Unofficial Solitary Confinement as Torture Watch: The father of Julian Assange on European Human Rights legislation UK govt ignores US pressure, allows Huawei limited role in 5G networks following telecom supply review In all of the reporting of the Huawei story a couple of things are often ignored. Theres not one single UK 5G network but 4, and three of them are already rolling out with Huawei - here right at the heart of the city of London Revealed: How the Media Rigged the General Election : How the media joined together to rig the election in favour of Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party Opinion; Jonathan Cook: The Holocaust, the BBC and antisemitism smears Rabbis call for removal of church at Auschwitz; This (the church) in my mind is the greatest desecration of the history of the Holocaust, Weiss said. GLOBE Coronavirus: Japan and Germany confirm patients who caught disease did not visit China U.S. Air Force is using Uber-like technology to kill alleged enemies : The designers of the ride-sharing app Uber is helping build a new data-sharing network that the U.S. hopes will help service branches work together to detect and kill people. AMERICAS Socialist Presidential Candidate Luis Arce Arrives in Bolivia Luis Arce the MAS party candidate for President is presented with a subpoena upon his arrival to Bolivia Shame on you: Justin Trudeau: I commended Interim President @jguaido for the leadership hes shown in his efforts to return democracy to Venezuela & offered him our continued support The U.S. Waterboarded the Wrong Man 83 Times in 1 Month CIA's waterboarding torturers called himself "The Preacher" and shouted religious nonsense while performing executions Trump-Russia dossier was FABRICATION, colleague & spy expert revealed YEARS ago ; Nigel West, was hired to examine the dossier written by his friend Christopher Steele. He concluded it was rubbish. So why did it take almost three years for his story to come out? Former allies turn on Bolton as book roils Washington Guess Who Was In Charge Of Reviewing Bolton's Leaked Book At The NSC? : The identical twin brother of Democratic impeachment witness Alexander Vindman, Yevgeny Vindman 'Oh my God, Sanders can win': Democrats grapple with Bernie surge in Iowa To rig primary against Bernie, DNC chair Tom Perez nominates regime-change agents, Israel lobbyists, and Wall Street consultants Elizabeth Warrens Foreign Policy Team is Stacked with Pro-War Swamp Creatures Joe Biden Lied About His Record on Social Security Trump accused of jury tampering after allegedly threatening GOP senators not to vote against him ABC, CBS, NBC blacked out Trump defense lawyers presentation of Ukraine corruption related to Joe Biden Watch: CNN Calls Trump Supporters Stupid Illiterate Rednecks Opinion: Philip Giraldi; An Army for Hire: Trump Wants to Make Money by Renting Out American Soldiers Bought and paid for: Former top U.S. general Dunford joining Lockheed Martin's board How Our Defense Budget Became So Bloated : Defense spending is higher now than it was during the Korean or Vietnam conflicts and may soon be twice the Cold War average. About time: Detroit-area Bishop calls for Catholics to refuse to participate in US wars Rudy Giuliani's son makes $95,000 working as sports liaison for the White House Emma Corrin once again slipped into character as Princess Diana as she filmed scenes for season four of the Crown on Saturday afternoon. The actress, 24, portrayed the moment where the late Princess of Wales visited the Henry Street Settlement in New York during her official visit in February 1989. The centre's mission is to opens doors of opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs. Filming: Emma Corrin once again slipped into character as Princess Diana as she filmed scenes for season four of the Crown on Saturday afternoon In 1987, two years before Diana visited, Henry Street was designated the official provider of AIDS Mental Health Services for the Lower East Side by the Department of Mental Health. During filming, Manchester was transformed into the streets of the Big Apple as filming took place in the city centre, with the Metrolink being overhauled into the Subway. A Metro entrance, which would have previously featured routes around Manchester, was rebranded as 23 Street Station Subway which linked to Manhattan. New look: Manchester was transformed into the streets of the Big Apple as filming took place in the city centre, with the Metrolink being overhauled into the Subway Arrival: Emma was seen gazing out of the window as she arrived at the centre Similar style: Diana wore a similar look to Emma (left) during her New York trip (right) Emma herself was wearing a brightly patterned hounds tooth skirt suit, which consisted of a tailored jacket with green lapels and yellow and pink detailing. She teamed the garment with a pencil skirt and a pair of white slingbacks, while she kept warm by wearing padded black jacket in between shooting scenes. Emma was also sporting Diana's signature voluminous blow dried hair style, complete with a pair of statement stud earrings and light touches of make-up. Unlike Emma, Diana sported a purple and black suit with oversized buttons for the real life occasion which took place during a visit to the U.S. Glasses: Emma also added a pair of green-framed glasses to her ensemble Changing it up: Unlike Emma, Diana sported a purple and black suit with oversized buttons for the real life occasion which took place during a visit to the U.S Pensive: The star appeared apprehensive as she arrived in the back of a limo Set: Elsewhere, the streets were lined with tables of props New York vibes: An old fashioned bus could be seen with the words New York on the front Elsewhere, the streets were lined with tables of props and an old fashioned bus could be seen with the words New York on the front. In April 1987, Princess Diana shook hands with a gay man who was dying of AIDS. The People's Princess touched the unnamed man without wearing gloves, challenging the previously believed notion the disease could be passed via skin-to-skin contact. She was quoted as saying: 'HIV does not make people dangerous to know. Off-screen: Emma took direction from one of the producers on set Transformation: A selection of road signs were scattered over the pavement Vintage: A bus of the era was pictured parked at the side of the road 'You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it'. At the time, Princess Diana was opening the UK's first unit that exclusively cared for HIV/AIDS patients at London Middlesex Hospital. Princess Diana was famously the first member of the Royal Family to touch someone with AIDS. Shooting: Emma could be seen looking out of the car window on the back seat Real life: The Princess of Wales, flanked by two New York City police officers, tours the Henry Street Setlement, in the city's Lower Eastside today, escorted by director Verona Jetter Strolling around: A selection of cast members were seen dressed in outfits of the time Crowds: Fans lined the streets as they caught the moment on their phones It is unclear if this picture is the first time she made physical contact with an HIV-infected patient. The People's Princess would also regularly visit the Lighthouse, both with the media present and without. According to Dr Rosemary Gillespie, chief executive of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust: 'London Lighthouse offered residential and day care for men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS, and provided a refuge and respite to people marginalised and abandoned because of their diagnosis'. Princess Diana was a patron of the National AIDS Trust at the time of her death in 1997. For anyone who cringes at the concept of Indianised Japanese food (read: sushi served with dollops of mayo or a bowl of ramen dowsed with chilli flakes), meet the chef who is unwilling to localise for the sake of popularity. But you wouldnt expect the chef in question, Edwin Sta or chef Ed as hes popularly known, to localise his cuisine anyway. After all, he cooked for eight years at Nobu the worlds most popular Japanese restaurant chain. So across the sushi bar in Ukiyo at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, you could call for exotic sushi like the hamachi and pineapple salsa with yuzu soy. Inside story How did the 35-year-old chef become a specialist in modern Japanese cuisine? I started as a sushi chef, says chef Ed. Back in the day, it would take five years to start cooking sushi rice, so I was lucky, because I learnt it for just one year before progressing to the next step. Tofu, bok choy, asparagus and Japanese mushroom with wasabi pepper sauce He moved to India in August last year. After I left the London Nobu, I was head hunted by a third party in India. I had second thoughts about it because I had just watched a true life movie called Hotel Mumbai! says the chef breaking into peals of laughter. Of course, leading a culinary team in India was fraught with challenges. It was difficult to get them (the team of chefs) to understand the flavours and ingredients. I introduced them to a whole lot of new ingredients, like Toubanjan (broad bean chilli paste) and yuzu kosho (citrus chilli paste). Culinary punch Though chef Ed can be quite a martinet about the authenticity of his cuisine, he does not mind making tiny tweaks to suit the Indian palate. We have to, because I dont think the Indian market is ready for authentic Japanese yet. India is more into bold flavours. So for instance, I try to punch up the soy content or add a hint of chilly to miso. Miso is the mother sauce, he explains. Baked lamb dumpling with ginger soy He grew up in South Africa where, after finishing school he took up the culinary arts. Cooking was hardly in his blood: both his parents worked in the textile and garment industry. My dad trained in Japan as a mechanical engineer for sewing machines while my mom was into designing. But we are from a province in the Philippines that is well known for culinary skills. So at a young age, my brother and I were exposed to cooking. My dad would always add raw fish and use Japanese cooking techniques while experimenting with my moms cooking, and then incorporate it into Filipino food. Avocado and yuzu kosho tartare with sichimi rice crisp and crispy quinoa South Africa had no Japanese cooking school for chef Ed to train in. But when I was asked to choose a restaurant for apprenticeship, I was fortunate to start at small Japanese restaurants, says chef Ed. Bold and beautiful However, he says his former boss was his mentor and favourite chef. When I worked for Nobu, I really looked up to him due to his philosophy. Jiro (Ono, the Japanese chef who runs the sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo) also has my respect. Chef Ed opened Nobu kitchens in Cape Town, the Philippines and London before deciding to move to India. Today, his fried rice and stir-fried noodles are fast-movers on the menu at Ukiyo. Apart from that, our baby spinach salad and Robata do pretty well too, adds the chef. As for the Indian palate taking to the subtle flavours of Japanese cuisine, he says, I still think they are getting there. There are a few well-travelled guests that understand and are beginning to know the Japanese scene. He is hopeful that the bold flavours, crunch and gravy of his cuisine keeps the guests happy across the sushi counter! Follow @lubnasalim1234 on Twitter From HT Brunch, February 9, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Many people dream of buying their own island someday, a place where they can get away from it all, enjoy nature, and good fishing. If that has been your dream, then you don't need to go any farther than Rockport, Texas to make it come true. Traylor Island is an iconic landmark on the Texas coast, listed by Janae Evans with Evtex Companies. The uninhabited 383 acre property is on the coast of Rockport. "A portion of the island has been zoned as residential, but a number of conservation entities have expressed interest as well," said Evans. PRICED TO MOVE: Museum District estate sees $900K price cut Its sparkling shorelines are highly revered by anglers, hunters, birders, artists and tourists. This unspoiled tropical oasis serves as the northern border of the hallowed fishing grounds of Estes Flats, the classic setting for many coveted artistic renderings of world-class hunting and fishing scenes from the likes of Barnes, Booth, Dearman and Cowan. Its sprawling sand and shell shores also border Aransas Bay to the east, and the Intracoastal Waterway to the north and west. Generations of boaters and outdoors enthusiasts have formed their own special memories around the shores of this Texas treasure. According to CoastalBendFishing.com, "The east shoreline of Traylor Island faces Aransas Bay. It is a favorite for early morning trout and redfish feeding ambushing bait fish in the grass and potholes of the shoreline. Later in the day move out to 3 to 4 foot of water to catch trout schooling over deeper structure. The cuts leading back into Estes Flats and California Hole can be good ambush points for flounder as well." Stxmaps.com reports, "The shoreline on the Aransas Bay side of Traylor Island can be good for trout and redfish in the spring, summer and fall. It can also be good for flounder in the fall." If you would like to buy your own private fishing hole, the listing price is $ 24,980,000 . However, Evans said if you use the right kind of bait, you might be able to reel in a super deal. Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com Rightly or wrongly, some independent contractors in California are being told by clients that if they want to keep getting work, they must form a corporation or LLC, short for limited liability company. The reason given is AB5, the states ludicrously complex worker-classification law, which took effect Jan. 1. The law requires hiring entities to treat every California worker as an employee not an independent contractor unless the worker meets three requirements, known as the ABC test, or qualifies for one of numerous exemptions. Workers who qualify for an exemption must still must be treated as employees unless they pass an older, multifactor test known as Borello, which is less strict. Nothing in the law says you have to form an LLC or corporation to be treated as an independent contractor, said Stephen Fishman, a lawyer and author of Nolos Working for Yourself. It could help with the C part of the ABC test, which requires the worker to be engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business. But its not a cure-all, not a panacea. Its up to hiring entities to prove that a worker was not an employee. If they get it wrong, they could have to pay fines, taxes, back pay and/or expense reimbursement. Lee and Patti Baker are state-licensed independent insurance claims adjusters outside Sacramento. They are hired, by out-of-state staffing agencies, to handle claims for insurance companies, sometimes after a disaster strikes and they run out of adjusters. To comply with AB5, one of their clients said, they needed to set up an LLC. One required them to become employees, one knew nothing about it and the others said it didnt pertain to them, Lee Baker said. To satisfy the first client, they set up an LLC, but havent gotten any work from that company this year. Peter DaSilva / Special to The Chronicle Kristen Lopez is a Los Angeles freelance pop-culture writer who specializes in disability representation in film and TV. One of her clients, Forbes, notified her in late December that independent contractors who contribute more than 35 pieces a year must be an LLC or corporation. Another publication, Variety, told her that if I possess a business license they will allow me to go over 35. A third client, which operates a stable of online sites, said it would open up some full- and part-time employee positions, but gave no timeline or details. In the meantime, it is restricting freelancers to 35 pieces a year on all of their sites combined. Some have already passed the limit this year. Robert Strong has been working as a magician since age 12. Most of his work is for trade shows and corporate events. In late December, he filed paperwork to form an LLC after hearing other magicians, jugglers, clowns and comedians say that their clients would stop using California talent entirely or require them to form an LLC. Forming an LLC seemed to be the path of least resistance, Strong said. He found the process confusing, and is still not sure it will help him get business. TransPerfect, a New York company that provides translators to businesses, told its independent contractors in California last year that starting Jan. 1, to continue getting work, they must incorporate. Its not clear why some firms are requiring California contractors to form LLCs and corporations. I think its overly conservative, but they are worried about the repercussions and want more things to point to, said Oakland attorney Ramey Barnett. Or they could be confused. To pass the ABC test, an independent contractor must be: (A) free from control and direction of the hiring firm, (B) performing work outside the hiring entitys usual business, and (C) engaged in an independent business. The law exempts some professions from the ABC test, but they must still pass the Borello test to be classified as independent contractors. These include doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, engineers, architects, real estate agents, fishermen and a few others. There are other exemptions for other categories of workers, but they must pass Borello and satisfy a list of other factors, which varies by type of business. One exemption is for people who provide 11 types of professional services, such as travel agents, graphic designers, grant writers, fine artists and enrolled agents. This category also includes freelance writers, editors, newspaper cartoonists and photographers who provide no more than 35 submissions a year to that client. No other profession has such a limit. Lorena Gonzalez, who authored AB5, proposed abolishing that cap Thursday after a lawsuit challenged it. A wide range of independent contractors could qualify for whats known as the business-to-business exemption. It exempts bona fide businesses including sole proprietorships that provide a service directly to the hiring firm, not its clients, as long as they meet 11 other requirements and pass the Borello test. An example would be a developer who builds a website for a law firm, not the law firms clients, said Oakland attorney Heather Conger. Peter DaSilva / Special to The Chronicle Uber drivers wouldnt meet this exemption because they serve Ubers clients, not Uber. None of these exemptions, nor the ABC test itself, require the independent contractor to be a corporation or an LLC, although most require a business license. Having an LLC doesnt make you an independent contractor. You still have to fall under an exemption or meet the ABC test, Conger said. Independent contractors can do many things, short of forming an LLC, to establish themselves as a bona fide business. At a minimum, you should have a business license in the city or unincorporated county where you operate. Adopt a name other than your own for your business and file for a fictitious business name in your county. Open a business checking account and a separate credit card for your business and keep all transactions separate from your personal expenses. Further reading For information on AB5: bit.ly/cacontractorvsemployee For more on LLC taxes and fees: bit.ly/caftbllc For business forms, samples and fees: bit.ly/cabizforms See More Collapse Consider getting an employer identification number from the Internal Revenue Service and use it instead of your Social Security number along with your business name when you sign contracts. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs with no employees are not required to get one, but its free and could help protect you from identity theft, Fishman said. (Most other businesses must have one.) Have a separate office or business location. Set up a business website, advertise and have multiple clients. If a client still requires you to form a corporation or LLC, you may have no choice if you want to keep that client. For a business with one owner who has been operating as a sole proprietor, forming a single-member LLC is usually the simplest route. You must pick a business name thats not already in use, file Form LLC-1 (Articles of Organization) with the California secretary of states office and pay a $70 fee. Within 90 days of registration, and every two years thereafter, file Form LLC-12 (Statement of Information) and pay $20. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes You can file these forms yourself (online is quicker), hire an attorney or use one of many websites such as Nolo.com, LegalZoom, or ZenBusiness that walk you through it for a fee. The main drawback of forming an LLC in California is that you will owe an $800 state tax every year until you dissolve it. This fee is paid annually to the Franchise Tax Board with Form FTB 3522. Gov. Gavin Newsoms 2020-21 budget proposed waiving the $800 annual tax paid by LLCs, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships during their first year, but this has not been approved yet. If your gross revenue exceeds $250,000 a year, you will also owe an annual fee that starts at $900 for gross revenue from $250,000 to $500,000 and goes up from there. This fee is paid with Form FTB 3536. The $800 tax is deductible as a business expense for federal but not California income taxes. The gross receipts fee that starts at $900 is tax deductible for both, said San Francisco CPA Richard Pon. An LLC will provide some liability protection, but its not nearly as great as most people think, Fishman said. If your LLC signs a contract such as a loan or lease and later defaults on it, the other party can only pursue your business assets, not your personal assets, for the unpaid amount, as long as you didnt personally secure it. However, most companies wont lend money or rent to a small business unless the owner co-signs. That lets them go after the owners personal assets if the business fails. If you have employees, the LLC will generally limit your personal liability for anything your employees do, such as killing someone while driving a company car, Fishman said. However, it wont protect your personal assets from claims arising from personal injury, libel or malpractice caused by you, the owner, Barnett said. An LLC may not provide any protection at all if you used the entity to defraud someone, or if the entity was a sham, or if it was undercapitalized, said Chas Rampenthal, general counsel for LegalZoom. Thats why its important to do everything by the book and keep your business and personal finances separate. The best way to protect your assets is by purchasing business insurance. This could include general liability insurance, which covers claims arising from accidental bodily injury or property damage caused by you or an employee, said Geoff Herman, vice president of commercial with Riskguard Insurance Solutions Inc. A service business may also need professional liability insurance, which covers claims arising from mistakes you or your employees make. For doctors, its called malpractice insurance. For writers, lawyers, accountants and such, its called an errors and omissions policy. Your homeowners insurance will not cover business claims, although some companies may offer an endorsement on a home-based office, for certain uses, Herman said. You dont need to be an LLC or corporation to buy business insurance, he added. Bear in mind that an LLC is a legal entity, not a tax entity. For income tax purposes, a single-member LLC will be treated as a sole proprietorship, unless it opts to be taxed as a corporation. Its income and expenses are reported on Schedule C, attached to the owners Form 1040, and profits are taxed at the owners individual rate. If the single-member LLC opts to be treated as a corporation, different tax rules apply. There are some tax advantages to forming an S corporation, but its more complicated and costly. The tax savings may not outweigh the added costs, especially if your income is coming almost entirely from services you provide yourself, said Nathan Rigney, lead tax research analyst with H&R Block. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender Its that time of year again Valentine time when hearts are bursting out all over: big hearts, small hearts, pink hearts, red hearts, frilly hearts, silly hearts hearts, hearts, everywhere. February is definitely the month of the heart. Which brings me to the heart of the matter MY heart and my first ambulance ride! I awoke a few days ago with a tightness in my chest. A tightness in the chest (at my age) is a red flag, a flag redder than any heart emblazoned across Valentine cards across the country and across the globe. Indigestion I thought at first but when the tightness didnt depart I departed tout de suite for my GP and before you could say Cardiovascular Unit I was out in St Lukes doing time, ie waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting (what did I expect, says you?) Godot, I thought, would turn up sooner than a doctor! Between hopping and trotting and waiting and after several consultations with the friendliest, most accommodating, and most professional nurse, and a charming doctor (all the way from Columbia) I was consigned, so to speak, to bed. A ward bed. But not just like that to quote the late, great Tommy Cooper. It took a while, a long while. A long HSE while. Eventually a bed was found and I guess I was grateful not to be lying prostrate on a trolley! Lying in bed Im feeling a bit sorry for myself, not just because of the waiting, but because I may have had a heart attack and was off to Dublin in the morning for an angiogram (a sort of heart scan) in an ambulance! An ambulance to Dublin! That wasnt on my bucket list. After some scrambled eggs, tea and toast, from a lovely and friendly lady, I resigned myself to my fate. Indeed each and every one of the staff, nurses, doctors and tea-ladies, who visited me could not have been more attentive, not least Hilary who, on studying the name, Gerard Moran, over my bed, wondered if by any chance I was Gerry Moran from the Kilkenny People? I could not tell a lie and I wont tell you what Hilary said next because Im too modest! However, should we ever cross paths in a public house, as opposed to a public hospital Hilary, its not tea Ill be reciprocating with but a large G&T. The ambulance arrived at noon. I had no idea what to expect. Now I have travelled to Dublin by bus, by train, by automobile and, in my UCD student days, by thumb. But Im telling you here and now, and this is the Gods honest truth, this was the best journey ever to the capital. I swear. First off Brenagh and Robbie, the ambulance staff, could not have been friendlier and more professional. From the moment they strapped - thats right, strapped - me (necessary procedure even though I could have walked, run even to the ambulance really, Gerry?) to the stretcher (a gurney?) I felt in very safe hands. A bit embarrassing, however, being wheeled through the corridors of the hospital in public view hoping to Christ you dont see anyone you know. Jesus, is that Gerry Moran on that stretcher? Is he dead or alive? The journey kicked off with Brenaghs name which Id never heard of before. Brenagh from County Mayo, Coillte Mach to be precise, so called because her dad wanted an Irish version of the English Brenna. Was dad English? No. A Mayo man? No. Dad was German! As was her mother! Conundrum or what? And how did they end up in Mayo, in Coillte Mach of all places? A long, well a longish, story. And what was Brenaghs surname? Wait for it. Schrickleman! That initiated one engaging conversation about family, Hitler, religion, cooking (her dad was a chef) meditation and more, punctuated by regular pulse checking and blood pressure monitoring, all the way to Dublin. A bag of bulls eyes and it would have been the perfect day out! Time, quite simply, flew by. As Brenagh and Robbie, a Dub, and a first class driver who knew all the shortcuts in, and out, of Dublin, returned me to Lukes I told them that I wouldnt mind travelling with them again. Wed love to have you, Gerry, they said, but we dont want to see you again and you dont want to see us. And on that note we hugged, shook hands and said our goodbyes. Oh, and the best part of all the angiogram proved positive, my heart is okay (for now) and ready to celebrate another Valentines Day! By Express News Service Freya Allan, who plays Ciri in The Witcher, shared a picture of a sword from the sets of the series, leading to a lot of speculations. Freya, who plays Ciri, the princess of Cintra, took to Instagram to share a picture of a sword in the front seat of the car. Fans were early predicting that the upcoming episodes in the series will show Ciri training with Geralt. And, now, the picture has increased their suspicions. It is said that the actress along with Henry Cavill, who plays the titular character, is shooting for the portions of Ciri training in Kaer Morhen. In the first season, Ciri is chased by the Nilfgaardians, who captured Cintra. By the end of the last episode, she finds the witcher, Geralt Of Rivia (played by Henry Cavill) for protection. The show, which is based on the book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, has turned out to be a huge hit for Netflix. It is said that the show now holds the record of the best opening season of the streaming giant. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) The police said they booked a case and investigated and arrested the accused on Friday under various provisions including under the information technology Act. Hyderabad: One Edagottu Laxmikanth, who was stalking and harassing the woman CEO of a company where he worked previously was arrested by Cyber Crime Police of CCS, detective department, Hyderabad. According to the police Laxmikanth worked with the Company as a womens garment designer. He used to draw up designs for sarees and send them to the company CEOs mail id. He quit the company in June last year and was doing freelance work online. Police said Laxmikanth started sending extremely vulgar, abusive, and sexually harassing emails from a fake mail id to the CEO. She then approached the cyber crime police. The police said they booked a case and investigated and arrested the accused on Friday under various provisions including under the information technology Act. He has been remanded. Luxtram offers financial compensation to traders affected by the tram site. As was explained to business owners at a meeting on Thursday, the company will cover 50% of the losses recorded during the tram construction period. The president of Luxtram specified that local traders can apply for financial compensation once a year. In other words, if local business owners noted a loss in 2019, they can send their balance sheet to a chartered accountant. They are then, in theory, reimbursed in five to six weeks. Traders acknowledged that the compensation provided financial relief but nevertheless stressed that it was not enough. Some businesses lost 40 to 80% of their usual turnover, LSAP MP Gabriel Boisante said. RTL-Archiv He also hoped the whole process would not lead to bankruptcy before the construction had even finished - a dramatic, yet probable end. The traders therefore asked that more work teams be employed in order to allow the tram works to progress more quickly. They did however also not that they were delighted by the presence of workers during collective holidays. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET Place: Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH Hosts: ABC and WMUR Moderators: George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Linsey Davis (ABC), and Adam Sexton and Monica Hernandez (WMUR). Candidate Line-up: Joe Biden (Former Vice President ) Pete Buttigieg (Former Mayor South Bend, Indiana) Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota Senator) Bernie Sanders (Vermont Senator) Tom Steyer (Squillionaire) Andrew Yang (Entrepreneur) Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts Senator) Podium order: How to Watch (or Listen): The debate will air live nationally on the ABC Television Network and locally on WMUR-TV. ABC News will livestream the debate on ABC News Live featured on Apple News, Roku, Hulu, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and the ABC News site and mobile phone apps. WMUR-TV will also livestream the debate on www.WMUR.com and WMURs mobile app. Im sure readers will have their own suggestions. * * * I dont think theres any point trying to game the debate out (although the placement of Sanders next to Buttigieg, presumably decided before Iowa, is interesting). So I think Ill take this space for some musings on two topics that I could not get to in Water Cooler. First, election reform; and second, party politics generally. On election reform, I hate this debate format with the fire of a million suns. And after Iowa, its clear that the entire ballot supply chain of our electoral process needs to be blown away. So I thought I would hoist this comment of mine, slightly modified: I like the idea of a campaign trail, because it tests the candidates stamina and ability. But weve had a year of this thing and weve only had their first vote? Something like: 1) 90 days for the campaign 2) Regional block voting 3) Publicly funded (private funding 100% excluded) 4) Only print advertising (yeah, subsidy for local newspapers. And?) 5) No polls published in the last 30 days 6) League of Women Voters sponsors and moderates debates. 7) Hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, with uniform national standard for ballot design and counting process Does that cover everything? Now, this is very much a you start coding and Ill go find out what the requirements are-style of thing; I didnt from first principles, but from an attempt to eliminate all the niches in which power players and bad actors live and feed. So these ideas may not be thought through. How about the more worldly-wise among our readership try to figure out how the political class would game this? Ive also been meaning to get to this article, tossed over the transom by alert reader CC about political scientist Rachel Bitecofers theory of parties: An Unsettling New Theory: There Is No Swing Voter. An extract: [T]oday her model tells her the Democrats are a near lock for the presidency in 2020, and are likely to gain House seats and have a decent shot at retaking the Senate. If shes right, we are now in a post-economy, post-incumbency, post record-while-in-office era of politics. Bitecofers theory, when you boil it down, is that modern American elections are rarely shaped by voters changing their minds, but rather by shifts in who decides to vote in the first place. To her critics, shes an extreme apostle of the old saw that turnout explains everything, taking a long victory lap after getting lucky one time. She sees things slightly differently: That the last few elections show that American politics really has changed, and other experts have been slow to process what it means. If shes right, it wouldnt just blow up the conventional wisdom; it would mean that much of the lucrative cottage industry of political expertsthe consultants and pollsters and (ahem) the reportersis superfluous, an army of bit players with little influence over the outcome. Actually, worse than superfluous: That whole industry of experts is generally wrong. Bitecofers view of the electorate is driven, in part, by a new way to think about why Americans vote the way they do. She counts as an intellectual mentor Alan Abramowitz, a professor of political science at Emory University who popularized the concept of negative partisanship, the idea that voters are more motivated to defeat the other side than by any particular policy goals. In a piece explaining his work in POLITICO Magazine, Abramowitz wrote: Over the past few decades, American politics has become like a bitter sports rivalry, in which the parties hang together mainly out of sheer hatred of the other team, rather than a shared sense of purpose. Republicans might not love the president, but they absolutely loathe his Democratic adversaries. And its also true of Democrats, who might be consumed by their internal feuds over foreign policy and the proper role of government were it not for Trump. Bitecofer took this insight and mapped it across the country. As she sees it, it isnt quite right to refer to a Democratic or Republican base. Rather, there are Democratic and Republican coalitions, the first made of people of color, college-educated whites and people in metropolitan areas; the second, mostly noncollege whites, with a smattering of religious-minded voters, financiers and people in business, largely in rural and exurban counties. Im not quite sure what to think about this. Intuitively, the bitter sports rivalry makes sense; I and many others have been complaining since at least 2003 about politics having been reduced to what jersey you wear. At the 30,000-foot level, it would seem that the best way forward for the country would be to outlaw political parties entirely after Iowa, under RICO? and figure out some other way to populate government offices, since parties have become wholly destructive to policy making. (One cannot, for example, using Bitecofers model as described here, give an account of the destruction of the Whigs, the rise of the Republicans, and the role of Abolitionists with a party as sports team model.) Since parties have as much justification to exist as a professional sports team does, but serve the wholly negative function of brain-damaging voters (see RussiaGate, or Birtherism ironically started by the same political faction), why not take away their franchises? Somewhat closer to the ground, one notices that Bitecofers model doesnt consider class, and so doesnt consider the majority of the population who, not being able to purchase either tickets into the stadium or Pay-per-View, dont root for any team. That majority is disproportionately drawn from the multiracial working class. The Sanders campaign only won the popular vote in Iowa because they focused on the satellite caucuses the famous Ottumwa meatpackers which were, too, disproportionately working class, because they, unlike the main caucuses, allowed people who couldnt make the 7:00pm caucus to attend (no child-care, the night-shift, etc). One can only wonder why the Sanders campaign was the only campaign to focus on them. Perhaps their theory of change, which demands that the electorate be expanded from the working class? I dont see how Bitecofers theory gives an account of how the electorate is to be expanded, how the Sanders campaign is trying to do that, or perhaps most important to her why the party establishments are so obviously unwilling to do so. Dont they want more fans? NOTE To be fair, Bitecofer seems to have been effective at predicting results with her model, and good for her. * * * As usual, this post does not update; readers may track the debate in real time in comments. Please keep your comments as informative and analytical as possible. There are no points at NC for context-free one-liners (Boo ____! or Oh!) that only those who are also watching can make sense of; thats for Facebook or Reddit. I think it adds more value if you take a moment, use your critical thinking skills, then comment, and readers can discuss what you say. That way, those who cannot watch the debate or cant stand to do so can get a good idea of what really happened by reading what you write. This is what the NC commentariat is so very good at, after all. Last time, the times before that, and this time. Thank you! A missing machine or an untraceable staff member is among the worst possible scenarios for Basant, a staff supervisor at a 11-acre hospital facility in the city. He says that monitoring the whereabouts of nurses and machines is, however, getting simpler through an indoor tracking system on his mobile phone. In a facility where he supervises 130 nurses at the in-patient department, besides being in charge of several ultrasound and X-ray machines, which receives at least 800 patients every day, keeping a track of clinicians, staff and assets, and monitoring the whereabouts of workers and medical equipment is a complicated task, says Basant. The use of newer technologies in this aspect is revolutionising the healthcare domain, with an indoor tracking system in the hospital being one such technology that helps Basant do his job. Through a general duty assistant tracking system on his smart phone, he can track caregivers, assign tasks for patient care, locate medical machinery and notify the staff if they are exposed to high levels of radiation. In an industry where the slightest inefficiency can lead to loss of lives, technology, such as the real-time location system, is increasingly being adopted by hospitals in the western countries, said industry experts. Recently, in Gurugram, a global medical hub, newer technologies and data processing algorithms are changing how hospitals have traditionally functioned not as brick and mortar structures, but heath systems beyond walls and in their smart phones. Multi-speciality hospitals are setting up programmes that monitor patients 24/7 at their homes. They are also making use of artificial intelligence and algorithms to intervene before a medical condition turns severe. A 2018 study by GII states that the realtime location system market in healthcare is expected to reach $3,442.2 million by 2023. Experts in healthcare technology are of the opinion that hospitals in Gurugram have been early adopters of technology, and have been carrying out pilots the last two to three years. Hospital representatives said the innovations here stem from the resources and investments in technology, and a large footfall of patients that Gurugram receives. The city, being a hub of start-ups, gives more scope for innovations to be adopted, said Dr Ritu Garg, head of Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Sector 44, which rolled out the assistant tracking system in December 2019. It is also being tested to track and monitor patients, according to the hospital staff. Wearable, smart monitoring devices Newer healthcare technologies are aimed at engaging people and equipping them to monitor themselves, according to experts in the field. Hospitals in the city have adopted devices that constantly measure vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc. A 36-year-old Gurugram resident, diagnosed with diabetes recently, has been relying on an app connected to a bluetooth sensor in the arm to monitor glucose levels. Manually tracking fluctuating glucose levels and figuring the next dose of medication was initially an intimidating experience, he said. The app displays glucose levels an informs the user when there is a deviation or a fluctuation. Data can also be retrieved and converted into a document, he said. With advancements in technology, miniaturisation of devices is also taking place rapidly, according to industry experts. An app-based, wireless holter has helped a 45-year-old patient having arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) record electrocardiogram (ECG) levels for longer periods, as compared to conventional holters that are bulky and uncomfortable to wear. The device has embedded electrodes with the capability to transmit ECG data wirelessly. At the Centre of Diabetes and Allied Sciences in Sector 47, a rapid rescue app, through which and patients can monitor the above metrics and other signs, such as body temperature and movements, is currently being tested and is set to be launched in a month, said hospital staff. Streamlining, reducing patient visits Gurugram is a preferred destination for patients from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan and Russia, according to healthcare executives. After treatment is complete, online sessions with doctors from thousands of kilometres away are routine for the patients from these countries. Healthcare experts say it is only a short time before all patients have realtime audiovisual availability, keeping with appropriate professional standards. Hospitals here are pushing for a reduction in patient visits. Clinical records are being presented to patients online, in an easy-to-understand format, which they can download and view remotely. At Medanta -The Medicity in Sector 38, where millions of patients visit and double the number of diagnostic tests are done every year, an electronic medical record system gives patients access to reports, prescriptions, and discharge summaries at any location. The record system has been in use for three years now. Reports have colour-coded visuals for easy understanding. People across the globe are now accustomed to getting information whenever and wherever they want. They expect the same quick response to their healthcare questions, a healthcare expert said. The hospitals mobile telemedicine platform lets patients search for the possible ailment, treatment procedures, the suitable doctor and book appointments online. Artificial intelligence in healthcare The healthcare industry has a need to store enormous amounts of medical data, in multiple formats (images, audio, tests, visuals), which have laid the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being used saving lives in several hospitals across the country particularly in the field of diagnostics due to the huge repository of data available. It is only a matter of time that predictive care brings down the rate of heart failures and diabetes by suggesting preventative measures before the condition worsens, say experts. The use of AI to detect referable diabetic retinopathy damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue as a result of diabetes is being done, on a pilot basis, at Fortis Hospital for three months now. India is home to over 72 million diabetic patients, with an estimated diabetic retinopathy prevalence of 18%, according to a 2005 study published in the Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science journal. Dr Anita Sethi, an ophthalmologist at Fortis Hospital, said a majority of clinics across the country are not equipped to detect diabetic retinopathy and many cases go undetected. Considering the increasing number of people with diabetes and a shortage of retinal specialists in the field, an automated approach using AI for diabetic retinopathy screening has gained traction in the healthcare industry, according to experts. Patients tested for diabetes are also screened for diabetic retinopathy and images of the retina are uploaded to the AI platform for evaluation, based on past data. A report is generated, based on the risk levels of developing retinopathy, said Sethi, adding that the technology has helped screen 64 patients so far. The technology will be highly useful at smaller health centres, where there are no eye specialists. However, the technology isnt always accurate and needs to pick up more findings, said Sethi. At Max Hospital in Saket of Delhi, an AI-enabled X-ray machine alerts the radiographer in cases of suspected pneumothorax, a life threatening disease in which air from the lungs escapes into the pleural cavity, having a potential of collapsing the lung and resulting in acute respiratory failure. Experts said this is important as cases, where the pneumothorax is small or at an early stage, often go undetected. AI is also being tested to predict hospital bills before admissions, based on relevant parameters such as the patients medical condition and medical practices. It is difficult to give bill estimates in hospitals as one cant account for factors such as disease aggravation, unplanned surgeries and unexpected complications. The AI generates estimates based on parameters, such as existing co-morbidities, age of the patient and previous admissions, among others, said Dr Ritu Garg, zonal head, Fortis Hospital, adding that the system needs more learning, as per the trials. The future While AI and other technology are more or less at an early stage in these hospitals, the potential of this technology could help with major breakthroughs in healthcare, said experts. Garg said that AI will expand into other medical departments and hospitals are leading the way. Dr Raghuram Janapareddy, an expert in healthcare innovation, working with National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), gives it five years. By 2025, AI has the potential to be used to capture data faster and make medical procedures more efficient. It will play the role of a doctors personal assistant and provide information to them anywhere. It can suggest the right medication and alternative therapies for patients, he said. Janapareddy said that however, in the long term, AI will not make the role of a medical experts obsolete. The demand and supply gap in healthcare is huge, and as the population grows and new viruses are discovered, doctors will stay relevant, he said. However, policy changes have to be made in telemedicine, experts said, as there are certain ambiguities in the law. For technology to transform how hospitals work, hospitals need to make investments for the future. Hospitals need to invest in information technology and adopt newer technologies in the longer term, said Janapareddy. ANN ARBOR, MI - A suspect is in custody after one person was shot in the face Friday night at an Ann Arbor apartment near Briarwood Mall, police said. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the face at the Hidden Valley Club Apartments, 600 Hidden Valley Club Drive, approximately 9:30 p.m., Feb. 7, said Lt. Aimee Metzer of the Ann Arbor Police Department. Police shut down the area around the apartment complex while the suspected gunman barricaded himself inside. The scene was secured overnight and the suspect was taken into custody, police said. It was unclear what time the standoff ended. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition as of 4 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, police said. No further details were immediately available from police. READ MORE PUBLIC SAFETY STORIES: House fire kills two cats in Ypsilanti Township Credit cards, change stolen from 4 cars in Ypsilanti Township, police say Police identify man killed in hit-and-run crash on UM campus By Archana Chaudhary Polls have opened in Delhis bitterly contested state election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party in a tough fight to reclaim the capital region, marking the first major test at the ballot box of his religion-based citizenship law thats spurred nationwide protests. About 14.6 million voters are expected to cast their votes to elect 70 members to the legislative assembly on Saturday and results are expected on Feb. 11, according to the Election Commission of India. If the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party retains power in the capital region, it will be the third straight electoral setback for Modi, whose party lost control in the states of Jharkhand and Maharashtra last year. AAP is projected to take 54-60 of the 70 assembly seats, down from 67 in the 2015 elections, while the BJP will likely win 10-14, up from three seats previously, according to a Times Now-IPSOS poll released on Monday. The ruling partys campaign in Delhi, where the BJP last formed a government in 1998, was marked by divisive speeches and calls to violence. Junior finance minister Anurag Thakur was barred from campaigning by the Election Commission after he exhorted crowds to shoot so-called traitors to the nation, alluding to those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act. The city saw at least three shooting attacks near the protest site ahead of the poll. The new religion-based citizenship act, which was passed by an overwhelming majority in the parliament, fast-tracks religious minorities from three neighbouring countries, but excludes Muslims. Protesters say the law undermines Indias secular constitution while the government says its aim is to protect persecuted minorities. The push-back against the law has been Modis biggest challenge since he swept to a second term last year. The Aam Aadmi Party, formed in 2012 after a popular anti-corruption movement, focused its campaign on local civic issues including water supply and education. The attention on the protests may have caused some increase in BJP support, but not enough to bridge the gap to gain power or unseat AAP, said Sandeep Shastri, pro vice chancellor of Bengaluru-based Jain University and National Coordinator of Lokniti Network, whose pre-poll governance survey conducted in November and December showed a majority of Delhi citizens were satisfied with the current government. For the last two years at least, Indian voters have been making a very clear distinction by voting in a different government in the state and for Modi at the national level, Shastri said. The BJP is attempting to change this discourse by refocusing attention on national issues and national leaders in Delhi. Protests Targeted New Delhis Shaheen Bagh neighbourhood, where Muslim women and students and activists from all religions have been protesting since December, became the target of speeches by the BJPs star campaigners including home minister Amit Shah and Modi himself. At an election rally in Delhi on Monday Modi accused the AAP and Congress party of playing games with Indian democracy and said, the protests in Shaheen Bagh are not a coincidence, but a political experiment. BJP spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal said the party would not shy away from the religious aspects of the debate. Making it a Hindu-Muslim issue is being done by the opposition, Agarwal said Friday. Our leaders have an ideological commitment and they will speak what they think is right for the cause. The Aam Aadmi Party sought a ban on campaigning by Yogi Adityanath, the BJP chief minister of Indias biggest state Uttar Pradesh, for claiming Delhis chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had links with rival Pakistan. Kejriwal accused the BJP of trying to polarize votes to win the election. AAP voters are those who want good education, medical treatment, modern roads, 24-hour electricity, Kejriwal told the Press Trust of India on Thursday, the last day of campaigning. AAPs spokesman Saurabh Bharadwaj didnt immediately reply to an email seeking comment. Shastri said the Lokniti study showed a significant chunk of BJP voters from the 2019 federal elections plan to vote for AAP this election. BJP has a core vote of 33-34% in Delhi but when it comes to state elections, local issues, performance and even economics dominate. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 05:48:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda has revealed that he declined offers from several clubs in Asia to play with Brazil's Botafogo. The 33-year-old attracted more than 10,000 fans to his official presentation at Botafogo's Nilton Santos stadium on Saturday, less than 24 hours after he was welcomed by around 2,000 supporters upon his arrival at Rio de Janeiro's international airport. "To be honest I received offers from clubs in Asia as well as Botafogo," he told journalists at his first press conference as a Botafogo player. "It wasn't easy to decide. "The most important thing is that people here mobilized so that I would come here. They made contact on social media and were there to greet me at the airport. I've never been treated like that, with so much passion. The passion of the people is what made me decide to come." Honda's 11-month contract includes a clause that allows him to leave after the Tokyo Olympics in August. However the former Milan star said he intended to remain at Botafogo "as long as possible". Honda, who has been capped 98 times for Japan's national team, signed with the two-time Brazilian top flight champions on a free transfer after parting ways with Dutch side Vitesse in December. Botafogo finished 15th in the 2019 Brazilian Serie A title race, just seven points clear of the relegation zone. Enditem A group of former high school classmates from Hubei spoke about the conditions for their families under lockdown. Group chats counting the number of those infected and dead reflect the grim reality of life in the current coronavirus outbreak, which started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and has spread to every province in China, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and at least 24 other countries around the world. In one such group, former high school classmates spoke to Al Jazeera about their conditions under government-imposed lockdown in Hubei for the past two weeks. Much of the province has remained sealed off since the last week of January, as China tries to contain the spread of the virus by enforcing travel limitations and implementing quarantines that have affected an estimated 60 million people. As of Saturday, the total number of confirmed deaths from the coronavirus in China has risen to 722, with at least 34,546 confirmed cases. The majority of those infected are in Hubei province. Here are todays numbers, Ms Hou, 32, who asked that only her family name be mentioned, wrote last week about the count of infected patients in Shiyan, in northwest Hubei where she lives. Most of the members of the group chat used to study together in Wuhan, and now work outside the city, returning to their hometowns in Hubei for holidays like the Lunar New Year. As restrictions extended beyond Wuhan over the past two weeks, Hou described to Al Jazeera tightened controls on transportation and community-imposed roadblocks to stop private vehicles from coming in and out of her area. We have not only closed the city, but even the community, she wrote last week, noting on Friday that she has been receiving groceries from the supermarket delivered to her gate. More stringent protection In other cities, including Huanggang in Hubei, Wenzhou in Zhejiang, and Zhumadian in neighbouring Henan Province, communities have put in place restrictions on how often members of each household are allowed to leave to buy groceries and supplies. In fact, this protection system may be more stringent in our small cities, Hou said. More about health and safety than human rights. A nurse works in the isolation ward for 2019-nCoV patients in a hospital in Wuhan [Yuan Zheng/China Out via EPA] Mr Zhang* who works as a lawyer in Wuhan, and asked his real name not be used, told Al Jazeera he is concerned about the conditions around where his parents live in Hongan County, Huanggang. Huanggang is one of the cities adjacent to Wuhan that has been hit hardest by the virus. The power of prevention and control is not as good as Wuhan, the medical treatment is not as good as Wuhan, and the economy is far worse, Zhang said. While Zhang said the quarantine has been inconvenient, he is more worried about how it will affect people in rural areas if they cannot use transportation to access medical care. We cant go out. Its not that big of a deal, he said. Its the farmers who are most affected. Volunteering inside Wuhan Adequate space and supplies were a problem in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei during the first two weeks of lockdown. Last week, Al Jazeera reported on how the Wuhan Red Cross came under fire for not distributing donated protective gear to affected hospitals in time, with reports of doctors being forced to reuse medical masks or create other forms of makeshift protection. One of the friends in the group chat, Lucas Liu, 28, an environmental consultant who remains inside Wuhan during the lockdown told Al Jazeera he has been volunteering to bring supplies to the community healthcare centre where his parents work, in Wuchang District. China is pulling medical resources from around the country to help the province, badly hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak [Yuan Zheng/China Out via EPA] The hospital is a lower-level facility responsible for triaging patients and sending those with more serious symptoms to the main hospitals treating the virus. China has been working around the clock to build new infectious disease hospitals to treat patients, with the 1,000-bed Huoshenshan hospital built in Wuhan in less than two weeks having started taking patients on Tuesday. Another 1,600-bed facility started taking patients on Thursday. Al Jazeera reported Thursday about facilities of varying sizes that have broken ground in at least five other provinces. Shut out by the quarantine Liu said the number of infections in the district where his parents work is lower than in others, and his parents are not overly stressed. But sorting patients by symptoms remains a big task. At present, the entire hospital is working on one thing only, dealing with the coronavirus, he said. On the way back from making a delivery after the quarantine began, Liu said he picked up three nurses on the way to the hospital who had packed bags with them because they were aware they would not be able to return to their homes due to road closures. Its true that there are big problems for medical staff to go to work, he said. On Friday, Liu planned to pick up a delivery of donated vegetables for the hospitals dining hall. While some of the friends are stuck in the province at the moment, others who were supposed to return were shut out by the quarantine. Louis Lu, 27, who works in the finance industry in Beijing was supposed to return to his parents house in Wuhan for the Lunar New Year holiday. The day before his train was supposed to leave, Lu learned Wuhan was blocked from travel. He diverted instead to Singapore where his sister lives and where he remained on Friday. Lu told Al Jazeera he did not expect the city to be completely closed off but that he was not surprised, given Chinas previous experience with SARS an epidemic that resulted in more than 8,000 cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and 349 deaths in mainland China. This kind of virus can be widely spread, he said. Lu has been working remotely from Singapore and plans to come back to Beijing on Monday. Another friend who now lives in Singapore told the group chat last week that he too did not go home to Hubei. He suggested meeting up with Lu, before the latter returns to Beijing. Wear your mask, he said. FLASH Canada : Travelers Update, avoid traveling to Haiti The Canadian Government updated its information for December 2019 on February 7 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29150-haiti-flash-canada-avoid-traveling-to-haiti.html , for Canadians in Haiti or wanting to go to Haiti. The number of violent incidents, including attacks, armed robberies and kidnappings, have increased since December 2019, both in Port-au-Prince and in other provincial towns. The crime rate is particularly high in large centers such as downtown Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs continue to operate, as well as on the border with the Dominican Republic, where criminal activity is widespread. There is also an increase in crime in the country as the holiday season, carnival and back to school approaches. Due to persistent political instability, violent protests and large-scale popular uprisings could occur, resulting in roadblocks across the country, and shortages of water, food and fuel could also occur. Clashes between protesters and law enforcement officials could take place during these protests. Access to the airport could also be blocked without notice. Avoid unnecessary travel to Haiti. If you are in Haiti : Limit your movements Avoid crossing road blockades, even if they appear unattended Plan to have adequate water, food and fuel supplies Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place Follow the instructions of local authorities Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations Port-au-Prince area: Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil and Martissant : The Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil and Martissant neighbourhoods continue to be dangerous areas due to criminal activity and local authorities lack of capacity to ensure order. Police presence is not guaranteed in these areas and your personal safety might be at risk. The police are unable to respond in a timely manner to calls for assistance. If you must travel to these areas, it is imperative that you take appropriate security precautions : Ensure that your local contacts know when to expect you, so they can meet you as soon as you arrive in the country Ask your local contacts to guide you in your travels Be vigilant at all times when moving about the city, towns and country Keep windows closed and doors locked when travelling by car Do not use public transport of any kind Ask the organizations, institutes or hosts that are taking care of you about the latest updates on the region to which you are travelling, the security situation can change at any moment Avoid going out after nightfall Follow the advice of local authorities Crime Crime rates are high and the security situation is unpredictable. There is usually an increase in criminality in the period leading up to the holiday season, the Carnival and the beginning of the school year. Criminal activity is especially prevalent in large centres such as downtown Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs operate. There is also a high level of criminal activity near HaitiDominican Republic border. Theft Theftincluding armed robbery, purse snatching and pickpocketingis common in Haiti. Petion-Ville : Armed robberies occur regularly in Petion-Ville. In most cases, victims are attacked in broad daylight by armed thieves on motorcycles. There has been a recent increase in attacks, particularly against motorists. They usually occur in traffic jams during peak hours. Be vigilant at all times while travelling Keep windows closed and doors locked when travelling by car Petit-Goave : Criminal gangs have committed robberies by erecting roadblocks along Route Nationale 2, between the PetitGoave and Miragoane. Toussaint Louverture International Airport : Thieves try to distract foreigners to steal their passports at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. Be cautious when claiming your luggage upon arrival Keep your valuables and identification on you Have your local contacts arrange for your pick-up from the airport Carry only small amounts of cash Do not resist if you are threatened by robbers Be extremely vigilant when leaving the airport Banking machines : There is a high risk of robbery from individuals using ATMs. Be extremely vigilant when entering or leaving a bank, as criminals could be watching and attempt to rob you as you leave. Only use ATMs during business hours inside a bank Deal directly with a teller if you can Avoid carrying large sums of money Keeping a low profile : Foreigners are viewed as wealthy and may arouse envy. Avoid showing visible signs of affluence, such as expensive-looking jewelry or electronic equipment Be cautious when photographing scenes in poor or urban areas, where people may feel exploited or insulted by being subjects of such activities Obtain permission before photographing individuals Remain cautious with new acquaintances offering friendship or hospitality Never walk alone and avoid travelling after nightfall Kidnapping : Members of the general Haitian population, regardless of rank or social class, are at risk of being kidnapped. Although rare, there have been kidnappings involving Canadians and other foreign nationals, including missionaries, aid workers and children. Most victims have been released upon the payment of a ransom. In some exceptional cases, however, victims have disappeared or have been killed. Remain alert to small groups of loiterers, especially near your residence Keep doors and windows secure at all times Instruct domestic staff to permit only pre-authorized visitors whose identities have been verified into your home Keep all visitors under close scrutiny Remain extremely vigilant wherever you are in the country Road safety : Roads are narrow and poorly maintained. Traffic signs are rare. The few traffic lights that are operational are mostly in urban centres. Streets are rarely lit. Most vehicles are in poor condition and often abandoned on or beside the road. Many people drive while intoxicated, with their vehicles lights off or do not follow the rules of the road. Always keep your fuel tanks at least half full, as disruptions of fuel supplies are frequent Always carry a cell phone and a list of emergency contact numbers with you, as roadside assistance services are deficient. Be aware that cell phone coverage is intermittent in some rural areas Avoid driving at night or in bad weather, even in the city Public transportation : Avoid all public transportation, especially shared taxistap tapsand buses. Drivers do not always follow the rules of the road, and their vehicles are sometimes in poor condition or overloaded, which often leads to serious accidents involving injuries and sometimes death. Marine transportation : Ferry accidents sometimes occur due to overloading and poor maintenance of some vessels. Do not board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy. Air travel : We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards. HL/ HaitiLibre Pakistan lawmakers seek to implement a new law that would allow public execution of those convicted of abusing children. The count... Pakistan lawmakers seek to implement a new law that would allow public execution of those convicted of abusing children. The countrys parliament on Friday passed a resolution to allow for public hanging of offenders, citing the prevalence of cases of child killing and rape in the predominantly Muslim nation. Ali Muhammad Khan, Pakistans parliamentary affairs minister, who pushed for the resolution during plenary, argued that the situation required far-reaching measures to ensure it is tackled. According to the minister, child killers and rapists should not only be given the death penalty by hanging, but they should be hanged publicly. The Quran commands us that a murderer should be hanged, Khan said. It is believed the resolution received approval of majority of the lawmakers at the parliament. Shireen Mazari, the countrys human rights minister, however, expressed reservations, noting it was not sponsored by the government. The resolution passed in NA today on public hangings was across party lines and not a govt-sponsored resolution but an individual act. Many of us oppose it our MOHR strongly opposes this. Unfortunately I was in a mtg and wasnt able to go to NA, Mazari wrote on Twitter. Several rights group have called for the proscription of law supporting execution of child killers and rapists in the country, explaining such has little impact in discouraging others who may be nursing similar ambition. Omar Waraich, Amnesty Internationals deputy South Asia director, told Mail Online in a statement that the new resolution was further indication of the countrys regression into its past, stressing such law should not be allowed. Pakistan should be moving to abolish this cruel relic of the past, not extending its use, he was quoted as saying. Lawmakers in Pakistan need to look at the facts there is no evidence anywhere in the world that capital punishment deters crime any more than prison, and the grisly spectacle of public executions will be no different. Public executions, which are thankfully now very rare in the world, are a throwback to a crueller age. Pakistan should focus on proper child protection and crime prevention measures. Also speaking, Sarah Belal, executive director of Justice Project Pakistan, a non-profit group campaigning against the death penalty, expressed reservation about the proposed law. There is no empirical evidence to show that public hangings are a deterrent to crime or in protecting the psycho-social well-being of children, Belal said. Pakistan has introduced several laws in the past aimed at arresting the surge of preventing child abuse and rape among children but none requires public execution. The country had introduced a law criminalising sexual assault against minors, child pornography and trafficking in March 2016. If the proposed resolution scales through, it would become the first of its kind in the history of the country. The country presently operates law that allows death penalty but all executions are carried out inside jail. A 661-housing development on lands where King Billy crossed the Boyne has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala, despite reservations from locals and political figures. The new estate is at the bottom of Rathmullen, where the road splits to Sheephouse and down to the Boyne. The Board cited the fact that the lands are zoned residential in the Meath Co Development plan 2013-2019 and the Southern Environs of Drogheda Local Area Plan 2009-2015. They added that a screening exercise had taken place in relation to the potential efforts on the Boyne and Special Areas of Conservation and found that it would not have a 'significant' effect on these sites. They said that a Stage 2 assessment is not required, 'in doing so, the Board disagreed with the conclusions of the Appropriate Assessment Screening Report submitted with the application.' They say there will be 'significant positive effects' with regard to population and 'material assets' due top the increase in housing that it will provide to the town. They add that the new estate will not have a 'negative impact' on the local environment. It is also deemed acceptable in terms of 'pedestrian and traffic safety and convenience.' Work on the site will take place between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays. The period of the permission is five years from the date of the Board's decision and the proposed development 'shall be completed within that period in accordance with a revised phasing plan.' Works will take place on the Sheephouse Road and at the signalised junction at Rathmullen Road, with the carriageway no more than six metres wide and a cycle lane. The Highlands Residents Association had objected to the massive development, stating there is significant historical status of the site in relation to the Battle of the Boyne, the roads are incapable of supporting such a large development and there was no consultation with registered local community groups on traffic impacts. Their application stated that the site 'forms part of the Battle of the Boyne site, it's one of the most significant parts of the whole site as this is the point where King William of Orange finally crossed the Boyne. It was here, on these lands, where Williams forces (6 cavalry regiments) finally crossed the river and established themselves on the south side of the Boyne. 'It is our opinion that given the historical ramifications of this successful crossing of the river, this site is a de-facto national heritage site and must be properly protected under Irish and EU Law. No development can or should ever be permitted on this land and it should be held in trust by the state and turned into a national park.' In relation to traffic, they say the Rathmullan Road is the only road linking the site to Drogheda. 'The Rathmullan road already experiences daily gridlock during peak times, showing that it is currently operating beyond its capacity. We don't accept that even with the proposed junction upgrades this road will ever be able to support the traffic levels that this development would generate. Indeed some of the proposed upgrades show clearly that the engineers in question have not been here during peak traffic times.' They say the traffic survey is flawed and 'does not show the traffic flows turning into or coming out of St. Oliver's School. This school is the largest secondary school in Drogheda with 1380 pupils and more than 120 staff. The flow of busses and cars to the school makes this a gridlock area morning and evening. 'The survey states that there are only 18 cars turning right coming out of Highlands in the morning rush, however there are 146 cars coming out of Riverbank and turning left towards Drogheda. This is crazy because both estates have similar number of dwellings (around 280) and similar demographic profiles. What this actually shows is small number of cars ABLE to get out of Highlands onto the Rathmullan road due to the 500m tailback from the Marleys Lane junction.' They add that the junction with the Bridge of Peace is also a major issue. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In a damage control exercise to pacify the mahants and top VHP leaders who had once spearheaded the temple movement but failed to make it to the newly-notified temple trust, the trustees are contemplating to not only nominate Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das to the trust but also elect him the chairman of the working board in their first meeting. According to highly-placed sources, as the trustees are authorised to nominate two permanent members to the trust, they would put forward the names of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai, the Vice-President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in those two slots. As per the understanding, this process would be followed by the election of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das as the trust chairman through a consensus. Originally, both Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai were strong contenders to join the trust but owing to their involvement in the Babri demolition case, they were left out. The configuration of the Shri Ram Teerthsthan Trust would be modified in its first meeting expected to be held in the next 10 days. Currently, the trust, as announced by PM Modi, has nine members with K Parasaran, 92, the veteran lawyer, as its chairman. Parasaran had headed the team of lawyers which represented the Hindu side over the vexed issue in the Supreme Court. If the sources are to be believed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the officer overseeing the Ayodhya desk in the Union Home Ministry have given clear indications to the sulking saints that Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai would be roped into the trust. Disputing the government contention that Nritya Gopal Das and the VHP leader were dropped owing to their role in the Babri demolition, the followers of the Mahant had contended that if Kalyan Singh could be appointed Rajasthan Governor, a constitutional post, despite being embroiled in the Babri demolition case, the Mahant could also be included in the temple trust. The sources also claimed that it was the Centre which suggested the move to hand over the reins of the trust to Nritya Gopal Das subsequent to his nomination by the existing trustees. The trusts current president Parasaran also talked to the saints of Ayodhya over the issue. He reportedly expressed his desire to hand over the control of the trust to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief. Parasaran is believed to have explained to the Mahants that in order to avoid delay and ward off legal tangles, the accused in the Babri demolition case were kept away by the Centre. However, the bylaws of the trust allow the nine trustees to nominate two permanent members. As a result, the nomination of Nritya Gopal Das and Champat Rai was almost certain, Parasaran reportedly told the Mahants. The trustees would also elect the chairman and managing trustee. Even the Muslim litigants have come out in support of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das being appointed the chairman of the temple trust. Iqbal Ansari said the Mahant was a respected figure in Ayodhya and Muslims would not object to his inclusion in the trust which was incomplete without him. Haji Mehboob, another litigant, claimed that no Muslim would move court against Mahant Nritya Gopal Dass inclusion in the trust. "We will have no objection to his nomination, said Mehboob. Lambert provided a ton of links two days ago and today to help reduce the load on my bum hand. So thanks to him! Adorable dog takes the bus alone to her favorite dog park every day Daily Mail (David L) Australia floods: Fire-hit Australia faces dangerous downpours BBC High water wreaks havoc on Great Lakes, swamping communities Associated Press (David L) Record Antarctic temperature met with the sound of cracking ice Financial Times. Implicit Gibson timeline of Jackpot starting ~2027 looking accurate. Climate Change Predictions Have Suddenly Gone Catastrophic. This Is Why Vice (David L) Armed ecoguards funded by WWF beat up Congo tribespeople Exclusive: Inquiry into $21.4m conservation project reports credible evidence of abuse Guardian (JTM) Mother Meets Recreation of Her Deceased Child in VR RoadtoVR. Turtle: Im not sure what to say about this, except that it instantly triggered that this just doesnt seem right feeling for me. Credit Suisse reels as Tidjane Thiam exits the stage FT Far-right German political crisis: whats next after Thuringia governor resigns? EuroNews. More Thuringia coverage. Thread: Theres been a limited English language discussion of what happened in Thuringia, Germany today. The center-right liberal (not US liberal, classical) Free Democratic Party took control of the state govt with support of the Alternative fur Deutschland. Why care? Thread. 1/n Christopher Williams (@cjw_phd) February 5, 2020 Theres a history here. Coronavirus China? India Arrests Top Kashmiri Leaders Under Controversial Public Safety Act The Diplomat Syraqistan A murderous system is being created before our very eyes Republik Big Brother is Watching You Watch Trump Transition 2020 We Have To Be A Little Wary: Jobs Report Marred By Revisions, Overshadowed By Virus Heisenberg CalPERS Critic Left Off Investment Committee Chief Investment Officer PG&E Has a Survival Plan, and Newsom Has Plan B: A Takeover New York Times (Kevin W). IMHO Newsom does not have much spine, and hell fold unless noise from voters and enough other interests (businesses who have too much to lose with insufficient changes at PG&E) backs him into a corner. Impeachment In another Trump win, court tosses Democrats suit over his businesses Reuters. A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the more than 210 House of Representatives and Senate Democrats lacked the required legal standing to bring the case. So the way to have handled emoluments was impeachment. Oh well. Impeachment Witnesses Furious With Bolton For Cashing In On Crisis The American Conservative Class Warfare Antidote du Jour (via): And a bonus. Dan K: This image was sent to me with explanation that the keeper forgot to put the frames in so bees built as they felt fit. Airflow/temp regulation! Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday appealed to the people of Delhi to exercise their franchise to free the capital from "lies and vote bank " "Only a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions can make Delhi the best capital of the world by providing clean air, clean drinking water and house to every poor person. I appeal to the people of Delhi to cast their votes to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics," Shah tweeted. The polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started at 8 am today. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. Congress didn't open its account. On Thursday, Shah claimed that BJP will win more than 45 seats in the capital. "Got a chance to interact with the people of Delhi during the elections. Delhi is tired of false promises, appeasement, and anarchy, it now wants development. Seeing the support for BJP in Delhi makes it clear that on February 11 BJP will form the government by winning more than 45 seats in Delhi," Shah tweeted earlier. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of Muslims who are seeking the support of the Sikh community in their Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, submitted a memorandum to Akal Takt's secretariat on Friday. According to the Akal Takht officials, the memorandum was submitted by a joint action committee from Ahmedgarh in Punjab. Further, reports stated that the Muslim group also paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and offered Friday prayers outside the main entrance of the Sikh shrine. As per reports, they had also raised slogans in support of Peer Budhu Shah, and Gani Khan and Nabi Khan, Muslim followers of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh. Akal Takht Jathedar's view on CAA Earlier, although the Akal Takht Jathedar had welcomed the newly amended citizenship law over the inclusion of Sikhs, he had asked the Centre to include Muslims in the law as well. He had also stated that religious persecution in any country should be condemned. Read: Women continue to protest against CAA & NRC for 12 consecutive days in Mumbai Nationwide protests against CAA Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which fast-tracks Indian citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from three neighbouring countries, have flared since December last year. The mood in the national capital has been tense since violence erupted in the Jamia Millia Islamia University on an earlier occasion. The protests spread nationwide following that. Read: Trinamool demands CAA & NRC's scrapping, tells government to not 'stand on prestige' Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has said that the law is required to help persecuted minorities who came to India before December 31, 2014, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. But protesters insist the law discriminates against the countrys Muslim minority and violates Indias Constitution. Read: P Chidambaram calls CAA 'malicious and mischievous' Read: BJP blocked from holding pro-CAA rally in West Bengal, prominent leaders detained (With PTI Inputs) KABUL A shootout between Afghan and U.S. soldiers during joint operations in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday resulted in fatalities on both sides, Afghan and U.S. officials said. Details of the incident, in Nangarhar province where U.S. Special Forces were helping Afghan commandos and the Afghan army clear an area threatened by the Taliban, were scarce. It was not clear whether the firefight was the work of Taliban infiltrators, a major concern in the past, or the result of an argument between allied forces that turned deadly. Two Afghan officials said five or six U.S. soldiers and six Afghan soldiers were killed. A U.S. military official said there were at least six American casualties and confirmed that they included fatalities but did not say how many. The U.S. military command in Afghanistan confirmed that a joint U.S. and Afghan force had come under direct fire in Nangarhar, without providing details. We are assessing the situation and will provide further updates as they become available, said Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Both the Taliban as well as the Islamic State branch in Afghanistan have had a foothold in Nangarhar province. In Sherzad district, where the shootout took place, the joint operation had pushed the Taliban from around the main highway and was continuing to clear villages. Insider attacks by Afghan forces on Americans, known as green on blue, were so frequent during one stage of the war that U.S. commanders feared the resulting mistrust could derail their mission. The shooting comes in a delicate time in the war, as U.S. negotiators have been locked in weeks of talks with the Taliban to finalize a peace deal. If a Taliban hand is seen in the shooting, it is sure to complicate those talks, which officials and diplomats suggested Saturday had reached a promising stage. If the attack on U.S. forces came from Afghan troops, that could jeopardize the already strained diplomacy between Washington and Kabul. President Trump has long wanted to end the U.S. military role in the 19-year war in Afghanistan, including withdrawing forces faster than some of his commanders recommend. Mujib Mashal is a New York Times writer. A wheelchair-bound voter shows his finger after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Old Rajinder Nagar polling station, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) 110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Chittaranjan Park polling station, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) A groom and his family members after casting their votes for Delhi Assembly elections, at a polling station in east Delhi. (Image: PTI) SED police staff assisting the an elderly voter. (Image: Twitter/@SpokespersonECI) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 18:09:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUANDA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- German transportation company Siemens Mobility will build the "Luanda Surface Metro" in Angola under a Public-Private Partnership this year, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed here on Friday. Michael Peter, chief executive officer of the company, signed the MoU with Angola's Transport Minister Ricardo de Abreu during the Angola-Germany Economic Forum held in the capital city of Luanda. The minister said the Surface Metro line will cover a distance of 149 km, and the cost of the project is estimated at 3 billion U.S. dollars, with 30 percent of the cost to be assumed by Angola. The German government has also made available a loan valued at 1.06 billion euros (about 1.16 billion dollars) to finance the construction of the Caculo Cabaca hydroelectric dam in the northern Cuanza Norte Province. A total of four MoUs on cooperation were signed between the two countries during the forum. FARMINGTON A Farmington man allegedly stole 150 catalytic converters from vehicles at a San Juan County auto salvage yard worth about $22,000. David Jabalera, 41, is accused of a second-degree felony count of larceny, according to court records. He is accused of stealing $22,500 worth of property from Highway 64 Truck and Auto Salvage at 4551 U.S. Highway 64, west of Farmington, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Jabalera did not have legal representation on Feb. 6. A San Juan County Sheriffs Office deputy was dispatched to Highway 64 Truck and Auto Salvage on reports of stolen property. Owner Chad Burson spoke to the deputy for the larceny report. Burson declined to comment on the investigation. Burson told the deputy he noticed something odd when he visited the storage lot on Jan. 31. He observed several vehicles that were propped up in an unusual way. The cars had all left or right front tires propped up and resting on a stack of old tires. He noticed all the vehicles he checked were missing catalytic converters. Burson went on to describe how he learned Jabalera was allegedly involved and how he confronted the defendant twice before firing him. Jabalera was the only person employed at the time as a parts puller who went to the storage lot at the auto salvages old location. Burson told the deputy he confronted Jabalera about it, stating he caught the defendant in several lies before Jabalera walked away. An employee told Burson he saw a white passenger car at the storage lot on Jan. 31, which was unusual as employees typically drive tow or work trucks to the storage lot. The vehicle was later found parked at Jabaleras residence. Burson had a second confrontation with Jabalera, where the defendant allegedly pulled out a folding box cutter knife but did not directly threaten anyone with it. The owner told the deputy Jabalera was then fired. Several employees and Burson looked at every vehicle in the storage lot and found 150 vehicles missing catalytic converters. A catalytic converter sold to a recycler could be worth $150 each, for a total of $22,500, according to court documents. Jabalera has a pending case, including a felony count of possession of a controlled substance. The defendant has felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and burglary, according to court records. He was released on his own recognizance on Feb. 3 from the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. The defendants preliminary hearing set for Feb. 13 in Aztec Magistrate Court. Joshua Kellogg covers breaking news for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e 2020 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) San Diego, Calif.,'s popular smartphone tipster app Get it Done! is expanding the kinds of complaints people can report, as usage of the app continues to increase.Initially created in 2016 to allow reports of potholes, graffiti and abandoned vehicles, the app recently started taking reports of illegal encampments and began allowing residents to purchase replacement trash cans.Later this month, the app will begin allowing reports of illegal activity involving electric scooters. And later this year, city officials say they will launch a Spanish version to boost reporting in areas of San Diego where residents prefer that language.City officials told the City Council's Rules Committee Wednesday that future expansions will mostly likely focus on complaints related to parks, such as broken water fountains and the presence of dogs without leashes.Plans to hire outside consultants to help with future expansion opportunities are scheduled to be presented to the Rules Committee this spring.Use of the app has sharply increased over time. The number of complaints climbed from 45,000 in 2016 to 144,000 in 2017, then to 201,000 in 2018 and 362,000 in 2019 or nearly 1,000 per day.The app has been downloaded more than 100,000 times. City officials estimate there are 12,500 active users each month.As the types of complaints on the site have increased, city officials also have made adjustments that allow them to give residents more detailed feedback about how the city resolved the problems they reported.For example, people who report graffiti now get sent an "after" picture of the site where they reported the tagging.Another innovation under review is allowing residents to cancel a complaint, such as when they report an abandoned vehicle and then notice the car has been moved before the city responded to the complaint.Abandoned cars continue to be the top type of the 52 types of complaints that the Get it Done! app can process, with about 45,000 complaints per year. After that, the next most popular complaints are illegal dumping and graffiti.Other top complaints, ranked in order, are missed trash collections, potholes, parking violations, sidewalk repairs and broken streetlights.Other complaints that can be reported include illegal garage conversions, fence violations, mold, substandard housing, illegal construction and abandoned properties.The ability to report illegal encampments, which was launched in December, has already drawn more than 1,400 reports, city officials said.The encampments were previously reported under illegal dumping, sidewalk nuisance or "other," so allowing them to be reported more specifically has streamlined a cumbersome routing process.The option to buy a replacement trash container, which was launched last May, has been utilized to buy more than 11,000 containers. Allowing city staff to avoid processing such purchases has saved 150 worker hours, city officials said.Residents with trash cans under warranty can also get replacement parts, such as wheels and lids, through Get it Done!Council members said they were disappointed by the average response times to some types of complaints, particularly abandoned vehicles, which takes an average of more than 23 days.City staff said they hope to begin analyzing response times to see where improvements can be made.Councilman Chris Ward said such an analysis, combined with data already being collected, could help with city budget decisions."Where are we lagging behind?" he said. "Where do we need additional resources?"Council President Georgette Gomez praised the creation of a Spanish version of the app.City staff said the app will automatically be in Spanish if the user has opted for that language in the settings of their smartphone.Gomez said she'd also like to see an analysis showing Get it Done! complaints by council district. That would allow officials to see whether the app is being used equally across the city, and to determine which neighborhoods struggle with which problems most frequently. Hundreds of Australians left stranded in virus-stricken Wuhan are on board a second Qantas rescue flight set to land in an old mining camp north of Darwin on Sunday. The plane was originally scheduled to leave the coronavirus epicentre on Friday but did not get clearance to land from China and spent all of Saturday in Hong Kong. 'We continue to work constructively with Chinese authorities, and everything is on track for the flight later tonight,' Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Saturday night. More than 250 people are understood to be on the flight. More Australians from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan in China are primed to enter quarantine at an old mining camp north of Darwin. Flight boarding in Wuhan A flight aimed at evacuating the Australian citizens and permanent residents from Wuhan has left China and will land in Darwin by 11.30am local time The Australians will be sent to the Manigurr-ma Village at Howard Springs, an old mining camp about 30km from Darwin, for a 14-day quarantine. Evacuees were screened before they got on the flight, will be monitored rigorously on the plane and checked out again once they arrive in Darwin. Anyone suspected to have coronavirus will be taken to hospital and quarantined. Professor Brendan Murphy, Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, said people staying at the facility were unlikely to become infectious. When the Australians are extracted they will be sent to the Manigurr-ma Village at Howard Springs, an old mining camp about 30km from Darwin. Pictured: Image of living facility uploaded by workers when the site was a mining camp 'It is important people living in and around Howard Springs know the novel coronavirus can only be transmitted by close contact with an infectious person and cannot be spread through the air,' Professor Murphy said in a statement. 'The health and safety of the Howard Springs community is of paramount importance and I am confident the security and public health measures put in place will prevent any risk to the community's health.' Christmas Island was unable to house another couple of hundred evacuees. So far two groups of Australian citizens or permanent residents have been evacuated to Christmas Island, with 241 leaving on a Qantas flight and 35 departing on a later Air New Zealand flight. They all face a two-week quarantine process. Evacuees were screened before they got on the flight, will be monitored rigorously on the plane and checked out again once they arrive in Darwin. Pictured: Image of living facility uploaded by workers when the site was a mining camp Australians are being taken to the old mining facility as Christmas Island does not have the capacity for more people. Pictured: Image of living facility uploaded by workers when the site was a mining camp Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly revealed on Saturday that one of the evacuees - a young Australian girl - had been tested for the virus after developing an illness. But her sickness isn't serious and could be 'all sorts of things', he said. 'That person is well, it is certainly not a serious illness at this stage,' he told reporters. Authorities have also just become aware of a third cruise ship, located somewhere between Japan and Guam, affected by coronavirus. Professor Kelly said it wasn't known yet whether there are any Australians on board. The Diamond Princess cruise ship at Yokohama, Japan, has 3,700 people on board - including 219 Australians who are well. Two groups of Australian citizens or permanent residents have been evacuated to Christmas Island (pictured) More than 300 people are on Christmas Island. Pictured: Australian evacuees board a bus after arriving at the airport on Christmas Island on Thursday There are another seven Australians who are among 64 passengers to have tested positive to coronavirus on board the ship. Another cruise ship at Hong Kong with coronavirus on board has 16 Australians, none of whom are ill. Australia has so far had 15 confirmed coronavirus cases: five in Queensland, four each in NSW and Victoria and two in South Australia. Five of the cases have recovered while the ten others are in a stable condition. All of the cases in Australia have come from Wuhan, the virus' epicentre, except for a person who contracted the disease after coming into contact with a person from Wuhan in China who had the illness. Wanted: Campaign laws in Texas that limit political donations and encourage stricter enforcement of existing fundraising reporting regulations. Allowing candidates to rake in limitless contributions, and then not holding them accountable when they fail to abide by campaign finance reporting rules, is invitation to lax ethics and undermines public confidence in the political process. No wonder voter apathy abounds. Recent reports of the tens of thousands of dollars a San Antonio-based communications company doled out to city and county officeholders and political candidates for those jobs only reinforces the need for establishing stringent campaign contribution limits. Dailey & Wells of San Antonio, a communications company that holds a $106 million contract to overhaul the citys radio system for first responders, has contributed at least $164,000 to sitting city and county officials since 2014, records show. Contributions to City Council and mayoral candidates are limited to donations of $500 and $1,000 respectively during each contribution cycle, but there is no state law limiting contributions to nonjudicial candidates for state and county offices. This ginormous loophole allowed two Dailey & Wells executives, CEO Richard Wells and Senior Vice President Joanne Wells, to make several eyebrow-raising contributions all perfectly legal to local candidates. Among them were three separate donations of $10,000 to County Judge Nelson Wolff between 2014 and 2017. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar received $45,000. It should come as no surprise that repeated attempts to strengthen state campaign contributions have met with tough resistance from state officials. After all, any law they would pass to limit contributions would directly impact their fundraising efforts. But the public would benefit. Limiting the amount of money candidates can accept from a single donor helps level the playing field for political newbies and limits outside influence. Vendors consider these political donations part of the cost of doing business with a governmental entity. Its in their interest, but is it in the publics interest? That question, fair or not, will hang over the radio contract. Unlimited donations is not the only problem with Texas elections laws. A recent Hearst Newspapers investigation found a general disregard for state laws requiring political candidates to disclose who is giving them money and how that money is being spent. A weak enforcement system allows candidates to skirt the law without fear of repercussions. Since 2005, the Texas attorney generals office, which handles collections for the Texas Ethics Commission, has won the right to collect $1.1 million from these scofflaws, the Express-News reports. But many of those filers in default are still not paying up, prompting the attorney general to write off $800,000 as uncollected. That simply is not right. It allows candidates such as state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, who is running for re-election although he owes $74,000 in campaign-related fines, to operate with impunity. New York, Florida and California allow the garnishment of wages, levying of tax liens and sometimes employ the services of debt collection agencies in cases of nonpayment of campaign-related fines. Texas needs to follow suit. If library patrons cant check out a book if they owe a fine, and drivers cant renew their licenses if they have unpaid tickets, surely politicians shouldnt be able to file for re-election if they owe the state campaign-related fines. Locke & Key The Keeper of the Keys Season 1 Episode 4 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Photo: Courtesy of Netflix As Netflix shows often do, Locke and Key approaches the midpoint of its ten-episode season in a bit of a sag when it comes to momentum. Sure, the stuff with Fearless Kinsey is fun, and allows Emilia Jones to show some more of her range, but this episode feels particularly slack when it comes to pushing the narrative forward. At the beginning of the episode, the force that emerged from the bottom of the well needs the keys now protected by the Locke House and thats kind of where we still are at the end. In between, we get mostly teen relationship drama, as Kinsey gets closer to Scot and Tyler gets closer to Jackie. Nothing is particularly wrong with that it helps that Jones and Connor Jessup are very likable young actors but its hard to shake that sense of Netflix Bloat that so often happens in the middle of their original series. Hopefully the next episode will push us forward a bit more. The Keeper of the Keys opens with a brand-new Kinsey. Stabbing and burying the fear monster that lived in her head has freed Kinsey Locke, but at what cost? Isnt it good to have a little fear in your brain? Whether or not the long-term damage will be a problem, Kinsey seems much happier now. Shes up at 5 a.m. making bacon (even though she doesnt eat it) and ready to take on the day. She dyes her hair, finally settles on a drawing to send to art school, and even takes a jab at her moms lack of organizational skills. Again, this all seems good for a girl who was withdrawn for the last few months, but just removing a big chunk of your personality in one go seems like something that could lead to problems, right? Until the day she realizes she needs her fear monster, though, shes living her best life, feeling confident enough to ask Scot to come over for more of a proper date. Meanwhile, Nina wants to get in touch with Rendells old friends. She learns via Ellie that theyre all dead or close to it. Mark is the one who died in the fire in the series prologue; Erin is nearly catatonic at a mental hospital. When Ellie mentions a ping-pong room in the basement, the ladies investigate and discover it was boarded up. Instead of asking why, they Kool-Aid Man through the wall and discover its largely in the same condition, just a little dustier. Ellie is clearly only giving some of the information that Nina is asking about, and denies knowing why Rendell drew Omega signs all over his yearbook. She probably does know why. Speaking of Erin, she gets a visit from the Echo, calling herself Chastity. The Echo tells her that Rendell and Mark are dead. Will Erin be next? And why is Ellie being kept so free from harm if everyone who hung out in the Key House basement seems to be suffering? Does it have something to do with Rufus, Ellies son? He tells Bode that the well house on the property has a long history. In fact, defectors were hung there during the Revolutionary War. If any place on Earth is going to be haunted by some sort of supernatural power, its a place like that, and even photographs of it seem to have something creepy going on, as Bode sees the Echo talking to him from a book. Rufus also reveals that Lucas was Ellies first boyfriend. Is that why shes been kept safe? Meanwhile, Tyler Locke has an interesting idea that indicates hes probably seen Inception a few times: If something can be taken out of someones brain via the Head Key, can something be put in? He throws a book about the history of Matheson into his brain, and suddenly knows its contents. Hell never have to study again! He does the same with a book of British history, trying to impress Jackie, but the best character beat this episode comes when Tyler learns that experiential conversation is much better than just repeating facts, and that arguing over the best clam chowder will woo a love interest more than trivia about York. Scot finally gets to the most famous haunted landmark in town when Kinsey invites him to Key House. Shes aggressive, taking him straight to her room, but its not just for a make-out session. She actually shows him the Head Key and how it opens the mall inside her head. In fact, after showing him around her memory store, they share their first kiss. That could be a tough one to explain to the grandkids (or therapist) when theyre older. Finally, Tyler and Scot are comparing relationship notes when doors start slamming. The Echo has returned to threaten Bode. She teleports him via the Anywhere Key to a ring of fire in the front yard. Why cant she just take the key? He realizes that she needs him to give it to her, and hes not about to do that although maybe hell give it to her friend Sam Lesser. She finally drops the Anywhere Key off with the man who killed Rendell Locke, who makes it clear how far hell go for his rescuer: Ill do anything you want. Unlocked Doors Anyone else a little suspicious of Mr. Ridgeway? Hes been awful involved in Tyler Lockes life, and remember he knew Rendell and the rest of the doomed Breakfast Club of Mathesons past. While the character seems a little strange for now, it sure is nice to see Steven Williams get a solid part. The man has been a reliable character actor for generations, appearing in everything from The Blues Brothers to The X-Files to The Leftovers to Birds of Prey. He has over 140 credits. Nina Locke has a mug that was given to her after a year of sobriety by her husband that says Ray of F**king Sunshine. I dont have a year sober, but Id sure like one of those mugs. Jackie talks about her favorite Jane Austen book being Sanditon, which was the authors famously unfinished novel that has been completed by others in various forms over the years perhaps a nod to adapting a source started by one author and expanded on by other creative voices? Theres an adaptation currently running on PBS Masterpiece, if youre curious. Its funny that it took four episodes to reach the end of the first comic book, when the Echo gets Sam the key to his freedom. It shows you how much the team behind this show has been pulling from various parts of the entire arc of the book, rearranging it into something new. The president of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) Akinwumi Adesina is expected in the Ethiopian capital for the African Unions 33rd Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The summit runs from 8-10 February 2020 under the theme: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. Adesina will arrive in Addis Ababa with a full slate of talks and meetings ahead of him. These include the African Peer Review Mechanisms annual forum; an African Leadership for Nutrition high-level dinner; and bilateral meetings with, among others, the president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, and the CEO of the African Unions Development agency, AUDA-NEPAD. Adesina will also participate in bilateral meetings with heads of state and high-level discussions around the continental report on the implementation of Agenda 2063. The AU Summit also features several side events. One of these, a breakfast hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will focus on Sustaining peace and economic security in Africa. Following the recent launch of the 2020 African Economic Outlook, the Banks Director of Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research Hanan Morsy will present the findings of the institutions flagship report to the African Union. Representatives of the AU Commission, government officials, and policymakers will be in attendance. The African Leadership for Nutrition (ALN), another strategic partnership involving the African Development Bank, the AU Commission, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners, will be an important focus of the trip. An ALN high-level dinner, with participation from 7 heads of states, will be held on 8 February, to consolidate gains made in securing high-level political engagement on nutrition, and to reflect on progress made to date in tackling malnutrition and stunting. The meeting is a key milestone ahead of the Nutrition for Growth Summit to be held in Tokyo in December 2020. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires A powerful winter storm that roared out of New Mexico three days ago was pushing through New England on Saturday, leaving floods, twisters, heavy snow and power outages along its 1,500-mile path. At least five deaths were blamed on the fast-moving storm in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The storm, which generated at least 11 tornadoes in three states, knocked out power to more than 400,000 homes, as winds gusts up to 60 mph knocked down trees and power lines along its path. North Carolina and Virginia, where hundreds of people had to be pulled from flooded homes, had the most customers without electricity, according to poweroutages.us. In North Carolina, a driver later identified as Terry Roger Fisher was killed when his vehicle hydroplaned and plunged down a 25-foot embankment, WBTV reported, citing the State Highway Patrol. In South Carolina, one unidentified driver died when a tree toppled onto his car in York County, according to local media reports. Several trees fell on a home and property on Overbrook Drive in New Windsor, Md., Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, following a winter storm. An unidentified man died and two others were injured Thursday when a car hydroplaned in Knoxville, Tennessee, and hit a truck, police said in a news release. And in Tennessee, 36-year-old teacher Brooke Sampson was killed d and four people were injured when a rain-soaked tree fell on a van carrying Sevierville city employees, officials said. At least four tornadoes touched down around Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, including one packing 130-mph winds that was snapping and uprooting trees" and knocked down high tension lines, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service was using radar data and making damage assessments to confirm many reports of twisters touching down in Virginia and Maryland, near the nations capital, meteorologist Isha Renta told the Associated Press. With water levels rising rapidly, the Tennessee Valley Authority said it began making controlled releases from some of its 49 dams in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. People living near the rivers downstream were cautioned to look out for additional flooding, said James Everett, senior manager of the TVA's river forecast center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Story continues In Alabamas Bucks Pocket State Park, rangers in near freezing temperatures walked along a swollen Souty Creek in a vain search for a car carrying one person that had disappeared under the surface two days earlier, WHNT-TV reported. The weather is better, but the water is not. The water is several feet higher than normal. Its extremely high and fast, Alabama Trooper Chuck Daniel said. Until that water slows down, nobodys going to get in that water. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in eight counties on Friday because of flooding in the southeastern part of the state, while in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency as more than 500 people had to be rescued from their homes due to rising water. Likewise in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency in seven counties because of flooding and mobilized the states National Guard. In Florida's Pinellas County, high winds sent a crane sprawling across I-275, shutting down the roadway overnight. The tumbling tower of iron almost hit one driver, Chris Ellington, who told WFLA-TV that it left him "absolutely terrified." "Here it is about an hour and a half later and my knees are still shaking a bit because I just narrowly missed being crushed," he said. In the Tampa area, tornadoes blew a tree onto a mobile home, trapping an elderly woman. The storm also brought heavy snow along the trail from New Mexico to New England. El Paso, along the Texas border with Mexico, got 3.3 inches of snow, breaking a record for the day. Heavy snow was also reported in Wichita Falls and Oklahoma City as the storm rolled toward the northeast. In New England, heavy snow forced some businesses, schools and government offices to close early Friday across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Heavy snow knocked out power to more than 26,000 people in New Hampshire, WMUR reported. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US weather: Deadly winter storm causes 11 tornadoes, flooding; 5 dead Corporate America would make great business strides if employers put more effort into making their workforce include women and "true diversity," Sheryl Palmer, CEO of the country's fifth-largest homebuilder, Taylor Morrison, told CNBC on Friday. The comments came one day after a Wall Street Journal report found that just 6% of the 3,000 largest companies in the United States were led by a woman. The data, however, are more bleak for nonwhite women. "The benefit of our organization is that we have different people thinking about the same problem differently," Palmer told Jim Cramer in a "Mad Money" interview. "It gets us to a better place, and that's what corporate America is missing today." Palmer, who also serves as president and chairman of the company, has served as chief executive of Taylor Morrison since 2007. While there are more women in executive roles today than in decades past, they are more represented in human resources, legal, marketing and administrative leads than they are in operations, division heads and sales roles, which are more likely pathways to the chief executive position. In a previous study, the Journal reported that women of color were given less access to roles that allowed them to manage people and projects or maneuver in corporate politics. In a 2019 survey of about 330 major companies, women of color held 4% of C-suite positions. Men of color held 10% of those roles. "I think it has to be a groundswell," Palmer said. Among Taylor Morrison's ranks, women are represented, she added. Almost half of its 3,000 employees are women and one-third of its executive seats are filled by women, she said. "I'm very pleased about our organization and the way we've approached this. I'll be honest, Jim, we actually don't have quotas in the company," Palmer said. "We don't even have any affinity programs. What we do have is a bias of putting the best person in every job." Taylor Morrison on Wednesday closed on its $2.5 billion acquisition of William Lyon Homes, giving the homebuilder more access to the Washington, Oregon and Nevada markets. The company expects the deal to also give it better access to the entry-level home market, which is where the housing supply is scarce. Earlier this week, Taylor Morrison reported a mixed fourth-quarter performance. The company beat on the top line, bringing in roughly $1.47 billion in revenue, but missed earnings estimates, 51 cents per share compared with analyst projections of $1.01 per share, according to FactSet. The stock fell more than 1% in Friday's session. Investors value the company at $2.8 billion. Raids on leading food chain prompt check-label advice from chief medical officer By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s): Colombos Chief Medical Officer has urged consumers to be more vigilant when buying food products or ingredients because they may be buying outdated items with new expiry date labels. His instructions were issued following a raid on a Mattakkuliya food outlet, where shop assistants were found replacing the expiry date label on packets and bottles of bakery item ingredients from England, Germany and Dubai. The food outlet operates under the name Caravan Fresh, owned by Madina Foods (Pvt) Ltd, which runs 25 outlets in Colombo and suburbs. Besides its fast food business, the company imports cake ingredients and bakery item ingredients and distribute to leading hotels. The raid on Mattakkuliya outlet came soon after Consumers Affairs Authority (CAA) officials, assisted by the Police Special Task Force personnel, conducted a raid on the companys main store at Hendala in Wattala. They found 17.5 tons of outdated bakery and cake ingredients at the facility. They included cake ingredients, custard powder, vanilla and apple drinks. The expiry dates of these items ranged from May 13 to December 6, 2019. Colombo Municipalitys Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni said that the public should pay more attention to check whether the labels had been tampered with or replaced when buying food items. He said some of the food items seized had been sent to the Government Analysts Department while the rest was destroyed. The Council, meanwhile, called on the public to dial 011-2676161 to make a complaint if they suspected that the expiry date labels on food items had been replaced. A case has been filed under the Food Act in the Colombo Magistrates Court. The case will be taken up on Friday. The section of the company that was involved with the labelling has been sealed and another case has been filed against the company under the CAA Act which prohibits the sale of outdated goods. The case will be taken up in the Wattala Magistrates Court on March 18. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2020) - Centurion Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: CTN) ("Centurion", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Definitive Agreement dated February 05, 2020, with a Uruguay group of companies doing business as "CannaEden", whereby Centurion will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares and assets of CannaEden in exchange for common shares of Centurion (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition will constitute a change of business ("COB") of the Company. About CannaEden The CannaEden team has more than 20 years' experience with cannabis cultivation and CBD industrialization. The CannaEden assets include: A fully funded and operational CBD extraction pilot plant capable of processing cannabis biomass to produce up to 9 kilograms/day of CBD isolate; 100% ownership of a Uruguayan tax-free zone registered company that holds a "build to suit" lease agreement on a facility that will be utilized to house a commercial GMP quality laboratory capable of producing 130 kilograms/day of CBD/CBG pharma-grade product. The facility is currently under construction and located within the Parque De La Cienca tax-free zone; 10 hectares of lease-to-own agricultural land for R&D cultivation and cloning; Preliminary applications to obtain the licenses and permits for the laboratory from the regulatory agencies; Pending registration of Genetics with high CBD concentration. Business Plan CannaEden and Centurion intend to pursue a growth strategy in extraction and distribution opportunities in South America, focused on low-cost, stable jurisdictions including Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. Specific objectives are to develop a sales-oriented, South American focused company that can: (1) produce derivative cannabis products as inputs for consumer products companies; and (2) produce an API isolate for the pharmaceutical industry. Story continues On this last point, both Centurion and CannaEden have coordinated efforts regarding detailed discussions directly and indirectly with multiple South American pharmaceutical companies to quantify potential national and international markets as well as determine feasible products and distribution networks. Product sales and distribution would target the majority of South America as well as the European Union. Transaction summary Upon closing Centurion will issue 10 million shares in exchange for 100% of the issued and outstanding shares and assets of CannaEden. The Transaction will be an arm's-length transaction and will not be a related party transaction, under applicable securities rules. CannaEden will have the ability to earn up to an additional 6 million shares upon hitting certain corporate milestones including, but not limited to achieving certain sales objectives. No deposit or advance has been made or is anticipated to be made by Centurion to CannaEden in connection with the Transaction. CannaEden will continue to finance its activities until closing of the transaction. The Definitive Agreement contemplates that CannaEden will receive additional common shares of Centurion valued at $0.25 for expenditures incurred between execution date of the Definitive Agreement and closing of the transaction. Expenditures are estimated at approximately C$250,000, which would thus result in the issuance of an additional 1 million shares in Centurion. The Company currently has 33,639,473 common shares issued and outstanding, as well as 416,667 stock options exercisable at an average price of $.60 per share and 22,580,909 warrants to acquire Centurion shares exercisable at an average price of $0.17 per share. The Transaction is subject to a number of terms and conditions, including, but not limited to receipt of all necessary Board, shareholder and any regulatory approvals; completion of the financings described below; and receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Centurion will provide a summary of any available significant financial information for CannaEden in the near future and will also confirm in a subsequent news release whether it will retain a Sponsor pursuant to the Transaction and concurrent financing or whether it will rely upon any available exemptions or waivers from the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Trading in the shares of Centurion is expected to remain halted pending receipt of conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange and/or closing of the Transaction. Financings It is anticipated that in connection with the Transaction, the Company completes two financings. Firstly, to fund Transaction expenses, the Company intends to immediately complete a financing of up to $500,000 at terms to be agreed which is expected to be at a maximum discount of 25% to the ("concurrent") financing. Secondly, pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, it is a condition of closing that the Company will have completed a concurrent financing of a minimum of $3,000,000 with the structure and pricing to be in the context of market conditions prevailing at the time of closing. Management and Board of Directors of Resulting Issuer Upon completion of the Transaction, it is expected that the board of directors of the Company will remain the same as currently in place with the addition of one additional member representing CannaEden. The current board members are; Mr. David G. Tafel, Mr. Jeremy Wright, Mr. Kenneth Cawkell and Mr. Joseph Del Campo. The additional proposed board member is CannaEden's managing partner, Mr. Mauricio Zlatkin who will occupy the position of General Manager, Uruguay. Mr. David Tafel will continue as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Jeremy Wright will remain as its Chief Financial Officer. A brief biography of Mr. Mauricio Zlatkin is provided here: Mr. Zlatkin is CannaEden's Managing Partner. A lawyer by training with a degree from Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), he specialized in Finance and Derivatives Trading in Chicago and New York. He has been a member of the Sao Paulo Commodities and Futures Exchange from 1987 until it's IPO in 2007, and with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) from 1995 to present, having acted as a Floor Trader, Broker, Fund Manager and Private Investor. His business ownership career commenced in 2004 after moving to Uruguay where he is currently Managing Partner in a number of companies with activities in the Real Estate, Aviation Services, Hospitality and Winemaking industries. Name Change Subject to receipt of any necessary shareholder, Board of Director and or regulatory approvals, and coincidental with closing of the Transaction, Centurion management proposes to change the name of the Company to Kadima Growth Ltd. ABOUT CENTURION Centurion Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with a focus on South American asset development. The Company's lead investment is its interest in the Ana Sofia Agri-Gypsum Fertilizer Project. The Company has been actively pursuing business opportunities in the South American cannabis and related products industry. "David G. Tafel" President and CEO For Further Information Contact: David Tafel 604-484-2161 Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, 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 release or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward looking statements concerning future operations of Centurion Minerals Ltd. (the "Company"). All forward-looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. Such statements include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to construction activities and operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals of operations; the ability of the Company and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the availability of financing for proposed transactions, programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52233 On November 20, Ukraine filed an appeal against Markiv's verdict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte have discussed the case of Ukrainian guardsman Vitaliy Markiv, who has been convicted and sentenced to 24-year imprisonment in Italy. "I understand that the Prime Minister cannot influence the Italian court. But I showed in detail what happened there, at what distance he [Markiv] was from the murder scene. And that we have to take the man [back home]," the president said, according to the presidential press service. Read alsoMarkiv case: Ukraine's Rada asks Italy to ensure objective appeal hearing Markiv's mother thanked Zelensky for his efforts to help release her son. "We are very grateful for this visit. We are really happy. It is very important for Vitaliy. With such support, Vitaly believes that everything will end well. He is ready and wants to return to Ukraine," she woman said. As UNIAN reported earlier, deputy commander of a platoon of the Ukrainian National Guard's first battalion, senior sergeant Markiv was detained in Italy on June 30, 2017, on suspicion of the murder of Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian interpreter Andrei Mironov amid a mortar attack in Donetsk region in May 2014. According to the Ukrainian investigation, the two were killed in shelling by Russian-led troops. Ukrainian National Guard officials insisted that the Ukrainian battalion was not armed with mortars in 2014. The jury in the court of Italy's Pavia on July 12, 2019, sentenced the Ukrainian guardsman to 24 years in prison. He is also to pay compensation to Rocchelli's family. Zelensky ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prosecutor General's Office to immediately address the issue of Markiv's return to Ukraine. On November 20, Ukraine filed an appeal against Markiv's verdict. It is to be considered by a Lombardy appellate court in the spring of 2020. Canada Goose has slashed its 2020 financial outlook due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has brought the companys recently expanded business in China to a standstill. The luxury parka maker said Friday that the health crisis in China has resulted in a sharp decline in sales and store traffic, and that the impact is spreading to shopping destinations in North America and Europe. The companys stock fell as much as 8 per cent on Friday morning shortly after the third quarter earnings came out. Canada Gooses stock was trading at $31.98 on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of 11:20 a.m. ET. BEIJING, CHINA - DECEMBER 30: People line up to enter a Canada Goose flagship store at Sanlitun on December 30, 2018 in Beijing, China. Canada Goose opened its first flagship store in Beijing on Sunday. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images) The health and safety of our team in China is our top priority and were closely watching the situation and adjusting our operations as needed, chief executive Dani Reiss said on a conference call with analysts Friday. This is obviously a major near term headwind. Understandably, people are staying home and avoiding shopping for their own health and safety in China and abroad. The company now expects sales growth for the 2020 fiscal year to be between $945 and $955 million, representing growth of between 13.8 per cent and 15 per cent. Canada Goose previously anticipated growth of 20 per cent. Adjusted net income per diluted share is expected to be between a loss of 2.2 per cent and a gain of 0.7 per cent, down from a previous expectation of 25 per cent. Chief financial officer Jonathan Sinclair said revenue is now at negligible levels across the entire store network in Greater China, including in Hong Kong, which saw sales suffer last quarter as a result of political upheaval in the region. The impact is spreading globally to major shopping destinations in North America and Europe, Sinclair said. That is largely because of the significant impact Chinese consumers have on such luxury sales. While local demand in North America and (Europe) continues to be strong, international traffic from Chinese consumers is essentially shut off due to travel cancellations and restrictions, Sinclair said when asked by an analyst about the magnitude of the forecast adjustments. He said that the company expects material revenue declines in both North America and Europe. Story continues For us, and the sector generally, they are the largest buyers of luxury goods In aggregate, (our store clientele) is a 50/50 mix between domestic demand and international demand. I think thats what youre seeing play out here. This is the latest headwind Canada Goose has been forced to grapple with in relation to what has been an aggressive international expansion that has been focused heavily on China. While the company does not have any store locations in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the virus outbreak, about 14 per cent of Canada Gooses sales are exposed to the Chinese market. The company has three stores in mainland China, and another two locations in Hong Kong. In the previous quarter, investor concern over weak sales in Hong Kong, where political upheaval and protests have occurred, weighed on the companys stock despite positive financial results. Canada Goose saw total sales increase by 13.2 per cent in the third quarter, before the coronavirus outbreak began receiving international attention, from $399.3 million last year to $452.1 million. While the company said sales in Hong Kong were severely impacted by disruptions to tourism and retail traffic, revenues in Asia doubled from $46.4 million last year to $94.7 million. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Rating: Cast: Jiiva, Navdeep, Varun, Riya Suman Direction: Rathina Siva Manimaran (Jiiva) is a local cable TV operator in Mayiladuthurai who covers local issues with his friend (Satish). His world revolves around his friends and younger sister who is in the family way. In the course of his work, he exposes the scam of an MLA (RNR Manohar), and the politician hires a thug Malli (Varun) from Chennai to bump him off. When Malli goes to Maran hometown to carry out the hit, a sudden turn of events leads him to save the life of his quarrys sister. The hired hitman returns to Chennai without executing the job. Now Manimaran goes in search of Malli to reciprocate his kindness. When he finally locates the hitman in Chennai, he is in for a shock. He witnesses a group of men, instigated by a high-profile criminal lawyer Ashok (Navdeep), attack Malli. Maran saves Malli. We learn from a flashback about the source of enmity between Ashok and Malli. The rest of the story is all about how Maran saves Malli and defeats Ashok. Its all a bit predictable. Jiiva is in form as the macho hero, although he goes missing for almost 20 minutes in the second half of the film. A beefed-up Varun delivers a good performance as the thug. Navdeep as the suave villain is ok, but his character could have been written better. Riya Suman is nothing to write home about. Among the girls, Chandini and Gayathri are impressive. The film moves at a slow pace in the first half, which is filled with a mass intro of the hero, replete with punchlines and mundane romance and song sequences. The film gains momentum upon the arrival of Varun in the plot. The flashback portions are well shot. However, the actual point of conflict is weak and logic goes missing in many places. D Immans songs Sevvandhiye and Vaa Vasuki are hummable and the background score does well during the action sequences. The runtime of 2 hours works in the films favour. A new attendance initiative meant to get kids excited about attending school is facing backlash from parents who feel their kids being shamed for being sick. On Tuesday, Yardville Elementary School in Hamilton Township announced it would be starting a new initiative to reward students who have perfect attendance. Those who went to school every day in January were invited to a party in the gym for the last 15 minutes of the school day on Wednesday. Students that did not have perfect attendance sat out of the dance. The event was to be held monthly to reward good attendance. The new initiative was met with a strong backlash from parents who felt the dance was excluding kids without perfect attendance, especially during cold and flu season when many kids get sick. My son is very upset. He feels excluded and didnt even want to go to school today since the dance will occur today, parent Lisa Tureo-Acuna told NJ Advance Media Wednesday. I think it is a terrible policy. Kids cant control illness and quite frankly, most of the time they get sick it comes from being at school with other kids that spread germs. If I am being responsible by keeping my son him home when he is sick he should not be penalized. Parents with children who have chronic illnesses or disabilities said they felt their children would have a very small chance of being able to attend the dance for the remainder of the year. Dara Beths son has a chronic illness and often misses school to attend doctor appointments. In my opinion, he is being discriminated against, Beth said. Its just absurd to celebrate some kids because they dont get sick. The dance and other attendance initiatives throughout the district are funded by a grant from the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF) that will last 5 years. The grant aims to reduce chronic absenteeism in the district through a variety of approaches. The ultimate goal is to make kids excited to go to school, said Superintendent Scott Rocco in an interview with NJ Advance Media. It wasnt intended to create a negative effect on students. Rocco said that the district has a committee that gets together to brainstorm ideas on how the district can reduce chronic absenteeism and has been implementing a variety of strategies across the districts schools throughout the year. The idea of creating a dance for students with perfect attendance was brought up in a grant committee meeting. I think the districts time, energy and resources would be better used working with the families individually that do have attendance problems and figure out why those kids are not coming to school," said Beth. In 2016, chronic absenteeism became a part of the states school accountability system. The New Jersey Department of Education measures chronic absenteeism by the percentage of students who are not present for 10% or more of school days. Students that are chronically absent have a higher chance of falling below grade level, and not achieving the full academic potential, according to the state. During both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, the district did not meet the states absenteeism standards, according to the DOE. New Jersey rates each public school on a scale of 0-100, and 10% of its score is based on chronic absenteeism. The rating is also based on factors such as proficiency on the statewide assessments, student growth, graduation rates, and progress toward English language proficiency, according to the DOE. A letter was sent home to parents Wednesday after the attendance dance party explain that the school and the district had received a lot of feedback from parents and would be taking it into consideration. We want to stress that addressing chronic absenteeism is not about sending students to school sick. We want our students to be well and excited to come to school. When they are sick, we ask that families follow normal procedures, and we want to work with our families to help them address any barriers to attending school regularly, Rocco said. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. There are several free classified ads websites in Nigeria that you can consider when you want to advertise your products for freeor when you are a buyer seeking an affordable product to buy. Some are owned by foreigners while several are owned by Nigerians. Today, I wish to highlight only the indigenous top classifieds in Nigeria, as several other articles have been writtenabout the foreign-owned ones. (1) The first on my list is Delon, a free classifieds in Nigeria. Delonis a new fast-growing classified ads website that will likely surpass the competitions very soon. What makes it different from others is that the company is extremely focused on really helping unemployed Nigerians. That is why they are offering 5 to 10 free adverts on their website (no other classified ads website offers this) and even their paid adverts are the cheapest. This clearly shows that the company indeed really wants to help unemployed people. The company also focuses a lot on job adverts and publishing articles to help people enhance their careers. The fact that they have over 60k followers on their linkedin account really shows how committed they are towards helping people find jobs or promoting their business free online. Click here for a video tutorial of how to post free ads on aclassified ads website in Nigeria. There are several other indigenous classified ads that you can check out when seeking to run free adverts or buy products online. Remember that you can actually put your ads on multiple websites. Before I share more details about the other websites, I like to give you some quick details about the important precautions that you must take whenever you are about to post an adverts on a classified ads website. 1. Use only classified ads websites that you can trust Since there are tens or hundreds of classified ads around, choose a few of them that you can trust and advertise your products regularly on them. Trusted platforms like Delon.ng and other ones that will be listed below offers a verified platform for its many sellers and you can be sure your personal information is safe and secure at all times. This personal information (except the ones that are shared publicly) wont be shared with any third party and all your information is stored securely as well. Its always a good idea to have a business email address (perhaps separate from your personal email address) and use that at all times for your adverts. See below a Legit.ng review of Delon.ng https://www.legit.ng/1288201-classified-ad-review-wondering-delon-classified-ad.html 2. Ensure to check the Website Security (HTTPS vs HTTP) Dont ever buy anything online using your personal debit or credit information from a website that doesnt have a secure website encryption (lock). It is easy to know if the site has anSSL (Secure sockets layer) because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS instead of just HTTP. An icon in the form of a locked padlock will display, typically to the left of the URL in the address bar. HTTPS is a standard protocol easily recognizable anywhere. Delon.ng and many other classified ads website have this HTTPS feature. 3. Be selective about the sellers you buy from Since most of the sales will be done by small companies and individuals, the first thing to do is to google the names of the companies and/or individuals to try to learn a few things about them. Small companies will not have website and you may not find a lot of details about many people, but at least, people should be on social media. If you google a seller and find absolutely zero presence on social media, then you should hesitate dealing with such persons. If you really like a product or service that the person is offering and he is not on social media, you can call the person and try to interview the person to learn a little more about them. You can also check out customer reviews, what do people say about the merchant? Do they have a social media following across several platforms such? If its a business that has an office address in a market area but didnt include email or phone number, you can visit the store to check them out. 4. Be careful of extremely low price offers If its too-good-to-be-true, you should think twice. If a classified ads site offers a price that seems incredible, like extremely low price, endless supply of free stuff, or tells you to send money and expect a hugely discounted product, then it probably is a scam. You can check similar websites to compare prices and also check pictures and other info pertaining to the merchandise. 5. Consider what the classified ads website focuses mostly on While some classified ads focus mostly on cars and real estates, some free classifieds in Nigeria focus on helping to promote upcoming fashion designers, agriculture products, as well as construction and repairs. Delon.ng has many different categories for sellers to post their adverts but has been focusing a lot on jobs, fashion designers, agricultural products, construction and repairs, as well as clothing, automobiles, real estates, laptops, wellness (herbs), food, and phones. Generally, the website focuses a lot on its core vision of helping to lift over one million Nigerians out of poverty by not only providing a free and affordable platform for unemployed people to start their business, but by also helping small business grow their customer base and consistently providing educative articles for small-scale business owners to learn. See Pulse.ng article about delon.ng on how to start and grow your business online. 5. Do not overshare your personal or business information Beware of sharing too much information. Most websites would ask you for personal information when registering and will not typically ask for card details until you are about to make payments. Only the required information should be shared wherever necessary. Even in your adverts, do not share your home address or too much details about yourself. If you have a business store address, this is good to share because it provides greater legitimacy to your adverts, but if you typically work from home, dont provide your home address. 6. Avoid or Limit the use of Public WIFI I know this is very difficult precaution in Nigeria because most of us will always like to take advantage of any available public wifi. My advice is always to ensure you dont select an option that allows other users of the network to have access to your device anytime you really have to use a public wifi. Since classified ads are typically done offline, the risk is much lower than using ecommerce website where all transactions are done on the website. Whenever you need to pay for premium ads on a classified ads, it is better to avoid the public WIFI and wait till you are using your primary internet to do that. 7. Always use very s trong passwords This point is very important in todays world where there are many identity thieves prowling around, looking for victims. If someone has the password to your account, they can log in, change your shipping address, and scam you and your friends. You can keep your account safe by locking it with a strong password. Here are some quick tips below to for this: a) Use a complex set of lowercase and uppercase numbers, letters, and symbols. b) Avoid easy words that come from a dictionary. c) Dont use personal information that others can find or guess, such as birthdates, your kids names or your favorite color. d) And dont use the same passwordhowever strongon multiple accounts. 8. Always keep good records Always keep records and details of purchases (invoices, receipts, tracking number etc.). If you have a problem with the order, this information will help you resolve any complaints you might have in future. 9. When you suspect any danger or suspicious activity, REPORT immediately You should report suspicious activities to a classified ads website support/help email whenever you seem to be having issues. If its a big issue that bothers on your security or scammer, please dont report to the classified ads company as they will not be able to do much. Report directly to the correct authorities. In Nigeria, you can also report scammers to a regulatory body like Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly known as Consumer Protection Council), EFCC, or the Police. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is the apex consumer protection agency in Nigeria. The Commission was established by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act (FCCPCA) (Cap. 25, Laws of The Federation 2004). The overall mandate of the Commission is to protect consumers by taking both preventive and remedial measures. Bodies like FCCPC would not hesitate to take up whatever issues might arise in the course of you conducting business online legally. For actual scam cases or criminal activities, you should report to EFCC. And for security issues, report to the Police. In most cases, simply shutting people off will solve the problems because scammers rarely show their faces. And you can save yourself the hassles of reporting, but if people have gained access to your accounts or threatening you, dont take the risk of not reporting. 10. Read about the website payment method before paying While paying for premium ads, classified ads use 3rd party payment gateways. You can always check this out and google to find out how secure they are. Delon.ng uses Flutterwave (a highly secure payment gateway in Nigeria) and Stripe (a top-of-the-range payment gateway company based out of the United States). A classified ads platform like Delon.ng will typically use a secure payment gateway that allows you securely pay for ad subscriptions by using your card details without fear of compromise of any form. 11. Think Safety and Scam always! Most good classified ads websites will display do and donts on their websites to provide adequate guidance to sellers and buyers. Its important to read this before you start posting you ads so that you can learn a lot of safety precautions. See a quick list below : a) Dont pay any seller you have not met in person. This is a core difference between ecommerce websites and classified ads websites. While in ecommerce, you have to trust the merchant to pay ahead, classified ads is an offline introduction that allows you to assess, view, meet, and interview seller before buying the product. So, always try to see the product or meet the person and be fully satisfied about the product or service before you make payment b) Buyers and Sellers should meet only in public places . This is perhaps the most important warning. Dont meet sellers or service providers in private placesalways request to meet in public places like markets, offices and workshops c) Avoid accepting cheques . This is important for sellers. Dont accept cheques from customers that you had no prior relationship with. Accept cash or present your POS to accept payment through their cards. d) Transactions are between users only, classified ads dont provide any guarantees . This is important to emphasize. Unlike ecommerce websites, classified ads dont provide any guarantees to buyers and sellers. Remember always that all you get is the introduction. e) Never give out your ATM card , Email or Social Media Passwords or PIN details . Remember never to give out details of your ATM cards, email password or social media passwrods to anyone f) Avoid opening emails from people you dont know, and whenever you open strange emails, never click on links or attachments that you are not sure of. Most emails with attachments and web links are are t ypically phishing emails (the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit/debit card numbers) by scammers trying to gain access to your account. 12. Be smart as you receive SMS/Text or Phone calls As a seller, be careful when you receive messages from would be buyers. Listen carefully to their request and be certain that they are serious buyers. When you are not absolutely certain of such messages/requests, dont let them waste your time, end the call. Some buyers are not scammers but are time-wasters. You must learn how to quickly decipher the time wasters and avoid letting them waste your time. Also, if you observe the person is a scammer, block their number immediately from your phone. 13. Protect your devices from viruses and hackers Make sure you have antivirus and antimalware software installed on your computer or mobile device, and that it is up to date. This will help you to avoid non-secure websites and pop-up phishing scams, and help keep your personal information safe. 14. T rust your guts when shopping on classified ads website . You can alway s reach out to the support/help page to clarify concerns, questions you might have. You can never make any error by asking questions when you have any doubts. There are several other classified ads websites in Nigeria that have existed for a while though some of them are no longer operating. Below is a list of most of the ones that have been around in recent years. 2 Adbushi.com 3 Zokija.com 4 Zazebra.com 5 1stnaira.com 6 Adsafrica.com.ng 7 Ojait.com 8 Freeads9ja.com 9 Nairaoutlet.com 10 Ahmsta.com 11 Whitedrum.com 12 Africavenue.com 13 Locanto.com.ng 14 Nigeriads.com 15 Bnshub.com 16 Afribaba.com.ng Ng 17 globalfreeads.com 18 Ibileworld.com 19 Privateproperty.com.ng 20 Koko.com.ng 21 Adsark.com 22 Advertise.com.ng 23 Expatads.com 24 Mamymarket.com.ng 25 Clicads.com.ng 26 Kerawa.com 27 Jobspire.com.ng 28 adsno1.com 29 Ojabuy.com 30 Adeex.com.ng 31 Connections.com.ng 32 Ngosi.com 33 Efritin.com I advise that you visit all these 33 websites and many more that you find out online to learn about them. Try to narrow down your choice to about 5 classified websites that you would like to use regularly to promote your products and find affordable products. If you have low-budget, post free ads and pay only when you really need premium ads. I know several people that have had unsuccessful but expensive experiences trying to sell products (especially cars) on some top classified ads websites. Some of these people will only have discouraging words for you, but my advice is that you reduce your cost risk by focusing first on free adverts and if you need to pay, look for classified ads charging small fees. Also, utilize free social media platforms like facebook and Instagram to promote your products alongside the classifieds ads website. Use all available tools to help your business without spending too much. Nigeria is a country of about 200 million people and there is good market opportunity for multiple classifieds ads websites to flourish. If I were you, I will continue to use several of them but focus my attention and time a lot on a few. These are products that can really help many poor people earn some income to meet their daily needs. As long as you have a small android phone with internet facility, all you need to do is to find a suitable product or service, and start selling online. If you also have an uncle or aunt that is an artisan that doesnt know how to use mobile phones or internet, you can really help that person grow their business by helping them promote their business online through classified ads websites. There are several other indigenous classified ads that you can check out when seeking to run free adverts or buy products online. Remember that you can actually put your ads on multiple websites. Before I share more details about the other websites, I like to give you some quick details about the important precautions that you must take whenever you are about to post an adverts on a classified ads website. 1. Use only classified ads websites that you can trust Since there are tens or hundreds of classified ads around, choose a few of them that you can trust and advertise your products regularly on them. Trusted platforms like Delon.ng and other ones that will be listed below offers a verified platform for its many sellers and you can be sure your personal information is safe and secure at all times. This personal information (except the ones that are shared publicly) wont be shared with any third party and all your information is stored securely as well. Its always a good idea to have a business email address (perhaps separate from your personal email address) and use that at all times for your adverts. See below a Legit.ng review of Delon.ng https://www.legit.ng/1288201-classified-ad-review-wondering-delon-classified-ad.html 2. Ensure to check the Website Security (HTTPS vs HTTP) Dont ever buy anything online using your personal debit or credit information from a website that doesnt have a secure website encryption (lock). It is easy to know if the site has anSSL (Secure sockets layer) because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS instead of just HTTP. An icon in the form of a locked padlock will display, typically to the left of the URL in the address bar. HTTPS is a standard protocol easily recognizable anywhere. Delon.ng and many other classified ads website have this HTTPS feature. 3. Be selective about the sellers you buy from Since most of the sales will be done by small companies and individuals, the first thing to do is to google the names of the companies and/or individuals to try to learn a few things about them. Small companies will not have website and you may not find a lot of details about many people, but at least, people should be on social media. If you google a seller and find absolutely zero presence on social media, then you should hesitate dealing with such persons. If you really like a product or service that the person is offering and he is not on social media, you can call the person and try to interview the person to learn a little more about them. You can also check out customer reviews, what do people say about the merchant? Do they have a social media following across several platforms such? If its a business that has an office address in a market area but didnt include email or phone number, you can visit the store to check them out. 4. Be careful of extremely low price offers If its too-good-to-be-true, you should think twice. If a classified ads site offers a price that seems incredible, like extremely low price, endless supply of free stuff, or tells you to send money and expect a hugely discounted product, then it probably is a scam. You can check similar websites to compare prices and also check pictures and other info pertaining to the merchandise. 5. Consider what the classified ads website focuses mostly on While some classified ads focus mostly on cars and real estates, some free classifieds in Nigeria focus on helping to promote upcoming fashion designers, agriculture products, as well as construction and repairs. Delon.ng has many different categories for sellers to post their adverts but has been focusing a lot on jobs, fashion designers, agricultural products, construction and repairs, as well as clothing, automobiles, real estates, laptops, wellness (herbs), food, and phones. Generally, the website focuses a lot on its core vision of helping to lift over one million Nigerians out of poverty by not only providing a free and affordable platform for unemployed people to start their business, but by also helping small business grow their customer base and consistently providing educative articles for small-scale business owners to learn. See Pulse.ng article about delon.ng on how to start and grow your business online. 5. Do not overshare your personal or business information Beware of sharing too much information. Most websites would ask you for personal information when registering and will not typically ask for card details until you are about to make payments. Only the required information should be shared wherever necessary. Even in your adverts, do not share your home address or too much details about yourself. If you have a business store address, this is good to share because it provides greater legitimacy to your adverts, but if you typically work from home, dont provide your home address. 6. Avoid or Limit the use of Public WIFI I know this is very difficult precaution in Nigeria because most of us will always like to take advantage of any available public wifi. My advice is always to ensure you dont select an option that allows other users of the network to have access to your device anytime you really have to use a public wifi. Since classified ads are typically done offline, the risk is much lower than using ecommerce website where all transactions are done on the website. Whenever you need to pay for premium ads on a classified ads, it is better to avoid the public WIFI and wait till you are using your primary internet to do that. 7. Always use very strong passwords This point is very important in todays world where there are many identity thieves prowling around, looking for victims. If someone has the password to your account, they can log in, change your shipping address, and scam you and your friends. You can keep your account safe by locking it with a strong password. Here are some quick tips below to for this: a) Use a complex set of lowercase and uppercase numbers, letters, and symbols. b) Avoid easy words that come from a dictionary. c) Dont use personal information that others can find or guess, such as birthdates, your kids names or your favorite color. d) And dont use the same passwordhowever strongon multiple accounts. 8. Always keep good records Always keep records and details of purchases (invoices, receipts, tracking number etc.). If you have a problem with the order, this information will help you resolve any complaints you might have in future. 9. When you suspect any danger or suspicious activity, REPORT immediately You should report suspicious activities to a classified ads website support/help email whenever you seem to be having issues. If its a big issue that bothers on your security or scammer, please dont report to the classified ads company as they will not be able to do much. Report directly to the correct authorities. In Nigeria, you can also report scammers to a regulatory body like Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly known as Consumer Protection Council), EFCC, or the Police. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is the apex consumer protection agency in Nigeria. The Commission was established by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act (FCCPCA) (Cap. 25, Laws of The Federation 2004). The overall mandate of the Commission is to protect consumers by taking both preventive and remedial measures. Bodies like FCCPC would not hesitate to take up whatever issues might arise in the course of you conducting business online legally. For actual scam cases or criminal activities, you should report to EFCC. And for security issues, report to the Police. In most cases, simply shutting people off will solve the problems because scammers rarely show their faces. And you can save yourself the hassles of reporting, but if people have gained access to your accounts or threatening you, dont take the risk of not reporting. 10. Read about the website payment method before paying While paying for premium ads, classified ads use 3rd party payment gateways. You can always check this out and google to find out how secure they are. Delon.ng uses Flutterwave (a highly secure payment gateway in Nigeria) and Stripe (a top-of-the-range payment gateway company based out of the United States). A classified ads platform like Delon.ng will typically use a secure payment gateway that allows you securely pay for ad subscriptions by using your card details without fear of compromise of any form. 11. Think Safety and Scam always! Most good classified ads websites will display do and donts on their websites to provide adequate guidance to sellers and buyers. Its important to read this before you start posting you ads so that you can learn a lot of safety precautions. See a quick list below : a) Dont pay any seller you have not met in person. This is a core difference between ecommerce websites and classified ads websites. While in ecommerce, you have to trust the merchant to pay ahead, classified ads is an offline introduction that allows you to assess, view, meet, and interview seller before buying the product. So, always try to see the product or meet the person and be fully satisfied about the product or service before you make payment b) Buyers and Sellers should meet only in public places . This is perhaps the most important warning. Dont meet sellers or service providers in private placesalways request to meet in public places like markets, offices and workshops c) Avoid accepting cheques . This is important for sellers. Dont accept cheques from customers that you had no prior relationship with. Accept cash or present your POS to accept payment through their cards. d) Transactions are between users only, classified ads dont provide any guarantees . This is important to emphasize. Unlike ecommerce websites, classified ads dont provide any guarantees to buyers and sellers. Remember always that all you get is the introduction. e) Never give out your ATM card , Email or Social Media Passwords or PIN details . Remember never to give out details of your ATM cards, email password or social media passwrods to anyone f) Avoid opening emails from people you dont know, and whenever you open strange emails, never click on links or attachments that you are not sure of. Most emails with attachments and web links are are t ypically phishing emails (the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit/debit card numbers) by scammers trying to gain access to your account. 12. Be smart as you receive SMS/Text or Phone calls As a seller, be careful when you receive messages from would be buyers. Listen carefully to their request and be certain that they are serious buyers. When you are not absolutely certain of such messages/requests, dont let them waste your time, end the call. Some buyers are not scammers but are time-wasters. You must learn how to quickly decipher the time wasters and avoid letting them waste your time. Also, if you observe the person is a scammer, block their number immediately from your phone. 13. Protect your devices from viruses and hackers Make sure you have antivirus and antimalware software installed on your computer or mobile device, and that it is up to date. This will help you to avoid non-secure websites and pop-up phishing scams, and help keep your personal information safe. 14. T rust your guts when shopping on classified ads website . You can alway s reach out to the support/help page to clarify concerns, questions you might have. You can never make any error by asking questions when you have any doubts. There are several other classified ads websites in Nigeria that have existed for a while though some of them are no longer operating. Below is a list of most of the ones that have been around in recent years. 2 Adbushi.com 3 Zokija.com 4 Zazebra.com 5 1stnaira.com 6 Adsafrica.com.ng 7 Ojait.com 8 Freeads9ja.com 9 Nairaoutlet.com 10 Ahmsta.com 11 Whitedrum.com 12 Africavenue.com 13 Locanto.com.ng 14 Nigeriads.com 15 Bnshub.com 16 Afribaba.com.ng Ng 17 globalfreeads.com 18 Ibileworld.com 19 Privateproperty.com.ng 20 Koko.com.ng 21 Adsark.com 22 Advertise.com.ng 23 Expatads.com 24 Mamymarket.com.ng 25 Clicads.com.ng 26 Kerawa.com 27 Jobspire.com.ng 28 adsno1.com 29 Ojabuy.com 30 Adeex.com.ng 31 Connections.com.ng 32 Ngosi.com 33 Efritin.com I advise that you visit all these 33 websites and many more that you find out online to learn about them. Try to narrow down your choice to about 5 classified websites that you would like to use regularly to promote your products and find affordable products. If you have low-budget, post free ads and pay only when you really need premium ads. I know several people that have had unsuccessful but expensive experiences trying to sell products (especially cars) on some top classified ads websites. Some of these people will only have discouraging words for you, but my advice is that you reduce your cost risk by focusing first on free adverts and if you need to pay, look for classified ads charging small fees. Also, utilize free social media platforms like facebook and Instagram to promote your products alongside the classifieds ads website. Use all available tools to help your business without spending too much. mNigeria is a country of about 200 million people and there is good market opportunity for multiple classifieds ads websites to flourish. If I were you, I will continue to use several of them but focus my attention and time a lot on a few. These are products that can really help many poor people earn some income to meet their daily needs. As long as you have a small android phone with internet facility, all you need to do is to find a suitable product or service, and start selling online. If you also have an uncle or aunt that is an artisan that doesnt know how to use mobile phones or internet, you can really help that person grow their business by helping them promote their business online through classified ads websites. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, is set to host screenings of British star Daniel Craig's films as the actor bids adieu to the iconic character of James Bond. The program will start on March 3, a month before the release of Craig's final appearance as the fictional British spy in "No Time to Die". The film series, which will will trace Craig's evolution from European arthouse regular to A-list superstar, will conclude on March 22. "I couldn't ever imagine being put in a museum, but what an honour and a thrill to be shown at MoMA," Craig said in a statement. The 51-year-old star's initial films like John Maybury's Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998), Roger Mitchell's The Mother (2003) and Enduring Love (2004), and Matthew Vaughn's Layer Cake", will be screened during the program. Craig will be in attendance for the series' opening night-screening of "Casino Royale". Other films to be screened are Sam Mendes's Skyfall and Road to Perdition, Steven Spielberg's Munich, David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Rian Johnson's Knives Out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was an elementary school. For almost three years now, its been Phillipsburgs temporary town hall. And it may remain so for another year and a half. The municipal government wants to extend its rent-free agreement for the Freeman School with the school board through September 2021. After that, all options are on the table, Mayor Todd Tersigni told lehighvalleylive.com. The municipal offices moved in 2017 due to mold in town hall on Corliss Avenue. The arrangement through September 2020 allows the town to use the school and the district to use a bus garage, both at no cost except utilities. The same lease allows the Phillipsburg police to use the former Andover-Morris Elementary School as a headquarters. In a recent report to the town council, Tersigni said he wants to extend the lease through September 2021. Schools Superintendent Greg Troxell said no formal action is expected at the boards next meeting on Monday, but it appears they are desirous to assist the town. A desk is set up in an old Freeman Elementary School classroom in October 2017 as Phillipsburg's municipal offices move in.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com The extension would give the town government more time to find a permanent solution. Before Tersigni took office in January, it had appeared town hall would return to the Corliss Avenue building after remediation. But the new mayor said he is looking at all kinds of solutions. In a previous stint on town council, Tersigni advocated moving town hall to South Main Street, where it was until the Corliss Avenue building went up in the 1970s. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. New Delhi: As the 70 member seats in Delhi went to polls on Saturday (February 8), it appears that team Kejriwal has taken a lead in the betting market while despite aggressive campaigning by its top brass, the Bharatiya Janata Party appears to have failed in impressing the Satta Bazaar. According to reports coming in, almost Rs 5,000 crore have been placed as a bet by bookies in this assembly election. What's gripping that the Delhi election has generated a buzz among bookies of several cities including Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The Satta Bazaar is placing its bets on two key parties - AAP and BJP. According to reports, the betting market expects the AAP to win 54-56 seats in the 70 member House whereas BJP is projected to win 11-13 seats, up from the 3 seats the party won in the last election. The Congress, which score a duck last time, is expected to leave a mark in 3-4 seats. Here's the price money bookies have placed as a bet on their favorite party or leaders: AAP: 70 paise BJP: 85 paise Congress: Rs 5 It is to be noted that in the betting market, the lower is the price, the higher its scope is judged. Also, Arvind Kejriwal has appeared as the first choice of bookies for the post of Chief Minister of Delhi whereas BJP Delhi president Manoj Tiwari has been totally rejected by them. Kejriwal: 40 paisa Harshvardhan: 80 paisa Manoj Tiwari: Rs 2 According to a fresh report, after the voting percent is revealed at 6 pm on Saturday, the betting market will carry out another assessment and issue a fresh price bid on the Delhi election. Advocates for abolition of female circumcision say it has no medical benefit for women nor religious basis. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Dr Harlina Siraj, an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, still remembers with dread the day she witnessed her first-born daughters circumcision at five months old. As someone who studied reproductive health and the female anatomy in medical school for years, she was also steeped in her familys traditions and beliefs. As a child, the doctor and her four sisters, like most girls from her generation, also went through circumcision, known as khitan in Malaysia. By the time her daughter was born, Siraj confessed, she was unprepared to defy long-held traditions. So much so that she allowed a mak bidan, or a midwife, to perform the cutting on her baby, using an over-the-counter razor, a turmeric root as an antiseptic and a lit candle for sterilisation. That was very traumatic to me as a doctor, she said, adding that she even helped hold down her daughters legs to keep her still, while the midwife carried out the procedure. I cried after that and said I would not have anyone in my life ever go through that, said Siraj. Ismail Yahya, the former mufti or Islamic jurist of the Malaysian state of Terengganu, said there are no religious texts supporting female circumcision [Manar Al Adam/Al Jazeera] Female circumcision is an old practice, of removing some external parts of a females reproductive organ. It is observed in Malaysia and many other countries around the world including Africa. In Malaysia, the National Fatwa Council issued a religious edict in 2009 making it mandatory. The method, however, varies in each state based on interpretation by scholars and government officials. According to a 2012 study conducted by Dr Maznah Dahlui, associate professor at the University of Malayas Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, as much as 93 percent of Muslim women surveyed in Malaysia have undergone circumcision. Around the world, it is estimated that at least 200 million girls and women have undergone circumcision. No medical benefit However, a growing number of Malaysians, like Dr Siraj, said the practice, commonly referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM), has no medical benefit for women and should be banned. It also has no basis in Islam, they said. It should not be performed to help with (decreasing) female sexual desire, thats wrong altogether, Siraj said, adding that FGM has resulted in various sexual dysfunctions among women. When the fatwa on mandatory female circumcision was issued in 2009 in Malaysia, some in the countrys medical community took it upon themselves to perform the procedure instead of leaving families to perform it outside of a safe environment. But others like Dr Siraj opposed the new fatwa and instead informed parents of the harm associated with female circumcision. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), FGM is erroneously linked to religion, is not particular to any religious faith, and predates Christianity and Islam. It said it has not found any religious scripture supporting the practice. But in a country where cultural and religious traditions hold sway, a sweeping change on the practice is still a long way to go. Changing minds According to 2012 research conducted by the Centre for Population Health at the University of Malaya, 80 percent of respondents view it as a religious obligation. A separate study by the Islamic Science University of Malaysia during the same year said only 28 percent of respondents knew the exact procedure of female circumcision. Of those 28 percent, 95 percent said they would allow their daughters to be circumcised. Nevertheless, Siraj and other advocates are making every effort to win the hearts and minds of Malaysians about the practice. Wan Elissa, a convert to the fight against FGM, told Al Jazeera that she was stunned when she learned that her friend, Fathin Raihana, had never gone through the process. I was shocked, I thought it was a religious belief to reduce the sex urge, Elissa said, adding that the revelation completely changed her views of the practice. According to 2012 research conducted by the Centre for Population Health at the University of Malaya, 80 percent of respondents view it as a religious obligation [File: Ahmad Yusni/EPA] Raihana, herself, said she was not surprised at her friends reaction, but was stunned at the high percentage of people still observing it, believing that it is normal. Sivanathi Thanenthiran, executive director the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), said FGM within the Asian societies often goes unnoticed. Previously FGM was seen only as an African problem. There was not much awareness of the incidences in the Asian region including Malaysia, she said during a talk on FGM organised by ARROW on the eve of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Thursday. Questions about what constitutes FGM Rozana Isa, a panelist at the event representing Sisters in Islam, said the debate on female circumcision in Malaysia mostly revolves around whether or not it is considered to be FGM. Isa insisted that any type of harm inflicted on a females genitals should be considered as FGM. Cultural acceptance within the Malay society, however, has also allowed the practice to continue, adding that her parents also had her circumcised by a midwife. She also said during her time uncircumcised women are seen as wild or flirtatious and are more likely to cheat on their partners or partake in pre-marital sex. In terms of the cultural narratives, the ones that I grew up with, the language around it can be quite crude, Isa said. In recent years, the practice has become medicalised, with practitioners going through some level of training. It also remains legal. No religious basis At the 2018 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women in Switzerland, Malaysia was confronted for defending the practice. Malaysias representative explained that the removal of the folds of skin surrounding the females private parts does not pose harm as it is not detrimental to their sexual health, and should not be categorised as FGM. But Philippine Ambassador Rosario Manalo, who was also at the meeting, said she was disturbed by the response given. At the forum on FGM organised by ARROW on Thursday, Ismail Yahya, the former mufti or Islamic jurist of the Malaysian state of Terengganu, also questioned the practice on religious grounds, saying there are no religious texts supporting female circumcision. Yahya once served in the National Fatwa Council that issued the mandatory order on female circumcision in 2009. He was part of the minority who opposed the edict. Wheres the source for it being done on children? Do you choose your rights when youre weeks old? Winning hearts Thanenthiran, the head of ARROW, however, said with the number of cases of female circumcision in Malaysia, simply banning it would only worsen the situation. Believe me, many people are good and they want to do the right thing, Thanenthiran said, adding that by giving women the right education and support, they could make the right decisions in the future. FGM is not a new issue, its aeons old, activist Azira Aziz said. She said the best ways in which ingrained issues are solved is to approach communities as a whole. Activist Azira Aziz, centre, said the best approach to dealing with FGM is to involve the community [Manar Al Adam/Al Jazeera] She proposed that community leaders set a positive example to their members in confronting the FGM issue. No one is my enemy, theyre just a potential ally in the future, she said, adding on that empathy and cooperation is needed, instead of demonising those who underwent the procedure, or those who carried it out. For Dr Siraj, it is crucial to educate the public about womens rights. And while female circumcision remains prevalent, the government should keep its hands off womens bodies. Leave our clitoris alone! Phuket tourism businesses seek up to B20 billion in assistance over virus fallout PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana on Monday (Feb 3) was handed a formal request for the government to provide up to B20 billion in assistance to tourism businesses suffering as the number of international tourist arrivals continues to plunge in the fallout from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China. tourismeconomicsChinesehealthCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Tanyaluk Sakoot Saturday 8 February 2020, 09:33AM Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana received the request for B20 billion in assistance on Monday (Feb 3). Photo: PR Dept The same request had already been sent to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Ministry Finance, explained Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Thailand Hotels Association Southern chapter, who was at the meeting at Provincial Hall on Monday. Phuket Tourist Association President Bhummikitti Ruktaengam explained that the request for B20bn was for a worst-case scenario of the number of Chinese tourists falling by 90%. As of Tuesday (Feb 4), the total number of international tourist arrivals at Phuket International Airport had fallen by more than 44%, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Intelligence Centre. (See story here.) We have modelled our request on three scenarios, Mr Bhummikitti told The Phuket News. The first scenario is that the number of Chinese tourists falls by 50%, which would result in losses of tourism revenues of about at B7.425bn and a total economic loss of about B9.281bn, he explained. The second scenario is that the number of Chinese tourists falling by 70%, which would result in tourism income losses of about B10.395nm, and a total economic loss of about B14.033bn, he added. The third scenario is that the number of Chinese tourists falls by 90%, which would result in tourism income loss of an estimated B13.365bn and a total economic loss of about B20.047bn, Mr Bhummikitti said. If the coronavirus situation remains uncontrollable, we may suffer greatly as a consequence, but either way an increased economic impact is inevitable, he added. The request for assistance has been formally filed by the Phuket Tourism Business Association, in cooperation with the Phuket Tourism Industry Council, the Thai Hotel Association Southern chapter and the Phang Nga Province Tourism Association, Mr Bhummikitti explained. We sent the urgent request to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Ministry of Finance on January 28, he confirmed. The operators are not expecting a government giveaway, Mr Bhummikitti added. We require and ask for B20bn be provided as soft loans to support tourism operators, businesses and staffers working in Phuket. We have asked that the government provides loans to support tourism businesses with 2% interest, which is same rate of interest as the soft loans provided after the 2004 tsunami, he explained. Mr Kongsak pointed out that 15 of the 100 THA member hotels in Phuket had suffered 100% cancellations of Chinese group tour bookings, and the number of Chinese free independent travellers (FITs) was also falling dramatically. In February and March we expect 100 % cancellations of all Chinese tour group bookings, and bookings by Chinese FITs to fall by up to 80%, Mr Kongsak said. After that we expect Chinese FITs to start returning slowly in lower numbers in April, but not recovering to the same numbers as last year. Chinese groups might come back in October, but by then it will already be the tourism low season, he added. Mr Kongsak also voiced concerns that tourists from countries other than China are also deciding to not come to Phuket for fear of the virus spreading. We are worried about travelers from other countries, they are scared of this virus, which delays their decision to travel, he explained. The government has tried to cheer up and encourage the Chinese people. This does not help us, he said. I require the government to send the right message to other countries that are our tourism source markets, such as Europe, India and Russia, for those people to have confidence in travelling to Phuket, Mr Kongsak explained. BLANKET ASSURANCES Governor Phakaphong at the meeting on Monday assured that the government was already supporting local businesses by implementing control measures to curtail the spread of the virus and apparently by still promoting tourism to Phuket. Present at the meeting to hear the assurances were Phuket Vice Governor Suphoj Rotrueang Na Nongkhai along with the heads of government agencies and representatives from the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Phuket Tourism Industry Council, Phuket Tourism Business Association, Thai Hotels Association Southern chapter, Phuket Professional Tourist Association, Phuket Old Town Tourism Community, hotel business operators, tour boat operators and airlines. Phuket has implemented strict measures to prevent pneumonia from the new virus on Jan 5 with disease surveillance measures, disease prevention and control measures, tourism measures and measures on public transport and to reduce the impact of the virus, which includes both fiscal and financial remedies [see here], the Governor said. Phuket has discussed with the private sector to revitalise the tourism industry of Phuket now and in the future in order to reduce the economic impact that will occur due to the decrease in the number of tourists at this time by helping to find measures to promote tourism in the country as well as building confidence in tourists in the disease control measures in Thailand and Phuket, he added. HIDDEN NUMBERS Not mentioned at the Bangkok-ordered virus situation daily update meeting on Monday was any update on the number of people still being held in isolation in Phuket on suspicion of being infected with the virus. At last report, on Jan 30, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol confirmed that three more tourists in Phuket were suspected of carrying the virus and were in isolation and under observation at the hospital. However, Dr Chalermong did not explain where the tourists were identified as suspected of being infected with the virus, which country they originated from, how long they had been in Phuket, or even their ages or genders. He did say that the new cases brought to 23 the total number of people held in isolation in Phuket on suspicion that they may be infected since officials started screening tourists on Jan 5. So far no people in Phuket have been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus, Dr Chalermpong stressed. Source: The New York Times By Zhou Bo Feb. 3, 2020 Forget the trade war. If the gravest challenge of the 21st century is finding ways that China and the United States can coexist competitively, the real danger is that an unexpected incident might trigger a conflict that neither side has anticipated or could possibly control. The likeliest potential flash point is the South China Sea. China believes, and has said as much in a 2014 position paper, that it has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters. This claim is solidly grounded in history and law, the government argues, because China was the first country to discover, name, explore and exploit the resources of the South China Sea islands and the first to continuously exercise sovereign powers over them. Some coastal states in the region disagree most notably perhaps the Philippines, but also Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and more recently, Indonesia. They defend other, sometimes competing, territorial claims, based on their own accounts of history and geography. The United States, for its part, has historically vowed not to take sides in these disputes over sovereignty, arguing that it only wants to protect free navigation in the regions waters. But China has denounced Americas professed commitment to neutrality as hypocritical in several ways. And as academics like M. Taylor Fravel have argued, there seems to be something of an inherent contradiction in the United States policy: between its claim to want to stay out of local disputes and the resurgence of its operations in the region, particularly since it identified one country China as the primary source of increased tensions there. Whats more, whenever an American vessel sails close to islands or rocks controlled by China, in waters patrolled by Chinese ships, the risk of a dangerous encounter rises. In 2001, a Chinese fighter jet collided with a United States Navy surveillance plane, killing the Chinese pilot. A tense diplomatic standoff over the detained American pilot and crew was resolved after Washington said, twice, that it was very sorry without officially accepting responsibility for the accident and death. Since then, there have been quite a few close encounters between American and Chinese military vessels and aircraft, again in 2001, and then in 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. Under the Trump administration, the United States Navy has increased its freedom-of-navigation operations, including in waters that China claims as its own, and those maneuvers increase the risk of an incident. The American destroyer Decatur and the Chinese destroyer Lanzhou narrowly avoided a collision, by just 45 yards, in September 2018 the hairiest encounter in years. Should another collision occur today, it wont be resolved as easily as the one in 2001 was. An ever-rising China can only be more determined to safeguard what it sees as its sovereign rights, especially when Washington has deliberately intensified its competition with Beijing, and rather aggressively. Thucydides identified three motivations fear, honor and interest as the main causes of a war, and the South China Sea features them all. Partly because China has ramped up its military arsenal and fleet in recent years, as well as built up outposts in the South China Sea, the Trump administration has called it a strategic competitor, including in the 2017 National Security Strategy paper and the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Washington has also said that Beijing is a revisionist power. China, in turn, released a defense white paper last summer that described the United States as having adopted unilateral policies and provoked and intensified competition among major countries. With the temperature seeming to rise on both sides, how can a conflict, or something like a new cold war, between China and the United States be avoided? Precisely by looking at the actual Cold War. In the early years of that protracted standoff, American and Soviet aircrafts didnt hesitate to fire at one another. There were three crises over the status of divided Berlin, in 1948, 1958 and 1961. The Cuban missile crisis brought the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962. And yet outright conflict was averted, thanks to a few modest agreements and well-established hotlines for emergency communication. Even bitter enemies can build trust, and with imperfect tools, when they measure the stakes of a full-on clash. In 1972, Washington and Moscow signed the Agreement on the Prevention of Incidents on and Over the High Seas vowing, among other things, to use clear communication signals, avoid embarrassing or endangering even ships under their surveillance and exercise the greatest caution and prudence in approaching vessels on the high seas. The accord didnt prevent two Soviet ships from bumping into two American ships in Soviet territorial waters in February 1988, but that was an outlier incident, and the agreement does seem to have drastically reduced the overall risk of dangerous encounters. Within two years of its entry into force, according to a 2012 paper by Raul (Pete) Pedrozo, then a law professor at the United States Naval War College, the number of incidents per year had dropped from 100 to 40. If the Soviet Union and the United States managed to avoid a major conflict during the Cold War, then some degree of confidence seems in order today about the far less confrontational relations between China and the United States. Unlike the military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, which was global, any military competition between the United States and China is confined to the western Pacific. America thinks that China wants to drive it out of the region; China believes America wants to block its legitimate ambition to develop a blue-water navy and hopes instead to confine Chinas influence to the eastern coast of continental Asia. Yet even though China has built up its military capacity at an awesome speed, it has shown no appetite to replace the United States as world policeman. Chinas operations far from its shores, such as in the Gulf of Aden or on the African continent, are limited to addressing threats such as piracy or participating in peacekeeping and disaster relief. The United States Navy, on the other hand, regularly sends ships to the Asia-Pacific region in a deliberate effort to challenge its own term the excessive maritime claims of some coastal states. Still, even the wariest of observers have yet to describe China and the United States as actual enemies. At the last Xiangshan Forum in October the Chinese governments version of the Shangri-La Dialogue Wei Fenghe, the defense minister, said, The China-United States military relationship is generally stable, but we are confronted with many difficulties and challenges. The confidence-building measures that exist today between China and the United States are rudimentary compared to those between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. In a way, this may be a comforting fact: a suggestion that relations havent become so hostile as to require many such measures. Yet more of them will be necessary in the long run. In 1998, China and the United States, acting in the spirit of mutual respect, signed the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement to establish a stable channel for consultations between their respective maritime and air forces. In 2014 came the nonbinding Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters. Chinese and American aircraft nonetheless collided after the 1998 agreement, and there have been dangerously close calls even since the two later sets of guidelines. In other words, confidence-building measures alone can neither prevent incidents nor overcome strategic distrust today no more than in the past. And yet they remain essential to preventing any mishap from escalating and to developing working relations between China and America despite their divergent interests. As Chinas military strength continues to grow and it closes the gap with the United States, both sides will almost certainly need to put more rules in place, not only in areas like antipiracy or disaster relief where the two countries already have been cooperating but also regarding space exploration, cyberspace and artificial intelligence. For Chinese people, who traditionally believe in yin and yang, the notion that rivals can cooperate isnt a contradiction in terms. It seems to be a problem for America, however. Officials in Washington and other Western capitals have expressed dismay that China hasnt become more like the United States, or at least more democratic. But did China ever pledge to become like the United States? And so what if it hasnt become that? Competitive coexistence is still possible. Zhou Bo is a senior colonel in the Peoples Liberation Army of China. This essay reflects his opinions alone. The original link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/opinion/pla-us-china-cold-war-military-sea.html A pedestrian wears a protective mask in Toronto, Canada (Picture: AP) A mum is desperately hoping her two-year-old daughter will be able to fly home to Canada soon after her husband contracted the coronavirus while they were visiting China. Amelia Pans daughter Cerena is stranded in Hubei province, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, being cared for by a relative after her dad Wei Ye and grand-parents fell ill. Ye had flown to Yingshan, near Wuhan, on January 17 to be with his ill father, who later died from coronavirus, taking his daughter with him while Pan stayed behind in Richmond, British Columbia. At the time, the family had heard of the infection but did not understand the danger it posed. A man wears a mask following the outbreak of a new virus as people arrive from the International terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto (Picture: AP) By January 26 Pan received word that her father-in-law was infected with the coronavirus. Soon after, it was confirmed Pans husband and mother-in-law had the illness and they were hospitalised. Cerena was left in the care of a neighbour but because she was deemed an infection risk, she was put in hospital. Fortunately, test results came back negative on Saturday. If her temperature stays normal, she should be discharged over the weekend, her mother said. A plane carrying Canadians back Wuhan, China, lands at CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Canada Friday, on February 7 (Picture: AP) I am just hanging in there, Pan, a Canadian citizen originally from China, said in a Skype interview. I need to stay strong so I can fight for my family. Pan has been scrambling to get her daughter on to an evacuation flight back to Canada, but it has been complicated. Cerenas father has contracted the virus so he cannot accompany her home on the flight. Factbox: Latest on the coronavirus spreading in China and beyond The death toll in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday, up by 86 from the previous day, Chinese authorities said. The virus infected five British nationals staying in the same chalet at a ski resort in Savoie in southeastern France, the French health minister said. A Chinese doctor who issued an early warning about the virus outbreak before it was officially recognised died of the virus on Friday. The virus has spread to 27 countries and regions, according to a Reuters count based on official reports, infecting more than 330 people. There have been two deaths outside mainland China, in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Story continues Cerena is in a Chinese hospital, separated from her father and being looked after by one of his cousins. Pan said she is in touch with the Canadian authorities to get her daughter, a Canadian citizen, on to an evacuation flight and is seeking someone willing to accompany her on a plane that is supposed to leave on Monday. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Brit honeymooner on board quarantined cruise ship confirmed as having coronavirus Coronavirus: Chinese whistleblower doctor 'in critical condition' after earlier reports he had died Newborn baby diagnosed with coronavirus 30 hours after being born If this plan works out, Pan will be flying to Trenton, Ontario, to stay in quarantine with her daughter. The coronavirus death toll in mainland China rose by 86 to 722 on Saturday, according to authorities, and is likely to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Dutch Company Damen Shipyards Gorinchem has hosted the official naming ceremony of a Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 2005 for the Dutch National Police. The new vessel named P64 marks the second vessel in a six-ship contract between Damen and the Dutch Police. Dutch Company Damen Shipyards Gorinchem has hosted the official naming ceremony of a Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 2005 for the Dutch National Police. The new vessel named P64 marks the second vessel in a six-ship contract between Damen and the Dutch Police. Damen Stan Patrol (SPa) 2005 for the Dutch National Police. (Picture source Damen) The Dutch Police will use the new SPa 2005 for deployment on the Netherlands extensive inland waterways. The vessels aluminum hull and FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) superstructure will provide the lightweight means required for fast and effective police patrol operations. Equipped with twin propellers, the SPa 2005 is capable of speeds up to 40 km per hour. In addition to speed, the lightweight characteristics of the aluminum and composite construction materials will also markedly reduce fuel consumption and, therefore, exhaust emissions. Complying with the latest European Stage V emission regulations for inland vessels, the P64 is equipped with an exhaust gas after-treatment system. Fuel efficiency will be further improved by the addition of a hull vane. This innovative naval architectural feature is an underwater foil located under the stern that improves fuel efficiency. Talking at the P64s christening ceremony, Damen sales manager Benelux Vincent de Maat stated, We are proud to be supporting the Dutch Police with their fleet replacement program. The new Stan Patrol vessels that we are building are truly fit-for-purpose: fast and effective, but also highly advanced with regard to the latest environmental standards. Damen has a long working relationship with the Dutch Police, delivering 30 Stan Patrol ships over the years. The latest order was placed after a European tender process, the contract comprising three Stan Patrol 2005 and three Stan Patrol 2506 ships. Damen delivered the first vessel (a SPa 2506) in January 2020. An Indian soldier was killed as Pakistan violated the LoC ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday evening, defence officials said. According to a defence statement, Pakistani troops initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation at around 3.45 p.m. by firing small arms and mortar shells along the Line of Control (LoC) in Degwar sector of Poonch, killing the Indian soldier. "Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," the statement said. " " Voters cast their ballots at a polling place on May 3, 2016 in Fowler, Indiana. Indiana residents were voting to decide the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. Scott Olson/Getty Images America before the turn of the 20th century, it could be argued, was in dire straits. The country was slashed in two expansionism ruled the West as the last of the indigenous American Indian tribes were wiped out or forced onto reservations, and urban strife dominated the established land east of the Mississippi. Amid all of these national growing pains, people looked to the government for help. But the political system was corrupt, and only a handful of well-heeled people influenced the direction of the country. In response to the social ills America endured, the Progressive Era was born. This nationwide movement produced Prohibition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), unions and other individual protections. And in the political arena, the lack of a popular voice birthed, among other things, the presidential primary system. Advertisement This system was a backlash against the backroom dealings of corrupt politicos. The primary system was meant to transfer the right to elect a presidential candidate from an elite, entitled few into the hands of voters. Voters in each state had a choice among candidates, who now had to pay attention to the issues the public considered important. It alleviated corruption in national American politics. But it looks like a century is about the shelf life for a reform. Present-day features that have emerged as traditions such as the Iowa caucus and the Super Tuesday primaries rub some people the wrong way. To some people, the primaries are little more than smoke and mirrors; despite changes made in the Progressive Era, political power is still in the hands of the few. Some believe it's time to fix the system. To determine whether or not the primary system is in need of retooling, you've got to understand it first. Read the next page to find out how primaries work. Most homeless shelters set up cots for additional people on a cold night when facilities are full. If the weather isn't extreme, those searching for a haven are often forced to sleep elsewhere, including the streets, when shelters are full. Yet, weather isnt the only danger to which a homeless person is exposed. They often also deal with the threat of being robbed, attacked or arrested. Montgomery shelters are usually at full capacity, said Lydia Pickett, Executive Director of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for Homelessness (MACH). In 2019, according to MACHs homeless census, there were 392 homeless people on any given night in Montgomery. That count includes those who were sheltered and those who were not. A partnership between MACH and Montgomery now allows people to send money for homeless services to MACH through the 10 green, re-purposed parking meters that were being installed downtown as early as Friday. The city gave MACH $5,000 to get the Feed the Meter for the Homeless program started. As the program rolls out, some are asking what MACH does and how exactly the non-profit plans to use the money. The Montgomery Advertiser spoke with Pickett who worked at MACH from 2009 to 2017 and came back in 2019 as well as Tom Pierce, the citys director of general services. Pierce introduced the Feed the Meter for the Homeless program after learning about a similar initiative in Indianapolis. Federal, city and state funds must be channeled through a central agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be dispersed. Local agencies receive funds through this process. MACH is the HUD-approved central agency for the five-county region in central Alabama that includes Montgomery, Autauga, Bullock, Elmore and Lowndes counties. MACH evaluates community needs and makes plans to help with housing and services for the homeless working with other local organizations. MACH programs include case management and financial assistance, such as move-in costs like security deposits, rent and utility assistance. But, services for rehousing and eviction prevention funded by HUD aren't available to everyone. Some people who need help fall outside criteria that disqualifies them. Pickett said she hopes the new program will allow the disqualified access to the same services. The funds from the Feed the Meter program will be to help those who dont meet HUD's requirements. "These funds are for people who need services related to homelessness prevention but do not qualify for the programs that are currently in place," Pickett said. HUD funding is for all of MACH's counties, but the money from Feed the Meter will only be used for people in the city of Montgomery. MACH verifies income and additional information in an intake process to ensure donations go toward rent or utilities. "People go through an intake process. They cant just say, 'I need money.' They have to show us verification of income," Pickett said. We never give a check to a (homeless) person. We always pay the vendor, landlord, property manager or utility company." Although the intake process is thorough, MACH a Continuum of Care program required for federal funding has a stipulation to get through the process quickly to minimize the trauma of dislocation. MACH became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit through the Internal Revenue Service in 2001. Just like all non-profits that handle a large amount of money, MACH receives independent audits for tax purposes and compliance annually. Current meter collectors that gather money from the existing 1,700 parking meters in the city will collect money for the Feed the Meter program separate from the regular parking meters. The money will be deposited in an earmarked account. There will be quarterly meetings for reviewing funds and approving distribution with an assessment distribution committee, which will include one appointed city employee. A general report on how the funds were used will be provided to the public. I believe in being a good steward and an accountable person. Its going to be transparent. I promise you. I take my hands off anything thats not done right, Pickett said. A sponsorship package has not been developed yet, but businesses will eventually be able to sponsor meters in exchange for advertisement. The sponsor's business name would be displayed on the meter. If MACH can get a $2,000 dollar sponsor for each of the ten meters that would be $20,000 for the Feed the Meter program alone. The meters can be fed with cash and coins. People can download Park Mobile and put the meter's zone number in the app. They can also donate online at feedthemetermgm.org. One person died after a crash in Mishawaka Friday night involving a vehicle fleeing from police. The suspected driver of the fleeing vehicle that caused the crash ran away from the scene, and police used K-9 units in an attempt to track the suspect driver but were unsuccessful. A reportedly stolen white Jeep disregarded several stoplights before slamming into the driver's side of a green Toyota Camry at the intersection of McKinley and Byrkit avenues, Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Ted Bohner said. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Toyota was also transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Police continue to search for the driver of the Jeep, described as a black man in a dark jacket or sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. Four other people reportedly were in the Jeep. Three were taken to the hospital and the fourth was detained for questioning. The inciting incident happened around 7:24 p.m., when an ISP trooper tried to stop the Jeep as it was going approximately 99 mph on the U.S. 20 Bypass near the Elkhart-St. Joseph county line. The trooper gave chase and eventually discovered the Jeep had been reported stolen. The Jeep got off the Bypass at State Road 19, then headed north into Elkhart before turning west on Old U.S. 20. Police reportedly held back at Home Street to let traffic clear, but the Jeep continued, causing the crash at Byrkit. The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team is investigating the collision. Anyone with information on the Jeep driver is encouraged to contact Indiana State Police at 574-546-4900. Did we learn nothing from the so-called crack cocaine plague of the 80s and 90s? For those with fuzzy memories, the media back then erroneously and breathlessly declared that crack use had reached epidemic proportions. Newsweek declared crack was the most addictive drug known to man! The full truth would eventually come out. Crack was only half the problem. Crack is created when powder cocaine is mixed with baking soda and water and cooked down into rock-like nuggets to be smoked in a pipe. Its a relatively cheap high and favored by those in poorer neighborhoods. The more expensive powder cocaine was snorted primarily by higher-income Caucasians. What was happening in the 80s wasnt just a crack epidemic it was a cocaine epidemic and poor and rich alike were addicted. Congress bought the fake news that crack was the real problem and passed the ill-conceived Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which set a mandatory sentence of five years in federal prison for anyone convicted of possessing five grams of crack equal to a teaspoon even if it was their first offense. Thousands of mostly poor, young, African American men were imprisoned, their families torn apart. Powder cocaine users were only sentenced to that mandatory five years in prison if they possessed 500 grams or over a pound of the drug. The racial disparity was painfully obvious. The overcrowding of our prison system began. More importantly, the crime and drug problems in America did not lessen with these tough-on-crime sentences. Things got worse over the years as addicts moved on to black tar heroin, meth, Ketamine, Ecstasy and more. Today, the deadliest drug is reported to be fentanyl. Not the medically approved pharmaceutical fentanyl, an opioid that treats severe pain, but rather illegally produced fentanyl mostly smuggled into the U.S. via illicit laboratories in China and Mexico. Tens of thousands of Americans have died from fentanyl overdoses and other similar chemical compounds called analogues. There are several bills pending in Congress now aimed at curbing distribution and use of fentanyl and its analogues. Some seek to label the addicting chemicals as highly regulated Schedule 1 dangerous opioids, which opponents say could adversely affect future scientific research. But guess what is also being considered as a solution to this deadly problem? You guessed it mandatory prison sentences for drug addicts and street dealers in possession of drugs containing fentanyl and its close cousins. Reality check: Street-level sellers and buyers have no way of knowing if their drugs include fentanyl. Its added in by criminal chemical cookers at the source to give their drugs that extra punch that keeps customers coming back. Attorney General William Barr hit the nail on the head at his confirmation hearing last year when he said, The head of the snake is outside the country, and the place to fight this aggressively is at the source more than on the street corner. Barr added, we could stack up generation after generation of people in prison, and it will still keep on coming. Yet ironically, Barr has recently campaigned for passage of two bills that fail to focus on stopping fentanyl at the source. When will lawmakers understand that locking up addicts and low-level dealers doesnt stop the problem? It just creates another fractured generation of ex-cons and ever-mounting incarceration costs for us to pay. Going after the source of the product that poisons so many is a much smarter long-term tactic. Spend more money interdicting shipments of fentanyl and all illegal drugs coming into this country via the U.S. Postal Service. Outfit agencies like Customs and Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration with more personnel and technology to stop drug shipments headed this way, be they arriving via air, sea, land or through border tunnels. Make foreign aid dependent on whether the receiving country helps stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. And how about focusing on job-training for convicted dealers and truly meaningful treatment for addicts so that upon their release they become tax-paying citizens with decent jobs? We need a modern-day War on Drugs. One that is strong and focused on stopping both the source of the poison and the demand those drugs create. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. According to figures from the Garda PULSE system, detection rates for crimes committed in Cork North and Cork West are better than average. In figures provided by the Central Statistics Office to the Irish Examiner, significant differences in detection rates were brought to light. The differences were dependent on the specific crime involved and also in which of the 26 Garda divisions the crime occurred. This report follows the Gardai's own report, featured in The Corkman, which showed that alcohol- and drugs-related crimes were on the increase in Cork during 2018. The CSO figures, based on data extracted from the Garda Pulse system, tracked the progress of Garda investigations of all crimes recorded during 2018. Across all types of crime, Garda divisions with above-average detection rates included Cork North and West, Kerry, Westmeath, Cavan/Monaghan, Kilkenny/Carlow and Tipperary. At a national level, only 11 per cent of sexual offences, which can involve both historical and recent crimes, were solved with the detection rate ranging from six per cent in a number of divisions including Cork City, Dublin East, Dublin West and Tipperary, to 30 per cent in Westmeath. The CSO does not calculate detection rates at divisional level for certain crimes such as homicide and kidnappings and in relation to some divisions for sexual offences and robberies. This is because the number of such offences is relatively small and risks identifying the incidents and victims in question. Some categories of crime have naturally high detection rates such as dangerous and negligent acts (mostly drink-driving cases) as well as controlled drug- and public-order offences because they are usually directly linked to Garda enforcement measures, where offenders are immediately "identified." The main criteria for classifying an offence as "detected" is when at least one suspect has been identified and sanctioned, which can take the form of a charge, summons, caution or fine. However, there are a number of scenarios where an offence will be considered, detected even though no criminal proceedings have started. These include the refusal or inability of an essential witness to give evidence, the death of an offender, or where a child offender is treated under the Juvenile Diversion Programme. The CSO said all statistics on recorded crime were still being published "under reservation" due to ongoing issues about the reliability and quality of data as gardai address concerns over the non-recording and misclassification of offences. A CSO spokesperson said detection rates for 2018 were not comparable with similar figures from previous years due to a significant change in data recording practices. Overall the force's best detection rates were for drug offences (85 per cent), dangerous or negligent acts (84 per cent), public-order offences (81 per cent) and homicide (75 per cent). The lowest detection rates were for sexual offences (11 per cent) followed by burglaries (16 per cent), criminal damage (19 per cent), fraud (21 per cent) and robberies (26 per cent). Mobile app to check health condition of Chinese visitors View(s): The Health Ministry has introduced a mobile app to track down the movement of visiting Chinese nationals and help medical and public health officers to monitor their health condition. Sri Lanka usually was receiving 800 to 1,200 Chinese tourist a day, but after the coronavirus scare the figure has dropped to 10 to 15 a day. The app has been introduced as part of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka On arrival, Chinese visitors will be required to provide their mobile phone numbers they will be using in Sri Lanka. Thereby, the Medical Health Officers and the Public Health Inspectors will be able to track down the location of the visitors and check their health condition with the help of the app. In turn, the health officers will be able to either visit the location of the guest or send a message to the visitors phone telling them to undergo an examination at the nearest hospital. The visiting tourists themselves also can seek the help of a MOH or PHI under the scheme. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has received a report from the Immigration Department about a major drop in the arrival of Chinese tourists. At present, all passengers arriving in the country are required to make a self-declaration about their health condition. Frida, the five-year-old company that makes products for babies and new moms, doesn't shy away from taboo. Its best-selling products deal with common but rarely discussed baby ailments, such as clogged nostrils (Frida Baby's "Snotsucker") and gas or constipation (Frida Baby's "Windi"). Some of Frida's marketing is apparently too taboo for the Oscars, however. The company's latest advertisement, for products for new moms aimed at post-birth recovery, was recently rejected by ABC after being submitted for play during the Academy Awards that aired on February 9. Frida's CEO was shocked. "I'm incredulous!" Frida founder and chief executive Chelsea Hirschhorn told Inc. "It was more of a shock because over the past 18 months we'd done so much evangelizing and forwarding the conversation over the delicate transition women's bodies go through--I thought we'd reached a cultural momentum on the issue." The issue at hand is the representation of a woman's postpartum body and the care it requires. In the ad, a new mom turns on the light in the middle of the night, hears her baby waking, and ventures to the bathroom--a slow and painful process that includes washing with a hospital-issued squirt bottle. The ad shows postpartum curves of the woman's body. Frida's product line for new moms is the subject of the ad, which the company says was rejected by ABC because of guidelines set by the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The guidelines prohibit, according to an email ABC sent Frida late last week that was shared with Inc.: "political candidates/positions, religious or faith-based message/position, guns, gun shows, ammunition, feminine hygiene products, adult diapers, condoms or hemorrhoid remedies." ABC has not responded to a request for confirmation or comment. Since the rejection, though, Frida has taken its ad, which has been online since July 30, 2019, and reposted it with a message: "The ad you're about to watch was rejected by ABC & the Oscars from airing during this year's award show. It's not 'violent, political' or sexual in nature. Our ad is not 'religious or lewd' and does not portray 'guns or ammunition.' 'Feminine hygiene & hemorrhoid relief' are also banned subjects." The reposted ad racked up 17,000 views within hours, and has more than 60,000 views on YouTube over the past two days. And fans are reacting on social media, helping to amplify the message, though it will not be seen by the more than 29 million anticipated viewers of the Oscars, according to Hirschhorn. "A lot of the reaction women are sharing is shock and disbelief," she said. "This is a night that awards storytelling's highest form and we felt they were culturally ready." The rejection comes a year and a half after the company's outdoor billboard-style ads for the Mom Washer, a $15.99 peri squirt bottle, which stated, "your vagina will thank you," were rejected in 13 cities. Yet Hirschhorn felt the time was ripe for taking the online ad to television, especially considering that in 2019 a short documentary about menstruation called Period. End of Sentence won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. In 2019, a 30-second ad spot during the Oscars cost $2.6 million. Frida, which is based in Miami, does not disclose revenue, but is a profitable company with 82 employees that's achieved triple-digit growth for each of the past five years, according to its founder. It was ready to pay a high price for exposure outside of its typical Millennial mom demographic, which it targets frequently on Instagram and Facebook. It found the Sunday night Academy Award slot appealing in part because an estimated 60 percent of Oscar viewers are female, according to Hirschhorn. Considering the rejected ad is getting buzz online since the rejection, perhaps rebounding well and attempting to attain viral outrage because of the rejection will end up being equally good exposure. Hirschhorn's husband, Eric Hirschhorn, the former chief marketing officer of Burger King, is now Frida's CMO, and has been honing his skills marketing to Millennials for years. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 00:40:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cured novel coronavirus pneumonia patients pose for photos with medical staff in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 6, 2020. A total of 23 novel coronavirus pneumonia patients were cured and discharged from hospital on Thursday after integrated treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. (Xinhua/Li He) BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- With the newly-built hospitals put into service and more medical staff arriving on the frontlines to fight against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, China has seen an increase in the number of patients recovering from the novel coronavirus infection. Greater efforts have been put into related works to increase the hospital admission and recovery rates and lower the rate of infection and fatality, said Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, at a press conference Friday in Beijing. As of Thursday, a total of 1,540 infected people have been cured and discharged from hospitals, Guo said. Hubei Province had seen 817 patients discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Thursday, local health authorities said. A 91-year-old patient infected with the coronavirus has been cured in Hubei's city of Yichang, making him the oldest cured patient infected with the virus in China so far. Guo told the press conference that expert analysis had been commissioned by health authorities on more than 500 cured cases, covering those with mild symptoms to severe cases. Wang Guiqiang, director of the infectious disease department under the Peking University First Hospital, said data from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, showed that severe cases, even critically ill patients, can be cured through reasonable and active treatment. Three cured patients pose for a group photo with medical workers in front of No. 6 People's Hospital of Wenzhou Central Hospital Medical Group in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) "This has greatly boosted our confidence," he said at the same press conference. He also noted that the country's capacity for conducting nucleic acid testing has been improved significantly, and China has enough nucleic acid test reagents in stock for the detection of novel coronavirus infection. The recent reinforcements of health professionals, especially intensive care staff, will greatly help improve the cure rate and reduce the fatality rate of severe cases, Wang added. To win the battle against the virus, priority has been given to the virus-hit Wuhan for receiving China's top-level medical resources. Over 11,000 medical personnel, including 3,000 intensive care specialists and the country's best ICU staff, have been dispatched to Wuhan, Guo said. China's top experts in intensive care also gathered in Wuhan to host consultations and conduct ward rounds, Guo added. "We are fully aware of the urgent need for ICU professionals in Wuhan. The current medics have been working for quite a long time and are exhausted both physically and mentally," she said. The country's health authorities also noticed the shortage of medical resource supply in other cities of Hubei. A one-on-one support system was established in 16 provinces, with each of the provinces helping one city in Hubei to battle the epidemic, according to Guo. Medical personnel pose for a photo at Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 4, 2020. The newly-built makeshift hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, began accepting patients infected with the virus on Tuesday after a 10-day construction. (Xinhua/Fan Xianhai) At the same time, around 10,000 hospital beds were added in Wuhan to attend to people with mild symptoms as the city turned public facilities such as gymnasiums into temporary hospitals. Guo said that the Mobile P3 laboratories and more than 2,000 medical staff from across the country are now tasked with treating patients and providing psychological counseling at these temporary hospitals. As for public concern about possible cross-infection at the large-scale makeshift hospitals, Guo noted that all patients there are confirmed cases, and medical teams specialized in infection control provide guidance on the spot. By the end of Thursday, Hubei had 22,112 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection, including 11,618 confirmed cases in Wuhan. EDITOR'S NOTE: Be sure to follow all the Oscar results and updates here on our website and on our Facebook page! Live coverage begins Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. Washington DC time (01:00 Monday UTC) Actors, directors, producers and other movie industry stars will gather Sunday in Los Angeles, California, for the yearly Academy Awards. Winning an Academy Award, or Oscar, can push forward a career like almost nothing else. Ahead of this years Oscars, VOA film reporter Penelope Poulou spoke with Learning English about some of the standout movies and nominees. She first shared her thoughts about two of the films nominated for best picture -- The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorsese, and Marriage Story. I have some questions about the editing of the film [The Irishman], I have some reservations, but we should not discount the fact that Scorsese is an icon and that this may be his swan song; Marriage Story is a wonderful theater drama more than an actual movie. Beautiful character drama, wonderfully played, definitely leaves you with a lot to chew on. Poulou also praised the Korean film Parasite, also nominated for best picture. But, what are its chances of taking home the nights biggest award? It has a great chance; however, as good as Parasite is, it may not strike a chord with American audiences because there are cultural gray areas of that film that Americans may not quite understand. Another best picture nominee is Little Women, written and directed by Greta Gerwig. It is the most recent film adaptation of the 1868 book of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Greta Gerwig has been nominated, her film rather, has been nominated for best picture, but the chances I believe are kinda slim for the big award...But again, we have to appreciate that shes competing against some serious heavyweights. Poulou predicts the World War I film 1917 will win the best picture Oscar. First of all, it is a remarkable film cinematically. And it is very well done, very emotional. Very gripping, and revives the First World War. So a lot of Americans and...people from Western countries will resonate with that. Poulou says Parasite stands the best chance to win for best international feature film. It is a remarkable film. Its very complex in its storytelling, in its nuances. Beautiful cinematography, great acting, very unique story, it really stays with you. Joaquin Phoenix is nominated for best actor for his role in the film Joker. I would be tempted to give the Oscar to Phoenixdespite my objections about the character in the film, in this one I believe he is a cut above. Not so much because his acting was better technically, but because the character was such that it leaves you with a lot to deal with Poulou also had strong praise for Adam Driver, nominated for best actor for his work in Marriage Story. Drivers role, as powerful as it was, because its so subtle, Im not so sure how many people are going to be captivated by that. If you ask me to vote, I would vote for Driver, but I dont believe Driver will get the Oscar. I will be very happy if he does, but I think Phoenix will. Cynthia Erivo and Scarlett Johansson are among the nominees for best actress. Erivo plays the American abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman in the movie Harriet. Johansson is nominated for her work alongside Driver in Marriage Story. Many times, whenever somebody has played a slave, a civil rights activist, somebody greater than life, an iconic real person, we have seen that person win. So for that I have to say that Cynthia Erivo in Harriet, she could get it." Johansson is also nominated for best supporting actress for her work in Jojo Rabbit. But Poulou favors actress Laura Dern to win this category. She played a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story. I loved Laura Dern as a supporting actress in Marriage Story. I think she gave all these nuances, she hit all these points impeccably, I marveled at that. As for best supporting actor? In the supporting actor category, I believe and Im hopingalthough we have some serious actors there - [Tom]Hanks, Hopkins, [Al] Pacino, [Joe]Pesci and [Brad] Pitt I do have to say Tom Hanks did an incredible in Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, as Mr. Rogers, and I'm hoping to see him up there receiving an Oscar. Im Ashley Thompson. Jonathan Evans wrote this story for Learning English based on an interview conducted by Caty Weaver. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story a lot to chew on idiom. to think deeply about something cinematically adv. of, relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for motion pictures or the filming of motion pictures drama - n. a piece of writing that tells a story and is performed on a stage cut above idiom. better than other people or things gripping adj. very interesting and exciting icon n. a person who is very successful and admired standout n. a person or thing that is better or more important than the others in a group subtle adj. hard to notice or see; not obvious swan song n. a persons final performance or professional activity before retirement nuance - n. a very small difference in color, tone, meaning, etc marvel - v. to feel great surprise, wonder, or admiration impeccably - adv. free from fault or error MANCHESTER, N.H. The leading Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential campaign return to the debate stage Friday night. This time the battleground will be in New Hampshire, where the first-in-the-nation primary is just days away. Candidates are coming to the debate (and to the state) after leaving an Iowa caucus that has yet to yield a clear winner after a chaotic week of uncertainty. 7 candidates. 1 stage. Tonight, Democratic presidential candidates face off in Manchester, New Hampshire. Complete coverage and analysis begins at 7 p.m. ET on @ABCNewsLive. https://t.co/aVqLaxXrls #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/mb1zF4DXX5 ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2020 Appearing in the debate tonight from left to right on the stage are entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and businessman Tom Steyer. The format of the debate will allow candidates to answer direct questions for one minute and 15 seconds with 45 seconds for rebuttals, at the discretion of the moderators. There will be no opening or closing statements, though candidates will all get a closing question. Moderating the night are ABC chief anchor George Stephanopoulos, World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis. They will be joined by WMUR-TV political director Adam Sexton and WMUR-TV news anchor Monica Hernandez. Sexton is a native of Ashland, a graduate of Ashland High School, and an alumnus of NewsWatch 12. On Friday, Sexton joined NewsWatch 12's Brian Morton live via satellite to talk about what he expects ahead of Friday night's debate. "One of the things about the New Hampshire primary that's important and not a lot of people really pick up on it's a small state," said Sexton. "You can get everywhere very quickly, and money doesn't matter here as much as in other states because you can get around quickly . . . it's small. It's manageable. You can be a candidate, coming from nowhere, and try and do well here." Sexton indicated that progressives Sanders and Warren are likely to have an advantage going into the primary due to their status as longstanding political leaders in the neighboring states of Vermont and New Hampshire. Buttigieg, however, has demonstrated a rising appeal to voters who prefer a more "establishment"-oriented Democratic candidate. "I'm trying to treat this just like any old election night that I've covered, even dating back to my days at KDRV," Sexton said. "I learned a lot back in the day covering people like the late Alan Bates, the late Dennis Richardson who couldn't have been more gracious in to a young reporter just learning about the process." The debate will be broadcast live on NewsWatch 12 beginning at 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. in place of our regular broadcasts. Hes in the midst of preparing his memoir to be released in September and rumour has it former NSW homicide detective Gary Jubelin will receive a six-figure sum. Jubelin signed a book and broadcast deal with publisher HarperCollins and News Corp covering his life, career and the high-profile homicide cases he has been involved with during his 34-year career in policing. Former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin arrives at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday Credit:AAP While its not known how many office hours Jubelin is contractually obliged to put in for the four columns he is to pen for News Corp mastheads, Emerald City understands he has his own desk in the newsroom at Holt Street. Jubelin is currently appearing in court accused of illegally recording four conversations with Paul Savage, a person of interest during the investigation into William Tyrrells disappearance. The Uber driver who took 23-year-old poet, Bappadittya Sarkar, to a Mumbai police station after he overheard the poet's phone conservation about anti-CAA protest was suspended for 72-hours, reports Mumbai Mirror The Uber driver who took 23-year-old poet, Bappadittya Sarkar, to a Mumbai police station after he overheard the poet's phone conservation about anti-CAA protest was suspended for 72-hours, reports have confirmed. While Uber suspended this account, Mumbai BJP president MP Lodha on Saturday felicitated the driver for reporting the poet to the cops. The cab aggregator temporarily blocked the account of the driver, Rohit Singh, while it investigates the incident further. Sarkar told The Indian Express, They (Uber) called me today and said the driver partners account has been temporarily barred. They are also waiving off the charge that was levied for the trip. Your safety is something we take seriously and we would not want you to pay for the inconvenience caused, Uber told the poet. Meanwhile, a BJP MLA MP Lodha, conferred "Alert Citizenship Award" on Gaur at the Santacruz police station on Saturday. Lodha also accused the poet-activist of hatching an "anti-national conspiracy" against the Citizenship Amendment Act. "Rohit Gaur....who handed over the Uber taxi passenger devising anti-national conspiracy against the citizenship amendment act. Felicitated Rohit Gaur on behalf of the people of Mumbai calling him at the Santa Cruz Police Station and gave alert citizen award," Lodha tweeted. He also shared pictures showing him felicitating Gaur. .... pic.twitter.com/hct3ReNjgK Mangal Prabhat Lodha (@MPLodha) February 8, 2020 Sarkar, a resident of Jaipur who arrived in Mumbai on 3 February for a poetry reading session at the Kala Ghoda Festival, also took part in the ongoing anti-CAA-NRC protest at Nagpada in Mumbai. On Wednesday night, while travelling by an Uber cab, he was discussing protests against the CAA with a friend on phone. Overhearing the chat, the cab driver summoned policemen and urged them to arrest Sarkar. Sarkar was taken to a police station and allowed to leave after an inquiry. The driver allegedly told Sarkar that he should be thankful that he took him to the police station and not somewhere else. Sarkar later commented that the driver's aggressive behaviour and violent language reflected the atmosphere in the country. The 23-year-old poet also said that despite the ordeal he faced, he was not going to lodge a complaint against the driver as it might ruin his career and life. Sarkar said he was living at a friend's place in Kurla, but shifted to Andheri after the incident. "When our fight is only of thoughts, then we have to understand from where violence stems and how," he said. "I am a student and love to write poems and create slogans and saying them. I could have stayed at my home when protests are going on across the country. But I have a responsibility to come out of the home for our people and our country," he added. Before coming to Mumbai, Sarkar had also participated in the protests in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and Jaipur. When asked whether he plans to take any action against the driver, Sarkar said that he does not want to ruin anybody's life. "Uber should help the driver and give him counselling and therapy and send him for rehabilitation. His career should not be spoilt," he said. "There can be differences of opinion and people like me work for the whole society," he said. Right after the incident came into light, Sakar had got a call from Uber and the company condemned the incident saying whatever their driver did was not right and they are taking action. With inputs from agencies Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Sunday to participate in Guru Ravidas birth anniversary celebrations. According to Congress leaders, Priyanka Gandhi, who is also in-charge of the eastern Uttar Pradesh, will be on a day-long visit to Varanasi. During her visit to the temple town, she will participate in Guru Ravidas birth anniversary celebrations at Sri Guru Ravidas Janamsthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur. This is Priyanka's second visit to the temple town this year. She had visited Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus on January 10 to interact with the students and civil society members, who were arrested and jailed for two weeks for protesting against the CAA. During her last visit, she had met the family members of Sagir, a nine-year-old boy who died in a stampede triggered by a police lathi-charge during the anti-CAA protests. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - President Uhuru Kenyatta Saturday hailed departed former Kenya President Daniel Arap Moi as a mentor to many whose political career he shaped Former Vice President Joe Biden got a standing ovation at the New Hampshire debate on Friday, but it wasn't for himself. Biden asked the audience at Saint Anselm College to get on their feet to show support for impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council's top Ukraine expert who was expelled on Friday by President Trump in apparent payback for participating in the House's investigation. "[Trump] should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh," Biden said. "I think what we should be doing now, I think we should all stand and give Col. Vindman a show of how much we supported him. Stand up and clap for Vindman. Get up there!" Biden asks the audience to give Alexander Vindman, who was escorted out of the White House today, a standing ovation: "[Trump] should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh." pic.twitter.com/lMsHyaT8IQ Axios (@axios) February 8, 2020 As the room rose to cheer, Biden said: "That's who we are. We are not what Trump is." More stories from theweek.com Parasite is the must-see movie of 2019 Joaquin Phoenix becomes the 2nd actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker For better pasta sauce, throw away your garlic Sterling is performing strongly against a number of currencies compared to a year ago, data has revealed. Some 80 per cent of the top 40 holiday currencies have fallen in value against the pound, stretching holidaymakers' cash further, according to research from Post Office travel money. Britons travelling abroad will find their currency will stretch up to 22 per cent further than last February with the biggest gains found to be against the Chilean peso and Turkish lira. For example, a 500 purchase of Chilean peso will provide travellers with over 87 extra cash to spend. A 500 purchase of Chilean peso will provide travelers with over 87 extra cash to spend In Europe, holidaymakers planning to visit Turkey will get more bang for their buck as sterling is now worth 19 per cent more against the Turkish lira than a year ago with tourists getting around 80 more in lira on a 500 transaction. The most recent Post Office cost of living barometer also found that the top Turkish resort of Marmaris was the second cheapest of 42 destinations surveyed. South Africa and Mauritius are also among several top winter sun destinations where sterling will stretch further. UK visitors will get over 10 per cent more South African rand than a year ago, which will put an extra 47 in their pockets when they change 500. Meanwhile, visitors to Mauritius will get almost as much as sterling has risen by nearly nine cent against the rupee, giving them almost 40 extra to spend. The Hungarian capital Budapest is also a good place to visit for those looking to save money as the Hungarian forint has weakened by 10 per cent against sterling since last January. This will give travellers almost 44 extra cash to spend on a 500 currency exchange and 59 more than if they had visited the city last summer when sterling was worth 13.4 per cent less than now. Where the pound has performed best in the last year Currency Current Exchange Rate % +/- now vs Feb 2019 % +/- now vs Aug 19 2020 vs 2019 500 buys +/- 2020 vs August 500 buys +/- Chilean peso 925.1261 22.30% 19.40% 87.48 81.20 Turkish lira 7.4028 19.00% 16.50% 79.69 70.77 Brazilian real 4.9955 15.90% 16.10% 69.39 69.39 South African rand 18.3596 10.50% 4.30% 47.51 20.69 Hungarian forint 367.0066 10.00% 13.40% 44.03 58.91 Norwegian krone 11.4629 9.00% 12.20% 42.20 54.31 Mauritius rupee 44.1281 8.90% 10.80% 39.82 48.56 Australian dollar 1.8675 6.80% 8.70% 31.00 40.03 Korean won 1,414.10 6.70% 5.10% 29.95 24.10 New Zealand dollar 1.9263 6.00% 7.60% 29.88 35.51 Source: Post Office Travel Money Any Britons visiting the Eurozone will benefit thanks to sterling being four per cent stronger than it was a year ago, meaning they will have nearly 18 more to spend when they change 500. They will also save twice as much almost 40 - compared with last August when sterling had sunk to a year low. Portugal and Spain remain the cheapest options for British visitors, according to the latest Post Office worldwide holiday costs barometer, but it also found that prices have fallen since last February in every Eurozone destination surveyed. Corfu is also a good option as tourist costs for meals and drinks are down by over 20 per cent. The same benefits apply in Eastern European countries with sterling currently buying 4.3 per cent more Croatian kuna which is over 18 more on a 500 exchange. Over the past decade Croatia has become one of the most popular European destinations with currency sales ballooning by 269 per cent since 2009. Prices in beach destinations like Porec remain low, something boosted by the stronger pound. Sterling also buys 3.3 per cent more Bulgarian lev the equivalent of 16 extra and offers low prices in beach destinations like Sunny Beach and Golden Sands. Ski resorts led by Borovets and Bansko have also resulted in a big rise in demand for holidays to Bulgaria. The Post Office chose Bulgaria for its holiday hotlist thanks to a 17 per cent rise in Bulgarian lev sales last July and August and a 28 per cent rise during October half term evidence that bargain hunters will be booking holidays to the destination in 2020. Currencies the pound has performed worst against However, the research also revealed that those visiting Egypt will get fewer Egyptian pounds now. Last autumn saw a revival in flights to Sharm-el-Sheikh but the Egyptian pound is one of only eight major holiday currencies against which sterling has weakened. The UK pound is worth almost 10 per cent less than last January and this will impact on the cost of meals and drinks bought in the Red Sea resort. Where the pound has performed worst in the last year Currency Current Exchange Rate % +/- now vs Feb 2019 % +/- now vs Aug 19 2020 vs 2019 500 buys +/- 2020 vs August 500 buys +/- Japanese yen 133.8889 0.50% 11.20% 1.43 50.30 US dollar 1.2683 0.40% 7.20% 0.55 33.79 Hong Kong dollar 9.4562 -0.20% 6.70% -3.35 31.19 Thai baht 37.6351 -0.40% 8.10% -3.78 37.62 Indonesian rupiah 16,174.31 -1.20% 3.80% -6.46 18.21 Mexican peso 22.8435 -1.40% 3.30% -7.74 16.16 Swiss franc 1.2093 -2.40% 7.10% -15.42 33.33 Russian ruble 76.1813 -3.40% 4.70% -15.54 22.47 Costa Rican colon 651.5097 -7.40% 6.70% -39.39 31.43 Egyptian pound 18.5634 -9.90% 2.80% -55.09 13.55 Source: Post Office travel money Holidaymakers visiting Costa Rica can also expect to get over seven per cent fewer colon for their pounds, making this fast-growing destination more expensive for UK holidaymakers than other Latin American countries. Although sterling is stronger than a year ago against the US dollar and currencies for some Caribbean islands as well as popular destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, the gains for UK tourists are marginal - less than one per cent. Nick Boden, head of Post Office travel money said: 'Sterling is now stronger against the vast majority of holiday currencies and that spells great news for holidaymakers. 'UK tourists can do even better by picking a destination where the cost of living is low so they benefit from both the stronger pound and low prices in resort restaurants and shops. 'However, sterling is entering uncharted territory and exchange rates could continue to fluctuate throughout 2020 as trade negotiations with the EU progress. 'We advise holidaymakers planning trips abroad in 2020 to keep a close eye on rate movements and purchase foreign currency when sterling will give them more cash for their pounds. 'Budget realistically to avoid running out of holiday cash and having to use credit or debit cards abroad, which are likely to incur extra fees.' CARBONDALE The Center for International Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has postponed a spring semester recruiting trip to China due to the coronavirus outbreak, a respiratory illness which has infected about 30,000 people worldwide (the great majority in China) and claimed over 600 lives. No SIUC students have been infected with the disease, nor have any been stranded in China amid quarantines there and international travel restrictions, according to SIUC spokeswoman Rae Goldsmith. The outbreak has not yet directly affected our cooperative programs in China, Goldsmith said in an email. However, joint programming is scheduled for this summer at Northeast Normal University and Shenyang Aerospace University. These programs could be postponed or rescheduled if travel restrictions continue. The U.S. State Department has issued its strongest do-not-visit advisory for China, and President Donald Trump signed an order that will temporarily bar entry into the U.S. to foreign nationals, other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, who traveled in China within the last 14 days. Thirty airlines have suspended service to China and 25,000 flights were cancelled this week alone, the AP reported Friday. SIUC has restricted institutional travel to China in compliance with the State Departments recommendations, Goldsmith said, and SIUC will continue recruiting Chinese students through its partner institutions and via social media until travel to China is deemed safe. Other universities across the country have cancelled trips and study abroad programs, with at least two of the confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases already linked to college campuses in Arizona and Massachusetts. China sends far more students to the United States than any other country more than 369,000 in the last academic year, according to the Institute of International Education. The U.S. typically sends more than 11,000 students to China annually. The University of Illinois, which enrolls nearly 6,000 students from China, asked students who recently returned from areas around the diseases epicenter, in Wuhan, to wear masks in public, or self-quarantine, reported NPR, and also offered advice about resources available on campus. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in coordination with the Illinois Poison Control Center has launched a coronavirus hotline and email address to answer questions from local health departments, doctors and the public, according to a release from the agency. Illinoisans can dial 1-800-889-3931 24 hours a day, seven days a week or email dph.sick@illinois.gov to get their questions answered. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. And so that's it. After three years of seemingly endless negotiations, votes and recriminations, the UK has left the EU. For all that went before it the events of Brexit Day felt distinctly anticlimactic. The momentous occasion long dreamed of by an army of belligerent Brexiteers was greeted with neither the riotous celebration or the immediate descent into anarchy that both sides of the debate had predicted. Instead, as is so often the case with such events, it was a mundane affair. A countdown clock projected onto the facade 10 Downing Street ticked down to zero; a few fireworks were let off; there were some cheers from Union flag waving 'Leavers' and that, essentially, was that. Big Ben didn't 'bong'; Boris was subdued and Britain bowed out. Any of those arch Brexiteers expecting an eruption of joy and scenes akin to V.E. day will have gone home very disappointed. The only group that seemed to get their money's worth from the occasion was Nigel Farage and his Brexit Party basket of deplorables. Farage and his odious followers made, yet another, show of themselves on their last day in the European Parliament with a nauseating display of the puerile jingoism that they are so famous for. Most in the EU will be sad to see the UK leave the bloc but few will mourn the departure of Farage and his offensive followers from the European stage. Their last act in Brussels - to give another two fingered salute to a body responsible for the longest period of peace in Europe since the early days of the Roman empire - was typical of their boorish behaviour. EU officials for their part quietly got on with business. Best wishes and expressions of friendship were offered to the UK; Union flags were taken down in EU buildings and then it was back to business. For most in the UK little changed on Saturday morning with the 11 month transition period meaning day-to-day life won't be impacted by Brexit in the short term. For Boris Johnson and his Brext cheerleaders - now safely ensconced in Number 10 - the hard work starts now. The talks on the UK's future relationship with the EU will be tough and now that he is outside the bloc he will likely find his opponents at the negotiating table are far more ruthless and uncompromising. It is here where Mr Johnson may finally learn just how diminished Britain's place in the world order has become in the wake of Brexit. Talks on a trade deal with the US will also be difficult and talk of a rapid deal with the Trump administration are wildly optimistic. The Brexiteers got what they wanted but how Brexit unfolds - and what it will ultimately cost the UK - is impossible to predict. The UK may be on its own but there's a long way to go yet. Hess (NYSE:HES) doesn't currently appeal to most dividend investors. Not only is its 1.8% yield right around the average of stocks in the S&P 500, but the oil producer hasn't increased its dividend since 2013. The company's lackluster dividend track record, however, is about to change. That's because Hess is on pace to start generating a gusher of excess cash, which it aims to return to shareholders via share repurchases and a growing dividend. Four engines of cash Hess has spent the past several years refocusing the company around four main assets, which serve two important roles. Its positions in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and Malaysia are its cash engines, which give it the funds to invest in its two growth engines: the Bakken and offshore Guyana. Those latter two regions, however, are nearing an inflection point, which CEO John Hess discussed on the company's fourth-quarter conference call. He noted that "both Guyana and the Bakken will become significant cash generators over the next several years." Because of that, the company believes it can deliver about 20% compound annual cash flow growth through 2025. That fast-growing cash flow stream will provide the company with more money than it needs to fund its growth, leaving it with an increasing supply of excess cash. "As our portfolio generates increasing cash flow," stated Hess, "the majority will be deployed toward increased return of capital to our shareholders through dividend increases and opportunistic share repurchases." Hess could hit that free cash flow inflection point this year, depending on oil prices. Because 2020 will be another heavy investment year for the company since it's investing a lot of money into both Guyana and the Bakken, it needs the global oil benchmark, Brent, to average around $65 a barrel so that it can produce free cash this year. While crude started the year well above that level, oil prices have plunged because of demand growth fears in China due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. It will be much for Hess to produce excess cash next year since it expects to flip the switch on the Bakken and turn it into a cash flow machine. In its view, that oil field could produce $1 billion in annual free cash flow post-2020 if the U.S. oil price, WTI, averages $60 a barrel. Given the upcoming shift in the Bakken, Hess could start increasing its dividend before the end of this year, especially if oil prices begin recovering from their virus-inspired sell-off. The oil patch is fueling lots of dividend growth these days When Hess does increase its dividend, it will join a growing list of oil producers that have started sending an increased supply of cash to income investors. Oil giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) kicked off the rebirth of dividend growth in the oil patch a few years ago. The company, which slashed its payout in 2016 to better align it with lower oil prices, has since increased it several times. It started small by boosting it by 6% in 2017. ConocoPhillips then raised it twice in 2018 -- 7.5% in February and another 7% in December -- before giving its investors a monster 38% raise last year. More dividend growth is likely over the coming decade given ConocoPhillips' view that it will produce $50 billion in free cash flow during that time frame, which it intends on returning to investors via its dividend and share repurchase program. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) has also become a dividend growth stock in recent years. The company has already boosted its payout 72% over the last two years. EOG, meanwhile, expects more high-octane dividend growth in the coming years as it returns an increasing supply of its fast-growing cash flow to investors. Several other oil stocks have either initiated dividends or started growing them over the past couple of years as the industry puts a priority on returning cash to investors. This strategy has the potential to give these oil stocks the fuel to outperform the market since dividend growth stocks have historically beat the S&P 500 by a wide margin. A potentially appealing option for dividend investors Hess hasn't historically been a good stock for dividend investors, given its lower yield and lack of growth. However, that will soon change since it's on pace to produce a significant amount of cash flow in the coming years. Because of that, it could reward dividend investors with a fast-growing income stream, which is why they'll want to take a closer look at this stock. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has announced that it has passed the 500-million-sq-ft mark of buildings registered and certified under the WELL Building Standard (WELL). The milestone quickly follows this months earlier announcement that the number of WELL Accredited Professionals (APs) and registrants has exceeded 10,000, further evidence of the accelerating growth of the global movement to help people thrive through better buildings and communities and stronger organizations. With more than 4,000 projects in nearly 60 countries and spanning all space types offices, schools, hotels, residences and more its clear that this second wave of sustainability has gathered powerful momentum, said IWBI Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. "To reach a half-billion sq ft of spaces applying WELL is to positively impact the health and well-being of more people in more places and to begin to truly change the narrative around how we design and operate the spaces where we spend our time" he stated. So much of WELLs success is due to our WELL APs and WELL Faculty, an active and growing community that brings education about WELL to colleagues and clients around the world, he added. Fedrizzi pointed out that together with the market reach of its 130+ organizational members, this combined leadership had played a critical role in IWBIs journey towards market transformation, one that "puts the people we care about squarely in the center of every decision we make." Over the course of 2019, nearly four times as many new projects registered to pursue WELL as throughout all of 2018, he stated. IWBI President Rachel Gutter said: "Halfway to a billion is one thing, but whats truly remarkable is the pace of adoption. WELL entered the market in 2014, and it took roughly four years to reach 250 million sq ft, but its only taken a year to double that to a half-billion." "While thats a potent market signal, it really reflects an unbelievable rise of a dedicated community around the world that is committed to investing in health," noted Gutter. "To build upon this growth and momentum, IWBI also has leveraged new partnership opportunities to reach priority markets and scale the benefits of delivering better buildings," he added. IWBI is leading the global movement to transform the WELL buildings, communities and organizations in ways that help people thrive. We are fostering a global movement to radically transform how we deliver on the promise of better buildings that help all people thrive, said Gutter. We know we cant do it alone. Thats why last year we announced a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners to bridge sustainability and health by integrating WELL with the Enterprise 2020 Green Communities Criteria, which is the leading building standard for green affordable housing construction nationwide, she added. Currently 27 states and Washington D.C. require or incentivize Enterprise Green Communities certification for affordable housing developments that receive public funds. Beginning in October projects meeting these requirements will also be certified to WELL. As we continue to scale across every dimension, it becomes more important than ever that we find a place and time for our community to experience the power of this movement, said Fedrizzi. Thats why in two short months, well convene in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the launch of The WELL Conference, a gathering designed to inspire, energize and celebrate the people and organizations who are helping us change the world. In collaboration with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and Emerald Expositions (Emerald), The WELL Conference will bring together architectural, design and engineering communities, along with real estate developers, corporate officials, public health practitioners, and technology companies.-TradeArabia News Service The human spine is made up of bones known as vertebrae . These vertebrae are anatomically divided into various regions as cervical (neck region), thoracic (midback), lumbar (lower back), sacral and coccygeal (pelvic region). Most of the fractures that occur due to major car accidents or fall from height affect the thoracic and the lumbar region. Spinal fracture mainly indicates an injury to the vertebrae, but may also affect the nerves, spinal cord , or the ligaments in the spinal column.. Spinal injuries that result in spinal fractures cause lot of discomfort, pain, difficulty in walking, or even paralysis in severe cases. Although pain relieving medications can help, injuries such as cervical spine fracture may warrant surgery. Causes of Spinal Fracture A spinal fracture may be caused due to following conditions: A high-energy trauma: This includes a violent accident that puts extreme pressure on the spine. For example, car crash, fall from height, accident during playing sports, or gunshot wound This includes a violent accident that puts extreme pressure on the spine. For example, car crash, fall from height, accident during playing sports, or gunshot wound Osteoporosis: This is a condition in which the bones become weak and fragile due to decrease in mineral content. Osteoporosis is thought to be the most common cause of spinal fracture Tumors in the body that spread to the bones of spine Tumors that start in the spine Symptoms and Signs of Spinal Fracture The symptoms of spinal fracture vary based on the location and severity of the injury. A moderate-to-severe back pain signals spinal injuries. In addition, spinal fractures also cause muscle spasm, weakness, loss of control of the bowel or bladder, and paralysis if the spinal cord is affected. Spinal compression fracture that occurs due to osteoporosis may not show symptoms initially. However, over time symptoms such as severe back pain, loss of height or hump-like curvature of the spine may be observed. Diagnosis of Spinal Fracture Spinal injuries need a careful diagnosis in order to initiate the appropriate treatment. People with fractured spine may have to undergo several tests and examinations as described below. Physical Examination During physical examination, a doctor examines vital signs such as breathing, heart rate and consciousness. The doctor may also check for signs of tenderness over affected area or signs of kyphosis (hump-like curvature) that occur due to osteoporosis. X-ray An x-ray test can identify the fractured vertebrae. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan A CT scan uses an X-ray beam and a computer to generate a two-dimensional image of the spine. This test can determine the changes or fracture in the bones of spine. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to generate a detailed view of the spine. MRI scan can investigate an injury to spinal cord or the ligaments. This test can diagnose a spinal fracture caused by a tumor. What are the Treatment Options for Spinal Fractures? The main goals of treatment plan include reduction of pain, improving mobility, and managing osteoporosis. For better understanding, the treatment plans can be divided as medical and surgical. Medical Treatment The medical treatment focuses on pain management using medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opiates in severe cases, and bed rest. The spinal fractures that occur only through the vertebral body can be managed by using physical support such as braces or corsets for about 8 to 12 weeks. The braces restrict the movement of spine thereby reducing pain and improving healing process. The corsets are not recommended beyond 12 weeks as they may immobilize the spine and cause further bone loss. Other physical treatment such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) may be used to improve movement and strength of the muscles around the spine. The underlying osteoporosis if present should also be treated. Surgical Treatment Surgery is required in cases of severe fractures or when pain lasts for more than two months. Surgeries performed to fix the fractured spine include: Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty These procedures are performed to treat spinal compression fractures mainly caused by osteoporosis and spinal tumors. Both the procedures involve injecting cement into the broken spine bone so that it does not collapse again. Kyphoplasty additionally involves insertion of a balloon initially, which is inflated to restore the height of the vertebrae. Both the procedures are generally safe, however some complications such as infection, bleeding or leakage of the cement into surrounding area may be observed. Both the procedures are considered to be minimally invasive and may cost up to INR 75,000 each. Spinal Fusion Spinal fusion permanently joins two vertebrae with the help of a bone graft. The bone graft may be obtained either from another part of your body (autograft) or from a bone bank (allograft). The vertebrae may also be joined together with the help of rods, screws, plates, or cages. The complications associated with spinal fusion procedure include infection, damage to the spinal nerve, and damage to the surrounding vertebrae. These procedures are relative expensive amounting approximately INR 3, 60,000. Prevention of Spinal Fractures The death toll from Chinas coronavirus outbreak may surpass the total from SARS within days, if the disease continues to kill people at its current pace. The global toll has reached 724. Total fatalities rose early Saturday in China after Hubei Province, epicenter of the outbreak, reported 81 new deaths. The 2002-2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, killed 774 people after starting in China and spreading worldwide. Total deaths may be far higher, given reports of an overwhelmed health system in Hubei, central China. China named two officials to lead the response in Hubei as the nation seeks to slow the spread. A new medical journal report said the infection was spreading inside a Wuhan hospital. Key Developments Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has barred passengers with Chinese, Hong Kong or Macau passports from boarding its ships this month, and will require extra screening for people who came in contact with someone who was in China in the past 15 days. These steps are very conservative, and we apologize that they will inconvenience some of our guests, the cruise operator said in a statement. In addition, the company said anyone who feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms or shows up with a fever will be denied boarding. Passengers on the companys Anthem of the Seas, docked in New Jersey, were cleared to leave Friday after more than two dozen were screened for coronavirus, the first such cruise scare on US shores. Four passengers, Chinese nationals, went to a local hospital and tests are pending, the company said. The ship has been cleared to depart. The coronavirus hasnt led to any disruptions in the US in the supply chain of medical and protective gear, much of which is made in China, officials from President Donald Trumps task force said at a briefing Friday where they updated the public on progress. Efforts to produce drugs to treat infections and vaccines to prevent new cases are proceeding smoothly, said Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. There are two studies underway using Gilead Sciences Inc.s remdesivir to see if patients treated with it recover more quickly than those given standard supportive care. Efforts to start human studies of Moderna Inc.s potential vaccine within the next two-and-a-half months are proceeding with no glitches, Fauci said. The US is still waiting to hear from China about whether its offer to send experts in virology, drug development and epidemiology as part of a team from the World Health Organization will be accepted, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at the briefing. The US is prepared to spend as much as $100 million to help China and other nations fighting the spread of the coronavirus, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Friday. The US this week helped ship to China 17.8 tons of donated supplies, such as masks, gowns, gauze, respirators and other materials this week, he said in a statement. The financial assistance to foreign government is direct and through multilateral organizations, the Sate Department said. A Chinese hospital taking care of patients with the novel coronavirus saw the infection spread at high rates among health-care staff and other patients, according to a study of cases at a Wuhan hospital. The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at 138 patients from the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University who had the coronavirus and developed pneumonia, which can be a sign that the infection has grown more severe. Many of the pneumonia cases were in workers and other patients at the hospital: Transmission within the hospital was responsible for about 41% of cases, including 40 health professionals and 17 other patients. Among the group of 138 patients, 26% required intensive care and 4.3% died, higher than other, broader estimates of fatality from the virus. Just 47 patients, or about one-third of the total, have been discharged. China has assigned two new officials to be in direct control of the efforts to manage the coronavirus outbreak in Hubei province. Chen Yixin, who was previously the top Communist Party secretary in the capital of Hubei, will be the the deputy head of the central governments directing group on Hubei, according to a WeChat blog affiliated with state media. The group is in charge of sorting out the epidemic in the province and is led by Vice Premier Sun Chunlan. Wang Hesheng, who is the deputy head of Chinas National Health Commission, will become a member of Hubeis standing committee, which is the top decision-making body for the province, according to the blog Taoran Notes, which is connected to the Economic Daily Newspaper. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LACONIA, N.H. - Within moments of Pete Buttigieg officially finishing at the top of the Iowa caucuses this week, the LGBTQ Victory Fund announced its conclusion: "America is ready for the first openly gay president!" A few hours later, Buttigieg himself spoke lovingly of his husband, Chasten, in an unusually emotional way, saying at a CNN town hall that "I quite simply couldn't do it without him" as Chasten looked on affectionately from the audience. Buttigieg's success this week in Iowa, where he essentially tied for first, has unleashed a flood of emotion and commentary about his role as a gay pioneer from the candidate and his supporters. It's a subject that has simmered throughout the campaign, but with the caucuses making the prospect of a Buttigieg presidency suddenly more real, he and those around him are speaking about it in a more direct way. As a result, Buttigieg and his allies are effectively posing a question many Americans have never considered: Are they ready to elect a gay president? "The whispered comments in this campaign have been, 'Well, he's a great guy, he's a great candidate, and I'll vote for him, but I don't think other Democrats will,' " said Annise Parker, president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. Iowa, she said, showed that Buttigieg could attract rural and conservative voters: "This win was an opportunity to just blow that conversation up." Buttigieg's ascent underlines the dizzyingly fast change in the country's views on gay identity. The Supreme Court guaranteed same-sex marriage just five years ago, and the last Democratic president did not endorse it until well into his time in office. A figure like Buttigieg is new on the political landscape - but the landscape itself is also new. Buttigieg has been embracing his role as a barrier-breaker in a way he rarely has before, saying Iowans' verdict should give hope to gay people, including young ones. "The fact that I'm standing here - the fact that my husband's in the audience watching right now - is just an amazing example of that belief that yes, yes, you belong, and this country has a place for you," he said Thursday. Washington Post photo by Matt McClain Such comments may also help explain the financial support Buttigieg has received from gay bundlers and donors, creating something of a reciprocal relationship between his personal story and his campaign's financial fortunes. Still, during his furious final push in Iowa, Buttigieg often went weeks without voters or journalists asking about his sexuality; this week, he's been asked to take stock of his impact in almost every interview. Supporters and staffers have taken to flooding the Internet with stories of their own. "I remember being 15 years old and sitting on the edge of my bunk at that Christian camp sobbing - worried that I'd never be accepted. That I'd never succeed," tweeted Stefan Smith, Buttigieg's online engagement director. "I wish I could go back and tell my 15-year-old self about this moment." Still, there are plenty of signs that one success does not mean the road ahead will be smooth. On Tuesday, the day after the Iowa caucuses, a video went viral in which an Iowa voter who had signed and delivered her "presidential preference card" for Buttigieg learned later that he was married to a man. "I don't want anybody like that in the White House," she said, before asking for her card back. "He better read the Bible." And much as Barack Obama in 2008 faced questions from some quarters about whether he was "black enough" - whether he fully understood or sufficiently spoke about the black experience in America - some are now asking whether Buttigieg, essentially, is gay enough. For those LGBTQ activists, the fact that Buttigieg doesn't often make explicit references to his sexual orientation, often waiting until he is asked about it, represents some measure of betrayal. Brian Gaither, one such activist, argues that Buttigieg doesn't mention Chasten by name enough, and that he too often avoids explicit references to his sexuality. "It's not that he has to be obligated to be activist of the year, but there seems to be a very specific distancing of himself from any obligation to be concerned or know about those things," Gaither said in an interview recently. "It's really hard to understand where he wants to be, other than to use the opportunity to be the first openly gay candidate as a way for his campaign to have significance and meaning it otherwise would not have." For most of the campaign, to the extent that Buttigieg mentioned being gay at all, it was to demonstrate the government's power to improve people's lives. His marriage, he often pointed out, became legal nationwide by dint of just one Supreme Court vote. Being gay has never been central to Buttigieg's pitch, not a part of his profile that he uses to explain to voters why he is best equipped to win a general election. He is the opposite of President Donald Trump, he says, because he is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana - a town in what he calls flyover country - a veteran and an even-tempered individual. Any historic implications of his rise have often been overshadowed by issues like health policy or gun control, or questions about other aspects of his identity, such as his age, his relative inexperience and his sometimes-troubled relationship with the black community. That changed, subtly but unmistakably, after Monday's caucuses, as evidenced by an appearance the following day at a New Hampshire middle school. Normally so stoic he can teeter toward robotic, Buttigieg that day succumbed to a loss of composure that would be roughly equivalent to a fit of weeping for many of his more emotive competitors: His voice cracked. "It validates, for a kid somewhere in a community wondering if he belongs or she belongs or they belong in their own family, that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief," he said of his Iowa performance. Chasten, too, has become more prominent in recent days at events that feature Buttigieg. In the past he often ran onstage for a quick hug and wave after events - something he did again after Friday night's Democratic debate - but he has rarely been as front-and-center as at town halls in recent days. Chasten this week tweeted a picture of himself embracing his husband with the caption, "It gets better." On another occasion he tweeted, "I couldn't do this without you by my side too, P. In this together, and I am so proud of you." If Buttigieg's sexual identity has not held him back so far in the Democratic primary, he could face less hospitable reactions in a general election. He would face a GOP whose base is made up in large part of evangelical Christians, many of whom oppose same-sex marriage and in some cases homosexuality in general. In the wake of his Iowa success, right-wing Twitter trolls began circulating memes of Buttigieg and his husband, reminding followers that, for the first time ever, America's first family would consist of a gay couple. And President Trump has shown few scruples about taking aim at any potential vulnerability of an opponent. In September of last year, a Washington Post-ABC News poll asked Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents if they thought a gay person or a straight person had a better chance of beating Trump in November 2020, or whether it would not be a factor. A 69 percent majority said it didn't matter, while 29 percent said a straight person would have a better chance of beating Trump and 1 percent said a gay person would. Separately, a CBS poll in June found that 69 percent of adults overall said Americans were not ready to elect a gay or lesbian president, while 27 percent said they were ready. Buttigieg has begun formulating his response to those who oppose him because he is gay. He often speaks about his religion, saying he understands the Bible to be advocating tolerance and acceptance. "I've been very open about my faith because I want to remind people they don't have to vote a certain way because of their faith," he said recently. In an appearance on ABC's "The View" this week, Buttigieg offered a preview of his response to critiques like those of the Iowa voter who sought to hand back her presidential preference card. "What I want her to know is, I'm running to be her president, too," he said. "Of course, I wish she was able to see that my love is the same as her love for those that she cares about, that my marriage means as much to me as hers if she's married." While Buttigieg's journey is unique in many ways, the high-wire act is not new. When groups like the LGBTQ Victory Fund train candidates to run for office, they tell them that they are not a "gay candidate" but a "candidate for office," said Parker, the group's president and a former mayor of Houston. When it comes to Buttigieg, she said, "It's historic - but no one's going to vote for Pete because it's historic. So you never want the candidate to get sidetracked by that." Buttigieg put it another way. "I'm not running to be the gay president of the United States - I'm running to be a president for everybody," Buttigieg said at the CNN town hall. "But talk about God having a sense of humor." A few days earlier, when the Iowa caucuses ended but the results were still delayed, Buttigieg delivered what was essentially a victory speech, recalling his time as a teenager "wondering if something deep inside him meant he would forever be an outsider." He added, "Now that same person is standing in front of you - a mayor, a veteran, happily married, and one step closer to becoming the next president of the United States." Buttigieg wrote that caucus night speech himself. It didn't include the word "gay." It didn't have to. By Aaron Kesel A Chinese website called Tencent displayed a web page titled Epidemic Situation Tracker, briefly showing data on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China that was much higher than official estimates, before suddenly switching to lower numbers multiple times, Taiwan News reported. Many feel that Tencent is inadvertently leaking the real figures of those who have been killed and infected. On Jan. 26th, the website began to display there were much higher estimates of those killed and infected according to Hiroki Lo, a 38-year-old Taiwanese beverage store owner who took a screenshot of the website. Lo posted the purported real statistics to Facebook writing the following in Chinese. Over the weekend on Feb. 1st, the Tencent web page showed another mix up of statistics listing confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus in China at 154,023, 10 times the official figure at the time. It also listed the number of suspected cases as 79,808, four times the official figure at the time, while the number of cured cases was only 269, well below the official number that day of 300. Further, the death toll listed was a shocking 24,589, vastly higher than the 300 officially listed that day. Since then, officially the death toll is now 630 people with the amount of infected at 31,000+ globally, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker of the coronavirus at the time of this report. Although, experts have disputed the numbers in China and worldwide, stating that more than 100,000 people could have been infected with the virus as of January 26th, the same date that Tencent may have screwed up publishing the real statistics, The Guardian reported. Another claim by a Twitter user, who states in their bio they are a Taiwan-based political analyst, shared a screen grab which purported to show the death toll at 12,781 at around 8:30 pm on January 27th. The official death toll on the day was 80. A crematorium worker in the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak revealed the long working hours he and his colleagues are putting in to transfer bodies from hospitals and private homes, adding its up to 100 body bags a day. The bodies are collected from Wuhans three main hospitals plus other small hospitals, as well as private residences according to the whistleblower. Since Jan. 28, 90 percent of our employees are working 24/7 we couldnt go back home, Yun told The Epoch Times. A team of public health experts led by Professor Neil Ferguson, stated they believed that the reproduction rate of spread was 2.5-3, meaning that each person infected would potentially transmit it to up to three others. This was when the official statistics said the amount of infected people was 2,000. That number then jumped up rapidly since. My best guess now is perhaps 100,000 cases right now, Professor Neil Ferguson, a public health expert at Imperial College said at the time on January 26th. He added, Although it could be between 30,000 and 200,000. Almost certainly many tens of thousands of people are infected. Several medical doctors allegedly in China have said much of the same, as Activist Post reported previously, stating that China was covering up the real statics and that at least 100,000 had been infected with the new flu-like virus. Beyond that, China has now locked down 400 million people in its country in a total of 60 cities since an initial quarantine of 60 million people during the first few days the virus was being reported. As Zerohedge reports: Guangzhou, the capital of Chinas southwestern Guangdong Province and the countrys fifth largest city with nearly 15 million residents, has just joined the ranks of cities imposing a mandatory lockdown on all citizens, effectively trapping residents inside their homes, with only limited permission to venture into the outside world to buy essential supplies. The decision means 3 provinces, 60 cities and 400 million people are now facing Chinas most-strict level of lockdown as Beijing struggles to contain the coronavirus outbreak as the virus has already spread to more than 2 dozen countries. Thats more than 400 million people forcibly locked inside their homes for 638 deaths? Just think about that: If there was ever a reason to believe that Beijing is lying about the numbers (and not just because Tencent accidentally leaked the real data), this is it. China is also being accused of lying to the public about the figures of those infected by many sources like the Wall Street Journal, and even Chinese media which was censored for spreading that thought. China recently censored a media outlet called Caijing, which is one of the most reputable outlets in the country. In the article, the authors claim that China has significantly under reported both the cases and deaths, especially among the elderly. (archive) (translation) There is also a report by the Wall Street Journal that Chinese doctors are saying coronavirus cases are pneumonia or another sickness to hide the official count. Yahoo News also reports that Wuhan officials are cremating deceased coronavirus victims before they can be added to the official death toll. Dr. Francis Boyle a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law and the man who drafted the Biological Weapons Act of 1989, recently said in an explosive interview with Geopolitics and Empire that the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan likely came from the BSL-4 lab in the city. Boyle stated in the interview that he believes the virus is potentially lethal and an offensive biological warfare weapon or dual-use biowarfare weapons agent genetically modified with function properties. Boyle also touched on a fact this reporter stated previously how Chinese biowarfare agents working at the Canadian lab in Winnipeg were involved in the smuggling of coronavirus to Wuhans lab in July of last year. A husband and wife Chinese spy team were recently removed from a Level 4 Infectious Disease facility in Canada for sending pathogens to the Wuhan facility. The husband specialized in coronavirus research. #coronaviruschina #CoronaOutbreak https://t.co/f2MpCZgkHX Kyle Bass (@Jkylebass) January 25, 2020 As a further fun fact, the Washington Times reported that Wuhan is also the site of two Chinese biological labs according to Dany Shoham, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who has studied Chinese biowarfare. The report suggests the virus was either accidentally let out or deliberately. If true, it would explain how the coronavius evolved so fast to jump from animals to humans. When the Washington Times asked Shoham whether the new coronavirus may have leaked, Mr. Shoham said: In principle, outward virus infiltration might take place either as leakage or as an indoor unnoticed infection of a person that normally went out of the concerned facility. This could have been the case with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, but so far there isnt evidence or indication for such incident. Whats more, the lab was officially working with different strains of coronavirus, as well as other deadly illnesses like Ebola, beginning in 2018. This lab is just 20 miles away from the Huanan wet market where the first case of the coronavirus is believed to be transmitted. Before the lab opened, scientists all over the world were voicing concerns about the potential dangers. An article was even published in the science journal Nature in 2017, detailing the plans for the lab and sharing expert opinions about how a dangerous bug could leak from the facility. In fact, the SARS virus has escaped from high-level containment facilities in Beijing multiple times. Interestingly enough, in 2004, China punished five top officials of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the outbreak of SARS. The investigation found that the release of the virus was due to the negligence of two CDC employees who were infected and was not deliberate, China Daily reported. Lancet medical journal recently published a study finding that many of the first cases of the novel coronavirus, including patient zero, had no connection to the wet market, leading many including Boyle to speculate with grandiose evidence listed above that the virus may have been a bio accident. Other DNA sleuths at the New England Journal of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health continue to investigate. Are there really over 100,000 people now infected in China alone? Was the virus origin a bio-weapon or an accident that escaped the lab? The truth of the matter is we dont know; what we do know is that people should be allowed to freely share information and be prepared not scared into intimidation and arrested like cases in China, Malaysia and Thailand. Further, reporters especially those of us in alternative media should report the evidence that is presented, and if it is speculation call it as such; dont scare the public, use your platform to inform not drive fear. There is nothing wrong with questioning the narrative, especially one coming out of China. There is an issue with staying silent and drinking the Chinese Communist Party kool-aid about official numbers, while evidence points elsewhere. With that said, the figures presented above could have been digitally altered using inspect element, as Daily Mail reported. But if multiple people were reporting it, and they have, that becomes less likely. If the numbers from the alleged Tencent leak prove to be accurate, it would put this coronavirus mortality rate at almost 16%. By comparison, SARS mortality rate was 9.6%. The fact that anyone would be arrested for spreading information not sanctioned by governments, when everyone is on edge and wondering what is happening, is in itself insanity welcome to the Ministry Of Truth. Especially if China is lying about the official number of cases and deaths and thats a high probability considering they lied about SARS prior, which was a biological accident 3 out of the 4 times according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms of the coronavirus include a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. However, according to Chinese state media, some are not experiencing any of these symptoms and are instead experiencing nausea, diarrhea, tiredness, bad concentration, headache, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, cornea inflammation, and muscular pains in the limbs, back, and waist. Best preventive measures include washing your hands, and avoiding public places where someone may be sick, according to the CDC. Image credit: Spiro Skouras **By [@An0nkn0wledge](https://steemit.com/@an0nkn0wledge)** Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post. Support us at Patreon. Follow us on Minds, Steemit, SoMee, BitChute, Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit. Related Articles: Thursday, February 6, 2020 - The Chinese Doctor Who Tried to Warn the World About Coronavirus Has Died Li Wenliang noticed seven patients with SARS-like symptoms in December and tried to warn the world about it but was silenced by police. Wednesday, February 5, 2020 - Russian Evacuees From China To Be Quarantined In Remote Siberian Region The Russian Air Force on orders from President Vladimir Putin is currently in the midst of evacuating some over 150 Russian nationals from China and sending them to be monitored for coronavirus symptoms in a region of Western Siberia. Wednesday, February 5, 2020 - Pentagon Designates Four Additional Military Bases as Coronavirus Quarantine Centers Four US bases are prepared to assist the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and house US citizens who may have been exposed to the Wuhan coronavirus overseas, Pentagon officials revealed Saturday. Twitter has locked the account of conservative journalist James O'Keefe for publishing publicly available evidence that a pair of radical leftists with violent fantasies work for the Bernie Sanders campaign. While O'Keefe's tweets are still visible, he can't publish anything new on the platform until he deletes a post which violates Twitter's rules against "posting private information." Its too early to declare victory and too early to assume the virus can be completely eradicated in a few weeks on the SARS model. Many people are already anticipating the end of the coronavirus pandemic and a quick return to "normal life" and renewed global growth. But if we examine the history of previous pandemics and the spread of this contagious virus, we reach a much different conclusion: "Wave 2" and "Wave 3" arising after the initial wave recedes are distinct possibilities. Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - Dr. Francis Boyle Creator Of BioWeapons Act Says Coronavirus Is Biological Warfare Weapon In an explosive interview Dr. Francis Boyle, who drafted the Biological Weapons Act has given a detailed statement admitting that the 2019 Wuhan Coronavirus is an offensive Biological Warfare Weapon and that the World Health Organization (WHO) already knows about it. Radio Free Asia (RFA) has tweeted a disturbing video on its Twitter account Tuesday morning detailing how some residents in Kunshan, Jiangsu, a city in southeastern Jiangsu province with Shanghai bordering its eastern border and Suzhou on its west, are forcibly removing people from their homes who refuse to be quarantined. A controversial group currently in the crosshairs of the establishment, which was also discussed at Event 201, is known as the Anti-Vaccine Movement. And now we see the UK Government working on a new law to jail people who spread Anti-Vaccine Propaganda online. Currently, people are protected from prosecution if they sincerely believe the misinformation or propaganda is real, but the government is looking to reform this provision and make it a criminal offense to post anything online, particularly social media, which is deemed to be Anti-Vaccine. The new coronavirus that has spread consternation around the world over the last few weeks has now killed more people in China than the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003. Chinas health commission reported Sunday that there were 361 deaths nationwide. During the SARS outbreak, 349 people died in mainland China and 774 altogether around the world. The Chinese stock markets took major hits Monday, and the whole nation feels its growing isolation. Sunday, February 2, 2020 - Britons Airlifted from Wuhan Ride to Quarantine on Four Horseman Buses DARPA recently spent millions on research involving bats and coronaviruses, as well as gene editing bioweapons prior to the recent coronavirus outbreak. Now, strategic allies of the agency have been chosen to develop a genetic material-based vaccine to halt the potential epidemic. Thursday, January 30, 2020 - First person-to-person transmission of coronavirus in the US A second person in Chicago has come down with the coronavirus, bringing the total of coronavirus patients in the US up to six (two in Chicago, two in California, one in Seattle, and one in Arizona). But this is the first case that was transmitted person-to-person within the US (the other five patients became infected in China). Thursday, January 30, 2020 - Iraq-Raping Neocon Upset That People Keep Bringing Up The Iraq Thing Theres so much going on in US politics right now that its hard to know what to write about. With all the shouting about the election, impeachment, Trumps bogus Palestine deal and so many other important political issues competing for airtime with Kobe Bryants death and coronavirus fear porn, it feels like were already at white noise information saturation, and its not even February yet. Things are going to get a whole lot noisier next month when the Democratic presidential primaries (and all the establishment manipulations that will necessarily accompany them) get underway, and Julian Assanges extradition trial begins. Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - Virginia Congress Continues Gun Control Frenzy with 9 More Bills Despite a massive and peaceful turnout on the Lobby Day rally on January 20th, the Virginia State Congress remained totally unfazed by what the people wanted and proceeded to advance numerous unconstitutional gun laws over the following week. In a shocking revelation made Tuesday afternoon - a revelation that will almost certainly rattle the US-China relationship at an already fragile time - a federal court unsealed indictments against Harvard professor and Chemistry Department Head Charles Lieber, along with two Chinese nationals. One is a Boston University researcher who was once a lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army, according to prosecutors, and the second was a cancer researcher who tried to smuggle 21 vials of biological materials in his sock - allegedly. Lieber has been arrested, though it's not clear if he's still in custody. Monday, January 27, 2020 - San Francisco Activates Emergency Operations Center To Prepare For Coronavirus Increasing fears of coronavirus spreading across the U.S. have resulted in San Francisco Mayor London Breed to activate the citys emergency operations center, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Its, so we have a centralized location and process to prepare for what we need to do, to share public information, and to take any action if necessary, said Jeff Cretan, a spokesman for Breed. Monday, January 27, 2020 - Philippines to Deport 500 Chinese People to Prevent to Spread of Coronavirus The Philippines is to deport 500 Chinese citizens who arrived in the country from Wuhan in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Before this years very real coronavirus pandemic that started in China and is now sweeping the globe, a fictional simulation of such an event was sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year. Brexit remains a major concern among tourism businesses according to Failte Ireland. Eight days ahead of the UK formally leaving the EU on January 31st, the National Tourism Development Authority convened a meeting of its Industry Brexit Advisory Group at its headquarters in Dublin. The Group was established by Failte Ireland in 2017 to help prepare the industry to be Brexit-ready. CEOs and senior representatives from businesses and organisations working across the tourism industry gathered to discuss their concerns and plan the next steps in dealing with the impact of Brexit on the tourism sector. 'The meeting of the Brexit Advisory Group focused on the impact that Brexit is having now on the tourism industry and on our shared and agreed plans for 2020," stated Jenny De Saulles, Failte Ireland's Director of Sector Development. 'Brexit certainty for 2020 has offered some short term clarity that has helped businesses to plan better, but there is certainly no room for complacency as the future implications of Brexit and what happens after the transition period ends at the end of this year remains a major concern for the sector. While we wait for clarity on the operational specifics of Brexit to fully understand its impact and any potential disruption Failte Ireland will be delivering a range of supports designed to build resilience in the tourism industry. We're working with businesses in assessing the risks, improving their channel mix and retaining business from Northern Ireland and the UK while equipping them with the knowledge, expertise and tools to diversify into other markets,' added De Saulles. Failte Ireland's Brexit Response Programme has delivered a range of supports around UK & Northern Ireland business retention, market diversification and business competitiveness to over 3,000 businesses and individuals. Key actions from Failte Ireland's Industry Brexit Advisory Group meeting include a continuing focus on business retention from UK and Northern Ireland through leveraging our regional brands (Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and Dublin). To ensure this focus is maximised the Group was given a preview of Failte Ireland's new marketing campaign called 'Keep Discovering' which aims to boost home holidays. This will involve a full media campaign targeting the domestic and Northern Ireland market to be launched next month. Failte Ireland's 'Brexit Readiness Check', business supports and one-to-one mentoring are central to preparing tourism businesses as they continue to put their Brexit plans into action. Failte Ireland's Brexit Response Programme includes a number of development programmes to give tourism businesses the tools they need to adapt and prepare for Brexit. Pete Buttigieg surged ahead of Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire by 1 percentage point, according to a new poll released Friday by Suffolk University, continuing a steady ascension that's followed his strong performance in the Iowa caucuses Monday. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is now the top choice of 25% of likely New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary voters, followed by Sanders, a democratic socialist U.S. senator from Vermont, at 24%. They are trailed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 14%, former Vice President Joe Biden, 11%, and Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 6%, according to the poll. After narrowly edging Sanders in Iowa in state delegate equivalents, Buttigieg is riding a wave of momentum into New Hampshire, climbing 14 percentage points in the same Suffolk daily tracking poll since Monday, when he was at 11%. It's the first lead for Buttigieg in the tracking poll, which has the Boston Globe and WBZ-TV as partners. Read senators' impeachment notes: 7 senators handwritten notes offer a new view of Trump's impeachment trial Over that same time, Sanders has stayed flat at 24%, Warren has gained 1 percentage point and Biden, who finished fourth in Iowa, has dropped 7 percentage points. "What's happened in the last week since we began the tracking before Iowa, during, and now after is that he vastly exceeded expectations, unlike Sanders," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, noting that Sanders led two of the last three polls in Iowa. "Sanders did win the first round (of voting), but he certainly did not vastly exceed expectation like Pete Buttigieg." More: Buttigieg, Sanders feel heat at top as candidates draw stark contrasts at debate Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, waves after speaking at the "Our Rights, Our Courts" forum at New Hampshire Technical Institute's Concord Community College on Saturday. The poll, based on daily interviews of 500 likely Democratic voters conducted Thursday and Friday, comes just days before new Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday. The margin of error is 4.4% Story continues Sanders, for months considered the frontunner in the Granite State, still leads most recent New Hampshire polls, but Buttigieg has seemed to emerge as his main challenger. A new CNN poll Saturday conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center had Sanders with 25% and Buttigieg at 21%. An NBC/Marist poll released Friday had Sanders with 25% and Buttigieg with 21%, while a poll from Emerson College found Sanders with 31% and Buttigieg with 24%. Buttigieg's rise has come at the expense of Biden, according Paleologos, who said the former vice president has had a "dramatic drop" in support from senior voters bolting to Buttigieg since Iowa. The mayor has also picked up undecided voters, he said. "These older voters in New Hampshire did not feel comfortable rotating to Warren or Sanders because of the ideology and because of the lane that they occupied," he said. "So Buttigieg was a safe place for them to go someone who was younger, who shared Biden's moderate lane and who vastly exceeded expectations. When that demographic imploded, so did Joe Biden's chances to be in the top tier." More: A New Hampshire primary win is key for multiple Democrats. Here's what we know During Friday's televised New Hampshire debate, Biden sought to set lower expectations for New Hampshire. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, Biden said, pointing out that Sanders, from a neighboring state, won by more than 20 points in New Hampshire in the 2016 New Hampshire primary. If Biden struggles in New Hampshire, he will face enormous pressure to win Nevada and South Carolina, where he has led in polls. Buttigieg, who has had difficulty finding support among minority voters, has struggled to show traction in both states. Paleologos said he also believes Buttigieg benefited from the caucus-counting chaos in Iowa because it gave him four days of extended television coverage that largely characterized him as the winner. "That repetition for four days, whereas usually it's Monday night the winner is announced and that's it. You don't see any extended visibility. So, I think in a weird sort of way, counter to what a lot of people predicted, which was Buttigieg blew a opportunity to seize the moment, the opposite happened." More: Bernie Sanders declares 'decisive victory' in Iowa caucuses, rips results reporting 'screw-up' Sanders has led most polls in New Hampshire since November, coinciding with a drop in Warren's numbers that matched a decline in her candidacy's polling nationally. But Paleologos said demographically Buttigieg is a "much more balanced" candidate than the others, including Sanders. He said polls shows Biden is heavily reliant on senior voters; for Warren, it's women voters; and for Sanders, it's young voters. Nancy Pelosi: Trump impeachment witness Vindman's 'shameful' firing a 'brazen act of retaliation' "It's not perfect balance," Paleologos said of Buttigieg. "But he does have balance of support in terms of gender, age, party affiliation in terms of whether they're Democrat or independent. Thats a more consistent place to be. The parity he shows in demographics, coupled with momentum, makes him a very strong contender in New Hampshire." Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire primary: Buttigieg surges ahead of Sanders, poll finds Two days after President Donald Trump's impeachment acquittal, his administration on Friday ousted two officials - Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland - who provided damaging testimony about Trump in Democratic-led congressional hearings. Sondland issued a statement saying he would be removed from his post hours after Vindman's lawyer announced that the military officer - the White House's top Ukraine expert - was being removed from his National Security Council job. Vindman, a Ukraine-born US ... New technologies DNR, which regulates surface water in Nebraska, is developing a technology-based decision support system to better manage and assess information gathered from weather stations, stream gauges, canal measuring equipment and other sources. Fassett said automating the data will help officials make better and more timely decisions on issues such as when to use excess surface water for groundwater recharge so that its most beneficial to a basin. Watching upstream DNR officials are asking the Legislature for additional funds to study South Platte Basin effects from ongoing Front Range growth in Colorado. Fassett said there are many proposals for new developments that will require water. That makes constantly looking upstream an important job for Nebraskas DNR director. The issue is where the water will come from the Platte Basin, the west side of the Rocky Mountains or purchasing and retiring irrigation water rights. Eastern Nebraska growth Fassett said Lincoln and Omaha officials are studying how to connect their two water systems. A man is in custody for allegedly helping an accused murderer dispose of the victims body. Juan Manuel Amaya Pavon, 37, of Magnolia, is being charged with tampering with evidence to conceal a human corpse, a second-degree felony. MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox Melvin Yovani Ramirez-Russel, 38, of Magnolia, was taken into custody Jan. 31, charged with the murder of Gerardo Munoz De La Paz, 51, of Magnolia. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says Ramirez-Russel fatally shot De La Paz over a debt and disposed of his body. His is also being charged with tampering with evidence to conceal a human corpse, a second-degree felony, and tampering with evidence to impair an investigation, a third-degree felony. Detectives with the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office zeroed in on Ramirez-Russel after the Jan. 29 discovery of De La Pazs remains, which bared a gunshot wound, at the 20900 block of Roberts Cemetery Road, a news release stated. 'HIGH TECH METHODS': Conroe man gets 14 years in prison following guilty plea on child porn charges Prior to his arrest, Amaya Pavon was questioned in the case by the sheriffs office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the press release. As of Friday afternoon, Amaya Pavon and Ramirez-Russel are being held at the Montgomery County Jail, according to jail records. Amaya Pavon is being held on a $100,000 bond and Ramirez-Russel is being held on a combined $410,000, jail records show. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx A transgender teenager has pleaded guilty to murder after opening fire on fellow students who he says bullied him. Alec McKinney faces a life sentence over the shooting rampage at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School near Denver, Colorado, that left one student dead and injured eight more on May 7. McKinney's friend Devon Erickson, 19, is also accused of carrying out the attack, and pleaded not guilty last month to the same charges of murder and attempted murder. Kendrick Castillo, an 18-year-old pupil at the school in Highlands Ranch, was fatally shot when he charged one of the gunmen, according to police. McKinney, who was born female, told police he was in a 'pre-op transitioning phase' and plotted the shooting to get revenge on classmates who had bullied him for being transgender. Alec McKinney faces a life sentence over the shooting rampage at the STEM School near Denver, Colorado Devon Erickson, 19, is also accused of carrying out the attack but pleaded not guilty last month to the same charges of murder and attempted murder The pair allegedly stormed the school after arming themselves with three handguns and a 22-caliber rifle stolen from a gun safe owned by Ericksons parents, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Both teens were said to have taken cocaine before the attack. McKinney said he had enlisted Erickson to help him carry out the plot, police said. McKinney 'said he wanted the kids at the school to experience bad things, have to suffer from trauma like he had had to in his life,' the document said. 'He wanted everyone in that school to suffer and realize that the world is a bad place,' according to police interview documents. The teenager told police that classmates called him 'disgusting,' made fun of him and repeatedly referred to him 'as a she'. In December, McKinneys lawyers unsuccessfully argued to have his case transferred to juvenile court, saying that he had a troubled childhood, including witnessing domestic violence by his father against his mother. Kendrick Castillo, the 18-year-old senior killed during the shooting, was credited with helping thwart the attack by charging at one of the shooters when he entered a classroom McKinney, who was born female, told police he was in a 'pre-op transitioning phase' and plotted the shooting to get revenge on classmates who had bullied him for being transgender Jose Evis Quintana is a serial felon and illegal immigrant from Mexico and was once jailed for 15 months for domestic violence against Alec's mother and 'menacing with a weapon'. Judge Philip Holmes denied to motion to be tried in a juvenile court and said that while McKinney 'has experienced serious trauma,' the alleged crimes were so serious that he should be tried as an adult'. McKinney pleaded guilty to 17 felonies, including first-degree murder, in a plea deal with prosecutors, Fox 31 reported he originally faced 48 charges. The teenager, who is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, faces life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 40 years of his term because he was a juvenile when the crimes were committed. Erickson, who was an adult when the crimes were committed, faces life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of murder, or the death penalty if prosecutors decide to seek capital punishment. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Of the 1.47 crore voters who geared up to exercise their franchise on Saturday, some of the early birds were the who's who of the capital -- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav Jaishankar cast his vote at the NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Crescent polling station. "Casting vote is one of the prime duties of the citizens of the country. People should definitely come out and cast their vote in order to contribute in the building of the nation," he said outside the polling station. BJP MP Parvesh Verma, who recently made headlines for being barred by the Election Commission for his unparliamentary comments against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, cast his vote at a Matiala polling station. "Today Delhi will decide what kind of government they want -- a government who works for the development of the nation or a government slipping into a sink hole of corruption," Verma told the media. Ram Madhav arrived at a polling station in Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh Assembly constituency. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with his mother came and cast his vote at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar. "This time the Aam Aadmi Party will be defeated very badly. People have seen them clearly in their true colours -- working against the interest of the nation. "BJP will win with flying colours. This election is clearly between right and wrong," Harshvardhan told media here. When asked how many seats the BJP expected to win, he said: "I am not an astrologer to predict that." He also said that the "AAP has no issue to talk about, that's why they are saying that the BJP has no CM face." More than one crore people of Delhi will choose 70 lawmakers. Namche Bazaar is one of the most popular towns near the Everest region in Nepal. It also makes up for a perfect place to hang around when you have a day to spare before your treks or other plans. The town falls on the way to Everest Base Camp. The little town offers a variety of options for travellers to explore. Here is a list of a few things to do when you are in Namche Bazaar. Best things to do when in Namche Bazaar Visit Kancha Sherpa Kancha Sherpa is the last climbing Sherpa from the 1953 Everest Expedition. That was the first successful Everest expedition. He has been on many adventures on Island peak, Makalu and many expeditions. One can visit him at the Nirvana Lodge and pay about 500 to have a story session with him. ALSO READ | Travel: Things To Do And Places To Go To When You Are In London Shangbouche hill Set at 12,795 feet, Shangbouche hill has the best views in the area. One trek to the hill and one gets to witness stunning views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Konde Ri, and Khumbila. The place offers a quiet space and is totally worth spending some time soaking up the Himalayan atmosphere. Cafe Danphe This cafe is the original Namche bar that even has t-shirts from Everest Expeditions on its walls. This old-school bar is set at 11,000 feet and sells amazing coffee cakes. One can also enjoy Everest movies, the Sherpa documentary, and even play some pool. ALSO READ | Best Activities And Things To Do With Your Kids In Manila When On A Vacation There Sherpa Museum Taking a stroll up to the Sherpa museum next to the Military compound is also a good idea. This place even has a new interactive museum planned and you walk can through the museum and learn about Sherpa culture, Sagarmatha national park and the Everest region of Nepal. One will also find a huge statue of Tenzing Norway here. Gifting needy children It is always an amazing experience to help the needy. Take a walk up to the Jamling Lodge and help needy children here. You can gift them books, shoes, pencils, toys, colouring books, and more. ALSO READ | Best Things To Do With Kids In Moscow When On A Family Vacation ALSO READ | 4 Most Unique Destinations For Boat And Cruise Vacations In India President Trump has a personal schema that regularly plays out stand tough against your enemies; exhibit restraint when it's beneficial to do so; and then, when exonerated, claim victory loud and proud. This framework just repeated itself. Trump was compelled to withstand a shoddy impeachment trial, enabling his transgressors the opportunity to state their egregious case against him. He was soon vindicated. After the expected clearance of both charges, abuse of power and obstructing an investigation, not only did he claim victory, but he eviscerated his opponents and literally shoved his acquittal in their faces. Some may feel that the last step of the Trumpian design was unnecessary. After all, most of us were raised to be gracious in our triumphs. We conservatives are well known for our restraint and, many times, neglect to shout out our hard won victories. That is unfortunate, mainly because it does not give pause to our enemies who want to take us down. What we really need to do is celebrate success while stridently pointing out unmerited and unwarranted actions against us. Whether, through chastisement, our antagonists see the error of their ways or not, they at least deserve the opportunity to reflect upon their behavior. We now have a perfect occasion to put into practice the full and complete Trumpian doctrine, with more victory to claim right now than in any other time during Trump's presidential term. We are experiencing a booming stock market despite the efforts of the last regime to administer a chokehold on businesses and the economy. Trump just gave a State of the Union address like none other, laying out the many accomplishments of his administration, even with a leftist majority in the House hell-bent on thwarting any desirable progress. Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and much of the Democrat Party, all liars and co-conspirators in the quest to take down the country, are in meltdown mode. Finally, a recent Gallup poll shows 90% of Americans loving life, even with the incessant drumbeat of gloom and doom by Hollywood, the media, and the usual suspects on the left. Yes, it is time to claim victory while we have a firm grasp on it. Our winning needs to be shouted from the rooftops, and the reprehensible schemes against all proud Americans need to be called out for what they are. It's time to abide by Trump's full design. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Dhamari Naidoo, an official of the World Health Organisation (WHO), says the agency has deployed a team of experts to support Nigerias response plan on coronavirus. Ms Naidoo, WHOs Nigeria Technical Officer in Health Emergency Programme, said this at a meeting to build the capacity of journalists on how to report coronavirus on Friday in Abuja. She said WHO had been supporting countries globally, especially countries with a high risk of importing the virus. According to her, the risk of importing the virus is high in the country recognising that Nigerians travel frequently to China. WHO has deployed the experts from Africa to support us for two weeks to ensure that our plan and preparedness is complete and on point. As at January 31, Coronavirus Inter-ministerial Preparedness and Response Committee was conveyed by the Minister of Health and he inaugurated a committee to develop an Action Plan. The focus of the committee is to ensure that our points of entry have sufficient capacity to monitor in-coming travellers. The official told the journalists that the focus was on nine states, hosting ports of entry both by air and water. The nine states are Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Delta and Balyesa. That is our main priority now; within Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which we are supporting, we have activated the coronavirus preparedness working group and the group has been working in the past two weeks. We are also working to ensure that the Inter-ministerial committee has the capacity to provide patients care and diagnostic capacity, she said. Speaking on Africa, Ms Naidoo said that WHO risk assessment was high in the continent because of its close ties with China and other Asian countries. What the continent is currently implementing is out of screening and out of the point screening at the major international ports to detect any potential of importation. The regional has made considerable progress in preparing and one way we have been doing it through preparing for influenza pandemic. `These are the systems that have been put in place for countries to detect and monitor any outbreak of respiratory disease. Countries for the past 10 years have been preparing for this, the systems are functional in the continent, she said. According to her, one of the main key components in the preparedness is laboratory capacity or diagnostic capacity. One way in which WHO is supporting is through procurement of diagnostic kits, this week, we have provided 20 countries with diagnostics capacity. Ms Naidoo, however, called on journalists to study the technical terms used in reporting the virus to guide against misinformation. (NAN) A bomb went off in Okesha area of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state on Saturday, bringing down a building next door to the governors office. ... A bomb went off in Okesha area of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state on Saturday, bringing down a building next door to the governors office. The explosion also affected a section of the state ministry of chieftaincy affairs. The explosion also damaged parts of the ministry of finance, and other buildings on the premises. Amba Asuquo, commissioner of police, was at the scene of the blast, and he said preliminary investigation revealed that the bomb might have gone off from the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) office within the premises. Here are some photos from the scene of the incident. After Uri: The Surgical Strike, Vicky Kaushal is all set to team up with Aditya Dhar again for a superhero film titled The Immortal Ashwatthama. And now, it looks like his new found friend Katrina Kaif too, is keen to explore this genre. If reports are to be believed, the actress has given her nod to star in her close friend Ali Abbas Zafar's superhero action flick. We hear that the Bharat director is writing, directing and producing a superhero action flick for which his good friend Katrina Kaif is being considered. A Mumbai Mirror report quoted a source as saying, "Ali will be directing this film and is currently finalising the script. They have been planning this project for a while now. It's an exciting project for both as it will showcase never-seen-before stunts in Bollywood. Katrina is currently at her fittest and regular workouts will come in handy. The idea is to spin a franchise." Apparently, Ali is also in talks with producer Ronnie Screwvala to partner in bankrolling this project. The source further added, "Once Ali has completed the script, he will go on a recce to scout for locations." Over the years, Katrina and Ali have forged a strong emotional bond and the duo have worked together on films like Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Tiger Zinda Hai and Bharat. Talking about his equation with Katrina, the filmmaker earlier told Mumbai Mirror in an interview, "We come from similar middle-class backgrounds, our values are the same, and we discuss everything. On the work front, we are very transparent with each other. If she doesn't like something which I am doing, she lets me know and vice-versa. In an industry where friendships don't last even for months, our have continued for over a decade." Coming back to Katrina, the actress is currently busy filming for Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi where she is teaming up with Akshay Kumar after a long gap. Amitabh And Jaya Bachchan Get Groovy At Katrina Kaif's Wedding; Pose With 'Three Superstars' Rohit Shetty Is Fed Up Of Katrina Kaif And The Reason Is Hilarious! MBABANE Two Cabinet ministers came under severe scrutiny from parliament in the past week for committing government funds without seeking approval from the House. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg and his colleague Manqoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, committed an amount of E220 million towards the construction of a factory from which an international investor is expected to operate. The name of the investor has been withheld to protect the investment that is coming to the country and the about 200 jobs the investment is anticipated to bring. Initially, the project was handed to the Industrial Development Corporation of Eswatini (IDCE) for financing but government, it has now been revealed, has since taken it over. This is said to have happened in November last year. Rijkenberg and Khumalo, by committing the government funds to the project, in essence, violated the Public Finance Management Act, which spells out clearly what processes need to be followed before such an undertaking could be made. The Act, in Section 36, prohibits ministers from making commitments that have financial commitments for the government budget or any local government budget that are not authorised by the annual budget, or an authority provided by the Act, or other legal authority. The Act also states that ministers shall not expend public money other than in accordance with authority under the annual budget, or an authority granted under an Act. In Section 28 (1), it is provided that government shall seek approval of parliament for making multi-year commitments by presenting the proposed multi-year commitments in the annual budget documents for approval by parliament and shall, in addition, provide information on the previously approved multi-year commitments and the current status of these commitments. Multi-year commitments include capital investments and related recurrent costs, obligations for government under public-private partnerships and other investment and financing arrangement. Over E18m already spent The Times SUNDAY spoke to two highly-placed and senior sources who said the two ministers, Rijkenberg and Khumalo, had a tough time trying to convince parliament not to stop the project because of the violation of the Act. Parliament only became aware of the commitment made by the two ministers when Rijkenberg appeared before the Finance Sessional Committee and the Portfolio Committee on Finance for final deliberations before he tables the Appropriation Bill (National Budget) on Friday. We discovered that they have already spent over E18 million on the project. How do you spend so much money without parliaments approval? The project shouldnt have continued because it has violated all financial rules, said an astute legislator who is privy to the discussions. What saved the ministers, the legislator said, was a collective decision by the two committees to put the countrys image first before everything else. At the end of the day, the project has to continue because, as MPs, we are not reckless and irresponsible. We decided to give the ministers the benefit of the doubt because we all want this project to continue, said the MP. The legislator said they decided to let the ministers face the Public Accounts Committee, when the time comes, where they will have to explain their reasons for deciding to ignore legal processes. Another issue that is said to have come up was that since government had taken over the project, what would happen to the contractor who was already on site continuing with the job. The contractor was appointed by IDCE who have since pulled out of the project; so the fundamental issue now is since the project is now funded by government will it want to continue with this contractor who was not hired through governments tender process? If theres no re-tendering for the project, then it means you cannot use government funds, said The MP. But the legislator noted that this might be a catch-22 situation because the contractor is under contract and will demand payment; but the question is who will they demand the payment from because IDCE pulled out? According to the MP, this is now a mystery that needs to be solved by government, IDCE and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA). Problems with project Meanwhile, a source who works closely with the Executive (Cabinet), said the project began experiencing problems under IDCE when the corporation had a fallout with its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Phiwayinkhosi Ginindza, which resulted in the latter being suspended. The impeccable source said IDCE then informed government that they were not in a position to fund the project and asked that alternative funding should be sought. This was reportedly in November and by the time government concluded everything, parliament had already adjourned for the year 2019. The alternative was to raise bonds that people could buy to raise funds for the project and that was agreed. This was supposed to go through parliament but then the House had already adjourned, explained the source. A decision was reportedly taken to go ahead with committing government funds for the project, with the assumption that a supplementary budget would be tabled in parliament once it opened in 2020. The problem was that when IDCE pulled out, work was already underway and the contractors had to be paid and government therefore had to inherit all the debts that came with the project, elaborated the source. However, the source said, when the two finance committees heard about this, they informed Rijkenberg and Khumalo that they had been misguided because you do not request supplementary budget for an item or project that was not even in the budget initially. The two ministers pleaded ignorance and apologised for the oversight. This was understood by the MPs, who gave them the benefit of the doubt because they were relatively still new in office. The MPs then took time to educate the ministers about the process, stated the source. Two other concerns were reportedly raised by the MPs; and these included the cost of the project, which was viewed to be high, and why the investor did not build the factory instead of government shouldering the responsibility. But with these two concerns, there was reportedly a lot of disinformation that had been spread around the project. For instance, there was information to the effect that government does not construct factory shells for companies but they do these themselves. This was pure lies because there are more than 15 companies that are operating from factory shells constructed by government, said the source. investors pre-condition According to the source, the two ministers also explained that it was the investors pre-condition that government should construct the factory for them and they would rent it with the option to buy it after three to five years. This is reportedly part of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the investor. The MPs understood this and agreed with what the ministers were saying, stated the source. Regarding the cost, the ministers are said to have told the MPs that the calculations were based on the money that was spent in constructing two other factory shells in Matsapha about five years ago. These factories were each built on 3 000 square metre land at a cost of E30 million. The current project is being built on 18 000 square metre land, which, in other words, is six times bigger than the other ones. When you do your mathematics, you come to E180 million. But this was five years later and the cost of things has gone up, which is why the budget is at E220 million, and this makes sense, further explained the source. The ministers are said to have also explained that the issue of the contractor would not be tampered with because the proper procurement process was followed when the service provider was engaged. The ministers said they found no reason to tamper with the tendering process because government was literally continuing with an already existing project. They said there were just unforeseen circumstances that arose along the way, that have nothing to do with the contractor and how they were selected, stated the source. He said ministers told the MPs that they were cognisant to look at whether there were previously any problems that were encountered when the contractor was engaged and found that there were none. They explained that starting the ender process afresh was not necessary and was going to waste time and there was just no motivation to terminate the services of the current contractors. The MPs appeared satisfied with the explanation, added the source A reputable forensic audit firm is said to have also found the tendering process to have been without controversy. IDCE Chairman Dumisani Kunene confirmed that they were no longer part of the project. This has always been a government project, we were just asked to participate in terms of financing it. Government then had other options and decided to continue with the project on its own, he said. He said IDCE leaving the project had nothing to do with the corporations fallout with its CEO. Government just had urgency that we could not meet on the project in terms of timelines. We had committed some funds to the project management cost but were still going to engage government in terms of the timeline; whether they were going to accept our timelines. Eventually they had an urgency to complete and their urgency was far before our timelines. In that case we couldnt actually assist them, Kunene said. budget speech to shed light Minister Rijkenberg said he could not talk about the project because that would give away part of what he would say when delivering his budget speech on Friday. It would be wrong for me to reveal at this stage what is in the budget and what is not. The factory is being built by EIPA, please check with them. They did start the process with IDCE but they have now applied for a budget to complete it, the minister said. Minister Khumalo said he was currently out of the country and could only talk on his return. On the other hand, Chairperson of the Finance Sessional Committee MP Thandi Nxumalo said everything that they deliberated with the ministers would only be revealed on Friday when the finance minister tables the national budget. I cannot pinpoint a particular issue because we looked at the budget holistically. It is a norm that the minister sits down with the finance committees for deliberations before tabling the budget in the House. Its not proper for me to divulge what we discussed with the minister. Friday is around the corner, you will hear what the budget contains, she said. Nxumalo said, anyway, the budget would still be debated by the House. Anxious Singapore shoppers formed long lines at grocery stores Saturday and cleared the shelves of essential items, after the city-state raised its alert level over China's coronavirus outbreak. Since emerging late last year, the virus has killed over 700 people and infected more than 34,000 in China, and spread to many other countries. Singapore, which has reported 33 cases, raised its alert level Friday to "orange" -- the same as during the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak, indicating the virus is severe and passes easily between people. The announcement triggered panic in the city-state of 5.7 million starting late Friday, with shoppers -- many wearing masks -- rushing to stock up on items including rice, noodles and toilet paper. Pictures circulating on social media showed empty shelves in some stores, carts filled with goods and long lines at counters, which continued into Saturday. "I'm afraid that if they further raise the alert level, we will not be able to go out," a 50-year-old housewife, who did not want to be named, told AFP after leaving a grocery store. The highest level on Singapore's four-point scale for dealing with disease outbreaks is "red", one above "orange". There were, however, ample stocks of other items such as fruit, meat, fish, and alcohol. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged calm, saying Singapore had "ample supplies" and there was no need for people to stock up with items such as instant noodles or toilet paper. "Fear can do more harm than the virus itself," he said in a statement. "It can make us panic, or do things which make matters worse, like circulating rumours online, hoarding facemasks or food, or blaming particular groups for the outbreak." Singapore raised its alert level amid a growing number of virus cases in citizens with no recent travel history to mainland China and no known links to previous infections. Hong Kong has also been hit by a wave of panic-buying in recent days as it seeks to battle the virus, with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of crucial goods. LITCHFIELD The Chabad community in Northwest Connecticut recently joined thousands of communities worldwide in marking the 70th anniversary of the leadership of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, according to a statement. It was on the 10th of the Hebrew month of Shevat, coinciding this year with Feb. 5, that Rabbi Schneerson formally assumed the role of Rebbe, engineering a global Jewish renaissance in the aftermath of the Holocaust, according to the statement. Despite his stature and accomplishments, the Rebbe was a tremendously modest man and, unlike any other leader of his importance, was remarkably accessible to anyone who wanted to meet him, Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach wrote. Recognized as the most influential rabbi in modern history, he was the only rabbi ever to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, and to have an American national day, Education and Sharing Day U.S.A., proclaimed in his honor because of his advocacy, for among other things the establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Education. His teachings about the inherent goodness of all mankind, and the infinite potential of every individual and each good deed, continue to be a guiding force as a generation, of both Jews and non-Jews, seeks to positively change the world for the better, Eisenbach wrote. In keeping with the Rebbes lifetime goals and teachings, hundreds of thousands are redoubling their efforts at personal prayer, study and acts of loving kindness in preparation for the special date, as well as increasing their personal and communal efforts to encourage others to do the same. In Northwest Connecticut, many locals have undertaken an array of personal and communal activities in the Rebbes honor. Additionally, many tens of thousands will visit his resting place in Queens, N.Y. during the anniversary, bearing the personal prayers of millions. Throughout his lifetime, the Rebbe was remarkably accessible, and counseled countless individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, including statesmen and artists as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzchak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Elie Wiesel and Bob Dylan, as well as countless nameless individuals who were each showered with his individual attention and love. In the recent book Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World, sociologist Philip Wexler attempts to extract and lay out the Rebbes vision for society at-large. Among the ideas discussed in the book are the Rebbes pioneering teachings on criminal justice reform and the importance of moral education. A local delegation headed by Rabbi Joseph and Rebbetzin Mina Eisenbach traveled to the Rebbes resting place in Queens, N.Y. on Yud Shvat, where they will join others from around the world, visiting to mark the day. For more information visit www.chabadNW.org/yudshvat Chabad of Northwest CT offers education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, contact us at 860.567.3377 or visit online at www.chabadNW.org Since October, the Polarstern, a German research icebreaker, has been frozen in the ice in the Arctic Ocean on a mission to learn more about climate change in the region, the fastest-warming area on the planet. The MOSAIC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition is organized by the Alfred Wegener Institute and is expected to continue until September. Until then, the Polarstern will drift with the pack ice near the North Pole and across the Arctic. About 60 scientists and technicians are on board for two months at a time, taking detailed measurements of the ice and snow, ocean, atmosphere and the organisms small and large that exist in the central Arctic. In the first few months, the expedition encountered wild storms, constantly shifting and cracking ice that made setting up instruments difficult and the occasional polar bear. Since early October, the expedition has been in the polar darkness, with the only illumination coming from lights on the ship and some set up on the ice. Markus Rex, a climate scientist with the institute and the expedition leader, and Esther Horvath, a photographer who has been documenting the expedition, were on board for the first two months. They left in December on another icebreaker as part of a planned rotation of personnel and recently came to New York City to talk about the expedition. These are edited excerpts from the conversation: First of all, are you happy to be back on land? Rex: My feelings are a bit mixed. It was kind of sad to leave the expedition during a key phase everything was up and running, and I just wanted to stay with my precious instruments there on the ice. But on the other hand, Im now glad to be back here to see the sun rise every morning. Im still a bit confused, seeing that. Horvath: I really didnt want to leave the ice floe. It started to become so much home and the only reality in my life. But after the supply vessel arrived and leaving started to become a reality, I started to feel, OK, maybe its time to go back to civilization and recharge myself. Whats it like being in the middle of the frozen Arctic Ocean in the 24-hour polar night? Rex: Its very striking. All the colours disappear just the white snow and the ice and the black of everything behind, on this completely frozen landscape. Theres a feeling of being on some different planet or moon. Horvath: Youre on the sea ice, and after a while, you forget about it. But then you remind yourself that, no no no, this is one metre of sea ice, and you have 4,200 metres of ocean underneath. And you realize this especially when the ice starts to move and there are openings. Right after I returned, I flew to Washington, D.C., and walking on the concrete there, I realized, Wow, I dont have to watch my step. Because being outside on the ice in the darkness, you always watch your step. You can easily step into a crack. You are going back for another couple of months in early April, Esther, right? Horvath: Yes. I think because I knew I was coming back again, I could leave. I knew what I was going to miss the most was the darkness. When I go back, it will be 24-hour sun, so it will be very different. You are going back in April, too, Markus. And then you go back one final time, in late summer, as the expedition draws to a close. Rex: At that time, the ice will be starting to melt. It will be very challenging. Well have lots of melt ponds, and the ice will become even more unstable than it is now. Depending on the conditions, well have to decide on a daily basis whether its still safe to work on the ice and then, at some point, just pick up and go. Youve been involved in the planning for this expedition for years. Now that it is underway, is there anything that has surprised you? Rex: We expected a very dynamic ice surface, with lots of cracks and pressure ridges forming that would force us to reconfigure our research camp frequently. But 2019 was special. It was the warmest summer that we have ever experienced in the central Arctic, and that of course eroded the sea ice even more. The degree of instability was even more pronounced than I expected. Pretty much every day during the early part of the expedition, we had formation of new cracks in the ice and these massive events when pressure ridges form, with ice piling up one or two storeys high. It happens in minutes, and its very impressive to see, but its annoying for setting up and maintaining our infrastructure on the ice. Is there anything you can say yet about what the expedition has learned about the Arctic and climate change? Rex: We just brought the first hard disks of data back to the mainland a few days ago. People have hardly had time to start to look into it, so I cant give you any specific results. What we do know is that we now have continuous observations of over 100 key climate parameters. The research camp is in full swing. The data includes measurements taken before, during and after storms, including a very fierce one that passed through in November. Storms are very important events in the Arctic, and these are the first detailed measurements of the climate processes that occur during them. That is certainly a scientific highlight it will give us a much better understanding of how storm systems affect the Arctic. The ship is expected to drift with the ice for another nine months or so, and if all goes as planned, should come out in the Fram Strait between Greenland and Svalbard in northern Norway. What challenges lie ahead? Rex: Right now, everything is going extremely well. The research camp is fully established. The drift is pretty much following the predicted drift corridor. We are a little on the Siberian coast side of the corridor, but Im not worried at all that we wont go in the direction we want to go. The ice has become a little more stable now as it has gotten thicker, and cracks are less frequent. The establishment of a runway for our aircraft one of the big challenges that is coming up is going well. We have a custom-made ice mill to remove pressure ridges from the runway. It just eats pressure ridges and turns them into heaps of snow that can be moved away. Its amazing. So I think we are on a good track. Read more about: Reforming the Criminal Justice System and bringing it closer to the people Reviewed by Leelananda De Silva View(s): View(s): Fifty years ago, when I was a public servant in the Kurunegala district, we went on circuit to a remote village. This was the time when the government had embarked on a food production drive assuring farmers of guaranteed prices, supply of seeds and fertilisers and other inducements to increase food production. We had a meeting in the village to find out how the food drive was proceeding. Villagers almost unanimously said that what was even more important to ensure higher levels of production was the maintenance of law and order in the village. They said their highland crops like vegetables and bananas were being robbed and that there was no incentive to go on growing these crops. What they needed most was some degree of protection by the police and bringing the culprits to justice. They were not anxious to go to distant Kurunegala to attend courts. What they needed was local systems of justice. The book being reviewed deals with these issues. It deals with the same kind of issues that these citizens in a remote village have expressed in their own way. The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is an integral part of good governance. Author Frank De Silva had a long career with the police ending up as the Inspector General of Police. He has written other books and he has, apart from his first degree, obtained many postgraduate qualifications especially in law. He is one of those few policemen who have an intellectual interest in the CJS, and his present volume is indeed worth a close study. The volume has ten chapters addressing a range of issues within the CJS the rule of law, the malfunctioning of the CJS, laws delays, the role of the police, and generally the administration of justice. This volume comes at a time when the role of the CJS has become a central part of the discussion about the rising levels of corruption and the declining independence of judicial and police institutions in Sri Lanka. An interesting feature of the volume is that the author has allowed four or five authorities on this subject to make their own contributions and they are published in the book. Former Chief Justice G.P.S. De Silva, former Attorney General Palitha Fernando, former Deputy Inspector General of Police Douglas Ranmutugala, and Economist, Lawyer and Administrator H.P. Wijeyewardena have together made an important contribution to the elucidation of the key and critical issues raised in this volume. The CJS which is now functioning in Sri Lanka dates back to the Colebrooke Cameron Reforms of 1832. Cameron was the legal brains behind it, e.g. the introduction of the Penal Code. Broadly speaking, the judicial reforms of the time were an improvement of what had gone before. But there was a failure on their part to learn and understand from the local legal systems that prevailed and which remained closer to the people. The new system was not understood by the common man. They made law something remote from the people. Leonard Woolfs novel, Village in the Jungle, describes clearly the large gap between the administration of justice and those at the receiving end of the laws outcome. There was no justice for the poor villager in this system. From that time on, the lawyers took the upper hand in this system of legal ignorance experienced by the ordinary citizens. Even after independence, there was no major reform of the law and the legal system, to address these shortcomings. There was one notable attempt in 1972 with the Administration of the Justice Act, but that was largely nullified later on. It is a key argument of the author that various powerful lobbies the lawyers and the police have influenced the administration of the CJS for their own ends, and in the process forgetting the interests of the people. The Constitution clearly states that the law is for the people, and legal administration should obviously serve that end. One cannot blame only these powerful lobbies for the malfunctioning of the CJS. Although the author does not say so, the main reason for shortcomings in the CJS is the failure of politicians to deal with these issues. Sri Lanka has a parliamentary history of more than 70 years. When has Parliament debated these shortcomings of the system in any comprehensive way and addressed them? There have been occasional discussions with regard to individual pieces of legislation but there has been no comprehensive review through a Commission of Inquiry or through detailed discussions in the legislature. We have many research institutes dealing with economics but there are not very many, if there are any, which are looking into legal reforms and the development of the law. For all political parties, this should be a matter of priority. Political parties might find that including this subject in an election manifesto might make them more relevant and more popular. The author addresses the issue of Laws Delays. It is not uncommon to see civil and criminal cases going on for ten years in courts. Litigants have to suffer much injustice and spend significant financial resources. Is it not feasible for the judicial system on its own to rectify some of these injustices occurring as a result of laws delays? Just to take up one issue, which is a continuing irritant to litigants. Is it not feasible for the judicial system to have a maximum time limit for any case coming up before it to end in two or three years? Delaying the implementation of the law is justice denied. Although the author does not raise this issue, it is appropriate that in any revision of the CJS, the issue of legal fees and the number of lawyers practising in each court should be examined. In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of lawyers practising in the Courts. Are there now too many so that many lawyers find it difficult to generate a decent income? Those passing out of the Law Faculties need not always practise in the courts. Those who pursue a course in law need not look to the courts always and they can look into other forms of employment in public administration or in the private sector. To bring the CJS closer to the people is one of the main objectives of the author. In pre-colonial days, Ceylon had a strong tradition of village tribunals. It is not feasible to go back entirely to that kind of system with an emerging modern economy. But it is certainly feasible to explore the institution of a new system of decentralised justice, drawing on the expanded university system in every district and province and utilising the talent of the large number of graduates who are passing out. These new capacities at the district level can be tapped to improve the CJS as well as the Civil Justice System and making law more approachable to the ordinary person. This volume has brought back memories of my university days at Ramanathan Hall at Peradeniya in the 1950s. Frank De Silva was at Ramanathan Hall. Cyril Herath, another resident at the time at Ramanathan, also ended up as IGP. Douglas Ranmuthugala had a distinguished career in the police service rising to be DIG and later making a significant contribution to the reform of the police service in Papua New Guinea. Philip Perera, who was also at Ramanathan ended up as DIG. So Ramanathan Hall of my time was well represented in the Sri Lanka Police Service. Nearly 14.5 million registered voters in Delhi will get to vote today to choose a new government for Delhi through the election of representatives to 70 assembly constituencies across the national capital. The voting will begin at 8 am and end at 6 pm. Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking a second term while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to unseat him banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal. Assembly versus Lok Sabha results The contest for Delhi is likely to determine if the BJP victory in all seven seats of the state in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 will hold in the assembly polls, which were swept in 2015 by Kejriwals AAP that won 67 of the 70 seats on offer. In 2019, BJP had registered leads in 65 of the 70 assembly constituencies. The two different results have prompted experts to claim people vote differently in the state and the national polls. The war of campaigns The elections will also in a way determine the efficacy of two very different campaigns in tone, tenor and substance. The AAPs campaign was largely carved around its governance record in the last five years while the BJP appealed to voters through its nationalism pitch and projected AAPs position on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as a threat to national security, and its support to Shaheen Bagh and JNU protests as anti-national. The leadership question and the polarisation attempt The elections will also test if AAPs attempt to carve out a multi-religious and multi-class alliance has been successful compared to the BJPs bid to consolidate all Hindu voters across regions, castes and classes, and finally, it will also reflect if not projecting a CM candidate against Arvind Kejriwal and making the PM face of its campaign was a gambit worth playing for the BJP. Whose message has more resonance? Kejriwal told HT in an interview on Wednesday that the AAP government was the first in 70 years to seek votes entirely on the ground of work done on the development front. He also targeted the BJP for trying to colour the election with Hindu vs Muslim issue. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, too, said his partys agenda was development, he told HT that non-implementation of Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas Yojana in Delhi will result in Kejriwal governments defeat. Different elections, different votes AAP got 54% votes in 2015 polls but it dipped to 26% in the municipal elections in 2017 and 18% in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, when it couldnt even open its account. Both the BJP and the Congress have improved their vote share in this period. The BJP polled 56% votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, up from 36% in 2017 and 32% in 2015. The Congress got just 10% of votes in 2015 but it increased to 21% in 2017 and 23% in 2019. A Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)-Lokniti poll conducted during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls showed that only about half of the people who voted for the BJP or the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls would have voted for the same party in case of a snap assembly election. The corresponding figure was 82% for the AAP. The Impact of the campaign The AAP used government advertisements before the model code of conduct, public interaction programmes, townhall meetings by Kejriwal, small corner meetings in neighbourhoods, dozens of rallies and roadshows, and a strong social media campaign to project its governance record, especially the transformation of government schools, public health systems, electricity and water supply at subsidized rates and free bus travel for women. It has also promised to focus on pollution, provision of clean water and cleanliness in its next term if elected to power. The BJP campaign initially started with claiming credit for providing ownership documents to four million residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi through central legislation. The party promised triple-engine governance with BJP at the centre, state and local level if elected to power. But the BJP campaign took a turn in the wake of protests against the CAA, particularly in Delhis Shaheen Bagh area. Led by home minister Amit Shah, the party machinery and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadre projected the protests as anti-national which suited Pakistan. It blamed the AAP and the Congress for backing these protests, spreading anarchy and violence, and causing inconvenience to the citys residents. The poll arithmetic The AAP hopes that the Muslim vote influential on 10 seats--which had shifted to the Congress in LS polls will return to it as it may be best placed to defeat the BJP and it also hopes to win the support of the Hindu poor and the lower middle-class on the back of its welfare schemes. The party messaging made it clear that it was not against Hindu interests with Kejriwal reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, going to the Hanuman temple and candidates repeatedly emphasising their religious identity. Party has also promised lessons in patriotism in school curricula and supported moves such as the nullification of Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. The BJP, for its part, is hoping to consolidate all Hindus including Punjabis, Banias, Purvanchalis and Dalits, irrespective of demographic differences. It hopes Muslim-driven protests against CAA would unite the majority community. If the Congress is able to retain votes of Muslims and the poor even in some constituencies, it may benefit the BJP. Modi versus Kejriwal The PM addressed only two rallies but his image adorns BJPs hoardings and advertisements. The party has announced no CM-face, that could have prevented a direct face-off between Modi and Kejriwal in poll campaigning. The AAP has tried to highlight that BJP has no CM candidate to counter Kejriwal. Klobuchar takes aim at Buttigieg in ABC News debate in New Hampshire originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar didn't speak the most among rivals at Friday night's ABC News Democratic debate, but more than anyone else she went after former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg had been enjoying something of a victory lap since a strong showing at the controversial Iowa caucuses, which set off a tumultuous week for the Democrats that including President Donald Trump's State of the Union and his acquittal resulting from impeachment hearings. Klobuchar, who along with fellow Democratic candidates Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, had to give up precious campaigning time in Iowa to be present in Washington for the Senate's Trump impeachment vote on Wednesday, and she turned the topic of impeachment to deliver a punctuated jab at Buttigieg. "What you said, Pete, as you were campaigning through Iowa, as three of us were jurors in that impeachment hearing, you said it was exhausting to watch and you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons," Klobuchar said. She went on to compare the two-term mayor's popularity with voters now to Trump's popularity in 2016. PHOTO: Sen. Amy Klobuchar participates in the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College on February 07, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) "It is easy to go after Washington because that's a popular thing to do," Klobuchar said. "[It] makes you look like a cool newcomer. I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." "I'm not a political newcomer with no record," she added. "I have a record of fighting for people." MORE: Key takeaways from ABC News' Democratic debate In a different moment, while in a discussion about the Affordable Care Act, Klobuchar launched another attack at Buttigieg, as well as Sanders and Warren. "I keep listening to this same debate, and it is not real," she said. "It is not real, Bernie, because two-thirds of the Democrats in the Senate are not on your bill and because it would kick 149 million Americans off their current health insurance in four years. And let me say what else. Elizabeth wants to do it in two years. And Pete, you sent out a tweet just a few years ago that said affirmatively you are for Medicare for All. So I would like to point out that leadership is taking a position, looking at things and sticking with them." Story continues PHOTO: Supporters of Sen. Amy Klobuchar rally outside of the Democratic Debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Feb. 7, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) Her performance seemed to resonate with voters. Shortly after the debate ended, Klobuchar announced she had met her goal of raising $1 million before midnight. Ok! That was fast! We hit our $1 million goal. New goal: $2 million! Donate here: https://t.co/lpmcNJ3TMa https://t.co/AWcjpyzacF Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 8, 2020 ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl said Klobuchar was having "her best debate." MORE: Candidates address health care within Democratic Party "She's taking on her opponents, making contrasts, but also clearly articulating the case for her candidacy," Karl said. ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran similarly said Klobuchar had her best debate. "She's hit Buttigieg hard, and taken on Bernie to good effect as well. And she's done it while delivering her message -- that she is the most pragmatic, optimistic, centrist candidate on that stage," Moran added. He noted it might be "too little, too late," but said, "she is shining here tonight." BEIJING Chinas ruling Communist Party faced public anger and recrimination Friday over the death of a doctor who was threatened by the authorities after trying to sound the alarm about the new coronavirus back in December. The death toll, meanwhile, rose to more than 720, and the number of people infected worldwide climbed past 34,500. President Xi Jinping spoke with President Trump on Friday and urged the U.S. to respond reasonably to the outbreak, echoing complaints that some countries are overreacting by restricting Chinese travelers. Following an online uproar over the governments treatment of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Communist Party struck a conciliatory note, saying it is sending a team to fully investigate relevant issues raised by the public. Li, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist, contracted the virus while treating patients, and his death was confirmed Friday. Li, one of eight medical professionals in Wuhan who tried to warn colleagues and others when the government did not, had said that police forced him to sign a statement admitting he spread falsehoods. Even the staunchly pro-government Global Times newspaper said the whistle-blowers treatment was evidence of local authorities incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus. In Japan, authorities confirmed 41 new cases of the virus on the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, adding to 20 escorted off the ship earlier. The nearly 3,700 passengers and crew still on board remain under 14-day quarantine. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said foreign passengers on another ship, Holland Americas Westerdam, wont be allowed into Japan. He said suspected virus patients were on board. The ship, with more than 2,000 people, was near Okinawa and was seeking another port, said Overseas Travel Agency official Mie Matsubara. Chinas state media quoted Xi as saying China has launched a peoples war against the virus. We hope the U.S. side can assess the epidemic in a calm manner and adopt and adjust its response measures in a reasonable way, he added. The U.S. announced later Friday that it is prepared to spend up to $100 million to help China and other countries fight the outbreak. Ken Moritsugu and Mari Yamaguchi are Associated Press writers. Is John Bercow a bully? And what constitutes a bully in modern Britain, a place where on social media at least politeness and courtesy seem to be going out of fashion? To his detractors, the former speakers past behaviour towards colleagues renders him unfit to be elevated to the House of Lords. (Mind you, the place is full of people with colourful pasts many of whom are only there because they coughed up cash for political parties.) The Lords contains former bosses who were probably bullies as they fought to maximise profits, unqualified toffs with the right blood lines, and people already rewarded for doing their job working for the civil service and the royals. The Bishops get rewarded for failure seats in the Lords even though their church is losing members every week. Whatever the qualifications required for the perks of a peerage, the word bully is super-sensitive. As the rate of domestic violence soars, aggressive behaviour is affecting thousands of men and women out of sight. The tone of everyday life seems increasingly to be at the level of a shout. New plan for Martini Corner could make area 'a real destination,' developer says KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A new plan is shaking things up at Martini Corner on the northwest corner of East 31st Street and Gillham Road in Kansas City, Missouri. New renderings from Kansas City-based Exact Architects, provided to 41 Action News, show a second-floor outdoor deck that would connect Brick House KC, Sol Cantina and Ollie's Local. It was all over once the martini bar stopped selling martinis.Here's a plan that wants to encourage "density" without a crowding of d-bags. Don't worry, Kansas City has never been able to perfect this formula and sustain it . . . Read more: In a draft amendment to the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements Act), 1954, the health ministry has proposed a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to 50 lakh for advertising medicines, products and other magic remedies for hair growth, fairness and improving sexual functions, among others. The draft amendment has added 24 new conditions to the existing 54 for which remedies cannot be advertised, including conditions such as AIDS, fairness, power to rejuvenate, change of the sex of a foetus, increasing memory and brain function and premature ageing, among others. Online advertisements have also been included under the ambit of the 66-year-old law. New conditions were added and punishments have been increased for putting up objectionable advertisements in the new draft. In a meeting of the department, it was felt that the current act was not adequately regulating these advertisements. In fact, now even when we take action in some cases, the advertisers can get away with paying a very small sum of money and hence it wasnt a deterrent, said AK Nasa, head, Delhis drug control department. The proposal came after the Advertising Standards Council of India raised concerns over misleading advertisements on the basis of consumer complaints. The draft has been placed in the public domain for comments for a period of 45 days. SMITHERS, B.C.RCMP say four people have been arrested in northern British Columbia for breaching an injunction related to opposition against a natural gas pipeline in the territory of the Wetsuweten Nation. Mounties said in a release that officers read a court-ordered injunction notice to two protesters on Friday afternoon and arrested another pair before attempts were made to transport them to the detachment in Houston. During a seven-hour period, police said, several people refused to leave an exclusion zone and one climbed a tree while others secured themselves inside a bus and on a tower. Police said officers also noticed support beams on a bridge appeared to have been cut, making the structure unsafe for traffic and pedestrians. The release said RCMP will conduct a criminal investigation for traps likely to cause injury or for mischief. Police said six people were arrested on Thursday and later released without charges or conditions. Hereditary Chief NaMoks, who also goes by John Ridsdale, said one of the two people arrested Friday on the bus lives there and was arrested with another person. He said those arrested were on their own territory, not blocking any construction, which hasnt progressed in the cold weather since December. We were living there before the exclusion zone, he said, adding police have asked residents of a cabin to leave. You cant abandon your home. If somebody had an RCMP checkpoint at the edge of your driveway and you werent allowed to come and go from your home as you wish, that would be stressful for anybody, he said. There is no reason to arrest anybody if theyre not in the way, being an obstacle or an impediment. Enforcement began earlier this week, after the provincial government and hereditary chiefs of the First Nation failed to reach an agreement in talks intended to de-escalate the dispute. Jen Wickham, a spokeswoman for the Gidimten, one of five clans of the Wetsuweten, said she had joined others near a road awaiting the arrival of two people who had been arrested Friday, about 40 kilometres away. Coastal GasLink president David Pfeiffer has said the company has support from all 20 elected Indigenous governments along the pipeline path and would move forward with its construction schedule. Amnesty International said in a statement it was deeply concerned about reports that RCMP officers threatened to arrest journalists for taking photographs and documenting police activity in the territory. These journalists had every right to be there, documenting the events in Wetsuweten territory without threat of arrest. In fact, at times of heightened tensions, concerns about human-rights violations and the use of police force, the role of the media is essential, said Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada. RCMP didnt return requests for an interview on Friday. Read more about: About 10 percent of the patients did not initially have the usual symptoms, cough and fever, but instead had diarrhea and nausea first. Other uncommon symptoms included headache, dizziness and abdominal pain. Another cause for concern was that some patients who at first appeared mildly or moderately ill then took a turn for the worse several days or even a week into their illness. The median time from their first symptoms to when they became short of breath was five days; to hospitalization, seven days; and to severe breathing trouble, eight days. Experts say that pattern means patients must be carefully monitored, and it is not safe to assume that someone who seems to be doing well early on is out of the woods. The finding is a heads up to doctors to keep an eye on these patients, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a recorded interview posted by JAMA. Like previous reports on coronavirus patients, this one found that older people and those with underlying health problems like diabetes, heart disease or cancer tended to become more severely ill than younger, healthier patients. Over all, about 26 percent of the 138 patients needed intensive care; their median age was 66, compared with a median of 51 years for those who did not require intensive care. For this series of patients, the death rate was 4.3 percent, which is higher than the estimates coming from other parts of China. The reason is not known, and the figures may change as more information is gathered. A Florida man, formerly of Monroe County, is accused of stealing $95,838 from the retirement account he set up for his wife prior to their parting. Manuel Buendia, 69, of Miami, is wanted on a warrant charging him with nine felonies, the Monroe County District Attorneys Office said Friday. Buendia's estranged wife had rolled her 401(k) retirement savings into an Individual Retirement Account that he set up for her in 2007, though she did not give him permission to withdraw from the account without her knowledge, court records say. The victim provided investigators with signed checks that she had not endorsed and claimed Buendia deposited them into either his business or personal checking accounts, according to court records. "The victim states that she was aware of these accounts but did not have access to them," Detective Mario Orlando wrote in the affidavit of probable cause to charge Buendia. Buendia would obtain the checks by using an online portfolio he set up for her and having them mailed to the Stroud Township home they shared, where he would retrieve them, investigators say. He has since moved to Miami, where he is living with his new fiancee, according to the prosecutors office. Through search warrants, investigators confirmed Buendia had taken the money by requesting 43 withdrawals through the online account between Jan. 10, 2013, and Sept. 12, 2016, court records say. Buendia allegedly deposited 35 checks totaling $70,688 into his personal checking account and eight checks worth $25,150 into his business checking account. Buendia is wanted on charges of forgery, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal use of a communication facility, unlawful use of computer and computer trespass. A message left at a phone number listed for Buendias home in Miami was not immediately returned Saturday. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Gareth Bale's agent has defended the Welsh star after Real Madrid fans were angered by the winger leaving the Bernabeu with 10 minutes to go during their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad. The 30-year-old was left out of the Madrid squad completely for the Copa del Rey clash, and watched on from the stands as the LaLiga leaders were knocked out. Bale was spotted in his car leaving the ground with eight minutes still to play, missing Nacho's injury time goal and a late red card. Gareth Bale's was spotted making a hasty exit from the Bernebeu while Madrid were playing The winger was left out of the squad and left early to beat the traffic with eight minutes to play Despite scoring after Bale left, Real went out of the Copa del Rey with defeat to Real Sociedad 'He wants to avoid traffic, he wants to get home. He's not in the squad and he wants to go home,' Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett told AS. 'You can't kill him for that. They lost and he was very upset.' Bale's relationship with Madrid fans is showing no signs of repairing, with the winger also out of favour with boss Zinedine Zidane. Bale's agent (left), pictured with Mino Raiola, has defended his charge after backlash from fans Zinedine Zidane is reportedly unhappy with the Welshman's training to add to his woes He has only managed 12 LaLiga appearances in another injury-hit season, but was left out for clashes against Real Zaragoza, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad through Zidane's own decisions. After a failed attempt to offload Bale, Zidane put his faith in the winger, but their relationship has soured again. According to Marca, the legendary Frenchman is now also unimpressed with Bale's efforts on the training pitch, which could prolong his spell out of the sidelines. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi seen at New Delhis Hyderabad House yesterday after they held one-hour talks on crucial bilateral and multilateral issues. Spend this Valentines Day at the recently opened Independence Hotel (201 Osprey Ave., Independence; 503-837-0200; theindependencehotel.com). The small town of Independence often gets overlooked, but this new boutique hotel has every intention of changing that. The prime historic downtown location, near Willamette River and Riverview Park, offers easy access to walking and biking trails, farmers markets as well as a plethora of wineries in Polk County. Western Oregon University visitors will also find the location to be convenient, as its a short 15-minute drive from campus. Whether youre a cyclist gearing up for your next big ride, a wine enthusiast looking to explore the Willamette Valley or youre simply looking to get some R&R, the hotel staff is very accommodating and offers more than wine tastings in the evenings, an on-site bike shop, gym and a spa room to make sure your stay is as comfortable as possible. The 75-rooms are just as beautifully and thoughtfully appointed as the rest of the hotel with locally-made bath soaps, luxury robes and local artwork along with all of the comforts one would hope for (microwave and fridge, coffeemaker, complimentary WiFi, Flat screen TVs, in-room bike storage, etc.). The wood accents in the rooms, as well as throughout the property, are attractive and add to the nature-inspired theme and setting of this waterfront hotel. Although I suggest that you opt for a room with Willamette river views, phenomenal river views can also be enjoyed from the rooftop deck and the on-site restaurant or its riverfront patio. The hot breakfast buffet at Territory Restaurant (territoryrestaurant.com) is complimentary for guests, but is otherwise $12 for adults and $7 for kids. They serve up quite a tasty Pacific-Northwest-inspired menu, highlighting local ingredients, for breakfast (7-10 a.m.), lunch (10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) and dinner (4-9 p.m.). The Pink House Cafe (242 D Street, Independence; 503-837-0900) is another great option for casual dining nearby. You cant miss this charming pink and white Victorian house adorned with gingerbread trim. Inside several rooms create an intimate, relaxing ambience. The appealing, consistently good menu is filled with hearty breakfasts (a generous side of pan-fried spuds is included), lunches, dinners and desserts. Exceptional soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers are offered for both lunch and dinner; a serving of a green or homemade potato salad accompanies sandwiches. Dinner also offers other tasty comfort food choices, such as bratwurst, fish, ravioli or short rib entrees; save room for housemade berry cobbler, bread pudding or other desserts. With the Independence Cinema right across the street, this cafe makes for a great date night stop. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The all-new fourth edition of Gerry Franks Oregon guidebook is available through oregonguidebook.com; 503-585-8411; gerry@teleport.com; amazon.com; Macys; and P.O. Box 2225, Salem, OR 97308. President Donald Trumps defense team wrapped up its opening arguments in the presidents impeachment trial on Tuesday, focusing on discrediting Trumps former National Security Advisor John Bolton as a potential witness in the case. Many Senate Republicans had hoped to rush through Trumps impeachment trial and quickly acquit the president, but Bolton threw a curveball last week when The New York Times reported the former Trump official was claiming in an upcoming book that the president directly sought to bribe Ukraine for his own political gain. President Trump told his national security adviser in August that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens, according to an unpublished manuscript [by Bolton], the Times reported on Sunday. Attorney Jay Sekulow, arguing on Trumps behalf in the impeachment trial, told the Senate on Tuesday that impeachment was not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts and called for the Senate to deny allowing Bolton to testify in Trumps trial. Bolton, who was fired by Trump last year, is a fixture of Republican politics. He has said he would be willing to testify at the trial if subpoenaed. RELATED: John Boltons Claim That Trump Froze Ukraine Aid for Biden Investigation Throws Curveball in Trial Jay Sekulow | Alex Wroblewski/Getty ....many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 Trump, 73, has denied Boltons claims contending its a ploy to boost sales of his nasty & untrue book and piled onto his defense teams effort to discredit the former aide, bashing Bolton on Twitter this week and claiming he was bad at his job. Story continues Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collin, who are seen as two possible votes with Democrats on allowing witnesses at the impeachment trial, have said they will most likely vote in favor of allowing Bolton to testify, according to the Times. Other conservatives would have to join with the Democratic minority, however. Should witnesses be allowed, the trial could stretch for an unclear number of weeks something Republican leaders are hoping to avoid. RELATED: What You Need to Know About Donald Trumps Historic Impeachment Trial and How It Will Play Out Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, whos helping lead the case against Trump as one of the House of Representatives impeachment managers, said on Twitter that Trumps defense teams opening arguments strengthened the case for allowing Boltons testimony in the trial. We already have strong and direct evidence that Trump withheld military aid to demand political investigations. Bolton further corroborates it, he wrote. Senators have taken an oath to be impartial. Dont they want to hear the full truth? Bolton must testify. Senators are expected to vote Friday on the question of new witnesses and evidence, including document requests. Both House impeachment managers and Trumps defense team have made their arguments. Wednesday and Thursday will likely focus only on questions to both sides from the senators. President Donald Trump | Alex Wong/Getty John Bolton | Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty RELATED: Democrats Press the Case for Trumps Removal on First Day of Impeachment Trial Arguments In mid-December, Trump became the third president in American history to be impeached, following a months-long investigation which Democrats say found that he withheld nearly $400 in military aid and other support for Ukraine while pressuring their government to announce an investigation into his 2020 political rival Joe Biden. The House impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Much of his defense has been based on the argument that his actions were mischaracterized and were legitimate anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, not impeachable. Further, they contend that the Democrats evidence including testimony from Trump government officials did not conclusively prove some kind of corrupt quid pro quo in which Ukraine felt pressured by Trump for his personal gain. House impeachment managers argued that Trump was essentially trying to bribe a foreign government into interfering with the 2020 presidential election. In a few weeks or a few months, do my Republican colleagues want to pick up the paper and read that one of the witnesses they blocked had crucial information about the presidents misconduct? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday, according to Politico. At this point, how can Senate Republicans not vote for the witnesses and documents were seeking? Kanu Agabi, counsel to Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo state, says his clients application has given the supreme court a uniqu... Kanu Agabi, counsel to Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo state, says his clients application has given the supreme court a unique opportunity to uphold the credibility of the judiciary. Agabis position was contained in a written address that accompanied the application of the Ihedioha. On Wednesday, Ihedioha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Imo, asked the apex court to sack Hope Uzodinma, his successor. In January, the apex court had replaced the PDP candidate in the March election with Uzodinma, who finished a distant fourth. In the application, Ihedioha said the judgement should be annulled because the apex court was misled by Uzodinma. He said the judgement was obtained by fraud and that it was not made on statutory provisions. In the written address on Friday, Agabi asked the supreme court to prove to the world that its court is sacred. At this, of all times, our Supreme Court has been afforded this unique opportunity of allaying the fears of those who cast aspersions on the credibility of our courts, he said. Those who mean well for the nation will agree that we have here an opportunity for the Supreme Court to mitigate public misgiving of our courts and to rehabilitate her reputation and restore the good name of the judiciary by setting aside this judgment which seems to us to be a nullity; we may be quite wrong. In that case, please, forgive us. Your verdict in this matter should match the solemn oath you have taken. Remember that every decision of this honourable court involves the good name of the judiciary. Prove to the world that this court is sacred. Let your verdict help to retain the good graces of our people. It is owed to the work of this supreme court that the nation continues to survive. it is that work that gives us the confidence to present this application. That you are willing to reconsider your decision gives you honour and glory. We come before you firmly convinced that you will act in aid of the cause of justice. In this application we appeal to you, we urge you, we beg you to preserve the glorious reputation of this court. We appeal to you to prove wrong all those who have an evil opinion of our judiciary. Here is a great opportunity for your Lordships to act. Free the judiciary from suspicion. Give no one cause to despise our courts. Prove to the World that you are the equals of the courts of other nations. Remember always that as you sit in judgment over us, so the nation sits in judgment over you. And you should worry, not just over the judgment of this generation, but also the judgment of generations to come when none of us will be alive to defend our actions. Making ends meet in retirement isn't something most people think about until they're close to leaving the workforce. But superannuation is heading for its biggest shake-up since the 1990s, and any changes could drastically change the financial future for millions of people. This week, Treasury closed submissions into its Retirement Income Review. While the name may sound dry, it's actually a crucial moment for workers, employers and the superannuation industry itself. Women are among those who retire with lower levels of funds. Credit:Jessica Shapiro The review, recommended by the Productivity Commission, is the first of its kind since the 1990s when compulsory superannuation was put in place. The panel was set up to look closely at the means-tested age pension, compulsory superannuation and the voluntary ways people fund their retirement, such as home ownership and savings. So far the submissions have been focused on the Australian population's major demographic shift people are living for longer and the financial situation of workers is drastically different to when the system was created 27 years ago. DAMASCUS, Syria Syrian government forces captured new areas from insurgents in their efforts to control a key highway in the northwest Saturday, as Turkey sent more reinforcements into the war-torn country, state media and opposition activists said. The government offensive has created a humanitarian crisis, with about 600,000 people fleeing their homes in Syrias last rebel stronghold since the beginning of December, according to the United Nations. Rebels control much of Idlib province and parts of the neighboring Aleppo region that is home to 3 million people many of them already displaced from other parts of Syria. The offensive appears aimed for now at securing a strategic highway in rebel-controlled territory, as opposed to an all-out campaign to retake the entire province, including the city of Idlib, the densely populated provincial capital. Our aim is to clear the highway and evict terrorists from it, a Syrian commander on the ground told state TV. He was referring to the M5 highway, which links the capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said government forces still have 18 miles of the highway to clear before it comes under full control of the army for the first time since 2012. Syrian state TV reported Saturday that government forces captured four villages in Aleppo province near the highway. It added that Syrian troops and demining experts have cleared explosives and mines from the recently captured town of Saraqeb that sits on an intersection where the M5 meets with the M4 highway, linking Syrias coast with the countrys east. The new push came as Turkey, a main backer of the opposition, sent more reinforcements into Idlib, according to the Observatory and media activist Taher al-Omar who is embedded with militants. The Observatory said a convoy consisting of 430 vehicles entered Syria since Friday night, raising the number of vehicles that entered Syria since last weekend to well over 1,000. A rare clash on Feb. 3, between Turkish troops and Syrian soldiers left seven Turkish soldiers and a Turkish civilian dead as well as 13 Syrian troops. On Friday, Turkeys Defense Ministry warned the army would respond even more forcefully to any attack on Turkish observation posts in the area. Albert Aji and Bassem Mroue are Associated Press writers. The final results from the Democratic Party's tumultuous Iowa caucuses were released late Thursday. The top two candidates have almost the same number of state delegates after Monday's caucuses. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, won 26.2 percent of the delegates to the state's Democratic Party convention, while Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders earned 26.1 percent. However, Sanders leads in the popular vote. The state convention will determine how many of Iowa's 41 delegates to the national democratic convention each candidate will get. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called for a recanvass earlier Thursday after technical problems ruined plans to produce accurate and timely vote counts. A recanvass would mean reviewing the math worksheets of each caucus site. However, Troy Price, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said a recanvass would be initiated only if a candidate requests one, a scenario that seems unlikely at this point. "We've got enough of Iowa," Sanders said Thursday at a CNN town hall. "I think we should move on to New Hampshire," the site of the next Democratic campaign. Buttigieg said he would "leave it to the party" to determine if there should be a recanvass. Sen. Elizabeth Warner, who came in third in the caucuses, said "I'm focused on moving forward." Former Vice President Joe Biden said coming in fourth was a "gut punch" for his campaign, but added that he is not "going anywhere." He led most of the voter polls even before declaring his candidacy. Senator Amy Klobuchar followed Biden for fifth place. A clinical drug testing services provider is giving the Health and Human Services Department near-real-time data on urine tests from all 50 states for free in an effort to combat the countrys drug overdose crisis. The donation from Millennium Health -- its first such initiative -- will provide HHS with data from the companys Emerging Threat Intelligence Program, which it developed specifically for this purpose. The program combines clinical and technological expertise to provide analyses based on the drug testing data the company collects. Although the two parties are still working out the details of how the data will be shared, the plan is that Millennium Health will provide the department with deidentified and aggregated data in tabular and graphical formats, including heat maps showing where positive tests are coming from, said Angela Huskey, the companys chief clinical officer. Innovations in things like cloud computing and data science have enabled us to do this more rapidly because the data source contains millions and millions and data points, Huskey said. When HHS officials get the report, they will review it, determine what is significant and decide what actions to take based on the data, she added. Because the data comes from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and multiple medical practice types, it will provide more granular, community-level indicators of illicit drug use, Adm. Brett Giroir, HHS' assistant secretary for health, wrote in an email. This donation will improve HHS work with state and local officials on drug trends in their areas to target coordination of preventive health care resources to avoid overdoses, Giroir said, adding that HHS will start receiving the reports this month and get a new one every two weeks. At the core of the companys Emerging Threat Intelligence Program is Intellium, its lab information and data intelligence platform. Clinicians use a portal to the platform to input test orders, receive results and conduct analytics based on those results, Millennium Health CIO Dave Henderson said. The company uses standard procedures for deidentifying data, he said, ensuring that all personal health information is removed before the analysis stage so that there is no way to capture or pull it out from the database. Additionally, Millennium Health uses proprietary protocols for correlating and analyzing data for presentation to HHS. Cloud helps, Henderson said, in working with the large amount of data. The company can use parallel processing to achieve efficiencies that are harder to get at scale with legacy tools. The benefits of free access to scores of data points are many for HHS. Access to frequent reporting of Millennium Health data will allow medical personnel, first responders and public health leaders to more quickly target resources and alert jurisdictions of a change in illicit drug use patterns, such as an irregular increase in the presence of carfentanil, an extremely potent fentanyl analogue, or a type of synthetic opioid, Giroir said. This data will inform the notifications to state and local health officials and may prompt other actions. Whats more, the effort supports HHS five-point Strategy to Combat Opioid Abuse, Misuse and Overdose. Issued in 2017, one point called for strengthening public health data reporting and collection to improve the timeless and specificity of data, and to inform a real-time public health response. Millennium Health sees upsides, too, Huskey said. Theres significant benefit in us simply knowing that the donation of this data is meeting a need and will provide HHS with an opportunity to more quickly alert local health officials about drug trends in their communities, she said. Were very hopeful that the specificity that were giving them in the data allows them to better deploy resources. The agreement came about after the company presented data from the Emerging Threat Intelligence program and its potential benefits and uses to Giroirs office. The agreement is in effect until Dec. 20, but Huskey said the company hopes to connect with subagencies of HHS on future initiatives. Whats more, Millennium Health is working on capabilities to not only describe trends, but predict them, she said. Thats horrifying," said Aric Lasher, design director at Chicagos HBRA Architects, which happens to have shaped a neo-classical federal building and courthouse in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that the draft order singles out for praise. I hardly think that style is really going to be the source of success or failure in architecture. Does Portland want to be represented in the same way as Tuscaloosa? Teleradiology is a part of telemedicine in which radiological images are transferred using telecommunication services to other facilities for reports from qualified radiologists. This method is used to transmit reports of imaging studies like: X-rays MRI Ultrasound CT scan Nuclear medical studies This technological advancement aids in facilitating reports from radiologists in areas where there are no qualified radiologists. How Did Teleradiology Evolve? Teleradiology began in 1929 when dental x-rays were transmitted across health centers for consultations. Initially, patient pictures were captured using digital cameras and the images transferred to the computer, radiological images were likewise scanned and transferred to the computer. These files were then transmitted to the radiologist via the internet who in turn would assess the condition and provide a suitable report. However, the use of latest technologies involves telecommunication devices that are far superior and allow instant transfer of information. In India, teleradiology started relatively late, only in 1996 by Jhankaria Imaging in Mumbai, which is a private imaging center. This center brought in teleradiology to facilitate immediate transfer of emergency CT scans to doctors. The first teleradiology company set up in India was in Bangalore called Teleradiology Solutions and where U.S. Board certified radiologists provided teleradiology services to people in the U.S, Singapore and India. DICOM Compliant Radiological Equipment : Nearly all radiological equipment that are available today are Digital Imaging and Communication (DICOM) compliant. This allows all images to be stored in a DICOM work folder can be transferred. Identifying micro-calcifications require large mammogram file size, but these cannot be transferred by teleradiology as of now. : Nearly all radiological equipment that are available today are Digital Imaging and Communication (DICOM) compliant. This allows all images to be stored in a DICOM work folder can be transferred. Identifying micro-calcifications require large mammogram file size, but these cannot be transferred by teleradiology as of now. Image Transfer: The time taken to transfer images depends largely on the software and the equipment available at the centers. The images may be transferred over the internet or can be connected directly with the equipment across centers. The images may be transferred or they can be streamed. The DICOM system serves to integrate scanners, network, printers, servers that are manufactured by different manufacturers into a common system. Viewing The Images: The transferred images are then viewed on a high resolution screen by qualified radiologists who provide their report by dictating into a dictaphone. There are many benefits associated with teleradiology. Connects with Qualified Radiologists: Teleradiology was initiated because there was a lack of qualified radiologists, though there were CT scanners and other required technologies available in various hospitals. Experts are consulted over teleradiology to facilitate better diagnosis. A study conducted in Japan by Masatoshi Matsumoto and colleagues titled Geographic Distribution of Radiologists and Utilization of Teleradiology in Japan: A Longitudinal Analysis Based on National Census Data highlighted the increasing gap in the shortage of radiologists in rural and urban areas. According to the study authors, teleradiology will help reduce this gap. This holds true even for India, where rural areas do not have sufficient qualified radiologists. Reduced Time and Effort : When second opinions are required concerning a certain diagnosis, teleradiology allows doctors in a hospital to consult with experts without having to travel to meet them. : When second opinions are required concerning a certain diagnosis, teleradiology allows doctors in a hospital to consult with experts without having to travel to meet them. Transfer of Complex Data : With the advent of technology, transfer of complex diagnostic images is possible even from the most remote but technically compatible village if the relevant supporting equipment is available. : With the advent of technology, transfer of complex diagnostic images is possible even from the most remote but technically compatible village if the relevant supporting equipment is available. Reduced Costs : The burden on the radiology department is reduced with the development of teleradiology and there is reduction in costs as experts are consulted based on the need. : The burden on the radiology department is reduced with the development of teleradiology and there is reduction in costs as experts are consulted based on the need. Round The Clock Services : Countries like U.S and U.K require round the clock diagnostic services to support emergencies that may occur during the night. Teleradiology allows doctors from Asian countries like India and Singapore to be reached at night, as it would be day in these countries. : Countries like U.S and U.K require round the clock diagnostic services to support emergencies that may occur during the night. Teleradiology allows doctors from Asian countries like India and Singapore to be reached at night, as it would be day in these countries. Patient Satisfaction : A technological advancement that satisfies patients is an important milestone in the quest to simplify lives. Jac J.W.M.Jacobs and colleagues from the Health Psychology Section, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands conducted a study titled Patient satisfaction with a teleradiology service in general practice(Feb 2016). The study found that patients were happy with: : A technological advancement that satisfies patients is an important milestone in the quest to simplify lives. Jac J.W.M.Jacobs and colleagues from the Health Psychology Section, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands conducted a study titled Patient satisfaction with a teleradiology service in general practice(Feb 2016). The study found that patients were happy with: Technical quality Interpersonal skills of the doctor Moreover, Elderly patients and patients who had trauma were more than the younger patients. 90% of the people included in the study were happy with the technology It allowed patients from remote places to access advanced medical opinion without having to travel far. Teleradiology can be used in a variety of settings and they include: Imaging Studies at Hospitals : This is the primary use of teleradiology where radiological images are scanned to qualified radiologists for opinion and directives. : This is the primary use of teleradiology where radiological images are scanned to qualified radiologists for opinion and directives. Research Studies : Research scientists working on various studies would require the services of radiologists to study and provide a report on scans and other radiological images. Teleradiology would ensure that the scientists do not have to leave their laboratory to get the required information. : Research scientists working on various studies would require the services of radiologists to study and provide a report on scans and other radiological images. Teleradiology would ensure that the scientists do not have to leave their laboratory to get the required information. Night Hawking : Scans and other imaging systems are sent to board-certified radiologists in India for review and report. This is considered to be a promising sector; however, the lack of qualified radiologists could affect its growth potential. : Scans and other imaging systems are sent to board-certified radiologists in India for review and report. This is considered to be a promising sector; however, the lack of qualified radiologists could affect its growth potential. Teaching : Lectures and demonstrations of medical procedures can be used to teach and train student doctors. : Lectures and demonstrations of medical procedures can be used to teach and train student doctors. Second Opinion: Certain hospitals may have qualified radiologists, but teleradiology may be used to acquire a second opinion. California's new privacy law was years in the making. The law, California's Consumer Privacy Act or CCPA became law on January 1, allowing state residents to reclaim their right to access and control their personal data. Inspired by Europe's GDPR, the CCPA is the largest statewide privacy law change in a generation. The new law lets users request a copy of the data that tech companies have on them, delete the data when they no longer want a company to have it, and demand that their data isn't sold to third parties. All of this is much to the chagrin of the tech giants, some of which had spent millions to comply with the law and have many more millions set aside to deal with the anticipated influx of consumer data access requests. But to say things are going well is a stretch. Many of the tech giants that kicked and screamed in resistance to the new law have acquiesced and accepted their fate at least until something different comes along. The California tech scene had more than a year to prepare, but some have made it downright difficult and ironically more invasive in some cases for users to exercise their rights, largely because every company has a different interpretation of what compliance should look like. Alex Davis is just one California resident who tried to use his new rights under the law to make a request to delete his data. He vented his annoyance on Twitter, saying companies have responded to CCPA by making requests "as confusing and difficult as possible in new and worse ways." "I've never seen such deliberate attempts to confuse with design," he told TechCrunch. He referred to what he described as "dark patterns," a type of user interface design that tries to trick users into making certain choices, often against their best interests. "I tried to make a deletion request but it bogged me down with menus that kept redirecting... things to be turned on and off," he said. Story continues Despite his frustration, Davis got further than others. Just as some companies have made it easy for users to opt-out of having their data sold by adding the legally required "Do not sell my info" links on their websites, many have not. Some have made it near-impossible to find these "data portals," which companies set up so users can request a copy of their data or delete it altogether. For now, California companies are still in a grace period but have until July when the CCPA's enforcement provisions kick in. Until then, users are finding ways around it by collating and sharing links to data portals to help others access their data. "We really see a mixed story on the level of CCPA response right now," said Jay Cline, who heads up consulting giant PwC's data privacy practice, describing it as a patchwork of compliance. PwC's own data found that only 40% of the largest 600 U.S. companies had a data portal. Only a fraction, Cline said, extended their portals to users outside of California, even though other states are gearing up to push similar laws to the CCPA. But not all data portals are created equally. Given how much data companies store on us personal or otherwise the risks of getting things wrong are greater than ever. Tech companies are still struggling to figure out the best way to verify each data request to access or delete a user's data without inadvertently giving it away to the wrong person. Last year, security researcher James Pavur impersonated his fiancee and tricked tech companies into turning over vast amounts of data about her, including credit card information, account logins and passwords and, in one case, a criminal background check. Only a few of the companies asked for verification. Two years ago, Akita founder Jean Yang described someone hacking into her Spotify account and requesting her account data as an "unfortunate consequence" of GDPR, which mandated companies operating on the continent allow users access to their data. (Image: Twitter/@jeanqasaur) The CCPA says companies should verify a person's identity to a "reasonable degree of certainty." For some that's just an email address to send the data. Others require sending in even more sensitive information just to prove it's them. Indeed, i360, a little-known advertising and data company, until recently asked California residents for a person's full Social Security number. This recently changed to just the last four-digits. Verizon (which owns TechCrunch) wants its customers and users to upload their driver's license or state ID to verify their identity. Comcast asks for the same, but goes the extra step by asking for a selfie before it will turn over any of a customer's data. Comcast asks for the same amount of information to verify a data request as the controversial facial recognition startup, Clearview AI, which recently made headlines for creating a surveillance system made up of billions of images scraped from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to help law enforcement trace a person's movements. As much as CCPA has caused difficulties, it has helped forge an entirely new class of compliance startups ready to help large and small companies alike handle the regulatory burdens to which they are subject. Several startups in the space are taking advantage of the $55 billion expected to be spent on CCPA compliance in the next year like Segment, which gives customers a consolidated view of the data they store; Osano which helps companies comply with CCPA; and Securiti, which just raised $50 million to help expand its CCPA offering. With CCPA and GDPR under their belts, their services are designed to scale to accommodate new state or federal laws as they come in. Another startup, Mine, which lets users "take ownership" of their data by acting as a broker to allow users to easily make requests under CCPA and GDPR, had a somewhat bumpy debut. The service asks users to grant them access to a user's inbox, scanning for email subject lines that contain company names and using that data to determine which companies a user can request their data from or have their data deleted. (The service requests access to a user's Gmail but the company claims it will "never read" users' emails.) Last month during a publicity push, Mine inadvertently copied a couple of emailed data requests to TechCrunch, allowing us to see the names and email addresses of two requesters who wanted Crunch, a popular gym chain with a similar name, to delete their data. (Screenshot: Zack Whittaker/TechCrunch) TechCrunch alerted Mine and the two requesters to the security lapse. "This was a mix-up on our part where the engine that finds companies' data protection offices' addresses identified the wrong email address," said Gal Ringel, co-founder and chief executive at Mine. "This issue was not reported during our testing phase and we've immediately fixed it." For now, many startups have caught a break. The smaller, early-stage startups that don't yet make $25 million in annual revenue or store the personal data on more than 50,000 users or devices will largely escape having to immediately comply with CCPA. But it doesn't mean startups can be complacent. As early-stage companies grow, so will their legal responsibilities. "For those who did launch these portals and offer rights to all Americans, they are in the best position to be ready for these additional states," said Cline. "Smaller companies in some ways have an advantage for compliance if their products or services are commodities, because they can build in these controls right from the beginning," he said. CCPA may have gotten off to a bumpy start, but time will tell if things get easier. Just this week, California's attorney general Xavier Becerra released newly updated guidance aimed at trying to "fine tune" the rules, per his spokesperson. It goes to show that even California's lawmakers are still trying to get the balance right. But with the looming threat of hefty fines just months away, time is running out for the non-compliant. Investors are looking to the new FiT regulations to decide their next steps Photo: Shutterstock The release of Document No.89/BCT-DL dated January 11 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), which agreed with Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to continue the grid-connection approval and registration of surplus energy from rooftop solar panels, has temporarily relaxed many investors and developers. However, the document is only the yellow light for the rooftop solar market in Vietnam. The whole industry is still waiting for the green light from the official decision from the government. Rooftop solar expert Mai Van Trung Undoubtedly, the potential of rooftop solar is clearly backed by more than 300 megawatt peak (MWp) installed across the country. Even EVN projected a total capacity of 2,000MWp at the end of 2020 if the feed-in tariff (FiT) of 9.35 US cents was maintained. The continuous delay of the new FiT applied for rooftop solar systems commissioned after July 1, 2019 has reduced installation in the market by half. The delay resulted in the restructuring of the rooftop solar players who have been preparing for the extension of FiT up to 2021. Many local players have to scale down by cutting jobs and international developers keep waiting for a final decision to put their money down. Many newcomers who have entered the rooftop solar market to enjoy the first round of FiT are now struggling to survive due to the downturn of the industry. The risks of downgrading systems installed by those facing bankruptcy will be fully borne by customers within the 25-year lifespan of these rooftop solar systems. The engagement of local commercial banks to finance and refinance the rooftop investment portfolio has built momentum for rooftop solar leasing. This is known as the ESCO model, in which an investor provides a broad range of energy solutions from consultancy, design, implementation, installation, and operation to financial matters and service management for the energy system on the clients premises, and then earns money based on the energy savings. The internal rates of return relying on incoming cashflows from EVN need to be adjusted downwards due to lower FiT that makes bankers concerned over their loans. Developers with weak financial positions will collapse under the pressure to pay principal and interest after their debts. Looking at the bright side, the brake from the MoIT enables the market to filter out weak contractors and short-term developers. Also, the performance of the installed systems can be compared to the early estimates of the installers. The players whose growth strategy turn out to be sustainable will stand out while underperforming solar module and inverter brands will be easier to spot. The authorities will wait for six months for new growth to standardise the grid connection approval process and develop installation/construction regulations. The challenges are also a springboard for change and the surviving players will enjoy larger market shares. Stakeholders are looking for the new FiT to restart their revenue streams. After many rounds of adjustments, both up and down, the latest draft FiT (FiT2) proposed by the MoIT is 8.38 US cents which follows the dramatic reduction of installation costs. FiT2 is considered financially attractive with the high solar irradiation in the south, which contributes more than 70 per cent of installations. Solar rooftop in the north needs more incentives to be feasible under FiT2. The evaluation of FiT2 might vary from stakeholder to stakeholder and there is little point in pointing at the FiT in neighbouring countries. Another idea is to compare the FiT2 with the weighted average rates for different groups purchasing electricity from EVN. FiT2 is in between the Level 2 and Level 3 individual rates and would only bring a minor reduction in households bills. Individual installers need to decrease self-consumption by as much as possible (normally 40 per cent) to reach the Level 6 rates (currently 12.6 US cents). If the remaining 60 per cent is sold back to EVN at FiT2 prices, it would be difficult for them to turn a profit. Thus, residents require further incentives like the national rooftop solar programme supported by German state-owned development bank KfW. The sponsorship mechanism should be approved and implemented as soon as possible to maintain the eagerness of individual installers. Although the programme supported by KfW was introduced last July, it will take time to be deployed. The total amount of $16.2 million should be converted into residential FiT to discount the Level 6 rates ($16.2 million divided by 12.6 US cents equals 128.8 million kWh). The residential FiT can be further divided into many chunks, with each offering gradually reducing rates over time to attract early birds. With commercial customers who are paying more than 12 US cents per kWh during the day will see negligible impacts from FiT2. Their large electricity consumption allows the commercial installers to use nearly 100 per cent of the generated energy for their operations. The green energy demand from this category is easily forecasted but the limited spaces mean commercial installers cannot afford to install systems as large as their industrial counterparts. The rapid pace of urbanisation and the many resultant new buildings may create shading on the solar rooftop modules of shopping malls, office buildings, and hotels, among others. There should be an indirect mechanism to allow commercials installers to purchase electricity to compensate their peak hour rates. Regarding industrials, FiT2 looks good as their weighted average rate is roughly 8.12 US cents per kWh, close to FiT2. The available roof space allows large capacities to be installed. One MWp solar modules might help many factories to save 10-30 per cent of their energy consumption. In case the capex is a burden, there are many ESCO companies ready to offer discounts. The factory can enjoy predictable savings thanks to big data and the improved accuracy of simulation software. The key features of rooftop solar are self-consumption and the wide distribution of systems which enable the utility company to save on transmission and distribution costs. In the early stages of renewable energy integration, it is required for the FiT to be financially feasible. After more than two years of rapid development, the FiT can be turned into a reference price for buyers and sellers of solar energy and regulators can let the invisible hand set the market price. EVN is building a platform to acquaint demand and supply. On a monthly basis, solar energy buyers will be able to register the number of kWh that they want to purchase. The excess energy generated by the installed rooftop solar systems will be locked by EVNs platform. The matching price of solar energy can be calculated as shown in the box. The platform will allow more participants to enjoy green energy transactions and draw in commercial, residential, and industrial installers. These transactions will all be automatic thanks to the digital transformation in which EVN is considered one of the first-movers in Vietnam. Such blockchain-based platforms, such as WePower or Energo Labs, have been implemented by many countries. The next generation of solar rooftop involves the integration of energy storage which is forecast to reduce to $100 per kWh by 2023 from the $156 per kWh in 2019, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Energy independence by hybrid systems is not just a vision but a modern-day reality knocking on the front door. The growth of electric vehicles (cars, trucks, and buses) will shorten the timeline to popularise what is being marketed energy-as-a-service. World Bank research indicates that the technical potentials of 6,000MWp and 1,000MWp rooftop solar systems in Ho Chi Minh City and the central city of Danang will be realised no later than 2025. Editors note: Foreign friends living in China and abroad who are concerned about China are all fighting with us against the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. As foreigners, how do they respond and fight against the epidemic? What are their true feelings about the epidemic situation and China's anti-coronavirus actions? From now on, Hainan International Media Center will launch the "Anti-epidemic Diary of Foreigners" series, which will truly reflect the real-life of foreign friends living in Hainan during this special moments from their own perspectives. I am Norbert Sporns. My life in Haikou since the coronavirus outbreak has been affected like everyone else. My approach has been to follow on my experience during the SARS epidemic in 2003, keeping hands clean, using alcohol gel disinfectant and limiting mixing in large groups of people. Social contacts now for me are limited to grocery store outings and my daily two-hour walk. Measured on my telephone pedometer, I try and maintain 10,000 steps per day, about 2 hours of walking. Being on Haidian Island allows us the benefit of many well laid out walking paths through linear parks. Going on a long walk keeps me healthy. My strong immune system is my first line of defense in staying healthy. I admire the dedication of grocery store and produce market employees in providing us essential access to safe healthy food. In addition, I must say that the distribution of well-maintained public toilets is a great addition to life here. I miss contact with friends and teachers, since I am a Chinese language student. I try and continue my studies at home. If I have one hope from this virus outbreak for the future, it is that we learn to be more careful in maintaining our health and respectful of the healthy needs of others. As a foreigner in Haikou, I applaud the great efforts made to provide sanitary walking facilities. Source: Hainan International Media Center Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 57 per cent in the Assembly election, the polling for which was held on Saturday, according to the Election Commission officials. However, the final figure is yet to be out since voting has not concluded at several polling stations. "The voter turnout data is in the public domain. It is 57.06 per cent. This is the tentative data, because the voting has not yet concluded not in many locations. At many polling stations, there was a long queue even at 6 pm," Delhi's Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh said while addressing a press conference here. Earlier, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain said the elections took place peacefully and smoothly. He informed that a total of 672 candidates were in the fray and more than 98,000 officials were deployed for the polling. The counting of votes will be done on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MEDINA, Ohio -- In a solemn and moving ceremony, four local clergymen, musicians and retired members of the military recognized the selfless service of four chaplains during World War II. One hundred mourners gathered at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Wednesday (Feb. 5) to remember the sacrifice the chaplains made on Jan. 23, 1943. On that date, the USAT Dorchester was torpedoed by the German submarine U-223 off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Designed for 314 civilian passengers, the ship had been converted to carry slightly more than 900 military passengers and crew. At the time of the sinking, the water temperature was 34 degrees. After the torpedo hit the ship and it became clear that the ship was sinking, the chaplains tried to calm the men and organize an orderly evacuation. As life jackets were passed out, the supply ran out. The chaplains removed their own life jackets and gave them to others. Clockwise from left, Boy Scouts Luke Webb, Blake Sancin, Jack Fletcher and Sam Fletcher hand out programs before the Four Chaplains service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Medina on Feb. 5. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com) After helping as many men as they could into lifeboats, they linked arms and, saying prayers and singing hymns, they went down with the ship. Only 230 of the 904 men aboard the ship were rescued. After a brief welcome by David Taylor, commander of American Legion Post 202 in Medina, the colors were advanced and the congregation sang America the Beautiful, with the accompaniment of soprano Marian Vogel and pianist Tom Bonezzi. Chaplain C. Reid Miller, of American Legion Post 202, then asked the audience to hold all applause and to remain silent during the program. Four local church leaders, one each from the denominations represented by the four chaplains, spoke about each chaplain and about his own response to the action of the chaplains 77 years ago. Before each of the speakers, Taylor lit a candle behind a picture of the chaplain being honored. First to speak was the Rev. Tal Lewis of Medina United Methodist Church. He spoke about George L. Fox, a Methodist minister from Vermont who had been a hero in World War I and returned to serve in World War II. Lewis talked about Foxs heart for others. He asked the congregation what needs we see today. The second speaker was Rabbi Stephen Grundfast of the Beth El Congregation in Akron. He spoke about Chaplain Alexander Goode, who once walked 30 miles to attend the ceremony honoring the burial of the Unknown Soldier. He went on to list recent mass murders committed because of religious hatred. He called those murders in churches, mosques and synagogues the antithesis of what were honoring tonight. Next to speak was the Rev. Don Poest of Brunswick Reformed Church. He spoke about Chaplain Clark Poling, a seventh-generation minister who prayed not to return safely from the war, but to be adequate. He was only 33 years old when the ship went down. Poest asked the audience to pray to make this world more civil. The last speaker was the Rev. Michael Ausperk of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He spoke about Chaplain John P. Washington, one of nine children in his family. He spoke about how the four men had met each other at Harvard University Chaplain Training in 1942 and how the four men of different faiths later locked arms and became one. He asked the chaplains to pray for us. Mayor Dennis Hanwell then took the podium to talk about the selfless service we see daily in our first responders and about the many events here in Medina when our local ministers work together. The soloists ended the program with the hymns Let There Be Peace on Earth and How Great Thou Art. Read more from the Medina Sun. If Kejriwal wins the Delhi election, then most regional parties will copy Kejriwal's do's and don'ts of jugaad to win an election against the Modi-Shah juggernaut, reports Sheela Bhatt. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an election rally. On February 11, when the results of the assembly election to 70 seats in New Delhi are declared, there will be realisation that the mass movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has greatly weakened. Whoever wins the assembly election -- the incumbent Aam Aadmi party or its main challenger, the Bharatiya Janata Party -- the movement against the CAA will be weakened because incumbent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal never made the CAA his poll plank, he stuck to civic issues of the capital city. He avoided the political land mines of the Hindu-Muslim debate and did not once visit Shaheen Bagh in Delhi where large numbers of Muslim women have been protesting against the CAA since December 15. He avoided exclusive support to Muslims and by doing so he avoided taking part in the ideological war that broke out after Parliament passed the CAA on December 11. He kept his politics far away from the so-called 'secular-liberal' groups and also didn't pit himself against the 'bigotry of the BJP'. Kejriwal didn't ask for votes to defeat the idea behind the CAA. His statement against Shaheen Bagh disappointed many 'secular liberal' activists who are working hard to oppose the CAA. So his victory -- if it comes -- isn't interlinked directly to the CAA and it is not because of what the anti-CAA crowd stands for. He only tried to present himself as a different shade of Hindu. Kejriwal went to the extent of saying that if law and order were under him -- law and order in the national capital is the Union home ministry's responsibility, not the Delhi government's -- he would have vacated the Shaheen Bagh sit-in protest in an hour. He supported those who complained about the traffic jams created by the Shaheen Bagh protests. On the other side of the election battlefield, calculations were made to suit timing. Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah were probably keeping their powder dry to take on all India-based anti-CAA protestors during the much more important Bihar election, but when anti-BJP thinkers, activists, Muslims, political leaders and urban youth staged successful dharnas all over India and made the Shaheen Bagh protests their epicentre, Modi-Shah, well-experienced with Ahmedabad's communally sensitive areas of Vejalpur-Juhapura's political dynamics turned the Delhi election into a wider and deeper nationalist battle. Modi-Shah saw political opportunity in the anti-CAA protests inside the politically sensitive geography of Shaheen Bagh. Without the country-wide anti-CAA protests, the Delhi election would have been a cakewalk for Kejriwal, claims a senior BJP leader. As it is, the government could not have ignored the protestors for long because an absence of a response would have made it look weak. After watching closely 8 to 10 days of anti-CAA protests, Modi-Shah decided to use the event of the half-state Indian election into a full-fledged war against anti-CAA forces. A few days after the women of Shaheen Bagh started their protests and attracted national attention, more than 200 BJP leaders were called to New Delhi to get a briefing on the CAA. At that meeting, Shah, who was then BJP president, told party leaders to launch a pro-CAA counter agitation. He explained its cultural, nationalist dimensions and its link to the party's conviction since 1947. He was clear that the party had to to pick up the fight and told BJP leaders to not remain "confused at all". The Delhi election became an excuse that Shah grabbed to push his politics behind enacting the CAA to a larger audience. Also, it served Shah's pet agenda of bringing 'nationalism' as a fulcrum of Indian politics which would get maximum attention at election time, that too in the national capital. At the same time, by owning up the election, Shah has retained his number two position in the party even though he is no longer BJP president. His strong leadership of the Delhi election campaign has helped him reassert his position without the tag of party president under Modi's tight watch. It was displayed throughout the election campaign that he remains the most powerful leader after Modi in the BJP. Anti-CAA slogans, songs, chants and speeches have been targeting Modi and Shah more than the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The fury of anti-CAA voices have been specifically directed against Shah as he is seen as the pivoting force behind the CAA. The Delhi election had looked more or less settled in Kejriwal's favour in November. But once the BJP used the Delhi election to give a political response to the anti-CAA movement through electioneering, then all hell broke loose. The local election became sort of national and more than the victory, the issues raised during the election and in the way it were raised became more serious. In the way Shah handled the Delhi election campaign, he expanded the scope of BJP versus anti-BJP tussles. By dragging the CAA to the centre of the Delhi election campaign, Shah conveyed to his voter base that it is the BJP's conviction that India would not deny any Hindu citizenship of India. This hidden message helped him consolidate his saffron voter base. Many analysts saw the BJP's 'shock and awe' negative campaign as the party's attempt to seek respectable defeat. Shah's brazen politics, Anurag Thakur's violent calls and Pravesh Varma's toxic stance unsettled the AAP completely from its complacency. The BJP took the Delhi election campaign to a dangerous level and used the party's might to take head-on arguments against the CAA when AAP was talking of schools and freebies. Kejriwal was the BJP's target, but a restrained Kejriwal kept his focus. "If you would have asked me on February 2 or 3, we were nervous," one of his close advisors tells me. "We thought Shah brilliantly fought his party's battle and taken the election campaign to another level. His boldness was there to see. But Kejriwal is not Rahul Gandhi." "We remained on the ground. Throughout the campaign, Kejriwal didn't attack Modi," the Delhi chief minister's political aide points out. "Kejriwal went to more than 25, 30 temples. the CM's television interviews had photos of Ganesh or Laxmi in the same frame. Kejriwal even recited the Hanuman Chalisa on camera. We won't vacate our space at the centre of this nationalist debate." Five days before the February 8 election, Shah was smirking at a social event when Kejriwal recited the Hanuman Chalisa. His job was half done. The BJP claims hegemony over Hindu votes and all other political claimants are forced to follow the rules of the new game to beg for Hindu votes. At Shaheen Bagh when Muslim women reasserted their right over their country by saying 'Hum yahin jeeyenge aur yahin marenge (We will live here and we will die here)', it is merely an assertion of their legitimate, obvious and natural right over India. At another level, secular voters including Muslims questioned the hidden message behind the exclusion of Muslims from the CAA. Even then, Kejriwal avoided touching on the Shaheen Baug issue so tight was Shah's grip over Delhi in this election campaign. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at an election rally in Dwarka, New Delhi, February 4, 2020. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo The BJP has not been in power in Delhi for 20 years and the BJP's biggest weakness has been that it does not have a chief ministerial face. The Delhi BJP party looks like an uninspiring group of small time leaders busy exploiting the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which is under BJP control. Kejriwal with his expertise of pampering voters could not ask for a better ground to kickstart his campaign, but Modi-Shah didn't let have him a smooth run. Shah's campaign has been such that quick lessons have been learnt by all. On February 6, at an important meeting of senior coordinators and political brains who are inspiring and guiding the students at Jamia Millia University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University in conducting the anti-CAA protests have decided to de-hyphen the CAA protests from the movement against the National Population Register. The agitators's campaign against the CAA will now shift to questioning the NPR. One coordinator told me, "The NPR concerns Hindus and Muslims alike. The BJP has been somewhat successful in branding the anti-CAA protests as 'Muslim protests', so this de-linking became necessary." If Kejriwal wins the Delhi election, then most regional parties will copy Kejriwal's do's and don'ts of jugaad to win an election against the Modi-Shah juggernaut. The people of Delhi will continue to get freebies and become the envy of other states and the NPR movement will get a big boost as other leaders would construe Kejriwal's victory as rejection of Shah's politics. Shah will face a setback till the Bihar election this autumn, but it is unlikely that anyone within the party will question his style and substance of campaigning because on the CAA issue all the senior leaders who matter in the BJP are on the same page. If the BJP wins a surprising victory due to its nationalist campaign that has created divisions among voters on communal lines, then Modi-Shah will discuss with renewed fervour the basis of Partition of India in 1947 and Jawaharlal Nehru's exact role in it. Whether AAP loses or wins, this election won't remain on Modi's radar. The more the Congress remains down in the dumps and the dynasty tag remains its liability, the better Modi's grip over pan-Indian narratives and national politics. The president noted that His Holiness Pope Francis is very much welcome in Ukraine, where he enjoys extremely high support and trust. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared his impressions of the meeting with Pope Francis. "The main thing we talked about is peace. He even called me 'president of peace' this is my image in Europe now," Zelensky said after the audience with His Holiness Pope Francis, which took place in Vatican City State, the president's press service reports. Read alsoZelensky asks Pope Francis to help with release of prisoners (Photo) The president stressed the important role that the Holy See could play in bringing peace to the Ukrainian land. Zelensky and His Holiness also discussed humanitarian initiatives to help children and protect the environment. "I am extremely grateful to His Holiness for Ukraine initiative, which helped 900,000 Ukrainians who had suffered in Donbas," the Ukrainian president said. Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian churches played an extremely important role in spreading the truth and development of society. The president noted that His Holiness Pope Francis is very much welcome in Ukraine, where he enjoys extremely high support and trust. "I invited him to Ukraine. I am sure he will be in Ukraine not only in the capital. I said that in order to fully understand what was happening in the east, it was necessary to go to the east," Zelensky added. Mel Duncan said the sisters at Assisi Heights were early participants in his organizations effort to stem violence throughout the world. "They are very special to us," said the co-founder of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, a civilian peacemaking organization based in Brussels. Even before the organization was officially launched in 2002, Duncan said the Sisters of St. Francis was offering insights and guidance. "As Sister Pat (Keefe) told me the first time we met, You dont have to convince me. Were Franciscans and have been nonviolent since Day 1," said Duncan, who is the Nonviolent Peaceforces director of advocacy. Keefe said she was drawn to the effort at a time when the organization was struggling for funds -- "They were living on credit cards" -- and saw benefit in the effort to work to stem conflict throughout the world. ADVERTISEMENT "The Peaceforce tries to get both sides to stop the violence and start talking to each other," she said, adding that the goal is to get both sides to see the other as human. Duncan is returning to Assisi Heights on Monday to discuss continued efforts during a 6:30 p.m. forum titled, "Shifting Just War to Just Peace." The 90-minute discussion sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis at the Assisi Heights Spirituality Center will address potential changes in Catholic Church doctrine that defines when war can be considered "just," or justified. Duncan said it also will highlight strategies for unarmed civilian protection in militarized areas throughout the world. In addition to outlining 10 strategies for helping protect civilians without violence, Duncan said he will discuss efforts to unite and engage a variety of organizations doing similar work. He estimates more than 50 organizations are working to protect civilians in 17 countries. "We dont know about each other," he said. "It wasnt like someone set out to develop this or organize this. It has just happened in response to protect civilians." He said the Nonviolent Peaceforce is looking to determine what efforts are having the greatest impact and how they could be duplicated or expanded. ADVERTISEMENT At the same time, he said the Nonviolent Peaceforce continues efforts to secure funding through international sources, including getting language supporting unarmed civilian protection in the 2020 Appropriations Bill approved by Congress and the president. "In the end, we need effective and affordable ways to protect civilians," he said. With a growing number of international refugees reportedly more than 70 million Duncan said finding ways to help people survive can ease growing global pressures. "If you look at a lot of the political destabilization around the world, one of the factors is the influx of refugees, whether you look at Germany or France or the United States or Mexico or Guatemala," he said. "Most people would like to stay home, if given the choice," he added. Anger: Donald Trump, pictured getting off Air Force One yesterday, was not happy Alexander Vindman had testified against him. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The Trump administration yesterday removed army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from his position as the White House's top Ukraine expert after he provided damaging testimony about President Donald Trump during the impeachment process, Mr Vindman's lawyer said. He was escorted out of the White House where he had worked on the National Security Council (NSC), lawyer David Pressman said in a statement, adding that the move was retribution for Mr Vindman's testimony. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. "LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," Mr Pressman said. Mr Vindman testified to the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry in November that Mr Trump made an improper demand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July phone call that became the centrepiece of the probe of the Republican president. Mr Vindman told a Democratic-run committee "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in the phone call. Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to launch investigations into both Democratic rival Joe Biden and a widely debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. In that appearance, Mr Vindman also downplayed concerns that he would suffer payback for speaking out. "I will be fine for telling the truth," he said. A spokesman for the NSC declined to comment. Mr Trump emerged victorious from his trial this week with a vote in the Senate, controlled by fellow Republicans who rejected abuse of power and obstruction of justice charges. Asked earlier yesterday about media reports that he might remove Mr Vindman, Mr Trump told reporters: "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him?" A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that Mr Vindman would be reassigned to the Defence Department. Mr Vindman's two-year stint at the White House was due to end in July. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said yesterday that the Pentagon protects all service members from retribution. Mt Trump, who became only the third US president to be impeached, has said he is still bitter as he turns his attention to seeking a second four-year term in the November 3 presidential election. Another senior white House aide who testified over impeachment, Jennifer Williams, left this week for a post at the US military's Central Command, according to Bloomberg News. Mr Trump has cast both Mr Vindman and Ms Williams as "Never Trumpers" who oppose him. Mr Trump denied reports that he was weighing a permanent chief of staff to replace acting aide Mick Mulvaney, who was a central figure in the impeachment inquiry. "That was a false report," Mr Trump said. "I have a great relationship with Mick." Democrats say Mr Trump pushed for the Ukraine investigations to undermine Mr Biden, a candidate to win the Democratic nomination for November's election. Mr Trump says he wanted to help Ukraine fight corruption. Mr Biden's presidential campaign suffered a serious setback when he came in fourth place at the Democrats' first state-nominating contest in Iowa this week. Senate Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father, Joe, was US vice-president. Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have asked for the younger Biden's travel records while under official Secret Service protection, among other official records. NVIDIA is the latest to join the list of companies backing out from this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, over coronavirus concerns. In an official release, the company announced that it has informed the organisers of MWC 2020, GSMA, that it won't be sending its employees to this year's event over health risks as Spain has also reported its first case of the virus. MWC is one of the most important events in the tech industry and this year was expected to be high on AI and 5G. Other than NVIDIA, Ericsson and LG have also confirmed their absence from the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of prospective registrants for the Ghana Card in the Cape Coast Metropolis have appealed to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to extend the registration period to allow more people to get registered. According to them, many people may not be able to register due to the increasing number of prospective applicants amidst limited registration centres and frequent breakdown of machines. The exercise, which begun on Monday, January 27 and expected to end on Tuesday, February 18, sought to register all citizens in the Region. It is being done concurrently in Western and Western North Regions. At some of the centres visited on Friday, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that the exercise was not started on time, but closed with the least provocation by some registrants. That resulted in the long-winding queues with many people waiting anxiously for hours. At Victoria Park registration centre, the GNA observed that many people did not know the mandated requirements needed for the registration joined the queue for hours only to be told "you do not have the needed requirements." The GNA observed that some of the centers registered not more than 150 people in a day with varied reasons and announcements such as: "We are sorry to inform you that registration has ended for today. Our machines cannot register more than 150 people per day....you may return tomorrow." At St. Michael schools opposite the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), a female official of the NIA told the GNA, the exercise was relatively peaceful and smooth regardless of the long queues, but assured that they were equal to the task. The situation was not different at the Kotokoraba police station Centre, where an official confirmed they registered nearly 2,000, yet the number of unregistered persons were huge and rising. At most of the Centres visited, officials gave preferential treatment to the aged who were 60 years and above, while the police and other volunteers were coordinating to ensure sanity. However, some registrants including; Madam Adade from Moree who spent two days at a Centre complained of extortions by some officials. At Castle registration centre, the GNA noticed long queue with people waiting in the scorching sun as they struggled amidst intermittent confusion and arguments among themselves and officials. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Last year, hospital officials unveiled a plan to construct a six- to seven-level parking structure that would have 713 parking spaces inside. The new garage would be built just east of the current parking garage on the hospital campus, which is currently a surface parking lot. How a photo helped a Saskatoon man solve the lifelong mystery of his father's identity Michael Sovyn had a lot of questions about his family's past and until a few weeks ago, he didn't think he'd find the answers in his lifetime. The 74-year-old Saskatoon man and his family had been searching for his father for decades. Growing up, all Sovyn knew about his father was what his mother had told him. According to the family's account, his mother Maria worked in a restaurant in Germany at the end of the Second World War. She would have been in her early 20s when she met a good-looking French soldier who frequented the establishment. Nicole Lavergne-Smith/CBC Soon sparks were flying. "That's where she met this boyfriend of hers," Sovyn said. "He spent a lot of time there. Then he'd go away because he was a soldier. Then he'd come back and go away, come back and visit her." The couple had even gone on a few trips together. The soldier's visits eventually ended. Maria was pregnant and left to raise Sovyn on her own. A note on the back of a photograph The mother and son lived in a German camp for foreigners when one day she received a jacket, a donation from a family in Canora, Sask. There was a note stitched inside the pocket asking the person who received the jacket to contact them. Maria eventually responded, and the family helped her move with her three-year-old son to Saskatchewan. All she had left from her child's father was his picture with a note written in French on the back: "To my dear little Maria," it read. It was signed, "Lulu." Maria remembered calling him Lulu but was unclear on his exact last name. She also remembered that he was born in Marseille and that his family had connections to the shoe industry. Maria died in 2005. Nicole Lavergne-Smith/CBC Sovyn kept wondering about his father and he wasn't alone. His three children had just as many questions and they wanted to help. His daughter, Sherri Hrycay, is a milliner and owner of Sova Hat Shoppe in Saskatoon. Her handmade hats have garnered a lot of attention, worn by the prime minister's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, former Saskatchewan lieutenant governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield and gifted to Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. Story continues Her talent has led her on trips to Europe, including many to France. Hrycay and her family would take every chance they got to search for clues. Nicole Lavergne-Smith/CBC DNA test finds a match A few years ago the family hired genealogist Muriele Gadaut to help with the search. Gadaut said the case was challenging but the first real break came through a DNA test. After signing Sovyn up for Myheritage.com, they found a match a cousin in France. Gadaut was able to piece together Sovyn's family tree and find addresses for family members. She sent letters and included a photo of Lulu. In January, a family member finally made contact after recognizing Lulu as her husband's uncle, Lucien Laurent. Lucien, or "Papa Lulu." as he was known by his family, had passed away 20 years ago but he had three sons. Nicole Lavergne-Smith/CBC Gadaut contacted them and helped the families connect. At first there were many questions: the family in France wanted to make sure it wasn't some kind of fraud. But now, according to Sovyn, they are talking non-stop, making up for lost time. "Our phones are ringing here 24 hours a day. Always somebody phoning, telling who they are and how they're related, and just on and on and on." A coincidental family connection The families are finding they have a lot in common but the real shock came for Hrycay when she found out that her grandfather had worked in a hat factory. "Are you kidding me? It just blew my mind; it's incredible," Hrycay said. Sovyn said it has all been a little overwhelming, but he feels as though his life is more complete. He is now getting ready to meet his family in Nice, on the French Riviera, where they live. "I guess the first few days, the brothers are gonna hang out together. We're gonna get to know each other and then the floodgates will open up." Hrycay, Sovyn and his wife Loraine will be making the trip at the end of March. Mumbai: Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi says he can never conform to set notions of how a Bollywood hero should be though he tries to strike a balance for his viewers. The actor said his audience is divided in two segments, one that want him to experiment more and the others who love him in his comfort zone. Hashmi, who has featured popular films like the "Murder" and "Jannat" franchise, "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai" and later appeared in edgy movies such as "Shanghai", and "Ghanchakkar", said it is a struggle to do the balancing act. "It is a struggle to balance the audience. They always want to see you in a particular thing and then when you step out of that, a lot of people get upset about it. This is very true to our audience, not international audience," Emraan told PTI. The actor said there are some "set notions" of what a leading man should or shouldn't do in India. "In the end of 'Ghanchakkar' when I am getting beaten up, the audience was angry, a lot of distributors said why are you doing this? I was being honest to the character. "But this is how Indian films are. They want to see the hero do certain, stereotypical things. Be that hero who does that time and again, I find that exhausting. That's why, I took a departure," he added. Hashmi said looking back at his career, he can see that he did a lot of films that he would not watch as a viewer. "My palette of films that I watched weren't remotely close to the ones I did. So identification with some films was difficult, but I took it upon myself that I have to be truthful to the material." The 40-year-old actor said it was also hard to come out of his image. "Initially in your career, you are not in a place to choose films. The films choose you. If they are successful, it has to be done to death. That's how the trade functions, they see a safety net, a cash flow so they juice it out. "Sometimes you play to that and then after a certain amount of success, you want to get out of that trap. But they don't want you to get out of the trap, they constantly want you to bring in the moolah with that," he said. The actor will be next seen in Sanjay Gupta's "Mumbai Saga" and "Chehre", which also co-stars Amitabh Bachchan. On multiple occasions during Friday night's Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire, San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer appeared to go out of his way to say something along the lines of "I agree with Bernie [Sanders]." Whether it be on issues related to health care, climate change or foreign policy, Steyer seemed to emphasize paying homage to the Vermont senator during many of his answers, and this did not go unnoticed by debate watchers on Twitter. The leadership of the Global Union of Ghanaian Scholars (GUGS), the umbrella body for Ghanaian Students Associations in the diaspora, has urged the Government of Ghana to evacuate all Ghanaian Students, Scholars, and Academics from the Hubei Province, Peoples Republic of China. A portion of the statements read Ghanaian Students, Scholars, and Academics, within this landlocked province, are, above all, at high risk of contracting this fatal disease caused by the 2019-nCoV. The mortality rate in Wuhan city, Hubei Province is estimated at 4.9%, the highest of any city affected by this outbreak. Moreover, city lockdowns and disease-scare has descended heavily on the mental health of our non-working-class students within the Hubei Province. Also, as carried out by other nations that show interest in the total wellbeing of their citizens, it would not be far-fetched to undertake evacuations with urgency. The union also commended the efforts of the Ghanaian Embassy in China. We acknowledge the efforts of the Ghana Embassy in China, working on ways and means to aid the Students, Scholars, and Academics, who are most affected, and also, to the National Union of Ghana Students-China (NUGS-China) for their immense assistance in these hard times. However, Ghanas ambassador to China, H.E Edward Boateng last week on Happy FMs Epa Hoa Daben show commended Ghanaians living in China especially Wuhan for their receptiveness to government lockdown procedures during this medical emergency. The total number of confirmed deaths from the coronavirus in China has risen to 722, with at least 34,546 confirmed cases. The majority of those infected are in Hubei province. ---HappyGhana.com Hong Kong: Latest public service arrangements In light of the extension of special work arrangements for government departments and to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, various departments today announced the latest arrangements for public services. The Fire Services Departments fire protection units will continue to provide basic and limited public services next week. These include various licence applications, dangerous goods vehicle inspection applications, fire service installations acceptance inspections of new buildings and compliance inspections of ventilating systems, processing of building plans, and building fire safety improvement works-related matters. The departments Shroff Office and Receipt & Dispatch Counter of the Licensing & Certification Command Headquarters and the Receipt & Dispatch Counter of the Fire Safety Command Headquarters will provide basic services from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Judiciary said all hearings of the courts or tribunals originally scheduled from February 10 to 16 will generally be adjourned to a date to be fixed. However, the courts will continue to handle urgent and essential hearings or matters during this period. For the Department of Justice, Prosecutions Division and Civil Division reception counters will be open from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm from February 10 to 14. The Civil Division's Shroff office will be open from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on February 11. Legal Aid Department offices will open from 9.30am to 4pm between February 10 and 14 to provide basic necessary and limited civil and criminal legal aid application and litigation services. The Office of the Ombudsman's reception counter will be closed until February 16. The Labour Departments Employment Agencies Administration will provide counter services from 9am to 1pm from Monday to Friday for receiving employment agency licence applications, while other counter services will remain suspended. Except for Sham Shui Po district, all Home Affairs Enquiry Centres will be open between 11am and 3pm from Monday to Friday (between 11am and 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only for the Mui Wo centre). The service to administer declarations or oaths/affirmations for private use will be available. The Leisure & Cultural Services Department has announced that the Hong Kong Flower Show 2020 originally scheduled to be held from March 6 to 15 at Victoria Park has been cancelled. The Land Registry has adjusted the opening hours of its offices to provide basic public services. Delivering instruments for registration will be handled from 9am to 1.30pm from Monday to Friday, while other matters will be handled from 9am to 12.30pm. from Monday to Friday. From February 10, the Inland Revenue Department will suspend all services except the Business Registration Office, the Stamp Office, and the Central Enquiry Counter, which will provide services from 9am to noon on Monday to Friday. Enquiry counters under the Rating & Valuation Department will be open from 8.15 to 1pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. All service counters at Working Family & Student Financial Assistance Agency offices will be closed from February 10 to 16. Scheduled appointments for counter services and interviews will also be cancelled. All post offices will be open from 11am to 3pm from Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday. Mail delivery and mail collection from posting boxes will be provided on alternate days, while posting and delivery of Speedpost items will be maintained from Monday to Saturday. The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Departments licensing services counters at the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices and its Marine Parks Office in Tsuen Wan will continue to provide basic and limited public services from 9.30am to noon and 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday and Thursday. The Water Supplies Departments customer enquiries centre in Wan Chai will stay open between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday, while other centres in Tai Kok Tsui, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Tuen Mun will remain closed. The Wan Chai centre will provide limited services for handling licensing matters and applications for urgent water supply reconnection. For account enquiries, customers may call the 24-hour Customer Services Hotline 2824 5000. The Highways Department said the provision of basic and limited public services will continue until further notice, including processing of excavation permit applications for excavation works on public roads and parts of the non-emergency road repair works. It will continue to provide the necessary and emergency public road repair services including daily inspections of expressways and emergency road repairs. The Civil Engineering & Development Department has also adjusted its public services. Office hours for applications for dumping licences and sand removal permits will be 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Friday, while that of the Mines Division's Permit & Licensing Office will be 9am to noon from Monday to Saturday. The Drainage Services Department said that in addition to the emergency and essential public services being maintained, it will continue to provide basic and limited public services to members of the public next week. Except for the 24-hour Drainage Hotline 2300 1110, all enquiry phone lines and reception services will be temporarily suspended. The Lands Department noted services for receipt and delivery of documents at counters and enquiry telephone lines will be provided between 1pm and 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from February 10 to 16. Its headquarters at North Point Government Offices will open only the counter on the 21st floor during the above opening hours, while other counter services will continue to be suspended. This story has been published on: 2020-02-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (CNN) The Japanese Health Ministry said three more passengers on the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. They have all been taken to the hospital. A total of 64 people onboard the ship have now been infected with the coronavirus. The ship has been quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, near Tokyo, since Tuesday, after it emerged that a former passenger had tested positive for the virus. That man is an 80-year-old from Hong Kong, who disembarked from the ship when it stopped in Hong Kong along its voyage. Of the 2,600 passengers, of whom 428 are American, initially on the boat, 61 had already tested positive for the virus. The quarantine is expected to last until at least February 19. This is a developing story. Less than eight months before Real IDs will be needed to board domestic flights, at least 9 million Californians still need to line up at the DMV to get the new federally compliant drivers licenses. Starting Oct. 1, the Department of Homeland Security will require anyone who wants to get on a flight within the U.S. to have the enhanced license or ID card, or a passport, passport card or military ID. Entry to secured federal buildings and military bases will also require the Real ID. The idea is to make identity documents more secure. Despite the impending deadline, the pace at which people are securing the licenses has slowed. In January, 381,570 people secured Real IDs in California, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, a drop of about 21% compared with December. To meet its goals, the DMV will need to issue about 1.1 million Real IDs a month more than double the current pace. As of Jan. 31, about 7.1 million Californians had visited a DMV office, handed over multiple forms of identification and received a Real ID drivers license or identification card in the mail. California has about 28 million licensed drivers and another 2 million cardholders. The DMV expects about 16 million will want, or need, a Real ID. DMV Director Steve Gordon, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July to overhaul the department, said theyre taking the deadline seriously and making an effort to get Californians to do so as well. Federal regulations require applicants to go in-person to a DMV office to get a Real ID, even if theyre only renewing a license. Were trying to pull people into the office by hook or by crook and let them know that Real ID is real and Oct. 1 is a real deadline, he said in an interview with The Chronicle on Friday. In a statement Friday, Gordon urged people to come to a DMV office now while wait times are low and offices are less crowded. The DMV hopes to pick up the pace by pushing people who can do other kinds of business outside the office online or at DMV kiosks or AAA to do so, making room for Real ID applicants. The department is also using technology to speed the application process. The department is testing a system at five offices including in San Francisco that allows some Real ID seekers who complete their applications online to get same- or next-day appointments. Were doing everything we can to get people to come in and to speed up the process, Gordon said. Since Newsom appointed a task force shortly after taking office in January 2019 to speed up the time it takes for clerks to process a Real ID application, that time has shrunk from 28 minutes to 18 minutes, he said, and he thinks it will be possible to get it down to 10. What youll need for a Real ID C ompleted application and required documentation: An original or certified birth certificate or a valid passport A Social Secu ri ty card or document containing a Social Security number Two items showing California residency such as a utility bill or bank statement If your name changed, you'll also need to show a marriage certificate, adoption papers or name change paperwork Visit the Real ID web site: https://realid.dmv.ca.gov/ See More Collapse While the DMV has always been known for its waits, lines grew unbearably long and appointments tougher to get in 2018 when Real IDs were first issued. Lines stretched out the door and wait times soared past six hours. Lawmakers demanded reform at the DMV, which increased staffing, opened earlier and added Saturday hours. Appointments are still hard to get sometimes none is available in the three-month scheduling period but wait times for people who walk in have grown shorter. The average wait in January was 16 minutes with an appointment and 43 minutes without. Real-time reports on the DMV website Friday around noon showed waits ranging from seven minutes in Petaluma to 53 minutes in Hayward. Not everyone is convinced. Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, a frequent critic of the DMV, said hes not surprised Real ID is headed in the wrong direction. Even though theres been a lot of money thrown at DMV and a lot of potential changes and improvements, the capacity to do the job on time with the current technology and the current staffing is inadequate, Patterson said. His advice to constituents who need a Real ID? 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. Get a passport, he said. Its easier, its faster and its more secure. At the DMV office on Fell Street in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, there was no line out the door, as is often the case, and there were surprisingly few complaints. Faiza Khan had the day off and didnt make an appointment, but was able to walk in right away around noon. Her wait time was extended, however, because she hadnt realized that she needed to fill out the Real ID application before her number was called. She had to start all over again. I wish somebody wouldve told me, said Khan, who waited a total of two hours. It wouldve been faster. DMV officials advise people applying for Real IDs to arrive prepared with a completed application and the required documentation: an original or certified birth certificate or a valid passport; a Social Security card or document containing a Social Security number; and two items showing California residency, such as a utility bill or bank statement. Anyone whose name has changed also needs to show a marriage certificate, adoption papers or name change paperwork. Ilker Delen was on his way out of San Francisco DMV after a quick visit to get his Real ID. He said hes from Turkey, where the process takes place entirely online and is much easier and faster. Still, his Friday visit was much quicker than the last time he came and waited three hours. Its way better than last year, he said. Michael Cabanatuan and Anna Bauman are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan and @abauman2 Libya: UNSMIL condemns destruction of Sufi sanctuary 'Arbitrary arrests, right to religious freedom violated' (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, FEBRUARY 7 - The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned the destruction of the Sufi sanctuary of Zawit Bin Issa, in the city of Sirte, which occurred on February 5, and the arrest of a certain number of Sufis, also reported in Sirte. UNSMIL said in a statement that such incidents ''appear to violate the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right not to be arrested or placed under arbitrary detention''. ''The destruction of religious sanctuaries is also banned by international humanitarian legislation and international attacks against religious monuments are war crimes''. UNSMIL urged authorities that control the city of Sirte to investigate and bring the culprits to justice, the statement also said. (ANSAmed) CARBONDALE Jason Tanner, who died Tuesday at the age of 46, was a legendary misfit who, in many ways, to many people, embodied the essence of Carbondale. Just Tanner, as he was known to most, was humble, accepting, sometimes rough and unruly, always real and full of surprises. He battled personal struggles for much of his adult life that took a toll on his health. But friends and family say that in Carbondale, he found a place to call home. And that he gave mostly good to a world that was not always kind to him in return. Tanner was a phenomenal skateboarder and loved to party. He dedicated much of his life to both. He was a regular of Lost Cross, a decades-old haunt that put Carbondale on the punk rock map. He was a fixture of The Strip as much as places like Boobys, PKs and The Hangar. He became a mascot of sorts of Carbondales nightlife scene. Carbondale wont be the same without him, thats for sure, said Adam Fletcher, a musician and longtime friend who spent many nights with him at Lost Cross. He was somebody who, for me, represents Carbondale. Hes a Carbondale icon. Since his family announced that he was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in November, theres been an outpouring of support on a Facebook page created in his celebration: Jason Tanner Last Call. Tanner spent the last few months on hospice care at a nursing home in Benton. While there, he made the most of life, visiting with friends, making amends, letting the most important people in his life know they were, and returning one last time to Lost Cross. When he died shortly after midnight on Tuesday, he was at his sisters house in Murphysboro, surrounded by family and not in any pain, his sisters, April Tellor and Becky Kimmel, told The Southern Illinoisan Wednesday. He was uniquely funny and fun to be around, Kimmel said. Jason was the oldest of four siblings (his other younger sister is Michelle Smith), and Tellor said that Tanner was such a larger-than-life figure that the three of them were always referred to around town as Tanners sisters. It was an honor to be Tanners sisters, she said. Countless people in Carbondale knew of Tanner by his signature hippie dreads, offbeat personality, notable quotes such as dont be a poser (and similar variations), his chainsaw voice and frequent requests for spare change. Many have a Tanner story. But his circle of real friends, including his sisters and other family, was much smaller and fiercely loyal. In spite of his personal struggles, his life was more than meets the eye, they say. Kimmel said that she and Tanner loved watching B-rated horror movies together. He loved people and mingling in a crowd. He was known to strike up a conversation with almost anyone, and could recall details about the people he met the things that made them special or significant even years later. A chapter of Tanners life that doesnt get the respect or attention it deserves is his skateboarding era, said Brad Friedline, a friend and fellow skater. In his youth, Tanner was a standout athlete, whose boundary-pushing tricks earned him a following, and nearly, pro status. He was scouted at one point by a talent agent in California, his sisters said. Tanner grew up in Marion and started skateboarding at the age of 8, his sisters said. He hung out with a group of boys from Marion and Herrin who called themselves the 2-5 crew when skateboarding was relatively unheard of here. The activity carried a bad-boy reputation in a conservative city, and they were often told to skedaddle. But Tanner stuck with it. At age 17, he started spending more time in Carbondale, his sisters said, and his unique interests were more welcomed. Friedline said that he was part of a group of skaters a little bit younger than Tanner, and they would spend their afternoons skating around trying to find Tanner, because we wanted to see what real skating looked like. He recalled one especially memorable ollie where Tanner scaled over what seemed like a 10-foot wall, landed flawlessly and kept on skating. He would do things you wouldnt think possible, he said. In those days, he inspired a generation of skateboarders. He continued to skate into his mid-30s, and is still known as one of the most talented skateboarders that Southern Illinois has ever known, Friedline said. He built a skate community here, he said. Thats his legacy. His spirit could be infectious like that, said Beth Foster, who credits Tanner with inspiring her to seek a career in the helping profession. The two met on The Strip in the early 1990s, when she was 15. He just walked up to me and said, Hey, wanna hang out? she recalled. One of the first places they went together was a thrift store, where for $2, customers could fill up a bag. They capped off their afternoon with a trip to Taco Bell and then to the pet store, where they bought matching mice. From then on, I would skip school on Tuesday and go to the $2 bag day with Jason, she said. They remained close over the years, though their lives went in different directions. Just seeing how he lived and how he was treated, not necessarily by the people who loved him, but by society in general, and judged, he just made me a better person, said Foster, who went on to major in social work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and who currently works as a social worker at the Marion VA. Among the lessons Tanner taught her, she said, is dont judge a book by its cover, and give everybody a chance. Thats what were here for, is to help people out. I always saw him doing that no matter what circumstance he was in, she said. He would always help someone out. On the Facebook page created in his honor, hundreds of stories have poured in about his openness and generosity. Among the comments are these: You have made an impact on thousands of people in your time here and have truly achieved Local Legend status! This one hurts. A true Misfit. Im gonna miss him. Bless his weirdo soul. He told me about Lost Cross and I felt like I belonged a little more than before. Were all a little lost sometimes. Tanner, your life meant more than I think you believed it did. You are the foundation upon which rebellion is born. Youre the truth. Throughout the years, Tanner found places to stay, bouncing around on friends couches. Sometimes, he slept outside. Jason was very unique," Tellor said. "He was a free spirit. He wanted to roam. He wanted to do whatever he wanted to do at any point in time. Scott Walker said he befriended Tanner in the late 1980s, and lived with him temporarily in a studio apartment in downtown Carbondale in the summer of 1994. Tanner was magnetic, he said. They burned through their days hanging out and drinking. But they were young, and Walker said that a young Tanner seemed to have a promising life ahead, as a skater, an artist and with his outgoing personality. But his personal challenges, he said, also overwhelmed him. While many people were kind to him, not everyone was, his friends and family say. Occasionally, drunk college kids mocked him in a mean-spirited way. On the streets, he was taken advantage of and physically abused. Even with those who posited good-will, the line wasnt always clear between whether people were laughing with him or at him. In the summer of 2018, a Carbondale police officer was selling coffee mugs on Facebook for $15 that featured an unflattering photo of Tanner seemingly passed out on the ground. The post ignited outrage on social media. Kimmel, one of his sisters, said that the family is grateful for all the people who have helped out and offered their support during this trying time. They are raising money to help cover Tanners funeral and headstone costs. Theres an online fundraiser that can be found at the Facebook page created in his honor. Additionally, 17 bands have agreed to perform on Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16 at Lost Cross and PKs, with donations going to support Tanners funeral costs. If additional money is raised, the family would like to put a park bench downtown in his honor. Jason stayed on the streets for years, Tellor said. And Jason would want a spot for other people in his position. He was very loving, caring, as you can see, hes touched a lot of peoples hearts. He was always that somebody that people could easily talk to. Thats why so many people were affected, and know him and love him, because he was a very open spirit. This is such a great loss, and theres a big hole in a lot of hearts. The day Jason died a part of Carbondale died, too. Funeral services for Tanner are scheduled for Monday at Walker Funeral Homes in Carbondale. The visitation is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with a graveside service immediately following at Oakland Cemetery. Tellor said that anyone who knew and loved Tanner is welcome to attend. Love 27 Funny 5 Wow 4 Sad 36 Angry 19 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Turkmenistan has established Turkmenhaly (Turkmen Carpet) State Association. According to the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree to this effect at an enlarged government meeting on the results of 2019. The document orders that supervision of Turkmen Carpet Production Association of the Ministry of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan should be assigned to the government and renamed into Turkmen Carpet State Association. By the presidential decree, Ogulhadzhat Ishangulyeva has been appointed Chairwoman of the new state association and relieved of her post as Deputy Minister of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan. According to the decree by the President of Turkmenistan, this measure is designed to ensure proper organization of manufacturing Turkmen carpet products and increasing their exports. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 FAIRFIELD, Calif. Five of the people evacuated from Wuhan, China who were being quarantined at Travis Air Force Base show symptoms of coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group has not been diagnosed with coronavirus, but they display symptoms of the virus, officials said. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed as a "reaction to the fiasco in Assam". Addressing an event here, Chidambaram said, "The Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed as a reaction to the fiasco in Assam. Because after spending Rs 1,400 crore during an exercise in Assam not once but twice. The first exercise found over 40 lakh people in a population of 3.5 crore stateless. The revised exercise found 19 lakh people as stateless. People of Assam rejected both the exercises." He added, "When the people of Assam rejected both the exercises, the Modi government woke up and said we have to do something and the result was Citizenship (Amendment), Bill." While delivering a lecture on CAA-NRC-NPR and the Union Budget, the former union minister said, "Modi off course twist facts, he says Congress party has opposed giving citizenship to persecuted refugees in India. Here I say it, the Congress Working Committee has said that we are not against who has been included in the Act. We have a problem with who have been excluded in the Act." "Under our Constitution, you cannot distinguish on the basis of religion," he added. Chidambaram said that Congress is opposing the Act on the ground of "constitutional morality and constitutional legality". "We are pretty confident that Supreme Court will strike down this Act and redeem the honour of India in people," he added. The Congress leader further stated that today "world over India's stock has plummeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) How do you top two years of sustained passenger growth? If its Lehigh Valley International Airport, you top it with two planes. Local officials will gather Wednesday morning to celebrate the new Allegiant flight base at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The new base, announced last August, means two aircraft, 66 new jobs and a $50 million investment at the Hanover Township, Lehigh County airport. The crews -- pilots and flight attendants -- will fly out of and return to the Lehigh Valley, and mechanics and ground staff will be added to LVIA. The big get for the Lehigh Valleys regional airport is part of a wave of growth over the past two years. The airport is creeping closer to an annual 1 million passenger mark, after nearly 912,000 travelers passed through the airport in 2019. Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said 2004 was the last time LVIA hit that mark with 1,024,638 passengers. The authority runs the airport. Hitting the benchmark so soon after 9/11 was a great accomplishment for LVIA, Stoudt said. But airline mergers, bankruptcies and their focus on developing major hubs in larger cities curbed the Lehigh Valley airports growth. Its really taken some time for us to sort of rebuild," Stoudt said. Now the airport is coming off 27 consecutive months of passenger growth. Lehigh County Executive Armstrong Phillips Armstrong said Stoudt and the others managing the airport are a major reason why its successful. It was a great year and Im really looking forward to 2020 bringing similar highlights, said Matthew Tuerk, vice chairman of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority board of governors, at a recent meeting. Well done to the entire team. Board member Tara Zrinski said the authoritys dedicated staff have been important to the airports growth. The successes range from new destinations, plans for a new terminal connector and small victories like Canines Offering Passengers Encouragement (COPE) dogs visiting the terminals. Theres also a new Dunkin kiosk. The airport is a hub not only for flights but for the community, said Zrinski, who is in the middle of a four-year term on the board. Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority spokesman Colin Riccobon said the airports upward trajectory is a positive sign for the regions residents and businesses. Allegiant focuses on leisure travelers, although its announcement last month of a Chicago route from LVIA benefits both business travelers and sightseers. As a flight base, LVIA can expect to see more services, more destinations, more frequent flights, Stoudt said. It gives travelers more options, he said. Future destinations Locals have plenty of places they want LVIA to fly to: Washington D.C., Boston, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Austin. Those destinations have been in the mix for years. An aviation consultant spoke to airport officials about them in 2018. Those are all still things on our radar, Stoudt said. A Pittsburgh route would need the right kind of service, right aircraft, and airline partner to make it economical, he said. Based on Allegiants other flight bases, some of the wished-for departures could become reality. Last month, Allegiant announced it was adding Chicago, Memphis, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas, to flights from the Des Moines International Airport, the Des Moines Register reported. The company announced in November that Des Moines would be the airlines newest flight base. Rednerings of a planned new terminal connector at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.Photos Courtesy The Sheward Partnership | For lehighvalleylive.com Its a great airport and Id love to see it grow, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said. McClure said he encourages people to fly out of LVIA and take advantage of direct connections to some larger metropolitan areas in the country. Lots of Lehigh Valley residents travel to Pittsburgh and would rather fly than drive, McClure said. But he recognizes that airlines find it difficult to make that route profitable. Amstrong was thrilled when Allegiant announced its nonstop route to Sarasota, Florida, because his daughter lives there. Large airports often go hand-in-hand with air traffic problems and hours-long delays, he said. Coming out of (LVIA), you dont have that problem, he said. Armstrong said hes pleased with the connection to larger hubs like Chicago and Atlanta, and hes heard of other wanted destinations, but said you have to be realistic. Youre not going to get nonstops to everywhere you hope. The airport is moving ahead with development plans. A top priority is the $22 million terminal connector, adding a new security screening area with more checkpoint lanes. Its going to make it such a better airport for people in the Lehigh Valley, Armstrong said. Authority officials are still working with a developer to turn the old control tower site into a hotel and retail space. Other plans will address parking at the airport and move the airports main entrance on Airport Road. Rehabbing its main runway remains an important project and there are future runway closures planned similar to the 52-hour shut down in May. Theres more to come on that project, Stoudt said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. India on Saturday sought devolution of powers by the Sri Lankan government to the minority Tamils in the island nation and hoped that their aspirations for equality, justice and respect will be fulfilled as per provisions of the country's Constitution. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa after a joint statement at Hyderabad House in New Delh. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI Photo After wide-ranging talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the issue was discussed with an "open mind" and hoped that the Tamil reconciliation process would be taken forward by Colombo. The two leaders also deliberated on a raft of key issues like bolstering anti-terror cooperation, expansion of trade and investment ties, implementation of joint projects in Sri Lanka and resolving the long-festering fishermen issue with a "humane approach". In his comments, Rajapaksa thanked Modi for his government's 'neighbourhood first policy' and the priority he attaches to ties with Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa's five-day visit to India assumes significance as his tenure as Sri Lanka's president from 2005 to 2016 saw expansion of China's footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. Noting that India has been a "trusted partner" in Sri Lanka's development, Modi said stability, security and prosperity in the island nation is important for India as well as for the entire Indian Ocean region. On the long-pending Tamil issue, Modi said it will be necessary to implement the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution. The 13th amendment provides for devolution of power to Tamil community in the neighbouring country. "We held a discussion with an open mind on issues relating to reconciliation in Sri Lanka. I am confident that the government of Sri Lanka will fulfil the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a United Sri Lanka," Modi said. "It will be necessary to implement the 13th amendment of (Sri Lankan) Constitution and take forward the reconciliation process at the same time," he said. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987 which envisaged devolution of powers to the Tamils. Calling terrorism a major threat facing the region, Modi mentioned about the 'Easter Day terror attacks' in Sri Lanka last year and asserted that both countries will expand cooperation to deal with the challenge. "We both countries have fought this problem firmly. There were painful and barbaric terrorist attacks on Easter Day in Sri Lanka in April last year. "These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. In our talks, we discussed furthering our anti-terror cooperation," Modi said. Rajapaksa said a part of the discussions centred around ensuring security for both the countries, and expressed gratitude to India for helping his country in countering terrorism. "India is our closest neighbour and long-standing friend. The close historical links have provided solid foundation to our ties," Rajapaksa said. IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind with Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa during a meeting in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo Referring to the fishermen issue, Modi said both sides have decided to adopt a humanitarian approach in dealing with it. "We also discussed the fishermen issue. It directly affects the livelihood of the people of both countries. Therefore, we agreed to continue to adopt a constructive and humanitarian approach in dealing with the issue," he said. The prime minister said the history of Indo-Lanka relationship has been woven with countless threads like culture, religion, art and language. "Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future in every field are interlinked." India had announced a financial assistance of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, including USD 50 million to fight terrorism, during the visit of the country's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November. "We deliberated on joint economic projects in Sri Lanka as well as to enhance trade and investment relations. We also discussed ways to deepen people-to-people contact, promote tourism and improving connectivity," Modi said. Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Earlier, external affairs minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. Danbury Fire Department DANBURY A New Fairfield man got a ticket Monday after an object fell from his van and stuck a car on eastbound Interstate 84. A metal pole came loose from a 2010 Chevrolet Express G3500 and hit the front bumper and hood of a 2018 Toyota RAV4 driven by 24-year-old Danbury resident Indira Meza-Casildo. Konaka Tetsuo, chief representative of JICA's Vietnam Office, handed over the nCoV testing reagents to Dang Duc Anh, director of NIHE, with the presence of representatives of the MoH, NIHE, and JICA The first batch of the reagents valued $20,945 was handed over today at the NIHE. As of February 7, Vietnam had confirmed 12 cases of infection, while 77 cases of suspected infection are being isolated. The Vietnamese government is on the highest alert. NIHE has been designated by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam as the leading institution to perform definite diagnosis of suspected cases in the northern region. Vietnam has been exposed to a variety of emerging infectious diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in 2004. Since 2006, through the Japanese government's official development assistance (ODA), JICA have been supporting the installation and strengthening of biosafety level three (BSL-3) laboratories that enable the safe handling of these high-risk pathogens. In the ongoing Project for Capacity Development for Medical Laboratory Network on Biosafety and Examination of Highly Hazardous infectious Pathogens, two long-term experts have been dispatched to strengthen the capabilities and collaboration of major inspection agencies in Vietnam, such as NIHE and the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute. This support is part of the project. In addition, the first detected nCoV patient was admitted on January 23 at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. A Japanese doctor (JICA expert) who works at the hospital had provided reference materials to the hospital's infection control department and supported enhancing the preparedness through a series of joint learning sessions with colleagues from the hospital. JICA, under the leadership of the government of Japan, will continue to support the Government of Vietnam to combat the nCoV. In route news, Qantas kicks off a new route from San Francisco; airlines continue their exodus from China routes, including Hong Kong; JetBlue founder unveils new name, planes for his latest domestic airline; American lands a South American partner to replace LATAM; Deltas expanded transatlantic joint venture officially launches; South African Airways overhauls its route network; and United drops a route to Washingtons Paine Field but Alaska adds one. Sunday, Feb. 9 is the launch date for Qantas new San Francisco-Brisbane service, which will operate three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) with a 787-9. The carrier already has San Francisco service to Sydney and Melbourne, and it currently operates daily flights to Brisbane from Los Angeles. On April 20, Qantas plans to add new Chicago OHare-Brisbane flights as well, operating four days a week, also with a 787-9. According to Qantas, the southbound flight from SFO to Brisbane (QF60) will take 13 hours 45 minutes, and the northbound segment (QF59) will be a 12-hour 40-minute flight. The new Brisbane-U.S. routes were announced last summer after Qantas received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for its joint business partnership with American Airlines. Brisbane is located in Queensland, about a 90-minute flight north of Sydney, and is the gateway to the beachy Gold Coast region and an easy stop on the way to the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns, about two more hours by plane up the coast. A week ago, the Big Three U.S. airlines suspended service to cities on the Chinese mainland, and this week, American and United decided to terminate Hong Kong flights as well after more cases of coronavirus were reported there. (Delta has no direct service from the United States to Hong Kong but offers code-share flights via Seoul with its partner Korean Air.) American has suspended its daily Los Angeles-Hong Kong service through March 27 and Dallas/Ft. Worth-Hong Kong flights at least through Feb. 20. Affected customers will be contacted directly to accommodate travel needs, AA said. United, which previously cut San Francisco-Hong Kong service to one flight a day effective Feb. 17, has now stopped taking bookings for SFO-Hong Kong flights at least through Feb. 22. (Earlier, United had suspended its three weekly Newark-Hong Kong flights from Feb. 8 through March 28.) Cathay Pacific has also slashed its schedules due to a falloff in bookings from the coronavirus scare to the point where the airline this week asked all of its 27,000 employees to plan on taking three weeks of unpaid leave from March through June. Cathay expects its total capacity worldwide to drop by 30% in the weeks ahead and will cut its flights between Hong Kong and mainland China by 90%. For its international schedules, the carrier is dropping one of its daily Los Angeles flights and one of its three daily SFO departures between Feb. 18-March 28. Cathay will suspend its daily Newark flight starting Feb. 10 and its Washington Dulles flight as of Feb. 14, and will cut back Boston and Chicago schedules to five flights a week in mid-February. The carrier has set up a special web page here with the latest coronavirus information and a flight status check. As a Hong Kong footnote, Feb. 8 is the day when financially troubled Hong Kong Airlines has said it would discontinue its Los Angeles-Hong Kong service. LAX was the carriers last remaining U.S. gateway. The Chinese government has reportedly asked its national carriers not to suspend all service to international destinations, but they are cutting back. Beijing-based Air China will reportedly reduce its U.S. service to four cities on two combined routes starting Feb. 11, with a total of only seven flights a week. That will include four weekly flights from Beijing to San Francisco via a stop in Los Angeles, and three a week flights from Beijing to New York and Washington. China Southern has reduced its Guangzhou-San Francisco schedule from six flights to four from now through Feb. 14, and will cancel the route from Feb. 15 through March 28. Its daily A380 service between Los Angeles and Guangzhou will be axed from Feb. 13 through March 28. And China Southern will trim its Guangzhou-New York JFK schedule from seven flights a week to four from Feb. 10-15 and then cancel it through March 28. According to Routesonline.com, China Eastern is slashing its U.S. schedules. It is reportedly ending its Shanghai-San Francisco daily flight from Feb. 10 through March 28 and reducing its LAX-Shanghai schedule from 14 flights a week to as few as three from Feb. 10 through March 28. And Chinas Hainan Airlines has suspended a number of U.S. flights, including its three weekly San Jose-Beijing flights, through the end of March. Remember those various reports over the past year or so about JetBlue founder David Neeleman starting a new domestic airline? Neelemans company made it official this week by announcing the launch of Salt Lake City-based Breeze Airways, the chosen brand for a carrier that had initially been referred to as Moxy during the conceptual stage. The announcement didnt include much new information except that Breeze now hopes to start flying by the end of this year instead of sometime in 2021. Breeze has 60 new Airbus A220-300s on order, but instead of waiting for them, it now plans to kick-start its operations by leasing 30 smaller Embraer 195 aircraft from Azul, the Brazilian carrier also founded by Neeleman. Those plans will be delivered starting in May 2020. Breeze Airways The A220 is ideally suited for nonstop flights between midsize markets that Breeze expects to serve, while the E195s can connect smaller markets cost-effectively, a company spokesperson said. The airlines basic business plan remains unchanged: Breezes initial markets will be midsized U.S. city pairs that currently have no nonstop service. The airline startup plans to connect these cities with low-fare, high-quality nonstop flights, with new consumer technology innovations, improving the flying experience while saving travelers both time and money, the company said. But it still hasnt said which specific routes it will fly. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts Now that Delta has acquired a significant stake in South Americas LATAM and is starting to code-share with that carrier, LATAM is ending its participation in Americans Oneworld alliance and its AA code-shares. But this week American said it has a new South American code-sharing agreement, this one with Brazils largest airline, GOL the former partner of Delta. AA said the new code-shares will give its customers access to 20 new destinations in South America not served by American, and that the code-sharing will soon be paired with frequent flier earning and redemption on both airlines. To facilitate the pact, American said it plans to add a second daily winter season flight between its Miami hub and Rio de Janeiro, and to feed more traffic into Miami its primary connecting point to GOL by operating a dozen more daily frequencies into MIA from Nashville, Boston, Houston, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham and Tampa. Meanwhile, Delta this week officially launched its expanded transatlantic joint venture, which now includes Virgin Atlantic as well as Air France and KLM. Enhanced customer benefits starting Feb. 13 mean that loyalty program members will be able to earn and use miles or enjoy elite benefits for flights on any of the four airlines worldwide operations, including a trans-Atlantic trip, intra-Europe hops, or domestic U.S. journey, offering more opportunities to quickly move through loyalty tiers and reach a higher status, Delta said. Eligible Elite loyalty program members can also enjoy priority boarding and relax in over 100 airport lounges when travelling internationally. The four airlines together handle 23 percent of transatlantic passenger and cargo capacity with up to 341 flights a day between North America and Europe. A week ago, we reported that financially troubled South African Airways had received emergency funding to see it through its restructuring process (called business rescue). Now the company has announced a major overhaul of its route network as part of that process. SAA said it will continue to operate international service from Johannesburg to New York and Washington Dulles as well as London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Perth. But on Feb. 29, it will end flights from Johannesburg to Munich, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and some African destinations. Some regional flights within Africa will be maintained but its only remaining domestic route will be Cape Town, served on a reduced basis. Domestic routes in South Africa will still be served by SAAs Mango affiliate. In domestic route news, United has decided to throw in the towel on its three daily E175 flights between San Francisco International and Paine Field in Everett, Wash., north of Seattle. The United flights will end March 4. But Alaska Airlines this week announced plans to add another Paine Field route, this one from Boise. Alaska/Horizon will fly the route once a day beginning June 18. Alaska has also inked a new interline agreement with an international partner, this one with French Bee. The French airline flies from Paris Orly to Tahiti via a stop in San Francisco, and from Newark to Paris. Flying to Chicago this summer? According to Routesonline.com, United plans to put a 787-8 Dreamliner on the SFO-OHare route between June 4 and Aug. 17. The widebody will be used on the westbound UA305 segment and the eastbound late-night flights UA705/724. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Escalating its poster war with Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) government, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has put up a poster against the state government here. The poster with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's face on it, reads, "will mislead the people of the state, will shelter criminals, will spread lies, will do publicity with government's money." The poster also takes a dig at Nitish Kumar for the floods that hit Patna last year and reads ," will drown Patna." The floods in the state had wreaked havoc across 12 districts, including Sheohar, Dharbangha, Sitamarhi, North Champaran, Madhubani, Araria and Kishanganj which were severely affected due to rising water levels in rivers following torrential rains. The poster has been put up outside former Bihar CM and RJD leader Rabri Devi's residence. RJD had contested the Bihar Assembly elections in 2015 as part of the grand alliance with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JDU). The alliance managed to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nitish became the chief minister of the state. Later, Kumar parted ways with the RJD and formed a coalition government with the BJP in 2017 and again served as chief minister of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: While Rajasthan CM has been vehemently stating that CAA will not be applicable in the state, Assembly Speaker, Dr. CP Joshi, has now said that the Centre's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will have to be implemented by the state government. He added that state government can legislate only on the subjects of the concurrent list. C.P. Joshi is a senior Congress leader and his comments have become a topic of discussion in political circles. "There is a discussion in the country on CAA. This is a law and state government is not allowed to make changes to it. For example, the Centre enacted a law under the Motor Vehicles Act where states had a say whether they wanted to implement it or not. But law of citizenship is a subject under the constitution of India which cannot be tampered with", Dr. Joshi said addressing an awards ceremony in a Girls College in Jaipur. He further added, "We want to change the policies of the country, but we do not want to educate the voters. Now educated youth will educate voters. If we can't give this right, then in the coming days, a very big question mark will be raised in front of our parliamentary form of democracy." After the peace march of Congress along with other parties and various communities against the CAA on December 21 in Jaipur, CM Gehlot had announced that the CAA and NRC will not be implemented in the state. "The way the protests are taking place across the country and the governments of fellow parties of the NDA themselves are not implementing it, in this way the Center should understand the public sentiments and withdraw this law and declare not to implement the NRC', the CM had said then. While Gehlot's criticism of the CAA is strong, Constitution experts say that India is a union of states. They add that the constitution divides the powers of the Union Government and the State Government. For this, Union List, State List and Concurrent List have been mentioned. Through these lists, an attempt has been made to prevent any deadlock between the Union and the State Government. The basic motive of making these lists is that powers of lawmaking should not be concentrated and their boundaries should be fixed. Citizenship is mentioned at number 17 in the Union list. Only Parliament has the right to make laws on this. Which puts the statement of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Dr. Joshi, in accordance with the Constitution. Pakistan: WHO has released a shocking report on Female Genital Mutilation FGM. There is a deep concern about the circumcision of genitals in this report. According to the report, this poses a serious threat to women's health. Where there is a burden of 14 billion dollars worldwide to avoid its ill effects. The report says that every year more than 200 million women and girls have to face this. At the same time it is usually done between birth and 15 years and it has a profound effect on their health, which includes infection, bleeding or shock. This can lead to such incurable disease, which has to bear the burden throughout life. Terrible abuse of human rights: According to the data so far, it has been found that many countries spend about 10 percent of their total health expenditure on treatment of female genital mutilation every year. In some Central Asia or African countries, this figure is up to 30 percent. Ian Askue, director of the World Health Organization's Department of Sexual, Reproductive Health and Research, said that FGM is not only a terrible human rights abuse, but it is causing significant harm to the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women. Due to this, precious economic resources of the countries are also being destroyed. Egypt banned FGM in 2008: It is also said that Egypt banned FGM in 2008, but it is still prevalent there and in Sudan. Where the United Nations Children's Fund has said that about one-fourth of the victims or about 5.2 crore women and girls do not get health care. In Egypt, the death of a 12-year-old girl last month exposed the dangers of FGM once again. The organization said that more efforts are needed to stop it and end its suffering. Also Read: China is suffering from Corona virus, search for victims going from house to house in Wuhan Congress candidate Alka Lamba slaps AAP worker, watch video here Big revelation of the impeachment case, Windman will get farewell from NSC Big news about Coronavirus, doctor who gives warning died SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) As San Francisco prepares for its Chinese New Year parade this weekend, city officials on Thursday announced measures being taken this year to help keep event-goers safe. The Department of Emergency Management said it will have extra staff at the parade site, as well as in their dispatch center, ready to take calls in the event of an emergency. "If anyone needs a police officer, a firefighter, or a medical ambulance, you should call 911," said Mary Carol Ellen, DEM director. "It does not matter if you do not speak English, simply state the language you speak or the dialect, and we'll be able to connect you with a translator so we can provide service," she said. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said his deputies will be on hand, coordinating with San Francisco Police Department officers to help keep people safe. "Everyone should be reassured that we are safe and prepared in dealing with anything that should arise," he said. Police Chief William Scott said the department will have "robust staffing" this weekend during celebrations. However, he also urged members of the Chinese community to be aware of scams, like the all too popular blessings ploy. "We want to remind everyone, including our merchants and residents, that you have to be vigilant," he said. "Be aware when strangers ask for money or jewelry. Don't follow strangers anywhere. Don't bring strangers into your home and don't bring a stranger with you when you withdraw money or take out valuables from your safety deposit box, if you have one, or from your home." Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson urged revelers to refrain this weekend from using fireworks, which are illegal in the city. "We know we always see a lot of fireworks around Chinese New Year," she said. "Every year we see fires that are caused by fireworks from small to large, and injuries that are caused by fireworks. So please, be safe and keep your communities and your community members safe." In response to allegations of xenophobia and discrimination toward the Chinese community following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, city leaders stressed that the risk of contracting the virus remains low. "Certainly there's more chance of you catching the flu more than anything else," said Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee. "Sometimes we create fear, and sometimes it's rightfully so, but... the creation of this fear is unfounded," he said. "These are not the values of San Francisco, especially when you portray a whole group of people as contagious." Department of Public Health Director Grant Colfax reminded residents that although there have been six confirmed cases statewide, including two in the Bay Area, "At this time there is no newly diagnosed case of coronavirus in San Francisco." "I would say to follow the standard flu precautions," he said, such as washing hands, covering coughs and getting a flu shot. He added that event-goers shouldn't worry about wearing masks or bringing children to the parade because of the virus. The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the year of the rat, kicks off Saturday starting at 5:15 p.m. at Second and Market streets. Several street closures throughout downtown and Chinatown will be in effect and attendees are being encouraged to take public transportation. 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. Bryan Frederick Simanton, 39 of La Plata, Md. LA PLATA, Md. (February 7, 2020)Tony Covington, State's Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, February 7, 2020, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Bryan Frederick Simanton, 39 of La Plata, to 8 years in prison for violating the probation of a 2016 case, in which he entered a guilty plea to the Production of Child Pornography, Possession of a Handgun, and Visual Surveillance with Prurient Intent.An investigation into the 2016 case revealed that Simanton set up a video camera in a juvenile victim's bathroom at a residence in La Plata. At one point, Simanton gave the victim an alcoholic beverage and the victim fell asleep. The victim reported that when she woke up, Simanton was having inappropriate contact with her. Simanton was subsequently apprehended and on February 3, 2017, he was sentenced to ten years in prison with all but two years suspended, as well as five years of probation. As a part of his probation, Simanton was ordered to have no contact with minors.After his release, Simanton spent the night at an acquaintance's house in Harford County with minors present. A juvenile victim who was present inside the house reported to the Harford County Child Advocacy Center that on the evening of September 21, 2018, Simanton provided her and her friends with alcohol and at some point, she fell asleep. The victim also reported that when she woke up, Simanton was touching her inappropriately.On December 10, 2019, Simanton admitted to violating his probation in Charles County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West.At sentencing, Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Proctor, asking for the full amount of suspended time, addressed the judge, "The Court should have no tolerance. There are no excuses for this behavior. We have another victim who had to go through this."Maryland Sex Offender Registry: www.dpscs.state.md.us/sorSearch/search.do?searchType=detail&anchor=true&id=8751244 Google is limiting access to key tools that track ad spending, disrupting hundreds of marketers and underscoring the powerful role the search giant plays in the digital advertising industry. One recent change affects ad-measurement companies independent firms that monitor the performance of ads across Google, Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere. Last month, Google cut off those companies from analyzing a popular type of Google ad shown on iPhones and iPads. Instead, the company told advertisers to use its own measurement tools, something marketers have complained about in the past because they would rather trust neutral third parties. The move focuses on ads that try to persuade people to install apps, a corner of the industry that generates billions of dollars a year in revenue for Google and other tech giants. One industry executive said the step was anticompetitive because Google is favoring its own services and unfairly elbowing out rivals. The person plans to complain to state attorneys general, who are investigating Google for potential antitrust violations. The person asked not to be identified discussing sensitive issues. Google dominates search ads and, with Facebook, controls more than 60% of the broader digital ad market, according to one estimate. With data on billions of users, Google helps marketers target online messages and measure how many people clicked on ads and took other valuable actions, such as making purchases. The internet giant has been pressured for years to share more of this data with outside firms, so marketers can trust the metrics and easily compare how Google ads perform versus other providers. Access to this information is an emerging antitrust issue, especially in Europe, and Google has slowly opened up over the years. But new privacy rules in California and Europe have raised the bar on what data companies are allowed to share. Google and other tech companies have responded by limiting the information that leaves their platforms. Apple Inc. has also cracked down on what can be shared for advertising. Privacy laws have given Google cover to increasingly force advertisers to play by its rules, said Dina Srinivasan, a former ad-technology executive. What we need in the U.S. is a privacy approach that solves competition problems and consumer privacy problems at the same time. Google executives have privately complained about being stuck in a damned if you do, damned if you dont situation. If the company shares less data, advertising rivals and partners shout antitrust. If it opens up, privacy advocates cry foul. A spokesman said Google changed the approach to app-install ads because its hard to accurately measure the performance of these ads when iPhone users are logged out of their Google accounts. Letting external firms track ads in these cases would rely on techniques that dont provide users with appropriate choice, transparency and control, the spokesman added. AdWeek reported the iPhone and iPad ad changes earlier. A similar dynamic is playing out in other parts of Googles vast business. By the third quarter of 2020, the company plans to stop advertisers from pulling data about who clicks on their ads out of Googles system. Marketers have used this information for years to fine-tune their messages. Google already made this change in Europe and has said it would be applied globally. But complaints from some partners prompted Google to delay the change until later this year. Customers pushed back pretty hard, said Ari Paparo, head of digital ad firm Beeswax and a former Google executive. With the increasing emphasis on privacy, it seems inevitable that they will make this change despite the negative impact. This month the Alphabet unit also said it would phase out cookies bits of software code that let advertisers track users around the web and send them targeted ads. This approach has sustained a major part of the online marketing industry, and advertisers are scrambling to prepare. This will force ad-tech companies to re-imagine their businesses and advertisers to fundamentally shift the digital buying strategies they have been honing for 20 years, said Brad Nunn, an executive at Media Assembly, part of ad agency MDC Partners Inc. Gerrit De Vynck and Mark Bergen are Bloomberg News writers. The Special Advisor to the President Akufo-Addo on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, has stated that government will not bow to pressure to evacuate Ghanaian students in China's virus hit - Wuhan. To him, the only time the government will move to repatriate the students will be after successful consideration of all technical advice from health authorities on the gravity of the situation. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Dr. Nsiah, intimated that the cost of getting a flight to evacuate the students may even pose a challenge given the procedures involved. If you want to get anybody out of the Wuhan Province, one may have to get a chartered flight. Even with that, the Chinese government will have to give us permission to bring them. From what I hear from the Embassy, getting a chartered flight can be a big problem because most flights are not flying to the place. So the government is considering all the technical advice from both the technical advice from the WHO and the local people, and when the time comes for us to evacuate, we will do. Ghana has so far recorded nine suspected cases of the virus. All of the nine cases tested negative. Over 28,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally, with 565 deaths confirmed so far, the majority of which has occurred in China. Students desperate for evacuation Ghanaian students in the Chinese city of Wuhan keep calling on the government to evacuate them as they face depleting food supplies amid an ongoing shut down of the city. The students say they are yet to receive food and protective items despite the release of almost GH40,000 by the Ghana Embassy in Beijing. Some of the students in an interview said: the little foodstuff we have is what we've been surviving on. For instance, if you're someone who eats three times a day, you would have to eat once a day so you'll be able to survive with what you have. So the message is just one. We need evacuation. So far, the Ghanaian Embassy in China has been supporting Ghanaian students with food supplies, although some countries have evacuated their nationals in China. Evacuate students now Ablakwa demands A Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is unhappy the students have not yet been evacuated despite the outbreak. Mr. Ablakwa, who also doubles as the North Tongu MP said the evacuation is long overdue. You need to reach out in this time of considerable anxiety and chaos. More so, we are probably among the few countries who have refused to evacuate our nationals. Last week, I put out a statement. I urged authorities to follow the examples of countries like Tunisia, the UK, and evacuate our nationals. Now, the matters have gotten worse. As of last week, the death toll was under 200. Now, it's approaching 600 and the situation is getting out of hand, he lamented. Chairman of committee reacts Meanwhile, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has said the government was doing the needful to ensure the safety of citizens in China. But he could not provide timelines to the government's plans for the students. So I believe from my checks I've done at the ministry, clearly, government is monitoring the situation and very frantic efforts are underway to do the needful but I'm unable to tell what stage they are and what the indications are as to whether the students will be brought back home, he stated. ---citinewsroom WASHINGTON When House Democrats announced their impeachment inquiry in September 2019, many were anxious about the effect such an offensive against President Donald Trump would have on so-called "front-liner" Democrats, who won seats in 2018 in districts that backed the president. A freshman representing a district that backed Trump by a margin of 6.8 points in 2016, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, was on that list of potentially vulnerable Democrats. But Delgado appears to be diving into the 2020 campaign season from a position of strength. Delgado, who supported the inquiry and voted in favor of the articles of impeachment, raised $772,976 in the last three months of 2019, according to Federal Election Commission reports. He started 2020 with over $2 million in his pocket to fund his re-election. Delgado's haul dwarfs the fundraising of his current lead opponent, Republican Ola Hawatmeh, a 42-year-old philanthropist and fashion designer, who raised $50 last quarter. She kicked off the new year with just over $5,000 to fight Delgado. Hawatmeh said she held a fundraiser in January and now has about $140,000 in her campaign account. The nonpartisan Center for Politics at the University of Virginia shifted New York's 19th District from a "toss-up" to "leans Democratic" this week, identifying Delgado as a "narrow favorite" in the district "on account of Republican recruiting failures." But the field, which had already shifted, is changing again. Republican Kyle Van De Water, an attorney and veteran, will officially declare his candidacy for the seat next week, he told the Albany Times Union. Van De Water was unavailable for comment Friday. Also, Steve Greenfield, of New Paltz, Green Party candidate who ran in 2018, will re-launch his campaign on Monday. These developments follow a bumpy January in which Republican Tony German, a retired two-star general, ended his campaign after failing to raise enough money (he had raised almost $75,000, FEC reports show). Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who ran for governor in 2018, declined a run. And Republican Bartle Bull, a businessman from Millbrook, was considering launching a campaign in mid-January, but ultimately decided against it, he said. Hawatmeh and Van De Water are now visiting each county Republican committee in the large district to campaign for their support, said Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York State Republican Party. The Dutchess County Republicans backed Van De Water and other county boards will announce their picks in the next week or so. I think theres a strong desire to run the most successful campaign we can, avoid a primary and move forward with the best candidates we can get," Langworthy said. Hawatmeh, a Pleasant Valley resident, told the Albany Times Union she would primary the Republican candidate if she does not win support from the majority of Republican county committees. "I have one goal," said Hawatmeh. "That's to win." Delgado's campaign has indicated that the congressman will be remaining focused on policy, not impeachment. "Congressman Delgado has held 33 town halls across the district where he has heard from constituents about the need for affordable and accessible health care, investing in our infrastructure, including broadband, supporting our veterans, and empowering our family farmers," said John Bivona, Delgado's campaign advisor. "Thats why he has stayed focused on introducing bills like the Medicare-X Choice Act, the Rebuild Rural America Act, the Military Spouse Hiring Act, and the Family Farmer Relief Act, which was signed into law by the President." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Both Hawatmeh and Van De Water, through spokesmen, said Delgado's support for impeachment will be a part of their campaigns against him. "I stand behind the president and disagree with impeachment," said Hawatmeh. "A lot of Trump supporters in the district are supporting me." This fall, the Republican National Committee ran a television commercial against Delgado in his district over his support for impeachment. The conservative groups American Action Network and America First Action also slammed Delgado with impeachment messaging. Delgado cautiously made his decision to support the articles of impeachment, as did many Democrats in similar districts. All but a few of the more than 30 House Democrats in districts that went for Trump supported impeachment. Reps. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who then switched to the Republican party, and Collin Peterson, D-Minn., opposed both articles. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, voted in favor of the abuse of power article but against the article charging Trump with obstruction of Congress. Interestingly, a Politico analysis found that many other swing district Democrats, like Delgado, hold a strong fundraising edge in their races even after impeachment. Thirty-two of the 42 swing-seat Democrats raised over $500,000 last quarter and 36 started the election year with at least $1 million in cash on hand, Politico found. Of the over 120 Republicans who filed to run against the front-liners, just six had cleared that fundraising threshold, and three had that much in the bank. Now that the Senate trial has ended with an acquittal for Trump and both chambers will move on to other issues, will Delgado's vote to impeach the president be important to voters in November? "The president's approval rating has ticked up and Republican intensity of support has increased," said Kevin Madden, a communications strategist and former senior adviser for Sen. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. "But November is a long way off. We're in a political environment where every week is like a month and every month is like a year. We just don't know yet if impeachment will be driving voter intensity in eight months, or if macro-issues like the state of the economy will re-emerge as a more prominent factor in voting behavior." Over 3million in 'Shop Local' gift vouchers have been sold since the initiative was launched, according to Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. The hugely popular vouchers are now being rolled out again for Valentines Day. Dundalk Chamber President Pat McCormick said he is 'delighted that over 3 million worth of Shop Local Gift Vouchers have been sold to date since their launch four years ago. Unlike other vouchers, the Shop Local Gift Vouchers have no expiry date, no commission and do not lose value over time and all the while keeping money in the local economy. The Chamber of Commerdce also make no money from this initiative as the shops get the full amount of money back. A spokeswoman said the vouchers make an ideal gift for Valentines Day If you are looking for the perfect gift for the one you love for Valentine's Day - then look no further- Shop Local Gift Vouchers are the ideal gift for that special person in your life! You will be amazed with the choice of where you can spend them including Hair Salons, Beauticians, Boutiques, Gift Shops, Restaurants, Clothes Shops, Gyms, Food and Drink, Travel Agents and much more- all needs are catered for- there are now over 330 shops redeeming these vouchers so you have a fantastic choice of where to spend them. Shop Local Gift Vouchers come in 5, 10, 20 and 50 denominations. They are also ideal as gifts of choice for occasions such as Weddings, Birthdays, Communions, Confirmations and Anniversaries. "Shop Local Gift Vouchers" are available to purchase online on www.shoplocal.dundalk.ie or directly from the Dundalk Chamber Offices Unit 4 Partnership Court Park St. Dundalk (across the rd. from Dundalk Lighting) or by calling Tel: 042 9336343 or email accounts@dundalk.ie The vouchers can also be bought in Grants in Dublin St., Cuchulainn Credit Union, Central News Clanbrassil St., Michael Smyth's in Francis St, Centra in Blackrock, Finnegan's in Louth village, Flanagan's Mace, Sheelan's Riverstown, Valentines Centra Carlingford, Pat's Gift Shop in Dunleer and Victory's Centra in Dunleer. Vietnam is to become a focal point for both regional and global diplomatic missions over the next two years Last year was a successful one for Vietnam-UN relations, with several outstanding achievements made. In the middle of October, the UN and Vietnam successfully held a joint meeting. Accordingly, the two sides focused on analysing the content of UN Development System reform, along with suggestions and solutions to improve co-operative efficiency. The two sides agreed on the importance of the reform and agreements of co-operation at the moment, as well as the priorities for the future. Kamal Malhotra, UN resident co-ordinator in Vietnam As a result, this will be the biggest reform globally since Vietnam joined the UN 40 years ago. Besides this, there were other positive results in 2019 on implementing the activities of the One Strategic Plan. We have prepared for the co-operative framework with the Vietnamese government over five years, as well as discussed priority fields, including social protection, inclusive growth, and the fight against climate change. The two sides also agreed to introduce the Global Joint Sustainable Development Goals Pooled Fund Proposal, which is used for Vietnams social protection. In addition, peacekeeping is another important co-operation area between Vietnam and the UN. The country has been increasing its participation in UN peacekeeping operations by sending the second contingent from Level-2 Field Hospital to South Sudan which has been highly appreciated by the international community. The first incarnation of this mission previously successfully completed its tasks. At the same time, with the support of the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Vietnam and the UN Development Programme, the first Vietnamese army officer passed the interview round to be added to the global roster for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Therefore, it can be said that in 2019, the image and position of Vietnam at the UN and the international arena rose significantly. Important UNSC tasks As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Vietnam at the same time assumed the role of community chair for January. The country will also carry out the same task in April 2021. Besides this, Vietnam is also the chair of the ASEAN for 2020. This is a huge challenge for Vietnam as the first country to act as the chair of the UNSC right after becoming a non-permanent member. Vietnam chose two topics for its chairmanship month. The first is the role of the UN Charter and its relevance today. This is a good topic for open discussion because in order to solve the current major challenges, we need to consider and act based on the UN charter, complying with the rule of law and international agreements. For the first time in the UNs history, more than 110 countries have registered to speak in the open discussion, and a declaration on open discussion related to the UN Charter has been released by the chair. This is an important milestone in the first month of Vietnam joining the UNSC, as it simultaneously holds the role of chair on the UNs 75th anniversary. This is an opportune moment for Vietnam because it is also the 75th anniversary of the launching of the UN Charter. Besides that, currently, the world is facing many problems related to compliance with the UN Charter. Secondly, on January 30 in New York, Vietnam also held discussions on co-operation between the UN and the ASEAN in peacekeeping and international security. This topic was also entirely reasonable when many issues discussed at the UNSC need the intervention and help of regional organisations to come up with effective solutions. The effective partnership between the UN and regional organisations is vital in the face of increasing challenges to international peace and security. The ASEANs active participation in the work of the UN, especially in peacekeeping operations around the world, and regional initiatives on preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding, as well as the ASEANs leading role in the regional structure has been highly appreciated by the international community. In the discussion, the members of the UNSC welcomed the first meeting of UN-ASEAN co-operation at the council, and emphasised the ASEANs successful lessons as a valuable source of experience in promoting community spirit and unified identity in diversity. Besides this, they also appreciated the bloc as a model of consultation, co-operation, and constructive consensus and support for efforts to promote dialogue and co-operation through mechanisms initiated, chaired, and led by the ASEAN. Also, at the discussion, the importance of the ASEANs central role was emphasised in the regional structure, expressing the hope that the bloc would continue its efforts and maintain its role in dealing with issues of common concern in the region and around the globe. From the UNs perspective, we appreciate the role of regional organisations, and we are always willing to help them play their important role. Another role of Vietnam as ASEAN chair is to reach an agreement for the next five years of the ASEAN-UN Strategy next year. Vietnam will be in a special position when it holds important positions at both the world and regional levels. With a proactive attitude, Vietnam will make a positive contribution in this role. For a better world In 2019, there were many highlights in Vietnam-UN relations. Many projects were implemented by both sides, with the participation of various agencies, including development of the Labour Code. Namely, the International Labour Organization has helped Vietnam develop the codes content to submit and was approved by the National Assembly in November. Another important area that we support Vietnam is response to natural disasters. Over the years, climate change has been one of the top priorities of the UN. Many UN organisations are trying to solve this problem, particularly what we call leaving no one behind, including specific subjects of ethnic minorities. This year will be an important one for Vietnam. The UN office in Vietnam will support the country to fulfil its ASEAN chairmanship and the role of the UNSC. We recently discussed with the Vietnamese government the hosting of an international conference on women, peace, and security. This activity has great significance and is directly related to Vietnams role of rotating UNSC chair in April 2021, when Vietnam wants to focus on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the role of women. It is also the year that we review the implementation of the One Strategic Plan for the past five years, and begin the process of designing for the next Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Vietnam is a friend and a very reliable partner of the multilateral mechanism. This is reflected in both regional and global levels. In 2020, Vietnam will have opportunities to affirm its position more clearly and firmly in areas such as peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Vietnam also needs to assert its role in sharing experiences in co-operation, especially in the process of doi moi, overcoming the consequences of war, and building the economy, as well as learning from other countries experiences in areas where Vietnam can benefit. We are pleased to co-operate and are willing to assist Vietnam during this time. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's state visit to India takes place just over two months after his newly-elected brother, President Gotabaya Rajapakse visited New Delhi, a visit that took place just weeks after his election as President of Sri Lanka. The two visits within a short period are indicative of the Rajapakse brothers' desire to reset their ties with India and give a fresh thrust to India-Sri Lanka ties. India-Sri Lanka ties had been strained during the last couple of years of Mahinda Rajapakse's decade-long tenure as President of Sri Lanka (2005-2015) as he ignored calls to initiate a reconciliation process with the minority Tamil population after the end of the civil war. After he lost the presidential elections in 2015, Mahinda Rajapakse had accused India of meddling in Sri Lanka's internal politics. But, both sides made efforts to reduce the acrimony in their relations when Mahinda Rajapse visited India in September 2018 and had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the new Rajapakse government settling in Colombo, there has been an intensive engagement between the two sides with a series of high-level bilateral visits. India was quick to engage with the new leadership; Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first international leader to congratulate Gotabaya Rajapakse on winning the presidential election. Within a few days of the new government taking charge, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Colombo to invite Gotabaya Rajapakse to visit India. In a rare gesture, the new President, Gotabaya Rajapakse visited India ten days later on a three-day official visit. Despite the short notice, the visit turned out to be a substantive meeting as India offered a credit line of US $400 million for development assistance to Sri Lanka. As a follow-up to the presidential visit, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited Delhi in early January 2020. It was followed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to Colombo on January 18, 2020. India had offered Sri Lanka a special line of credit for US $50 million to enhance Colombo's counter-terrorism capacity. In December, navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh visited Sri Lanka to strengthen defence and maritime cooperation. Sri Lanka had moved closer to China during the Mahinda Rajapakse regime as Colombo faced international criticism over its failure to take action on allegations of human rights violations and war crimes during the last days of the civil war. China pressed its advantage as India and western countries remained aloof from Colombo. Beijing invested billions of dollars in a string of large infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. The Hambantota port and Colombo port upgradation among other projects made Sri Lanka a key factor in China's maritime Belt and Road Initiative. During his election campaign, Gotabaya Rajapakse had promised to review the controversial deal made by the previous government awarding a 99-year lease for the Hambantota port to China. But he has since stated that his government would not renegotiate "the commercial deal" but would ensure that the security of the port would remain with Sri Lanka. Asked about the increasing Chinese presence in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan President called upon "other important players" including India, Japan, Singapore, Australia and Asean countries to invest in Sri Lanka. Clearly the new government is not willing to disturb it relations with China and is looking at new partners for investment and cooperation. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government that succeeded the Mahinda Rajapakse regime made efforts to restore the balance in ties with India. But as bitter political infighting overtook the ruling alliance in Colombo, there was limited forward movement in the bilateral relationship. Indian proposals had languished in the absence of decision-making in Colombo. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister's visit comes at a time when the Tamil community is disturbed over the Rajapakse government ending the tradition of singing the national anthem in both the official languages, Sinhala and Tamil at the Independence Day celebrations. The practice of singing the Tamil version was introduced four years ago by the previous government. During Gotabaya Rajapakse's visit, New Delhi had urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure "dignity, peace, equality and justice" for the Tamil community. Gotabaya Rajapakse had said that he was focused on development rather than devolution, indicating that he was not addressing the political demand on devolution of powers to the Tamil dominated Northern Province. Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to visit Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodhgaya and Tirupati after the conclusion of the official part of the visit. In line with the efforts to enhance people to people contacts there are plans to increase aviation links to sacred religious sites in India. (Shubha Singh is a foreign policy and strategic affairs commentator. The views expressed are personal. She can be reached at shubhasingh101@gmail.com) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Shanghai's slumber is due partly to a more than week-long city extension of the Lunar New Year holiday to help combat the novel coronavirus (Photo: AFP/NOEL CELIS) The deadly coronavirus epidemic has brought much of China to a standstill, but perhaps nowhere has the change been more stark than in the country's biggest and most vibrant city. Gone are the traffic jams, crowded sidewalks and businessmen hurrying to work, replaced by eerily empty roads, shuttered bars and businesses, and only the occasional pedestrians - always behind a protective mask. Shanghai is the most populous of China's many mega-cities, but its usual gathering points look like they were hit with a neutron bomb. The scenic Bund riverfront is normally filled with gawkers taking in the European neo-classical architecture on one shore, facing a futuristic financial district on the other. But the heavily-laden barges that usually keep the Huangpu River's surface churning have been absent, the towering corporate skyscrapers largely empty. The stillness is only occasionally interrupted by the clang of the 90-metre-high clock tower atop the 93-year-old Shanghai Customs House. Zhao Feng was one of only a few scattered amblers on the promenade on a recent day. "We know it's not good to go outside, but we're wearing masks as a precaution," said Zhao, 40, on a stroll with family. "(Shanghai) is so quiet because everybody has a strong sense of self-protection." STIR-CRAZY Shanghai's slumber is due partly to a more than week-long city extension of the Chinese New Year holiday to help combat the virus. That ends on Monday, but many businesses and government departments are planning to allow staff to work from home. But residents are largely complying with official directives - issued via mass text messages or over blaring public loudspeakers - to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary. When they do, pedestrians often move far to one side of the pavement to avoid other approaching residents. The city's subway system, one of the world's longest, has made masks mandatory, as has nearly every business that remains open. And few bat an eye any more at pausing for the ubiquitous temperature reading - a plastic thermometer gun aimed unnervingly at the forehead - when entering almost any public building. For those stuck at home, the government has issued a steady stream of tips on things like home exercise or how to avoid being stressed by the prospect of a pneumonia-like death. "Reduce your consumption of media reports that make people unhappy, thereby reducing your worries and troubles," one government circular said brightly. But sheer boredom weighs on many. "All I can say is that I'm sick of staying home!" said one social media response to the government's stress-reduction post. Clear weather that graced the city several days into the viral crisis briefly lured many stir-crazy citizens out for some sun. But that prompted yet another government social media post. "You cannot disinfect yourself by standing out in the sun," it said. 'When the forensics have collapsed, approver is clearly proved to be a liar from the beginning to the end... Does the prosecution genuinely believe that we ought to remain in judicial custody despite showing that their own story is not being corroborated by evidence, for another 192 witnesses?' Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from the Sheena Bora murder trial. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The Peter Mukerjea, with fellow accused Sanjeev Khanna in tow, who, on Friday, February 7, 2020 got off the jail truck, that came to a rumbling halt at the rear of the Mumbai city civil and session court, who might be just six weeks away from bail, walked up the courtyard path, to arrive in court, had a large and sunny beam on his face. He didn't bother to take the creaky lift this time, despite his back issues, and happiness saw him come hobbling up six flights of stairs where he was greeted and congratulated by his lawyers and other onlookers. Later friends/former colleagues brought little treats to celebrate with him. It had been a long struggle (almost four years and four months) for his lawyer Shrikant Shivade to get him just this far and he told well-wishers he felt "elated, relieved" and able to see the "light at the end of the tunnel." Bombay High Court Justice Nitin W Sambre had granted Peter bail just the day before, because he declared that prima facie there didn't seem to be any evidence against him. The order was procedurally stayed six weeks allowing the CBI to approach the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court's view concurs with Justice Sambre, then Peter gets out of jail on bail by end March 2020 after four years plus nearly six months and surviving a multiple bypass in custody. February 2020 completed for me three years of journeying to CBI Special Courtroom 51 at the Mumbai city civil and sessions court, Kala Ghoda, south Mumbai, for the Sheena Bora murder trial. Three years of seeing the impossible-to-ignore Indrani Mukerjea, Accused No 1. Observing her. Feeling for her. Not feeling for her. Smiling at her. Occasionally chatting with her. Watching her. Laughing with her. Laughing at her, in amusement. Trying to understand her. But the Indrani Mukerjea who took the witness stand on Friday, to argue her bail plea, for the second day (she started on January 21) was quite another Indrani you didn't know much about, but perhaps could appreciate better. You already are acquainted with an Indrani with whom you might associate the adjectives: Lively, unstoppable, sharp, pushy, clever, never-say-die, demanding, annoying, strong, laborious, compulsive, impulsive, calculating, dramatic, complex, tenacious, charming. And have only a vague sense of the shadowy, dark parts about the Indrani that allegedly put her in judicial custody at Byculla jail. The Indrani who argued her fifth bail application on merit, showed herself to be exceedingly articulate and persuasive, with a sense of humour. But more than that, she, through her arguments, for the first time, also attracted some empathy. It was difficult not to feel for her after hearing the lonely account she was unpacking for the court. And easy to understand, from her perspective, how very tough it had been, over nearly 54 months to suddenly rudely transition from being a tony upscale Worli apartment-residing Mumbaikar to a common prisoner (UT11) in crowded, wretched Byculla jail in 2015 and how she had to quickly pick up all the little smashed pieces of Indrani Mukerjea and glue them back to together and then start to fight for herself all on her own. Empathy that you can summon up in spite of the fact that she is being tried for her elder daughter's murder. Empathy in spite of the fact that she has money on her side. Further the defence she mounted was emotional, in simple language and its lack of flowery legalese, that often encrypts the trial proceedings, made the story much more followable. Relatable. And plausible, even if that shrewd advisor Cynicism, sitting on your shoulder, near your ear, constantly warned you in an urgent whisper not to be sucked in. It was still a tale of a lone woman, in India, who had suddenly found, one day, impossibly daunting odds stacked against her and had to grittily navigate her way out of its unfamiliar and cruel complexities. And she has yet to be proven guilty for her daughter's murder and nothing -- I repeat nothing -- in the trial over the past three years -- including the crucial forensic evidence -- has made her guilt clearer to a bystander like me. In defence of herself, Indrani tackled, point by point, the prosecution's reasons for denying her bail. She first prefaced the rebuttal, with her list of reasons why the prosecution's evidence had fallen apart, she said colourfully, "like a house of cards." None of her usual lawyers -- Gunjan Mangla or Sudeep Ratnambardutt Pasbola -- were present in court, maybe indicating that they were distancing themselves from her unorthodox but yet effectively-conducted arguments. But still arguments that might dilute the defence's closing arguments for all the accused and lay some cards on the table way too early. Indrani rewound the testimony and cross-examination of a few critical witnesses who had appeared in court over the last three years, particularly the forensic ones, and picking out bits and pieces of their statements, to highlight why she felt their evidence was weak or had "collapsed." Wearing a red bindi, sindhoor, a white kurta and churidar with red embellishments and a bandhini red chunni, her hair pulled off her face sideways, with a left parting, in a ponytail, Indrani is a captivating presence in the witness box. She uses her hands in an electrifying manner as she speaks. They come up in the air in gestures of eloquence, fingers spread out or palms open upwards, like a dancer. At critical junctures she takes off her slim black reading glasses and knocks them against what she is reading to make a point. Her voice though low was clear and loud on Friday. Her diction and language perfect. She smiled often, appealingly. Her large black eyes danced. She was an efficient communicator. Her statements often went all over the place, but were generally in a cogent order and smartly put forth. She was meticulously prepared and had a written defence too with maps, charts, diagrams, distances and said she had attached 129 documents. This was done by an Indrani, who averred, maybe poignantly, if you believed her, that till her arrest she had never seen a police station before or knew where Pen or the old Pune or old Goa highways were. "My job has been in the last four years (this). Every single day I go through my chargesheet, different, different documents. That is all what I have been doing. It took me a year to recover from this entire... after that, all I do is this." With regard to the forensic evidence that unfolded in court via the Forensic Science Laboratory at Kalina, north west Mumbai, DNA expert Shrikant Lade and doctors Sudhir Kumar Gupta, Shailesh Mohite and Sunil Kumar Tripathi, Indrani commented, backing up her statements with points from their evidence, that none of them had clearly or finally established the time since death of the skeleton, cause of death or if it was natural or unnatural and identity of the skeleton. "Then this whole thing of homicide, murder flies out the window. And then the circumstantial evidence you know... You will see, I will come to that later," she declared, looking at the judge. CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale, who had been rocking his upper body back and forth, as he listened to her, at that point looked at Indrani quizzically, stroking his moustache, absorbing her arguments and their unusual presentation thoughtfully. There did seem to be almost undeniably two skeletons, as Indrani once again reiterated, because Dr Sanjay Thakur, who had examined the first partially decomposed body, discovered in May 2012 in Pen, Raigad, had plainly stated in court that he had cut open the skull. But the 2015 exhumed skeleton had no such cut skull. Also, the soil samples had differed, which Indrani took pains to prove via reports ("Soil can't change on its own, na?... We are all in judicial custody... So it is not that we went out and did anything?!"). But in an attempt to tie her to the incident that occurred in 2012 -- the burning of Sheena's strangulated body at Raigad --- the prosecution continued to refer to both skeletons though there were definite discrepancies. She said Lade's "reports (of just the 2015 skeleton) are unreliable and manipulated. Mr Lade fudged DNA reports and I will show you why it is fudged" and Indrani pointed out that he had no acceptable explanation for why he had manipulated the "only machine-produced" printed data on his DNA electropherograms by adding or "cut out and changed" values in his handwriting "as per his own whims and fancies", roundly calling his reports "goof ups". "It is like a cardiogram. Now if I go for a cardiogram on that peaks are there. Whatever is printed is printed. I can cannot come back to this court after putting my own numbers there and say: 'Look, I am having a heart attack, this is my cardiogram'. It is the same thing." And Indrani declared that it was interesting to note that there were no added or changed numbers or alterations by hand, in the DNA report of Indrani's blood, but were only in the DNA report of the remains said to be Sheena's. "Mr Lade has decided he is going to add me in (her DNA values) to whatever (was found in the other report). Why has he not done anything to my report? Why has he decided to delete, add, cut out in the report of (Sheena's remains)?... That is nothing but foul play in a deposition," taking off her glasses and tapping her notes emphatically with her pen. "And Your Honour, a reliable electropherogram can only be machine printed." "No court in the world is going to accept something like this," she stated, her hands flying about for emphasis. Judge Jagdale magnanimously allowed Indrani Friday whatever amount in court she wanted for her bail arguments granting her in total almost four-and-a-half hours (between Friday and last week) and listened to her with rapt attention, often prodding her to elaborate. But there was still a sort of chasm between what Indrani passionately was telling the court and his careful absorption of it, his discomfort at points, visible. She concluded brightly, mimicking the CBI's thought processes: "They (prosecution) have zero forensic evidence. Because it is all manipulated. 'Let's get a skull. We have not found a skull. Let's get a skull. Let's put a skeleton here'. It doesn't work that way. 'This has been sent for DNA test. This doesn't match the DNA. So now we will decide that we will give DNA report for something else'... Basically, prosecution has failed... Very apparent." "All a big concocted story." She recited in a monotone: "A body found in 2012 May, buried in the same spot. Came out of the same spot. This is the body. 2012. 2015. Nothing of this sort happened Your Honour. Because the soil cannot change. The earth does not lie! And why is it manipulated? Your Honour, your eyes will pop out when I talk about the CDRs (Call Data Records) (and show) how much manipulation has been done." Judge Jagdale strategically and commonsensically added: "And why." Just before the lunch recess and post it, for a considerable length of time, Indrani attacked the reliability of approver and Accused No 3, former Mukerjea driver Shyamvar Pinturam Rai, who she referred to as "Shyam Rai", stressing his poor conduct and that "he lied and lied and lied about everything." Before becoming an approver, it was explained to Rai that that he was being made a prosecution witness and was being pardoned and no punishment would be awarded to him, subject to the fact that during the course of trial whatever he deposed in court would be the truth and nothing but the truth. Translating, she said Judge H S Mahajan, Judge Jagdale's predecessor, told Rai "Agar sabit ho jaate hai ki aap jo kuch depose kar rahein hai jhuta nikalta hai toh iska parinam bahut kharab hoga aap ke liye (If it is established that whatever you have deposed is untrue, then the consequences will be very bad for you)." But the former driver denied, three months later, that this was explained to him showing "disregard for the honourable court", she felt. Pointing out the whole tissue of lies that Rai had peddled before the court, she laid emphasis on how he had offered "callously" and with "arrogance" two entirely different versions of how Sheena's body had been disposed of and that was "no small detail", but about a murder and not like remembering whether you ate "Pani puri and pav bhaji. Indrani said during his cross examination his "memory loss was beyond imagination" and that he had said "more than 400 times" that he could not remember a fact or detail. Additionally, the CDRs, which were only obtained after Rai's deposition ended, totally exposed the incorrect and false sequence of his tale of events, in the days proceeding the murder, and on the day of the alleged murder on April 24, 2012. "His own CDRs are not supporting him!" she exclaimed. As per the CDRs, Rai was not 1. in Raigad at the times he said he was on April 22 (to look for a spot to dispose of, a corpse at Indrani's alleged say so), but was instead there at in the evening, causing Indrani to comment "which fool on earth goes at 7.30 in the night to look for a place to dispose of a dead body... really absurd, in the dark, in the jungle he goes around looking!" 2. He was at Santa Cruz airport early morning on April 22 for unknown reasons. 3. He was in Goa in early April, which he never disclosed. 4. He was at Worli, near the Bata showroom, south central Mumbai, on April 24 without Indrani (that morning she was supposed to have purchased the shoes used and run other errands). 5. Though he was doing work ostensibly for Indrani, and maybe Peter or Sanjeev, his records showed only calls to Indrani's son Mekhail Bora, the peon Pradeep Waghmare and her secretary Kajal Sharma, during that period, "everyone else except me or the accused. We are the (so-called) conspirators." Indrani explained to the court that she and Peter had hit on the idea of starting an old age home back in 2012 and for that reason had started looking for property in both Goa and in the Khandala/Lonavla area and that the CDRs would show calls to property brokers. Hence, the trips to both places. But Rai, Indrani said, did not reveal to the court that they had done property reconnaissance in Goa too because that would not fit into the CBI's account of the murder. Indrani: "We had given up the media business. A4 and myself had decided that we were going to start somewhere, either in Khandala side... The property search continued till our arrest, till our arrest... That we are going to buy a plot of land and we are going to open an old age home there. Since he (Peter) is sitting here he can say a yes or a no. If I am lying he will say I am lying." Judge Jagdale muttered jokingly: "Parallel trial." Laughter. She added that wanted to tell the court, before she forgot, that she had two driving licenses for India and UK as did "A4" (Peter) and that A2 (Sanjeev) was a rally driver. "We don't need Shyam Rai to sit in the car and drive... If three of us had to get together and commit a murder we did not need Shyam Rai." Further, on the evening of the murder, April 25, as per Rai's testimony, Indrani, Rai and Sanjeev Khanna all reached Amarsons, a shop in Bandra, north west Mumbai, where Indrani was said to have met Sheena at 1855. But he told the court, with great assurance, that they reached Taj Lands End, Bandra, at 1900 (exactly and only five minutes later), where he and Indrani were supposed to have gone after the murder. That meant Indrani had met Sheena, bought her a sari at Amarsons, she and Sanjeev had sedated her and murdered her in a lane they located in Bandra, drove to the Taj, "all in five minutes." Indrani interestingly recounted to the court that after all their arrests, when she and Rai had travelled to court, before the trial began, for nine months, in the same jail van, together with Peter and Sanjeev, she had had every opportunity to influence a witness -- Rai who turned approver. She then said, adding first that "it is your discretion to believe it or not", but was telling this under oath, that Rai had attempted to blackmail her. "Before giving his '164 statement'... had a very clear conversation with me... He told me 'Aap mere ko 50 lakh rupaiya de do, mein kuch nahin bolunga (Give me Rs 50 lakhs and I will not say anything)." He then kept reducing the figure he demanded to Rs 15 lakhs, then Rs 10 lakhs and asked Sanjeev for Rs 5 lakhs. "None of us budged... I could have influenced him", but she said she told him to go and say whatever he wanted. Judge Jagdale, looking concerned and a little taken aback, questioned Indrani as to what exactly was she implying and how she could have paid him. Not exactly losing her nerve, she explained, insisting, "I could have." Indrani took about 20 minutes to piece together the facts that emerged from her son Mekhail's testimony and subsequent 'cross' and earlier statements and showed the court that he had never said he was afraid that she would kill him ever initially, but was instead worried that she would "'put me back in rehab centre' (for drug abuse) or something" and that his version slowly changed as the investigation proceeded. "This whole story of attempt to murder... After my arrest... they created this story... Why that story was created for sensation... not an iota of truth, Your Honour, in all this..." Judge Jagdale cut in and asked if she really meant to indeed say that the prosecution did this to create sensation. Indrani backtracked it a bit, but said her submission was that it was done with the intention "to add more masala" and that there was no physical evidence that Mekhail had been in Mumbai on the night of Sheena's murder. And till 2014, Mekhail and she had a good relationship with him. "You can put it in, drag it, pull it, stitch in here and stitch in there (into a testimony) but doesn't work that way." The granting of bail to Peter by the Bombay high court, Indrani argued, should have an effect on her bail application. She said she was seeking "parity", she said with a smile, because he was a co-accused, co-conspirator and also a UK passport holder. He, she declared, was more influential than her and if the high court did not think he could influence witnesses or evidence, given the key upcoming witness was his son Rahul Mukerjea, why should this court think she could. Indrani then came to the time required to finish the trial. The prosecution had said they had 253 witnesses in this case and 192 witnesses still remained to be examined. "I feel -- this is my view -- when the forensics have collapsed, approver is clearly proved to be a liar from the beginning to the end... Does the prosecution genuinely believe that we ought to, or does this honourable court feels that we ought to remain in judicial custody despite showing that their own story is not being corroborated by evidence, for another 192 witnesses? "(The evidence of the 60 witnesses so far has shown) that there is no reasons why I should be in judicial custody. There is now another accused out... We can all come to court from home." If it was all about worrying that she could influence Rahul and they were waiting for Rahul to prove the motive of the crime, "if he was the 192nd witness" then the prosecution was wasting the judge's time and their time which was "running into years." "We don't know if Rahul will be the 192nd witness. We are going to keep waiting here. And now no question (that it was about influencing Rahul) because the father is already out." The judge objected with a smile, saying he wasn't out yet. Indrani came to what the prosecution was her believed motives for having murdered Sheena. That, she stated, the prosecution "illogically" believed she had committed murder because of money, even though Sheena Bora had one lakh of rupees in her account as of 2015. She went further: "If one day my worry was she gets married to Rahul Mukerjea and then Peter might give his property to Rahul Mukerjea then Rahul Mukerjea gives it to Sheena Mukerjea, Sheena Bora. That is my motive. What was my motive to kill Mekhail?" Indrani explained that already she had, at the time, ownership of certain properties as well as joint ownership with Peter -- 75 per cent of assets -- and whatever else was left Peter had already willed to her and vice versa. So why, she asked the court should she make a plan to kill a woman who was going to get married to his son? "Where is logic in all this? Now Mekhail Bora was not going to marry Peter's son? And (therefore why) I am going to try to kill Mekhail Bora? Peter has an older son also, who has got girlfriends. Rahul Mukerjea also had girlfriends, before (Sheena). Everybody is alive... So logically I should kill Peter, no?" The judge smiled. Peter look momentarily shocked. Everyone laughed heartily. She smiled then too. Finally, towards the end she answered the judge's "Why" question. Indrani spoke about being framed and why she felt it significant that she had been arrested one day before her younger daughter Vidhie's 18th birthday. There was a hushed and astonished silence in the courtroom as she stated baldly that she believed her arrest was timed to occur on August 25, 2015 to prevent their "20 crore, 30 crore" Marlow flat at Worli from being transferred to Vidhie, as had been planned. It now stands in the name of Peter's eldest son Rabin Mukerjea after Peter issued a letter to the society at Marlow asking the transfer on the flat to Vidhie on August 26, 2015 be deferred. This, she said, she discovered when she heard Marlow society manager Madhukar Kilje's testimony in court early 2019. She spoke about her initial days in police and later judicial custody and how alone she had been, with no visitors or family, and the thoughts that crossed her mind and how she had been advised to not sign away her access to her bank accounts, her only advantage at that point, by jail authorities. "Why is it that a day prior to Vidhie's 18th birthday I got arrested? And a day later I am in police custody, your honour, somebody who has never seen a police station in my life, my husband has gone and given a letter to say that please do not transfer that property. Why?" Wishing she had said this while Peter was in court -- Peter and Sanjeev had just left -- Indrani said, regardless of the implications, she had still needed to say it and that it continued to be a "niggling feeling" in her head. Was that it? Or was it an attempt to make it a zero-sum game? She closed her arguments past 4 and shortly after left the court to go downstairs to the jail truck. Peter and Sanjeev were still waiting for their transport in the courtyard. From afar one could see, before departing, she had gone across to Peter to say something. Maybe she told him what she had just told the judge in closing. And then with brisk movements, a flurry of white and red, she clambered into the truck with her security, exiting the court, probably wondering if her 270-minute arguments had changed her destiny in any way. And if tomorrow might shine brighter. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel covers the Sheena Bora Murder Trial for Rediff.com. You can read her brilliant coverage here. Vietnam has exported VND60bn (USD2.6m) worth of face masks in the past days amid coronavirus outbreak. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the face mask export value since early 2020 is five times higher than the import value. 30% of the masks that worth VND20bn (USD858,000) were exported to China. Vietnam has imported VND12.2bn worth of face masks but exported VND60bn worth. Face masks are becoming more expensive and rare. About four million face masks that worth USD92,100 were exported to China via border trades in Lang Son Province. The Ministry of Finance recently held a meeting to issue a directive about tax exemption and required conditions for face masks and materials during the outbreak. The coronavirus outbreak killed 630, mostly in China, with a total of 31,161 confirmed cases. Vietnam has confirmed 12 cases. Dtinews Hanoi people queued to buy face masks Many people in Hanoi have queued up outside mask shops on February 6 in order to buy masks. BSH Home Appliances Corporation is among an exclusive group of companies that met the Top Employers Institutes strict criteria for exceptional employee offerings BSH has received this prestigious certification consecutively since 2016, consistently upholding an environment of growth and success for its team members nationwide The Top Employers Institute annually grants this certification to qualifying companies after conducting extensive international research IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BSH Home Appliances Corporation has been officially recognized by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2020 in the United States of America. BSH has received this prestigious award for five consecutive years, reinforcing the companys commitment to providing excellent employee conditions, nurturing and developing talent through all levels of the organization, and continually optimizing employment practices for its team members nationwide. The annual international research undertaken by an independent HR certification company, the Top Employers Institute, recognizes leading employers around the world who utilize progressive people-first HR practices. BSH believes that our success as a company is based upon the commitment of our talented employees. As such, we are committed to fostering a collaborative environment that inspires and supports our valued team membersand receiving the Top Employers United States of America for the fifth year in a row is a testament to this approach, said Marlies van der Horst, Head of Human Resources, BSH Home Appliances Corporation, Region North America. We are very proud of this recognition and remain steadfast in providing growth opportunities and outstanding support for employees across every level of the organization. The Top Employers Institute Global Certification Program has certified and recognized more than 1,500 Top Employers in 118 countries/regions across five continents. The certification is awarded based off the results of the HR Best Practice Survey, which encompasses over 100 questions covering 600 People Development practices across 10 topics: Talent Strategy, Workforce Planning, Talent Acquisition, On-boarding, Learning & Development, Performance Management, Leadership Development, Career & Succession Management, Compensation & Benefits and Culture. To further reinforce the validity of the process, all answers to the more than 100 survey questions were independently audited, meaning this research has verified that BSH offers outstanding employee conditions. Story continues Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink says, To become recognized as a Top Employer, an organization must prove that the implementation of their people strategies enriches the world of work of their employees. The certified participants are a shining example of a dedication to people practices as they continuously commit to empowering their employees for a better world of work. Congratulations to BSH Home Appliances! To learn more about the Top Employers Institute and the Top Employers Certification, visit: www.top-employers.com . To learn more about BSH Home Appliances, please visit: https://www.bsh-group.com/us/ . About BSH Home Appliances Corporation BSH Home Appliances Corporation produces and markets small and major home appliances that are known across North America for their high-quality and superior innovation. BSH sells its Gaggenau, Thermador and Bosch branded products throughout North America, through distributors, independent appliance dealers, national and regional retailers, builders and large buying groups. BSH Home Appliances Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of BSH Home Appliances Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany, the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide. Manufacturing facilities are located in New Bern, North Carolina, and LaFollette, Tennessee. BSH Technology and Development Centers are located in Oak Ridge and Caryville, Tennessee and New Bern, North Carolina. https://www.bsh-group.com/us/ About Top Employers Institute Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in people practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute certification program, participating companies can be validated, certified and recognized as an employer of choice. Established more than 28 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified over 1,500 organizations in 118 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of 6,000,000 employees globally. Top Employers Institute. For a better world of work. www.top-employers.com France's consumer watchdog said Friday that Apple had agreed to pay 25 million euros ($27.4 million) for failing to tell iPhone users that software updates could slow down older devices. The scandal erupted in December 2017, when the US tech giant admitted that its most recent iOS software was slowing the performance of older telephones whose battery life was deteriorating. Critics accused the firm of surreptitiously forcing users to buy phones sooner than necessary, and the outcry forced Apple to upgrade its software and offer steep discounts on battery replacements. French prosecutors opened an inquiry in January 2018 at the request of the Halt Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association. "IPhone owners were not informed that installing iOS updates (10.2.1 and 11.2) could slow down their devices," the DGCCRF anti-fraud agency said in a statement. "This is a historic victory against scandalous ready-to-rubbish practices, for consumers as well as the environment," HOP co-founders Laetitia Vasseur and Samuel Sauvage said, adding that they will consider filing claims for additional damages for iPhone clients. Apple said it welcomed the accord with the DGCCRF, which will allow it to avoid a potentially embarrassing public trial. "Our goal has always been to create secure products appreciated by our clients, and making iPhones that last as long as possible is an important part of that." Also read: WhatsApp Pay gets NPCI nod for India rollout; to be launched in phased manner Also read: WhatsApp Dark Mode on Android beta gets new solid colours The burger is the creation of seafood supplier Costa Nemitsas, who was hired for menu consultation before the store launch. This lobster roll-like special comes in a lightly toasted, perfectly buttery potato bun. And resting between the bread are three impossibly plump, just-grilled New Zealand jumbo whole scampis. On their own, these bad boys retail at $12 each. So while paying $40 for a burger seems breathtaking, its actually a hairline over at-cost value. The pure joy of getting a mouthful of sweet, just-charred scampi flesh in every bite of a meal is an experience Id recommend. Forget that hot oil massage or fancy retreat, your New Year self-care starts here. For an equally generous treat at a quarter of the price ($9.95), try the battered fish burger. Served on the same potato bun with creamy tartare sauce and crisp iceberg ribbons, the two hake fillets are so big they stick out of the burger like golden bunny ears. Or get stuck into a fishermans basket ($12.95) for a taste of the popcorn Cloudy Bay clams and house-crumbed calamari. Everything is served on recycled cardboard packaging sourced from Anchor an extension of the stores focus on sustainability. We work closely with the fishermen we buy from, says Costi, who only sources Australian and New Zealand products. We sell [everything] with an understanding that were trying to maintain the future of the seafood industry. The fisherman's basket at Cook with Costi is a good catch. Credit:Steven Siewert The stores fit-out is something that nods to both owners wet market roots. While there are plenty of long marble counters, timber detailing and brass finishes, the real stars are the icy displays full of the days fresh crustaceans and bright-eyed whole fish. Sashimi grade fillets can be sliced and eaten on the spot. A new boiler has just been installed at the back of the sprawling space to cook fresh shellfish to order, followed by a liquor licence in the works. Plus, there are plenty of small goods to splash out on, including jars of fish stock and clam chowder care of ex-Fish Face chef Stephen Hodges. Fancy meat eaters can even make use of Cooks dry ageing room and buy cuts of protein to be professionally aged, like a personalised barrel of rum. All that, wed say, is no ordinary experience. THE LOWDOWN Main attraction: A joint seafood and meat marketplace with an open kitchen run by two highly experienced, sustainability-focused providores. Must-try: The $40 scampi burger Sydneys answer to the lobster roll. Its pricey, but the stunning joy-per-bite ratio makes this worth it. Insta-worthy dish: Either the scampi burger or the jumbo-sized fish burger on potato buns. Drinks: BYO licence coming soon. Prices: All day menu $9.95-$13.50; specials $12-$40 Hours: Mon-Wed 8am-7pm, Thu 8am-9pm, Fri-Sun 8am-7pm IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SALT & PALM - 22 Glebe Point Road, Glebe When it comes to Indonesian eateries, the inner city still has some catching up to do. Luckily, Salt & Palm brings its A-game with street snacks, Balinese-style pork and plenty of fun vego lunch bowls. Wash the whole meal down with coconut cocktails and local craft beers. TINI ARTISAN BAKEHOUSE - 22 Kensington Street, Chippendale Hello, croissant nerds, its TiNi, your new micro bakery from the Koi Dessert Bar team. As the name suggests, these guys specialise in (Pepe Saya) buttery croissants that tread the line between breakfast pastry and full-blown dessert. Try the daily specials with an excellent Ona Coffee. BIBIM BAR - 69 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale Chippo has a growing crop of new, exciting Asian eateries and Bibim Bar is the latest to join in. Husband-and-wife team Jinhyun and Su Kim are winning hearts with homestyle Korean dishes such as kimbap (a maki-like rice roll) and tteokbokki (rice cakes) a tribute to the food they grew up with. LANSDOWNE HOTEL - 2-6 City Road, Chippendale The ol Lansdowne is home to some excellent live gigs, but it also plays host to the Junkyard Comedy Club every Tuesday, with acts performing a mix of stand-up, sketch and improv. Grab a ticket online for $15 or upgrade to a $35 pass with a drink and Marys pizza. PALACE CENTRAL CINEMAS - Level 3, 28 Broadway, Chippendale Sure, we all have streaming services. But the joy of going to the movies (especially in cinemas with plush leather seats) is kind of hard to replicate. Check out your favourite indies at Palace Central. The best thing? You can get a negroni or an Aperol spritz with your popcorn. Now thats culture. Taapsee Pannu just proved that she's a responsible citizen. Despite her busy schedule she made it to the capital to cast her vote for Delhi assembly elections. Tapsee, along with her parents and sister stepped out early in the morning to exercise their right to vote. After which the entire family even posed for a picture. The actress posted the family picture on her social media handle and captioned it, Pannu Parivaar has voted. Have you?" #VoteDelhi #EveryVoteCounts After a busy day in Mumbai, Taapsee along with her mother, flew out to the capital. She shared a picture from the flight on social media, stating that she was all set to cast her vote in the Delhi Assembly elections that are scheduled for today. After reaching home post voting, Taapsee compared the ink marks on her finger to her sister Shagun's on her social media. On the professional front, Taapsee will soon be seen in the Anubhav Sinha directorial, Thappad. The movie narrates the story of a married woman who re-evaluates her marriage after her husband slaps her at a party. The social drama also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Manav Kaul and Dia Mirza in substantial roles. He called for taking all walks of people into confidence before taking any drastic step. Kolkata: Averting an open clash with the ruling Trinamul Congress over his budget session address in the West Bengal Assembly, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday echoed the Mamata Banerjee governments concerns on air of intolerance, bigotry and hatred as new norms in the country. Reading out the speech, drafted by the state government for him, sans any disagreement unlike his Kerala counterpart Arif Mohammed Khan, Mr Dhankhar also endorsed the Trinamul governments fierce stand against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) in the chief ministers presence in the House. The governor, who on Thursday vowed to create a history with his address, stated, There is a general air of intolerance, bigotry and hatred that is straining the variegated thread of unity tying together all the linguistic, religious and ethnic diversities in the country. He called for taking all walks of people into confidence before taking any drastic step. Mr Dhankar added, The state government is strongly against division of people in the name of steps like National Population Register (NPR), NRC or CAA... At present our country is at a critical juncture. The basic values and principles of our Constitution are under challenge. Spreading misinformation is the order of the day and rejection of all forms of dissent is the new fashion in the name of patriotism. Mr Dhankhar mourned the tragic loss of innocent lives across the country due to panic over a NRC. The governors address was however marked by silent protests by the Trinamul MLAs who wore anti-CAA-NRC T-shirts, badges and aprons. After his address, he met Speaker Biman Banerjee in his chamber in the Assembly where the CM joined them. New Delhi, Feb 8 : TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand of Transsion Holdings is all set to heat up the sub-Rs 15,000 smartphone market in India with the launch of a 48MP quad-camera smartphone. Set to be launched under its popular camera-centric CAMON series, the smartphone will feature a "night shot" designed to make shooting in low light conditions a fun experience. The phone will be called TECNO CAMON 15, according to industry sources. Recent teasers floated by the smartphone brand on its social media handles promises that their upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered smartphone will feature quad flash and ultra night lens powered by digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The DSP technology uses AI image synthesis algorithm and corrects multiple aspects of an image like exposure, noise, sharpness, edges, etc., thus enabling consumers to capture brighter and clear pictures even in a low light environment - a feature that is presently available only in the premium smartphone segment. Additionally, the new CAMON smartphone will also come with enhanced AI capabilities like AI body shaping for perfect body shape and customised beauty effects such as enlarge eye, slim face, to name a few. With premium high-end features in their upcoming launch, the company is expected to set off stiff competition for Xiaomi and Realme by posing a direct challenge to Redmi Note 8 and Realme 5s. The brand has even started teasing the handset's night mode feature with #NewYouWithCamon. The teasers have revealed that the phone will feature a punch-hole to accommodate the selfie camera which is also equipped with night photography for clear low light selfie. TECNO CAMON 15 will come with a rectangular camera model at the back along with fingerprint sensor for security. Thousands of passengers stranded on a cruise ship docked in Hong Kong could leave as soon as Tuesday if all crew members on board test negative for the coronavirus, the health authorities announced on Saturday. Dr Leung Yiu-hong, chief port health officer at the Centre for Health Protection, said all 35 crew members and nine travellers on the World Dream who had earlier reported fever or respiratory symptoms were found not to have the virus. But some passengers remained uncertain of their fate, with tensions rising as film screenings and mahjong were dropped from on-board entertainment and small arguments broke out. Leung said it was still possible that most of the 1,800 crew members on the ship had contact with the eight infected travellers who had been on the ship during an earlier cruise in January, or other passengers who had encountered the patients on that same trip. To be safe, all workers would be tested for the virus as suggested by medical experts, he said. We expect the test will take four days to complete, he said. If all samples for all crew members test negative, then passengers should be able to get off the ship. The World Dream left Hong Kong for Taiwan on February 2 carrying more than 1,800 passengers and about the same number of crew members. It returned to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Wednesday after being turned away by the Taiwanese authorities following the discovery that it had carried passengers infected with the virus during a cruise between Hong Kong and Vietnam. He reiterated that travellers on the ship now did not have any direct contact with the infected group. If the 1,800 crew members all tested negative, there would be a slim chance of the travellers on board getting infected, he said. Leung said officers began collecting samples from crew members for testing on Saturday afternoon. The chief port health officer said if one person tested positive for the virus, then authorities would identify those who had close contact with the patient and place them in quarantine. Story continues Leung said that those on the ship who did not have direct contact with the confirmed case but had encountered with the patient could be monitored. He advised passengers not to engage in activities involving groups of people. The ships operator has closed public facilities to reduce the chances of infection. A project manager who gave her name as Michelle said the development came too late to allow her to make it to her friends wedding on Sunday. She had scheduled a flight back to Britain for Wednesday. They could have done the lab test the moment we arrived, the 27-year-old said. Instead they insisted on doing body temperature checks and waited until now to go for the lab test. She was unsure if she would catch her flight because the tests were due for completion on Tuesday at the earliest. Busker Rex Lui, 56, speculated that passengers could also be tested for the virus at a later date, leaving him stranded for even longer. I have prepared to stay here for 14 days. It doesnt affect me much, he said. He sensed other passengers were not as calm as they were the first two days, with some complaining about mahjong and film activities being cut. Without entertainment, passengers cannot release their emotions, he said. When people can play mahjong, they can think less they can stay happy. A 66-year-old clerk who identified himself as Chan said he saw passengers resorting to private games of mahjong they had brought on board. Chan said he was still uncertain when he would be free because there could be further reports of people falling ill. He also said tensions were rising among passengers, saying he heard trivial arguments breaking out. Such emotions have started to accumulate, he said. In January, more than 4,600 passengers were on board with the infected group to Vietnam, including 206 who disembarked in Hong Kong. Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protections communicable disease branch, said authorities could trace 106 of the 206 travellers. Four of them had reported feeling sick, but were found negative for the new virus. Chuang said officers were trying to reach out to the other passengers. This article Coronavirus: passengers stranded on World Dream cruise ship in Hong Kong could be allowed to leave as soon as Tuesday first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. DETROIT For the first time, the U.S. governments highway safety agency has approved a companys request to deploy a self-driving vehicle that doesnt need to meet the same federal safety standards for cars and trucks driven by humans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted temporary approval for Mountain View robotics company Nuro to run low-speed autonomous delivery vehicles that were designed without any accommodations for human drivers. That means no side and rear-view mirrors, windshield wipers, steering wheels or brake pedals. The vehicles previously were subject to federal standards for low-speed vehicles that travel under 25 mph. Those didnt need to have steering wheels, brake pedals or human backup drivers, but were required to have windshield wipers, backup camera displays and mirrors. Nuros battery-powered vehicles can be monitored and controlled remotely by a human operator, if needed. The approval is the first sign that NHTSA is moving from abstract statements and voluntary standards governing autonomous vehicles to actual regulation, said Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who studies vehicle automation. Its a signal that the agency, which has stated publicly that it doesnt want to stand in the way of the new technology, is likely to approve more vehicles, he said. This is the first time that the agency said, Yes, we approve this vehicle that does not meet traditional driver-oriented standards, he said. Thats a big step because it makes it much more concrete, more real for the agency and really for the public. Under the temporary approval, Nuro will have to make real-time safety reports to the agency. Nuro also will have to hold regular meetings with the agency and reach out to the community in areas where the vehicles will travel. NHTSA is dedicated to facilitating the safe testing and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies, including innovative vehicle designs, which hold great promise for future safety improvements. As always, we will not hesitate to use defect authority to protect public safety as necessary, said NHTSA Acting Administrator James Owens. The agency will use enforcement powers if it finds any evidence of an unreasonable risk to safety, the statement said. In December, Nuro announced plans to use its low-speed delivery vehicles in partnership with Walmart to deliver groceries to customers in Houston. The service was to start early this year and use the vehicles as well as automated Toyota Prius hybrids. Nuro also was testing deliveries with Kroger in Arizona and Houston. Nuro announced a new version of its automated delivery vehicle called the R2 on Thursday. Its the second generation of a vehicle thats custom built to deliver goods, but not people. The company said it plans to deploy fewer than 100 vehicles this year, but has permission from NHTSA to eventually run as many as 2,500. The delivery vehicles, equipped with laser, camera and radar sensors, will travel with regular traffic on public roads. The exemption from motor vehicle standards from NHTSA also allows Nuro to run its rear cameras all the time. Current standards require backup camera displays to turn off when vehicles are moving forward so the displays dont distract human drivers, the company said. Nuro said that the R2 has a front-end that protects pedestrians by collapsing inward. Its also equipped with temperature controls to keep perishable goods or meals fresh. The vehicles make curbside deliveries to humans who can open the storage compartments with a code thats sent to them and unload the goods. Nuro said NHTSAs approval came after three years of work with the agency. By replacing heavy passenger vehicles utilized for shopping and other errands, Nuro is ushering in a new era of neighborhood-friendly and socially responsible zero-occupant vehicles, the company said. Company co-founder and President Dave Ferguson said NHTSAs decision shows that exemption can mean more safety. Still unresolved is an application from General Motors to allow a self-driving Chevrolet Bolt that doesnt meet safety standards for human-driven vehicles that travel at higher speeds. GM wants the Bolt to be allowed without a steering wheel or brake pedals. Tech companies and automakers have been able to test autonomous vehicles without NHTSA approval in the past because they have had steering wheels, brake pedals and other features required of human-piloted cars and trucks. Tom Krisher is an Associated Press writer. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it is aware of the strange illness in Benue and it is currently investigating to effectively manage the situation. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, while giving an update of the strange illness in Benue State. NAN reports that the Senate had on Thursday alerted Nigerians that a strange disease has hit Benue, killing 15 persons already, with about 104 already seriously infected. The Senate suspected that the outbreak may be coronavirus epidemic, which it said required urgent health measures to identify. The Senate revealed that the outbreak of the strange disease occurred on January 29 in Oye, Obi Local Government Area of Benue. Mr Ihekweazu said samples tested at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, came out to be negative for major Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs). NAN reports that VHFs are a group of illnesses caused by four families of viruses: These included the Ebola and Marburg, Lassa fever, and yellow fever viruses. He disclosed that water sample were sent to the Federal Ministry of Water for further analysis and investigation into the illness. Mr Ihekweazu urged Nigerians to keep their environments clean and store food in tight containers to avoid contact with rats. He, however, called on health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease. Mr Ihekweazu stated that Lassa fever could be treated if reported early. If a patient does not respond to treatment for malaria or other febrile illnesses after 48 hours, it is important to immediately test for Lassa fever, he said. (NAN) The family members of a 20-year-old man who died days after arriving at Marine Corps boot camp are the latest to call on the Supreme Court to overturn a decision about a decades-old rule that blocks some lawsuits against the military. The parents of Raheel Siddiqui filed a petition with the Supreme Court last month that says the Feres doctrine, a controversial rule that bars troops and their families from suing the government if an injury or death is connected to military service, should not apply to their case. Siddiqui died at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina in 2016 after falling nearly 40 feet to his death in a barracks stairwell. Investigations into his death uncovered troubling examples of misconduct among drill instructors at the recruit depot -- including Siddiqui's. His family in 2017 sued the Marine Corps, alleging Siddiqui had been hazed, abused, discriminated against and mistreated because of his Muslim faith. The $100 million wrongful-death case was dismissed by the U.S. 6th Court of Appeals in 2019. The reason for the dismissal, according to the judge's opinion: they were bound by the Feres doctrine. But the new Supreme Court petition argues that the Feres doctrine shouldn't apply to Siddiqui's case because he was still a civilian when his recruiter failed to warn him about the abuse other Muslim trainees faced at boot camp. "[The] Recruiter took advantage of Raheel and his parents' naive and trusting nature, intentionally sending him and his family down a path that would eventually result in extreme hazing and abuse leading to Raheel's untimely death," the petition states. After Siddiqui's death, one of the recruit's drill instructors was found guilty of hazing and assaulting more than a dozen trainees, including three Muslims. That drill instructor, along with at least one other, was found to have forced Muslim recruits into an industrial clothes dryer, which was turned on while the young men were inside it. Related: 'A Hate Crime': Government Asks for 7 Years in Marine Hazing Case The Marine Corps, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the petition, ruled Siddiqui's death a suicide. His parents dispute that. "This is not a case of medical malpractice," the petition states. "It is not a case of negligent enlistment, or suicide (which remains verifiably uncorroborated), it's a case of systemic abuses, intentional failures at all levels of command, and deliberate religious discrimination causing the death of an American Citizen on American soil." Less than a week after Siddiqui arrived at boot camp in 2016, he told drill instructors he wanted to kill himself, according to a Marine Corps investigation into his death. He was temporarily sidelined from training but returned after medical evaluations. A few days later, he requested medical treatment for a sore throat. His drill instructor made him run across the squad bay until Siddiqui collapsed. He appeared unresponsive, and according to the investigation, his drill instructor slapped him, which is prohibited. That's when Siddiqui got up and ran to the stairwell, where he fell to his death. The case prompted a host of punishments and changes to boot camp policies. That included a new rule preventing drill instructors under investigation for hazing or abusing recruits from training recruits, as Siddiqui's had been allowed to do. Siddiqui's family has long disputed the finding that the recruit died by suicide. For the recruit's family's petition to progress, the Supreme Court would need to order the lower court to send up its record of the case it dismissed for review. The court is "not under any obligation to hear these cases," the federal courts system's website states. "In fact, the Court accepts 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases that it is asked to review each year," it adds. This is not the first time in recent months that elements of the Feres doctrine have been challenged. The fiscal 2020 defense budget passed with a provision allowing the Defense Department to pay claims for military malpractice, which was previously prohibited under the doctrine. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read More: Muslim Recruit's Suicide Sheds Light on Hazing at Marine Boot Camp Loughrey's Indigenous heritage came to him through his father. "He would say, the moment you turn your farm into a business you're heading to catastrophe," he says. "It's a lifestyle. He worked on a farm, he didn't own it, he walked the farm every day listening, feeling, watching, seeing what's happening underneath and in the sky and he would read that. He could tell what it means and what you need to do if you listen carefully." Loughrey points to regenerative agriculture, a radical reimagining of farming adopted by people such as David Marsh in Boorowa who was prompted by the 1982 drought to replant native vegetation and cycle his cattle through over 100 small paddocks. It turned out to be a commercially savvy move he was spending so much less on chemicals and fertilisers "it's hard not to make a profit," Marsh told the ABC last year. Loughrey's dad didn't have a name for it but he did the same thing. "There's no such thing as improvement beyond what is natural and capable," says Loughrey. "What is there [has] learned to work together. It's about only having stock that you can keep in the worst of conditions. It's about balance and 'enough'. "If the environment comes out of balance we create other problems such as fish kills in the Menindee Lakes or destruction of the Murray River." The loss of water's natural flow is the story of the land where Loughrey grew up. The river near Ulan is a dry trench after a century of coal mining in the area. "Now it hardly runs at all," says Loughrey. "Where we used to catch silver eels just doesn't exist any more, it's a big, black hole." The mine ate Indigenous cultural sites too, including sacred initiation sites. "My father and I would go through there and he would cry, and I'd cry." Rivers are alive and integral to the whole. With the loss of the flow of water, something vital was taken from the land, Loughrey says. The songlines were broken. Science can, belatedly, catch up. A 2018 report from the NSW Independent Planning Commission exposed the impact of the three coal mines near Loughrey's childhood home: cumulative mine water usage had grown to a third of the annual flow of the Goulburn River, changing salinity levels over its entire 225-kilometre length. In the 2017-18 drought the river "abruptly ceased surface flow". Australia with the Important Bits Missing by Glenn Loughrey. The report predicted "far-reaching consequences of these impacts on the water system" from mining were "likely to persist many decades, and centuries into the future affecting surface flows, water quality and ecosystem health in the Goulburn and downstream Hunter River". You should have listened, says Loughrey. We are custodians of the land that cares for us in return. He hopes his art tells this story: "How water and earth all belong together as one, and if we interfere with one we interfere with the other and we change everything." For 65,000 years Aboriginal traditions shifted and changed with the land, "taking only what is necessary to allow everybody to survive," Loughrey says. Loading "We're not going to resolve this quickly by funding Aboriginal teams to go into rivers and look after fish, we're not going to solve this by giving a few dollars for people to go in and do cultural burning, it has to be a whole mind-change for our society. "I don't believe that Western culture is necessarily able to deliver on its promise of progress. The songlines, the storylines are vital to the lifeblood of our people and our country. Not just Aboriginal people. "I'm hoping through this exhibition to get people to understand there's nothing magical about this, there's nothing mysterious about this, there's just taking the time to hear." A tweet by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealing to women to vote in large numbers and discuss their choice with the men in the family provoked a sharp attack from Union minister Smriti Irani on Saturday. The Aam Aadmi Party boss special appeal came against the backdrop of his partys assessment that its campaign, which had particularly targeted women voters across all age groups, had been successful. His tweet was seen as a hint that women voters should persuade men in the family too should go along with their choice. Union minister Smriti Irani, however, interpreted the chief ministers special appeal to imply that women shouldnt vote without consulting male members of their family. Dont you think women are capable enough to decide on their own about who to vote? Irani responded in a tweet with the hashtag #AntiWomenKejriwal. Kejriwal had tweeted his special appeal before casting his vote along with his family members at the Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area amid tight security. Everyone must go to vote. And a special appeal to the women of Delhi - just as you take the responsibility of your homes, in the same way, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is also on your shoulders, Kejriwal said on Twitter in Hindi in the morning. All women must cast their votes and also take the men of your house. Make sure to discuss with the men who would be the right choice, he said. Arvind Kejriwal didnt let the jibe from Smriti Irani go unchallenged. Smriti ji, women of Delhi have decided who to vote for. And this time, its the women across Delhi who have decided who their family will vote for. After all, they have to run their households, he replied in Hindi. More than 14.7 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Delhi assembly election for the 672 candidates in the fray in the keenly watched battle for the national capital. Among them are 6.68 million women of the Capital who can cast their ballot. Voting has been underway since 8 am for the 70-member Delhi assembly, where the ruling AAP, BJP and Congress are in a three-cornered fight. Results will be declared after the counting of votes on February 11. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 13:07 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634c874 1 World coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Singapore,Indonesia,Foreign-Ministry Free The government has yet to consider issuing a travel warning for Indonesians visiting Singapore, despite the latters decision to raise its alert status for the new coronavirus, a Foreign Ministry official has said. Singapore on Friday reported three more coronavirus cases that have not been linked to previous infections or travel to China, Reuters reported. Singapore now has 33 confirmed coronavirus cases, the latest being a teacher and a British man who had traveled to Singapore for a business meeting. Read also: Coronavirus: Politicians, supermarkets urge calm amid panic-buying of groceries The new cases prompted the country to raise its alert status to orange, the same level it reached during the SARS outbreak in 2003. The orange alert means the virus is severe and passes easily from person to person and was last raised during an outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009-2010. The highest alert is red, which indicates the virus is spreading widely. Upon being asked on Friday whether the Indonesian government would issue a travel warning following the raised alert status, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said: I havent heard of any status change for travels to Singapore. He added that the government had already conducted health screenings at hundreds of entry points to the country following protocols issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on regulating incoming and outcoming foreigners and Indonesian citizens. Read also: Climate, immunity, incompetence? Indonesia's zero recorded coronavirus cases raise questions We follow the WHO and Health Ministrys recommendation in medical aspects upon managing our border, Faizasyah said. He added the government had been keeping track of the coronavirus spread. The number of deaths from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 717 on Saturday, as reported by AFP. (dpk) A 29-year-old man suffered wounds to the chest and abdomen and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Another man, also 29, was hit in the hand, back and thigh, and was in serious condition. The third victim, 28, was shot in the lower leg and was in fair condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. With the effects of climate change already apparentfires in California and Australia, floods in the Midwest and Southeast, and a numbing series of glacier funeralsforthcoming books describe changes the environment has undergone, identify how we arrived here, and offer sometimes harrowing, sometimes hopeful glimpses of the future. One thing thats certain, publishers say, is that theres an increasing interest in books with an environmental focus. Climate migration Books on the environment used to be a hard sell, says Norton v-p Matt Weiland. They used to all have the same green cover. He notes that Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz (Norton, July), whose cover images are tinted blue, orange, and rose in addition to green, offers a fresh take on climate change with stories of the past that weigh uneasily on the present. Weiland hopes that Newitzs history of long-disappeared metropolises, including the indigenous Cahokia near present-day St. Louis, will encourage readers to reflect on the impermanence of contemporary cities. Miami, meanwhile, is already under siege from surging tides. Local journalist Mario Alejandro Arizas Disposable City (Bold Type, June) identifies the environmental challenges that residents, particularly those in struggling communities, increasingly face from power outages, higher temperatures, and flooding. There are a lot of books focused on the science and the statistics, says Bold Type associate editor Remy Cawley, but it can be hard to grasp on a literal or emotional level. Mario brings it down to a more human scale and shows us how climate change is affecting his community. We need to think about how the most vulnerable people are suffering and bearing way more of the risks. Ariza, Cawley says, addresses climate gentrification through Miamis zoning history. He also includes a chapter on climate migration, looking at migrant detention centers in Florida in order to imagine what migration will look like as climate change continuesa subject also of interest to science journalist Sonia Shah. In The Next Great Migration (Bloomsbury, June), Shah describes the obstacles faced by migrants throughout the worldAfricans fleeing famine and crossing the Mediterranean into Europe; Tibetans navigating the Himalayas to escape Chinese persecutionand imagines how continued migration will shape the future. As I write this, my phone buzzes beside me with breaking news: the governor of Florida has ordered the evacuation of more than a million Floridians, as a category four hurricane approaches, threatening disaster, Shah writes about the approach of Irma in 2017. The roads on the peninsula will soon be swarming with families seeking higher ground. Dislocation also figures into Fire in Paradise (Norton, May), an account of the 2018 Camp Fire by California journalists Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano. Thousands of people were forced to leave the state in search of new homes due to a shortage of affordable housing during the ongoing cleanup effort. Four Lost Cities editor Weiland approached Gee and Anguiano to do the book after reading their stories in the Guardian, which reported on the fires causes and described the town of Paradises history dating back to the gold rush. In Miracle Country (Algonquin, June), another California story, Kendra Atleework chronicles her return to the small desert town where she grew up, coming to terms with a sense of home, and reckoning with the destruction already brought by climate change. Fire, drought, flood, and blizzard visit the Eastern Sierra often, she writes. Perhaps this is why the nearest place with a population over thirty thousand is two hundred miles away. The best-laid plans Important men have been arguing about global change since before I was born, writes geobiologist Hope Jahren in her introduction to The Story of More (Vintage, Mar.), citing Thomas Edisons musing on renewable energy to Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone in 1931. She then presents an approachable breakdown of the climate crisis. This book is for those who are wondering who they should believe, and should they be afraid, says Jahrens editor LuAnn Walther, senior v-p and editorial director at Vintage.Hope wanted to do this in original trade paper, to give the book an accessible price point for students and young people. Walther compares the book to Jahrens Lab Girl, which immersed readers in the lives of plants through a blend of science and personal narrative. She is a storyteller; she describes climate change through her life experience. Other books find hope via possible solutions and the enthusiasm of young protestors. In The Future Earth (HarperOne, June), journalist and meterologist Eric Holthaus describes how humans can continue to thrive and what the planets cities might look like following a 50% reduction in carbon emissions in the next decade. The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac (Knopf, Feb.) argues that denying climate change is tantamount to saying you dont believe in gravity and notes that the millions of young protestors inspired by Greta Thunberg bring an energy that we desperately needone that can propel a wave of defiance against the status quo and catalyze the ingenuity needed to realize new possibilities. Return to the main feature. Look whos leading the fight to save our planet: a young person, says naturalist Sy Montgomery, author of nearly 30 books for children and adults, including the forthcoming Condor Comeback (HMH, July; ages 1012). We spoke with Montgomery and April Pulley Sayre, the author and photographer behind Being Frog (S&S/Beach Lane, out now; ages 38) and more than 70 other kids books on nature, about kindling readers early love and respect for Earths creatures. What drew you to your latest subjects, and how did you conduct your in-the-field research? S.M.: I was in Santa Barbara on a book tour for The Soul of an Octopus. The director of the zoo, Rich Block, said, As long as youre in town, let me introduce you to Estelle Sandhaus, whos directing condor conservation here. Estelle took me to one of the places where the wild condors are captured twice a year, for health checks and radio telemetry. In a large outdoor flight pen, I could see a quarter of the Southern population of that endangered species all in one place. The birds personalities are so distinct. Some are shy and some are bold, affectionate, or crabby. It was a good news story: California condors were extinct in the wild. Today there are over 450, all because people decided to intervene and undo the harm that theyd done. And the works not finished. I thought, what a great book for kids. We need the publics cooperation to continually work on the problem, and we need young people to be enlisted in the effort. A.P.S.: Green frogs are near to where I live in Michigan, and I came to love these local frogs. My husband and I have learned about them over the last two decades and participated in surveys of Great Lakes frogs. We check the populations by going out and listening for the different types and writing down estimates of how many we hear. We learned by watching them day-to-day, noticing the individual differences. Its one thing to know about their behavior from books, but its different when you see it and photograph it up close. How do you go about presenting scientific subjects for young readers? S.M.: I approach writing for children pretty much the same way I do for adults. Young readers are just as smartthey just havent been alive as long. They may even be better observers than you. Kids arent just the leaders of tomorrow; theyre also the leaders of today. A.P.S.: Science is full of imagination and creativity. Its a process for pursuing ideas and questions. My goal is for readers to feel connected to a subject or to the world in general, because thats the feeling I get as I settle myself deeper and deeper into a topic. What do you hope readers will get out of your books? S.M.: Im seeing the issue of global climate disruption and Im scared were getting distracted by other things. Its like were picking a fistfight on the deck of the Titanic. You cant let the end of the world be eclipsed by fears about the end of the week. Look whos leading the fight to save our planet: a young person who isnt old enough to vote. I want to show kids that they can be brave. They just have to recognize the teachers around them, and go forth and be teachers, too. A.P.S.: Its more important than ever for us to share our love of nature with the kids in our lives. Studies show that people feel better when they go out and take a walk in green spaces. We need to reconnect with those things daily and let them refresh us as we face the challenges in the world. I hope that readers will feel a connection to the world of a frog or some other creature, large or small, and that they will open themselves to that experience in their everyday walks and wanders. Return to the main feature. A special court in Meerut has ordered police to stop disbursing the salary of a sub-inspector for not appearing in court in connection with Samajwadi Party leader Muzaffar Rana's murder case. Sub-inspector Deepak Malik is the investigating officer in the case and has not appeared in court to record his statement till now despite repeated issuing of warrants. Apart from halting salary payment, special court judge Pankej Mishra on Friday also issued another arrest warrant against Malik asking him to be produced before it on February 19. According to public prosecutor Sirajuddin Alvi, former Bahujan Samaj Party MP Kadir Rana, his brother ex-MLA Noor Saleem Rana among others are facing trial in the murder case. SP leader Muzaffar Rana was shot dead during local body elections at a polling station here on October 28, 2006. Later, the case was shifted to the Meerut court from Muzaffarnagar by the Allahabad High Court in 2007 after a plea by the victim's family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus continues to dominate movements on the stock market (PA) A KERRY-based family who had travelled recently in China are being assessed as a precautionary measure after one member complained of feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms. The family, who are based in the north Kerry area, are understood to have been travelling in Asia over the past month. Once their travel details became known to authorities, precautionary measures were put in place - and the family were assisted to an assessment location by medical staff wearing protective clothing. They are understood to have been transferred by ambulance. One source stressed that the measures involved are purely precautionary. It follows two other precautionary cases over the past week in Kerry and Cork. Both cases, dealt with by University Hospital Kerry (UHK) and Cork University Hospital (CUH), turned out not to involve the latest strain of the coronavirus. The north Kerry family began the precautionary medical assessment process on Friday evening. The Health Service Executive (HSE) stressed that it does not comment on individual cases. Some 30 people have been tested in Ireland for the virus over the past few weeks but all tests have so far returned negative. Patients have been placed in precautionary isolation in Dublin, Cork and Kerry awaiting those tests. Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said it remains "very possible" that Ireland will eventually see a case of coronavirus. To date, there have been more than 31,000 cases of infection worldwide- the overwhelming bulk of which are in China. However, 29 cases have been confirmed in Europe - the latest involving a family of Britons who shared a ski chalet in France with a person who apparently contracted the virus during a work trip to Singapore. There have been almost 650 fatalities to date - and health chiefs expect the death toll to exceed the SARS epidemic in 2002. However, the latest coronavirus outbreak has a much lower fatality rate than SARS. The latest strain of coronavirus has an apparent fatality rate of 2pc- far below that of other species-jumping viruses such as SARS or MERS. The virus originated in the Wuhan area of China which has now been in lockdown for almost a fortnight. Fire Brigades Union tell Welsh Government to use proper channels not press release over new vision This article is old - Published: Saturday, Feb 8th, 2020 The Fire Brigades Union have said a new Welsh Government vision that would see firefighters across Wales possibly given a wider role in keeping people safe had not been consulted on prior to the announcement. Fire Brigades Union have issued the following response via a press release to the Welsh Governments vision for the fire and rescue service, where Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn said: There is clear potential for the service to make a real contribution to supporting the NHS in particular, whether in terms of responding to medical emergencies or helping to prevent accidents like falls at home; and clear evidence that this can secure better outcomes and significant savings. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: The ministers vision has been announced without any consultation with firefighters or their union. If the Welsh government have a proposition for firefighters, they should do it via the proper channels, not via press release. We are always open to discussing the role of firefighters, subject to negotiation, funding, training and resourcing. But the Welsh government should bear in mind that firefighters are not doctors, nurses, paramedics, or social workers and nor should they be. While the last decade has seen huge improvements in fire prevention, fire services in Wales are also working with 300 fewer firefighters than in 2010. Welsh firefighters are rescuing more than 200 people every month. Any suggestion that they are under-occupied is ludicrous. His romance with Miley Cyrus is going from strength to strength. But on Thursday, Cody Simpson stepped out solo for an event at New York Fashion Week. The Australian-born musician, 23, cut a stylish figure in a grey suit as he attended the Bvlgari x B.Zero1 Rock Collection debut party, which celebrated the brand's latest jewellery range. Suits you! Cody Simpson cut a stylish figure in a grey blazer on Thursday as he stepped out at a New York Fashion Week event He teamed the ensemble with a black T-shirt and added an informal edge to the look with a pair of Vans. The Surfboard hitmaker also showed off his tousled blond locks, which girlfriend Miley Cyrus cut for him earlier this week. On Monday, Miley, 27, shared sizzling photos of herself clad in black lingerie while giving Cody the DIY haircut. Looking good: He teamed the ensemble with a black T-shirt and added an informal edge to the look with a pair of Vans. The Surfboard hitmaker also showed off his tousled blond locks, which girlfriend Miley Cyrus cut for him earlier this week Racy! Black and white images showed shaggy-haired Cody kneeling in front of a mirror, while Miley posed with a pair of scissors in hand wearing a racy lace lingerie set with sheer hold-up stockings Black and white images showed shaggy-haired Cody kneeling in front of a mirror, while Miley posed with a pair of scissors in hand wearing a racy lace lingerie set with sheer hold-up stockings. In one shot, the Wrecking Ball songstress wrapped one leg across her tattooed boyfriend's neck and chest, while Cody rested his chin on her thigh. Another saw Miley posing in the mirror with a smile on her face as she began chopping Cody's locks. It's heating up! In one shot, the Wrecking Ball songstress wrapped one leg across her tattooed boyfriend's neck and chest, while Cody rested his chin on her thigh Cody's locks aren't the only thing Miley has cut out of her life in recent days as she recently finalised her divorce from ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. The pair officially ended their eight-month marriage in late January, with a judge approving their divorce papers. However, TMZ reported that the judge post-dated their single status, meaning neither Miley nor Liam will be officially single until February 22. The divorce settlement began in December and was quickly settled due to the fact the former couple had a pre-nuptial agreement in place and no children. Miley opted for Judith R. Foreman to handle the legalities on her behalf, whilst Liam was represented by top celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. Liam filed for divorce back in August 2019, citing 'irreconcilable differences', and the pair have since moved on with new partners. The Hunger Games star has since moved on with 21-year-old Australian model Gabriella Brooks. Miley began dating Cody back in October. By Jackie Gill Powell, Angeline D. Godwin and Quentin R. Johnson Get a Skill, Get a Job, Give Back. That is the vision of Gov. Ralph Northams proposed G3 initiative, designed to support Virginias students. If approved by the state legislature in the coming weeks, the plan will open new pathways to success for low- and middle-income Virginians to gain employment in high-demand jobs. Under the plan, citizens of the commonwealth will have unprecedented access to gaining the real-world skills and experience necessary to meet the current and projected demands of Virginias workforce. This is especially true in our colleges service regions, following major economic shifts from Virginias former reliance on industries such as tobacco, furniture, and textiles. The governors proposal is not a free community college program, but it does aim to significantly, if not completely, reduce out-of-pocket costs for students. The plan also includes textbook costs and other cost-of-living expenses to further support students and alleviate some of the financial barriers that prevent students from pursuing or completing their education. Our region of Southside Virginia is witnessing an exciting moment in its history, wherein technological advancements are transforming not only our workforce, but also the way we all live our lives. Ensuring we are prepared to meet the demands of rapid economic innovation is vital to our regions success. Virginias community colleges are already committed to serving our localities and providing affordable access to academic and professional training opportunities. Northams proposed plan will allow us to expand on that commitment and increase access to high-demand training in five key areas: health care, information technology and computer science, manufacturing and skilled trades, early childhood education and public safety. Demand for workers in these fields is growing in Virginia. This growth means job security, a steady and sufficient income and access to health care and benefits that will allow our communities to flourish and thrive. Under the G3 model, our career-oriented training programs have been updated to align with the needs of the modern student. As students progress through G3 programs, they earn industry-recognized credentials which build from entry level skills to advanced. The more credentials that students earn, the more competitive they will become for higher-level jobs. Moreover, if a student needs to work while pursuing their education, they are immediately eligible to apply for jobs in their field with the first credential they earn. This means working students could advance their career and their academics simultaneously. This model provides stackable credentials, meaning that the work students complete for one prepares them for and applies to the work they will complete to earn the next. That will allow students to earn more money as they advance in their chosen fields. Professionals already in the workforce may enter at their specified level and continue on to earn an advanced credential without starting from the beginning of the pathway. This flexibility is critical to supporting modern students and professionals seeking advanced training. Our community colleges have partnered with employers to transform programs put skills first and allow students to earn stackable college credentials as they move through their training. This allows a student to start and stop, while working, without losing academic progress along the way to earning an associate degree. A current community college student, a 48-year-old mother of two studying early childhood education, shared that if a program like the proposed G3 initiative had existed two semesters ago, she would not have needed to take out student loans to cover her tuition and textbooks. One male cybersecurity graduate, a 43-year-old father and military spouse, did not buy his textbooks because they were too expensive. He often borrowed a classmates books to complete homework assignments. The student said, I was able to make it work but if I could have had a program to help pay for the books, it would have been much easier to pass my classes. A welding graduate, 31 and a single mother who lived with her parents and worked full-time through most of school, was awarded federal and state financial aid and also had to take out subsidized loans. By covering her tuition, G3 would have provided the resources needed to reduce her part-time work hours or lower her loan amount. We wholeheartedly believe in and support the governors G3 initiative and the tremendous potential it offers to our families, friends and neighbors throughout Southside Virginia. We encourage the General Assembly to consider the impact this program will have on the commonwealth, and how it will position Virginia more competitively in the areas of economic and workforce development. Jackie Gill Powell is the president of Danville Community College. She can be reached at jackie.gillpowell@danville.edu or by calling 434-797-8400. Angeline Godwin is the president of Patrick Henry Community College. She can be reached at agodwin@patrickhenry.edu or 276-656-0201. Quinten R. Johnson is the president of Southside Virginia Community College. He can be reached at quentin.johnson@southside.edu or 434-949-1004. Jackie Gill Powell is the president of Danville Community College. She can be reached at jackie.gillpowell@danville.edu or by calling 434-797-8400. Angeline Godwin is the president of Patrick Henry Community College. She can be reached at agodwin@patrickhenry.edu or 276-656-0201. Quinten R. Johnson is the president of Southside Virginia Community College. He can be reached at quentin.johnson@southside.edu or 434-949-1004. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese UN envoy on Friday called on the international community to remain vigilant against the resurgence of global terrorism, as the counterterrorism situation is still grim despite the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and the death of its leader last year. Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said despite the setbacks, the IS is rapidly reorganizing in a form of covert networks and continues to attack official personnel and facilities in remote areas of Iraq. "At present, the international counterterrorism situation is still grim with extremism and terrorism closely intertwined," he said. "Terrorist attacks in many parts of the world have wreaked havoc on the countries involved." The settlement of foreign terrorist fighters, the links between terrorist organizations and transnational organized crimes, and the expanding underground channels of terrorist financing pose severe challenges to counterterrorism, he said. "The international community must remain vigilant against the resurgence of global terrorism, foster an awareness of a community of shared future for mankind, and strengthen cooperation in our joint efforts to address the threat of terrorism," he noted. In this regard, the Chinese envoy stressed as imperative the need to leverage the central coordinating role of the UN and the Security Council in counterterrorism. He stressed that the fight against terrorism should follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the sovereignty of the countries concerned and the primary responsibility of member states in counterterrorism. "We should adhere to unified standards and comprehensively implement relevant council resolutions and the UN global counterterrorism strategy," he added. Moreover, Wu emphasized the importance of eliminating the root causes of terrorism, urging the international community to promote the peaceful resolution of hotspot issues by political means, assist UN member states in poverty alleviation and achieving sustainable development, and encourage dialogue among civilizations and religions on an equal footing. He also stressed the need for the world to strengthen education for youth and increase employment opportunities, promote social inclusion, and remove the influence of extremist ideologies. "We should provide assistance to developing countries and help UN members states strengthen their capacity building in anti-terrorism and de-radicalization," he added. Furthermore, Wu listed a number of new trends and features of international terrorism, including terrorists' abuse of the internet and communication technology, diversified channels for terrorist financing, and the collusion of terrorist groups with organized crimes. He said focus must be placed on supporting UN member states in addressing those prominent issues. On the prominent issue of foreign terrorist fighters, he said relevant departments of the UN Secretariat should boost the collection of information and the study of the situations in order to pave the way for UN member states to take measures. In this process, he said, it is imperative to strengthen consultations with the countries concerned and respect their judicial sovereignty. "Priority should be given to the principle of territoriality. Each case should be dealt with according to law. Imposing solutions must be avoided." Seven Democrats vying for the party's presidential nomination took the debate stage Friday night at Saint Anselm College. Former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Bernie Sanders, businessman Tom Steyer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and entrepreneur Andrew Yang qualified for the debate. Here's what happened during the debate: (all times eastern) 10:30 p.m. The New Hampshire debate ends. 10:05 p.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren lambasted her rivals for being supported by super PACs or in the cases of Tom Steyer and Mike Bloomberg, who is not on the stage Friday night propping up their campaigns with their vast personal fortunes. Everyone on this stage except Amy and me is either a billionaire or is receiving money from PACs that can do unlimited spending, Warren said. Warren said other candidates should put your money where your mouth is and say no to PACs. We have a grassroots movement funded from the grassroots up, Warren said. Warrens line could be read as a shot at Bernie Sanders, whose campaign is funded by small-dollar donors but is backed by Our Revolution, the political organization spun off from his 2016 campaign. Warren, meanwhile, is also backed by an outside group the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Klobuchar, meanwhile, said she cant stand the big money in politics. "No, I am not a billionaire. But I stand before you today as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, the daughter of a teacher and a newspaperman, the first woman elected to U.S. Senate from the state of Minnesota, she said. Someone who has passed over 100 bills as the lead Democrat in that gridlock in Washington, D.C, and that is because we live in a country of shared dreams." 9:55 p.m. Democratic presidential candidates at Friday's debate agreed that theyd appoint Supreme Court justices who would uphold the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, but there were distinctions on whether to try to expand the size of the court. Pete Buttigieg wants to expand the court through a constitutional amendment while also changing the way justices are selected. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, disputed that his idea amounts to packing the court. But former Vice President Joe Biden said any plan to expand the court is a bad idea. Biden noted that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg holds the same position. Biden and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer said the argument over the court shows how important it is for Democrats to win enough Senate seats to retake a majority. Biden argued that hes the only Democratic candidate whod have a coattail effect for Senate candidates in battleground states and GOP-leaning states like North Carolina and Georgia. ___ 9:45 p.m. Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer pointed out that race had not come up at all in the first 90 minutes of Friday nights Democratic debate. We have not said one word tonight about race. Not one word. Are you kidding me? he said. Steyer said that African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-American and Pacific Islanders are the heart and soul of this party. His comments came as Steyer focuses on South Carolina, where polls show him having risen into the double digits. After his answer, the debate shifted toward criminal justice and issues of race. Pete Buttigieg was pressed on why, as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, the rate of incarcerations by African-Americans for marijuana possession increased during his tenure. Buttigieg's record in South Bend, especially his handling of issues like policing and economic inequality in predominately black neighborhoods of the Indiana city, has been a central criticism of his campaign. Buttigieg attempted to dodge the answer so moderator Linsey Davis turned to Sen. Elizabeth Warren and asked if Buttigieg's response was adequate. Warren said simply, "no." 9:30 p.m. As the conversation moved toward gun violence in America, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said it's just as important to address the issue of violence as it is to address the issue of guns themselves. "We have a gun violence problem in America...we have to be willing to build a future that works not for a gun industry but that works for the rest of America and protects our children." Sen. Bernie Sanders said he has evolved on gun-related issues as he was pressed to explain a decades-old vote against background checks. Sanders said that coming from his largely rural state of Vermont, "we had virtually no gun control legislation at all, and I represented that perspective." But following mass shootings and gun violence, Sanders said, The world has changed, and my views have changed. He also plugged his D-minus rating from the National Rifle Association. Asked if Sanders deserved consideration of the totality of his record, former Vice President Joe Biden noted that Sanders had also supported a loophole that does not allow them (gun manufacturers) to be sued for the crimes they have created. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Sanders was criticized by his Democratic opponents for the 1993 background check vote, as well as early 2000s votes concerning gun manufacturers that were referenced by Biden. 9:15 p.m. During a discussion on the nation's opioid epidemic. Mayor Pete Buttigieg was pressed on a statement on his campaign website that says drugs should be decriminalized. Buttigieg insisted that he feels it is more important for addicts to have access to proper drug treatment facilities opposed to having people with addiction issues serve jail time. Buttigieg said there is a shortage of mental health and addiction providers, and we must act to change that." The former mayor said the opioid crisis has been partly driven by companies that acted irresponsibly with substances that were lawful, and said there needs to be accountability for those who suppressed evidence about the addictiveness of those substances. He said incarceration "should no longer be the response to drug possession." 9 p.m. Former Vice President Joe Biden cautioned against pulling American troops entirely out of Afghanistan, saying such actions can lead to regional instability. During Friday night's Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire, Biden recalled the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, saying troops were "ashamed" to leave while the Kurds asked Americans to stay. Biden was responding to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's remark that "it's time to bring our troops home" from Afghanistan, a position she has voiced in previous debates. Warren reaffirmed her recent comments about what she sees as a lack of a clear plan for withdrawal, noting she would listen to generals as the nation's commander in chief but would seek to work with our allies in managing terrorism. Noting her service on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Warren said she has visited combat zones with Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and the late Arizona Sen. John McCain. 8:55 p.m. Former Vice President Joe Biden encouraged the crowd at Fridays Democratic presidential debate to give a standing ovation to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman after President Donald Trump just weeks after he testified during House impeachment proceedings. Biden declared Friday that Trump should be pinning a medal on Vindman, not Rush Limbaugh, the far-right radio personality with whom Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom on Tuesday. The ovation for Vindman punctuated a discussion that started with mention of Trumps efforts to have Biden and his son Hunter investigated by Ukraine officials. That move was the crux of the impeachment case against Trump. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg defended the Bidens. We are not going to let them change the subject," he said. "This is not about Vice President Biden or Hunter Biden. This is about abuse of power by the president. 8:50 p.m. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang says Democrats are making a mistake when they act like President Donald Trump is the cause of all our problems. Yang said during the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire on Friday night that Trump is a symptom of a disease that has been building up in our communities for years and decades. Yang says Democrats need to instead work on treating the disease by tackling issues such as automation of jobs and corporations like Amazon that have avoided paying federal income tax. He pointed to swing states like Iowa and Ohio that Trump captured in 2016, saying, These communities are seeing their way of live get blasted into smithereens. 8:45 p.m. Businessman Tom Steyer received vigorous applause in New Hampshire after taking a shot at former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Steyer claimed that while all the health care plans presented by the Democratic candidates are a "million times better" than what Americans currently live with, the more prescient issue was who can take on President Trump in November. One person Steyer claimed wasn't up for that challenge was Buttigieg. "That's why I'm worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy and take him down on the debate stage or we're going to lose," Steyer said. "We got to win or we are in deep trouble and we keep not talking about the facts." 8:40 p.m. Pete Buttigieg said that the Obama administration met the moment of their day and now we have to meet this moment." Buttigieg sought to turn his relative lack of experience in politics into an advantage at Friday's Democratic debate. He was challenged by Joe Biden, who listed off some of his accomplishments during a long tenure in politics, including the Violence Against Women Act. Biden said, I don't know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad and called for someone who knows how to get things done. In his reply, Buttigieg noted the accomplishments of the Obama administration and said that now, we have to meet this moment. Biden and Buttigieg have previously clashed over a contrast in their ages and elected experience. The candidates brought a renewed intensity to Friday night's debate following the chaotic results of the Iowa caucuses. 8:25 p.m. Sen. Amy Klobuchar slammed Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his comments on the recent impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, while also praising the "courage" shown by Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. Romney became the first senator to vote to convict a president of his own party, during the Senate's final impeachment vote Wednesday. "You said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons," Klobuchar said of Buttigieg. The Minnesota senator also said Buttigieg has not always had a consistent opinion on healthcare, while he slams other opponents on the debate stage for their health care plans. I keep listening to the same debate, and it is not real, Klobuchar said, after Bernie Sanders on stage touted Medicare for All, which would create a government-run health care plan and essentially eliminate the private insurance industry. It is not real, Bernie, Klobuchar continued, because two-thirds of the Democrats in the Senate are not on your bill, and because it would kick 149 million Americans off their current health insurance in four years. Elizabeth (Warren) wants to do it in two years, and Pete (Buttigieg), while you have a different plan now, you sent out a tweet just a few years ago that said henceforth, forthwith, indubitably, affirmatively, you are for Medicare for All for the ages. And so, I would like to point out that what leadership is about is taking a position, looking at things and sticking with them, the senator said. In 2018, Buttigieg tweeted that he was in support of a Medicare for all system, the same system pushed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Buttigieg's current stance is that he opposes it. 8:20 p.m. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders sparred early in the debate over the best way to bring people together, with the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor arguing the Vermont senator is too focused on purity. Sanders pushed back by arguing that he never said he cant compromise with people that dont agree with him, but added that he believes the way to bring people together is by proposing large scale changes that help most Americans. We have got to bring as many people as we can into this process, Buttigieg said, adding that his opponent is saying if you don't go all the way to the edge or it's out. Politics that say it's my way or the highway. When asked directly if he is referring to Sanders, Buttigieg said, Yes. Sanders pushed back. Needless to say, I never said that, Sanders said, adding that he believes "the way you bring people together is by presenting an agenda that works for the working people of this country, not for the billionaire class." Buttigieg and Sanders were locked in a tight race in Iowa, with the mayor leading the senator by one-tenth of one percent with 100% of the results reported. 8:15 p.m. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar raised her hand tonight when the candidates were asked if they were concerned about "having a Democratic socialist on the top of the ticket." Sen. Bernie Sanders quickly responded to the question, saying, "I am not." Klobuchar laughed and went on to explain that she and Sanders work together all the time. "But I think we are not going to be able to out-divide the divider-in-chief," she said, "I think we need someone to head up this ticket that actually brings people with her, instead of shutting them out." 8:05 p.m. Joe Biden takes the first question. It regards Biden's fourth place finish in Iowa. Moderator George Stephanopoulos asks what Iowa Democrats missed when voting for Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg over the former vice president. Biden admits his showing in Iowa was not ideal. "I took a hit in Iowa," Biden said. "I'll probably take a hit here, but no matter what I'm still in this for the same reason." Biden adds that he is in the race to help "regain the soul of this country." Biden argued he is more electable than his primary rivals -- particularly Sanders and Buttigieg. He said President Donald Trump would slap Sanders democratic socialist label on every Democratic candidate on the ballot in 2020, damaging Democrats hopes of also winning control of the Senate. He also said Buttigieg has not demonstrated the ability to win over black and Latino voters, both of whom are crucial to the Democratic base. 8 p.m. The Democratic candidates take the stage in the final debate before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report. Dear Liz: My wife and I are having a disagreement regarding documentation for our disaster recovery kit. She wants to put in hard copies of drivers licenses, credit cards, financial records, including bank and equity accounts. I think that all we need are account numbers, because the financial institutions will hold actual documentation in safer places, away from any disaster that may hit our community. Im worried that someone may find these documents and use them nefariously, especially if were away from home during a catastrophic event. How much disaster planning is too much? Answer: Security expert Avivah Litan said you have a point. "The risks are higher than the benefits when it comes to storing hard copies of sensitive documents, said Litan, vice president and distinguished analyst at research firm Gartner Inc. Litan recommends storing the account numbers in a disaster recovery kit and keeping an original document that proves your identity (such as your drivers license or passport) with you at all times in case of disaster. She suggested storing electronic copies of vital documents in a secure online storage account from a reputable provider. That way youll have access to what you need regardless of where you are. Also consider allowing others to get access to the account if something happens to you. Some services allow you to appoint a trusted person who could be granted access in case youre dead or incapacitated, or you could share your password in advance with that person. Dear Liz: At the moment I contribute to a 403(b) retirement plan at work. I have another 403(b) with a former employer, but havent contributed to it since I changed jobs several years ago. Should I contribute to both rather than just one? Also, my current employer offers a deferred compensation plan, but they dont offer a match. Should I contribute to that or stick to the 403(b)s? Answer: Once you leave a job, you cant contribute to its workplace retirement plan. You could leave the money where it is, or perhaps transfer it to your current employers plan. Rolling it over to an IRA, though, could give you access to a wider variety of investments at a lower cost. Fees for 403(b) plans tend to be higher than for their workplace cousins, 401(k)s, and the investment options are typically more limited as well. You also may want to contribute to the deferred compensation plan. These plans allow you to make deductible contributions that can grow tax-deferred, much like a 403(b), 401(k) or other retirement plan. But unlike other retirement plans, theres typically not a 10% federal penalty for early withdrawals (although the money will still be taxed as income). Having some money in a deferred compensation plan could give you additional flexibility in the future. Liz Weston, Certified Financial Planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Armed robbery, over the past years, has increased in Ghana. Victims of this social crime experience different kinds of effects, including, depression, anger, fear, psychological effects, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety through shock and the loss of trust in the police community and society. Arrested armed robbers, chicken and goat thieves, in Ghana, have to face justice at the law court and when found guilty of the crime they committed, they are sentenced to prison to serve time, ranging from two to five years. However, you will be shocked to know what these judges do. The judges that put those armed robbers, chicken, and goat thieves behind bars for various crimes are the same judges that receive bribes and throw out cases in favour of high people in society. They are the same people that receive all kinds of gifts, including goats and sheep in their houses to rule in favour of the guilty. What is the difference between a stolen goat and taking a goat bribe from the guilty to set him free? Both are serious crimes before mankind and the Almighty God we dont see. Partial ruling in Ghanaian courts exists throughout the country. Without money, you cant get justice, without paying a bribe you cant get a job and some without sleeping with female applicants, they will deny the women jobs. All such crimes take place daily in our communities in Ghana but because nobody sees those involved people kowtow, praise and jubilate when they those corrupt politicians and judges. In his flashy car, oh yes, here comes the Minister of this and that but nobody knows how their corruptible activities keep draining the economy, denying people of employment and development the country needs. Insecurity and other unsolved social problems in Ghana have caused much havoc and fear in the country, persuading the police force to apply new rules and measures to restrict the activities of armed robbery in the country, unfortunately, the draconian regulatory measures have been completely unsuccessful. However, it is not only armed robbers that contribute to the sinking of the country but also law enforcement officers, judges and politicians are also involved. It is often said that a lawless and corrupt society generates crime. Its not an exaggeration because an effective judiciary system reduces crime and protects the people. Politicians in Ghana, especially those in power, know how to make money to add it to their fat salaries and bonuses at the expense of the suffering masses. Ghana loses millions of dollars each year in organized crime and corruption, through Over invoice, inflating the costs of projects, doing shoddy works to generate maximum profit and receiving and paying bribes to award contracts. In reality, if the law works or effective, all politicians involved in the above-mentioned crimes must be relieved of their posts and be thrown to jail if found guilty but not Ghana. The criminal politicians and the judges keep serving the nation. How do people expect the country to grow with such people in management? Ghana is indeed a very sad country and the worst scenario is those who attack writers for speaking the truth. Judges and politicians are equally criminals like the armed robbers because they all contribute to the destruction of society and the economy of a country. The only difference between them is armed robbers use guns and they use a pen. There will be a time, Ghana will be the worst country than Nigeria, with all their treasures and oil discovery because the country is under heartless leaders whose main political ideology is to fill their pockets and put their families in the right places. After that, they go to the churches and mosques to worship whatever God they serve but God cant be fooled. Whatever evil one sows the same he shall reap. When your night turns to day, all Ghanaians will shout with one voice: Onyame ehuoooooooo! KABUL, Afghanistan A shootout between Afghan and American soldiers during joint operations in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday resulted in deaths on both sides, with two Americans killed, officials said. A spokesman for the United States military in Afghanistan, Col. Sonny Leggett, said current reports indicated that an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.S. and Afghan force with a machine gun. Six other American service members were wounded, Colonel Leggett said in a statement early Sunday. He said an investigation was underway and that the motive for the attack was unclear. The two soldiers killed, part of the Seventh Special Forces Group, were Staff Sgt. Javier J. Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio and Staff Sgt. Antonio R. Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, N.M., according to a Pentagon statement released Sunday. Other details of the incident in Nangarhar Province, where American Special Forces were helping Afghan commandos and the Afghan Army clear an area threatened by the Taliban, were scarce. It was not clear whether the firefight was the work of Taliban infiltrators, a major concern in the past. A complaint suspecting a "conspiracy to kill" NCP chief Sharad Pawar was filed with local police on Saturday by a party worker who cited certain "provocative" online video statements and the comments generated by them. Mentioning the statements and the "violent" reactions evoked by them in his complaint to the cyber cell and Shivajinagar police station, the activist Laxmikant Khabiya stated that they are akin to a "modus operandi used to threaten Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. Dabholkar, a rationalist, was shot dead in August 2013 allegedly by some radical groups while Pansare, a Leftist thinker, was killed in 2015. Activists allegedly linked to some Hindu organisations were arrested in both the cases by the investigating agencies. In his complaint, Khabiya has demanded action against makers of the "provocative" speeches against Pawar and those posting the comments favouring extreme views. He has named at least two persons in his complaint. "Looking at the speeches made by these people and the reactions evoked in the comment section, a question arises whether it is a pre-planned plot to eliminate Pawar saheb," said Khabiya. He said a journalist and another person have been ranting against the NCP chief and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government since it came to power in November last year, on a Youtube channel. "The reactions in the comment sections of (their videos) read as: 'Pawar saheb must be shot; a bomb should be used'. Such reactions is a matter of worry for Maharashtra," Khabiya stated. "It is a similar modus operandi that was used to threaten Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare," he alleged. Khabiya also said that he had requested Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who belongs to the NCP, to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate such "threats". "We are investigating the allegations and further action will be taken after verification of facts," said Pune Police Commissioner K. Venkatesham. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Communist Party strikes a remorseful note over death of whistleblower doctor Flowers are placed near a photo of the late Dr. Li Wenliang at a hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Friday, February 7, 2020. As the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus rose again in China Saturday, the ruling Communist Party faced anger and recriminations from the public over the death of the doctor who was threatened by police after trying to sound the alarm about the disease over a month ago. (AP) BEIJING: The number of confirmed cases of the new virus rose again in China while fatalities increased to 722 on Saturday, as the ruling Communist Party faced anger and recriminations from the public over the death of a doctor who was threatened by police after trying to sound the alarm about the disease over a month ago. The government announced that another 3,399 people had been diagnosed over the last 24 hours, reversing two days of declines, and raising the total accumulated number of cases on the mainland to 34,546. Cruise ship passengers faced more woe as Japan reported three more cases for a total of 64 on one quarantined vessel and turned away another Following an online uproar over the government's treatment of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Communist Party struck a conciliatory note, saying it is sending a team to fully investigate relevant issues raised by the public.'' Li, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist, contracted the virus while treating patients, and his death was confirmed early Friday. Li, one of eight medical professionals in Wuhan who tried to warn colleagues and others when the government did not, had said that police forced him to sign a statement admitting he spread falsehoods. Even the staunchly pro-government Global Times newspaper said the treatment of Li and other whistleblowers was "evidence of local authorities' incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus." The episode has raised longstanding complaints that party officials lie about or cover up disease outbreaks, chemical spills, dangerous consumer products or financial frauds. Chinese citizens can be jailed on charges of rumor-mongering or making trouble. Most of the deaths from the virus have been of older people with existing health problems, but disease specialists said Li's work _ eye doctors sit very close to their patients during examinations _ may have subjected him to an extra large dose of the virus that made his illness more severe. Qauarantined ship In Japan, three more cases were diagnosed Saturday among 3,700 passengers and crew of the quarantined Diamond Princess. Those aboard remain under 14-day quarantine. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said foreign passengers on another ship, Holland America's Westerdam, won't be allowed into Japan. He said suspected virus patients were on board. The ship, with more than 2,000 people, was near Okinawa and was seeking another port, said Overseas Travel Agency official Mie Matsubara. "We are getting desperate," she said. We hope we can go somewhere so that passengers can land.'' Hong Kong began enforcing a 14-day quarantine for arrivals from mainland China Saturday. If you sign this form you will need to stay at home. They also warned me that I can't go out. I must stay at home for 14 days,'' said Jennifer Cheung, who arrived at Hong Kong seaport from Henan. Hong Kong has refused to completely seal its border but hopes the quarantine will dissuade travelers from the mainland. All but one of the deaths in the outbreak have been in China. China's National Health Commission said about 6,101 of those being treated, or nearly 17%, are in serious condition. The vast majority of the infected are in China; roughly 290 others are in about two dozen other countries, including Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea. Local journalism is important and producing it costs time and money. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. JEROME PRAIRIE, Ore -- Rural Metro Fire and American Medical Response went to a rollover crash on Redwood Highway near milepost 6. The crash happened Saturday morning just after eight am. A pickup truck crashed through the guardrails and into the trees. You can see in these photos Rural Metro Fire shared on its Facebook page. Two people were in the car, an adult driver and juvenile passenger, they had to be extracted. Both were taken to Asante Three Rivers Hospital. Rural Metro Fire says the juvenile passenger has serious injured. Oregon State Police is investigating the cause of the crash. A fire truck from Grants Pass Fire also helped on scene. A few days ago, we learned about the US pricing of the Galaxy S20 trio, and we now get to know the European pricing as well. The Galaxy S20 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage will be priced at 899 in Europe, but customers in some countries of the Old Continent will have to pay 909. And if you decide to get a 5G-equipped model, you'll have to shell out 100 more, but you'll also get more RAM. That said, the 4G variant of the S20+ will cost 999 while the 5G-ready S20 Ultra will start at 1,349. Just like vanilla S20, the Plus and Ultra models will also cost more in some European countries. You can check out more details below: Do note that this information doesn't come directly from Samsung, so it's best to wait for the February 11 event where we'll learn everything about the S20 trio's specifications, pricing and availability. Source (in German) A few years ago, Dr. Alana Grajewski was having dinner with an ophthalmologist visiting the University of Miamis Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to train with her in pediatric glaucoma surgery, when he admitted a realization he had in the operating room earlier that day. The physician from the South American coastal nation of Suriname was unsure he would even get a chance to perform the techniques Grajewski had taught him because some children show up to his office in such poor condition that it is too late to repair their vision. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness in children. Although the message was disheartening, after the doctors confession, Grajewski began researching the problem more. She learned that vision impairment and blindness is four times higher in the Caribbeanalthough in South America, Suriname culturally is considered to be a Caribbean nationthan it is in the United States, and she saw an opportunity to help. In the Caribbean, there is very little that has been done in the way of identifying childrens eye disease early, and if you dont identify these problems, it becomes a more expensive and more damaging problem down the road, said Grajewski, who has been treating children as an ophthalmologist for 30 years and who directs the Samuel and Ethel Balkan International Pediatric Glaucoma Center at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. But if you are able to catch something and fix it, youre improving their ability to function in school and in the world. Starting with Suriname, Grajewski is now leading an effort called the Pediatric Preventable Blindness (PPB) initiative to help eradicate vision loss in children. Currently, there is no formal vision screening in Suriname until children reach the age of 5. Yet by working with her colleagues at Bascom Palmer, other U.S. experts in the fields of ophthalmology and public health, as well as the University of Suriname, Grajewski came up with a strategy to screen childrens vision earlierby doing it when they get their vaccines. If it is implemented fully, this model would allow Suriname doctors to mitigate vision problems before they worsen, she said. The Caribbean loves this concept, Grajewski added. When we presented our model at a recent ophthalmology conference at the University of West Indies, ophthalmologists throughout the Caribbean were thrilled. University of Miami research fellow Matthew Javitt, along with opthalmologists Dr. Elena Bitrian and Dr. Alana Grajewski, and Dr. Denise Doelwijt, along with her medical student, Ravish Panchoe, from the University of Suriname at the Pediatric Preventable Blindness Symposium at Bascom Palmer in December. The conference brought together opthalmology experts from across the U.S. and the Caribbean to discuss how to improve and expand the PPB initiative. With early detection and treatment, more children who need glasses at an early age will be able to get them, and children with more severe vision impairments like pediatric glaucoma can be referred to an ophthalmologist, said Matthew Javitt, research fellow. With surgery, pediatric glaucoma has an 80 percent to 90 percent chance of restoring a childs vision. And with the vision screening model Grajewskis team designed, it will only add four minutes to a familys vaccination appointment. The PPB initiative began with a trip to Suriname last May when Dr. Christina Dowell, a resident at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, visited several clinics and trained health care workers in how to use vision screening equipment. For children younger than six months, an arc light is used, which is a device that can be attached to a mobile phone to take a photo of the eye and detect any abnormalities. For children older than six months, a device called a spot vision screener is used to detect any impairments. While she was there, Dowell visited clinics near the countrys capital of Paramaribo with Dr. Denise Doelwijt, a University of Suriname ophthalmologist, and trained health care workers on how to conduct vision screenings. In July, another team from Bascom Palmer visited four clinics in Suriname. At the end of this month, Doelwijt, along with Bascom Palmer researchers Dr. Eleonore Savatovsky and medical student Adriana Grossman, are planning to expand their reach to visit 17 clinics across the country. We were looking to put a screening in as part of the existing infrastructure, which was why we chose the vaccination process where there is 95 percent participation from parents in Suriname, said Javitt, who helped develop the initiative. As Surinames only current pediatric eye surgeon, Doelwijt is often inundated with young patients who have not even gotten an eye screening when they arrive in her office. In December, she had a six-month wait to see new patients, she reported. This will make the wait time a little shorter because children will have already been screened elsewhere, she said. Doelwijt is a surgeon at the Suriname Eye Centre, which is part of the academic hospital for the University of Suriname. She has gathered a team of medical students and is collaborating with Grajewski to implement the initiative at an expanding number of clinics across the nation of more than 500,000 people. Doelwijts students also will help University researchers collect data that can evaluate if the initiative is improving the diagnosis process. However, Doelwijt is confident the model will help Surinames physicians. If this can help us operate earlier on the kids who need it, patients would get a better visual end result, she said. Since vision develops in the brain from what a child can physically see, Doelwijt and Grajewski said that the faster vision problems are corrected, the best chance a child has to either improve his or her vision or avoid blindness. Children grow into their vision, so if they are seen later, or not evaluated properly, they can still develop poor vision even if they have a beautiful eye, Doelwijt said. After a model is working in Suriname, Grajewski wants to implement a similar PPB program in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados through the Universitys new partnership with the University of the West Indies. In December, Bascom Palmer hosted a conference for physicians from across the hemisphere to learn about the initiative and discuss ways to implement a similar model in other countries that need a better way to conduct vision screenings. Ophthalmology experts from several universities in the region attended to learn about the initiative. Once its in place, this effort will be self-sustainable and will be part of the policy in these countries, said Grajewski. A Derry school has been chosen as the best in Northern Ireland. Steelstown Primary School won the prestigious title at the Families First NI Education Awards in Belfast last night. Representatives from schools from across Northern Ireland gathered in the Titanic Centre for the awards ceremony. Schools, teachers and ancillary staff had been nominated in various categories for each county. Steelstown Primary School won the award for best school in County Derry. However, later in the evening, the school was also chosen as the overall winner of Best School in Northern Ireland. There were also celebrations for other local schools at last night's awards event. It was a big night for Ebrington Primary School, with three members of staff at the school picking up awards. Ebrington teacher, Sarah Caithness, received a Gold Star award in a specialist category. Another Ebrington teacher, Shirley Pentland, won the award of Best Teacher in County Derry. Lisa Brown, another member of staff at the Waterside school, won the award for Best Complementary Staff in County Derry. The award for Best Principal in County Derry was won by Caroline Clements from Rossmar Special School in Limavady. Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty On the campaign trail, former Vice President Joe Biden has spoken openly and angrily about the attacks the right has waged on his family over their dealings in Ukraine, pointing to them as a sign that they consider him a threat to President Trumps re-election. I wonder why they spend so much time trying to keep me from being the nominee, Biden said at a rally in Nashua, New Hampshire, earlier this week, mentioning the millions of dollars in ads launched to try and tear down his candidacy. Have you ever seen another party spend as much time deciding who the other partys nominee shouldnt be? There is no evidence that Biden or his son, Hunter, did anything wrong when the younger Biden was put on the board of energy company Burismain fact, the claims made by the White House and its allies have been effectively debunked. And at the Democratic debate in New Hampshire, even one of Bidens 2020 rivals, former mayor Pete Buttigieg, rejected the idea there is a danger in nominating Biden given the questions about his sons dealings in Ukraine. No. And we're not going to let them change the subject, Buttigieg said. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden. This is about an abuse of power by the president... Look, the vice president and I and all of us are competing but we've got to draw a line here. But for some Democratic voters, the damage of conspiracy theories circulated by Trump and his allies has already been done. And while certainly not the first issue voters raised, for some still rattled by the 2016 race any hint of wrongdoingtrue or notis enough to make them look elsewhere. I think there's going to be too much baggage there, said Terri Gilbert, 54, a surgical technician from Newton, Iowa. I think Trump's gonna make everything up and run with it and play it just like he did Hillary. At a rally for Buttigieg in Waterloo, Iowa, Maureen OConnor, 61, a part-time retail worker, had the same concern. Story continues I think they are gonna dig something up on Joe before the whole thing happens, she said. Joe is a good candidate... I don't think we're gonna give Joe a chance. Rival campaigns have also noticed and, according to one Democratic operative with knowledge of the strategies, some have included a question about Biden and the Ukraine issue in their internal polling. Team Bidens Been Prepping for Impeachment Smears for Months Its a real vulnerability, everyone knows that, the operative said, adding, however, that at least with Biden Democrats know what the attack is going to be as opposed to what may be looming for the yet-to-be vetted candidates. Its the devil you know or the devil you dont know, the operative said. It is true that the other candidates in the race could also be weighed down by baggage once their records come into sharp relief. The Trump campaign is already planning to take advantage of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) self identification as a socialist, and new problematic comments made by the longtime politician have begun to surface as Sanders rises in the race. Sanders came under fire for those very views at Fridays debate. Still, none have gotten the attention from the GOP that Biden has in the run up to 2020. I wonder if the Hunter Biden stuff spooked some voters, said David Axelrod, Barack Obamas former chief political campaign strategist. They're worried he is going to be Benghazi-ed." The biggest defining force in this primary is Democrats ferocious recognition of the threat that Donald Trump is to our country and to who we are as a people. And Donald Trump is so terrified of Joe Biden that he got himself impeached by trying to spread lies about him, spokesman Andrew Bates told The Daily Beast. Any Democrat who traffics in Trumps repulsive and comprehensively disproven smears will find themselves evisceratedby more than just one campaign." Biden, himself, has been defensive when the issue has been raised on the campaign trail. In early December at a stop in New Hampton, Iowa, Biden called out a voter who incorrectly said Biden sent his son over there to get a job and work for a gas company that he had no experience with gas or nothing in order to get access for the president. GOP Base Is Hot to Probe Biden, Senate Republicans Not So Much Biden responded by calling the man a damned liar, suggested they take an IQ test and appeared to call the man fat (the Biden campaign said the former vice president was saying facts.) In an interview with NBCs Savannah Gutherie the night before the Iowa Caucuses, Biden was asked about how the impeachment trial had ensured that his sons position on the Burisma board was in the public eye. No one has found anything wrong with his dealings in Ukraine, except they say it sets a bad image, he said. Asked whether it was wrong for his son to take a position on the board of a company offered to him in exchange for access to the then-sitting vice president, Biden shot back, Thats not true, you are saying things you do not know what you are talking about. No one said that. Who said that? After Gutherie explained that is how the situation appeared, whether or not it was true, Biden said of his son, He said he regretted having done it. Speak for himself. He's a grown man. With the impeachment trial in the rearview mirror, the Trump campaign and its supporters are doing their best to keep the issue alive. Just feet away from the Concord site where Democratic contenders held a town hall discussing climate change with young voters this week, a large projector affixed on the side of a parked black truck played a scene on repeat discussing Joe Biden and his son Hunter, along with other contenders. The short segment, presented by the Committee to Defend the President, a pro-Trump PAC, showed clips from various opinion programs suggesting Hunter Biden is a corrupt individual. A banner on one segment read HUNTER BIDEN'S FOREIGN DEALS in all caps, with a video of the former vice president. Did Joe Bidens son profit off fathers position as vice president? In New Hampshire, Democrats interviewed by The Daily Beast were less bothered by Trumps allegations. On my end of things, the Hunter thing means nothing to me, said Chase Denamur, a Democrat from Litchfield, New Hampshire. It doesnt bother me at all. Its just another Trump attack that he wants people to look at instead of what hes doing. Additional reporting: Sam Stein and Hanna Trudo Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. A DUP minister has revealed plans to bring Northern Ireland's laws on parental bereavement leave into line with mainland UK. Describing the proposal as "sensible and compassionate", Economy Minister Diane Dodds told a Stormont Committee this week that she'd asked officials to work out how to introduce the changes into Northern Ireland's employment law. In England, Scotland and Wales, the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 - which comes into force on April 6 this year - provides for at least two weeks' leave for employees following the loss of a child under the age of 18, or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. In Northern Ireland, employment law is a devolved matter and any changes will require the consent of Stormont. Speaking to Stormont's Economy Committee, Minister Dodds said: "I actually didn't believe we don't have provision for parents who have had a child bereavement; it seems like in a progressive, modern democracy it is the sensible and compassionate thing to do." Last night campaigner Julie Flaherty - whose son Jake died aged just two of a heart condition - welcomed Minister Dodds' commitment to introducing a statutory parental bereavement law in Northern Ireland. Julie - who is a former Mayor of Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council - told the Belfast Telegraph last night: "I've been campaigning about this for years. "It's been a long time coming - and it's the right thing to do." However, the Portadown woman called on the Minister to act quickly. "It took three years from 2017 to get this law implemented in the rest of the UK, and I don't want to have to wait another two years for it to be brought in for Northern Ireland!" "Let's get moving." "Thank you Minister Dodds for bringing this forward. "Now it's over to you to get this signed, sealed and into place as soon as possible." A Department for the Economy spokesman said last night: "The Minister believes that employment law should be compassionate and supportive of parents who find themselves facing this distressing situation. "Parental bereavement leave is an issue that the Minister is keen to move forward on as soon as possible. "Employment law is devolved and, therefore, any changes will require legislation approved by the Assembly." Bathinda Weapon licence holders in the district are up in arms against the local administrations decision to levy 1,770 for undergoing a Firearms Safety Course certificate for renewal of licence. The certificate is mandatory and the one-day training has to be undergone at a shooting range near the Mahant Gurbanta Das School for Deaf and Dumb on the Goniana road. Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal had inaugurated the school in January. The fee is to be deposited in the account of Bathinda District Rifle Association (BDRA) and the district has issued 33,000 arms licences. Bathinda is the only district in the state using this process of training in handling and using the weapon for renewal of licence. An ex-serviceman provides the training. The government can make the course mandatory for new licence-seekers, but the fee is not justified for renewal and is just an exercise to mint money. Applicants from rural areas are the most harassed as they have to spend on travel, stay and pay the fee as well, said Gagandeep Singh, who has an arms licence since 2014 and has applied for renewal. Even Punjab Rifle Training Association president says the move is aimed at just minting money. Money is being collected in the name of weapons training. The newly-formed BDRA is not affiliated either to the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association or the National Rifle Association, claimed Pawanpreet Singh Dhillon, honorary secretary, Punjab Rifle Shooting Association. Additional deputy commissioner Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu refuted this by saying that no affiliation was needed as the BDRA was just a training centre. On the charging of the fee, the ADC said, People have a licence for years, but are still not aware of relevant laws related to weapons and cannot even handle these safely. Hence, we decided to introduce training. We will also be charging a nominal fee from applicants of new arms licences. As part of the training, a classroom lecture is conducted to impart basic knowledge about laws related to fire arms and ways to safely handle a weapon. In the practicals, the applicant is given five bullets to aim and hit a target. The BDRA range has two shooting points, one for rifles at 25 metre, and another for a revolver or pistol at 10 metre. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 16:41:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- International organizations and countries have voiced their confidence in the resilience of the Chinese economy that has been overshadowed by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia. They believe the impact is likely to be temporary and China has enough policy space to respond to and overcome the virus shock. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, said the United States fully supports China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic and is willing to send experts to China and offer assistance in various other forms. He said the fact that China has completed building special hospitals for novel coronavirus patients in an incredibly short time is impressive, and shows China's outstanding organizational and response capabilities. The U.S. president said he is confident that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people will undoubtedly win the battle against the outbreak. The United States has confidence in China's economic growth, he said, adding that Washington will calmly look at and respond to the epidemic, and is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with China through bilateral and WHO (World Health Organization) channels. The World Bank said in a statement on Monday that the Chinese authorities have policy space to respond and have announced a sizeable injection of liquidity, which should help mitigate the costs to economic growth. The organization said it supports China's efforts to respond, including its efforts to maintain resilience in its economy. Also on Monday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed its support for China's efforts to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak. "We are confident that China's economy remains resilient," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement on Twitter and Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. The IMF chief expressed "deep sympathies to all those affected by the serious situation related to #Coronavirus" and support for "China's efforts to respond, including recent fiscal, monetary, and financial actions." In a recent press briefing, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice also showed support for China's battle against the outbreak, noting that Chinese authorities are clearly "taking this very seriously." Rice said China is a large economy with the resources and the resolve to effectively meet the challenge of the pneumonia outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus. Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kung Phoak said in Jakarta last Saturday that actions taken by the Chinese government to fight the novel coronavirus are effective. He also expressed appreciation to the Chinese government on providing regular and timely updates to all partners, especially ASEAN member states. "We have regular meetings and we have regular updates and that is the reason why member states can track those who have been affected by the virus as early as possible and that is also the reason why now we, in some ways, have some control over the situation and some countries are not yet confirming and for some other member states, only small numbers of people have been confirmed infected by the virus," he said. On the future development of China's economy, he said he didn't think it is wise for anyone to assume that because of the coronavirus, there would be any issue with China's economic development. Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, told Xinhua in an email interview on Tuesday that the impact of any such virus-related disruption is likely to be temporary, followed by a sharp rebound. Assuming virus containment at some point in the next two to three months, China has the right policy strategy to insure a post-virus rebound in the second half of 2020, the U.S. economist said. The combination of monetary and fiscal stimulus, in conjunction with rapid public health policy reforms - especially directed at open-food and exotic wildlife markets - should facilitate this likely rebound and recovery, Roach said. "As for the long run, I remain optimistic on China," he said. By continuing to emphasize key structural transitions, the long-term prospects for the Chinese economy remain outstanding, he added. Voter turnout marginally better than 2019: Provisional figures of EC suggest India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: The voter turnout was better this year when compared to the 2015 elections. The provisional figures sent by the Election Commission of India showed that the turn out this year was 67.08 per cent when compared to the 67.5 per cent in 2015. In 2015, the Aam Admi Party and swept the elections by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The majority mark is 36. The poll of polls suggest that the BJP would end up with 18 seats, the Congress 1 and the AAP, 50 plus. Delhi Exit Poll 2020: Newsx-POLSTRAT predicts clean sweep for AAP The Net-NewsX exit poll has predicted a huge victory for the AAP. The AAP would win 53-57 seats, while the BJP will win. 11 to 17 the exit poll says. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats the poll also says. According to the Times Now IPSOS poll, the Aam Admi Party would win 47 seats and the BJP will end up with 26. The Republic Jan ki Baat poll says that the AAP will win 48-61 seats and the BJP will end up with 9 to 21. The India Today Axis My India exit poll gives the AAP 9-10 in West Delhi and the BJP 0 to 1. The BJP will bag 35 per cent of the vote share while the AAP will end up with 57 per cent, the exit polls says. The poll also says that in West Delhi, the AAP would win 9 to 10 seats. The BJP on the other hand may win draw a blank or end up with just one seat in this segment, the exit poll says. Sudarshan News gives the AAP 40 to 45 and the BJP 24 to 28. The Congress on the other hand will get 2 to 3 the poll says. India TV on the other hand gives the AAP, 44 and the BJP 26. The Congress will not open its account the poll says. Poll of polls: AAP set to retain Delhi, BJP improves tally, Cong a non-starter TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero gives the AAP, 54 and the BJP 15. It gives the Congress just one seat. India New Neta on the other hand gives the AAP 53-57 and the BJP 11 to 17. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats, the poll says. The ABP C-Voter poll says that the AAP will end up with 49 to 63 while the BJP could end up 5 to 19 seats. The Congress is unlikely to open its account or end up with 4 seats, the poll also predicts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 19:42 [IST] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 08:52:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda received a hero's welcome in Rio de Janeiro on Friday as he arrived to join Brazilian first division club Botafogo. Hundreds of fans - some bearing Japan flags - gathered at the arrivals hall of Rio's Galeao international airport and chanted his name to the beat of samba drums. The 33-year-old former AC Milan star briefly posed for photographs while holding a large Botafogo flag before he was whisked away to a hotel in a police-escorted vehicle. Honda, who has been capped 98 times for Japan's national team, signed with the two-time Brazilian top flight champions on a free transfer after parting ways with Dutch side Vitesse in December. Local media reported that the contract runs until December. Botafogo finished 15th in the 2019 Brazilian Serie A title race, just seven points clear of the relegation zone. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on Saturday called his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including Kashmir. The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement that the two ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship and reiterated the shared resolve to deepen the cooperation in diverse fields. Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's steadfast support for the Kashmir cause, including as a key member of the Saudi-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC Contact Group) on Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said. "Views were exchanged on working together to advance the Kashmir cause, including from the OIC platform," it said. They also exchanged views on regional developments and agreed to remain in close contact. Earlier, a media report said that Saudi Arabia was not doing enough to arrange a meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) on Kashmir despite requests by Pakistan. In its report on Monday quoting a diplomatic source, the Dawn newspaper said that Islamabad's feeling of unease with the OIC on its failure to get the CFM's meeting was growing, as Riyadh was showing reluctance to convene the meeting on Kashmir on Pakistan's request. In December, there were plans to convene a meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC on Kashmir by Saudi Arabia, in an apparent move by the kingdom to please Pakistan which skipped a recent summit of Muslim nations in Malaysia seen by Riyadh as an attempt to create a new bloc to replace the 57-member grouping led by it. Prime Minister Imran Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the summit hosted by Malaysia, but skipped the event at the eleventh hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country. The Jeddah-headquartered bloc, which is the second largest intergovernmental body after the UN, has usually been supportive of Pakistan and often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has been pushing for the foreign ministers' meeting on Kashmir since India abrogated the special provisions of Kashmir in August last year. Although there has been a meeting of the contact group on Kashmir on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York and a report by the OIC's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission on the alleged rights abuses in Kashmir, no progress could be made towards the CFM's meeting. Saudi Arabia, soon after Pakistan's absence at the Malaysia summit, showed flexibility in December on the proposal for the CFM on Kashmir. The Saudi flexibility, however, was short-lived as Riyadh reverted to its position. India, in a major diplomatic achievement in March last year, addressed the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi for the first time. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to address the grouping of the OIC which was turned down by the host the UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi boycotting the plenary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most traveled monarchs in the history of the United Kingdom, with thousands of air miles and over 120 countries under her royal belt. With all that globetrotting, it only makes sense that a few tricks and strategies have been well-established as royal travel protocol. Yet some of these rules and customs border on the morbid if not the downright creepy. The queen may consider her long-haul flight packing to be fine art but for the rest of us, it just seems a little bit bizarre. A tragic death resulted in a royal travel rule Queen Elizabeth II | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage The whole thing started when Her Majesty was visiting Kenya in 1952 with her husband, Prince Philip. They received the bad news that King George VI had passed away while they were there. Queen Elizabeth is known for her love of wearing bright colors and whimsical hats. She realized soon enough that her suitcases were not packed with a proper black outfit for such a somber occasion. Because of this oversight, the Queen had to wait on the plane until suitable mourning clothes could be brought on board for her so she could change. It would have been considered inappropriate for her to exit the plane without traditional mourning attire. This situation prompted the forming of a new travel rule for everyone in the royal family. A black outfit must always be packed when traveling abroad in case of unexpected death in the family. Queen Elizabeth carries this whenever she travels Being prepared when traveling is taken to a whole new level in the royal family. Once the black clothes are tucked safely in the suitcase, the unusual tradition of including a royal blood supply is attended to. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Prince William all carry their own personal packets of blood with them when they travel. Its a precaution that borders on the creepy but it makes more sense than you might think. The royal family often travels to remote corners of the world where access to a reliable blood supply may not be possible in case of a medical emergency. The queen always travels with three physicians who are tasked with making sure the blood packets remain safe on each trip. The blood is topped off by the queen and the princes themselves before a planned trip abroad. The intention is to avoid the possible contamination from someone elses less than pure blood. It may seem morbid to the casual observer, but having an emergency supply of blood on hand is seen by the royals as a vital aspect of preserving the line of succession to the throne. Prince Charles and Prince William are next in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth, which is the reason they carry their own blood too. To royalty-watchers, it is a gruesome but necessary precaution. The royal family covers all their bases Besides an amazingly huge entourage of bodyguards, hairdressers, and royal valets, Queen Elizabeth never travels without her own stash of toilet paper and homeopathic jet lag remedy. The remedy includes barley sugar which the queen is convinced helps reset her body clock. She sometimes brings her own food and water depending on the destination. She also takes along her own soap and personal pillow as well as a monogrammed kettle for her Earl Grey tea. An unwritten royal protocol insists two royal heirs should never fly on the same plane together. What if something happened to the plane? Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge recently broke royal protocol when they boarded a plane to Scotland with their children in tow to spend some time at Balmoral Castle. Citing the improvement of aviation safety, Queen Elizabeth granted the family special permission to fly together. Perhaps she just wanted to see the kids. Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted several cities in California to cancel their Lunar New Year celebrations. But San Francisco is still set to proceed with this weekend's Chinese New Year Parade and Community Fair. With no diagnosed cases of the virus in San Francisco, the Director of Public Health has said there is no reason to cancel any public events. A husband and wife are hospitalized with the virus at UCSF, but they were brought in for treatment from San Benito County, near Salinas. The plan is to move forward, Mayor London Breed said last Sunday. The parade, named as one of the top 10 parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, is still scheduled for tomorrow night. There have been a few small speed bumps. Ed Lew, general service director and board member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told Hoodline that the Chonquing Ballet of China, which was supposed to perform at last week's Miss Chinatown USA pageant, had to cancel its trip. The ballet, based in a province neighboring the virus' epicenter in Wuhan, was barred from leaving China as a precautionary measure. As of Friday, there were more than 31,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide, the vast majority of them in mainland China. There are currently 12 confirmed cases in the U.S. Some of America's Chinatowns have been reporting depressed business in the wake of the coronavirus scare. But Lew said there wasn't a notable effect on attendance at last weekend's Miss Chinatown pageant and Flower Market. People are still coming out," he said. The Chamber of Commerce will be providing face masks for parade volunteers who want them, he said. The parade must go on." The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade will kick off at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Market and Second streets, before winding its way around Union Square and into Chinatown. The Community Fair, located on Grant Avenue, will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oregon softball swept BYU and George Washington at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge Friday night behind dominant pitching, featuring 28 strikeouts and no walks, and an offensive explosion. Brooke Yanez struck out 17, one shy of UOs program record and tied for second most in school history, and Haley Cruse, Terra McGowan and Rachel Cid each had RBI singles in a 3-1 win over BYU. The Ducks struck first when Cid hit an infield single to short to score Cruse in the first. BYU tied it in the third via an RBI triple, one of just three hits allowed by Yanez over seven innings. Oregon got the lead back in the fifth thanks to Cruse and McGowan (2 for 4). In the nightcap, the Ducks erupted in an 18-0, five-inning rout of GW. It was Oregons most runs scored since May 3, 2016 against Utah Valley, when it scored 19. McGowan went 3 for 4 with a grand slam and five RBIs, Cruse went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, Ariel Carlson went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and Cid went 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. The Ducks scored 10 runs in the second, their most in an inning since plating 13 against Bryant on March 11, 2018. Samaria Diaz struck out six and allowed just one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings and freshman Makenna Kliethermes struck out five. The Ducks (3-0) take on Nevada Saturday at 10:30 a.m. PT. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said it would deploy its volunteers outside the 30 strong rooms where EVMs have been kept, a move aimed at keeping a tight vigil on the machines till the counting day which is on Tuesday. According to an AAP functionary, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with senior party leaders, including Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, and political strategist Prashant Kishor at his residence on Saturday night. Later, Singh said party volunteers will maintain vigil and camp outside strong rooms across the national capital. He said there were 30 strong rooms where EVMs have been kept and the party would deploy its teams of volunteers outside those. "We also heard that some officer had EVM machine illegally in Babarpur. We will complain to the Election Commission," Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, said. The voting for Delhi assembly elections was held on Saturday and the counting of votes will take place on February 11. Exit polls predicted a big victory for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP with some indicating that it can even repeat its 2015 landslide when it had bagged 67 seats in the 70-member House. The India Today-Axis poll forecast 59-68 seats for the AAP and 2-11 for the BJP, while the ABP-CVoter put the Delhi's ruling party's tally at anywhere between 49 and 63 and that of its main rival between five to 19. Almost all exit polls predicted little change in the fortunes of the Congress, which had ruled the city between 1998 and 2013 but drew a blank in the 2015 polls. The Times Now-Ipsos exit poll predicted that Kejriwal will retain power with the AAP winning 47 seats against 23 for the BJP. The Republic-Jan ki Baat survey gave the AAP 48-61 seats and the BJP 9-21 seats. The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero predicted 52-64 seats for the AAP and 6-16 for the BJP. An exit poll put out by Neta-NewsX said the AAP may win 53-57 seats and the BJP 11-17. The AAP had scored an overwhelming victory in the 2015 polls, winning 67 seats and reducing the BJP to three. Congress had drawn a blank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here. The rapidly spreading coronavirus has wreaked havoc across much of the developed world, yet not a single case has been confirmed so far in Africa -- the continent thats least equipped to deal with the epidemic. Health officials are still bracing themselves for the worst. Two-way travel between Africa and China, the epicenter of the respiratory illness thats infected more than 34,000 people since late December, has surged over recent years as they forged closer financial and political ties, raising the regions risk of exposure. About 20 African nations have already issued alerts of possible cases, and the World Health Organization has expressed concern that a widespread outbreak would overwhelm their fragile health systems. We are not waiting for an outbreak, said Amadou Sall, a director at Institut Pasteur de Dakar, a bio-medical research center in Senegal. Were anticipating it. Thirteen nations, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are seen as especially at risk and have been identified by the WHO as priority zones for containing the spread of the virus. While the WHO declared coronavirus a public health emergency last month, it hasnt recommended restrictions on trade or travel to and from China. Read more: What You Need to Know About the Spreading Coronavirus: QuickTake Even if Africa doesnt suffer an epidemic, it faces risks from an economic slowdown in China, its most important trading partner. Two-way trade between the continent and the Asian nation totaled more than $204 billion in 2018, data from the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies shows. A number of African governments have instituted measures aimed at detecting coronavirus cases, halting their spread and treating those who are infected. Some are better equipped than others, having had recent experience in tackling other epidemics like Ebola and cholera. Story continues A lot of progress has been made in dealing with highly pathogenic viruses since the Ebola outbreak, with many Africans having been trained to deal with them, according to Sall. Laboratories and research centers have also been built, while new surveillance methods have been introduced, he said. An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that began in 2018 has infected about 3,350 people and killed 2,210. About 70% of countries in the region established isolation facilities in response, according to Michel Yao, emergency operations program manager at the WHOs Regional Office for Africa. Medical personnel in the DRC have also had to contend with a measles outbreak thats claimed at least 6,000 lives since the start of last year, while those in Mozambique faced a surge in reported cholera cases after it was hit by a tropical cyclone. South Africa and Senegal have been conducting tests for the coronavirus for other countries in their respective regions. Ghana, Madagascar, Sierra Leone and Nigeria also have the capacity to do sampling, and another 24 countries are set to join their ranks. The absence of confirmed cases in Africa and other regions could possibly be attributed to weak public health systems, although it cant be stated for certain that they arent being detected, said Muhammad Pate, the global director for health nutrition and population at the World Bank. These are some of the measures African nations have taken: Zambia has dedicated two medical facilities in the capital, Lusaka, to quarantine people suspected of having the disease. They include a new 800-bed hospital, funded and built by China. Thermal body scanners have also been set up at all ports of entry to detect travelers showing symptoms of the virus.Mozambique has stopped issuing visas to Chinese travelers. The government has also designated isolation centers in case the virus is detected.Kenya has introduced mandatory screening at all ports of entry, and established isolation facilities and a rapid response team to handle suspected cases.South Africa has set up national and provincial response teams, designated 300 health officials to ports of entry and begun screening all travelers from China. Nigeria has established a national team that meets daily to assess the risk coronavirus poses to the nation and review its response to it. Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, is among a number of countries where the response is likely to be inadequate, according to Oyewale Tomori, a professor and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, whose research areas include infectious diseases and public health. If it comes, what next do you do? he said. Do you have the isolation wards where you can keep the people? Do you have proper systems of monitoring? Do you have laboratory diagnostics for it? In each of those areas, I dont think we are measuring up to par and that is my worry. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which helps nations on the continent tackle and prevent infectious diseases, has also voiced concern about their capacity to cope with a wide-scale epidemic. High population growth and unplanned urbanization have increased the risk of an outbreak starting and spreading, and governments have limited resource to respond, it said. The real point of entry of a virus to a country is very often in a poorly equipped emergency room, in a doctors clinic where theres no awareness of the disease, said Mike Ryan, head of the WHOs Health Emergencies Program. What we absolutely have to avoid is the disease arriving in an unprotected health facility with untrained, unaware workers. (Updates number of people infected in second paragraph, adds WHO officials comment in last paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected the location of a measels outbreak in Congo.) --With assistance from David Malingha, Gordon Bell, Matthew Hill, Paul Richardson, Prinesha Naidoo, David Herbling, Samuel Gebre and Thomas Mulier. To contact the reporters on this story: Janice Kew in Johannesburg at jkew4@bloomberg.net;Ruth Olurounbi in Abuja at rolurounbi4@bloomberg.net;Yinka Ibukun in Accra at yibukun@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, Mike Cohen, John Lauerman 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. Fifteen students from the state who returned here from China were allowed to go back to their homes by doctors as none of them had symptoms of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection, officials said on Saturday. However, their samples have been collected for detailed lab testing, they said. Before allowing them to leave the Kalamassery government medical college hospital, doctors advised them to remain home quarantined for 28 days, officials added. The students who were stranded in Hubei province of China following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus had landed at the Cochin International Airport Limited here on Friday night. They had undergone thermal screening for the infection at the airport before being taken to the hospital in five sterilised ambulances. Hospital authorities dismissed reports that the students were admitted to the isolation facility set up in the hospital. The students travelled to Bangkok from Kunming Airport and then took an Air Asia flight to reach here at 11 pm on Friday. Relatives of the students had reached the airport but they were not allowed to meet them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Female scientist in a hemp field checking plants and flowers, alternative herbal medicine concept While the battle among Canadian marijuana producers for Europe market dominance continues to shape up in 2020, clear winners are emerging judging from recent licensing developments, capacity analysis and related strategic moves from the respective challengers. Aurora Cannabis (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) and Canopy Growth have enjoyed some first mover advantage after reporting some significant sales run rates in Germany over the past 18 months, but a new dynamic is emerging after Aphrias (TSX:APHA)(NYSE:APHA) latest strides since 2019 and I believe the new challenger could run away with the winning trophy. Better distribution prowess Aphria became a serious contender in Germany since its acquisition of pharmaceutical products distributor CC Pharma in January last year, gaining access to over 13,000 pharmacies in Europe with a near $90 million quarterly sales rate. Meanwhile, Auroras Germany acquisition, Pedanios had access to much fewer distribution points and has been contributing less than $5 million in average revenue per quarter to the companys income statement. One could argue that Aurora was selling its own products there, while CC Pharma has been buying stuff from other producers, but thats likely going to change very soon, as the mother company has better capacity to replace inventory purchases with internally produced products. Better licensed capacity Aphria recently received double European Union Good manufacturing Practices (EU GMP) certifications for its Malta based processing facility and for its flagship facility in Canada, and the company is now full capable of flooding CC Pharma warehouses with its Canadian produce. Not only does the new competitor have better distribution networks, it has a much higher capacity to feed cannabis products into Europe than its competitor. After receiving its third EU GMP license this month, Auroras three licensed facilities have a combined productive capacity of about 39,800 kilograms per year that could all be exported to Europe. Story continues APHAs One facility can produce around 110,000 kilograms of marijuana per year, and this facility received its EU GMP licenses in January. The company can choose where to sell the bulk of its product, and the higher margins in Germany are tempting. Better financial capacity to execute after local tender win Both Aurora and Aphria recently won the highly contested local production tenders to build marijuana grow facilities in Germany, but the earlier is facing severe cash flow challenges, while the later ranks among the best financed pot producers in the industry today with nearly $600 million in cash after the recently closed $100 million strategic investment by an institutional investor. I believe that Aphria is better placed to quickly execute local expansion plans in Germany than its competitor, who has recently announced plans to cut capital expenditures to preserve liquidity while holding on to just $156 million in the bank. More reading Fool contributor Brian Paradza has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 Los Angeles County Airbnb Hosts Earned $187.5 Million During Biggest Weekends of 2019 Airbnb, the worlds leading community driven hospitality company, announced today that its Los Angeles County host community earned a combined $187.5 million in supplemental income while welcoming approximately 335,000 guest arrivalsfor the five biggest weekends in 2019 across the region. Homesharing continues to be an economic driver across Los Angeles County with more residents embracing the opportunities homesharing provides and the benefits to small businesses and entire communities, said John Choi, Airbnb Policy Manager. The Greater LA area is a world class destination for travelers and our hosts will continue to play an important role in expanding affordable accommodations for travelers while leveraging this demand to earn supplemental income. We hope that these insights will help Southern California residents who are looking to open up their home as a short-term rental in identifying some of the best times of the year to do so. ADVERTISEMENT The five biggest weekends for Airbnb guest arrivals in 2019 included: 2019 Weekend Dates Total Guest Arrivals Total Host Income Upcoming 2020 Weekend Dates July 5- 7, 2019 69,500 $37,300,000 July 3-5, 2020 July 26- 28, 2019 68,500 $39,300,000 July 24-26, 2020 August 2- 4, 2019 66,600 $37,900,000 July 31- August 2, 2020 July 19- 21, 2019 65,600 $39,000,000 July 17-19, 2020 August 16- 18, 2019 64,800 $34,000,000 August 14-16, 2020 The home sharing community provides significant value through expanded lodging capacity for Los Angeles County when hotels sell out during big events. These include major conventions and concerts, and during summer tourism season. Along with helping hosts earn important supplemental income, Airbnb also helps generate revenue for local economies around the world. According to an Airbnb survey of more than 35,000 responses from our host and guest community in the United States**: 92 percent of Airbnb hosts say they recommend restaurants and cafes to guests. 56 percent of Airbnb hosts say they recommend cultural activities such as museums, festivals, and historical sites to guests. 55 percent of Airbnb hosts say hosting has helped them afford their homes. On average, Airbnb guests say 41 percent of their spending occurs in the neighborhood where they stay. Unlike other business models that siphon the money they generate out of communities, Airbnb activity directly benefits the communities our hosts call home. Since Airbnb was founded, hosts keep 97 percent and earned over $65 billion sharing their homes that many use to pay the bills and pursue their passions. In addition, in 2019, Airbnb reached a landmark cumulative $2 billion in tourist-related taxes that have been collected and remitted to local governments on behalf of our global host community over the past four years. ADVERTISEMENT About Airbnb Airbnb is one of the worlds largest marketplaces for unique, authentic places to stay and things to do, offering over 7 million accommodations and 40,000 handcrafted activities, all powered by local hosts. An economic empowerment engine, Airbnb has helped millions of hospitality entrepreneurs monetize their spaces and their passions while keeping the financial benefits of tourism in their own communities. With more than half a billion guest arrivals to date, and accessible in 62 languages across 220+ countries and regions, Airbnb promotes people-to-people connection, community and trust around the world. People who are not medical workers buy the protective gear for their own use and worsen the shortage, says WHO chief. Demand for masks, gowns, gloves and other protective medical gear has risen up to 100-fold and prices have soared due to the China coronavirus, producing a severe disruption in global supply, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation has been made worse by people who are not medical workers buying the protective gear for their own use, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday. When supplies are short and demand is high, then there could be bad practices like hoarding in order to sell them at higher prices, and thats why we ask for solidarity, Tedros told a Geneva briefing. Demand is up to 100 times higher than normal and prices are up to 20 times higher, he said, noting that the rush has created supply backlogs of four to six months. Front-line health workers in China, where 31,211 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported, need the bulk of such supplies, he said. Tedros said he had spoken to manufacturers and distributors to ensure supplies for those who need them most, with healthcare workers a priority, followed by the sick and those caring for them. The WHO has sent major shipments of gloves, masks, respirators and other personal protective equipment known as PPE to every region, he said. We call on countries and companies to work with WHO to ensure fair and rational use of supplies and the rebalancing of the market. We all have a part to play in keeping each other safe, Tedros said. The public and private network has been focusing first on surgical masks because of the extreme demand and market pressures, Tedros said, adding: We are appreciative of companies who have taken the decision to only supply masks to medical professionals. Mike Ryan, director of WHOs Health Emergencies Programme, said that the supply chain started with producers of raw materials, going all the way back to the rubber plantation, all the way down the chain to that health worker, and everything in between. At every stage of the supply chain there is a possibility for disruption, or profiteering or diversion, he said. Chinese authorities have provided some detailed data with a breakdown of 17,000 cases, said WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove. We have some data on 17,000 cases saying 82 percent are considered mild, 15 percent severe and 3 percent critical. Referring to overall numbers, she added: We know that two percent, or less than two percent now, of the reported cases have died. There was plenty of encouragement to be found in Bruno Fernandes' debut performance for Manchester United, even if they were held goalless by Wolves. The 47million arrival from Sporting Lisbon - who could eventually cost up to 68m - wasn't shy in being vocal to organise his team-mates and was happy to get on the ball and shoot from distance. These are precisely the qualities that persuaded United to sign the Portugal international during the January transfer window. Bruno Fernandes enjoyed an encouraging debut despite Man United being held by Wolves The 68million arrival from Sporting Lisbon wasn't afraid to order his new team-mates around But there was also a glimpse of another side to his game, with Fernandes booked 10 minutes into the second-half for hauling back Raul Jimenez as he accelerated through midfield. Fernandes doesn't have the best disciplinary record - he was booked 16 times while playing for Sporting last season and nine times (plus receiving one red card) during the current campaign. And this trait has worried United legend Ryan Giggs, who believes Fernandes could be a 'defensive liability' and that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to find out his best position to keep the United team balanced. 'We saw glimpses of the quality he does possess,' Giggs told Premier League Productions. 'I think it might need a bit of working out what his best position is. Ryan Giggs believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must quickly find Fernandes' best position United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could utilise Fernandes in a variety of midfield positions 'With his back to goal, I don't think that's his position. When he's a little bit deeper, defensively, he may be a bit of a liability. He's in between the two really. 'That's where you want to see him, coming on to the ball. 'But you also see when he is that little bit deeper he can spray the passes, he has got the vision to then play those passes. I think he'll want to find his best position first of all.' So where will Fernandes fit in best in the United side? We take a look at some of the options. THE NO 10 ROLE On Saturday, Solskjaer started Fernandes in the attacking midfield role that is most familiar to the 25-year-old. He lined up in the centre of the three behind striker Anthony Martial in the 4-2-3-1 system usually favoured by Solskjaer, with Daniel James to his left and Juan Mata to his right. Fernandes has replaced Jesse Lingard or Andreas Pereira in that role in the United side as he aims to be the team's creative dynamo. With two holding midfielders behind him, Fernandes should be free to pick the through balls to the striker, spread the play wide or shoot from distance as he did on a couple of occasions on Saturday. Playing the No 10 role just behind United's forward line would allow Fernandes to shoot more United hope their new signing will be able to supply the killer pass against massed defences Playing him here negates those defensive liabilities because it wouldn't be his role, but such is the player's natural work ethic, he can't help tracking back when the opposition counter. The No 10 position was certainly an area needing improvement for United. Lingard has struggled for form for a long time now and hasn't scored in the Premier League since Solskjaer's first game in caretaker charge in December 2018. And there have been plenty of question marks as to whether Pereira, who played in a deeper role alongside Fred against Wolves, is a United-calibre player after struggling this season. Solskjaer will hope that Fernandes represents a significant upgrade in quality on Lingard and Pereira playing in the positions he became accustomed to at Sporting. How United could line up with Fernandes in the No 10 role DEEPER BALL-PLAYING ROLE Sticking with the same formation, Fernandes could also play in the central midfield two alongside Fred, McTominay or Pogba when he finally returns from injury. That would mean keeping Lingard or Pereira in the side further forward and allowing Fernandes to perform a mix of defensive and attacking duties. It's a role he has played on occasion in the past at Sporting and plays into what Giggs was saying about him being 'in between the two', and able to spray pinpoint long passes. The stats from his displays in the Portuguese Primeira Liga shows the vast majority of his passes are in a forward direction, so Fernandes should be an effective ball-playing link between defence and attack. Fernandes doesn't have the best disciplinary record and playing him in a deeper role could cause problems when it comes to picking up yellow cards It would, however, restrict some of his best attributes, notably chance creation, through passes and goals from distance because he might not necessarily be far enough forward to influence things. And there is more chance of getting into trouble defensively if he commits forward, potentially leaving United exposed at the back. Chasing back in pursuit of a breaking opposition more often also raises the danger of Fernandes accumulating even more yellow cards, too. He is most likely to play this position only if Pogba leaves, however. How United could line up with Fernandes in a deeper position RIGHT SIDE OF MIDFIELD If Solskjaer is willing to revert to a 4-3-3 system, there is the potential to play Fernandes on the right-hand side of the midfield three. The Portuguese does naturally gravitate to that side of the pitch, or at least he did for Sporting, and so this could be exploited behind a front three of James, Martial and Rashford. The energy of Fernandes in tandem with James and Wan-Bissaka on that side could be a dangerous weapon for United. Fernandes tries his luck from a free-kick as United drew 0-0 against Wolves last Saturday Fernandes could also cover Wan-Bissaka in his defensive responsibilities as well, putting his prodigious energy to best use. And an additional bonus could be that Pogba, who prefers playing on the left side, could be accommodated there when he returns to the side. With McTominay in the centre to anchor things whenever United push forward, this could be an effective way of utilising the creative talents of new boy Fernandes and his work ethic. How United could line up with Fernandes on the right of midfield IN BEHIND A FORWARD THREE One other possibility could be for Fernandes to sit in behind a forward line of Rashford, Martial and James in a 4-2-1-3 set-up. Again, this would enable Fernandes to slip in those through passes to three different forwards, which would surely unlock the vast majority of opposition defences. But there would have to be a strong core in central midfield behind otherwise the team risks becoming unbalanced and unprotected at the back. Mind you, it could be an option in the many matches where United have struggled to unpick a packed defensive line. Taapsee Pannu and her family, including her sister Shagun and parents, were among the early voters in Delhi as the capital went to elections on Saturday. Taapsee shared a family picture on Instagram showing off the ink on their fingers after they cast their votes. Taapsee captioned the picture, Pannu Parivaar has voted. Have you ? #VoteDelhi #EveryVoteCounts. The picture got close to one lakh likes within a few minutes. While Taapsees mother is on the left, her father is on the extreme right with their two daughters standing between them. Taapsee had earlier shared a picture of herself posing with her mother ahead of the voting as the two showed off their fingers before they were marked. She encouraged her fans in Delhi to vote and wrote in the caption, Ready to get inked tomorrow. A quick break to make sure we vote. Will you? #Delhi Citizen. She had shared another picture with her sister, with the caption, Lets vote Puchi. She later shared a picture of them showing the ink on their fingers and wrote, What creative inking!!!! Taapsee Pannu with her mother. Taapsee Pannu and her sister Shagun Pannu gave a surprise to their parents by flying to Delhi. Also read: Live Blog - Delhi Assembly Election 2020 voting live updates: Voters turn up in large numbers at critical Shaheen Bagh Taapsee had been shooting for Haseen Dillruba in Haridwar and had flown to Delhi to cast her vote. The actor Taapsee had also shared a candid video from her Delhi residence, taking a dig at their parents who were surprised by their sudden arrival. The actor joked how their mother gave them blankets without a cover and said in humour, The kids were not at home, we sold the cover. She posted the video on her Instagram stories and captioned it, When your parents arent prepared to receive you home all of a sudden! Taapsee is now gearing up for the release of her film, Thappad. She plays a housewife in the film who chooses to walk out of her marriage after being slapped by her husband at a party. The film has been directed by Anubhav Sinha of Mulk and Article 15 fame and is set to hit theatres on February 28. Follow @htshowbiz for more An American woman and a Japanese man became the first foreigners to have died from the new coronavirus in China as the death toll jumped to 723 in the country with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598, health officials said on Saturday. The American citizen died in Wuhan, the United States embassy in Beijing said on Saturday, the first confirmed foreign death from the outbreak. "We can confirm that a 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at Jinyintang hospital in Wuhan, China on February 6," a US embassy spokesman said. "We offer sincerest condolences to the family for their loss," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the spokesman as saying. The New York Times reported that the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions, citing two people familiar with the matter. The Chinese foreign ministry said earlier that 19 foreign nationals in China have been confirmed to have contracted the virus and undergoing treatment in hospitals. Two of them were discharged after recovery, the ministry said without disclosing details. Earlier reports said that four Pakistanis and two Australians contracted the virus. Though the US woman is officially stated to be the first foreigner to have died due to the coronavirus, a Japanese man hospitalised in Wuhan with pneumonia has also died, the Japan's foreign ministry announced in Tokyo. The ministry citing Chinese medical authorities said on Saturday the man in his 60s, was possibly infected with the coronavirus but due to difficulties in diagnosing the disease his death had been attributed to viral pneumonia. His cause of death was given as viral pneumonia, it added. The man is potentially the first Japanese to have died from coronavirus, it said. Eighty-six deaths were reported in mainland China with 3,399 fresh cases from 31 provincial-level regions, the country's National Health Commission said on Saturday. State-run CGTN television network reported that the death toll has climbed to 723 while confirmed cases jumped to 34,598. Among the deaths, 81 are in Hubei province and its provincial capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, two in Heilongjiang, as well as one in Beijing, Henan and Gansu, the commission said. By the end of Friday, 26 confirmed cases, including one death, have been reported in Hong Kong. Macau reported 10 cases, while Taiwan reported 16 cases, it said. A total of 4,214 new suspected cases were reported and 1,280 patients became seriously ill, and 510 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, according to the commission. It added that 6,101 patients remained in severe condition, and 27,657 people were suspected of being infected with the virus. As many as 2,050 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery. Meanwhile, a central government inspection group has arrived in Wuhan to thoroughly investigate issues related to Dr Li Wenliang, the whistleblower who was admonished by police last month when he flagged the coronavirus in his special media. Li, 34, died on Thursday, plunging the whole of China into grief and anger over police highhandedness in stifling vital information which resulted in the coronavirus becoming a massive epidemic in China and the world. The inspection team would probe the issues related to Li, an ophthalmologist with the Central Hospital of Wuhan, who passed away early Friday after being infected with the novel coronavirus, official media reported. Also health authorities in Tibet said on Saturday that medical observation had been lifted for 32 close contacts of the region's only confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, with no symptoms reported. The health commission of Tibet said the 32 people were discharged from their two-week isolated medical observation in cities of Lhasa, Shigatse, Shannan and Naqu. None of them reported fever or other symptoms. Tibet reported its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus on January 30. The patient is now in a stable condition, state-run Xinhua news reported. Pangolins may be an intermediate host of the virus, as indicated by a study led by South China Agricultural University. Researchers found the metagenome sequence of the novel coronavirus strain separated from pangolins to be 99 per cent identical to that from infected people. The commission said 3.45 lakh 'close contacts' have been traced, adding that among them, 26,702 were discharged from medical observation on Friday. Over 1.89 lakh others are still under medical observation. The death toll of the coronavirus cases overseas went up 220 with Japan reporting 86 followed by 33 in Singapore. Chinese health officials have sent more than 11,000 medics, including the country's best ICU staff, to the city of Wuhan. Among them, over 3,000 doctors and nurses are intensive care specialists, Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, told media here. "We are fully aware of the urgent need for ICU professionals in Wuhan. The current medics have been working for quite a long time and are exhausted both physically and mentally," Guo said. The World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said the world was running out of masks and other protective equipment against the novel coronavirus. China doing good job on coronavirus: Trump China is doing a good job on its fight against the deadly coronavirus that has taken the lives of large number of people, President Donald Trump has said, adding that the United States was helping them out. "China is working very hard. Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi and we talked mostly about the coronavirus," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. "I think they are doing a very professional job." The Chinese, Trump said, were in touch with the World Health Organization and also the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "We're working together," he said. "I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It's a tough situation. I think they're doing a very good job." Asked if he is concerned about its potential impact on global economy, Trump said: "I think that China will do a very good job." According to US Health Secretary Alex Azar, there have been 12 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, including two cases of transmission to people who had not recently been in China. The US has offered to send world-class experts to China to assist them, Azhar said. According to him, the US has implemented temporary quarantines of its citizens who have recently been to China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus, and have asked for voluntary, self-monitoring quarantines for people who have recently been elsewhere in mainland China. FROM THE biblical perspective, there are two groups of people living on the earth Christians and non-Christians. Scripturally, non-Christians are often referred to as the world, that is, people and systems which are not in and of Jesus Christ. Christians have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and live by His teachings. It is thus written that Christians are in the world, but not of the world. Now, Christians believe and confess that Jesus Christ, the Creator Son of God took on the form of man and came into the world to minister; He died, was buried, raised from the dead and lives forevermore. But the world disputes that Christ Jesus was raised, arguing that the story of the resurrection was concocted by his disciples to deceive people. As it is, who is telling the truth or lie? Understand that each party has a sound mind but with a great difference concerning revelatory knowledge and encounter. So, now, the way out is the evidence that indeed Christ Jesus was raised from the dead. It is important for us to appreciate the fact that normal functioning human beings will not defend Christ Jesus to the extent of dying for Him if they have no conviction of the genuineness of the evidence of His resurrection from the dead. The disciples of Christ have evidence of His resurrection so they do not fear to die for their faith in Him. The problem with the unbelievers is that they have no clue of the unequivocal evidence true Christians have, and they cannot have it unless they become genuine Christians. Here is the secret. Before the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, He had spoken to His disciples concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit to be with them after His death. He made it clear that the world, that is, non-Christians would not see Him again after His death, but His disciples would see Him. Christ said, I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet, a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live (John 14: 18- 19, ESV). The expression a little while in the verse of Scripture above means a short period of time, and Jesus said from that short period of time forward the world would see Him no more. That means, the world saw Jesus physically, preaching the Kingdom of God and healing the sick. However, Christ said, In a little while the world would see Him no more, but Christians would see Him both spiritually and physically after His resurrection. Now, what Christ had spoken ought to be fulfilled. The Lord had said the world would see Him no more, but His disciples would see Him. And truly the disciples saw Him (1 Corinthians 15: 3- 8). How then should it be surprising to unbelievers if Christ did not or does not appear to them, after His resurrection? It must be understood that the appearances of Christ to His disciples is a fulfillment of prophesy. Today, there are countless Christians who have supernaturally seen or encountered Christ Jesus. I have too. I encountered Him when He laid His hands on my head in a dream and healed me of a strange deadly disease medics at KATH could not diagnose in 2016. My faith in the Lord Jesus increased greatly after that supernatural encounter. As a result, currently, I need no one's argument about the existence or deity of Jesus Christ. By James Quansah (Pastor, Journalist & Author) Gardai seized 400,000 and raided sites in Wexford, Dublin and Meath as part of an intelligence-led operation into money laundering by a feared organised crime gang. The seizure followed the questioning by gardai of an Irish man and a Polish national who were parked in a Rosslare lay-by in Wexford with a cattle truck and a car. Gardai attached to the National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (NDOCB) became suspicious of the duo parked off the N25 and immediately commenced a search of the vehicle. That led to the discovery of 400,000 in cash. Both men - an Irishman (53) and a Polish national (35) - were arrested and taken to Wexford Garda Station. They were being questioned about alleged money-lauding operations contrary to the Criminal Justice, Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Act, 2010. Both can be detained for up to 24 hours. Following the discovery of the 400,000, gardai conducted special follow-up searches at addresses in Swords in Dublin and Trim in Meath. One garda source said the money is believed to be part of a national operation being conducted by a feared organisation crime gang. The detection was the result of an intelligence-led garda operation which is understood to have involved lengthy surveillance. Garda chiefs said the operation was "very significant" in the ongoing work of the Special Crime Taskforce. "Removing the proceeds of crime from those involved in serious and organised crime is a particular priority of the Garda Siochana, in its attempt to dismantle organised crime groups that operate at an international level, Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll said. "This significant seizure of cash by the NDOCB follows closely after another seizure of a substantial quantity of cash, last week, bringing the total amount of cash seized by that bureau, so far in 2020, to about 1 million. Further follow-on raids are expected from gardai as part of the operation. London: Tory MPs pressuring Boris Johnson over Huawei involvement want all NATO and Five Eyes countries to sign up to an Australian-style Huawei ban. The British Prime Minister is facing a serious rebellion among his own MPs over his decision to approve Huawei involvement in the 5G rollout, a decision that has angered allies including Australia and the US. The six MPs, including former cabinet ministers Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis, Damian Green, Owen Paterson and Tobias Ellwood, as well as backbencher Bob Seely, have been dubbed by British media as "The Wolverines" - the same name used by a group of Australian MPs who take a hawkish line on China. Their intervention follows The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age's revelation that a veteran member of the Australian Parliament's intelligence committee privately confronted British foreign secretary Dominic Raab over the British decision last month to approve Huawei to supply the 5G rollout, against the urging of Australia and the US. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The Kremlins denizens could be forgiven for thinking theyre hearing some muffled chuckling coming from the direction of Washington. Because Trump administration officials must be feeling some schadenfreude as they watch their counterparts in Moscow wrestle with a quandary all too familiar at the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom: How do you solve a problem like Recep Tayyip Erdogan? The more philosophically-minded Russian officials may concede that turnabout is fair play: For several years now, they were the ones pointing and giggling as Turkeys president strained his countrys ties with the U.S., deploying bellicose rhetoric against and provocative behavior toward American allies, from the Kurds in Syria, Israel and Greece to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The Russians got more than just satisfaction from Erdogans truculence toward the U.S. President Vladimir Putin exploited the situation to weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to secure lucrative business deals with Turkey, from the sale of military hardware to gas pipelines. To preserve his status as Erdogans new best friend, Putin indulged the Turkish leaders regional and international ambitions. Following the example of two American presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, Putin feigned deafness at Erdogans belligerent rhetoric against Russian allies, like the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and the Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar. The Russian leader has even grinned and borne it when Erdogans actions foiled, or at least greatly complicated, his own ambitions. A Turkish military invasion of northwestern Syria has nixed any hope in Moscow that Assad would be able to reassert control over the country. Turkish troops and mercenaries now stand in the way of Khalifas seizure of Tripoli. And, just as Erdogan has thumbed his nose at Washington by embracing those who chant Death to America whether the regime in Tehran or the leadership of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood Erdogan has now cocked a snook at Moscow with the incantation, Slava, Ukraine! at his recent visit to Kyiv. Glory to Ukraine has become a slogan of resistance to Russian hegemony since Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea. Moscow and its mouthpieces claim it is a Nazi chant. Story continues The Russians are discovering, as Americans and Europeans have before, that with Erdogan, matters are always coming to a head, accompanied with threats to end alliances. Putin now finds himself at the receiving end. In a recent phone call, Erdogan warned that Turkey would react in the harshest way if Turkish troops in Syria came under more attacks from Assads forces. And of course, he has warned that the Russo-Turkish relationship could split over Syria. Blood has now been shed on both sides. Assads forces have stepped up attacks on Turkish positions in Idlib, killing several Turkish troops. Russia says some of its soldiers have been killed in attacks from Turkish positions. Hundreds of Syrians, soldiers and civilians alike, have been killed in the escalated fighting, and tens of thousands have been forced to flee the area, creating a new refugee crisis. Putins options with Erdogan are limited. Turkey is potentially a major economic partner for Russia the two leaders want trade between the two countries, currently at around $30 billion, to rise to $100 billion. Turkeys membership is crucial to Russias hopes of sustaining multilateral organizations in the Caucasus and Central Asia. And of course, Putin wants to stoke NATOs uncertainty over Turkeys commitment to the alliance. Erdogan knows all of this. If his dealings with the U.S. and Europe are any guide, he will keep pushing Russia for concessions, in Syria and Libya and who knows where else. Can Washington take advantage of the situation, as Russia did when Turkeys ties to the U.S. frayed? Perhaps, but that would require Putin to push back against Erdogan, and the Turkish leader to show some interest in returning to the Western fold. Were not there yet. If we do get to that point, the U.S. would have to display diplomatic craft of a high order higher than it has demonstrated in recent years to bring Erdogan in from the cold. For now, though, American officials can quietly revel in Putins discovery of what it means to be Erdogans friend. To contact the author of this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gibney at jgibney5@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a columnist and member of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and the wider Islamic world. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 21:36:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese market regulators have pledged "strict, severe and swift" crackdown on price-related illegalities involving coronavirus prevention supplies including protective face masks, launching thousands of investigations and giving heft fines to those cashing in on the epidemic. By the end of Friday, the country had seen over 1.7 million law enforcement officer dispatches and filed more than 3,600 cases of price violations, the State Administration for Market Regulation said Saturday. Over 720 cases already saw penalties given, as the enhanced law enforcement effectively curbed price violations in the prevention gear market and ensured steady price amid a tight supply. Law enforcement has gathered momentum after the administration on Jan. 25 demanded market regulators at all levels toughen their crackdown on violations including price collusions, hikes and frauds. Regulators in regions including Beijing and Shanghai have stepped up fines to those hiking prices of masks and other disease prevention supplies, imposing fines from 2 million yuan to 3 million yuan. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the top market watchdog has named and shamed 36 typical cases of price violations, 29 of which were related to face masks. One of the cases involved a drug store in Fengtai District of Beijing, which was caught red-handed by market regulators for offering a type of 10-pack 3M-brand mask at nearly six times the price it could be bought online to customers. Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy will have to pay 3 million yuan in fines, the ceiling of penalties stipulated under price violation regulations, which set a minimum fine of 500,000 yuan for those behind severe price spikes. "The Beijing market authorities decided to give the top-notch fines and made public the case, which will serve as a strong deterence on business illegalities and keep the prices of medicines and protective gears stable," said Qiu Baochang, a lawyer with the China Consumers Association. To help secure a victory in the battle against the coronavirus, the administration has also vowed to fight price gouging of daily necessities like vegetables, meat, dairy products and eggs with severe punishments. The moves came as the country stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the virus, including extending the Lunar New Year holiday, imposing preventive travel restrictions in some cities and ramping up production of medical supplies. First identified in the city of Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, the novel coronavirus quickly spread across the country. By the end of Friday, overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland reached 34,546, with 722 deaths. 64th District Court January 2020 Luis Andres Arroyo Rueda sexual assault acquitted by jury Gregory Arellano evading arrest/detention with vehicle convicted confinement, 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections Marlena Sotelo Gomez possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than one gram dismissed defendant pled guilty in Brown County Justin Lawayne Davis possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, more than four grams but less than 200 grams convicted confinement, 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections Alexis Omega Henderson possession of marijuana, more than 5 pounds but less than 50 pounds dismissed, insufficient evidence Ever Uriel Morales Flores possession of controlled substances penalty group 1 less than one gram dismissed, defendant in federal custody Ray Daniel Gerhardt burglary of habitation convicted confinement, 45 years, Texas Department of Corrections Darrell Frank Ingram possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than one gram dismissed insufficient evidence Joe Luis Zuniga possession of controlled substance with intent to delivery, penalty group 1, more than four grams but less than 200 grams convicted confinement, 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections Michael Isaac Galindo tamper fabricate physical evidence with intent deferred CSCD and Community Control, 5 years Margarito Rueda Almeda tamper fabricate physical evidence with intent dismissed insufficient evidence; possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, more than one gram but less than four grams dismissed insufficient evidence Adriana Almeda Rodriguez tamper fabricate physical evidence with intent dismissed insufficient evidence; possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, more than one gram but less than four grams insufficient evidence Yvette L. Nunez evading arrest/detention with vehicle deferred CSCD and Community Control, 4 years Ian David Spencer possession of controlled substance w/ intent to delivery, penalty group 1, less than 400 grams convicted confinement, 15 years, Texas Department of Corrections; unlicensed possession of firearm by felon dismissed Albert Mojica assault of family/household member deferred CSCD and Community Control, 4 years Alfredo Nicolas Lopez possession of controlled substance, penalty group 2, more than 4 grams but less than 400 grams deferred CSCD and Community Control, 4 years Albert Pena forgery of financial instrument deferred CSCD and Community Control, 4 years Gregory Arellano driving while intoxicated, 3rd or more convicted confinement, 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections Dwight Anthony Parr possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, more than one gram but less than four grams convicted confinement, 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections Jasman Edward Washington unauthorized used of vehicle convicted confinement, 9 months, state jail 242nd District Court Adrian Maciel possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram convicted confinement, 9 months, county jail Christopher Joe Michael Lozano forgery of financial instrument convicted confinement, 14 months, state jail Billy Joe Young, Jr. possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than one gram convicted, 15 months, state jail Alice Lisa Luna assault of public servant convicted confinement, 4 years, Texas Department of Corrections The list of candidates for the high-stakes Delhi polls is a heady mix with three namesakes fighting from the Sadar Bazar constituency, two Imran Khans fielded by a nondescript party from the neighbouring seats New Delhi: The list of candidates for the high-stakes Delhi polls is a heady mix with three namesakes fighting from the Sadar Bazar constituency, two Imran Khans fielded by a nondescript party from the neighbouring seats and a Nathu Ram trying their luck in the 8 February elections. The two Khans Imran Khan and Imran Matlub Khan fighting the polls on tickets from the Tipu Sultan Party, are testing their fortunes from adjoining Karawal Nagar and Mustafad constituencies, respectively, the party symbol being a kettle. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 A total of 672 candidates are in the fray for the Delhi polls, largely being seen as a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, the Congress and the BJP banking on its aggressive campaigning and Modi star power. But, little known parties and independents have added a flavour the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly, with quirky and unusual names, and namesakes adding a dash of humour to it. The AAP has renominated Som Dutt from the Sadar Bazar seat. But two independent candidates -- Som Dutt (symbol brush) and Somdutt (symbol ice cream) are also in the fray from the same seat. Candidate Nathu Ram has been fielded by the CPM from Wazirpur. Other candidates include Vikas from Aapki Apni Party (Peoples) symbol battery torch from Model Town; and Iswar, an independent fighting on a bat symbol from Delhi Cantonment. Then there is a woman candidate, who goes by the name of Vimla @Bimla from Sabse Badi Party (symbol matchbox), fighting from Shahdara. Click here for detailed coverage of Assembly Elections 2019 One Akshay Kumar is trying his luck as an independent candidate (symbol whistle) from the Kondli seat, while Namaha is testing his fortune on an LJP ticket from Laxmi Nagar. Among unusual party names, Mazdoor Ekta Party has fielded Surender Kumar from Matiala (symbol plate containing food); Aapki Apni Party (Peoples) has fielded Sonu Kaushik, and Peoples Party of India (Democratic) with a basket containing fruits symbol, has given the ticket to Hemraj in the Timarpur seat. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Beijing: The death toll in mainland China from coronavirus has risen to 813 in the latest figures as of , passing the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Meanwhile an American has became the first confirmed non-Chinese victim of the new coronavirus. The 60-year old US citizen died on February 6 in Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak in the central Chinese province of Hubei, a US embassy spokesman said in Beijing. A Japanese man in his 60s and in hospital with pneumonia in Wuhan also died after suffering symptoms consistent with the virus, Japan's foreign ministry said. By IANS NEW DELHI: At least 24 persons have been identified by the health authorities in Haryana who did not go to a quarantine facility after returning from China. According to the health officials, they failed to notify the health authorities. Sujeet Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), told IANS, "All 24 people, who bypassed quarantine, have been tracked and kept in isolation. A report has also been submitted to the concerned departments on the issue." One such person was admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak on Wednesday. He reportedly took an alternative route to reach India from China even before a special Air India flight made two trips to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, and evacuated more than 600 people. His condition is stated to be stable. ALSO READ: China turns to artificial intelligence, data in fight against coronavirus Dhruv Choudhary, HoD, Pulmonary Critical Care Department, PGIMS, told IANS, "One suspected person came to the hospital on Wednesday with complain of fever, cough, cold, body ache and breathing. Without wasting any time, we kept him in the isolation ward. We are keeping people in the isolation ward just if they have respiratory problems, irrespective of symptoms. We don't want to take any chances. "The patient told us that there was panic in China. That's why he took an alternative route to come back to India. He was scared and that's the reason he did not inform the authorities. However, after showing some symptoms, he came to our hospital. Now we are also telling people that there is no need to hide anything," Choudhary added. "I want to urge everyone to share information on their health if they show symptoms or have history of travelling to China. They need not to be afraid of reporting to health authorities. We are their friends, not enemies. At least they should be quarantined in their homes. There are self declaration forms are available in Haryana health department's website ie haryanahealth.nic.in.," he added. ALSO READ: Coronavirus can stay infectious on surfaces for up to 9 days He also urged that the media should spread awareness, and not panic and fear. "I want to urge the media to report sensitively on the issue and chose words like 'sankraman' (infection) very carefully so that people are not scared," Choudhary said. The state's emergency helpline 8558893911 is functional, and received 78 calls so far. According to a statement released by the Haryana Health Department, a total of 151 hospitals with 685 beds have been demarcated for isolation and other management measures. According to Choudhary, till Friday, 435 persons were under observation in Haryana, out of which 428 persons have history of travelling to China. Till date, 16 samples have been sent for testing, out of which seven have come negative while the reports for the rest are awaited. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 18:04:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan confirmed the 17th novel coronavirus pneumonia case, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Saturday. The patient, together with his parents, had flown to Italy via Hong Kong on Jan. 22 and returned to Taiwan on Feb. 1 also via Hong Kong. He had a cough on Jan. 27 in Italy, according to the agency at a press conference. The patient's parents, a couple in their 50s living in northern Taiwan, had been confirmed to be infected by the virus Thursday. As of Friday, Taiwan has 124 suspected cases under quarantine. One confirmed case of recovery was released from the hospital Thursday while the rest are in stable condition. In wake of the epidemic, the island's mainland affairs department announced Saturday that direct passenger shipping services across the Taiwan Strait will be suspended from Feb. 10. Welcome baby Smokey. Your story is one of the most inspirational to come out of the fires and heartbreak of last month. Whats more, you look really cute and cuddly and are a beautiful symbol of hope. Welcome again to the world ('' 'Fresh hope': Baby Smokey born amid bushfire devastation'', February 2). Terry Charleston, Cootamundra Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: What a wonderful name: Smokey Gosper. Thats a name to grow into and be proud of. Not only are there eight generations of family behind him but his name will always remind him of his connection to the land. His mother says it beautifully. The country doesnt belong to us and its time every Australian starts to remember that. We are here for a finite length of time. While we all want to leave our children something, it is time to think beyond bricks and mortar and money. Without a country that nurtures us, we are nothing and we have nothing. We need to constantly and diligently nurture our country. Sue Durman, Pyrmont Charge koala killers Ive always known how cruel people can be, especially when the victim is ''just an animal'' but I had thought that community feeling against animal cruelty had been increasing ('' 'Koala massacre' feared in Victoria's south-west'', February 2) . Then we hear about the felling of a blue gum plantation in Victoria where tall trees inhabited by koalas were logged and the remains bulldozed resulting in horrible injuries and deaths of countless koalas. There are land owners and plantation owners who make decisions, managers who organise the work and people who carry out the instructions, all of whom are culpable and should be charged with heinous animal cruelty. Penny Rosier, North Epping Homegrown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Saturday reported a 73 per cent year-on-year decline in its net profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 380 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2019, due to an one-time impairment provision. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,396 crore in the same quarter last year. The results include figures of its commercial vehicle unit, Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers. "The Q3 FY20 results include a net loss on account of exceptional and one-off items of Rs 554 crore, as compared to a net gain on account of exceptional and one-off items of Rs 519 crores in Q3 FY19," M&M said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Total revenue fell by 6 per cent to Rs 12,120 crore in Q3 FY20, compared to Rs 12,893 crore in the corresponding quarter of the last year. The operating margin improved to 14.8 per cent as against 13.2 per cent in the same period last year. During the October-December quarter, M&M sold 1,23,353 vehicles compared to 1,33,508 units sold in the same quarter last year, registering a decline of 8 per cent. The tractor sales declined by 6 per cent to 81,435 units in Q3 FY20 versus 87,063 units sold in Q3 FY19. In a similar trend, exports (vehicles and tractors) plunged 22 per cent to 9,633 units as against 12,363 units in the year ago period. Also Read: Tata Steel posts net loss of Rs 1,229 crore in December quarter as European operations suffer M&M said both the Indian auto and tractor industries have shown some signs of trend reversal in December quarter and seen moderation in the double digit de-growth registered in first two quarters of FY20. "Good monsoon, festive season demand, improved liquidity conditions, new launches, especially in the Utility Vehicle (UV) segment, and special schemes offered by OEMs for the auto industry were the key reasons for this moderation in de-growth," M&M said in the filing. The company said that the sentiment in the agri and rural economy is fairly upbeat, despite unseasonal rains in October which caused some damage to the Kharif crops, with good sowing of Rabi crops supported by very good water reservoir levels and government announcement for thrust on infra projects. Also Read: YES Bank gets shareholders' approval to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore During Q3 FY20, Indian auto industry (excluding two wheelers) posted a decline of 3 per cent, as against decline of 15.4 per cent and 26.6 per cent in Q1 FY20 and Q2 FY20, respectively. The commercial vehicles (CV) industry remained in pain and posted a reduction of 17.3 per cent and the heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) goods industry reduced 56.4 per cent in Q3 FY20. In December quarter, the domestic tractor industry registered a 6 per cent decline as compared to year-ago period. Bucking the trend, the utility vehicle (UV) industry witnessed a growth of 27.9 per cent in Q3 FY20 which helped the passenger vehicle (PV) industry to report a flat performance with a marginal decline of 0.6 per cent as compared to Q3 FY19. By Chitranjan Kumar You know a company has made it big when its name becomes a verb. I'll Uber it, Google it or Photoshop it have become part of everyday lexicon for many, even if they use a rival cab sharing firm, search engine or photo enhancing software. One that can be added to the list for those in their 20s and 30s is to Klarna it. The Swedish buy now, pay later firm has become a millennial darling and the way to get the latest items without needing to save. Need new clothes, shoes, jewellery, beauty products or a smartphones ahead of payday? Simply Klarna it. Or in other words, stick it on short-term, interest-free credit. Clueless: Buy now, pay later has been viewed as a way for millennials to go on a shopping binge - but is that fair? Pictured: Alicia Silverstone in Clueless Klarna - and the host of rivals springing up - tap into the need for the younger generation to have things there and then, without the concept of saving for it. It is essentially replacing the credit card, which requires more stringent checks and affordability criteria that's because plastic usually comes with a four-figure minimum credit limit amount, whereas buy now, pay later usually has a far smaller one, complete with lower APR. Klarna's two most popular products allow users to receive an item and not pay until 30 days later, or slice it into three instalments with a very limited soft credit search. There are other companies offering similar, including Clearpay, Partial.ly and PayPal Credit. Many high street and online giants have a pay later option, even middle-class favourite Marks and Spencer, which has partnered with Clearpay. This week saw WH Smith join the action, partnering with Laybuy - you can't split the payment for a sneaky commute Mars bar or newspaper, however, it's only available online. However, it is Klarna that most will be familiar with and use in verb format. US-rap idol Snoop Dogg is invested and starred in a memorable promotion campaign. It's said to be worth $5.5billion and could soon float. Not bad for a company launched in Stockholm in 2005, arriving in Britain and the US a decade later. It could now be considered to be on the top five list of exports from a country that brought us ABBA, Volvo, Ikea and H&M. Plastered on the side of many taxis in London at the moment is its slogan: 'no drama, just Klarna,' presumably aimed at the Love Island generation. It has managed to do what many other financial firms have failed to do make credit sexy. Perhaps that should be the slogan: 'Make credit sexy again,' emblazoned in white font on a red cap. Whatever its marketing strategy, it's clearly working. Six million people have used it in Britain alone and some major retailers even let you spend using Klarna offline, such as H&M - below, I take a look why. Shopping: Buy now, pay later providers claim shoppers will spend more with their services How are people using this new way to pay? Today, I can lift the lid on how buy now, pay later is being used thanks to an exclusive report by market research specialists Harris Interactive and This is Money. We quizzed 1,073 people, spread across the generations. It highlights the growing importance for retailers to offer a pay later option or risk losing custom; how shoppers using it are more likely to buy high-end fashion and a minority are at the risk of late fees. Why do people use it? Klarna says some of the key reasons shoppers use it include the fact many are different clothes sizes across various retailers - these shoppers may want to order multiple items but not want large sums of money leaving their bank account knowing they won't be keeping all of the items. It says that parents who do not want to bring young children into stores and changing rooms, and prefer the convenience and privacy of trying the goods in their own home. It also adds that individuals with accessibility challenges, who may struggle to get to a physical store or access changing rooms, turning their sitting room into a fitting room. We spoke to four BNPL users in our research. 'Sometimes I don't have such large amounts of money to spend,' says one female shopper under 24 from York. Another younger male shopper from Llandudno adds: 'I can buy more expensive stuff and pay it back affordably.' Meanwhile, the older generation are also using it. A female shopper aged 50-55 said: 'It makes it less of a strain on my current account and spreads the cost. 'It spreads payments and means I can spend more,' says a male, aged 35-40, from Southampton. Taking that first point. Our survey suggests that nearly a fifth of people are unlikely to now shop with retailers not offering buy now, pay later. Extrapolate that and it would suggest nearly 9.5million shoppers who are shunning retailers without pay later choices. Furthermore, more than half of those who have already made a purchase this way hold this view. That mean retailers risk being left behind if they don't get involved. Michael Worledge, from Harris Interactive, tells me: 'Buy now, pay later payment options are becoming increasingly popular and will have helped many manage their Christmas outgoings. 'Retailers who don't offer BNPL may risk losing customers, while those who do have a duty to help consumers avoid any unintended consequences by ensuring the potential costs and risks of not keeping up with repayments are clearly communicated. 'Helping consumers make informed choices about their payments may help retailers differentiate themselves and the purchase experience.' Shops like it because they can sell more One of the main ways Klarna and the like entice retailers on board is the promise of extra spend. Laybuy, for example, says it's 'proven to help retailers increase sales, basket size and the number of transactions, as well as gain brand new customers.' It says its retail partners have seen average order values rise by up to 70 per cent, online and in-store conversion rates increase by up to 50 per cent, and new customer acquisitions rise by up to 30 per cent. You can see why retailers want to sign-up. This tallies with our research. Many use the service to buy something they might not have been able to afford up front, with some even indicating it allows them to buy more. Booming: Searches on Google UK for Klarna have slowly built up in the last three years, peaking around Black Friday 2019 Whereas a 150 pair of the latest trainers, for example, can be an expensive outlay depending on your financial circumstances, spreading it over three months at 50 is way more palatable. Where it can get dangerous is if you then add more items and end up in vicious circle of always owing something on credit. It is also highlights a shift in shopping habits. For instance, one of the most popular reasons for using pay later options, is the ability to return any items purchased that they no longer want before payment is due, with 37 per cent stating this. This suggests that many are simply effectively renting clothes or other items tor try on for a few weeks, and sending them back without any money ever leaving their account. It suits them better than having to wait on a refund. This is especially popular with those aged under 35, with half liking this option and the majority who have used pay later in the past having already done this. Items being bought on buy now, pay later over traditional credit Item(s) purchased All credit types Buy now, pay later methods (Paypal Credit, Klarna, Clearpay, Partial.ly) Clothing and shoes 44% 46% Health and beauty 39% 40% Toys 40% 39% Electrical items 35% 39% High fashion 29% 39% Smartphone 28% 38% Jewellery 28% 38% What is being bought? In terms of items bought with buy now, pay later, clothing and shoes come out top, with 46 per cent who used credit in the run-up to Christmas turning to PayPal Credit, Klarna, Clearpay and Partial.ly. This is likely to have been driven by the popularity of online retailers that take Klarna, such as Asos, Boohoo and Missguided. This is followed by health and beauty products, toys, electrical items and designer fashion. The biggest discrepancies, however, are in the designer fashion, smartphones and jewellery, with 10 per cent more using pay later options compared to other credit types. Again, this suggests people are making expensive purchases. According to our study, 31 per cent of under 35s used PayPal Credit, Klarna, Clearpay or Partial.ly in the run-up to Christmas. This figure rises to nearly half who have failed to pay a bill or loan/credit card repayment in at least three of the last six months. In the run-up to Christmas, 61 per cent of shoppers used a credit card. But buy now, pay later is gaining a foothold: 25 per cent used PayPal Credit, 15 per cent used Klarna, 8 per cent Clearpay and 4 per cent Partial.ly. Klarna is most popular with under-35 female shoppers. Perhaps bright pink advertising works after all. Snoop Dogg: The US-rap icon is a backer of the Swedish firm Is it a dangerous payment method? Our data suggests the majority do know how to use buy now, pay later properly. More than three quarters understood that there are fees on late payments. Meanwhile, 46 per cent believe paying later is a good option for them. A similar number says it allows them to manage their debt better and this percentage split is far higher for the younger generation. Consumer Trends This is Money assistant editor and consumer journalist, Lee Boyce, writes his Consumer Trends column every Saturday. It ranges from food and drink and retail, to financial services and travel. Have an idea or suggestion? Get in touch: lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk Those struggling to already manage debt are the most likely to believe that paying later is a good way for them to manage debt. But 45 per cent say they struggle to make payments three times as much as others surveyed, suggesting there is a trap to fall down. A recent report from Compare the Market suggests that a large chunk of shoppers aren't aware that missed payments can harm their credit record. Klarna says to date, no customer's credit score has been impacted by using its two most popular pay later products even if they have failed to pay on time. With its bigger financing option - where people can put goods up to 25,000 on - 0.5 per cent have had their credit score hit because of missed payments. Meanwhile, charities have been vocal about the risk. Debt charity StepChange recently stated there had been a rise in people going to it whose debt problems have been caused by buy now, pay later. The whole industry is currently a regulatory grey area. Some experts have called on regulators to offer cooling-off periods and stricter affordability checks. Swap: Instead of putting items on a credit card - which they may be rejected for - younger consumers might be turning to buy now, pay later instead Slow death of the credit card? You could argue that buy now, pay later may slowly replace credit cards, store credit and other financing options, such as personal loans for smaller buys. The Bank of England money and credit data until the end of October 2019 - which doesn't include buy now, pay later - showed credit card debt stood at 72.4billion. This compares to 53.2billion at the start of 2010. The increase of 19.2billion means that for every adult in Britain, there is plastic with nearly 1,400 of debt on it. But despite this, recent statistics show that there has been a slowdown in consumers borrowing on credit cards, as the graph below shows: Dropping: How borrowing on credit cards has fallen back since 2017 One Klarna user, Charley a 27 year-old from London - doesn't use a credit card and instead relies on pay later for purchases ahead of payday, perhaps typifying a new generation not wanting plastic. She told me: 'I use Klarna slice option for things such as festival tickets. This way the money is automatically taken and I don't have to remember to pay. I end up returning 90% of what I buy (on Asos, with Klarna). It's easier for me to pay later - and not pay at all because I've returned the goods - than to pay and then have to wait on a refund for it all. Victoria - Klarna user 'It was easy for me to get accepted, I just need my card details and billing address and it all went though. 'I mainly buy clothes that I know I can't really afford until after I get paid and it makes it easier shopping online when you can try a number of things without the money being debited from your account.' She says the most she's ever had outstanding on pay later is 150 and she has missed a payment, once. She adds: 'I had purchased a few items on buy now, pay later and had sent a few items back so it got quite confusing.' Meanwhile, Victoria, 26, from East Sussex, does have a credit card, but recently chose to buy a big item and pay later instead a 999 sofa. This is despite the fact she has been in trouble with credit in the past. She told me: 'It was easier to get accepted than with an application for a personal loan or credit card. 'I'm not sure if it's because they already hold my information due to previous transactions but I didn't have to provide much personal data. 'The sofa is the only large purchase I have made. It's usually clothes on Asos with Klarna.' She will pay for it in six installments of 166 - the finance is from Klarna, via its third option of payment. She adds: 'I end up returning 90 per cent of what I buy on there; it's easier for me to pay later - and not pay at all because I've returned the goods - than to pay and then have to wait on a refund for it all. 'I used it with the sofa because it was 0 per cent interest - actually I mistakenly thought that it was pay later in the way that Asos is (no mark on your credit file) but it left a hard print on my credit report. 'Had I realised it was 'proper' borrowing I might not have chosen this method. 'buy now, pay later is convenient to me as rather than going without, then saving for four months and buying then, I can buy immediately and repay the same amount for four months instead.' If clothes and sofas are increasingly paid for later, credit cards might be simply reserved for those after reward points or requiring a higher limit to make a bigger purchase. Our research was conducted of more than a 1,000 adults at the end of January by Harris Interactive for This is Money, split almost 50/50 for male and female, and a 33 per cent split for 18-34 year-olds, 35-54 year-olds and 55-plus. Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with ST Engineering Aerospace and an Asian carrier on the establishment of a joint venture in airframe maintenance in Vietnam. The signing ceremony between Vietnam Airlines and ST Engineering Aerospace The new firm is expected to meet the growing demand for aircraft repair and maintenance in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region. Under the MOU, the three sides will explore the establishment and operation of the joint venture by utilising VNAs technical facilities at the Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports as well as other Vietnamese airports in the future, including the planned Long Thanh Airport. Speaking at the signing ceremony on February 6, VNAs chief executive Duong Tri Thanh said the joint venture will bring more added value to Vietnam, which will enhance the technical capability of Vietnams aircraft maintenance staff as well as the competitiveness of the national carrier. For his part, ST Engineering Aerospace President Lim Serh Ghee said the new joint venture will help to expand the companys offerings to include component and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for its customers. ST Engineering Aerospace already established its first component MRO facility in Vietnam with VAECO, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, in September 2019. It is forecast that aircraft fleets and maintenance demands in the Asia-Pacific will increase by 4.5% and 5% per year, respectively, in the next decade. Nhan Dan Vietnams airlines and the dream to fly to the US Vietnam began thinking of flying non-stop to the US 16 years ago, but the plan has yet to be implemented. The economic crash was a painful experience for this country - but unlike Greece and other countries, we dealt with the situation pragmatically rather than with panic. Ireland knuckled down. Those of us who were lucky enough to keep a job paid our extra taxes while others sadly followed a well-worn path to Australia, Canada and America. But this election has raised a pertinent question: "Was it worth it?" Having endured so much hardship, surely we should be reaping the benefits of this latest boom in equal measure? Yet our housing system is still broken. Record money is being pumped into health but it's still a mix of the same old stories and new scandals. Then there is the rising cost of childcare, the mind-numbing commute faced by many workers every day and a general sense that while we have more money it's spent before it hits our bank accounts. Sinn Fein has tapped into a yearning for "change". People want and expect better. Its rise in popularity is partly to do with the fact its two most effective representatives hold the housing and health portfolios. Eoin O Broin and Louise O'Reilly are extremely articulate and totally across their briefs. It would be easy to see them as ministers in any government. Expand Close Dublin Mid-West TD Eoin O Broin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dublin Mid-West TD Eoin O Broin Likewise, Pearse Doherty has done an outstanding job holding rip-off insurers to account as part of his work in finance. But today is about electing a government and there are a string of ministries for which Sinn Fein could not qualify. Justice and Defence The most basic reason why everyone should be worried about handing the Department of Justice to Sinn Fein is a 2015 assessment that the Provisional IRA Army Council oversees both the party and the remaining structures of the terror organisation with an "over-arching strategy". The PSNI still believes this assessment to be relevant. But even without that report there are reasons to question how Sinn Fein would handle criminality and its relationship with An Garda Siochana and the courts. When Gerry Adams was arrested by the PSNI in connection with the abduction, murder and disappearance of Jean McConville, Mary Lou McDonald claimed it was "politically contrived". More recently, when Drew Harris was appointed as the first outsider to be Garda Commissioner, she accused him of being "part of a culture that has denied people the truth". Then there are relatives of IRA victims who believe Sinn Fein representatives have helped deny them justice. Breege Quinn's description of how her husband spends every day visiting their murdered son Paul in the graveyard should give us all pause for thought. Her story is not something from history and attempts by Sinn Fein representatives to smear his memory are deplorable. Others such as Austin Stack continue to seek answers. Finally, Sinn Fein has routinely campaigned to do away with the non-jury Special Criminal Court that has been used to jail terrorists and gangland henchmen. Ms McDonald took particular exception to its use for Thomas 'Slab' Murphy who is believed to have been the former chief of staff of the IRA. The man she calls a "good republican" was convicted of tax evasion in 2015. Foreign Affairs and Brexit Handing responsibility for the Irish approach on Brexit to Sinn Fein would be on a par with Theresa May's reliance with the DUP in Westminster. Aside from the fact it would further strain Anglo-Irish relations, Sinn Fein has a long history of being anti-EU. That stance has softened in recent times and representatives now describe themselves as 'Euro-critical'. There's no harm in being critical - but the evidence shows they were against every EU referendum in this country since we joined. Foreign affairs would also hand them control over policy on Northern Ireland. No doubt this would push forward the debate on a united Ireland that would be no harm but they are unlikely to do so in a way that brings nationalist and unionist communities together. An emboldened Sinn Fein is unlikely to tone down the 'tiocfaidh ar la' rhetoric. Enterprise Many of the big promises in Sinn Fein's manifesto are based on the proviso they can tax business. There is a very strong argument for making large corporations pay more tax - but the Sinn Fein plan is rather blunt. Multinationals will be on the line for an extra 722m. Employers who pay salaries over 100,000 will also have to pay a new 15.75pc rate of PRSI. But the Sinn Fein policy assumes they will all stay and continue to create more jobs. Education and Culture Many in Sinn Fein have a very defined view of history that leaves little space for nuance or inclusion. Without doubt, Fine Gael made a mess of the RIC commemorations, but one wonders where Sinn Fein's view of 'The Troubles' as simply a war would fit? Children and Youth Affairs Expand Close Mairia Cahill. Picture: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mairia Cahill. Picture: Tom Burke The reaction of many within Sinn Fein to the stories of sex abuse victims Paudie McGahon and Mairia Cahill was not sympathy but an attempt to distract and undermine. Its child safety policies have been reviewed - but there are still denials about how badly they handled both cases. And what about Dessie Ellis? The appointment of McDonald as leader was an effort to move away from the past. Gerry Adams is retiring, as is Martin Ferris who collected the killers of Detective Jerry McCabe on their release from prison. But some of the 'old boys' remain including convicted bomb-maker Dessie Ellis in Dublin North West. He probably wouldn't expect a Cabinet post but his long service could see him made a junior minister - but for what? NEW YORK - Trump administration officials, increasingly intent on preventing Chinese global technological domination, keep floating the idea that the U.S. government should take a more direct hand in running next-generation 5G wireless networks. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 file photo, Attorney General William Barr gives the keynote address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS China Initiative Conference in Washington. Attorney General William Barr said the U.S. government should consider taking a controlling stake in the European companies Nokia and Ericsson to thwart the global ambitions of China-based Huawei, which holds a leading share of the market for 5G wireless equipment, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File) NEW YORK - Trump administration officials, increasingly intent on preventing Chinese global technological domination, keep floating the idea that the U.S. government should take a more direct hand in running next-generation 5G wireless networks. But the notion isn't terribly popular not even within the administration. On Thursday, Attorney General William Barr said the U.S. government should consider taking a controlling stake in the European companies Nokia and Ericsson to thwart the global ambitions of China-based Huawei, which holds a leading share of the market for 5G wireless equipment. The federal government could do so directly or via a consortium of U.S. companies and private investors, Barr said. The backlash didn't take long. In an interview on CNBC Friday, Vice-President Mike Pence said "the best way forward" on 5G relies on private enterprise, not government takeovers. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the nation's airwaves, already plans to auction off additional radio spectrum for 5G. "That's the plan the president has endorsed," Pence said. Later on Friday, Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow also argued against the idea, telling reporters at the White House that the U.S. government is not in the business of buying companies, whether they're domestic or foreign. Trump has not tweeted about the proposal. Depending on how you count it, Barr's speech is the second or third time people in Trump's administration or 2020 campaign have suggested direct federal involvement in 5G networks, which boast faster speeds and promise a variety of new applications. Barr suggested in his speech that 5G speeds will turn wireless networks into the central nervous system of the next generation of internet, called the Industrial Internet, with potentially dramatic economic consequences. In 2018, leaked National Security Council documents obtained by Axios proposed a U.S. government-built 5G network. That plan went nowhere. Then in 2019, members of Trump's reelection team offered up an idea, first reported by Politico, to create a new wholesale 5G network run under government contract that would provide bandwidth to network operators on an as-needed basis. Trump himself repudiated that notion after criticism from industry and other government officials, telling reporters that 5G remains private-sector driven and private-sector led. Barr's speech, however, appears to be the first time a member of the Trump administration has publicly endorsed direct U.S. government ownership of 5G suppliers. The specific steps he suggested carry echoes of industrial policy, which calls for a level of government involvement in the free market anathema to many economists and, at least previously, most Republican politicians. The idea enjoyed brief U.S. popularity in the 1980s amid fears that Japan's government-backed companies were destroying the U.S. technology industry. It then subsided as American tech companies surged ahead in the 1990s. Critics of free trade frequently note that China and Europe still run their own industrial policies. Barr argued that Huawei and, by extension, the Chinese government stands to dominate the industrial internet and reap the economic rewards unless the U.S. and its allies take quick, dramatic and unprecedented action. Huawei is the world's largest maker of telecom equipment. I would call that crazy, Michael Thelander, CEO of telecom consultancy Signals Research Group, said of Barr's idea of taking over European equipment companies. For the government to effectively take over a corporate entity doesn't sound like a very Republican position, he said. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson criticized Barr's idea of a government stake in private companies during a CNBC interview, and said that investing in software would help get around the need for Huawei. The Trump administration has positioned the transition to 5G as a race, particularly with China. It has cast Huawei as a de facto arm of the Chinese government that could enable global espionage. Huawei has denied these allegations. Despite its global footprint, Huawei has been largely absent from the U.S. since 2012, when a congressional panel warned phone carriers to avoid Huawei. The U.S. government has also taken steps to try to excise Huawei from small and rural wireless networks that still rely on its equipment, and has pressured allies to kick Huawei out of their telecom networks. Theres a certain amount of desperation here as the U.S. government tries to figure out what do on 5G, said Washington lawyer David Hanke, a former GOP congressional aide. Hanke, however, said Barr's suggestion might be the least-worst option for dealing with Huawei, since the alternative would be permanent Chinese domination of the global market for 5G technology. Huawei has grown in Asia, Europe and Africa, helped by its dramatically lower prices, said Roger Entner, a telecom expert with Recon Analytics. Nokia and Ericsson have lost some market share along the way. Any acquisition of a majority stake in Ericsson or Nokia by an American company, let alone the U.S. government, would likely draw close scrutiny by European governments and EU regulators. Some European nations have also suggested setting up regional champions that could compete with U.S. and Chinese giants. The U.S. has other alternatives. A bipartisan group of senators have proposed a bill to invest $1 billion in Western alternatives to Huawei and ZTE, another Chinese telecom-equipment maker, by focusing on software. Kudlow also said in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal that the administration was working with U.S. tech and telecom companies to develop software that could help reduce the need for Huawei's equipment. Barr dismissed that approach Thursday, calling it pie in the sky" that could take a decade or more to implement. Telecom experts say it could be ready much sooner. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The U.S. could also support research and development at the European companies, said James Lewis, director of the Technology Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He noted that Nokia and Ericsson are both big employers in the U.S. The FCC declined to comment on Barr's remarks. Democratic FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that discord over 5G policy showed that the Trump administration doesn't have a plan to secure our 5G future." Ericsson and Nokia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Barr held bonds issued by Nokia as of December 2018, but he was required to sell them along with dozens of other holdings when he became attorney general last year, according to financial disclosure reports filed with a federal ethics agency. He has worked in the telecom field as general counsel for Verizon, which he left in 2008. __ Paul Wiseman, Kevin Freking and Marcy Gordon in Washington, D.C.; Matt O'Brien in Providence, R.I., and Carlo Piovano in London contributed reporting. A pilot with General Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army recorded a video of himself flying an MI-35 combat helicopter at high speed and low altitude over a highway in the north of the country. The video captures the pilot, Abdel Kader, flying past cars before he gains a little altitude and whizzes over the city of New Brega. The pilot regularly records and shares dazzling videos of himself flying at speed on social media. Haftar began an offensive in 2019 to capture Tripoli from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, and on December 12, the general announced a final battle for the Mediterranean city. In early February, officers from both sides of the countrys civil war held UN-sponsored talks in Geneva, Switzerland, in an attempt to build a lasting ceasefire, according to reports. Credit: Pilot_Beka via Storyful Cork needs to stop acting like amateurs when it comes to delivering the necessary infrastructure that makes the city a desirable place in which to live and work. As the country goes to the polls today, Cork Chamber president Paula Cogan challenged the next government to aggressively and relentlessly improve the quality of life of its citizens. She was speaking to more than 1,000 company leaders at the Chambers annual dinner in Cork City Hall last night. Ms Cogan hit out at the lack of progress on important developments and said the region and country cannot afford to simply catch up with other countries. We must move swiftly and lead, she said. The race is competitive, but are we training like amateurs? Timelines come and go. We talk about public transport but build no bus lanes. We set density targets but we dont enhance construction viability. Cork slowly begins to sprawl. Ms Cogan said the Cork Metropolitan Area transport strategy contains 3.5bn for sustainable transport in Cork but said 500m is needed now to deliver quick wins after a decade of under-investment. Simple things make all the difference, said Ms Cogan. Traffic lights that change for pedestrians. Room on a footpath for a pram or wheelchair. "Bikes and safe spaces to ride them. Buses and trains that arrive on time, and with a frequency that makes the timetable irrelevant. If we want to avoid playing like amateurs we need to stop acting like amateurs. Enough time has been spent making do with incremental change. We need game changers now. Lets put it simply. If over the lifespan of the next national Government and current local Government, we do not comprehensively deliver cycle and public transport infrastructure, we have lost. At last nights annual dinner Irish Distillers was named the Cork Company of the Year for driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. In this report, we attributed comments during a speech at an annual dinner by Cork Chamber president Paula Cogan, which criticised Cork City Council over the provision of infrastructure.Ms. Cogan made no such reference to the city council, and the error was introduced to the story at the editing stage. We apologise to Ms. Cogan and Cork City Council for this inaccuracy. Bettystown Beach is joining the likes of Moscow, Cancun and Rome by hosting a round of the 2020 beach Volleyball World Tour from July 17-19th 2020. The successful hosting of the Olympic Beach Volleyball qualifiers on Bettystown beach in 2019 once more highlighted the potential of Bettystown Beach as an International Sporting Venue. The Beach Management Committee are delighted to have been involved in encouraging such events to visit the East Meath Coast. 'We congratulate Volleyball Ireland on winning the bid to host the 2020 event and we thank them for choosing Bettystown beach as the venue. We look forward to welcoming the World of Beach Volleyball to Bettystown Beach July 17-19,' they stated. The tournament will be ,en's only, featuring some of the best players in the World ahead of the Summer Olympics, it will also re-unite the top Irish pairing of Oisin McArdle and Alex Gibbons who are very much looking forward to the support of the Irish crowds, Gibbons said, "I'm delighted that Ireland will host the 1* event, it's the best buzz to play in front of a home crowd I cant wait to get back on Irish Sand in July. I've been training hard in Australia over the winter with some top players and hopefully I can bring this form into the Irish Summer." The tournament will include a qualification section on Day 1 (Friday 17 July), before the main draw kicks off on the Saturday. Volleyball Ireland president Grainne Culliton added, "These events are a key part of our strategy to raise the profile of the sport, and to inspire the next generation of players. 'Our volunteers really put on a great show at last years Olympic Qualifier and this success is down to them. We are grateful for the trust that the CEV and FIVB are putting in us, and we cant wait to go again. Events like this really show we are serious about developing the sport, and they allow us to build great relationships with our partners like Meath County Council.' As part of activities around the competition, including the launch of a new Social Volley programme for beginner players and a Beach Volleyball camp for juniors. Commenting on the news, Meath Cllr Sharon Tolan stated, "I am delighted that Bettystown Beach will host its second International Beach Volleyball Tournament. Events like this really bring alive the area and we hope that all of our local residents, businesses and visitors can get involved in a wonderful weekend showing off a beautiful stretch of our coastline." Last years event drew excellent crowds to the 500seater pop up stadium and surrounding dunes, gaining widespread media interest both locally and nationally. Nagaland Assembly on Saturday witnessed noisy scenes, as opposition NPF protested against the newly amended Citizenship Act, and insisted that an anti-CAA resolution should be passed in the House, taking a cue from states such as Kerala and Bengal. Rejecting the demand of the Naga People's Front (NPF), Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton iterated that the law would not affect the Nagas, as states with Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime have been exempted from its purview. Opposition Leader T R Zeliang, along with NPF MLAs Chotisuh Sazo and Chumben Murry, during a discussion on matters of public importance, however, reasoned that the ILP would not impede influx of illegal immigrants. Zeliang also said that Assam, the gateway to the northeast, had not been entirely exempted from the purview of the law, making Nagaland, with its porous borders, susceptible to illegal infiltration. "Let us study the case and find out if the Centre is truly planning to accord citizenship to the persecuted. If that is the case, why only three countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- have been included in the law? Why not people from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and the Buddhists from Tibet? "Does this Act truly stand for what the central government claims, or is it a law to garner votes," he said. The senior NPF leader also stated that immigrants in Assam, once granted citizenship, could find their way to other states in the northeast. "Who can stop people in Assam, granted citizenship by the powers vested in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, from making their way into our state?" Zeliang said. Patton contended that Nagas were fully protected and an anti-CAA resolution was unnecessary. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in December, had given assurances that the law would not have any impact on the people of the state, he said, adding that the "state appreciated the Centre's move". (L-R) Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) participate in the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College on February 07, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Just days before the crucial New Hampshire primary, Democratic presidential candidates debated which of them would be best suited to take on President Donald Trump in 2020 and pulled no punches against each other in the process. "You've got to able to not just win" in a general election, former Vice President Joe Biden said in his pitch to voters. Biden, who faces an uphill battle after a poor showing in Iowa, said the candidate must have coattails to help elect Democrats down the ballot as well. "You've got to bring along a United States Senate, or this becomes moot," he said. Seven Democrats appeared on the Manchester, New Hampshire, debate stage, four days before that state's pivotal election, and in the wake of the disastrous Iowa caucus, which failed to deliver a clear winner. Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who claimed victory in the botched Iowa contest and has seen a recent surge in New Hampshire polls, fielded attacks from nearly all of his rivals on the stage. The youngest candidate in the race, he sparred with Biden in an exchange about job experience and butted heads with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on the question of political courage. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who also declared himself the winner in Iowa, took heat over his commitment to a universal, government-funded "Medicare for All" health care plan. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who was looking to regain frontrunner status in New Hampshire, scored some of the loudest cheers of the night when she called for "a national law to protect the right of a woman's choice" to have an abortion. Billionaire Tom Steyer and entrepreneur Andrew Yang also appeared on stage. Steyer advocated for welcoming a more diverse coalition into the Democratic Party, while Yang reprised his central campaign promise to implement a universal basic income plan. But there were moments of solidarity and even a hug between the candidates, who saved their harshest words for Trump. The president spent the second half of his week taking a loud and lengthy victory lap after the GOP-led Senate acquitted him on two articles of impeachment. Here are the top moments from the eighth Democratic primary debate: Biden predicts he'll take 'a hit' in New Hampshire Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Biden gestures towards Senator Sanders during the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. Bryan Snyder | Reuters Biden admitted early in the debate that he expects to take a hit in the upcoming New Hampshire primary after his poor performance in the Iowa caucus. "I took a hit in Iowa and I'll probably take a hit here," he said on the debate stage in Manchester. Biden came in fourth place in the first nominating contest, a devastating blow to his campaign. Even though the results in that caucus were delayed and marred by technical issues, Sanders and Buttigieg took home the top prizes in Iowa, appearing to be nearly tied for first place. But Biden vowed to stay in the fight. "I always knew that the first four encounters two primaries, two caucuses" would be a starting point, he said. Biden maintained that he is the candidate who has the best chance to unseat Trump in November. In an NBC News/Marist poll of New Hampshire voters released Friday, Biden came in fourth behind Sanders, Buttigieg and Warren at 13%, potentially indicating another disappointing result for the man who was considered the Democratic front-runner for much of the cycle. 'Medicare for All' brawl Democratic presidential hopeful former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg (L) speaks next to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren during the eighth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by ABC News, WMUR-TV and Apple News at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, on February 7, 2020. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images Health care policy, and specifically Medicare for All, has been a major point of contention in each of the previous debates and Friday's was no exception. "Bernie says that you have to bring people together and you have to have Medicare for All . [he] says he wrote the damn thing," Biden said, referring to Sanders' universal health care bill in the Senate. "But he's unwilling to tell us what the damn thing's going to cost," Biden said. "How much is it going to cost? Who's going to pay for it?" "The idea [that] middle class taxes aren't going to go up is just crazy," Biden added. Sanders responded that the "status quo" offered by Biden will cost even more. "We are spending twice as much per capita as the people of any other country," Sanders told Biden, who was vice president during the passage of the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the health care industry last year made $100 billion in profit." Klobuchar then broke in. "I keep listening to this same debate, and it is not real. It is not real, Bernie, because two thirds of the Democrats in the Senate are not on your bill, and because it would kick 149 million Americans off their current health insurance in four years," she said, garnering a loud reaction from the crowd. Sanders and Warren favor Medicare for All a plan that would eliminate private insurers while the other candidates favor building on the Obama-passed plan with features like a public option. Klobuchar attacks Buttigieg Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks at the Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., February 7, 2020. Brian Snyder | Reuters Klobuchar took aim at Buttigieg multiple times following his strong finish in Iowa. She pointed to a 2018 tweet in which he expressed full-throated support for Medicare for All. Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar now say moving quickly to a single-payer system is unrealistic. She also highlighted what she called "courage" from Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama and Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted to convict Trump after his Senate impeachment trial when they knew they would face political consequences. After going through the trial herself, she criticized Buttigieg for saying the process was tiring. "You said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons," she said. Buttigieg responded that he was describing the feelings of impeachment fatigue he saw among many Americans with whom he has spoken on the campaign trail. "If the Senate was the jury before, you are the jury now," Buttigieg said to the crowd. Democrats slam Trump's attacks on Biden's son Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., Feb 7, 2020. Brian Snyder | Reuters Even after Biden questioned Buttigieg's readiness to take on the role of president, the former South Bend mayor stood up for his son Hunter, whom Trump has attacked for his role as a board member on a Ukrainian gas company while his father was the vice president. Trump's impeachment trial centered around the president's alleged dealing with Ukraine, in which he pressured that country's president to announce investigations into the Bidens while withholding nearly $400 million of congressionally approved military aid. "This is not about Hunter Biden or any Biden," Buttigieg said. "We are not going to let them change the subject." "To be the kind of human being who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father is an unbelievably dishonorable thing, that is just one more example of why we as a party have to be completely united in doing whatever it takes at the end of the day to make sure that this president does not get a second term," he said. Biden thanked Buttigieg for his comments, adding that Trump is going to "make up lies" about whoever becomes the nominee. The former veep then asked the audience to applaud another figure in the impeachment ordeal: Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who served as the director for European Affairs for the U.S. National Security Council until his dismissal earlier on Friday. Vindman testified against Trump during the House impeachment inquiry. "I think we should all stand and give Colonel Vindman a show of how much we support him," Biden said. "Stand up and clap for Vindman!" Candidates spar on race Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at the Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., Feb 7, 2020. Brian Snyder | Reuters Buttigieg sidestepped a question about why the number of marijuana possession arrests among black residents in South Bend increased under his leadership. Rather than answer the question directly, Buttigieg instead said that that category of arrests was lower in his city than the national average. He then pivoted to discussing racism more broadly, before being called out by the moderator for deflecting. When asked if Buttigieg's response was substantial, Warren replied simply, "No." "It's important to own up to the facts about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system," she said. Warren referenced her housing plan, saying that the United States needs to "start having race-conscious laws." "It was the policy of the United States of America to discriminate against African Americans and any other people of color for buying homes until 1965," she said. "You can't just repeal that and say, 'Okay, now everything is even.' It's not." Yang then jumped into the discussion, saying that "you can't regulate away racism with a whole patchwork of new laws that are race specific." Warren blasts Bloomberg's billions Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign stop at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4, 2020. Jeff Kowalsky | Getty Images Photo: Contributed One of the restaurant's manager claims that the restaurant will be closed as of Feb. 17, but will reopen in May A photo of an employment termination letter from a Richmond restaurant was posted on social media claiming that restaurant service will be suspended due to the ongoing novel coronavirus affecting business. Employees at Parklane Chinese Restaurant on the second floor of London Plaza at No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway received a notice notifying their work positions will be terminated on Feb. 2. The notice stated that due to coronavirus concern(s), business has dropped significantly and that business will be suspended as of Feb. 17. Also, the restaurant will compensate the employees according to the B.C. labour laws. However, one of the restaurants managers, who goes by the last name Wong, told the Richmond News that the restaurant will be closed mainly because of planned renovations, but is taking the opportunity to close earlier with growing concerns around the coronavirus. The restaurant was scheduled to start renovations at the end of February even before the coronavirus hit, said Wong, adding that they are closing earlier because of the decline in business. All the employees were aware of the renovation plans for a while and they signed the form including myself. The employees, said Wong, understand that the restaurant needs to be empty for work to be done. He added that it isnt unusual to close for a couple of months and they are estimated to re-open and rehire in May. Kilkenny Castle has come first in a list of attractions. Photo: Vickys Photography Kilkenny Kilkenny Castle Parklands has been revealed as Ireland's top free tourist attraction, with the Guinness Storehouse remaining at the top of the tree overall. Some 799,032 people poured through the gates of the popular Kilkenny Castle Parkland last year, meaning it has claimed the number one spot on Failte Ireland's top ten free to enter attractions for 2018 list. The Kilkenny attraction is a new entry on the list, which Failte Ireland said is "largely due to the fact we put in counters with OPW in 2017 so we have a full year's count in 2018." The castle, which is over 800 years old, allows visitors to capture the nineteenth-century lifestyle of the Butlers of Ormonde, an Anglo-Norman family who bought the castle during the first Norman invasion. Coming second was the National Gallery of Ireland, which saw 775,491 people visit during 2018. 732,824 tourists set off for Glendalough last year, making it third on the list. In tenth place is the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre in Meath, another new addition to the list, with 355,608 visitors. As for the top paid attractions, the Guinness Storehouse has been named the most popular as it attracted 1,736,156 visitors over the year. Expand Close The Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate in Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate in Dublin The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience follows in second with 1,580,000 tourists taking a trip there, while 1,230,145 visited Dublin Zoo making it third on the list. Failte Ireland Director of Product Development, Orla Carroll said: "I think if you look down the list you'll see a commonality in the sense that they are all really good, immersive attractions. The idea being that the visitor is engaged and learning something about our culture and heritage. Expand Close Cliffs of Moher / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cliffs of Moher "I suppose they're quite unique experiences to Ireland, so you don't find a Guinness Storehouse anywhere else, you don't find a Kilkenny Parklands, Kylemore Abbey is very more specific to Ireland. "It offers a genuine Irish experience in an immersive way," she added. Expand Close Amur tigers at Dublin Zoo (Aisleen Greene/PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amur tigers at Dublin Zoo (Aisleen Greene/PA Wire) "We have changed it slightly this year in the sense of our definition of what an attraction is. What's important from a tourism perspective is visitors from international, or that they're not locals. So previously, sometimes, locals walking in the grounds were counted, so we've omitted that this year." Read More Failte Ireland recently announced its 150m Platforms for Growth plan, which is designed to develop major new visitor attractions across the country. "In May this year, we announced funding of up to a total 150m through our new Platforms for Growth initiative. The first Platform is Iconic Immersive Attractions with individual grants available for large-scale visitor attractions of 2.5million upwards. "This is Failte Irelands largest programme of investment yet and with continued investment like this, and through our work with partners across the country, we look forward to seeing new locations feature on the top attractions survey list," Carroll said. The full list of paid top attractions include: Guinness Storehouse (1,736,156 visitors) Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience (1,580,000), Dublin Zoo (1,230,145) Book of Kells (1,057,642) Tayto Park (700,000). The top free tourist attractions are: Manchester, N.H. Pete Buttigiegs strong finish in Iowa, where he came in less than two points behind Bernie Sanders on the final vote and roughly tied Sanders for state delegates, has propelled him upward in New Hampshire polls. In Suffolks tracking poll, Buttigieg trailed Sanders 11 percent to 24 percent in New Hampshire right before Iowa, but he had closed the gap to one point 23 percent to 24 percent in that same tracking poll conducted February 56. Did anything happen at Fridays debate in Manchester to change the dynamic of the race? The frontrunner Sanders seemed to escape relatively unscathed. Joe Biden was the only candidate on stage to hit him hard on Medicare for All and Sanderss past support of gun rights, but there was no defining moment that appeared likely to send the Vermont socialist sinking in New Hampshire. Buttigieg, on the other hand, did take some hard shots from Amy Klobuchar, who portrayed the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Ind., as a child. We got a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us, Klobuchar said after noting Buttigieg is himself the cool newcomer. She hit Buttigieg for saying hed rather watch cartoons than the Senate impeachment trial. Klobuchar was shading the truth a little bit. Buttigieg did indeed say: I live and breathe politics, and I find it exhausting. Its just it gets you down and makes you want to watch cartoons instead. But he went on to say that this was a temptation that the cynics want Democrats to give in to. Klobuchar was on firmer ground when she went after Buttigiegs past support for Medicare for All. Buttigieg said at the debate that he has been consistent throughout on the issue of Medicare for All, but in 2018 he tweeted: I, Pete Buttigieg, politician, do henceforth and forthwith declare, most affirmatively and indubitably, unto the ages, that I do favor Medicare for All, as I do favor any measure that would help get all Americans covered. Story continues The former mayor drew fire from other candidates on stage as well. I dont know what about the past about Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad, Joe Biden said. Buttigieg replied that those achievements were phenomenally important because they met the moment but that now we have to meet this moment, and this moment is different. All in all, Biden was more lively than he has been in the past but still turned in an unsteady performance. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, the former vice president said at the outset of the debate. Elizabeth Warren, who probably needs good news out of New Hampshire more than Biden does (he still has a chance in South Carolina regardless of Tuesdays outcome), was lackluster on Friday night. She preferred to stick to her script rather than forcefully debate her opponents. She may have stayed above the fray, but she didnt do much to stay at the top of voters minds. The New Hampshire contest was Klobuchars best debate overall. She was poised and collected, and it was smart from her perspective to hit Buttigieg, whose supporters overlap the most with hers. Her attacks on Buttigieg certainly didnt seem to be powerful enough to send Buttigieg tumbling downward the way Chris Christies attack on Marco Rubio did at the 2016 GOP debate. But was it a strong-enough debate performance for Klobuchar to leapfrog Buttigieg in New Hampshire and become a real contender for the nomination? Well know soon enough. More from National Review More than a dozen political and social activists from north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Saturday joined the BJP here, pledging to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the Union Territory. Nine of the new entrants into the BJP are from Uri constituency including joint secretary of youth National Conference Mohammad Akram, People's Conference Organiser Ishfaq Ahmad Lone, sarpanch Sofiya Begum and Panchayat chairman Javid Hussain, a party release said. It said former vice zonal president of PDP (Tangmarg) Abdul Ahad Malik, Panch Mohammad Shafi Najar and several other social workers from Rafiabad also joined the party. "We have come to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister for the welfare of the region. Modi's mission of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has touched the lives of the minority communities and every section which was neglected for the past seven decades," the statement said quoting the new entrants. They said that Modi's policies have benefited everyone from every region. "Today new hope and confidence is infused in common Kashmiri as Kashmir now progresses on the path of peace and development. People of Kashmir have seen enough bloodshed and violence and now it is the time for development," the statement said. Welcoming them into the party fold, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul said their joining will further strengthen the BJP in the valley and asked them to render their whole-hearted services for the benefit of common masses as representative of BJP in their respective areas. "The BJP has gained confidence of every person cutting across the lines of region or religion. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are fast moving on the path of peace and progress and BJP is here to ensure this," Kaul said. He said the Modi-led government has won hearts of minorities in the country, while other political parties in the past misused them and considered them as a mere vote bank. "Even, to this day, those parties are trying to vitiate the brotherhood of nation for their vested interests," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China is again making a major effort to sell its J-10 jet fighter to export customers. The J-10CE, the export version of the Chinese Air Force J-10C was on display at a November 2019 air show, along with eager sales reps looking for customers. There were some nibbles but nothing serious. The E designates an export model, with some advanced or highly-classified, items left out. The J-10CE appeared to have all its major new features and apparently the only items left out were Chines IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) transponders and similar China-specific features of the communications or defensive systems. Sales reps touted the J-10CE as having the same capabilities as the latest version of the F-16; the F-16V or (as offered to India the F-21). The sales force men pointed out that the J-10CE had all the advanced electronics in the F-16V as well as some stealth features like radar absorbing surfaces and stealthy air intakes. Every sales pitch ended with an emphasis on the fact the J-10CE cost only $40 million, half of what the F-16V was selling for. That was also a lot less than modern European jets like Eurofighter or Rafale as well as the latest Russian offerings like the MiG-35 or the latest Sukhoi models. What the J-10 sales reps did not want to discuss was what most potential customers already knew; the F-16 had an exceptional service and combat record and was the most widely exported post-Cold War fighter. In contrast, the J-10 first flew in 1998 and entered service six years later. Less than 500 J-10s have been produced so far and none have been bought by export customers. The F-16 entered service in 1978, four years after the first flight and nearly 5,000 have been produced so far. Over a third of F-16s were purchased by export customers and sales are still brisk. The reputation of the J-10 is less attractive. The J-10 is considered less safe to operate with at least eight of them crashing since 2014. The F-16 has a much better safety record. The Chinese J-10 sales force was also had to deal with the fact that the Middle East is full of satisfied F-16 customers, including Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Iraq and several Persian Gulf states. This satisfaction was expressed by repeat orders for F-16s. In 2017 Bahrain ordered another 22 F-16V jet fighters along with upgrades of their existing F-16s to the F-16V standard. This deal involved a lot of additional equipment, training and tech support for all the Bahrani F-16s and cost a total of $3.86 billion. The F-16V Block 70 is similar to the F-16E Block 60 Desert Eagle the UAE (United Arab Emirates) next door has been using since 2005. Bahrain has been using F-16s since 1990 and has already upgraded them with items like targeting pods and the ability to deliver smart bombs like JDAM (GPS). Originally their F-16s were mainly used for air defense but ones like the F-16E and the Israeli F-16I were obviously more effective and the way to go. The Chinese are undeterred and keep seeking export customers for the J-10 while also improving it. China finally got the latest version of the J10 fighter, the J10C, into service in mid-2017, 13 years after the first J10s entered service in 2004. This in itself was after a long (since 1988) effort to get an original modern Chinese fighter design operational. This latest J-10 version uses more composites in the airframe and has improved electronics. This includes a new AESA radar. The J10 is the most widely used modern Chinese jet fighter, with over 400 in service. More numerous are several different models of modern Russian jets. Legal and illegal copies of the Russian Su-27/30 were obtained by the end of the 1990s. In mid-2019 China finally formed its first fighter squadron equipped with J-10C. There were about 40 J-10Cs in service then and a full-strength fighter squadron has 24 aircraft. It is unclear if the first J-10C squadron was at full strength, many squadrons are not. The J-10C began arriving at the new squadron in May 2019 and many were still being used for training and testing. China produced a lot of J10s because, well, they were a Chinese, not Russian, design. That meant it took longer to get the J10 into service and China used the J10 to advertise its new aircraft development capabilities. This includes Chinese developed electronics. This includes a glass cockpit, helmets with built-in HUD (head-up display), look and shoot capabilities and AESA radar. J10s got the first Chinese fire control systems that handled smart bombs (satellite or laser-guided). The J10 was the first to receive targeting pods, ECM (electronic countermeasures) pods and improved fly-by-wire systems. The J10 was also the first Chinese jet fighter to switch to Chinese made engines rather than ones bought from Russia. Until 2019 the J10 still depended on the more reliable Russian made AL-31 engines. That has now changed with the WS10 standard on all newly built J-10s and for those in need of an engine replacement Partly because of the Russian engine, China has not been able to get any export orders for the J-10. China has to get Russian permission for the AL-31 engines used in exported J-10s and the Russians would not automatically cooperate. Before the J10 entered service China began buying the most modern Russian fighters (Su-27/30) in the 1990s and were able to buy and steal a lot of Russian aircraft tech during the 1990s because Russia was broke and the only thing keeping the Russian military aviation producers in business was export sales. China and India were the biggest customers and China, unlike India, had more advanced aircraft production capabilities and fewer scruples when it came to stealing foreign technology. Before the 1990s ended China had created an illegal copy of the Su-27, calling it the Chinese developed J11. Russia knew better and despite China continuing to claim the J11 design is Chinese, and that it just happens to resemble the Su-27, China has not tried to sell the J11 to export customers. Only two jet fighters designed in China were offered for export; the J10 and the JF17. Only the JF17, designed as a joint effort with Pakistan. Until 1989, when the U.S. imposed sanctions,American aircraft firm Grumman was also involved. China and Pakistan continued alone. While prototypes and most of the components for the JF17 were Chinese built, the main export customer was Pakistan and China never bought any, mainly because by the time the JF17 was in service (2007) the J10 was already in production and was considered a superior aircraft. Technically the JF-17 is a Pakistani aircraft because most are assembled there. Pakistan has exported some to Burma and Nigeria because Russia agreed to supply and support the RD-93 engines required. In return, Pakistan has been buying more Russian weapons. Pakistan was not interested in the J10 because it also had F-16s, which is was very satisfied with and the locally assembled JF-17. The J10 looks something like the American F-16 and weighs about the same (19 tons). Like the F-16 the J10 has only one engine and the aircraft is longer than the F-16 to accommodate the larger Russian/Chinese engines. It's no accident that the J10 resembles the F-16 because Israel sold China the technology for their Lavi jet fighter, a "super-F-16" design that Israel abandoned in 1987 because it was too expensive. China always insisted the J10 was an original Chinese design but after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 a lot of Russian engineers and scientists who assisted China in developing the J10 revealed details about how the Chinese had access to the Lavi design data and used it extensively. Israel wont comment because the U.S. cracked down on Israeli sales of military technology to China during the 1990s. Despite the J10 being the first Chinese designed modern fighter and the most produced model, China has purchased more legal and illegal versions of the Su-27/30. Russia is still selling China improved versions of the Su-30 design with an understanding, part of it in writing, that any tech stolen from these aircraft will not be offered for export. The understanding is that if China tried the export the stolen tech Russia would make a fuss, sue and make China look bad China has gone on to develop several stealth fighter designs that are sufficiently Chinese (and not stolen foreign tech) to be offered for export. Not many takers, not yet anyway. China appears to feel their new stealth designs are not ready for active service or export customers. Getting all the new tech working together, as well as developing a powerful enough engine, are major obstacles. A less powerful Chinese engine is being used temporarily. While China declared its J-20 stealth fighter ready for service in 2019, the reality was it was still in development. China fears the J-20 will have some of the same problems that still plague the J-10 Despite the help from Israel and Russia, the J10 turned out to perform poorly in air-to-air combat. In response, the Chinese concentrated on reconfiguring the design to operate as fighter-bombers (the J-10B). This version carries over five tons of bombs and missiles and has been equipped with a fire control system for delivering missiles and smart bombs. The J10B didnt enter service until 2014 and did not get its solid-state AESA radar until the J10C, basically, an upgraded J10B, appeared and was declared as capable as late-model F-16s. That was not true and potential export customers told the Chinese. China will eventually find export customers for its jet fighters. But not the flawed J-10. China already has many satisfied export customers for its large armed UAVs. These are similar in performance to the American Predator and Reaper but a lot cheaper. ALBANY The Capital Region may be home to state government but business leaders have little use for the bureaucrats, lawmakers and politicians who inhabit the Empire State Plaza and adjacent Capitol building, according to this years Siena College Research Institute poll of business leaders. The word onerous came up several times in interviews with Capital Region business leaders when it came to their assessment of how New York state is doing when it comes to helping the private sector. By the numbers, 61 percent of those in the Capital Region believe the state is doing a poor job of creating good business climate and 45 percent are not at all confident that New York government can create a good climate in the next year. Of challenges that Capital Region businesses face, 64 percent cited government regulation, behind health care costs at 70 percent. Many said they view state government the politicians, governor, and legislature as an ongoing nuisance, kind of like a persistent rash that is troublesome but not necessarily fatal. Weve learned to adjust even if we dont have confidence in the government, said Richard Paulsen of Paulsen Development, which builds and operates multifamily housing and medical buildings. INTERACTIVE: Find out how CEO's responded to the survey. Click the arrow to go to the next question. Open the menu to jump to a different section of the survey. Like others, he cited the time, money and effort it takes to file all the reports and comply with the states numerous regulations. There are so many things we have to report, Paulsen said. Its gotten more difficult with the state Senate now being in Democratic hands. That means the entire legislature is under one-party control. Lawmakers, who are heavily oriented toward the states population centers in New York City and its suburbs, have granted new tenant protections which may be fine for renters. But for the landlords like Paulsen, its more work and money. Paulsen had to hire a lawyer to walk his organization through the new lease regulations. One makes it harder to keep deposits, even if a tenant has damaged an apartment. They recently had to replace a carpet for $3,000 when a tenant had tracked tar across it. They tried to clean it to no avail. But by the time the cleaning effort ended, the new timetable for giving back deposits passed and the tenant got his $1,000 deposit back despite the damage. RELATED: CEOs say job applicants in region aren't always up to the task Recession? CEOs are on the fence Paulsen said he knows of several developers who have left the state for places like North Carolina. If you are going to open a manufacturing plant why would you come to a state that has the highest workers compensation rates in the country and the most onerous labor regulations?, asked Mark Woodward, of The Woodward Co., which supplies fasteners and other parts for heavy construction projects. Hes seen plenty of customers close down or move out of state over the years. Since he has a regional market, he sees how construction is booming in other places. Workers compensation rates came up in several conversations as did complaints, unprompted, about the new sexual harassment training that businesses are now required to give thanks to a new law. Its another cost of doing business, said Michelle Rea of the New York State Press Association, which represents 721 member newspapers. Developing an anti-harassment course or training program is costly for small newspapers that might have to hire a lawyer or consultant for the task. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Then there are the ongoing requests from the state Labor Department to justify their classification of workers such as delivery drivers or free-lancers as contractors rather than employees. Were challenged every year by the Department of Labor, she said. Not all of the remarks were downbeat. David Schultz of the Media Logic USA advertising and marketing firm thinks the states long term investments in developing a nanotechnology center at Albanys state university campus has helped the region transition to the high tech economy. But he wonders about the cost of it all. Politicians, he believes, can be overly optimistic with their predictions about what their subsidized mega-projects will actually generate. Sometimes they get a little starry eyed about what jobs might come or what jobs get promised, he said. I dont love those big handouts. For some, government investment has paid dividends, though. They were visionaries, Bob Belber, general manager of the Times Union Center, said of the politicians who financed the arena, which opened in 1990. Putting in a sizable facility has allowed innumerable concerts and events to come to Albany and it has provided a nucleus for surrounding restaurants and hotels. Thats really paid off. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU About the survey The 2019 Upstate New York Business Leaders Survey, is sponsored by The Business Council and conducted by the Siena College Research Institute. Nearly 670 CEO's from for-profit upstate companies with annual sales between $2.5 million and $200 million responded to the survey, including 135 CEOs in the Capital Region. As his victims family cried and embraced each other in relief a mere few feet behind him, a Bergenfield man who stalked, killed and dismembered his estranged girlfriend was sentenced Friday to life in prison during an emotional hearing in Bergen County. Raphael Lolos, 43, killed Jenny Londono, 31, his former girlfriend and an Edgewater bar manager, in June 2017. Superior Court Judge Robert Vinci handed down a sentence that calls for Lolos to serve 63 years before he can be eligible for parole. Lolos was also sentenced to five years each for desecrating human remains, hindering apprehension, stalking and another 10 years for multiple credit card fraud charges, which will all run concurrently with the life sentence. While the life sentence was justice, it was of small consolation to Gladys Quintero, Londonos mother, who stifled her tears for most of the proceedings. Lolos had destroyed her life, Quinteros said in Spanish during an impact statement before the court, and nothing could put it back together. I want the judge to know that man destroyed my life, Quintero said in court. She was my little girl. My daughter. The one I most loved in this world. He ended me and he ended my family. The hours-long sentencing draws to a close a trial that portrayed a man obsessed with his girlfriend, constantly jealous and going so far as to install a tracking device on her car so he knew her whereabouts at all times. The turbulent and allegedly abusive relationship reached its nadir when, on June 25, 2017, Londono went missing. Two days later, part of her lower torso surfaced in the Hudson River in Brooklyn, New York She was ultimately identified by a Sanskrit-language tattoo below her right hip. Both Londono and Lolos were seen leaving the Luna Lounge, in Englewood, together the morning she vanished. The trial, which ended in November when Lolos was convicted of stalking and murdering Londono, laid out the hours and days that followed Londonos disappearance. It showed Lolos using Londonos own credit cards to purchase two meat cleavers, including one he used to dismember her, and garbage bags to throw away her remains. Lolos dumped the remnants of her body in the Hudson River. Fabio Rodriguez, Jennifer Londono's stepfather, buries his face in his hands during the sentencing of Raphael Lolos Friday Feb. 7, 2020.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media For most of the Friday hearing, Lolos remained quiet, speaking softly to Emile Lisboa, his attorney. When the judge asked if he wanted to say anything, Lolos at first declined, simply uttering No. But when Assistant Prosecutor Demetra Maurice began to speak, recounting allegations of domestic violence against Lolos with his estranged wife, and Londono, Lolos turned to look at Maurice, eyes trained on the assistant prosecutor for most of the time she spoke. And then his voice broke Maurices statements, as she described the discovery of Londonos body and its identification. But you made the mistake of stating that I went with her mother, Lolos interrupted. The first time you found out. Immediately. You made that mistake. You didnt say that to them. Okay. So tell the judge the truth. You have it. You said it. You knew from the grand jury." After Vinci interjected to tell Lolos he could make a statement at a later time, Lolos told Vinci there was no statement. Then he said, "Because now you know, said Lolos. She knew that. Never denied it. Its unclear to what exactly Lolos was referring. Gladys Quintero mother of Jennifer Londono wipes tears off her face during the sentencing of Raphael Lolos.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media Motions for acquittal and a new trial by Emile Lisboa, Lolos attorney, were both denied by Vinci. And in a statement on behalf of Lolos, Lisboa said his client maintained his innocence and his love of Londono. Mr. Lolos loved and still loves Ms. Londono and did no harm to her, said Lisboa. The courtroom had filled with Londonos family and friends, most of them clad in black, including Quintero, Londonos stepbrother Kenny Rodriguez and her stepfather Fabio Rodriguez. And Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella attended the sentencing as well. I think in this case justice was served," Fabio Rodriguez, Londonos stepfather who raised her since she was a teenager, said. "We hoped for nothing less. He deserves it. That and more. The life sentence was justice, said Quintero. But more so, it would guard the public from Lolos, she said. This life sentence wont bring her back, Quintero said through tears after the hearing. "But its a relief that another mother wont suffer what Im suffering. Assistant Prosecutor Demetra A. Maurice during the sentencing of Raphael Lolos.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Vietnamese tour companies and hotels are concerned revenues could slip as the new coronavirus slashes the number of Chinese tourists. Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy director of Hanoi Redtours, said his company had canceled 15 tours to China during the seven-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday last month due to the novel coronavirus (nCoV). This has cost the company VND7 billion ($300,000), with a further 30 tours already canceled in the next two months, he added. Leading tourism firm Vietravel has canceled trips for about 1,000 visitors to Vietnam in the same period. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy director of the company, estimated the firm would lose tens of billions of dong (VND10 billion = $430,000) in costs for pre-booked visas and services. The company has canceled all Chinese tours to Vietnam until end March. Saigon Tourist Marketing and Communications Director Doan Thi Thanh Ha said the company has canceled plans for 500 tourists to travel to China during the Tet holiday, and is working on refunding them or switching to another destination. Da Nang-based Hava Travel CEO Nguyen Minh Xoang said it usually operates three charter flights a week bringing 600 Chinese tourists from Wuhan, China to Da Nang. But all trips have been canceled since Wuhan became the epicenter of the deadly 2019-nCoV, which will cut into company revenue this year, he added. Many Vietnamese localities including travel hotspots like Nha Trang Town and Da Nang City in central Vietnam and the China-bordering province of Quang Ninh in the north have ordered tour companies to stop accepting Chinese customers to limit the spread of the nCoV. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has suspended flights to and from China starting Saturday, except for a limited number to repatriate the remaining Chinese tourists in Vietnam, and vice versa. With Chinese tourists accounting for almost a third of total visitors to Vietnam last year, industry insiders are concerned the nCoV epidemic would cut revenues drastically. In Khanh Hoa Province, where Chinese tourists accounted for over 70 percent of total visitors last year, Le Van Son, deputy chairman of Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, estimated hotel room occupancy in the area could fall by up to 45 percent. "Provincial tourism will be hit severely by the new coronavirus." Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang reported a rise in the number of Vietnamese and international customers during Tet, though number of Chinese visitors fell by 50 percent year-on-year. A resort representative said the Chinese tourist number could fall by over 90 percent in the coming days. In Hanoi, over 12,800 hotel bookings have been canceled, according to the citys tourism department. Over 7,600 travelers have scrapped their tours to the capital, while 6,000 Vietnamese terminated their plans to visit mainland China and Taiwan. Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Duc Hai said tourist attractions across the city have seen customer numbers drop 30-50 percent. The situation is similar in other localities. In Da Nang, the number of foreign tourists during the Tet holiday fell 15 percent year-on-year, while in HCMC, the drop was 12 percent, according to local tourism departments. Chinese tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Phuong. Strategic shift Experts and industry insiders say the virus outbreak could be an opportunity for Vietnam to restructure its tourism sector by focusing on customers with deeper pockets. Pham Trung Luong, former head of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, said Vietnamese tourism has been focusing on quantity in recent years and has become heavily dependent on Chinese tourists. Vietnam needs to focus on high spending Chinese tourists, and prioritize other markets such as Europe and North America where customers are willing to pay more, it was added. Tu Quy Thanh, CEO of Lien Bang Travelink, which serves a large number of Chinese tourists, said the nCoV outbreak is an opportunity for Vietnamese companies to filter its customers. "Chinese visitors bring in good figures in quantity, but not in quality. The markets of Western Europe and other developed countries are more sustainable," Thanh said. Vietnam welcomed 18 million visitors last year, up 16.2 percent year-on-year. The country has confirmed 10 cases nCoV infection as of Wednesday morning. Globally, the death toll from the epidemic has reached 492, with 490 dying in mainland China, one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong. Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks chat before the speech from the throne is delivered in Edmonton on Tuesday May 21, 2019. Nixon says the province is not interested in any charitable handout from Ottawa if it rejects the massive Teck Frontier oilsands mine later this month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Alberta's environment minister says Ottawa shouldn't think it can use federal aid as a bargaining tool to determine the fate of a proposed Frontier oilsands mine. The federal cabinet has until the end of the month to decide on the $20.6-billion megaproject proposed near Wood Buffalo National Park in northeastern Alberta. "The Frontier mine is not a political gift," Jason Nixon told reporters Friday. The project "deserves to be approved on its own merits" and not leveraged for tougher provincial climate action, he added. A Reuters report, citing unidentified sources, said the Liberal government is preparing an aid package for Alberta to dampen the impact if the mine, proposed by Vancouver miner Teck Resources Ltd., is nixed. Sources told the news agency that it could include cash to clean up inactive oil and gas wells, expanding the federal stabilization program or funding local infrastructure. Nixon said those measures, as well as changes to the federal equalization formula that Alberta has demanded, have nothing to do with the Frontier mine, which a joint federal-provincial panel decided this summer should go ahead despite its environmental impacts. "Albertans are not looking for a (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau handout. We're not interested in that," Nixon said. "We want Justin Trudeau and the federal government to get out of Albertans' way, let hardworking Albertans do what they do best, which is create prosperity for this province and create prosperity for this country." Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau called the characterization of the aid package inaccurate. "We're working on how we can create opportunity in parts of the country that have the need for increased job opportunities," he said Friday in Ottawa. "The issues around Teck Frontier are separate and distinct. ... It's unrelated to the work that I'm doing on thinking about how we can make sure that Alberta continues to have a robust economy." Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said last month that Alberta's efforts to combat climate change would be considered in the final decision on the mine, which would run for 40 years and emit about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Nixon said Thursday that he has had positive meetings with his federal counterpart and the notion of a quid-pro-quo never came up. "Nothing that we have seen speculated inside the media in regards to potential changes to our legislation or things that I've seen speculated as to what the federal government may or may not want has ever been raised with us in any way in any of those meetings." Nixon declined to say how Alberta would respond should the project be rejected. "We're not going to show all our cards in the middle of the card game." He added that a delayed decision would be perceived just as harshly as a rejection. When Ottawa approved the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in 2016, it made a point of highlighting the previous Alberta NDP government's oilsands emissions cap and carbon tax. When Jason Kenney's United Conservatives won the Alberta election last spring, they kept the emissions cap but scrapped the consumer carbon tax and went to court over Ottawa's intention to impose its own version. Alberta does, however, still have a carbon levy on large industrial emitters that has the federal government's blessing. Conservative natural resources critic MP Shannon Stubbs said the Teck Frontier decision will be a defining moment for the Liberal government. "If the Liberals reject the Teck Frontier mine, Albertans will perceive that as a rejection of Alberta from Canada," the Alberta MP told reporters in Ottawa. "That is where the vast majority of my constituents are at." Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (right) with his brother Mahinda. (Image: Reuters) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 8 held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa covering the entire expanse of bilateral ties between the two countries including in areas of defence and security. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on February 7 on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November 2019. Officials said a range of key bilateral issues, including trade and investment, as well as defence and security figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. His tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. However, ties between the two countries have been on an upswing in the last four years. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November in his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office. Both sides resolved to further deepen bilateral defence and security ties during the Sri Lankan president's visit. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nearly seven million people are eligible to vote to pick 180 federal legislators and 360 local council officials. Cameroon is gearing up for long-delayed parliamentary and municipal elections amid a boycott call by the countrys main opposition party and security concerns in the unrest-hit Anglophone regions. Nearly seven million voters are eligible to cast ballots on Sunday to pick 180 federal legislators and 360 local council officials. Polls will open at 07:00 GMT and close at 17:00 GMT, with official results within 20 days. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Enow Egbe, president of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) said the electoral body is ready to hold free and fair elections. We can assert that the packaging and transfer of electoral material and documents to regions is completed. The polls were twice postponed in 2017, and political tension has been on the rise since November after the main opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) announced a boycott of the elections. The partys leader, Maurice Kamto, lost the 2018 vote to long-time President Paul Biya but denounced the result as fraudulent. He was arrested in January and spent nine months in jail before Biya ordered him freed, in what the government described as a move of national reconciliation. The environment is not as tense as it was a few months back, Egbe said. This notwithstanding, the government is ensuring the security of the electoral process from end-to-end, he added. Necessary measures have been taken to enable willing voters to go out and vote. Some opposition parties have been campaigning and sensitising eligible voters to protect their votes. [Al Jazeera] More than 30 parties are participating in Sundays parliamentary and municipal elections, with their campaigns mainly focusing on improving the countrys economy and security. Biyas Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM), which holds 148 seats in the 180-strong parliament, is widely expected to come first. The Social Democratic Front, which is currently the main opposition party in the parliament with 18 legislators, will contest the elections, but Kamtos MRC has called on other parties, as well as civil society and religious groups, to boycott the polls. Kanto said the boycott would be to avoid giving credibility to elections which will not restore peace in our country. But Cabral Libii, a parliamentary candidate and leader of the opposition Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation, waved off the calls to stay away from the voting stations. Boycotting the polls wont change anything. We have to continue participating in all elections and hoping that things change, Libii told Al Jazeera. We are exercising our right to participate and hope that people vote massively for us on election day. Those who have decided to boycott the elections are also exercising their own rights, he said. Some opposition parties have been out on the streets campaigning and calling voters to turn out for the elections and remain at polling stations We are encouraging them to ensure their votes are counted by ELECAM officials, Libii said. Fresh security fears Still, the much-anticipated polls will take place amid heightened security fears in a country grappling with a separatist armed campaign in the Anglophone regions as well as the threat of Boko Haram in the Far North. The conflict between Cameroons army and English-speaking fighters seeking to form a breakaway state began in 2017 after the government cracked down violently on peaceful protesters complaining of being marginalised by the French-speaking majority. People in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have often complained of decades of perceived discrimination by the central government. The conflict has so far killed hundreds of people and caused mass displacement, including more than 670,000 people in Cameroon and 52,000 in neighbouring Nigeria, according to Amnesty International. Days before the polls, the military was deployed to the English-speaking regions while police have been on high alert after several suspected separatist attacks in the political capital, Yaounde, and the economic hub Douala. Separatists have taken to social media to call for a boycott of the polls and reportedly pledged to attack polling stations in the Anglophone region. The security measures and increased military presence announced by the Cameroonian government to ensure this weekends vote can take place appear to have been a pretext for a much more sinister operation, Fabien Offner, Amnesty Internationals Lake Chad researcher, said. In recent weeks, brutal military operations have been conducted while crimes committed by armed separatists continue unabated. Civilians are finding themselves trapped in a spiral of violence, Offner added. Analysts said this may further prompt some voters to stay away, while some displaced voters flatly rejected heading back to cast ballots. Why will I think of going back? You want me to be killed? The politicians dont care about us and I wont waste my time, said Mary, a woman driven out of her home in Buea due to conflict and who is now in Calabar, southern Nigeria. If everything was fine and was sure votes would count, I may be tempted to return home. Now, I am not even sure of my safety, she added. The four-day 'Sammakka Saralamma jatara', a mega religious congregation of tribals, concluded at Medaram village in Telangana on Saturday. The event, attended by an estimated 1.5 crore people, including non-tribals, concluded with the deities, Sammakka and Saralamma returning to the forests on Saturday evening as per tradition. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and a number of other dignitaries offered prayers to the deities during the jatara. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda visited Medaram on Saturday and offered worship to the deities. Talking to reporters, Munda assured that the representation made by Telangana ministers to accord national status to the jatara would be considered. He said he will take the matter to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Telangana government and the state police had made elaborate arrangements to conduct the jatara smoothly. A release from Telangana DGP office on Saturday said Artificial Intelligence was successfully executed by police for prevention of any untoward incidents at the jatara. "Artificial Intelligence technology used by the Telangana State Police, for the first time in India, was successfully executed in prevention of any untoward, undesirable incidents at the Medaram Jatara, where approximately one and half crore devotees visited the event, it said. The 'jatara' has been declared as a state festival by the Telangana government. As per folklore, the festival commemorates the fight of Sammakka and Saralamma against the oppression of Kakatiya rulers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KYODO NEWS - Feb 8, 2020 - 21:27 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan's Cabinet will approve next week emergency measures against a new coronavirus to strengthen screenings and provide financial support to the tourism industry, a source close to the matter said Saturday. Under the measures, the government aims to increase facilities to conduct the polymerase chain reaction test, a method that can detect virus at high accuracy, and promote joint development by private and public research institutions of a test kit that can shorten the waiting time for the results. The measures are also designed to speed up development of drugs and vaccines for the deadly virus, while a special center will be set up to swiftly respond to queries about the virus and provide information to prevent infection. The government plans to launch an aid program to help small and medium-sized hotel operators and firms in other sectors facing financing problems stemming from a drop in overseas tourists. It is also considering establishing a liaison office to give timely directions to ministries. The government will tap reserve funds in the state budget for fiscal 2019. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party made similar proposals aimed at containing the virus to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday. Related coverage: Japan firms weigh production shift out of China as virus wreaks havoc Japan to deny entry to foreigners on virus-hit cruise ship from H.K. Cruise ship turned away from Japan returns to Taiwan North Korea marks army's founding anniversary amid coronavirus woes Novel coronavirus claims U.S., possibly Japanese victims Birmingham police are conducting a homicide investigation after a person was found dead from a stabbing wound inside a downtown apartment. The victim was discovered Thursday laying in the bedroom of an apartment at 2300 5th Ave. North, police said Friday. Police said they believed the victim may have been in the apartment for an extended period of time. The Jefferson County coroner determined the victim suffered a stab wound, and the case has been classified as a homicide, police said. The victims identity was not publicly released because their next of kin was yet to be notified of their death. No suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case was asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. REDDING, Calif. Two Redding men were arrested after a month-long investigation into a known problem home. The Redding Neighborhood Police Unit said they have been investigating a problem house in the 1400 block of Atajo Court, throughout the month of January. On Thursday, the Neighborhood Police Unit and the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at that home. Their investigation revealed cocaine, concentrated cannabis, two SKS style rifles, two handguns, ammunition, and a large amount of money. Detectives said they also discovered a pistol grip shotgun that was stolen from a 2013 home burglary. 28-year-old Jesse Custer and 27-year-old Daveiontay Norwood were arrested for possession for sale of cocaine and several other charges. Norwood was arrested for warrants and for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. (Island Government is a periodic roundup of Staten Island political and civic events.) CITY HALL -- State Sen. Diane Savino has joined Rep. Max Rose and a number of other New York lawmakers in endorsing former Mayor Micheal Bloomberg for president. "New York needs someone in the White House who understands the urgency of the challenges we face today," said Savino. "We need a leader who is ready to think 'big' on infrastructure, climate change and gun violence. I have worked with Mike Bloomberg, and I know he can get the job done." Her endorsement comes after Rose threw his support behind Bloomberg last month, citing the former mayors bipartisan approach to politics and help with turning the city around after Sept. 11. Other New York lawmakers who have endorsed Bloomberg include State Sen. Todd Kaminsky; Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers; Mayor Gary McCarthy of Schenectady; Councilman Joel Feroleto of Buffalo; County Executive Steve Bellone of Suffolk; and Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa of Amherst. FORMER REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN BACKS MALLIOTAKIS IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE Former Island Republican Party Chairman Robert Scamardella gave a full-throated endorsement to Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis candidacy for the House of Representative seat in the 11th Congressional District, which comprises Staten Island and a part of Brooklyn. Said Scamardella, Recent events show, in glaring and sometimes mind boggling ways, how important a political partys control of the House of Representative has become. In the battle for the House in the 2020 election, the role of the Staten Island district looms large and figures to be a bellwether for the nation. To many political gurus, as goes Staten Island, so goes control in the House. He added, Nicole Malliotakis is the right candidate at the right time. A seasoned legislator, she possesses erudite conservative credentials and much more then a modicum of political courage. As a young 30ish assemblywomen she went toe to toe with Sheldon Silver, at the time a God in the Assembly, who routinely made or broke careers. She did so at grave risk to her own political future. Shes a hard worker for her constituents and a tireless campaigner. She is her opponents worst nightmare. The former chairman concluded, Has she been all things to all people all the time? I suspect not. But she is a formidable candidate, a dedicated Republican with the backing of the national and local party, and a fine public servant. In these perilous times I urge all Republicans to unite behind her and help return the House to Republican control." CUBAN SANDWICH TO BE NAMED IN MALLIOTAKIS HONOR IN BROOKLYN Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis will be presented with a sandwich named in her honor at Lionis Heros in Brooklyn. The sandwich that will be named in her honor is a Cuban sandwich with Lioni's signature smoked mozzarella, roast pork, genoa salami, Virginia ham, swiss cheese, homemade basil mix, deli mustard and sliced pickles. The shop decided to name a Cuban sandwich in her name to symbolize her Cuban heritage. The tagline for the sandwich is "Nicole Malliotakis: A hero that is a winner on both sides of the bridge, which is in reference to her representing Staten Island and South Brooklyn. The honoring will take place on Saturday at Lionis Heros at 12:30 p.m. ODDO PARTNERS WITH SUNDOG THEATRE TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS Borough President James Oddo has partnered with Sundog Theatre and the family of the late local artist Christopher Dillon Micha to offer scholarships to a Sundog Musical Theatre Acting class in memory of Christopher. The scholarship will offer access to the spring 2020 session of Musical Theatre Kids, where the children will be rehearsing and performing Rock of Ages. The classes will be held at Monsignor Farrell High School, beginning Feb. 22, with a final performance on May 30 at the Staten Island Zoo Auditorium. The program and scholarships are open to boys and girls, ages 9 through 17, who otherwise would not be able to afford the $250 class. For a scholarship application, contact Sundog Theatre at info@sundogtheatre.org. The deadline for submission of the scholarship application is Feb. 14. This program allows young people to be active, engage their imaginations, and learn life-long skills and abilities to help them grow,'' said Oddo. "I am grateful to be able to support a fitting tribute to Staten Islander Christopher Micha and offer this opportunity to children who otherwise would not be able to participate in the Sundog musical theatre program. REP ROSE HELPS PASS PRO-UNIONS BILL Rep. Max Rose voted to pass the bipartisan Protecting the Right to Organize Act this week, which would expand labor unions negotiating power, provide new protections for unions and workers and stiffen penalties for companies that violate workers rights. Rose is an original co-sponsor of the bill and delivered a speech on the House Floor urging the bills passage. Unions are the backbone of our economy, and for too long Congress has watched as unions are trampled on in the name of shareholder dividends and stock buybacks -- No more, Rose said on the House floor prior to the bills passage. With this bill, we reaffirm workers right to organize a union and to negotiate higher wages and better benefits. American workers built this economy and now is the time they get their rightful share in the prosperity that they created. The governor of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas visited Houston this week seeking backing for a new port that he promises would create business opportunities for U.S. firms. But observers say he would have to navigate murky political waters with Mexicos new president to make it a reality. Gov. Francisco Garcia-Cabeza de Vaca, whose state shares 230 miles of border with Texas and runs 250 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, spent part of this week courting energy companies and sharing his vision for a port he wants to build on 3,000 acres of state land alongside the federally controlled Port of Altamira near the coastal city. Friday at Rice Universitys Baker Insititue, Garcia-Cabeza de Vaca said the port is already home to refineries, storage tanks and manufacturing. He said his state-managed port would be ideal for energy companies seeking to export more gasoline and diesel to fuel-starved Mexico, as well as for firms tied to the automotive industry, which needs to move parts and completed cars between the coast and inland factories. The land is cleared at the port and were setting up a trust to guarantee investments, Garcias-Cabeza de Vaca said. Were also building a state highway between the cities of Mante, Ocampo and Tula that will link the port to connect the economic and manufacturing growth in a region known as El Bajio Queretaro, Aguascalientes and Guanajuato. This highway will not only reduce costs, it will save companies time. AMLO: Mexicos new president takes nationalist tone on energy Garcia-Cabeza de Vacas visit to the Bayou City comes as Mexico has emerged as the Port of Houstons No. 1 trading partner, according to figures from the Miami trade data firm World City. Mexico imported $14.1 billion worth of gasoline, diesel, crude oil and other goods from refineries and other Houston facilities in 2019, the data shows. Many of those shipments are sent to the Port of Altamira and nearby cities Madero and Tampico, home to a refinery, petrochemical plants, storage tanks other industrial facilities. The governor said he believes that Houston companies could expand their operations in the region or enter a growing market where demand for gasoline and other refined products exceeds domestic production. One of the companies already investing in the state is the Swiss energy trading firm Vitol, which built a new fuel depot near Matamoros that receives gasoline and other products through a cross-border pipeline under the Rio Grande from the Port of Brownsville. Vitol has already invested $110 million dollars in Matamoros to build a storage tanks to import gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, Garcia-Cabeza de Vaca said. Of course, international companies like that are already interested in building storage tanks like that in the Port of Altamira. There are already two under construction on the federal lands, but there is even more room on state lands. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox The governors development plan faces headwinds, however. Drug cartel activity in Tamaulipas remains a concern for businesses seeking to enter the border state, but observers say there could be a clash with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, who took office in Deccember 2018 and abruptly halted the previous administrations efforts to open the nations energy markets to foreign and private investment and competition. Tony Payan, an expert on Mexico with Rice Universitys Baker Institute, said Lopez-Obrador belongs to the left-leaning Morena political party while Garcia-Cabeza de Vaca belongs to the conservative National Action Party, or PAN. Lopez-Obrador canceled energy auctions that would have brought horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to the natural gas-rich Burgos Basin in Tamaulipas. He also focused on building an $8 billion refinery in his home state of Tabasco, rather than improving older faclilities such as the one in Tamaulipas. As a result, Payan suggested, the governor may have to bankroll any development with state money. He can come to Texas and he can come to Houston but he has to operate within his states budget and limits, Payan said of Garcia-Cabeza de Vacas visit. But without the support of the federal government, his vision is constrained. You can only play with the toys you got. AMLO: Mexico reaches deal for cross-border natural gas pipelines sergio.chapa@chron.com @SergioChapa on Twitter Russia has pledged to boost military and economic co-operation with Venezuela to help the South American nation deal with growing US pressure, BBC reports. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments came after his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Mr Lavrov said any attempts to remove Mr Maduro's government by force were unacceptable. The US accuses Mr Maduro of leading a corrupt and brutal regime. Earlier on Friday, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-run airline Conviasa, saying the company was being used to "shuttle corrupt officials around the world". Washington is backing opposition leader Juan Guaido, who last year declared himself interim president. Mr Guaido this week was one of US President Donald Trump's special guests at his State of the Union speech. Speaking in the Venezuelan capital on Friday, Mr Lavrov said: "We have firmly expressed our support to Venezuela's sovereignty, our solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and nation in their battle against illegal pressure which is being imposed by the US and its allies. "We have agreed to deepen our economic, commercial and investment co-operation in several areas despite the illegitimate sanctions. "The most promising sectors are energy, natural resources and industry." The Russian minister added that all the practical details would be finalised during a visit by Mr Maduro to Moscow in May. Russia is a key ally of Venezuela, lending it billions of dollars and backing its oil industry and military. Logos of SK and Hahn & Company / Courtesy of each company PEF signs another big M&A deal with conglomerate By Park Jae-hyuk The close relationship between Hahn & Company and SK Group has again come under the spotlight, after the domestic private equity firm (PEF) signed an agreement to take over SK Chemicals' bioenergy business for 382.5 billion won ($321 million), according to industry officials, Friday. The bioenergy firm produces and sells biodiesel and bio-heavy-fuel oil. The chemical company said it signed the recent deal to focus more on its businesses regarding eco-friendly materials and life science. For the deal, Hahn & Co. will use part of its 3.8 trillion won third private equity fund, which was raised in October 2019. SK Chemicals' bioenergy business will be the first investment in the portfolio of the third private equity fund, which is also known as the largest-ever capital pool dedicated to the Korean market. This has proven again that Hahn & Co. is one of the strongest partners of SK Group. The PEF has made a series of deals with affiliates of the nation's third-largest conglomerate. In 2017, Hahn & Co. signed a contract with SK Holdings to acquire a 50.1 percent stake in SK Encar, a used car retailer, for 205 billion won. The buyout fund operator also acquired shares in SK D&D, a real estate developer, for 230 billion won in September 2018 from SK Discovery Vice Chairman Chey Chang-won and SK Gas. A month later, Hahn & Co. spent 1.5 trillion won on the acquisition of SK Shipping. As a result, it has been easy to find the butterfly-shaped symbol of SK Group in the list of Hahn & Co.'s portfolio companies, as if the PEF is an SK affiliate. A Hahn & Co. official said "reliability" was behind the strong ties with SK. "We have been able to build trust with SK as a reliable partner as we have demonstrated our ability to work quickly and confidentially in all of our deals prior to official announcements," Hahn & Co. managing director Kim Jae-min said. "I think SK also recognizes us for our proven ability to improve the performance of companies we have acquired for our shareholders, employees and customers." The recent deal with SK Chemicals was also unknown, until the chemical firm made the announcement. Hahn & Co. has improved the financial soundness of SK affiliates it has acquired before. Market observers expect the firm will maintain its close relationship with SK Group. "Hahn & Co. has helped SK avoid Fair Trade Commission sanctions, as it has taken over SK affiliates at the right moment," a capital market observer said. "If SK Group seeks to sell another minor affiliates or carry out big M&As, Hahn & Co. should be on the watchlist." Kim said his company will consider talking with SK Group, if the conglomerate puts another attractive item on the M&A market. The latest deal between Hahn & Co. and SK Chemicals is supposed to be finished by May. Against this backdrop, all eyes are on Hahn & Co.'s strategies for the bioenergy business. The PEF has used different strategies for each of SK affiliates in which it invested. It rebranded SK Encar as K Car. In contrast, SK Shipping has continued to use the name, as well as following SK Group's principles of "SHE," which stands at safety, health and environment. SK D&D has been jointly managed by Hahn & Co. and SK Gas, because they hold almost the same number of shares. Google Is Planning to Debut a New Unified Communications App for Business Users While Googles parent company, Alphabet, has its fingers in a number of business pies, business communication hasnt been one of them. Yes, the companys G Suite for Business Users helps companies with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, appointment setting and even chat thanks to Google Hangouts, but business telephony has never been part of the search giants portfolio. The tech rumor mill says that may be about to change. The company is supposedly in development of a mobile unified communications app designed for business use, according to a new report by The Information. The new app will combine several standalone applications and technologies, according to the report, which is based on intelligence from two unnamed sources. According to the sources, the new communications app is expected to combine Googles existing video conferencing app Hangouts Meet with its instant messaging app Hangouts Chat. The new mobile app, which is currently being tested internally at Google, also includes Hangouts Meet, Googles video conferencing app and Hangouts Chat, a real-time message app, according to the people, wrote The Informations Kevin McLaughlin. Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Googles cloud unit, discussed the new app at a conference held in mid-January for the units salespeople and business partners, according to two of the people. The new app is expected to be part of G Suite, the collection of online productivity software that is overseen by the cloud unit known as Google Cloud. Analysts believe the new offerings under development will help the Mountain View, California-based company compete in the lucrative business communications marketplace with companies that offer full suites of unified communications (UC) and collaboration (think: Microsoft and Slack). Thus far, however, Google is not elaborating on its future plans for the mobile communications app, though it is believed to be undergoing internal testing for the new suite. Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Maurice Nagle Daniel Craig in Knives Out. Rian Johnson has already started to tease the now confirmed Knives Out sequel, which Lionsgate officially announced early this week. Around the release of Knives Out back in November, Johnson confirmed that he would love to make further mysteries featuring Daniel Craigs Benoit Blanc, even confirming that hed started to write a sequel. Read More: 'Knives Out' sequel is officially on, with possible franchise in the offing During his recent trip to Sirius XM, Johnson gave a hint about what might be in store for Blanc, revealing that the film will feature a whole new mystery, cast, and locations. In my mind I dont even think of it in terms of a sequel, Johnson explained. Ever since we started working on this look, if we can keep this going, the same way Agatha Christie wrote a bunch of Poirot novels, and then do that with Blanc and keep making new mysteries. Whole new cast, whole new locations. Its just another Benoit Blanc mystery. Rian Johnson attends the 92nd Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Its not like every single [one of Christies mysteries] is a mansion and the family in a library and a detective. She found a very different narrative way into each of them. And just like any movie, you can also thematically attack something totally new with it. Read More: 'Knives Out' Sequel Focused on Daniel Craig's Character in the Works Meanwhile, Johnson also gave a little insight into his process of writing and developing such a story, noting, Theres a trap you can get into when writing one of these which is to think in terms to think the attractiveness of it is the cleverness of the solution. And I think thats actually a trap. Instead, for Johnson, Whats actually satisfying at the end is not who did it and how and why. Whats actually satisfying is the same thing as any other movie, which is theres a character youve been following that you care about, and youre worried about them, and then at the end in a way thats really satisfying, you come to a conclusion of their arc. HARRISBURG A former Philadelphia Police sergeant has been released after spending more than four years in jail without charges because he failed to unlock two of his hard drives for investigators who suspected hed stored child pornography on them, his lawyer said Friday. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Thursday that federal law allows the government to hold someone for no longer than 18 months for civil contempt. The appeals court directed that Francis Rawls be set free. Rawls had been in federal custody since September 2015 because investigators could not read a pair of external hard drives that they suspect contain child pornography files. He has maintained that he does not know the passwords, according to his lawyer, Keith M. Donoghue with the Philadelphia-based Federal Community Defender Office. Donoghue said Rawls was released Thursday night and faces the challenge of rebuilding his life outside jail. He was fired in 2015 after 17 years with the city police force. "It's a daunting prospect," Donoghue said. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney William McSwain's office, asked if prosecutors intended to appeal the decision or whether Rawls might face criminal charges, said only that they are reviewing their options. A federal district judge ordered in 2015 that Rawls be held in jail indefinitely, but the appeals court said Rawls' status as a witness in a federal court proceeding means the 18-month limit applies to him. Although Rawls maintains a dual identity Rawls is a witness for purposes of contempt, while a suspect for child pornography offenses we find that [federal law] caps Rawls detention for committing civil contempt in his capacity as a material witness at 18 months, Judge Julio M. Fuentes wrote for the majority. Judge Jane Richards Roth wrote in a dissent that the 18-month limit should not apply to Rawls because he is not a witness but rather someone who has not complied with a lawful search warrant. "If Rawls should contend that he has forgotten his passwords, he is free to file a motion with the district court seeking his release on the ground that his confinement has ceased to be coercive and has therefore become punitive," Roth wrote. In a previous court filing, Rawls' lawyers wrote that during a district court hearing, a detective "testified it was his 'best guess' that child pornography would be found on the hard drives." They also said Rawls remained jailed rather than waiving his right against self-incrimination by testifying to his inability to comply with the decryption order. HEALTH Minister James Reilly will bring his legislation for plain cigarette packaging to Cabinet today but his prospects of passing the law remain in severe doubt. His position as Health Minister is under scrutiny and he is widely expected to be dropped in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle. Dr Reilly won't be able to proceed with passing the law until next year at least as the measure has to be referred to the EU. Tobacco companies are also expected to sue the Government, claiming it breaches EU law. Dr Reilly got the go-ahead for the drafting of legislation to force tobacco companies to introduce plain cigarette packaging to help reduce the level of smoking a year ago. At the time, Dr Reilly said he hoped to have plain packaging legislation for cigarette packets enacted by early this year. But the legislation, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014, is only being drafted now. Dr Reilly will bring the legislation to the Seanad and also introduce it in the Dail, but it will then have to wait for the EU to sign off on it before going any further. Ireland is the first EU country to introduce such a law, following on from similar moves in Australia and New Zealand. But countries producing tobacco and countries with large cigarette industries are expected to lobby hard to block the legislation. The legislation will ban all forms of branding, trademarks and logos on cigarette packs. Companies will only be able to write the name of the brand in a generic format. The packets will contain large graphic health warnings. The aim is to make tobacco packets look less attractive and make health warnings more prominent. But restricting the use of brands is problematic under Irish and European law and international trade treaties, and is open to challenge. They include issues such as intellectual property rights, national and international trademark law and articles contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and even the European Convention on Human Rights. Cigarette companies are understood to have already begun the legal groundwork to challenge the proposals all the way to the highest court in Europe. However, they will wait until the Heads of Bill are published by the Government to see if the legislation will offer compensation for loss of trademarks. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) said Friday that there will be no "Huawei ban," as Sweden moves forward with plans to roll out 5G technology in the country. Sweden's 5G frequency licenses will be assigned following an auction on Oct. 13, Anna Beckius, head of the spectrum analysis unit at PTS, told Swedish Television (SVT) on Friday. Although Chinese tech company Huawei will not be automatically excluded from the bidding process, any company that wants to take part in the auction must first undergo a review by the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Security Service, according to PTS. Beckius said that "it will be up to the mobile operators to determine whether or not 5G can become a reality." Next-generation 5G wireless networks could give Swedes up to 10 times faster web speeds than current 4G technology allows. North Adams Seeks Volunteers, Sponsors for 125th Birthday Bash NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The North Adams is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its incorporation as a city. The community is invited to mark this historic milestone, celebrate the city's rich history, and look to the future of North Adams at events planned for April 24-25. The celebration will include several fun, family friendly, and mostly free events. Plans for the 125th anniversary program include a community celebration on Saturday, April 25, along with celebration fundraising dinner to benefit the North Adams Public Library the evening of Friday, April 24. More details about the event and celebration schedule will be released shortly. The 125th celebration planning committee is currently looking for sponsors and donations toward this celebration, volunteers to help plan and assist with the kick-off weekend activities, and information on other events happening in the city between April 17 and 26 that tie into the celebration, incorporating the theme of 125 years of North Adams history into their individual events. Most events will be free to attend and open to the public, including free admission to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art for all North Adams residents on Saturday, April 25. Soldiers and police have launched a joint hunt for Sergeant-Major Jakapan Thomma, who allegedly went on a shooting rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima province, gunning down at least 16 people with some 15 people injured, The Nation Thailand reports. The suspect is reported to have sneaked into Terminal 21 shopping mall in Muang district and taken some people hostage there. Soldiers have cordoned off the area. According to the Nation Thailand, police in Korat was informed at 3pm on Saturday about the shooting in a house in Muang district. At the scene of the crime, Colonel Anantaroj Krasae, 48, from the Surathampitak barracks was found shot dead along with Anong Mitchan, 65. Colonel Anantroj was the commander of Jakapan and Anong was, according to reports, the mother-in-law of the slain commander. Jakapan also reportedly shot at some soldiers in the barracks and later fled the scene of the crime in a humvee. Along the way, he again went on a shooting spree that left two police and two civilians injured. Ill always be your friend, President Donald Trump told U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik at his post-impeachment trial speech and celebration Thursday. Speaking at the White House, Trump spoke about being acquitted on two counts of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by a near-party-line vote in the Senate on Wednesday, and thanked the people who defended him. One of those people was Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, who played a pivotal role in defending Trump when his impeachment trial reached the House Intelligence Committee, which she sits on. She opposed Democrats efforts to bring charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress across multiple weeks of hearings. For that, Trump called her A new Republican Star. Those charges were brought, and when the trial reached the Senate, she was on the White House impeachment defense team. That team was successful. Trump said he just read a story about her race here in New Yorks 21st Congressional District and said it was incredible. I was up campaigning for her, helping her, but I thought, She looks good, she looks like good talent, Trump said. But did I not realize that when she opens that mouth, you are killing them, Elise. The room filled with laughs and applause and Stefanik rose to wave. People from all over the country are contributing to her campaign, Trump said. They were so enthralled with the way you handled yourself: what you said, the way you said it. That elicited another round of applause. What a great future you have, Trump said. The First Lady (Melania) agrees, by the way. Love 24 Funny 16 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest statement from Wuhan Central Hospital after confusion in state media reports. WUHAN, China Li Wenliang, the Chinese whistleblower doctor who warned the public of a potential "SARS-like" disease in December 2019, has died, according to Wuhan Central Hospital. The confirmation follows a series of conflicting statements about his condition from the hospital and Chinese state media outlets. Li died of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan in the early hours of Friday morning (local time). "Our hospital's ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was unfortunately infected with coronavirus during his work in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic," the latest hospital statement read. "He died at 2:58 am on Feb. 7 after attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful." Earlier on Thursday night, several state media outlets had reported Li's death, following which Chinese social media erupted in profound grief and anger. Hours of confusion followed, with Wuhan Central Hospital releasing a statement saying Li was still alive and in critical condition, adding that staff were "making attempts to resuscitate him." State media subsequently deleted their previous tweets. The hospital later confirmed his death. Wuhan's whistleblower Li had raised the alarm about the virus that ultimately took his life. In December, he posted in his medical school alumni group on the Chinese messaging app WeChat that seven patients from a local seafood market had been diagnosed with a SARS-like illness and were quarantined in his hospital in Wuhan. Soon after he posted the message, Li was accused of rumor-mongering by the Wuhan police. He was one of several medics targeted by police for trying to blow the whistle on the deadly virus in the early weeks of the outbreak, which has sickened more than 28,000 people and killed more than 560. He later contracted the virus himself. Li was hospitalized on Jan. 12 and tested positive for the coronavirus on Feb. 1. Fury on social media China's social media channels were awash with anger following news of Li's death. The topics "Wuhan government owes Dr. Li Wenliang an apology" and "We want freedom of speech" soon began to trend on China's Twitter-like platform, Weibo. Each gained tens of thousands of views before disappearing from the heavily censored platform. Another topic, called "I want freedom of speech," had drawn 1.8 million views as of 5 a.m. Friday local time (4 p.m. ET Thursday). Top comments under the Wuhan Central Hospital's statement about Li's death included "I've learned two words: political rescue & performative rescue" and "Countless young people will mature overnight after today: the world is not as beautiful as we imagined. Are you angry? If any of us here is fortunate enough to speak up for the public in the future, please make sure you remember tonight's anger." Several comments also marked the timing of the announcement. "I knew you would post this in the middle of the night," wrote one Weibo user. "You think we've all gone to sleep? No. We haven't," said another. Confusion over his condition The Global Times announced Li had died in a tweet at around 10:40 p.m. local time Thursday, linking to a report that cited friends and doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital. It deleted the post several hours later. Other Chinese media outlets also deleted their reports of his death, without explanation. The World Health Organization released a message of condolence following the initial reports that Li was dead but later updated its statement to say it did not have any information about the doctor's status. Wuhan Central Hospital issued a new statement confirming his death later that day. The death toll and number of people infected by the Wuhan coronavirus continue to grow, with no signs of slowing despite severe quarantine and population control methods put in place in central China. The number of confirmed cases globally stood at 28,275 as of Thursday, with more than 28,000 of those in China. The number of cases in China grew by 3,694, or 15%, on the previous day. There have been 565 deaths so far, all but two of which were in China, with one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Faith-based barriers in schools endure View(s): The clause in the Act of 1960 and 1961 in the government takeover of assisted schools in the early 1960s is causing serious problems to grade 5 scholarship students when choosing a school, a spokesman of the Ceylon Teachers Union, said. Last week a grade 5 scholarship student from the Nawala Janadhipathi Primary School who opted to study at a school in Colombo faced several obstacles as he could not prove that he had a Buddhist background, he said. It transpires although he had cut off marks of 179 he was denied admission because he was not a Buddhist. The parents who were Sinhala and Tamil had to go through several procedures to prove that he in fact had a Buddhist education in his primary classes, he claimed. He was refused because the birth certificate said that the childs father was a Tamil. Later on contesting the issue, the parents were called on to prove through an affidavit that the child has a Buddhist background and has knowledge of Buddhism. Eventually the child was admitted to school from last week. This is not the first time a child was being refused admission to a school on the basis of religion. Denying children admission to assisted schools because of their religious background has been in practice since 1960 when the government took over the private schools run by missionaries and nuns, under its wings. The Education Act No. 5 of 1960 stipulates that the government will not admit a student to these schools when the parents do not profess the religion of such proprietor unless prior permission is obtained from the director. The practice still continues and schools that had emerged under different religious origins continue to cater to different religions. Not only the Buddhist schools, the Christian and Muslim schools deny admission based on religion. One has to remember, Gardiner observes, the fact that Beethovens orchestra only existed in his imagination, since he went deaf so early on. The performances of his symphonies in Vienna were indifferent to poor, because they were given one rehearsal only, often in very cold halls, (musicians) were sight reading, they werent familiar with the music. And also Beethoven himself couldnt hear or correct them because of his deafness. Its tragic. With the fate of the soon-to-be empty space housing a Randalls grocery store unknown, a small group of business owners and representatives from assorted businesses in the Grogans Mill Shopping Center gathered on Friday to discuss improving the centers exterior as well as forming a merchants association to help promote their businesses and improve customer traffic. The group voted to form a merchants association and informally chose a leader Rebecca Schner, who owns gift shop New Lotus Moon of the new group to lobby on their behalf. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 Randalls stores in The Woodlands to close The meeting, hosted at Maine-ly Sandwiches, was organized by Bruce Cunningham a popular local figure who is on the Village of Grogans Mill Village Association board and also heavily involved in The Woodlands Farmers Market, hosted each Saturday in the parking lot of the shopping center. Cunningham has been working behind the scenes to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by business in the townships oldest shopping center first opened in 1973 as the impending Feb. 15 closure of the Randalls store raises worries about customer foot traffic. RANDALLS CLOSURES: Closure of Woodlands grocery store stirs concerns for viability of 2 shopping centers At Fridays meeting, nine people who were a mix of business owners and managers there on behalf of their ownership groups met to discuss their concerns and ideas to improve the shopping center, which was called a 1970s shopping center in need of being refreshed to 2020 standards by township Director Ann Snyder during a recent meeting of The Woodlands Economic Development Committee. Schner told those in attendance the need to work collaboratively and stay positive during the time period from when Randalls closes until a possible replacement is determined. Those in attendance at the meeting included one of the co-owners of soon-to-open The Blue Lion Pub as well as the owners of Body and Brain yoga, Brothers Pizza Express, Healthy Life Unlimited Pilates and Personal Training, the UPS Store and Maine-ly Sandwiches. The managers of Fuddruckers restaurant and SN Liquor were also on hand. The Grogans Mill Randalls is one of two Randalls in The Woodlands slated to close on Feb. 15, the other being located in the shopping center in the Village of Panther Creek. RANDALLS PLAN: Woodlands directors to discuss future of Randalls stores Local officials are more worried about the Grogans Mill Shopping Center because it is not only the oldest center in the township, but also because the majority of the centers stores are in rental units owned by one company Grogans Mill Retail Center GP LLC, which is owned by a California-based investor named William F. Gallagher. The entire center has 24 businesses with 10 owners, including the Randalls. The spaces owned by Gallaghers company are locally managed by a firm called J. Beard. Schner told the group that not much is known at the moment about what will happen to the Randalls space once the store closes, but also whether or not the owner of the buildings has any plans to renovate the facades, lights and other exterior elements of the center. There are three empty spaces in the center currently and one new business The Blue Lion Pub slated to open within several weeks. Jeff Beard was supposed to show up at (the Feb. 4 meeting of The Woodlands Economic Development Committee), but hey, guess what, he did not show up. So, there was no information shared about any updates, Schner told the group. What we want is to have people coming to this center (to shop), we dont care who owns (the future Randalls site). The question is, what can we do now and what is realistic? Schner told each of the business owners and manager representatives present that they could take several steps to raise the profile of the shopping center and help attract customers. ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Randalls to close five grocery stores in Houston area Among the suggestions was to ensure each business was listed on both Google Maps and Apple Maps for ease of location in online searches; that each business create social media pages on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor; to increase social media outreach by interacting with potential customers and liking each others posts; as well as having a positive attitude about the situation so when customers do enter a business, theyre not scared off by a depressed owner, staff or manager. If we are all depressed, it is going to show. When people come into (my store) at night, theyre talking about the Randalls closure and what is next, Schner said of some customer interactions shes had in recent weeks. There is nothing wrong with telling people you need their support. It is going to be alright. Putting a very positive spin on this is a very important thing to do. When people come into your store, tell them this is not your first rodeo and we expected (the Randalls closure) at some point. This is the time when well see this center grow. Business owners are both concerned, optimistic Manny Bekiri, owner of Brothers Pizza Express, said the closure of the Randalls and possible loss of foot traffic and customers is, scary. Ive been in this shopping (center) for 22 yearsI am really concerned, Bekiri said of his pizza eatery which is the closest business to the Randalls and somewhat obscured by a side wall of the grocery store. I was here when the Albertsons was shutdown. We were lucky then that Albertsons was replaced with the Randalls. Maureen Godfrey, who has owned Body and Brain yoga and tai chi for 11 years in the shopping center, said she is optimistic things will work out in regard to finding a suitable replacement for Randalls and she feels this is an opportunity. I think it is an opportunity for renovation and new energy coming through. We just need to be creative, Godfrey said. This (shopping center) has the potential to be a cool placeartsy..not just another shopping center. Something with personality and that makes the village matter. It is the heart of (the village) and we want to cultivate that. Mehmet Ozpagda, who has owned Maine-ly Sandwiches for three years, said the Randalls closure has already impacted his business. The Randalls is really slow (with customers) and we want more business (foot traffic) in this center, Ozpagda said. (The DSC) Regulations (on signs) are hard. They dont let us put signs on the windows, we cannot put signs on our outdoor tables. Most people dont know were here. Cunningham told the assembled business owners and managers the he and others affiliated with the Grogans Mill Village Association would keep working to help resolve the issue. We created the farmers market years ago because, as homeowners, we were concerned about losing property value if the center closed, Cunningham said. What we would like to do, is begin by taking videos of each of youone minute telling people what you do (in your business) and why people should shop at your store. Then well put it on the farmers market website. jeff.forward@chron.com Currently, the repo operations are of short-term, usually of overnight, wherein banks can borrow money from the RBI at the prevailing repo rate. Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will begin the first tranche of its long-term repo operations on February 17 with three-year repo of Rs 25,000 crore, followed by another on February 24 for an equal amount. The operations date is announced a day after the RBI's monetary policy wherein it said long-term repos aggregating up to Rs 1 lakh crore will be conducted in tranches from mid-February to ease liquidity in the system. The RBI move is aimed at providing cheaper money to banks at the repo rate and, thus, improve liquidity in the banking system. Currently, the repo operations are of short-term, usually of overnight, wherein banks can borrow money from the RBI at the prevailing repo rate. As announced in the statement on 'Developmental and Regulatory Policies' on February 6, 2020, it has been decided to conduct Long Term Repo Operations (LTROs) for one-year and three-year tenors for up to a total amount of Rs 1 lakh crore at the policy repo rate, the RBI said in a release on Friday In this connection, the 3-year repo operations for an amount of Rs 25,000 crore will be conducted on February 17. While the 1-year repo operation will be conducted for the same amount on February 24, RBI said. The details of remaining LTROs will be announced in due course, the RBI said further. These LTROs will be in addition to the existing liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) and marginal standing facility (MSF) operations, the RBI said adding that the total amount of liquidity injected through these operations would be up to Rs 1 lakh crore. LTROs will be conducted on the CBS (E-KUBER) platform. The operations would be conducted at a fixed rate, the RBI said. Banks would be required to place their requests for the amount sought under LTRO during the window timing at the prevailing policy repo rate. Bids below or above policy rate will be rejected, it added. "In case of over-subscription of the notified amount, the allotment will be done on a pro-rata basis. RBI will, however, reserve the right to inject marginally higher amount than the notified amount due to rounding effects." The minimum bid amount would be Rs 1 crore and multiples thereof. There will be no restriction on the maximum amount of bidding by individual bidders. Disha Act is aimed at providing speedy justice to rape victims by punishing the culprits at a faster pace, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Saturday. Chief Minister Reddy, who was speaking after inaugurating the first Disha Police Station, said: "Woman safety is our government's priority. The Disha Act is for ensuring women's safety." Home Minister M Sucharita along with other ministers and MLAs also took part in the workshop held at Adikavi Nannaya University. Disha app, which is intended to help the women in distress, was also launched on the occasion. The rape and murder of a vet near Hyderabad in December last year had become an issue of national outrage. Reddy said: "Most of crimes against women are taking place under the influence of liquor. Everybody wants to punish the demons, but it is not so easy. Crimes against women will reduce only when there is a fear of punishment for crimes." "Nirbhaya incident happened eight years ago, but the culprits are not punished till date. Under the Disha Act, the investigation will be completed within seven days and the accused will be punished within 21 days," he said. Andhra Pradesh's Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang, Disha Special Officers Kritika Sukla, IAS, and Deepika Mandava Patil, IPS, were also present on the occasion. Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up 18 Disha Police stations in the state. Each station will comprise two Deputy Superintendents of Police, two Circle Inspectors, five Sub-Inspectors, Constables, one cyber expert, and two data entry operators. Tunisia fired its ambassador to the UN on Friday accusing him of failing to consult the foreign ministry on key issues that diplomatic sources said included Washington's controversial Middle East peace plan. "Tunisia's ambassador to the United Nations has been dismissed for purely professional reasons concerning his weak performance and lack of coordination with the ministry on important matters under discussion at the UN," a foreign ministry statement said. Diplomatic sources said that ambassador Moncef Baati, who has occupied a seat at the UN Security Council since the start of the year, had gone further than President Kais Saied wanted in his criticism of US President Donald Trump's long-delayed peace plan. Saied, a political outsider who only took office in November after a surprise election victory, was concerned that Baati's expressions of support for the Palestinians risked damaging Tunisia's relations with the United States, the sources said. "It was quite a shock to hear that. I don't know all the details, the reason behind this," Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve of Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said of the sacking. "He was a very good colleague and I really very much regret to see him leave," he added. Another diplomat and member of the Security Council, who did not wish to be identified, said that Baati was "the right person" to negotiate a resolution wanted by the Palestinians. Baati's swift recall to Tunis meant that he missed a closed doors briefing of the Security Council on Thursday by the US plan's architect, Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. After the briefing, Kushner blamed Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas for a spike in violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories since the plan was unveiled on January 28. Abbas "calls for days of rage in response and he said that even before he saw the plan," Kushner told reporters in New York. Abbas is due at the UN next week to oppose the plan and demand adherence to international law. The Palestinians hope to push for a Security Council resolution condemning the Trump plan, but any text will almost certainly be vetoed by the United States. A veteran diplomat, Baati was in retirement last year when he was asked to return to active duty and represent Tunisia at the United Nations. mask respirator coronavirus new york city subway Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, the US medical community is bracing for a potential shortage in crucial equipment, including protective N95 respirator masks. Medical suppliers like Henry Schein and Medline told Business Insider that the coronavirus outbreak has already spiked demand for certain medical products. Henry Schein's website is currently running a notice about "disruptions to orders for certain infection products in various markets." Montefiore Medical System's infectious disease expert Dr. Theresa Madaline said that a run on certain crucial medical supplies could "mean that at some point we will not have enough for our health care workers." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The coronavirus crisis has fueled fears of a shortage of key protective medical devices, namely the specialized N95 respirator masks that are needed to protect health workers treating infectious patients. Dr. Theresa Madaline, Montefiore Health System's healthcare epidemiologist and the assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, told Business Insider that reports of a dearth of N95 masks are particularly concerning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that medical employees working with coronavirus patients wear N95s, specifically. "N95 masks are specialized respirator masks that are meant for specific conditions," Madaline told Business Insider. "These are for infections where you have very teeny tiny particles that would not be captured via regular surgical mask." Any disruptions in the distribution of supplies like the N95 whether caused by increased demand on the part of hospitals and the public, or snags in the supply chain could pose a risk to medical practitioners who rely on certain pieces of protective equipment. Story continues Medical experts say a number of factors could lead to a shortage of crucial medical equipment, including disruptions to the supply chain and product stockpiling by medical institutions and the public. And regardless of whether the coronavirus continues to spread, a lack of certain pieces of equipment could put doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers at risk. Madaline told Business Insider that she is concerned about reports of needless accumulation and even outright theft when it comes to key protective medical equipment. "There is a finite supply, meaning the manufacturer can only make so many," Madaline said. "If people grab them faster than they can produce them, that will mean that at some point we will not have enough for our health care workers." N95 facial mask respirator Pichi Chuang/Reuters 'Too soon to say what the long-term effects will be' The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials, attempting to stop the spread of the disease, are snapping up medical masks from factories that supply global medical equipment firms, thinning out the number of products that are being shipped globally. Medical supplier Henry Schein's website now includes a notice for consumers in the United States saying that, "Due to the coronavirus outbreak, we are experiencing higher than normal demand globally for infection control products such as masks, goggles, and face shields, among other items." The alert said that the medical supplier is working with both its "manufacturing and supply chain partners, as well as global health organizations including the Pandemic Supply Chain Network, the World Health Organization, the Chinese Ministry of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, to address shortages as they occur." That being said, consumers should anticipate "disruptions to orders for certain infection products in various markets." A Henry Schein spokesperson followed up with Business Insider saying that the company has "seen a spike in demand for personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns, but that's limited by the tight supply of these products." The spokesperson pointed to a LinkedIn post from Henry Schein CEO Stan Bergman, who wrote about his hopes for the medical community's response to the coronavirus. "It's too soon to say what the long-term effects will be on business from the outbreak. Henry Schein reports our Q4 financial results later this month, and we'll have a better sense by then of the impact of the outbreak," the spokesperson said. A Medline spokesperson told Business Insider that China's "numerous efforts" to contain the virus were resulting in "some impact on manufacturing operations in that country." "We may see a potential reduction in capacity or delayed shipments for personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the industry," the Medline spokesperson told Business Insider. "Our top priority is to ensure current Medline customers have the essential supplies they need to protect both patients and staff. We are actively working on options to increase production in other areas of our global supply chain, while diligently monitoring the situation in China." n95 mask Romeo Ranoco/Reuters 'Healthcare workers are at risk' Dr. Jon Mark Hirshon, a professor of emergency medicine and epidemiology at University of Maryland School of Medicine and Medical Center, told Business Insider that healthcare employees are always especially at risk during a pandemic. "It's critically important that we protect our healthcare workers," Hirshon, who is also a board member of the American College of Emergency Physicians advocacy group, said. "Our healthcare workers are at risk from many things, including violence from patients, exposure to diseases, stuff like that. So we have to pay attention to that and make sure that we protect the people who are the frontline providers for many patients." Madaline said that the coronavirus outbreak has spread anxiety among both the public and the medical community. "There is a lot of fear about this virus of both in the community, but also a lot of chatter within healthcare that people are buying or in many cases taking large stock of the masks," Madaline said. The knowledge that a shortage could jeopardize health workers on the frontlines of a pandemic has prompted many medical institutions to take steps to ensure that they will not be caught unprepared. Dr. Kathleen Jordan, an infectious disease specialist who serves as the chief medical officer at San Francisco's Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, spoke to Business Insider about the reaction of the medical community during the Ebola outbreak. She said that during the outbreak from 2014 to 2016, she wasn't aware of any hospitals that hadn't "stocked up on personal protective equipment," although she "can't speak for everyone." "It definitely made us improve our stockpiling of personal protective equipment," Jordan said, speaking about the Ebola outbreak. "At the time there were shortages of personal protective equipment. So manufacturing caught up. So everybody sort of stockpiled." Amy Compton-Phillips, the chief clinical officer at the Providence network of hospitals and clinics, told Business Insider that they have "not noticed any impediment to getting the supplies that we need." But that doesn't mean they aren't "surge planning" for the months ahead. A Providence hospital near Seattle took on the first reported coronavirus patient in the United States. "We're doing things like making sure we have the supplies available," Compton-Phillips said. "A lot of the personal protective equipment is manufactured in China. And so if we have disruptions in our supply chain, will we be able to have the masks and the gowns and the face shields that we need to keep people healthy? And so we're working with our suppliers to ensure the supply." "We'd much rather be ready and waste time planning than we would to scramble after the fact," she added. 'You don't need to run out and get your face mask' But it's not just institutions like hospitals and clinics that appear keen to buy up protective gear in the face of the outbreak. Online searches indicate that members of the public, alarmed by media reports about the coronavirus, may be getting in on the act as well. Data provider M Science found that online sales of "dust, medical, and respirator masks" spiked through January 29, 2020, surpassing such sales during the avian flu crisis of 2017 and the flu season of 2018. The problem with that is, according to medical experts, the public neither has the need for specialized protective gear like N95s, nor the ability to use it effectively. For the untrained, it's not as simple as slapping on a N95 mask. Madaline said that such a mask must be "fit-tested," meaning fitted to a person's face and secured by a trained individual, to ensure that "no particles are getting through." In other words, hoarding N95s is one thing, but actually being able to use them in an effective manner outside of a specialized medical environment is another thing entirely. And these specific masks aren't just necessary for treating coronavirus patients; medical providers also must wear these now in-demand devices when treating tuberculosis. What's more, individuals concerned about the coronavirus in the United States truly have a more statistically deadly disease to contend with in their own backyards. "What's more of a danger to people in the United States is the flu right now," Dr. Jennifer Lighter, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology at NYU Langone Health, told Business Insider. "Only half of the population is vaccinated. You don't need to run out and get your face mask but you should run out and get your flu vaccine." Morgan McFall-Johnsen contributed reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider We live in interesting times. Economic and political turbulence have become the norm; financial instability brought on by Brexit fears and concerns are among the many new hazards the business community here has had to live with; and uncertainty about the future of our planet is depressingly felt by just about everyone. But one area of Northern Irish human activity which is going through a paradoxically golden era is the restaurant sector. Or, to be more accurate, those of us who like to eat out. Anyone in the north wanting a bite to eat is living the dream. In the words of Harold Macmillan, we've never had it so good. Fast food has never been this high-quality, or so affordable: Boojum, nutritious, tasty and cheap; fish and chips, sustainable, local and, while less cheap, very tasty and community-conscious; bao bun bars, independent taqueria counters and Thai curries compete with quality Indian and Chinese to bring you memorable eating pleasures for under a fiver. And the same can now be said of the pub sector. Some Belfast investors have resurrected a raft of older bars and made them as attractive as they would have been when they first opened 100 or 200 years ago. The Jailhouse, Henry's, White's Tavern and now the Fountain Lane (formerly the Fountain Tavern) are all textbook case-histories of how to revive dying pubs. And while they all feature great bars, good staff and various degrees of Irish hospitality (ranging from the excited back-slappery of the Jailhouse to the gentler winking nod in White's), they all feature the kind of food you'd hope they would. So, there are oysters in the Oyster Rooms above White's, where chef Simon Toye has injected a very classy level of excellence while maintaining that informal mood; there are very decent stews in the Jailhouse and Henry's and now Fountain Lane has a new menu, where old Belfast favourites are honoured. Here you will find beef and Guinness pie, Strangford mussels and sirloin steak (chargrilled with flat cap mushroom, oven baked tomato, beer-battered onion rings and chunky chips). And, because it's 2020, there is also a bean, quinoa, tofu and vegetable burger, chicken and chorizo pasta and warm goats cheese salad, among the many other offers. Purists turn their noses and dismiss all this as very vulgar, uncouth and inauthentic. But pub food was never going to be anything other than cheap and cheerful. Otherwise, you'd be off to the restaurant, wouldn't you? I've completely come round to the fact that these revived pubs may be injected with a lot of new features, but they've been done like this in order to keep alive a flame that requires a different fuel. The mood and character of these pubs have been enhanced and reinvigorated through these regenerative investments. As Marina O'Laughlin of the Sunday Times puts it, it's the very "pubness" of these places which has been sanctified and protected. Fountain Lane's ground-floor bar, a beautiful, elegant island, is much more pubby than the others mentioned here and none of that is lost in the dining room upstairs, where another bar dominates the room. But there is a warm comfort I remember from the '70s in lunchtime Belfast bars which has been reignited, just like the fireplaces that warm them. The beef and Guinness pie is a robust and wholesome thing; really, a stew in a terracotta pot with a flaky puff pastry lid. Accompanying it is a generous dollop of champ and a large ramekin of greens. For 10.95, it's hard to beat the quality-to-value ratio. Strangford mussels are fat and juicy served mariniere with a wedge of toasted sourdough bread. But it's the quality of the service which is most remarkable. Young, well-trained staff, under expert supervision of managers who fundamentally understand hospitality, will make the place so comfortable for you, you won't want to leave. The older I got, the less interested I was becoming in pubs. But now, with the advent of these rejuvenated old bars, where the music is good, the craic is mighty and the youth are out enjoying themselves, I'm going to have to curb my enthusiasm and try to keep away from them. The bill: Mussels starter................................7.95 Steak and Guinness pie................10.95 Pint Guinness...................................4.50 Espresso...........................................2.10 Total: ..............................................25.50 A Brazilian air force plane has evacuated an Indian from the novel coronavirus-hit Wuhan in China along with a group of Brazilian citizens, diplomatic sources said on Saturday. The Indian has disembarked from the plane in Poland, they said. Brazil has said that two of its military planes flew to Wuhan, epicentre of the outbreak, to rescue its citizens stuck in the city. No other detail is available so far about the evacuated Indian citizen. India has evacuated more than 640 of its citizens from Wuhan. The death toll in China from the deadly virus has jumped to 723 with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Chinas Tianjin and the city of Anyang in Central Chinas Henan province both reported two new cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant over the weekend. Both cities have launched new rounds of mass testing and designated more Covid-19 risk areas to control the spread of the virus Jan 10, 2022 06:18 PM Four British people have been admitted to hospital on the holiday island of Majorca after coming into contact with a coronavirus sufferer. Local authorities say they are a couple and their two children. The father has been quarantined at the island's main hospital Son Espases. His wife and kids have also been admitted to the same hospital in the capital Palma after tests to see if they have the killer virus. The admissions occurred after the unnamed dad, who lives in Majorca, went to the hospital on Thursday to inform medics he had been in contact with a person who had tested positive for the virus in France. Pictured: A general view of the Son Espases Hospital in the Majorca capital, Palma His wife and children were admitted after he was quarantined. The results of tests on all four will be analysed at a lab in Madrid and not are expected to be back at the hospital until after the weekend. None of the four Brits are said to be showing any signs of ill health. The regional health authority confirmed in a statement the coronavirus emergency protocol had been activated. More than 41,500 cases have been confirmed in at least 25 countries and territories around the world and more than 630 people - all but two of whom were in China - have died It said: 'The case under investigation affects four members of the same British family living in Majorca who have been examined by health professionals. 'The father went to Son Espases Hospital and the mother and children were subsequently transferred to the hospital for evaluation. 'The family have said they were in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus in France. 'The man has been quarantined and samples have been taken from all four to send them to a laboratory in Majadahonda in Madrid. An American citizen died from coronavirus in China overnight, the US government has confirmed. Medical staff are pictured at work in an isolated intensive care unit of a Wuhan hospital on Thursday 'They have all been admitted to hospital.' Earlier this month Spain confirmed its first case of coronavirus, a German holidaymaker who remains in hospital on the Canary island of La Gomera. Overnight it emerged an American citizen has died in the Chinese city of Wuhan where the coronavirus outbreak began. The death toll now stands at more than 700. More than 34,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide. Javier Murillo, head of internal medicine at Son Espases Hospital, said: 'Yesterday afternoon we attended the British father in A&E after he arrived at the hospital by his own means. 'He was checked out by medical staff immediately and he was found to be completely asymptomatic. 'He told us that a week earlier and for 24 hours only he had experienced muscle pain and a sensation of fever. 'The rest of his family were brought to the hospital that night by ambulance and they were evaluated by A&E staff. 'The mother and one of the girls were completely asymptomatic. 'One of the girls had experienced a fever for the first time earlier that day, with a 38 degree temperature, although by the time she got to A&E she was better and didn't have a fever. 'They were tested for flu and that test came back positive in the case of the girl who had been suffering from fever. 'They were also tested to rule out the possibility they have coronavirus. The samples have been taken and were sent to Madrid this morning/yesterday morning (SAT). 'The four patients were fine this morning/yesterday morning (SAT). The girl still had fever which is normal when you have flu.' PUEBLO, Colo. - A university in Colorado will offer a cannabis-related degree program after receiving approval from the state. Colorado State University is expected to launch the program this fall at its Pueblo campus about 115 miles (185 kilometres) south of Denver, The Denver Post reported. The Cannabis, Biology and Chemistry program would focus on the science necessary to work in the cannabis field and emphasize natural products and analytical chemistry, officials said. Its a rigorous degree geared toward the increasing demand coming about because of the cannabis industry, College of Science and Mathematics dean David Lehmpuhl said. Hemp and marijuana has really come to the forefront in a lot of economic sectors in the country. Were not pro-cannabis or anti-cannabis. What were about will be the science, and training students to look at that science. The curriculum would be similar to double-majoring in biology and chemistry, officials said. The natural products coursework would place students in a lab setting to learn about the genetics of cannabis or other plants with additional courses in neurobiology, biochemistry and genetics, university officials said. The analytical chemistry coursework would also place students in a lab setting to learn about the chemical compounds, such as determining what kind of cannabidiol concentration should exist in a product, university officials said. The lab is licensed to grow industrial hemp and students might work with CBD, officials said. The Colorado State University system also has plans to open a new research centre on the Fort Collins campus dedicated to studying cannabinoids this spring. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said that the kingdom's relations with China have become closer after his visit to Beijing earlier this week. "It's very clear that Cambodia is staying closer with China, especially in this difficult moment, because a friend in need is a friend indeed," he wrote on Friday on his official Facebook page. Hun Sen paid a visit to China on Wednesday. When meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hun Sen said that he had decided to make a special visit to China to showcase Cambodia's support to China in fighting the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic. He said at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that when China was in a difficult time, the Cambodian people stood firmly with the Chinese people to overcome common difficulties, adding that the two countries are truly "steadfast friends." The Cambodian government chief spokesman, Phay Siphan, said Thursday that as some countries have adopted extreme restrictive measures to curb the virus, Hun Sen's Beijing visit told the world there was no need to be "extremely scared and panicked." "The prime minister's special visit shows Cambodia's strong support to China in fighting the outbreak of the coronavirus," Phay Siphan told Xinhua. The novel coronavirus outbreak was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. In Cambodia, the first case was confirmed on Jan. 27. The affected patient is receiving treatment at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Referral Hospital in the country's southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk. The Cambodian Health Ministry said in a press release late Thursday that the patient is in good health and has tested negative for the virus twice since. He will be discharged from hospital if the third test result remains negative. SriLankan corruption case: CID was grounded for five years View(s): Five long years ago, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was asked by then President Maithripala Sirisena to probe the SriLankan Airlines deal for four Airbus A 350-900 aircraft. This probe identified those involved in concluding the deal together with six other narrow-bodied aircraft just after the conclusion of the Paris Air Show in June 2013. As the probe got underway, Mr Sirisena also called upon then Public Enterprises Minister Kabir Hashim to submit a comprehensive report to the Cabinet. Believe it or not, Mr Hashim observed in his memorandum that though he was the minister in charge, none of the transactions, including the termination deal, had been copied to his Ministry. It began coming in instalments only after his Ministry Secretary had written strong letters to the SriLankan management. Meanwhile, the CID findings, which were compiled into a report, gathered dust for almost five years with no action being taken, except an application to a Magistrate to confiscate the passports of the suspects. The case came alive only after a British Court heard that an executive of SriLankan and his wife, who allegedly ran an offshore company in Brunei, had received two million US dollars from the Airbus Company and were to receive more funds. Investigations revealed that the money trail that began in London had gone to Brunei and later unknown sums had ended up in the accounts of persons in Sri Lanka including a sportsman. The sportsmans funds had come from a bank in Australia to Colombo, according to investigators. The order to arrest, SriLankans onetime Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Nayomali Wijesuriya came from the Attorney General after the finding in the UK Court transpired and received wide publicity. They have now been remanded by Fort Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake until February 19. Some MPs want Mahinda to contest from Gampaha Some Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs who met in Parliament want to appeal to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for him to contest from the Gampaha District. Their request is based on the belief that he would receive much more preference votes than in Kurunegala District which he represents now. SLPP sources said Premier Rajapaksa plans to contest from the Kurunegala District and there has so far been no change. Mangala blasts Govt., but Vasu says devil chanting pirith Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has blasted the new Governments economic policies. During a lengthy speech in Parliament on Thursday, he claimed that the country was in economic turmoil within just two and a half months after the new Government took over. The Government did not take kindly to Mr Samaraweeras speech. State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage remarked that Mr Samaraweeras conduct as Finance Minister was one of the reasons that the Yahapalana Government lost the November 16 presidential election. State Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara went further, saying Mr Samaraweeras speech was akin to the devil chanting pirith.The people of this country chanted pirith to chase away the devil. The devil was chased away. Now the same devil is coming back to chant pirith to us, he quipped. Presidents visit cures dengue assistants woes The first agitation site allocated for protesters in a move to reduce traffic congestion within Colombo city, saw a surprise visit from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week. Dengue prevention assistants recruited by the Health Ministry were gathered at the agitation site, demanding permanent job placements. They charged that since 2017 they had been working as assistants with no response from the authorities to their request for permanent employment. The Presidents visit to the agitation site located close to the Galle Face Green was received with joyous response from the protesters. They dispersed after the President promised to absorb the 1,300 dengue assistants to the Multi-Purpose Development Task Force, a Presidential Secretariat programme to generate 100,000 employment opportunities. But in Parliament, a pertinent question was posed by an opposition UNP member to the onetime veteran trade union leader and current State Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara as to whether he agreed to confine protesters to one particular area as it would be one of the best ways of ignoring their demands. The question was met with stoic silence. Luxury vehicles for politicos: Rs. 2.8 billion for deals within wheels On Friday, Parliament was told that more than Rs 2.8 billion in taxpayers funds had been spent to buy vehicles for the benefit of Cabinet, State and Deputy Ministers of the previous Government. The staggering sum was revealed when Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando responded to a question raised by JVP Parliamentarian Nalinda Jayatissa. It was revealed that 79 vehicles had been bought for Rs 2.8 billion. These included Rs 1.6 billion for vehicles of Cabinet Ministers, Rs 652.8 million for vehicles for State Ministers and Rs 564.9 million for vehicles for Deputy Ministers. The vehicles were among the most luxurious in the market. BMWs, Mercedes Benzs and Toyota Landcruisers were the most popular by far. A few Audis and a couple of bullet-proof vehicles were also included; the latter being purchased by the Defence Ministry. The types of the vehicles and their enormous individual prize tags prompted Dr Jayatissa to inquire whether Minister Fernando had mistakenly read out the inventory of a leading vehicle trader. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the list was one example that laid bare how Government ministers lavishly spent taxpayers money even when the countrys economy was in dire straits. He also pointed out that some of the ministers, for whom vehicles were bought, were also in the present Government. I would like to know whether these vehicles will be auctioned off to meet the needs of the people, such as those of pensioners or to purchase a scanner for the Maharagama cancer hospital, or whether you intend to distribute those vehicles again among yourselves, he asked.Mr Fernando, however, pointedly dodged the question by insisting that the JVP, too, could not escape blame since it had protected the former Government as its own. You had the chance to chase the Government out but you did not help us. You could have stopped the purchase of these vehicles then, he remarked. Meanwhile, Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera on Friday denied he had received a Mercedes Benz valued at Rs 42 million while he was the Mahaveli State Minister under the Yahapalana Government, as stated in Parliament. The Minister claimed he had no idea who actually obtained the Benz and would lodge a complaint with the police to launch an investigation. He said he intended to make a special statement in Parliament on the matter soon. The saffron party won in just three constituencies in 2015, where the Congress couldnt retain one seat. New Delhi: If surveys are to be believed, the Aam Aadmi Party is all set to return to power in the national capital where polls to all 70 Assembly seats will be held on Saturday. But if one goes by grandstanding, then the BJP appears set to usher in a new chapter in Delhi and forming the city-states government on its own after 22 years. Two surveys, one released on Wednesday and another earlier on Monday, clearly suggest that the AAP will not be able to retain all 67 seats it won in the 2015 elections, but will be able to form the government on its own. They give 10 to 14 seats to the BJP. But home minister Amit Shah has claimed his party will be winning more than 45 seats. The saffron party won in just three constituencies in 2015, where the Congress couldnt retain one seat. According to the ABP News-CVoter survey, Arvind Kejriwals AAP is predicted to win 42 to 56 seats. The IPSOS-Times Now survey, based on a sample size of 7,321 voters, says the AAP is likely to get anything between 54 and 60 seats, the BJP 10 to 14 seats, while the Congress may draw a blank or win, at best, two seats. Tight security measures have been put in place across the city, especially sensitive areas like Shaheen Bagh, for peaceful polling in which Delhis 1.47 crore voters will decide whether Mr Kejriwal gets another term as chief minister for the development work done and promised, or the BJP, which campaigned aggressively on the anti-Shaheen Bagh nationalism pitch, will get a he last two weeks of campaigning for the countrys most prestigious electoral battle since the Lok Sabha polls in April-May 2019 saw the BJP roping in almost all Union ministers, 11 chief ministers and 200-odd MPs to hardsell its nationalistic narrative to garner the support of voters to unseat Mr Kejriwal. Many BJP leaders even tried to polarise voters along communal lines. To address the Hindu votebank, the chief minister even recited the Hanuman Chalisa at a recent show organized by a news channel where he declared himself to be a diehard follower of Lord Hanuman. On Friday, he along with his family offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place. After his visit to the temple, he tweeted: Sought blessings of Hanumanji at famous Hanuman temple at CP. Bhagwanji said You are doing good work. Continue serving people like this. Leave the outcome to me, all will be fine. The Delhi polls are significant as they will also set the stage for elections in six states in the next 18 months Bihar in the second half of this year, and Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam in 2021. These polls are an acid test for the BJP which in the recent past lost elections in Jharkhand and was unable to form the government in Maharashtra after its ally Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and NCP. In Haryana, the party could form government only after taking the support of Dushyant Chautalas JJP. For Mr Kejriwal, these polls are not only a test of his credentials as the head of a city government, but also important for the political future of the AAP, whose voteshare dropped from 54 per cent in 2015 Assembly polls to just 18 per cent in last years Lok Sabha polls. The AAP, which swept the 2015 Assembly polls, lost all three municipal bodies in the city to the BJP in 2017, in which it got just 26 per cent votes, about 10 per cent less than the saffron party. This time, the AAP is again facing a tough contest from the BJP in 10 seats which it had won by a margin of less than 10 per cent votes in the earlier polls. Of these seats, the victory margin of the AAP was even less than five per cent in Shakurbasti, Najafgarh, Lakshmi Nagar and Krishna Nagar. The party, however, seems to be having a clear edge over the BJP in all the 12 reserved seats it had won in the previous polls. The 2020 election also poses a big challenge for the Congress, which could not win even a single seat in the last Assembly elections. The party came second only in Badli, Mangolpuri, Matia Mahal and Mustafabad. But the grand old party surprised one and all by securing four per cent votes more than the AAP across the seven seats in the last Lok Sabha elections. Both the AAP and the BJP had been trying hard to seek support of Purvanchali voters migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand who comprise about 30 per cent of the total electorate. The AAP has even gone to the extent of promising to get Bhojpuri included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The BJP, which has kept its 32-plus per cent voteshare since 1993, has been focusing more on its traditional voters from upper caste Hindus, who account for 40 per cent of the electorate 12 per cent Brahmins, seven per cent of Punjabi Khatris and Rajputs, six per cent each of Jains and Baniyas and eight per cent of the rest. Punjabi voters, who make up around 25 per cent of the electorate, can influence the election outcome in 20-odd seats. (Bloomberg) -- Jeff Bezos continued his selling spree. Amazon.com Inc.s founder and chief executive officer disposed of 2 million shares in the past week, collecting more than $4 billion, according to regulatory filings. His latest sales were disclosed on Friday as the companys stock hit fresh highs. The transactions are part of a pre-arranged trading plan. An Amazon spokesman declined to comment. That brings Bezoss total stock sales to more than $14 billion, with the majority occurring in the past four years, according to calculations by Bloomberg. Bezos, 56, said in 2017 that he was selling about $1 billion a year in Amazon stock to fund Blue Origin LLC, his space flight company. The rocket builder has since expanded operations and signaled its first human test flights this year. Bezos has also been on a spending spree. He was seen walking through the previews at Sothebys in November and reportedly set a record for artist Ed Ruscha at a Christies auction the same month with a $52.5 million purchase of Hurting the Word Radio #2. According to the same report, Bezos also bought Vignette 19 by Kerry James Marshall for $18.5 million at Sothebys. The tech titan, meanwhile, has been hunting around for another Los Angeles home, according to agents there. The scale of his stock sales -- including $2 billion in 2017 and $2.8 billion in 2019 -- partly reflects Amazons soaring valuation, which surpassed $1 trillion at the close of trading for the first time on Tuesday. The stock closed at $2079.28 on Friday. Bezos still owns about 11% of Amazon, worth $115.5 billion. --With assistance from Anders Melin. To contact the reporters on this story: Tom Metcalf in London at tmetcalf7@bloomberg.net;Sophie Alexander in San Francisco at salexander82@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Pierre Paulden at ppaulden@bloomberg.net For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. France is closing two schools and trying to reassure vacationers in the Alps after five British citizens, including a 9-year-old child, contracted the new virus from China at a French ski resort. Saturday's announcement of the five new cases in France at the height of the ski season is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus can easily spread across multiple borders. The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc, and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore, traveled to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters Saturday. That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11. Britain has three confirmed cases. The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700, nearly all of them in China, since the first illnesses were detected in December. The five British citizens with new cases of the virus are being held in Lyon-area hospitals, along with six other Britons who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored, the French health ministry said. The chalet where they were staying housed a British family that lives in Contamines and another family of British vacationers. The sickened child lives in Contamines and attends a local school, and took French classes at another local school, regional officials told a news conference Saturday. Both schools will be closed, and the pupils will be monitored for signs of the virus. Local officials sought to reassure tourists descending this weekend on one of the world's most prized ski areas that all preventive measures are being taken to stem further spread of the virus. This cluster of cases in France illustrates how the coronavirus can spread to countries indirectly of China. The French ski resort will have citizens from numerous other countries there, so there are implications for potential onward transmission," said Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton. Singapore is a major transport hub in south-east Asia, so going forward, we may well find further international cases that have traveled through Singapore. Story continues France's prime minister convened a special government meeting Saturday to discuss next steps in fighting the virus, and the government decided to harden its travel warning for China, cautioning against all travel there unless in case of imperative need. The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there Jan. 20-22, Buzyn said. There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time, including people from Hubei, according to the French minister. The British citizen then spent Jan. 24-28 in the French Alps, and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week. Separately, a British flight carrying some 150 Britons as well as French citizens from Wuhan is to arrive in the U.K. on Sunday. In Germany, the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far. (AP) (Newser) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle turned up in Miami on Thursday, their first joint public appearance since they moved away from their duties as members of Britain's royal family. The public appearance was at a private event, USA Today reports, that no one said much about. The prince evidently gave a speech at a corporate event, but JP Morgan wouldn't say what the couple's role was. Buckingham Palace confirmed the sighting, which also marked their first appearance in the US since they've apparently moved to Canada. Harry, Meghan and their son, Archie, have been living on Vancouver Island since leaving England. story continues below It may have seemed like a likely place to spot Harry and Meghan, but they evidently will not be seen at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. The couple declined an invitation, per Hello! magazine. There would have been a logic to their going: Harry's brother and sister-in-law attend the British film awardsthe BAFTAsevery year, Harper's Bazaar points out. (Read more Prince Harry stories.) A needlestick injury usually occurs when the skin has been pierced (percutaneous) by a needle or by a sharp object. It commonly occurs as an occupational hazard in those handling needles, either in medical settings or otherwise. Occupational needlestick injuries are very common in the health care community and there is a great risk of passing on blood borne diseases such as HIV/ AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. These injuries happen either when blood is drawn from a patient or while administering drugs through intravenous or intramuscular injection. Injuries may also occur while recapping the needles or if the person handling fails to put aside used needles safely in an assigned container. Needlestick injuries may also occur during surgery, when a sharp needle can pierce the glove and penetrate the skin of a surgeon or his assistant. Other sharp surgical instruments too can cause similar damage during a surgery. The patient may also be at risk of viral infections if a health personnel who attends to him carries a hepatitis or HIV infection. Despite their hazard potential, needlestick injuries have been neglected and, most of them go unreported. BOSTON The New England First Amendment Coalition Friday honored Hearst Connecticut Media with its 2020 Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award for stories on sexual abuse cases tied to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. The FOI Award is presented annually to New England journalists who protect or advance the publics right to know under federal or state law. A team of seven journalists at Hearst Connecticut spent more than six months digging through 1,600 pages of public documents and filing more than 100 public record requests. They found more than 100 cases of abuse involving 280 victims in 31 states over the course of 70 years tied to Boys & Girls Clubs of America affiliates. Our commitment to holding a national organization to a standard that ensure safety for children remains strong, and its an honor to be recognized for the important journalism work of making public information accessible, said Lisa Yanick Litwiller, the lead editor on the investigation. The Hearst staff used the documents it obtained to create a public database that allows parents sending a child to a local Boys & Girls Club to look up information about incidents and how they were handled by the organization. This work was a testament to the expertise and unwavering determination with which this team of adept journalists carried out this vitally important investigation, said Wendy Metcalfe, VP of content and editor-in-chief for Hearst Connecticut. We are deeply honored by this award. As a result of the reporting, Boys & Girls Clubs of America which oversees 4,600 local affiliates announced it will hire a third-party firm to review how it responds to complaints related to abuse and will provide additional safety training to its staff. Another youth organization also announced it would end all overnight visits between children and mentors as a result of Hearst Connecticuts investigation into Boys & Girls Clubs. Hearst Connecticut staff members who worked on the project Litwiller and reporters Hannah Dellinger, Viktoria Sundqvist, Meghan Friedmann, Peter Yankowski, Humberto J. Rocha and Tatiana Flowers were honored at NEFACs 10th annual awards luncheon at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. During the luncheon, A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, was honored with the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award. Previous recipients of the FOI Award are the Hartford Courant (2019); Todd Wallack of The Boston Globe (2018); The Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine (2017); Jenifer McKim of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting (2016); James W. Foley (posthumously), the war correspondent and New Hampshire native killed by the Islamic State (2015); Brent Curtis of the Rutland Herald in Vermont (2014); and Don Stacom of the Hartford Courant (2013). Delhi recorded 61.46 per cent voter turnout on Saturday, down from 67.47 per cent in 2015 assembly election, with exit polls predicting an easy win for AAP, which sought to retain power on development plank, against the BJP that ran an aggressive campaign centred around the issues of anti-CAA protests and nationalism. The polling went off peacefully, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh told reporters. Over 60,000 security personnel, including Quick response teams, had been deployed for the election while police and paramilitary forces conducted flag marches in sensitive areas. The voting percentage was 57.04 till 6 pm deadline, and rose to 61.46 per cent as those in queues at polling stations were allowed to vote, poll officials said, adding it may increase further. The officials said Mustafabad (66.29 per cent), Matia Mahal (65.62 per cent) and Seelampur (64.92 per cent) -- all three with large Muslim population -- recorded the highest voting percentage till 5 pm. Long queues were seen outside polling stations in areas like Jaffrabad, Jamia Nagar, Turkman Gate and Shaheen Bagh which have been witnessing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In the 11 districts in the national capital, northeast recorded 65.24 per cent, northwest (62.23 per cent), south (59.65 per cent), central (58.57 per cent), southwest 61.57 (per cent), east (61.29 per cent), west (61.79 per cent), north (57.19 per cent), New Delhi (56.10 per cent), Shahadra (62.96 per cent), southeast (54.89 per cent). On a sit-in for over a month against the Citizenship Amendment Act, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh in south-east Delhi voted in batches "so that the agitation remains unaffected". Mehzabeen Qureshi, who returned to the protest site after voting said, "I stayed at home to let other women in the house go out and vote. Now I have joined them here at Shaheen Bagh after voting. I voted today to secure democracy". Polling started at a sluggish pace and the voting percentage was low till noon. However, it picked up pace as the day grew warmer. A senior Delhi poll official said the lower turnout compared to 67.47 per cent in the 2015 Assembly polls could be attributed to the polling day falling on a weekend as a section of people may have gone out of the city. The voting percentage was 60.6 in 2019 Lok Sabha election. A poll officer died at a polling booth at Babarpur, just before the voting began, Singh said. Congress' Chandni Chowk candidate Alka Lamba got into an altercation with an AAP worker outside a polling booth and tried to slap the man, but missed. Lamba alleged that the man used "very foul" and objectional language against her. Free electricity and water, development, jobs, national security and CAA were among the key issues on the minds of Delhiites in the polls where 672 candidates were in the fray in 70 Assembly seats. Sonakshi Ranjan (22), a first-time voter, said she opted for development while casting her vote. S C Sharma (74), a voter in Kalkaji constituency, said he voted for development and national security. Exit polls have predicted a clean sweep for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party while the BJP was a distant second. Most exit polls also predicted that Congress is unlikely to open its account even this time in Delhi, which it ruled from 1998-2013. After the polls ended, BJP President J P Nadda held a meeting with party's Delhi unit leaders and took stock of the situation. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari put up a brave face amid prediction of defeat for his party, claiming it will win 48 seats and form a government in the city. AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party is going to win with a big margin. There were some complaints related to VVPAT slips. Congress' New Delhi candidate Romesh Sabharwal said VVAPT slips did not show his name and photo. "I gave a written complaint to poll authorities after which the machine was replaced," Sabharwal said, adding that polling was halted for sometime. Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said that Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) failure was only one per cent this time. "There was very little VVPAT failure this time. In the Lok Sabha election, the VVPAT failure was more than 12.5 per cent and this time it is less than 1 per cent," he said. "Because of our enforcement and preventive action we took, the elections went off peacefully," Singh told reporters. Police said over 200 calls related to election complaints were received at the Delhi Police's control room on the polling day. First time voters and women turned out in large numbers. More than 60 centenarians voted in the assembly polls, Singh said. President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their franchise. Union Ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their votes. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal voted at Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents' blessings. Former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior RSS functionary Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - as you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who covered 60 assembly seats during his whirlwind campaign, appealed to voters to "free" the national capital from lies and vote-bank "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions. "I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics," Shah tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan and Kejriwal's son Pulkit were among first-time voters. Asked if his father will be the CM again, Pulkit said whoever people choose will become the chief minister of Delhi. Talking to reporters, Rehan said the public transport should be more affordable for students. Taking a swipe at those protesting against CAA-NRC, senior RSS functionary Ram Lal said those shouting "kagaz nahin dikhayenge" would be defeated in the Delhi assembly election as he appealed to people to show documents while voting. He asked voters to keep in mind who can make Delhi the best capital city in the world. Hundreds of people, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in many areas across the country, often raise the slogan of "kagaz nahi dikhayenge" (we will not show show documents). "My message to the voters is 'aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen' (Today, take your document along with you and show your document)," Lal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo on Saturday alleged that the BJP has been mocking him ever since he recited the 'Hanuman Chalisa' on a TV channel. Taking to Twitter after casting his vote for the Delhi assembly elections, Kejriwal sought to know what kind of politics the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is doing. "Ever since I have recited the 'Hanuman Chalisa' on a TV channel, the BJP is constantly mocking me. Yesterday, I went to a Hanuman Temple. "Today,BJP leaders are saying that the temple has turned impure by his visit. What kind of politics is this? God belongs to all. God blesses everyone, including those in the BJP," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. On Friday, Kejriwal along with his wife offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Temple near Connaught Place. Earlier this week, the (AAP) national convener had said his reciting the 'Hanuman Chalisa' has hurt leaders of the BJP. During an election rally in Delhi on February 4, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said, "Now has started reciting the 'Hanuman Chalisa'. In coming days, you will see Owaisi reciting the same. This will certainly happen." The counting of votes will take place on February 11. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANCHESTER, New Hampshire Bernie Sanders has a new target: Pete Buttigieg. In the days leading up to the first-in-the-nation primary, the Vermont senator is lighting up the former South Bend mayor over his billionaire donors while his aides are circulating talking points calling him a favorite candidate of Wall Street and the health care industry. Hours before the presidential contenders were due on the debate stage, Sanders team also managed to get the hashtag #PetesBillionaires trending on Twitter. Though Sanders has needled Buttigieg over his billionaire contributors previously, his most recent comments represent something of a shift. He almost never mentions Buttigieg on the trail, and until now has trained most of his fire in the Democratic contest on Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg. The change underscores the importance of New Hampshire to Sanders campaign and the fact that Buttigieg is nipping at his heels in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Bernie has said he will win New Hampshire. He has made that statement more than once. Therefore it's important that he wins, said Kurt Ehrenberg, Sanders former longtime political strategist in the state. I think hes in danger of not winning right now, which is why hes attacking Mayor Pete. Sanders is leading Buttigieg by a few percentage points in New Hampshire, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. But Buttigieg, who is neck-and-neck with Sanders in the Iowa caucuses in a race that is still too close to call, has surged 12 points in the last three days here, per the Globe/WBZ/Suffolk tracking survey. Sanders also faces high expectations in New Hampshire after defeating Hillary Clinton by more than 22 percentage points in 2016. Jeff Weaver, Sanders senior adviser, said the campaign expects to do very, very well here in New Hampshire, and we are certainly fighting for a win. Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign stop at the Merrimack American Legion, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in Merrimack, N.H. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Sanders talking points, which were obtained by POLITICO, state that Buttigieg is soliciting money from corporate executives and billionaires to fund his campaign and that he supported Sanders Medicare-for-All proposal until he started raising big money. Forbes found that Buttigieg has more exclusive billionaire donors than any other Democrat in the race. Story continues The Sanders campaigns talking points memo also argues that Bloomberg is trying to buy the election, and frames the central question of the 2020 campaign as, Which side are you on? Sanders hammered the same theme on Friday morning at Politics & Eggs at Saint Anselm College, a traditional event on the presidential campaign circuit that most candidates attend. He delivered the broadside against elites to a crowd that included Bank of America representatives and others in a room decorated with banners of corporate giants Comcast and Fidelity. I like Pete Buttigieg. Nice guy. But we are in a moment where billionaires control not only our economy, but our political life, Sanders said, contrasting his rivals high-ticket fundraisers with his small-dollar grassroots donors. Which side are you on? Are you on the side of a working class of this country, which has been battered for the last 45 years? Are you willing to take on the greed and corruption of the billionaire class and the 1 percent? Or will you continue to stand with the big-money interests? Monica Klein, a progressive consultant who previously worked for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, said Sanders is wisely making sure New Hampshire's voters know exactly how Buttigieg bankrolls his campaign while he is still relatively unknown to many Democrats. Bernies at his best when hes drawing a strong contrast between working people and the 1 percent and with Biden falling behind, Bernie needs a new billionaire-backed foil, she said, referring to the fact that the former vice president finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses. Buttigieg is a relative newcomer with a penchant for vague platitudes. There's still room to define him in this race, and Bernies jumping on the chance to characterize Buttigieg on his terms. Sanders campaign has long treated Biden as his top rival, but the former vice presidents poor performance in Iowa has changed that, if only in New Hampshire. Progressive insiders this week whispered that Sanders attack on Biden over his past record of entertaining cuts to Social Security might have weakened him too much, leaving an opening for Buttigieg to grow among moderate older voters. As with Sanders, New Hampshire is also an important state for Buttigieg: It is a predominantly white state, and surveys show that he has little to no support among black and Latino voters, a vulnerability that could prove fatal in Nevada, South Carolina and Super Tuesday states if it remains unchanged. Buttigieg has also begun criticizing Sanders by name, saying in Iowa last week that he is calling for a kind of politics that says you got to go all the way here or nothing else counts. Asked about Sanders attacks on his high-dollar donors, Buttigiegs campaign pointed to his remarks on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert Thursday, in which he said, I'm not a fan of the campaign finance system we have today. I'm also a fan of beating Donald Trump. Despite the Sanders campaigns attacks on Buttigieg, it is not guaranteed that the senator will reprise them during tonights debates. Hes shied away from smashmouth political attacks in both of his presidential bids. In 2015, Sanders declined to hit Clinton over her private email server, giving her a pass instead by saying Americans are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails. His team also signaled last month that Sanders would criticize Bidens Social Security record on stage, but he ultimately declined to do so at that time. However, Sanders later released a video online ripping into Biden over the issue and talked about it elsewhere on the trail. In the wake of Buttigiegs strong finish in Iowa, Sanders allies are also knocking the former mayor. Waleed Shahid, a former Sanders aide who now works for the left-wing group Justice Democrats, pointed on social media to polling that found Sanders performed better among non-white and lower-income voters in the caucuses, while Buttigiegs strongest blocs were white and higher-income voters. One of the reasons why Democrats lost in 2016 was low turnout among significant parts of the Democratic base, namely young people, voters of color, working-class and union-affiliated Democrats, he told POLITICO. Part of Bernies electability argument is showing that he can win these necessary constituencies while Buttigieg is showing little growth and Biden is significantly declining. The last few Democratic debates may have been largely forgettable, tiring affairs, but tonights event in Las Vegas promises a highly controversial newcomer: Michael Bloomberg has finally met the polling threshold after a national poll showed him in second, with 19 percent support, after Bernie Sanders. (Looks like his 185-ad, $1 milliona-day campaign strategy did the trick.) Bloomberg will join the candidates who appeared on the last debate stage in New Hampshireexcept for Andrew Yang, who ended his campaign last week, and Tom Steyer, who missed the polling thresholdahead of the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. To guide you through the debate, which will be co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Telemundo, and the Nevada Independent, weve rounded up top liberal and conservative commentators below. Youll see liberal tweets on the left and conservative tweets on the right. SPRINGFIELD While consultants hired to analyze the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouses air, water and other workplace environmental factors concluded the building is not the sick courthouse many employees fear, some remain unconvinced. Springfield District Court First Justice John Payne on Friday held the first meeting of a 22-member Environmental Advisory Committee of courthouse employees since the consultants draft report was issued in January. The analysis summarized extensive testing of indoor environmental conditions at the courthouse at 50 State St. and the nearby Hampden Juvenile Court at 80 State St. The report was the culmination of mounting concerns employees raised more than a year ago over what appeared an inordinate number of workers falling ill with cancer, plus two judges who occupied the same chambers at different times dying of Lou Gehrigs disease Robert Kumor in 2013 and William Boyle 2019. The issue reached a near panic state in 2018 after Boyle retired and publicly discussed conversations with his medical specialists, who said the chances of he and Kumor being stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a relatively rare neurological disease, was tantamount to Powerball odds. Boyle died at 62. The public dialogue prompted Massachusetts Trial Court administrators and legislators including Gov. Charlie Baker to sit up and take notice. Yet calls for a new courthouse have languished. If there was a real feeling that this was a sick building wed go way up the list, said Payne, who is Boyles successor, referring to a nebulous statewide list that prioritizes expensive courthouse renovations and rebuilds. The draft report, however, provided a jumping off point for Paynes committee to prioritize next steps and raise lingering questions about the methodology employed by the consultant, Environmental Health & Engineering Inc. The committee is made up of employees from every department in the courthouse, Payne said. Legislators from the Western Massachusetts delegation also attended Fridays meeting. The judge said complaints remain about air quality, mold and other issues. He tasked a subset of the committee to come up with a list of questions for the consultants about their process, which Payne believes will add clarity to the validity of certain concerns and possibly prompt additional testing. He said concerns about whether the conditions within the walls of the building link to grave or fatal illnesses are made murkier by medical uncertainties. We dont know what causes ALS and they dont know what causes ALS, Payne said, referring to the consultants and the medical community at large. Are the incidences of cancer in this building higher than other workplaces with the same number of employees? I dont know. But if they are, thats very troubling. The subset of committee members will share a proposed list of questions for the consultants with the entire committee by next Monday, Payne said. Once all committee members agree on the questions, they will be passed along to the consultants. Payne said he hopes to host a meeting for employees, members of the bar and the public within six weeks. Airbus bribery scam: How racketeers piloted SriLankan into disaster By Namini Wijedasa Airline hired consultant after consultant for multimillion dollar re-fleeting drive while its financial position was taking a nosedive View(s): View(s): When the Board of SriLankan Airlines in 2013 approved the purchase of a new fleet of Airbuses with Rolls Royce engines for Rs 146.1bn, the companys total assets were at Rs 89.4bn. This meant the planes cost nearly double what the entire national carrier was worth at the time. Kapila Chandrasena, then Chief Executive Officer (CEO), led a four-member working committee that negotiated the deals. He and his wife, Priyanka Wijenayake, were remanded this week. They are accused of accepting US$ 2 mn (Rs 362mn) out of a total US$ 16.84mn (Rs 3bn) bribe promised in return for ensuring SriLankan bought aircraft from Airbus. The other members of the working committee were Chief Operations Officer Captain Druvi Perera, Head of Finance Yasantha Dissanayaka and Head of Engineering Division Priyantha Rose. Questionable from the start SriLankans Airbus deal was shady from the start. And it was scrutinised multiple times. The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) looked at it. A Board of Inquiry headed by J.C. Weliamuna dissected it. The National Audit Office produced a detailed report on it. A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed by Maithripala Sirisena to check alleged irregularities at SriLankan gathered evidence on it. So did the PCoI to investigate and inquire into serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power, state resources and privileges (PRECIFAC). The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) delved into it. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), now a unit under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been on its tail since 2016. The CID also separately inquired. And the Attorney Generals Department had the files. Yet it took a decision of Englands High Court to spur any arrests here. Last month, Airbus was fined a record 3bn in penalties for paying huge bribes on an endemic basis to land contracts in 20 countries. One of those countries is Sri Lanka and involves the purchase of six A330 and four A350 airbuses and the lease of four other planes in deals agreed to between 2012 and 2013. Criminal investigators in Sri Lanka say it was months before they got the required information from international partners under anti-money laundering legislation. But a study by the Sunday Times of the many reports on SriLankans Airbus deal shows barefaced manipulation of systems and processes in order to execute contracts and agreements that made no financial sense to the struggling airline. In the words of one retired management pilot: Those Airbus deals were the downfall of SriLankan. Our debt burden skyrocketed. Back then, professionals were perturbed at how hush, hush the negotiations appeared to be. That was not how costly aircraft deals ought to be done, they say. Only a handful of employees knew what was happening. When Air Lanka bought the TriStars from Lockheed Corporation years ago, we had a team meeting for a whole year beforehand, the pilot recalled. There were representatives from cargo, from operations, marketing, corporate, engineering, finance, and so on. It would be discussed for months and every department was to be involved. There was nothing like that here. Sweeping irregularities To this day, there is no explanation for why the crucial special board meeting at which in-principle approval was granted for purchase of six A330-300s (powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines) and four A350-900s (with Rolls Royce XWB engines) as well as lease of three more A350-900s was held at the official residence of then Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in Battaramulla. Among the directors who attended was his son, Shameendra Rajapaksa, meeting minutes obtained under a Right to Information application filed by the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka show. Also present were Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Mr Chandrasena and Directors Nihal Jayamanne, PC, and Lakshmi Sangakkara. Head of Finance Yasantha Dissanayake, who later gave extensive evidence before the PCoI, attended by invitation. But worse irregularities took place than the conduct of a discussion in the residence of a directors dad. Even the manner in which Mr Chandrasena was made Director/CEO was questioned in the Weliamuna report. The son of a licensed surveyor and a teacher, he lived while schooling at the Anderson Flats in Park Road (although he is later reported to have bought property at Rosmead Place). In May 2011, Mr Chandrasena assumed duties as CEO Designate. He was appointed CEO on August 1 that year, reportedly on the Chairmans recommendation. But when the Weliamuna committee questioned him, Nishantha Wickremasinghe categorically said he had reservations on this person as he was not suitable due to his bad record and lack of any airline experience. Mr Wickremasinghe conveyed his concerns to his brother-in-law, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, but was ignored. It led even him to conclude that the CEOs appointment could most certainly have been part of a much bigger scheme. Mr Chandrasena came with other baggage. There was a suspicious purchase of an MA60 aircraft by Mihin Lanka and thereafter transferring those aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force, the report observes. There is prima facie evidence that the purchase of MA60 aircraft fails to meet expected bona fide framework of transparency, competitive sourcing and accepted procurement standards. The report indicates that Mr Chandrasena was not truthful with most of his evidence on the MA60 transaction which contradicted other documentary evidence. It was recommended that the Bribery Commission investigated this as a matter of priority and urgency. Mr Chandrasena, whose experience and qualifications are limited to telecommunications and information technology, claimed he was selected to the national carrier on his competence and on the basis of an interview by the Chairman and a few Board members. This was not supported by evidence. Mr Wickremasinghe said there was no selection process. The nominee was called into the meeting and the decision conveyed. The offer was accepted. That was all. Three business plans in four years Soon, a five-year business plan emerged of which a key thrust was re-fleeting. There was no argument that the company needed to replace its ageing aircraft. But a previous business plan in 2008 took a more prudent and financially sound approach. A team of local experts led by SriLankans former Chief Financial Officer S A Chandrasekera was behind that roadmap which was intended for three years and suggested an infusion of US$ 180mn through internal sources such as an initial public offering of Sri Lankan catering, sale-and-leaseback of aircraft and a share issue of Sri Lankan Airlines. The Board approved it but then Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera held back the sale of shares even after considerable work was done. When Emirates left in 2008, SriLankan had 14 aircraft. This was to reduce to 12 as two leases were expiring. Mr Chandrasekeras plan envisaged bringing it up to 14 through fresh leases. There was no other proposal for re-fleeting as the company has no financial strength. The idea was to infuse capital through a share issue rather than raising loan capital, observes the PCoI report, a copy of which the Sunday Times saw. This way, SriLankan would be self-supportive without burdening the State or the public. What transpired was the direct opposite. SriLankan handpicked two international consultants, Via Capital and InterVISTAS, to validate Mr Chandrasekeras business plan. Via Capital was a new company with no experience as a corporate body in the relevant field and had no referral. It rode on InterVISTAs reputation and was chosen from among other companies that had between 50 and 10 years of robust international experience. These consultants significantly changed the earlier roadmaps main components, floating a very ambitious plan at a time the company was financially unable to meet its liabilities. It called for equity infusions of US$ 300mn to be spread over a three-year period. It also envisaged growing the fleet from 12 to 24. And its forecasts were wild. For instance, it anticipated capacity growth in terms of passenger kilometres of 75 percent over a five-year period and aimed to capture a market share of 55 percent of projected tourist arrivals. It expected a growth of network traffic through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at an average annual rate of 4.2 percent. A growth of 80.1 percent over the five years was forecasted with regard to cargo carriage and a 97.7 percent growth rate was expected in respect of revenue from passenger, cargo and excess baggage. The plan also anticipated the unit cost to be contained at the same level (despite higher lease charges for new aircraft) by raising employee productivity and operation expansion. And it expected to turn the then deficit airline operation to a surplus in the fourth year. The aircraft purchases There were 13 narrow-body planes to be phased out between 2014 and 2020 on expiry of their lifespan. On June 19, 2013, six A330-300 aircraft with seating for 300 were bought from Airbus during 2014/2015 on sale-and-lease back. On June 28 the same year, SriLankan signed to buy four A350-900s with seating for 330 directly from Airbus, to be delivered in 2020/2021. And, on September 27, 2013, and November 12, 2014, SriLankan signed to acquire four more A350-900s on operating lease to be delivered in 2016/2017. Soon, SriLankan was in dire financial straits. The groups net loss which was US$ 47.1 million in 2015/2016 rocketed to US$ 90 million 2016/2016. It owed US$ 45mn to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and US$ 15mn to Airport and Aviation Services Ltd (AASL) by March 2016. So bad was its financial situation that SriLankan could not pay the total base rent (the minimum amount of rent that is due under the terms of a lease) of US$ 174.96mn for the four A350-900 aircraft for 12 years at US$ 1.215mn per month per aircraft. They were to be delivered in 2016 and 2017. There was no evidence that the SriLankan management made a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis on possible contribution to its profits in running these aircraft on particular routes, the National Audit Office subsequently held. In retrospect, what did cost-benefit or return-on-investment matter if the commissions were the deciding factor? Seabury, another consulting firm, helped negotiate and sign the agreements. The PCoI found that, in the end, it was neither Mr Chandrasekeras nor Via Capital/InterVISTAS business plan that was adopted but a new one by Seabury. The total cost of all these consulting contracts was more than Rs 195mn. Mr Chandrasekera got the lowest fee, the PCoI states, at just Rs 750,000. But its final report in 2017, Seabury claimed it was not the consultants responsibility to evaluate the rationale of the business plan or review the number of wide-body aircraft required by SriLankan. It was for the company to determine the type and number of required aircraft through a cost-benefit analysis. Its proposals for re-fleeting were made on targets and limits set by the company management, Board of Directors and Government, Seabury maintained. It appears from the evidence led that the capital infusion came from the Government, where a certain portion to be used for re-fleeting was used to settle the credit of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the report of the PCoI states. Thus, when the company was in a financially dire state, suffering from a severe cash shortage, the Board of Directors of the company at the time decided to go for a re-fleeting transaction. Despite being well aware about the severe shortage of cashthey were unanimous in approving the re-fleeting exercise, it concluded. Why? Do all roads lead only to Mr Chandrasena? Affected countries must be paid compensation: TISL Compensation must be paid to the countries which are victims of corrupt deals involving Airbus, Transparency International Sri Lanka said this week. The national carrier paid US$ 116mn (Rs 18.5bn) penalty for cancelling an order for four A350-900s between 2015 and 2017. It is important to recall that the fallout from this deal is widely reported to have cost in excess of 17 billion rupees (USD 116mn) in cancellation penalties, Asoka Obeyesekere, TISL Executive Director said. Given that the evidence now shows that corruption was involved in the procurement process, it is imperative that action is taken both internationally and locally to ensure that Airbus and its agents are held accountable for losses inflicted on Sri Lanka. On the bribery trail The Fort Magistrate Court heard from investigators that SriLankan Airlines former CEO Kapila Chandrasenas wife Priyanka Wijenayake had formed a company called Biz Solution in Brunei under her name, maintaining an account for it in a Singapore bank. In December 2013, this account received US$ 2mn from EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), the mother firm of the French Airbus SE. The money was then remitted in four installments to another account Mr Chandrasena held in an Australian bank. The Attorney Generals Department indicated that there may be other suspects in Sri Lanka and abroad. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) first reported the case to the Fort Magistrates Court in September last year. But the probe was ongoing since 2016. It was only in November 2019, while Mr Chandrasena and Ms Wijenayake were serving travel bans, that the CID received the relevant bank details from Singapore. The case was taken up several times since then during which time the suspects attempted to get the travel ban lifted without informing Court of a reason. The Magistrate decided this week that there was reasonable doubt they would avoid investigation and Court and remanded them till February 19, 2020. Documents filed in Englands High Court show that Airbus SE hired Ms Wijenayake as a business partner through the dummy company in Brunei. Mr Chandrasena himself used his private Gmail account to communicate with and invoice Airbus for US$ 2mn (in November and December 2013) in exchange for buying aircraft from the corporation. Payment was approved and US$ 2mn was paid in euros in December 27, 2013. Ms Wijenayake registered her straw company on October 5, 2012, even as negotiations were ongoing between SriLankan and Airbus for the aircraft deal. In March 2013, Airbus engaged her as a business consultant through this company although she had no aerospace expertise. The first Airbus orders from SLA came three months after her firm was hired. Was presidential VIP kit an inducement for hefty Airbus deal? The Sunday Times first exclusively reported in October 2014 that SriLankan had commissioned a VIP conversion kit for one of its new A330-300 aircraft so that then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his inner circle could travel abroad in comfort.It is now in question whether this was also an inducement for the hefty aircraft deal the country awarded Airbus at the expense of its national carrier. The kit allows transformation of the forward commercial passenger area into a spacious VIP section. At the time, officialsincluding the service providerrefused to divulge details, including cost.The conversion kit is produced and installed by the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC). And its Marketing Director told the Sunday Timesat the time their customers ask for discretion.The National Audit Office (NAO) in a special report on SriLankan Airlines re-fleeting said a paragraph in a Cabinet memorandum dated March 27, 2013, indicated that the VIP kit might have been one factor in choosing Airbus over Boeing.When Airbus and SriLankan signed in June 2013 for purchase of six A330-300s, a separate agreement was entered into for VIP cabins in addition to the above.SriLankan agreed to receive two A330-300s to be delivered in October and December 2014 as VIP aircraft. There would be one VIP cabin set to fix in these two aircraft, the NAO states. These planes feature a VIP section at the front of the cabin, and airline-style seating at the rear. The kit was to include a bedroom with two beds, office and conference area. The VIP kit was directly tied to the aircraft purchases. The agreement states that, where SriLankan refrains from buying at least one A350-900, Airbus shall have the sole right to revoke the deal. Under a revision to the contract in December 2013, SriLankan agreed to purchase a secondary VIP kit in addition to the principal VIP kit. The financial cost for designing VIP kit in respect of first aircraft was US$ 7.5 million and US$ 7.5 million for second aircraft. It was agreed that US$ 0.5mn will be paid as pre-delivery payment by SriLankan as soon as the agreement is signed, followed by US$ 2mn and US$ 4.75mn in January and December 2014. These pre-delivery payments were settled by a credit note to the value of US$ 15 million. The agreement entered into for the VIP kits was revoked in February 2015. Under a written request by SriLankan, the credit note to the value of US$ 15 million granted by Airbus for the kits was totally used. The leader of a nationalist party in Russia has offered to fly his members out to Donald Trumps private Florida residence in order to celebrate the US presidents impeachment victory. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, head of the pro-Putin Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), made the offer in a Saturday morning tweet in which he also offered his congratulations to Mr Trump, whom he described as brave and the strongest president in US history. It came after Mr Trump was acquitted by Republicans in the Senate on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress after he attempted to pressure Ukraine into opening investigations into Joe Biden, a political rival. Dear @realDonaldTrump, I congratulate you on your victory in the Senate and the failure of vile and false accusations against you. Today you are the model leader of a huge modern state and the strongest president the US have ever had, said Mr Zhirinovsky, who has been described as far-right and an antisemite. You are a brave man and you can make America great again. We are outraged by the actions of Mrs. Pelosi. Her behaviour was inappropriate. It was clever of you to refuse shaking her hand. We were shocked by the treacherous act of the republican Romney, who voted against you. All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters All members of the LDPR fraction are ready to fly to the USA to raise glass to your success. We propose you a dinner at our expense in Miami, where your beautiful Mar-a-Lago estate is located. Mr Zhirinovskys comment came just hours after an emboldened Mr Trump went on a firing spree of administration officials who he perceives were opposed to him during his impeachment trial. Alexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland, two key witnesses in the case against the president, were sacked on Friday evening, as was Mr Vindmans brother, Yevgeny, a lawyer in the National Security Council. If Mr Trump were to accept Mr Zhirinovskys offer of payment for a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, it would likely constitute a violation of the Emoluments Clause, which prevents presidents from receiving any gift or payment from foreign officials. Mr Trump has, however, already angrily denounced the rule as the phoney emoluments clause. The Gujarat governmenthas set up a laboratory testing facility for the novel Coronavirus in Ahmedabad for timely results and reducing the burden on such facilities in Pune and Mumbai in neighbouring Maharashtra, officials said on Saturday. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, officially called 2019-nCoV, in China has put tremendous pressure on medical infrastructure due to a large number of people returning to the country from there. A Gujarat government release informed that a laboratory testing facilityfor coronavirus had been provided at BJ Medical College at Ahmedabad from Saturday. "With this, samplesof suspect cases will not have to be sent to laboratories in Pune or Mumbai for testing. This will help save time," the release added. The state government informed that out of sixteen samples of suspected cases sent to laboratories for testing, nine have tested negative, while results of seven others are awaited. Three samples sent from Ahmedabad, Surat and Himatnagar hospitals have tested negative, reports of which were received on Saturday, it said. As many as 1,044 passengers returning to Gujarat from China following the outbreak of the deadly virus were put under observation, out of which 411 have completed their 14- day observation period and are doing fine, while others are being monitoreddaily by districtand corporation surveillance teams, it said. "Ahmedabad airport is properly equipped and incoming patients are being screened as per guidelines. Health alert displays have been provided at Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara hospitals. Isolation wards have been set up in all medical colleges and district hospitals. Screening facilities have also been set up at ports," it informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vermont State Police and the Department of Corrections are searching for a convicted murderer with ties to Western Massachusetts who cut off an electronic monitoring device and escaped while on furlough. William Wheelock, 55, was convicted in 1987 of second-degree murder and sentenced to serve 21-99 years in prison. He was released on furlough on Jan. 28 and was living in transitional housing in Bellows Falls. Nine days after his release, he cut off and discarded the monitoring device, Vermont State Police said. Bellows Falls and State police searched for Wheelock for several hours after he escaped at about 2:30 p.m., Wednesday. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the Department of Corrections, police said. Police confirmed Wheelock was last seen at about 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, outside a store in Bellows Falls. He got into a dark-colored SUV, possibly a newer Nissan Rogue, with Vermont license plates and headed north on Route 5 toward Rockingham. Two or three other people were in the car, police said. Wheelock is described as white, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds. He has blue eyes, thinning gray hair and a distinctive 666 tattoo on his left eyelid. He has ties to the Springfield area, police said. People are advised not to approach Wheelock but are asked to call 911 immediately if they see him. Based on the circumstances surrounding his abscondence and his lengthy remaining incarcerative sentence, Wheelocks behavior is considered unpredictable and potentially dangerous, police said. Anyone with information about Wheelocks escape or location is asked to call the Vermont State Police at 802-722-4600 or the Bellows Falls Police at 802-463-1234. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 15:59:25|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Artists perform at the sixth annual Spectacular concert in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States, on Feb. 7, 2020. More than 500 New Yorkers enjoyed a brilliant concert celebrating the Year of the Rat at Carnegie Hall in New York City (NYC) on Friday night. (Photo by Zhan Zehu/Xinhua) NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 New Yorkers enjoyed a brilliant concert celebrating the Year of the Rat at Carnegie Hall in New York City (NYC) on Friday night. The sixth annual Spectacular concert, staged in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, featured a diverse roster of artists from China and the United States, including pianists Bi Cong and Michael Fennelly, violinist Deni Bonet, sopranos Chen Quan and Megan Weston, among others, in a combination of classic Western opera, traditional Chinese drama and modern music. The event also included a performance of Kunqu by artists Shi Jiehua, Cheng Min and Cai Qinglin, who gave local audiences a fresh experience of one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera that integrates acting, singing and stage movement. One of the highlights of the night came as Chen, a soprano originally from Shanghai, staged the famous piece of "Un Bel di Vedremo" from Giuseppe Giacosa's Madama Butterfly. A graduate of both the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, Chen told Xinhua that she felt honored to perform at Carnegie Hall to mark the Lunar New Year. "I believe the beautiful interaction between music from different parts of the world, which could be found between Opera and Kunqu during tonight's show, will promote harmony between countries, ethnics and beliefs," she said. Co-produced by Harvard Wealth Strategy & Management LLC and Premier Event Management Inc., the annual Spectacular has become a tradition in New York City to celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year. "We're thrilled to have such a strong and energetic group of new and returning talent," said Charles W. Sullivan, president of Premier Event Management. He said that the concert features a diverse blend of cultures and musical sounds, which aims to bridge the cultural gap between the Chinese and American peoples. Michigan United Methodists to hold special session for Protocol plan to separate over LGBT debate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Correction Appended The Michigan Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church will hold a special session to determine whether to forward to the denomination's next General Conference a highly publicized plan to separate the UMC over LGBT issues. Last month, UMC leaders and activists of diverse theological views announced their support for a measure called the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, which among other things would allocate $25 million for theologically conservative Methodists who adhere to biblical standards of marriage and sexuality to vote to leave the UMC and create their own denomination. Bishop David Bard of the Michigan Conference announced Wednesday that his regional body will hold a special session on March 7 to consider the protocol legislation. According to a conference statement, the special session will not amend the proposed legislation, but will simply vote either in favor or against the protocol. If passed, the protocol legislation will then go to the denomination-wide General Conference, scheduled to be held May 5-15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michigan United Methodists gathered for this special session of annual conference will decide if we want to serve the wider church by forwarding this legislation. Delegates to General Conference will decide what to do with the legislation, said Bard in a blog entry on Tuesday. 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. Tom Anderson, president of the Michigan Chapter of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a theologically conservative UMC advocacy group, supported the decision to hold a special session. I support holding of a special session of the Michigan Annual Conference, said Anderson. Michigan has the chance to open the door toward a civil, sober and hopeful future for the people called United Methodist. Let us all fast and pray for a day of new beginnings. Over the past several years, there has been increasingly divisive debate within the United Methodist Church over the denominations stance on homosexuality, acknowledging it as a sin and prohibiting the blessing of same-sex unions. Theological liberals have introduced legislation every four years at General Conference to remove the prohibitive language from the UMC Book of Discipline. Their efforts have always failed. In February 2019, a special session of General Conference not only upheld the language, but also passed stricter enforcement of the rules. In response, many liberals in the UMC promised increased resistance to the Book of Discipline and many progressive church leaders have refused to enforce the rules. For example, Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli, senior pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church of Washington, D.C., said at a major gathering of progressive UMC members last year that there would be a wide variety of resistance tactics to the denominations official position. For some of us, resisting the Traditional Plan means violating the Book of Discipline. For some persons in their context, it might not, said Gaines-Cirelli at the time. There will need to be a wide variety of resistance tactics all leaning into and seeking to help accomplish the commitments that we have made together here. Many conservatives have expressed their preference to leave the denomination rather than continue what they consider an endless debate with liberals over the rules. An earlier version of this article published Feb. 6 said that the special session would determine if the conference supported or opposed the Protocol. However, later that day, a representative of the Michigan Annual Conference reached out to The Christian Post and said that the special session will only decide whether to forward the Protocol to General Conference for consideration, not whether they oppose or support the plan. Schools in Surat in Gujarat have been asked to organise 'Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas' (Mother- Father Worship Day) on February 14, coinciding with Valentine's Day, to "cultivate Indian cultural values among school children", as per a circular issued by the district officer here on Saturday. The circular, a copy of which is with PTI, also lays down guidelines on how to celebrate Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas, with schools being asked to invite five to ten couples who will be worshipped by their sons or daughters studying there with flowers, vermilion, chanting of prayers and offering sweets. Schools have also been asked to invite special guests, like local corporators, school management committee members or social workers, and speeches will be delivered highlighting the importance of the day. The Surat DEO's circular said schools may organise similar events to inspire students and create awareness among them about the day. Schools will have to submit a report to the district office with details of the function accompanied by photographs, the circular added. The opposition Congress criticised the move saying officials were busy issuing such diversionary "fatwas" when they should be concentrating on improving standards of in the state. "We know the importance of parents in our life and culture. The circular directing schools to celebrate Parents Worship Day is a way to divert attention from shortcomings plaguing the school system in the state," said Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. "Instead of issuing circulars meant to improve school education, the education department is issuing new fatwas. It is working in the direction of creating new controversies. It is a drama because the education department is directionless," Doshi added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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The US citizen, who has not yet been publicly identified, died on Thursday in Wuhan, in the central Chinese province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak. The New York Times reported the victim is believed to be a woman who may have had an underlying health condition. It was not immediately clear why they had not been evacuated from Wuhan along with other Americans. About 530 people were flown back to the US last week, some of whom are being tested and treated at Travis air force base in California. The US has instituted quarantine measures for people arriving from China. A dozen people in the United States have tested positive for the virus. Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty A Japanese man in his sixties also died in Wuhan after suffering symptoms consistent with the virus, Japans foreign ministry said. The death toll in mainland China had risen to 722 by Saturday, with some 31,774 cases reported across the country. The death toll is expected to exceed the 774 people killed by the Sars outbreak in 2002-2003. The deadly virus has spread to two dozen countries, including the United States, Britain and France. Among the latest reported cases in Europe are five Britons in a French ski resort. They are not thought to be in a serious condition. China has reacted by sealing off cities, cancelling flights and closing factories policies which already seem to have hit the countrys already slowing economy. Goldman Sachs has cut its first-quarter GDP growth target from 5.6 per cent to 4 per cent. Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics in Singapore, told the Reuters news agency: Its certainly not going to be a return to normal next week. US health experts are awaiting permission to enter China to help deal with the outbreak. A woman wearing a protective suit and face mask walks past a closed building in Beijing (Getty Images) The New York Times reports that authorities in Wuhan have been making house-to-house searches and forcibly moving sick people to enormous quarantine centres. Meanwhile, flowers have been laid at the Houhu branch of the Wuhan central hospital in honour of Li Wenliang, a doctor who died from coronavirus after being targeted by police for spreading rumours when he was trying to raise the alarm about the deadly virus. Reuters contribute to this report Western Australia's mineral-rich Pilbara region braced Friday as powerful Cyclone Damien prepared to make landfall, causing ports to close and forcing mining firms to stand down non-essential staff. Damien is already a category three storm and is expected to bring winds of up to 230 kilometres (140 miles) per hour as it strengthens to category four and touches the coast near the town of Karratha, population 16,000, early Saturday. A spokesperson for Rio Tinto told AFP the company had "started the process of demobilising non-essential people from our sites which may be affected by the weather system." The region is the centre of Australia's world-leading iron ore trade, and home to mining giants Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP, which was also reportedly reducing operations. Key ports at Walcott, Dampier, Ashburton and Hedland have also been cleared as strong winds made mooring dangerous. The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents of "very destructive" winds and heavy rain that is likely to cause flooding. This year, election in the 70-member Delhi Assembly will see a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. The ruling AAP is set to make a determined bid to retain power while, the BJP seeks a win after facing defeat in the 2013 and 2015 polls. Delhi Metro services started at 4 am on all lines on Saturday to facilitate the polling personnel and voters to reach their destinations on time in the poll-bound state. Usually, the metro starts running from 5.30 am on all the routes. "In order to facilitate the polling personnel and others to reach their destinations on time, Delhi Metro services will begin at 4:00 am, on 8 February 2020," Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted. Election Update In order to facilitate the polling personnel and others to reach their destinations on time, Delhi Metro services will begin at 4:00 AM on 8 February 2020. pic.twitter.com/hL5TYrcw2g Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) February 6, 2020 The trains functioned at a frequency of 30 minutes on all the lines till 6 am. Post that, the metro services will resume the normal timetable through the day on all lines, DMRC said in a press release. Meanwhile, SpiceJet announced to offer "hundreds" of "free" tickets to select people who want to fly to Delhi to cast their votes. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 The budget carrier clarified that the participants, who will be selected by the airline's internal panel after their online registration, will have to bear all applicable taxes, surcharges, levies and any other additional costs incurred on the air tickets. In this "SpiceDemocracy" initiative, the airline stated that if the departure to Delhi and return from the city is on 8 February, it will refund the entire base fare on both tickets. Click here for detailed coverage of Assembly Elections 2019 This year, election in the 70-member Assembly will see a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The ruling AAP is set to make a determined bid to retain power while, the BJP seeks a win after facing defeat in the 2013 and 2015 polls. In the 2015 Assembly polls, the AAP won 67 seats, leaving just three for the BJP. "Voting is scheduled to begin at 8 am and end by 6 pm at all polling booths," the Election Commission of India said. With inputs from PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the people of Delhi, especially youngsters, to vote in record numbers. "Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. BJP president JP Nadda also urged the citizens of Delhi to cast their votes in large numbers and participate in the biggest festival of democracy. Taking to Twitter, Nadda wrote in Hindi that voting is essential for the unity and integrity of the capital. "I appeal to all the voters of Delhi to vote in maximum numbers and participate in the great cause of democracy. Your one vote is important for the unity, integrity and overall development of Delhi. Your vote will write the golden future of your city," Nadda tweeted. Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. Congress did not open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement A British honeymooner with coronavirus has been isolated in a hospital room after being taken off a disease-hit cruise liner in Japan. Alan Steele was on board the cruise liner Diamond Princess when it was quarantined in the port of Yokohama after 61 passengers tested positive for the virus. He was transferred to the medical facility on Friday. His new wife Wendy was forced to remain on board the ship but has been in regular telephone contact with him. She posted on Facebook earlier today to give an update about his condition. She said: 'Alan is well, Japanese doctors are excellent.' 'He is in a little room. Just Dr and nurse visit him. 'It was a hard first night without Alan. But hey, we are constantly in touch. Japanese doctors are excellent and he is in safe hands.' Alan Steele (pictured with his new wife Wendy) was today taken off the Diamond Princess and sent to hospital on the mainland after testing positive for the virus Mr Steele was one of 41 people who learned they had the virus after 171 remaining test results came back on Friday, trebling the ship's total of virus patients from 20 to 61. The newly diagnosed also include 21 Japanese nationals, as well as eight Americans, five Canadians, five Australians and an Argentine. Thirty-five of the infected people were over 60 years old. They will all be taken to medical institutions in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Shizuoka. Mrs Marshall Steele said she was beginning to suffer with 'cabin fever' as she continued to be confined to her room on the ship - a status shared with nearly 3,700 other passengers and crew. A total of 78 British passport holders - including crew - were among those who boarded the ship. The ship's operator, Princess Cruises, said the vessel's quarantine was due to end on February 19 providing that there are no 'unforeseen developments'. They also confirmed all affected guests were being taken to hospitals. Alan Steele (pictured right) was separated from his new wife Wendy (pictured left on board the cruise ship) and taken off the Diamond Princess after learning his test results in Yokohama Bay The newlyweds, from Wolverhampton, who had only married last month were initially left 'bereft' and 'in ribbons' when they were separated. Mrs Marshall Steele took to social media at the time to say that she would not be able to care for him despite being a nurse. She wrote: 'They have just taken Alan away. I am in ribbons. He is healthy and not displaying any symptoms. 'I am bereft... if he ends up being ill I can't look after him. NOT only as a wife... but as a nurse. The newly diagnosed also include 21 Japanese nationals, as well as eight Americans, five Canadians, five Australians and an Argentine. Pictured: Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers off the cruise ship The infected will all be taken to medical institutions in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Shizuoka. Pictured: Aerial photograph shows passengers and staffs on the ship Mrs Marshall Steele said she was beginning to suffer with 'cabin fever' as she continued to be confined to her room on the ship - a status shared with nearly 3,700 other passengers and crew 'Apologies if this sounds over emotional but to have your husband taken away from you. Not sure how long it will be until I see him again. 'In my working life my colleagues would say 'balls of steel' but not today. Counting down the days until I can laugh about stupid things with my husband again.' Mr Steele had not been showing symptoms of the virus and hoped he may just be a 'carrier' - but faced a lengthy quarantine in hospital on the mainland. He was the second UK national known to have the virus, after a businessman who had recently flown back from Singapore tested positive in Brighton yesterday. A team of health workers in hazmat suits on the shore in Yokohama today where Japanese authorities said the tally of coronavirus patients on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship had risen to 61 Health workers wearing protective suits carry bags to an ambulance near the cruise ship Diamond Princess today, which is anchored and being held in quarantine near Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Health workers in protective gear were still working in Yokohama Bay as darkness fell on Friday with the Diamond Princess in quarantine A worker in a hazmat suit drives a fork lift truck to load supplies on to the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama today Masked passengers are seen on the deck of the ship today, where passengers in windowless inside cabins have been allowed only onto open decks briefly under strict conditions A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads 'shortage of medicine' on the cruise ship Diamond Princess as another 41 people tested positive for the deadly coronavirus on Friday An official in a protective suit walks near the cruise ship Diamond Princess anchored at Yokohama Port today Japan Self-Defence Forces officers use canvas sheets to cover the walkway from the cruise ship Diamond Princess on Friday as another 41 people tested positive for the deadly flu-like virus after 20 were rushed off to hospitals on the mainland earlier this week The Diamond Princess cruise ship, with over 3,700 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, is seen anchored at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port Experts say cruise ships are vulnerable to virus spread Cruise ships are vulnerable to the spread of viruses because of the high number of elderly passengers who are confined together and have forked out large amounts of money for their holiday, experts say. Professor William Keevil said some passengers may be unwilling to come forward with their symptoms to avoid putting an expensive holiday at risk. The Southampton professor said keeping guests in their cabins was the 'best option' until the incubation period - thought to be around 14 days - has passed. Crews are 'well aware of the spread of disease on board, considering that you can have hundreds or thousands of passengers in a relatively confined, isolated environment for days or weeks,' he said. 'They rely on the honesty of the passengers declaring if they are unwell or have had a recent illness as they board ship. 'The problem is that some potentially ill passengers, having looked forward to their holiday and spent a lot of money, do not want to miss out and board ship anyway. 'Alternatively, someone may innocently board the ship without any symptoms which subsequently develop onboard. They are required to immediately declare this and isolate themselves.' It is not yet known exactly how the new coronavirus spreads, but similar viruses spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 'Outbreaks of droplet spread diseases such as influenza and norovirus are relatively common' on such ships, said Prof Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia. 'Cruise ships often have large numbers of passengers and crew, these people come from all over the world, and passengers at least are often elderly. 'Given that many passengers spend a large part of their time indoors, one would expect droplet spread diseases such as [the new virus] to spread readily on board. 'As passengers will disperse back around the world then outbreaks on board such ships will have the potential to enhance the global spread of this current epidemic.' Advertisement The jump in the number of virus cases on board the ship has added to concerns among the ship's 2,600 passengers that they are being kept in the dark about the crisis. One American passenger told a journalist she was 'scared... I don't want to leave this ship in a box.' Others have voiced fears about dwindling medical supplies, including a Japanese passenger who held up a sign from her balcony declaring a 'shortage of medicine' in Yokohama Bay today. Japan ordered the ship into quarantine after an 80-year-old former passenger who left the vessel in Hong Kong last month was found to have the virus, which has killed more than 630 people. All 3,711 people on board were screened for the virus, and 273 of them were selected for further tests because they were either showing symptoms, had disembarked in Hong Kong or been in contact with the 80-year-old. On Wednesday and Thursday, Japanese authorities announced that the first batch of 102 test results had produced 20 positive results. Health minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters today that the remaining 171 test results had shown 41 cases of coronavirus, taking the total to 61 out of 273 who were tested. 'Today they will be sent to hospitals in several prefectures, and we are now preparing for that,' the health minister said. The passengers were due to be taken to medical facilities in Tokyo and nearby Saitama Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures as well as Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan. Mr Steele later revealed himself on Facebook as one of the virus patients, saying: 'Just to let you all know I have been diagnosed as having the virus and am being shipped to hospital. 'Would also like to say that at the moment I am not showing any symptoms so just possible a carrier. Will let you know how I am going on when possible.' A neighbour, 72-year-old Veronica Richards, said today that Mrs Steele was a care home worker and mother-of-one who had married Mr Steele after divorcing her previous husband. 'This will give her something to talk about,' she said 'I knew she was on her honeymoon and was expecting her back any time now. She is a lovely woman and she always has a bit of drama in her life. 'I've not met him [Alan] properly and I hope he's got over it when I do. I don't need that Coronavirus, I've got enough on my plate with my hip.' The 20 people who were earlier diagnosed with the virus have already been removed from the vessel by health workers in protective hazmat suits and taken to hospitals on the mainland. One of them is in a serious condition, a health ministry official said, without providing further details. The tests for coronavirus could now be expanded to further passengers who are 'susceptible to illness, including elderly people and those with other ailments,' the health minister said. In addition, passengers who had close contact with the 61 virus patients could also be subject to further testing to contain the spread of the virus. A Japanese foreign ministry official said today that the quarantine would end on February 19, more than two weeks after the vessel arrived in Japan. The official also rejected fears that the virus could be spread through the ship's ventilation system. Tour operator Princess Cruises confirmed the February 19 end date, barring 'unforeseen developments'. Medical staff clad in protective gear prepare to provide care for suspected coronavirus patients on board the cruise ship Passengers stand on their balconies aboard the ship today, some of them wearing face masks and warm coats Medical staff in hazmat suits walk past ambulances on the dock in Yokohama where they are assisting the Diamond Princess Officials in protective suits drive an ambulance near the cruise ship today after another 41 coronavirus cases were confirmed Passengers aboard the quarantined vessel look out from their balconies today, waving to the media at the Yokohama port A passenger waves next to another wearing a face mask from the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where 10 more people were tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, as it is anchored at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan on Friday A Japan Self-Defences Forces officer wearing a face mask is seen next to the cruise ship Diamond Princess as the ship was prepared for resupply Today health workers were working on the shore dressed in white hazmat suits, complete with face masks and helmets. An extendable white-tented passageway was wheeled to a door on the side of the massive cruise ship, apparently to protect the identity of people being evacuated from the boat. As the ship docked, passengers who have been told they will have to stay aboard days even if they test negative for the virus came out on to their balconies, some waving to assembled media or taking pictures. People on board have described confusion and boredom after being confined to their cabins and banned from even walking down the corridors following the decision by Japanese authorities to quarantine the vessel. Passengers in windowless inside cabins have been allowed only onto open decks briefly, under strict conditions, including wearing a mask at all times. 'The quarantine officials require that you avoid congregating in large groups and maintain a separation of at least one metre from each other when talking,' the ship's captain said in an announcement on Friday morning. 'We require that you wear as a minimum, warm clothing, hat and a scarf if possible,' he added. Experts say that cruise ships are particularly vulnerable because of the large number of passengers, many of them older people, in a confined space. The ship has spent much of its time anchored in Yokohama Bay, where fork lift drivers in hazmat suits have helped to load supplies on to the vessel. It has also returned to the open sea to collect seawater, which can be converted for use in showers and drinking water. This morning, Briton David Abel who is with wife Sally, said: 'My major concern now is to let the captain and the crew know, that we want to be informed of what is going on. We don't want second hand news, we don't want rumours, we want to know precisely what is going on' A man wearing protective gear is seen at the port where cruise ship Diamond Princess as preparations were made for further supplies to be delivered this morning Olivia Capodicasa (pictured) was on the final night of her cruise with her grandmother when the ship was locked down British passenger David Abel, who is travelling with his wife Sally, today voiced anger that passengers were finding out news from the media and told the captain: 'We don't want second hand news, we want to know precisely what is going on.' He said today: 'We haven't had our temperatures taken we haven't been asked any more questions ... that has not happened for days so how are the medical people able to monitor the health situation of 3,600 passengers on board. So this is what needs to be answered.' He also raised concerns that, along with the dozens of other Britons on board, he might be quarantined yet again when they arrive. The UK government put 93 people in quarantine in the Wirral after flying them back from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak. 'It would really be good if the Home Office would put something on the news.' Mr Abel added. 'It would certainly put the minds of the Brits on board at ease.' There are 78 people with British passports on board the vessel, including crew members, but there are no plans to fly anyone back to the UK at present. The coronavirus epidemic has so far claimed 630 lives and infected more than 28,000 people in 28 countries and territories around the world - but 99 per cent of infections have been in China For breakfast, quarantined cruisers yesterday were served a measly fruit salad, pastries (both sweet and savoury), a Fru Fru yoghurt and a glass of apple juice Health workers in protective suits put up hoardings on Wednesday as passengers who were diagnosed with the virus are moved Officers in protective gear carry luggage cases after people who were transferred from cruise ship Diamond Princess on Wednesday when the first 10 people were taken off, another 10 were confirmed to have the virus on Thursday, and another 41 on Friday American attorney Matt Smith, 57, and his wife Katherine have a suite with their own balcony but said the quarantine was a 'hard pill to swallow'. 'My thought is, the greater number they diagnose on the ship, the greater chance they're going to find some reason to extend the quarantine,' he said. Also among those stranded on board are 233 Australians, including Olivia Capodicasa, from Melbourne, who was on the final night of her cruise with her grandmother when the ship was locked down. She described the conditions as being like 'hell' and said she had been watching movies to pass the time. 'It has been a hell of a 24 hours stuck in here', she told Sunrise on Thursday morning. 'I think it is really starting to hit me now that this is the reality and I'm not going home anytime soon'. Passengers were finding out about the new infections from the internet before they were announced on the ship, said a 43-year-old Hong Kong resident who is on the ship with his family. A separate cruise ship, the World Dream, is being held in quarantine in Hong Kong after eight former passengers tested positive for the virus. The ship's 3,600 passengers are facing a third night stranded, but conditions are less stringent and there are not yet any confirmed virus cases on board. In addition, more than 2,000 people are marooned on board the MS Westerdam after Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam all refused entry. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe yesterday said his country would not allow foreign passengers to disembark, saying there were suspected virus patients on board. However, cruise operator Holland America said last night that 'the ship is not in quarantine and there are no known cases of coronavirus on board'. An ambulance and Japan Coast Guard members in protective outfit prepare for the arrival of infected passengers that were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, at Yokohama port on Wednesday when another ten were rushed off to hospitals on the Japanese mainland Despite some of the ship's 3,700 passengers complaining of 'prison' like quarantine conditions they were seen gallivanting on the colossal ship's galleries on Thursday within arms reach of their neighbours Japan has now confirmed 25 cases of the new coronavirus - excluding the cruise ship infections - among them citizens returning from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak. Tokyo has evacuated more than 500 Japanese citizens from Wuhan, and attracted some criticism for its relatively loose quarantine approach. There have been several incidences of apparent person-to-person transmission in Japan, including a tour guide and bus driver who contracted the virus after coming into contact with visitors from Wuhan. Neither had visited China in recent months. The coronavirus epidemic has so far claimed more than 630 lives and infected more than 28,000 people in 28 countries and territories around the world, although but 99 per cent of infections have been in mainland China. The outbreak has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency, several governments to impose travel restrictions, and airlines to suspend flights to and from China. Researchers suspect the virus emerged from a Wuhan market selling exotic animals at the end of last year. When we were planning this issue, two things kept coming to mind: beauty and wisdom. Last year, as we all know, was a slog, and this year hasnt been a bed of roses so far either. My instinct was that, in a world of noise and anxiety, a little pretty (and a lotta clarity) would be welcome. This was reaffirmed as soon as I returned from my native Australia in January. Leaving home was emotional given all the lives, land, and homes lost to the bushfires, not to mention the loss of our treasured plants and animals. Thankfully, the world has rallied to Australias aid, and weve seen many reassuring moments showcasing peoples goodness and generosity. So back at work, and on the InStyle stage, all Im interested in is beauty and wisdom, the forces for good in our business and the culture at large. The word inspiring can be overused, but the cast of this issue inspire us endlessly with their creativity, perspective, and voices. Dries Van Noten dress. Bulgari earrings and bracelet. Photo by Sebastian Faena. First, our cover star, Kerry Washington. Known for years as a character actress, she really stepped into her power with the success of Scandal and then the launch of Times Up. She is one of Hollywoods most forthright and collaborative players, but girl can still turn up at the Golden Globes in a harness and a jacket held on by Topstick. (See, you can have it all!) And Im thrilled as is my 90s-supermodel-idolizing teen self that Shalom Harlow is also in this issue. Theres a special place in the fashion worlds heart for Shalom, whose beauty and ballet-like grace seemed to make dreams real, but after years of overworking, she became severely ill and kept out of the public eye. Now she is starting to take select jobs and eloquently share her wellness wisdom. Anyone who has seen the now-viral video of her dancing on the shoot of her comeback campaign for Versace is reminded that Shalom has always been super. Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli is a force for good in fashion. In an industry that celebrates artifice, he is resolutely himself, and this spirit, along with the breathtaking beauty of his work, is changing the business for the better. We photographed Pierpaolo with his wife, children, and dog because, as he says, With my family, I feel free to follow my dreams everywhere because I never get lost. Story continues Balmain jacket and pants. Chris Colls/Serlin Associates Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a comic gift for over 30 years, possesses another great quality: frankness. Asked at a Veep premiere if shed ever see a female president, she replied, I fucking better. Back from undergoing breast-cancer treatment, she is doing the best work of her life while remaining chic as hell. JLD may no longer play a president, but she still rules. Bethann Hardison, a longtime advocate for representing people of color in fashion, is a true revolutionary. Its thanks to Bethann (or Ma, as Naomi Campbell calls her) that Black models have the long-overdue presence theyve earned, young designers can build a business, and brands are better navigating racial sensitivities. We call her the Teacher for a reason. Finally, songbird Maggie Rogers. I was entranced when I heard her sing at a benefit in New York, so we jumped to shoot her. [I feel] so proud of the work were doing, and the space were creating, and the people I get to share all this with, she says. The same could be said of the people in this issue. I hope it sparks joy. Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE:RBA) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. Investors can purchase shares before the 13th of February in order to be eligible for this dividend, which will be paid on the 6th of March. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's upcoming dividend is US$0.20 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.80 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has a trailing yield of 1.9% on the current stock price of $42.64. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers's dividend is reliable and sustainable. As a result, readers should always check whether Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut. See our latest analysis for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers paid out more than half (62%) of its earnings last year, which is a regular payout ratio for most companies. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. It distributed 25% of its free cash flow as dividends, a comfortable payout level for most companies. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:RBA Historical Dividend Yield, February 8th 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. This is why it's a relief to see Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers earnings per share are up 6.9% per annum over the last five years. While earnings have been growing at a credible rate, the company is paying out a majority of its earnings to shareholders. If management lifts the payout ratio further, we'd take this as a tacit signal that the company's growth prospects are slowing. Story continues The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has delivered an average of 8.3% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past ten years of dividend payments. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders. Final Takeaway Has Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Earnings per share growth has been modest and Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers paid out over half of its profits and less than half of its free cash flow, although both payout ratios are within normal limits. In summary, while it has some positive characteristics, we're not inclined to race out and buy Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers today. Wondering what the future holds for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers? See what the nine analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top 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. The Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has admonished Christians to be bold and stand by the truth irrespective of their political affiliations. Prof Martey said there was nothing wrong with Christians engaging in politics, saying, "What was wrong was the neglect of truth due to one's political affiliation." The former Moderator made these remarks at a public lecture organised by the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) on the theme, "The Bible and Politics." He said the Bible enjoined Christians to be actively involved in how their countries were run. He said the Bible affirmed God's appointment of leaders, adding that, politics was a means God used to accomplish his will. "Christians are to seek justice and help those in power, as well as be the voice of the voiceless," he said. He said the Church needed to play its educational role effectively, educating citizens on their civic responsibilities towards nation-building. Mr Martey, however, called on Ghanaians to support the Electoral Commission (EC) to perform its electoral mandate. He said the EC was capable of delivering on its mandate if it had the needed support. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Unpublished letters that reveal Charles Dickens' state of mind while writing some of his most famous works are to go on display for the first time. The 25 letters are among more than 300 items from the most substantial private collection of Dickens material in the world - described as a 'treasure trove' - which have been acquired by the Charles Dickens Museum from a US collector. Other items that will go on display include personal objects, portraits, sketches, playbills and books. A hand-written letter by Charles Dickens to his butler with instructions for dinner party which was attended by the editor of Punch magazine, Mark Lemon The entire collection, worth 1.8 million, was acquired by the museum with the help of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Friends of the National Libraries and the Dickens Fellowship. Among the unpublished letters is one written on November 9 1843 while he was in the midst of writing A Christmas Carol. Dickens wrote: 'I have half done the Christmas book, and am resting for two days before going to Chuzzlewit (Martin Chuzzlewit, his sixth novel) - that is, if I can call anything rest, with that before me. The 25 letters are among more than 300 items from the most substantial private collection of Dickens material in the world - described as a 'treasure trove' Among the unpublished letters is one written on November 9 1843 while Dickens, pictured, was in the midst of writing A Christmas Carol 'Yesterday I walked a great deal. Today I am going out on horseback, for a thirty mile ride.' In another letter, written on December 22 1840 about the death of the character Little Nell in The Old Curiosity Shop, he told the book's illustrator George Cattermole: 'I am breaking my heart over this story, and cannot bear to finish it.' It is thought that his anguish over Nell was because of his grief over the death of his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth, who had died three years earlier at the age of 17. One letter outlines Dickens' plans for a house party, including an instruction to his butler to ensure a secret supply of gin punch is kept under the table for him and just one other guest. A letter written by Charles Dickens, discussing the publication of Oliver Twist in America, during a photocall of a new collection of Dickens material at the Charles Dickens Museum The entire collection, worth 1.8 million, was acquired by the museum with the help of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Friends of the National Libraries and the Dickens Fellowship Among the collection, which was announced on the anniversary of the author's birth, is the lost third portrait of Dickens by Samuel Laurence. The unfinished chalk and pastel drawing appears to be a companion piece to another portrait of him by the artist in the Museum's collection. There are also watercolours of scenes from Oliver Twist by illustrator George Cruikshank, who created all 24 illustrations for the novel, and a locket containing Dickens' hair in the collection. Charles Dickens' gold writing implement which doubles up as a pen and pencil is held over the lost third portrait of Dickens by Samuel Laurence Original watercolour scene from Olivier Twist by illustrator and caricaturist George Cruikshank Cindy Sughrue, director of the Charles Dickens Museum, said, 'This is a treasure trove - a true once-in a-lifetime moment for the Museum. 150 years after the death of Dickens, it is wonderful to be able to bring such a rich and important collection to the Museum at his first family home. 'We are immensely grateful to all of the organisations that have supported us so generously, and to the collector for his original acuity and giving the Museum the opportunity of acquiring this collection. 'We are looking forward to sharing the items with our visitors, both online and in person in the rooms of Dickens's home.' A curator holds an account book written by Charles Dicken's sister-in-law Mary Hogarth after his death in 1870 Mark Dickens, chair of the board of the Charles Dickens Museum, added: 'As the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, it is an honour to represent the Museum at a highly significant moment in its history. 'The Museum already holds an impressive collection of Dickens-related material, and this quite staggering material brings us even closer to the man himself, his character, feelings, family and friends.' The collection will be researched, catalogued and conserved before going on display over the next two years online and in the rooms of Dickens' London home, where the museum is located. Curators Emma (left) and Miriam hold an unfinished portrait of Charles Dickens by Samuel Laurence, 1837 A curator holds a locket containing Charles Dicken's hair (left) and his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth's hair BJP secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday appealed to Delhi voters to come out in large numbers and vote for a "good" change. "I appeal to the people of Delhi to come out and vote for good change. The voting percentage is always around 60 per cent. There is always scope more voting percentage," Madhav told ANI. Voting for all the 70 seats began at 8am today and will continue till 6pm. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kings Valley Charter School was dismissed early and neighboring homes were evacuated on Wednesday after law enforcement discovered pipe bombs in a nearby residence while serving a search warrant, according to officials. We discovered it while we were on scene for an unrelated situation, said Lt. Dustin Newman of the Polk County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office served a warrant at 10:30 a.m. at 23811 Maxfield Creek Road in Kings Valley, about 150 yards away from the school, as part of a theft investigation, according to a release. Deputies located stolen property and arrested 48-year-old James Thompson and 43-year-old Lloyd Thompson, brothers, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and theft. Deputies then found six improvised explosive devices. The school went into lockout as a precaution, said Philomath School District Superintendent Buzz Brazeau. Exterior doors were locked and students were not allowed outside. The charter school mainly went into a lockout and ended up being in constant contact with Polk County Sheriff, Brazeau said. Eventually, the charter school made a determination to send the kids home. Class was dismissed about 30 minutes early, he added. I salute them (law enforcement) for being overly cautious, Brazeau said. Deputies located six improvised explosive devices, which the Salem Police Department Bomb Squad removed. Five of the devices were viable pipe bombs and capable of causing serious physical injury or death, according to the sheriffs office. Philomath Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 12:55 p.m. and arrived on scene at 1:14 to handle the evacuation of residents and the school, and to provide medical coverage and fire response, according to Deputy Chief Chancy Ferguson. Hoskins-Kings Valley, Corvallis, and Polk County fire departments also responded, as did as the ATF, Oregon State Police Bomb Squad, and the Benton County Sheriff's Office. On Thursday, Polk County sheriff deputies returned to the residence to execute another search warrant, which led to the recovery of further evidence and to the arrest of two additional people for outstanding warrants. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 "At the critical time of fighting coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus," UK's Queen Elizabeth II said in her encouraging message to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese people. The message was conveyed by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who met Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming on Thursday. Prince Andrew noted that Queen Elizabeth II is very concerned about the novel coronavirus outbreak in China and knows that the fight against the epidemic is at a critical stage. The Queen would like to express her sincere condolences to President Xi Jinping and Chinese people, and pray that China will control and overcome the epidemic as soon as possible, he added. Liu for his part briefed Prince Andrew on China's latest epidemic prevention and control measures. Since the outbreak, President Xi has been paying very close attention to the situation, holding multiple meetings, making important decisions on the matter, putting people's life and health on top of the government's priority list, the Chinese ambassador told the Duke of York. He added that China has carried out national mobilization to fight against the epidemic and the prevention and control work is yielding positive results. "We firmly believe with full support of the international community, including the UK, China will be able to overcome the epidemic," Liu said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 10:14 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063452f8 1 National coronavirus,West-Papua,foreign-workers,manokwari Free A total of nine foreign workers from China recently arrived in Manokwari, West Papua, are being monitored by local officials in regard to their health in anticipation of the spread of the coronavirus to Indonesia. West Papua Health Agency head Otto Parorongan said the nine foreign workers were working at cement company PT SDIC Papua Cement Indonesia and had gone through a series of tests upon entering Manokwari. Six of them arrived on Wednesday and the rest arrived on Thursday. Together with the West Papua Manpower Agency, the Manokwari Immigration Office and the Health Office at the Manokwari Port, we went to the company and directly conducted a health examination, Otto said on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency. The results of the examination showed that all of them were in good health, Otto said. Their body temperatures ranged from 31.6 to 31.7 degrees Celsius and they did not show any symptoms of coughing, colds or sore throats. Before that, they were also examined when they arrived at Rendani Airport in Manokwari and were declared healthy, Otto said. Despite having been tested, Otto said the Manokwari Health Agency would monitor the workers for up to 14 days from the time they left China. Weve asked the management of PT SDIC to proactively report every arrival of foreign workers, he said. As preventive measures, Otto said that every Chinese worker who had just arrived was required to follow the 14-day incubation period and was prohibited from having direct contact with other employees. Masks, disinfectants and temperature gauges are provided in each incubation room, he said. (syk) A Tesla Model S is displayed during the London Motor and Tech Show at ExCel on May 16, 2019 in London, England. John Keeble | Getty Images Tesla's valuation has soared well past other automakers, even those that produce millions more cars each year, causing Morgan Stanley to take a look at whether Elon Musk's company is more accurately valued as a technology stock instead. "It appears Tesla, in the market's view, has gone far past the point of comparison vs. traditional auto companies," Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said in a note to investors on Thursday. "We think this is largely deserved Tesla is a significantly faster growing auto company and it is also more than an auto company." Although Jonas said "Tesla can appear more reasonably valued" versus some technology companies, the company's recent meteoric rise makes it even more expensive to own than Amazon or Apple. Morgan Stanley compared Tesla and several popular technology names on two key bases: their estimated 2025 enterprise value to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) ratio and their estimated 2025 revenue growth rate. Simply put, Morgan Stanley estimates Tesla is more expensive with lower growth than Amazon, is more expensive but has a higher growth rate than Apple or Netflix, and is cheaper than Spotify but has "materially lower growth." The firm stuck by its underweight rating after this analysis and its $360 price target on Tesla more than 50% below the stock's current levels. Keep in mind the shares appear more expensive than Amazon, Apple and Netflix even when using the analyst's cash flow and revenue estimates for five years from now, which could prove too optimistic. "While the hyper growth story continues to manifest itself in consensus forecasts and sentiment, ultimately creating the comparison to high profile tech names, we believe there are a number of exogenous risks that investors should remain cognizant of such as competition, execution, and other geopolitical concerns," Jonas said. Nonetheless, Jonas said the debate will continue "as to whether Tesla is an auto company, a tech company, or something altogether different." Fears of a Tesla bubble Some analysts are worried that Tesla's rally the stock has more than tripled in six months is a speculative bubble that sometimes occurs in financial markets, especially near the end of bull markets. "Tesla has gone parabolic," said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. "This is taking Tesla well above a level that would be supported by its current fundamentals. The stock is going to get absolutely clobbered at some point before long." Even political activist Ralph Nader chimed in, saying in one tweet: "Watch out Tesla believers." "When the stock market bubble implodes, it will have been started by the surge in Tesla shares beyond speculative zeal," Nader wrote. Tesla's remarkable run-up has drawn many comparisons but one of the most striking was the bitcoin bubble three years ago. After running up to nearly $20,000, bitcoin crashed 65% in just a month and finished 2018 about 80% below its peak level. Defending Tesla's growth A masked gunman is on the run after a grandfather was shot in front of his wife in Sunbury overnight, just a day after senior police warned of an "emerging gun culture" in Melbourne's north west. The armed crime squad is investigating after the 56-year-old man was shot at close range outside his home as he arrived home from a family wedding. Police are investigating after a man was shot in Sunbury overnight. Credit:Nine News Police say the victim had just parked his car outside the Belleview Drive property when he was shot by an unknown man about 1am. The gunman fled the scene in a white or silver 4WD. Apple CEO Tim Cook attends the annual session of China Development Forum (CDF) 2018 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China March 26, 2018. Jason Lee | Reuters Factories in China, the center of the electronics industry's supply chain, have been closed for an extended Lunar New Year holiday and the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. Most are expected to reopen on Monday, a week later than scheduled. But quarantines and other measures put in place to stop the spread of the disease in China could continue to disrupt electronics manufacturing well into the 2020 holiday season, even if factories quickly return to full production, manufacturing experts said. Andre Neumann-Loreck, founder of On-Tap Consulting, a Silicon Valley firm that specializes in advising hardware companies and start-ups building products in Asia, said his clients have been asking a lot of questions about how to deal with the epidemic and have actively made contingency plans. "Companies that are building hardware or physical products are in crisis mode now, and that's true whether they're getting finished goods built in China or relying on China for components and sub-assemblies," Neumann-Loreck said. For example, Facebook warned on Friday that it was expecting the coronavirus to impact the production of its Oculus Quest virtual reality headsets. How delays could cascade The supply chain has already been disrupted with the week-long delay to factories reopening, said Shehrina Kamal, risk analyst at Resilience360, a logistics risk-management company backed by DHL. "The ripple effect coming from one region in China is completely unprecedented," Kamal said. "We've never seen anything like this." Factory staffing could be an issue that lasts long beyond the peak of the outbreak, given that many factory workers in China travel from the countryside to factories in urban areas. "There are many temporary workers that go to the city to earn a living, then they go back and reunite with their families," said Jayashankar Swaminathan, professor of global operations at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. "But in this situation, they may have second thoughts about whether to go back. That would be a major problem for companies if there is a shortage of manpower. Well-run companies typically have plans for production disruptions, and if companies have identified second suppliers for key parts, they may be able to keep producing current products at a slightly slower pace, said Swaminathan. But delays in the design and prototyping process could cascade well into the holiday season. Chinese workers assemble electronic components at the Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn's factory in Shenzhen, China. AFP | AFP | Getty Images That's because electronics companies work on new products in Chinese factories at the same time they are producing last year's products a process called "new product introduction." That means products scheduled for the holiday season months away could be delayed. "Companies with a product in development, whether they're in the prototyping stage or what's called the NPI stage, they're at risk for holiday 2020 because the schedules for holiday are already tight, and the schedules are already slipping because the factories aren't open and the supply chains aren't up and running," Neumann-Loreck said. In order to produce a large number of electronic devices, electronics companies go through several structured stages, or "builds." First, a company builds a small quantity, or what's called an engineering verification test build, where the major features and components are tested and corrected. Then comes the design or development verification test, used to make sure the devices can be built in large quantities. After that comes production verification tests, and finally "ramp," when factories are making large quantities of the product for the public. The process takes months and a delay in one build can slow down the entire process. "Those builds require hands-on engineering support from the development team. If you have a team in the U.S. that's designing your product, they typically travel to China for those builds," Neumann-Loreck said. But U.S. companies are restricting employee travel to China, potentially limiting the hands-on time that engineers need to work out production issues. For example, Apple CEO Tim Cook said last month that the company was limiting travel to "business-critical" functions. Even iPhone delays are predicted Some experts even expect delays to global icons, like Apple's most important product, the iPhone. "What is going to happen to iPhone in particular? I would bet this may delay the launch of the next model or products," Swaminathan said. "Our latest survey indicates that the iPhone supply is being affected by the coronavirus and, therefore, we cut the iPhone shipment forecasts by 10%," TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in a Feb. 2 note. He said second-quarter shipments were difficult to predict because of "the uncertainties of the coronavirus epidemic and consumer confidence." During an earnings call last month, Cook said the company's revenue guidance took into account the uncertainty related to the situation and that the impact on suppliers outside of Hubei was "less clear at this time." A representative for Foxconn, one of China's largest employers and Apple's primary iPhone assembler, did not confirm that factories will reopen on Monday. "We have been closely monitoring the current public health challenge linked to the coronavirus and we are applying all recommended health and hygiene practices to all aspects of our operations in the affected markets. These health and safety measures are conducted in tandem with the efforts implemented by the government," the spokesperson said. "The operation schedules for our facilities in China follow the recommendations of the local governments, and we have not received any requests from our customers on the need to resume production earlier." As the voting in Delhi comes to end, Delhi residents are eagerly awaiting the final outcome to the electoral battle. Several exit polls predict Arvind Kejriwal returning as Delhi Chief Minister for a third term with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) likely to secure over two-thirds majority, most exit polls have predicted. India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicts a landslide victory for Aam Admi Party in 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is expected to win 59-68 seats, the survey predicts. Meanwhile, BJP will once again remain a distant second with only 2-11 seats. Congress will not be able to win any seats, the exit poll suggests The Republic-Jan Ki Baat exit poll predicted that Arvind Kejriwal's AAP may retain power in Delhi. AAP is predicted to win 48-61 seats, the BJP would manage 9-21 seats and the Congress 0-1. According to the Times Now-IPSOS, the AAP is predicted to bag 44 Assembly seats in Delhi. The BJP may win 26 seats and the Congress is predicted to win none. As per votes polled till 3 pm, the exit poll conducted by Sudarshan News has predicted that the AAP would retain Delhi, winning 40-45 Assembly seats. The BJP, it has predicted, would bag 24-28 seats and the Congress, may manage to bag 2-3 seats. ABP-C Voter exit poll also predicts AAP coming to power with a definite majority. The survey predicts AAP winning 49-63 seats, whereas BJP is likely to get 5-19 seats. Congress will be limited to 0-4 seats. The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero exit poll predicts AAP winning 54 seats in 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. According to the survey, BJP is likely to win only 15 seats, whereas Congress might win one seat. The counting of the votes polled in all the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi will happen on February 11 and the result of Delhi polls 2020 will also be announced on the same day. The voter turnout in a single-phased Delhi poll, which started at 8 am today, was low as compared to previous Assembly election. In 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP reported a landslide victory by winning 67 out of 70 seats. The BJP, which was hoping to ride on Narendra Modi's magic before the elections, could only manage to secure three seats, while the Congress could not win even one seat. Also Read: Delhi Exit Poll Live Updates: AAP projected to win Chandni Chowk with 9-10 seats, BJP limited to 0-1 Lokesh Kumar, an avid Likee creator, has contributed 50,000 disposable medical-grade masks in China to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. Lokesh's generous donation has come at the time when China's focus on healthcare facilities have sharpened, and a massive demand for medical services and protection masks are yet to be met. This is not for the first time that Lokesh has stepped forward to help; in fact, he is well-known for his frequent acts of kindness on Likee, the pioneering global short video creation platform from Singapore based BIGO Technology. An engineer by profession, Lokesh has turned into an entrepreneur and runs a pharmaceutical company along with his brother. Lokesh's intention to step-up and extend his help to China comes from his deep connection with the Chinese community. Previously, Lokesh worked in a Chinese firm with a diverse workforce from India as well as China. His stint there earned him many Chinese friends who are still in touch with him. Heartbroken with the impact of Coronavirus and how his friends and their families are living under constant fear of the epidemic encouraged Lokesh to take some action. "I am into the distribution of medicines, and I understand the value of medicines and equipment in times of medical emergencies. By donating 50,000 medical-grade masks, I wish to help people in the rural parts of China," said Lokesh Kumar. "As human beings, it is our prime duty to help others, especially at the time of difficulties. With this expectation, I have been making many Likee videos to inspire others. I hope more people join me in extending help to China in this difficult phase," added Kumar. 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 one 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 number one in the breakout category and is also the seventh 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.) The different types of dizziness can be differentiated based on clinical symptoms and tests conducted on the patients. Dizziness is a common symptom for which a person visits a doctor. Balance is maintained by signals sent from the eyes, inner ears and the nervous system to the brain. Dizziness is of 4 main types, vertigo, disequilibrium, presyncope and lightheadedness. A careful history taking and examination by the doctor helps to differentiate between these four conditions. When a patient complains of dizziness, the doctor will first enquire into the more common causes of dizziness. These include: Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol intake History of head and neck injuries History of anemia or low blood sugar levels Medication intake Some medications result in dizziness by causing a fall in blood pressure. These include ACE inhibitors like enalapril, beta blockers like atenolol, diuretics like furosemide and nitrates like nitroglycerine. Medications that act on the brain like antipsychotics, opioids and anti-Parkinsonism drugs also cause dizziness. Sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra is also known to cause dizziness. Some features accompanying dizziness that help to identify the cause are mentioned here. The individual causes are described in the next section. Episodic vertigo without hearing loss may indicate benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Episodic vertigo with hearing loss may be due to Menieres disease. Episodic vertigo with symptoms of migraine may indicate migrainous vertigo. Lightheadedness with excessively fast breathing may indicate hyperventilation syndrome. A fall in blood pressure or an increase in pulse rate with a change in position may indicate orthostatic hypotension. A shuffling gait with imbalance may indicate Parkinsonism. A decrease in sensation in the lower limbs associated with dizziness especially feet may indicate peripheral neuropathy. Vertigo preceded by a recent upper respiratory tract infection may be due to vestibular neuronitis or labyrinthitis. Types Some causes of dizziness are described below. Dizziness is classified into the following 4 types: Vertigo: Vertigo is the most common type of dizziness that people experience. The patients experience a false sense of motion, for example, they may complain that the room spins around them. Causes of vertigo are: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) : BPPV occurs due to the presence of small stones of calcium carbonate in the semicircular canals of the inner ear, which give a false sense of motion. The vertigo is episodic and is not accompanied by hearing loss. It is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The patient may experience a brief but intense episode of vertigo when he/she turns in bed at night or changes the head position. A test called the Dix-Hallpike maneuver is used to diagnose BPPV. During this test, the patient is in a seated position. The doctor turns the patients head 45 degrees to one side, then quickly puts the patient in lying down position with the head hanging about 20 degrees over the end of the table. The test is then repeated for the opposite side. Nystagmus or rapid involuntary movement of the eyes during the test is diagnostic of BPPV. : BPPV occurs due to the presence of small stones of calcium carbonate in the semicircular canals of the inner ear, which give a false sense of motion. The vertigo is episodic and is not accompanied by hearing loss. It is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The patient may experience a brief but intense episode of vertigo when he/she turns in bed at night or changes the head position. A test called the Dix-Hallpike maneuver is used to diagnose BPPV. During this test, the patient is in a seated position. The doctor turns the patients head 45 degrees to one side, then quickly puts the patient in lying down position with the head hanging about 20 degrees over the end of the table. The test is then repeated for the opposite side. Nystagmus or rapid involuntary movement of the eyes during the test is diagnostic of BPPV. Vestibular neuritis: A viral infection of the vestibular nerve results in vestibular neuritis. The patient usually does not suffer from hearing loss. The vertigo is persistent. Abnormal eye movements may be present. A viral infection of the vestibular nerve results in vestibular neuritis. The patient usually does not suffer from hearing loss. The vertigo is persistent. Abnormal eye movements may be present. Labyrinthitis : Labyrinthitis or infection of the labyrinthine organs results in vertigo with hearing loss. The vertigo is persistent and may be preceded by a recent upper respiratory tract infection. : Labyrinthitis or infection of the labyrinthine organs results in vertigo with hearing loss. The vertigo is persistent and may be preceded by a recent upper respiratory tract infection. Meniere disease : Meniere disease occurs due to increase in fluid pressure in the inner ear. It is usually accompanied by hearing loss and tinnitus (abnormal sounds in the ear) and occurs in episodes. : Meniere disease occurs due to increase in fluid pressure in the inner ear. It is usually accompanied by hearing loss and tinnitus (abnormal sounds in the ear) and occurs in episodes. Perilymph fistula: Perilymph fistula is a condition where there is leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear. It may be present from birth or develop following trauma like head injury, drastic changes in atmospheric pressure, physical exertion, ear surgery, or chronic ear infections. It results in unsteadiness when walking or standing that increases with activity and decreases with rest. Perilymph fistula is a condition where there is leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear. It may be present from birth or develop following trauma like head injury, drastic changes in atmospheric pressure, physical exertion, ear surgery, or chronic ear infections. It results in unsteadiness when walking or standing that increases with activity and decreases with rest. Migrainous vertigo or vestibular migraine : Migraine can co-exist in patients with vestibular disease. Patients with migrainous vertigo suffer from episodic migraine and in addition from migraine headache, photophobia, phonophobia or aura during at least two episodes of vertigo. : Migraine can co-exist in patients with vestibular disease. Patients with migrainous vertigo suffer from episodic migraine and in addition from migraine headache, photophobia, phonophobia or aura during at least two episodes of vertigo. Other central causes: Tumors, stroke or other conditions affecting the brain especially the areas involved in balance result in vertigo. These are more serious causes of vertigo. A patient with a central cause is severely unstable and cannot walk or stand without falling. Disequilibrium: A patient with disequilibrium feels off balance and wobbly. In disequilibrium, the brain does not receive adequate information about the bodys position from the various senses like the eyes and inner ears. The reasons for imbalance could be: Stroke : A stroke is one of the reasons for imbalance. It is also accompanied by other symptoms of stroke. : A stroke is one of the reasons for imbalance. It is also accompanied by other symptoms of stroke. Poor vision : Poor vision can lead to imbalance, resulting in falls. : Poor vision can lead to imbalance, resulting in falls. Nerve and muscle related disorders : Other disorders that could cause imbalance are those that can affect nerves and muscles like Parkinson disease, peripheral neuropathy, and musculoskeletal disorders that may affect gait. : Other disorders that could cause imbalance are those that can affect nerves and muscles like Parkinson disease, peripheral neuropathy, and musculoskeletal disorders that may affect gait. Drugs acting on the brain: Drugs that act on the brain like benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants can cause imbalance and falls especially in older individuals. Presyncope: A patient with presyncope gets a feeling of losing consciousness or blacking out. Presyncope usually occurs due to a fall in blood pressure, often due to a heart-related cause. This results in reduced blood circulation to the brain and a feeling of dizziness. Causes of presyncope are: Abnormal heart rhythms like supraventricular tachycardias and heart attack. Cardiac tests may help to diagnose these conditions. like supraventricular tachycardias and Cardiac tests may help to diagnose these conditions. Narrowing of the carotid artery (the artery that supplies blood to the brain). In addition, cervical spondylosis may also restrict the blood supply to the brain resulting in dizziness. (the artery that supplies blood to the brain). In addition, cervical spondylosis may also restrict the blood supply to the brain resulting in dizziness. Orthostatic hypotension: Blood pressure that falls with changes in posture is referred to as orthostatic hypotension. The blood pressure is recorded in lying down posture and then again in the standing posture. A fall in the systolic blood pressure of 30mm of Hg, diastolic blood pressure of 10mm of Hg or an increase in pulse of 30 beats per minute is indicative of orthostatic hypotension. A number of medications like reserpine, doxazosin and clonidine can cause orthostatic hypotension. Lightheadedness: A patient with lightheadedness complains of vague symptoms like feeling disconnected with the environment. Causes of lightheadedness include: Psychiatric causes : Psychiatric causes like anxiety, depression and panic disorder can cause lightheadedness. : Psychiatric causes like anxiety, depression and panic disorder can cause lightheadedness. Alcohol intoxication : Alcohol intoxication can also cause lightheadedness. : Alcohol intoxication can also cause lightheadedness. Hyperventilation syndrome: Patients with hyperventilation syndrome breathe excessively fast. This may give rise to abnormalities in the pH of blood resulting in lightheadedness. The patient may suffer from additional symptoms like chest pain, paresthesias, bloating and pain over the stomach region. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Which doctor should I visit in case I suffer from dizziness? You should visit your general practitioner or neurologist in case you suffer from dizziness. In some cases, you may be referred to an ENT doctor for treatment. 2. How are ear problems related to dizziness? Besides hearing, the inner ear is responsible for maintaining balance. The sense of balance is controlled by a part of the inner ear called the labyrinth. Signals are sent from the inner ear to the brain to perceive body position and maintain balance. 3. How can one differentiate between a central and peripheral cause of vertigo? Central and peripheral vertigo can be differentiated based on the type of nystagmus or abnormal eye movements. For example, in peripheral vertigo, the nystagmus lessens or disappears when the patient focuses the gaze. It does not lessen in central vertigo and persists for a longer time. Symptoms in central vertigo usually last for a longer duration. Peripheral vertigo usually has a more sudden onset than central vertigo; an exception to this is a stroke, which is a central cause of vertigo of sudden onset. This year is shaping up to be transformative for the North American cannabis industry. To our north, Canada should see a major uptick in derivative pot product sales (e.g., vapes, edibles, and infused beverages), which officially hit dispensary shelves in mid-December, while a number of U.S. states are slated to vote on medical and/or recreational marijuana come November. Considering the nationwide support for medical and adult-use weed in the U.S., it's tough to see a scenario where multiple states don't legalize this fall. But we're also on the cusp of seeing potentially exponential sales growth in a handful of states that recently legalized adult-use pot. Michigan, whose residents voted to legalize recreational weed in Nov. 2018, and Illinois, whose legislature became the first to legalize the consumption and sale of adult-use pot in June 2019, have both opened their doors to consumers. However, initial sales figures suggest these states are headed in vastly different directions, at least in the early going. Illinois' pot industry is running circles around Michigan in the early going -- here's why On one hand, the Land of Lincoln has seen sales soar since opening its doors to adult-use weed consumers on Jan. 1. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation noted that a little over $30.6 million came from adult-use sales to in-state residents in January. Meanwhile, another $8.6 million in recreational pot was sold to out-of-state residents, leading to well over $39 million in first-month revenue. As a reminder, a number of states that border Illinois are among the 17 states to have completely outlawed cannabis, including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. This makes Illinois something of an easy-access cannabis retailer for residents in these states. On the other hand, Michigan's recreational marijuana sales have stumbled out of the gate, with a meager $6.5 million in revenue recognized in its first month (adult-use sales began Dec. 1), and $17.7 million brought in between Dec. 1 and Feb. 2. How is it that Illinois has been able to more than double up Michigan in adult-use pot sales in one month relative to what Michigan has been able to generate in revenue in two months? The answer appears to lie with the licensing process. You see, licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Illinois were allowed to immediately begin selling recreational cannabis on Jan. 1. That meant 41 stores that could immediately step in and begin providing adult-use weed to consumers. Meanwhile, in Michigan, just four adult-use retail licenses had been issued on Dec. 1, when Michigan surprised everyone by pushing its launch date forward by a few months. According to Michigan's Marijuana Regulatory Agency, the Wolverine State has now issued 43 retail licenses, through Feb. 4, albeit the increase in licensed retailers, and the opening of these locations, has remained gradual. We've also seen licensing issues play out in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and even in California, the largest marijuana market in the world by annual sales. Ontario had been working with a lottery system for its retail licenses until the end of 2019, and the result was the issuance of just a few dozen licenses in a province fully capable of comfortably housing 1,000 retail locations. This has led to supply bottlenecks in Ontario and given further rise to an already resilient black market. Ontario has since switched to a more traditional licensing process, but the uptick in retail locations will be gradual. This has been a painful realization for Canadian pot stock investors. Likewise, California has struggled to drive out its black market presence, in part because the Golden State hasn't been able to effectively license retailers. For instance, the Los Angeles City Council has argued that 100 retail licenses assigned in the city should be redone given that some retailers may have had early access to the online application process. Los Angeles is a huge city and a potential windfall moneymaker for dispensaries, so to see the licensing process still stymied more than two years after adult-use sales launched demonstrates the struggles the industry is contending with. Interestingly, Michigan may have the long-term advantage over Illinois Although Illinois is mopping the floor with Michigan in the early going, the long-term potential of these states suggests that Michigan will have the upper-hand. According to the State of the Legal Cannabis Markets report from Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, marijuana sales in Illinois should reach $1.14 billion by 2024, with Michigan zooming to nearly $1.5 billion. The biggest difference? It's not population, as Illinois has 2.7 more residents than Michigan. Rather, it mostly comes down to (drum roll) the licensing process. Even though Illinois made the smart move of facilitating recreational weed sales by immediately allowing medical dispensaries to sell adult-use weed, the Land of Lincoln's longer-term licensing policy is sort of a disaster. Illinois wound up capping the number of dispensaries that can be opened by a single company in the state at 10, and also capped the number of license issuances at 110, as of Jan. 1. Even with another 75 licenses being awarded by May 1, Illinois won't have more than 185 open retail locations by the end of this year. This works out to 1.5 retail locations for every 100,000 residents, which is about a tenth of what you'd find in Oregon, relative to its in-state population. What's more, Illinois' law limits the maximum number of dispensaries in the state to 500. That might sound like a lot, but Illinois could easily support many more retail locations, especially given how long it'll like take regulators to give the green light to push toward 500 stores. While this early sales success in Illinois probably has investors of Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF) and Green Thumb Industries (OTC:GTBIF) jumping for joy, it's unclear if this'll last over the long run. With Cresco Labs and Green Thumb limited to just 10 stores in the Land of Lincoln, they'll really need to stand out to capture a significant percentage of Illinois' $1.14 billion in estimated 2024 sales. It would be in the interests of both multistate operators if Illinois were to revisit its licensing limit in the future, but there's no guarantee this happens. This suggests Cresco Labs and Green Thumb will be actively looking to other states to potentially pick up Illinois' slack in the future. Make no mistake about it: Illinois and Michigan are two exciting states to watch grow. However, don't be fooled by these early sales figures about which state has the better long-term prospects. Montaigne is off to Rotterdam 2020. She has won Eurovision: Australia Decides with her song Dont Break Me beating out fan faves Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi. She won the night topping the judges vote. 10 acts performed tonight on the Gold Coast in a showcase hosted by Joel Creasey & Myf Warhurst. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhuad-L1pBo Montaigne said: This is wild! I started out just grateful to be a part of Eurovision but this is fricken insane! Thank you to everyone who gave me their vote, Im so excited to go to Rotterdam and give it a red hot go! SBS Commissioning Editor and Australian Head of Delegation Josh Martin said: Australia has made their choice! And what an incredibly exciting and original choice it is. This is a game changer for our Eurovision journey. Montaigne is an incredibly talented artist, full of strength and integrity who will bring a new audience to Eurovision. It will be so exciting to see how she can evolve this performance for the much larger stage in Rotterdam in May. Fun times ahead! Creative Director of Eurovision: Australia Decides and Director of Blink TV Paul Clarke said: Montaigne is a total original. Her song had the best contemporary pop sound, and it was a shot performance the first ever at Eurovision. We are delighted that Casey Donovan won the public vote with a song from talented songwriter Justine Elkatchi in a very tight contest. It was a hugely successful night and thanks to everyone who took part, SBS and our Queensland partners. Congrats to Montaigne! SBS screened the event Live around the country for a second year. In attendance were outgoing Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand, 2016 winner Mans Zelmerlow, former Aussie representatives Kate Miller-Heidke & Dami Im. She will now represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in May, following in the footsteps of Kate Miller-Heidke, Jessica Mauboy, Isaiah Firebrace, Dami Im and Guy Sebastian. The night ended with a shock announcement from Dami Im, I realised how much I love Eurovision and Ive decided to throw my hat into the ring for next year. Congratulations to Blink TV and SBS for another top night. China is doing a good job on its fight against the deadly coronavirus that has taken the lives of large number of people, President Donald Trump has said, adding that the US was helping them out. "China is working very hard. Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi and we talked mostly about the coronavirus," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. "I think they are doing a very professional job." The death toll in China due to coronavirus continues to goes up as it jumped to 722 on Friday, while the number of confirmed cases rose to 34,546, Chinese health authorities announced on Saturday. The Chinese, Trump said, were in touch with the World Health Organization and also the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "We're working together," he said. "I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It's a tough situation. I think they're doing a very good job." Asked if he is concerned about its potential impact on global economy, Trump said: "I think that China will do a very good job."According to US Health Secretary Alex Azar, there have been 12 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, including two cases of transmission to people who had not recently been in China. The US has offered to send world-class experts to China to assist them, Azhar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said he hopes that the TMC government in the state will focus on his critical comments though they were not part of his customary address to the Assembly at the beginning of the budget session. He did not, however, mention any of his critical comments either on law and order or showdowns in the universities in the state of which he is the chancellor. Dhankhar said, "I am sure that the government will focus on my inputs with an idea to interact with me whether I am right or wrong," he told newsmen here. "I don't want any confrontation betwen state and Centre as both are part of same Constitution ... After receving the draft I gave my critical comments in writting on February 6. The critical comments were on law and order sitiuation, respect to state universities and education and role bureaucrats," Dhankar said after a event. On Friday Dhankhar had averted a confrontation by restricting himself to the speech prepared by the Mamata Banerjee government as per norm. The TMC government had refused to change the final draft of the speech after Dhankhar sent his inputs a day before the beginning of the budget session. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Delhiites are voting for Assembly polls, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari on Saturday said that his party will form the government in the capital by winning more than 50 seats. "I have blessings of my brother and the people of Delhi. We have been waiting for our victory here. for the past some years. My sixth sense is saying that BJP will form the government. BJP will form the government in Delhi by winning by more than 50 seats," Tiwari told reporters here. The BJP leader, however, refused to name a leader who would become the Chief Minister if his party voted to power. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Labor lawyer Steven Schuback, serving as the city of Portlands lead negotiator, began talks with the police union Friday by requesting to post contract proposals publicly and hold all bargaining sessions in public. Anil Karia, representing the Portland Police Association, responded that negotiators havent traditionally released contract offers during negotiations and called public bargaining sessions a rare beast. The two sides met at Portland Community Colleges Southeast Portland campus to hash out ground rules for the talks on the next police contract, which has drawn significant community interest. The union represents about 950 rank-and-file officers, sergeants, detectives and forensic criminalists. Its contract expires in June. Union and city representatives faced one another, seated at two separate long tables, covered with blue bunting. In a stark switch, Anna Kanwit, the citys retired human resources manager now doing consulting work, sat on the union side, beside union president, Officer Daryl Turner. Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis and Assistant Chief Ryan Lee sat with the citys labor relations manager and human resources staff. The tables were cordoned off from the public seats, at least eight feet away. About a dozen people attended the session, with some spectators wearing stickers on their shirts that read, Hold police accountable" and Community-centered PPA contract. Posting contract proposals online could create false expectations based on dense language that lacks context, Karia told city officials. It could hamper talks, he said. In the alternative, the union offered what it called a middle ground, agreeing to post the tentative or handshake agreements reached by the two sides, which would be subject to ratification by the union membership and the City Council. Schuback called the unions counteroffer a very effective idea. As for the bargaining sessions, the union lawyer urged the city to consider the compromise reached in 2010 and 2013, when city-hosted sessions were held in public and union-hosted sessions were done behind closed doors. Wed like to find a happy medium to provide transparency and keep the bargaining process strong, Schuback said. But he acknowledged that the union isnt obligated to hold any sessions in public. We cant force you to do anything, Schuback said. The compromise is to alternate. Thats the practical approach. Schuback is a former Multnomah County prosecutor who worked as a deputy district attorney from 1995 through 2001. He entered labor law in 2002 and is currently a lawyer with the management labor and employment law firm Peck Rubanoff Hatfield in Lake Oswego. He sat beside the Chief Deputy City Attorney Heidi Brown. The city is paying him $280 an hour, according to Brown. The city can pay him up to about $120,000 in total but has $250,000 in reserve for hiring outside counsel, approved by the mayor and city commissioners in October. Schuback said he spent the last eight to nine years representing management in public safety contract talks and before that worked about nine years as a labor negotiator for public safety unions in Oregon and Washington state. Schuback has negotiated opposite Karia multiple times in the past, most recently negotiating the contract for the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office, he said. The city is paying Schuback $280 an hour to serve as Portland's lead negotiator for a new contract with the Portland Police Association. Also Friday, the two sides tentatively agreed to issue joint press releases during the talks. Karia suggested they could be topical to keep the public and officers reasonably appraised of whats under discussion. Venting or lobbing bombs would not be helpful, Karia said. Schuback agreed, adding, Its more about communicating where we are. A coalition of community members has pressed city commissioners and the mayor to make changes to the contract that they say will help improve trust in the local police. The groups members, including clergy and police watchdogs, are calling for an independent civilian agency that can review police use of deadly force and compel testimony and recommend discipline. They also seek a discipline process divorced from the states arbitration process that lies fully with the mayor or City Council. The coalition also seeks drug testing for officers who use force. The group includes the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, Portland Jobs with Justice, Portland NAACP, United Oregon, Portland Copwatch, League of Women Voters and Portlands Resistance. Turner has highlighted the need to attract officers at a time when the bureau is struggling with a severe staffing shortage about 104 vacancies - and the need for better recruiting and retention strategies. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty last year invited national Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson to strategize about police reforms. Mckessons Campaign Zero analyzed the Portland police contract and identified language that it says restricts questioning of officers, gives officers undue access to information about investigations that target them and limits officer discipline and record-keeping of misconduct. City officials are hoping to avoid the tumult that erupted in 2016 on the steps of City Hall as police pepper-sprayed and arrested protesters in the aftermath of an unruly demonstration over the citys newly approved police contract while the mayor had the council vote in a meeting room away from protesters. Schuback said he wasnt aware of that particular confrontation. In the last contract, the city increased officers salaries 9 percent over three years in exchange for removing the controversial 48-hour rule from the contract. The rule had allowed officers who used deadly force to wait at least two days before making a statement to internal affairs investigators. Officers are now encouraged to speak with investigators less than 48 hours after a shooting or death in custody as part of the immediate internal affairs administrative review. The internal review is walled off from any criminal investigation of the use of force. At times in the past, the city has opened negotiations to the public that involve the least controversial contract provisions, but it has continued to hold the more contentious talks in closed sessions. If the two sides dont come to an agreement, the contract would go to state interest arbitration -- and an arbitrators decision would become binding. The union and city negotiators sat in public session for about 45 minutes Friday, before breaking to caucus separately in private on two occasions. The two sides agreed to hold another city-hosted public bargaining session on Feb. 24 to complete the ground rules for future negotiations. Theyre still considering whether staff from a city commissioners office can attend the closed, union-hosted bargaining meetings and if the city could ask for an outside expert or other "person of special interest'' to attend a bargaining session. -- 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. Subscribe to Facebook page The United States will begin restricting visas to citizens from six other countries on February 21, although critics question the move. The six countries are Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania. The administration of President Donald Trump is adding them to existing travel restrictions for national security reasons. The U.S. government already has travel restrictions on some citizens from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. The Trump administration announced the expanded travel restrictions last week. In a statement, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf spoke about the bans. He said: It is logical and essential to thoroughly screen and vet everyone seeking to travel or immigrate to the United States. Wolf noted that some of the listed countries do not provide the necessary information about their travelers. As a result, he added, they represent a national security or public safety risk. People from the six countries added to the list will no longer be able to travel to the United States using immigrant visas. They may, however, ask for special permission, known as a waiver. Immigrant visas are given to people who want to live permanently in the United States. Such persons usually must be guaranteed financial support from family members who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. The ban does not affect people who have already received a visa and are planning to enter the United States. Visas will continue to be given to tourists, business travelers and those seeking medical treatment. Critics unhappy Toyin Falola is from Nigeria and a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Falola said, For an administration concerned about security threats, favoring temporary visitors over more permanent onesmakes little sense. Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday. The Nigerian diplomat said he had been blindsided by the travel restrictions. But he promised to increase security cooperation with the U.S. government. Nigeria has Africas largest economy and the largest population of any country on the continent. Nigeria also has a large diaspora community living in the United States. Onyeama admitted that his country is dealing with security threats, which include the militant group Boko Haram. Violence by its fighters have displaced millions of Nigerians. Most citizens of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar also are barred from getting immigrant visas. The State Department says a U.S. citizen can request an immigrant visa for that persons husband or wife, a son, daughter, parent, brother or sister. A permanent resident holds what is commonly called a green card, which enables the person to legally live in the country. A green card holder can request an immigrant visa for a husband or wife, and an unmarried son or daughter. Information from the Migration Policy Institute shows that about two-thirds of green cards are the result of family sponsorship. Dany Bahar follows economic and development programs at the Brookings Institution, a research group based in Washington D.C. He says that if the new visa restrictions become normal, they could cause problems for Africa. If you want people to be better off, let them move to places where they can be more productive, he said. Restricting travel will also keep talented people from coming to the U.S., Bahar added. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Patsy Widakuswara reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted her story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story logical adj. something that is sensible or reasonable essential adj. very important, very necessary screen v. to examine something or someone to decide if it is suitable vet v. to investigate someone to find out if they can be approved for a job sponsor v. to take responsibility for someone resident n. a person who lives in a certain place diaspora n. a group of people who live outside of the area where they had lived for a long time talented adj. a person with special abilities The death toll from Chinas coronavirus outbreak soared to 722 on Saturday, including the first foreign victim, as Hong Kong imposed a mandatory quarantine on mainland arrivals to block the spread of an epidemic that has caused global panic. With 86 more people dying in mainland China the highest one-day jump so far the toll was closing in on the 774 killed worldwide during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. A 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with the virus died on Thursday in Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the health emergency, according to the US embassy, which did not provide more details about the person. A Japanese man in his 60s with a suspected coronavirus infection also died in hospital in Wuhan, the Japanese foreign ministry said, adding that it was difficult to confirm if he had the illness.- The only fatalities outside the mainland were a Chinese man in the Philippines and a 39-year-old man in Hong Kong. Nearly 35,000 people have been infected by the new strain, which is believed to have emerged in a market selling wild animals in Wuhan last year before spreading across China. The epidemic has prompted the government to lock down cities home to tens of millions of people, as anger mounts over its handling of the crisis, especially after a whistleblowing doctor fell victim to the virus. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, on a visit to quarantined Wuhan this week, instructed officials to take a wartime approach as they implement drastic measures that include combing the city for feverish residents. With panic spiralling around the globe more than 320 cases have emerged in nearly 30 other countries researchers were racing to find treatments and a vaccine to fight the virus. Hong Kong quarantine Hong Kong began enforcing a two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from mainland China, under threat of both fines and jail terms. Most people will be able to be quarantined at home or in hotels but they will face daily phone calls and spot checks. The financial hub has 25 confirmed cases with one patient who died earlier this week. The city has been on edge as the virus has revived memories of the SARS outbreak that killed 299 in the semi-autonomous city. Hong Kong officials hope the new measures will virtually halt the flow of people across the border while allowing the city to remain stocked with food and goods from the mainland. The SARS epidemic left profound psychological scars and saddled residents with a deep distrust of authorities in Beijing who initially covered up the outbreak. In the last week, Hong Kong has been hit by a wave of panic-buying with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of staple goods such as toilet paper, hand sanitiser, rice and pasta. The government has blamed unfounded rumours of shortages. Cruise ship quarantined Other governments around the world have hardened their defences, with several countries banning arrivals from China and advising their citizens to avoid travelling there. Major airlines have suspended flights to and from China. Asian cruise ships have become a focal point as dozens of cases have been confirmed on a vessel off Japans coast. Sixty-four people aboard the Diamond Princess off Yokohama have tested positive and passengers aboard the cruise ship have been asked to stay inside their cabins to prevent new infections. Another cruise ship carrying a passenger suspected of infection with coronavirus will not be allowed to dock in southern Japan, the government said. In Hong Kong, 3,600 people were confined aboard the World Dream, where eight former passengers have tested positive for the virus. Hero doctor On the mainland, the death Friday of a Wuhan doctor who was reprimanded by police after he had sent messages warning about the virus back in December sparked a rare outpouring of grief and anger on social media. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who contracted the disease while treating a patient, was eulogised as a hero while people on Twitter-like Weibo railed against fat officials and demanded freedom of speech. Videos shared on Weibo showed a small group of people blowing whistles late Friday in front of a floral tribute to Li at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he died. As people across China fumed, the government expressed condolences and ordered an investigation. Wuhans government will award Lis family 800,000 yuan ($114,000) in compensation covered by work-related injury insurance, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Scientists scramble Researchers, meanwhile, are scrambling to develop a drug to combat the virus. The US health department is working with pharmaceutical firm Regeneron to develop a treatment using a class of drug that has boosted survival rates among Ebola patients. Two weeks ago Chinese doctors confirmed they had been giving anti-HIV drugs to coronavirus patients in Beijing, based on a 2004 study published after the SARS outbreak that showed favourable responses. Scientists around the world are also working to develop a vaccine, which experts say could take months. SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP Calling India a "long-standing friend", Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the island country in the aftermath of last year's Easter Sunday terror attacks and outlined that New Delhi has always helped Colombo in the fight against terrorism. In a joint press briefing with Modi following the talks, Rajapaksa hoped that India would continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism cooperation. "Our discussions were based on the outcome of talks that the Prime Minister held with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his successful state visit to India in November last year. Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to Modi for the neighbourhood first policy and the priority the Indian government attaches to Sri Lanka. "We had agreed that our cooperation is multifaceted and priority is given to a number of areas including security, economy, culture and social sectors. Part of our discussions centered on cooperation with regard to the security of the two countries. India has always assisted Sri Lanka to enhance our capacity, capabilities in intelligence and counter-terrorism. We look forward to getting continued support in this regard," he said. Rajapaksa further said, "I thank the Prime Minister for visiting Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terror attacks that provided us with immense strength to come to terms with the tragedy. We also appreciate Prime Minister Modi's USD 400 million line of credit to enhance the economy of Sri Lanka and another USD 50 million line of credit for combatting terrorism." The Sri Lankan leader also said that ongoing projects built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka were discussed. He urged Modi to consider further assistance to expand the housing project all over Sri Lanka to benefit its people who reside in rural areas of the island country. Both Rajapaksa and Modi also spoke about the economy. "The Prime Minister and I discussed how Sri Lanka and India can work together in the field of economy. India is among the world's growing economies in the I discussed with the Prime Minister how Sri Lanka could benefit from certain economic sectors where India is in a strong position and can require India's assistance such as skill development and capacity building," Rajapaksa elucidated. He also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Sri Lanka in the near future. Concluding his statement, Rajapaksa said, "India is our closest neighbour and a long-standing friend. The close historical links...provided a solid foundation to our ties." Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. Rajapaksa is further scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind later in the evening. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangui, CAR (PANA) - The UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) Friday hailed the sentencing of 28 militia members in the Central African Republic (CAR) for an array of violent crimes, including the murder of civilians and 10 UN peacekeepers, as a major step forward in the fight against impunity Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are thought to have been paid 'up to $1m' to speak at a star-studded JP Morgan summit in Miami. During his keynote speech on Thursday night the Harry, 35, told American bankers he has been in therapy for seven years to cope with loss of his mother. Now an expert has estimated the couple, who left the royal family two weeks ago for Canada in search of a private life, would have been extremely well paid for the gig. Ronn Torossian, CEO of New York-based firm 5W Public Relations, said he expects the couple to have made between $500,000 and $1million (387,000 and 775,000) from the appearance. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, (pictured on January 7, days before they announced they were leaving the royal family) could have earned 'up to 750,000' to appear at the JPMorgan Alternative Investment Summit on Thursday night in Miami He told Dailymail.com: One would imagine they flew privately from Canada to Miami, had a hotel suite, and hair and makeup artist, which could cost $100,000 (77,000) to $250,000 (193,000) in expenses. Harry and Meghan will be the highest-paid speakers that exist on the corporate market. 'I would not be shocked if they earned in excess of $1million (775,000). Over the year their earning power could be unlimited. PR executive Simon Huck - who is a friend of the Kardashians - has already estimated that Meghan, 38, alone can make $100million this year. The Alternative Investment Summit was the first public appearance the couple have made since they left the royal family two weeks ago. The star-studded event at the 1 Hotel South beach attracted business titans and celebrities like Bob Kraft, Alex Rodriguez and Magic Johnson. Meghan is said to have introduced her husband onto the stage before he spoke about having therapy (pictured the 1 Hotel South Beach, where the exclusive summit took place) Sources told Page Six that Gayle King introduced Meghan to the stage which was erected under an enormous tent on the beach. Meghan then spoke briefly about her 'love for her husband' then introduced him. After the speech, they are believed to have had a private dinner with some of the other esteemed guests. A source said: 'Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother. 'He talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional. 'Harry also touched on Megxit, saying while it has been very difficult on him and Meghan, he does not regret their decision to step down as senior royals because he wants to protect his family. 'He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child.' Prince Harry with his mother, the late Princess Diana, in 1995, two years before her death. He told the crowd that he has been in therapy since he was 28 to cope with her 1997 death Harry and his brother bow their heads at their mother's funeral in 1997. He was only 12 and William was 15 The visit to the luxury five-star hotel marks the first public appearance Meghan and Harry have made as a couple since their shock announcement that they were taking a step back from royal duties. While the pair have not confirmed the appearance, a close source told DailyMail.com on Friday: I can confirm reports the Sussexes attended a JP Morgan gathering in Miami yesterday, where the Duke spoke. One insider said they were 'smart' to take the gig. They said: '[It was] a very smart move to get in with some of the worlds richest people. 'The conference is all about building wealth for future generations, and making the world better for future generations, a topic close to Harrys heart. 'Harry talked a lot about his and Meghans decision to step down as senior royals, because of the trauma he suffered and how he doesnt want the same to happen to his family. An insider said Harry spoke about wanting to protect his wife and son, saying: 'He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child' 'He said despite how difficult the separation with the British royal family has been, he does not regret their decision, saying that he and Meghan are optimistic about their future, optimistic about being able to be financially independent while still working on projects that mean a lot to them and supporting the charities they believe in,' the unnamed source told Page Six. It is not clear how Harry and Meghan - who were widely criticized for taking private jets last year after preaching about climate change publicly - traveled to Florida. JPMorgan's private Gulfstream jet had flown to Vancouver Airport in Canada, near to where the couple have been living since quitting royal life. It then left at at 12.10pm Wednesday and landed in Palm Beach at 8.03pm. Harry and Meghan stayed at Serena Williams' home in Palm Beach during the appearance. It is unclear if they were on that jet. Palm Beach is around 80 miles north of Miami. As she left the hotel on Friday, DailyMail.com spoke to Gayle King who was coy about her involvement in the event. Hopping into a limo, she said: 'What interview? Why do you think they were here?' Patriots owner Bob Kraft, rapper Meek Mill with his pregnant girlfriend Milan Harris, billionaire businessman and philanthropist Robert Frederick Smith and business mogul Michael Rubin were among those at the summit Magic Johnson, Robert Frederick Smith and Alex Rodriguez. Jennifer Lopez was also rumored to have been in attendance Gayle King is seen speaking with Bob Kraft, Michael Rubin and Meek Mill. She introduced Meghan to the stage When we pressed her for details, she smiled broadly and added, cryptically: 'Where do you people get your information from? I'm glad you're in Miami'. Harry's wife and an array of well-heeled investors and celebrities were said to have hung on the Prince's every word as he came on stage. 'Harry told the audience he started seeing a therapist at 28 as he struggled with the trauma caused by his Mother's death,' dished the insider. 'He said he felt trapped as a Royal although he said that relationship with the Queen was still OK.' Details on the super-exclusive event were being kept under wraps today. But attendees are believed to have included Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, Magic Johnson, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the architect Norman Foster, Russian heiress Dasha Zhukova and her husband Stavros Niarchos. The Sussexes have been lying low in their $14million Canadian hideaway with baby Archie since they left the royal family. JPMorgan's private Gulfstream jet flew from Vancouver, near the couple's hideaway, to Palm Beach in time for the event The amount that they were paid for the event is so far unknown. Hello! magazine is also reporting the pair were asked to present the Best Picture award at Sunday's Oscars. Though they were 'honored' to have been asked, they turned it down, according to an unnamed source cited by the magazine. Among the many celebrities in attendance at Thursday's event was Magic Johnson, Alex Rodriguez and Bob Kraft. Gayle King is in the midst of her own scandal and, according to best friend Oprah, is 'not going well'. She faced fierce backlash this week over an interview she did with WNBA star Lisa Leslie where she asked Leslie about the 2003 rape allegation against Kobe Bryant. It was a brief moment in an otherwise wide-ranging interview but CBS This Morning tweeted it as a promo. It drew the ire of celebrities and Bryant fans who accused King of trying to sully his legacy and push Leslie into condemning him. Poaching discussed in Rajapaksa-Modi talks View(s): Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday raised the issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters during talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The issue of poaching along with a range of subjects was taken up during the hour-long discussions between the two prime Ministers at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, where foreign dignitaries are normally housed on official visits. A spokesman for Prime Minister Rajapaksas office said the issue of poaching was also taken up at the meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jayashankar. Both agreed to instruct their respective teams to work more closely together to find a lasting solution to this problem (fisheries issue), which is both emotional and humanitarian, the spokesperson said. Prime Minister Modi drawing reference to the issue said: This impacts livelihood of people in both countries and we have decided to have constructive and humanitarian approach on the issue. Both Prime Ministers also discussed the issue of post-war reconciliation in Sri Lanka. We also discussed reconciliation and related issues with an open mind. I am confident that Sri Lankan government will meet the aspirations of Tamils in a united Sri Lanka based on equality, justice peace and respect, Premier Modi said. It is necessary that the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is carried out, apart from furthering the reconciliation process, he said. Prime Minister Rajapaksas spokesperson said the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka was talked about broadly. Both leaders also discussed further Indian cooperation to counter terrorism. They noted during talks in New Delhi that Sri Lankan police officials had begun training in institutions in India. Premier Modi praised Sri Lanka for the countrys determination to work closely with India for regional security and development. A series of other subjects including joint economic projects, further economic cooperation and investment matters also came up during an hour-long discussion. Prime Minister Rajapaksas spokesperson said both sides talked about the importance of sharing intelligence while recalling that India shared intelligence before the Easter Sunday attack but no one at the time took it seriously and it had devastating results. Prime Minister Modi also offered training for defence personnel in just about any aspect we needed. Premier Rajapaksa also thanked the Indian government for its offer of US$ 400 million credit line and another US$ 50 million creditline for efforts in combatting terrorism. Mr. Rajapaksa will end his four-day visit on Tuesday. Elizabeth Gilbert. Occupation Author. Age 50. Relationship status Single. Best known for Her 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love. Currently Preparing for an Australian speaking tour. Elizabeth Gilbert: 'It doesnt matter to me whether Im with a man or a woman. Im lucky it doesnt cost me anything to say that.' Credit:Timothy Greenfield-Sanders My grandfather Stanley Gilbert was the most charismatic man I have ever known: an athlete, salesman, horse trader and truly genius storyteller. As he used to say, Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. As a child, I loved to stay near him while he held court. I learnt the art of storytelling from him. My dad, John, is a true eccentric and non-conformist. Its rare to meet one. He has no regard for authority. I kind of inherited that. It made me very free.We grew up on a small family farm where we didnt have television. And we had no neighbours our own age so my sister, Catherine, and I had to create our entire world in order to entertain ourselves. I was boy-crazy as a kid my first crush was on a boy named Sam Stevens, though I dont think I registered on Sam Stevens radar. I was such a little love addict even as a second grader and Ive been in such romantic form my entire life. Ive always had a crush on somebody. NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who has served as United States Ambassador to the European Union, today issued the following statement: "I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union. I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career." SOURCE Ambassador Gordon Sondland Its becoming a tale of two cities Springfield and Boston for one company: MassMutual. The life insurance company, founded in Springfield 169 years ago, broke ground on the companys new commercial building in Bostons Seaport District in June. At the same time, state transportation officials are studying ways to connect Western Massachusetts to Boston by rail service. MassMutuals CEO Roger Crandall has long expressed support for such a link not only as a means of alleviating traffic congestion, but as a way of connecting the two regional economies. Ive never seen people who dream big on things like this in the end be wrong, Crandall told reporters during a sit-down interview with MassLive on Friday. I was in Boston and thinking to myself, 'Wow all of the complaints about the Big Dig if that hadnt of happened, theres no way the growth would have happened in Boston. The interview took place a day after MassDOT shared cost estimates associated with six alternatives to connect Western Massachusetts to Boston. The options range from a mix of train and bus connections a trip that would take over four hours to travel one-way from Pittsfield to Boston and just three hours from Springfield to Boston at an estimated cost of $2 billion to five other options that increase in price while decreasing travel times. The fastest option for Western Massachusetts commuters would offer travel quicker than driving into Boston, two hours and 18 minutes to travel from Pittsfield to Boston and an hour and 19 minutes from Springfield to Boston. This would require a complete overhaul of the existing rail line to offer electrified service of up to 150 miles per hour, and would cost approximately $25 billion, according to estimates provided by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on Thursday. Big transformative infrastructure projects dont just happen, Crandall said. Crandall said MassMutual has not taken a position on any of the options put forward in the east-west rail study, noting that MassDOT analysis isnt finalized yet but said it could transform some of the key problems weve got in terms of congestion, housing prices and pollution from car use. Asked about the overhaul of the existing rail line to offer trains traveling up to 150 miles per hour, he said such an investment may pay off in the long run. On the one hand $25 billion dollars ... seems like a lot of money, he said. When I compare it to the size of the economy, to the size of the potential growth, those numbers dont seem nearly as big. The old joke is $1 billion isnt what it used to be." By comparison, the Big Dig cost about $24.3 billion and was the most expensive highway project in U.S. history. Crandall stressed the importance of making it easier for people to move from place to place ... and live where they want to live." He said a rail connection would increase access to lower cost housing options, and in particular make it easier for students who travel from all over the world for college to live in the state. MassDOT presented the capital costs associated with six different alternatives to connecting Western Massachusetts as far as Pittsfield to Boston during a meeting with the east-west rail advisory committee on Thursday. Some advisory members of the committee, chiefly Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, a Northampton Democrat, expressed disappointment that MassDOT officials didnt go far enough in assessing the potential economic benefits a rail connection between Western Massachusetts and Boston would bring to the region, as well as the resulting boon to ridership numbers. Vijay Deverakonda starrer World Famous Lover's trailer released two days ago and in no time, it started trending on the internet. The trailer of WFL is getting positive response from the masses and fans are loving Deverakonda's intense and passionate lover avatar. However, at the trailer launch of World Famous Lover, Vijay revealed that this is going to be the last love story of his career. Speaking at WFL trailer launch, Vijay Deverakonda said that this will be his last love story as he is entering a new phase of his career. The Arjun Reddy actor quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, "I am aware there would be a lot of excitement among everyone about my film. We've invested a lot of efforts in World Famous Lover. But I would like to maintain a low profile about this project. World Famous Lover will be my last love story. I can see myself changing and I am entering a new phase in my career." Coming back to World Famous Lover, the trailer shows the life Gautham played by Vijay in four different parts. Every part of his life is filled with passionate love which ends up with the bitter heartbreak. Vijay as a Casanova yet a passionate lover is convincing. While the four female leads like Raashi Khanna, Aishwarya Rajesh, Catherine Tresa and Izabelle Leite look beautiful and appealing in their respective part. World Famous Lover trailer also promises to give outstanding music which suits the theme of the film. The trailer will make you feel the pain literally. Directed by Kranthi Madhav, World Famous Lover to be dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada language. It is all set to hit the screens on February 14, 2019, i.e. Valentine's Day. Also Read : World Famous Lover Trailer Is Out: Vijay Deverakonda Will Make You Feel The Pain Literally! Also Read : World Famous Lover To Arjun Reddy: Is Vijay Deverakonda Using 'Heartbreak' As A Tool For Success? Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 02:06:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WARSAW, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Poland signed an agreement with Norway on Friday securing 140 million euros (153.2 million U.S. dollars) in funding from the Norway Grants for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Program. The program's main aim is to improve air quality, alleviate climate change, enhance energy efficiency and increase energy production from renewable sources, Polish Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Malgorzata Jarosinska-Jedynak was quoted as saying by the Polish Press Agency after the signing of the agreement with Norwegian Ambassador to Poland Olav Myklebust. Apart from the 140 million euros funded by the Norway Grants, a further 24.7 million euros for the program will come from Poland's own coffers. The Norway Grants are funded by Norway, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the fund's decision-making body. Myklebust described the program as a unique tool enabling common action in the face of great challenges. He said the program's aim is to improve the environment and quality of life in Poland, as well as to educate the younger generations. "Raising Poles' quality of life seems to be the ambition at the centre of the program," said another signatory of the agreement, Polish Climate Minister Michal Kurtyka, adding that Poland will invest in energy efficiency, green development and blue infrastructure. Local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), higher education institutions and private enterprises will be entitled to apply for funding under the program, which, according to Jarosinska-Jedynak, will have a significant long-term effect on the environment, as it is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 600,000 tons a year. Enditem Residents and motorists can look forward to Upper Church St in Listowel being dug up twice over the coming years - as Irish Water says it will not be replacing the ageing mains under the road in tandem with looming roadworks. Chairperson of Listowel Municipal District Council Jimmy Moloney (FF) has slammed the response he got from the quango last week, setting out that the water mains on Upper Church St are not a priority. But they're a priority for the businesses and residents of Listowel with the town brought to a standstill in two recent breaks of the mains that led to a complete outage each time - one in September, the other in November. The last meeting of the Municipal Council heard it had led to 'total chaos' in Listowel, with businesses carrying buckets of water into their premises ensure they were able to keep providing a service. Irish Water informed Cllr Moloney this week that the main was not an immediate concern: "The water-main in Upper Church Street is not on Irish Water's priority planned works for 2020." Cllr Moloney slammed the response. "This is a complete collapse of common sense that will see the whole road being dug up for a second time, and again highlights the lack of joined-up thinking between agencies," he told The Kerryman. "When the break happens it takes out the whole town. The third last time it happened was during the Ras Tailteann - visitors couldn't even get a coffee. "The resurfacing all the way up to the Tim Kennelly roundabout happens this year. Common sense has to prevail to avoid digging it all up again 18 months later," he said. A rare collection of LIFE magazine photos has been released, with fascinating images showing iconic figures including Elvis Presley, Franklin D Roosevelt and Muhammad Ali. LIFE was published weekly between 1883 and 1972. It was then published monthly until 2000. From 1936 to 2000, LIFE commissioned more than 10 million photographs across 120,000 stories. At its height, LIFE magazines images and essays reached one of three American readers. During the second world war LIFE had 40 war correspondents, seven of whom were women, including Mary Walsh Hemingway and Margaret Bourke White. Sammy Davis Junior laughing over dinner with his wife May Britt in 1964 / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images War photographer Robert Capa was hired by the magazine to cover the D Day landings. His blurred photos of the soldiers disembarking and storming the beach have since become the defining images of the landings. In the 1960s LIFE featured thousands of celebrity photographs. Actress Grace Kelly wearing fashionable clothes, New York City, New York, March 1956 / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images Public figures as multifarious and diverse as Martin Luther King and Yoko Ono were included in the magazine. The photographs have now been made available to the wider press via visual media company Getty Images. Elvis Presley having an interview during his return to the United States after his military service, New Jersey, United States, 1960 / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images "Were thrilled to make more of this incredible historic content available to our customers, said Bob Ahern, Director of Archive Photography, Getty Images. This imagery, with more to come in the next several years, combined with our extensive archival content, ensures that we can give them unprecedented access to historical imagery and ultimately help them better tell their stories. American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) stands outside the Alvin Theater, October 1968 / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images Meredith acquired the LIFE Picture Collection in 2018, and since then they have been working to make both its stories and images more accessible. Since Meredith acquired the LIFE Picture Collection in 2018, we continue to make more of the collection accessible, said Jill Golden, Director, LIFE Picture Collection. The Supreme Court on Friday struck out an appeal filed by the family of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, who had prayed for an order unfreezing some bank accounts of the late dictator and other members of the family held in the UK, Switzerland, Jersey, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Justice Amina Augie, who read the lead judgment prepared by Justice C.C. Nweze, affirmed the concurrent decisions of the lower courts. Ms Augie said, according to the admitted evidence, I have no limitations in affirming the concurrent decisions of the lower courts and the appeal is hereby dismissed. She held that it was too late for the Abacha family to query the decision taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1999. The appeal was against the decision of Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna in a Ruling delivered on Oct. 21, 2005 overruling a notice of preliminary objection of the Appellants. The Swiss government on February 16, 2005, pledged to hand over the sum of $458 million out of the $508 million of the Abacha assets. The family prayed the lower court to declare the said grant by the government of Switzerland to transfer the familys cash assets in their companies null and void and contrary to the African and United Nations charter on Human Rights. The Abacha family also appealed the decision of the Federal High Court, Kano at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna. But in its judgment on December 15, 2009, the appellate court upheld the decision of the trial court and dismissed the appeal, a decision he again appealed to the Supreme Court, which the apex court also dismissed . Other members of the Supreme Courts five-member panel that heard the appeal include Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Augie and Paul Galumje. They all agreed with the lead judgment as written by Justice Nweze. (NAN) Hindi News Local Chandigarh Building Collapses On Kharar Landra Road, Rescue Operation Continues. , , 5 2 . - - 5 - , , - 6-7 - - : Someone may be targeting online porn sites for destructive hacker attacks, according to findings from a new cybersecurity study. Porn sites, the study found, were far more likely to be hit by distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attacks than any other type of site, according to a summary of the research published by Info Security Magazine. But the study also found that most of the destructive hacker attacks were brief in durationgenerally under 10 minutes longwhich according to the researchers at the cybersecurity firm Imperva indicates that they are the work of hackers-for-hire. In other words, someone may be paying so called stresser groups whose limited resources tend to be spread thin in order to service as many customers as possible, with the specific purpose of jamming porn sites, according to the researchers. DDoS attacks are one of the most powerful weapons on the internet, according to the antivirus software maker Norton. The aim of a DDoS attack is to overwhelm a server with so much unexpected traffic that the sites that it hosts simply shut down, or become inaccessible to users. In a study that ran from May to December of last year, the Imperva researchers found that an average porn site would have been hit with 84.46 DDoS attacks over that time periodor about 10.5 attacks per month, roughly one every three days. The next most-victimized category was video gaming, with gaming sites hit 13.3 times on average. News media sites were struck by DDos attacks an average of 10.16 times each. Of all the attacks recorded by the study, in all categories, India was hit the highest number, at 22.57 percent of all attacks noted in the study. The United States was hit with 8.73 percent of the DDoS attacks. Porn sites have long been a popular target for hackers and other cyber-criminals. A study by Kapersky labs in 2017 found that more than one million users contracted computer viruses and other forms of malicious software, or malware, from visiting porn sites. Photo By ResDigital18 / Wikimedia Commons The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday constituted a new two-judge bench to hear Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz's petition seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Pakistani media reported. The two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear Maryam's petition on February 10, Geo News reported. The petition filed by Maryam on December 21 last year seeks the removal of her name from the no-fly list as well as one-time permission to travel abroad. Maryam, the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is currently undergoing treatment in London, had first approached the court with this request on December 7. The petition was disposed of two days later. Maryam and her father were placed on the ECL on August 20, 2018. Maryam is currently free on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which she is a suspect, but her name remains on the no-fly list. Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, travelled to London in November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to fly abroad on medical grounds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India ranks 17th among the list of countries most likely to import cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a global import risk assessment model has found. Researchers from the Humboldt University and Robert Koch Institute in Berlin have developed the model that analyses air transportation pattern to calculate the relative risk for the 30 most vulnerable countries (excluding China) of importing cases of the viral disease. Outside China, Thailand, Japan and South Korea are the most likely to import the infections, the model shows. In India, the Delhi airport is the most likely to get infected people, followed by Mumbai and Kolkata. One of the scientists on the team that developed the model, however, said that the system cannot be used to make quantitative predictions. This is not so much a tool for making quantitative predictions. Public health officials and policymakers have to develop an intuition because this virus is something unknown. Models can help you develop an intuition, Humboldt physicist Dirk Brockmann told Science Magazine. Brockmann led the modelling team. So far, laboratories of the Indian Council of Medical Research have tested 1,486 samples. Of these, all but three tested negative. The first three Indians who tested positive for 2019-nCoV have recovered, health ministry officials said on Saturday. The three will continue to be in isolation for 28 days, the officials said. Meanwhile, 15 students from Kerala, who were stranded in Hubei in Chinas Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, reached Kochi on Friday night onboard an Air Asia flight. The students were screened at the airport and taken to the Kalamassery Medical College hospital in sterilised ambulances. They will be quarantined and tested just like any other persons travelling from China. They will be discharged if their tests come back negative, said a senior health ministry official, on condition of anonymity. The government has screened 176,703 people aboard 1,636 flights from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand at 21 airports. Almost 8,000 people with history of travel to China are also being monitored at the community level. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anonna Dutt Anonna Dutt is a health reporter at Hindustan Times. She reports on Delhi governments health policies, hospitals in Delhi, and health-related feature stories. ...view detail Iran has a very strong Air Force despite limitations imposed on the country by the United States since the countrys 1979 Islamic revolution, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a gathering of Air Force commanders and staff on Saturday. Since the revolution their aim was to stop us from having a strong air force ... but look at us now. We even build planes. We have transformed their pressure to opportunity, said Khamenei according to state news agency IRNA. Iran is marking the 41th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Islamic Republic has vowed to increase its military strength despite mounting pressure from Western countries to curtail its military capabilities, including its ballistic missile programme. If perceptions indeed win elections, then AAP has certainly made a strong case among voters with its intentions and delivery of good governance at least in part It was a dark December night, when Balvinder Singh, a 36-year old insurance adviser, returned from work and emptied his trouser pockets as usual only to find that his wallet was missing! There was not much money lost, but a credit card and a debit card, which he blocked immediately. But what annoyed him most was that his driving licence and car registration certificate were lost. Getting duplicates was a hassle he was not looking forward to. His wife suggested he call 1076. The couple live with Balvinders senior citizen parents in Shakkarpur in East Delhi. Medical stores, bank and financial service office branches, eateries, cycle spare parts, readymade garments, street food vendors all vie for space in this areas congested bazar, with its many narrow lanes in which small three, four of five-storeyed houses lean on each other. Balvinder lives in one such house and decided to wait for a day before he dialled 1076, hoping someone finds his purse and returns it. That did not happen, so I first registered a police complaint, and then dialled 1076, said Balvinder. This Sarkar Aapke Dwar, helpline number for doorstep delivery of services had been activated less than three months earlier by the Arvind Kejriwal government and Balvinder was sceptical as he dialled the number. But the day after he made the call, a mobile sahayak knocked at his door, scanned his Aadhaar, PAN card, etc, got him to fill an application, and took Rs 50 by way of charges. Balvinder then received an SMS regarding details of his appointment with the Transport Authority, his registration number, and details of the Rs 330 he had to pay for the duplicate licence. On the fifth day, Balwinder said, he had a new licence. Many residents in the National Capital Territory are now as aware of this toll-free number 1076 as of emergency numbers 100 or 101 or 131. When it was inaugurated in September 2018, Delhis residents could avail of about 40 services like birth certificate, car registration, SC/ST certificate and driving licence. The governments aim was to deliver, at their doorstep, multi-department services in a time-bound manner without people having to visit government offices. This service is managed by VFS Global, well known for their visa facilitation services. The government hired the technology agency, which already had in place a number of phone lines and call centres, through competitive bidding. All the agency had to do was hire on contract 300 mobile sahayaks who are responsible for the collection of documents from the doorstep and delivery of replacements or original papers as the case may be. The feedback of those who avail this service is recorded. To avail the service, a resident has only to show his Aadhaar card and residence proof. By December 2019, the government had scaled up the number of services offered by the helpline to 100. Getting it started Implemented by the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government, the AAP government had allotted Rs 18 crore for the scheme in its 2019-2020 Budget, which was later revised to Rs 10 crore. At a news conference in December, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal explained there were three ways of getting government services: a visit to the government offices, where the success rate is 57 percent and 43 percent of applications get rejected; online applications in which 45 percent of applications get cleared while the rest is rejected; and doorstep delivery, where the success rate is 91 percent. A government official said they received 11,000 calls the day after the scheme was rolled out. The number of services covered by this helpline covered 14 departments that include revenue, transport, social welfare, food and civil supplies, Delhi Jal Board, labour, SC/ST welfare, tourism and transport, Delhi government, drugs control, women and child development, higher education and Delhi pharmacy council, that regulates and pharmacists and medical stores. Detailed coverage of Delhi Assembly Election 2020 It covers most services for which people have to connect with the elected government, the official said, giving examples of issues covered, such as domicile, low income, caste, OBC, marriage certificates, lal dora certificates that demarcate habitable areas of villages from the agricultural land, delay in getting birth and death certificates, change of address documents, etc. The most commonly used doorstep delivery services turned out to be additions to ration cards, change of address, duplicate licence and vehicle RC. When the service completed one year in September 2019, the Delhi government said 1,369,284 calls were received, and of these, 216,054 were requests for services offered. The system had delivered 99.5 percent of the requests made, according to the government. At the Krishan Kunj office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in East Delhi on a Thursday noon, there were two counters to service people who needed something from the government. One of them was long and crowded, and the other had about a dozen people. I live nearby, and am not in a hurry, so why should I pay Rs 50 for the doorstep delivery? asked Sanjiv Kumar Gupta, 58, waiting on the longer queue. Those in the shorter queue, a fast track queue of sorts, were people willing to pay Rs 50, and avail the same service that 1076 provides at this counter, for example, Neeraj, 19, who had come for his fathers death certificate. Tussle with Centre The doorstep delivery of rations, however, ran into trouble. The National Capital Territory has about 20 lakh ration cards that enable about 80 lakh people to avail rations at almost no cost. When the Centre linked subsidised rations through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to Aadhar, the Kejriwal government said over 2.5 lakh ration cardholders in the capital could not avail of rations because of Aadhar-related issues. The Delhi government also maintained there was a lot of leakage and corruption in the distribution of rations, and decided to deliver rations at the doorstep through other agencies. The Delhi National Capital Territory government, though a state, does not enjoy full statehood. The police, for instance, is under the Union Home Ministry and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is under the Union Ministry for Urban Development. Kejriwal fought a relentless turf war till July 2018, when the Supreme Court affirmed the elected governments supremacy on all things other than police, land and public law and order. The verdict notwithstanding, the Lt Governor Anil Baijal stepped in and made some changes in transfers ordered by the Kejriwal government, through the office of the chief secretary. If this were not enough, then Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Kumar alleged that he was assaulted by AAP legislators at Kejriwals residence in February 2018, when deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was also present. While the officer said that he was summoned to discuss a delay in the release of advertisements for television, the elected government said it was to discuss food subsidy for the BPL. This led to a stand-off between the bureaucrats of the Delhi government and its elected representatives, with officers not attending meetings called by the elected government. The Delhi Police registered a case, interrogated Kejriwal, and charge-sheeted him and his deputy. That was when the government went to the apex court. But before the verdict, Anshu Kumar was transferred. While it was a showdown in full view of the public, the public was not affected by it. Lt Governor Anil Baijal spoke favourably about rations at the doorstep in his customary speech as he inaugurated the Delhi Assemblys budget session in 2018. But he later directed the government to refer it to the Centre before implementing it. It is the limited powers of the elected government that is now giving Union Home Minister Amit Shah the ammunition to say that Kejriwal should clear the protest at Shaheen Bagh, knowing full well that the police and law and order in the capital are not under the Chief Minister. Effective counter to BJP The Aam Aadmi Partys legislators, who by and large say they function like relatives of people in their constituency, mostly direct people who come to them with some grievance to 1076. Earlier when people would go to a government department, they would be told that this document is not there, that is missing, this is incorrect and so on, said Nithin Tyagi, the partys MLA who is contesting for a second time from the Lakshmi Nagar constituency. People would be harassed. That would then be sorted out by middlemen and agents for a hefty amount. The AAP government and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal put an end to that. Now it is up to the mobile sahayak to visit the resident who has complained and scan all documents, he said. Tyagi, 46, has a fixed working schedule that takes him to all the seven offices he has set up in his constituency at least twice a week. It is like a Janata Darbar. I come to this office in Shakkarpur between 10 am to 1 pm every Tuesday and Saturday and people know that, he said, as he rushed off to campaign. Incidentally, a Delhi Assembly constituency is way smaller than in other states, less than 1,37,000 people cast their votes from here in 2015. Tyagis explanation of how c has been wiped out notwithstanding, some AAP foot soldiers believe they have not been able to do as much as they wanted to on this front. When we came to power in 2013 for 49 days, we jailed 52 officers on corruption charges through the Anti-Corruption Bureau, said one party worker, not wanting to be identified. But when we formed government in 2015 and started this work, the Centre took over the ACB, because they were afraid that all their officials will be jailed, the worker said, adding, Since then Kejriwal has not been able to fight corruption the way he would have wanted to. That led to a constant clash with the Centre. He also recalls how the Lt Gov of Delhi would sit over files for months forcing the Kejriwal government to move the Supreme Court to get a decision. One such, according to AAP, pertains to the delivery of rations at the doorstep and another about the installation of CCTV cameras. In fact, Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia resorted to a sit-in at the Lt Governors house for nine days over this issue. Also, a few recent incidents helped AAP expose the falsity of BJPs allegation that the promised CCTVs have not been installed. It was the footage in one that helped the Delhi Police nab within 24 hours the motor-bike borne thief who snatched the purse of the prime minister's niece. And when Shah reiterated that the AAP government had not installed the cameras that were meant to provide security to the capitals citizens, AAP released footage that showed Shah getting out of his car to enter the house of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari in South Ganesh Nagar! Anyone committing a crime in Delhi cannot escape our cameras, a confident AAP claims, adding that the LADS funds of all 67 MLAs has gone into improving civic services. Sachin Thukral, who runs a small variety store in the constituency, said what he finds most refreshing about the AAP legislators is that there is no huge security carcade going with them as they are generally on their foot, in their or their friends car or even scooters and motorcycles. The informality is not confined to MLAs who are not ministers. Sisodia, the deputy chief minister, is often seen in parks, sometimes treating his daughter to ice cream, absolutely unfettered by the security trappings that power seems to bring. If perceptions indeed win elections, then AAP has certainly made a strong case among voters with its intentions and delivery of good governance at least in part. This article was first published in Citizen Matters, a civic media website and is republished here with permission. (c) Oorvani Foundation/Open Media Initiative New Delhi: Congress leader and party candidate from Chandni Chowk Alka Lamba caught herself in a controversy after she was caught on the camera trying to slap an Aam Aadmi Party worker. The incident took place on Saturday (February 8) morning outside a polling booth at Majnu Ka Tila in Chandni Chowk. According to reports, the AAP worker passed some derogatory remarks on Lamba after which she tried to slap him in retaliation, but misses. It all started when the AAP worker asked her to take off the Congress badge she was wearing at the polling booth. In a video shared by ANI, Lamba is seen getting into an argument with polling officers at a polling station in Delhi's Chandni Chowk. She later gets into a tussle with an AAP worker who was present at the site. The police officials, who were present at the scene, intervened and control the situation. #WATCH Delhi: Scuffle breaks out between AAP and Congress workers near Majnu ka Teela, Congress candidate Alka Lamba tries to slap an AAP worker. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will complain to Election Commission. #DelhiElections2020 (note: abusive language) pic.twitter.com/l5VriLUTkF ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 Following the uproar, the man was taken away by the police. Lamba, who was in APP before she returned to Congress, is contesting the Delhi election from Chandni Chow constituency. The New Hampshire Primary is set for Tuesday, Feb. 11, and the weather could impact the voter turnout and overall election results. AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said New Hampshire has had a rather warm winter season so far, with cities like Concord reaching up to 8 F above average. "It's been a relatively warm winter, basically across much of the east," Rossio said. However, the rising temperatures are expected to shift for the primaries on Tuesday, hovering in the 30s F. "It's not going to be brutally cold by any means, but it'll be chilly," he said. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) returns to her hotel after a morning walk in North Conway, New Hampshire, on Feb.10, 2020. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) A weak storm riding along the southern New England coast will bring some precipitation into the area on Tuesday. While precipitation will be generally light, snow is certainly a possibility for much of the state. Rossio predicts that any precipitation that occurs will be in the form of light snow in the late afternoon through the evening, and could continue into the night. On Monday, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was seen contending with some light snow as she prepared for her final day of campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of the primary. Warren was in North Conway, New Hampshire, about a 140-mile drive north of Boston. Before she headed out to press the flesh, Warren, wearing a hat that read "Make Earth Cool Again," could be heard telling reporters, "We've got just the right amount snow." Meanwhile, farther south in Manchester, supporters of President Donald Trump braved the cold and rain while camping outside the SNHU Arena ahead of a rally he held there on Monday evening. Video posted by the local police department showed what appeared to be hundreds of supporters lined up, many holding umbrellas, as they waited for the rally. Story continues Timing and location will determine how much precipitation voters encounter on Tuesday. "Early in the day, rain and snow showers will be less widespread, and mainly confined to the southwestern part of the state," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz. "If you want to ensure you wait to vote in dry conditions, the earlier you go the better," Benz added. Throughout the day precipitation will spread north and east. The mountains, and most of central and northern New Hampshire can expect snow, while southern parts of the state may have rain mixing with snow. In the evening when many people will be leaving work, the snow could affect road conditions. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP According to research conducted by AccuWeather in 2016 that analyzed weather trends and its correlation to voting data, difficult weather conditions, including winter weather, can affect voter turnout with swing voters especially. Research shows that women are less likely to vote when conditions are colder, and voters between the ages of 18-24 are more likely to vote when the weather is warm and sunny, which could affect Sanders' numbers, as he is the popular candidate among young voters. Democrats are looking for less drama in the second contest of the 2020 election season, following what was widely considered a debacle at the Iowa Caucuses. Results of the Iowa Caucuses, which took days to be processed, finished with Pete Buttigieg receiving 13 delegates and 26.2% of the votes, compared to Bernie Sanders' 12 delegates and 26.1% of the votes. However, several news outlets, including The Associated Press, were unable to declare a clear winner because of inconsistencies in this year's process. Democratic presidential candidates former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., shake hands on stage Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, before the start of a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Prior to the Iowa Caucuses, Sanders held the lead in polling with 24%, followed closely by Buttigieg at 20%, according to a study from Monmouth University. However, according to a Boston Globe/Suffolk University Poll, Buttigieg actually trails by just one point at 23%, with the margin between him and other candidates being over 10 points. FiveThirtyEight's live polling average chart shows Sanders holds a lead in the state polls as of late Monday, which he has held onto this chart since overtaking Biden on Jan. 16. With young voters, Sanders has a significant lead with 42%, while Buttigieg trails with 11%. With voters over 50, the numbers are more closely tied; however, Sanders still leads with 23%, followed by Buttigieg at 21%. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at "Our Rights, Our Courts" forum New Hampshire Technical Institute's Concord Community College, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) "[The Iowa Caucus] won't tell you to a great extent who will win the nomination, let alone the presidency," Drake University political science professor and longtime political analyst Dennis Goldford previously told AccuWeather. "They have a better chance to tell you who will not win the nomination. In other words, if you don't do well in Iowa in the past at least, your money dries up, it's hard to continue." In the 2016 election, Clinton won New Hampshire - the smallest swing state - by less than one point, according to Politico. 276,385 people in the state are registered as Democrats, compared to 288,464 that are registered as Republicans. The vast majority of voters in the state are undeclared, 415,871. While the last presidential election was a close call, both of the states congressional districts went Democratic in the 2018 midterms and the most recent elections have given the Democrats senate seats. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. Nigerians have taken to social media to express their displeasure at the members of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) who went on a thank you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent increase in their monthly allowance. The federal government had increased the corps allowance from N19,000 to N33,000 to the pleasure of serving corps members. In a tweet on February 6, the presidency had shared a video via Twitter of the visit and the speech of the corps member thanking Buhari. The tweet said: President @MBuhari today received National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on a thank you visit for the increase in their monthly Allowance. They were represented by Yinka Kolawole, Aisha Umar Bello, Agatha Nwakego and Tim Abasiandikan Udo. #AsoVillaToday The video especially angered many Nigerians who felt it was unnecessary for the corps member to persistently use the term Dear Daddy to address the president instead of Mr President or Your Excellency Read Also: N33k Allowance: Corps Members Visit Buhari To Thank Him "Dear Daddy" "Tears of Joy" For 33k? We are not exactly bright in this country! Paul Mogbolu (@Iammisterpaul) February 6, 2020 https://twitter.com/shola_olushola/status/1225450935951994881?s=19 How will government officials know they are not doing the right thing when everyone that meets them massages their ego? Where are the people that can speak truth to power? Blessed Beyond Measure (BBM) (@Drmuzoic) February 7, 2020 Gather an envoy of youths to thank dear daddy for an increase in minimum wage, as if the moneys coming out of his account. Is this any different from Kingship? lol @_Its_Aimy Bruce Bateman Esq (@sugabillionaire) February 7, 2020 The European Union has joined the United States in voicing concerns about a constitutional referendum in Guinea, which the opposition calls a ploy by President Alpha Conde to stay in power. The bloc on Friday urged an "inclusive dialogue" in the West African state to ensure the fairness of the poll, which is planned for the same day as parliamentary elections on March 1. "Unity and peace in Guinea must prevail over partisan interests, the EU said. Since mid-October, hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated against changing the constitution in the former French colony, in protests that have sometimes turned violent. At least 28 civilians and one gendarme have been killed in the unrest to date. A draft constitution still limits the number of presidential terms to two. But critics argue that the new constitution would reset the term counter to zero and allow Conde to run a third time. The president has neither confirmed nor denied those claims. "The decision to couple the parliamentary elections of 1 March 2020 with a constitutional referendum deeply divide(s) the country," the EU said. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced similar concerns on Friday, tweeting that he was "concerned" by plans to couple the two elections. "We question whether the process will be free, fair and transparent and accurately reflect the will of all eligible voters," Pompeo said in a statement. "We urge all parties to engage in nonviolent civil dialogue," he said. Guinea's main opposition parties have vowed to boycott both the parliamentary election and the referendum. Conde, 81, was a longtime opposition figure who became Guinea's first-ever elected president in 2010 on promises to fight corruption. He was re-elected in 2015. He has since been accused of sliding toward authoritarianism, however. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category And the Lord shall bring you (Jews) into Egypt again with ships .and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies .and no man shall buy you. Deuteronomy 28:68 Now will he (the Lord) remember their (Jews) iniquity, and visit their (Jews) sins: they (Jews) shall return to Egypt. Hosea 8:13 These quotes, taken from the Old Testament of the Bible, follow in the normal but rare tradition of preceding what should ordinarily be literary exercises by religious quotes. In this particular instance, the quotes, if anything, serves to explain and reinforce the criminal land-grabbing policy of the Israeli establishment, the raison detre of which is lost on many. The world recently commemorated the 75th anniversary of the holocaust, the so-called final solution which the Nazis alleged visited on Jews. As usual, the world displayed an unlikely entente cordiale before, during and after the commemoration. Ordinarily, that is the way it should be except that, even before images from Auschwitz and Jerusalem disappeared from television screens, Donald Trump, the cantankerous American president rolled out a Middle East Peace Plan that rolled back the modest progress made in the restive region. It may never be known why President Trump chose to roll out his plan at the time it did. Whatever the case, it was careless of Trump to play down the ongoing holocaust which Jews are visiting on their Palestinians cousins at a time the world condemned Nazi crimes against Jews. In one fell swoop, Trump shredded all United Nations resolutions on Palestine and several Middle East peace accords, among them, Camp David and Oslo. Trumps plan, morbidly termed the final solution, virtually turned occupied Palestine into one big prison, endorsed continued appropriation of Palestinian lands and gave the thumb-up for unrestrained slaughter of Palestinians. It is all in the queer belief that the only good Palestinian is the dead one! Since Israel officially came into being in 1948, the unadvertised goal of stiff-necked Jewish leaders and their clappers has been to shatter the alleged record set by Adolf Hitler. Strangely, a complicit world keeps goading Israel on! All these are coming at a time world powers claim they are increasingly united against forces of terror and darkness. Hypocrisy is winning and, as usual, America and the West are basking in their warped victory. Basking from a one-directional backing of Trumps unregenerate policies, hawkish Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has been responsible for most of the violence in the world, has been grinning from ear to ear. But the culture of silence has never always been infectious. At the other side of the divide is Iran and a few Muslim and Palestinian organizations that have been consistent in their condemnation of what they consider the annual ritual commemoration of a hollow cause. But as has always happened, they have had their shrill cry of condemnation drowned in the global display of hypocrisy. Under normal circumstances, any act of great destruction and loss of life, such as the genocide (in Rwanda), ethnic cleansing (as in Bosnia Herzegovina and Myanmar) apartheid (in white minority-ruled South Africa) and the senseless Jewish discriminatory practices (in occupied Palestine) qualify to be referred to as holocaust. Strangely, the word holocaust is rendered hollow in its restricted application as it is exclusively and, hypocritically, employed to refer to the alleged incineration of six Jews in concentration camps. May be Adolf Hitler was wrong but the way the descendants of his alleged six million victims behave in the Middle East, one is tempted to ask, at the risk of being dubbed anti-Semite: was Hitler right? This question will continue to excite in view of the unspeakable and despicable atrocities committed by Jews in occupied Palestine. Little wonder that, despite effort to criminalize holocaust-denial, Palestinians and their American and European sympathizers desist from criminalizing and animalizing Adolf Hitler. No holocaust or Final Solution ever worked! And the proof of this could be found in successive Israeli offensives in occupied Palestine that laid bare the vulnerability of the overrated Israeli Defence Force, IDF. For instance, whatever air of invincibility the IDF enjoyed has evaporated in the face of resistance from Hamas and Hezbollah (Hizbullah; Party of God) and other anti-occupation groups! While world powers continue to turn the blind eye, extremist groups, many of them trained by the United States to contain Soviet expansionism, have grabbed the initiative. The struggle for the creation of Israel was not a tea party nor was the state birthed by United Nations resolutions. Rather, it came through the barrel of the gun! Pioneer Israeli terrorists such as Chaim Weizmann, David Ben Gurion and their ultra-right fellow travellers in World Jewry took up arms, organised themselves into terrorist groups and spearheaded the worse form of terrorism in their quest to secure a home! It was the bombing spree of Jewish terrorist organizations that led to the creation of Israel in 1948. Palestinians have been told they have no option but to fight. The way things are, Palestinian resistance groups and their sympathizers, long opposed to the concept of a two-state solution, feel fulfilled and justified in their wrongheaded struggle to wipe Israel from the face of the earth! Reason? American Middle East policies provide the tonic they need to fight. In fact, for every Hamasand other militant Palestinian group the world knows today, the Jews had their terrorist Irgun and Zvaiterror machines. They are doing for the Palestine what Zvai and Irgun did for Israel. As good students of history, Hamas and allied radical Palestinian groups are aware that no amount of hours spent around tables would give them a home! They know too well that had Jewish terrorists such as Chaim Weizmann and David Ben Gurion and their land-grabbing descendants fallen for the sweet talk of the West, Jews would still be wandering in Europe, and not as lords of the manor in the Middle East. If Palestinians fail to emulate their fighting Jewish cousins of the early and mid-20th Century, they should just as well forget about a Palestinian homeland! Let the world continue to believe that Palestinians are an unformed people and continue to see Jews are a special breed. Fine! It does not even matter that some western countries see holocaust denial as a major crime and refuse to apply the word to victims of Israeli discriminatory practices against their Palestinian cousins. What does matter, at the end of the day, is that it amounts to a hollow cause to commemorate one holocaust and turn the blind eye to another! Magaji < [email protected] >lives in Abuja. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 Torn between protecting citizens' rights and national security, the government is considering barring Indonesians who traveled to Syria to join terrorist group Islamic State (IS) from returning home. According to the National Counterterrorism Agency's (BNPT) records, more than 600 Indonesian citizens, most of whom are women and children, currently reside in Syria, with government officials leaning toward not repatriating them. Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said returnees from Syria could pose social and security threats. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) passed a resolution against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at its general body meeting here on Saturday. Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin (TRS) moved a resolution against the CAA at the meeting, a GHMC release said. Noting that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao stood for secularism, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan (TRS) said Rao had also announced that a resolution would be adopted in the Legislative Assembly against the CAA. He explained the significance of the resolution proposed, by taking Rao as inspiration, the release said, adding that it was accepted unanimously in the meeting. Last month, Rao had said the Telangana Assembly may pass a resolution against the CAA like some other states. GHMC is the first civic body in the country to pass a resolution against the CAA, the release claimed. Among others, the meeting unanimously approved the budget for 2020-21 which was introduced by the Mayor, it added. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi had voted against the amendment to citizenship law in Parliament in December. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eight people died and dozens were hurt during clashes involving hundreds of villagers in Kazakhstan's south, authorities said. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an emergency government session Saturday where he said the situation was "under the control" of police and the national guard. Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev said "several dozen people were injured, eight died" in the clashes Friday in the Jambyl region, about three hours drive from Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty and close to the border with Kyrgyzstan. Turgumbayev said 30 houses, 15 commercial properties and 23 cars were damaged in the clashes that he said saw 47 people detained. Tokayev said the fighting occurred in a number of settlements in the Kordai district of Jambyl region, clashes and group fights between local residents took place. "Unfortunately there are injuries and fatalities. I express my sincere condolences to the close ones of those who died," Tokayev said. Footage posted to social media late on Friday night showed scenes of young men, some armed with clubs, marching along the road of a village with buildings ablaze either side. The conflict is widely believed to have pitted titular Kazakhs against minority Dungans, although Kazakhstan's authorities have not commented on the origins of the fight. A driver who works taking passengers from Kazakhstan's border with Kyrgyzstan to the city of Almaty said that the Masanchi village at the centre of the conflict had been sealed off. "It is calm. But you can't get there now. The police and the army are there," the driver called Bakytjan told AFP by telephone. He said that the conflict had begun after a man from the Dungan minority ethnic group attacked an elderly Kazakh man. Private agency Kaztag cited Kusei Daurov, head of the Dungan association as saying that more than ten homes were burned by "young men that had arrived" in the village of Masanchi on Friday. He also claimed that the attackers had fired shots at local residents in the comments reported late on Friday. Kazakhstan's authoritarian leadership prides itself on guaranteeing inter-ethnic harmony in a country where the foreign ministry says "over 100 ethnic groups are living in peace. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philadelphia policemen and fireman react as gunfire starts and officers are shot during the August 8, 1978 confrontation with MOVE on Powelton Ave. Ron Williams / Philadelphia Journal via UPI Read more Charles Sims Africa, the last member of MOVE to be behind bars for the 1978 shootout that killed Philadelphia Police Officer James Ramp, was released from a Pennsylvania state prison Friday. A Department of Corrections spokesperson said the 63-year-old Africa was released from State Correctional Institution Fayette, south of Pittsburgh, early in the day and will be on parole supervision for the rest of his life. Brad Thomson, his lawyer, posted a photo on Twitter of a smiling Africa apparently seated in a restaurant holding a menu. Chuck Africa of the #MOVE9 is now free after nearly 42 years behind bars! All of the #MOVE9 are now out of prison! Thomson wrote. Africa was one of nine MOVE members convicted of third-degree murder for the death of Ramp and seven counts of attempted murder following an Aug. 8, 1978, shootout with police at the radical groups compound a three-story Victorian twin at 33rd and Pearl Streets in Powelton Village. Last month, Delbert Africa was the second to last of the nine to be freed on parole. Two died while serving their sentences. A confrontation had been building for several years between MOVE, which espoused revolutionary ideas and back-to-nature philosophies, and its neighbors, who complained that the place smelled of excrement and garbage, and was filled with rats and several dozen dogs. A city health inspector was turned away, and the group surrounded the house with an eight-foot barricade. A half-dozen members staged a show of force in 1977, brandishing rifles and handguns. On the morning of Aug. 8, 1978, hundreds of police officers assembled for a confrontation. Suddenly, gunshots came from the basement window of the MOVE house," former Daily News reporter Kitty Caparella wrote in a 2010 recollection. From a third-floor apartment window, I looked down to where stakeout cop James Ramp was slowly kneeling to take a shooting position on the sidewalk with others. Ramp abruptly fell backward, blood coming out of his mouth. Ramp, 52, a husband and father of a teenage boy, was crouching forward to peer around a pole when he was stuck in the chest by a bullet. James McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said Friday in a statement reacting to Africas release: When days like this happen, our hearts ache for our fallen-hero James Ramp and his family as theyre revictimized every time a MOVE member is released from custody. The 19-week trial in 1980 of the nine MOVE members was at the time the longest and most expensive in Pennsylvania history. MOVE members acted as their own lawyers for the first several weeks. The group members claimed they fired no shots that day. A defense attorney later suggested that police had shot Ramp by mistake and planted the rifle that turned out to be a ballistic match for the weapon that killed Ramp and wounded two other officers. Police said they recovered 11 rifles and handguns and 2,000 rounds of ammunition from the house. The remaining free members of the group relocated to the 6200 block of Osage Avenue. MOVE continued to antagonize neighbors and clash with the city, setting the stage for the disastrous May 13, 1985, confrontation in which the city dropped a bomb on the groups house. The ensuing conflagration destroyed more than 60 homes and killed 11 people, including MOVE founder John Africa and five children. - President Trump has fired two officials who testified against him during his impeachment trial - Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a US soldier, and Sondland, an envoy, were fired on Friday, February 7 - Vindman's lawyer, following the development, accused Trump of exacting revenge on his client The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has sacked two senior officials who testified against him during his impeachment trial at the House of Representatives. The US president recalled his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland. This was few hours after Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was sacked on Friday, February 7. Vindman's twin brother Yevgeny, also a lieutenant colonel who worked as a lawyer in the NSC, was also sent back to the Department of the Army. BBC reports that Vindman's lawyer, David Pressman, accused President Trump of exacting revenge on his client for telling the truth. The British media adds that Trump simply told newsmen that he was not happy with Vindaman. Trump fires two witnesses who testified against him at impeachment trial Source: UGC Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Trump was acquitted by the Senate on impeachment charges preferred against him on Wednesday, February 5. With the conclusion of the Senate trial, President Trump remains the US president and he is already on the move to be re-elected in November 2020. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app Similarly, Trump had earlier attacked Senator Mitt Romney for voting in support of his impeachment during the Senate's trial on Wednesday, February 5. Despite belonging to Trump's party, the Republican party, Senator Romney voted to convict the US president on the impeachment charges filed against him. With his action, Romney has emerged the first senator in the history of the US to vote to convict a president from his own party. President Trump, apparently angry with the development, attacked Romney saying the senator could have defeated former President Obama if he had devoted the same energy he applied to vote against him when he contested the US presidency in 2012. Romney was the Republican presidential candidate in 2012. Trump tweeted: "Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election." In other news, Justin Fox, a popular American journalist and Bloomberg Opinion columnist, has revealed why the US should allow more Nigerian immigrants in the country. Fox made the points in the wake of the immigrant visa restriction imposed on Nigeria by the Trump-led US government. The respected journalist in his opinion published by Bloomberg on Tuesday, February 4, described the Nigerian immigrants as one of the most successfully integrated groups in the country. Fox, citing data from the US Census Bureau, said estimated 374,311 Nigerian-born people were living in the US as at 2018 and they are doing well. Meanwhile, amid criticisms against the travel ban placed on Nigeria and five other countries by the US government, the White House has said that it informed the country a year before it finally took action. Legit.ng gathered that the US government revealed that it notified all foreign governments of a change in its performance metrics for identity-management and information sharing criteria since March 11, 2019. The White House noted that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the worst-performing countries for further interagency review and for an assessment of the potential impact of visa restrictions. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Abaribe asks President Buhari to resign, Nigerians react - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Budapest, Hungary While the rest of Europe commemorates 75 years of being freed from the scourge of Adolf Hitler, an estimated 600 neo-Nazis from across the continent met up in a Budapest park on Saturday to mourn. They gathered in Hungarys capital for what they call the Day of Honour, commemorating an attempted breakout by besieged Nazi forces in 1945. Draped in black and carrying flags of their respective far-right movements from across Europe, they laid wreaths to honour the Nazis and their collaborators who they call heroes. We have the same enemies today, like we did 75 years ago, Matthias Deyda, from German far-right group Die Rechte, told the crowd on Saturday. The enemy isnt named Muller or Mayer. No, our enemy is named Rothschild or Goldman and Sachs. But the event did not pass without protest. Anti-fascist demonstrators organised two separate gatherings, attended by an estimated 300 counter-demonstrators who chanted, sounded sirens and beat on drums to try and drown out the far-rights presence less than 100 metres (328 feet) away, protected by a police cordon. After the commemoration, an estimated several thousand people began an overnight march from Budapest, following the almost 60km (37-mile) route of the attempted breakout to a village northwest of the city. Organisers were also due to host a concert in the evening, at a location only made public late on Friday, featuring five bands that are well known in the neo-Nazi music scene. The annual event is only promoted by the furthest fringes of the far right but its continued popularity has stirred fears that the far-right message is slowly seeping into the mainstream. The event was met with counter-protests [Michael Colborne/Al Jazeera] In February 1945, Nazi-allied Hungary was near capitulation, and the Soviet Red Army had already occupied most of Budapest. Nazi forces and their Hungarian collaborators were holed up in the hillsides overlooking the frozen Danube River, under siege and awaiting the inevitable. In desperation, almost 30,000 of them, including civilians, tried to break through the Soviet siege to get to Nazi-controlled territory. They failed. While a few hundred made it past Soviet lines, most were captured or killed. Budapest surrendered to the Soviets two days later. Despite the plans failure, Hungarys neo-Nazis have been commemorating it for more than 20 years, said Bulcsu Hunyadi, an expert on extremism at Hungarian think-tank Political Capital. The most serious, the most violent, the most aggressive kinds of people attend this event, said Hunyadi. Still, no serious incidents were reported in the immediate aftermath of the event. The commemoration has changed over the years, from attracting a few dozen neo-Nazis in the 2000s to more than 500 these days, including participants from across Europe. Legio Hungaria, a Hungarian far-right group founded in 2018, organised this years events. Despite its short history, the group has already made international headlines; in October 2018, after a march commemorating the 1956 Hungarian revolution, its members vandalised a Jewish community centre in Budapest. Legio Hungaria insists that the Day of Honour has nothing to do with violence or illegality, with a spokesperson for the group telling Al Jazeera that they operate within the bounds of Hungarian law. Everything we do is legitimate, the spokesperson said. The groups leader, Bela Incze, has a long history on the furthest fringes of Hungarys far right. He once described himself as an a-Semite fighting for a world without Jews. In 2010, he got the group he led at the time, the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement (HVIM, in Hungarian), excluded from official consultations on Hungarys new constitution because he signed his email with a quote from Nazi collaborator Ferenc Szalasi. In 2015, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to a member of the far-right Jobbik party, but his contract was terminated because he reportedly punched a police officer. International attendees at this years Day of Honour included members of French, German, Bulgarian and Czech far-right groups, as well as members of Blood and Honour, the international neo-Nazi group officially banned in a number of countries, including Germany, Spain and Canada. Hitlers words Budapest police tried to ban this years events, but a court overturned the attempted ban less than a week ago. Several local leaders were left frustrated and decrying the extremist organisations and individuals set to march their streets. We urge [police] to do their utmost and ensure that marchers dressed in intimidating uniforms bearing authoritarian symbols do not disturb the peace of those who live here, several Budapest local authorities wrote in a joint press release. The Legio Hungaria spokesperson said: We have every right to organise [the Day of Honour] We will live with this right even if the whole world stands against us. This is the mentality that the heroes of the breakout taught us. But Hunyadi said the far-right message is spreading. The march to the outskirts of Budapest, following the route of the attempted siege-breakers, had several thousand participants not all were affiliated with the far right. Hunyadi said they were ordinary Hungarians who have accepted the extreme rhetoric about the events in February 1945, that those who attempted to break the siege were heroes resisting communism. Back in the park, Die Rechtes Deyda concluded his speech in German with a quote. For them, the mere pledge of I believe is not enough, but rather the affirmation I fight. Deyda did not name the source, but they were Hitlers words. They were originally spoken at the Sixth Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg, Germany on September 8, 1934, shown in the Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will and have now been repeated more than 80 years later by a German neo-Nazi near the centre of a capital in the heart of Europe. DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa Democrats are recovering from a number of disappointments after Mondays Iowa caucuses, though one has received less attention than the others. About 176,000 Iowans attended their precinct caucuses, a slight uptick from 2016 but fewer than expected. The number is certain to rattle Democrats who are banking on high turnout in battlegrounds across the country to win in November. And it raises doubts about whether Iowa is winnable by Democrats, after a recent shift toward Republicans. The number was perhaps most disappointing to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose strategy in the primary and the general election hinges on bringing out young and infrequent voters. Asked about the turnout at a debate Friday night, Sanders acknowledged it was off the mark. Thats a disappointment and I think all of us probably could have done a better job of bringing out our supporters, he said. The parade of candidates, a Democratic base seething to unseat President Donald Trump and high participation in 2018 midterms had party insiders braced for a turnout could match or top the contests high-water mark. But Monday came nowhere near the 2008 caucuses, when roughly 238,000 Iowans participated in the kickoff clash among Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, onetime Iowa favourite John Edwards and a handful of others. The 2020 caucuses did draw 5,000 more than 2016, when Clinton very narrowly beat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, but went on to lose to Donald Trump. It was lower than I expected, said former Iowa Democratic Party executive director Norm Sterzenbach, who has been advising Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchars campaign. It was definitely lower than what the conventional wisdom was. Democrats in Iowa are fighting to overcome a decadelong slide that has shrunk their ranks in rural areas and once reliably Democratic-voting manufacturing towns along the Mississippi River. Its part of a shift from the partys 50-year high point in 2008, when it controlled not just the governorship and both houses of the Legislature but three of five U.S. House seats and a U.S. Senate seat. Since 2010, Democrats have struggled in rural areas while the party has grown in Iowas burgeoning suburbs around Des Moines and the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor in eastern Iowa. Today, Republicans control the statehouse and both U.S. Senate seats in Iowa, where Trump won by 9.5 percentage points over Clinton in 2016. But Democrats made statehouse gains and took two of four U.S. House seats which include Iowas fastest-growing suburbs out of Republican hands in 2018. On Monday, Democratic caucus participation was down across the board in rural areas, and in those formerly union-heavy counties, but up in suburban counties around Des Moines especially Dallas County, the states fastest growing Democratic county. I think it represents a change in where our Democratic base is in Iowa, a shift in who is getting involved in the party and what our base is becoming, Sterzenbach said. EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville foresees a promising incoming freshman class, according to early data for the fall 2020 recruitment cycle. SIUE freshman applications for fall 2020 have reached an all-time record of 10,860 students. The previous high of 10,735 applications occurred at the end of the recruitment cycle in August 2015. Applications are up 1,895, up 21% from a year ago, and admitted freshmen have increased by 1,010 students, or 20%. Springboard (freshman registration and orientation program) deposits are running 65 students, or 27%, ahead of the same date last year. More than 300 have committed to attending this year compared to 238 a year ago, a 27% increase. The largest percentage increases in Springboard deposits result from students interested in the Schools of Engineering, up 55%, and Nursing, up 47%. Growth is also coming from Chicago (up 187%), Springfield (up 35%) and the local region ( up 27%. Deposits from students with diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are up 33%. Increased interest in SIUEs engineering and nursing programs is driving the application surge along with more interest from St. Louis, Chicago, and both local and rural Illinois students, said Todd Burrell, director of undergraduate admissions. Weve been recruiting many of these students since their sophomore year in high school. Burrell said SIUE has introduced new technology to the recruitment and application process which has been beneficial for typically underrepresented student populations. Applications from African American students are up 12% and Latinx student applications are up 68%. Our challenge now is to stay connected with applicants and their families as they move through the next 90 days and make their final decisions about where to attend college, said Scott Belobrajdic, EdD, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. As a research institution, we are committed to making our academic resources as financially accessible to students as possible. Although SIUEs overall spring 2020 enrollment is 353 students, 2.8% lower than spring 2019, with total enrollment at 12,264 as compared to 12,617 last spring. Graduate enrollment has increased for the fourth straight spring semester, improving by 177 students compared to spring 2019. Graduate enrollment has increased in the Schools of Business (128 students, up 52%), Nursing (43 students, up 14%), Engineering (14 students, up 7.2%) and Education, Health and Human Behavior (19 students, up 4%). A total of 388 international students are enrolled, the largest overall headcount since fall 2016. This runs counter to the national trend of decreasing international student access to and interest in U.S. institutions. By PTI THANE: A fire broke out in a 21-storey building at Seawoods in Navi Mumbai on Saturday morning, an official said. The blaze broke out at 6.30 am on the 20th floor and spread to the top floor of the high-rise located on Palm Beach Road, chief of Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), Santosh Kadam, said. At least six fire engines from Nerul, CBD Belapur and Vashi fire stations are trying to douse the flames, he said. "No casualty has been reported so far and the cause of the fire is being ascertained," Kadam said. Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu on Saturday blasted a social media user who targeted her for casting vote in Delhi Assembly elections even after shifting to Mumbai for work. Taapsee, who is looking forward to the release of her film "Thappad", posted a picture with her family on Twitter after casting the vote and urging her fans to do the same. One of the social media users criticised the actor for not getting her name transferred to the voting list in Mumbai, where she works as an actor. "Why are people who live in Mumbai deciding for us, it's been quite a long time since @taapsee shifted to Mumbai. She should get her vote shifted too," the comment read. In a lengthy reply, Taapsee said no one has the right to question her citizenship as she is "more of a Delhite than a lot of others who might just be living here but probably don't contribute". "I am living in Delhi as much if not more than Mumbai. My income is taxed through Delhi... Kindly don't question my citizenship, worry about yours n your contribution to it. "And also to add, you can take a girl out of Delhi but you can not take Delhi out of this girl. And you are no one to tell me what I should do and what I should not. I guess this response will be enough to tell u how much of a Delhiite I am," she tweeted. Voting is underway for the Delhi Assembly elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man who had travelled to Wuhan -- the central city at the heart of China's coronavirus crisis - was surprised when police showed up at his door after he returned home, asking to check his temperature. The man, who had quarantined himself at home in Nanjing, eastern Jiangsu province, said he had not told anyone about his recent trip to the city. But by trawling through travel data from Wuhan, local authorities were able to identify him and dispatch officers to his home last week, according to a newspaper article posted by the Nanjing government. As Chinese authorities race to contain the spread of a new virus, which has infected more than 34,000 people and killed more than 700 in China, Beijing is turning to a familiar set of tools to find and prevent potential infections: data tracking and artificial intelligence. Several Chinese tech firms have developed apps to help people check if they have taken the same flight or train as confirmed virus patients, scraping data from lists published by state media. In Guangzhou, southern Guangdong province, robots at one public plaza have even been deployed to scold passersby who are not wearing masks, according to the state-run Global Times. And in Beijing, one neighbourhood committee responsible for an apartment complex of about 2,400 households said they used flight and train data to keep track of everyone's recent travel record. "Use big data technology to track, screen priority (cases), and effectively forecast the development of the epidemic in real time," China's National Health Commission (NHC) told local governments in an online statement Tuesday. "Strengthen the information link between... public security and transportation, and other departments," it said, urging them to share train, flight, communication, and medical data. - Fever tech - As Chinese authorities search for potential infections, a point of focus has been detecting fevers, a common symptom of the disease. While neighbourhoods and office buildings rely primarily on hand-held thermometers, public transport hubs are also trialling fever detection systems that use artificial intelligence and infrared cameras. In Beijing, a system developed by Chinese search giant Baidu screens travellers at the Qinghe railway station using infrared and face detection technology, which automatically photographs each person's face. If someone has a body temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) or above, the system sets off an alarm -- prompting a secondary check by station staff. On Thursday, railway personnel, clutching red-and-white megaphones, ordered passengers arriving from northern Shanxi province to slow down as they passed by Baidu's system. According to the company, its system can check more than 200 people a minute, far faster than the thermal scanners used at airports. Megvii, an AI firm that was blacklisted by the US in October over alleged rights abuses, has developed a similar system, which is currently being used at a subway station in Beijing. "Having a team of nearly 100 people working together remotely from home hasn't been easy," said a spokesperson at Megvii in an emailed statement. "All of them are working around the clock during Lunar New Year public holidays," said the company, adding that the team had to optimise its models to "effectively detect temperature with only the forehead exposed." - Five million travellers - Besides fever detection, Chinese tech firms have raced to develop a wide variety of services to help with epidemic control efforts, from preparing drone deliveries of medical supplies to mapping the spread of the virus from Wuhan. Although the city has been under effective quarantine since January 23, some five million travellers left Wuhan during the Lunar New Year festival, according to the city mayor -- galvanising a nationwide search for recent Wuhan visitors. Still, the majority of tracking carried out by local authorities in China requires a lot of manpower, though some are entering data online to help with registration, especially as residents return after the holiday. In Beijing, some neighbourhoods are prompting residents to scan a QR code to fill out personal details, such as their phone number and hometown address. One form also prompted participants to fill out details on their mode of transport, such as their licence plate or flight number, if they had travelled. It also asked if they had "recently" visited central Hubei province -- where Wuhan is located -- or come into contact with anyone from the hard-hit region. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) of Canada held a public meeting in Montreal last Sunday as part of the global campaign mounted by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International to demand the release of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning. They are being persecuted by the ruling class for exposing war crimes committed by the US and its allies, including Canada, in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Assange is threatened with extradition to the US to face a show trial and up to 175 years in prison. He is currently being held in a high-security prison in London, where several doctors have warned that he is subject to psychological torture and dying slowly. As for Manning, she is imprisoned in Virginia for refusing to testify against Assange. The main address at the Montreal meeting was given by SEP National Secretary Keith Jones. He began by establishing the purpose of the meeting. A key first step in this campaign is to break through the wall of silence the Canadian political establishment and media have erected around the persecution of Julian Assange, the founder and publisher of Wikileaks, and Chelsea Manning. SEP Canada National Secretary Keith Jones addresing last Sunday's meeitng Jones returned to this theme later, noting that the entire political establishment is ready to see Assange subjected to exemplary punishment for exposing imperialist crimes. This is true not only of the Liberals, Conservatives and Parti Quebecois, but also of the ostensibly progressive parties, the NDP, the Greens, and Quebec Solidaire. Jones explained why the Canadian ruling elite and its media are hostile to Assange and Manning. Because Canadian imperialism is Washingtons closest ally and even more fundamentally because the Canadian bourgeoisie has no solution to the growing crisis of world capitalism other than aggression abroad and class war at home, the Canadian establishment supports the persecution of Assange and Manning and is moving to assert control over the internet. Jones went on to say: Assange and Manning are not just the victims of a vindictive legal vendetta mounted by some of the worlds most powerful governmentsa vendetta meant to intimidate and silence all those who would seek to expose the crimes of US imperialism and its allies. In their persecution of Assange, the US and British governments are attacking and seeking to eviscerate core democratic rights, including the rights of free speech, to political asylum, and to due process. Jones called on those present at the meeting to fight to mobilize the Canadian and international working class in defence of Assange and Manning. After decades of being stifled by trade unions and social democratic parties like the NDP, the working class, he explained, is re-emerging on Canada and around the world as a powerful social force. The Montreal meeting heard a contribution by Oscar Grenfell in the form of an audio message. Grenfell is an Australian reporter for the World Socialist Web Site who is playing a leading role in the struggle to free Assange. He said: It is no exaggeration to state that outside of our international party, there is no other political tendency in the world leading a struggle in defence of Assange, who, it could be argued, is the worlds foremost political prisoner. The question may be raised, continued Grenfell, why is it that we have placed such stress on the need to block Assanges extradition, and emphasised the importance of this struggle for the working class as a whole? Firstly, our defence of Assange is part of our struggle against imperialism and the threat of world war. The ruling elites are seeking to silence him and WikiLeaks to prevent exposures of the new wars they are preparing, including against Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. As in the world wars of last century, military conflict, opposed by the vast mass of the population, means repression. Secondly, our fight for Assanges freedom is a key component of the campaign we are waging against internet censorship. Since 2017, Google, Facebook and other internet conglomerates have enacted measures to artificially limit the audience of progressive, socialist and anti-war websites, including WikiLeaks and the WSWS. This is part of the turn by capitalist governments all over the world to authoritarianism, in response to an upsurge of the working class, and the first stages of workers organising independently of the corporatised trade unions. Thirdly, our defence of Assange arises from our fight for all of the social and democratic rights of the working class and for socialism. Trotsky and other leading Marxists emphasised the centrality of the struggle for democratic rights to the fight for socialism. In a period of capitalist breakdown, when the ruling elites hurtle towards dictatorship and social inequality becomes incompatible with the old democratic trappings, it falls to the working class and its leadership to defend all remaining civil liberties. The reports were followed by a lively period of discussion. A question was asked about the SEPs call to turn to the international working class to secure the release of Assange and Manning. But why hasnt the working class intervened yet?, asked a member of the audience. The speakers explained that workers were motivated by a strong anti-war sentiment and a rejection of growing social inequality, but that their opposition has been suppressed by the pro-capitalist unions and social-democratic politicians, and their pseudo-left backers. The massive 2012 Quebec student strike was a case in point. Just as workers began to pour into the streets to defend the students against state repression, opening the possibility of a broad counteroffensive against the entire austerity program of the capitalist elite, the unions intervened to shut the strike down and channel the anger against the Charest Liberal government behind the pro-austerity Parti Quebecois. One has to identify the different political tendencies at work in a movement, Jones explained. Other questions focused on the significance of the Yellow Vests movement in France, and the view that one must oppose the entire capitalist system to fight war and social inequality. The speakers emphasized the objective source of the re-emergence of mass working class strugglesthe advanced crisis of the capitalist systemand the need to arm these struggles with a socialist internationalist political perspective based on the lessons of history. The Amish Acres tourist attraction in Nappanee, Indiana, was sold at auction to six different buyers Wednesday. The auction drew a standing-room-only crowd and resulted in the sale of the attraction for a total of $4.425 million. Amish Acres is located about 30 miles southeast of South Bend and includes historical cabins, barns and other structures, most of which date back to the 1800s. It also includes the 400-seat Round Barn Theatre. Schrader Real Estate and Auction Co. of Columbus, Indiana, marketed the property and managed the bidding competition, where much of the attention focused on the Round Barn Theatre, restaurant and related properties that are popular among northern Indiana residents and visitors. The properties went to a group made up of John Kruse, former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Jason Bontrager. They said they intend to continue operating the facilities as an attraction. "Legacy Theatre Company, owned by my wife, Christy, and her sister, Wendy Rivera, and Wendy's husband Gabe, will operate the Round Barn Theatre. We hope to reopen in the spring with new theater productions and family fun for all," Stutzman said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 09:26:50|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close LAGOS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella organization containing numerous Christian denominations in the African country, on Friday called for the government to adopt modern technology in curbing domestic security issues. "In this age of technology where surveillance can be mounted everywhere, those who commit crimes must not go free," Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, told his audience here, urging the federal government to apprehend bandits demonstrating cruelty and killing fellow citizens. "What we are saying is that the government (should put) an end to bloodshed by curtailing insurgency. How can humans be slaughtering fellow humans like animals. The perpetrators must not be allowed to go free. They must be apprehended," he added. On Monday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and leadership of the National Assembly expressed serious concerns over security challenges, including banditry and kidnapping, and agreed to do all they can to tackle them, according to Senate President Ahmad Lawan. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed, on Saturday as part of his first visit to the country. Trudeau will later meet with President Sahle-work Zewde, in a visit that is seen by some as part of Canada's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. The Canadian Prime Minister on Friday arrived in Addis Ababa, where he will be attending an African Union weekend session. Trudeau will also be travelling to Senegal as part of the eight-day trip. Temperatures were in the mid-30s about 4 p.m. Saturday, but they will fall to the mid- to upper 20s overnight before temperatures rise back up to the mid-30s again, according to Izzi. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government disagrees with a decision by administrators of the countrys state-owned airline to cut almost all domestic routes as part of a turnaround plan. South African Airways is an economic enabler, it enables people to move around the country, he told broadcaster eNCA on Friday. We want to find out what the rationale is and we want to have a discussion with them. The government placed loss-making SAA into a local form of bankruptcy protection in December to try and end a cycle of regular state bailouts and battles with creditors. Administrators led by Johannesburg-based Matuson & Associates said this week the airline would stop flying to nine international cities, including Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, and cease all local services except those between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Under South Africas bankruptcy laws, the business rescue team has almost unfettered powers to manage SAA, and any attempt by the government to interfere could place the entire process at risk. It would also cast doubt over its commitment to take unpopular decisions to turn around other struggling state companies. SAAs domestic low-cost carrier Mango flies the routes being discontinued and is unaffected by the plan. Privately owned airlines operating in the country include Comair Ltd.-owned Kulula, FlySafair and Airlink. We would like SAA to remain a robust and successful airline, Ramaphosa said before traveling to Ethiopia for a meeting with fellow African leaders. That is why we took the decision not to close SAA, but to ensure SAA is revamped, is resuscitated and is operating profitably. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said the announcement on the flight cuts may jeopardize SAAs long-term future, and the government will propose the decision be reviewed. The business rescue team needs to balance trimming unprofitable routes with ensuring the future sustainability of the airline and the domestic aviation industry, he said in an emailed statement. China continues to be an important seafood import market, given that the worlds most populous country has an increasing presence of upper and middle classes who are keen on healthy food, experts said at the 22nd India International Seafood Show (IISS) here. The marine food industry, though, must wake up to the fact that 'new retail' is the trend fast replacing 'online', where Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is building a retail ecosystem,innovatively blending online and offline channels in a unified way featuring the consumer at the centre in unexpected ways, a technical session of the February 7-9 summit here noted. All the same, one should be wary of over reliance on China as a partner in seafood trade, the speakers pointed out while deliberating on the topic "Prospective Markets & Regulatory Environment". Carson Roper, Seafood Industry Consultant, France, in his talk on 'China and Farm-Raised Shrimp', said that the East Asian country is a major marine products market that remains largely untapped. Projections say that China will continue to feature among the worlds top 11 seafood markets, he observed in the presentation that focused on how China impacts global seafood trade and consumption. Roper spoke earlier as well, starting the session with a presentation on 'Country and Brand Loyalty: An exploration of successful (and not successful) national and corporate seafood marketing initiatives. The other speakers were Lee Chee Wee of Singapores Aquaculture Innovation Center (on 'Live shrimp transportation), Christopher Priddy, International Relations Specialist, USFDA, India (Overview of FDA regulations for seafood) and R M Mandlik, Deputy Director-Marketing, MPEDA (Importing country regulations and its impact on trade). The session was moderated by C N Ravisankar, Director of Central Institute of Fisheries. Mandlik, to a query on how MPEDA ensures flow of seafood standard regulations to the countrys aqua farmers, said the mechanisms on information dissemination are in place. "The farmers do get the message well in time; only that we need to give them a push to act on it. We are working on it," he said. The three-day biennial meet, with 'Blue Revolution: Beyond Production to Value Addition' as the focal theme, has been jointly organised by MPEDA (the 1972-founded nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry) and the Seafood Export Association of India (SEAI). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Japanese counterpart agreed Saturday to seek an 'ambitious, high standard' trade accord matching Japan's agreement with the European Union. Raab is on a four-nation Asian tour in his first major overseas trip since Britain left the EU on January 31 after 47 years of membership. He arrived in Tokyo Saturday morning from Australia on a two-day visit and held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (left) is pictured talking with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (right) in Tokyo today In a joint statement, the two ministers said they were committed to free trade and that 'we will work quickly to make the new partnership as ambitious, high standard and mutually beneficial as the Japan-EU EPA. The ministers are pictured together during a press conference in Tokyo today 'In line with our commitment to free trade, we will work quickly to make the new partnership as ambitious, high standard and mutually beneficial as the Japan-EU EPA,' the two ministers said in a joint statement. Their planned bilateral trade accord would 'send a very powerful signal of our shared commitment to free, rules-based trade,' Raab told reporters. Motegi said preparations were under way for formal negotiations on a Japan-Britain free trade partnership. 'We agreed that we will start and conclude the negotiations as early as possible,' he added. Raab shakes Motegi's hands at the conclusion of today's press conference in Tokyo. A previous Japanese trade deal with the EU, which covered over 630 million people and economies that add up to around a third of global output In 2018, Japan and the EU struck a trade deal covering more than 630 million people and economies that add up to around a third of global output. They began negotiations in 2013, two years after agreeing to start talks. Following Brexit, Britain is hoping to negotiate a new trade deal not just with Brussels but also the United States, Japan and other countries. Raab is also heading to Singapore and Malaysia. In a recording made shortly after Torontos 2018 election, Coun. Jim Karygiannis is heard aggressively policing his own constituents over alleged bylaw violations. Those who supported him politically, he tells an aide, should get a pass. Theres houses that we bother, houses that we dont bother, Karygiannis, who represents Scarborough-Agincourt, can be heard saying in the secretly made recording. Because theyre friendly What constitutes if we dont bother them? They vote for us, theyre volunteers and they donate money. The recording was made over nearly two hours on Nov. 12, 2018 by Kevin Haynes, who was volunteering for Karygiannis at the time and was later hired in the councillors constituency office. If I feel like an a**hole Near its start, Haynes asks Karygiannis to elaborate on who does and doesnt get reported. If I feel like an a - -hole, f- -k em, Karygiannis replies. Two years before the recording was made, Karygiannis was scolded by the citys integrity commissioner after he confronted residents about possible city rule-breaking in two separate cases. In one of those cases, Valerie Jepson wrote, Karygianniss actions which included taking numerous photos of a womans car improperly parked in her familys driveway and approaching her father in public were not only shocking but led to a reasonable belief that the separation between elected officials and enforcement had been blurred and accordingly damaged the trust and confidence that the complainant and her family had in the institution of the city of Toronto. Karygiannis also reported the specific address and street to Toronto police for parking enforcement, according to the integrity commissioner. The Star is not aware of any investigation stemming from events in the 2018 recording. In a written statement to the Star, Karygiannis characterized his behaviour in Hayness recording as tough talk that he understood to have been spoken in private. He also said Haynes had his own motivations for the leading questions he asked. I believe it would be wrong to draw any conclusions from this recording other than that I care deeply for my constituents and my ward, Karygiannis wrote. My passion for serving the constituents of Ward 22 has not wavered and I am committed to my ongoing efforts to serve my constituents to the best of my ability. On the recording, Karygiannis can be heard interacting directly with residents, questioning them on how cars are parked and whether businesses are being run out of home garages. The councillor documents alleged bylaw violations by taking photos or instructing Haynes to that are apparently to be sent to bylaw enforcement. Haynes said he didnt know if any of the alleged violations referred to on the recording were actually reported to the citys bylaw enforcement team or elsewhere. Bylaw enforcement works largely on a complaint basis in Toronto, with officers typically dispatched after complaints from neighbours. City councillors are not required to police their wards for possible infractions. The recording captures Karygiannis referring to some residents as a - -holes within the privacy of his vehicle. However, it also documents several interactions in which he is heard exchanging pleasantries with constituents, who seem glad for his help with issues affecting their property and supportive of his election win. During the recording, which was made as the councillor drove his own black Jeep, Karygiannis doesnt always identify himself as a city councillor to those with whom he speaks. (Its not clear if all of the residents approached would recognize their local representative, although some apparently do without an introduction.) He explains to Haynes that it will be his role to drive around recording possible violations in a different quadrant of the ward every week. The recording starts with Haynes asking if he should be going through the database to see if those to be reported are a - - holes. Haynes is the first to use that word on the recording. I know where the a - - holes are, but you go through the database, take the pictures, bring them in and before you send them off, take a look if they voted for us, if they didnt. If they voted for us and we see them that theyre constant idiots, we send it in, Karygiannis says. If they didnt vote for us, he adds, laughing, we send it in, twice the pleasure. Twice the pleasure Councillors dont have access to data confirming how residents voted in an election, but its not uncommon for them to keep track of their constituents. Campaigns typically record information about voters and their voting intentions when knocking on doors. Under election rules, council candidates are required to keep track of and report who has donated to their campaigns. Haynes could not confirm whether Karygianniss office reported any of the alleged infractions to the city for enforcement. In the recording, Karygiannis tells Haynes to be nice, calm, not aggressive when speaking with constituents, and to identify himself as a staffer. Karygiannis also offers tips for spotting illegal rooming houses: a person coming out of a side door, numerous bikes at the side of a home, dilapidated roofs and lots of garbage out front. In one encounter, the sound of a car window rolling down can be heard after Karygiannis identifies an address on a small street in his ward. Fellas, how you doing? he calls out. Are you running a business over here? A man answers, No, why? Well, I dont know. Im seeing welding material and all that stuff, Karygiannis replies. After several seconds of silence, he continues, All right, fellas, you can choose to ignore me. Thats fine. A sound of a photo being taken can be heard. Good day! Karygiannis says, before the car is heard pulling away and the window is heard winding up. For him, you do it with pleasure, he tells Haynes, because hes an a - - hole. You asked him, you know, and he said, No, why? Ignored me. Thats fine ... Fellas, theres a new sheriff in town. Theres a new sheriff in town Karygiannis reads out the address, then says, Running a welding shop out of the garage. Let bylaw officers deal with it. Stopping a few minutes later, Karygiannis asks a man if the nearby residents are running a welding shop and if its happening almost every day. I think so, the man says. Karygiannis replies, Lifes a b - - - h and you got a new councillor. Lifes a total b - - - h ... Well take care of that one, dont you worry about it. Lifes a b***h The man thanks him. Haynes, 28, began volunteering for Karygiannis on the councillors 2018 re-election campaign, and was volunteering in his constituency office when the recording was made. He was later hired to work in Karygianniss constituency office. Haynes says his employment ended shortly after he was in a serious car crash that left him with a concussion and difficulty working. The Star could not verify how the job ended, but Haynes said the circumstances left him with resentment towards Karygiannis. Haynes said he made the recording on his phone because he was concerned by Karygianniss behaviour during the campaign, and wanted to have documentation in case he ever needed to defend himself. He said he didnt make the recording with the intention of reporting Karygiannis, but added hes not proud of the actions they took that day. In my gut feeling, I felt like I was doing something wrong, he said about documenting residents in the way Karygiannis instructed. Last month, Haynes says he called several councillors he had helped during the election, including Karygiannis, looking for work. He said Karygiannis told him he might have work for him later this year, but didnt make any promises. Haynes said he texted Karygiannis on Jan. 22 about meeting to discuss a possible job, but said he never heard back. He told the Star he expected as much and now regrets calling, saying it was an act of desperation. Haynes also said he felt it was important to identify himself in this story. If we let people like Jim Karygiannis do the things they do out of fear of being caught, or being ousted or being called a whistleblower, then we will be in a perpetual race to the bottom, he said. Just because I was following orders doesnt excuse me from my actions of harming those who I did ... So, to name myself is to be responsible for my actions and apologize for those who Ive hurt. In his written statement to the Star, Karygiannis said he was disappointed in Haynes for recording their conversation and his interactions with his constituents. Colourful language aside, I trust people understand that a politician will at times speak politically. But that doesnt mean the integrity of city staff and the fine work they do should be called into question as a result of this secret recording, Karygiannis wrote. He said it is common for councillors to take an interest in the welfare of their communities and that, when he is reporting concerns to city staff, he has complete faith in their professionalism and judgment. Too often, politicians sit behind their desks and wait for people to come to them. As a councillor, I believe it is key to my job to be out among my constituents to truly understand their issues on the ground, not from downtown in Toronto City Hall, he wrote. Bottom line, I care deeply about the people I serve. It would be a mistake to interpret my passion for serving my community as a fault. In office, I have worked hard to address the concerns of my constituents and advocated tirelessly on their behalf in council. In the integrity commissioners two investigations of Karygiannis, Jepson concluded that the councillor had contravened the citys code of conduct for council under the section for discreditable conduct, which states that all members of council have a duty to treat members of the public, one another, and staff appropriately and without abuse, bullying or intimidation. In one case, Karygianniss repeated attempts to inform a woman that she had improperly parked led to the reasonable belief that she and her family were being bullied, Jepson found. In the second case, Karygiannis approached an Uber driver and residents in their driveway in an aggressive manner, Jepson wrote. At the time, council had not yet regulated vehicles for hire. Punishment for contravening the code of conduct can include a public reprimand. The most serious punishment is docking a councillors pay for up to 90 days a rare occurrence. In both cases, Jepson wrote, Karygiannis was then a relatively new member of council and had not previously violated the code. She recommended he only be publicly reprimanded by council in the case involving the parked car. Council agreed with her findings and that punishment. Karygiannis did not agree his conduct had been problematic, but expressed regret about how the incidents may have caused the complainants to have negative feelings, Jepson wrote. The councillor continues to justify his actions, Jepson added, although he has advised me that he plans to be more circumspect in the manner with which he relates to the public about enforcement matters. Karygiannis is a seasoned politician who has long represented the Scarborough-Agincourt area. He was a federal Liberal MP for more than 25 years before he stepped down to run for municipal office in 2014. In November 2019, he was removed from city council for overspending a 2018 campaign limit under provincial election rules. Karygiannis asked a judge to be reinstated and was returned to office later that month. Toronto resident and fair elections advocate Adam Chaleff has appealed that court decision. His case has yet to be heard at the Court of Appeal. Karygiannis still faces a separate city-run compliance audit of his election expenses. In an encounter heard on the recording, Karygiannis speaks to a woman about vehicles parked on a cul-de-sac. He identifies himself as the local councillor, then tells her that several cars on the street cant be parked as they are and may be ticketed. The woman explains theres an elderly home on the street. Doesnt matter, those people shouldnt be there. They shouldnt be there. I know this is a group home, right? he says of the parked cars. I got a choice of asking you to tell them not to do it. Next time I see them, Ill send them in for tickets. No mercy, OK? No mercy, OK? Afterward, Karygiannis explains to Haynes what a group home is and claims the parked cars belong to workers there. Karygiannis says theyll come back later, and report the cars if they are still parked there. F - - k you. This is not for you to park, he says. There are, however, people who should not be reported to bylaw enforcement, Karygiannis tells Haynes. Referring to a car that might be improperly parked, Karygiannis says, Yeah, we should send it in, but well find out how he voted. Well find out how he voted Later, he tells Haynes, Dont ever bother this guy, referring to a specific street number. Asked why, Karygiannis replies Cause hes a buddy ... Theres people that we dont f - - k around with. We leave them alone. Hes a buddy The recording also captures Haynes asking Karygiannis if being a councillor is more fun than being a member of Parliament. The councillor is quick to answer. Oh, f - -k yeah, he says. I love this s - - t, man. WESTPORT The Kings Highway North Bridge replacement project got its final approval Thursday from the Planning and Zoning Commission. In January, the Representative Town Meeting approved $2.47 million to replace the bridge. The project is eligible for funding under the state local bridge program, which allows a 50 percent reimbursement. Back in 2016 the Connecticut DOT decided to go out for the first time in about 20 years and do a screening for all the bridges in the state that are under 20 feet, Director of Public Works Pete Ratkiewich said. When they came to this bridge they found the bridge was in very poor condition. Since then a 4-ton weight limit has been imposed on the bridge due to deterioration. The current limit prohibits school buses, fire trucks and plow trucks from crossing. Ratkiewich noted after conversations with the Historic District Commission, the original proposed 42-inch parapets would be lowered. Mainly the bridge would be 36 inches on either side, which also cut costs, he said. We view that as a minimal change. The project is estimated to start in June and the road over the bridge will be temporarily closed during construction. Residents will be notified of the closure and additional detour routes in news releases. In other business, the commission gave cautious approval to review of a text amendment that would allow retail use on the second floor of buildings on Main Street. We, as a landlord, want to have as much flexibility, obviously within certain parameters, to allow success, Ryan McClay, of Forstone Capital, said at Thursdays meeting. To have a restriction on the second floor to prohibit uses that tenants want is difficult to deal with. Traditional retail is currently the only commercial use not allowed on the second floor. Similar proposals have come before the commission in past years but failed. He surmised there were four main reasons for previous denials parking, traffic, narrow benefits and a fear of prohibiting mixed-use development. However, McClay said most retail users now would have low parking requirements. Commissioner Cathy Walsh said she was partially open to the proposal, but wanted more information. My concerns really revolve around what the overall effect is going to be in the area, she said, adding she wants to see from the towns assessor how the grand list could be impacted. Commissioner Chip Stephens said he was hesitant to push for more retail downtown. I would like to see some new ideas and fresh ideas, Stephens said, suggesting opportunities like housing or even a movie theater. Commissioners were generally supportive of the proposal, but pushed for ADA compliance in any building that falls under a potential text amendment. McClay noted tenants have been priced out in recent years and the second floor provides an opportunity to attract retail businesses. While there are not many two-story buildings downtown, other businesses could benefit from the change. What weve seen, speaking for this property specifically, is users are out there, McClay said. They just want a smaller place and they dont want to pay the premium. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com The Syrian army took control of the strategic northwestern crossroads town of Saraqeb on Saturday in the latest gain of a weeks-long offensive against the country's last major rebel bastion of Idlib. "Army units now exercise full control over the town of Saraqeb," state television reported, over footage of the town's streets deserted after weeks of bombardment. It said Syrian troops were combing the area for landmines and explosives left behind by the jihadists and allied rebels. Saraqeb is the second key highway town to be recaptured by government forces in the past two weeks, after the rebels were pushed out of Maaret al Numan last month. Weeks of intensive air strikes and a bruising ground offensive have emptied entire towns in the Idlib region and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing. The violence has displaced 586,000 people since December, according to the United Nations, and killed more than 300 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Saraqeb is a strategic prize for the government it seeks to take back control of two major highways that meet in the town. The M5 motorway connects the capital to second city Aleppo. Running up from the Jordanian border in the south, it is Syria's longest highway. The Observatory said on Friday that government forces were in control of the whole extent of the M5 in Idlib province. Only a 30 kilometre (20 mile) section in neighbouring Aleppo now remains in rebel hands. Saraqeb sits at the crossroads with the M4, the main east-west highway in Idlib which linking Aleppo with the Mediterranean port city of Latakia, a government bastion. After a string of advances since the intervention of Russia on its side in 2015, the government now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory. The conflict has killed more than 380,000 people since it broke out in 2011. Your browser does not support the audio element. A four-month-old baby in Ho Chi Minh City has sustained severe injuries after being babysat by their father for three hours. The baby, C.M.K., was admitted to the Childrens Hospital 2 in the citys District 1 on February 4 with several injuries on multiple body parts including the ears, arms, chest, belly, and face. X-ray results showed that K. had a third of their right femur fractured and suffered from a brain hemorrhage. Police in District 9, where K. is living with their mother Nguyen Hong Tim, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday that they are working with Chau Minh Tien, a 24-year-old man residing in the same district, to clarify the cause of K.s injuries. According to 21-year-old Tim, Tien is K.s father. Four-month-old C.M.K. lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Childrens Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Tim and Tien had been in a relationship in 2015 before the man was sent to a rehab center by his family one year later for using addictive substances. After Tien was discharged from the rehab center in 2018, Tim and Tien moved in together and Tim became pregnant with K. During Tims pregnancy, Tien would frequently abuse her verbally and physically. The beating persisted even after K. was born. After putting up with the abuse for a long time, Tim finally decided she had had enough and moved out to a rental room in District 9 with K. on January 20. Four-month-old C.M.K. lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Childrens Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre At 9:00 pm on February 3, Le Thi Le, Tims mother, sent K. to Tien and asked him to babysit the baby without telling Tim or any other. It was not until 12:00 am on February 4 that Chau Minh Hieu, Tiens father, found out K. was staying with Tien and that the baby had wounds and injuries all over their body. Hieu then, together with Tien, took K. to the Childrens Hospital 2. Tim was only informed of her child's hospitalization at 10:00 am that day. According to doctors at the hospital, K. is currently undergoing traction for their leg injuries for two to three weeks before the baby can take a plaster cast. Nguyen Hong Tim takes care of her four-month-old baby, who lies on a hospital bed undergoing traction at the Childrens Hospital 2 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A major German TV network has aired an interview with the UN rapporteur on torture that reveals the invention of the Swedish rape case against Julian Assange. By Ray McGovern A major German TV network has aired an interview with the UN rapporteur on torture that reveals the invention of the Swedish rape case against Julian Assange. By Ray McGovern February 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Truth has broken through for those confused about how a publisher ended up in a maximum security prison in London with a one-way extradition ticket to court in the U.S. and the rest of his life behind bars. One of the main German TV channels (ZDF) ran two prime-time segments on Wednesday night exposing authorities in Sweden for having made up the story about Julian Assange being a rapist. Until last night most Germans, as well as other consumers of major media in Europe, had no idea of the trickery that enmeshed Assange in a spider-web almost certainly designed by the U.S. and woven by accomplices in vassal states like Sweden, Britain and, eventually, Ecuador. ZDF punctured that web by interviewing UN Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer. One ZDF Heute Sendung segment (in German) is especially telling from minute 13:00 to 15:30 . The second is ZDF Heute Journal (minute 25:49 to 30:19.) Both ZDF programs show Melzer being interviewed, with minimal interruption or commentary, letting his findings speak for themselves about how allegations against Assange were made up and manipulated to hold him captive. The particularly scurrilous allegation that led many, including initially Melzer, to believe Assange was a rapist a tried and tested smear technique of covert action was especially effective. The Swedes never formally charged him with rape or with any crime, for that matter. ZDF exhibited some of the documents Melzer uncovered that show the sexual allegations were just as invented as the evidence for WMD before the attack on Iraq. Melzer had previously admitted to having been so misled by media portrayals of Assange that he was initially reluctant to investigate Assanges case. Here is what Melzer wrote last year in an op-ed marking the International Day in Support of Torture Victims, June 26. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter No major media would print or post it. Medium.com posted it under the title Demasking the Torture of Julian Assange. Excerpts: But surely, I found myself pleading, Assange must be a selfish narcissist, skateboarding through the Ecuadorian Embassy and smearing feces on the walls? Well, all I heard from Embassy staff is that the inevitable inconveniences of his accommodation at their offices were handled with mutual respect and consideration. This changed only after the election of President Moreno, when they were suddenly instructed to find smears against Assange and, when they didnt, they were soon replaced. The President even took it upon himself to bless the world with his gossip, and to personally strip Assange of his asylum and citizenship without any due process of law. In the end it finally dawned on me that I had been blinded by propaganda, and that Assange had been systematically slandered to divert attention from the crimes he exposed. (Emphasis added.) Melzer ended his op-ed with this somber warning: This is not only about protecting Assange, but about preventing a precedent likely to seal the fate of Western democracy. For once telling the truth has become a crime, while the powerful enjoy impunity, it will be too late to correct the course. We will have surrendered our voice to censorship and our fate to unrestrained tyranny. (Emphasis added.) Melzers indefatigable efforts to expose what Assange has gone through, including psychological torture, met with some modest success in the days before the German ZDF aired their stories. Embedded in the linked article is by far the best interview of Melzer on Assange. Opposition to extraditing Assange to the U.S. is becoming more widespread. Another straw in an Assange-favorable wind came last week when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called for Assanges immediate release, ending years of silence by such European institutions. It remains, nonetheless, an uphill struggle to prompt the British to think back 800 years to the courage of the nobles who wrested the Magna Carta from King John. Raymond McGovern is a former CIA officer turned political activist. McGovern was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, and in the 1980s chaired National Intelligence Estimates and prepared the President's Daily Brief. https://raymcgovern.com/ - https://twitter.com/raymcgovern Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Demasking the Torture of Julian Assange (English) Details Nils Melzer - United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture - examines the case of Julian Assange Louth manager Wayne Freeman is commanding an improvement from his side ahead of Sunday's league clash with Limerick in Cooley. The Kildare native watched The Reds blow Antrim away in last weekend's opener, scoring a 3-11 to 0-6 victory, yet he insists The Wee County shouldn't rest on their laurels, especially against a Limerick outfit who have won their last two meetings. The Munster county won 2019's league outing by a single point, having prevailed convincingly in the previous September's All-Ireland junior decider. We can always improve, Freeman said. And thats what we will try and do this week leading into the Limerick game. I thought we worked extremely hard and played quite well at times (against Antrim) so we are happy about that. But its very important now that we move on and concentrate on our next challenge. Offaly's Ciaran Groome will referee an encounter which throws-in at 2pm. Limerick have won (vs Derry) and lost (vs Carlow) in their campaign so far. Several South African Indian-origin teachers who sought lucrative opportunities in Wuhan in China are now too scared to leave their homes amid the coronavirus epidemic. Family members who have been in contact with some of the teachers shared the concerns that they have, but almost all declined to be named or to identify their family members in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province for fear of reprisals. A number of South African Indians, especially English teachers, have taken up jobs in China in recent years because they can earn up to five times the salaries that they do at home. The exact number is unknown. "My cousin is now in quarantine after she defied a lockdown to go and stock up on groceries because she had no food in her apartment," said a woman from Durban. "She told us how scared she was after she learnt that one of her friends had been stopped by authorities for insisting on going to her school to recover materials to continue teaching children from home," the woman said. Mohanlal Patel from Johannesburg said he had a family member who was teaching in a city that was seven-hour drive away from Wuhan. "But he is too scared to even come out of the house he is living in as he watches everyone walking around with face masks," Patel said. "He is desperately trying to get a flight home, but says it has become very difficult." Another South African Indian said his daughter was teaching at private classes run by a multinational company. "She was crying on the phone as she has just been there for two months now and has to go through this. She said food has become ridiculously expensive and even face masks are only available at premium prices," her father said. "We are trying to find some way of getting her back home as soon as possible, even if she has to be quarantined here for two weeks or more," he added. The concerns come at a time South African Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize announced the country's plans for addressing the virus, which included involving military personnel. Mkhize said the administration would intensify screening at all ports of entry with a particular focus on the major airports of entry. "This approach remains supported as the vast majority of cases are introduced into territories outside of China by air travellers," Mkhize said. "We have deployed additional staff and asked for the assistance of medical staff from the National Defence Force to beef up screening where additional capacity was needed." Mkhize said there was still no recommendation to restrict travel or trade with China. "We have not put any restriction on travel or trade between China and South Africa although we do continue to advise that non-essential travel should be delayed until the situation abates," the minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 12:16 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634bb4b 1 National Istiqlal-Mosque,Cathedral-Church,Jokowi,tunnel-project Free The Istiqlal Mosque renovation project will include the construction of an underground tunnel to be called the brotherhood tunnel that will connect the mosque with the Jakarta Cathedral across the road in Central Jakarta, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said. There was a suggestion to build a tunnel from Istiqlal Mosque to the cathedral and I have agreed. It will be a tunnel of brotherhood, Jokowi said after reviewing the progress of the renovations on Friday, as stated in a media statement released by the State Secretariat. Located across the road from each other, the relationship between Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral has been praised by many, as the managements of each house of worship regularly provide parking spaces for each other during religious celebrations including Idul Fitri and Christmas. The renovation of Istiqlal Mosque began in May last year. The building is an important cultural heritage site and hosts many of the city's religious and social activities. Jokowi said the renovation would be biggest made to the mosque in 41 years and would cost Rp 475 billion (US$34 million), although he did not specify how much would be spent on the construction of the tunnel. The renovation, carried out by the Public Works and Housing Ministry, includes improving the buildings interior and exterior in accordance to a master plan. There will also be landscaping [around the mosque]. The river that runs through the complex will be improved, as will the park, Jokowi said. Two stories of underground parking will also be built to increase the mosques parking capacity from 500 cars and motorcycles to approximately 745 vehicles. Jokowi expressed hope the renovations would be completed before Ramadan this year. We hope it will all be finished in April, he said. Centenarian Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter in Delhi, on Saturday cast her vote and urged people to take part in the democratic exercise. Aged 111, she came to a polling station in CR Park along with her son, grandson and other family members. She flashed her inked wrinkled finger to photographers after voting. "I am happy to vote in this election. I don't remember how many elections I have taken part in, but as a responsible citizen, we must vote. I urge other citizens to also come out and vote," Mandal told PTI. Born in undivided India in Barisal (now in Bangladesh) in 1908, Mandal has seen the subcontinent go through turbulent phases many times, including two partitions, and lived "twice as a refugee" in India along with her family before finding a home in the national capital. There are a total of 132 centenarian voters in Delhi -- 68 males and 64 females. Mandal, who has seen and participated in nearly all elections in India in the last century, fondly recalled the time when ballot boxes were used to cast votes. "Yes, I remember, they (polling officials) would take my thumb impression and then the ballot paper would be folded and put into boxes. I have voted with big machines (EVMs) too," she said. She is the eldest of four generations of Mandals who live in C R Park area, a famous Bengali enclave set up in the national capital after the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War that led to the creation of Bangladesh. The assistant returning officer who escorted Mandal from her home in K-Block, Harish Kumar, said, "I feel blessed to have been given this job". "In this age, she came out and voted, it should be an inspiration for all of us Indians, to use our democratic right of voting," he said. Kumar said, there is another centenarian in the Greater Kailash constituency. Mandal has lost all her teeth but definitely not her appetite for fish and the will to participate in the election. Voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 07, 2020] Shareholder Alert: Robbins LLP Announces Sasol Limited (SSL) Sued for Misleading Shareholders Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP announces that a purchaser of Sasol Limited (NYSE: SSL) filed a class action complaint against the Company for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020. Sasol operates as an integrated chemical and energy company in South Africa. If you suffered a loss as a result of Sasol's misconduct, click here. Sasol Limited (SSL) Accused of Misleading Shareholders According to the complaint, in October 2014, Sasol announced the construction of an $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex named the Lake Charles Chemicals Project ("LCCP"). However, Sasol failed to conduct sufficient due diligence on the project, and therefore prvided shareholders an inaccurate cost estimate in its announcement. This became evident on May 22, 2019, when Sasol increased the LCCP's cost estimate to a range of $12.6 to $12.9 billion, citing corrections on several aspects of the project. Then in October 2019, Sasol disclosed that a review of the LCCP brought to light "errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate" as well as a number of unethical and improper reporting activities at the highest level of management. Consequently, Sasol announced the resignation of its Joint Presidents, Chief Executive Officers, and others previously in charge of the LCCP. Finally, on January 14, 2020, Sasol announced the Company "experienced an explosion and fire at its LCCP low-density polyethylene unit." On this news, Sasol's shares fell almost 8% to close at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020. The stock has since continued to decline. Sasol Limited (SSL) Shareholders Have Legal Options Contact us to learn more: Leo Kandinov (800) 350-6003 [email protected] Shareholder Information Form Robbins LLP is a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights law. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits, and has helped its clients realize more than $1 billion of value for themselves and the companies in which they have invested. Click here to receive free alerts from Stock Watch when companies engage in wrongdoing. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005541/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By PTI NEW DELHI: Voters queued up outside a polling booth in an MCD school across the street, but for the around 750 Hindu families from Pakistan taking refuge in north Delhi's Majnu ka Tila, this Saturday was just another day of hardship and a longing for voting and other citizenship rights. Children ran through the winding, uneven dusty lanes with worn-out tyres and women engaged in the routine household chores. The majority of the men were out doing odd jobs. The amended Citizenship Act has raised their hopes of getting voting rights soon, and subsequently a pucca house and a permanent address in India. "It is the same as yesterday. Elections come and go, without making any difference to our lives," said 43-year-old Dharamveer Bagri who led a group of 484 Pakistani Hindus from Sindh to Delhi in 2013. As he tended to his cows, Bagri hoped that he and more than 10 other eligible members in his family would be able to vote in the next elections. ALSO READ: What a loss in Delhi Assembly elections would mean for Arvind Kejriwal or Amit Shah "I have never seen a politician or party worker in this area. Why would they come here? We do not have voter ID cards, we cannot vote and we do not matter," he said. Premji (46) said all that the refugees ask is home and piece of land to build their lives around it. "Justice has been done to people living in unauthorised colonies...A day will come and we will have a pucca house and a permanent address...that's why voting rights are important," he said. Sona Das, 42, who left his home in Pakistan's Hyderabad and came to Delhi on a cold winter night in 2011, recalled that he voted twice in Pakistan but is yet to get a chance to exercise his franchise in "my motherland". "I am hopeful we will be able to vote soon. A voter ID card and citizenship will give us an identity. Political leaders would listen to us, attend to our issues," he said as he dusted off his harmonium sitting under the tin roof of his unplastered house. "We do not have proper homes, toilets, electricity...We cook on earthen stoves and use solar batteries to light up our homes. With the government amending the citizenship law, we hope for better days ahead," Das said. Having his lunch by an earthen stove with his brothers, Roopchandra (27) expressed hope that 15 members in his family would get voting rights soon. ALSO READ | 'Ballot over bullets', 'jobs over freebies': The priorities of first-time voters' for Delhi polls "Citizenship and right to vote would bring us closer to others...Make as more equal. If not regularly, at least during the elections our voices will be heard...We have been told that the citizenship forms will be filled up February 12 onwards," he said. Aarti Devi, 21, the mother of a two-month-old girl, named Nagrikta by her family after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in December, said, "If I had a voter id card, I would have voted for those who gave us home here, who are thinking about us." Under the amended citizenship law, Indian nationality would be granted to people belonging to minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12. New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris published a column February 4 (Dear Oscars, I Love You. But We Need to Talk.) in which he indicates he has no problem with the crop of films nominated for this years Academy Awards (to be handed out Sunday night)except for the ethnicity of their respective writers, directors and performers. Morris writes that the problem isnt with the particular remaining movies1917, Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker and Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodor the white people in them. Not for a long time, in fact, the Timescorrespondent continues, have I despised so few nominees in this category. Most of them I love. Wesley Morris in 2013 (Montclair Film Festival) The fatal flaw this year lies in the fact that eight of the nine movies (minus Parasite ) are about white peopleand, excusing Little Women, and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story notwithstanding, about white men. This is a revealing business. Morris has no difficulty with the British national-patriotism of 1917, the political disorientation and unseriousness of Jojo Rabbit, the glorification of gangsterism and backwardness in The Irishman, the middle class self-involvement of Marriage Story or the nonconformist conformism of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We, on the other hand, find most of the films nominated seriously objectionable, because of their social obliviousness (with the exception of Parasite from South Korea and possibly Little Women and Ford v Ferrari), their shallowness and their unreality. We are not in love with the Academy Awards, and never have been. The great weakness of the vast majority of the films produced by the major film studios at present is, above all, a social one. They are works created by a small, upper middle class fraction of society who exist at a tremendous economic, cultural and emotional distance from the mass of the population, black, white, Latino and immigrant, male and female and of every sexual orientation. In fact, Morris blanket endorsement of the Awards and most of the nominated films reveals that he belongs to this same social caste economically and philosophically, but merely has an issue with how projects and finances and awards are distributed. This is the essential character of identity politics: a bitter struggle for wealth and power among the richest five, six and seven percent of the population. Along with many of his colleagues at the Times, Morris, the ideological product of decades of identity politics and the sharp shift to the right in intellectual circles, promotes a thoroughly racialist interpretation of history and culture. He can hardly perceive anything else aside from race. In the circles he travels in, the use of such terms and language as these have become appallingly pervasive: old white voters, whiteness is part of that story, white American maleness, nonwhite people, etc. What does it mean to say that that eight of the nine movies are about white people and most of them about white men? As we once noted about Times columnist Charles Blow, Morris is not an extreme right-winger, but he thinks and writes like one. The critic who discusses a serious film or novel and registers little more thanor subordinates its other qualities tothe ethnicity or nationality of the creator is closed off from what actually makes it a work of art, its relatively universal quality, its objectively truthful character. He or she has also embarked on a very dangerous course, which leads to the sinister politics of blood and nation. Little Women Morris argues that Little Women quietly dramatizes the freedom white women experience after the men have left to fight a war; a war to end the enslavement of black people. Sounds a little too ironic, and yet the movie means us to understand the irony. Those white ladies are better off than any black people. Theyre just not equal to the womens enlisted brothers, fathers and beaus. The border between their time and ours has a gusty permeability. Little Women, for whatever limitations it may have both as a work designed for young people and as an artistic effort created by Louisa May Alcott (and film director Greta Gerwig), is not principally or enduringly about white women, or white ladies, as Morris condescendingly writes, but rather the social and moral significance of the Civil War era for American society as a whole refracted through the experiences and perceptions of one lower middle class household in Massachusetts. As we suggested in a review of Gerwigs film, the marked saturation of everyday life with the intensity and urgency of the epoch has helped provide the work its lasting qualities. What Little Women reveals, perhaps inadvertently, was that the entire socially conscious population of the North, fighting men or not, were engaged in the struggle to destroy slavery and bring about a new birth of freedom. Its broader implications dominated their lives, including its most mundane aspects. The Alcott family was strongly supportive of the Abolitionist and Northern cause, with Alcott endangering her life to nurse Union soldiers. However, all that comes through for Morris in regard to Little Women as a book and film are the unequal relations at the time between blacks and whites, men and women, because all that meaningfully counts for him today is his position relative to other racial or gender groupings and how that position might be improved. It should be recalled that Morris was definitely not enamored with the film that earned the Academy Award as best picture last year. He was one of the voices, before and after the awards ceremony, loudly denouncing Green Book, directed by Peter Farrelly, in which an African American musician hires an Italian American to chauffeur him through the Jim Crow South in the early 1960s. Morris published a foul piece in the Times, Why Do the Oscars Keep Falling for Racial Reconciliation Fantasies?, in January a year ago, implying that understanding and solidarity between the races in America was a utopian fantasy because there was simply too much bad blood. He sneered that Green Booksymbolized a style of American storytelling in which the wheels of interracial friendship are greased by employment, in which prolonged exposure to the black half of the duo enhances the humanity of his white, frequently racist counterpart. Green Book The Times columnist dolled up his indictment of Green Book with left phrases and, as we noted at the time, took advantage of the somewhat clumsy character of Hollywood liberals approach to race and a host of other problems. However, his attack on Farrellys film and others like it, we argued, was in essence a right-wing attack, from the standpoint of racialism, communalism and the strivings of a social layer on the make. Whatever the failings of Green Book, for example, its elementary notion that people of varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds can overcome their differences and find common ground is in a different intellectual league from Morriss pernicious racialism. One of the more deplorable features of Morris new article is its suggestion that the absence of African American directors and performers among those nominated this year is the instinctive, presumably hostile response to previous advances by nonwhites. This seems to be a not-so-distant echo of the malicious and false contention that Donald Trump came to power in 2016 as part of a wave of white racist reaction to Barack Obama. Along these lines, Morris notes the fact that this year a number of the nominated works are historical films and concludes that the convenient thing about the past is that you can solve the matter of race by pretending it doesnt exist. As though that was all there was to it! In fact, filmmaking does shy away from confronting the present in a lively and insightful mannernot because of a racial bias but an incapacity or unwillingness to confront the burning and threatening problems of social inequality, the growth of political reaction, the danger of war. (One of the issues, incidentally, that filmmakers are especially nervous about taking on at present is the filthy role of racial and gender politics and its champions in American social life.) Carrying on with his theme, Morris asserts that after all the hash tags and threatened boycotts, the fates of various African American-directed films (such as Get Out, Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman and Moonlight), after the touted diversification campaigns and calls for inclusion riders, the assembly of this years nominated films feels like a bodys allergic reaction to its own efforts at rehabilitation. This is the type of right-wing opinion the Times inflicts upon the public on an almost daily basis. What does Morris propose or envision? He rejects, he claims, subjecting the Academy Award nominees to vetting or damage control the way the muckety-mucks who operate the Grammys are rumored to do. Guys, too many whites! We got to get Queen & Slim in here, but there is a logic to ethno-centric positions. Morris and the Times encourage this: the creation of a new category for Best Picture by a Black Director, or Best Picture about a Black Person, or Best Picture with a Nonwhite Actress in a Leading or Supporting Role, and so on. And there are more than a few ardent reactionaries in America who would like to see a Best Picture about a White Person category. There will be the White Awards and the Black Awards, and perhaps other ethnicities can establish their own versions of the Oscars. The Gay Oscars is a promising idea. Instead, we propose a struggle against the narrowness, fearfulness and triviality of so much of contemporary filmmaking, in favor of a definite and important feeling for the world, an artistic coming to terms with life as it is from the point of view of radically changing it. The Karnataka child rights commission criticised the Bidar district police for violating rules, including the norms of the Juvenile Justice Act, while questioning young students in a sedition case against a school over an anti-CAA play The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights criticised the Bidar district police for violating rules, including the norms of the Juvenile Justice Act, while questioning students in a sedition case against a school over an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) play. Asking the Bidar Police officials to stop questioning the schoolchildren, the Karnataka child rights body chairman Dr Antony Sebastian, in a letter to the superintendent of police and the deputy commissioner, stated that an "atmosphere of fear" was created at the Shaheen Urdu Medium Primary School due to the questioning of young students, including a nine-year-old. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) noted that the police authorities had flouted the norms by sending the nine-year-old to be looked after by a neighbour without informing the local child welfare committee following the arrest of the child's single mother along with the schools headmistress on 30 January. Both were arrested on grounds that the drama, which was staged by students of Class 4, 5 and 6, on 21 January, was seditious and inflammatory. A two-member panel of the child rights body had conducted an inquiry into the incident, following which the chairman sent a letter to Bidar officials. The Indian Express quoted Sebastian, a juvenile justice advocate, as saying: "After interactions with parents, school officials, children and the police, and after studying photographs and CCTV footage, it is clear that the police violated the rights of the children at the school." After the inquiry, the Commission found during the questioning of students that some policemen present were in their uniforms, thereby, violating the law. Neither their parents or guardians were present during the interrogation. "The inquiry has also found that a child whose parent was arrested was sent to the home of a neighbour without informing the child welfare committee in violation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000," he said. The child rights commission also said many students have stopped going to school after the police investigation. While the headmistress, Fareeda Begum and Nazbunnisa, the mother of a nine-year-old girl, have been remanded to judicial custody, school officials have said that the child is traumatised. "The landlord of the house where Nazbunnisa stayed as a tenant is taking care of the child. She is traumatised," a school official said. The KSPCR, in its letter, also asked Bidar Police to highlight the condition of the nine-year-old in the court where her mother's bail plea is pending. The bail applications of the two women arrested in the case will be heard on 11 February, Scroll reported. Both of them were arrested on the basis of a complaint of a local activist of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on 26 January against the play. In his complaint, the activist said that he saw a video of the incident on a local journalist's Facebook page. He said the students were used to promote anti-national sentiments as some of them could be seen in the video slapping pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with slippers to depict opposition to the CAA. The police came in for criticism from some quarters for questioning the children in uniform on 28 January, two days after they registered a sedition case against the school. On 4 February, a school official said the police visited the school five times already since a sedition case was registered, according to The Times of India. Some media reports have also said that the students were subjected to four to five hours of questioning. "In the morning, three police personnel in plainclothes came with two members of the Karnataka State Child Rights Protection Commission. Later, the deputy superintendent of police H Basaveshwara joined them. This was the fifth time police have come here. As usual, they came and questioned the children and staff," said a source at the Shaheen School. When contacted, Basaveshwara refused to comment, saying he was still investigating the case. The police have been reportedly questioning the children and staff about those who wrote the script and assigned to deliver specific dialogues. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Congress MLA and former minister UT Khader slammed the BJP government in the state as well as the Centre for "filing sedition charges against people". Addressing a press conference, he alleged that the Central and state governments were trying to suppress the voice of people in the country using law enforcement agencies. Khader claimed that the two women who "depicted the problems they were facing" in the drama were booked under the sedition law. During the investigation, the children were forced to sit at the police station, he alleged. With inputs from PTI ABBA's song "The Winner Takes It All" seems peculiarly appropriate for today's news: "The winner takes it all, The loser's standing small, Beside the victory, That's [his] destiny." In this case, the winner was President Donald Trump, who emerged victorious from the Democrats' ill begotten impeachment debacle. The losers left standing small and destined to be removed from their positions were Alexander Vindman and his twin brother Yevgeny, both of whom are out at the National Security Council, and ambassador (now former ambassador) to the European Union Gordon Sondland. In normal times, dismissing these men from their positions would make perfect sense. All three serve at the president's pleasure. Under the Constitution, Trump is responsible for foreign policy and is commander in chief. In the former role, he has wide latitude to choose and dismiss ambassadors. In the latter role, thousands of years of military tradition hold that officers can be dismissed or worse for insubordination. Sondland came across as merely weak, but Alexander Vindman is a genuine piece of work. The fact that his commanding officer has a constitutional right (and duty) to set foreign policy did not weigh at all with him. He felt that, as a decorated bureaucrat, his opinion matter more. When the president ignored Vindman's opinion, the latter violated national security to complain about Trump's chosen policy approach. (And note, please, that he did not protect himself by being an official whistleblower. Instead, he whined to someone else.) Then, when called before Congress, the man who wears a suit to work showed up in his uniform, evidently trying to put the military's imprimatur on his personal mutiny. All three men learned the truth behind Ralph Waldo Emerson's reminder that "when you strike at a king, you must kill him." Alexander Vindman, in addition, should be thanking his lucky stars that he hasn't been court-martialed (or at least hasn't yet been court-martialed). Kentucky Rep. Tom Massie understands the dynamics: Id fire him. I listened to his testimony in the SCIF. Hes a leaker, not a whistleblower. Vindman was upset that @realDonaldTrump didnt follow the script Vindman prepared for the phone call. Current Commander in Chief doesnt take orders from a Lt. Col.!https://t.co/a9KYrfiVFN Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 7, 2020 As noted above, firing these men was normal and appropriate. But not in Democrat land, a place in which everything Trump does is deemed abnormal and evil. At the Democrat debate in New Hampshire, seven wannabe commanders-in-chief joined with Joe Biden in urging the audience to give a standing ovation to Alexander Vindman, insubordinate officer extraordinaire. At the New York Times, it took four writers to report about the firings, and they opined in dire terms: President Trump wasted little time on Friday opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing two of the most prominent witnesses in the House inquiry against him barely 48 hours after being acquitted by the Senate. Emboldened by his victory and determined to strike back. [snip] The ousters of Mr. Sondland and Colonel Vindman along with Mr. Vindman's brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, an Army officer who also worked on the National Security Council staff may only presage a broader effort to even accounts with the president's perceived enemies. ["Perceived"? They seemed pretty real as they worked to get him impeached.] [snip] Even as he began purging administration officials who testified in the House impeachment inquiry ... Nancy Pelosi was shocked, shocked, that an insubordinate officer who leaked like a sieve could be reassigned to a position where he could do no damage: .@SpeakerPelosi re Vindman: Im stunned by it. Stunned. Ill talk to my colleagues about this because I know they have some concern about the interventions that the president has with our military. Thats such a shame. What a patriotic person. This goes too far. Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) February 7, 2020 Rick Wilson, who thinks Trump-supporters are illiterate morons, practically hit the fainting couch: Our lawless president lionizes war criminals and fires men of integrity. Keep the Vindman family in your thoughts, because the threat machine is in high gear. https://t.co/NdReekvqle Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 7, 2020 Trump is a character, but in policy he functions as a conventional American president, operating within the constraints of the Constitution. It's the Democrat party, which has drifted very far left, that has entirely lost its bearings and its sanity, something its members show in matters great (impeachment) and small (Vindmans). Five British nationals including a child have tested positive for the new coronavirus in France, the health minister said Saturday, adding that they had all stayed at the same ski chalet. France has now detected a total of 11 cases of the novel coronavirus, and the new cluster is centred on a Briton who had returned from Singapore and stayed in Contamines-Montjoie, near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said. They show no serious signs of a life-threatening infection, added Buzyn, herself a doctor. The Briton at the centre of the new cases is now in Britain and was not counted among the French tally, she told a press conference. In addition to the five Britons who have tested positive for the virus, six other Britons staying in the same chalet in late January were also hospitalised for observation, the minister said. Authorities in France and Singapore are now trying to contact people who came into close contact with the initially infected Brit, she said. He was on a business trip and had stayed at a hotel for an event with 94 other foreigners, according to senior health official Jerome Salomon who attended the press briefing along with Buzyn. Other clusters have been identified in Malaysia and South Korea around people who attended the same event, he said. Most of the six previous cases in France appear to have been treated successfully, though all are still in hospital. One man, an 80-year-old Chinese national, is nonetheless still in critical condition in a Paris hospital, Salomon said. The novel coronavirus which erupted in Wuhan, central China, in December has already infected more than 34,500 people and killed more than 700, according to the latest official figures from China. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-08 04:11:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 948 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2020 / AMPD Ventures Inc. ("AMPD" or the "Company", (CSE:AMPD)(FRA:2Q0) is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced private placement financing for gross proceeds the amount of CAD $978,262.50 (the "Private Placement"). Under the Private Placement, the Company issued 4,119,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of CAD $0.2375 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant having an exercise price of CAD $0.50 and a term of 12 months from the date of closing of the Private Placement. As previously announced in the Company's news release dated January 10, 2020, the Private Placement initially contemplated the issuance and sale of up to 4,000,000 Units, but the size of the Private Placement was subsequently increased by the Company.The Private Placement remains subject to regulatory approval and all securities issued will be subject to a four-month hold period.As noted previously, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for expansion, key staff hiring, and general working capital purposes.Anthony Brown, CEO of the Company, and Paul Mari, VP Operations of the Company, each purchased 363,000 Units under the Private Placement. For further details concerning the Private Placement, including the participation by such insiders, please refer to the Company's news release dated January 10, 2020.Change of Year-EndAMPD also announces that it is changing its fiscal year-end to May 31, from its current fiscal year-end of February 28. The notice for the year-end change required under National Instrument 51-102 has been filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com AMPD believes this change of year-end will better align the Company's financial reporting periods to that of its operating subsidiary.As a result, AMPD will report audited financial results for a fifteen-month transitional fiscal year from March 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 with a comparative of twelve-month audited financial statements from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. Subsequently, AMPD will revert to a customary quarterly reporting calendar based on a May 31 financial year-end, with fiscal quarters ending on the last day in August, November, February, and May each year.About AMPD Ventures Inc.AMPD specializes in providing high performance cloud and compute solutions for low latency applications, including video games and eSports, digital animation and visual effects, and big data collection, analysis and visualization.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/s/ "Anthony Brown"Anthony BrownCEO & DirectorAMPD Ventures Inc.info@ ampd.tech | Tel: 604-332-3329For more information on AMPD, please contact:Satnam BrarTel: 604-332-3329 ext. 3Or visit http://www.ampd.tech The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary StatementCertain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited, to statements or information with respect to the completion of the Private Placement, and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement.Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including receipt of all approvals required for the Private Placement and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include the ability to receive the approvals necessary to complete the Private Placement and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 2A Listing Statement dated October 17, 2019 and "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR.There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada.All forward looking statements and information contained in this News Release are qualified by this cautionary statement.THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWS WIRES SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.SOURCE: AMPD Ventures Inc. Two major exhibitions highlighting Cork's part in the fight for Irish freedom are among the many events planned by Cork City Council to mark the centenary of 1920 which was a pivotal year for both the city and county, it's been revealed. Dan Breen of Cork Public Museum revealed that the museum in Fitzgerald's Park in the city will host two major exhibitions this year as part of its contribution to remembering the county's role in the fight for freedom. "We are hosting two major exhibitions - Suffering the Most - The Life and Times of Tomas MacCurtain and Terence Mac Swiney' in March and 'Cork - County at War' which opens and runs in August," said Mr Breen. "'Suffering the Most' tells of the story of Tomas Mac Curtain from Mourneabbey and Terence Mac Swiney from Kilmurry - Cork's first two Republican Lord Mayors and will focus on various aspects of their lives. "It will also look at their deaths- MacCurtain shot dead by the RIC at his home in Blackpool and Mac Swiney on hunger strike in Brixton, both set against the backdrop of a country at war and a city and county in turmoil. Mr Breen said that the civic and military leadership shown by both men - who were senior figures in the IRA in Cork - - will highlight the pivotal role played by Cork during Ireland's War of Independence. And "Cork - A County at War" will look at some of the major engagements of the War of Independence which took place in Co Cork and had a significant impact on both the nature and outcome of the conflict. "Using original artefacts, images and documentation, this exhibition will illustrate the roles played by the Republican and Crown forces while exploring their strategies, tactics, equipment and experiences of war," he said. Details of the two exhibitions were unveiled at St Peter's Cork at the weekend when a new exhibition on the burning of Cork by British forces in December 1920 was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Sheehan. Officially opening the exhibition, Cllr Sheehan paid tribute to Christine Moloney, CEO of LW Management and her team at St Peter's Cork for their creative approach in compiling the exhibition. "I had the opportunity to preview Cork 1920 - The Burning of a City with the St. Peter's team and ... their creative approach gives a poignant insight into 1920". Cllr Sheehan said that through the use of archival material, historic photographs and witness statement, St Peter's Cork had created an exhibition that captured the vision and energy of the men and women of 100 years ago. Historian, Gerry White said the exhibition, "Cork 1920 - The Burning of a City", which runs for the year at St Peter's Cork on the North Main Street, would introduce many Corkonians to the reality of life for its citizen 100 years ago. "In 1920, the people of Cork were participating in the birth of a new nation, set against the backdrop of the collapse of empires that occurred at the end of World War I," said Mr White who has written about the burning of Cork. "The exhibition and events being held over the coming year, such as this one here in St Peter's, will serve as a reminder of that important chapter in our history and of the huge debt of gratitude we owe those who came before us." By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he wants to begin talks with Japan within weeks to conclude a trade deal this year, after a meeting with Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, who asked Britain to drop European Union food import restrictions imposed after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. "The aspiration will be to do it by the end of the year. We can certainly begin it earlier than Spring," Raab told Reuters in an interview. "Japan is right up there in the list of priorities partly because of the size of the market, but also Japan is an absolute central country in the Indo Pacific region," he added. Motegi, who said Japan also wanted a rapid conclusion of trade talks, met Raab in Tokyo during his first overseas trip following Britain's departure from the EU, and as it negotiates its future relationship with Brussels and begins free trade talks with other major economies including the United States and Japan. While in the EU, Britain was part of a comprehensive trade deal with Japan that last year began reducing tariffs across a raft of products, including Japanese autos. Britain's hurry to tie up new trade agreements could be to Japan's advantage, as it seeks to secure better terms. Motegi said he had asked Raab at their meeting to lift import restrictions on Japanese food and other products that were imposed by Brussels after the nuclear accident at Fukushima in 2011. The EU eased those import regulations last year, but still insists on inspections and certificates of origin for some Japanese produce, including seafood. "Obviously anything that affects food, health and safety standards we would want to look at very carefully. We understand the Japanese concern about this and it will be science led," Raab told Reuters when asked whether the Britain would agree to Motegi's request. Raab also sought to ease Japanese concern that the EU exit could result in trade friction with the rest of Europe. Japanese manufacturers such as Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> built plants in Britain because it offered a convenient gateway to the EU. Story continues There is, Raab predicted, enough political will in both the EU and Britain to conclude a deal that will decide their future relationship before a transition period finishes at the end of the year. "We have too much in common, too much at stake for politics to trump the mutual economic self interest. On both sides we've got a chance now to focus on the positives in the relationship," he said. Raab, who travelled to Japan from Australia, will stop in Singapore and Malaysia before returning to London. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Sam Nussey; Editing by Stephen Coates) BRIDGEPORT Two early morning stabbings in the city Saturday landed two victims in the hospital, according to police. The first occurred around 2 a.m. Bridgeport police were alerted by staff at St. Vincents Medical Center that a female stabbing victim had been dropped off at the emergency department by a private vehicle. Officers responded to the hospital and interviewed the victim, who told them the stabbing happened in the 600 block of Brooklawn Avenue. As of Saturday afternoon, no update was available on the victims condition. About an hour after the first stabbing, at 3:05 p.m., Bridgeport police received a call about a male stabbing victim this time from staff at Bridgeport Hospital. The male victim showed up in the emergency department with non-life-threatening stab wounds, police said. Officers were again dispatched to the hospital and talked to the victim, who told them the stabbing happened in the 1400 block of Boston Avenue. Police continue to investigate both incidents. Anyone with information is asked to call the Bridgeport police tip line at 203-576-TIPS. Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 61 per cent in the hard-fought Assembly election with the polling having picked up pace in the evening on Saturday. According to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app, the voting percentage was 61.67 per cent at 10.26 pm. The poll percentage was less than 67.12 per cent in the 2015 election when the ruling Aam Aadmi Party had secured a landslide victory getting 67 of 70 assembly seats. Delhi's Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh had said in the evening that the poll percentage was expected to go up as there were queues at several polling stations at the end of polling at 6 pm. The officials said that elections took place peacefully and smoothly. BJP and AAP held review meetings after the polling ended and expressed confidence about their victory. The Delhi Police said that a 60-year-old man fell unconscious outside polling booth no. 127 in Hari Nagar constituency at 10 am. He was taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, but was declared brought dead. "Probably, he died of cardiac arrest," a police official said. After the polling concluded, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were taken to strong rooms. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. Most exit polls have predicted AAP winning over two-third majority but Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said the exit polls will fail and the party will win 48 seats. "All these exit polls will fail. Keep this tweet of mine. BJP will form the government in Delhi with over 48 seats in Delhi. Now please do not find an excuse to blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)," Tiwari said in a tweet. "Certain exit polls are showing that BJP will win 26 seats, but let me tell you that all these exit polls will fail on February 11," he told ANI. Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra also said that exit polls will fail and expressed confidence that the party will do much better. "BJP will not get even 20 seats and Kejriwal is not going to form the government in Delhi. I am hoping the Congress is going to do much better than what exit polls are showing. Let us wait till results are out," Chopra told ANI. AAP leader Sanjay Singh exuded confidence about the party repeating its 2015 performance. There were 672 candidates in the fray and more than 98,000 officials had been deployed smooth conduct of elections. Prominent among those who cast their votes were President Ram Nath Kovind, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, and Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and S Jaishankar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also cast their votes. Over 1.4 crore people were eligible to cast their votes including 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. There are 869 third gender voters. Ballimaran is the smallest constituency in the capital with an area of 2.50 square kilometre. Narela is the biggest with an area of 143.42 sq km. The voting is being held at 13,571 polling stations of which 3,141 are critical and 144 vulnerable polling stations. The BJP had won three seats in the 2015 elections and Congress could not open its account. Both BJP and Congress had given a few seats to their allies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/08/2020 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoilers Warning: This article contains spoilers revealing if couple Michael and Juliana are still together.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So are Michael and Juliana still together? Has the couple's wedding bliss lasted? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio de Sousa were shown getting married on Season 7 of the TLC reality series, but are they still together or was their marriage short-lived? What's the latest on the couple's relationship?Michael, a 41-year-old independent and self-employed wine entrepreneur from Greenwich, CT, and Juliana, a 23-year-old from Goiania, Brazil, are starring on 's seventh season, which is nearing its end on TLC.Michael imports and distributes wine and works at wine auctions. He's apparently a wealthy man who's part of a jet-setting social group that parties all over the world.During a big yacht party in Croatia, Michael met Juliana, an international model, and there was an instant attraction."I remember when I first saw her," Michael told the camera during the debut episode of 's seventh season. "She's beautiful, amazing body -- I don't necessarily believe in love at first sight, but it's like we were kindred spirits."Once Michael and Juliana got to know each other, Michael said he realized she was funny, thoughtful and smart. He was amazed she was only 20 years old."There are certainly a lot of people that may pass judgment [and] may think I'm just an old sleazy, rich guy going after a young hot woman," Michael said. "It doesn't bother me at all. I don't really care."Juliana, a former seamstress who grew up very poor, was discovered by a modeling agency, and Michael pledged to support her financially in any way that he can.Michael therefore gave Juliana access to his credit cards. Michael admitted he had spent no small amount of money on her, but he simply wanted to give Juliana the world. (When a producer later asked if the amount was around $150,000, Michael refused to comment. Juliana even purchased a car on Michael's credit card.)Michael was hoping Juliana could visit him in the United States shortly after they met, but that plan apparently fell through because her intentions were questioned and they were both denied Tourist Visas.Michael realized obtaining a K-1 visa would be the only way she could come to America -- so he proposed marriage and planned to marry her within 90 days of her visit.It took a long time for the K-1 visa to be approved, and both individuals almost lost hope because Michael could never move and leave his children behind whom he had welcomed with his ex-wife Sarah Jessen.When Juliana had her interview in Rio de Janeiro for the K-1 visa, both Michael and Juliana were nervous because Juliana was apparently in a "high-risk" category considering she's young and from a poor part of Brazil.Juliana also had a lot of stamps in her passport, and so there would be concern her desire to come to America would be so she can be involved in "illicit activities."Cameras were not permitted inside the consulate, but after the interview, Juliana said it was "bad" and they had insulted her."They just asked stupid questions. They asked me if I had been working as a prostitute the last 10 years," Juliana revealed in a confessional.Michael didn't think it was right for Juliana to be asked that question, and he confirmed, "No, she's not a prostitute!" Michael said it's normal for young models to travel the world and party with wealthy people."I'm a model and I'm professional, so of course I've been to many countries," Juliana told the cameras.Michael called it "ridiculous" and planned to consult with his lawyer over that "upsetting" interview."What does that make me? A pimp?... I don't need to [pay for sex]," Michael vented to Juliana, before she called the process "a nightmare."But after providing a police-clearance document to show Juliana had no criminal history, Juliana's K-1 visa was approved.Michael wanted Juliana's arrival in the United States to be as special as possible, so he bought a bouquet of flowers, champagne, and a $4,000 necklace, and headed to the airport in a big white Hummer limousine.Juliana said she felt like the luckiest girl in the world, and her first meeting with Michael's children went beautifully. She also got along with Sarah, who turned out to be very gracious and kind to Juliana.Sarah said while most women would probably be intimidated by such a tall, sexy, gorgeous, exotic, smart and well-traveled girl, she wasn't -- because she didn't have the need, energy or time to be jealous.But Sarah asked Juliana to "not parent at all." Sarah wanted Juliana to embrace her new role in the family as just a stepmom and become her friend, but Juliana didn't feel like she was part of the family yet.Sarah later clarified on social media she just didn't want to overload Juliana with too much responsibility given she was still adjusting to a new life in a new country with a new soon-to-be husband.Michael and Sarah were then shown going furniture shopping and moving into a new house, which Juliana found wonderful and overwhelming.They were also planning their wedding with good food, good wine, some dancing and about a 40-person guest count. Michael and Juliana had to tell the wedding planner they had both been married once before.Michael was quoted $50,000-$100,000 for a wedding at their new home by the wedding planner. Juliana couldn't believe how expensive the wedding was going to be.Juliana expected only three people would be coming to their wedding from her side, but she was still happy. Juliana apparently didn't want her parents to see how wealthy she had become in America because they would expect a lot of financial help from Michael.Juliana didn't want to feel guilty for having a fancy, opulent wedding when her parents might look at the flowers and think, "Those would be our groceries for a week." The couple struggled with how to enjoy their new life together when Juliana's family was so poor back home.Later on, Sarah stopped by and told the couple she'd be willing to become ordained and officiate their wedding.But things between family members grew tense when Sarah asked Michael if he and Juliana had a prenuptial agreement in place to ensure their children would be well taken care of financially in case something were to go wrong in their marriage.Sarah said she didn't mean to stir the pot, but Juliana was left feeling very confused.Juliana later asked Michael to explain a prenuptial agreement to her, and he said it's an agreement made in case of divorce to ensure his children, Max and Cece, are protected, but she still didn't understand what it meant.The conversation upset Juliana because she never wanted to get a divorce and said she'd do anything to make the marriage work, but Michael insisted the prenup would protect her interests as well. Michael pointed out prenups tend to protect the women in marriage "heavily."Juliana was upset she had to hear about the prenup from Sarah and not Michael, and Michael agreed it was "uncouth" of Sarah and out of character for her to bring that up.Juliana agreed to go forward with a prenup, but she appeared frustrated because she had to give up her jobs, her little dogs and her family in Brazil to come to the United States.Michael and Juliana were then shown meeting with a mediator a few weeks before their wedding. Michael revealed he has two children and "business interests" and so he wanted to be "prepared for worst-case scenario."The mediator, Carolyn Swiggart, said a prenup balances out power in a relationship and decision-making. Michael said assets would remain in his name and they'd have separate property.Juliana had stopped working a few months prior, so she didn't have much money to bring into the marriage. Juliana said if Michael didn't want to share his income and assets then neither did she if she ended up making it big as a model.Carolyn told Michael to make sure Juliana would be well taken care of in the case of divorce, and Juliana felt the mediator was on her side, which Michael probably didn't expect.Juliana told Michael that if he left her once, he'd probably be willing to do it again -- referring to a breakup they previously had in their relationship after a big fight.Juliana and Michael apparently broke up for three months last year, when Michael allegedly called her and said he didn't want to date her anymore.Juliana said Michael had suddenly disappeared and she couldn't afford to pay her rent. Juliana never wanted to be in that situation again, and she was angry at herself for depending on Michael so much in the United States.Juliana said she felt like a "loser" and figured Michael would have all the money and power in their relationship."I'm thinking it's time for me to be independent," Juliana told Michael. "If you were in my shoes, you [would be] thinking the same thing. So don't judge."Michael said he never would have brought Juliana to the meeting had he known it was going to be so upsetting for her."I think he always had control over everything and he wants control over me, but that's not going to happen because men [don't] control me," Juliana told the cameras.Since Juliana was so upset over the prenup, Michael decided against signing one."We're not doing it. No prenup. It doesn't make sense. It's stupid. No matter what happens, you're going to be okay and the kids are going to be fine. That's not why we're getting married -- to have a business transaction," Michael finally shared with his fiancee.Michael hoped for the best and was confident his future marriage would work out.Juliana gave Michael a few kisses and appeared both happy and relieved at Michael's decision. Juliana, however, still didn't trust Michael, telling the cameras, "I don't trust anyone."Juliana at least found a little independence when Michael bought her a bicycle for her birthday so she could get around on her own.Juliana had to wait three or four months to work and model again.She then opened up to Sarah about how she had joined a church after her modeling career failed when she was a young teen."I think the church was a cult... and for any reason, you could go to hell," Juliana said.The church's pastor apparently introduced Juliana, who was 17 years old at the time, to a 34-year-old man whom she later married. Juliana said they married after dating for only four months, and in the same day they wed, "he changed."Juliana's ex-husband demanded Juliana that she stay home, not work and clean their house -- and she said the pastor did not believe her when she complained about his behavior."[We] didn't sign divorce or anything. [I] left," Juliana shared.After Juliana escaped the bad relationship, she moved to Sao Paulo to start modeling again as a stronger and more confident woman. Juliana wasn't going to let anyone bully her again, and then after four months, she filed for divorce and forced her ex to sign the papers.Sarah applauded Juliana on having overcome so much in her life and she cried after listening to her story. Sarah realized there was "indescribable" depth to Juliana.Sarah was beginning to regret asking Juliana not to parent her two kids, Max and Cece, since she has great values. Sarah complimented Juliana on being an intelligent hard worker, who values family.Sarah said she and Juliana "filled in the gaps" together in terms of what would make an excellent mother, and she told Juliana that she was glad she chose Michael as a partner.Later on, Sarah drove Juliana to pick up her wedding dress after alterations, and the girls were quickly becoming best friend.Sarah just advised Juliana to keep ahold of her own money and not become a house servant, cooking and cleaning everything for Michael.Juliana cried in her dress because she couldn't wait to marry her love. But a part of Juliana feared she'd get hurt again."Don't be nervous. You're part of a big family now," Sarah assured the future bride.It then became time for Juliana and Michael's wedding.Juliana was sad she never heard from her family members that day and cried, but she ultimately decided not to let anyone ruin her wedding since she was going to marry the man she loved.She therefore wiped her tears and walked down the aisle in her beautiful long-sleeve, lace ballgown with a tiara and veil on her head.Michael felt he and Juliana had conquered so much together, and he was emotional because they had remained in love through it all."You look amazing. Oh my gosh, you're a princess," Michael told his bride at the altar.The ceremony was officiated by Sarah, which was a little "weird" for Juliana, but the girls had become great friends.Sarah gushed about how children loved Juliana and were happier than ever with Michael's bride in their lives. Both Max and Cece also gave adorable speeches at the wedding, saying Juliana is a great person.Michael was so proud of his children and felt like they were an extended family "all in this together.""Of course I'm supposed to be the bitter, resentful, 42-year-old stay-at-home mom whose husband got a newer, better model, you know? But that's not really what it is, and I'm saying this with all honesty and sincerity," Sarah told the cameras."My kids have never felt more secure in their lives than how things are right now."The wedding reception included cake and dancing, and Michael noted in a confessional, "It's more perfect than I could ever picture perfect being."Juliana was also on Cloud 9, telling the cameras Michael was "even better" than the man of her dreams and he was stuck with her forever. Juliana said even if Michael wanted a divorce down the road, she wouldn't allow it.In early February, Juliana posted a photo with Michael and fellow couple and Connecticut residents Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester . She captioned it, "Love these people."Around the same time, Michael shared photos from the wedding and wrote, "No longer the worst kept secret on #90dayfiance Season 7. The most beautiful and happiest day of our lives.... Watching last night's episode was like reliving the moment.... We woke up this morning feeling like newly weds.""Thank you [to] everyone [who] made it so special. #married #wedding #love #family #friends #greenwich #michaelandjuliana #notasecretanymore #worstkeptsecret #october12 #2019 #2020."Juliana and Michael got married on October 12, 2019, and photos from the wedding leaked online late last year.In addition, it is evident, based on this family's social media accounts, that Michael and Juliana are still a couple and remain happily married.In mid-January 2020, Michael posted several photos of Juliana in a bathing suit hugging and kissing her little black dog in their house."This is love," Michael captioned the image."EDIT: FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT FOR SOME REASON HAVE HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING AND/OR QUESTION WHY JULIANA IS WEARING A BATHING SUIT SHE WAS GIVING @howardthedog87 A HAIRCUT AND A BATH. @julianacustodiooo @howardthedog87 #love #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #puppylove #heartmelting #90dayfiance #2020 #michaelandjuliana #love."And Juliana confirmed around the same time she's currently living in Connecticut."First winter of me in Connecticut and hard get use to the cold," Juliana captioned a photo of herself in a bikini. "Thinking of summer being here. #summer #bikinilife #babyitscoldoutside #90dayfiance #michaelandjuliana #tlc."Juliana has also remained very close with Sarah, and it appears she gets along beautifully with Max and Cece.Juliana revealed she was hanging out with Sarah in her Instagram Stories on January 14, and she captioned one photo of them both growling, "Men don't control us."On January 13, it appears Juliana did a "closet challenge" with Sarah's new husband Sean Naso and Michael's daughter Cece in which Sean had to pick out feminine clothes blindfolded from a closet and then try them on.Michael also posted photos of Juliana meeting a guitar craftsman he finds remarkable on January 9, and four days earlier, he shared a photo of his love and gushed about her on Instagram."I think this is now my all-time favorite photo of my wonderful and beautiful {word redacted}, @julianacustodiooo.... and she took it herself," Michael captioned the image of Juliana looking naturally beautiful and posed."#lovehersomuch #nofilter #mensdoesntcontrolher #90dayfiance #2020 #homestudio #selfportrait #michaelandjuliana #beautiful #thankful #grateful."On January 4, Juliana and Michael both shared photos from when they celebrated a friend's 50th birthday at what appeared to be a fancy black-tie affair.Michael also took to Instagram on December 25, 2019 with photos of Juliana, his children and their dog."Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from the Jessen/Naso family @maxwell.jessen @julianacustodiooo @keathley76 @the_real_naso @howardthedog87 @dogpercythe #gusgusthedog," Michael captioned the slideshow."We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season and hope that you enjoy much love, happiness, and health in 2020."After the episode aired earlier this season in which Michael and Juliana met with a mediator to discuss a prenuptial agreement, Michael slammed TLC and the show's production company on Instagram for alleged "bullsh-t" editing that painted himself in a bad light."It's something where I feel like I need to call a little bit of bullsh-t because it's not really who we are. It's not really reflective of our reality," Michael said in a series of videos posted to his Instagram Stories in mid-December, according to In Touch Weekly."I think we're all a little upset that it's kind of cut out the kindness that we truly share together and it was something that was a part of the narrative of our experience that was departing from who we really are... We're all upset about the harshness for which we were portrayed. It hurts our feelings... We're not paid actors. This is still our real lives."Michael also shot down criticism he's selfish in his relationship with Juliana.In the process of defending himself in the video clips, Michael revealed he and Juliana had decided to adopt her niece and nephew from Brazil and bring them over to the United States!"Juliana and I, today, just initiated the process of adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil," Michael reportedly shared on December 15."They're 8 and 6 years old. And they're in [a] dire situation. The only way to give them a chance at a good life is to bring them to America. We've reached out to my lawyer, we're bringing them over here."For Juliana's part, she posted a video on Instagram Stories of herself walking around New York City with Michael at the time. The couple was shown hugging and then the video ended with the pair lying in bed together with Michael shirtless.Juliana also gushed about Michael and defended him following the episode of their prenup dispute."I love this guy. I just wants to share how much I love this man, and so many sacrifices he made just to be with me, isn't fair he being attacked just for what people seem on tv, the fact that I haven't been smart with my own stuff have nothing to do with him," Juliana wrote on Instagram."He doesn't deserve all this hate, he is a prince, I'm so happy that on the real life he is the most amazing human being I have ever met and has a beautiful soul, love you @michael_jessen_77 #90dayfiance."Michael later re-posted the video and wrote, "Here's the real love that isn't being shown on TV."As for Sarah, she re-married and tied the knot with Sean in early December, and based on a photo Max posted on Instagram, Michael and Juliana attended the small and intimate wedding reception at a waterfront restaurant in Greenwich, CT, together.And when Sarah posted an Instagram photo of Sean, Max, Cece and herself on her wedding day, she tagged Michael and Juliana in her post.On November 27, Juliana confirmed she no intention of returning to Brazil. While standing next to an American flag, she wrote, "At home in the USA."More pictures of Juliana, Michael and their blended family date back to November 2019.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage! The free market Institute of Public Affairs has joined forces with Labor in a campaign calling for fewer criminals to be sent to jail, which they say will reduce repeat-offending and save money. In a rare alliance, the two groups want to follow the lead of US President Donald Trump, who last year signed the historic First Step Act to reform the American prison system, reduce discrepancies in sentencing and shorten the jail terms of thousands of inmates. The IPA and Labor's Andrew Leigh agree fewer criminals should be sent to jail if there are better alternatives. Credit:AAP The IPA's new research paper says the best way to reduce reoffending, and cut down expenses, is to imprison fewer people in the first place, and instead rely on community service and alternative sentencing measures. "This is not about letting people off scot-free," said Andrew Bushnell, the paper's author and a research fellow at the think tank. "To be tough on crime means actually reducing crime, and reducing crime means being clever about it." EDWARDSVILLE New fees for civil and criminal court cases have brought in a large amount of additional revenue to Madison County. Deputy Circuit Clerk Dina Burch reported at Fridays meeting of the County Boards Judiciary Committee that the county is up about $2 million in six months. The fee structure change was a major concern during much of the past year, in part because it changed how some agencies were funded. The countys general fund, which pays for many of the day-to-day expenses, received more money but now must pay for several departments out of the general fund that had been paid through special assessments. The changes were necessary because of the passage of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act by the Illinois General Assembly. The law that standardized court fees throughout Illinois went into effect in July. The actual fees are mandated by the state, but the county has some discretion on where part of the fees go. Alson on Friday, Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons noted a number of important trials are coming up and other cases are being prepared. He said that Assistant Madison County States Attorney Crystal Uhe recently traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee to meet with investigators about the ongoing investigation into a triple homicide Dec. 19 in Bethalto. Brady Witcher, 41, and Brittany McMillan, 28, both of Birmingham, Alabama, have been charged in the deaths of Shari Yates, 59; her son, Andrew AJ Brooks, 30; and John McMillian, 32. Both also were charged with armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking, both Class X felonies. Witcher also was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony. The duos alleged crime spree also included a murder charge in Alabama and a kidnapping charge in Tennessee. Uhe said all of the investigators in the multi-state crime spree recently met in Tennessee for a hugely beneficial meeting. The committee also approved an amendment to the contract for medical services last year at the Madison County Jail and a new contract for this year. Also approved was a renewal of the support contract for video security and the Madison County Sheriff Departments Livescan fingerprint machine. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. By Online Desk Voting for the Assembly elections in Delhi has ended. Till 6.30 pm around 55% votes have been registered. The voter turnout in the national capital, which was slow till 3 p.m., picked up the momentum in the last few hours and reached 54.65 per cent by six p.m. on Saturday. While the turnout was only 15.69 per cent till noon, it remained slow till 3 p.m. when it only reached 30.11 per cent. According to the Election Commission, the turnout at 6 p.m. was 54.65 per cent. The turnout at all the 11 districts crossed the half-way mark, with North East Delhi witnessing highest turnout at 62.75 per cent. Long queues could still be seen outside several polling booths, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party urging the Delhi CEO to let those in queue cast their votes. The fate of 672 candidates in 70 assembly constituencies has been sealed. We will have to wait till February 11th to find out whether Arvind Kejriwal will retain power in Delhi or the national parties (BJP and Congress) will end up springing a surprise. Married At First Sight fans may have had their suspicions about Vanessa Romito and her reasons for joining the reality show. But the brunette told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday she knew people would be questioning her motives for joining MAFS because of her ex-boyfriend Bronson Norrish. She told Daily Mail Australia: 'I knew people would be iffy asking if I was genuine going onto the show because of my ex, but at the end of the day I applied back in 2018 when nobody knew who I was and I made it very far in the application process.' 'I knew people would be iffy asking if I was genuine': Vanessa Romito has hit back at claims she didn't appear on Married At First Sight for the right reasons Vanessa continued: 'I wasnt going to not reapply in 2019 because an ex had done something. "If your ex likes chocolate does that mean you never touch it again", No!' 'I came here to find love and this is simply my story,' she concluded. Bronson and Vanessa dated for three years before he dumped her to be on Married At First Sight last year, according to Who. Former flames: Bronson and Vanessa dated for three years before he dumped her to be on Married At First Sight last year, according to Who Former MAFS star Jessica Power recently admitted that she was among those who initially had doubts about the Perth-based pharmacy manager's intentions. In an Instagram video, the blonde beauty, 28, said: 'I thought when I'd seen Vanessa was a bride for 2020 on MAFS - knowing she was Bronson's ex - I just thought "oh, ok you're not there for the right reasons."' She continued: 'But listening to her story and seeing that she was bullied for her looks and... her acne and things like that I really, really felt sorry for her.' Doubts: Former MAFS star Jessica Power revealed she doubted Vanessa was on the show for the right reasons on an Instagram video on Friday Compassion: Jessika continued, 'But listening to [Vanessa's] story and seeing that she was bullied for her looks and... her acne and things like that I really, really felt sorry for her' Jessika then praised the experts for matching the raven-haired reality star with her man Chris Nicholls. 'I think the experts have done really well with matching her with somebody that isn't all for the looks,' she said. 'Chris is looking for personality and hearing tonight that he was attracted to her I was sitting on the couch going "oh my god I'm so excited!" Just married: Jessika went on to praise the experts for matching the raven-haired Vanessa with Chris Nicholls (left). She added: 'I really hope to see these two push through and last' The stunner added: 'I really hope to see these two push through and last.' In response to Jessika, Vanessa told Daily Mail Australia: 'I thank Jessika for her kind words, I really appreciate them and all of the positive support I received.' Channel Nine declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. The Law Students Association Of Nigeria has applauded the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his recent appointment of Habib Yahaya Hotoro as Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goas (SDGs). The association, in a statement signed by its president, Emmanuel E. Nwobodo described the appointment of Mr Hotoro and other credible young leaders by Mr Ganduje as commendable. By this appointment, H.E has demonstrated again his ability to spot talents, hard-work and the courage to bring young breeds into politics and mentoring them for future leadership responsibilities. The students association also commended Mr Gandujes achievements in education and other development areas. It is evident that His Excellency Gov. Ganduje has set a very high bar and achieved tremendously in the areas of education (which is free, compulsory and qualitative at primary and secondary levels in the state), Health and Human Development just to name a few. READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW: LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION COMMENDS GOV. GANDUJE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF SA SDGs The Law Students Association Of Nigeria wishes to Commend His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State on the recent appointment of credible young leaders to serve in his administration, especially that of an incredible personality in the person of Habib Yahaya Hotoro, appointed as Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals to His Excellency, Gov. Ganduje It is evident that His Excellency Gov. Ganduje has set a very high bar and achieved tremendously in the areas of Education (which is free, compulsory and qualitative at primary and secondary levels in the state), Health and Human Development just to name a few. By this appointment, the governor has demonstrated again his ability to spot talents, hard-work and the courage to bring young breeds into politics and mentor them for future leadership responsibilities. The National Association of Law Students Of Nigeria is undeniably proud of Habib Yahaya Hotoro and his achievements so far. He brings over a decade of experience nationally and internationally from; NCC, HP and BT, where he received the BT Bronze award just to mention but a few. In 2019, he served on the Kano Transition Committee inter Alia. In 2020, he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant and elevated in just three weeks to the rank of a Special Adviser. Thank you H.E Gov. Ganduje for your courage, dedication and drive to take Kano to greater heights. Emmanuel E. Nwobodo President NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA In the aftermath of the Democrats impeachment debacle and the chaotic breakdown of the Iowa caucuses, the Democratic Party establishment has stepped up its efforts to undermine the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for the partys presidential nomination. With Trumps poll numbers rising, despite the shift to the left among working people and youth reflected in the broad support for Sanders, the Democratic leadership is determined to suppress the issue of social inequality in the 2020 campaign for fear of encouraging the growth of social opposition and anti-capitalist sentiment. The lead role in attacking Sanders from the right has been given to the Democrats defeated 2016 presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. On Thursday, one day after the Senates acquittal of Trump and in the midst of the continuing vote-counting debacle in Iowaand one day before the Democratic presidential debate in New HampshireClinton intervened once again to accuse Sanders of dividing the Democratic Party and leading it toward disaster in the November election. Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. (AP Photo) Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Clinton attacked Sanders without naming him. Implicitly branding Sanders an extremist, she said, Youve got to be responsible for what you say and what you say youre going to do. And if you promise the moon and you cant deliver the moon, then thats going to be one more indicator of how we just cant trust each other. This comes in the wake of Trumps State of the Union address on Tuesday, in which he once again placed the defeat of socialism at the center of his reelection campaign and his efforts to create a fascist force to throw against the growing movement of the working class. Last month, as Sanders poll numbers were rising in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, the first contest in the Democratic primaries, Clinton told an interviewer, Nobody likes him [Sanders], nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done Its his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women. She refused, when asked, to commit to supporting Sanders should he win the nomination. Subsequently, after coming under criticism from within the party, she indicated that she would support a Sanders campaign. This is despite Sanders repeated assurances that he will support whomever is nominated by the Democrats in November and his treacherous role in 2016, when the supposed leader of a political revolution against the billionaire class endorsed Clinton after she won the primary contest and then hustled votes for the widely despised candidate of the banks and the military-intelligence establishment. Clintons attacks on Sanders are part of a concerted campaign by leading Democrats and media outlets aligned with the Democratic Party, from the New York Times and the Washington Post to CNN, NBC and other major media outlets. The breakdown of vote-counting in Iowa was used by the state Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee to downplay Sanders victory in the popular vote in the caucuses and his virtual tie with Pete Buttigieg, the right-wing former naval intelligence officer and one-time mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in the race for delegates to this summers party convention, and declare Buttigieg the winner. The state partys three-day delay in reporting the results was also a boon to former Vice President Joe Biden, favored by the party establishment to be its centrist opponent of Trump, who suffered a humiliating defeat in Iowa, coming in fourth behind Sanders, Buttigieg and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. The Democratic establishments increasing attack on socialism and gang-up against Sanders continued in Friday nights debate in New Hampshire, four days in advance of that states primary election. The debate began with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos inviting Biden to repeat his charge from earlier in the week that the nomination of Sanders, who occasionally calls himself a democratic socialist, would undercut Democrats running for office at every level in the face of Trumps tirades against socialism. Biden obliged, saying that Trump would use the fact that Bernie has labeled himself a democratic socialist. Asked to respond, Sanders evaded the issue of socialism. Instead, he said, Trump lies all the time, and declared, At the end of the day, the way we defeat Trumpno matter who wins [the nomination]we all stand together to beat Trump. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, part of the right-wing grouping that includes Biden and Buttigieg, piled on, saying the party did not want to divide, but instead needed to bring people together. She explained that this meant winning independents and moderates and said Trumps nightmare was facing someone who can bring people in from the middle. She added, Thats me. Buttigieg was next, saying it was a risk to fall back on the familiar of having a nominee who is dividing the country. Asked by Stephanopoulos if he was talking about Sanders, the former naval intelligence officer said, Yes, adding that he, in contrast, represented the politics of addition and inclusion. All of the major candidates declared their support for the right-wing basis on which the Democrats have opposed Trump, including in their impeachment drive. From the outset of Trumps tenure, they have been guided by one overriding aimto deflect the mass opposition to Trumps racism, militarism and pro-corporate policies away from a popular movement of social opposition and channel it behind their foreign policy agenda, which centers on a more aggressive confrontation with Russia than that endorsed by Trump. During the debate, Biden called on everyone in the hall to give a standing show of support to Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a rabid anti-communist and Ukrainian nationalist who headed the Ukraine desk at the National Security Council and was fired by Trump on Friday for testifying at the House impeachment inquiry. Vindman denounced Trump for withholding military aid from Ukraine in order to pressure Kiev to announce a corruption investigation into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. This was the core of the Democrats impeachment drive, based on the claim that Trump betrayed America, sided with Russia against an ally under attack from Moscow, and undermined US national security. That the Democrats, following the ignominious outcome of their impeachment drive, intend to continue their McCarthyite campaign against Russia was indicated by the publication of an editorial Friday by the Washington Post demanding new sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its role in attacking Al Qaeda-linked rebel forces in northwestern Syria. In the debate, Warren backtracked on her previous call for Medicare for all, continuing a path that began weeks ago when she came under attack by bankers and the billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for calling for a wealth tax on billionaires to pay for the program. She instead declared corruption to be the central issue and then sought to inject racial politics into the debate, declaring that she would enact race-conscious laws on education, employment and entrepreneurship. The impeachment debacle has further demoralized the Democratic Party and exacerbated its crisis and internal divisions, raising the possibility of a split even before the November election. The dominant faction is determined to suppress the class issues of social inequality that are driving the growth of working class opposition, and to run a campaign based on anti-Russian and anti-Chinese militarism combined with the racial and gender politics of the partys privileged upper-middle class constituency. The Sanders wing, which includes the various pseudo-left organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, seeks to use populist phrases to contain social opposition and a still inchoate support for socialism and channel them back behind the Democratic Party and the capitalist two-party system. In an article in the New York Times on Friday, columnist David Brooks summed up the crisis of the Democratic Party as follows: Democrats may end up in a position in which they cant nominate Bernie Sanders because hes too far left, and they cant not nominate him because his followers would bolt from a Biden/Bloomberg/Buttigieg-led party. Brooks noted that tens of thousands of Sanders voters in the 2016 Democratic primaries ended up going for Trump in the general election after the Democrats nominated Clinton and Sanders lined up behind her. The millions of workers and youth who are attracted to Sanders are looking for a means to oppose the evils of capitalismpoverty, inequality, war and repression. They are supporting Sanders not because they believe in the Democratic Party, and they will soon learn the hard way that Sanders is a false prophet who defends the system no less than Biden or Clinton. The Socialist Equality Party offers the only way forward in the struggle against Trump and the capitalist ruling elite he represents. It is running candidates in the 2020 electionJoseph Kishore for president and Norissa Santa Cruz for vice presidenton the basis of a socialist and internationalist program. Those who want to oppose inequality, war and dictatorship should support our campaign and make the decision to join the SEP. For more information on the SEP election campaign and to sign up, visit socialism2020.org. Bernie Sanders boasted to supporters Saturday that he won the caucuses in Iowa, even though with 100 per cent of precincts reporting accounted for, he is shown .1 percentage point behind Pete Butitgieg. 'Our campaign is off to a great start. After finally the votes were counted in Iowa. Took them a little while. We won the vote by 6,000 votes,' Sanders touted to a room of about 650 suppoerts at an Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire. 'Here in northern New England, when you win the vote, you usually win the election,' he lamented. Sanders was referring to the differences between a caucus and primary election and how even if you A final victor has not officially been called in Iowa after malfunctions in the reporting app thrust the state into confusion and the Iowa Democratic Party had to resort to paper reporting and manual tabulations delaying the results for days. Bernie Sanders touted he won the Iowa caucuses because he got more votes but Pete Buttigieg is shown with .1 percentage point more than the Vermont senator with 100 per cent of precincts reporting in Sanders, during a town hall event at the Rochester Opera House in New Hampshire, let up on naming Buttigieg with attacking fellow Democratic candidates for accepting money from billionaire donors 'Unlike some of the folks up here I don't have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign coming from the pharmaceutical industry, coming from Wall Street and all the big money interest,' Sanders said during the eighth Democratic debates Friday night Sanders has spent the days between the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, which will be held Tuesday, launching attacks at Buttigieg. During his Politics & Eggs remarks at Saint Anselm College's Institute of Politics in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday morning, he bashed Buttigieg for accepting donations from billionaires. 'How do we feel when we have candidates in the Democratic Party right now and I'm reading some headlines from newspapers about Pete Buttigieg. 'Pete Buttigieg has most exclusive billionaire donors of any Democrat' that was from Forbes,' the candidate recited, using news reports to prove where Buttigieg's campaign money comes from. 'The Hill: 'Pete Buttigieg tops billionaire donor list.' Fortunate: 'Pete Buttigieg takes lead as big business candidate in 2020 field.' Washington Post: 'Pete Butigieg lures even closer look from Wall Street Donors following strong Iowa caucus performance.' Forbes Magazine: 'Here are the billionaires backing Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign,' Sanders continued. 'I like Pete Buttigieg nice guy. But we are in a moment where billionaires not only control our economy, but our political life,' the Vermont senator asserted. During his remarks Saturday, Sanders let up on naming Democratic rivals, but did tout his campaign is run by grass roots organizers and donations. 'Why is that important? It is important because it contrasts with the way other candidates do business. Other candidates, and there are several, who have raised huge amounts of money from billionaires,' Sanders said, not directly naming Buttigieg, but obviously making reference to him. 'Well, we don't raise large amounts of money in fact we don't raise any amounts of money from billionaires. We don't have a Super Pac. We don't want Super PAC. We don't want billionaires' money. We are running a campaign for working people, funded by working people,' he said to a cheering crowd. Friday evening, four days before the primary elections, the Democratic Party held their eighth primary debate at Saint Anselm College. There, Buttigieg defended himself against attacks thrown his way from Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. 'Look, I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or be President of the United States,' Warren said when speaking about Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire former mayor of New York City, who entered the Democratic primary in November. 'I don't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I don't think people who sucks up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it,' she continued, referencing her competitors who take money from these individuals. Sanders bashed Buttigieg for selling out to billionaires during his remarks at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. 'I like Pete Buttigieg nice guy. But we are in a moment where billionaires not only control our economy, but our political life,' Sanders said Buttigieg emerged with 26.2 per cent in Iowa while Sanders came out with 26.1 per cent. They results were delayed for days after a reporting app malfunctioned and caused caucuses to resort to paper reporting and manual tabulations Warren has sworn off big fundraisers but in the past has taken money from big-dollar donors. 'Everyone on this stage except Amy and me is either a billionaire or is receiving help from PACs that can do unlimited spending,' Warren said. 'So if you really want to live what you say, then put your money where your mouth is, and say no to the PACs.' 'Look, I think the way we build a democracy going forward is not billionaires reaching in their own pockets or people sucking up to billionaires. The way we build it going forward is we have a grassroots movement, funded from the grassroots up. That's the way I'm running this campaign,' she said. Sanders jumped in, agreeing with his fellow progressive senator, boasting his campaign is solely funded by grass roots contributors. 'Unlike some of the folks up here I don't have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign coming from the pharmaceutical industry, coming from Wall Street and all the big money interest,' Sanders said, taking a hit at the Iowa caucus victor. 'If we want to change American, you're not going to do it by electing candidates who are going out to rich people's homes begging for money,' Sanders said. But Buttigieg declared that whoever the Democratic nominee is in the end needs to go into the race against Donald Trump with a competitive amount of cash-on-hand. 'We are going into the fight of our lives,' he said, citing the massive amounts of money the Trump reelection campaign is bringing in. 'We need to go into that fight with everything we've got.' At his campaign event Saturday, Sanders let up on naming Buttigieg, especially after a new poll indicated he could also pull out an upset in New Hampshire. Buttigieg took a slim lead over Sanders in the latest New Hampshire poll released Friday. The 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana is the youngest candidate in the Democratic contest, but he overtook Sanders, who is the oldest at 78 the oldest. The Suffolk University tracking poll of New Hampshire Democratic voters showed Buttigieg with 25 poe cent and Sanders with 24 per cent still just a narrow edge over the progressive lawmaker. Contributed Photo / Department of Justice / Contributed Photo BRIDGEPORT A city man faces at least 10 years in prison after he recently pleaded guilty in federal court to firearm charges. Lynwood Cogdell, 32, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court on Thursday to two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In defecting from the Republican pack to support the impeachment of Donald Trump, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney gave what will be remembered as one of the most important speeches in U.S. history. It is a speech that will forever affix itself to the tarnished legacy of this corrupt president. The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival, Romney declared from the Senate floor, shortly before that body voted along otherwise party lines to acquit Trump of the charges against him. The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so. The president delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders. The presidents purpose was personal and political. Accordingly, the president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust. Other Republican senators have also acknowledged Trumps wrongdoing, while insisting that it did not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the charges against the president were proven, adding that it was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation. Trump riding high at State of the Union, but it's a long way to Election Day The experiences of Jimmy Carter and George Bush are a reminder that the nine months from now to Election Day are a political lifetime, columnist Carl Leubsdorf says. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said Trumps call asking the president of Ukraine to investigate a potential political rival was wrong and inappropriate. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) also pegged Trumps actions as inappropriate. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) called Trumps behavior shameful and wrong. But only Romney had the courage to hold the president accountable, supporting the charge that Trump abused his power and calling for his removal from office. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the president, the leader of my own party, would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced, Romney told his Senate colleagues, after becoming momentarily choked up. I was not wrong. Romney, the Republican Partys nominee for president in 2012, said there was no question in my mind that Trump was engaged in a political pursuit against former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. He agreed that Trump had committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor. The truth that mattered at Trump's impeachment trial? America is a monarchy now In the end, the fires of the American Experiment were extinguished by a crude demagogue and the power of his mean tweets, columnist Will Bunch says. Trumps actions, Romney said, amounted to a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of ones oath of office that I can imagine. Romney said he found it impossible to ignore the evidence and disregard his oath to defend the Constitution for the sake of a partisan end, saying that this would expose my character to historys rebuke and the censure of my own conscience. After impeachment, remember Ukraine as the symbol of unchecked presidential power No matter the verdict, Ukraine has become the symbol of Trump's worst authoritarian impulses both at home and in foreign policy, columnist Trudy Rubin says. Trump and his allies, predictably, are lashing out at Romney. Trump dismissed him on Twitter as a failed presidential candidate now caught up in the throes of sanctimony, while the presidents grifter son, Donald Trump Jr., declared on Twitter that Romney is now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP. Such attacks will of course continue, but so will expressions of respect and appreciation for Romneys solitary act of courage in an era of partisan pusillanimity. Where other members of his party capitulated to fear of Trumps wrath and the low ethic of party loyalty, Romney acted in accordance with his conscience. He has, among his GOP colleagues in Congress, placed himself on the right side of history. For that, he emerges from this disgusting period of American history as an authentic hero. Bill Lueders is editor of The Progressive. This column was produced for the Progressive Media Project and distributed by Tribune News Service. A three-year-old girl has survived after part of a Peppa Pig watch became lodged in her throat. Perth toddler Eadie Byrne, three, was sucking on her watch in her sleep when the character's head, as well as pins and screws from the clasp, broke off and were swallowed. Parents Georgie and Clinton Byrne rushed their daughter to hospital where doctors ordered a CT scan to check whether the metal fastenings had entered her lungs. They discovered the smaller pieces had travelled to her stomach while the head-shaped accessory had become stuck in Eadie's food pipe. Eadie Byrne (pictured), three, was rushed to hospital last week after accidentally swallowing parts of her Peppa Pig watch in her sleep 'Eadie was complaining of chest pain every 20 mins or so which was the confusing part as we assumed it went through to her stomach,' Mr Byrne told Daily Mail Australia. 'We were very surprised she managed to swallow so much of it whilst in her sleep.' The couple are warning others to steer clear of the $15 watch that was purchased at Target, but is also available at Big W, Myer, and on eBay. 'Glad to have her back and Georgie has been an amazing mother supporting a very frightened little girl,' Mr Byrne wrote on Facebook. 'I say do not buy it and it should be removed for sale immediately. It is for children three and over and clearly not safe.' Mr Byrne said he did not realise just how big the Peppa Pig accessory (pictured) was until it was removed and placed it next to a ten cent coin Mr Byrne, 44, said he and his wife, 36, were at the Fringe Festival on Sunday when a babysitter called around 8pm to tell them Eadie was upset. 'Eadie had woken up upset coughing and said she swallowed something,' he said. 'Her watch is never left on her when asleep so she got out of bed at some stage during the night and got it and then fell asleep holding it. The $15 Peppa pig watch is sold at various retailers across Australia 'It would seem during her sleep she sucked on it and the watch has fallen apart and her reflex was to swallow. The mother and father dashed home immediately to take Eadie, who was still breathing but in pain, to Perth Children's Hospital. There, staff praised the parents for seeking medical attention straight away. 'They said this is the reason you go to the hospital immediately once a child swallows a foreign object because you dont know where the item may be regardless if your child is not choking,' Mr Byrne said. The following day, Eadie had an endoscopy to remove the head, which was about the size of a ten cent coin. Following the scare, the father-of-four said his daughter is back to her 'energetic self'. 'She certainly knows what has happened but her love for Peppa Pig is stronger than ever.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Target for comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 21:21:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Thousands of female workers have been devoted to the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, fighting strongly with their male peers to help and save the needed. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- In China's battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic, women have shown their powerful will, professionalism, selfless devotion and great resilience alongside their male peers. As of Feb. 2, about 3,476 female medical workers from around the country had been dispatched to central China's Hubei Province to assist in combating the epidemic, according to the China Medical Women's Association. Female health workers of a 101-member medical care team swear an oath before setting off for central China's Hubei Province to combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia, in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) FRONTLINE DEVOTION Before departing for Wuhan, Liu Lu, a nurse at the provincial people's hospital in east China's Jiangxi, had her shoulder-length hair cut. "Looking good is no longer important at this moment, I must be responsible for the safety of my patients and myself," said the 30-year-old. She was assigned to the third treatment group at the Wuhan No. 5 Hospital, where she knew no one and could only identify her colleagues by the nametags on their heavy hazmat suits. A female medical staff works at the department of infectious diseases in Wuhan Union Hospital, to combat the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Liu works in the newly opened area for infectious diseases. "Everything here is new and unfamiliar, except the bustle and tension," she said. Liu takes a shift of four hours every day, and getting dressed and undressed from her hazmat suit takes another two hours. She usually wears five layers of clothes under the gown, but still, she feels freezing sitting inside the unheated ward. But when she moves, the air-tight gown soon makes her sweat. After a day's work, when she takes off her mask, her face is left with blood-red marks, and the skin of many of her colleagues is irritated with zits. Many of them cry out seeing themselves in the mirror. Marks caused by masks are seen on the face of a female medical worker at Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital of Fujian in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 31, 2020. (Photo by Wang Yi/Xinhua) On the fifth day of her arrival in Wuhan, she submitted an application to join the Party. "No matter how long the fight will be, I will proceed without hesitation," she said. The novel coronavirus had claimed 722 lives as of Friday on the Chinese mainland and sickened tens of thousands more, with Wuhan, the source of the pathogen, hardest hit. Liu is among the 88 women in the first batch of 138 medical staff from Jiangxi to assist Wuhan, according to data from the Jiangxi Provincial Health Committee. Female health workers on a 50-member medical team pose for photos before leaving for Wuhan at Shanghai South Railway Station from east China's Shanghai, Jan. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Female medical staff accounted for about half of the frontline personnel involved in the fight against the epidemic in Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital. Among them, there are 11 nurses working in the isolation wards and 20 in the fever clinic. And among the second batch of 101 medical workers from Jiangxi to assist Wuhan, 97 are women. The same can be seen in hospitals across the nation and almost all the departments involved in the combat against the virus. Cao Liyao (C), a female health worker on a team of 136 Beijing medical workers, kisses goodbye to her husband Wang Bin before leaving for Wuhan of Hubei Province to join the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION To control the spread of the novel coronavirus, many Chinese cities have adopted a community-based prevention and control system, which can relieve the pressure on hospitals, block the transmission source and prevent cross-infection. And the majority of the grassroots workers are women. "Community is the cornerstone of epidemic prevention and control," said Zhao Yongmei, secretary of the Party Committee of the No. 3 Community of Gongrenxin Village in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. "We carry out door-to-door registration, conduct regular visits, report timely information to the local government and post notices in every neighborhood," she said. During the Spring Festival holiday, Zhao, along with seven other female peers, worked late into the night every day. Female community workers select and pack goods for residents of a building kept in quarantine during the novel coronavirus outbreak in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi) In Wuhan's Chang'er Community, Jianghan District, there are 3,104 households of 7,333 residents. Its community committee, however, has only 16 staff members, and 14 of them are women. "I take dozens of phone calls every day, and sometimes over 100," said Hua Qing, head of the Chang'er Community Committee. Hua said the nonstop incoming calls often leave her no time "to take a sip of water until 1 p.m." "People usually call to report their physical conditions and ask for medical materials," said Zhu Xuan with the community committee. A female community worker (L) and her colleague learn about residents' situation in Caidian District of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) According to Zhu, the committee staff are also responsible for calling previously registered sick residents to inquire about their physical conditions and arrange hospitalization for those in need. Also, the community committee is in charge of purchasing and sending medicines and daily necessities to patients and elderly people who live alone. A female community worker checks body temperature for a resident at a street near the Yellow Crane Pavilion in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) "For weeks, everyone in the committee has left their phone on 24 hours a day, communicating with the residents. Many staff have lost their voice," Hua said. Worried about being infected, some residents show impatience and even anger. "We all understand," Hua said. "Many people express their gratitude and some call afterward to apologize for their inappropriate words." "Though it's hard work, it's well worth it as we are protecting the safety of residents in our community, and it would be a great comfort to me even to solve the problems of only one resident every day," she added. (by Xinhua Writers: Chu Yi, Ma Yujie, Cheng Di, Yue Wenwan, Xu Yang and Yu Yetong. Video reporter: Yu Guoqing, Wang Siban, Xu Yang, Yang Zhigang, Xu Dongyuan, Huang Anqi, Lin Kai, Zhang Caixia, Yang Jing and Yuan Mingyue; Video editor: Yin Le) Construction works have commenced on a holding facility for the Ghana Prisons Service at Damongo in the Savannah Region to promote the welfare of prisoners. It is being undertaken by the Church of Pentecost as part of its five-year plan to help the needy and improve their conditions in the country. The project, which is expected to be completed in eight months, comprises two hostels to accommodate 300 prisoners, a training workshop, a recreational facility, a church and an administrative block. Apostle Williams Ohemeng Kwakye, Area Head, Church of Pentecost, Sawla, who spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony to begin the project at Damongo, expressed the Church's commitment to champion the welfare of all in society. He expressed appreciation to the Yagbonwura for releasing 200 acres of land for the project. Mr Salifu Adam Braimah, Savannah Regional Minister commended the Church for its contributions towards the development of the country and assured the Church of support from the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council to ensure that the project was successful. A Director of Prisons Service in-charge of Technical Services in the Northern Region, Mr Nelson Duut, expressed gratitude to the Church for the support and called on other institutions to emulate the gesture. Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, the team paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura to seek his blessings for the project. Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Essa, Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area described the Church as a savior to many communities and thanked it for the numerous interventions it put in place to better the lives of the citizenry. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Irked by the increasing spat of insecurity across the country under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has called on Nigerians to seek alternative means of safeguarding themselves from the hands of criminal elements in the country. "Nigerians in the circumstance need to look for an alternative measures to secure their lives. No place is safe in the country because the centre is no longer holding the ace. All State Governors should therefore device a means to provide an alternative security measures to save lives and property". The Ijaw Youth Council president, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq., stated this Friday eve in a press release signed and made available to The Nigerian Voice. According to him, Nigeria will not know peace unless president Buhari rules the country in accordance with our unity of diversity, "The earlier he does that the better for the country. Buhari needs to rule Nigeria in accordance with the Constitution". Said he: "We condemn the gruesome murder of the CAN Chairman, Adamawa Branch in cold blood. We join CAN and other well meaning Nigerians to call the Government to stop the serial killings across the Country. President Buhari should also heed to the voice of reasons to overhaul his redundant service chiefs. The lopsided composition of the security structures in the Government and their lack of will to confront the present quagmire is the cause of the rising insecurities, reiterating that the growing insecurities across the country is a clear indication of system failure. He alleged that the central government has failed in its primary responsibility of securing lives and property in the country, stressing that the people in power at the centre has lost control of the system. He disclosed that the Ijaw Youth Council, are proud of the south west governors for the introduction of Amotekun, a security outfit geared towards the protection of their lands from criminals. "IYC commends the South West governors for taking that bold step to establish a regional security outfit called Amotekun. All the regions should replicate that same gesture in each of the geopolitical zones. Security is everybody's business. It has come to a point where all hands need to be on desk to solve this intractable conundrum", he added. Gulf Shores and its sugar-white sand beaches are Alabamas hottest tourist attraction, winning more and more visitors every year since the 2010 BP oil spill. With that surge has come a clamor for new amenities. Opening in the next year or two will be a new zoo, a hotel and conference center across from the popular public beach, and a new 24-hour freestanding emergency room. Bigger still, the Gulf Shores airport is poised to spread its wings wide. Plans are in the works to begin welcoming commercial flights into and out of Jack Edwards National Airport within the next two years. Ive been in this industry for 40 years, and I can tell you that this thing will be huge. My expectation is that this thing will be a huge success. said Scott Fuller, airport manager since 2013, whose focus is on transforming the 78-year-old general aviation complex into a commercial beehive. He added, Our visitors are getting closer to year-round now. Its all just coming together. Great potential Jack Edwards, owned by the city since 1983, is overseen by an Airport Authority that guides its daily affairs and is charting the future course for its sprawling 838 acres. Challenges abound as the commercial hopes take shape, from financing a new $8 million to $10 million airport terminal to securing a commitment from a low-cost carrier. The latter is viewed as a necessity. We have the capability to finance it ourselves, said Fuller, suggesting bonding is the likely path. We need a letter of intent from an airline. Another challenge will be spreading the word far and wide that Gulf Shores is a true air destination. Close to 6.6 million people visited the beaches in 2018, up from around 6 million five years ago. And almost all of them drove there: A whopping 92% of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach visitors during the summers of 2018 and 2019 arrived by car. A meager 7% came by air, according to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, and three-quarters of them traveled through the Pensacola International Airport, presumably renting a car for the hour-long drive to the west. We recognize that historically weve been predominately a drive-to market somewhere in the 95% drive to 5% fly range, said Herb Malone, president & CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. We always see opportunities out there to expand more into the fly markets. He said, If we can pull it off to have some air service here, it would be a great potential. The public beach in Gulf Shores on a Memorial Day weekend. Most beach goers travel to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach by automobile. In fact, recent statistics show a whopping 92% traveled to coastal Alabama last year by car or truck. But movement is afoot to transform Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores into a commercial airport that could boost the number of people who arrive to coastal Alabama by plane. (file photo) Fuller believes that Gulf Shores is primed to lure air travelers from major cities like Nashville whod much prefer a direct flight into the beach resort as opposed to a long drive down Interstate 65. Nashville, he pointed out, is a big drive market for Gulf Shores, and its at least eight hours away. If we had air service, we could cut into that tremendously, Fuller said. The airport has a 7,000-foot-long runway that is equipped to handle large 737 aircraft, Fuller said. We have (large) charters coming in, Hangout Festivals and sporting events where universities fly in, he said. The airport was designed, nearly 20 years ago, in preparation of handling larger commercial aircraft, Fuller said. Like an air show everyday The first step in the transformation of Jack Edwards airport named for the popular congressman who died in September at age 91 involves the construction of a control tower. The airport was among the first in the U.S. to apply for and receive a control tower grant since a federal program was reauthorized to help finance such construction following a 10-year hiatus. The towers total cost will be $4.6 million, Fuller said, of which the Airport Authority is responsible for $500,000. He said the authority will be ready in May to bid out a construction contract, with an anticipated finish-date of February or March 2021. A tower, Fuller said, will allow the authority to better orchestrate the activity that occurs daily on the airports runways. Gulf Shores airport had 93,000 takeoffs and landings in 2019, according to Fuller, which he says makes it the second busiest airport in Alabama behind Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International. According to Federal Aviation Administration statistics, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth had 104,847 takeoffs and landings in 2019. Those figures represented all types of aircraft: commercial, general aviation, military, etc. The second closest large airport was Montgomery Regional Airport with 81,637 takeoffs and landings. Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman with the FAA, said that Jack Edwards National Airport wasnt included in the federal data because it didnt have a control tower. But Fuller said, Its like an air show every day out here. The buzzing activity of private and military aircraft is what prompted the Airport Authority to pursue the federal grant for tower construction. We knew we would get it, said Fuller, referring to the grant. There is no other airport in the country with a bigger demand for it. He added, We have aircraft (taking off) 15 seconds of each other at both ends of the runway. It should be 60 seconds. The new tower, she said, will control the air space four miles from the airport and make it a lot safer and more comfortable for people coming in here. We have no history The next step will be securing a commitment for a commercial airline to fly in and out of Jack Edwards, and Fuller is scouring the market for possibilities. Simply finding airlines that have even heard of Gulf Shores has been complicated, Fuller admits. He said hes met with eight or nine airlines in the past two years. We have no history, he said. We have no air history, commercial wise. If you want to go to Mobile or Pensacola, they have a history. Fuller insists that Jack Edwards, as a repositioned commercial airport, wont be competing with the Mobile Airport Authority and its future goals of relocating the citys commercial aviation services to the Downtown Mobile Airport at the Brookley Aeroplex. The drive-time between the two airports is slightly more than an hour. Mobiles market is more business orientated than we are, said Fuller. Very little (commercial activity) would be business here. The mainstream airlines dont like tourism, they like business. Chris Curry, president of the Mobile Airport Authority, said the two airports wont be in competition even if they are both attempting to lure low-cost carriers. Frontier Airlines, the only airline flying out of Brookley which opened as a commercial airport last year will be leaving the market in April. Curry is planning for the exodus and anticipates a larger legacy airline relocating from Mobile Regional Airport in far western Mobile to the Downtown Airport. And a master plan, outlining how to relocate the entire commercial operations to the Downtown airport, is expected to be finalized by July. Hopefully, (Gulf Shores) is successful, but I think its going to be tough, said Curry. The way the industry is going right now, even the low-cost carrier model is gravitating toward major cities. Ideally, said Fuller, the Jack Edwards transformation would follow a similar script to the Punta Gorda Airport in southeast Florida. Jack Edwards and Punta Gorda both opened around the same time in the 1940s and both as general aviation airports. Punta Gorda welcomed its first low-cost carrier in 2008, and Allegiant Airlines soon followed. The result has been an explosion of airport activity that has seen Punta Gordas passenger traffic go from 182,423 in 2010, to 1.6 million last year. Similar town, similar tourism, Fuller said, with hopeful eyes on Allegiant someday. Allegiant is huge. The Midwest is our market. Washington and Baltimore The people we speak with at the Pentagon are wondering when we will get air service. A lot of federal retirees are here and are going back and forth and are still working. There is a lot of military here. Fuller said the Airport Authority is also prepared to dole out incentives to lure the airlines. For example, it could award a six-month abatement on landing and ramp fee charges. Such incentives arent uncommon. In Baton Rouge, officials are talking about the development of public-private partnerships to raise revenue guarantees for airlines that agree to bring in new service. Ohio state economic development officials are setting aside $4 million to help airports attract flights to unserved or underserved markets, according to media reports. What we are hearing is, When will you get air service? said Fuller. Here, they understand the importance of the airport to the economy. Without this airport, there is no economy. There is nothing. He had been 'head over heels' for new girl Natalia, after setting sights on her during his time in Casa Amor. But despite romance seeming to blossom between them, it looks like Luke M and Natalia are in for an explosive showdown, as she admits she has 'no sexual chemistry' with the Justin Bieber lookalike. In a spoiler clip for Sunday night's episode, Luke is seen questioning whether Natalia has been genuine with him and fans were quick to react on Twitter, with many calling the Casa Amor newcomer a 'fraud'. Awkward: Love Island's Natalia was seen admitting she has 'no sexual chemistry' with Luke M in a tense trailer for Sunday night's episode of the show Luke is seen talking things through with best pal and Luke T and sharing his doubts over Natalia, he says: 'I don't know if Casa Amor was forced or what?' The camera then cuts to Natalia, who is stood around the fire pit, and speaking about Luke M, who chose to bring her back to the main villa with him, says: 'I don't feel any sexual chemistry whatsoever.' Fans were quick to react to the teaser on Twitter and were quick to slam Natalia for 'using' Luke M, so she could maintain a place on the dating series. They wrote: 'Nice guys finish last for some reason I dont understand. Luke M, take a page off of Mikes book. Its time to become savage #LoveIsland. 'If one more girl mugs off luke M Im flying over to Africa myself #loveisland. Tense: Luke is seen questioning whether Natalia has been genuine with him 'Natalia is fake. Wants her PLT clothing line not Luke M #loveisland. 'actually feel soooo bad for Luke M, hes one of the most genuine, sweetest boys in there but just has no luck with the girls he chooses #LoveIsland. 'If Luke M gets hurt again I stg, he is the purest little soul ever, not to mention the fact he is G O R G E O U S!!!! What are these girls missing???? Omg. 'In Conclusion, Natalia didn't like Luke M in any way she just used him to enter the main villa #LoveIsland.' During Friday's episode, viewers saw Luke M admit that he is still yet to kiss Natalia, after the pair decided to take things slow when it comes to their relationship. 'Fraud alert': Fans accused Natalia of 'using' Luke after seeing Sunday night's teaser The boys were left shocked by his revelation, but unfazed, Luke said he would 'wait as long as he needs to' when it comes to getting affectionate with the beauty. All six girls that entered Casa Amor set their sights on Luke, with all of them admitting they fancied the Geordie lad. He was initially attracted to Molly, but seemed to hit things off with Natalia and didn;t second guess his decision to bring her back into the main villa with him. Luke had been coupled up with Jess Gale, but ended things with Jess after realising the twin was more interested in Mike Boateng. However, neither Jess or Mike stayed single to make a go of things with one another, she recoupled with new boy Ched and Mike decided to couple up with new girl Priscilla. Awkward: Elsewhere in the episode, fans saw Shaughna Phillips threaten to leave the Love Island villa, after a tense showdown with Callum Jones on his return Elsewhere in the episode, fans saw Shaughna Phillips threaten to leave the Love Island villa, after a tense showdown with Callum Jones on his return. He ditched Shaughna for blonde model Molly and told his ex that 'something was missing' between him, so his head eventually was turned. Shaughna accused Callum of 'forcing' their relationship and was later sent out of the villa with Molly to discuss the scaffolder. Fans will have to wait and see how their conversation plays out in Sunday night's episode, with Sean Paul making a surprise appearance on the show to perform for the islanders. Love Island continues Sunday night at 9pm on ITV. In the run-up to the February 8 Delhi Assembly elections, the Arvind-Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a publicity blitz over the work done by the party in the last five years. The BJP, which has been on its toes to wrest power in the national capital, is seen countering AAP optics-for-optics, scheme-for-scheme, albeit its focus on vikas (development) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In December last year, AAP released a Report Card which took stock of the work undertaken by the ruling party in the last five years. The report card was then distributed to over 35 lakh households during its door-to-door campaign. While releasing their manifesto last week, AAP promised to continue with their policies as well as promised to make Delhi "a bustling 24X7 hospitable city". Meanwhile, the BJP released their 'Sankalp Patra' or manifesto days ahead of the election, in an attempt to outfox their rival. Here's how they are stacked up: Education AAP's report card suggested that the education budget has nearly tripled from Rs 6,600 crore to 15,600 crores. Besides, over 20,000 new classrooms have been constructed. It also said that the quality of education has improved in government schools, with Class 12 giving a result of 96.2 percent as against 93 percent in private schools. The BJP attacked AAP by putting up pictures of ramshackle school buildings, with state unit chief Manoj Tiwari claiming that classes were being held only for two hours, which included the lunch break. BJP MP Gautam Gambhir released a 55-second video of a school showing broken toilets and poor infrastructure. To this, AAP leader Atishi claimed that the BJP was staging an attack by deliberately uploading pictures of the old school building when the new building was either ready or was under construction. In its sankalp patra (manifesto), the BJP has promised increasing the education and health budget of the city by 10 per cent. The party also promised setting up of 10 new colleges and 200 new schools in Delhi. Health AAP said that it has started Mohalla clinics or primary health-care centres across Delhi. The ruling party, in its report card, claimed that 400 of these clinics, which offer free consultation and medicines at a subsidised cost, are operational in the city. The Health Budget has increased from Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 7,500 crore. In addition, cases of dengue have reduced by more than 90 percent in the city, the report card suggested. The BJP slammed this claim too, releasing pictures and videos of clinics in unhygienic conditions, claiming they were devoid of manpower as well as medicines. BJP senior leader JP Nadda said, "Mr Kejriwal, you promised to open 1,000 Mohalla clinics every year. Far from opening 1,000 clinics, whatever is thrown open, there are neither medicines, nor any facilities. The shallow politics of AAP has also deprived the poor of Modi ji's Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which offers free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh annually to the poor of Delhi." If voted to power, the BJP has promised implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital. Bijli, Paani The AAP government has been successfully provided water and electricity at a cheaper rate. The ruling government provides Delhiites with 20,000 litres of water per month free of cost. Water is charged as usual on consumption in excess of 20,000 litres. The area coverage of Delhis piped water network has increased from 53% to 98%. Similarly, the state government has waived off charges for power consumption up to 200 units, as well as offered 50 percent rebate between 201-400 units. Besides, it has provided round-the-clock power supply with minimum disruptions due to load-shedding. The BJP has hit back at AAP for providing free water of sub-standard quality. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has claimed that Delhi has fared the worst in water quality, citing a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) report. However, Arvind Kejriwal refuted Javadekars claims, saying water was fit for consumption as per the guidelines of WHO (World Health Organisation). He cited an extensive report by Delhi Jal Board which said that only 1.43 percent of the over 1.55 lakh water samples collected from across the city were unsatisfactory. The BJP has promised clean water supply to every household in the city in their manifesto. Security of women, CCTV cameras, better transport Months ahead of the polls, incumbent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a slew of measures. Among them were installation of CCTV cameras and free rides to women in DTC and cluster buses. As per AAPs report card, "In the move to prevent crime and provide security to women, 1.4 lakh CCTVs were installed and 1.4 lakh more CCTVs will be installed. In the transport sector, 4,300 new DTC buses were included." However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the Kejriwal-led government for not being able to fulfill the promises on CCTV cameras. In the last 60 months, the Aam Aadmi Party government made only promises and now in the last 3 months, the public development money was spent on advertisements for its announcements. The people of Delhi are still looking for free WiFi, 1.5 million CCTV cameras, new colleges and hospitals, Shah tweeted. Besides, a report in The Times of India has suggested that the ruling party has not been able to live up to its promise of adding 5000 new buses in five years. The only notable addition has been in cluster buses, which has gone up from 1,402 to 2,208. Kejriwal and Shah even traded barbs over the installation of free wifi hotspots across the city, which Kejriwal green-flagged weeks ahead of the assembly polls. Mixed Bag In December 2018, Kejriwal had also launched a scheme which provided free pilgrimage to the senior citizens of Delhi on specific circuits. Under the scheme, a city resident above 60 years was made eligible to take free pilgrimage along with his or her spouse or an attendant above the age of 20 years. The expenditure of the attendant was borne by the Delhi government. Despite the freebies, the ruling AAP government has registered an increase in the annual state budget from an estimated Rs 30,000 crore in 2015 to Rs 60,000 crore in 2019. In addition, Delhi went from a fiscal deficit of around Rs 3,942 crore in 2013-14 to a fiscal surplus of Rs 113 crore in 2017-18. The share of public debt to the GSDP has also fallen from 7.23 percent to 4.89 percent, as per a CAG report tabled in the Delhi Assembly. The BJPs comeback to this is the regularisation of the 1,731 illegal colonies in Delhi. In the run up to the state elections, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri gave registry papers to 20 residents from Delhis illegal colonies. The saffron party has been campaigning for this with Jahan jhuggi, wahan makaan as the slogan. Further, the party has promised atta or wheat flour, which is a staple in the state at the rate of Rs 2 per kg for the citys poor; introduction of electric vehicles to curb pollution; and increasing the pension for the widows of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to Rs 3,500 from the existing Rs 2,500. Which of these will appeal to the voters of Delhi, will be clear on February 11, when the results to 70-member assembly polls will be declared. By Trend Azerbaijani media outlets give equal attention to all candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Presenter of Pakistans HUM news agency Shiffa Zakria Yousafzai told Trend. Yousafzai arrived in Azerbaijan as a member of journalists' delegation from Pakistan to cover early parliamentary elections, scheduled for Feb.9. Yousafzai, who is in Azerbaijan for the first time, said the first thing she noticed is the cleanliness and safety of Baku. Yousafzai said that the delegation met with representatives of various Azerbaijani media outlets to see how they are covering the election process. It was very interesting for me to get information about how does media cover the elections. They said that they give equal opportunities to all the candidates. They interview them, publish articles about them, Yousafzai said. The parliamentary elections will be held in Azerbaijan on February 9. There are 125 constituencies in Azerbaijan. Presently, the number of MP candidates is 1,321. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Waco fire Lt. Phillip Burnett, president of the Waco Professional Firefighters Association Local 478, said he is excited to have an excellent pool of candidates interested in the job. He said he looks forward to developing a good relationship with the next chief and the city. We hope to have an open door policy and continue to build a stronger department with the heads of both organizations working together with a common goal to benefit the citizens of Waco, Burnett said. We will work together to make it the greatest fire department in the state of Texas. The next fire chief will lead a department with 203 civil service positions and five civilian positions. The department was recently recognized for achieving a Class 1 rating under the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification. The city has had an ISO rating of Class 2 since 2009 and was previously a Class 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Holze initially declined to release names of the finalists for fire chief after the Tribune-Herald made a public information request for that information Monday. Finalists for government positions are available for public review and release with few exceptions, according to the Texas Public Information Act. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The director of a Chinese restaurant, with premises in both Balbriggan and Drogheda, has been ordered to come up with a charitable donation if he wants to avoid a conviction for employing two people without valid work permits. Golden Tango Ltd, as a company, has also been ordered to come up with a similar charitable donation for failing to keep records in relation to permits and wages at its Tango Restaurants at Ashfield Rise in Balbriggan and Rathmullen in Drogheda. Balbriggan District Court heard that following an inspection by an inspector from the WorkPlace Relations on October 18, 2018, the inspector found Jin Xin Cao, working in the restaurant. Mr Cao, who was on a Stamp 3, had no permission to work in the State. The inspector said he spoke to the restaurant's director Shin Ngo, who was also working in the restaurant, and requested a copy of the roster. Mr Ngo informed the inspector the restaurant didn't have any rosters or any employment records. 'There was no way of knowing pay, the time employees worked, their gross pay,' the inspector to the court. The inspector said he inspected the company's Balbriggan branch of the restaurant on October 18, 2018 and came across a second individual, Gabriel Giesing Yong, whose immigration Stamp 2 had expired at the end of September. Solicitor for Mr Ngo and the restaurant said they accept proper records were not in place. 'One of the individuals had the correct paperwork to work until the end of September, a Stamp 2 while the second individual was a temporary worker filling in for a short time.' The solicitor explained the company has addressed all its issues and has correct records now. The company has also employed an accountant who is looking after the payroll now. The solicitor explained the restaurants employ a total of seven people and Mr Ngo, who has been living here for 32 years, works full time in the restaurant. Judge John Brennan said these 'are very serious matters'. He said: 'Young people are imported in to work long hours and these are vulnerable people.' He ordered the company to come up with a 500 charitable donation. An IRS ruling will make it harder for landowners in South Carolina and other state to deduct as much from their income taxes when donating easements on their land. Above, part of a 13,868-acre tract put under conservation easement along the Savannah River. Provided SPRING HILL, Fla. - Neighbours used sticks, pieces of a gutter and a lawn chair in an attempt to stop a pack of dogs from mauling a Florida woman, who was critically injured in the attack that lasted at least five minutes, authorities said. Fridays attack only stopped when firefighters arrived at the home in Spring Hill and used their equipment to disperse the dogs, the Hernando County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. The woman, who wasnt identified, was in critical condition at a hospital. Two neighbours who tried to intervene and were bit by the dogs also were taken for treatment at a hospital. Three other neighbours refused medical treatment for minor injuries, the sheriffs office said. What I saw Ill never be able to unsee, neighbour Kathy Gillespie told WTSP-TV. The woman was in her backyard with her small dog when four or five dogs in a neighbouring house saw them through a sliding glass door that wasnt properly closed, authorities said. The neighbours dogs then escaped from the house and attacked them, the Hernando County Sheriffs Office said. Animal control officers removed seven dogs from the neighbours house, even though no more than five of them were involved in the attack, the sheriffs office said. Spring Hill is about 40 miles (64 kilometres) north of Tampa. The Andhra Pradesh government late on Saturday night placed Director General of Police-rank IPS officer A B Venkateswara Rao under suspension for allegedly "endangering" national security through his "acts of treason" when he was state Intelligence chief during the previous regime. Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney issued an order placing Rao under suspension based on a report submitted by Director General of Police (Head of Police Force) Gautam Sawang, alleging "serious misconduct" in the process of procurement of security equipment. Rao, who belongs to the 1989 batch, was removed as the Intelligence chief after the Y S Jaganmohan Reddy government assumed office on May 30 last year. Ever since, he has not been given a posting. A confidential report on Rao, considered the 'Man Friday' of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, said, "Rao wilfully disclosed intelligence protocols and procedures of police to a foreign defence manufacturing firm. This is a direct threat to national security as intelligence protocols are standard throughout the Indian Police Force." "Based on facts uncovered via investigation, prima facie evidence is established on the grave misconduct and irregularities, which were willfully committed by the accused officer resulting out of conscious and premeditated act of treason towards the state and the nation," the confidential report said. The report also said Rao colluded with one RT Inflatables Private Limited, an Israeli defence equipment manufacturer, to illegally award critical intelligence and surveillance contract to his son Chetan Sai Krishna, who was CEO of Akasam Advanced Systems Pvt. Ltd. (primary bidder on behalf of RT Inflatables Pvt. Ltd.). "This proves a direct co-relation between the accused officer and a foreign defence manufacturing firm, thus establishing a direct breach of ethical code of conduct and Rule (3) (a) of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968," the report added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I am proud to have worked with tremendously dedicated staff, city council and people in the community who all have the same goal make Elgin the best place for all to live, do business and grow, she said in the release. Elgin truly is a special place and no doubt continues to have a bright future, particularly with such talented leaders at the helm. Firefighters from Meath and Dublin joined forces last Wednesday to tackle an industrial fire in north County Dublin. Crews from Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and Navan are at the scene in The Naul along with units from Balbriggan and Skerries. Pictures posted on social media by Dubin Fire Brigade shortly after 9pm on the night show the interior of the building in flame with its roof caving in. It's understood the warehouse type building was full of furniture. The property is located in Naul close to the Dublin Model Car Club. It is understood there were no injuries in the blaze. Firefighters said that tackling the blaze was challenging due to the difficulty in accessing sufficient water and the size of the blaze. It took all five crews working together to finally extinguish the blaze. NYPD makes arrest in fatal shooting of 16-year-old in West Brighton A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting in December of a 16-year-old boy outside the victims home in West Brighton. Stephon Durham, 23, of Washington Avenue, was arrested on Wednesday at about 6:30 a.m. at the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George, according to police. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Cops: Man, 49, arrested in connection with bank robbery in Grasmere A 49-year-old man from Brooklyn has been apprehended for a bank robbery in Grasmere, according to police. Ivo Bogdamovic, 49, of 1st Place, was arrested on Monday at about 11:20 a.m. in connection with the incident on Saturday, Jan. 25, at about 1:34 p.m. at the Santander Bank at 1320 Hylan Blvd., according to an NYPD spokesman. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Car windows smashed, 25 vehicles damaged in Victory Blvd. vandalism spree Shattered glass and makeshift window covers spotted along a stretch of Victory Boulevard on Monday is what remains of what the NYPD is calling a vandalism spree over the weekend. Police said about 25 vehicles in the vicinity of the 900 block of Victory in Silver Lake and Sunnyside were vandalized over the weekend, in what remains an active and ongoing investigation. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit Search warrant nets massive cache of weapons in Annadale A domestic incident where a woman was trapped in the bedroom of an Annadale home for hours led to a search warrant that hours later netted a massive cache of weapons and ammunition inside of an Ionia Avenue home, authorities allege. Giuseppe Brucculeri, 57, now faces a litany of charges including second-degree unlawful imprisonment, second-degree harassment and over a dozen counts of weapon and ammunition possession including unlawful possession of rifles or shotguns. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Father charged in brutal assault of infant A 25-year-old father has been arrested following what authorities are describing as a brutal assault on his 2-month-old child. Michael Barriera, 25, was arraigned Monday in Criminal Court on charges that include first-degree assault, reckless assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Don't Edit Man charged in massive marijuana bust at Travis storage facility Police have charged an Arden Heights man in connection with a massive marijuana stash that was recovered during the raid of a unit at a West Shore storage facility. Police armed with a search warrant seized 275 pounds of marijuana and 12,035 cannabis oil THC cartridges during a raid Jan. 29 at a storage facility in Travis, an NYPD spokesman told the Advance. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Charges upgraded vs. man who yelled this is a robbery in Instagram bank video A 25-year-old Port Richmond man may be his own worst enemy after he allegedly walked into a bank, screamed this is a robbery and posted video of the incident to Instagram. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon upgraded charges to include attempted robbery for Augustin Nadreau, 25, of the 100 block of Treadwell Avenue, in connection with the bizarre incidents that happened minutes apart last Thursday afternoon in West Brighton at Northfield Bank and Victory State Bank. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit Man arrested after allegedly kicking dog in Bay Terrace A Graniteville man faces a misdemeanor charge after allegedly kicking a dog in Bay Terrace early on Jan. 23. The incident was captured on a video that was widely circulated on social media, sparking outrage. It shows a man kicking a dog in its midsection four times, causing the pet to cry in pain before limping and being dragged across the sidewalk. Click here for the story. Don't Edit NYPD touts seizure of 1 knife, 3 guns on North Shore The NYPD praised officers for arrests connected with a one knife and three guns over the past several days on the North Shore of Staten Island. A 14-year-old boy was apprehended in connection with an alleged knifepoint-robbery in Tompkinsville, according to an NYPD spokeswoman and a post on the 120th Precinct Twitter feed. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Cops: Guns found on teens, 15 and 17, caught smoking weed Police recovered guns from two boys who were smoking weed on the street in New Brighton, authorities say. A 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old male allegedly were seen smoking marijuana in public on the 400 block of Jersey Street on Tuesday at about 9:40 p.m., according to an NYPD spokeswoman. Click here for the Story. Don't Edit Don't Edit NYPD: Man enters deli, points gun at employee and flees with cash, lottery tickets A man entered a Mariners Harbor deli Wednesday afternoon and robbed it at gunpoint, police said. The man entered Your Taste Deli, located at 2524 Forest Ave., at approximately 2:45 p.m. and pointed a gun at an employees neck, an NYPD spokesman said. Give me the money, give me the money, the man said, according to the spokesman. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Hes nabbed at West Brighton Houses for allegedly pointing gun at victim A 26-year-old man was arrested at the West Brighton Houses after he allegedly pointed a gun a man at a different location. Aquan Whitlow, of the 100 block of Grandview Avenue in Mariners Harbor, pulled out a firearm and pointed the gun at a 36-year-old man at the corner of Rector Street and Castleton Avenue at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 31, according to the criminal complaint and police. Click here for more details. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A bipartisan proposal to modernize New Mexicos probation and parole system faces a delicate balance heading into the final two weeks of the 2020 legislative session. Lawmakers wrestled Friday with how to satisfy prosecutors and public defenders as they craft a definition for what it means to abscond from supervision. The House Judiciary Committee didnt reach final agreement on the language Friday and will consider the legislation again Saturday. The proposal, House Bill 263, will have to move quickly to reach the governors desk in time. Approval by the committee would send the legislation to the full House for consideration. If approved there, it would also have to make it through Senate committees and the full Senate by Feb. 20, the end of the session. Fridays hearing demonstrated the difficulty the bill faces. Rep. Gail Chasey, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she couldnt support the latest version of the legislation without changes to the definition of absconding. As an attorney, she said, she has seen people listed as having absconded resulting in a return to custody for mundane reasons, such as missing an appointment when a baby sitter didnt show up to watch their kids. Chasey proposed adding language to make it clear that absconding means the person missed the appointment or failed to check in with the purpose of avoiding supervision in other words, not just because of car trouble or something similar. People are being revoked when they miss an appointment for reasons that could be absolutely innocent, Chasey said. But it wasnt immediately clear whether prosecutors who didnt oppose the earlier version of the bill would find the change acceptable. The proposal is aimed at reducing the number of people sent back to prison based on technical violations such as missed appointments or positive drug tests rather than a new criminal charge. New Mexico, Chasey said, spends $40 million a year re-incarcerating people for technical violations. House Bill 263 is sponsored by Democratic Reps. Antonio Moe Maestas and Chasey of Albuquerque and Republican Reps. William Bill Rehm of Albuquerque, Jane Powdrell-Culbert of Corrales and Alonzo Baldonado of Los Lunas. NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Badgley Mischka, the iconic American design house that exemplifies timeless glamour, will debut its Fall 2020 collection at Spring Studios on February 8th at 10:00 a.m. This latest collection celebrates the captivating allure of London style that truly reflects the 20th century. Inspired by Downton Abbey's luxurious costume and set designs, combined with a 1960's mixture of informality, modern style and textures from the Beatles' Abbey Road era, the runway show will showcase the brand's unwavering commitment to timeless design and classic beauty with a touch of whimsy. "The Fall 2020 collection was inspired by high impact color, tailored silhouettes and a new way to embrace clothes as a reflection of style that was a historical moment in the mid-20th century," said Mark Badgley, Co-founder, and designer, Badgley Mischka. "We combined our love for Downtown Abbey's commitment to reflecting the changes in culture, all with less formal, restrictive gowns yet embellished with gorgeous opulent accessories. We have embraced the 1960's era of modernism, and increased freedom of expression in our latest collection," added James Mischka, Co-founder, and designer, Badgley Mischka. In addition to showcasing their latest collection, Badgley Mischka has once again partnered with SAP to launch its latest version of the Runway by SAP application. Available for download in the Apple store (for iPhone and iPad), Runway by SAP will enable the Badgley Mischka fashion show audience (and those watching via LiveStream) to actively participate in the show by providing instant feedback on the runway looks, accessing detailed information on each item, and adding items to their Fall 2020 Wish List, as they are debuted on the runway for pre-order. In addition, there is Order Now option for the Spring 2020 Runway collection, all through this interactive app. This is a unqiue opportunity for the fashion show audience to offer feedback and provide real time audience engagement data that is critical for retail production decisions. For more information and to watch the show on the LiveStream please go to: www.badgleymischka.com. Other exciting Badgley Mischka news includes the upcoming launch of the brand's 2021 resort collection in an exclusive runway show onboard Cunard's flagship ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, during Cunard's Fifth Annual Transatlantic Fashion Week. The event will mark the first time a fashion collection has ever been launched in the mid-Atlantic. In addition to the fashion show, Mark Badgley and James Mischka will be onboard during the seven-night Transatlantic crossing, which departs Southampton, England on May 24 and arrives in New York on May 31, 2020. About Badgley Mischka Over the past thirty years, Badgley Mischka has flourished into a true lifestyle brand recognizable worldwide. To date, the Badgley Mischka brand includes multiple product categories such as Eveningwear, Day Dresses, Sportswear, Outerwear, Bridal, Swimwear, Footwear, Handbags, Eyewear, Timepieces and Jewelry. Mark Badgley and James Mischka' s timeless designs appeal to a wide range of fashionable women including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker and Carrie Underwood. Badgley Mischka is sold in the most prestigious stores in the world including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Harrods and Harvey Nichols in addition to the Badgley Mischka flagship boutique in Los Angeles. For additional information, please visit www.badgleymischka.com. SOURCE Badgley Mischka Related Links http://www.badgleymischka.com Danielle DiNapolis Facebook group, Justice for Scruffles, became a haven for grieving owners of pets who died following grooming appointments at PetSmart. But after a lengthy court battle, DiNapoli took down the page named after her English bulldog who died following a 2017 visit to the Flemington PetSmart as of Jan. 20 and issued a public apology to the company. I never should have said on television or here on social media that PetSmart killed Scruffles and for that Im sorry, DiNapoli said in a final post on the page. I have since learned that other health factors caused Scruffles death and PetSmart did not kill my dear Scruffles. The apology was issued months after the case was settled. On Dec. 29, 2017, DiNapoli, a Lambertville, N.J., resident, took what she believed was a perfectly healthy 8-year-old bulldog to a grooming appointment at the nearby PetSmart. At some point during the appointment, Scruffles was taken to the Flemington Veterinary Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A baffled DiNapoli said at the time that no PetSmart employees explained to her what happened to Scruffles. And so commenced DiNapolis lengthy journey in the New Jersey court system. DiNapoli sued PetSmart in April 2018 for compensatory and punitive damages for the death of Scruffles. She then launched a highly-publicized negative campaign against PetSmart which included the Facebook page and a Dr. Oz segment. The Justice for Scruffles page had more than 11,000 followers. It became a place where pet groomers feuded about best practices, other victims came forward with their stories of misfortune and reports from media outlets on pet deaths tied to groomings were shared. Scruffles story became the impetus of a special NJ Advance Media investigation that documented 47 cases across 14 states since 2008 in which families claim they took their dog to PetSmart for grooming everything from a nail clipping to a haircut only to have it die during or shortly after the visit. English bulldogs and similar breeds known as brachycephalic dogs, or those with short noses and smushed faces, accounted for 20 of the 47 documented deaths. Those dogs can have trouble breathing, especially in stressful environments or areas that get hot. The investigation also found that PetSmart was pressuring groomers to meet sales quotas, some former employees said, and many felt either ignored or retaliated against when they spoke up about safety concerns or wrongdoing by colleagues. PetSmart has denied any wrongdoing in the deaths reviewed by NJ Advance Media. From the start, the company said Scruffles death was caused by pre-existing medical conditions, but it did not specify what caused the death. It also filed a counterclaim for defamation against DiNapoli. PetSmart accepted $30,000 from DiNapoli to resolve the case, court records show. In the Facebook post, DiNapoli did not offer an explanation as to how Scruffles died, and she did not return a phone call seeking comment. Her attorney, James Barletti, also did not immediately return a request for comment. In a statement, PetSmart said, Scruffles "death was, in fact, caused by pre-existing health issues, evidenced by a necropsy report that was deliberately withheld by Ms. DiNapoli while she engaged in a concerted, national smear campaign against the company. We are glad that the facts came to light and that truth prevailed in this case, the statement said. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A group of friends found a grinning migrant and his son in the back of their van during a trip to France who wrongly thought they'd just arrived in England. Video footage shows the moment the back doors are opened to find the beaming Afghan father asking: 'In England?' But Charlie Cox, 23, an engineer from Stroud, Gloucestershire, said he had to disappoint the pair and tell them they were in Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk, in northern France. The stowaways didn't realise they hadn't crossed into England since he'd jumped into the van The father and son from Afghanistan thought they had arrived in UK but were in Loon-Plage The two Afghan migrants were squeezed into the back of the van and hoped they were in UK Mr Cox and five friends were on their way to a motocross track in the area and the migrants were squeezed in behind one of their motorbikes. The video shows Mr Cox and his friends shouting 'come on' and 'what are you doing?' as the pair climb out of the van. One adds: 'Nice try though.' Mr Cox said they hung around for about five minutes before walking off in disappointment when they realised they weren't in the Britain. 'They looked pretty devastated,' he said. 'They were now in the middle of nowhere.' Mr Cox said he thought they may have got in the van when they stopped for coffee at a supermarket in Dunkirk. He said: 'We'd just gone to grab a coffee and were in for about half an hour. 'We've come out, got back in the van, and driven about 20 minutes to the track. 'I've gone to get my bike out and opened the side door, and there are two immigrants in there. Mr Cox said they looked 'pretty devastated' when they realised they weren't in England The migrants sneaked into the back of the van when the friends stopped at a supermarket The father and son from Afghanistan had been trying to get the the UK but were still in France 'They had done something to the rear lock on the door and got in that way. 'They thought they were in England. 'I think they saw the GB on the car at the supermarket and thought that they would take their chances on it going to England. 'They were in there with us for about 20 minutes and didn't hear them - we didn't at all. 'We heard a thud when we broke heavily but we thought it was the bike hitting the bulkhead. 'Their English was pretty terrible but he smiled at me and said, "In England?" 'It looked like a father and son. 'I asked him, why did you want to come here? And he said he had family here. 'They were quite well presented. Obviously they were staying somewhere with a roof over their heads.' The friends had all been on a week-long biking holiday across Europe. Today, oil fields wholly owned by Pdvsa account for less than half of the nations remaining oil production, and their output continues to plummet. Chevron has become the single largest foreign producer of oil in Venezuela, and a crucial part of the countrys stabilization over the past few months. Its four joint ventures in the country are pumping a gross total of about 160,000 barrels per day, according to two industry sources familiar with the companys projects, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly. Chevron quickly responded to the impact of American sanctions such as the loss of American light oil that was used to blend with heavy Venezuelan crude to help it move through pipelines by switching to Venezuelan light oil. By September, the company was able to restart its Petropiar heavy oil processing plant, which has formed the backbone of Venezuelas oil export recovery. A senior official with the Trump administration said the activities of Chevron and other foreign oil companies in Venezuela are clearly of concern. But the U.S. government has given Chevron exemptions from sanctions, as recently as last month. If Chevron is forced to leave Venezuela, non-United States companies will fill the void and oil production will continue, said Ray Fohr, a company spokesman. On the export side, Pdvsas biggest ally has been Russias Rosneft, which over the past year has grown to sell about two-thirds of Venezuelas oil. Rosneft has quickly replaced Pdvsas American sales routes by diverting its oil to Asia, often obscuring the cargos source and destination to bypass sanctions, according to companies that monitor tanker traffic. The Election Commission offers voters the facility to check their name on the electoral roll and download their photo voter slip from the portal nvsp.in Delhi Assembly Election 2020 Voting Today: Voting for the Delhi Assembly election 2020 will begin at 7 am on Saturday (8 February), with the counting of votes and declaration of results scheduled for 11 February. There are 1,46,92,136 people who are eligible to vote. Before exercising their franchise, voters must check if their names have appeared in the voters' list, and download the voter slip, which needs to be presented along with a photo identity card at the polling station to vote in the upcoming election. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 The Election Commission offers voters the facility to check their name on the electoral roll and download their photo voter slip from the portal nvsp.in. Every voter is required to carry their photo voter slip along with their voter identification card (also known as Electors Photo Identity Card or EPIC or Voter's ID) that is issued by the Election Commission of India (EC) or other approved photo identity proofs. Here are the steps to download your voter slip: Visit the official website of the National Voter Services Portal - nvsp.in If you have the EPIC number then click on 'Search by EPIC number. Else, click on 'Search Your Name in Electoral Roll' option Fill in your credentials Press the 'search' button Your name will appear at the bottom of the page Click on view details and the page will be directed to your voter slip Click on Print Voter Information' at the bottom of your voter slip and take a print out In case your name does not appear after the first four steps, it is likely that you are not eligible to vote in the election. Even if you don't have a voter ID card, it is imperative that you're registered as a voter, and your name appears on the electoral rolls. In case your name is on the electoral roll, but you dont have a Voter ID card, here are the documents you can use as photo identity proof: Passport Driving licence Service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by central/state govt./PSU/public limited company Passbook with photograph issued by a state bank or post office PAN card Smart card issued by RGI under NPR MNREGA job card Health Insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour Pension document with photograph Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, etc. Aadhaar card The Election Commission has introduced digital photo voter slips containing QR codes for the first time. The digital voter slips with QR code will contain the information of the elector and the facility will be available in 11 Assembly constituencies. Click here for detailed coverage of Assembly Elections 2019 How to use QR code in Delhi Vidhan Sabha election: Voters will have to download Voter Helpline app, which will be available on Google Playstore and Apple app store. To avail this facility, voters will be required to associate their mobile number with voter ID card or EPIC number. If the number is linked to their voter ID, voters can download the digital voter slip from the personal vault of the Voter Helpline app. Voters having digital voter slips will be allowed to take their mobile phones up to polling official using booth app. Mobile phones, however, will have to be submitted after the scanning of the QR code by the poll official. Locker facility will be offered for keeping the phones till the voters return after casting their ballot. The ongoing election is being held for 70 seats at nearly 13,750 polling booths across the country. Donna Rotunno. Photo: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images Prosecutors in Harvey Weinsteins Manhattan rape and sexual-assault trial complained to the judge Friday about lead defense attorney Donna Rotunnos comments in a new episode of the New York Times The Daily podcast, where she said, We have created a society of celebrity victimhood status. While Rotunno claimed to Justice James Burke that was taped a long time ago and she had no idea it was airing this morning, a Times spokesperson said in an email this afternoon: The interview was taped on January 28 and aired on Feb. 7. Donna Rotunno was made aware of the air date. BuzzFeed News first confirmed the episodes recording date and that Rotunno knew about the air date. In the episode, Rotunno said she had never been sexually assaulted because I would never put myself in that position. In addition to the celebrity victimhood status remark, Rotunno also said, The actions of women after-the-fact prove they were consensual. She also cited things like reaching out to Mr. Weinstein after you change your phone number, saying I wanted to make sure you have my new phone number an apparent reference to accuser Jessica Mann. The former actress, who accused Weinstein of raping her in 2013, remained in contact with him after the alleged assault. Prosecutors complained about the interview, citing Burkes instruction to Rotunno several weeks ago to leave the witnesses alone, dont talk about them in any capacity. Shes calling our witnesses liars and celebrity victimhood status, and it is completely in contradiction to your order, lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said today. So Judge, we are asking for you to order the defense to cease and desist any discussion about this case in public. That was taped a while ago, and I did not speak about any witness individually. I talked about a multitude of issues with regard to questions that were asked of me, Rotunno said. It was done, it was really me going into the lions den, not the other way around. She knew it was going to be broadcast today, Illuzzi said. I had no idea, Rotunno replied. I got a call this morning from a friend who heard it, I was not told by them, I have no idea. Asked for comment about this apparent inconsistency, a representative for Rotunno said, Ms. Rotunno had no intention to misrepresent the date, as lately the days bleed together. It happened on a day when the judge ended very early. The rep also said that Rotunno has already notified the court about the date mix-up. In addition to the charges brought by Mann, Weinstein is also accused of forcing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. Update, February 24: Harvey Weinsteins verdict has been announced. Advertisement Dreamy harbours, ancient ruins, rugged landscapes and all under a baking sun. But which Greek island is for you? Thats not easy when there are no fewer than 227 inhabited islands (out of more than 6,000 in total). The temptation is to combine two, three or even four on one trip. The U.S. author Henry Miller once declared that It takes a lifetime for someone to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her. With that in mind, weve picked seven of the best island-hopping adventures . . . Treble the pleasure Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos Island-hopping: Its a 40-minute sail from the port of Sami to Ithaca (pictured above), a tiny, quiet, rugged island 18 miles long There are regular flights to this Ionian trio just off the mainland. Kefalonia, made famous by Louis de Bernieres Captain Corellis Mandolin and 2001 film of the same name, is the largest of the group, yet utterly charming, with fir tree forests, lush countryside and dainty fishing villages. Take a subterranean boat tour to the lake in the cave at Melissani with its aquamarine water and magical light formations. Its a 40-minute sail from the port of Sami to Ithaca, a tiny, quiet, rugged island 18 miles long. The mythical home of Ancient Greek hero Odysseus, has a slower pace of life. Enjoy scenic walking trails, archaeological ruins, and quiet villages where locals sit and watch the world go by. End the trip with a visit to Zakynthos, a three-hour ferry ride via Sami. A hybrid of the two, with plenty to see beyond the bustling main town and the shipwreck at the beach of Navagio. How to do it: Fly to Kefalonia from the UK with Jet 2 (returns from 136; jet2.com). and back from Zakynthos with Easyjet (returns from 48; easyjet.com). Stay at the White Rocks Hotel (doubles from 132, B&B; whiterocks.gr) on Kefalonia, the Perantzada Art Hotel (doubles from 98; perantzadahotel.com) on Ithaca, and the Lesante Classic (double from 93, B&B; lesante.gr) on Zakynthos. Closest to Athens Poros, Hydra and Spetses This cluster forms part of the Argo-Saronic islands, the closest group to Athens and loved by elegant, weekending locals who catch the ferry from the mainland port of Piraeus. Poros only just makes it to island status, separated from the Peloponnese by a 350m strait but its a 55-minute ferry ride. Its actually two islands: the volcanic rock of Sphairia and the pine-speckled Kalavria. Climb up the stairs of the restored clocktower for staggering views, best seen at sunset. Six miles south, the whitewashed houses of Hydras only town, trickle south towards the harbour. A preserved national monument since the 1950s, the buildings all retain a traditional 19th-century style, infusing it with a charming, timeless beauty. Its also entirely traffic-free. Spetses, 12 miles southwest, is more lively with seafood restaurants, a vibrant square and upmarket elegance. From its harbour , Dapia, take a horse-drawn carriage tour. How to do it: Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) has a ten-day trip to Poros, Spetses and Hydra from 1,207pp, including return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and B&B accommodation. A glorious sail Mykonos, Paros, Santorini and Naxos Famous for its 16th-century windmills and 20-plus beaches, from swathes to secluded bays, Mykonos, pictured, has a glamorous reputation The best way to explore this cluster of the Cyclades is on a small group sailing trip. It starts and finishes on Mykonos in the north, dropping anchor at Paros, Naxos and Santorini, with a few smaller islets along the way. Famous for its 16th-century windmills and 20-plus beaches, from swathes to secluded bays, Mykonos has a glamorous reputation. On Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades, youll find soaring mountains, sandy beaches and the iconic marble gate ruin of the Temple of Apollo. On Paros, to the west, visit the Venetian ruins and wander through the town to the Byzantine Church of 100 Doors, which is a 4th century Byzantine masterpiece. Further south, Santorini is one of the most striking settings, with its famous white cubiform houses clinging to its cliffs. Take a day trip to Nea Kameni, a tiny island inside a vast volcanic crater. How to do it: G Adventures (gadventures.co.uk) has a ten-day Sailing Greece tour on a 52ft yacht, from 804pp, excluding flights. EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Santorini, April to October, from 87 return (easyjet.com) Walk and talk Schinoussa, Koufonissi and Amorgos Koufonissi sits between Amorgos and Schinoussa and is comprised of two islets - the inhabited Ano and uninhabited Kato HANDY ISLAND HOPPING TIPS The shoulder seasons, April until mid-June and September to October, are always pleasant, but some shops and restaurants shut. Ferry tickets can be booked in advance via Greekferries.gr , Ferries.gr and Ferryhopper.com . Its worth paying extra to secure a seat, otherwise board early. n BUY an Interrail or Eurail Greek Islands pass which allows you to take either five or six trips in a month from 75; interrail.eu . , Ferries.gr and . Its worth paying extra to secure a seat, otherwise board early. n BUY an Interrail or Eurail Greek Islands pass which allows you to take either five or six trips in a month from 75; . Prepare if you suffer from sea sickness some routes between islands are surprisingly rough Use accommodation sites such as Booking.com or Airbnb.co.uk , rather than port-side hustlers offering rooms. Advertisement These islands, part of the lesser Cyclades, lie off the typical island-hopping routes, meaning youll get to see them minus the usual throng of holidaymakers. Schinoussa, just south of Naxos, is tiny three square miles with isolated beaches and little for visitors to do except swim, walk or explore the small church of Panagia, built on a jetty above ancient ruins. Amorgos, six miles east, is even more remote; a sliver of land with soaring mountains that are a haven for flora and birdlife. Walking is a big attraction, with deep ravines, open hills and stepped paths that lead to little chapels dotted about. Koufonissi sits between Amorgos and Schinoussa and is comprised of two islets: the inhabited Ano and uninhabited Kato. Hire a bike to reach the beaches and coves. How to do it: Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) has a ten-day trip with three nights on Koufonissi, three nights on Schinoussa and four nights on Amorgos, from 913pp, including ferries, flights and transfers. Living history Kos, Rhodes and Symi These three islands are part of the Dodecanese group that lies southeast of the Greek mainland. Thought to be the birthplace of Hippocrates, Koss history and hot springs are two of its lures. The Castle of the Knights of Saint John in Kos Town dominates the harbour and Bros Therma, a natural hot spring a few miles away, is perfect for a theraputic dip. About 70 miles southeast is Rhodes, the largest of the group. Its capital, Rhodes Town, is one of the finest citadels in Europe, with palaces, castles and an acropolis. At the other end of the island, is the enchanting hillside village of Lindos and its impressive ruins. Finally, its a two-hour ferry ride to Symi, 20 miles north, where colourful mansions overlook the port, and quaint villages and harbourside tavernas dish up the freshest fish. There are plenty of trails for hikers, too, and the island is a real paradise for snorkellers. How to do it: Olympic Holidays (olympicholidays.com) offers a nine-night trip around Kos, Symi and Rhodes from 795pp, including flights and transfers. Nature at its best Serifos, Sifnos and Milos Serifos has charming, whitewashed houses and churches set against a wild interior, peppered with hiking trails Another group within the Cyclades archipelago, these islands offer an alternative for those who want to explore, rather than just bob or bathe along their shores. Serifos has charming, whitewashed houses and churches set against a wild interior, peppered with hiking trails. Sifnos, eight miles southeast, is a pretty, green island with a tradition of pottery; its known for casseroles baked in clay-fired pots. Take the winding path to the Church of the Seven Martyrs in Kastro village, perched atop a rocky outcrop. The volcanic island of Milos, about 20 miles south, has a wealth of beaches, the most impressive being Sarakinikos white rock formations. How to do it: Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk) has a ten-night Enchanting Cyclades holiday from 950pp, including B&B accommodation, walking maps and notes. Aegean Air flies from four UK airports, including Manchester, from 132 return (aegeanair.com) Take a chance on us Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos Skopelos has more than 350 churches and chapels, the most notable being The Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri, which featured in Mamma Mia These form part of the Sporades in the northwest Aegean Sea, all reached via the international airport at Skiathos. Despite being only 12 miles long, Skiathos has more than 60 beaches, all accessible along the scenic bus route. Theres a bustling old town, a medieval castle and a dreamy restaurant in the old windmill overlooking the harbour. Neighbouring Skopelos has more than 350 churches and chapels, the most notable being The Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri which featured in Mamma Mia. For wildlife-lovers, Alonissos is a gem: its the largest marine protected area in Europe with potential to spot various sealife. How to do it: Olympic Holidays (olympicholidays.com) has a 15-night Emerald Gems trip from 1,315pp, including flights and transfers. Authorities had to engage special forces in order to extinguish the conflict As a result of mass clashes in a number of settlements on the border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, eight people died, several dozen were injured with gunshots. Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Turgumbayev announced this information at briefing, vlast.kz reports. According to him, the conflict began on the evening of February 7 on the outskirts of the village of Masanchi; it initially involved about 70 aggressively-minded residents. Some of the participants in the conflict filmed what was happening on video and, as Turgumbayev stated, "through messengers and social networks they called on citizens to illegal actions, which led to an escalation of the conflict." As a result, about 300 more people arrived from neighboring settlements. During the riots, several dozen participants received bodily injuries and gunshot wounds; unfortunately, eight people succumbed to injuries, the Interior Minister said. Additional police forces were sent to the village, but the participants in the fight offered active resistance to law enforcement officers. "The hooligans used metal objects, stones, firearms. Later, the villages of Aukhatti and Bulan-Batyr were also affected by conflicts. Roadblocks were put up along the perimeter of settlements and their access roads," Turgumbayev said. He said that, according to preliminary data, as a result of "hooligan actions" more than 20 private houses, 15 shops and 23 cars were damaged. "The conflict was localized; 47 people were detained, two hunting rifles were seized from them," the Minister added. As we reported before, in 2019, Ukraines State Border Guard Service recorded 27.3 million foreigners entering and leaving Ukraine. In particular, foreigners visited Ukraine by land 21.5 million times. Thus, there were 6.3 million border crossings with the EU countries, about 80% of which with Poland. In addition, 7.9 million cases of border crosing were recorded with Moldova, 4.5 million with Belarus, 2.8 million with Russia. Blockchain-based secure messaging system Simba Chain has secured a $9.5 million contract with The Naval Air Warfare Centre a California-based research group of the US Navy. According to a statement last night, Simba Chain will be tasked with deploying a secure blockchain messaging and transaction platform, described as a critical need of the US Department of Defence (DoD). Simba Chains cloud-based blockchain platform will meet a primary objective to rapidly provide NAVWAR, communication system hardware and software. It will also provide modernisation and sustainment capabilities for both land and sea assets that play a role in undersea communication systems by connecting the Blockchain Fabric from seabed to space. Simba Chain CEO Joel Neidig revealed his delight at the contract, hailing it as a win for both the company and the DoD. Notre Dame Startup @SimbaChain awarded $9.5M contract from U.S. Navy to deploy secure messaging solutions, a first for #blockchain https://t.co/KmSUYD9Zmh IDEA Center Notre Dame (@ndideacenter) February 6, 2020 This is a win not just for SIMBA and our partners, but also for the DoD, which has pursued with single-minded focus, a solution to conduct sensitive, mission-critical operations in a manner that is immutable and non-refutable, he said. We plan to deliver a bulletproof platform that meets all objectives. The blockchain-based system is built on top of Microsoft Azures cloud platform, which allows for safe data exchange. Tom Keane, Corporate Vice President, Azure Global at Microsoft Corp, said: Were supporting the DoDs vision and SIMBA Chains expertise through Microsoft Azures vast cloud infrastructure and ability to scale globally, quickly, reliably and securely. Story continues Advancing the implementation of the Navys messaging platform presents a unique opportunity to transform the industry surrounding sensitive information at a time when data security is paramount. Simba Chains acquisition of a phase III contract from the US Navy marks the first time a US military organisation has publicly adopted blockchain technology, which demonstrates the global softening of views towards the emerging industry. For more news, guides and cryptocurrency analysis, click here. The post US Navy invests $9.5m in blockchain-based systems appeared first on Coin Rivet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:24:15|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said that the kingdom's relations with China have become closer after his visit to Beijing earlier this week. "It's very clear that Cambodia is staying closer with China, especially in this difficult moment, because a friend in need is a friend indeed," he wrote on Friday on his official Facebook page. Hun Sen paid a visit to China on Wednesday. When meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hun Sen said that he had decided to make a special visit to China to showcase Cambodia's support to China in fighting the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic. He said at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that when China was in a difficult time, the Cambodian people stood firmly with the Chinese people to overcome common difficulties, adding that the two countries are truly "steadfast friends." The Cambodian government chief spokesman, Phay Siphan, said Thursday that as some countries have adopted extreme restrictive measures to curb the virus, Hun Sen's Beijing visit told the world there was no need to be "extremely scared and panicked." "The prime minister's special visit shows Cambodia's strong support to China in fighting the outbreak of the coronavirus," Phay Siphan told Xinhua. The novel coronavirus outbreak was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. In Cambodia, the first case was confirmed on Jan. 27. The affected patient is receiving treatment at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Referral Hospital in the country's southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk. The Cambodian Health Ministry said in a press release late Thursday that the patient is in good health and has tested negative for the virus twice since. He will be discharged from hospital if the third test result remains negative. WHO representative in Vietnam Park Ki-dong (Photo: VNA) In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the official also highlighted that Vietnam activated the response system at the very early stage of the outbreak, adding the country has strengthened the testing system along with the sharing of relevant information. About Vietnams ability and capacity in successfully isolating the virus, Park said the WHO took note of and highly valued the capacity of Vietnams National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the work. This demonstrates that Vietnam has a very strong infection laboratory system, he added. The official warned that in the time to come, there may be many cases occurring in Vietnam as well as other countries, and Vietnam needs to maintain its vigilance, supervision and preparedness against the epidemic. The people need to take the guidance by the WHO and keep their health, while the countries should share information on a timely basis, Park stressed. EUGENE, Ore. A man accused in a shooting and possible kidnapping in Eugene last month thought he was saving a woman from a cartel, according to court documents. Daymien Tilton, 43, of Goshen was arrested at 7th Avenue and Taylor Street Thursday night after police received a tip and conducted a major operation involving a police chase. RELATED: POLICE CAPTURE SUSPECT IN POSSIBLE KIDNAPPING He faces charges of first-degree attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a vehicle, and felony unlawful possession of methamphetamine. The probable cause affidavit says a man and woman arrived at the Fred Meyer parking lot on Division Avenue the morning of Jan. 31. Police said the man told police he drove the woman to the area to exchange property with a man he didnt know. Tilton allegedly arrived and argued with the woman before shooting into the car. The affidavit says one of the bullets would have hit the man in the head if it hadnt been stopped by a pillar in the car. The man confirmed Tilton was the shooter using pictures on Facebook, according to the affidavit. MORE: POLICE SEEK MAN SUSPECTED OF KIDNAPPING WOMAN Authorities contacted Tilton that day, and according to court documents, he said the woman was free and he hadnt kidnapped her. Tilton reportedly said that he arrived that morning to meet with a cartel member and had brought a gun because he was scared for his and the womans safety. He saw the woman with a man he didnt recognize and thought she had been captured by the cartel. He said he repeatedly told the man to leave, but he didnt, so he shot three rounds into the car. READ ON: VICTIM FOUND AFTER POSSIBLE KIDNAPPING IN EUGENE The affidavit says the woman told authorities that Tilton has mental health issues and was using methamphetamine. She said Tilton told her the cartel was trying to abduct her for sex trafficking in Mexico. While she didnt think Tilton would make it up, she said there was no evidence it was true. Tilton has numerous felony convictions, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful delivery of meth. Dattatray Bhaskar Chitale, part of the founding family and one of the directors of the renowned BG Chitale group, died of a heart attack in Miraj in Maharashtra's Sangli district on Saturday. Kakasaheb, as he was affectionately known, was 78 and is survived by wife Sunita, sons Girish and Makrand and daughter Veena. Family members said he was hospitalised for chest pain on Friday and died while undergoing treatment. A mechanical engineer, Kakasaheb joined his father Bhaskar Ganesh Chitale to expand the dairy business, started in the 1950s in Bhilawdi, into sectors like confectionery, snacks and sweet, food processing as well as digital products. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 2.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is seeing a jolt of momentum following his split victory in Iowa and solid performance in Friday nights Democratic debate, but his rising political fortunes could be short-lived, according to Joy Reid. As the MSNBC host pointed out on Saturday, the socialist label that Sanders has proudly warn on his sleeve will be a major turn-off to voters in Florida that Democrats must win to carry the state against Trump. Thats especially true, she said, when Trump starts running ads in the state of Sanders praising Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Those video clips are out there, she said. Those are going to be in ads. Video: Joy Reid explains how Bernie Sanders could run into trouble in swing states like Florida if hes the Democratic nominee. #ctl #p2 #amjoy pic.twitter.com/jbyqcCLgYU PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 8, 2020 Reid said: Sanders himself calls himself a democratic socialist. Hes wearing the label proudly. You know, the reality of campaigns, campaigns are negative and theyre nasty. You know how it goes. There are going to be ads running in states like Florida where there is a very, very strong Cuban-American, Venezuelan-American element of the population that are very important voters that are going to be watching ads of Bernie Sanders praising Fidel Castro and praising the Sandinistas and things like that. Those video clips are out there. Those are going to be in ads. Do you think that Bernie Sanders can win Florida when those ads drop? Trump, Republicans are itching to run against Sanders Whether or not Bernie Sanders can win in November is still up for debate. As the 2016 campaign showed us, its nearly impossible to predict the outcome of a presidential election in the Trump era. But its still abundantly clear that the president and his Republican supporters are itching to run against Sanders. In South Carolina, in fact, the GOP has launched an operation to help Sanders win that primary election and run away with the nomination. Republicans have been falsely slapping the socialist label on every Democratic presidential nominee for decades. With Sanders as the nominee, itll actually be true. As Joy Reid warned on Saturday, that could be a drag on the Democratic ticket from top to bottom in key swing states. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Micro- and nanoplastic particles permeate the most essential sustenance for human life Photo: Le Toan Plastic bottles, beads, and wrappings can hardly get into the human body. However, when they start to break down, these large items transform into tiny but scary microplastics, nanoplastics, or even smaller particles that are flooding the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. A new study at the University of Newcastle titled How much microplastics are we ingesting? Estimation of the mass of microplastics ingested, commissioned by WWF Singapore, reveals that the consumption of common food and beverages may result in a weekly ingestion of approximately five grams of plastic, depending on consumption habits. In particular, the largest amount of microplastics hit our body through drinking. The university calculated the average amount of plastic ingested by humans by analysing and synthesising the existing, but limited literature on the topic exists. The results confirm concerns over the large quantity of plastic humans ingest every day. It also highlights the key ways plastic gets into the body, such as through food and beverages, and indoor and outdoor air. Out of a total of 52 studies that the University of Newcastle included in its calculations, 33 looked at plastic consumption through food and beverages. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles under 5mm in size, are contaminating the air, food, and water. Primary microplastics are plastics directly released into the environment in the form of small particulates (shower gel micro beads and tyre abrasion, among others) while secondary microplastics are microplastics originating from the degradation of larger particles. Water is an indispensable resource to human life and drinking water (groundwater, surface water, tap water, and bottled water) is the largest source of plastic ingestion all over the world. Bottled water, peoples choice for healthy, non-contaminated drinking water, is even richer in plastics, containing some 10,000 microplastic particles per litre, twice as much as regular tap water, according to a report by Orb Media. In Vietnam, bottled-drinks fanatics might be familiar with major brands like Universal Robina Corporations C2 green tea, Red Dragon drinks, or THP Groups Dr. Thanh tea and oolong tea, and Suntory Pepsicos wide range of drinks, that are packed in plastic and can easily be found in any convenient store or supermarket. The alarm bell is sounding not only over bottled drinks tea drinkers who prefer costly, silky plastic teabags might get more than they bargained for in each cupful of liquid refreshment. A team of researchers from McGill University and the Quebec government announced shocking stats that about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles can leak into water from a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature, thousands of times higher than the amount reported previously in other foods. The teabags in the study appeared to be from the premium category which consumers turn to with more trust than regular tea bags. Inhalation is estimated to account for a negligible portion of microplastics entering the human body but this may vary heavily depending on the environment. The study surveyed 16 papers focusing on outdoor and indoor air quality. The results showed that indoors are more heavily plastic polluted than outdoors. Reacting to the concerning statistics, the WWF said that the production of virgin plastic has increased 200-fold since 1950 and has grown at a rate of 4 per cent a year since 2000. If all predicted plastic production capacity is reached, current production could increase by 40 per cent by 2030. Threats to human health Going forward, scientists are working to obtain more precise information on pollution from plastic, how it is distributed, and how much is consumed. The long-term effects on human health of ingesting large quantities of plastic are not clear but studies are underway. However, scientists suspect that the health hazard may be more substantial than currently understood. Studies have shown that beyond a certain exposure level, inhalation of plastic fibres seems to produce a mild inflammation of the respiratory tract. In marine animals, higher concentrations of microplastics in their digestive and respiratory system can lead to an early death. Research studies have demonstrated toxicity in vitro to lung cells, the liver, and brain cells. Some types of plastics carry chemicals and additives with potential effects on human health. Identified health risks are due to the production process of residues, additives, dyes, and pigments found in plastic, some of which have been shown to have an influence on virility, fertility, and increased occurrence of mutations and cancers. Airborne microplastics may also carry pollutants from the surrounding environment. In urban environments, they may carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons molecules found in coal and tar and metals. Studies are underway to better understand the health effects of plastic. A key challenge to research is the overwhelming presence of plastic in our daily life, making it very hard to isolate the effect of a specific exposure pathway from others. The World Health Organization is currently undertaking a review of the health impact of microplastics. Ahead of polling day on Saturday, February 08, our reporter Kevin Forde took to the streets of Granard, to find out how and why people were voting and the issues they felt the next government has to prioritise. See our general election 2020 live blog HERE Helen Donnelly Waste by successive governments is one of the biggest issues nationally, as well as the housing crisis, says Helen. Sure they could house all of the people without one. How many houses do you see vacant coming from Longford? Helen doesn't hold hope of a local representative having any power to enforce change, as she feels they cannot deviate from party guidelines. I am not sure if any of the candidates are worth my vote, but I will vote. In terms of the recent televised debates, Helen let her feelings be known. Talk about a waste of time. It is nearly worse than Love Island. she concluded. Kitty Farrell Kitty feels the pension age is a major worry for Longfordians. I certainly would be worried about the pension age being changed. For people retiring or wanting to at 65, it is not fair. She also feels the country is moving backwards. It is frustrating to see all of the businesses closing. If rents, rates and insurance were lower, you would have all buildings full as they were in years gone by. Kitty noted that rural Ireland and farmers have been badly let down. She also feels a local TD is badly needed in the county We badly need one anyway, regardless of who it is. SEE HERE: For extensive general election coverage ahead of polling day Mary McNerney & Marie Scanlon Health, housing and pensions were the main issues for Marie & Mary. Health, housing, and pensions are the three main issues. said Mary. The pension should just be brought back to 65. But you should have the option I suppose, to work on if you want. she continued. Marie added: It just doesnt make sense. They both agreed the county lacked by not having a local TD and confirmed that they both will give their votes to local candidates on February 8. Mary said: Without a doubt, you need to have somebody from your constituency representing you. Also read: Voters have their say in Longford town Lorraine Farrell Lorraine feels health and housing are topical issues. Housing is a terrible one, but health is a big one too. Health, with people on trollies and with some nurses and paramedics not wanting to go to work because of the conditions they are facing when they go in. Thats just atrocious. Although unsure what having a local TD would change Lorraine hopes the county regains a seat. I dont know whether having a TD will change anything. I would like to think it would. We need someone. But it will take years to get Longford back to where it needs to be. "I will keep it (vote) to Longford. The county has definitely been missing out. Paddy Dolan For Paddy, the main issue is healthcare. Ill tell you what the main issue is, healthcare. The pension age would be another one. Paddy feels Longford lacked by not having a local TD and says a local representative will have finger on the pulse, more so than Westmeath candidates. It might help with roads and things like that, and they might then improve the overall infrastructure and healthcare. In terms of his vote Paddy will vote for Longford candidates. I am going voting by person. I havent decided who yet, but I will keep my votes to Longford. Ailish Smyth For Ailish, one of the biggest issues is proposals to raise the pension age. I know they cant afford it, but wouldnt it be lovely to be able to retire at 65. Another massive issue she has witnessed first hand through her children, is the difficulty many face in getting mortgages. I have three children living in Dublin and they might never be able to afford to buy in Dublin. She is adamant that the county has been lacking without local representation. Absolutely. she said, before adding of her voting preferences: I havent decided the order, but number one and two are staying in Longford. Also read: General Election 2020 arrives - Vote #1 Longford Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party Troy Price exits the stage after speaking about the technical issues that delayed the Iowa Democratic caucuses results during a news conference at the Iowa Events Center on February 4, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Democratic Party will allocate national delegates over the weekend based on the results of the Midwestern state's presidential nomination contest held earlier this week, a state party leader said. "We allocate the national delegates and we'll be doing that over the weekend," Iowa Democratic Party leader Troy Price said on Friday at a news conference, adding that the party would hold another news conference on Monday afternoon. Visuals from Polling Station 80 at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Chief Minister and sitting legislator from the constituency, Arvind Kejriwal, will take on BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress' Romesh Sabharwal from here. (Image: ANI) Security has been tightened in the national capital ahead of the polls. Delhi saw instances of violence, including at Jamia and Shaheen Bagh ahead of the polls. (Image: ANI) BJP candidate from Hari Nagar constituency, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, offers prayers at Fateh Nagar Gurudwara. (Image: ANI) Visuals from polling station 69 (NDMC School of Science and Humanities) at Tughlak Crescent Road. Polling across Delhi will begin at 8 am. (Image: ANI) 115 of 169 vehicles have so far been auctioned under the auspices of the Receiver of the collapsed financial institutions. The auction process which started on Monday ended today, Friday, February 7 2020. The cars which are part of assets belonging to the defunct financial institutions were auctioned to enable the Receiver to facilitate payments to customers of the collapsed institutions. Spokesperson for the Receiver, Philomina Kuzoe, told Citi News that the auction process was largely successful. I think they did a good job. Honestly for those that think the vehicles were on the high, we'll go back to the valuers so that they'll revalue them. The depositors are part of a body of creditors that the defunct microfinance institutions owe. It means that whatever we get here will be distributed according to Act 930. This auction has been successful, she noted. Receiver happy about auction The Receiver of the 347 Microfinance companies and 23 Savings and Loans and Finance houses that faced insolvency said he is happy with the patronage of the auction of vehicles recovered from some of the insolvent entities. The auction attracted patrons looking to outbid each other. Philomina Kuzoe said that the numbers exceeded expectations and that the receiver was adequately prepared to carry out the exercise in as professional a manner as possible. She further described as false, reports that were circulating about the exercise that sought to suggest that the results of the auction would have little or no impact on payments to customers. Background The Bank of Ghana in May and August last year [2019] revoked the licenses of 347 microfinance and microcredit companies and 23 Savings and loans and finance houses for various regulatory infractions. The Receiver for these collapsed financial institutions began the auction for vehicles and motorbikes of institutions on [Monday, February 3, 2020]. The exercise forms part of measures to defray monies due the affected customers of the collapsed financial institutions. Under the auspices of the Receiver, Eric Nana Nipah, the auction was carried out by three firms; Wildos Mart, Yakarmata Mart and Broadway Mart. ---citinewsroom Via Rail has cancelled more train services between Montreal and Toronto, and Ottawa and Toronto as a result of protesters blocking tracks near Belleville, Ont. As of Saturday morning, 14 scheduled trips between the cities had been cancelled. According to the Via Rail website none of the trains on these two routes will operate until the issue is resolved. The cancellations started Friday as protesters started to block tracks in support of the Wetsuweten nation in northern British Columbia. The B.C. government and hereditary chiefs have failed to reach an agreement on a peaceful resolution over the enforcement of an injunction in northwestern B.C. The dispute is over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the nations traditional territory near Houston. Police have been trying to clear protesters from the territory of the Wetsuweten Nation which is the site of the proposed natural gas pipeline. The RCMP arrested four people Friday as demonstrators continued to organize blockades in the area. While our trains are prepared to leave on schedule should we achieve line clearance, departures from Ottawa/Montreal to Toronto and Toronto to Ottawa/Montreal are currently delayed or may not operate, said Via spokesperson Karl-Philip Marchand Giguere. As the situation progresses, more trains might be cancelled. We are aware that this situation, which is unfortunately beyond our control, has an impact on our customers and we apologize for the inconvenience this situation is causing. Marchand Giguere said Via Rail will be refunding those impacted by the service cancellations. A CP freight line has also been suspended as protesters are walking on or near the railroad tracks near Shanly and Hallam Streets, according to police. Meanwhile east of Belleville, CN Railway said crews and police are responding to a protest near CN tracks between the towns of Shannonville and Desoronto in Ont. Train movements are currently stopped and we are monitoring the situation, said Jonathan Abecassis, CNs senior media relations manager. The protest also blocked a track by the same intersection resulting in the suspension of the Barrie Line GO train between Union and Downsview stations. Those trains have since resumed service. With files from The Canadian Press. Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi Read more about: New Delhi, Feb 8 : Women officers have proven their mettle and courage under fire for nearly three decades, and there has never been an occasion of soldiers/men having refused or accepted the command of women, said the women officers in their written submission citing the Centre for delay in bringing the policy for grant of permanent commission to women officers. The written submissions, on behalf of the petitioners, filed by senior advocate Ashwarya Bhati, said, "The demonstrated fact is that the Women Officers have been serving in the 10 Combat Support Arms, for the last 27-28 years and have proven their mettle and courage under fire... To deny them command appointments would be an extremely retrograde step and will inflict irreparable injury to the dignity of these brave women." A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Ajay Rastogi conducted the hearing petitions seeking permanent commission for women in the Army. The apex court has reserved its order on the matter. Moreover, they have been found suitable by the organization itself and have led platoons and companies of soldiers and men, both in peace locations as also hostile locations/operations, in the 10 Combat Support Arms. "There has never been any occasion of soldiers/men having refused or not accepted the command of women on account of their perceived 'rural background, with prevailing societal norms'", said the written submission filed in the Supreme Court. The Centre had informed the apex court that "motherhood, childcare, psychological limitations" are vital factors, which have a bearing on employment of women officers in the Army. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had argued that lower physical standards of women, composition of units that are entirely male mostly from rural background impact commander appointments. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud replied that a combat role comprises only a fraction of the role in the military where women have not been inducted, if it were to be assumed they were not fit for this role. Mehta argued that different physical standards were a reality in a combat situation, and also there is a danger if women were taken as prisoners of war. The petitioners countered stating this stand of the Centre with regard to national security and operational effectiveness, battlefield scenario, capture by the enemy, command appointments and infrastructure are misconceived and based on misleading and erroneous basis. The submissions said, "Women Officers have been working shoulder to shoulder, with their colleagues in the Indian Army. Even as Short Service Commissioned Women Officers (SSCWOs), they have been working as company commander and leading the soldiers from the front as per the ethos of the Indian Army." The women officers contended as young officers in the rank of Captain and Major, they have been in hostile and combat zone and have displayed exemplary courage and bravery, acting exactly in the manner commensurate with the respect that Indian Army commands, world over. For ten long years, the Centre has delayed bringing the policy for grant of permanent commission to Women Officers, despite the Delhi High Court order in March 2010, as a consequence the policy for grant of permanent commission in Army is yet to be made functional and operative. The Centre had appealed the March 12, 2010, Delhi High Court order holding that SSCWOs of the Army are entitled to Permanent Commission at par with Gentlemen SSCOs with all consequential benefits. The High Court also directed that the benefit would be conferred to the serving women officers, as on the date of the order, and also women officers, who retired during the pendency of their writ petition, with all consequential benefits, including promotion, at par with Gentlemen SSCOs. The 'criteria appointments' are important appointments in the Army organizational setup and to confine Women Officers to 'staff appointments only', would effectively render the Women Officers as second grade officers in the Indian Army. "It is submitted that no such confinement of Women Officers to staff appointments only, has ever been contemplated or notified in any of the advertisements or policy decisions since 1992, when women were first inducted in the Indian Army. As SSCWOs, women have been entitled to 'staff appointments' as also 'criteria appointments' all along", said the submission. (Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in) Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Store and/or access information on a device. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners (vendors) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican senator up for reelection in 2020, said Tuesday that she would vote to acquit President Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment, dimming the chances that any Senate Republicans will cross party lines to vote to remove the President from office. Collins was one of two Republicans who voted last week to call witnesses and seek documents in the Senate impeachment trial, in a vote that failed 49-51. But she said she would vote against removing the President over the House's articles of impeachment when the Senate votes on the final verdict Wednesday. Collins said that the President's actions in asking Ukraine to investigate his political rival were "improper and demonstrated very poor judgment." But she said the House's case did not meet the burden of removing the President from office. "I do not believe the House has met its burden that the President's conduct, however flawed, warrants the extreme step of immediate removal from office," Collins said. "This decision is not about whether you like or dislike this President or agree with or oppose his policies or approve or disapprove of his conduct in other circumstances. Rather it is about whether the charges meet the very high constitutional standard of treason, bribery or other high crimes or misdemeanors." Collins' decision means that Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the other Republican who voted for witnesses, appears to be the only Republican remaining who could cross party lines to convict the President. Romney has yet to say how he is voting. Wednesday's final vote on the President's impeachment trial is a forgone conclusion -- the Senate will fall far short of the two-thirds majority required to remove Trump from office -- but the vote tally is still unsettled, with several senators remaining publicly undecided. Since closing arguments ended on Monday, senators have been streaming to the Senate chamber to explain their vote in 10-minute speeches -- the first time they've been able to speak on the floor since the trial began. Along with Collins, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another closely watched moderate Republican, announced on the floor this week that she would vote to acquit the President. Murkowski criticized all sides in the explanation of her vote, calling Trump's conduct "shameful and wrong" but concluding that the House "failed in its responsibilities" by rushing to impeach the President. And she said the Senate "should be ashamed by the rank partisanship that has been on display here." Among Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have not said how they will vote on Wednesday. Manchin spoke on the floor on Monday, but said he has not yet made up his mind on whether to vote to remove Trump from office. Manchin proposed a resolution to censure the President instead, but he acknowledged that it was unlikely to have any traction. "That's a shame," he said, adding that he would still "see what the mood is after Wednesday." Jones and Sinema have yet to speak on the floor, which is open for senators until Wednesday's vote at 4 p.m. Jones said Tuesday that he has "tentatively" made a decision and would announce it Wednesday morning. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican up for reelection in Iowa, said Tuesday that she would vote to acquit Trump, adding that she's angry and thinks most people are upset by the impeachment process. "This is a very dark path to go down," she said. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat running for reelection in a state Trump won in 2016, said he would vote to hold the President accountable for his actions. "It is clear that the President betrayed the trust of the American public placed in him to fully execute his constitutional responsibilities," Peters said. "This betrayal is by definition a high crime and misdemeanor. If it does not rise to the level of impeachment and removal, I am not sure what would." This story has been updated with additional developments Thursday. Photograph: Eric Risberg/AP The worlds largest manufacturer of chlorpyrifos, an agricultural pesticide linked to brain damage in children, has announced that it will stop producing the chemical by the end of the year. The announcement on Thursday by Corteva, the corporation formed from a Dow Chemical and DuPont merger, comes after the Trump administration reversed regulatory plans to ban the pesticide and rejected the scientific conclusions of US government experts. Chlorpyrifos has been widely used on corn, soybeans, almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes, walnuts and other crops, but research has repeatedly found serious health effects in children, including impaired brain development. Environmental groups have long advocated for its ban, and the state of California, which grows the majority of the nations fruits and nuts, defied Trump and banned the chemical last year. Corteva said it was ending production due to declining sales. Susanne Wasson, the president of Cortevas crop protection business, told Reuters it was a difficult decision. Chlorpyrifos is a neurotoxic chemical that was found to be harmful enough to humans that the US banned it from residential use in 2000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, has continued to defend its safety for agricultural uses. Related: Children are being poisoned: California moms lead the way to pesticide ban In Californias Central Valley, the heart of the agricultural industry, researchers raised concerns about impacts on pregnant women who lived near farms that sprayed chlorpyrifos. Some studies found low to moderate levels of exposure during pregnancy were linked to memory problems and lower IQ. Marisa Ordonia, an attorney with Earthjustice, a group that has sued the EPA for failing to ban chlorpyrifos, said advocates would still seek a ban on the product given that it remains on the market through other manufacturers. Other people are going to continue to profit from harming children, she said, adding: It is big that such a major player is saying no, were not going to do this any more. Its a great signal that people dont want brain-damaging pesticides on their food. But were going to continue to keep fighting to make sure children and farmworkers are protected. Story continues In the US, Cortevas biggest market for chlorpyrifos, demand is less than 20% of what it was during its peak in the 1990s, the company said. Industry sales were $350m in 2005, down 45% from 1990, according to Corteva, which sells chlorpyrifos under the Lorsban brand. By weight, estimated use dropped to under 5m pounds in 2016 from about 13m pounds in 1994, according to US Geological Survey data. Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement that the Corteva announcement meant the end of chlorpyrifos is finally in sight. Ridding the American marketplace of this pesticide is a huge step, but it cannot be allowed to continue to threaten the health of kids in other global markets, she added. Reuters contributed reporting Over the course of 240 years, United States presidents have made many integral and difficult decisions to help shape this country. Civil and international wars, economic crises, and deep-rooted bigotry are just a few major installments that our presidents have had to tackle. Its common to debate the efficacy, personalities, and politics of these office-holders during their terms, and opinions run far and wide many years later when analyzing past performance. The expectations of the president have evolved over time. Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs asserts in his book, The Impossible Presidency, that the White House has progressively taken on such infeasible demandsparticularly in the most recent 24-hour news cyclethat the president cannot possibly please everyone. Drawing upon recent disenchantment with presidents, Suri discusses the limitations inherent in the day-to-day details and duties of the office; we often dont recognize the near-impossible task of leaders meeting the big-picture goals theyd set out to conquer on the campaign trail. Nation comes first and setting an example of being a responsible citizen of the country, Taapsee who is currently busy with the promotions of her upcoming film Thappad, took a break from work and flew to her hometown Delhi to cast her vote in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Reportedly, the polling for the 70 seats of Delhi Assembly began at 8am in the national capital today (February 8) amid tight security. Taapsee Pannu and her family, including sister Shagun and parents, were among the first ones who stepped out to cast their votes. Later, the Badla actress posted a picture on her Instagram page where she is seen flashing her inked finger along with her family after they cast their votes. Taapsee captioned the snap as, "Pannu Parivaar' has voted. Have you ? #VoteDelhi #EveryVoteCounts." Earlier, Taapsee had posted a picture of herself posing with her mother ahead of the voting as the two showed off their fingers before they were marked. Encouraging her fans to step out to vote, she wrote, "Ready to get inked tomorrow. A quick break to make sure we vote. Will you? #Delhi Citizen." She even shared a picture of her and her sister Shagun showing the ink on their fingers and wrote, "What creative inking!!!!" Speaking about work, Taapsee will be next seen in Anubhav Sinha's social drama, Thappad. The film revolves around a woman who chooses to walk out of her marriage after being slapped by her husband at a party. The film is slated to release on February 28, 2020. Besides this, the actress's upcoming films include Haseen Dilruba, Rashmi Rocket and Shabaash Mithu. Is Taapsee Pannu's Thappad An Answer To Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh?" title=" Is Taapsee Pannu's Thappad An Answer To Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh?" /> Is Taapsee Pannu's Thappad An Answer To Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh? 'Thappad Will Expose The Elephant In The Room': Says Taapsee Pannu, Referring To Domestic Violence Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-31 05:01:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close PRAGUE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Senate of the Czech Republic passed a resolution on Thursday, urging the government not to restrict legal gun ownership in the country when implementing the European Union (EU) weapons directive and to create a petition committee on the issue, the Czech News Agency (CTK) reported. The resolution came as a response to a petition signed by nearly 100,000 citizens. It was passed with a narrow majority. The resolution stated that the Czech Weapons Act was sufficient for gun regulation in the country, rejecting further regulations by the EU. "There is no reason for the Czech Republic to restrict the right of Czech citizens to possess a weapon for personal defense beyond what is necessary to combat terrorism," the Senate said in the petition committee proposal. Czech laws surrounding firearm ownership differ significantly from those of other countries in the EU. Current legislation allows firearms to be acquired through licensing that requires a gun proficiency test, a medical examination, and a clean criminal record. The Czech Republic also allows for the concealed carry of firearms for self-defense, which is not allowed in most EU countries. A vast majority of gun owners in the Czech Republic report owning a weapon for self-defense and not for hunting or sport. EU regulations aim to limit the ownership of weapons, including those already legally held, with the new directives. Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi on Saturday said that those participating in a Left Front rally in Bihar today could be "identified by their clothes", and also added that the protesters at Delhi`s Shaheen Bagh came from a "particular community". He also claimed, thanks to the efforts of PM Narendra Modi that the Supreme Court decided the Ayodhya Ram temple case in Hindus` favour. "Aaj Bihar ke andar jo rally ho rahi hai vampanthiyon ki, usme kaun log jaa rahe hain? Ek varg vishesh ke log ja rahe hain jinko unke kapde se pehchana jaa sakta hai (Who are these people going to a Left front rally in Bihar today? They are from a certain community who can be identified by their clothes)," the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said while speaking at an event. Speaking on Saturday at an event to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century poet-saint venerated by the Dalits, Sushil Modi said some elements in the country were trying to forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance. He vowed to foil such efforts. "There are some elements in the country who are attempting to forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance in recent times. These people tell Dalits that they are being neglected in the Hindu society. Such attempts to alienate the Dalits from the Hindu society have been going on since the British era," Modi said. "The effort that has been going on for last 100 years and which we have foiled, we won`t let this alliance happen in coming times too," he added. Speaking on the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Bihar Deputy CM said: "Who are the people sitting on dharna at Delhi`s Shaheen Bagh? They are from a particular community who are angry with the work done by the Narendra Modi government in the last six months." "They are not angry over the CAA. They are angry with the work of the Narendra Modi government that has ended triple talaq, abrogated Article 370 and also with the efforts of PM Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court decided the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri masjid case in favour of the Hindus to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It is this anger that is coming out in the form of Shaheen Bagh," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in December last year said that those protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill could be identified by their clothes. The Prime Minister`s remarks were criticised by the Opposition. Writing about identity politics is fraught with political landmines. People tend to be highly sensitive to any challenge to how they identify themselves. Its personal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Writing about identity politics is fraught with political landmines. People tend to be highly sensitive to any challenge to how they identify themselves. Its personal. It is therefore intriguing that author Darryl Leroux has walked purposely right into the minefield. Its political. In Distorted Descent: White Claims to Indigenous Identity, Leroux describes the obsessive search by some heretofore non-Indigenous Canadians for long-ago Indigenous ancestors who can justify them identifying as Metis. According to Leroux, an associate professor of social justice and community studies at Saint Marys University in Halifax, the popularity of genealogical websites and online forums has created communities where race-shifters can organize. The motive, he warns, is not benign. Leroux makes it clear that he is not talking about people who are seeking to reunite with their kin after being forcibly disconnected from their Indigenous identity through Indian residential schools, the Sixties Scoop or Indian Act policies. This recent phenomenon is about people who, for some 300 to 350 years, have identified as white, with no apparent connection to any traditional Indigenous community. Because the Indigenous blood line, if there is one, is so diluted, anthropologists have taken to calling it "racial homeopathy." When Metis people were defined as Aboriginal in 1982, the federal government did not define who qualified to call themselves Metis. That definition is now hotly disputed by competing Metis organizations, with some claiming tight restrictions and others claiming that one drop of Indigenous blood, no matter how far in the past, is sufficient. In Distorted Descent, Leroux describes how some 200,000 Canadian "white settlers" have redefined themselves as Metis over the past 15 years. This surge in race shifting rests primarily on tracing genealogical connections to a handful of French and First Nations women living in Acadia and New France in the early 1600s. The most common root ancestors are Catherine Pillard, Catherine Lejeune and Francoise Grenier, all born in France between 1604 and 1646, and Marguerite Pigarouiche, Marie Sylvestre, Marie Miteaouamegoukwe, and the un-named "Nipissing woman," all born in New France (Quebec) from 1610-1646. Where men are claimed as root ancestors, they are typically well-known figures such as Mikmaq Grand Chief Membertou and Huron-Wendat Grand Chief Atsena. And Louis Riel. Leroux points out that, in the absence of a verifiable Indigenous ancestor, people have used gaps in ancient records, such as the unknown parentage of some early European women settlers, to "indigenize" them through creative storytelling. Others are claiming indigeneity by association, whereby a non-Indigenous ancestor whose brother or other relative married an Indigenous woman 350 years ago is sufficient grounds to claim Metis status today. Tom Hanson / The Canadian Press files The Supreme Court case of Steve Powley was pivotal in securing hunting and other rights for Metis people rights some of those looking to adopt a Metis identity hope to exploit. A current variation of "indigeneity by association" is the claim by Senator Lynn Beyak who, according to the trainer overseeing her mandatory cultural awareness training as required by the Senate Ethics Office, repeatedly claimed she was Metis based on her parents having adopted an Indigenous child. (Beyak has since denied making these claims.) In these cases, says Leroux, "race-shifters can become Indigenous without any actual Indigenous ancestry." For his troubles, Leroux has faced online attacks and threats of violence from Metis activists threatened by his work, at one point needing a security team for protection while giving a talk at a Montreal university. Leroux wanted to understand why so many people, particularly men, are going to such lengths to create a Metis identity and are so fiercely defensive of it. He determined that financial gain was not a significant motivator. Sure, some people wanted identify as Metis so their kids could qualify for Indspire grants, or access to jobs designated for Indigenous people. While shifting to a Metis identity offers a ready-made escape from "white guilt," there is much more at stake. The real value of race-shifting is in how it opens the door for heretofore non-Indigenous people to obtain official standing to challenge First Nations land claims and hunting rights. And it is political. CPAC Those overseeing recent the mandatory cultural awareness training of Sen. Lynn Beyak say she claimed Metis status based on her parents having adopted an Indigenous child. Beyak has denied making such claims. The first half of Lerouxs story is a fascinating account of the lengths some people will go to in their quest to achieve a desired identity. The second half is likely of more interest to Easterners. Leroux details several cases where newly identified Metis in Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick formed local organizations specifically to fight First Nations land claims. And they prevailed. However, the organizations have had a tougher time in the courts, losing some 60 court cases since 2014 attempting to claim Aboriginal rights under Section 35 of Canadas Constitution. "These efforts," says Leroux, "are based in the long-standing belief that white society can claim, appropriate, manipulate, or outright own Indigenous lifeways without consequence." The author calls on the roughly 10 million of us in Canada who are descendants of Pillard, Lejeune and Grenier as is the author to "turn their attention to our collective failure to build lasting social and political bonds" with Indigenous people. Would not finding a meeting ground to work together on land claims and hunting rights disputes have a better chance of leading to reconciliation than usurping those rights? Sheilla Jones is the author of Let the People Speak: Oppression in a Time of Reconciliation, and co-chair of the Modernized Annuity Working Group. She is a direct descendent of Catherine Lejeune and Catherine Pillard. PENDLETON, Ore. Multiple highways were shut down and some people forced to evacuate as a surge of flooding hit swathes of northeastern Oregon on Friday, prompting Governor Brown to declare a state of emergency. The emergency declaration came down on Friday afternoon, covering Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties. "Fast-moving, severe floods have required the evacuation of residences and shut down critical roads in northeastern Oregon. I am grateful for all of our first responders for their efforts to keep our families safe since the waters began rising," Governor Brown said. "This emergency declaration ensures state resources, emergency response personnel, and equipment can be activated to complement critical local resources as this situation progresses." I-84, the major thoroughfare that runs from Portland all the way through Idaho, was completely underwater in spots. "Snowmelt, slides and historically high river levels are the factors causing flooding hazards and high water issues on and along Oregon highways and roads throughout eastern Oregon," the Oregon Department of Transportation said. Landslides had been dumping rock and mud into waterways and ditches causing culverts intended to prevent this kind of flooding to become jammed, the agency said. Continuing snowmelt and rain were expected to continue into Saturday. "In addition to all the ongoing flooding, we have a cold front swinging through late tonight into tomorrow," the National Weather Service said in regards to the Columbia River Basin area. "Expect mountain snow with a few light basin rain showers." Agencies reported flooding around Hermiston, Pendleton, and La Grande. The westbound lanes of I-84 were closed from Hermiston to Ontario at the Idaho border, with a smaller closure on the eastbound side near Hermiston. "Our I-84 closures are expected to remain in place for a significant amount of time," ODOT said. "Once the water has receded, we'll need to inspect the freeway to assess the amount of damage. Our closure westbound provides a safe refuge for trucks and other travelers where there are facilities and adequate parking that isn't available in the affected area." Local agencies reported dozens of closures on smaller roads along that stretch. The Umatilla County Sheriff's Office issued evacuations on the Umatilla Reservation, and the Pendleton Police Department reported similar evacuations. Helicopter crews from the Oregon Army National Guard were helping with search and rescue efforts in areas of Umatilla County, reportedly rescuing four people who were stranded on top of their house Thursday evening. On Friday morning, helicopter crews saved four more civilians and two Swift Water Rescue crew members who had become stranded. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all personnel aiding in the search and rescue efforts and to all those affected by this disaster," the Oregon National Guard said. "Excellent job Guardsmen! Always ready always there!" Governor Brown's declaration directs the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to coordinate the deployment of the state agencies to support local communities as needed. "OEM will facilitate the access and use of state resources, personnel, and equipment to protect communities, property, and the environment, and aid in the recovery from flooding," the Governor's Office said. "The state of emergency will remain in effect for thirty days." New Delhi, Feb 8 : A Kashmiri Pandit woman lashed out at Vidhu Vinod Chopra at a screening of his new film "Shikara" on Friday. The filmmaker had turned out at the screening to get a firsthand public review of his film. A video that has gone viral shows the woman screaming at Chopra for "commercialising" the entire issue of Kashmiri Pandit exodus, adding that he did not portray the true suffering of the community -- including genocide, mass rapes and murders committed by Islamic radical groups -- in his film. She said: "Ye aapka commercialism aapko mubarakh ho (congratulations to you for your commercialism). As a Kashmiri Pandit, I disown your film. I disown it." Chopra was heard saying to the audience: "Har sachai ke do pehlu hote hain (every truth has two sides)." The film is set against the backdrop of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus from the Kashmir Valley in late 1989 and early 1990, in the wake of violent Islamist insurgency. "Shikara" opened on February 7. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are enjoying their time away from the royal spotlight. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their exit from the royal family last month and have been living in Canada for several weeks now. While the rest of the royal family has returned to their normal duties, Prince Harry and Meghans quiet life consists of long walks and yoga sessions. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Kirsty Wigglesworth Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle love Canada Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan lived in Toronto while working on the popular legal drama, Suits. Harry also has ties to the country and hosted his Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017. In their stunning exit statement, Harry and Meghan mentioned living in North America for part of the year. Queen Elizabeth later clarified that the couple is thinking about setting up a second home in Canada, though they have yet to make any official moves. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'Enjoying Quiet Life' in Canada: 'A Weight Has Been Lifted,' Says Friend https://t.co/IY7R3UsDTu pic.twitter.com/bcrqnVN6YY People (@people) February 5, 2020 In fact, an inside source claims that the Sussexes are also thinking about buying a home in Los Angeles. Meghans mother, Doria Ragland, is from California, so it makes sense that she wants to live closer to her. They love being in Canada, but they are looking at houses in LA too, a source claimed. Theyll likely have houses in both places. We do not know what Harry and Meghan have planned in the coming months, but we do know that they are enjoying their time of relaxation in Canada. A day in the life of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Harry and Meghan spent the holidays in Canada with their son, Archie Harrison, and her mother, Doria Ragland. Following their exit announcement, the couple flew back to the UK. Meghan visited a few places in England before returning to Canada. Harry, meanwhile, met with senior members of the royal family about his departure before reuniting with Meghan a few weeks ago. Has Meghan and Harry's move to Canada just been a big smokescreen for their real next step into Hollywood? https://t.co/mYzOWJAjtY Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) February 6, 2020 According to Page Six, an inside source claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are really enjoying their time in Canada. The most famous couple in the world have not been going out in public much, which has been a nice change of pace for them. They are enjoying living a quiet life, a source revealed. They go for long walks, they do yoga, and Meghan cooks. [Harry and Meghan] are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs. Harry and Meghan are living in a lavish home on Vancouver Island. It is unclear how long they will remain in Canada before heading back to the UK. Meghan Markle is relieved to be out of the royal family At the beginning of January, Harry and Meghan announced their departure from the royal family on social media. The couple revealed that they will be stepping down as senior members of the monarchy in a move that stunned royal watchers around the world. As part of their exit strategy, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will become financially independent from the crown. They will also be splitting their time between the UK and North America, which means purchasing a second home. As I have said, this all stems from his family not embracing Meghan Markle when she and Prince Harry were dating. Why would they? They could see the writing on the wall. Because an American would have no allegiance to the monarchy. And she hasnt! https://t.co/93dj3Q6CSG Perez (@ThePerezHilton) February 6, 2020 The announcement was met with a lot of criticism, yet Prince Harry and Meghan are reportedly relieved about stepping back from the royal spotlight. A weight has been lifted off their shoulders, an insider stated. The source noted that Meghan feels a lot less stressed, though the decision to leave the royal family has been weighing on them for a long time. At the end of the day, Harry and Meghan just want to live a normal life with their son, who has become their number one priority. Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle keep their privacy? Although Harry and Meghan have been loving their time in Canada, some royal experts believe they both want to buy a second home in Los Angeles. Not only is this closer to Meghans mother, but it also gives them more money-making opportunities. The only problem with moving to Los Angeles is that they will likely have to give up some of their privacy. In a recent interview, the head of a large PR firm in Los Angeles, Sheeraz Hasan, said that he already has 150 paparazzi waiting for a chance to catch Prince Harry and Meghan in Los Angeles. Rihanna Liked A Video Of Prince Harry Being Adorable With Meghan Markle So I Guess That Makes Him The Perfect Husband https://t.co/z7eaSwsZoH BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 7, 2020 Hasan revealed that everyone in Los Angeles is waiting for Harry and Meghan to arrive and that she could easily build a billion-dollar brand in the city. Trust me, the second Meghan Markle lands in Los Angeles, Im going to put so many lights on that woman, 150 cameras are going to be following her were going to make her 100 times bigger than Kim Kardashian, he stated. Given how Prince Harry and Meghan Markles biggest goal is privacy, they probably are not thrilled to hear about all the cameras that are awaiting their arrival. The couple has not commented on the reports surrounding Megxit. Before and after videos show former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign adding fake applause and laughter to the presidential hopeful's CNN town hall clips. At Saint Anselm College on Thursday evening, 38-year-old Buttigieg spoke about indicators that current and future generations will not be as financially sound as previous generations. He said: 'Statistically, we run the risk of being the first generation in American history to actually be worse off economically than our parents if nothing is done to change the trajectory of this economy.' 'To me, that is not just a concern for our generation, it's a concern that calls on us to build an alliance among generations to try to make sure that the future really is better than the past.' In original footage from the live event, Buttigieg's answer does not inspire applause from the audience until 10 seconds later when he's officially finished his answer. But an altered clip shared by Pete for America has added fake applause. Pete Buttigieg's (pictured) campaign faced backlash on social media after they appeared to have altered a clip to include artificial applause and laughter The artificial addition was flagged by Center for Popular Democracy Action, a progressive advocacy group that supports Bernie Sanders. The group uploaded side-by-side videos of Buttigieg answering the question on Twitter for comparison, while adding the hashtag 'SneakyPete.' Later the group flagged a second doctored clip of Buttigieg from the CNN town hall that was featured by his campaign. In that instance, Buttigieg is speaking with CNN anchor Jake Tapper on how to pronounce the candidate's last name. 'Not Boot-a-judge,' Tapper asks. 'Either way, it gets you there,' prompting audience laughter and applause in his campaign's clip. The original version ends with Buttigieg saying 'Back home, they just call me Mayor Pete', followed by just laughter. Did you see our first expose of @PeteButtigieg campaign altering a #PeteOnCNN video to fake more voter support? Well here is a second! This time, Pete Buttigieg really wants to fake being funnier!#SneakyPete gonna #MayorCheat pic.twitter.com/IvSbFGknTt CPD Action (@CPDAction) February 7, 2020 Twitter users sprung at the opportunity to blast Buttigieg for including extra laughter and applause on promotional items. One user said: 'And I'm sure he didn't think anything was wrong about it. Did you Smollett, er, Peter>Butt.' '#PeteButtigiegs campaign appears to have edited a video from a town hall to add audience applause in a version it posted online. You're pretty desperate when you have to add applause to your own town hall...' a woman said. 'Pete Buttigieg: Please clap? No. Fine, we'll just add it in later,' another said. One man joked that Buttigieg should have boombox with laugh and applause tracks on repeat. Twitter users mocked Buttigieg's video clip after it was revealed to be altered by Center for Popular Democracy Action Texas Girl: '#PeteButtigiegs campaign appears to have edited a video from a town hall to add audience applause in a version it posted online. You're pretty desperate when you have to add applause to your own town hall' Carlo Marx: 'Pete Buttigieg: Please clap? No. Fine, we'll just add it in later' One man joked that Buttigieg should have boombox with a laugh and applause track on repeat 'Someone should que the Larry David show music and follow Pete Buttigieg with a boom box constantly running the Larry David music on repeat!' they wrote. Others hit back at social media's outrage, noting that Buttigieg did actually receive laughter and applause - just not at that specific moment. 'Oh come on. Watch the whole clip. The audience applauded at the end of the CNN clip,' one man said. 'Petes campaign just shorted the clip but kept the applause. This is a lame attack. Lets keep the discussion on real issues please.' Some users pointed out that Buttigieg did receive laughter and applause during his CNN Town Hall, but not at those specific moments Buttigieg (pictured) narrowly won the 2020 Iowa Caucus this week against the other presidential candidates Buttigieg walked away from the Iowa Caucus with a narrow win against his Democratic competitors, specifically Bernie Sanders, 78. He won with 13 delegates and 564 - or 26.2 percent - of the votes while Sanders trailed behind with 26.1 percent. Elizabeth Warren came in third with 18 percent and Joe Biden, whose poll performance has always been high, came in a surprising fourth place. Buttigieg's hopeful win made him the main target during Friday night's Democratic Debate. Candidates targeted his lack of experience, as well as low support from black and Latino voters. Biden and Amy Klobuchar questioned whether Buttigieg had the capacity to successfully face off with Trump, questioning whether he has the experience to lead the nation. Pete Buttigieg, left, and Bernie Sanders, right, faced the most criticism on Friday night Buttigieg, who served two terms as mayor of South Bend, a city with a population of 100,000, said the Washington insider experience of some of his rivals was no longer what was needed, and it was time to 'turn the page' on the old Washington politics. 'I freely admit that if you're looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, you've got your candidate, and of course it's not me,' he said. Klobuchar hit back claiming that 'it is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do. It is much harder...to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions'. Then she dug into the fresh-faced Buttigieg: 'Because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer, I just I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing.' Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar shaking hands ahead of Friday night's debate before the senator mocked Buttigieg for posing as the 'cool newcomer' in the field Piling on the criticism for Buttigieg was hedge funder and philanthropist Tom Steyer, 62, who also poked at Joe Biden Friday night. 'That's why I'm worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy [Trump] and take him down on the debate stage or we're going to lose, he warned. 'We got to win or we are in deep trouble and we keep not talking about the facts,' he said. Biden leaned in further saying of Buttigieg: 'He's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things but has not demonstrated his ability and we'll soon find out.' Buttigieg responded to the claims he lacks experience by arguing that the way to beat President Trump is with a different kind of politics. 'Here's how we're going to win,' he said. 'We're going to put up somebody who's not afraid to call out things like his disgraceful behavior at the national prayer breakfast,' he said, and by nominating someone from a working class community that Trump says he is appealing to. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar noted during Friday's debate that she was one of the three senators on stage who served as jurors in Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial Steyer also took a hit at Buttigieg over his diversity problems and his lack of support from black and Latino voters. 'Unless you can appeal to the diverse parts of the Democratic Party, including specifically the black community, including specifically Latinos, if you cant do that, then we cant beat Donald Trump in November,' Steyer said. Buttigieg came under fire for his record on race in South Bend. When asked about an increase in arrests of blacks on marijuana-related charges, he said as mayor he targeted cases 'when there was gun violence and gang violence.' Asked if Buttigieg's answer was sufficient, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, 70, said: 'No. You have to own up to the facts.' President Donald Trump took a personal swipe at Buttigieg after Democrats fumbled the initial count of the Iowa Caucus. 'The Democrats don't know what they hell they're doing. The only thing they didn't check was to see if the app worked. It didn't. It all fried,' he said. 'It turned out to be Pete Buttigieg. Who ever the hell that is? Mayor Pete,' Trump said. 'Somebody explain that one to me. Have you ever seen anything so crazy?' Ukraine has settled the language issue for national minorities through the adoption of the law on complete general secondary education and hopes that Hungary will unblock high-level Ukraine-NATO dialogue. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko made a corresponding statement at the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto in Kyiv on February 7, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reports. "Prystaiko noted that Ukraine fulfilled all the recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding the Law of Ukraine On Education by adopting the Law of Ukraine On Complete General Secondary Education on January 16, 2020 and expected Hungary to unblock the high-level dialogue between Ukraine and NATO," the press service reports. As noted, the ministers discussed the whole range of issues on the agenda of Ukraine-Hungary relations, including the implementation of the Law of Ukraine On Education and the issues of national minority. Szijjarto emphasized Hungary's interest in improving bilateral relations with Ukraine and enhancing economic cooperation. On September 28, 2017, the Law of Ukraine "On Education" entered into force, which determines that the language of instruction in educational establishments is the state language. The educational program may provide for teaching one or several disciplines in two or more languages. Some countries, in particular Hungary, criticized the law because it allegedly restricts the rights of national minorities. On January 16, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law of On Complete General Secondary Education which regulates, in particular, the provision of secondary education in the languages of national minorities. According to the law, representatives of national minorities in Ukraine, whose languages are not official languages of the European Union, get the basic and specialized secondary education at the state, municipal or corporate educational establishments in the state language during at least 80 percent of the annual academic time. The representatives of national minorities, whose languages are the official languages of the EU, get basic secondary education in the fifth grade at the state, municipal or corporate educational establishments in the state language during at least 20 percent of the annual academic time. ol WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Coronavirus: Passenger from WB in SOS says, over 200 Indians stuck in quarantined Japan ship India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 08: The death toll due to coronavirus jumped to 722 in China, and 64 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan. Among more than 3,700 people, at least six passengers along with several crew members from India are onboard the luxury cruise, that is currently quarantined near Yokohama port. People are in fear of death in the cruise as per some of the passengers of the ship. However, there was no India so far tested positive for the noble coronavirus, but the fear of getting infected is on rise. One of the passenger of the ship, who hails from West Bengal posted a SOS message on social media on Friday. He has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ask the Japanese government to keep the coronavirus infected people separately from the other people onboard the ship. Coronavirus: 15 Kerala students stranded in China reach Kochi Another man has also asked the authorities to evacuate Indian citizens from Japan like they rescued from epicentre of coronavirus Wuhan in China. As per reports, in the social media posts the Bengal resident had said that there are nearly 200 Indians onboard the ship and none of them have tested positive as of now. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said the developments of the cruise ship are being monitored closely. On Friday through a tweet, the External Affairs Minister said, "Many Indian crew & some Indian passengers are onboard the cruise ship #DiamondPrincess quarantined off Japan due to #Coronavirus. None have tested positive, as per the latest information provided by our Embassy." As of now the Japanese authorities have tested about 280 people on board the Diamond Princess suspecting coronavirus. Coronavirus: Death toll in China rises to 722, confirmed cases rises to 34,546 And on Saturday, the test results from six more people were released among which three were confirmed cases. So far the Japanese health ministry didn't give any details of their nationality of these three. Total 64 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship. Meanwhile, they have been sent to hospital confirmed the Japanese health ministry. More than 3,700 passengers and crew on are present in the cruise presently. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 13:52 [IST] The final Democratic presidential debate before the Feb. 11 first-in-the-nation primary began at 8 p.m. Friday night at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. The seven candidates are former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70; former Vice President Joe Biden, 78; former tech executive Andrew Yang, 45; businessman Tom Steyer, 62; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59. Here were some key moments in the debate: Sanders Defends Vote Against USMCA Sanders said he wouldnt apologize for voting against the U.S.Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Sanders announced during the last debate that he wouldnt support the agreement, known as USMCA, because it didnt address climate change. We could do much better than a Trump-led trade deal. This deal, and I think the proponents of it would acknowledge, will result in the continuation of the loss of hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs as a result of outsourcing, he said Speaking on Feb. 7, Sanders said he voted no because the deal didnt mention climate change and because he believes it will continue the export of jobs from the United States. Klobuchar, who voted yes, said she did so because there were some major improvements in this trade agreement, including improvements related to labor inspections and pharmaceuticals. Not having a trade agreement with the United States and Canada puts the United States at a disadvantage against China, Klobuchar said. Warren said she voted yes because the deal made things somewhat better for farmers and workers. She said shes working on a better trade deal on climate. The trade deal passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in late 2019. The GOP-held Senate passed the deal last month, and Trump signed the deal on Jan. 29. Candidates Criticize Bloomberg Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs Twitter account was active on Friday night as the billionaire, 77, missed another debate. Candidates were invited by a moderator to weigh in on Bloombergs candidacy, and everyone heard from criticized the billionaire. I dont [think] anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or [for] president of the United States, Warren said. I cant stand the big money in politics, Klobuchar added. Bloomberg or the person who was tweeting, meanwhile, championed the former mayors stance on healthcare, gun restrictions, and his chances against President Trump. Everyone on the stage tonight will argue about whos most electable. If any one of them is the nominee, Ill be in their corner. But there should be no debating which one of us can actually beat Trump. Because Ive beaten him beforeand I will beat him again, one tweet said. Another said that Democrats need to fight for accessible and affordable health care for every American without mortgaging our future, in an apparent critique of the Medicare for All proposals put forth by some candidates, which would cost trillions of dollars. Because he is self-funding his campaign, Bloomberg did not meet the donor threshold set by the Democratic National Committee. Bloomberg could qualify for the next debate after the committee eliminated the threshold. Former New York City mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg during the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington on Jan. 22, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Buttigieg Reiterates Call for Supreme Court Reform Buttigieg reiterated a proposal to expand the size of the Supreme Court, claiming such a move would help depoliticize the nations highest court. We cannot allow the Supreme Court to continue to become one more political battlefield, as we are seeing today. And the time has come for us to think bigger, he said. Buttigieg has called for adding six justices to the current nine and allow Democrats and Republicans to each name five appointees, while those 10 justices would choose another five. Biden has called any expansion of the court a non-starter. I agree with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Biden said during the debate, referring to the eldest justice on the court. Ginsburg has dismissed proposals to change the courts size or the length of time a justice serves. If rules are changed, Biden argued, the court would lose its legitimacy. Instead, he said Democrats need to flip the Senate in November, noting that senators approve the justices nominated by President Donald Trump. Several candidates said they wouldnt nominate justices who dont agree with Roe v. Wade, a ruling which said abortion was a constitutional right. Sanders, who has suggested rotating justices to and from the Supreme Court, said he would use abortion as a litmus test, as did Biden. (L-R) Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Vice President Joe Biden at the debate in New Hampshire on Friday night. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Warren Calls for Pulling Troops From Afghanistan Warren said she would, if elected, remove troops from Afghanistan. Nobody sees a solution to this war. Nobody can describe what winning looks like. All they can describe is endless war, she said. Warren said she was not willing to leave troops there, questioning what the years of war have brought. We sent our troops in, and they did our best. They were there for us, and we need to be there for them. And that means not send[ing] our troops to do work that cannot be solved militarily, Warren said. Sanders, meanwhile, brought up Bidens Senate 2002 vote supporting the Iraq War. If I might, like Joe and others, I also heard the arguments in terms of the war in Iraq from [George W.] Bush, from [Dick] Cheney, from John Bolton, from the whole administration. I listened very carefully, said Sanders, who was also in office at the time. And I concluded that they were lying through their teeth. And I not only voted against that war, but I helped lead the opposition. Biden warned against pulling troops out of Afghanistan entirely. Such actions, he said, can lead to regional instability. Biden recalled the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, saying troops were ashamed to leave while the Kurds asked Americans to stay. Biden was responding to Warren. Democratic presidential candidates former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) during the eighth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 7, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Candidates Oppose Soleimani Strike Several presidential candidates said the President Donald Trump-ordered strike that took out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani either was or may not have been a good idea. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on what the different effects would be, Buttigieg said. If we learned nothing else from the war in Iraq, its that taking out a bad guy is not a good idea if you do not know what you are doing. Sanders and Biden both said they would not have ordered the strike. The reason I wouldnt have ordered the strike: theres no evidence yet of imminent threat that was going to come from him, Biden said. Soleimani was commander of Irans Quds Force, which the United States designates as a terrorist group. U.S. officials say he was responsible for thousands of American deaths or injuries. Opposition to the strike arose shortly after it was announced in December 2019 and prompted Congress to introduce several bills aimed at reducing Trumps power to take military action against Iran. Standing Applause for Vindman Biden urged people in the audience to give a standing applause for Alexander Vindman, a military veteran who was on the National Security Council before he was apparently removed on Friday. Vindman testified against President Donald Trump during the impeachment inquiry. Stand up! Biden told the audience. The audience complied, giving Vindman a standing ovation. Trump should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not Rush Limbaugh, Biden said. Limbaugh, the longtime conservative radio host, was recently diagnosed with cancer. He attended the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, where Trump surprised him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The audience also applauded Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted for one article of impeachment against Trump. Every other GOP senator voted against both articles. Battle Over Medicare for All Erupts Candidates battled over the Medicare for All proposals on stage, with Klobuchar and Biden taking stances against the proposals and Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg saying theyre for it. Klobuchar said Medicare for All would kick 149 million Americans off of their health care, and she advocated for a nonprofit, public option that builds on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Biden said that Sanders wrote the Medicare for All bill but wont say how much it would cost. It will cost more than the entire federal budget we spend now. The idea middle-class taxes arent going to go up is just crazy, Biden said. Sanders claimed that his plan, which would involve the government taking over the entire healthcare sector, would actually drive healthcare prices down. Biden argued that that wasnt true. Sanders later wondered why people have been talking for healthcare so long. If you want real change in healthcare, at the end of the day, youre going to have to take on the insurance companies and the drug companies and their price-fixing, he said. Warren posited that people are looking at healthcare the wrong way. Thirty-six million Americans last year, she said, couldnt afford to have a prescription filled. They were worried about or sick enough to go to a doctor walked out and said, its either that or groceries. Its either that or pay the rent on time, she said. How about we start with what a president can doI love saying thisall by herself. On day one, I will defend the Affordable Care Act, and I will using marching orders to reduce the cost of commonly used prescription drugs, she added. Buttigieg, who has proposed a scaled-back Medicare for All plan, attacked Sanders, warning against a politics that says if you dont go all the way to the edge, it doesnt count. A politics that says its my way or the highway. Asked if he was talking about Sanders, Buttigieg said yes. Experience Needed for the White House? Klobuchar said experience would be good for the candidate who wins the Democratic nomination, hitting Buttigieg over his relative lack of experience. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us, Klobuchar said. Steyer said the most important factor in the nomination was the ability to beat President Trump. Thats why Im worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy on the debate stage, or were gonna lose, Steyer said. Buttigieg said Democrats would win back the presidency by putting the president next to somebody that actually lives in a middle-class neighborhood in the industrial Midwest, Buttigieg, an Indiana resident, said. He noted his service in the U.S. military and said hed be able to unify the country around a new and better vision. Sanders said that bolstering turnout in November was important. No matter who wins this damned thing, were all going to stand together to defeat Donald Trump, he added. Biden: I Took a Hit in Iowa Biden, asked about why he would advise Democratic voters against voting for Buttigieg or Sanders, said: This is a long race. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here. Ive always viewed the first four encounters as the starting point, he said, referring to the first two caucuses and the first two primaries, including the upcoming New Hampshire primary. Pressed on his past criticism of Buttigieg and Sanders, who were first and second in Iowa, Biden said Buttigieg is a great guy and a patriot. But Buttigieg, the mayor of a small city, Biden added, has not demonstrated he has the ability to get a broad scope of support across the spectrum, including African-Americans and Latinos. About Sanders, he added: The president wants very much to stick a label on every candidate Bernies labeled himself, not me, a Democratic socialist. If Sanders wins, Biden said, Trump would put that label on every Democratic running nationwide. Iowa Democratic Chair Calls for Probe of Caucuses The Iowa Democratic Party chairman called for an independent probe of the recent caucuses in Iowa, which have been plagued by technological and reporting issues. Troy Price, the chairman of the party, or IDP, said that 100 percent of the results were reported, but the party is still working on ensuring the results were accurate. Even when the results are finalized, an independent investigation of what happened is necessary, Price said in a statement Friday night, just hours before the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire. We will be undergoing an independent, forensic review, Price added to reporters on Friday in Des Moines. What went right? What went wrong? Start to finish. Both Buttigieg and Sanders have declared victory. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. SHANGHAI A U.S. citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, American officials said Saturday. It was the first known American death from the illness and was likely to add to diplomatic friction over Beijings response to the epidemic. The death is also certain to raise questions over whether the Trump administration and the State Department in particular have taken sufficient action to ensure the safety of Americans in China and to aid in the evacuation of those who want to leave. In a statement, the State Department took a defensive tone, saying that since Jan. 29, it had evacuated about 850 people, most of them Americans, on five charter flights out of Wuhan. The agency said it had no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad, but there are no current plans to conduct additional evacuation flights, even as some Americans in other parts of China have been asking for the U.S. to evacuate them. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been tense for years over issues including trade, technology and human rights. While Chinese officials have touted the importance of international cooperation to combat the virus, doubts have arisen in recent days about Chinas willingness to accept a helping hand particularly from the United States. Although some Trump administration officials have privately expressed skepticism over Chinas handling of the outbreak, President Trump himself lavished praise on Chinese leaders Friday. Trump told reporters in Washington that he had spoken with President Xi Jinping of China late Thursday. Theyre working really hard, and I think theyre doing a very professional job, he said. Few details about the American, who died Thursday, were immediately available. According to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the person was 60 years old and died at a hospital in Wuhan, the metropolis at the center of the epidemic. Two people familiar with the matter said the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions. Word of the death spread as frustrations over Beijings handling of the epidemic mounted within China. The virus has killed at least 812 people surpassing the SARS fatalities in 2002-03 and sickened 37,500 more and spread across the globe. For more than a month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been offering to send a team of experts to China to observe the outbreak and help if possible. But no invitation has come. The World Health Organization, which made a similar offer about two weeks ago, appeared to have faced the same cold shoulder. But the agency said Saturday that a team of experts will go to China and that the teams leader would arrive Monday or Tuesday. Current and former health officials and diplomats said they believed the reluctance came from Chinas top leaders, who do not want the world to think they need outside help. Raymond Zhong is a New York Times writer. With polling underway, all Assembly segments of the capital, President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at a polling booth in Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya of New Delhi. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in this Delhi Assembly election. Out of the total number of eligible voters -- 1,47,86,382 -- there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. To ensure peaceful and fair polling in all 70 constituencies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel will also be deployed. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. Congress did not open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prosecutors told two judges about concerns regarding a 30-year-old defendant a week before he was charged with intoxication manslaughter for a crash that killed three people in north Harris County Wednesday. An anonymous tipster contacted the Harris County District Attorneys Office and told officials that Gregory Allen Smith had been using drugs. Smith, 30, was already on personal recognizance bond meaning he was released without bail for a drunk driving charge in July that prosecutors say caused a four-car wreck. Drug use would have violated terms of his bond, and the judges could have ordered the random drug testing that was also a condition of his bond. That didnt happen. The revelations raise new questions surrounding the crash that claimed the lives of a grandmother, mom, and a 3-month-old baby boy, as well as whether prosecutors should have outlined their concerns more formally. According to police, Smith was driving south on Antoine Drive toward Sam Houston Parkway Wednesday when he blew two red lights, hit a black SUV in the intersection, then plowed into a full-size van. First responders took the driver of the SUV to the hospital. Three occupants of the van died: Piedad Romero, Diana Soriano-Escobar, and Soriano-Escobar's infant son, Ricardo Daniel Escobar Jr. Soriano-Escobars 11-year-old sister was thrown from the van, and taken to the hospital with a concussion. Although the 2019 DWI was Smiths first, he also has a lengthy criminal history in Harris County dating back to September 2017, with misdemeanor convictions for drug possession, indecent exposure, terroristic threats and other crimes. Just months before that July arrest, Smith was accused of punching a detention officer while he was detained at Harris County Jail and charged with assaulting a public servant in the incident. OUT OF CONTROL: Houstons roads, drivers are nations most deadly Prior to his time in Harris County, Smith appears to have lived in Mississippi, where he was charged with capital murder in Hinds County in 2014. That case was ultimately dropped, according to officials there, but more information was not immediately available. In the July DWI arrest, prosecutors alleged he was high on PCP at the time of the crash. Court records show Smith had PCP, amphetamines and marijuana in his system when he was arrested. During one of his initial hearings after that arrest, Judge Genesis Draper of County Criminal Court at Law 12 ordered the 30-year-old defendant released on a personal recognizance bond and his car be outfitted with an ignition interlock device. She also ordered him to refrain from drug use and to submit to random drug testing. Court documents show Smith was determined to have a mental illness or intellectual disability, but do not list specifics. On HoustonChronicle.com: Three generations mourned after fiery Spring wreck While documents from an Aug. 2 court hearing also noted that Smith be required to submit to drug testing and to refrain from drug use, they do not contain the requirement that his car be outfitted with an interlock. Reasons for the change are unclear. When the Chronicle called Court 12 Friday afternoon, a court staffer said Draper was already gone for the day. Months after Smiths DWI arrest, prosecutors received the tip that about drug use. On Jan. 30, prosecutors visited both Drapers court and the 208th District Court, where he was facing the charge for assault on a public servant. We made the courts aware [Smith might be using drugs or alcohol], since that information indicated the defendant might be violating his bond conditions, said Sean Teare, chief of the Harris County District Attorneys Vehicular Crimes Division. Unfortunately, the crash happened before his next court date or random urinalysis. Other courthouse veterans said bond procedures are clear and that anyone wishing for a bond revocation or bond amendment would need to ask for such an action in a formal court hearing. County Criminal Court at Law Judge Franklin Bynum said he could not comment on the specifics of Smiths case, but noted that procedures for bond compliance require any party wishing action to make a formal request for it. The only time we act on a case is if were asked to act on a case, he said. Thats how the system works. st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs An American became the first confirmed non-Chinese victim of the new coronavirus on Saturday while a Japanese man also died with symptoms consistent with the disease, as the epidemic looked set to pass the death toll from the SARS pandemic. The 60-year old US citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at Jinyintan Hospital in China's Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, on Feb. 6, a US embassy spokesman in Beijing said. "We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss," the spokesman told Reuters. "Out of the respect for the family's ... Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban has said that one of its key leaders and his close aide were killed in a clash with security forces in Afghanistan last month. Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, who is believed to be in mid-30s, was considered a top-ranking leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and was killed along with his aide Qari Saifullah Peshawari on January 31 near Kabul, a statement by the SITE monitoring group said on Friday. The Taliban sources confirmed to various media outlets that Haqqani had been killed during a mission in Afghanistan. Neither the Afghan nor the Pakistani security forces have so far commented on the reported deaths. Haqqani was one of those seminary students who joined militancy after the Red Mosque operation in 2007 to dislodge the armed militants from the mosque. Haqqani was believed to be just 20 and a madrassa student when he moved to the tribal region of Pakistan in 2007 and joined TTP. He soon grew closer to the group's chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone attack in 2009. Haqqani was also close to the next TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud and remained with him until Mehsud was also killed in a US drone attack in 2013. Taliban sources said that Haqqani used to instruct the two TTP chiefs about Islamic jurisprudence. When Mullah Fazlullah was appointed as the third chief of TTP, he kept Haqqani close with him and first appointed him as his deputy. Later he was appointed as a member of the central council (shura) and remained on the post until death. It said that he supported TTP in its fight with Pakistani security forces but was not in favour of attacking hospitals, schools and other public places. Haqqani was not linked with the Haqqani group of Afghanistan and only shared the nom de guerre used by former students of Darul Uloom Haqqania of late Mualan Samiul Haq who was called as father of jihad and godfather of the Taliban. Haqqani was murdered in Rawalpindi in 2018 under mysterious circumstances but his seminary also known as university of jihad located at Akora Khattak area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is still functional. Praia, Cape Verde (PANA) - Cape Verde has finally ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), 12 years after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its 153rd member, a reliable source told PANA here Saturday US president vows to support China in battling contagion, willing to assist President Xi Jinping urged the United States on Friday to evaluate the novel coronavirus outbreak in a calm manner, and reasonably formulate and adjust its measures in dealing with the epidemic. Xi made the remark while speaking with US President Donald Trump over the phone. He told Trump that the trend of China's economy to maintain sound development over the long term remains unchanged despite the challenges of the outbreak. Xi said that since the start of the outbreak, the Chinese government and people have made all-out efforts in the prevention and control of the contagion. China has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous measures to control the virus, and has launched a people's war against the contagion, he said, adding the prevention and control efforts are producing positive results. China has the confidence and capability to win the battle against the epidemic, Xi said. The country has been endeavoring to protect the safety and health of both the Chinese people and people around the world, Xi said. He added that the Chinese government informed the World Health Organization as well as other countries and regions, including the US, in a timely fashion about the disease and in an open, transparent and responsible manner, and it also invited WHO experts to visit Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei province. Xi said that the decisive and strong measures the country has adopted to combat the contagion have been fully recognized and praised by the WHO and many countries around the world. He appreciated Trump's positive remarks about China's epidemic prevention and control efforts, and thanked people from various circles in the US for their donations of medical supplies. Dealing with the epidemic requires united efforts from various countries, Xi said, and the prevention and control of the contagion remains at a crucial stage. As the WHO has repeatedly called on countries to avoid overreacting to the outbreak, Xi expressed hope that the US would rationally work out and adjust its measures toward the epidemic. China and the US will maintain communication, strengthen coordination and jointly deal with the contagion, he added. Trump appreciated China's prominent capabilities in organizing its fight against the virus, and said Washington fully supports China in battling the contagion, and is willing to provide various kinds of assistance to the country. He is confident that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people will undoubtedly win the battle against the virus, adding that Washington has full confidence in China's economic growth. Trump told Xi that the US will consider and deal with the outbreak in a calm manner, and stands ready to maintain communication and cooperation with China through bilateral means and the WHO. The phone conversation between Xi and Trump came as the US Department of State raised its travel advisory for China to the highest warning level in disregard of the WHO's recommendations against travel restrictions. The Trump administration has also temporarily banned foreign nationals who have traveled to China from entering the US. Beijing has actively worked with the international community to deal with the epidemic, and called on countries from around the world to make united efforts in a rational manner. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have voiced their support for China's efforts to fight the epidemic while talking with Xi by phone. Other leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un, also expressed faith that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese government and people have the capability to curb the spread of the virus. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen visited China on Wednesday and had a meeting with Xi in Beijing in a gesture of his full support for China in the fight against the virus. Around 20 countries' foreign ministers have also expressed their sympathies to China over the outbreak during telephone talks with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. While offering assistance, they also called on the international community to deal with the contagion in a rational manner. Italy agreed to resume some commercial flights to and from China to facilitate travel of Chinese travelers stranded in Italy after Vice-Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Italian Ambassador to China Luca Ferrari on Thursday. Trade deal During their phone conversation, Xi and Trump also talked about bilateral issues, including implementation of the phase-one trade deal. Xi said the phase-one trade agreement benefits China and the US, and is also conducive to the peace and prosperity of the world. This fully demonstrates that despite the differences between them, the two countries can work out solutions through dialogue and consultations in the spirit of equality and mutual respect, he added. Xi expressed hope that the US will work along with China to earnestly implement the consensus reached between him and Trump, meet each other half way, adhere to the overarching principle of coordination, cooperation and stability and move bilateral ties forward on the right track in the new year. Trump said his country stands ready to work along with China to carry out the trade agreement and jointly advance bilateral ties. They agreed to continue to maintain close communications in various forms. One of the biggest consumer tech shows, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020, is just around the corner, with the biggest names in the smartphone and telecom industry heading to the event to showcase their latest innovations. The event in the past has been witness to some blockbuster announcements, many of which have set the tone for the industry in the subsequent months. This year, new age mobile technologies and 5G will be in the focus at the event, with the latter expected to shape the direction of the industry going forward. However, ahead of the event kicking off on February 24, the Coronavirus outbreak in China has cast a shadow on the proceedings at MWC 2020. The outbreak has sent an alarm throughout the world, causing disruption in major events, barring international travel, and compelling companies to take steps to ensure the safety of their employees. In the wake of the global emergency, LG has announced to pull out of the MWC 2020. There are reports that Ericsson too has taken a similar step. However, the organisers of the show are taking steps to ensure that MWC remains on schedule and they are confident that it will go ahead as planned. The show will go ahead, confirms GSMA Despite the backing out of a high profile players from the event, the MWC organizing body, GSMA, has confirmed that it is going ahead with its plans for the tech show. Rubbishing fears that MWC 2020 may end up acting as a catalyst for the spread of the virus, the GSMA has said that it is taking measures to ensure the safety of those who attend the event. It has outlined extensive plans to counter concerns and mitigate risk of the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak at MWC Barcelona. Describing the impact of the outbreak as "minimal", GSMA has pointed out to a wide range of measures that it is taking to protect attendees during MWC 2020. GSMA claims it is taking a number of hygiene measures across the Fira Gran Via, Fira Montjuic and La Farga L'Hospitalet venues designed to help protect the health of attendees. It adds in a statement: "The GSMA is building on its existing plans to protect the health of our attendees, clients and staff at MWC Barcelona. GSMA colleagues around the world are taking strong measures to contain and lessen any further spread of the virus These measures include adhering to advice from the World Health Organisation and other health authorities, respecting travel restrictions where they exist, arriving early in Spain to allow time for self-quarantine and ensuring access to masks." Apart from this, GSMA has also announced that it will be undertaking cleaning and disinfection programmes across the venues with a specific focus on "high-volume touchpoints". It has also confirmed there would be a further increase in "signage reminding people of hygiene recommendations, microphone change protocols in place for speakers and regular communication programmes to attendees recommending a no-handshake policy." The most coveted Awards night is here, yes were talking about the gold-plated bronze statuette that drives every actor, and is on practically on all of their bucket lists. Originally sculpted by George Stanley from a design by Cedric Gibbons, the Oscar was first presented in 1929 at the first ever Academy Awards. The statuettes official name is the Academy Award of Merit and the 92nd Oscar Awards will be held on February 9 at Los Angeles Dolby Theatre. The gold-plated statuette of a knight holding a crusaders sword stands 13-and-a-half inches tall and weighs a robust (approximately) 4kgs. This figurine stands atop a film reel which features five spokes, signifying the five original branches of the Academy, that are the actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers. More than 3,000 statuettes have been presented since the inception of the Academy Awards, but have you ever wondered what does the most coveted Awards statuette cost? Made in solid bronze and plated in 24-karat gold, the original price of the Oscar statuette is open to debates. Steven Spielberg purchased Bette Daviss 1938 Best Actress Oscar for $ 578,000. He also famously bought Clark Gables Best Actor award for $607,500, but after each purchase, returned it to the Academy. However, according to Academy regulations, following a 2015 court ruling, Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1, which is approximately 72. As for the production cost of the Oscar, the statues are reportedly made for around $400 apiece. The rules of sale remain the same for gold miniature Oscar statuettes as well, they cant be sold to anyone except back to the Academy. Before 2016, the Academy bought back Oscars for $10 and prior to 1951, there was no return policy at all. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For many Australians, chronicling their ancestry can be a fraught affair. A nation woven together by myriad journeys of migration, nationalities and ethnic groupings, even those of similar heritage may identify themselves in disparate ways based on ancestral knowledge or personal preference. Having to prove one's claim to ancestry is not the norm. But historian and author Bruce Pascoe has found himself at the centre of a rancorous debate over his claim to having Aboriginal ancestry after winning an Indigenous award for publishing Dark Emu, a book that draws on accounts from European explorers to argue that Indigenous Australians had sophisticated agricultural practices prior to white settlement. Author Bruce Pascoe and his book Dark Emu. Credit:Justin McManus/Supplied From his telling, Professor Pascoe's path to claiming Indigenous ancestry was a long one. He recounts being told by a neighbour at an early age that she knew his Aboriginal family, while children at school called him a "n-----", despite having red hair and pale skin. His uncle later introduced him to Indigenous cousins, but Professor Pascoe admits it was not until his own child started questioning him that he began to delve deeply into his past. During that time, Indigenous families contacted him to claim Professor Pascoe as having blood ties with them. He says he feels "obliged" to identify himself as Aboriginal after his experience with Indigenous people who helped unravel his ancestry. "What do you do, {say} thank you for introducing me to your family, see you later? You can't." What is a precaution dose? Is it different from a booster shot? Precaution doses for Covid warriors, elderly from January 10: All you need to know Covid self-isolation rule change explained: What does the new rules mean for me? Explainer: What is parricide and is the phenomenon on verge in India? India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Feb 08: A 33-year-old woman techie on Sunday murdered her mother, 54, and stabbed her brother and left as she incorrectly assumed that the brother has died. The reason she had given to the brother was that she did not want her debtors to hound her family but police is looking for a different motive that is her relationship. Again, on Friday, one man in Rajasthan killed his mother by hitting her with a sharp object, because she did not cook for him. In December, a 21-year-old boy killed his 60-year-old father by banging his head against the floor. The reason was the father broke the sim card of his cellphone. Though these circumstances are not as rare as they sound you will always catch yourself with extra ears whenever you would hear someone killed their parents. As our laws do not serve these murderers different punishment from other homicide murderers, there are many researches and studies have been done on parricide. What is parricide Parricide is a homicide of one's parents or another close relative within the family. The cases of parricide attract significant attention of public and media as this is disturbing as a family is considered to be the safest place for anyone. The parricide-incidents upset the conventional ideas about the intimacy and sanctity of the child-parent relationship. There are four types of Parricide offender several studies say. Severely abused mentally ill dangerously antisocial underlying anger fueled by alcohol or drugs What drives a child to kill a parent? Most of the cases of parricides are the result of conflicted relationships and intense arguments with parents. The confliction might be followed by history from a bitter childhood. The confliction that drives adults to parricide is also coupled with mental illness. Generally, adults are more likely to have planned the murder in advance. Especially in adult males, there is a high probability of having schizophrenia while other mental disorders include psychotic and depressive disorders. whereas, adolescent cases often involve severe physical abuse by the parents. A child that is being abused sometimes overcompensates and takes matters into their own hands either for self-protection or because they simply cannot withstand another day of the mistreatment, suggesting the crime is more likely to be spontaneous. An abused child sometimes takes matters into their own hands either for self-protection or anger for the mistreatment. The world can not pass a day without having a crime. But this is fortunate that parricide is not so common in India till today as studies estimate that parricide makes up only 1-4 per cent of homicides. In general, parricide is committed by males and done to males but the Bangalore techi case instil the fear that has the trend been shifting? A flight carrying more than 200 passengers back to the UK from the centre of the coronavirus outbreak has taken off The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said its second and final evacuation flight left Wuhan at 3.20am local time on Sunday, carrying Brits and other nationalities. The plane is expected to arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at around 5.30am. An FCO spokesman said: Our final flight from Wuhan took off at 3.20am (local time) with over 200 passengers on board, including our staff who have facilitated the flight and medics." The passengers will be sent to Kents Hill Park, a conference centre and hotel, where they will remain in isolation for 14 days, South Central Ambulance Service said. They stressed the presence of the group in Milton Keynes does not present a risk to local people since anyone displaying symptoms would not have been permitted to board the plane in Wuhan. All passengers will be assessed and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK. If any develop symptoms on the flight they will be taken to a separate cabin on the plane, and those who display symptoms on landing will be transferred to an NHS hospital. The first group of Britons who returned on a flight last month are continuing their quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside. Government arranges to fly Britons back from China amid coronavirus fears The evacuation comes after the death toll in mainland China rose to 723, while new confirmed cases in the country jumped to 34,598. Outside China there are 288 cases in 24 countries, with one death, according to the World Health Organisation. Earlier today it was confirmed that five Brits tested positive for the virus in France. Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP The four adults and a child were diagnosed after they came into contact with a British national who recently returned from Singapore, the French health ministry said. The five British nationals, who are not in a serious condition, were staying in the Alpine resort area of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc. French officials said the British national who was in Singapore returned on January 24 and stayed for four days in the area in eastern France, before returning to England on January 28. The five Britons whose diagnoses were confirmed, as well as people they had close contact with 11 people in total, all of British nationality were taken to hospital on Friday night in Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble. The health ministry confirmed their condition showed no signs of seriousness. French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn Confirms 11 Cases Of Coronavirus With 5 Britons Also Falling Ill A crisis unit has been set up and people who have been in close and prolonged contact with these new cases will be informed during the day and given specific instructions. Professor Rowland Kao, from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, said: These cases originating from contacts in Singapore change the game as far as contact tracing is concerned. As we know there will be a substantial window of risk around when the cases occurred, as well as the additional risks associated with the British cases, as the French ski resort where they were staying is likely to result in a wide range of international contacts themselves. We are likely reaching the point where the tendrils of transmission risks reaching out from China are becoming a web, one that would require considerably greater resources to control. Briton who tested positive for coronavirus on board ship was on honeymoon The confirmed cases in France came as a British honeymooner transferred from the cruise liner Diamond Princess to hospital in Japan with the coronavirus was said to be feeling well and in good spirits. Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, was moved to hospital on Friday while his wife Wendy remained on board the ship. The liner had been isolated in the port of Yokohama before going back out to sea, with 61 people having been taken to hospitals after testing positive for the virus. Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined 1 /32 Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP Global interest: David Abel, who is on board Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, has been posting updates on social media David Abel Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), officials of the DFA-Philippines in Tokyo with Department of Health team wear protective suits as they prepare for the disembarkation of Filipino crew members on board the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama Port AP A man in a proctective clothing is seen on the sixth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads "shortage of medicine" on the cruise ship Diamond Princess Reuters Passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port are pictured in Yokohama REUTERS/Kyodo Japan David Abel of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan. PA David Abel being treated David Abel Workers in protective clothes stand before passengers disembarkating off the Diamond Princess AFP via Getty Images Quarantine operation on the eighth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA The Diamond Princess cruise ship, in quarantine due to fears of new COVID-19 coronavirus, is seen at Daikoku pier cruise terminal in Yokohama AFP via Getty Images Sally Abel being treated David Abel/Facebook Men wearing protective gear are seen near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Reuters The Diamond Princess cruise ship with around 3,700 people on board sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama after a number of passengers were confirmed to be infected with coronavirus Getty Images An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger tested positive for a new coronavirus from the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Buses carrying passengers who have been under quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off the coast of Japan, the Diamond Princess, leave RAF Boscombe Down in Amesbury Reuters An empty casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Workers in protective gear are seen on the Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images An empty atrium on the Diamond Princess cruise shi PA Workers in protective gear transfer a person under a blue sheet from the Diamond Princess cruise ship onto a Japan Coast Guard boat in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP In Majorca, a British family of four was being tested after coming into contact with a coronavirus sufferer in France, the government in the Balearic Islands said. A student at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton is self-isolating for 14 days following advice from Public Health England. The Department of Health and Social Care said 620 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus as of 2pm on Friday, with three cases confirmed. It is understood the third caught the illness in Singapore. He is reported to be a middle-aged British man and is understood to be the first UK national to contract the disease. He is thought to have been diagnosed in Brighton and was transferred to St Thomas Hospital in London, where there is an infectious diseases unit, on Thursday afternoon. Two other patients who had recently travelled from China are being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary infectious diseases centre in Newcastle. But they appreciate the access to universities that has let many here pursue careers in medicine and law. Citizenship gives Arab Israelis who represent 20 percent of Israels population far more freedom to travel, around Israel and abroad, than is available to Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Jabareen, who has a law degree from American University and a doctorate from Georgetown, had just come from a hastily called high school assembly, where the principal asked him to reassure students suddenly nervous about their future prospects. Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Archives Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, President of the Interim Government of Ambazonia has from his cell at the Yaounde Principal Prison said more than ever before, they are committed to total independence or resistance forever. Taking to twitter midday Friday, February 7, 2020 in eight distinct tweets, Ayuk Tabe paid glowing tributes to those who have since died in Ambazonia, a geographical allusion to Cameroons North West and South West Regions. Apparently expressing his anger, Ayuk Tabe wrote inter alia: I will like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all Southern Cameroon, Ambazonians and sympathizers who have endured the struggle for our liberation from brutal subjugationsince it intensified in 2016 We remain committed to total Independence or resistance forever. Although he failed to cite his sources, the separatist leader said the situation in the North West and South West Regions has degenerated into a genocide with more than 27,500 people killed, over 500 villages burnt, a minimum of 120,000 refugees and no fewer than 1.4 million internally displaced perosns as well as over 3,000 persons in detention. Ayuk Tabe adds that: On January 5, 2018, 12 of us met in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss the degenerating refugee situation and to create a coordinating platform for our refugee brethren, unfortunately, we were kidnapped & illegally traded to Cameroun where we are imprisoned/detained with many other compatriots." This is the first time Ayuk Tabe is writing after meeting Barrister Akere Muna, former President of the Cameroon Bar Association ahead of Aprils Africa Forum on Cameroon, National and International Human Rights Groups have blamed Defense and Security Forces and the separatists for the degenerating situation in the restive regions. The separatists should know the world is paying attention and those responsible for torture will face the consequences, Lewis Mudge, Central Africa Director at Human Rights Watch said last year. Armed separatists should let children return to their studies and stop using the schools to carry out their campaign. Human Rights Watch had said: Since late 2016, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon have been gripped by deadly violence, claiming the lives of over 1,800 people and forcing half a million to flee their homes. Government forces have killed scores of civilians, torched hundreds of homes, and used torture and incommunicado detention against people suspected of belonging to separatist groups, with near-total impunity. Armed separatists have killed hundreds of members of security forces and assaulted and kidnapped hundreds of people during their increasing attacks and growing calls for secession of the North-West and South-West regions. Since the crisis escalated, armed separatists have used schools as bases, deploying fighters and weapons and holding people hostage in and near them. Separatists have disrupted normal life in the areas they control by enforcing strikes, consistently targeting school buildings, and threatening education officials and students with violence if they did not comply with separatist demands to boycott schools. Cameroons international partners and the UN Security Council should impose targeted sanctions on separatist leaders who bear responsibility for abuses, including torture and occupation of schools, Human Rights Watch said. After Octobers Major National Dialogue, Cameroons international partners, including the Secretary General of the United Nations are urging the Yaounde regime to hold an inclusive dialogue to find lasting solutions to the situation. The Ministry of Public Security has identified more than 60 individuals and organizations that have illegally traded and used stolen personal data in cyberspace. Phu Tho Province police officers arrest a group of people who have stolen information on the banking transactions of consumers - PHOTO: TNO These individuals and organizations include providers of technical solutions, real estate brokers, banking staff and those who can access the portals of education organizations, securities companies and hospitals, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is consulting with the relevant agencies on a proposal to build a Government decree on personal data protection. According to the ministry, the trading of private information is rampant in cyberspace. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security said that the current legal system is not strict enough in addressing violations related to the trade of private information. Some entities have collected the information of their customers and transferred it to a third party. Some enterprises have directly gathered customers information for analysis and trade. They typically sell lists of names of officials, including those working for police, military and tax agencies; Internet users; students; teachers; and parents as well as information on banking transactions and business registrations. The information may be provided by the internal employees of agencies, or traders collect private information using malware. SGT Vietnam facing cybersecurity challenges With increasing technological developments, Vietnam is facing more cybersecurity risks that are threatening national security, CN Rail has obtained a court injunction to end a demonstration by members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory that's halted rail traffic between Toronto and both Ottawa and Montreal for three days, according to a copy of the judgment obtained by CBC News. The injunction, which does not name any individual, was issued by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Friday. It forbids any continued interference with the rail line under the threat of arrest, and was served to demonstrators by CN police Saturday afternoon. Members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory have been protesting along the rail lines that cut along the territory's border near Belleville, Ont. located between Ottawa and Toronto in support of the Wet'suwet'en Nation in British Columbia. The protesters have said they will stop train traffic until the RCMP leave Wet'suwet'en territory, where a recent court injunction ordered protesters to leave and clear the way for work on the Coastal GasLink pipeline. RCMP tactical units are currently in the third day of an operation against three camps built to block construction of the $6-billion, 670-kilometre pipeline. 'Monitoring the situation closely' Photos from the protests in Ontario which began Thursday evening show a dump truck parked next to the rails and signs that read "RCMP get out" and "Indianland." However, the tracks were never actually blocked during the demonstration. In a statement, CN Rail said "several dozens" of freight and passenger trains had been cancelled since the start of the protest. "We are monitoring the situation closely and we are evaluating all of our options as we are well aware of the impact this situation, [which] is beyond our control, has on those who depend on rail transportation to move goods and passengers safely and efficiently," said spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis in the statement. Ontario Provincial Police spokesperson Bill Dickson said the police force is aware that the injunction was served, but referred questions to CN. Story continues "There is no way I can speculate about potential enforcement," said Dickson. Via Rail promises refunds Via Rail cancelled all trains running between Toronto and Ottawa Saturday, as well as trains between Toronto and Montreal. The cancellations affect trains running in both directions. The company had also cancelled 28 trains between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto on Friday, and is slated to cancel another 10 trains on Sunday despite the court injunction. "None of the trains on these two routes will operate until the issue is resolved," a statement on Via Rail's website reads. Via Rail said it will refund those affected by this service delay. The Coastal GasLink pipeline has been approved by the province of British Columbia, and 20 First Nations band councils signed agreements in support of it, including five of the six band councils in the Wet'suwet'en Nation. But Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs say those councils are only responsible for the territory within their individual reserves. The hereditary chiefs leaders of the nation's governance system in place before the imposition of the Indian Act assert authority over 22,000 square kilometres of the nation's traditional territory. That area was recognized as unceded by the Supreme Court of Canada in a 1997 decision. RCMP have moved in on a Wet'suwet'en protest camp, making arrests, over the past three days. The Coastal GasLink pipeline is one of the key pieces of a $40-billion LNG export terminal in Kitimat, B.C., which is on Haisla Nation lands, which supports the project. The contribution of Russian Muslims to the development of Islam does not allow any non-self-sufficiency of the Islamic theological school of Russia, and the Russian ummah should be a full-fledged subject of the Islamic world, Tatarstans special envoy for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said during his visit to the republic, where he will participate in a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy. The Salem County freeholder board is hiring a consultant to study whether switching to a single, county-wide public school district has merit. Officials have approved spending up to $17,500 on studying the educational and financial implications of reducing the districts 14 school districts to one, though county freeholder boards do not have the authority to order a school district to dissolve. Freeholder Director Benjamin Laury said that while he supports the study he is not taking a position on consolidation. Is it a possibility? Lets study it, and lets find out. I really dont know, Laury told NJ Advance Media. Laury added that a state grant will fully cover the cost of the study. The plan is to hire the consultant by April 7. Zenaida Cobian, superintendent of the Penns Grove-Carney Point regional school district, said she is keeping an open mind. Im all for the study, Cobian said, adding that student transportation, possible job losses and the tax impact are among the factors worth reviewing. In order to make an informed decision, you need to know all the parameters, Cobian said. The freeholder board authorized the study via a resolution Dec. 30, fourteen months after a panel convened by State Senate President Stephen Sweeney - whose district includes all of Salem County - called for regionalizing the states elementary and middle school districts into larger, K-12 districts. Under that plan, 278 of the states nearly 600 school districts would be eliminated, including seven in Salem County, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis. Salem Countys 14 districts include two, county-wide districts - the Salem County Special Services School District and the Salem County Vocational Technical School District. Asked about reaction from parents, Cobian said it is likely that many are not yet aware of the review. We are in the beginning stages, she said. There are numerous hurdles to regionalization under state law. A county-wide district in Salem, for example, would pick up the tab for outstanding school construction bond payments from the individual districts. The salary guide from the district with the largest number of teachers, typically a more generous package, would apply to all teachers. For those and other reasons, school district consolidations in New Jersey are rare, and no counties offer a single, unified district. In Salem County, the former school district in Elmer joined the Pittsgrove school district about a decade ago, after both school boards approved the agreement. Laury said the study might result in recommendations short of a county-wide consolidation. He speculated that it might explore shared-services arrangements for school meals or transportation. We really dont have a dog in this fight. Were there to facilitate it, he said of the study. A joint statement from the Salem County freeholder board asserted that the goals of a unified district would be to improve the quality of instruction, assure educational equity and maximize savings of taxpayer dollars. The consultant will be asked to analyze demographic and population trends, labor agreements with teachers and administrators, programming and transportation, among other factors. The N.J. Department of Education is available to help Salem County in its review, department spokesperson Michael Yaple said. Whenever a local community wants to explore approaches to improve academics, increase diversity and provide opportunities for students, the department stands ready to provide data and resources," Yaple said. Cobian said other districts might embrace joining with Penns Grove-Carney Point, which enrolls 2,400 and has the largest and most diverse student population in Salem County. Schools need to look into exposing students to diversity, which is what prepares them for the world, Cobian said. Salem County is the least-populated of New Jerseys 21 counties, with 62,000 residents, and Cobian said staffing in individual districts can pose a challenge. At times, it is difficult to find teachers that are certified in the subject area, and those teachers can be found in another district, Cobian said. Laury said the study is being funded via the new, $10 million Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) program, announced in September by Gov. Phil Murphy with the aim of promoting local shared services and school consolidation studies. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. An investigation into why Boeings Starliner spacecraft failed to dock with the International Space Station last year has led to greater scrutiny of the aerospace companys processes for designing and testing its spacecraft software, raising questions about whether more errors might exist. Two software issues have been analyzed by the joint independent review team thats assessing the uncrewed test flight of Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in December. At a minimum, these two code errors made their way fully through the process that was designed to test and correct, said John Mulholland, vice president and program manager for Boeings CST-100 Starliner Program. Most of the spacecrafts software coding is completed in Houston. On HoustonChronicle.com: GAO warns SpaceX, Boeing launch schedule will affect Space Station staffing NASA and Boeing officials held a teleconference Friday to discuss the initial findings from their review team investigating the test flight, a crucial milestone for NASAs Commercial Crew Program working with Boeing and SpaceX to send American astronauts to the International Space Station. NASA has relied on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft since retiring the space shuttle in 2011. The investigation, set to be complete at the end of February, has thus far detailed three things that went wrong after the Boeing spacecraft was launched Dec. 20 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The first software error on the Starliner caused its mission timer, which is supposed to start at the time of launch and end when the vehicle lands, to be off by nearly 11 hours. That prompted the spacecraft to think it was in a different phase of the mission, delaying a scheduled burn and causing its thrusters to expend too much fuel too early. It didnt leave enough fuel to reach the space station. The second software error was detected while the spacecraft was in orbit. It could have caused an issue right before the spacecrafts return to earth during the separation of the crew module from the service module, which fuels and propels the spacecraft. The software error could have led the modules to bump together after separation, but it was caught and corrected before the Starliner returned to earth. We found it because we went looking, said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of the Boeing Space and Launch division. Its our belief we wouldnt have found it if we hadnt been looking. The final issue discussed Friday was a communications-related hardware issue that impeded the ability to command and control the spacecraft. Despite these issues, the Starliner had a safe landing on Dec. 22. It touched down at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. This flight test taught us a lot, Chilton said. You test to learn. In this case, what we wish wed done better is software. The Starliner spacecraft has roughly 1 million lines of code, and one proposal is to reverify all the flight software code. Boeing did not carry all the blame for the flights lack of success. Douglas Loverro, associate administrator for NASAs Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, said the agencys oversight of the project was also insufficient. Its something he said NASA would address when partnering with commercial companies to develop human landers for the moon. Flights to the space station are somewhat routine, Loverro said. Flights to the moon are anything but. On HoustonChronicle.com: Axiom Space gets NASA nod to start developing new space station It is too soon to say if Boeing will have to repeat this test without people on board. Either way, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said the Commercial Crew Program is moving forward. It is working with two companies precisely for setbacks like this. Billionaire Elon Musks SpaceX successfully launched a test flight to the space station in March 2019. And earlier this year, the company successfully demonstrated its spacecrafts escape system, which propels the craft holding the crew away from the rocket if something goes wrong during ascent. There were no people in the spacecraft during either of the tests. This program is going to continue moving forward in a way that makes this nation proud, Bridenstine said. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com Twitter.com/a_leinfelder Chinese media's reporting of the death of coronavirus whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang ignited online anger after he was first pronounced dead, then alive and, finally, dead again. Li, 34, died early Friday, Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, after contracting the virus while treating a patient. Doctor Li died on Friday in Wuhan after being infected with the virus, sparking a massive outpouring of grief and anger online in China. For many Chinese, his death symbolised the governments inertia to deal with the outbreak. He was one of the first, in December, to warn of the virus. Instead of listening to him, authorities sent the police who told him not to spread rumors. State broadcaster CCTV first reported on Weibo that Li had died late Thursday. But its posts were deleted after the news became the top topic on the popular platform. 'Emergency treatment' Chinese media outlets then said Li was under "emergency treatment", before finally announcing his death at about 3:00 am Friday (1900 GMT). After doctor Li tweets went viral on social media, Beijing decided to send in a team from the powerful Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to Wuhan, the countrys anti-graft agency, to look into issues of public concern relating to Li Wenliang, indicating that Beijing takes the public outpour seriously and possibly looking for scapegoats to divert the heat off Beijing. The Wuhan City Government was quick to issue a three-line statement expressing condolences and regret, paying tribute for his fight in the front line against the epidemic, but heads may roll as Wuhans authorities are reproached to have initially tried to deny the severity of the disease and its rapid spreading. Sparking anger The hashtag "Dr. Li Wenliang dead" was the most searched topic on Weibo late Thursday, with over a billion views and over 1.1 million comments. But by Friday morning it had dropped out of the top 20 trending topics. Story continues Soon after, Weibo users complained that their posts and comments on the doctor's death were being deleted on Weibo and messaging app WeChat, sparking anger at what was seen as an attempt by authorities to muzzle public opinion. The state-controlled but probably most liberal Chinese media outlet Caixin News reported openly about Lis death. Justice is less important to me An ophthalmologist in Wuhan, Li received national attention after Chinas top court in Wuhan critised police for reprimanding eight Wuhan citizens for spreading rumors about an illness in late December. Li is considered to be one of the eight, although the police did not identify who specifically they had accused or punished. Its more important that people know the truth, Caixin quotes Li as saying. Justice is less important to me. Even the normally hardline Global Times jumped on the bandwagon but cant prevent itself from not-so-subtle finger pointing: Many said the experience of the eight "whistle-blowers" was evidence of local authorities' incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus. Peoples war Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump that China has declared what he called a peoples war on the virus. We have adopted the most comprehensive and strictest prevention and control measures, he was quoted by state television station CCTV as saying in a telephone conversation. We have declared a peoples war [and] are fully confident and capable of fighting the epidemic. The long-term trend of Chinas economic development will not change. But the virus is starting to hit Chinas and the worlds - economy as well. Worse than Sars The Financial Times reports that copper traders in China have asked miners from Chile to Nigeria to cancel or delay shipments. Beijings attempts to contain the virus by sealing off huge metropolises and shutting down transport nationwide have affected the economy in general. And the Citigroup warned that the effect of the virus "will likely be worse than Sars (Severe acute respiratory syndrome, a disease of the Corona-virus family that also originated in China and cost the lives of over 800 people) for China and globally." The bank explains that the illness has spread much faster than Sars, and global responses to block travel China related travel and transport have been much more draconian, compounding the demand shock from the large scale behavioural risk avoidance that was so apparent during Sars. The bank points out that a disruption in China will have a much larger effect than 15 years ago, as China now accounts for a third of global growth versus only 10 per cent during the Sars period. A global shipping group is being sued in the High Court after one of its 65,000-ton cruise liners ploughed into a tourist boat in a Venice canal last year. Panicked passengers fell on to the quay as the 1,000-cabin MSC Opera smashed head first into the smaller River Countess in June, crushing its bow and hospitalising two women. Tourists could be heard screaming and shouting 'hold on' in video footage as passengers fell off the side of the river cruiser. Panicked passengers fell on to the quay as the 1,000-cabin MSC Opera smashed head first into the smaller River Countess in June Now Uniworld, the owner of the River Countess, is suing MSC Cruises after it refused to pay 9.7million in damages. The smaller firm was forced to refund 1,600 customers whose trips were cancelled, and repair the River Countess. It also paid compensation, hospital bills and repatriation costs for injured passengers from Australia and New Zealand. Uniworld's chief executive Ellen Bettridge said: 'We do not like to litigate but have been compelled to do so based on the stonewalling and delays by MSC. 'They are not being responsible for the environment or for their passengers. 'It has hurt our reputation having the video of the crash played out over and over again, it's damaging for our brand it's unnerving.' The crash happened as the MSC Opera, built in 2004, was preparing to dock in the Giudecca Canal in Venice, the waterway which leads to St Mark's Square. The ship lost control after a steel cable that tied it to a tugboat snapped. MSC will now be expected to respond to Uniworld's claim via the court. The crash happened as the MSC Opera, built in 2004, was preparing to dock in the Giudecca Canal in Venice (pictured), the waterway which leads to St Mark's Square MSC is the world's second-largest shipping company, operating in 155 countries, and is owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte. Its fast-growing cruise arm turns over 2.2billion per year and in recent years it announced a 7.6billion investment for 11 cruise liners. Last month it was rated as the worst cruise line for the second year in a row by consumer champion Which? and in December it was slated after another of its vessels, the Grandiosa, crashed into a pier in Palermo, Sicily. Uniworld, a California-based company specialising in high-end river cruises, has 19 boats which carry just 130 passengers each. The ten-day Milan to Venice ten-day cruise costs between 3,000 and 9,000 per person. Its parent, The Travel Corporation, is owned by the South African Tollman family and has a stable of 43 travel brands, including the Red Carnation Hotels in the UK. In 2008 chairman Stanley Tollman was forced to pay 80m in tax to the US government after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for which his sentence was one day's unsupervised probation. MSC Cruises said: MSC Cruises has been working constructively with all parties and their legal advisors since shortly after the incident, and has been facilitating a close cooperation between those involved including their insurers. 'As liability in this matter is still under investigation by the responsible authorities it is inappropriate to comment further at this stage. MSC Cruises is committed to continuing to cooperate fully in order to resolve this matter. Joseph L. White Bloomington, Ill. The writer is a retired teacher and social studies department head. To the Editor: I am a high school student and found Dana Goldsteins article informative and a bit alarming. The idea that the information I am currently absorbing could be different from what students my age learn around the country is concerning. America has only one past, and I believe that past should be presented in the same way to every student. How can I be sure that the information I am taking in is the correct history and not the version that leaves out massive chunks? I recently opened my American history textbook, Out of Many: A History of the American People, and I could hear this article ringing in my ears. Lizzy Strapp Simsbury, Conn. Editors Note: Lizzy had asked for her letter to be sent to the author of the article. We wondered if Dana Goldstein had replied. Indeed, she had: Dear Lizzy, Thank you for reading my piece and for reaching out. You ask an important question. Id suggest you choose a subject that interests you from your textbook say, Reconstruction, or the Vietnam War go to the library, and spend an hour doing your own research. Ask the librarian to help you. Look for news articles published during that time period featuring the same themes or people from your textbook. Find a recently published article in a scholarly journal on the topic. Pull a narrative biography of a historical figure off the shelf and page through it. I guarantee you that you will emerge with new information and maybe even an entirely new framework for understanding the events in your textbook. Best wishes, Dana Goldstein To the Editor: It has been said time and time again that the South lost the war, but won the narrative. American history textbooks provide the best 21st-century evidence of the truism of that statement, especially when it comes to issues of race, gender and immigration. The Department of Finance is accusing the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) of misrepresenting the main findings of a report on Irelands corporation tax take. A sharp exchange of emails between the two bodies occured in November surrounding publication of the fiscal assessment report, a key part of Irelands budget process each year. These have been released in response to a Freedom of Information query. The argument related to interpretation of research by two senior economists from the Department of Finance on corporation tax and how it can be modelled. In an email, the departments fiscal analysis unit said the IFAC report misrepresents the main findings of the paper. They said it was highly selective to reference the paper in the way it had been in the fiscal assessment report. In response, IFAC chief economist Eddie Casey insisted that IFACs interpretation was correct. That may be your opinion or someone else in the departments, he said. I disagree with it. Moreover, I checked that specific wording and representation of the findings with the author in advance and they did not indicate any disagreement with it. Responding to the email, the department said that was not their understanding of what had happened. Their fiscal analysis unit wrote: In relation to the exchange below and your interpretation of the paper and the press release that accompanied it, well have to agree to disagree. "For the record, we would also refute the suggestion that one of the authors did not indicate any disagreement with it. In response, Mr Casey said that while he was happy to disagree, the department was clearly in the wrong here. He said he had quoted the sentence over the phone with an author of the paper and outlined his interpretation. No issues were raised, he said. You werent on the call and you arent an author of the paper. Mr Casey said it was highly misleading to suggest that the models involved account for the majority of corporation tax take in Ireland. He said it was an excellent paper but that it could not reliably be used to account for how Irelands corporation tax take might change over a longer period. Asked about the disagreement, Mr Casey said the issue was around the interpretation of economic models which he said could be read in different ways. He said: Much of the models ability to explain corporation tax in a given year is the result of knowing the outturn of the previous year and the forecasting success would be much lower for longer forecast horizons. The department: It is not unusual for disagreements of this type of arise. To clarify and resolve the matter, an official within the department rang the Fiscal Council and discussed some of the technical aspects within the modelling paper. Separately, IFAC also questioned the department over why they could not pay relocation expenses to staff they were about to hire. The department said that government policy was that such expenses could only be paid to existing, serving public servants. In an email, IFAC quoted instances where the HSE and two universities appeared on their websites to offer to pay costs to new staff who were joining them. The department said the HSE example related to attracting nurses back to Ireland and was based on a particular business case. Japan's SoftBank (OTC:SFTBF) is finding slim interest among deep-pocketed investors for the sequel to its gargantuan $100 billion Vision Fund investment pool. The Wall Street Journal reports today that a new fund originally projected at $108 billion may end up raising less than half the targeted amount, with most of the capital contributed by SoftBank itself. The Journal reports that Vision Fund's two biggest investors, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Abu Dhabi's state-controlled Mubadala Investment Co., have balked at bankrolling the new fund. Adding complexity to the situation, activist investor Elliott Management Corp. is arguing for SoftBank's management to allocate excess cash to share repurchases to boost the company's lagging stock price. The hedge fund has a particularly loud megaphone given its $2.5 billion equity interest in SoftBank. An unsurprising show of cold feet? Observers in the venture capital world may have seen the potential funding shortfall coming. SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son brought his intuitive and visionary style to Vision Fund, and concentrated outsized bets in a number of rising start-ups. However, the very public unraveling of WeWork's IPO in late 2019 is indicative of a wider phenomenon in Vision Fund's portfolio: Many of its investments are struggling to generate profits and positive cash flow. The Journal reports that key SoftBank executives believe that the company should slow down its approach, concentrating on one-off investments, or perhaps launching a more modestly sized hedge fund. Such a change in direction may clash with Mr. Son's penchant for intuitive, mammoth investments in promising start-ups. One takeaway appears certain: SoftBank will have less firepower to concentrate on Mr. Son's next round of favored technology disruptors. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Visitors to Springfield will now be greeted with a brand-new sign that leaders say shows off the vibrancy of the city. The sign was installed Friday morning at 75th Street and Main Street in east Springfield just as you enter Thurston. It was designed and crafted by Urban Lumber Company in Springfield. According to Nick Rusnock, creative director for Urban Lumber Company, the sign includes silhouettes of the Thurston hills and the McKenzie River along with the words "Springfield Oregon welcomes you. Rusnock included Douglas fir wood from the early 1900s in the sign, hoping to blend elements of old and new. The timber industry made Springfield what it was and what it is now. I definitely wanted to reference that, Rusnock said. The new sign cost around $8,000. City councilors said the previous Springfield sign was very old and in need of replacement. Mayor Christine Lundberg said the sign will help travelers approaching from the east realize where they are. It's not as if you hit a big city suddenly. You're just slowly noticing that you're coming into the city. This way, we get to announce it. We get to welcome people, Lundberg said. This weekend at the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, about 400 people will see something unprecedented in this states history. Choirs from all eight of South Carolinas historically black colleges and universities will take the stage one after another, performing under the same roof. Vocalists from Allen University, Benedict College, Clinton College, Denmark Technical College, Morris College, South Carolina State University, Voorhees College and Claflin University will perform gospel songs and spirituals from the past and present, and then at the end of the night, theyll form a 200-member supergroup, directed by Benedict Colleges Kabra Benford, to sing a two-song finale. The event, called Gospel Live, is a massive project that took more than six months to organize, and the inspiration came after a performance by Damien Sneed at the Harbison Theatre last year. Sneed was touring with a Martin Luther King tribute show full of gospel and spiritual music, and after the show, Kristin Cobb, the theaters executive director, had a conversation with the presidents of several HBCUs who were in attendance. The president of our college, Dr. Ron Rhames, is super-supportive of the theater, Cobb says, and he had invited several presidents from some of the HBCUs to attend the event. We were talking in the lobby afterwards about how powerful the event was, and it was brought up that we have so many talented local musicians in general, then it kind of shifted the conversation to choirs. Cobb had some experience in that area, having booked and managed choir-centric events during her previous post, running the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County. We actually used to do a smaller version of a gospel-type of event with church choirs, she recalls. So I mentioned that, and thats when we began discussing how most of these HBCUs have phenomenal gospel choirs. And I said, Well, we should look at putting an event together, and they all were in agreement. Cobb says she sees the Gospel Live project as an outgrowth of her general efforts to use Harbison Theatre to raise awareness of the musical talent in the schools backyard. Shed already forged a partnership with Columbia musician Reggie Sullivan to create a jazz-centered concert series called Carolina Shout, and this new event felt like a logical next step. One of the things that I'm doing with my programming is trying to give our jazz and blues musicians another venue to play, she says. I think that it's important to foster a community presence, and also give artists a chance to perform on our stage. For Tony McNeill, the director of choral activities and a professor of music at Clinton College, the opportunity to perform under the same roof as South Carolinas other HBCUs was too exciting to pass up. When Kristin contacted us, I was instantly intrigued by the vision of bringing together all eight of South Carolinas HBCUs, for the sake of celebrating Black History Month and celebrating our unity as sister schools, he relates. I instantly wanted Clinton College to be involved. Were very excited about hearing the other choirs and having the chance to sing with them for the finale. But McNeill got involved for a more practical reason, as well. Clinton Colleges Department of Music is relatively new, and the Colleges choir has only 12 members, as opposed to the Benedict College choir, which typically has more than 50. Gospel Live promises to be an invaluable learning experience for his group. It gives our students at Clinton the chance to hear other choirs that are bigger than ours, and thats important, he reasons, especially since were in the early stages of building our Dept. of Music. So were showing our students whats possible as we continue to develop our program at Clinton. But while the event and its possible benefits for the participants are exciting, in the run-up to the concert, Cobb is mostly sweating the logistics. What's going to be interesting is how we're going to get them all on the stage, she laughs. I was doing a little head count, and you're looking at around 200 people. So there's my fun challenge. But these choirs don't get many chances to interact like this, so I think it will be special for them to have that opportunity. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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The big picture: Clearview's app is used to identify suspected criminals by over 600 law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, per the Times. What they're saying: Twitter has demanded that Clearview delete all data collected from its site, per AP, while YouTube said its terms "explicitly forbid collecting data that can be used to identify a person." More fallout: New Jersey's attorney general banned police officers from using Clearview in January. banned police officers from using Clearview in January. Class-action lawsuits in Illinois and Virginia have been filed against the company, the Times reports. have been filed against the company, the Times reports. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, has demanded documentation from Clearview on its data collection practices and called on committee Chair Maxine Waters to schedule a hearing on the issue. the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, has demanded documentation from Clearview on its data collection practices and called on committee Chair Maxine Waters to schedule a hearing on the issue. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has also asked Clearview for documentation of its customers, whether the company has detected any security breaches since it launched, and whether its facial recognition tech is currently integrated into body cameras. The other side: Law enforcement across Canada and the U.S. told the Times that Clearview allows them to identify children subjected to sexual abuse. Officials say the app has also helped them solve murder cases as well as crimes involving identity theft, credit card fraud and shoplifting. What to watch: Blowback against Clearview could quickly amplify support for a new flurry of state bills aimed at regulating, banning or studying facial recognition which is not federally regulated, despite bipartisan support for its restraint. Go deeper: Activists fight to keep face recognition off college campuses DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) Getting a new trade deal between the U.K. and the European Union by the end of the year as the British government claims will happen would be a feat nearly without precedent, the Irish finance minister said Thursday. As the EU and Britain prepare to square off over the terms of their new trade relationship after Brexit happens on Friday night, the Irish government is clear that the talks will be tough. Ireland, which has historic and often troubled ties with Britain, stands to be one of the great losers if the talks fail to make headway. Britain will have to negotiate in 11 months a trade deal that would normally takes years to achieve. To make things more complicated, Britain wants the freedom to diverge from EU rules and regulations, so new ties on everything from fishing to banking and intelligence would have to be re-examined. To get all this done by 2020 would be a timeline that is nearly without precedent," Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said in an interview with The Associated Press. Failure to agree by that deadline would bring up once again the prospect of severe disruption to trade relations. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he would not seek to extend past 2020 the transition period that will allow current trading rules to remain in effect until the end of the year. Donohoe sought to strike a hopeful tone, by pointing to the divorce deal already agreed between the two sides that dealt with issues such as citizens' rights after Brexit, Britain's financial liabilities to the bloc after 47 years of membership and maintaining an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. Brexit supporters say one of the benefits of leaving the EU is it gives Britain more freedom to strike trade deals with countries beyond Europe -- the United States but also fast-growing economies in Asia. Doing so would require the freedom to move away from EU rules on trade. Donohoe was clear that Britain would not be able to have it both ways, and that the EU's priority going into the talks is to not weaken its single market. If the U.K. wants close economic ties with the EU, it will have to respect its rulebook, Donohoe said. She rocked the Tom Ford runway in Los Angeles on Friday night. And Kendall Jenner continued to command attention on Saturday when she attended the Longchamp show in New York City. The 24-year-old beauty was spotted leaving her hotel in a thick fur coat ahead of the show. Commanding attention! Kendall Jenner commanded attention in her warm coat on Saturday morning when she stepped out for the Longchamp show at New York Fashion Week Kendall stunned in a patterned sweater top with a pair of high waisted leather culottes. She teamed the look with block heel knee-high boots and rugged up in a dark fur like coat. The model's brunette tresses were styled out straight and sleek behind her ears with a centre path. Keeping warm: She teamed the look with block heel knee-high boots and rugged up in a dark fur like coat Fashionista: Kendall stunned in a patterned sweater top with a pair of high waisted leather culottes Kendall's makeup featured a fresh complexion with a sweep of blush, bold brows and a nude glossy lip. Her appearance comes after she flew in to the city on a flight early Saturday morning. She took some selfies on the plane and used a mask to protect herself from any diseases such as the Corona Virus. Beauty: Kendall's makeup featured a fresh complexion with a sweep of blush, bold brows and a nude glossy lip Precautions: Her appearance comes after she flew in to the city on a flight early Saturday morning. She took some selfies on the plane and used a mask to protect herself from any diseases such as the Corona Virus Kendall was later spotted flashing her abs in a tan colored crop top. She teamed the look with a pair of leather trousers and a complimentary jacket. And while Kendall sat in the front row and watched the event, pal Kaia Gerber was seen walking it. The 18-year-old model stunned in a khaki green suede jumpsuit that drew attention to her toned and trim frame. Happy days: Kendall flashed a smile when heading into the event Model off-duty: Kendall was later spotted flashing her abs in a tan colored crop top She completed the look with metallic silver boots and accessorised with a burgundy handbag. Kaia styled her short brunette hair out naturally and her glam featured dark overlined eyes and a bold red lip. Fellow model Coco Rocha joined Kendall in the front row in a bold get-up. She opted for a see-through singlet top on top of a black camisole to maintain her modesty. Stylish: She teamed the look with a pair of leather trousers and a complimentary jacket Style icon: Kendall accessorised her look with a pair of trendy shades Top model: And while Kendall sat in the front row and watched the event, pal Kaia Gerber was seen walking it Gorgeous: The 18-year-old model stunned in a khaki green suede jumpsuit that drew attention to her toned and trim frame The beauty teamed the look with white trousers that she tucked into a pair of black boots. Coco's dark hair was slicked back into a ponytail and she accessorised with a tiny handbag. Her makeup featured a blue shadow and a dark matte red lip. NYFW has officially kicked off and will run until February 12. Joe Bidens campaign released a attack ad about Pete Buttigieg and his accomplishments as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as compared to Bidens former Vice President record on national policy. Via The Insider: Both Vice President Biden and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg have taken on tough fights, the ad voiceover says. Under threat of a nuclear Iran, Joe Biden helped to negotiate the Iran deal. And under threat of disappearing pets, Buttigieg negotiated lighter licensing regulations on pet chip scanners. The ad continues: Were electing a President. What youve done matters. When President Obama called on him, Joe Biden helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act. And when park goers called on Pete Buttigieg, he installed decorative lights under bridges, giving citizens of South Bend colorfully illuminated rivers. Pete Buttigiegs campaign responded: At this moment, the American people are crying out for something completely different from this classic Washington-style of politics. While Washington politics trivializes what goes on in communities like South Bend, South Bend residents who now have better jobs, rising income, and new life in their city dont think their lives are a Washington politicians punchline. Petes on-the-ground experience as mayor, turning around a Midwestern industrial city, is exactly why he is running for president. The vice presidents decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Petes perspective as a mayor and veteran. Joe Biden seems to forget that he once said: Ive never had an interest in being mayor. Thats a real job. You have to produce. That is why I have been a senator for 36 years. March 29, 2012 With a $126 billion fortune, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is certainly the richest person in the world, but he may not be the smartest. At least that's what Bezos thought as a college student. Before Bezos ever sold a single book online, he was a physics major at Princeton University in the 1980s. And despite being one of the top 25 students in his honors program, Bezos believed he wasn't smart enough to compete. So he changed his major to electrical engineering and computer science, according to Wired, and it changed the course of his life. "I looked around the room and it was clear to me that there were three people in the class who were much, much better at [physics] than I was, and it was much, much easier for them," Bezos told Wired in 1999. "It was really sort of a startling insight, that there were these people whose brains were wired differently," he said. Bezos had this epiphany after unsuccessfully struggling to solve a math problem for hours. "I can't solve this partial differential equation," he told the Economic Club of Washington in September 2018. "It's really really hard. I'm studying with my roommate, Joe, who is also really good at math. The two of us worked on this one homework problem for three hours and got nowhere." He and his roommate finally asked a friend, Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, for help. "We show him this problem, and he looks at it, stares at it for a while, and says 'Cosine, that's the answer.' And i'm like 'That's the answer?' And he's like 'Yes, let me show you,'" Bezos said. "He brings us into his room, he sits us down, he writes out three pages of detailed algebra, everything crosses out, and the answer is cosine. I said, 'Did you just do that in your head?' And he said, 'No, that would be impossible. Three years ago, I solved a very similar problem. I was able to map this problem onto that problem, and then it was immediately obvious that the answer was cosine.'" According to Bezos, that was the moment he realized he should pursue a different career. "That was an important moment for me, because that was the very moment when I realized I was never going to be a great theoretical physicist," he said at the Economic Club. "I started doing some soul searching. In most occupations, if you're in the 90th percentile, you're going to contribute. In theoretical physics, you gotta be one of the top 50 people in the world, or you're really not helping out much." Bezos changed his major and "committed to starting and running his own business," according to Wired. Bezos graduated from Princeton in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. In 1994 while working at a hedge fund, Bezos found a staggering statistic the web was growing at 2,300% per year, which inspired him to launch Amazon as an online bookseller in 1995. Today the so-called "everything store," has a market capitalization of over $1 trillion. "I saw the writing on the wall, and I changed my major very quickly to electrical engineering and computer science," Bezos said at the Economic Club. Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: By Trend Ezizgeldi Annamuhammedov has been appointed Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the decree of the country's president. Former Minister Batyr Bazarov has been appointed to another position. In Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Finance and Economy in this format was created relatively recently. The new ministry combined the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Economy and Development, and became their legal successor. According to the decree of the head of state, this measure was taken with the purpose of transformation of the financial, economic and banking sector of Turkmenistan and improvement of its activities. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A man cleans an ambulance before it exits the special isolation ward created for novel coronavirus screening at the Kochi Medical College, in Kerala, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (PTI Photo) Kochi: Fifteen students from the state who were stranded in Hubei province of China following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus landed at the Cochin International Airport Limited and underwent thermal screening for the infection, airport officials said on Saturday. The students travelled to Bangkok from Kunming Airport and then took an Air Asia flight to reach here, they said. When the flight reached Kochi at 11 pm on Friday, they were directly taken to the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital in five sterilised ambulances. The students have been admitted to an isolation ward of the hospital, the officials said. Relatives of the students had reached the airport but were not allowed to meet them. After examining them, it will be decided whether they have to be released or sent home. Voters queued up outside a polling booth in an MCD school across the street, but for the around 750 Hindu families from Pakistan taking refuge in north Delhi's Majnu ka Tila, this Saturday was just another day of hardship and a longing for voting and other citizenship rights. Children ran through the winding, uneven dusty lanes with worn out tyres and women engaged in the routine household chores. The majority of the men were out doing odd jobs. The amended Citizenship Act has raised their hopes of getting voting rights soon, and subsequently a pucca house and a permanent address in India. "It is the same as yesterday. Elections come and go, without making any difference to our lives," said 43-year-old Dharamveer Bagri who led a group of 484 Pakistani Hindus from Sindh to Delhi in 2013. As he tended to his cows, Bagri hoped that he and more than 10 other eligible members in his family would be able to vote in the next elections. "I have never seen a politician or party worker in this area. Why would they come here? We do not have voter ID cards, we cannot vote and we do not matter," he said. Premji (46) said all that the refugees ask is a home and piece of land to build their lives around it. "Justice has been done to people living in unauthorised colonies... A day will come and we will have a pucca house and a permanent address... that's why voting rights are important," he said. Sona Das, 42, who left his home in Pakistan's Hyderabad and came to Delhi on a cold winter night in 2011, recalled that he voted twice in Pakistan but is yet to get a chance to exercise his franchise in "my motherland". "I am hopeful we will be able to vote soon. A voter ID card and citizenship will give us an identity. Political leaders would listen to us, attend to out issues," he said as he dusted off his harmonium sitting under the tin roof of his unplastered house. "We do not have proper homes, toilets, electricity... We cook on earthen stoves and use solar batteries to light up our homes. With the government amending the citizenship law, we hope for better days ahead," Das said. Having his lunch by an earthen stove with his brothers, Roopchandra (27) expressed hope that 15 members in his family would get voting rights soon. "Citizenship and right to vote would bring us closer to others... Make as more equal. If not regularly, at least during the elections our voices will be heard... We have been told that the citizenship forms will be filled up February 12 onwards," he said. Aarti Devi, 21, the mother of a two-month-old girl, named Nagrikta by her family after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in December, said, "If I had a voter id card, I would have voted for those who gave us home here, who are thinking about us." Under the amended citizenship law, Indian nationality would be granted to people belonging to minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) About Do you know what Osama bin Laden and John F Kennedy have in common? They are both Addisonians! Addison's disease is a rare endocrine disorder which occurs when the adrenal gland fails to produce the cortisol hormones -glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Also called hypocortisolism or adrenal insufficiency, this life-threatening condition occurs at a frequency of 1 in 100,000, especially in those between the ages 30 to 50. However, it is also known to affect children. Gaborone (Botswana), 8 February 2020 (SPS) - Saharawi Ambassador to Botswana and Permanent Representative to SADC, Mr. Malainin Mohamed, presented Today his governments condolences to H.E. Ambassador. Mohamed Sidiye, High Commissioner of Kenya to Botswana, on the occasion of the passing away of the late former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi, who passed away last February the 4th. Visiting the High Commission of Kenya in Gaborone to sign on the Condolences Book, the Saharawi Ambassador expressed his and his governments deep sadness about the great loss of a great son of Africa, and a Kenyan leader who led the country during a sensitive period of its history. The High Commissioner of Kenya, H.E. Ambassador. Mohamed Sidiye, presented to his Saharawi guest a detailed biography of the late President Daniel Arab Moi, stating his many good qualities and services to the country. He stressed in particular the personal characters of the late President, who was well famous about his modesty, straightforwardness and high spirit of nationalism. On his side, the Saharawi Ambassador stressed that the Saharawi people will always remember that their young state, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, was first admitted in the early 1980ies as a full-fledged Member of the OAU under the Chairmanship of Danielle Arap Moi, in a period when the Moroccan occupation of parts of Western Sahara was strong and dishonorably supported by old colonial powers. He further recalled that it was also under the leadership of Arap Moi, and that of Kenya, that the African leaders joined force to push towards the resolution of the last conflict of decolonization in Africa, leading to the adoption by the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, meeting in its Nineteenth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa from 6 to 12 June 1983, of resolution AHG/Res. 104 (XIX) on Western Sahara, which formed the basis for the UN brokered peace plan later in 1991. (SPS) 062/SPS/SADREMBW The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Wednesday, Feb. 5 11:24 p.m. -- A 51-year-old woman reported a horse was injured in a pasture at a Jasper Township location. Deputies checked the area and were unable to locate the horse. Deputies attempted to contact the owner, but were unsuccessful. This information has been turned over to the Midland County Animal Control to follow up on the horse's welfare. 10:15 p.m. -- Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 100 block of Fast Ice Drive. 9:03 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Illinois Drive and Todd Street. 7:29 p.m. -- Officers responded to a car-deer crash in the area of South Saginaw Road and Salzburg Street. 6:38 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in Lee Township. 6:03 p.m. -- Officers responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of East Ellsworth Street. 5:13 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence attempting to locate a 26-year-old man who had multiple warrants for his arrest. Deputies made contact with the man and placed him under arrest for the valid warrants. 4:26 p.m. -- A citizen turned in a license plate that was found on M-30 near the Jerome Township Fire Station/EMS Station. The license plate was returned to the registered owner, a 34-year-old Edenville Township woman, who said it fell off when she had it towed. 4:20 p.m. -- Deputies and Jerome Township Fire responded to a two-vehicle crash on M-30 in Jerome Township. 3:47 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of West Wackerly Street and Sturgeon Avenue. 3:03 p.m. -- Deputies responded to two-vehicle crash in Lee Township. A 35-year-old man was later arrested for a valid fugitive warrant out of Midland County. 1:22 p.m. -- Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of East Patrick Road and Waldo Avenue. 9:59 a.m. -- A deputy dispatched to the Law Enforcement Center in reference to a suspicious situation that occurred in Larkin Township. A 53-year-old man and 50-year-old woman reported a suspicious vehicle kept driving by their residence while their 13-year-old daughter stood in the driveway waiting for the bus. Through investigating the incident, the deputy located the suspect vehicle and spoke to a 44-year-old Beaverton woman about the incident. The woman was just hired as a nanny in the same area, was having trouble finding a residence on her first day, and was driving back and forth until she located it. The countdown is finally over - after a whirlwind of protests, political statements and campaigning, the capital heads in to vote for one of its most important elections of the modern era - deciding whether to keep Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in power, or shuffle Delhis political decks for either a BJP or Congress majority. If youre eligible and sitting this one out though, one family has proven that theres literally no excuse to not go and exercise your right to vote. ANI In an unusual sight, a groom accompanied by his family members took a detour from his wedding for an all important duty - casting his vote. Found at a polling booth in East Delhis Shakarpur, they lined up at the busy queues near MCD primary school - men and women of the family dressed in colourful ethnic wear. ANI Unfortunately for them, however, Twitter was ready with a series of posts - and they were trolled rather relentlessly. One user even predicted that such a photo would arise, Waiting for that overacting couple's photo which will come in wedding attire at polling station #DelhiElections2020 #DelhiAssemblyPolls Toxic Master (@IronDome_) February 8, 2020 While others called them out for attention-seeking. Attention seekers Chinmaya (@ChinmayaR_) February 8, 2020 Photo chapp gayi. Ab office jao Sanjay Gera (@sanjaygera) February 8, 2020 Todays elections seem to be one of the most important in recent memory, though public opinion seems to be concerned about voter turnout. The figures at 1 PM sat at roughly 19%, with one user by the name of Robin Saini blaming this on a rather amusing cause - the currently underway New Zealand vs India ODI match. The previous 2015 elections saw CM Kejriwals AAP lead by a resounding 67-3 victory over the BJP - a feat that the AAP hopes it will trump over their recent work in the capital. Meanwhile, the BJP continues to campaign on the strength of Prime Minister Narendra Modis strongman politics, as the Congress party remains an unsure and severely underwhelming prospect in the wake of recent events. After weeks of tense political and social drama, the outcome of today is set to shake the playing fields of Indian politics as we enter the new decade. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in BBMG Corporation (HKG:2009), since the last five years saw the share price fall 36%. Even worse, it's down 12% in about a month, which isn't fun at all. We do note, however, that the broader market is down 5.9% in that period, and this may have weighed on the share price. View our latest analysis for BBMG There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. While the share price declined over five years, BBMG actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 0.6% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS. By glancing at these numbers, we'd posit that the the market had expectations of much higher growth, five years ago. Having said that, we might get a better idea of what's going on with the stock by looking at other metrics. Revenue is actually up 20% over the time period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). SEHK:2009 Income Statement, February 7th 2020 BBMG is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts Story continues What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, BBMG's TSR for the last 5 years was -32%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 3.1% in the twelve months, BBMG shareholders did even worse, losing 19% (even including dividends) . Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 7.4% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with BBMG (including 1 which is can't be ignored) . But note: BBMG may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). 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. Brittany Ferries are to offer two brand new services out of Rosslare Europort beginning in the coming weeks. The French ferry operator is to establish a new route from Rosslare to Bilbao in Spain which will run twice weekly from February 28. They will also operate a weekly Rosslare to Roscoff sailing during peak season which runs from March to October. This comes after the company axed their Cork to Santander route after just two years as a result of low freight numbers. The company has vowed that all customers who had already booked on the Cork route will be accommodated on the new Rosslare sailing. 'This really is a major vote of confidence in Rosslare,' said Fine Gael Minister Paul Kehoe. 'It shows how the port is a vital gateway to Europe and it also means that four main shipping lines now operate out of the port. I want to pay tribute to the staff at Rosslare Europort including General Manager Glenn Carr. Despite legitimate concerns about Brexit, this shows that Rosslare is still as well-placed as ever in terms of attracting investment.' Having worked on the deal behind the scenes for some time, Mr Carr was in buoyant mood as the deal was announced. 'It's great to welcome Brittany Ferries alongside our existing operators Irish Ferries and Stena Line,' he said. 'Both of the new routes will be extremely beneficial from both a freight and tourism point of view and at the Europort we will now cater for a total of four services per week to France.' 'We were able to accommodate Brittany Ferries' schedule within our existing infrastructure and as a result of this announcement, we will be recruiting additional staff to work in the Europort and I'm sure there will be several auxiliary jobs created.' Mr Carr pointed out that bringing the new ferry operator to the Wexford port is part of a major plan which will see an investment of 25-50million in the coming years. 'Negotiations have been taking place on this for a long time,' he continued. 'It's a big decision for a ferry operator and a big investment, but I'm very confident that the market is here. It's important that the market supports the route now as it offers the opportunity for the de-congestion of Dublin port. Connectivity is vital and given the road infrastructure which now leads to Rosslare, we're ideally placed going forward.' Mr Carr says that further negotiations are ongoing with another ferry operator with a view to creating a service to Zebrugge in Belgium. 'I think there's a very strong case to be made for a twice weekly service to Zebrugge,' he said. 'Negotiations are ongoing behind the scenes and it's very early days, but I'd be hopeful that it's something we can get over the line.' The shooting and the lengthy siege that ended at 9 a.m. Sunday morning threw this city and country into a panic with all the anxious, gut-wrenching confusion and sorrow that accompanies mass shootings in the United States and acts of terrorism all over the world. Without a clear motive, with social media again used to spread images of bloodshed, Thailand is now confronting its own version of an emerging global threat: the combination of guns, technology and a killer with access to both who is determined to take the lives of the innocent in a public place once deemed safe. Nothing so severe is common in Thailand, but in a country of 69 million people with more than 10 million guns, the authorities have been concerned for years about gun violence. Thailand has one of the highest gun homicide rates in Asia, and the episode in Korat comes just a month after a gunman killed three a people at a mall in the central Thai city of Lopburi. The shooting in Korat a commercial hub for agriculture in Thailands poorest region stunned officials; one said the gunman went mad, creating an extended horror that turned a busy seven-story shopping center into a labyrinth of fear. But the violence started nine miles away, on a military base, around 3 p.m. local time Saturday. It has been just over a week since we re-established our status as an independent, sovereign nation, pursuing our own way in the world. And yet, in Westminster Magistrates Court last week, we saw a vivid example of Britain already surrendering its sovereignty, this time over its justice system, with the formal arrest of Dr Mike Lynch for potential extradition to America. Dr Lynch is one of this countrys most successful entrepreneurs. He founded an innovative British company, Autonomy, which in 2011 was bought by Hewlett-Packard. Now American prosecutors are claiming that he should be tried in America on charges about the way he ran that company, and how it was sold to HP, which has accused him of fraud. But British justice is in motion. The Serious Fraud Office investigated the allegations against him and decided that there was no case for prosecution in 2015. In Westminster Magistrates Court last week, we saw a vivid example of Britain already surrendering its sovereignty, this time over its justice system, with the formal arrest of Dr Mike Lynch (pictured) for potential extradition to America, writes DAVID DAVIES HP also brought a civil case against Dr Lynch in the English High Court. It has just concluded after ten months of exhaustive testimony and the judge will rule in due course. That case reviewed millions of documents and heard dozens of witnesses in open court. Dr Lynch himself was on the witness stand for more than a month, one of the longest cross-examinations on record. There can be no doubt that Dr Lynch has faced justice in the UK, and that whatever the outcome, our system is working. Yet before the judge can deliver a verdict, the Home Secretary has certified that Dr Lynch should be spirited away to America. The fact that he was arrested at all brings into sharp relief the problems with our relationship with the United States. When the US Department of Justice requests the extradition of a UK citizen, we effectively have no choice but to cough them up. The UK-US extradition treaty of 2003 says that the Home Secretary must process the request. For the UK to extradite from the US, we have to clear a higher burden of demonstrating probable cause, which unlike in the UK can be challenged in the courts. After that, the US Secretary of State may process the request. What the US may choose to do was made crystal clear in the recent case of Anne Sacoolas and the death of Harry Dunn (pictured), writes DAVID DAVIES The US prosecutors have no requirement to prove their case beyond stating reasonable suspicion, and there is no prima facie consideration of the charges in the UK. Conversely, for the UK to extradite from the US, we have to clear a higher burden of demonstrating probable cause, which unlike in the UK can be challenged in the courts. After that, the US Secretary of State may process the request. What the US may choose to do was made crystal clear in the recent case of Anne Sacoolas and the death of Harry Dunn. The US-UK extradition treaty is a bad treaty. It was negotiated in secret by Tony Blairs Labour Government, debated in haste and enacted unilaterally by Blair over strenuous objections from all sides of the Houses of Parliament. Its rapid passage was intended to enable the fast-track processing of potential terrorists after 9/11, yet that is not how it has been used. The proof of the imbalance is in the numbers. Since 2007, the UK has surrendered 135 UK nationals to the US, 99 of which were for non-violent crimes. During the same period the US has surrendered only 11 to Britain. This cannot be the outcome of a fair system being properly applied. The US-UK extradition treaty is a bad treaty. It was negotiated in secret by Tony Blairs Labour Government, writes DAVID DAVIES. Pictured: Blair earlier this week Dr Lynch now faces the prospect of adding to these grim statistics. In his case, the alleged conduct all took place in the UK, under UK law. We are now looking at the bizarre prospect that a UK citizen could be tried and potentially acquitted by an English judge, where the burden of proof against him is lower, but find himself in a US prison facing a charge where the burden is higher, before the UK case has even been decided. Why would we give the US justice system priority over our own? Should Dr Lynch be extradited and denied bail, as most foreign suspects are, he will face appalling conditions that are much worse than anything found in the UK. He will likely find himself in a high-security prison in a cramped cell with gang members, drug dealers and murderers. And by potentially selling him down that river, we will be sending him to a place where 97 per cent of cases are settled by plea bargains. People who have previously been extradited to the US have been told that if they pleaded not guilty, they would be denied bail and get 35 years in a high-security US prison, but if they pleaded guilty, they would get only three years, possibly serving some of it in a British jail. Prosecutors will use this practice to try to convince Dr Lynch to admit guilt to a lesser charge. If he refuses, he will face the prospect of a deliberately intimidating lengthy sentence, and the costs of the trial could run into millions. Dr Lynch is right to resist extradition. He is standing up for all of us against this unfair system. It will send a chill wind through global Britain if all UK businesses are effectively forced to comply with US laws and standards, and subject to US prosecution if they do not. It would cripple the City and Britains ability to determine its own future. That is why we need to look again at our extradition arrangements. They affect our ability to set and enforce our own laws. We need to ensure our arrangements are fair, balanced and based on reciprocity. We need to give British citizens, including our businessmen and entrepreneurs, the protection, certainty and justice that they deserve. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday nudged his new Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure full implementation of the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the island nation to ensure devolution of power to the local governments in its Tamil-majority Northern and Eastern provinces. Modi called upon Mahinda Rajapaksa, to ensure equality, justice, peace and respect for the minority Tamils of Sri Lanka. The two prime ministers also discussed ways to step up bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. We spoke openly on issues related to the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, Modi said after a meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa. I am confident that the government of Sri Lanka will fulfill the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace and respect within a united Sri Lanka, Modi said as he and Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed reporters at Hyderabad House here. For this, it will be necessary to carry forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the 13th amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, he said. Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former Sri Lankan president, took over as prime minister after his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidential elections in the island nation. He arrived in New Delhi on Thursday his first foreign visit after returning to power in the country. New Delhi was cautiously watching the latest presidential elections in Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa Clan regained popularity riding on a wave of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism that swept the nation after a series of explosions killed over 250 people in the island on April 21 this year, causing unease among religious minority Muslims and ethnic minority Tamils. The return of Rajapaksa Clan to power made the political parties in Tamil Nadu jittery in view of the alleged atrocities on minority Tamils in Sri Lanka during the crackdown on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from 2006 to 2009. Gotabaya was defence secretary during his elder brother Mahinda's presidency and oversaw the final military offensive against the LTTE. Modi and Mahinda Rajapaksa recalled the painful and barbaric terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday in April 2019. These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. And so, in our conversation today, we discussed furthering our cooperation against terrorism, said Modi. Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked Modi for visiting Colombo soon after the Easter Sunday blasts in and around the capital of the neighboring country. The two prime ministers on Saturday discussed the modalities of implementing the credit lines, which New Delhi had offered Colombo in November 2019 when Modi had hosted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. India had announced two new credit lines of $400 million and $50 million to the Indian Ocean island nation to help develop its infrastructure and expand its counter-terrorism capabilities respectively. India is our closest neighbor and long-standing friend. The close historical links have provided a solid foundation to our ties," Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Modi also discussed with Mahinda Rajapaksa the issue of Indian fishermen being detained by the coast guard and navy of the neighboring nation. This directly affects the livelihood of the people of both countries. And therefore, we agree to continue constructive and humanitarian approach on this issue, said Modi. She said that Mayor Lightfoot is certainly entitled to her opinion, but hers is not the sentiment of the mayors and managers who actually live and work in the 3rd Congressional District and are supporting Congressman Lipinski. An Indian-American woman, who raised her voice against alleged discrimination in admission of Asians in IV League schools, has announced that she will run for US House of Representatives, saying she wants to be a voice, not a noise for the community particularly the Hindus in the US. Andhra Pradesh-born Manga Anantatmula, who worked as a federal government contractor in defence acquisitions programme management, has already become a presumptive nominee of Republican party from the 11th Congressional District of Virginia, making her the first Indian origin candidate to run for the House of Representatives from there. Said to be a Democratic strong bastion, the 11th Congressional District comprises mostly of the affluent Fairfax County on the outskirts of Washington DC, has about 17 per cent Asian population, including an estimated 7 per cent Indian Americans. Asian Americans, including normally support Democratic party candidates, but she hopes to turn the tide in the November Congressional elections by defeating six-term incumbent Congressman Gerry Connolly. Political pundits call it a tall order. This time a large number of Democratic party supporters are moving towards the Republican party because of the current political situation and due to the successful policies of President Donald Trump, Anantatmula, who filed her nominations on January 26, told PTI. Anantatmula, who will formally launch her Congressional Campaign on Saturday from Herndon, a Virginia suburb of Washington DC, is a great supporter of President Donald Trump. For campaign purposes, she has expanded her first name Manga as Making Americans Great Again. Running her campaign on the platform of reducing taxes, equal rights for women, helping the growth of small and medium business and affordable healthcare, Anantatmula says if elected to the House of Representatives she will strive to strengthen India-US relationship. Anantatmula, in her interview, said that she considers herself as one among a new generation of Indian American and Hindu American leaders who do not become pawns in a globalist ideological agenda that undermines their own integrity as well as the national interests of their adoptive homeland. Slamming Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the first ever Indian American woman to be elected to House of Representatives, for tabling a resolution on Kashmir in the Congress, Anantatmula said such a move has caused "dismay" in the community. I will be your voice, not a noise, Anantatmula says in her outreach to Indian American and Hindu community. In her recent tweets she has supported India's stand on Kashmir and recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act and building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. She (Jayapal) is anti-India. She has no compassion for Kashmiri Hindus, she alleged. I will support a strategy to build a global alliance to defeat terrorism, Anantatmula said, asserting that India and the US are natural partners in fight against terrorism. She had recently joined the Indian American community when they held a demonstration outside the Pakistani Embassy here against Pakistan's support to terrorist activities in India. I am the only Indian American who continues to fight the discrimination in admission in IV League Schools, she said, adding that her fight resulted in 25 per cent more admissions of Indian American students in 2019. She has also been critical of recent stand of the US Commission for Religious Freedom on India. Leaving behind an affluent life in India, my little boy and I accompanied my husband to the US in early 1990s in pursuit of his graduate and doctoral degrees, an American dream. We chose Northern Virginia as our new home for its school system and standard of living, and lived in Fairfax County, she said. Born in Andhra Pradesh, she did her schooling from Chennai and graduated from the Agra University before coming to the US as an immigrant. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Japanese counterpart agreed Saturday to seek an "ambitious, high standard" trade accord matching Japan's agreement with the EU. Raab is on a four-nation Asian tour in his first major overseas trip since Britain left the European Union on January 31 after 47 years of membership. He arrived in Tokyo Saturday morning from Australia on a two-day visit and held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo. "In line with our commitment to free trade, we will work quickly to make the new partnership as ambitious, high standard and mutually beneficial as the Japan-EU EPA," the two ministers said in a joint statement. Their planned bilateral trade accord would "send a very powerful signal of our shared commitment to free, rules-based trade," Raab told reporters. Motegi said preparations were under way for formal negotiations on a Japan-Britain free trade partnership. "We agreed that we will start and conclude the negotiations as early as possible," he added. In 2018, Japan and the EU struck a trade deal covering more than 630 million people and economies that add up to around a third of global output. They began negotiations in 2013, two years after agreeing to start talks. Following Brexit, Britain is hoping to negotiate a new trade deal not just with Brussels but also the United States, Japan and other countries. Raab is also heading to Singapore and Malaysia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After months of devastating drought, farmers were struggling to make a living on parched lands covered in dying crops. But rural families rejoiced on Saturday as they were greeted with torrential downpours - as Australia's coast was battered with 300mm of rain in just 24 hours. Farmers in drought-ridden areas of New South Wales took a moment off work to enjoy the rain with their families. But as the rain bomb continues to blanket the state for at least 72 hours, not all Australians are happy, with some at risk of fatal flash floods and landslides. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had 1,170 calls for help on Friday and Saturday alone, with more than 700 staff deployed. Scroll down for video Rob Galton (pictured, far left) enjoys a walk in rain with his children (l-r) Cooper, Pippa and Rosie, alongside his wife Pru (far right) on their farm near Dunnedah, NSW, on Saturday One-year-old Rosie Galton (pictured) is seen after splashing in the rain on Saturday at her family's farm in the Orange Grove area north of Dunnedah, NSW WHAT CAUSES FLASH FLOODS? Flash flooding happens when rain falls so fast that the underlying ground cannot cope, or drain it away fast enough Roads can become like rivers and if there is a lot of water, it can flood buildings and carry cars away If the rain is falling too fast for the ground or drains to cope, there is a risk of flash flooding Driving in flash floods can be fatal, as roads can become treacherous within minutes Advertisement Emergency services are bracing for a difficult weekend, as flash flooding, monster waves and high winds batter NSW - with the worst yet to come. Wild weather descended on Sydney on Saturday, bringing torrential rain that is unlikely to stop for 72 hours. The rain bomb dropped an incredible 300mm on Byron Bay in just 24 hours on Friday, causing flash flooding and forced businesses to close. The NSW SES said they had already rescued 15 carloads of people after rain battered the Central Coast on Friday night. Overnight, the area was dumped with 200mm of rain before the deluge continued on Saturday afternoon. In Byron Bay on Saturday (pictured) roads were flooded after the area was pelted with more than 300mm of rain in 24 hours - with more yet to come The rain bomb has seen dangerous waves batter Australia's east coast. Here waves are seen breaking on an ocean pool near Coogee Beach in Sydney (pictured) on Saturday The SES has over 600 volunteers on the ground as it prepares for flash flooding all weekend with a severe weather warning current from Coffs Harbour to Moruya. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of flooding on the Central Coast, greater Sydney and Illawarra regions, Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains. Heavy rain and flash flooding is also expected in the mid-north coast and lower Hunter regions. It's more unwelcome news for the NSW south coast, which after being destroyed by bushfires will now face dangerous landslips, the Bureau of Metereology warned. The worst is yet to come, with 200mm of rainfall predicted to batter the east coast on Monday (pictured) after a washout weekend Pippa Galton, 6, (pictured, left) plays in a puddle with her brother Cooper, 7, (centre) and sister Rosie, 1, (right) on their family's farm in the Orange Grove area north of Dunnedah, NSW 'There is an elevated risk for things like landslips occurring,' the weather bureau's acting NSW state manager Jane Golding said. 'There is also a lot of debris around at the moment because of the fires and that tends to get washed into creeks. 'It's a hazard either by flying down the creeks into the rivers but we also think there will be points where it will get blocked and then at some point the energy of the water will push it down the stream and exacerbate the risk of flash flooding.' But the drenching rain helped to extinguish dozens of bushfires in NSW, some of which had raged for months, dropping the number from 62 to 38. Rain continued to pelt Byron Bay (pictured) on Saturday, with water creeping up under cars and forcing businesses to close Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed the rain bomb as 'good news' for farmers left devastated by the droughts. Sharing a picture of a toddler enjoying the rain in NSW, he wrote: 'Some good news for drought-affected communities with some areas receiving their best rainfall in years in recent days. 'This gorgeous photo of Annabelle from Warren in NSW made me smile. 'We know one rain event doesn't break the drought but it's encouraging, particularly with rain predicted to fall in areas where its really needed right across NSW and Queensland in the coming days. 'We hope it does fall in the right areas, and doesn't lead to large scale flooding.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the downpour 'the best rainfall in years' (pictured) but warned it could cause flooding if it fell in certain areas 'Weve also seen decent rainfall across fire-affected areas in south-east NSW, which has seen the number of fires burning in NSW drop from 62 on Wednesday to 38 today.' BOM parts of the rain would only intensify in NSW over the next 36 hours, after receiving more than 200mm of rain on Friday and falls of 100mm-plus on Saturday. 'The system that is driving this rain looks like it moves off the coast during Monday," Ms Golding said. 'We have showers forecast for the next week but that intense, widespread steady rainfall looks like it will rapidly ease either late Monday or during Tuesday.' Sunday is also forecast to be a day of heavy rain (pictured), causing flash flooding and threats of landslides in some areas The NSW SES said they had pre-positioned resources in regions which were expected to be flooded and warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel during storms. Forster on the mid-north coast and Nowra on the South Coast were also expected to cop damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/h and abnormally high tides. The BOM had warnings in place for the Brunswick, upper Nepean, Orara, Moruya, Clyde and Colo rivers, Wollembi Creek, Tuggerah Lake and St Georges Basin with moderate to major flooding expected. Strong winds were also expected with waves of between five to six metres set to batter the coast between Bateman's Bay and the Central Coast. Pippa Galton, 6, (pictured) runs through puddles on the family farm near Dunnedah, NSW, on Saturday Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 06:33 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206339c32 1 World Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,WHO,World-Health-Organization Free Indonesia and several like-minded countries have called for solidarity among the international community in helping countries with "weaker" health systems to prepare for public health emergencies, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) continued to climb globally. Speaking at a World Health Organization executive board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, an Indonesian representative of the Foreign Policy and Global Health (FPGH) forum said that countries should help one another to prepare for health crises such as the one currently unfurling in China's Hubei province. "Now is the moment for the international community and relevant stakeholders to enhance unified global solidarity, coordination and preparedness, particularly through ensuring that member states with weaker health systems have the needed support and capacity, to strengthen, prevent and address public health emergencies," the representative said at the WHO meeting, as quoted in a statement received late on Thursday. Indonesia delivered the statement on behalf of the FPGH, an initiative comprising seven countries that aims to promote global health issues at the United Nations' health agency and in other global forums. Chaired by Indonesia this year, the FPGH also consists of members Brazil, France, Norway, Senegal, South Africa and Thailand countries that emphasize the importance of international cooperation in mitigating the coronavirus in line with the 2005 International Health Regulations. Last week, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency also known as a public health emergency of international concern the sixth of its kind following previous outbreaks that included the 2009 swine flu and 2014 Ebola epidemics. The latest WHO data shows that as of Thursday, the virus had caused 565 deaths with 28,060 confirmed cases globally. Most of the cases emerged in China's Hubei province, where it is believed to have first been detected. Since then, however, 24 countries globally have confirmed a total of 216 cases, including one death in the Philippines. Despite its large and well-distributed population, as well as a strong dependency on the Chinese economy, Indonesia had yet to report any confirmed cases of the virus as of Friday. On Tuesday, WHO representative to Indonesia N. Paranietharan joined the Health Ministry in surveying Indonesias preparedness for handling coronavirus cases at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the RSPI Sulianti Saroso hospital in Jakarta. The visit confirmed the strong commitment of the staff and highlighted the importance of vigilant practices in screening for any suspected 2019-nCoV infected people, particularly given the high volume of people arriving to Indonesia through the airport, the WHO said in a statement published Wednesday. Congratulations, tweetchamps.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Tweetchamps.com scored 68 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 10 Dec 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the tweetchamps homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if tweetchamps has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the tweetchamps homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the tweetchamps homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the tweetchamps homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the tweetchamps homepage on Twitter + the total number of tweetchamps followers (if tweetchamps has a Twitter account). Basic Information PAGE TITLE TweetChamps DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS website, tweetchamps, twitter, follow, on this website, social media, on this The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English UTF-8English DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Microsoft-IIS/7.5 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. The language of tweetchamps.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for tweetchamps.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/tweetchamps DESCRIPTION http://t.co/oYFpkh66I0 ACCOUNT CREATED ON 29 Jun 2013 LOCATION India TWEETS 3419 FOLLOWERS 526 LISTED 4 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 15:03:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Colombia international midfielder Fredy Guarin has ended speculation about his future by signing a new two-year contract with Vasco da Gama. The Brazilian Serie A club confirmed the deal on social media after protracted talks between Guarin's representatives and Vasco officials in Rio de Janeiro. "What's up, Vasco fans? I'm Fredy Guarin. I want to send you a hug," the 33-year-old said in a video posted on the club's Twitter account. "I'm very happy to renew my contract. Let's stick together." Guarin made 12 top flight appearances for Vasco and scored three goals after arriving from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua on a three-month contract last September. The former Porto and Inter Milan player, who has been capped 57 times for Colombia, is expected to resume training next week. Vasco finished 12th in the 20-team Brazilian Serie A standings in 2019, 41 points behind champions Flamengo. Associated Press SANTA FE State and local prosecutors are reviewing the results of a special audit about secretive financial settlements under the past administration of New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez that were used to resolve human rights complaints and other legal claims against public officials. State Auditor Brian Colon told a Senate committee that his agency forwarded audit documents for possible criminal investigation to the state Attorney Generals Office and the Santa Fe-based 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office, as well as the newly founded State Ethics Commission, which handles noncriminal complaints. A special audit from Colons office of 18 past settlements arranged by the states Risk Management Division and contract attorneys found that two-thirds of the payouts lacked sufficient documentation or investigations. Some settlements were sealed until Martinez left office at the end of 2018 and appeared to be protecting the former Republican governors political legacy, Colon says. Matt Baca, a spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office, said the matter is under review. Santa Fe-based District Attorney Marco Serna could not immediately confirm the referral. Ethics Commission Executive Director Jeremy Farris said the fledgling agency authorized by voters in 2018 does not have jurisdiction over government conduct that occurred before July 1, 2019. The seven-member commission held its first public meeting Friday. Contacted Tuesday, Martinez said she was never involved in any state settlement agreements made by the state Risk Management Division. I was unaware, she said. I was not involved in any throughout my eight years (in office). It is a separate entity for which it would have been inappropriate for me to be involved. She declined to discuss the settlement process further or comment on calls for reforms. Legislators are considering a bill from Republican Sen. Sander Rue of Albuquerque that would eliminate a state mandated 180-day delay in the publication of state settlements and remove criminal penalties for improper disclosure. A committee endorsement on Wednesday moved the bill toward a Senate floor vote. Among $2.7 million in settlements flagged for irregularities, the state has acknowledged it previously paid $900,000 to three State Police officials. That payment resolved a lawsuit alleging discriminatory, lewd behavior and retaliation by former State Police Chief Pete Kassetas, who has said he urged the administration to investigate claims further. We identified the confidentiality provisions intended to completely circumvent the process, Colon, a Democrat, told a panel of legislators. That may or may not constitute criminal behavior but was a clear abuse of power. A separate internal audit of settlement procedures has turned up procurement violations during the final six months of the Martinez administration as lawsuits against state officials were assigned to outside defense attorneys whose contracts with the state had expired, according to General Services Secretary Ken Ortiz. His agencys Risk Management Division provides legal defense to state officials. Ortiz, an appointee of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, says 24 cases were assigned to legal firms without valid contracts in the July-September 2018 period for legal fees in excess of $100,000. The suit alleges that the downing of the plane was an intentional and deliberate act of terrorism. PS 752 plane crash in Tehran Reuters Canadian lawyers, who previously successfully sued Iran, are seeking class action status in a lawsuit on behalf of victims aboard a Ukrainian plane shot down over Tehran last month, looking for at least $1.1 billion in compensation, Reurers reports. The suit names Iran, its supreme leader, the elite Revolutionary Guards and others as defendants. The lead plaintiff in the case is anonymous, preliminarily identified as John Doe, and described as immediate family to a victim identified as Jack Doe. The filing says John Does identity must be protected because of the risk that his Iranian family would be put at risk of harm or death by the Iranian regime. The suit alleges that the downing of the plane was an intentional and deliberate act of terrorism. Iranian authorities did not immediately comment on Friday, when government offices are closed. Besides Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others named in the lawsuit are top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the head of the unit responsible for shooting down the plane, Amirali Hajizadeh. Foreign states are not typically within the jurisdiction of Canadian courts. A 2012 Canadian law limited that immunity for countries Ottawa lists as foreign state supporters of terrorism, currently Iran and Syria. The suit was filed Jan. 24 in Toronto, but it is not clear whether it has been served on defendants in Iran. The case is Doe v Islamic Republic of Iran et al, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, No. CV-20-635078. Power struggle gives public a shock View(s): That was a shock. It was a shock indeed. The day before the country celebrated its 72nd Independence Day some parts of this fair isle were plunged into darkness or so one immediately thought. Reading the news from afar, it was not quite clear whether it happened in the night or the darkness was at noon, as Arthur Koestler would have said. Anyway, whatever the time, it all happened the day prior to an important anniversary when the national anthem would be sung in one language to show that the country had coalesced to sing from the same lyric sheet. But to some, there was always the suspicion that something was not quite right. Why on earth did the power go off on this particular day? While all sorts of reasons were adduced by all sorts of persons, there would always be the suspicious ones that would smell a rat, or several rats for that matter. Was somebody or bodies trying to do the dirty on Gota and spoil the day for him? Actually Independence Day had gone splendidly well from all that we heard from the Colombo cognoscenti sipping their beer or something more expensive and certainly more inebriating. And why not! This was the when our forefathers and their politically-motivated brethren from different communities had welded together to say goodbye to the last of the white rulers and lower the Union Jack. They had watched the spruced-up military columns march past the countrys leaders and those assembled, while others watched the parade from the comfort of their homes stretched out on lounge chairs or whatever was at hand. But then it happened. Not on that day but the next. It was in the wee hours of Thursday morningaround 1 a.m. if my information is correct- when everything went dark as the lights went out. It all happened in the Kirulapone and Nugegoda areas where there are a legion of business houses and offices. Moreover, these are highly populated areas with several schools that begin quite early in the day. They woke up sweating as their air conditioners and electric fans stopped and turned a comfortable nights sleep into a messy break of dawn. Those going to their offices and others to schools somehow struggled in the dark to prepare for the day under candle light, that is those who had stocked some candles at home not relying overly on the Ceylon Electricity Board which seems to be battling internal conflicts or engaged in taking on its political leaders who are not masters in the subject of power and energy. At least they appear to have enough energy to engage in power struggles inside and outside the party. When irate citizens who missed their sleep and failed to take their lunch packs to office and school finally got through to the Electricity Board, which proudly claims that its telephones lines are open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year to serve its customers, the CEB sent a message saying it was a temporary breakdown affecting the Kirulapone and Nugegoda areas. I doubt that the electricity consumers in those areas required any information on who was affected. They were the very consumers who were trying to find out what was going on and when the supply would be back Personally, I would go out and buy a few power lights and candles than rely on the CEBs definition of temporary. Well I was not far wrong. The power that failed around 1 a.m. on Thursday was not restored till about 2 p.m. on Thursday. Now that, by my calculation, was more than 12 hours, a good half a day. That, however, is not the end of the story. With the power back and those deserving of a siesta after sitting up half the night returned to bed got what the Japanese would call a shokku. Hardly had they curled up in bed when the power failed again or was switched off. So off they jumped from the bed and went to find whether the temporary breakdown was likely to be more permanent than temporary and how long this temporary phenomenon would be compared to the earlier temporary power cut. With little ado, until the power lords as opposed to the lords with power hopefully switch on the power so that the powerless people can get on with their daily tasks, they waited and waited and waited with diminishing hope. To while away time on a wasted day some turned to the newspapers of the previous couple of days. That is how they came across an unnamed engineer of the CEB chiding the Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera for making promises that the public would be assured of uninterrupted power supplies. The engineer claimed that the CEB would be compelled to resort to turn to power shedding (whatever that means to a public hardly acquainted with such technical terms). As far as the average citizen is concerned power shedding or not shedding has to do with what is going on in the UNP where attempts to shed its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe of his power has proved a far more difficult task than that encountered by CEB engineers. It seems that despite the ministers assurances the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation did not supply fuel to the CEB at a subsidised rate which is a dirty thing to do. After all it is the CEB that provides the power to the powerful lot in our land who have no problem of leading a good life power shedding or whatever that is called. Personally, it would be a good thing if some of our prominent politicians irrespective of which party they come from, shed a few kilos by keeping away from the heavily subsidised meals that are served to the privileged parliamentarians whether they came into that august assembly on the public vote or the side door also known to some as the National List. Unable to stand the antics of the CEBs power cuts or power shedding which ultimately means the same thing to a harassed public, some gentlemen of this long suffering community headed off to a nearby market hoping to quench their thirst with a thambili also known as King Coconut. Imagine their unmitigated surprise when one poor man was told that one thambili cost a meagre hundred rupees. Just one year ago he had paid Rs 35 per nut. Now we know why it is called a King Coconut. Who could pay such a princely sum except monarchs and politicians who dip into the privy purse? (Neville de Silva is a veteran Sri Lanka journalist who was Assistant Editor, Diplomatic Editor and Political Columnist of the Hong Kong Standard and later moved to London and worked for the Gemini News Service. Later he was Sri Lankas deputy high commissioner in London before returning to journalism.) One year ago in January, a Chinese robot landed on the dark side of the moon. Since then, the Change 4 probe and the Yutu-2 rover it carried onboard have been busy photographing and scanning minerals, growing yeast, hatching fruit-fly eggs, and cultivating cotton, potato, and rapeseeds in the moons low gravity, according to the Daily Beast. Now, Chinas National Space Administration is quietly planning to launch yet another probe into space. Change 5 could blast off as early as this year. Last year, TMU reported that the Yutu-2 rover came across a strange gel-like substance which the Chinese began to study extensively. The Chinese space agency has continued to work on its Tiangong 3 space station and is planning on testing a new manned spacecraft for deep-space missions. That permanent station will reach orbit aboard the countrys new Long March 5B rocket in the first half of 2020, AFP reported. The mission will not be associated with the International Space Station. It is worth noting that China and Europe both planned on building a moon base together in a move of international collaboration back in 2017. Europe and Russia are also eyeing plans to send a probe to the dark side of the moon to determine if they should build a moon base on the far side of the lunar surface. And the U.S. hasnt been quiet when it comes to the space race either with the introduction of Space Force and plans of its own for a joint base with Russia. For the U.S., this space race to build a moon base is nothing new. A project known as Horizon was supposedly a plan drawn up in the 1950s that seemingly depicts the blueprints for a base on the moon. Project Horizon sought to establish a stationary Army control base on the moon by 1966 but the operation was allegedly shut down and canceled and the idea never materialized further. It was reported in a joint announcement by NASA and Russias Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities that the U.S. and Russia wanted to build a moon base the same year that Europe and China announced their cooperation. However, the current plan with Russia resembles another previous proposal called the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) which ironically was suggested during the Cold War. Russia and the U.S. now seek to revive that plan with a base that will orbit the moon similar to how the International Space Station moves around Earth. The MOL ran from December 1963 until its alleged cancellation in June 1969. Its mission was to use an elite corps of secret U.S. astronauts to gather intelligence on the Soviets during the Cold War. Related: Coronavirus Pushes China Jet Fuel Sales Down 25% NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos stated the partnership was for human exploration of the moon and deep space. Both agencies signed a joint statement on the collaborative effort. It all stemmed from NASAs deep-space gateway concept, a mission architecture designed to send astronauts into lunar orbit by 2020. This plan challenges our current capabilities in human spaceflight and will benefit from engagement by multiple countries and U.S. industry, NASA officials said in a statement at the time. NASA also had plans leak last year showing that they wanted to develop their own lunar surface base, which is now being threatened by a U.S. House panel. The status of plans between Russia and the U.S. as well as China and Europe are currently public and either could be canceled for reasons of political tensions or something else before they see the light of day. China, the United States, Russia and Europe are all discussing whether to build a research base or a research station on the moon, Wu Yanhua, deputy chief commander of Chinas Lunar Exploration Program said. The bigger worry isnt space exploration - it is weaponizing space. The New York Times reported in 2015 that space could be the next war zone, warning about the implications of weaponizing space in an opinion piece literally titled Preventing A Space War. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Tehran, Feb 8 : Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said Iran's increasing defence power is not a threat to any other country, the media reported. The strengthening of Iran's defence power is aimed to avert possibility of war against it, Khamenei added, Xinhua reported citing the Iranian state TV. "In order to impede war and put an end to the threats, one has to become strong," he explained. The Islamic republic has managed to "paralyse" its enemies, and has developed its own "sophisticated" means of defence in response to the enemy's use of increasingly advanced measures against Iran, the Iranian leader noted. Khamenei made the remarks during his meeting with Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel in the capital Tehran. Mormon Church withdraws missionaries from Hong Kong, Macau over coronavirus concerns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that they're removing their missionaries from Hong Kong and Macau due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. A flu-like illness, the coronavirus was first detected in China and as of Thursday evening has killed over 600 people and infected more than 31,000, the vast majority in mainland China, according to CBS News. The largest Mormon denomination in the United States announced earlier this week that it was removing all 125 missionaries from the two Chinese cities, doing so after Hong Kong announced its first confirmed coronavirus-related death. The LDS Church's Missionary Department has temporarily reassigned 113 of the missionaries to other missions and released from service the other 12, according to Deseret News. In a statement, the LDS Church explained that the missionaries had taken precautions even before leaving the cities, such as limiting their time outdoors. Therefore, the likelihood of any of these missionaries having contracted the coronavirus is very low, the LDS Church added, according to Deseret News. Additionally, each missionary is required to show no symptoms before leaving Hong Kong. The LDS Church does not have any missionaries working in mainland China, according to a statement released last month when the coronavirus first started getting headlines. We are closely monitoring the situation with the coronavirus and are in regular contact with medical professionals and experts on this issue, they added. We are following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local authorities throughout the world and are ready to make adjustments as needed. Last month, the LDS Church announced that they were sending medical supplies to China to help with the growing outbreak. The delivered equipment included 220,000 respirator masks, over 6,500 pairs of protective coveralls, and 870 pairs of protective goggles. I have had associations with the good people of China for decades, stated LDS Church President Russell Nelson, who once served as a surgeon in the Asian country. These are our dear brothers and sisters, and we feel privileged to be able to offer some small measure of help. We pray for them and know God will bless them. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in Chinas Hubei province, and can lead to respiratory illnesses which are fatal in some cases. Last week, the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency, with cases being reported in several countries, including around a dozen in the United States. It is readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith, declared an unnamed pastor living in Wuhan in a public letter, published by China Source. The situation is so critical, yet [we are] trusting in the Lords promises, that [H]is thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jeremiah. 29:11), and that [H]e allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us. Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ, the pastor added. (Photo : Screenshot from: Warner Bros. Pictures Official Youtube Account) [WARNING] Don't Download Oscar-Winning Films; Phishing Scam Found on Online Websites (Photo : Kaspersky) [WARNING] Don't Download Oscar-Nominated Films; Phishing Scam Found on Online Websites On Thursday, Feb. 6, a research firm identified a massive number of phishing scam websites that were disguised as 'free' movie streaming sites that anyone can access online. Apparently, audiences are now searching for more updated types of films like the last year's Oscar-nominated movies that were being used as 'bait.' In order for movie-watchers to open their website, infiltrate the user's gadgets and then allow them to access financial scams like phishing. Malware websites disguised as movie streaming sites According to the recent report of Kaspersky Lab U.S-- a global security company that detects malware and harmful security features-- hundreds of online websites can be access nowadays that were malware sites. This means that once you open websites like these, the possibility of getting hacked by third-party sources are more evident. Aside from these, more than 20 movie streaming sites were now identified as phishing websites that are being used by hackers to access financial data from their victims. There were also Twitter accounts that were being used to post 'free movie streaming sites' to promote fraudulent websites. "The uncovered phishing websites and Twitter accounts gather users' data and prompt them to carry out a variety of tasks in order to gain access to the desired film. These can vary from taking a survey and sharing personal details, to installing adware or even giving up credit card details. Needless to say, at the end of the process, the user does not get the content," written by Kaspersky. Oscar-nominated films being used as a 'bait' As a way to lure audiences unto opening their websites, hackers use the fame of the past 92nd Academy Awards known as Oscars Awards and take their award-winning films to use as 'bait' for free movie streaming. In fact, the 2019 film 'Joker' was found to be the most popular film among cybercriminals that contains 304 malicious files. War-themed movie '1917' had the 2nd spot with 215 files. While 'Irishman' goes third, but South-Korean film 'Parasite' found not having any malicious files from websites. How to spot fake movie streaming websites As explained by the firm, there are a lot of ways for users to identify which site is safe for streaming and which is not. Pay attention to the official movie release dates in theaters, on streaming services, TV, DVD, or other sources Don't click on suspicious links, such as those promising an early view of a new film; check movie release dates in theaters and keep track of them Look at the downloaded file extension. Even if you are going to download a video file from a source you consider trusted and legitimate; the data should have a .avi, .mkv or .mp4 extension, or other video formats; definitely not .exe Check the website's authenticity. Do not visit websites allowing you to watch a movie until you are sure that they are legitimate and start with https. Confirm that the site is genuine, by double-checking the format of the URL or the spelling of the company name, reading reviews about it and checking the domain's registration data before starting downloads. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MANCHESTER, N.H. Scrambling to salvage his presidential campaign, Joe Biden escalated his criticism of Pete Buttigieg on Saturday, mocking Buttigiegs experience as a small city mayor and warning that he would struggle without the support of black voters who are the backbone of the Democratic Party. At a campaign event in New Hampshire, as well as in a new online ad, Biden was biting in his critique of Buttigiegs relatively thin resume. The 38-year-old is a military veteran who spent eight years as mayor of South Bend, Ind., a city of about 100,000 people. I do not believe were a party at risk if Im the nominee, Biden told voters in Manchester. I do believe were a party at risk if we nominate someone who has never held a higher office than the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Biden is trying to avoid falling far behind both Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in a second straight nominating contest. Buttigieg and Sanders finished in an effective tie in the Iowa caucuses Monday and are leading polls in New Hampshire heading into Tuesdays primary. Biden was a distant fourth in Iowa, also finishing behind Elizabeth Warren. Shortly before he spoke in Manchester, Bidens campaign released a video comparing his record as vice president with Buttigiegs service as mayor. While Biden helped President Barack Obama pass sweeping health care legislation and orchestrate a bailout of the auto industry, the ad says, Buttigieg was installing decorative lights on bridges and repairing sidewalks. Buttigiegs inexperience is among his chief vulnerabilities as he pitches voters on his preparedness for the Oval Office. Hes argued that his tenure as mayor, particularly of a Rust Belt city, gives him a better feel for the concerns of voters Democrats need to win back in 2020. But he has not yet had to defend the substance of his record against the kind of specific attack Biden launched. Buttigiegs campaign accused Biden of trivializing the work that goes on in small cities across the country and of political desperation. The vice presidents decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Petes perspective as a mayor and veteran, said Chris Meagher, Buttigiegs campaign spokesman. Biden has indeed been laying the groundwork for a loss in New Hampshire, a state Sanders won by more than 20 percentage points during his 2016 campaign. Yet his campaign advisers are also well aware that two weak performances will chip away at Bidens core argument: that hes the most electable candidate in a general election face-off against President Trump. The former vice president hopes to stay viable through South Carolina, which votes at the end of the month and is the first state on the primary calendar with a large black population. Biden has polled significantly better than his rivals with black voters throughout the campaign. Buttigieg, meanwhile, has struggled to build support with black voters, raising questions about whether his early momentum will be blunted when the campaign heads south. This is a diverse party, Biden said. Its the reason why were strong. Our nominee has to reflect that strength. Biden and others in the race, including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, have also issued pointed warnings in recent days about what they see as the risks of nominating Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. Klobuchar leaned into that criticism in Friday nights Democratic debate and was the only candidate to raise a hand when moderators asked if anyone was worried about having Sanders at the top of the ticket. On Saturday, Klobuchar said the moment proved she isnt afraid to say what she thinks. People know Im straightforward and I tell them the truth, she said. Klobuchar also announced to voters that her campaign had raised $1.5 million since the debate. Warren, who represents neighboring Massachusetts in the Senate, also needs a strong finish in New Hampshire to prove her campaign viability in the primary. As she spoke to supporters before they headed out to knock on doors, she noted that it had been three years since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., admonished her on the Senate floor with the phrase nevertheless, she persisted an expression that Warren has turned into a motto for her campaign. Ive been winning unwinnable fights pretty much all my life, she said. Lower-tier candidates were also engaged on the New Hampshire campaign trail. Deval Patrick, the former Massachusetts governor, launched a bus tour last week, and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet scheduled seven events across the state Thursday and Friday. Julie Pace and Hunter Woodall are Associated Press writers. By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijan will become the 6th country where the regional center of the World Economic Forum will operate, presidential aide for Economic Policy and Industry Natig Amirov told local media There are not many WEF Centers. Presently, such centers operate in Israel, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia and Saudi Arabia. This shows that Azerbaijan is actively preparing for the 4th industrial revolution, Amirov said. He noted that in recent years, the country has been actively using innovative technologies and is doing a lot of work to develop human capital, which is also noted by international structures. Our country took first place in Southern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia according to the rating of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on the development of digital and sustainable trade. Over the past four years, the country has doubled its performance to reach 81.72 percent, Amirov emphasized. The presidential aide emphasized that the opening of the WEF Regional Center in Baku will allow creating a platform for the implementation of new technological products, as well as solving problems associated with evolving technologies. The letter of intent on the establishment of an affiliate regional center of the World Economic Forum in Azerbaijan was signed by President Ilham Aliyev and the President of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende within the framework of the World Economic Forum held in Davos on January 21-24, 2020. During the meeting, the sides emphasized that such centers are created in few countries. Their main goal is to realize the opportunities which stipulated the Fourth Industrial Revolution. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz North West populace demand end to violence WhatsApp The population of Bamenda and a cross-section of the elite of the North West Region staged an anti-lockdown march and rally Friday, February 7, 2020. A thick crowd of civil servants, businessmen, market women, the elite and some security forces marched along the streets of Bamenda with messages of peace and the need for all and sundry to shun calls for civil disobedience and go about their normal lives. They later converged on the Bamenda Ceremonial Ground at Commercial Avenue to say enough is enough to the activities of separatists in the region. Some of the banners and placards read: The North West Region says no to kidnappings, ransom taking, burning of houses, destruction of properties and the blocking of roads. Enough is Enough, and The North West Region says no to lockdowns and ghost towns. Speaking at the Commercial Avenue Grandstand, Prof. Paul Ghogomo Mingo, Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic said the people of the North West should conquer fear and go about their daily routines. The spokesman of the steaming crowd said: We deny with all force this lockdown in our region. Lockdowns and ghost towns were bad yesterday, they are bad today and will be bad tomorrow. Let this message be sent far and wide. We have to conquer fear. Minister Ghogomo went on: Let us come out as one man and go about our daily preoccupations. See how people are suffering. They are unable to open their business places. Children are unable to go to school. Some have been out of school for over three years now. I think the time has come for us to stop all these things. Today, we are saying that peace should return in our region. People should come out of their houses. Those in the bushes have been extended an olive branch by the Head of State. They should seize this opportunity and come out of the bushes. We the population say enough is enough. Peace has to return to the North West. We should all talk to our brothers, sisters, children and friends that the violence has to stop in the North West Region. We cannot be conditioned to lock ourselves at home. People will get rotten at home. People should go out and work. Government has sent us enough police, gendarmes and soldiers that will take care of us. We have all seen that even though those ill-intentioned people say it is a lockdown, we have all moved through the streets of the city and no harm has reached us. There is enough security for us all. Addressing the population, North West Governor Lele Lafrique Deben Tchoffo Adolphe said all measures have been taken to secure the population and their property. He used then populace to collaborate with the security forces so that the regions peace can once more be restored. Hear him: We are indeed very happy today to witness this special event, the reaction of the population of the North West region against the ghost towns and the lockdown. This is the first of its kind and it is hoped that as from today, we are going to open a new page in the history of this region by saying enough is enough. The Head of State, His Excellency President Paul Biya has given us enough security means to secure our region. The singing of the National Anthem marked the end of the rally. Separatists who seek to make of the North West and South West Regions an independent country they call Ambazonia had called for a six-day lockdown in a bid to prevent the population from participating in Sundays municipal and legislative elections, as well as Tuesdays National Youth Day. Government has however said the requisite security measures have been taken to secure the population. The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Saturday asked the Yogi Adityanath government to set up a 'Kisan Aayog' for the welfare of farmers whose crops are destroyed by stray cattle. In a statement issued here, state Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said gaushalas (cow shelters) existed only on paper and the BJP government was doing nothing for the betterment of farmers. "Owing to destruction of crops by stray animals, nearly a dozen farmers have committed suicide in the last one-and-a-half months in the state. However, the state government has been unable to provide any help to the farmers," Lallu said. "The government should pay compensation to the farmers for the damage to their crops caused by stray animals in the last three years," he added. Terming it as the "biggest problem" that the state is facing, Lallu demanded that a Kisan Aayog (farmers' commission) must be formed at the earliest to provide relief to the farmers. Rejecting the claims made by the Congress, UP BJP media co-convenor Navin Srivastava, said, "The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M S Swaminathan, but they (Congress) never bothered to implement it." "The BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented the recommendations and raised the MSP of certain crops to 1.5 times," he added. Hence, the Congress must introspect before levelling allegations against the BJP, Srivastava said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:52:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Agricultural Development Bank of China (ADBC), the country's only rural policy bank, has approved emergency loans worth 10.07 billion yuan (about 1.44 U.S. dollars) amid the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak. The move aims to finance enterprises in manufacturing and purchasing of NCP prevention and control supplies, as well as anti-epidemic materials including grain, cotton, and oil, according to the ADBC. As of 7 p.m. Friday, the bank's 28 branches had approved anti-epidemic emergency loans for 190 enterprises, granting loans of 5.59 billion yuan. The loans will fully support enterprises in purchasing masks and protective equipment, as well as ensuring market supplies. Support will also be offered to the operation and maintenance of Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, according to the ADBC. Chinese health authorities said Saturday that 3,399 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 86 deaths were reported Friday. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A man killed in a crash in San Francisco's Midtown Terrace neighborhood on Tuesday has been identified as Eduardo Pelayo of Solano County, the city's medical examiner's office said. Pelayo, 58, died in a crash reported at 4:53 p.m. near the intersection of Panorama Drive and Cityview Way, police said. Police have released few details about the crash. 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. Sudeshna Dutta By Express News Service BENGALURU: From being a peasant food in its initial days to becoming an essential element during hangouts, pizza has come a long way with unique variations and taste. So much so, that people now celebrate their love for pizzas on Pizza Day, which falls on February 9. With bread, tomato, dairy products, and easily available meats or vegetables, pizza is now considered a wholesome meal, and Indians have fallen for it. It completes a circle of carbs, fats, proteins and vitamins in a meal. In addition to this, we as Indians share our food, be it home or when we head out to eat, so pizza is a quick and easy-to-eat item, which comes with different toppings, says Shivanth Nishkam, partner at Red Tomato, Jayanagar. For a lot of Indian parents, pizza is a great way to get children to eat veggies like broccoli in the form of toppings, adds Mani Pathak, executive chef, Fox In The Field. Though its origin is said to be in Naples, pizzas have turned desi for Indians, thanks to twists with fusion toppings like paneer tikka, chicken tikka, paneer butter masala, to name a few. Indians mostly embrace food that is finely balanced with spice, and pizza gives you just that, says Prakash Kumar, executive chef, The Woodrose, adding that new incorporation of pizza toppings around the world include Balado Pizza (spicy chilly pizza with beef or chicken), Randang pizza (spicy beef pizza) and Tom Yum Pizza in Indonesia, and Pizza Viennese/Pizza capricciosa (mozzarella, tomato, mushroom, artichokes, cooked ham, olives, olive oil) and Four cheese pizza (Mozzeralla, stracchino, fontina and gorgonzola) in Italy. Chef Eliyaz, Chef de Cuisine, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, says sweet pizza has become quite popular in recent times. Instead of tomato sauce in the base, sauces like different vegetable purees are used. Capers, burrata, anchovies etc. are popular nowadays.As for the cheesier bit, while the most popular type of cheese used in the preparation of pizza is Mozzarella, the other varieties of cheese that have become popular are Feta, Scamorza, Provolone, Smoked Gouda, Blue cheese, Ricotta, Goat cheese and Cream cheeses. Keeping the choice of Bengalureans in mind, vegan and gluten-free options in pizzas are an emerging trend, says Yash Mathur, executive sous chef, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway. People are becoming increasingly wellness-focused and are looking for fresh and healthy options in a familiar form. We can also expect the trends of whole wheat, maize flour and millet based pizzas in the coming days, adds Kumar. Its a holi-holiday View(s): Kussi Amma Sera was vigorously scraping coconut on Tuesday to prepare kiribath with lunu miris for breakfast to celebrate Independence Day. Thus, instead of the gathering of the trio for a tea-kade-like gossip usually on a Thursday morning, they were meeting on Tuesday under the margosa tree also to watch the Air Force planes fly past as part of the national celebrations, joyfully shouting, Jayawewa. Mahattaya, ada honda kamek haduwa (Sir, I made a good meal today), she said, as I walked into the kitchen to fetch my morning cup of tea which she had prepared. Balamu..balamu (Well see), I said with a smile and walked to the office room. As I settled down at my computer, wondering what to write (rather early in the week as I had other work and assignments on Thursday), the landline rang. Who could that be, I wondered. Hello machan, how are you, the caller said in a cheery voice. It was good-for-nothing Somey who loves a good holiday and ironically the topic of conversation that followed was holidays. I say are we a nation of lotus-eaters? How can we gain developed status if everyone is on holiday? he asked, stumping me for a moment. What do you mean, I queried. Well, this year, there are holidays, right, left and centre and chances are most of the year we would be holidaying and not working, he said. That reminded me of the popular hit Its a holi-holiday by the 1970s pop band Boney M. For those who are not familiar with this song, it goes like this: Hooray, hooray, its a holi-holiday//What a world of fun for everyone, holi-holiday//Hooray, hooray, its a holi-holiday//Sing a summer song, skip along, holi-holiday its a holi-holiday. Sri Lankans are fun-loving and love holidays like any other island nation and who wouldnt want to take an extra day off to collect four or five days of vacation to go on a trip? There are plenty of opportunities for this. Check this years calendar and you would understand what I mean. Consider this: There are three holidays at a stretch almost every month and/or four days at a stretch, if you take one days leave in between this stretch. I hope I am not tipping off Sri Lankans who may not have realised it and would now immediately scan the calendar. However, my focus today is on how possible for a country to develop, with so many holidays. At a glance, I counted a total of 148 holidays including weekends and in some cases if you take a days leave in-between to make it four holidays in a row. This means that Sri Lankans are likely to be on holiday for more than half the year if you also add the leave entitlement (14 days annual and seven days casual, not forgetting medical leave). In most cases, the holidays (except for the statutory ones) apply only to the public sector while the private sector would be at work. Here is how the holidays work: January10-12 (Friday to Sunday); February 1-4 (Saturday to Tuesday if you go on leave on Monday); February 21-23 (Friday-Sunday); March 7-9 (Saturday-Monday); April 4-7 (Saturday-Tuesday if you take Monday off); April 10-13 (Good Friday to Sinhala and Tamil New Year); May 1-3 (Friday-Sunday); May 7-10 (Thursday-Sunday); May 23-25 (Saturday-Monday); June 5-7 (Friday-Sunday); August 1-3 (Saturday-Monday); August 29-September 1 (Saturday-Tuesday if you take Monday off); September 1-4 (Thursday-Sunday if you take leave on Friday); October 1-4 (Thursday to Sunday if you take Friday off); October 30-November 1 (Friday to Sunday); December 25-29 (5 days Friday to Tuesday if you take Monday off). Whew! What a year of holidays! While discussing with Somey on whether or not we are a nation of lotus-eaters, my attention momentarily wanders to the margosa tree where the trio including Mabel Rasthiyadu and Serapina are eating Kussi Amma Seras lunu miris and kiribath (there is a plateful on my computer table too and it tastes delicious), while scanning the skies for more Air Force planes. Me dinavala Sri Lankawe gatalu godak thiyenawa (There are many issues in Sri Lanka these days), said Serapina. Eh monawada (Like what)? asked Mabel Rasthiyadu. Maasa keepayakata udadi Ranjan Ramanayakage durakathana samvada patigatha kara. Eeta passe corona vairasaya. Than, hitapu Sri Lankika guvan sevaye pradhana vidhayaka niladhari saha eyage birinda allas vanchavaka patalila (A few months ago it was Ranjan Ramanayakes tapes of telephone conversations followed by the coronavirus and now the scandal where the former SriLankan Airlines CEO and his wife have been implicated in a bribery scandal), replied Serapina. Sri Lankawe kisi viteka andura mohotak ne (Never a dull moment in Sri Lanka), laughed Kussi Amma Sera, with a mouthful of kiribath. Getting back to the conversation with Somey, I said: I tend to agree that there are too many holidays and opportunities for long weekends. We need to assess how we can reach full development status if half the year we are at home or holidaying elsewhere. Much as I like holidays, this is a serious issue and needs a proper social discourse on how we need to develop, while also enjoying holidays but not too many, he said. I agreed with him on the need to initiate a forum and discussion on developing Sri Lanka in an environment when half the year we are on holiday. This discourse, he said, should be driven by civil society and not the politicians who are normally driven by their needs and not the countrys needs. One silver lining from the large number of holidays is that at least for half the year there would be less traffic jams in the city of Colombo! Jokes apart, if Sri Lankans are serious about holidays (and I know most fun-loving people would be upset by any attempt to reduce holidays), there needs to be some discussion on different ways of contributing to the nations growth...maybe even while on holiday. Any ideas from my readers? Ending the conversation, Somey says, Lets talk again on another holiday. I close my computer just as Kussi Amma Sera walks into the room with another plate of lunu miris and kiribath. Kohomada mage kiribath (How is my kiribath)? she asks. Niyamai (Great), I said. NEWAYGO COUNTY, MI -- A village council in West Michigan has gone more than eight months without enough of its seven elected officials in attendance to hold a meeting. The three active council members arent enough to officially accept the resignation of three former members, and the seventh and final member refuses to attend meetings. Thus, the village of Hesperia is left in limbo, unsure when its elected officials will return to the table and if it will be in time to adopt the next fiscal budget. It makes me mad, said Trustee Jim Smith, about being unable to hold a meeting since May 2019. We cant do nothing for the people. Id much rather be doing stuff for them than the way it is. Hesperia, which has a seven-member council, is made up of a village president and six trustees. They are scheduled to meet on the second Monday of each month but havent had the four-member quorum needed to take official action since May 2019. Kristin Denbesten gave notice of her intent to step down in May, followed by the resignations of Carol Kochans and J.R. Derks. The officials didnt give reasons for their departures beyond personal reasons, according to Vicki Burrell, the village clerk. Trustee Mike Maynard also stopped showing up to meetings last spring. He said he doesnt plan to return to the table unless Village President Mike Farber steps down. The village president and a couple trustees are clearly working outside the scope of their authorities, Maynard said Friday. When we got elected to office, we didnt realize how dirty it was. Farber didnt return calls from MLive on Friday, Feb. 7 for comment. The council departures came at a time when two ordinances were being discussed. The first is related to ready to serve water bills, and the ability to add water bill debt to a property owners taxes if they refuse to pay their bill. A ready to serve fee is charged to residents even if they arent turning on the water. Burrell said most people who dont pay the bill do so because their property is vacant. She said the ordinance would allow homeowners to opt out and have their water/sewer hookup shutoff. The other ordinance would set guidelines for allowing medical marijuana facilities in the village. In 2018, the council already opted in to allow the facilities, but havent adopted an ordinance. Maynard said there were attempts by some on the council to push the marijuana ordinance through without sufficient discussion, which was one point of contention. We inherited the problem," Maynard said. After about four months of banging our heads against the wall, we got tired of it ... Our town is paralyzed." Not only can the council not appoint new members without a quorum, it hasnt been able to replace the village attorney that was fired in February 2019. In the meantime, the village is paying a Muskegon-area attorney for legal counsel, according to the clerk. Despite an inactive council, Burrell said the village has been able to function due to a few prior motions. She is still able to pay the bills and payroll for employees, though the future remains less clear. Were able to function because we have a fiscal budget in place but come March 31 -- maybe a miracle will happen and we can pass a budget, she said. If not, Im not sure the next steps. We would probably have to go into an emergency status of some type." Hesperia has a glimpse of hope that a change is on the horizon. On Jan. 28, the clerk received notice that Trustee J.R. Derks has rescinded his resignation, which he can do because the resignation was never approved. The village is slated for its next council meeting on Monday, Feb. 10. Meanwhile, state Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, has introduced legislation that would aid governments with administrative duties by giving villages like Hesperia the power to compel absent members to attend. The Senate Committee on Local Government took testimony on the legislation Thursday, Feb. 6. Senate bills 712 and 713 amend the General Law Village Act and Michigan Election Law, giving local governments power in situations like this. The legislation would provide direction for villages unable to achieve a quorum and give them tools to ensure elected officials are held to their duties. The bills would allow the presiding officer of a local council to compel absent council members to attend a meeting. If a village fails to compel an absent member to attend a meeting under ordinary circumstances, the absent member shall be guilty of gross neglect of duty, which is a precursor for the governor to consider removal. This is good public policy that will help restore peoples faith in government, Bumstead said in a prepared statement. Some of the current requirements are overly burdensome and do not allow officials to properly conduct business or deal with officials who are not performing the job they were elected to do. My bills would change that and hold people accountable, while also allowing officials to focus on important business in their communities. Hesperia is located on the border of Newaygo and Oceana counties. Council members are at large and elected to four-year terms, while the president serves a two-year term. Council seats up for election in November are those most recently filled by Kochans, Derks, Smith, and Farber. Denbestens seat could also be placed on the ballot in November. Trustees are paid $40 per council or committee meeting they attend. The president receives $30 per meeting they attend, plus $200 a month and a stipend for mileage. Read more: Election changes proposed in Grand Rapids Boy, 11, stabbed during 3 a.m. home invasion in Grand Rapids Chronic wasting disease found in deer at West Michigan farm China has made greater and concerted efforts to prevent and control the novel coronavirus epidemic, boosting confidence to win a decisive victory in the fight against the virus outbreak. The prevention and control work is still the most important task as the country faces complicated and serious situation. Since the outbreak, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has exercised leadership and coordinated work in all aspects, while the Party committees and governments at all levels have resolutely implemented instructions. Meanwhile, the leading cadres, Party members and medical staff have worked hard on the front line of the battle against the epidemic. And people from all sectors have donated money and goods to fight the virus. Attaching great importance to the prevention and control work, Chinese President Xi Jinping made important instructions upon the outbreak. He stressed that China must put peoples safety and health as the top priority, implement a comprehensive prevention and control network and strengthen mass prevention and treatment. He also spoke of the need for the timely release of information and the deepening of international cooperation. Xis important speeches and instructions have charted the course for comprehensively enhancing the epidemic prevention and control work. As a Chinese proverb goes, all sides come to help when one is struck by disaster. Currently, 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China have activated first-level public health emergency response, drafted and implemented prevention and control measures among communities, and launched networked management. Medical teams and staff across the country have rushed to Wuhan to help fight virus without hesitation. The country has mobilized the general public among communities, popularized knowledge of epidemic prevention and control, and cancelled mass gatherings. The institutional strength of Chinas socialist system which can bring together the resources necessary to take on great tasks is the key to win the battle against the epidemic. Just as what World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, the high speed and massive scale of Chinas moves are rarely seen in the world. Many of the prevention and containment measures China has taken far exceed relevant requirements for dealing with emergencies, and the measures China has taken are good not only for that country but also for the rest of the world, he added. By adhering to a national perspective, China strives to seize the initiative in epidemic prevention and control, which is a systematic project. First, the CPC Central Committee has exercised unified command while local governments and departments have implemented relevant instructions. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak made overall planning and coordination. In general, all provinces have established a leadership system headed by principal leaders of Party committees and governments, as well as a joint prevention and control mechanism featuring participation by multiple departments. The strengths of all fronts are complementary. A national research team of experts was set up immediately to focus on research on treatment of severe cases, research and development of vaccines and other aspects. Healthcare security and financial departments have implemented the subsidy policies to ensure that patients treatment would not be affected due to medical costs. And transport departments have enhanced management to cut off the transmission channels and ensure that passengers can cancel their tickets and get refunds for free. Local governments and relevant departments have ensured that policies and decisions are strictly carried out in a coordinated manner, generating strong synergy in epidemic prevention and control. It is a battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic that affects lives and health of hundreds of millions of people. It is also a battle China must win. To secure a victory, all walks of life and various sectors are taking actions. Medical staff have written letters of petition to support Hubei province, Party members and cadres have been on the frontline of the fight against the virus day and night, workers have worked overtime to make medical supplies, and ordinary citizens have avoided going outside and developed good health habits. These efforts unleash huge energy like small streams converging into the ocean. As long as we focus our thoughts and efforts towards the same goal, we can forge the iron great wall to contain the virus outbreak and safeguard our health and homeland. No mountain is unclimbable and no difficulty is insurmountable as long as we work together as one. China has the confidence and ability to win the battle against the epidemic as it has mastered more advanced medical technologies, established a more mature emergency response mechanism, and accumulated richer experience in epidemic prevention and control. The Justice Department has dropped its antitrust inquiry into four major automakers Ford, VW, Honda and BMW that struck a deal with California to boost emissions standards in defiance of White House plans to relax existing rules, the New York Times reported Friday and Axios later confirmed. The big picture, via Axios' Amy Harder: This is a victory for California in a war against the Trump administration on multiple legal and policy fronts. Another one we're watching is how the administration's lawsuit against California's cornerstone climate policy shakes out. Details: California and the auto companies' efforts to tighten carbon emissions standards could improve with the DOJ's decision to drop its probe, the Times reports. BMW and Ford confirmed to Axios that the DOJ had dropped its antitrust inquiry. The DOJ opened an investigation into the automakers to discern whether they violated antitrust laws by working together to reach a deal with California on emissions standards. Where it stands: The Trump administration is moving to substantially weaken Obama-era carbon emissions and mileage rules for model years 2021-2026. The administration had initially proposed freezing the standards. The final rule will reportedly include some increases, but less than the Obama-era standards and what California had envisioned in its preliminary deal with the four automakers. What to watch, via the Times: "The closure may mark something of a detente in the political battle between the White House and California." Go deeper: Justice Dept. probes carmakers in California emissions deal Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Saturday Indias move to nullify Article 370 was the countrys internal affair and the island nation will not get involved in the matter, a remark that came during the 74-year-olds first visit to India since taking office. Whatever the view of any country, we will not get involved in the internal matters of India. But remember this: I always say India is a relation. Others are friends, Rajapaksa told Hindustan Times in an interview when asked about Pakistans calls for Sri Lanka to condemn Indias Kashmir move. Rajapaksa also said without Indias help, I dont think we would have won the civil war in Sri Lanka. The remarks came hours after he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Sri Lankan PM defined the nature of his countrys strategic relationship with China. China helped us for the sake of development, that is all. Our war had shattered our country, we needed help to develop, they were ready, so why not? he said. Police on Friday arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with Wednesday nights fatal shooting of a worker at a Mexican restaurant in southwest Charlotte. The victim, 37-year-old Juan Velazquez Hernandez, worked for a business hired by La Poblanita Bar and Grill on Westinghouse Boulevard to perform maintenance on kitchen equipment, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release. Hernandez was pronounced dead the scene, according to CMPD. A reporter for Charlotte Observer news partner WBTV saw police in tactical gear and with guns drawn at the restaurant after the shooting. Police said they did not know the motive behind the killing. On Thursday, police obtained warrants for the arrest of Raheem Kawon Fuller. On Friday, officers spotted him along another stretch of Westinghouse Boulevard. Fuller ran when police called out his name, but officers quickly apprehended him, police said in Saturdays news release. Fuller was jailed on charges of murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree kidnapping. Raheem Kawon Fuller The restaurant is at 1925 Westinghouse Blvd., just east of South Tryon Street in the Steele Creek area. Its website says La Poblanita is family owned and operated since 2009 and includes a store that sells traditional Mexican candy for any Pinata celebration. Hernandez was Charlottes eighth homicide victim this year. Charlotte had nine homicides during the same period last year. A deadly year: 2019 murder rate was Charlottes worst in more than a decade Anthem of the Seas Haven Orecchio-Egresitz/Business Insider Some passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Bayonne, New Jersey, were tested for the coronavirus on Friday. Of the 27 Chinese nationals traveling on the Anthem of the Seas, four were taken to a Newark hospital, while the others will be put on a flight back to China, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis told NBC New York. Royal Caribbean said on Friday that it was "participating in elevated levels of guest screening." Some passengers expressed frustration, saying that there was a lack of transparency from the cruise staff and that they learned of the situation on their phones and cabin TVs. People who were set to embark on a cruise later Friday were Saturday departure was pushed until Monday so the CDC could complete its testing. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Some passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Friday were tested for the coronavirus, officials said. The Anthem of the Seas had departed from Bayonne on January 27 and headed to the Bahamas before returning. "Personnel from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boarded a cruise ship docked in Bayonne this morning and screened 27 passengers who recently traveled from mainland China," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. Of them, four were taken to University Hospital in Newark, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said. One of them developed a fever on the trip, but it went away with some Tylenol, Davis said, adding that the three others were being closely monitored. University Hospital declined to comment, instead directing Insider to the New Jersey Department of Public Health, which sent Murphy's statement. "The hospital is following proper infection control protocols while evaluating these individuals," Murphy said. CBP car outside University Hospital in Newark Haven Orecchio-Egresitz 'No confirmed cases of novel coronavirus' The other 23 passengers were given the all-clear. Davis told NBC New York that they would be transported to Newark Liberty International Airport to return to China. Story continues None of the 27 Chinese nationals were from Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak originated or had traveled there since the outbreak was reported in December, Davis added. "New Jersey currently has no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and the risk to residents remains low," Murphy said. Mayor Jimmy Davis (@DavisForBayonne) February 7, 2020 Mayor Jimmy Davis (@DavisForBayonne) February 7, 2020 As of Friday, the coronavirus had infected over 31,000 people worldwide and killed over 630 people. Royal Caribbean said in a statement to the New York Post on Friday that it was "participating in elevated levels of guest screening" to help control the virus. "We are closely monitoring developments regarding coronavirus and have rigorous medical protocols in place onboard our ships," Royal Caribbean spokeswoman, Melissa Charbonneau, said. "We continue to work in close consultation with the CDC, the WHO, and local health authorities to align with their guidance and ensure the health and wellbeing of our guests and crew." However, one Chinese national, Jin Yan, told Fox 5 NY that he lives in the United Kingdom and hasn't been to China in a year. He believes he was put at risk when he was quarantined with people who had recently traveled to the mainland where the public health crisis originated. Passengers frustrated by lack of transparency Some of the passengers, who spent the past 12 days traveling to Puerto Rico, St. John, St. Kitts, and Antigua, told Insider that they were in the dark about the situation because the crew didn't make any announcements about the CDC's measures. Some said they remedied the lack of transparency by searching for updates on their phones or watching the news on cabin TVs. Eugene and Betty Salassi, of Louisiana, who went on the cruise with a group of quilters, said it was probably best that the crew didn't alert passengers because that may have caused panic. They're both in the medical field and said they enjoyed their trip, with no concern about boarding a cruise ship amid a coronavirus outbreak. Viruses are "everywhere," Betty Salassi said. "So wash your hands," Eugene Salassi added. Thousands of people disembarked the Anthem of the Sea on Friday morning and waited in lines to be picked up. Groups chattered about the news. Because such little information had been released, some speculated about how and where the 27 Chinese nationals were being screened. Rosemary Woronowicz wasn't bothered by the nearly hourlong delay getting off the ship. She said she had a great time with her husband, adding, "If you want to travel, that's the chance you take." And Suzanne Poirier, a New Jersey resident, said she was "curious, not concerned," when she noticed the large group of Chinese people. It wasn't until she looked out a window and spotted news crews at the port that she knew something was going on. "Surprisingly, people were not panicked," Poirier said. Changes to travel plans People who are set to travel on Royal Caribbean cruises in upcoming days received a statement on Thursday informing them of changes to check-in times to ensure that people don't waste time "standing and waiting around." "Before you board, we'll be conducting enhanced sanitation in the cruise terminal and onboard, as part of our ongoing illness prevention efforts," the statement said. But those who were set to embark on a cruise on the Anthem of the Seas later Friday were initially told they wouldn't be leaving until Saturday out of an "abundance of caution." A statement released by the company Saturday said the departure would be pushed until Monday so the CDC could conclude its rounds of testing. A statement sent to travelers stressed that "none of the four guests being tested by CDC showed any clinical signs or symptoms of coronavirus." Jamie Smith, of Pennsylvania, learned that her trip had been delayed only after arriving at the port with her husband. They would need to find a hotel room for the night, but Smith said they weren't overly worried about the virus itself. "If it wasn't safe, they wouldn't let us on," Smith said. Later Friday, Royal Caribbean said people with passports from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau would not be permitted on any ships in its fleet, no matter when they last visited those places. Read the original article on Business Insider The global gene therapy market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2024 as new treatment options target cancers and other diseases. Now, a team of scientists from Purdue University and other research institutions around the world have come together to better understand the growing number of worldwide patented innovations available for gene therapy treatment. They specifically focus on nonviral methods, which use synthetic or natural compounds or physical forces to deliver materials generally less toxic than their viral counterparts into the therapy treatments. "The possibility of using nonviral vectors for gene therapy represents one of the most interesting and intriguing fields of gene therapy research," said Marxa Figueiredo, an associate professor of basic medical sciences in Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine, who helped lead the research team and works with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent her technologies related to health. "This is an innovative method for identifying the technological routes used by universities and companies across the world and uncovering emerging trends for different gene therapy sectors." The scientists used big data, patent and clinical data mining to identify technological trends for the gene therapy field. The team's work is presented in the Feb. 7 edition of Nature Biotechnology. They envision that their analysis will help guide future developments for gene therapy. This work brought together investigators from across the globe in a joint effort to use new databases and methods to better understand the trends of the gene therapy field in respect to nonviral vectors. Dimas Covas, coordinator of the Center for Cell-based Therapy, affiliated with the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, lent his extensive experience in cell therapy. Aglaia Athanassiadou, Virginia Picanco-Castro and Figueiredo contributed their extensive experience on nonviral vectors for gene therapy. Cristiano Pereira and Geciane Porto brought their expertise in economics and business administration to the analyses. Each contribution was fundamental to achieving a new way to identify technological trends in this field. "This work brought together investigators from very diverse disciplines to create a different perspective of the gene therapy field," Figueiredo said. "Our groups continue to work individually or in collaboration to generate and patent new vectors to help fill the needs of this re-emerging field of nonviral gene therapy." She confirmed her relationship with multi-millionaire Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell last year. And Pia Miller put on a sultry display in black mesh beside her new man as they headed to the William Morris Endeavor Oscars Academy Awards Party in Friday. The 36-year-old stunned in the sheer illusion ensemble, styling a black bralette underneath the see-through top, paired with a matching maxi-skirt of the same material from New Zealand brand Paris Georgia. Sultry: Actress Pia Miller (pictured right) stuns in black mesh as she poses alongside multi-millionaire boyfriend Patrick Whitesell (pictured left) at the WME Oscars party in Los Angeles The former Home and Away star let her luscious brunette waves flow down past her shoulders, framing her ageless face. The Chilean-born beauty pulled the dramatic look together with a silver-toned smoky eye and a touch of pink on her lips. 'Love Psquared,' Pia captioned her Instagram post. 'Love Psquared': Pia Miller put on a sultry display in black mesh beside her new man, as they headed to the William Morris Endeavor Oscars Academy Awards Party in Friday Patrick, 55, donned a deep purple velvet dress jacket for the occasion. He paired the bold piece with a crisp white button-up shirt and black trousers. The Hollywood agent, who is reportedly worth $440 million USD, celebrated his birthday earlier this month. Chilean-born beauty: The former Home and Away star let her luscious brunette waves flow down past her shoulders, framing her ageless face And on Wednesday, Pia wished her beau a happy birthday with an array of inflatable balloons at his luxury apartment. In the video posted to her Instagram stories, the 36-year-old star is seen filming Patrick as he is seen enchanted by the inflatable balloons as she looked on. The balloon bouquet formed the letters that made up the words: 'Happy BDAY PW.' Loved up! Pia Miller has wished Patrick a happy 55th birthday with a loved-up rare selfie posted to her Instagram on Wednesday as she gifted him with a series of inflatable balloons In another video, she posted a view of their picturesque sunset views of downtown LA with the words: 'When the heavens smile. Happy Birthday P.' The loved-up couple are believed to have started dating in May, following the breakdown of Patrick's marriage to Lauren Sanchez, who is now reportedly engaged to Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. Pia and Patrick had kept their romance under wraps for months, despite embarking on several holidays around the world last year. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce was represented by Michael Gaynor and Paddy Malone when Chambers Ireland made a two day visit to Brussels recently. Over two days, they met members of the Commission and discussed topics as diverse as Brexit, EU trade policy for the SME sector, the Green Agenda and fiscal policy on the first day There were two threads common to all meetings, Brexit and the priority now been given to The Green Agenda by President Von der Leyen. In all discussions on future policy it was repeated that the first assessment on all policy will be the environmental impact. Michael Gaynor raised the issue of Europe's attitude to the Irish based beef industry and was critical of the EU Mercosur agreement allowing Argentina beef access to EU. This was hardly eco-friendly when the carbon footprint of transportation was taken into account. Brexit was raised by Paddy Malone at a number of the meetings. He expressed concern that there was not enough time to conclude a deal, the impact divergence by UK would have on cross border controls, if movement from Britain to Northern Ireland was not properly policed. The Commission stressed its commitment to the SME sector and outlined supports available to new and existing exporters. They also emphasised their determination to tackle all barriers to trade including red tape and artificial manipulation. There was also discussion on the Common Consolidated Tax Base. Paddy Malone asked that the Commission approach this in two parts; A, the rate which was non-negotiable and B. the rules for calculating taxable profits as distinct from accounting profits. On the latter we should welcome such harmonisation. Both Sean Kelly and Billy Kelleher (MEP'S for Ireland South) concurred. The delegates also met with Phil Hogan's team who have a number of matters to consider including the deal with the UK; trade relationship with USA and relationship with China. Paddy Malone and Michael Gaynor both emphasised the positive impact WuXi was having on Dundalk. The trip was a positive one in establishing links with other Irish Chambers and with some EU chambers. It allowed Dundalk's business voice to be heard at this critical tie for EU/UK relationships. Mumbai: "Bigg Boss 13" contestant Rashami Desai's mother feels housemate and friend Asim Riaz should have stood by her side when evicted contestant Himanshi Khurana revealed things about her relationship with Arhaan Khan. Recently, Rashami, irked by Arhaan's actions after the show, decided to call off her relationship with Arhaan. "Whatever Himanshi said and the way she said, I didn't like it. I am hurt. Asim had to support his girlfriend as well. He didn't have any option. But I still feel he should have supported Rashami. But anyways I am glad they are friends," Rasila Desai told timesofIndia.com. During a "Weekend Ka Vaar" episode, superstar host Salman Khan reprimanded Himanshi, who was inside the house in the connection week, for talking about the outside world in the house even after repeated reminders by Bigg Boss. The housemates were then shown a video where Himanshi spoke to Asim and Vishal Aditya Singh about Arhaan crying in front of her and how Rashami befriending Sidharth Shukla has upset him. She was upset about Arhaan talking to Himanshi about it. Rashami's mother has thanked Salman for supporting her daughter throughout the show. She said: "There were times when I wanted to be in the house to support my daughter. But I am happy that Salman sir stood by her side and guided her throughout. He guided her properly and I thank him with all my heart." Rashami's mother feels she handled things about her personal life well, saying "that's the format of the show and you can't help it. But Rashami has handled it with dignity and I am proud of her". It may have been a rough Christmas season for Longfords cystic fibrosis warrior, Jillian McNulty, but Jillian is nothing if not resilient, a fighter, and determined to get back on her feet. After weeks of updates from her brother, Fran, the Longford lady finally took to her own social media recently to post her first video of the year, updating her followers on her recovery and the progress she has made since coming out of the ICU. When I came out of ICU, I was very confused. I didnt know whether I was awake or asleep. I didnt know where I was. Some of the most bizarre things were going through my mind. I thought the nurses were drugging me. I thought they were trying to kill me, so I had to see a psychiatrist who had to put me on tablets because apparently this is all normal after being in ICU, especially for the length of time that I was in it, Jillian explained, adding that she had finished the tablets that day. Id wake up in the morning and Id be screaming. I wouldnt know where I was. It would take them ages to calm me down. That stopped last week but they left me on the tablets just in case it might linger, but it hasnt. Jillian also had a test with the occupational therapist last week and, as she said herself, she blitzed it. Its a memory test. Last week I didnt do too well, but this week I got 98 out of a hundred and she said that thats actually the highest that anybody has ever scored, so I was like yeah, make sure you tell everybody that, Jillian laughed. Jillian has had to learn to walk again to retrain her brain so that she can get back on her feet properly. One of her proudest moments so far was when she managed to stand up for the first time. Theres a test I have to do because Im very unsteady on my feet, she said. I can walk but Im like bambi, literally shaking. My legs are jelly and if I turn around, I go to fall over. But I did a test with the physio and the total score is 24. Physiotherapists thought Jillian would get 16, 17 or maybe 18 out of 24 but the inspirational Longford woman clocked up a score of 21, losing points only for needing to hold a railing when going up steps, or getting wobbly when looking up or down while walking. Jillian spent a lot of time on IVs over the past several weeks but those were stopped last week. Shes back on dialysis at night and she says everything is going the right way. In fact, going home is on the cards for Longfords CF champion, with doctors considering letting her home sooner rather than later. Im kind of keen to get out and get going. I really want to get home. I know Im going to struggle at home for the first couple of days because obviously its completely different to being in hospital. And I want to give myself a couple of days rest before the ball, she said. Because, yes, shes still planning her annual Valentines Ball to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and St Vincents Hospital, Dublin. Im really looking forward to the ball. Literally, this is going to be a celebration of my second chance at life and I have been given a second chance at life and Im so, so grateful, said Jillian. And the ball is going to be my comeback party, so please buy tickets. Numbers are down but Im trying not to worry because its obviously going to be different this year. I was hoping to have videos and collages there but obviously Im just not up to it this year, so its going to be slightly different. And I kind of think back to the video I posted just before I got sick saying that I wasnt going to hold another ball until I got my kidney. Clearly, the IVs were affecting my brain because already Im thinking about next years ball and my mother is going oh my god, stop it Jillian. I just knew there was something not right with me and I did say that I felt like I was dying and I was actually right. So Im glad it wasnt just in my head, Jillian added. A proud moment for Jillian as she stood up for the first time But yeah, the ball is going ahead. The ball is going ahead next year, 2021, 2022, 2023. It aint stopping. Ive always said my aim is to create awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis and Im going to continue to do that, regardless. Shes certainly done that from her hospital bed and while in ICU. Her brother, Fran, posted regular updates to Facebook to let Jillians large number of supporters know just how well she was progressing. Speaking to the Longford Leader last week, Jillian explained that it was touch and go for a while. They didnt think Id survive the first ten days. It was touch and go but on the eleventh day, I moved my finger or nodded my head or something and it just went from there. They are amazed at how quickly Im progressing. They didnt expect such a quick recovery. Thankfully Im still here to tell the tale, Jillian told the Leader. Now shes just eager to get out of hospital so that she can go to Dundrum and buy a pair of shoes to match the dress she plans to wear to the ball. If you know anyone that wants a brilliant night out, a fantastic meal in gorgeous surroundings, then please let them know about the ball, Jillian said in her video to the masses. The ball will take place on Saturday, February 15 at Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co Leitrim. Tickets are 65 and include a prosecco punch reception at 7.30pm sharp, a delicious four-course meal, music by harpist, Aine McLaughlin, followed by Gobsmacked, and a raffle on the night. Jillians parting message to all her well wishers was one of gratitude. Thank you for all your well wishes Im so glad Im back. Woohoo! For more information on the ball, or to purchase tickets, see Valentines Ball for Cystic Fibrosis on Facebook and send a message to get your tickets booked. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the controversial remarks made by Gandhi scion on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "If Rahul Gandhi hits PM with sticks, we will hit him with eggs (Agar Rahul Gandhi PM ko danda marenge to hum unko ande marenge). Rahul lost Amethi making such comments. He is destroying Congress party," the Union Minister said while speaking to ANI here. Gandhi had said while addressing a rally at Old Delhi's Hauz Qazi that Modi will not be able to move out of his house in the next six months as "youth will make him understand that without employment, the country can never progress." "Narendra Modi, who is giving speeches, he will not be able to move out of his house in the next six months. The youth of India will hit him with sticks," Gandhi had said. The Prime Minister on Thursday gave a reply to Gandhi over his 'danda' jibe, saying he been abused sufficiently in the last 20 years that he has become 'Gaali-proof'. "I have decided that I will increase the frequency of 'Surya Namaskar' so that my back becomes so strong that it can bear the assaults," Modi had said. As Gandhi attempted to interject, Modi said he had been speaking for 30-40 minutes but the current has reached there now. "Some tube lights work like this," he had said. Modi also took a jibe at Gandhi over his 'danda' remark at a rally in Kokorajhar in Assam on Friday. He said that some leaders talk about beating him with sticks but he is protected by the blessings of "all mothers of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People leaving Scoil Nioclais Naofa, the Claddagh National School polling station in Galway, as people in Ireland vote in the 2020 Irish general election. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and Mary Lou McDonald have made some memorable remarks during the election campaign (PA) The outcome of a historic General Election is on a knife edge as the three main political parties look to be in a dead heat, according to a shock exit poll. After weeks of speculation about the outcome of the election, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail were tied meaning the make up of the next Dail is far from clear as polling begins. Fine Gael (22.4pc) Sinn Fein (22.3pc) and Fianna Fail (22.2pc) are all even in terms of public support according to the shock poll. The country is facing into the prospect of hung parliament once votes are counted and lengthy government formation talks are likely to follow. The results indicate that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar may have managed to claw back support for Fine Gael in the dying days of the campaign. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald does not seem to have lived up to her partys expected surge in support. Ms McDonald is also running far less candidates than her rivals and is not expected to gain as many seats. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin will be disappointed that his party is polling in third place. However, Mr Martin constantly notes that his party under performs in opinion polls. The Ipsos MRBI opinion poll for RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and UCD showed the Green Party stands at 8pc, the Labour Party at 4pc, the Social Democrats at 3pc, Solidarity People Before Profit at 3pc and Independents at 11pc. The opinion poll involved 5,376 respondents being surveyed at 250 polling stations around the country and the margin of error of 1.3pc. Read More A high early turnout was noted across the country this morning. The Dublin County returning officer noted a 20pc turnout across a selection of schools by 12 noon. A breakdown of attendance figures showed 18.5pc of voters visited St Malaga's NS, Ballbriggan by 12 noon, while 21pc attended Skerries Community Centre. In Dublin-West, 18.6pc of voters were recorded at Laurel Lodge, and 23pc at St John Bosco NS Hall, Navan Road. As for Dublin Mid-West, turnout figures as high as 16.4pc have been reported at Lucan Educate Together, and Scoil Aine Naofa have 20pc. A high turnout of 27pc has been recorded at Glenageary/Killiney N.S. Wyvern, Dun Laoghaire. Meanwhile, Athboy in Co Meath has seen the highest turnout in that area so far today, with 18pc stepping out to cast their vote. Turnout in Longford-Westmeath was slow this morning before becoming busy just before the Ireland vs Wales Six Nations clash began at 2.15pm. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next In Pictures: Country goes to polls for General Election 2020 Close President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne leaving the polling station at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin after casting their votes in the Irish General Election. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Leo Varadkar talks with children after casting his vote. REUTERS/Phil Noble President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne vote in the Irish General Election at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Simon Coveney casting his ballot Leo Varadkar casts his vote REUTERS/Phil Noble Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and family voting in the Irish General Election at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday February 8, 2020. See PA story IRISH Election. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and wife Mary arrive to vote in the Irish General Election at St Anthony's Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork. Yui Mok/PA Wire President Michael D Higgins votes in the Irish General Election at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Brian Lawless/PA Wire A man holds a child as he casts his vote in Ireland's national election in Cork, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls President Michael D Higgins leaving the polling station at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin after casting his vote in the Irish General Election. Brian Lawless/PA Wire An exemplary ballot hangs at a polling station during Ireland's national election in Cork, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne leaving the polling station at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin after casting their votes in the Irish General Election. Brian Lawless/PA Wire A turnout of 15.5 pc cast their votes in Mullingar, Co Westmeath by 1pm today. Athlone saw a turnout of 15.25 pc, while Longford recorded 20 pc. The Cork returning office reported a "brisk morning" at the polling stations. In Roscommon, there was tea and cake laid on when 103-year-old Michael Coyne arrived at the polling station in Boyle. Michael flashed his Fianna Fail membership card and announced that Micheal Martin is going to be the next Taoiseach, after casting his vote at Scoil na nAingeal Naofa . Born on January 14, 1917 he was around in 1918, the last time a general election was held in Ireland on a Saturday. As he well knows it was also an election when Sinn Fein made its mark with the election of Countess Markievicz, Michael Collins and Eamon deValera heralding the arrival of a new dawn in Irish politics. He is inclined to think the party is going to be a significant player this time round too. "I think Michal Martin will be Taoiseach but he will have trouble ahead, he chuckled. I think he should join up with Sinn Fein. I am not too fond of Sinn Fein, but they are as good as Fine Gael. Ireland's President and the main political leaders have also cast their votes in one of the most unpredictable General Elections for years. Expand Close People leaving Scoil Nioclais Naofa, the Claddagh National School polling station in Galway, as people in Ireland vote in the 2020 Irish general election. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People leaving Scoil Nioclais Naofa, the Claddagh National School polling station in Galway, as people in Ireland vote in the 2020 Irish general election. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Sinn Fein could challenge the 90-year duopoly of the state's two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and the process of forming a coalition Government could be challenging, opinion polls suggest. President Michael D Higgins was accompanied by his wife Sabina at a Dublin polling station. Micheal Martin, the leader of main opposition party Fianna Fail, voted with his wife, daughter and two sons early on Saturday morning in Co Cork. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power - recent polls put his party behind Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. He brought a box of Roses sweets for count staff at his polling station in west Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also cast her vote in the capital on an "important" day. She said: "Today is the day that people are in charge and every single vote counts. "People have told us throughout this campaign that they want change, that they want a change in our presentation and they want a change in government, so I am saying to people please come out today and vote for a change. "Bring your family, your neighbours and friends and come down and use your vote - today is your day." In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25pc, with Fianna Fail second on 23pc and Mr Varadkar's party on 20pc. If those levels of support are borne out when counting begins on Sunday, it would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border. The odds would still be stacked against Ms McDonald leading the next government as Taoiseach since Sinn Fein only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliament's 160 seats. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own, and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. Sinn Fein may be unable to find enough like-minded left-leaning allies to form a workable government. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are both centre-right in outlook and appeal to middle Ireland so have unequivocally ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein. For either to change position on coalition partners would represent a major U-turn. If that case Sinn Fein would be unlikely to secure a place in the next government. Fianna Fail topped the opinion polls early in the campaign, and leader Mr Martin could yet emerge as the next Taoiseach. Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, will be hoping his administration's economic record and handling of the Brexit process will convince enough voters to renew his tenure in Government Buildings. Brexit did not feature prominently in a campaign dominated by domestic issues like spiralling rental prices, record-breaking homeless numbers, controversy over the state pension age and a struggling health service. There appears to be a mood for change and Sinn Fein could attract support from younger voters who want to end Fine Gael's nine years in power but are unwilling to trust Fianna Fail again after the financial crash that tarnished its last term of office. White House hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg -- riding neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the next Democratic primary contest -- come under sustained attack on the debate stage from rivals seeking to challenge Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana who at 38 is a fresh face on the national stage, defended himself against charges of inexperience and, in a dig at Sanders, urged Americans to elevate a nominee who will "leave the of the past in the past." The 78-year-old leftist Sanders, eyeing the moderate Buttigieg as his possible chief adversary, aimed his own shots at his far younger rival in the Manchester, New Hampshire debate -- casting him as the candidate of Wall Street. "I don't have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign," Sanders said. Buttigieg and Sanders finished atop the pack earlier this week in Iowa's chaotic caucuses, and both hope to renew the performance Tuesday in New Hampshire, as the Democratic Party seeks to pick a challenger to Trump in November. But Sanders, a veteran senator calling for "political revolution," was in the firing line from several rivals, including former vice president and fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden who branded his policies too radical to unite Americans. The 77-year-old Biden, fighting to keep his White House hopes alive after finishing an unnerving fourth in Iowa, insisted liberal policies like Sanders's flagship universal health care plan would be too divisive, expensive and difficult to get through Congress. "How much is it going to cost?" Biden asked about Sanders's Medicare for All bill which estimates the project would cost tens of trillions of dollars. "Who do you think is going get that passed" in Congress? Biden performed more aggressively than in previous showings, seizing a chance to argue that today's global tensions required an experienced statesman to guide the nation out of a dark period. Despite the Iowa setback he also made plain he still views himself as best placed to mount a centrist challenge to the Republican Trump, who this week survived an impeachment trial that did little to dent his electoral support. A national unknown one year ago, Buttigieg has run an ambitious campaign that resonated with voters who appreciate his articulate explanations of policy. But rivals including Senator Amy Klobuchar argued Buttigieg is an untested novice on the world stage. "We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us," she said in a gibe at both Buttigieg and Trump. Buttigieg draws on his experience as a military veteran to cast himself as a credible commander-in-chief. And he advanced his central argument for generational change as the best way to take on the nation's tests. "The biggest risk we could take at a time like this would be to go up against the fundamentally new challenge by trying to fall back on the familiar," Buttigieg said. Also onstage in New Hampshire were Senator Elizabeth Warren, entrepreneur Andrew Yang and billionaire activist Tom Steyer. Klobuchar, a pragmatist from Minnesota, put in a forceful performance as she voiced her opposition to Sanders and Warren, arguing their liberal plans would only divide voters. "Truthfully, Donald Trump's worst nightmare is a candidate that will bring people in from the middle," she said. While Biden held his own, he acknowledged he was fighting an uphill battle in the first two voting states. "I took the hit in Iowa and I'll probably take it here," he said, in apparent recognition that Sanders is likely to win New Hampshire, which borders his home state of Vermont. Democratic tensions have simmered as the party struggles to decide whether to take incremental progressive steps or a more radical turn as proposed by self-declared democratic socialist Sanders. At one point candidates were asked whether they would be concerned should a democratic socialist win the nomination. Klobuchar and others raised their hands. As the seven debaters clashed, another candidate loomed in the background. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg chose to ignore the early nominating contests and has spent heavily on advertising, hoping to make a splash on "Super Tuesday" on March 3, when 14 states vote. Warren, who calls for an end to the "corruption" of Washington, lashed out against Bloomberg -- but also Buttigieg -- who has raised large sums from wealthy donors. "I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or being president," she said. "I don't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it and I don't think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to be able to do it." After New Hampshire, the candidates turn to Nevada on February 22, South Carolina on February 29 and then Super Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The polling for 70 Assembly constituencies in the city-state of Delhi is going to be held today from 8 am. The voting will continue till 6 pm. The city has witnessed a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. The Congress didn't open its account. If Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term, the BJP is hopeful to return to power by cashing in on polarising of people after the enactment of CAA, which gives citizenship to non-Muslim minority community refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. The electioneering witnessed top leaders doing rallies for their respective parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned for BJP while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi campaigned for his party. For the AAP, Chief Minister Kejriwal remained the key campaigner for his party. The campaigning also saw high-profile leaders making controversial comments against each other. Shaheen Bagh, where the protests against the CAA have been going for a long time now, became one of the key issues in the high-profile campaign. The ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh will come to an end within one hour if the BJP forms the government in Delhi, said BJP MP Parvesh Verma. The Election Commission banned him from campaigning for 96 hours. Union Minister Anurag Thakur too was banned for 72 hours for making a controversial statement. On January 31, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had launched a scathing attack on the BJP citing the firing in Jamia area and had alleged that the BJP wants to disturb peace in Delhi to defer the Assembly polls. Speaking to ANI, Singh had alleged: "Home Minister Amit Shah wants to disturb the environment of Delhi. First, they made their leaders give instigating speeches. BJP can see defeat in Delhi polls. This conspiracy was hatched out of that fear. The Home Minister is conspiring to postpone polls." The political heavyweights are trying their luck from their old turfs. Chief Minister Kejriwal is contesting from New Delhi seat. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against him while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabbarwal from the seat. AAP's Dillip Pandey is contesting from Timarpur, Atishi from Kalkaji, Raghav Chadha from Rajender Nagar. BJP has fielded Vijender Gupta from Rohini. Former AAP leader Kapil Mishra is the BJP candidate from Model Town in this election. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga is a BJP candidate from Hari Nagar. Congress has fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar. Former AAP leader Alka Lamba is a Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk. Haroon Yusuf is contesting from Ballimaran. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election. Out of the total number of eligible voters -- 1,47,86,382, there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. This time, 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. The oldest voter is 110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, resident of Greater Kailash. To ensure peaceful and fair polling in all 70 assemblies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel will also be deployed. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Imagine stepping out of your fabulous New England-style home and straight on to a boat, on which you could immediately set sail on countless adventures. That has been the option available to yacht broker Alan Knapp and his wife Sharon at their marina-front home, which they are now selling as they are downsizing. But although their impressive property perfectly encapsulates the American maritime vibe, its actually situated in the slightly less romantic setting of Eastbourne in East Sussex. There are only 13 water-fronted properties with their own mooring, says 64-year-old Alan about Sovereign Harbour, the biggest marina complex of its type in Northern Europe. Properties are very few and far between. They dont come on the market very often. This six-bed property at Auckland Quay, Sovereign Harbour, in Eastbourne, East Sussex, is on the market for 1.375m. It is currently owned by yacht broker Alan Knapp and his wife Sharon, who are downsizing The house has a private 60ft mooring, but is easily accessible by car too. There is a detached double garage and a driveway that can hold up to six vehicles. Above, the spacious kitchen The six-bedroom house, at Auckland Quay, is up for sale for 1.375 million. It is described as a Boston House because of its similarities to properties found in New England. The house has a private 60ft mooring, but is easily accessible by car too. There is a detached double garage and a driveway that can hold up to six vehicles. The house was built in 2003 over three storeys, with a balcony overlooking the waterfront. Its still as it was when it was first constructed, Alan says. But we got planning permission granted for a two-story extension across the back of the property. A 'Boston House' in Britain: Property facts Bedrooms: Six Unique features: Private 60ft mooring, Boston House in the style associated with the Massachusetts city, double garage and a driveway that can accommodate up to six vehicles. Contact: Leaders Waterside, 01323 769769, leaders.co.uk Advertisement Alan keeps a small Boston Whaler motorboat moored at the property, and has also moored boats there that he was selling as part of his job. However, he did not choose Auckland Quay just because of his work. The marina is a particularly pleasant environment, he says. There are wonderful views. Another reason for buying the property, which was built by Millwood Designer Homes, was the quality of education on offer in the area. The intention was to have access to good-quality schools, he says. Auckland Quay is handy for Bedes Prep School, Eastbourne College, Roedean Moira House and St Andrews Preparatory School. Also, its easy to London: its one hour 30 minutes from Eastbourne to Victoria. However, his childrens schooldays are now over. The children are moving on with their lives and buying their own properties, Alan says, regretfully. And, for two people, were sort of chasing shadows. MEDMEN SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of MedMen Enterprises Inc. - MMNFF Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), is investigating claims on behalf of investors of MedMen Enterprises Inc. (OTC: MMNFF). Such investors are advised to 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/otc-mmnff/ to learn more. The investigation concerns whether MedMen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in fraud, negligence or other unlawful business practices. 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/20200207005540/en/ New Delhi, Feb 8 : An estimated 1.14 per cent of the 1.47 crore eligible voters have exercised their franchise till 9 a.m. on Saturday in the elections to the 70 Delhi Assembly seats. Polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security arrangements with long queues seen in several polling stations to seal the fate of 672 candidates in the fray to elect a new government. The estimated turnout for North West Delhi till 9 a.m. was 0.54 per cent, according to the Voter Turnout App. While North East Delhi recorded 2.24 per cent, South 1.66 per cent, Central 0.43 per cent, South West 1.69 per cent, East 0.78 per cent and West 2.17 per cent, the App added. Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, S. Jaishankar and various MPs, including controversial BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Verma, were among the early voters along with their families. Polling will end at 6 p.m. and the results for the elections will be announced on February 11. In the election, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making a bid to return to power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to get a Chief Minister in Delhi after 20 years. The Congress, which had ruled Delhi for 15 years, is expecting a resurgence in its vote share. The Election Commission has identified 516 locations and 3,704 polling booths as critical voting stations where paramilitary forces have been deployed. Activities at each polling stations are being monitored through webcasting. The police have deployed around 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. On the somber sidelines of former Sen. Johnny Isakson's funeral in Georgia last week, Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) discussed a piece of urgent business: the importance of passing election reforms. Why it matters: The exchange underscores the existential stakes not only the Democratic Party but some of its individual leaders attach to voting rights legislation. The setting was appropriate, given Georgia Republicans have enacted a series of changes that could impact the election efforts of Warnock and other key Democratic candidates. A group of senior Conservatives has written to Tory MPs expressing concerns over the Governments controversial move to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in the UKs 5G network. Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who is among four former Cabinet ministers involved in the letter, said there was cross-party concern on the issue. It comes as US Vice President Mike Pence indicated the decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to allow Huawei a limited role in 5G roll-out could jeopardise a post-Brexit trade deal between Britain and America. The letter from, among others, Sir Iain, Owen Paterson, David Davis and Damian Green states some MPs were working to find a better solution to the 5G issue. Mike Pence said the Huawei decision remains a real issue between our two countries (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The senior Tories want high-risk vendors to be ruled out immediately, or phased out over time. Sir Iain told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: There is real concern across the floor of the House. I think there is a lot of disquiet over this. He added: The truth is if they are not a trusted vendor, if, as the Foreign Secretary said at the despatch box, that China is considered to be an aggressor in these matters, they are constantly attacking our systems alongside Russia they claim that Russia is an aggressor, but they wont have anything to do with Russian technology then surely the same principle must apply to China. And, I think, therefore, we need to get the Government to look to get the involvement of Huawei, not to 35%, but to zero. We are turning out to be the mugs in this game. The Government has said Huawei would be limited to involvement in 35% of the network and kept away from sensitive areas. Pressed on whether the Huawei decision could be a deal-breaker in Brexit trade talks, Mr Pence told CNBC: Well see. Well see if it is. Referring to the UK move to allow Huawei limited participation in the 5G rollout, Mr Pence said: We are profoundly disappointed because, look, when I went at the presidents direction in September I met with Prime Minister Johnson and I told him the moment the UK is out of Brexit we were willing to begin to negotiate a free trade arrangement with the UK. But we just dont believe that utilising the assets, the technology of Huawei is consistent with the security or privacy interests of the UK, of the United States, and it remains a real issue between our two countries. The remarks came after it was reported that US President Donald Trump blasted the Prime Minister with apoplectic rage during a heated phone call regarding the 5G move. Is The Coronavirus bullish for Stocks? Earnings volatility has certainly been big. Tesla pushed the markets much higher early this week and the US stock markets have continued the upward momentum after the State Of The Union address and the acquittal of President Trump on Wednesday. Still, we continue to believe this rally may be a fake-out rally with respect to the fallout from the Wuhan virus. Certainly, foreign investors are continuing to pour capital into the US stock market as the strength of the US Dollar and the strong US economy is drawing investment from all areas of the globe. We believe the scope of this parabolic rally in the US stock market should actually concern skilled traders. Markets just dont go straight up for very long. The last time this happened was in the 1970s and 1980s. Very minor volatility during that time prompted a big move higher in the US stock market that set up the eventual DOT COM collapse. Oil, Shipping, Transportation, Consumer, Manufacturing, and Retail will all take a hit because of the Wuhan virus. Weve, personally, received notices from certain suppliers that factory closures in China will greatly delay the fulfillment of orders. Our opinion is that nations may have to close all or a majority of their cities, ports, and activities in Asia for at least 90+ days in order to allow this virus event to peak and subside. We dont see any other way to contain this other than to shut down entire cities and nations. The US Fed and Central Banks are doing everything possible to continue the economic growth and stability of global economics. Yet, the reality may suddenly set in that without risking a global virus contagion, nations may be forced to actually shut down all non-essential activities for well over 90+ days (possibly even longer). If you could stop and consider what it would be like for half of the world, and many of the major manufacturing and supply hubs, to shut down for more than 3 to 6 months while a deadly virus is spreading. Repo lending continues to show that liquidity is a problem. We believe this problem could get much worse. Skilled traders need to be prepared for a sudden and potentially violent change in the direction of the global stock markets. $TNX 10 Year US Treasure Yield Daily Chart 30 Year Treasury Bond Price Daily Chart There is now a solid wall of inversions in all the treasury notes and bills. The 10-year yield is inverted with 6-month and shorter durations. The 30-year long bond dipped below 2.0% for the third time and is just 6 basis points from a record low. Prepare to capitalize on this crowd behavior in the near future. Right now, the US stock market is pushing higher as Q4 earnings drive future expectations. Yet, be prepared for the reality of the situation going forward. This Wuhan virus may present a very real black swan event. At the moment, the US stock market appears to want to rally as earnings and economic data continues to impress investors. Overall, the real risk to the markets is a broader global economic contagion related to the Wuhan virus and the potential it may have on foreign and regional economies. Next week is going to be critical for many things I feel. Virus contagion growth, factory closures, Oil breakdown follow through, equities breakout follow through, and the precious metals pending move. We locked more gains this week with one of our positions as we rebalance our portfolio holdings for these new big trends to emerge. If you want to know where the markets are moving each day and follow my trades then join my ETF Trading Newsletter. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. AAP demanded that the election commission allows AAP workers and volunteers to camp outside the strongrooms housing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to guard and ensure that EVMs are not tampered after exit polls predicted a landslide win for the party in Delhi elections that concluded on Saturday. The demand was made by party leader Sanjay Singh after a meeting to discuss EVM safety, which was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and poll strategist Prashant Kishor. Arrangements must be made outside the strong room for our party workers and our MLAs, so that they can guard and make sure that EVMs are not tampered, said Singh. Singh alleged that some EVMs that should have been in the strongroom were still with polling officers. EVMs that should be taken directly to strong room after getting sealed,are still with some officers. It is an incident of Babarpur.A similar incident is being reported from Vishwas Nagar, Singh said. Singhs allegation followed a tweet by another senior AAP leader Gopal Rai, which was put out on AAPs twitter account, alleging that one polling official had been caught with an EVM in Babarpur assembly constituency after machines had been locked in the strong room. All the EVMs were sent to the strong room in our Babarpur assembly constituency after voting ended and one polling officer was caught with an EVM at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan polling station. I appeal to the election commission that this incident is acted upon immediately, the tweet attributed to Gopal Rai said. Around the same time a stock taking meeting was held in the capital by the BJP top brass including home minister Amit Shah and party president Jagat Prakash Nadda. BJP leaders, who spoke to media after the meeting, dismissed the exit poll projections and said the ground reality was different. We dont believe in exit polls, we believe in exact polls. Exit polls have often proved wrong in the past, Prakash Javadekar said before adding that 2020 polls in Delhi were vastly different from the 2015 elections that were swept by Kejriwals party. Meenakshi Lekhi said, The picture on the ground is different from what has been projected by exit polls. Five exit polls have projected a comfortable majority for Aam Aadmi Party which had fought a fierce election campaign battle with the BJP. A tweet attributing AAP volunteers suggested the projections were a testimony to Kejriwals good work that touched the lives of all Delhi residents. You @ArvindKejriwal knocked every door, took AAPs work to every household, spent sleepless nights in front of the screens and made this campaign one of a kind. You proved it once again Passion wins everytime it is pitted against money, said the tweet. Five exit polls, Times Now- IPSOS, REPUBLIC-Jan Ki Baat, NewsX POLSTRAT, ABP-C Voter and India Today- AXIS have projected between 44 and 68 seats for AAP and 2-26 seats for the BJP. All five dont see the Congress crossing the tally of five seats. Tens of thousands of devotees have thronged Batu Caves in Malaysia since early Saturday (Feb 8) to celebrate Thaipusam. They carried brightly-decorated and ornate frames known as kavadi, some decorated with peacock feathers and garlands. Others carried the paal kudam (milk pots) and made their way from the Sri Subramaniar Temple's entrance to the hilltop temple. Rituals were performed as acts of penance and to offer thanks to Lord Muruga, as well as to fulfil vows and to repent for past sins. The kavadi bearers were accompanied by the frantic rhythm of traditional drums. Thaipusam marks the birth of Lord Muruga, the youngest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Each year, thousands of devotees climb up Batu Caves' 272 steps to commemorate the birthday of Lord Muruga, who was given a "vel" (spear) by the Goddess Parvati to vanquish the evil Soorapadman. The Hindus celebrate this event in the Tamil month of Thai (January to February). Despite the recent coronavirus outbreak, there were not many spotted donning face masks except for a small number of locals and tourists. A majority of the crowd took advantage of the festival falling on a Saturday to visit the temple. When asked, many were not worried and felt the situation in Malaysia was under control and that it did not warrant the wearing of face masks. An adult male victim died from apparent gunshot wounds after being taken to hospital. The incident took place in the area of 566 Columbia Road, Dorchester at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Boston police responded to a reports of an individual who had received a gunshot wounds and was subsequently transported to a hospital where he later died. Police are investigating the incident and are asking for anyone that has information to come forward. Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME-27463. Phillip Schofield has graduated from the CBBC Broom Cupboard to enjoy one of the most enduring careers in television. He made his name alongside sidekick Gordon The Gopher but is now seen as the king of daytime TV. The 'silver fox' has enjoyed a longer small-screen shelf-life than many other presenters, thanks in part to his chemistry with Holly Willoughby. As well as co-hosting ITV's This Morning, the pair also front Dancing On Ice. In more recent months Schofield has been in the headlines over an apparent feud with Amanda Holden. Last summer he criticised "hurtful and wildly untrue stories from nameless 'sources'". Schofield always knew he wanted to be on TV, spending many years writing letters to the BBC. The 57-year-old presenter is now believed to pocket more than 1.7m a year. At 17 he got a job as a bookings clerk at the BBC but later moved with his family to New Zealand, where he landed television and radio work. When he returned to Britain, he presented links with puppet Gordon The Gopher in 1985 on the first afternoon of Children's BBC. The star moved on to Saturday morning show Going Live in 1987. In 1996 he signed an exclusive contract to present a series of shows including Schofield's TV Gold. He also notched up success on stage as the lead in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2002 Schofield was given the plum job on This Morning after John Leslie was sacked. He shared the sofa with Fern Britton, who later quit, rejecting rumours she did so because Schofield was being paid more than her. Willoughby - Schofield's 'on-screen wife' - replaced Britton. Willoughby recently denied that all was not well behind-the-scenes in their relationship. "It would be impossible for us to fake the giggles," she told Closer magazine. He married Stephanie in Scotland in 1993 and the couple have two grown-up daughters together, Ruby and Molly. A passenger plane carrying 172 passengers from Tehran to Damascus made an emergency landing at the Russian-controlled Hmeimim Air Base in Syria on Thursday to avoid coming under fire from Syrian air defences, Russia said yesterday.Stock Image A passenger plane carrying 172 passengers from Tehran to Damascus made an emergency landing at the Russian-controlled Hmeimim Air Base in Syria on Thursday to avoid coming under fire from Syrian air defences, Russia said yesterday. The Syrian forces were responding to Israeli strikes on targets in Syria, Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov was quoted as saying by Russian agencies. The Syrian Defence Ministry said it had intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus that were fired at military targets in southern Syria. Israel has declined to comment. The Airbus A320 had been coming into land at Damascus International Airport when it was forced to divert to the nearest alternative airfield near Latakia in north-west Syria, which is operated by the Russian military. Mr Konashenkov did not name the airline. Data from Flight Radar showed a flight from the Iraqi city of Najaf had been diverted from Damascus toward Hmeimim. That was a Syrian Cham Wings plane. The airline could not immediately be reached for comment. The US imposed sanctions on Cham Wings in 2016 for allegedly transporting fighters to Syria to support President Bashir al-Assad and for helping Syrian military intelligence transport weapons and equipment. The flights, which land mostly late at night, do not appear in timetables and fly in from Damascus or Latakia, where Russia has a base. As the impeachment trial fizzles out this week, I'm left wondering if the GOP has lost its mind, because the only other choice is that I have. I'm not referring to the Republican senators' collective decision not to remove the president from office. I've always argued that this was a question reasonable people could differ on. But I've also argued for months now that it was clear the president was guilty of abusing his office by pressuring the Ukrainian government to target former Vice President Joe Biden in a corruption probe. This has been obvious since he released the transcript of his conversation with the Ukrainian president, never mind when he said straight to a TV camera that he wanted Ukraine (and China) to do it. For most of that time, taking their cues from the top, the president's most ardent defenders treated this entirely reasonable observation as if it was both crazy and outrageous. The call was "perfect," the president insisted over and over again. How dare you suggest otherwise. Even reasonable people like my friend, radio host Hugh Hewitt, contended that even the suggestion of the president's guilt was not just wrong, but bizarre. We live on "different impeachment planets," in his words. Other defenders agreed. Roger Kimball, the erudite editor of New Criterion, thought Hewitt was being generous. "In my view," he tweeted, "Hugh's planet is *this* planet. I am not sure what solar system Jonah's is circulating." Now that all that is left of this circus is for the Republican senators to finish their speeches and fold up the tent. What was otherworldly has suddenly become grounded. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Marco Rubio (R- Fla.) were the first out of the block to explain that the president is guilty but shouldn't be ousted for it. In a statement, Rubio explained that he always worked from the assumption the charges were true, but: "Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a President from office." Alexander was even more emphatic. In his statement, he said the House managers "have proved (the charges) with what they call a 'mountain of overwhelming evidence.'" Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) agreed with Alexander's position, telling reporters that he speaks for "lots and lots of us." Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) went even further this week, saying, rightly, that the president's conduct has been "shameful." Some Trumpists are grumbling about Murkowski, but it's remarkable how it was so much more outrageous for Trump's defenders to note Trump's guilt when doing so might influence the trial. Now that he's off the hook, few are calling these senators crazy for stating the obvious. But such selective deployment of outrage is the GOP's gift these days. Consider that one of the best -- as in effective -- arguments of the White House legal team was that "partisan impeachments" are bad and if the Senate validates this one we will dive further into an "age of impeachment" -- Kenneth W. Starr's words -- in which this constitutional mechanism will be weaponized for political advantage. It is difficult to exaggerate the more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger hypocritical sanctimony from the president's lead lawyers on this point. But once the president's acquittal was assured, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst said that now that the door to partisan impeachments had been opened, maybe Republicans should impeach Biden if he were elected. Her fellow Republicans didn't rush to deny the possibility. Partisan impeachments, you see, aren't bad anymore, they're just bad when "they" do it. One chapter in the Trump impeachment saga is ending, but the story is far from over. More evidence of the president's guilt will come out, from former national security adviser John Bolton's book and elsewhere. Indeed, one can be forgiven for thinking that the reason Rubio, Alexander and others felt the need to proclaim the president's guilt has less to do with a desire to tell the truth and more with getting ahead of a future torrent of irrefutable facts. Nor should we rule out that Trump, emboldened by his "exoneration," will do something even worse. Starr may be right that we are entering an "age of impeachment." But if we are it will be because hypocrisy has lost its sting, shame is something only the other side should feel, and telling the truth when it is inconvenient is a form of madness. Jonah Goldberg writes for the Los Angeles Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Worker uses a thermometer to check the temperature of a customer as she enters a Starbucks shop as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Beijing (Reuters) - Companies around the world have warned that a coronavirus outbreak in China could disrupt supply chains or hurt bottom lines as factories and shops shut and airlines suspend flights. FINANCIAL IMPACT: ** Apple gave a wider-than-usual revenue outlook range for the March quarter to factor in uncertainty. Apple, which has suppliers in Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the heart of the outbreak, said the reopening of some suppliers' factories outside Wuhan had been moved to Feb. 10 from the end of January. ** Baidu postponed the announcement of its fourth-quarter results. ** Carlsberg expects the virus to hurt business, but said it was too early to give an estimate. ** Electrolux said the epidemic could have a material impact if its Chinese suppliers were further affected and that it was implementing contingency plans. ** Foxconn's <2317.TW> shipments to customers including Apple could be disrupted if a Chinese factory halt extends into a second week, a source said. Foxconn has halted almost all its production in China, the person said. ** H&M said store closures in China - about 45 - hurt sales in January. The company said its flexible supply chain had limited disruptions. ** Jaguar and Land Rover parent Tata Motors expects the outbreak to hamper production in China and hit profits. ** Levi Strauss shut about half its stores in China and said it will take a near-term hit. ** LG Display <034220.KS> said it had not closed any factories in China but warned the outbreak increased uncertainty for suppliers. ** McDonald's , which closed several hundred of its roughly 3,300 outlets in China, said the overall impact on profits would be "fairly small" if the virus stayed contained in China. ** Japanese trading house Mitsui <8031.T> expects manufacturing activities to slow in automobile and other sectors, and possibly reduce steel product demand. ** Pandora said the virus had led to an "unprecedented" decline in consumer traffic in China and Hong Kong and that it was unable to estimate impact immediately. Story continues ** Remy Cointreau warned that a potential impact from the outbreak would be significant because of its big exposure to China. ** Royal Caribbean Cruises , which cancelled three trips of its China-based cruise liner, trimmed its 2020 earnings forecast, adding it would take a further hit if travel restrictions continued until the end of February. ** Samsung Electronics <005930.KS> extended a holiday closure for some factories in line with Chinese government guidance but declined to comment on the impact. ** Samsung affiliate and battery maker Samsung SDI <006400.KS>, which counts Volvo among its customers, warned of a hit to its March-quarter earnings. ** Sony <6758.T>, which raised its annual profit outlook, said impact from the virus could offset the revision. ** SK Hynix <000660.KS>, which has a chip plant in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi, said the outbreak had not disrupted production but that could change if the situation was prolonged. ** Starbucks , which closed more than half its roughly 4,300 stores in China, delayed a planned update to its 2020 forecast and said it expects a material but temporary hit. ** Tesla warned a 1-1.5 week delay in the ramping up of production of its Shanghai-built Model 3 cars could slightly hurt March-quarter profit after China ordered a shutdown of the factory. Tesla is also evaluating whether the supply chain for cars built in its California plant will be affected. ** Royal Caribbean expects the cancellations to trim its first-quarter earnings by 25 cents per share, but added that there are too many uncertainties to give a good estimate of the impact. ** Ferrari CEO says company can offset weakness in China if it is for a few months, and is more worried about Hong Kong, as business in the Chinese-ruled city is "very soft." ** AT&S cut its revenue forecast by around 7% for the year to March 31, saying production in China was affected by the spread of the coronavirus. ** Nike warned of a financial impact after it closed about half of its own stores in China and reduced operating hours at the remaining stores. ** Walt Disney said the closure of its park in Shanghai could hurt its operating income in the second quarter by $135 million, if it is shuttered for two months. STORE/FACTORY CLOSURES: ** Companies including Apple, Alphabet's Google and Deere temporarily closed facilities in China. ** Fast Retailing <9983.T> closed about 280 of its 750 Uniqlo stores in China. ** Haidilao <6862.HK> shut restaurants and IKEA closed its stores in China. Burger King shut some restaurants. ** Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> said it will suspend production in South Korea due to the coronavirus outbreak disrupting parts supply, becoming the first major automaker to do so outside of China. [L4N2A41I5] ** Swatch closed five stores in Wuhan, Yum China closed some KFC and Pizza Hut stores in the city, Luckin Coffee closed its cafes and AB Inbev suspended production at its brewery. ** Toyota Motor <7203.T> shut factories in China through Feb. 9. ** Ralph Lauren has shut about half of its 110 stores in China. ** Restaurant Brands International says some Burger King restaurants in mainland China have been temporarily closed. ** Tiffany has temporarily closed several store locations in affected areas in China. ** Gap has closed its headquarters in China and is adjusting hours of operation for stores, which includes closures and shortened working hours for a small number of stores. ** Hugo Boss is temporarily closing some of its stores in China, the stores that remain open will reduce their trading hours. HOTELS, BOOKING PLATFORMS, AGENCIES: ** Hyatt and Shangri-La said they will allow travellers from China to cancel hotel bookings for free through Feb. 29. ** InterContinental Hotels said it would allow customers to cancel for free reservations made for China for specific dates.. ** Ctrip, China's largest online booking platform, said more than 300,000 hotels on its platform had agreed to refunds on bookings between Jan. 22 and Feb. 8. ** Fliggy, Alibaba's booking site, offered similar refunds, as did several Chinese and European tour operators. ** Royal Caribbean warned of more cruise cancellations after calling off eight trips out of China through March 4 (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Sayantani Ghosh and Josephine Mason; Editing by Aditya Soni, Timothy Heritage, Diane Craft, Daniel Wallis, Andrew Heavens and Vinay Dwivedi) Sutter and Cuellar studying medication assisted therapy for high-risk opioid use patients Rebecca Sutter, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), and Allison Evans Cuellar, Professor, Health Administration and Policy, CHHS, are implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of a Mobile Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) Program in the Prince William Health District that will expand capacity for opioid use disorder support and services. The mobile unit is staffed with a nurse practitioner, a social worker and a pharmacist. Mason's College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), Prince William County Community Services (CSB), the Prince William Health District (PWHD), Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center (ADC), and Nova Script Central (NSC) are serving as partners in this project. Each organization has been able to identify champions for the project. Sutter and Cuellar have executed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with CSB and PWHD. These MOUs required that multiple organizations' legal and risk management departments reviewed and approved the agreements. As part of this project, Sutter and Cuellar have expanded their partnerships and have engaged criminal justice partners who provide direct referrals for Suboxone maintenance upon release from the jail or as a referral from the local and state probation and parole offices in Prince William County. Additionally, the researchers are working with a peer recovery specialist program--Empowered Community Opioid Project--to continue to engage MAT van clients in recovery. Medication assisted treatment policies and procedures for MAT have been developed and approved for use across organizations. This allows for consistent care coordination and seamless warm hand-offs to the CSB from the van. Included in this policy and these procedures is an algorithm that will allow for a coordinated way for project participants to make medication payments directly to the pharmacies they contract with. The researchers received $100,000 from the Northern Virginia Health Foundation for this work. Funding began in December 2019 and will conclude in December 2020. ### This story has been published on: 2020-02-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The CPTPP offers vast chances for Vietnamese enterprises to boost exports to member countries of the agreement, Photo LeToan Unlike the countrys engagement with the World Trade Organization and other free trade agreements (FTAs), Vietnam is one of the co-founders of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), participating in compiling the historic agreement, thus enabling the country to hold the initiative in the negotiation process to protect the national interests in relations with other member countries. As a lower medium-income nation, Vietnam is entitled to benefit from several specific incentives under the CPTPP. Senior economist Nguyen Mai When carrying out investment and trade transactions with developed nations joining the CPTPP such as Australia, Canada, Japan, or Singapore, Vietnam will be encountering multiple challenges in goods exchange, foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, foreign exchange and monetary market, while governance capacity, production management, and market research of local firms remains limited compared to their counterparts in CPTPP member countries. The deal has set forth high requirements on business transparency and intellectual property rights, as well as featured cohesive and binding mechanisms on dispute settlement. For instance, the requirement on opening up the domestic market to goods and services from CPTPP member countries would put pressure on Vietnamese goods and services on home turf. Without good quality and competitive pricing, the threat that local firms could lose ground to the hands of foreign players in the home market is eminent. The CPTPP also brings fresh opportunities for local businesses to broaden import and export markets, choosing potential business partners and searching investment opportunities in other member countries by virtue of removing 95 per cent of customs duties in a vast market with around 500 million in population, holding 12.9 per cent of global GDP and 14.9 per cent of global trade transactions. The agreement mandates high requirements on the regulatory system and state management, requiring stakeholder economies to carry out institutional reforms following international standards, boost competitiveness, simplify procedures, mobilise and ensure the best use of domestic resources, and take advantage of external sources particularly in customs, e-commerce, government procurement, intellectual property, investment, market access, principles of origin, and non-tariff measures. A recent survey by renowned HSBC showed that about 63 per cent of local companies believe the CPTPP has a positive impact on their business operations, whereas 46 per cent of 1,150 surveyed businesses based in CPTPP member countries expressed expectations for positive benefits from joining it. The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) maintained that with zero per cent tariffs, the deal would help the local textile and apparel industry grab a bigger piece of the pie in several markets currently facing high tariffs such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The CPTPP comprises of opportunities for local footwear businesses to bolster export to potential markets in Mexico, Canada, and Peru too. With Japan a major market for Vietnamese-made leather and footwear items and handbags with an average annual growth rate of 20-35 per cent such growth could be higher than the current level with the CPTPP now making its mark. Sectors making inroads The deal enables Vietnam to attract FDI from other member nations, particularly with whom the country has yet to sign FTAs like Canada and Mexico as the agreement aims to boost trade that closely attaches to investment. With the CPTPP, Vietnam benefits from more opportunities to court investment from other tech-intensive business partners like the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany, to boost its charm in the eyes of international investors. Besides that, it also brings strong prospects for Vietnamese businesses, particularly major economic groups, to push for business opportunities in the markets of other member states. The Ministry of Industry and Trade statistics showed that Vietnam has registered upbeat growth in export to several CPTPP markets. Along with this, the country counted $3.86 billion from exports to Canada, showing a 28.2 per cent jump, reaping $2.84 billion in export from Mexico, up 26.8 per cent, reaching nearly $1 billion from Chile, up 20.5 per cent, and posting $350 million from Peru, up 40 per cent, compared to 2018. Vietnams export surplus to all markets touched $11.2 billion in 2019, in which the export surplus to CPTPP countries approximated $4 billion. The textile and garment sector is expected to catch rosy export numbers thanks to tax incentives from the CPTPP, yet the reality has not quite gone as forecast yet. Last year, the sector raked in $39 billion in total export value only, down $21 billion against the projected figure. Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vitas, said that the sectors biggest challenge is associated with input materials. Until present, we still need to import more than half of all material sources. Meanwhile, the planning scheme on developing local material areas is left open, he remarked. Le Tien Truong, general director of state-run conglomerate Vinatex, acknowledged the reality that textile and apparel exports have yet to fully tap the opportunities from the CPTPP compared to other sectors such as agriculture, which benefits from easier principles on origin, as in fact the yarn-forward principle is also the sectors bottleneck. The Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso) also reported that the sector earned $21.5 billion in total export value last year, up 10 per cent on-year and ranking second worldwide. The Lefaso noted that they took initiative for about 70 per cent of materials in the production of average items and 50 per cent of materials in the production of above-average products (about 90 per cent of paper packaging, 80 per cent of shoe soles, 60 per cent of accessories, and 50 per cent of leather). Locally-made materials are generally good in quality, on par with export standards, and mostly come from foreign-invested enterprises. The landmark agreement has also laid the groundwork for Vietnams leather and footwear industry to break into potential markets in America such as Mexico and Canada. As for FDI attraction, by the end of last year, nine countries who are CPTPP members (except Peru) had pumped into Vietnam about $123 billion in total committed capital, equal nearly 37 per cent of total FDI volume. Disbursed FDI volume reached $20.38 billion last year, up 6.7 per cent on-year, while mergers and acquisitions value touched $15.47 billion, a 56.4 per cent jump compared to similar period in 2018, accounting for 40.7 per cent of total registered capital, reflecting Vietnams deeper integration into international community. How to maximise benefits The first year of implementing the CPTPP showcases the agreements enormous potential which must be more effectively tapped in the upcoming period, simultaneously pointing out issues that must soon be settled besides the Party and the states guidance related to regulatory perfection, reform of national administration, and creating a conducive investment and business environment. The first issue is that businesses must bolster capacity to access the export market through gripping new rules of thumb, getting to know trade and investment laws, and business culture and practices in CPTPP member countries with whom they have not had trade relations in the past. Aside with state support, businesses themselves must change business mindsets to adapt to new circumstances, and be flexible in approaching opportunities and building up quality human resources a decisive factor on the journey to foray into this huge potential market. Second, due regard must be paid to the principles of product origin. To enjoy more benefits under the CPTPP, footwear and textile apparel industries must work out material development planning to replace imports in which the state introduces policies to stimulate investment from private sector and foreign investment to quickly establish industrial parks catered for specific products. Third, it is important to beef up effective co-operation between businesses and banks in shaping up product supply chains. Businesses need to scale up efforts, besides support from state management agencies in information provision and regulatory issues, and banks through capital provision and support in settlement. Next are market surveys the Achilles heel of both local businesses and state management bodies. It is commonplace that businesses often pay undue regard to human and financial investments for survey of market and their investment and business partners, meanwhile large global groups when doing business with local firms often start with market surveys at both micro and macro levels. To ensure effective implementation of the CPTPP and other FTAs, the government needs to provide human and financial support for firms, research institutes, and ministries to focus on surveying several major markets. Lastly, pushing up investment and trade promotion is crucial and must come with an innovative mindset besides using traditional forms such as holding workshops at home and abroad. It is time to focus investment on key markets and key partners, including CPTPP member countries, to create tangible changes in co-operative ties with each specific partner. Despite her legal woes, Amber Heard appears to be looking ahead to a glitzy weekend of Oscars parties. The actress was busy running errands and appeared to be organising some of her outfits as she was spotted meeting with a stylist in Los Angeles on Friday. The outing came as new audio recordings emerged this week of Amber admitting to losing her temper and hitting her ex-husband Johnny Depp. Party time: Amber Heard is seen out in Los Angeles on Friday running errands ahead of a busy Oscars weekend Amber, 33, was previously married to Depp from 2015 until 2017, and the former couple have been locked in a bitter legal battle ever since, after Amber accused Johnny of physically abusing her during their marriage. And this week Dailymail.com exclusively obtained audio recordings where the The Rum Diary actress admits to 'hitting' her ex-husband and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in an explosive audio confession. The Aquaman actress, 33, opens up about her violent tantrums in a series of taped conversations the estranged couple made in 2015 as they tried to talk through their marriage problems during a therapy session. Hollywood glamour: Amber, 33, could be seen talking to a stylist who held a garment bag as the actress appeared to show him something on her phone Weekend of fun: The Magic Mike XXL star wore some cropped black pants with a white T-shirt and black blazer as she carried away the clothes Since her claims of domestic abuse, the Pirates of the Caribbean star has been pursuing legal action to sue Amber for defamation, and last year, Amber responded to the lawsuit to detail a number of alleged incidents in which he abused her, where she claimed Johnny was often too 'drunk' to remember what had happened. The defamation case is set to begin in August this year, after being pushed back from its February start date after Johnny failed to meet a deadline to submit records of his drug and alcohol use. Meanwhile, Amber is reportedly romancing Bianca Butti. Contentious split: Amber admits to 'hitting' Johnny Depp in an explosive audio confession obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com this week The Aquaman actress is believed to have struck up a romance with the 38-year-old cinematographer, as sources say the pair are 'dating and hooking up', with Amber reportedly already feeling comfortable with 'holding hands' in public. An insider told Us Weekly magazine: 'Amber and Bianca are dating and hooking up. Amber is not trying to be low key about it. '[Amber] feels comfortable kissing Bianca and holding her hands in public at this point. They started as friends and it turned into something more.' - Ricky Osei Agyemang, better known as Bullet, has reacted to prophecies about the possible death of Wendy Shay - According to him, he hardly sleeps as night as he constantly worries something bad could happen to her - He added that Ghanaians could blame him if something happens to Wendy Shay following prophecies about her death Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Ricky Osei Agyemang, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Ruftown Records, has reacted for the first time since the possible death of his artiste, Wendy Shay, was prophesied. According to him, he is scared of what could happen to him if such a prophecy comes to pass. Agyemang, better known as Bullet, added that it is possible Ghanaians would forever blame him if Shay loses her life. READ ALSO: Wendy Shay reacts to Prophet Akwasi Appiah's death prophecy about her Per a report by Ghanaweb.com, he added that he is disturbed and this has led to sleepless nights. I cannot sleep at night. Im so disturbed not because the prophecy says Wendy will die. That will not happen but its because people will start saying that any artiste, I manage die pre-maturely. Theyll say I used Wendy for rituals just as they are accusing me of using Ebony for rituals, he stated. He however revealed that he is aware some people are planning to eliminate Wendy and for that reason he hopes Ghanaians would keep praying for her. In other news, YEN.com.gh has learned that thieves broke into the home of gospel musician, Bernice Ansah, and made away with items valued at about GHc30,000. The incident, per a report by zionfelix.net, occurred at Ansahs home located at Weija Oblogo-Manchester, in Accra. Information available shows that the actress owns a cosmetic shop at Kaneshie, also in Accra. The items stolen include perfumes, as well as three big luggage sent from Paris, France. According to Ansah, the items were placed in a storeroom around 5:30pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, but the thieves made away with them in the wee hours of the following day. The musician explained that her son, who was answering natures call, heard a noise from the storeroom and alerted her. READ ALSO: Lady drops another death prophecy involving Wendy Shay Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Playstore now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: YEN.com.gh Advocates warn that a Trump administration proposal to deport thousands of Hmong and Lao Americans back to Laos could be detrimental to families in Minnesota. Community advocates say the proposal would affect about 4,700 Hmong and Lao people nationwide who never became United States citizens. Those affected include those who have committed crimes and have deportation orders issued against them. The Trump administration is negotiating with the Lao government to allow for the deportation, according to Minnesota U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. McCollum, a DFLer, wrote a letter Monday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opposing the plan, saying it would be "unconscionable to deport individuals to any country in which the U.S. knowingly puts them at risk." McCollums office has received numerous requests to take urgent action against the negotiations, said her chief of staff, Bill Harper. ADVERTISEMENT "Laos does not want to sign the agreement," Harper said. "They dont want these individuals sent back to their country, and in part because most of these individuals have not lived in Laos for decades." Sia Her, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, said its unclear how many people in the state would be affected. She said the plan would tear apart families, not to mention burden them financially if a parent were deported. Her added that many individuals have already have served prison terms. "Many of them will have built a family and lived in communities for decades now," Her said. McCollum noted in her letter that Minnesota is home to tens of thousands of Hmong and Lao veterans of the Vietnam War-era conflict, naturalized U.S. citizens who were refugees from Laos and legal residents who never received citizenship. The Twin Cities is home to the largest urban Hmong concentration in America with about 82,000 people of Hmong ancestry residing in Minnesota. About 17,800 Lao Americans call the state home, according to estimates by Minnesota Compass. "This is a strong and vibrant community that contributes immeasurably to the success of Minnesotas economy and our quality of life," McCollom wrote. "Any repatriation agreement resulting in the deportation of Hmong-Lao community members will be viewed as a direct attack on my constituents and their family members." This story originally appeared at: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/02/07/thousands-of-hmong-and-lao-americans-face-deportation-under-trump-proposal of story Questions or requests? Contact MPR News editor Meg Martin at newspartners@mpr.org 2019 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Friday that it plans to invest in new power grid technology, weather-forecasting tools and other equipment that will help reduce the number of homes and businesses to which the utility turns off power because of fire risk this year. As part of its latest state-mandated, fire-prevention plan, PG&E told regulators that it wants to install 592 automated devices this year that allow the company to better constrain the sections of its electrical system that are turned off because of dangerously dry and windy weather. Additionally, PG&E said it will add 23 switches to high-voltage power lines that can redirect the flow of electricity to prevent some parts of the system from losing power. The company further plans to use a more advanced system this year to improve its weather forecasts in specific locations. And PG&E said it wants to nearly double the number of helicopters that can patrol power lines from the sky, a move that would help speed up the time it takes the company to restore electricity after a fire-prevention blackout. PG&E will deploy two fixed-wing aircraft with infrared cameras that can patrol power lines at night. Experts welcomed the changes but said PG&E would have to deploy them strategically to meet its goal of curbing the reach and impact of fire-prevention blackouts. The utility will need to install the new equipment in the areas with high wildfire risks, based on data from its network of weather stations, said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment. As important as the number is going to be how smart PG&E is in where they put those switches in their system, he said. PG&E currently has around 600 weather stations and is proposing to deploy 400 more this year, aiming for 1,300 by 2021. Probably some will be put in the right place and some wont be, Wara said. The plan filed with the California Public Utilities Commission provides PG&Es most specific description yet of how it will try to improve upon last years controversial prolonged blackouts which it calls public safety power shut-offs that affected millions of people. Though the company has warned it will likely need to continue turning off power to avoid more fires for years to come, PG&E has also said it will try to increasingly limit the blackouts. Mark Toney, executive director of the Utility Reform Network consumer group, said his organization questions whether using more manned aircraft is the most cost-effective way of patrolling power lines after an extreme weather event. It seems like an awful expensive way to do inspection, he said. He would like to see costs compared with using drones. PG&Es goal this year is to have each fire-prevention blackout affect one-third fewer homes and businesses than it would have last year, said Matt Pender, director of PG&Es community wildfire safety program. We are really focused in this plan on making those (blackout) events smarter, smaller and shorter in 2020 and beyond, Pender said. The company also plans to restore power more quickly after it is cut off. The plan calls for PG&E to restore power in 50% less time than what was planned for last year, aiming to restore power for 98% of affected customers within 12 daylight hours when company meteorologists declare an all clear from the weather conditions that prompted a shut-off. Its all part of a broader fire-prevention plan projected to cost about $2.6 billion annually, though the company cautioned that it is not yet seeking any rate increases to fund the work. Separate regulatory proceedings will determine how much money PG&E raises from customer bills to fund its wildfire programs. Other aspects of the plan include trimming or cutting down more than 1 million trees near power lines, and placing nearly 200 more high-definition cameras to monitor for new fires this year. The company will also install stronger poles and covered wires and bury some wires underground along 240 miles of power lines in high fire-threat areas. Wara said progress cant be measured solely by how many trees are trimmed or miles of lines are buried. Toney, of the utility reform group, agreed. People expect to see this investment in trimming trees and fixing lines ... result in less and less shut-offs, he said. We have to support effective spending to actually increase safety, not just spend money with no measurable results, he added. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California PG&E will test even more advanced fire-protection capabilities, according to Pender, including new technology that can in the right circumstances turn off a broken power line before it hits the ground. PG&E will try out the technology at one substation this year, he said. The five utilities commissioners must still vote to approve the plan, an action not expected until June, and they may make adjustments. Also, PG&Es goal of limiting blackouts relies in part on deploying new sources of power generation at certain substations a proposal that community energy groups have already objected to, fearing it may rely too much on fossil fuels. The new fire plan comes at an important juncture for PG&E. The utility and its parent company PG&E Corp. are still in bankruptcy protection because their power lines sparked a series of catastrophic fires, including the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. A new law requires PG&E to resolve its bankruptcy by June 30 in order to access funding to pay for future costs. At the same time, PG&E faces continued scrutiny of its fire-prevention blackout program from regulators at the utilities commission. Last year, PG&E took the unprecedented step of cutting power for millions of Californians, many for days on end, to prevent power lines from starting more deadly fires during windstorms. The massive shut-offs and PG&Es botched efforts to implement them in early October provoked widespread backlash. Commission President Marybel Batjer ordered PG&E to show why it should not be sanctioned for its missteps, including a faulty website that crashed and prevented customers from accessing crucial information. The commission also launched a more wide-ranging investigation into power shut-offs across the state last year. Last week, Batjer said she had found serious deficiencies with how PG&E reported its efforts to improve the blackout program, and she ordered fixes. An administrative law judge for the utilities commission has separately proposed new power shut-off guidelines that would require electric companies to restore power within 24 hours of dangerous weather concluding, among other changes. J.D. Morris and Chase DiFeliciantonio are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris, @ChaseDiFelice Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje says his state does not need the newly launched northern security outfit codenamed Operation Shege Ka Fasa. KanyiDaily had reported that the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) launched Operation Shege-Ka-Fasa in a bid to tame the rising spate of insecurity ravaging the northern part of the country. However, Kano State Government dissociated itself from the newly floated Northern security network, saying it has invested enough in the states security and does not need any other external arrangement. Governor Ganduje disclosed this on Friday while addressing State House Correspondents after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, Kano state government has provided a conducive environment for the security agencies. He added that the state has a Command and Control Centre that facilitates inter-agency communications and collaborations. Governor Ganduje further stated that his administration has invested about N500 million to build an army training centre at Falgore, which he said is the biggest forest in the country, stressing that the sole aim of ensuring the state is safe for everybody. KanyiDaily recalls that the Southwest recently launched a similar outfit named Operation Amotekun before it was pronounced illegal by the Federal Government. It takes a lot to keep the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition judges away from one of the highlights of the tasting week: the annual celebratory judges dinner held at a local winery. Here, they gather for a wine reception, then sit down for a multi-course feast paired with fine wine after fine wine. Its a great time to relax, give their partners and guests a peek at the competition glamour, and inevitably, talk more shop with their colleagues. Yet Sonoma County traffic wasnt a friend for this years particular evening, and it took several hours for the judges luxury bus to travel the 68 miles from the competition venue in Cloverdale to the 2020 hosting property, Calmere Estate Winery, in Carneros-Napa. Yet, not a single person complained. It had been a very long day for the 66 judges from around the nation, who were tasting, discussing and determining the competitions winners from nearly 6,700 submissions across more than 1,000 North American wineries. But these men and women are professionals, and so after arriving at the reception, they dove back into tasting seven more wines paired with elegant charcuterie, cheeses, crackers, nuts and olives. And then they relished an exquisite dinner paired with five more wines. The Calmere winery team took the delay in stride, too, unflustered even though this was the first time the estate had hosted the annual event, and the property had just opened last March. Calmere is a sister winery to Tony and Herta Pejus Peju Province Winery in Rutherford; their daughters Lisa and Ariana Peju are owners-vintners for the new project that specializes in Pinot Noir in nine different Burgundy clones. We had somewhat of an idea what to expect, Ariana Peju said. My parents hosted the dinner at Peju in 2006, with Lisa working at the winery in events, and I had just started with the business. It was because of that dinner 14 years ago that Lisa and Ariana Peju were eager to host this year. My parents completely remembered their dinner, Ariana Peju said. They had had such a great time, and they still get wonderful comments from people who attended. For the reception, tables were set up around the renovated, expanded space that formerly was Acacia Winery, and guests sipped at each station: 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($60), 2016 Cabernet Franc ($70) and the popular 2017 The Experiment ($110), a bold 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged 16 months in 100% French, American and Hungarian oak, for layers of vanilla bean, cassis, cedar butterscotch and dark plum. The Experiment is such an interesting wine, and not one most judges would get to taste, Calmere and Peju Director of Winemaking Sara Fowler said. Its more of a hand sell, something to talk about. Guests also got the opportunity to taste selections only available to wine club members, such as a 2016 Sentinel Oak ($80) and 2016 Breaking Ground ($65). Another standout was the 2016 Clone Pommard Pinot Noir ($75), crafted from 100% Clone Pommard Pinot Noir with aromatics of cedar, currant and dried Bing cherries followed by a rich palate of toasted vanilla bean, dark red fruit and black peppercorn. The Pommard comes right here from this property, and is sold only at our tasting room, Fowler said. Such exposure is one reason the Peju sisters wanted to host the dinner. Judges are a mix of wine writers, restaurant and retail buyers, educators and winemakers, all with a particular influence for consumers. Most people know Peju, which my parents opened in 1983 in Rutherford, Lisa Peju said. But this helps get the Calmere name out there, and let the judges know, hey, were growing and expanding and exciting things are happening. Really, when do you ever get to have that many wine professionals in one room? Ariana Peju asked. She encouraged all guests to tour the renovated, expanded, three-story building with its upscale tasting room, gleaming tank room, barrel room and a new upstairs private tasting lounge that she had personally decorated. During the day, she explained, the views from the 100-acre estate are stunning, spanning across San Pablo Bay. Next, guests strolled a winding path to the dinner, housed in a former tractor barn turned into an expansive event space. Estate chef Nicolas Montanez had spent several days testing dishes while working closely with Fowler. Chef and I negotiated for food and wine pairings, Fowler said. We did a lot of tastings to see how flavors shift. Stylistically, I make wine to go with food, so my acids are naturally going to be a little bit higher. The goal is to have food enhance the wine and vice-versa, with neither one overpowering the other. Montanez began by serving pan seared tuna with chioggia beets, miso glaze and bulls blood microgreens alongside plush, cocoa-dark cherry 2016 Pinot Noir 667 ($90). Then he sent out tender roasted Sonoma duck breast with cherry gastrique, baby turnips and ruby yam puree complemented by a 2016 Fifty-Fifty of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot ($110). The entree was Painted Hills braised beef short ribs with truffled Yukon gold potatoes and wild mushroom ragout paired with 2013 Cabernet Franc Reserve ($175), while dessert wrapped up with local artisan cheeses, pomegranate jelly and baked dark chocolate bar alongside a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($160). As the hour grew later, judges may have been thinking about how, in the morning, they would rise early to once again start tasting hundreds of wines. But they lingered, chatted, and clinked more glasses. That was no surprise to Dan Gaffey, director of marketing for Peju and Calmere. We call the vibe Carneros casual, he said. Its less fast paced down here, serene and you want to just hang out and enjoy. A man convicted in December of killing an aunt who housed him for a year was sentenced Friday to 75 years in prison, authorities said. Shane Whipple, 29, must serve more than 63 years of the sentence before he can receive parole, Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said in a news statement. Prosecutors previously said Whipple was living with his aunt, Jennifer Whipple, 44, in the Taylor Woods apartment complex when he became violent and she called police. Officers escorted him off the property Jan. 25, 2018. The next day, Shane Whipple went to Berlin Mart and bought a hatchet before going back to his aunts apartment, Mayers statement said. He texted her, Im coming up, saying he needed to get his belongings, Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah said in court. Jennifer Whipple tried to contact police, but her call (to a township office building) did not get through. A few minutes later, her nephew beat her with the hatchet and left her in the apartment. Surveillance cameras at the complex showed him entering and leaving carrying a hatchet, Mayer wrote. He then headed to Atlantic City to drive for Uber. (The rideshare company banned him from the app after learning of the charges.) Police found Jennifer Whipples body the next day after a relative requested a wellness check at the apartment. Days later, Evesham Township police pulled over and arrested Shane Whipple, who they believed was living in his car after the murder. They found blood-stained clothes in the trunk. A jury convicted Whipple of the murder after 90 minutes of deliberation following a weeklong trial before Judge Mark Chase in Superior Court. Shah, chief of the prosecutors office Homicide Unit, tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Anna Trenga. Chase also presided at sentencing Friday. Jennifer Whipple was born, raised and later buried in rural Colorado, graduating from Stratton High School, closer to the Kansas state line than to Denver, her obituary said. She worked as an information technologist for Navigant, a business consulting firm in New Jersey. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. 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. Trump removes second impeachment witness from office According to the US media, the firings of the major impeachment witnesses were meant to send a message that siding against Trump will not be tolerated. Washingtons envoy to the European Union who gave dramatic testimony during an impeachment investigation was fired late Friday. "I'M GRATEFUL TO TRUMP" "I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union," Gordon Sondland said in a statement. Sondland said he was grateful to Trump for giving him the opportunity to serve and to US Secretary Mike Pompeo for his consistent support. Earlier Friday, Lieut. Col. Alexander Vindman who bucked US President Donald Trump's directive to not participate in the House of Representatives' impeachment investigation was also let go. Vindman was one of the participants on a July 25 telephone call Trump held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that was the impetus for Trump's impeachment. He testified before the House after being subpoenaed, saying he raised concerns about the call with the National Security Council's counsel. (Bloomberg) -- Its 2 a.m. at a hotel bar in Hamburg when Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spots her rival for the German chancellorship laughing with a group of reporters in the lobby. They fall quiet for a moment. She shoots them a suspicious glance. Maybe she thinks that Armin Laschet, a powerful state premier, is briefing against her in his subtle, ironic style. If so, shes right. Kramp-Karrenbauer retreats to a dark corner with her advisers and soon after goes upstairs as the party continues. Its typical of her faltering leadership of the governing Christian Democrats: ill-at-ease, isolated, and struggling for relevance. It was the case in Hamburg, where shed gathered the inner circle of her party last month. And it was on display again this week when a local CDU chapter threw its lot in with right-wing extremists to elect another state premier in the former-communist east. This latest debacle was, as Chancellor Angela Merkel put it, unforgivable. And its one that might stick to Kramp-Karrenbauer. Meet the other people who want Merkels job and might just get it. There are more signs shes losing control of her party. After a five-hour meeting that lasted until early Friday, she failed to convince the local Thuringia chapter to support new elections in the region as a way to clear the slate. Many CDU state representatives fear they could lose their jobs in a new ballot and prefer to seek a solution within the current legislature. CDU Deputy Chairman Armin Laschet criticized AKK, saying she should have seen the crisis in Thuringia coming. Its clear that nothing worked, Laschet said on ARD television. This disaster should never have happened. In the 14 months since she succeeded her one-time mentor as head of the CDU, the woman otherwise known as AKK has been hurt by a series of gaffes and ill-judged jokes while struggling to define what she stands for. The brief alliance between the CDU and the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany in the Thuringia state legislature was probably her biggest humiliation. Story continues As her party and her rivals erupted in protest on Wednesday afternoon, Kramp-Karrenbauer was caught off guard on a flight to Strasbourg and then unable, at first, to get state leader Mike Mohring on the phone. The impression was of a party not under control. Facing public attack from influential CDU figures, Kramp-Karrenbauer will meet with the party leadership Friday in Berlin to discuss possible consequences. Saturday, she faces talks with the CDUs coalition partner, the Social Democrats, who were outraged by the episode. In theory, Kramp-Karrenbauer still holds the upper hand in the battle to become the CDUs candidate for the chancellorship next year once Merkel steps aside. As party leader, she gets to choose who will fight the election. Im the one who is responsible for driving the whole process forward, she said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Davos last month. Im concentrating on that. Merkel in Tears In practice, officials at CDU headquarters in Berlin are increasingly worried that their leader wont be a viable candidate, according to one person with knowledge of their thinking. If she decides that plowing on will only end in irreparable political damage, she may step aside voluntarily. The last CDU chief to decide she couldnt fight an election was Merkel herself. In 2002, she traveled to Bavaria to offer the candidacy to the then state premier Edmund Stoiber. Merkel recovered from that major setback to win the next four elections. But according to a person familiar with the events, as she left the meeting with Stoiber in her official car, the chancellor broke down and sobbed. Kramp-Karrenbauers fundamental problem is her polling. In a recent survey by public broadcaster ARD, only 19% of respondents thought she would make a good candidate. And thats after an all-out push to raise her profile. Her decision to become defense minister in July was widely interpreted as an effort to increase her media presence. Since then, she has been much more visible, pictured with troops in Afghanistan or Mali and representing Germany at NATO. But the polls have barely budged. The fear at CDU headquarters is that voters just dont like her, one official said. Failed Coup Merkel too has cooled on her one-time protege, according to a party official familiar with her thinking. Kramp-Karrenbauer was the chancellors pick to succeed her as party chief. But when the younger woman ran into trouble during her first months in charge, she tried to force Merkel to hand over the chancellorship too. The power grab failed and Kramp-Karrenbauer lost her most important supporter. Merkel isnt trying to undermine Kramp-Karrenbauer, the official said, but she wont do anything to help her either. Indeed, when Merkel flew to the U.S. for an official visit in September, the defense minister was shunted off the chancellors government plane at the last minute and forced to catch her own flight to meet Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Kramp-Karrenbauer is doing all she can to avoid another clash with the chancellor. Her advisers have pushed her to take a different line from Merkel on a recent pension issue to define herself, but the party chief chose to stay quiet, according to one official with knowledge of the matter. Meanwhile, Laschet isnt the only one positioning himself in case she does eventually step aside. Former caucus leader Friedrich Merz, the conservatives favorite, will quit his job at BlackRock Inc. next month to focus on his political career. Jens Spahn, the 39-year-old health minister, is also waiting in the wings. Both were beaten by Kramp-Karrenbauer when she won the leadership in 2018. Markus Soeder, leader of the CDUs Bavarian sister group, outshone Kramp-Karrenbauer at the party conference in December and is now seen as another contender. All of them are watching to see just how much punishment the party leader is prepared to take. (Updates with comments from CDU Deputy Chair in seventh paragraph) --With assistance from Raymond Colitt. To contact the reporter on this story: Arne Delfs in Berlin at adelfs@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Flavia Krause-Jackson 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. The young wolf stepped into the spotlight in 2017, after wildlife officials in southern Oregon trapped her and fitted her with a GPS radio collar. OR-54, as she became known because she was the 54th gray wolf collared in the state, was the first such animal in the region to be newly tracked in several years. More than 8,000 miles later, the end arrived for the wolf. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that OR-54 was found dead Wednesday in Shasta County. The cause of death hasnt been established. The state agency said it is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding OR-54s death. The female wolf traveled far and wide after leaving her pack in January 2018. Officials tracking OR-54 said in December, when the collar stopped working, that she had roamed at least 8,712 miles at an average of 13 miles/day. And cold weather didnt slow her down. In the last three months of 2019, OR-54 put in more than 1,000 miles through six California counties. Tracking collars on gray wolves, officials say, give wildlife agencies valuable information about the protected animals behavior and movement, including helping them better implement measures to reduce human-wolf conflicts so wolves and livestock producers can more peacefully share the landscape. Californias wildlife department speculated in January 2018 that OR-54 had left Oregons Rogue pack, which ranges through Jackson and Klamath counties, in search of a mate or another pack. OR-54s father is the famed OR-7 that established the Rogue pack, the first gray-wolf pack in western Oregon in six decades. In 2011, while searching for a mate, OR-7 became the first gray wolf known to be in California since the 1920s. OR-7 later returned to Oregon. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. By Caitlin Johnstone February 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The outrage over the Iowa caucus scandal has continued to burn white hot as more and more establishment manipulations against the Bernie Sanders campaign come into view. At the beginning of a CNN town hall with Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg last night, immediately following the networks town hall with Sanders, the events host Chris Cuomo announced that 100 percent of the caucus results were now in and the former South Bend mayor had narrowly won the contest. These results had been announced by the Iowa Democratic Party moments before Buttigiegs town hall appearance. There is no reason for anyone, let alone a major news outlet, to believe these results are legitimate. They are full of easily demonstrable errors and discrepancies which have been highlighted by both the Sanders campaign and The New York Times, and they have yet to be addressed. Furthermore, Sanders has a perfectly legitimate claim to the win given the undisputed fact that he received thousands more votes. This is without even getting into all the other extremely shady shenanigans with the now-infamous Shadow app whose crash has given the media days to sing Buttigeigs praise, which has in turn given him a major polling bump for New Hampshire. But Chris Cuomo (who is the brother of a Democratic New York governor and the son of another Democratic New York governor) declared Buttigieg (who because of his establishment grooming and alt-centrist ideology is beloved by billionaires and spooks) the winner anyway. In front of millions of people. While Buttigieg was standing right there in the spotlight. Immediately after the results were released. Here's what just happened. The Iowa Democratic Party and the DNC sat on remaining results to release right before Mayor Pete does a CNN town hall. They then pretend to declare him the winner, when there are ***specific problems yet to be fixed that would make Bernie win*** https://t.co/5w9aeJUE2B Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) February 7, 2020 Were watching a major US election being rigged in real time, right in front of our eyes, and its intense. And its only just getting started. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter In the 2016 race between Sanders and Hillary Clinton, the Iowa caucuses saw some suspicious activity and there was some controversy over improbable coin toss results, but nothing like the furor weve been seeing over Iowa for the last several days. It wasnt until the Nevada caucus that things really started to get crazy in the 2016 race, and were still a couple of weeks out from that. So were way ahead of schedule in terms of emotional intensity tied to this presidential primary race, and possibly at a more heated point after the very first 2020 primary contest than at any point in the 2016 race between Sanders and Clinton. And its only going to get crazier from here. And thats just looking at the US Democratic presidential primary. Later this month weve got the beginning of Julian Assanges extradition trial, weve got the OPCW narrative managing its own scandal by smearing the whistleblowers who revealed that the US, UK and France almost certainly bombed Syria in 2018 under false pretenses, weve got continuing revelations that pretty much everything the Trump administration told the world to justify the assassination of Qassem Soleimani was a lie, weve got an escalating new cold war between the US and Russia, increasing establishment attempts to censor the internet, an increasing propaganda war against China, the general militaristic belligerence of the US-centralized empire, and God knows what else. As I said back in November, things are going to get weirder and weirder throughout the foreseeable future. Were coming to a point in history where the only reliable pattern is the disintegration of patterns, and 2020 has come storming out of its corner swinging for the fences working to establish this pattern with extreme aggression. Were not going to hit a point of stability or normality this year, were going to see things get crazier and crazier and crazier. I dont know whats going to happen, but I know its going to be nuts. Things Are Only Going To Get Weirder "I often hear people in my line of work saying 'Man, were going to look back on all this crazy shit and think about how absolutely weird it was!' No we wont. Because its only going to get weirder."https://t.co/z5ivGMEMoY Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) November 1, 2019 In such an environment, its going to be absolutely essential to take exceptional care of your psychological health if you want to remain engaged with whats going on in the world in a positive way. And I do mean exceptional. Whatever youre doing now, do more. Start cultivating new habits to keep yourself lucid and serene, and start now before things get super crazy. Work out your issues with your family and with yourself. Remember to move your body in ways that feel good to you. Carve out some time out each day for just being quiet with yourself. Notice the beauty around you. Give cuddles, get cuddles. Take a shower and sing your heart out. Feel your feet on the floor, nestle your bum into your chair and listen to yourself breath like its a song on the radio. Yawn. Belch. Stretch. Roar. Put on some loud music and rock out. Whatever you know works for you to get you out of your head and back in to your body, remember to do it, and remember to do it regularly. Make it habitual. Be proactive with this rather than reactive; if you wait until you have to react to things going ass-side up later on its going to feel like youre fighting to get your head above water. If you do it now youll have the mental space needed to navigate tumultuous waters. This is what will be necessary if you want to engage with the increasingly frenetic narrative matrix in the future. The only alternative will be to disengage completely and throw your attention into escapism, or at least away from politics and news. And if you dont make the cultivation of mental well-being your first and foremost priority you will be forced, in a very unpleasant way, to disengage anyhow. And honestly this is something all activist types should be doing anyway. Believing you can help the world without doing serious inner work is like believing you can clean the house while covered in raw sewage. You can always spot the political activists who engage without doing any inner work by the chaotic, unskillful and frequently counterproductive form their actions take. They cant see clearly enough to operate efficaciously, because their vision is clouded with unresolved suffering and conflict. Get in the shower and wash the yuck off yourself before trying to clean the house. Some of my readers want a Sanders insurgency in the Democratic Party, some support third parties or independents, while others eschew electoral politics altogether and endorse other approaches to pushing for real change. But in my experience you all care deeply about the world, regardless of your preferred path toward doing so, and thats going to take a heavy toll as all manner of things unravel over the next year if you dont have the psychological spaciousness to navigate it lucidly. Above all, be gentle with yourself. We got a ways ahead of us, and we need you fresh and feeling good. You wont be able to help wake the world up if you let the chaos and confusion drag you down. Know when to take a break from the information stream and all the babbling narratives trying to twist your perception of it. Use your tools to distance yourself from the narratives so that you can perceive them objectively. Ground yourself, find your center, then, when youre ready, wade back in. No matter how chaotic things get, your ability to navigate that chaos skillfully needs to be your first and foremost priority. Put your mental well-being first, and everything else will fall into place. Be the peace and harmony you want to see in the world. Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has set a target to generate jobs for 1.5 million workers, and help some 100,000 labourers to find jobs through the National Employment Fund in 2020. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has set a target to generate jobs for 1.5 million workers in 2020. The ministry said that the rate of workers receiving training should reach 63-65 percent. Experts said at a recent conference that Vietnam has a large pool of workers; however, the quality of the human resources remains low, offering foreign workers advantages. Particularly, the fourth industrial revolution is dramatically affecting the Vietnamese labour market as automation and virtual assistance will replace a wide range of jobs in the time ahead. Therefore, workers should get retraining to well adapt to the new situation if they do not want to be jobless. According to Director of the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs Dao Quang Vinh, human resources are a big problem of local firms since labour quality lags behind requirements of the socio-economic development, especially in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. Due attention should be paid to training management, he said, adding human resources development should be made in a flexible manner so that trainees are able to choose the most suitable curricula./. VNA Jobs aplenty in VN high-tech manufacturing sector High-tech manufacturing was the top sector in terms of demand for senior managers in the third quarter, according to executive search firm Navigos Search. The Brockadale Nature Reserve in North Yorkshire (Picture: Getty) Fly-tippers have dumped 1000 tyres on a nature reserve in North Yorkshire. The rubbish was left at the entrance of the Brockadale Nature Reserve earlier this week. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT), which runs the park, confirmed it had reported the incident to police and they were investigating. The wildlife reserve features woodland, grassland and a river. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said 1000 tyres had been dumped at Brockadale Nature Reserve this week (Picture: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) YWT released a picture of the waste on Facebook, writing: We are sad and shocked that someone has dumped around 1000 tyres at our Brockadale nature reserve this week. As a charity, removing them will cost us time and money we don't have, impacting our vital work for wildlife and nature. We know there are good people all across Yorkshire who do amazing things every day - can you help or share our story? YWT's regional manager Ellie Barham told the BBC rubbish had been dumped at the site before but the mess left this week was extreme. She said: "This is a real sanctuary for wildlife... so [it's] upsetting when this kind of thing happens. "We're going to have to pay for it to be removed. We're a charity. We're not quite sure how we're going to deal with that, we may have to do an appeal." A Young Whitethroat pictured at the Brockadale nature reserve (Picture: Getty) North Yorkshire council said it was YWTs responsibility to clean up the rubbish because it was private land. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Man admits hiding explosives inside 14 chocolate Kinder Eggs Ruthless gang who robbed sex workers at knife-point in their own homes are jailed Three men stabbed within minutes of each other in separate London incidents YWT added in a statement: "We'll do all we can to help, of course, including reviewing any evidence of who did this. "Clearing up fly-tipping costs both private landowners and councils a lot of money each year. "It's something we're really focusing on at the moment - because we know it's something people care about in the places where they live. And rightly so - it's a blight on our beautiful countryside." We are now in spring and it's green for go on dairy farms. For me, the calving season has begun. Last week saw 12 cows calve down fairly quickly, with one having a set of twins. When I looked up her records, she calved twins last year in early February and calved twins again this year around the same time. Four calves within 12 months isn't bad going. But she is definitely the exception. The following day, another cow had a set of twins. I rang the vet for assistance, as four feet were being presented. He came in record time and delivered them quickly and successfully. One other cow in her eighth lactation gave me some trouble with milk fever. It lasted about five days after calving. I was giving her bottles of calcium into the vein myself, but in the end, the vet gave her an injection of phosphorus which helped mobilise the calcium through the body. As in other years, calves are all stomach-tubed with colostrum as soon after calving as possible. They are tubed again with another feed 12 hours later. Next week, I will be hopefully starting to sell off the Friesian bull calves. We have been bombarded in recent weeks with literature in the post and online surveys about calf welfare and how we are rearing our calves. Like so many of my fellow dairy farmers, I treat every newborn calf the same, regardless of sex or colour. We take great care and, indeed, a great pride in ensuring our calves are well fed, dry and cosy. I hope our efforts will be rewarded in the marketplace. Ten days ago, I walked the cow paddocks and my silage ground as I was getting soil sampling done. I was astonished at how dry the ground was and would have loved to have been spreading fertiliser or getting slurry spread. Despite getting some rain last week, with the slurry and fertiliser season now open, I am hoping to move slurry soon. My two main tanks are within a foot of being full. It would be great to get them to the fields rather than to move them to another tank. Fertiliser has been ordered, and it's great to see it a bit cheaper than last year. I intend to measure my opening grass cover this week. It's that time of year again and hopefully cows will be out grazing this month. The Grass 10 course is continuing again this year. My final figures from 2019 were 13.8t of grass grown per hectare. The number of grazings per paddock was 9.1. All the weanling heifers got their first lepto vaccine and are due their second shot next week. I have done it early this year as the vaccine was scarce last year. Profit Monitor At our last discussion group meeting in mid-January, we analysed our Profit Monitor reports for 2019. On my farm, the overall farm profit was unchanged from 2018. Milk sales were up, but this was offset with a higher replacement rate/cost (I kept all the replacement heifers to increase cow numbers), a higher fertiliser and lime bill (reseeded 14 acres) and higher contractor costs. The common costs on the farm were 21.36c/litre, while the common profit was 11.54c/litre. Milk solids remained the same at 481kg MS per cow in 2019, at 3.94pc butterfat, and 3.42pc protein. I was pleased with this figure given the high number of first lactation cows in the herd. Going forward for 2020, I have set a milk solids target of 500kg MS per cow. I am also looking at the amount of whole milk I feed to calves this year because last year I calculated that I was feeding about 8pc of milk produced. Reducing this figure would also reduce some of the physical work of carrying buckets of milk from the dairy to the calf house. It is an interesting exercise to do. I am committed to reducing costs wherever I can. The profit monitor produces endless reports, which access everything about how we are performing in our business. It should be a must-do for every dairy farmer. More dairy farmers should be completing the profit monitor. It's still not too late to do one for 2019. This Saturday we get an opportunity to elect our government for the next five years. I sense great disillusionment in rural Ireland towards all politicians. We should vote - and vote for the person who will represent all the farmers of this country. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 07:11:40|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close BANGKOK, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hostages were rescued from the gunman who had killed at least 20 people late Saturday in Nakhon Ratchasima of northeastern Thailand, but the gunman is still at large, police sources said early Sunday. According to Thai police sources, soldiers rescued hundreds of people from a shopping mall late Saturday night as they continued to hunt for a gunman who had holed up inside after killing at least 20 people. The gunman, identified as Jakkrapanth Thomma, was holding a number of people as hostages inside the Terminal 21 shopping mall, but police officials later announced by 2 a.m. Sunday local time that all civilians have been safely brought out of the mall. The gunmen fired at civilians along the route to the Terminal 21 shopping mall, which was packed with shoppers celebrating the long weekend. Many people were slain inside the mall. Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said late Saturday that 20 deaths had been confirmed. Another 31 people were reported injured, some seriously. KALAMAZOO, MI A clinic for anyone hoping to remove convictions from criminal records drew hundreds in Kalamazoo Friday. Community members lined up outside the Northside Association for Community Development on Friday, Feb. 7, to inquire about getting crimes expunged from their record. The event was scheduled from 2-5 p.m., but the program reached capacity before 3 p.m. The expungement clinic was organized by the Kalamazoo citys attorneys office, the Kalamazoo Defender Office and county court system. Court fees were covered for applicants through a grant from the Foundation for Excellence, Kalamazoo Deputy City Attorney Richard Cherry said. We are all working together to try and get some criminal convictions off of records to help people change their lives, Cherry said. He added that having a criminal record can be a roadblock for those looking for work. Due to the high number of attendees, some of those arriving for the event were not able to secure a time slot Friday. There are a number of upcoming options. Cherry said he estimated there were over 200 total attendees and around 100 of them were served. Unfortunately we had to turn some folks away, Cherry said. For the folks we havent served today, hopefully we serve them in the near future. The Kalamazoo Public Defenders office will hold Friday drop-in clinics at 151 S. Rose St., Suite 300, in downtown Kalamazoo, and another expungement clinic will be arranged in a different Kalamazoo neighborhood. Current laws allow for expungement if someone has up to two misdemeanors and one felony, as long as the offenses are five years or older, Cherry said. There are a number of felonies that are ineligible, such as murder, sexual assault or operating while intoxicated, he added. The process for attendees at Fridays event began with a pre-screening to determine eligibility. Then, if the participant was eligible, he or she spoke with representatives from the court to see what convictions could be expunged. Once paperwork was completed, participants were fingerprinted by Michigan State Police as part of a background check. Once all the background work is completed, those eligible for expungement would attend a court date in April and a judge would make the final determination, Cherry said. Its great that all these community organizations and state government agencies are working together and trying to get these folks a new chance at life and employment, Cherry said. More on MLive: Crimes could be removed from your record in Kalamazoo. Find out how $28M gift added to Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence fund A Brisbane youth arts centre that welcomed 12,000 people through its doors last year is facing imminent closure after $100,000 in federal government funding was cut. The centre's director said the Australia Council's rejection of its funding application was "a kick in the guts" for an organisation with an 80 per cent employment rate for its artists. Backbone Youth Arts gives emerging artists training, support and work experience, but it may not be able to for much longer. Credit:Morgan Roberts The federal arts minister's office said the Australia Council, the federal arts funding and advisory body, had received more than 1000 "high-quality" applications and only 186 could be funded. However, the local Labor MP and the shadow arts minister said Queensland was missing out on its fair share of funding, and they called upon the federal government to reinstate the funds. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: How did former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti communicate with her politically active eldest daughter Iltija despite being under detention ever since the hollowing of Article 370 on August 5? Through notes exchanged via a tiffin box, as Mehbooba was allowed home-cooked food, Iltija revealed, adding she would respond with letters tucked into chappatis while being prepared at home. Mehbooba and NC leader Omar Abdullah were on Thursday booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). Putting out a long post on Twitter using her mothers handle, Iltija said: I received a crumpled and tersely worded note, the first of many furtively exchanged letters. I found it in a tiffin box that contained home-cooked food sent for her. Disclosing how she managed to respond, Iltija said, Soon the dilemma of dispatching a reply arose. My grandmother found an ingenious solution. The letter I wrote was folded into a tiny square and carefully sealed, rolled and locked inside the middle of a chapatti. In the first note, Mehbooba advised Iltija against using her Twitter handle. They have taken an undertaking that I wont be using social media to communicate. In case someone else does it, hell be booked on charges of impersonation, she wrote. Iltija said people who question BJPs actions were being branded anti-nationals and blamed a section of pliable media for creating a narrative that derides students, Kashmiris and Muslims. Question BJPs actions & you are an anti-national. A pliable media is liable for creating a narrative that derides students, Kashmiris & Muslims as Tukde-Tukde gang, she said. Situation different now: Iltija Iltija revealed that her Twitter post dealt with the modus of communication during the initial weeks of Mehboobas detention, as there was no other access. The situation has since changed as she is now allowed to meet her kin twice a week. The Majors It was a particularly bullish first week of February for the European majors, with the DAX30 rallying by 4.10% to lead the way. The CAC40 and EuroStoxx600 werent far behind with gains of 3.85% and 3.22% respectively. Through the week, 4 consecutive days in the green ahead of a Friday pullback delivered the upside. Market risk aversion stemming from the coronavirus abated in the week, as the markets responded to support from the PBoC. While expectations are for the Chinese economy to take a hit as a result of the outbreak, further support from the Chinese government is anticipated. Adding to the upside in the week was positive data from the U.S, which was another key contributor to market risk appetite. The gains reversed losses from the final week of January, where the CAC40 and DAX30 had tumbled by 3.62% and 4.38% respectively. Interestingly, the broad-based market rally came in spite of the continued spread of the coronavirus and rising death toll. Economic data out of the Eurozone did little to pin back the majors, in spite of some particularly disappointing numbers out of Germany. On the geopolitical risk front, U.S President Trump was acquitted on Wednesday, which was also market positive, though anticipated. News of Chinas plan to cut tariffs on 14th February also supported the rally mid-week. The Stats It was a busy week on the Eurozone economic calendar. Private sector PMI numbers for January provided support at the start of the week, with Germanys composite PMI hitting a 5-month high. The rest of the stats were skewed to the negative, however. German factory orders slid by 2.1%, with industrial production tumbling by 3.5%. The only good news was a widening in the trade surplus from 18.5bn to 19.2bn. The widening, however, came off the back of a slide in imports rather than a jump in exports, suggesting waning demand and a likely slide in output. The weaker demand was certainly more aligned with the factory order numbers than the latest survey-based PMIs Story continues For the Eurozone, disappointing retail sales figures out of France and Germany contributed to a 1.6% slide in December. From elsewhere, while private sector growth slowed in China, numbers from the U.S impressed, providing support mid-week. The Market Movers From the DAX, it was a bullish week for the auto sector. Continental and Volkswagen led the way, rising by 2.80% and by 2.86% respectively, with Daimler up by 2.76%. BMW saw a more modest gain of 0.76%. Heavy losses at the end of the week limited the upside. It was a particularly bullish week for the banking sector, however, with Deutsche Bank rallying by 15.19% and Commerzbank up by 11.73%. From the CAC, it was also a bullish week for the banks. BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole rallied by 7.89% and by 9.89% respectively, while Soc Gen saw a more modest 4.52% gain. It was a mixed week for the French auto sector, however. Peugeot rallied by 4.25%, while Renault fell by 0.51%. The shift in risk appetite in the week also supported airline stocks. Germanys Lufthansa rallied by 6.39%, with Air France-KLM up by 5.48%. On the VIX Index It was back in the red for the VIX Index in the week ending 7th February. Following a 29.4% surge from the previous week, the VIX fell by 17.78% to end the week at 15.5 The broad-based global equity market rally that led to a 3.17% gain in the S&P500 pinned the VIX back in the week. A combination of PBoC support early in the week, a string of positive economic numbers out of the U.S, Trumps acquittal and Chinas plan to reduce tariffs were the positives. U.S corporate earnings also provided support in the week to further pressure the VIX. The Week Ahead Its a relatively quiet week ahead on the Eurozone economic calendar. Through the 1st half of the week, economic data is limited to Eurozone industrial production figures for December. Following some particularly dire numbers out of France and Germany last week, the numbers are unlikely to impress on Wednesday. The focus will then shift to GDP numbers out of Germany and the Eurozone and the Eurozones December trade figures. Barring deviation from the Eurozones 1st estimate GDP numbers, expect Germanys GDP figures to have the greatest impact. Private sector PMI numbers last week may have supported the ECBs view that the Eurozone economy had bottomed out. Other economic indicators out of Germany and other member states, however, painted a different picture. Outside of the numbers, any chatter on U.S tariffs on the EU would need to be monitored along with updates on the coronavirus. The markets may have brushed aside the spread last week, but not may be able to ignore should the global spread accelerate. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Things got heated on Friday night when hedge fund manager Tom Steyer challenged former Vice President Joe Biden to disavow one of his campaign surrogates over what black lawmakers in South Carolina have described as a racist attack. On Wednesday, State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a "longtime friend" of Biden's, tweeted his suspicions about South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Jerry Govan receiving "almost $50,000 for a [month's] worth of work" for Steyer, WIS News 10 reports. "Is he pocketing the dough or redistributing the wealth?" Harpootlian asked in his tweet. The senator also told The Post and Courier that Govan "told me he was with Joe Biden until Mr. Moneybags showed up ... This is what happens when billionaires get involved ... They don't have to persuade anybody, they just buy them." Mr. Money Bags a.k.a @TomSteyer has paid S.C. State Rep. Jerry Govan almost $50,000 for a month worth of work? Is he pocketing the dough or redistributing the wealth? cc: Steyer FEC report Dick Harpootlian (@Harpootlian4SC) February 5, 2020 Govan is a senior adviser to the Steyer campaign in South Carolina, and received pay "consistent with the salaries of other members of the team in South Carolina," Steyer's team has said. Govan also defended himself to The Post and Courier: "I have a consulting firm," he said. "I do business. In terms of having a consulting firm, there's nothing illegal or illicit or improper." Harpootlian's insinuation that Govan was being bought by Steyer infuriated the Legislative Black Caucus in South Carolina though; about half of the 45-member body demanded Biden distance himself from Harpootlian after the comment, AP reports. Biden refused to firmly disavow Harpootlian after Steyer's challenge on the debate stage. The former vice president said he'd spoken to Harpootlian and "he was, I believe, sorry for what he said." More stories from theweek.com Parasite is the must-see movie of 2019 Joaquin Phoenix becomes the 2nd actor to win an Oscar for playing the Joker For better pasta sauce, throw away your garlic CRESWELL, Ore. -- Volunteers who took part in uncovering the massive case of horse neglect in Creswell are now sharing details about the conditions 61 horses were living in until they were seized in October 2019. Gwenyth Davies will serve five years of probation after pleading guilty to 11 counts of second-degree animal neglect. RELATED: CRESWELL WOMAN GETS PROBATION IN MASS HORSE NEGLECT CASE Volunteers with nonprofit Sound Equine Options assisted other agencies and organizations for around 12 hours as the horses and their conditions were cataloged for evidence in October. Sound Equine Options executive director Kim Mosiman described what she saw as she entered a barn on Davies property. It was very dark, the smell of ammonia hit you very strong, she said. There was no food that I saw. There were several that some call walking skeletons. Investigators discovered four dead horses, stalls covered in manure and inadequate amounts of food. According to Mosiman, a veterinarian found that 37 horses were malnourished or starved. Three of those horses were later put down due to related complications. MORE: EUGENE RIDING CENTER TEACHES ACCOUNTABILITY "Just seeing them, it was awful. It was the worst thing I have ever seen, or smelled, to be honest," said volunteer Emily Grasty. Mosiman said seeing the horses is shocking to many. I look at what they can become with proper care instead of how bad they are, she said. That's probably a survival mechanism, right?" After the horses were removed from the property, they were brought to four locations once they were healthy enough to travel. At those locations, rehabilitation efforts began. Mosiman said that simply feeding the horses prompted improvements over weeks and months. However, caring for the horses cost Sound Equine Options alone over $80,000. As horses became healthy enough, they were returned to their owners. SEO could possibly take ownership of up to 15 horses, which they hope to find forever homes for. "They will all end up with the lives they deserve. Especially with everything they've been through, Mosiman said. Grasty fostered two horses over the past months. She is planning to adopt one of them, named Ukelele. "As a whole barn, not just my family, but my barn family, fell in complete love with her, she said. "She still really questions if food will be in her stall when we bring her out to groom her. Building that trust has been a process, but she's getting better." Though many of the horses are returning to loving homes and finding new ones, volunteers say some will be scarred for life by the experience. Four horses are being held pending criminal charges against owners Erica and Raina Ott who lived on the same property as Davies. Davies will be required to pay $49,557.36 in restitution, which will be divided between the Oregon Humane Society, Lane County and SEO. Todays general election may well signal stormy weather ahead for incumbent TDs, but todays weather warning has sparked concerns that wind and rain could dampen voter turnout. With Storm Ciara expected to batter the country with strong winds and gusts, two status yellow weather warnings remain in place for election day. Met Eireann is predicting southerly winds will begin to strengthen today ahead of the storms arrival, reaching average speeds of up to 50 to 65 km/h, with gusts reaching 90 to 110 km/h. Heavy rain is also forecast, which is expected to spread eastwards across the country, bringing with it 20 to 40mm of rainfall. Another spell of heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow, with another 20 to 40mm of rainfall expected. While the majority of offshore islanders cast their ballots yesterday, those living on islands closest to the Cork shoreline, including Cape Clear and Sherkin, head to the polls today, along with the rest of the country. The weather conditions will be monitored throughout the day, according to the office of the Cork County returning officer. As it stands, the polls are obliged to stay open for four hours and after that it is at the discretion of the presiding officer, it said. It is a matter of wait and see. The weather could also ease off but then turn and get worse again later in the day. "The transport operators will be sussing out the situation because they will have to get the boxes back to the mainland as well. They are familiar with the conditions and the locality so they will monitor the situation as it develops. Research on the connection between weather and voter turnout shows that rain does have an effect. That is according to Mary C Murphy, a senior lecturer at the Department of Government and Politics at University College Cork. Most of the research on the link between weather and voter turnout highlights that poor weather, specifically rain, decreases turnout, whereas higher temperatures increase turnout, said Ms Murphy. A 2007 US study showed that one inch of rain reduces turnout with by one percentage point in presidential elections in the US. "This is a small, but statistically significant effect and it has been supported by later studies. However, the evidence is not conclusive, she added. For example, research in Sweden failed to find a link between rain on election day and voter turnout. Turnout generally increases when the process of casting a vote is convenient. Poor weather can be an inconvenience and therefore a deterrent for voters, said Ms Murphy. But voters also make judgements in relation to whether the cost of not voting outweighs the benefit of voting. "Then all sorts of things then come into play like a voters sense of duty to vote and the expected closeness of the election result. Polls will be open across the country between 7am and 10pm. The general advice from Cork Votes is to plan in advance when you will vote and how you will get the polling station, bring photo ID, mark your numbers carefully and clearly, and dont mark your ballot in any other way or you may spoil your vote. Back in 2016, a wealthy New Yorker got into a crowded presidential race and was immediately dismissed. Virtually nobody actually liked the candidate, polls showed, and there were also questions about how serious he was about the whole thing. Then that candidate won. Could it happen again in 2020? The results of the Iowa caucuses have fed speculation that former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg might actually have a shot at the Democratic nomination. He wasn't on the ballot, mind you, but the results - with a Democratic socialist senator and the young, former mayor of a relatively small American city finishing in the top two slots - seem to have cracked the door ajar to a wild card. Couple that with the "gut punch" suffered by the leading "establishment" candidate - Joe Biden's fourth-place finish - and it's not unreasonable to think a lane could open for Bloomberg. It's anything but likely, but it's hardly the punchline it once was. Let's break it down. First is what happened in Iowa and what it means. It has been abundantly clear throughout this process that the Democratic Party is terrified of picking the wrong candidate, only to see them lose to President Donald Trump. Iowa Democrats liked Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg so much they combined for more than half the vote, but it's not difficult to see voters confronting the reality of those two actually facing Trump and, rightly or wrongly, suddenly getting skittish. And that goes double now Mr Trump's numbers are creeping up. There was a time when Democrats seemed to have the luxury of picking any number of hopefuls who would be favoured against Trump, because they all led him in the polls. That's not so clearly the case any more. Mr Trump's approval rating has hit or tied new highs in several new polls in recent weeks - including 49pc in the latest Gallup poll - and the general election match-ups are suddenly tight. In other words, a party that has long said electability is priority number one may move even further in that direction and really think hard about its options once the front-runners solidify. The answer for those voters, throughout the race, has been consistent: Joe Biden. But not only did he fare poorly in Iowa, he's been an unsteady candidate. Mr Biden is hardly sunk, but if the long-time top candidate in this race can't notch a win in the first three contests before he gets to the South Carolina primary, you wonder how much of an option he'll be in the fourth. Which brings us to Super Tuesday, on March 3. That's the first date on which Mr Bloomberg will actually be on ballots, thanks to his late entry into the 2020 race and his unorthodox strategy of spurning the first four states. He has gambled that he doesn't need the "momentum" that candidates covet from those early states, perhaps in part because his lavishly self-funded campaign doesn't need the money that usually comes with it. He's also betting that not even trying in those four states will help him avoid the kind of potentially negative narrative that Mr Biden is confronting. It's a novel strategy, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be a mega-billionaire like Mr Bloomberg. So can he? Super Tuesday will be make-or-break for Mr Bloomberg, no doubt - as it will be pretty much for everyone else. That's because 14 states are holding contests, and about one out of every three delegates is at stake. As the other candidates have focused on Iowa and New Hampshire, Mr Bloomberg has blanketed these other states with ads and hired unheard-of amounts of staff in them. The combined investment so far is more than $250m (228m). And there are signs that it's working - at least somewhat. There are very few polls in the Super Tuesday states, but the few we have suggest he's a player. To wit, some recent polls: He's third in North Carolina at 14pc; He's fourth in Texas at 9pc; He's fourth in Utah at 10pc. He's done worse in California, which is by far Super Tuesday's biggest delegate prize, but he's making huge investments there now. Beyond that, we haven't seen many Super Tuesday polls. But if you look at states in the two weeks that follow, the trend holds. In the March 10 mini-Super Tuesday: He's second in Missouri at 14pc; He's fourth in Washington at 12pc; He's fourth in Michigan at 9pc. And on March 17: He's second in Florida, 17pc; He's fourth in Ohio, 10pc. By that point, more than three out of every five delegates will have been selected. And pretty much every poll suggests he's at least on voters' radars in most of these states. If the contest is still open after the first four states and/or the party starts to wonder about a front-runner like Mr Sanders or Mr Buttigieg being able to win, Mr Bloomberg has set himself up as an option. There's a lot of what-ifs built into the case for Mr Bloomberg, but there remain a lot of questions about the 2020 Democratic field, and the party's unquenchable thirst for getting Trump out of the Oval Office could make for a unique campaign. ( The Washington Post) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 12:40:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Friday, underlining bilateral cooperation in fighting novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). Egypt firmly supports China's efforts to fight the epidemic and stands ready to offer help within its capability, Shoukry said, adding that Egypt believes that China will eventually achieve an outright victory over the epidemic. African countries will always firmly stand by China in the face of hardship, he said. For his part, Wang said China and African countries are good friends and good brothers who trust and support each other. China took the lead to help African countries combat the Ebola epidemic in the past, which wrote a new chapter for China-Africa friendship and cooperation, Wang said. Today, African countries fully understand and support China in fighting against the NCP epidemic and their friendship will certainly be advanced, Wang said. Wang said that "we firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China as well as with the rich experience obtained in tackling the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak, strong national mobilization capability and global support, we will eventually achieve a victory over the epidemic and that China's development will not be affected." Through its efforts in fighting the epidemic, China has been not only safeguarding the saftey and health of the Chinese people, but also making contribution to the cause of international public health, Wang said. The World Health Organization has praised China's prevention and control of the disease as setting a new standard for global outbreak response, and it disfavors imposing international travel and trade restrictions, Wang said. China is willing to keep communication and coordination with Egypt and jointly maintain normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, Wang added. A former Labor Party lobbyist has been found dead in his East Melbourne home after being charged by police with entering an agreement for child sex services. The body of Andres Puig, the former assistant secretary of the state Labor Party and former director of The Civic Group, was found in his Powlett Street home just before 6.30pm on Friday. The Australian published a report late on Friday detailing the Victoria Police charges against him. Andres Puig, 44, was found dead in his East Melbourne home on Friday. Credit:Twitter The death is not being treated as suspicious. The security service emphasized that this situation could lead to lethal cases The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed the mechanism of poor-quality repair work of passenger aircraft of one of the Ukrainian airlines. The maintenance company at the international airports in Odesa and Kyiv is the one to blame. According to the SBU press center, this mechanism could lead to human casualties. In particular, the SBU operatives have documented a violation of applicable law by employees of an airline and maintenance organization. They falsified documentation on the aircraft repair work. Further use of virtually faulty aircraft (...) could lead to emergency situations, including catastrophes with casualties, the SBU emphasized. At the moment, the court ruled that the official who was responsible for the maintenance of aircraft was guilty of committing a crime. Airlines have canceled the relevant permits for the implementation of aviation passenger traffic. As we reported, border checkpoint control was tightened at the Kharkiv airport and at the customs checkpoint Hoptivka due to the spread of the Chinese coronavirus. According to the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleksiy Kucher, $4,000 were allocated to test systems for diagnostics, a total of $25,000 were additionally allocated. The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, for an order to unfreeze some bank accounts of the late military dictator and other members of the family held in the UK, Switzerland, Jersey, Liechenstein and Luxembourg. Justice Amina Augie, on Friday read the lead judgment prepared by JusticeC.C. Nweze, affirmed the concurrent decisions of the lower courts. Augie said, according to the admitted evidence, I have no limitations in affirming the concurrent decisions of the lower courts and the appeal is hereby dismissed. Read Also: You Will Return Abacha Loot If Stolen Again, US Warns Nigeria She held that it was too late for the Abacha family to query the decision taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1999. According to NAN, the appeal was against the decision of Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna in a Ruling delivered on Oct. 21, 2005 overruling a notice of preliminary objection of the Appellants. Other members of the Supreme Courts five-man panel that heard the appeal, Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Augie and Paul Galumje, all agreed with the lead judgment as written by Justice Nweze. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 MARKETS Vintage lovers can trawl for treasure at the new Woodstock Record, Retro and Rad Art Fair, plus post-op shopping visitors can grab a Devonshire tea or let little ones roam at the nearby playground. 10am-3.30pm, Woodstock Community Centre, 22 Church Street, Burwood, free, facebook.com/rocknrollmarket Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is screening at Bondi's open-air cinema. ART Artexpress 2020 (until April 26) reveals the next generation of talent at this showcase of the best works created by NSW students for the Higher School Certificate Visual Arts examination, with the pieces examining identity, politics and more. 10am-5pm, Art Gallery NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, city, free, artgallery.nsw.gov.au STAGE Lane Cove Theatre Company tackle the Bard's best bits in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (until February 22). In only 97 minutes, the rib-tickling take on Shakespeare sees Othello rapping and Titus Andronicus reimagined as a cooking show. 2pm, The Performance Space, St Aidan's, 1 Christina Street, Longueville, $27, lanecovetheatrecompany.com Body of a five-year-old girl, who had gone missing from her house in outer Delhis Nihal Vihar Friday evening, was found in a vacant plot near her house Saturday morning. Police said the girl was bludgeoned to death and the bricks used to attack her were recovered from the spot. Senior officers said a preliminary medical examination has ruled out sexual assault. A 15-year-old boy from the neighbourhood was apprehended on Saturday evening in connection with the crime. Police are questioning him for more information. According to the police, on Friday, around 9.30pm, they were alerted that the little girl has gone missing from her house. A police officer, who did not wish to be named, said a team immediately reached the area and a case of kidnapping was registered to initiate the probe. We started a search for the child with the help of locals and the girls family members. Multiple police teams searched areas in and around Nihal Vihar overnight. On Saturday, around 7am, we received information that the body of a child was found near a vacant plot in the area. The body was shown to the father of the girl and he identified it as that of his daughter. A case of murder was registered, the officer said. Deputy commissioner of police (Outer) A Koan said the childs was bludgeoned to death. A crime and forensics team ascertained that she had been attacked with bricks. The childs father has not named anyone as a suspect. CCTV footage is being obtained to ascertain with whom the girl was spotted last, the DCP said. Koan said preliminary autopsy reports have ruled out sexual assault. The girls father, who works as a driver, said he had left for work around 6.30pm Friday after feeding his daughter. My wife died about one-and-a-half years ago. I stay with my sister and her husband. On Friday, an hour after I left, I got a call from home asking if I have taken my daughter along. When I said I was at work, we realised that my child has gone missing and police were informed. I hope that the police will arrest my daughters killer, he said. The National Labor Relations Board wants a federal judge to throw out an Oregon law that prohibits employers from disciplining workers who refuse to attend mandatory meetings on politics, religious matters or unions. The board filed a complaint against Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland, saying federal law preempts the state law. The board argues that mandatory meetings called by an employer to discuss the employers views about unions have long been permitted under the National Labor Relations Act, provided they arent held within 24 hours before a union election. Oregons law conflicts with Congress intent under the federal act not to regulate non-coercive employer speech about unions, the suit says. In May 2010, a federal judge upheld the Oregon workplace meetings law, Senate Bill 519, which lawmakers passed the prior year. It went into effect in January 2010. Oregon became the first state in the nation to adopt a law that says employers cant discipline or threaten to discipline employees who dont want to go to mandatory or captive audience meetings on religious or political matters, including the employers views on labor unions. It also requires employers to post a notice telling employees of their rights under the law. Associated Oregon Industries brought a federal suit on behalf of Oregon employers, arguing that the National Labor Relations Act takes precedence and that the state law violates employers free speech rights. In 2010, U.S. District Judge Michael J. Mosman held that the challenge wasnt ready for court review until an employer disciplined or threatened to discipline an employee for violating the state law. The labor board, in Fridays complaint, said it has received petitions seeking to determine who represents employees of private employers in Oregon that are covered by the federal labor law. In those cases, as in any future election proceedings filed in Oregon, the employers may be forced to choose between exercising their rights under the NLRA to hold captive audience speeches with their employees, or complying with the Oregon statute, wrote attorney Pia Winston for the National Labor Relations Board. The boards general counsel sent a letter to Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Nov. 1, citing its concern about the state law and its conflict with federal law and asked for her assistance in addressing it. On Dec. 10, an Oregon deputy attorney general wrote back that the Oregon office disagreed with the boards finding and Oregons attorney general will defend the Oregon statute. Kristina Edmunson, spokeswoman for Oregons attorney general, said the Oregon Department of Justice is reviewing the boards suit. -- 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. Subscribe to Facebook page Hodgkins lymphoma or Hodgkins disease has the distinction of being the first cancer to be cured by chemotherapy or by radiotherapy. Hodgkins lymphoma is a cancer that primarily affects the lymphatic tissues, and weakens the immune system of the body, making it more prone to infections. The cancer was called 'Hodgkins Disease' until the year 2001, when WHO Classification for Lymphomas was published and the term 'Hodgkins Lymphoma' was preferred over 'Hodgkins Disease'. The lymphatic tissues are found in the lymph nodes and other related organs including the spleen, the bone marrow and the thymus, which together make up the immune and the blood- cell producing systems. The lymph nodes, are small, bean-shaped organs, found beneath the skin in the neck, underarm, and the groin. These nodes are interconnected by the lymph vessels, which contain a watery fluid called the lymph. The lymphocytes, which fight infections, are produced and stored in the lymph node. Lymphomas are of two types: Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Hodgkins lymphoma (HL) can occur in both children and adults. The treatment for both the groups vary. Hodgkin lymphoma may also occur in patients who have Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This group has to undergo a different type of treatment. Hodgkins Lymphoma begins when a newly developed B-lymphocyte changes, becomes cancerous and goes on to multiply several folds to form tumors or lymphomas. "Malignant lymphomas represent clonal malignancies in which the majority of cells are frozen at a single stage of normal lymphocyte differentiation" Source: Norman Levy, MD - Lecture Hodgkins lymphoma can be initiated anywhere in the lymphatic tissues but most often, in the upper part of the body, particularly in the neck, under the arms or the chest. It involves the spreading of the disease from one group of lymph node to the other and can go on to spread throughout the body. Symptoms appear very gradually, as the disease progresses. Advances in cancer research in the last few decades has now resulted in cure at the early stages of Hodgkins lymphoma by radiation and in the later stages by combination therapy (radiation with chemotherapy). In fact Hodgkins Lymphoma is the first such cancer that has this distinction of procuring a cure. Thomas Hodgkin, a British Physician, first described the condition as far back as 1832 and hence was named after him. A Dodge County manufacturer is partnering with other companies to donate a concrete mixer truck valued at $200,000 for auction to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, plus three other nonprofit organizations. Con-Tech Manufacturing, a 14-year-old firm that makes and sells cement mixer trucks, announced this week that it is donating a 2020 mixer truck with a Con-Tech BridgeKing Mixer along with Kenworth and Kenworth of Central Florida for auction at ConExpo. ConExpo is the largest construction trade show in North America. Proceeds from the March 13 auction will be split between nonprofits including Rochester's Ronald McDonald House, the Wounded Warrior Project, Minnesota's Make-A-Wish, and St. Jude. While standing in the Ronald McDonald parking lot, Con-Tech Sales Manager Rachel Theis explained why the decision was made to donate a truck versus making a direct financial donation to the nonprofits. "This way, we could get the whole concrete industry involved ... We will not only be able to donate money, but also promote work that these wonderful organizations do," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Dan Welsh, who owns Con-Tech with Grant McNeilus, said he is very impressed with the work that Ronald McDonald House does in providing housing for people receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic. "We want to have a small part in helping," he said. Con-Tech, which is based in Dodge Center, employs about 250 people in Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and California. Welsh describes the company as the top Ready-Mix concrete mixer truck manufacturer in the U.S., leading other competitors like Oshkosh Inc.'s McNeilus trucks, also based in Dodge Center. A member of a Chinese honor guard wears a face mask as he stands guard on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Tuesday, Feb. 4. AP China's ruling Communist Party faced public anger and recrimination Friday over the death of a doctor who was threatened by the authorities after trying to sound the alarm about the new coronavirus back in December. The death toll, meanwhile, rose to over 720, and the number of people infected worldwide climbed past 34,400. Cruise ship passengers faced more woe as Japan reported 41 new cases on one quarantined vessel and turned away another. President Xi Jinping spoke with President Donald Trump and urged the U.S. to ''respond reasonably'' to the outbreak, echoing complaints that some countries are overreacting by restricting Chinese travelers. A look at the latest developments: Treatment of whistleblower doctor investigated Following an online uproar over the government's treatment of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Communist Party struck a conciliatory note, saying it was sending a team to ''fully investigate relevant issues raised by the public.'' Li, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist, contracted the virus while treating patients, and his death was confirmed early Friday. Li, one of eight medical professionals in Wuhan who tried to warn colleagues and others when the government did not, had said that police forced him to sign a statement admitting he spread false rumors. Even the staunchly pro-government Global Times newspaper said the whistleblowers' treatment was ''evidence of local authorities' incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus.'' The episode has raised longstanding complaints that party officials lie about or cover up disease outbreaks, chemical spills, dangerous consumer products and financial fraud. Chinese citizens can be jailed on charges of rumor-mongering or "making trouble." Most of the deaths from the virus have been of older people with existing health problems, but disease specialists said Li's work eye doctors are very close to their patients during examinations may have subjected him to an extra-large dose of the virus that made his illness more severe. Cruise ship woes Japan confirmed 41 new cases of the virus on the quarantined Diamond Princess, adding to 20 escorted off the ship earlier. The nearly 3,700 passengers and crew still on board remain under 14-day quarantine. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said foreign passengers on another ship, Holland America's Westerdam, won't be allowed into Japan. He said suspected virus patients were on board. The ship, with more than 2,000 people, was near Okinawa and was seeking another port, said Overseas Travel Agency official Mie Matsubara. China coronavirus temperature check Thomas Peter/Reuters Expats in China are facing an assortment of issues, including economic uncertainty, debilitating restrictions, and the looming threat of quarantines, as the country deals with the coronavirus. "Nobody enters and nobody leaves unless you have a special permit from the government to leave the city," said Jovan Vazquez who lives in Zhejiang province, where drastic measures are in place to control the spread of the virus. Jenny Coulson in Shenzhen, China, reported an uptick in abandoned pets at her animal rescue as people give in to the paranoia of cross-contamination. Jym Cotton, who lives in the currently deserted tourist destination of Sanya, can still leave his house freely but is certain that the virus "has affected everyone in some way." Jovan Vazquez has taken to carrying a thermometer with him every time he leaves his house. That's his attempt at avoiding being hauled off to a hospital or being quarantined every time his temperature fluctuates. Originally from South Carolina, he is now living as an expat in China, which is in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Vazquez told Business Insider that officials in his residential community and others are checking if people have a fever every time they try to go home. "The equipment [is] not really accurate as I have been read as having too high of a temperature at [times], then too low of a temperature," he said. "I have a thermometer that takes the reading from the ear, which I have used multiple times to prove I am not ill. It's pretty scary that if you have a slight fever, say from the common cold, you will not be able to enter your own home." Vazquez lives with his wife and 17-month-old son in Haining, in Zhejiang province, which has recently made headlines for adopting severe measures, including banning weddings and funerals and locking people into their homes, to halt the spread of the virus. Story continues GettyImages 1199162471 Kevin Frayer/Getty Images On Friday, the National Health Commission in Beijing reported more than 31,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 630 deaths. Less than one million people call Haining home, and the city was coronavirus-free until earlier this week, Vazquez said. One case was reported in a sub-city called Chang'an, and, by Friday, that number had climbed to four. 'Nobody enters and nobody leaves' Local officials responded by closing down Haining. "Nobody enters and nobody leaves unless you have a special permit from the government to leave the city," Vazquez said, adding that grocery stores are open for a few hours a day along with some restaurants and pharmacies "but nothing else." Vazquez uses WeChat to connect with other expats in the area and said the collective belief is that "it doesn't take a medical doctor to know that this virus is a big deal. And due to the population density, it's going to continue to infect people." Reports emerged on Thursday of officials in four cities in Zhejiang an area of more than 30 million residents giving households one so-called passport each. China coronavirus disinfectant Thomas Peter/Reuters Another expat, Jeff Sinner, said the restrictions are mirrored in Xi'an, in Shaanxi province, where he lives. "I was given a ticket with the date on it that I need to give my security guards before I go out to buy vegetables," he said. "Also, only one person from each residence is able to leave the community. "Two days ago, I was able to leave my community easily but when I wanted to [return], I had to show my passport and get my temperature taken before I would be allowed in." Sinner, who is waiting to hear when the middle school where he teaches will reopen and he will be allowed to return to work, said he has also seen trucks driving through the city, "spraying a disinfectant all over the place." People are confined to their homes from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. while they do that, he said. "It is nasty over here right now," he mused. Cross-contamination fears prompt people to ditch pets Jenny Coulson, of Australia, is having an equally tough time in Shenzhen, China, but for slightly different reasons. She and her partner, Sachin Patel, from India, run Karuna Rescue, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates dogs and cats. The pair are currently taking care of 120 animals and that number is ballooning every day, which poses serious challenges when it comes to finding enough pet food. china coronavirus pet face mask Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Initial reports blamed wet markets for the coronavirus and said that the illness likely jumped from a snake to a human, although cases of human-to-human infection are now being reported. As a result, Coulson said, "many households are abandoning their pets due to fear of cross-contamination." People who have contracted coronavirus are also reaching out to Karuna Rescue since "they desperately need someone to take in their pets as they are taken off to hospital. And migrant workers have been locked down in other cities, unable to return to their pets in their homes in Shenzhen." An Instagram video shows a masked Patel searching for a cat named CanCan, whose owner "is in lockdown in a village in the middle of China somewhere. He's alone, and no one will come out to feed him." The good news is CanCan was found safely and Coulson and Patel are now caring for him. Tourist haunts lie deserted By contrast, the coronavirus hasn't overwhelmed Jym Cotton with work. If anything it's the opposite, having emptied the classrooms in which he works as a private teacher. The crisis has hurt his ability to make money, he said, adding, "I'm surviving on a few online classes that allow me to make a little income." Cotton, a former landscaper from Florida, lives in Sanya, a popular tourist destination in the Hainan province. He said it now resembles a ghost town. Everything from theaters to parks and bus depots to public restrooms has been shut down. The main drag into Cotton's housing complex is normally plagued with gridlock traffic all day. But now the streets lie "barren," he observed. China wuhan coronavirus Getty Images "I'm not sure the threat to human life is as bad as the pandemonium surrounding these events suggest, but, in reality, to those who live here, this outbreak has affected everyone in some way," he said. Cotton home-schools his four daughters, who keep him busy with badminton and family time. They are still allowed to venture outside freely and Cotton, although worried about the economic impact of the coronavirus not only on his family but all of China, remains hopeful. "I've lived through, and seen a lot here, in my 20 years," he said. "I'm sure we will be getting through this current crisis as well." Have you been personally impacted by the coronavirus epidemic? Is your city or community on the front lines of this disease? Have you or someone you know been tested or diagnosed? We want to hear your story. Please email rmahbubani@businessinsider.com. Read more: There's a good chance the Wuhan coronavirus will never disappear, experts say. There are only 3 possible endings to this story. Chinese officials are only letting people leave their homes every 2 days and have forbidden weddings and funerals Chinese citizens are furious at the death of the whistleblower doctor censored for talking about the coronavirus. His mother said she couldn't even say goodbye. Read the original article on Business Insider When business leaders decide to give money to a particular candidate, theyre often driven by a personal profit motive. In other news, the sun is hot. Most of the time, however, major political contributors know better than to put such financial self-interest in writing, particularly when the recipient of their donations also happens to be a fellow shareholder in their firm. Thats why Clinton Butlers recent fundraising pitch on behalf of Eddie Morales (which was shared Thursday on Twitter by Scott Braddock, the editor of the Quorum Report) seemed to set new standards for brash, brazen mercenary politicking. Butler is a shareholder and attorney (specializing in mineral-rights cases) at Langley & Banack, a high-powered San Antonio law firm. Morales, one of three candidates in the Democratic primary race for Texas House District 74, also is a shareholder and attorney with the firm. In an email to the Langley staff, Butler said he had taken it upon himself to be an unofficial bundler for the Morales campaign in San Antonio. Butler also cited the various ways that Moraless election to the Texas House could benefit the firm. The initial point, which was fairly benign, suggested that a Morales victory would offer a boost to the law firms reputation. From a professional standpoint, Langley could only benefit from the notoriety and prestige that accompanies having a State Representative as one of our equity shareholders, Butler said. Butler then indicated that Moraless campaigning across the 12-county district which covers more than 600 miles along the Texas-Mexico border, from just south of Eagle Pass to a few miles east of Socorro had helped the candidate discover numerous opportunities for Langley to expand its reach into West Texas. Butler said Morales would enter the House well positioned to generate and distribute work to a number of lawyers across a wide spectrum of disciplines. Thats where the ethics-in-government alarm bells go off. In short, Butler added, electing Eddie could be a very profitable venture for Langley. Thats right, Butler put it right out there. He said the quiet part out loud. He copied and pasted his acquisitive internal thoughts into company correspondence. Its no great surprise that a shareholder at a big law firm would think like that. Its just astounding to see it openly expressed. Butler did not respond to an interview request for this column. In a statement to the Express-News, Morales said he has no intent of trying to advance my law firm by running for state representative and will not accept donations from any of the attorneys at his firm. There are 72 attorneys at Langley & Banack, Morales said. I cannot control what each of them do and I certainly do not condone what Mr. Butler said. The email was distributed without my knowledge or consent and clearly states so in the email itself. Morales, the city attorney for Eagle Pass, is running to succeed Poncho Nevarez, who announced last November that he wouldnt seek a fifth term. A week after that announcement, Nevarez was booked on felony drug possession charges related to an incident in which surveillance cameras at the Austin airport caught him dropping a sealed envelope that contained four baggies of cocaine. Morales faces competition from Rowland Garza, a Del Rio city councilman, and Ramsey English Cantu, the former mayor of Eagle Pass. Cantu and Morales regularly crossed paths at Eagle Pass City Hall, but relations are ultra-strained between them at the moment. Two months ago, Morales filed a complaint with the Texas Democratic Party, alleging that Cantu was ineligible to run for state representative because even though he had stepped down as mayor, he was still temporarily fulfilling the mayors parliamentary duties until his seat had been filled. Last month, however, U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra ruled that Cantu is eligible to run in House District 74. On Friday, Cantu called Butlers fundraising pitch shocking and inappropriate. He added, I dont think in any way, shape or form that House District 74 is for sale. Even without the generosity of Langleys lawyers, Morales is easily the best-funded of the House District 74 hopefuls. He began his candidacy by loaning his campaign $126,000 and last month received a $5,000 donation from Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, the political arm of a tort-reform organization which has generally aligned itself more with Republicans than Democrats. In his pitch to the Langley staff, Butler said he would spend the next two weeks making the rounds of the firms offices to solicit contributions for Moraless campaign. He even suggested the appropriate contribution levels: $50-$100 for associates, $100-$250 for Class Bs and $250 and above for Class As. That wont be happening now. @gilgamesh470 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 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Citra Handayani Nasruddin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 09:54 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206344617 3 Opinion Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Wuhan-coronavirus,health-ministry,health,WHO,pandemic Free The World Health Organization recently declared the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak a global health emergency. Indonesia, along with other countries, has been scrambling to rescue citizens from Wuhan, in Chinas Hubei province, the epicenter of the deadly virus. As the evacuees landed on Natuna Island on Sunday to be quarantined for at least the next two weeks, questions have arisen. Does Indonesia have the robust preparedness and response to combat the pandemic? Do we have disaster-management preparations in place for an epidemic? Are we ready for the coronavirus? Unless those questions are addressed, it will be arduous for Indonesia to respond to the international challenges and achieve the goal of strengthening competitiveness this year. Besides increasing morbidity and mortality, the pandemic is considered a shock that could lead to a global economic slump. The Indonesian Travel Agent Association estimates the potential revenue loss in Balis tourism sector alone could reach trillions of rupiah by the end of February. Thus the government clearly needs to improve Indonesias capability to respond and recover from pandemics. The government has incorporated priority for disaster risks in the state budget. This years budget allocates Rp 5 trillion (US$364.2 million) for emergency management, pre-disaster preparedness, and post-disaster recovery. Unfortunately, the commitment to mitigate disaster risks has not been fully translated into practical actions for tackling pandemics. The problem may be rooted in the national strategy on epidemics or pandemics, or the lack thereof. One reason may be because disaster-management efforts center on our frequent natural catastrophes. The 2007 Disaster Management Law defines a disaster as an event that threatens peoples livelihoods, either a result of natural or nonnatural occurrences. However, the guidelines on disasters and emergencies produced and distributed by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) lack recommended actions for citizens in the case of outbreaks. To increase Indonesias preparedness for pandemics, the government must first and foremost acknowledge it as a disaster that can strike at any time. Thus, the government has to build readiness within communities by incorporating pandemic mitigation and preparedness into the National Disaster Management Plan. Since enhancing the capacity to respond to pandemics is a complex and multifaceted process, it should also use a systematic approach that promotes citizens participation and partnerships with vast stakeholders. Hopefully, the BNPBs national meeting of Feb. 3 to 4 will result in a more robust framework for Indonesias disaster-management plan regarding global pandemic threats. That will not only serve as a guide on strategies regarding our heightened vulnerability in this area but also build long-term community readiness in emergencies. Further, we can look to and learn from countries that managed to overcome epidemics or pandemics such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Ebola. Studies have suggested that effective communication is critical in curbing the virus and containing it. Public education in the event of an outbreak could further help citizens develop a realistic perception of infection risks and respond accordingly. Innovations that can be considered regarding outbreaks include computer models to create effective strategies: the Epi-info VHF to monitor any new virus outbreak, Geographic Information System (GIS) to map the event and remote sensing for detecting pathogens. A drone network can also be utilized for environmental detection, while the drone delivery service may help logistics distribution in affected areas. All of these efforts require sufficient funds. Hence, in the long term, the government needs to develop an innovative financing plan. Among the alternatives are pandemic insurance, pandemic bonds or other insurance-type processes and cash contributions or binding contingent commitments from donors. A rigorous method of identifying which solution is feasible, cost-effective and practical is needed beforehand. It is important that all plans to avoid and battle pandemics be carried out under the framework of the National Disaster and Emergency Management to ensure immediate and effective delivery. While we prepare for the worst, we may get the best of this unfortunate situation. ________ Communications strategist of the Finance Ministry. The views expressed are her own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Buy these stocks on the dip related to the coronavirus, Wall Street analysts say Published Sat, Feb 8 2020 8:16 AM EST Updated Mon, Feb 10 2020 10:18 AM EST Cannabis leaves of a plant on a dark background Its time for a new chapter in pot investing. In 2018, cannabis stocks soared as the market rushed to take advantage. Last year, the tides turned, as valuations came down from nosebleed levels. In 2020, the story will evolve again, even if few investors are prepared. The biggest shift will be a newfound appreciation for novel cannabis form factors. In previous bull runs, capital was infatuated with conventional pot production, which mostly included dry flowers. The next bull run will be fueled by value-add products like beverages, edibles, vapes, medicines, and more. Many cannabis stocks are not ready to take advantage of this emerging opportunity. In fact, most are still focused on ramping raw cannabis production a strategy that will experience heavy pricing pressure this year. Value-add pot products could ultimately double or even triple the value of the global cannabis market. Want to get direct exposure before other investors come flooding in? The following picks are your best bets. The road less traveled Read up on nearly any pot stock, and youll find the same strategy: ramp cannabis production as quickly as possible and then roll out new brands to woo customers. You should be very leery of this model. First, while its a bit different than tomatoes, cannabis is still just a crop. Its not terribly difficult to grow. Yield rates and economies of scale can be tinkered with, but, despite what most companies claim, there will be a race to the bottom for pricing. This is what happens when every company believes that they can grow more cheaply than the competition. Hexo (TSX:HEXO)(NYSE:HEXO) is avoiding the hassle of building its own brands to preserve pricing power. Instead, its outsourcing the entire process to existing brands that consumers already know and love. Its partnership with Molson Coors Canada is a perfect example. Molson sold more than $2 billion in beer last year to Canadian consumers, giving it the largest market share in the country by far. Its fair to say that Canadians love Molson. Thats why Hexo co-developed a cannabis-infused beverage directly with Molson. With pre-established trust and loyalty, these products should take the market by storm. Story continues The Hexo-Molson products will hit shelves this month. Its an ideal situation for both companies. Hexo can leverage Molsons brand power, while Molson can outsource all of its cannabis production and processing. In 2020, expect Hexo to gain sales traction and attract new partners for other value-add cannabis verticals. Playing the long game Canopy Growth took a similar route to Hexo, tying itself to one of the largest alcohol distributors in North America: Constellation Brands. With powerful brands like Corona, Robert Mondavi, and Modelo, Constellation has a proven track record of turning commoditized ingredients into high-margin consumer products. With its cash hoard and powerful partner, Canopy should ultimately release value-add products across multiple categories. Its facility in Smiths Falls is producing cannabis-infused chocolates, with additional products planned. Its developed a proprietary process that distills whole-flower cannabis into a clear liquid for beverage manufacturing. And it has already designed a line of vape pens and vape cartridges. Due to R&D requirements, it will take more time to get value-add products to market, but when pricing power is affirmed, expect analysts and institutional investors to flock to these names. More reading The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands, HEXO., and HEXO. Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 The Islamic Republics intelligence organs have summoned at least 21 Iranian journalists across the country, threatening them not to speak about government disinformation over the downing of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) passenger plane on January 8 over the capital city Tehran. In its latest report on Iran, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reiterated on Thursday, February 7, that it deplores the harassment of dozens of Iranian journalists, who have been interrogated, threatened, searched and forced to close social media accounts for daring to protest about the fact that they have been discredited as information sources because they reported a "state lie as the truth." On January 8, a UIA's three-year-old Boeing 737-800 was hit by two anti-air missiles minutes after it took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International airport for Kyiv. It took Iran's authorities three days to admit that the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' (IRGC) missiles hit the passenger plane, killing all 176 onboard. Most of the passengers were Canadian-Iranians. Local journalists all working for media controlled by the regime had to echo the official government version of the disaster for three days that said the plane crashed because of engine trouble. Once the government admitted the plane was shot down, thousands of enraged Iranians poured into the streets across the country to protest the three-day-long cover-up and deplore IRGC's role in the tragedy. They chanted, "Shame on liars!" and "Disgraced liars!" The security forces, supported by the Special Anti-Riot Units, managed to repress the protests. "After using force to disperse these protests, the authorities stepped up their pressure on the media, banning the publication of anything that did not toe the government line," RSF says in its latest report, adding, "At least 21 journalists throughout the country have been summoned and questioned by intelligence officials working for the IRGC or the Ministry of Intelligence since January 8. Raising concern over the fate of the journalists, RSF asserts, "None of them has so far been arrested, but all of them know they could be arrested at any time. Some have been warned by the media outlets they work for, of the need to 'pay attention to what you say on social media.' Some have had to close their Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook accounts, or to stop posting on them." Furthermore, RSF notes that IRGC officials have searched the homes and offices of many journalists, seizing computers, mobile phones, books, documents, and manuscripts. All of these journalists expect to be summoned for questioning soon. They include Mazyar Khosravi, who used to work for the "Shargh" (Sharq) daily newspaper, the freelancer Ms. Yasaman Khaleqian, the "T'adol" daily newspaper's Ms. Moloud Hajizadeh, and the "Dideban e Iran" news website's Yaghma Fashkhami. Both Hajizadeh and Fashkhami were already arrested and imprisoned during the past two years. Speaking on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, a Tehran-based journalist told RSF, "I received a summons to go to the ministry of intelligence. It was given to me by my editor, who had already warned me to take care of what I said in my tweets. I told him I wouldn't go because being summoned like that was illegal. That evening someone called me and, without even saying hello, began to insult me. The next day at the ministry of intelligence, it was even worse. I was accused of everything and anything and was forced to sign an undertaking to close all my social media accounts. I'm now waiting to be summoned before a court." The IRGC's fearsome Intelligence Organization also threatened another journalist in southern Iran. "If you want to stay alive and not spend the next ten years of your life in prison, shut your mouth and your social media accounts! That's all. Don't collaborate with the enemy!" RSF cites the journalist, as saying. One year ago, on February 7, 2019, as the Islamic Republic was marking the 40th anniversary of its revolution, RSF held a press conference to report what it had learned from a leaked Iranian Justice Department digital file about the scale of the state lies orchestrated for decades about judicial repression in Iran. "One year after these revelations, Iranian journalists are again the twofold victims of a state lie," said Reza Moini, the head of RSF's Iran desk. "In Iran, a country that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describes as 'free,' the entire world is discovering how the suppression of media freedom has helped to institutionalize lies and serious, repeated human rights violations," Moini said. Based on RSF's documents, Iran is one of the world's eight biggest jailers of journalists, with 23 currently detained, and is ranked 170th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg felt most of the hits in Friday night's Democratic primary debate after his shock Iowa success as other candidates came for the 38-year-old's lack of experience and his lack of support from black and Latino voters. Current fifth-place candidate Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar came out strong in the seven-person debate, taking on Buttigieg to style herself as the only reasonable alternative to former Vice President Joe Biden and mocking the former mayor's attempts to brand himself as the 'cool newcomer' by highlighting his lack of experience. Buttigieg and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 78, took most of the fire during the eighth democratic primary debate after coming out on top in the controversial Iowa caucus. They are also both placed well ahead of the rest of the pack in polling ahead of New Hampshire's primary next Tuesday. Senator Sanders came in for the most criticism for his self-proclaimed socialism as Biden, in his most aggressive appearance yet, claimed that President Donald Trump would use the 'socialist' label to cast off any Democratic contender in November. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg came out ahead in delegates from the Iowa caucus and surged in New Hampshire polling giving him momentum at a critical point in the race Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks to the media in the spin room after a successful night at the eighth Democratic primary debate where she came out strongly critical of Pete Buttigieg Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar shaking hands ahead of Friday night's debate before the senator mocked Buttigieg for posing as the 'cool newcomer' in the field The seven candidates participating in Friday night's debate (from left) are Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer Seven 2020 Democratic hopefuls took to the debate stage Friday night with just four days to go before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The ABC debate saw businessman Andrew Yang, Buttigieg, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Biden, Sanders, Klobuchar, and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer go head-to-head as Buttiegieg and Sanders begin to pull away from the other candidates in the New Hampshire polling. It marked the eighth time Democratic candidates have faced off onstage - but the first time after some votes have been counted, with the Iowa caucuses cementing the ascent of Sen. Bernie Sanders, giving Buttigieg a burst of momentum and putting former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, on notice that he may not be the party's front runner for long. Biden, who came in fourth in Iowa, went straight for Sanders' brand of progressivism, blunting stating that he's not a Democratic Socialist like Bernie. 'Bernie has labeled himself, not me, a democratic socialist. I think thats the label that the president is going to lay on everyone running with Bernie if he is the nominee,' Biden said. Debate moderator Geroge Stephanopoulos asked if any of the candidates on stage was concerned about running a candidate with a socialist label against Donald Trump. None initially raised their hands, although Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59, cautioned: 'We are not going to be able to out divide the divider in chief' and called for appealing to moderates and independents. Klobuchar, who finished a distant fifth in Iowa, said Sanders would not attract the kind of centrist voters Democrats need to win. 'Donald Trumps worst nightmare is a candidate who will bring people in from the middle,' Klobuchar added. 'I think we need someone to head up this ticket that actually brings people with her instead of shutting them out.' Amy Klobuchar emerged from the debate successful after her criticism of Pete Buttigieg Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during the eighth Democratic primary debate where he was once again forced to defend his 'socialist' label Asked why Democrats shouldn't be worried about Pres. Trump's attacks on him with the "socialist" label, Bernie Sanders says, "Because Donald Trump lies all the time." https://t.co/0GxKJz7e8Y #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/9v5v4U5M8b ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020 Former Vice President Joe Biden criticized Sen. Sanders healthcare plan claiming that he hasn't planned on how to pay for medicare for all without raising taxes on the middle class Buttigieg delivered one of the most explicit attacks on the politics Sanders is pushing. He called it 'a politics that says it's my way or the highway,' adding: 'We've got to bring as many people as we can into this process.' Sanders hit back at the socialist criticism by claiming that 'Donald Trump lies all the time' and repeated his talking point that 'I believe that the way we beat Trump is by having the largest voter turnout in the history of this country'. He said he could appeal to working class voters who have given up on the political process. Biden and Klobuchar also questioned whether Buttigieg had the capacity to successfully face off with Trump, questioning whether he has the experience to lead the nation. Buttigieg, who served two terms as mayor of South Bend, a city with a population of 100,000, said the Washington insider experience of some of his rivals was no longer what was needed, and it was time to 'turn the page' on the old Washington politics. 'I freely admit that if you're looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, you've got your candidate, and of course it's not me,' he said. Klobuchar hit back claiming that 'it is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do. It is much harder ... to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions'. Then she dug into the fresh-faced Buttigieg: 'Because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer, I just I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing.' Pete Buttigieg, left, and Bernie Sanders, right, faced the most criticism on Friday night Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar noted during Friday's debate that she was one of the three senators on stage who served as jurors in Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial Piling on the criticism for Buttigieg was hedge funder and philanthropist Tom Steyer, 62, who also poked at Joe Biden Friday night. 'That's why I'm worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy [Trump] and take him down on the debate stage or we're going to lose, he warned. 'We got to win or we are in deep trouble and we keep not talking about the facts,' he said. Biden leaned in further saying of Buttigieg: 'He's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things but has not demonstrated his ability and we'll soon find out.' Buttigieg responded to the claims he lacks experience by arguing that the way to beat President Trump is with a different kind of politics. 'Here's how we're going to win,' he said. 'We're going to put up somebody who's not afraid to call out things like his disgraceful behavior at the national prayer breakfast,' he said, and by nominating someone from a working class community that Trump says he is appealing to. Amy Klobuchar knocks idea of being a "cool newcomer": "We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." https://t.co/93QauZSK6e #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/OAjohZVqeT ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 8, 2020 Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts spoke for only about two-thirds as much time in the first hour of the debate and was not a part of the first round of scrapping among rivals Democratic presidential candidate entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who shook up his staff after a poor showing in Iowa, speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate on February 7 Steyer also took a hit at Buttigieg over his diversity problems and his lack of support from black and Latino voters. 'Unless you can appeal to the diverse parts of the Democratic Party, including specifically the black community, including specifically Latinos, if you cant do that, then we cant beat Donald Trump in November,' Steyer said. Buttigieg came under fire for his record on race in South Bend. When asked about an increase in arrests of blacks on marijuana-related charges, he said as mayor he targeted cases 'when there was gun violence and gang violence.' Asked if Buttigieg's answer was sufficient, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, 70, said: 'No. You have to own up to the facts.' Massachusetts senator Warren didn't command as much speaking time as her rivals or get into some of the biggest scraps, although she made one of the most direct attacks of the night when she went after people who 'suck up to billionaires.' She came in third in Iowa and is hoping to make a strong showing in New Hampshire with a boost from representing neighboring Massachusetts. Even amid the ideological and personal attacks, Buttigieg found a way to defend Biden, whose son Hunter's business dealings featured prominently in the unsuccessful Democratic-led impeachment effort. Trump and his GOP allies blasted Hunter Biden and called his conduct corrupt during the Trump trial, and Republicans in the Senate are gearing up investigations that could easily resurface the matter during the campaign. The former Mayor's team followed up on his defense of Joe and Hunter Biden's on Twitter Joe Biden became emotional when Pete Buttigieg came to his defense during the debate Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in 2010. Hunter may be under investigation by Senate Republicans and was the subject of the Ukraine call that led to impeachment Asked if it was a danger to nominate a candidate who was under threat of investigation, Buttigieg stood by the elder statesman who kicked off the debate by going after him for inexperience. 'No, and we're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden, or Vice President Biden, or any Biden. This is about an abuse of power by the president,' Buttigieg said. 'Look, the vice president and I, and all of us are competing, but we've got to draw a line here. And to be the kid of president to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son, who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father, is an unbelievably dishonorable thing. That is just one more example that we as a party have to be completely united to do whatever it takes, at the end of the day, to make sure that this president does not get a second term,' he added. Biden appeared somber while Buttigieg defended his son and Democratic rivals appeared united when the subject of Trump came up. 'I thank my colleague for saying that. It is a diversion. But here's the deal: Whomever the nominee is, the president is going to make up lies about,' Biden said. Then he pointed to Purple Heart Col. Alexander Vindman, who was marched out of the White House Friday after testifying against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry. 'He should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh. And I think we should all stand and give Col. Vindman a show of how much we supported him,' Biden said. Stand up and clap for Vindman!' he implored the crowd. 'Get up there. Who we are. That's who we are. We are not what Trump is.' Biden referenced Purple Heart Col. Alexander Vindman, who was marched out of the White House on Friday after testifying against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry Rivalry was briefly suspended during the debate as the candidates united against Trump As Sanders faced further hits, Biden went after the Vermont senator on guns, after Bernie pointed to his state's rural nature and said he voted with his constituents before public sentiment there changed. 'While you were representing your constituency . [people] were getting killed by the thousands in this same period,' said Biden. 'I introduced the first assault weapons ban,' he said. 'While I was pushing the Brady background checks, Bernie voted five times against them when he was in the House,' he intoned. Biden earlier slammed at Sanders over the Vermont senator's staple universal healthcare plan. When asked what it will take to unify the country, Biden pointed to the signature health proposal of Sanders. 'Well look, Bernie says that you have to bring people together and we have to have Medicare for All. But Bernie says and he says he wrote the damn thing. But he's unwilling to tell us what the damn thing is going to cost,' Biden charged. 'How much is it going to cost? Who's going to pay for it. It would cost more than the entire the entire federal budget we spend now. More than the entire budget. The idea middle class taxes aren't going to go up is just crazy,' the former vice president said, raising his voice. Biden pointed to implementation of a single-payer healthcare model that was tested, and failed, in Vermont. 'When they did it in Vermont, what happened? They doubled the state income tax, and then had a 14 per cent tax on withholding. And they finally did away with it,' Biden said. 'So how much is it going to cost? When you ask Bernie that and I'll ask him again tonight sometime and if you ask Bernie that, he says, 'Go figure. I don't know. We'll find out.' South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg started the debate by taking a hit at Senator Bernie Sanders accusing him of dividing the Democratic vote with a 'my way or the high way' appraoch Buttigieg on if he thinks there's danger for Dems to nominate someone who is under the threat of investigation: "No. We're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden...This is about an abuse of power by the president." pic.twitter.com/6KuNC7PpGL ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020 Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, who under performed in Iowa, blasted New Hampshire poll leaders Bernie Sanders, right, and Pete Buttigieg in Friday's Democratic debate Some of Biden's comments created a humorous and confusing moment Friday night when he demanded the next president needs to inspire voters to elect more Democratic senators in certain states, including in Minnesota the state Amy Klobuchar represents in the U.S. Senate. 'We must win back the United States Senate this time out,' Biden asserted. 'And that's why as you all look at it up here in New Hampshire and around the world excuse me, around the country you have to ask yourself: Who is most likely to get a senator elected in North Carolina, Georgia. Who can win Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota? Who can do that?' 'Oh seriously?' Klobcuhar interrupted Biden, who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009 before becoming Barack Obama's No. 2. The Minnesota senator's response was met with laughter from the audience and some smirks from those debating on-stage. At this point, the six remaining candidates on stage were raising their hands, both to respond and likely to indicate they felt they could successfully pull off what the former vice president was proposing. 'You can, I agree,' Biden admitted to Klobuchar. 'But here's the point, you've got to be able to. You've got to be able to not just win, you've got to bring along a United States Senate, or this becomes moot,' he concluded in describing what he feels should be a litmus test for the Democratic nominee. (From L) Democratic presidential hopefuls former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gesture during the eighth Democratic primary debate Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg participate in the Democratic presidential primary debate in New Hampshire Senator Klobuchar also earned laughs when she launched attacks at Trump. She said the president repeatedly sided with 'tyrants.' 'He blames his Federal Reserve chair that he appointed himself. He blames the King of Denmark. Who does that?' she posed, earning an enthusiastic response from debate attendees. 'He blames the prime minister of Canada for, he claims, cutting him out of the Canadian version of Home Alone 2. Who does that?!' she continued. Only one candidate on stage Friday night is a minority: Andrew Yang. But race became a prominent issue when billionaire activist Tom Steyer demanded Biden disavow a top surrogate's comments that Steyer says are 'openly racist.' Biden would not go that far, but did claim he felt South Carolina State Senator Dick Harpootlian was sorry for his comments. Steyer's hit at the state senator was in reference to comments Harpootlian made about a Federal Election Commission filing that showing Black Caucus Chairman Jerry Govan receiving 'almost $50,000' from Steyer's campaign. He also called Steyer 'Mr. Money Bags.' 'Is he pocketing the dough or redistributing the wealth?' Harpootlian asked, in reference to Govan. This was the comment accused of being racist. Harpootlian made clear that he does not speak for the Biden campaign and that the comments were not associated with the former vice president. Former New York Mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg was not on the debate stage on Friday but sparked a conversation about campaign fundraising and big-dollar donors Biden also touted during his debate defense that he has 'more support in South Carolina in the Black Caucus' than any other candidate on stage. 'Double what you have or anybody else has,' he continued. One candidate came up during the debate that wasn't even on the stage: Mike Bloomberg and mention of his name flung the debaters into a clash over how they fund their campaigns. 'Look, I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or be President of the United States,' Warren said of Bloomberg, a billionaire former mayor of New York City. 'I don't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I don't think people who sucks up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it,' she continued, referencing her competitors who take money from these individuals. Warren has sworn off big fundraisers but in the past has taken money from big-dollar donors. 'Everyone on this stage except Amy and me is either a billionaire or is receiving help from PACs that can do unlimited spending,' Warren said. 'So if you really want to live what you say, then put your money where your mouth is, and say no to the PACs.' 'Look, I think the way we build a democracy going forward is not billionaires reaching in their own pockets or people sucking up to billionaires. The way we build it going forward is we have a grassroots movement, funded from the grassroots up. That's the way I'm running this campaign,' she said. Pete Buttigieg tweets photo of him next to empty podiums before the Democratic Debate The stage is set for the February 7 Democratic debate in Manchester, New Hampshire Chair of the Democratic National Committee Tom Perez speaks prior to the Democratic presidential primary debate on February 7, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire Senator Elizabeth Warren is in third place in New Hampshire where her supporters campaigned today ahead of Friday's Democratic Debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester Friday marks the return of Andrew Yang to the Democratic debate stage after he didn't meet the Democratic National Committee's thresholds to participate last month Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg rally outside the Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates debate in Manchester, New Hampshire Sanders jumped in, agreeing with his fellow progressive senator, boasting his campaign is solely funded by grass roots contributors. He also claimed Bloomberg only made it this far because of his billions and he called the notion 'nonsense.' 'Unlike some of the folks up here I don't have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign coming from the pharmaceutical industry, coming from Wall Street and all the big money interest,' Sanders said, taking a hit at the Iowa caucus victor. 'If we want to change American, you're not going to do it by electing candidates who are going out to rich people's homes begging for money,' Sanders said. But Buttigieg defended himself. 'We are going into the fight of our lives,' he said, citing how much money the Trump reelection campaign is bringing in. 'We need to go into that fight with everything we've got.' Ahead of the debate, Sanders had a clear lead in New Hampshire polls The Emerson poll had Sanders far ahead of the pack with 32 per cent, followed by Buttigieg with 23. Warren took the same position she did in Iowa - third - with 13 per cent support. Biden slipped into fourth in the New Hampshire poll at 11 per cent after finishing in the same position in Iowa. Sen. Amy Klobuchar needs a boost out of New Hampshire, after coming in fifth place in Iowa Billionaire Tom Steyer will also be onstage with the six other Democratic 2020 hopefuls The Boston Globe-Suffolk University survey released Friday showed Sanders and Buttigieg neck-and-neck, with 24 per cent support and 23 per cent support respectively. Warren again followed with 13 per cent support. And Biden, again, came in fourth with 11 per cent - the same per cent of Democrats who said they remained undecided in the primary, which happens Tuesday. In both new polls, Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in fifth, the place she took in Iowa as well. Later Friday an NBC New/Marist poll showed a similar lay of the land. Sanders was in front with 25 per cent, with Buttigieg trailing within the poll's 4.7 per cent margin of error at 21 per cent. Warren and Biden followed at 14 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. Klobuchar was at 8 per cent. On the debate stage Friday night, these five top candidates will be joined by billionaire Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang, who are both polling in the single digits. The New Hampshire debate marks Yang's return to the debate stage as he didn't meet the required thresholds, mandated by the Democratic National Committee, to make the debate stage in January in Des Moines, Iowa. The Democratic candidates will debate two more times this month. They'll take the stage in Las Vegas on February 19 in the run-up to the Nevada caucuses. Then those who qualify will head to Charleston, South Carolina for a debate on February 25 in advance of South Carolina's primary. A Pakistani court on Saturday granted bail to Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen in two cases of sedition, while his bail applications in two other cases of sedition are pending before the court, a Pakistani media report said, citing Pashteen's lawyers and PTM leaders. The hearings of the two pending bail applications are expected to be held in Dera Ismail Khan court on Monday, PTM lawyer Farhat Afridi told Dawn. "The court announced the reserved verdict today and ordered the release of Manzoor Pashteen on bail in two cases," senior PTM leader Mohsin Dawar said. Pashteen, the 27-year-old activist, was arrested along with nine others on January 27 from Peshawar's Shaheen Town and sent to Peshawar Central Jail on a 14-day judicial remand by a magistrate. His arrest had led to several anti-Pakistan protests in London, Kabul, and other areas. Last month, European Foundation for South Asia Studies (EFSAS) -- a European think-tank -- had criticised Pashteen's arrest, saying it has engendered shock and dismay across Pakistan, as also internationally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Could there be a more perfect time for series three of The Windsors, the spoof comedy about the Royal Family? With all thats been going on recently, the shows writers George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore have barely been able to keep up. But although the series was filmed towards the end of last year when Prince Andrew was more in the spotlight than Harry and Meghan, the writers presciently predicted the couples move to North America. Its a seat-of-the-pants operation, laughs Bert, who alongside George honed his craft on sketch shows such as Ruddy Hell! Its Harry & Paul and The Armstrong & Miller Show, and created Channel 4s spoof celebrity series, Star Stories. Oddly, we predicted a move to America for Meghan and Harry so its almost like events are playing out exactly as we prophesied. 'We saw there was a feud brewing and that there was a bit of unhappiness there, so we thought that might be the upshot of it. The latest series of The Windsors will be released later this month. It will star Kathryn Drysdale as Megan Markle and Tom Durant-Pritchard as Prince Harry (pictured) The show began back in 2016 with the writing duo creating parodies of all the key members of the family apart from the Queen and Prince Philip. I think from the beginning everyone thought the Queens so loved and respected and doesnt do much wrong that it was best to steer clear, explains Bert. Theres not much to take the mickey out of, whereas with the others theres plenty. Series three follows on from the Harry and Meghan royal wedding special in 2018, and sees the couple adjusting to life as new parents with Harry trying to stick to Meghans clean-living ways. Harry is now played by Tom Durant-Pritchard, who starred as Billy Wallace briefly a fiance of Princess Margarets in The Crown, while Kathryn Drysdale continues as Meghan, a role shes been playing since the show began. When I first started playing her all we knew was that she was an actress from LA who had a lifestyle blog and loved her green juices, says Kathryn. But since then there have been more public appearances so there was a lot more stuff for me to research. Harry Enfield plays as Prince Charles (centre left) with Haydn Gwynne (centre right) as Camilla. They are pictured with the rest of the cast including Ellie White as a newly engaged Beatrice, with her sister Eugenie (Celeste Dring) 'I noticed that her accent has muted a bit and thats obviously part of the job. Because shes an American and Prince Harry, Princess Dianas son, found love with her after being single for so long, people are always going to find their narrative interesting whether they had stepped back as senior royals or not. Nevertheless, there are elements of being a member of the Royal Family that Meghan seems to enjoy in the new episodes of The Windsors. Shes using her position as a platform to speak out about the things she truly believes in and superfoods, especially avocados, are one of them, laughs Kathryn. Shes got Harry off the booze and theyve just been to a wellness retreat where she integrated some of her yoga lifestyle into his. 'I dont know if she has a strong hold over Harry in real life, but certainly in the world of our Windsors she does. Tom is relishing playing Harry too. Its such a fun role, he says. Harry is actually still succumbing to some of his old vices like booze, crisps and peanuts, all the things he loves, although hes trying not to. Kathryn has played Meghan since 2016, when she appeared as Prince Harry's new LA girlfriend. Pictured with Richard Goulding as Harry, and Morgana Robinson as Pippa Middleton, in an earlier series of The Windsors 'Its a slightly different vibe to appearing in The Crown, but The Windsors isnt done in a way thats cruel. 'Everything is taken to a ridiculous level and I think thats why its so enjoyable. I think it would be a slightly awkward conversation, though, if I met Harry and he said he watched it. Expect more feuding among the Fab Four Wills (Hugh Skinner), Kate (Louise Ford), Harry and Meghan in the new series, fuelled by incessant meddling from Camilla (Haydn Gwynne). Charles (Harry Enfield) is offered the chance to be the King of America, while newly engaged Beatrice (Ellie White) along with her sister Eugenie (Celeste Dring) and mum Fergie (Katy Wix) are worrying whos going to walk Beatrice down the aisle now that Andrew (Tim Wallers) has withdrawn from public life. The Jeffrey Epstein story is very unpalatable, but it did break while we were filming, as did the interview with Emily Maitlis, so we do have some references in the series, says Bert. Beatrice faces the dilemma that if she has a big wedding she cant invite her dad because hes persona non grata. Since starting in the role Meghan Markle has made more public appearances, meaning Kathryn has had to do her research. Kathryn is pictured on the Lorraine Show in 2017, left, and Meghan in January, right 'If she had a small wedding he could come, but shed like a big wedding like her sister had. Its a dilemma that may be happening in real life as well. Bert and George claim theyve heard the show has had a mixed reaction from the royals. William did a talk at Channel 4 and hed obviously watched it because he made reference to it, says George. But it didnt seem like he was cross. Weve heard other people are very slightly cross about it, like Charles and Fergie. But its all hearsay. Neither Bert nor George is a royalist, and they believe its vital that parodies of such institutions exist, whether you like them or not. Things like The Crown can be quite reverential to the Royal Family, so its great to be able to take the mickey, says Bert. Having said that, we try to make all our characters loveable. The trick is to win over both those who are fans of the Royal Family and those who arent. I think weve pulled that off. The Windsors will air later this month on Channel 4. EDWARDSVILLE A decision on rezoning that would allow a Rosewood Heights business to obtain a packaged liquor license will be delayed until next month, after new rules that would make it more difficult to obtain video gaming are expected to be in place. Sejul Patel, owner of the Farm Fresh store at 740 E. Airline Drive, had requested the property be rezoned to B-2 General Business District from R-3 Single Family Residential. The business, which has been there since 1970, is allowed as a nonconforming use. Patel said he wants to be able to sell packaged liquor at the store. Without that, he said they have difficulty in staying competitive; citing changes to the minimum wage, and issues with dairy distributors. The request had been denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals. As with the zoning hearing, a number of people spoke in opposition to the request, citing the residential nature of the area, nearby youth softball facilities on church property, and the desire to keep the store kid-friendly. A major concern was that allowing the property to be rezoned B-2 would eventually allow Patel to bring in video gaming machines. After considerable discussion, in which a majority of the members appeared to be leaning toward opposing the rezoning, the committee approved postponing a decision until after the County Board meeting Feb. 19. Among items to be considered with be text amendments to the zoning code. One of those would limit video gaming to eating and drinking establishments, meaning bars or restaurants, rather than any business able to obtain a Class A, or pour liquor license. By delaying a decision, it would require the business to make major changes to obtain the necessary permits for video gaming that would most likely be denied. The earliest any zoning changes could be approved would be the March County Board meeting. Four other requests were approved. That included two zoning requests for property in Fort Russell Township that would allow plans for a hemp processing facility to move forward. Mind Inc., doing business as Oleo Sciences, had requested rezoning to a planned unit development on two parcels, both located in the 5900 block of Illinois State Route 140 near Moro. Both had been zoned B-4 and are currently used for an excavation company, which would remain at the location at least for the near future. The company would service small to mid-sized hemp farmers and would extract CBD oils and remove unwanted THC. Eventually they want to develop a manufacturing facility for hemp-based packaging. Also approved was a controversial request for an amendment to a B-5 planned business district site plan by December Investments LLC and owners Ryan and Kristin Kneedler, for property at 1008 Troy-OFallon Road. The vote on that development had been postponed from November to allow the petitioners to make changes to the plan. The Kneedlers want to place a professional office building and rental storage units on the property. Numerous residents objected at the original hearing, primarily to the storage facility. There have been numerous objections to the proposal. The committee also approved a request by the Mitchell Public Water District for a variance to construct a 90-foot telecommunications tower on its property at 745 E. Chain of Rocks Road, Granite City. The tower would be used for an automated water meter reading system. The committee also approved a resolution authorizing demolitions at 8319 Fairway Boulevard, Collinsville; 2221 and 2116 Miracle Ave., Granite City; and 3745 Drexelius Road, Bethalto; an annual $39,000 grant for the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District; $60,000 in funding for stormwater policy and floodplain management consulting services; and $42,627 for the continuation of the Madison County Green Schools Program. All the committees actions must go to the full County Board for approval at its Feb. 19 meeting. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Kolkata, Feb 8 : A 12-year-old girl studying in class VII was allegedly gang-raped by four youths including two of her intimate friends, all in their 20s, when she accompanied them to a birthday party, police said. According to the complainant, the four men made her drunk and then took her to a house in South Kolkata's Ekbalpore where they repeatedly raped her on Thursday evening. All four alleged perpetrators were arrested on Friday and a case of gang rape and sections under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act slapped against them. All four men Amarjit Chowpal (21), Manoj Sharma (22), Vikas Mallick (25) and Ritwik Ram (25) are school dropouts. Chowpal and Sharma, who reside in a slum in Parnashree, had befriended the girl. All four would be presented before the city sessions court on Saturday. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM led Left Front Government in Kerala utilised the budget speech on Friday to launch a scathing attack on the Citizenship Amendment Act. The cover picture of the budget speech featuring the painting of Mahatma Gandhis also triggered a controversy. The Left Government defended the picture saying it was to remind the people that Hindu communalists were behind the gruesome murder. Reading out the budget speech Finance Minister Thomas Isaac painted a grim picture of the country. Democracy and dictatorship are standing face to face in India. The rulers in Delhi speak only in the language of hatred and rancour. The administrative set up has completely yielded to communalism, he alleged. Isaac said the threat of detention camps is hanging over 19 lakh Assamese. In this backdrop, the unity shown by the ruling and opposition parties in Kerala in fighting against CAA, was a model for the rest of the country. The CM and Opp-osition leader sitting in Satyagraha against CAA on the same platform, passing of unanimous resolution against CAA and filing of suit in Supreme Court against CAA sent out a powerful message to the whole country. The Congress led opposition expressed reservations about the use of Mahatma Gandhi assassination picture on the cover of budget speech. Opposition leader Mr Ramesh Chennithala said it was not appropriate to use the picture on budget speech. The BJP on the other hand said the Left government was using such tactics to divert the attention of people from its failure on all fronts. The finance minister, however, defended the decision to use Mahatma Gandhi assassination picture saying that it reminded the people about the act of Hindu communalists. The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) is urging the Ontario Government to reconsider its decision to shut down the Allied Health Professional Development Fund. The fund has helped allied health professionals in Ontario, including thousands of medical radiation technologists (MRTs) working across the province, to access essential continuing professional development opportunities. The Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences (OAMRS) led by Greg Toffner, CEO, has been working tirelessly to convince the Ontario Government to continue this important funding. The CAMRT fully supports the position taken by OAMRS. We urge the Ontario Government to collaborate with OAMRS and reconsider their decision to withdraw funding for this program for the good of all Ontarians. Ontarios Health Minister, Christine Elliott, claims that the governments rationale for terminating the program is that the Ontario Government is now focusing as much funding as possible on front line patient care. Continuing professional development is by no means a luxury; it is essential to ensuring that healthcare professionals are up-to-date with new research, best practices, technological advances, safety protocols and other developments in their field of practice, said Irving Gold, CAMRTs CEO. The importance of these educational offerings is reflected in the fact that CMRITO, the regulatory authority for Ontarios MRTs with the mandate of protecting the public, requires 25 hours a year in order to maintain certification. It is unclear to me how the Ontario government is defining front-line care, but MRTs do indeed provide front-line care to millions of Ontarians each year, said Gailyne MacPherson, CAMRT President. Removing funding for continuing education for a profession that operates in such a rapidly changing technological environment. This decision will ultimately undermine the governments desire to focus on improved patient care. OAMRS is currently meeting with non-cabinet MPPs of the PC Caucus who are most likely to pressure the Minister to review the decision. Ten meetings have been scheduled to date. About the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) is the national professional association and certifying body for radiological, nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging technologists and radiation therapists. With more than 12,000 members nationally and 3,000 members in the province of Ontario, the CAMRT is a strong advocate for quality patient care in medical imaging and radiation therapy. For more information, please contact: Christopher Topham Director, Advocacy and Communications 1-800-463-9729 ext/poste 230 ctopham@camrt.ca Nobody likes to be disliked, but I learned a long time ago that if you want to be liked and the price is not doing the right thing, then you made the wrong decision. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SHANNON VANRAES Premier Brian Pallister, pictured during a press conference last month, appears poised to launch a leadership bid for the Conservative Party of Canada, writes editor Matt Goerzen. (File) "Nobody likes to be disliked, but I learned a long time ago that if you want to be liked and the price is not doing the right thing, then you made the wrong decision." Premier Brian Pallister "(Brian Pallister) doesnt fit the mould a lot of people see in their leaders. He likes to have his own principles in how he governs himself and he isnt going to change them, no matter what people think he should do." Philip Houde, Brian Pallisters former chief of staff Somewhere around a dinner table this weekend, Brian Pallister is spending some time with his wife Esther and their family. Perhaps hes here in frigid Manitoba warming his toes around the family hearth and eyeing Fridays dropping mercury with ire like the rest of us. The more likely scenario is that he has left the country for his property in the Tamarindo area of Costa Rica for a bit of a family vacation in the sun. The truth is, the public is not privy to his whereabouts. Where he is decidedly not, however, is in Washington, D.C., for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association like a few of his peers. A spokeswoman for Pallister confirmed to the Winnipeg Free Press on Thursday that the Manitoba premier would not be hobnobbing with the likes of Saskatchewans Scott Moe, Albertas Jason Kenney, Ontarios Doug Ford, Quebecs Francois Legault and New Brunswicks Blaine Higgs in Washington this weekend for the three-day meeting that began Friday. From our vantage point, he has a right to his vacation time. That said, his absence at this glorified international photo-op on trade has predictably drawn the ire of NDP finance critic Mark Wasyliw, who said the premier should have worked his holiday schedule around such an event. "Everybody is entitled to a vacation, but I think as premier you have a duty to Manitobans to promote our exports, especially with our largest trading partner," Wasyliw said. "We need to grow our economy in Manitoba to pay for health care, for the services Manitobans rely on, and this is the government being asleep at the switch." Its an odd criticism, really, considering that the first three years of the Pallister government were defined by political attempts to remove trade barriers for Manitoba goods, both internationally and inter-provincially. That aside, its worth asking the question whether Brian Pallister feels that being photographed with Doug Ford, Jason Kenney and Scott Moe blue Tories all is good for him politically. Ford, Moe and Kenney governments have been getting a significant amount of negative press over the past year. Not only are Kenney and Moe sabre rattling about Western separatism to a largely uninterested rest of Canada, Kenneys approach has been decidedly Trump-esque. Consider this comment by University of Lethbridge political sociologist Trevor Harrison in the Edmonton Journal late last month: "Riding a wave of populist hate and anger, the United Conservative Party of Jason Kenney has, since the spring 2019 election, been bending and changing the rules of normal political practice. Kenney does not emulate Trumps style, of course. He is a more practised speaker, less given to off-the-cuff rants, but no less calculating in his aims. "Ultimately, the UCPs actions are designed for one purpose: to politically threaten, financially cripple and bring to heel any individual or group that dare stand against it. In very Trumpian fashion, the UCP is subtly or not so subtly trying to bring about a new normal of authoritarian rule. Albertans of all political persuasions should be concerned." Ford, who has never been shy of courting controversial statements and actions, decided to wade into American politics on Friday while in Washington, according to a CTV news story, taking shots at United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders, "while expressing his desire to see the re-election of President Donald Trump." In a Canada where an Abacus Data survey last year found that nearly eight in 10 Canadians would prefer to see a Democrat any Democrat in the White House than sit through another term of President Trump, Fords comments would seem to hit a discordant note. Whatever the NDP or Liberals in Manitoba may say about the Manitoba premiers style of politics and his tendency to be overly secretive regarding his vacation time in Costa Rica with his family, they would have a hard time pinning any of these far-right statements and actions on Pallister. The Kenneys and Fords of this country are not Pallisters kind of people and will serve him no political good. Perhaps that is why we hear essentially nothing these days about the New West Partnership trade agreement with Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. Its almost as if, in the wake of Wexit, the partnership is on hold, or sidetracked. Its certainly not politically expedient. It was Brian Pallister, too, who took the road less travelled by Canadas conservatives following the re-election of Justin Trudeau to a minority government. "Were going to make the country work; we work together on it, we make a commitment to it. Its a relationship," Pallister said at the time. "My wife and I have been together for 35 years, and we dont get stronger as a couple by threatening to leave every week." This statesman-like comment was followed up by a charm offensive in November where he tempered previously turbulent waters between his government and that of Trudeaus Liberals during a trip to Ottawa. But to what end? Weve been asking ourselves why Mr. Pallister decided to change his tone with Ottawa so abruptly. A few months ago, another Abacus Data poll suggested that Manitobas sometimes testy premier would have a "decent shot at leadership" of the federal Tories, should he decide to seek the position even as he counted himself out of the running. But his decision not to seek the leadership of the national party came long before many of the apparent front-runners had bowed out heavyweights like Jean Charest, Rona Ambrose, Brad Wall and Pierre Polievre. The list of currently approved candidates is not lengthy anymore and not especially inspiring. Former Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay is the strongest among them, and yet since throwing his hat into the ring, MacKay has stumbled more than once over his own gaffes and mistakes. As National Post columnist John Ivison wrote this week, MacKays missteps have given new life to the "anyone-but-MacKay" campaign that seems to be growing within the party rank and file. After Erin OToole, the MP for Durham, a social conservative who will have a difficult time making any breakthroughs in Ontario and Quebec all thats left is a cavalcade of non-starters and wannabes who are little-known outside of their own constituencies. It would be foolish to discount a politician such as Brian Pallister, who once ran for the leadership of Canadas Progressive Conservative Party in 1998, and who at one point had considered running for the newly formed Conservative Party of Canada upon the merger of the Canadian Alliance and old PCs. Pallister is a man of great ambition who has fiercely guarded his privacy his own and that of his familys over the years. If he was ever going to consider a run for national leadership, he has never been in a better position to make the leap. Though his character is hardly warm and fuzzy, he has led the Manitoba Tories through two successful election campaigns and secured two strong majorities in the process. He has said and done all the right things since his re-election to be given serious consideration on a national platform as a successful, thoughtful elder statesman. We could be cynical and suggest this is a highly calculated move which of course, it is. But its difficult to argue with success. And Peter MacKay would find him a formidable opponent in any leadership race. So were left to wonder if Pallisters time with family, at this precise time in the national political discourse, has more to do with making a decision as a family than taking a break from the snow and the cold. Conversations round the dinner table stranger things have happened. Matt Goerzen, editor Albany Last falls hunting season was the safest on record in New York with just one death and a dozen shooting injuries, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Even while hunting numbers have declined since the state first started tracking accidents in the 1960s, the 2019 season was notable for the low number of mishaps. According to DEC the number of hunters in New York has fallen about 20 percent since the 1960s, but the accident rate among the states roughly half million hunters is down almost 80 percent, which is attributed to better education. The current five-year average is 1.8 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 hunters in the 1960s. Still, there were some accidents last year including at least one fatality, in Herkimer County, when a hunter discharged a round at close range into the victims neck and shoulder area during a deer drive, a DEC report notes. Some of the injuries involved non-hunters, including the driver of a vehicle struck by a round that shattered the glass of the vehicle, cutting the victims face. In Onondaga County a motorist was hit in the neck by a round that came in the passenger side window and left through the drivers side. In Wayne County, a passenger in a vehicle was hit in the cheek with a shotgun pellet that had been fired across the road. And a turkey hunter in Steuben County was shot in his middle finger by his stepfather. In Tioga County, a hunter was hit in the back and arm when he picked up a bird he had shot and his dog jumped up to grab it, causing his shotgun to go off. Several more mishaps involved tree stands, or platforms mounted in trees that hunters use to get an overhead view of their quarry. One man in Cayuga County caught a 9 mm round in his leg when the stand that he was carrying on his back shifted and set off the handgun he had in his pocket. Broken ribs, concussions, internal bleeding and even a broken thigh resulted from tree stand accidents. People either fell out of the stands or tumbled when an old stand or stairs collapsed. One man had his leg impaled by a screw as he was climbing his homemade tree stand. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. More for you Bill would ban use of drones in hunting Tree stand deaths have increased in recent years, according to DEC. While there were none in 2019, six people died in 2017. None of those people had harnesses nor did they have them attached to a tree. Harness are viewed as an important safety precaution when climbing tree stands which can be up to 30 feet high. The DEC sold about 420,000 licenses of all kind last year. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which uses a slightly different measure, there were 564,612 paid hunting license holders in the state in 2019. In 1958 there were 998,448. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU U.S. Bank said Friday night that it has offered to rehire both the Portland employees it fired for helping a customer on Christmas Eve, and that one of the two has accepted the offer. The other, however, says she has yet to receive a formal offer from the bank and wants it to take additional steps to rectify the situation before she considers returning. U.S. Bank attracted national criticism after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported the company had fired a Portland customer service representative and her supervisor. The customer service rep, Emily James, came to the rescue of a client whose paycheck had been placed on hold by the bank. The customer, Marc Eugenio, was at a gas station on Christmas Eve and couldnt access his funds to buy gas. So James drove to the station and gave him $20. A week later, on New Years Eve, U.S. Bank fired both James and her supervisor, Abigail Gilbert. The bank initially said it was against corporate policy to discuss personnel matters but later blamed James for the situation, saying she broke the rules and put her safety in danger, and that she had a history of disciplinary issues. U.S. Bank steadfastly defended its decision until last Saturday, when New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof published a stinging critique of the firings. Kristof wrote that the banks accusations against James appeared unsubstantiated. Late Saturday night, more than a month after the firings but just hours after Kristofs column appeared, U.S. Bank CEO Andy Cecere reversed the banks position and apologized for the firings. He promised I will fix this. The bank said Friday that it has offered to rehire both James and her supervisor, Abigail Gilbert. U.S. Bank fell short of our and others expectations and we sincerely apologize, the bank said in a written statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The bank said Cecere has spoken to both James and Gilbert and asked them to return to the company. We are committed to understanding how we can learn from these events and make the right changes so they do not reoccur, the bank said. U.S. Bank said Gilbert has agreed to return to work next week as a call center supervisor. The company said James is considering a return, too. Gilbert couldnt immediately be reached for comment Friday. James, however, said she has not actually received a formal offer. It would be hard to go back given the defamatory comments that were made about me, James wrote Friday in a text message to The Oregonian/OregonLive. They would also have to make things right with Marc (Eugenio, the customer she helped) before I could consider any offer, James wrote. All offers have to go through my attorney and U.S. Bank has yet to respond to his correspondence with them. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 -- Samantha Swindler; sswindler@oregonian.com; @editorswindler Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. - Mlekenyi Mwakio was a young boy back then when the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta used to hide inside the Kino caves - There, the former president would meet with his fellow freedom fighters to plan for the independence of Kenya - Mwakio's late mother, Sylvia Manga Mwakio, is said to be the one who used to cook food for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta - Mwakio's responsibility was to deliver the food to the founding president of Kenya - He said there was a second cave that was used to hold a meeting between Mzee Jomo and the late Mzee Julius Nyerere - Other freedom fighters who met him at the cave were Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Paul Ngei, Achieng Oneko, Bildad Kagia and Mbiyu Koinange - He narrated that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was introduced to a local powerful witchdoctor who used supernatural powers to advise him - Mwakio who currently manages the caves said people claimed that he resembled Mzee Jomo Located in the heart of Wundanyi constituency in Taita Taveta county at Mwanguwi Trading Centre, Jomo Kenyatta caves carries a major history of the founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. The caves sit on land belonging to the late Zephania Nyambu, who welcomed Mzee Kenyatta when he hid inside them which are locally known as Kino caves. READ ALSO: Desperate Limuru woman arrested for sneaking into school to visit son she last saw 10 years ago Mwakio who currently manages the caves said that a number of people who came to visit claim that he resembled Mzee Jomo. Photo: Monica Wambugha. Source: Original READ ALSO: Meet Kiambu woman who received late Mzee Moi, foreign leaders at JKIA with bouquets of flowers Kenyatta spent his time hiding from the British from 1948 to 1952. The caves are five in number but there was one which the former president used to meet with his fellow freedom fighters to plan for the independence of Kenya. According to Mlekenyi Mwakio, who was a young boy back then, the meeting used to be called njama which meant plan. Mwakio also said his late mother Sylvia Manga Mwakio used to cook food for Mzee Jomo at the time and his responsibility was to take it to him. READ ALSO: Chinese doctor who warned the world of deadly coronavirus dies of the disease Mwakio said that his late mother used to cook food for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, at that time and his responsibility was to take it to him. Photo: Monica Wambugha. Source: Original After my mother cooked food, she used to send me to take it to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. That enabled me to study various plans that used to take place in different caves, said Mwakio. According to him, there was a second cave that was used to hold a meeting between Mzee Jomo and his Tanzanian counterpart the late Mzee Julius Nyerere. That was where the two former leaders used to plan how they were going to overthrow the colonial government. He said the caves were also used by other freedom fighters who made history in the struggle to ensure Kenya gained its independence. READ ALSO: Kakamega Primary School: AP officer loses daughter in stampede 4 months after burying husband The caves sit on land belonging to the late Zephania Nyambu, who welcomed Mzee Kenyatta when he hid inside them. Photo: Monica Wambugha. Source: Original Among them were Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Paul Ngei, Achieng Oneko, Bildad Kagia and Mbiyu Koinange. Mwakio said the third cave used to be the kitchen where her mother, Manga, used to cook food for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the other freedom fighters. He narrated how Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was introduced to a local powerful witchdoctor known as Mwakishaulua Mkamba. He noted that Mwakishalua used supernatural powers where he would know what was going to happen. READ ALSO: Comedy queen Mercy of Luhya comic series Choffuri dies in road accident Mwakio revealed a bed made of leather which the former president used to sleep on. Photo: Monica Wambugha. Source: Original The witchdoctor is also said to have known the best tackle the freedom fighter used to successfully topple the British colony and its administration. Long time ago, our fathers never took any step until they consulted with a witchdoctor in an effort to confirm whether their decision will be safe or not," said Mwakio. "A goats intestines were read by the witchdoctor to determine the real course of action that will make their mission successful without any setbacks, he added. That was why his father introduced Mwakishalua to Mzee Jomo and he would foretell where he should pass without getting caught by the British and what to do in order to achieve freedom. READ ALSO: Meet Richard Akoto, hardworking teacher who taught Microsoft Word without computer This was the comb that Mzee Jomo Kenyatta used to comb his hair in a signature pushback style. Photo: Monica Wambugha. Source: Original I was told the rituals worked wonders as every step they took proved to be working in favor of the freedom fighters, said Mwakio. He further narrated how Mwakishalua could make freedom fighters become invisible to the enemies eyes, even when they were present, the fighters could pass them unnoticed. The went on to reveal a bed made of leather which the former president used to sleep on and a comb that he used to comb his hair in a signature pushback style. There was also an old sewing machine that was used to repair his torn clothes together with those of other freedom fighters. READ ALSO: Sarah Wairimu Cohen awaona mbwa wake waliokuwa wakizuiliwa na polisi This was the an old sewing machine that was used to repair Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's torn clothes together with those of other freedom fighters. Photo: Monica Wambugha Source: Original There was also a pendant that Mzee Jomo used to stick on his clothes. Mwakio who currently manages the caves also said that a number of people who came to visit could not help but notice that he resembled Mzee Jomo. I know my father is Zephania Nyambu Mwakio but many people who come here say that I have a striking resemblance with Mzee Jomo," he said. "Some even refer to me as the presidents brother, added Mwakio as he laughed about it. READ ALSO: Meet Kenyan shy philanthropist who has been feeding 40k people for the past 12 years There was also a pendant that Mzee Jomo used to stick on his clothes. Photo: Monica Wambugha Source: Original Some villagers especially those who were born at the time Kenya got its independence also admitted that Mwakio has a striking resemblance with Mzee Jomo in photos. Mwakio is the one that has all the history about what transpired back in the days when Mzee Jomo was hiding in the caves. But looking at him he looks exactly like Mzee Jomo, said Keke Mndwadimisha, one of the villagers. If you hear Mwakio speak especially while imitating what Mzee Jomo used to say and play both audios, their voices are identical. And not only that but they also look alike, said Mwawasi Mwawana, another villager. Story by Monica Wambugha, TUKO Correspondent, Taita Taveta county. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly I want to give away my baby - Esther Kimotho | My Story | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke We are very sad to report the passing of Frank Losonsky this past Thursday, the last known surviving member of the legendary American Volunteer Group (AVG). Of course this unit is perhaps better known today by their nickname, the Flying Tigers. The AVG numbered 311 personnel from maintenance crewmen, to nurses, to administrators, to pilots recruited from the ranks of the U.S. military by Claire Chennault in mid-1941, to help the Chinese Air Force take on the invading Imperial Japanese horde. They were volunteers though, and had to officially leave U.S. service before heading to the Orient and an unknown fate. Of course, the U.S. Army Air Forces officially joined the fight in December, 1941, amalgamating remnants of the AVG into the 23rd Fighter Group, in mid-1942. The American Volunteer Groups nickname stuck though, and the 23rd FG has been known as the Flying Tigers ever since. Frank Losonsky had been in the U.S. Army Air Corps for about two years when the AVG came calling at Selfridge Field in May, 1941. They painted an adventurous picture to the young man, who promptly signed up and was soon sailing with his comrades in arms to Rangoon, Burma. The three squadrons of Curtiss P-40s formed the backbone of the AVG fighting force: 1st Squadron (Adam & Eves); 2nd Squadron (Panda Bears) and the 3rd Squadron (Hells Angels). Losonsky became a crew chief with the Hells Angels. When the AVG disbanded on July 4, 1942, some of them stayed on in China as civilians to help train members of the 23rd FG, but quite a number decided to return home to the USA to rejoin their original services; many had to make their own way back. It wasnt easy for Frank, who had to wend his way around the world, via South Africa, before he eventually found himself back in the States. He got married in the interim, and then returned to China as a mechanic with China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) a quasi-civilian airline which took part in the massive logistics operation flying supplies between India and China over the Himalayan Mountains (better known as the Hump) during the period when Japanese forces had cut off the norma land route via the Burma Road. After the war he joined TransAsiatic Airlines in Burma, eventually becoming a pilot himself Four years ago, our very own Moreno Aguiari played host to Frank Losonsky, inviting him to the Atlanta Warbird Weekend air show at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport near Atlanta. Frank had a great time being feted by both participants and visitors alike. He even flew in the backseat of the former Texas Flying Legends P-40: What a great experience! he exclaimed after the P-40 performed a couple of barrel rolls! Moreno Aguiari stated: In 2016 I had the honor to meet Frank Losonsky and Chuck Baisden (3rd Squadron armorer) on the occasion of the Atlanta Warbird Weekend, which in that year was dedicated to the 75th Anniversary of the American Volunteer Group. The CAF Dixie Wing hosted the 75th Anniversary AVG Flying Tigers Reunion of Tigers and their families. Mr Losonsky impressed me for his very military like poise and an incredible sense of pride to represent the men of the American Volunteer Group. I believe at that time he was 93 years old, but his was still well spoken and his mind was still very much sharp. His fascinating stories were rich in detail. Thanks to Bernie Vasquez and the sadly-shuttered Texas Flying Legends Museums Chief Pilot Warren Pietsch, we were able to fly Mr. Losonsky in one of the museums P-40 Warhawks. It goes without saying that Frank enjoyed the flight very much, but even in those circumstance, he maintained that very military like poise! Losonsky and his son, Terry, wrote a book about his adventures with the AVG entitled, Flying Tiger: A Crew Chiefs Story: The War Diary of an AVG Crew Chief, which makes fascinating reading. Its certainly good to see the story told from the point of view of a crew chief, rather than the more typical pilots story, which is more commonly told. But Frank Losonskys passing, aged 99, sadly marks the end of an era, he was indeed the last of the tigers By IANS MALDIVES: A female tourist was arrested from non-resort island of Maafusi here for wearing bikini. A video of the incident went viral where a woman is seen struggling against three police officers of which one is trying to cover her up with a beach towel. Maldives Police Service Commissioner Mohamed Hameed even made a public apology after the arrest of the woman. The woman in the video was shouting in a British accent, "You are sexually assaulting me." The wearing of bikinis is not illegal on the island but it is "strictly prohibited" in all areas other than in holiday resorts. Joe Biden, the former vice president and perceived front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, came in a distant fourth in the cornfield caucuses. And he wasnt even the biggest loser in Iowa. That would be the Democratic Party. The parade of screw-ups that led to there being no clear Iowa winner highlighted a ridiculous decision by party leaders letting a farm state that has little in common with the rest of the country, either politically or demographically, set the course of the Democratic nomination. They got what they deserved. The caucus system is basically an all-night tug-of-war between activists, with a point system that makes ranked-choice voting sound simple. Add in a never-ending series of repetitive candidate debates, toss in another unrepresentative state contest right after Iowa (New Hampshire), and you have a recipe for turning off all the voters who actually matter to the Democrats. It all reinforces the impression that we have no idea what were doing. Republicans no longer have to work to suppress the vote. We do it to ourselves. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders both claimed victory in Iowa, and who knows which one really got the most votes? But the real winner was Mike Bloomberg the race is still so fractured that theres a chance hell be a player when the states where hes competing start voting. The only way Bloomberg can actually get nominated is if no one has enough delegates heading into the convention to win on a first ballot. I know there hasnt been a brokered Democratic convention since 1952, before many of you were born. But a lot of things have happened in the past four years that we havent seen before. Rip it up: House Speaker Nancy Pelosis page-by-page tear-up of her copy of the State of the Union address will go down as the most memorable moment of the 80-minute Tour de Trump. Its the closest Ive seen to her using the F-word. As for the speech, like it or not, it was President Trumps strongest performance. A carefully paced and choreographed show, where he hit every mark, word and pause for ultimate effect. He went back to being a reality show star. And he stuck to the script and dramatized the speech by adding everything from a very sick Rush Limbaugh to a mother with a saved child to the reuniting of a combat soldier in full dress uniform with his family. The content was heavy on the fictional side, but thats what you get in the State of the Union speech, anyway. And it was accurate enough on the economy and unemployment on every point but one. The recovery started with President Barack Obama, not Trump. It was all made for TV, and I suspect we are going to see it on TV ads for his re-election. Movie time: The Last Full Measure. Chances are you havent heard of this movie, which is based on the true story of a group of Vietnam veterans effort to have a long-overdue Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to the medic who saved their lives in an ambush. Great performances by Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Plummer, Ed Harris, William Hurt and the late Peter Fonda. Hows that for a cast? Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The Rhythm Section. I mistakenly thought this was a jazz musical. Im glad I saw it anyway, because this is one heck of a movie. Blake Lively stars as a druggie prostitute whose family was lost in a plane crash. I wont spoil the various plot twists, but it turns into Atomic Blonde without the tech or hair dye. Parting shot: You might want to think twice before messing with former state Sen. Roderick Wright. The longtime Democratic lawmaker was honored at an NAACP fundraiser the other day in Sacramento, where he talked about his 2014 felony conviction for not living in the Los Angeles district where he owned a home, something a lot of lawmakers were doing at the time. Wright served a total of 71 minutes in jail and was pardoned in 2018 by Gov. Jerry Brown as he was headed out the door. Let me tell you, getting that pardon was a relief, Wright told the crowd. I owned 12 guns when I was convicted, and it really hurt to have to give them up, Wright said. And the minute the governor signed the pardon, I went and got them all back. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com Welcome to Opinions commentary for the Feb. 7 Democratic presidential candidate debate in Manchester, N.H. In this special feature, Times Opinion writers rank the candidates on a scale of 1 to 10: 1 means the candidate probably didnt belong on the stage and should probably drop out; 10 means its on, President Trump. Heres what our columnists and contributors thought about the debate. Read what our columnists and contributors thought of the January debate. Amy Klobuchar Jamelle Bouie (7/10) Klobuchar sounded confident and aggressive, willing and able to go after her competitors. Her defense of experience, in particular, was strong. More and more, she looks like a real alternative for moderate Democrats. Elizabeth Bruenig (7.5/10) Klobuchar knows what she wants to be (a flinty, unflinching moderate) and she is good at performing it (presumably because she is a flinty, unflinching moderate). Jorge Castaneda (7.5/10) Her closing statement was her best moment of the night: moving, ingenious, eloquent. She had strong stances on impeachment and Obama, but lacked them on other issues. Michelle Goldberg (9/10) She managed to shred Buttigieg while coming off as funny and sensible. Her final riff on F.D.R. was masterful. Nicole Hemmer (9/10) Klobuchar is the purest test of whether debates matter. If they do, shell surge in the polls she nailed every single answer tonight. Liz Mair (9/10) She delivered attention-grabbing knocks on opponents, looked and sounded presidential and full of heart. And kept bringing it back to Trump. She knocked him even more effectively than she knocked Buttigieg with the cartoons jab. Daniel McCarthy (4/10) She injects legislative reality into the wishful policy thinking of the rest. But that doesnt make a case for her as president. Bret Stephens (10/10) Klobuchar had her best night of the campaign and should be recognized as the debates victor. Her closing lines, playing off of the memory of F.D.R., were as convincing as they were canny. Mimi Swartz (10/10) Solid, knowledgeable; still a mystery why she isnt gaining more ground. No snotty one-liners, no cheap shots. She radiated sincerity and commitment. Will Wilkinson (9/10) She shook every nickel from grandpas coffee can and left it all onstage. She shivved Buttigieg for greenhorn temerity, lightly red-baited Sanders and finished big with a quavering paean to empathy. If New Hampshires not feeling it, shes done. Bernie Sanders Jamelle Bouie (7/10) Sanders is consistently strong in these debates, skilled at taking any question and pivoting directly into his central pitch. He did exactly what he needed to do to hold his position in the race. Elizabeth Bruenig (9/10) What makes Sanders a true radical is his impatience for superficial and peripheral matters and his keen focus on underlying causes. He laid out a vision for total war on the roots of so much (though not all) American misery. He also excoriated the past few decades of American foreign policy, named Saudia Arabia as a major American foe and got a quick snuggle from Joe Biden. All in all, a pretty good night. Jorge Castaneda (8/10) Very good on impeachment, and surprisingly anti-isolationist. The only clear voice on putting climate change first. Michelle Goldberg (8/10) Hes the clear front-runner and many in the party have grave doubts about him, but he took far fewer hits than Buttigieg. Nicole Hemmer (8/10) Sanders deftly balanced policy and principle, defending his agenda while repeatedly underscoring the damage Donald Trump has done and the danger he represents. Liz Mair (6/10) Its the same show every time. You either love it or you hate it. Daniel McCarthy (7/10) Passion and a willingness to name the interests he thinks are destroying America make him the fields leader, though lack of practicality may cost him the nomination. Bret Stephens (7/10) A lifetime of rigid ideological consistency has its advantages when it comes to trotting out talking points. But the repetition can get tedious. Isnt a foolish consistency the hobgoblin of little minds? Mimi Swartz (8.5/10) Quick, sharp, didnt falter. Defended socialism well, but thats not a path to victory. Wish someone had asked him about those sexist bros, though. Will Wilkinson (8/10) Sanders held strong in the face of the moderators invitation to others to attack his democratic socialism, made his standard compelling pitch and took no real damage. Hes firmly in the drivers seat. Elizabeth Warren Jamelle Bouie (8/10) Every answer Warren gave was strong. She even put pressure on Buttigieg, hitting him in a way he couldnt recover from. But she didnt get the same speaking time as her competitors and its not clear shell get the boost she needs to overcome either Buttigieg or Sanders. Elizabeth Bruenig (8/10) Warren had a difficult dual task in this debate to peel back center-leaning supporters lost to the young mayor without losing left-leaning supporters to the elder senator. She played her hits anti-corruption, anti-monopoly, pro-regulation, with a strong pitch for the future: If universal child care doesnt sound good to you, I would love for you to hold at least one of my kids while I monitor the next debate. Jorge Castaneda (7/10) She continues to be the most substantive of the candidates. In the end she does not seem to connect with voters. Michelle Goldberg (7/10) She didnt get enough speaking time, but the question about child poverty set her up for a great peroration. Nicole Hemmer (6/10) Warren delivered her usual sharp, studied answers but nothing about her performance will catapult her out of a third-place standing in New Hampshire. Liz Mair (6/10) An O.K. debate, but before wading in on race and discrimination issues, she might review her campaign; in Nevada, some women of color left in frustration. And stop beginning sentences with so or look. Daniel McCarthy (4/10) She can be sharp on policy but comes off as more exasperated than energizing second fiddle to Sanders. Bret Stephens (5/10) The senator from Massachusetts needed to crush it to recover from her weak finish in Iowa. She didnt succeed. Mimi Swartz (6/10) Faltering, too reliant on the same old talking points and applause lines. Maybe she could leave investigating Trump to federal prosecutors in New York? Calling Buttigieg a suck up was pretty funny. Will Wilkinson (8/10) Warren was incisive, passionate and persuasive, offering compelling pitches on corruption, racial justice and Afghanistan. But she was hurt by a lack of airtime, despite her top-three standing. Pete Buttigieg Jamelle Bouie (6/10) If you judge candidates by their ability to mouth platitudes, then Buttigieg was the winner. If you judge them by the substance of their remarks, then Buttigieg clearly flailed when he couldnt pivot to vaguely inspirational rhetoric. Elizabeth Bruenig (5/10) Now he knows what it feels like to mount the stage a front-runner. Klobuchar has had a wickedly cutting way of dispatching Buttigieg. This time around it was a tough and profound critique to recover from, and he didnt. Jorge Castaneda (7.5/10) He came across as more authentic, but also blatantly evaded questions. Michelle Goldberg (6/10) He was, as always, mostly fluent, but he had no answer for the question about egregious racial disparities in marijuana arrests when he was mayor of South Bend. Nicole Hemmer (6/10) Eventually Buttigieg will need to win states with a significant black vote, and with every debate he makes that less and less likely. Liz Mair (5/10) His answer about race relations when he was South Bend mayor was truly awful and marred his performance, which was middling relative to what hes capable of. Daniel McCarthy (6/10) Forward looking and always polished even when struggling to explain increased drug-related arrests for blacks under his mayoral administration. Bret Stephens (8/10) Buttigieg is never anything other than verbally fluent, emotionally composed and mostly persuasive except when it came to criminal-justice issues in his hometown. Mimi Swartz (8.5/10) Held his own, defended his funding by rich people and was gracious in support of the Biden family. Reduced the smugness factor. O.K., make him secretary of defense. Will Wilkinson (6/10) Mayor Pete needed to consolidate his post-Iowa front-runner status but mainly played defense, came off as a platitude machine and displayed serious weakness on race. Joe Biden Jamelle Bouie (5/10) He just doesnt seem like he has the heart, or the energy, to clear the field and claim victory. Elizabeth Bruenig (5.5/10) Ceded that his loss in Iowa was painful, though he attempted to argue it wasnt significant. Amid attacks on Sanders and defenses of his own record on the Iraq war, Biden seemed caught up in the past and sounded like it, too. Jorge Castaneda (8/10) This may have been his best debate yet. He was combative, good on abortion and the Supreme Court. After Iowa, he seems to thrive best in adversity. Michelle Goldberg (6/10) The politics of the past were not all that bad could be the defining line of his lukewarm campaign, though the standing ovation for Alexander Vindman was a lovely moment. Nicole Hemmer (6/10) Aside from a few lively moments early on, Biden seemed like a man hanging on for dear life. He needs money and votes, and tonight wont get him either. Liz Mair (7.5/10) An animated Biden is a product voters will find more appealing than the chilled out version. He did well after a meh week. Daniel McCarthy (5/10) Experience is good, and Biden knows the issues. Yet he looks only backward and isnt honest about his vote for war in Iraq. Bret Stephens (3/10) Watching Joe Biden perform is a bit like watching a high school play: Youre rooting for the players, youre grading on a curve, and youre grateful they remember their lines. But you also know it isnt Broadway. Mimi Swartz (7/10) A gaffeless performance; dropping in the polls becomes him. Finally, some passion. More convincing on past accomplishments than on the future. Will Wilkinson (4/10) Biden is on the ropes, and he felt punch drunk. Hes determined to see it through, but he seems to be running on the fumes of aggressive indignation. Andrew Yang Jamelle Bouie (5/10) Yang, like Sanders, knows how to turn a question to his priorities. But Yang, unlike Sanders, doesnt have anything to say beyond his pitch for a cash giveaway. And while this appeals to some, it does not wear well when its his answer to every single problem and social issue. Elizabeth Bruenig (5.5/10) Yang seems like a cool guy, and perhaps like the ideal candidate for a Democratic primary in a parallel universe where capital and labor cooperate with kindly comity. But for now, he represents an odd third way in an emerging intra-party power struggle that really has only two sides. Jorge Castaneda (6/10) A single-issue and single-theme candidate. Michelle Goldberg (5/10) His smarmy argument against holding Trump accountable for his crimes in office was a turnoff. Nicole Hemmer (3/10) He barely registers in the polls, and he barely registered onstage. Theres a reason: Universal basic income isnt a panacea, and onstage, he rarely has any other ideas. Liz Mair (6/10) A breath of fresh air, but he should have studied up on New Hampshires libertarian streak. He lost ground because of state-specific quirks he seemed unaware of. Daniel McCarthy (3/10) Hes right to distinguish human value from economic value and praise stay-at-home mothers. But hes running to give a TED Talk, not to become president. Bret Stephens (/10) Hard to take seriously a guy who thinks automation is a serious threat to prosperity, the most economically illiterate idea of the last 500 years. Mimi Swartz (7/10) Improving with each debate; no longer has to fight to be taken seriously. A better avatar of the future than Buttigieg. Will Wilkinson (5/10) Yang has brought a welcome fresh perspective to the race, but he didnt have his best night, and at this point he feels like a distraction. Tom Steyer Jamelle Bouie (6/10) With his constant focus on electability on who can beat Donald Trump and his regular detours to talk about race, it was clear Steyer wasnt trying to reach out to New Hampshire voters as much as he was making a pitch to any South Carolina voters who happened to be watching. And you know what, I think it might work. Elizabeth Bruenig (6/10) With his tartan tie and goofy affect, Steyer has become an oddball lefty favorite not in any serious electoral sense, but rather in a seasons-best-supporting-character sense. Jorge Castaneda (6.5/10) Race is his issue. Unfortunately, he was flat on other issues. Michelle Goldberg (5/10) His attempt to score against Biden by demanding that he answer for a comment by one of his South Carolina surrogates fell flat. Nicole Hemmer (4/10) Steyer sounds like a guy holding forth on politics over cocktails. He makes some good points, but not any that make you think he should be president. Liz Mair (3/10) Hopefully Bloomberg will sub for Steyer in the next one. Then well have a billionaire whose intent, reasoning and logic are clear and not purposeless, stream-of-consciousness word salad. Daniel McCarthy (2/10) Big on rhetoric about climate change and racism, short on serious proposals. And did he really criticize Buttigieg for inexperience? Bret Stephens (1/10) Why is this guy even onstage? Hes Mike Bloomberg with less money, less appeal and no lane. Mimi Swartz (8/10) His best debate. No longer seems like a tyro fighting to be heard. Secretary of Commerce! Will Wilkinson (6/10) Steyer actually sunk one of his many half-court shots when he briefly turned the debate into a seminar on race, possibly putting a crack in Bidens South Carolina firewall. Tim's take That whispering sigh of relief from the south? It just might be the late, great, Tim Fischer, not rolling over in his grave. About a fortnight before he died last year, our former Deputy Prime Minister told me firmly: I will resign from the National Party if Barnaby Joyce ever becomes its leader again. It was not personal, as he quite liked the garrulous member for New England. It was the fear that Joyce would take the National Party backwards. Tims widow Judy, who on Saturday gave me her blessing to put this in the public domain, is firm.Tim wanted the National Party only to move forward, not back. He saw a great future for regional Australia and agriculture if we embraced the opportunities and worked together She also notes, Coincidentally today is the annual Tumbatrek walk Tim started, being lead by Michael McCormack, which is more relevant today than ever with the bushfire damage through the Kosciusko area." Tim Fischer wanted his party to go forward. Credit:SMH Joke of the Week A Dubliner is drinking Guinness in a bar. A man of Asian ethnicity sits next to him and has a couple of drinks. After a while the Dubliner turns to him and says, Do you know them martial arts, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Judo and such? Offended, the man replies, Are you asking me this because I look Chinese? No. says the Irishman, Because yer drinkin me fookin Guinness! Quotes of the Week "Im not relying on evidence, Hamish.- Clearly. LNP Senator Jim Molan on Q&A, ignoring the science and evidence of climate change. It drew heckles from the crowd. The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor. Yes, he did. - Senator Mitt Romney, covering himself in glory as the only Republican in the Senate with the courage to speak the obvious truth on the proposed impeachment of President Trump. Matt Canavan resigned his position as resources minister, and I wish him all the best. - Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, after seeing off the attempted Barnaby Joyce putsch, backed by Canavan. Remember, I've been in politics longer than Scott Morrison, and I've been in leadership longer than Scott Morrison. I know how to deal at the highest level. I've been at the table, and for our team, for the Nationals team, if I'm given the opportunity, the great honour to do that again, I will. - Barnaby Joyce talking big before the leadership challenge. OTTAWAJohn Baird is leaving the door open for a run at the Conservative leadership, although sources close to the former cabinet minister consider a bid unlikely. Baird appears to be listening to encouragement from senior figures in the conservative movement and has not yet ruled out tossing his hat in the ring, according to two sources who have spoken to him about the idea. I dont think hell do it. But when you look at the field, and reflect (on) who is there, the sentiment of why well not? grows stronger, one source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said Friday. A spokesperson for Baird did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. Bairds name has long been floated amongst Conservatives unhappy with the current slate of leadership contenders. Bilingual and with experience in senior cabinet portfolios in both Ontario and federally, Baird would enjoy the same high profile as Peter MacKay and Erin OToole. But a leadership bid would also come with risks. While Baird is well-respected in Conservative circles, he gained a reputation as a political attack dog in the governments of Mike Harris and Stephen Harper. Baird might also have to give up lucrative private sector gigs he has amassed since leaving public life in 2015. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney gave a public voice to the private encouragement Friday, when he told CBC News that he hopes Baird joins the race. I think hed be a very compelling candidate. John is very experienced, hes a principled Conservative, he is bilingual, Kenney said. Kenney, who served in the federal cabinet with Baird, told CBC that the two men had spoken and Baird was seriously considering a bid. Kenney had also publicly encouraged Rona Ambrose to run before Ambrose decided she wanted to stay in the private sector. Federally, Baird served as the Treasury Board president, the minister of the environment, and the minister of foreign affairs. If he stays out of the race, hell be another big name that took a pass on the contest that could decide who will be Canadas next prime minister. Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre bowed out after exploring bids for the Conservative leadership. MacKay and OToole are running against MPs Marilyn Gladu and Derek Sloan, as well as businessman Rick Peterson. Other lesser-known contenders have said theyre considering bids. Prospective candidates need to raise $25,000 and obtain 1,000 signatures to enter the next phase of the race after Feb. 27. The Conservatives will select their next leader on June 27 at a convention in Toronto. Read more about: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) The Department of Foreign Affairs team tasked to prepare the repatriation of Filipinos and their families from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, has handed out relief goods to their compatriots there. The DFA said on Saturday that their team in Wuhan rented a vehicle "to visit neighborhoods with identified Filipino residents in travel-restricted Wuhan City, and distributed grocery items and other basic necessities." Earlier, the team, who has been securing the exit clearances of Filipinos who want to return to the Philippines, made the headlines, after going to the virus epicenter without hazmat suits or protective equipment against harmful substances. The 2019-nCoV has been proven to be contagious as the number of people it afflicts grows every day. READ: Deadliest day for coronavirus as mainland China records 86 fatalities, while US announces first American death But health officials said that the Philippines repatriation team does need to wear the gear as long as they keep themselves away from crowded places and people suspected or confirmed to have 2019-nCoV. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said that hazmats are only necessary for health workers treating patients. The first batch of repatriates is expected to land at the Clark International Airport on Sunday. They will then be transported to the New Clark City, Tarlac, where they will be on mandatory quarantine for 14 days, which is said to be the incubation period of the 2019-nCoV. The DFA said Saturday that 56 persons, including seven spouses and four infants, may be evacuated, provided that they do not exhibit the flu-like symptoms, the red flag signs of the acute respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 08:10 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20633ca02 1 Editorial #Editorial,freedom-of-expression,press-freedom,press-freedom-in-Indonesia,journalism,democracy,national-press-day Free The press in Indonesia has long learned never to take its freedoms for granted. Although international watchdogs rate our press freedom as partly free, media outlets and journalists appreciate their independence compared with colleagues such as in neighboring Thailand, where the les majeste law applies. Yet various constraints emerge even as we continue to claim to be among the worlds largest democracies. Media leaders on Sunday will celebrate Press Day with President Joko Jokowi Widodo in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, where we will continue to remind each other to fight against hoaxes. Of equal importance is the struggle to retain independence amid less visible threats compared with the authoritarian era. As with a les majeste law, politicians working on revising the Criminal Code reportedly wish to reinsert legal bans on insulting state symbols, including the president and vice president. For all the struggle for civil liberties, such developments ironically emerged during the last term of hugely popular President Jokowi. Unlike the old days, the government will not revoke our press publishing licenses for such perceived insults; that ended under then-president BJ Habibie. But still, the defamation clause of the Electronic Transactions and Information Law can make the press jittery, leading to possible self-censorship. Hundreds of citizens have faced trial for defamation while advocates for freedom of expression have demanded a review of the law. A partly free press has also meant some in the media in major cities enjoy independence while those far from the worlds eye experience a stark contrast. At an ongoing trial at the Jakarta State Administrative Court, plaintiffs comprising civil society groups, including journalists organizations, are suing the government for misconduct in its decision to restrict internet access in Papua and West Papua. The official excuse for the restrictions from last August to September was to check unrest and hoaxes. Journalists in these provinces have cited difficulties, particularly in reporting on demonstrations, residents fleeing their homes and tense cities following a racist incident in Surabaya, East Java. Such blockades naturally result in a greater potential for misinformation, while we know little of the victims in security operations in Nduga, Papua. Many of the developments in the ongoing global coronavirus crisis depend on transparent information from China, and all governments, regarding suspected infections and their related measures. It is in times like this that we acutely understand the need for freedom to access information and to report it, so that people can pause before clicking on anything that comes their way, and wait a little while for the results of the checking and rechecking of old-fashioned journalism. Much of the criticism of the press is well deserved. However precisely because we have a hugely popular leader, who has turned out to have adeptly embraced his former opponents, the press remains among the relatively few precious watchdogs of Indonesias government and democracy. The Jakarta Post continues to join the public in improving Indonesias safe space for all to speak out, amid sinister threats such as from cyberbullies, intolerant tyrants and the blind loyalists of various leaders. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a press conference in New York City in a file photograph. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NY Threatens Lawsuit After Trump Admin Bans New Yorkers From Trusted Travelers Programs New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office would sue the Trump administration over a new rule that bars residents of the state from enrolling in Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs. Trumps new law is a response to the passage of a NY state law that lets illegal immigrants get drivers licenses. James claimed that the administrations move was political retribution. We plan to take legal action and sue the Trump Administration for its unfair targeting of New York State residents. This new policy will negatively impact travelers, workers, commerce, and our economy, so we will fight the presidents shortsighted crusade against his former home, she said in a statement. We will not allow New Yorkers to be targeted or bullied by an authoritarian thug. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said that the decision to ban New Yorkers from the trusted traveler programs was an example of the Trump administrations disrespect of the rule of law, hyper-partisan politics and use of extortion. There is no rational basis for this politically motivated ban, and we are taking legal action to stop the federal government from inconveniencing New Yorkers to score political points, he said. The Department of Homeland Security this week announced the ban on New Yorkers, citing the new law, known as the Drivers License Access and Privacy Act, which passed late last year. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which runs the trusted traveler programs, said in a statement that the ban was effective immediately. The use of fingerprint reader on a new Global Entry Kiosk is demonstrated at Los Angeles International Airport in a Sept. 7, 2011, file photograph. (Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters) Nothing is more important than the safety of the United States and our citizens, and the New York Green Light law makes us less safe, and shields criminals, CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement. We recognize that many New York residents and businesses will be negatively affected by this change, but we cannot compromise the safety and security of our homeland. When states take negative measures that hinder our ability to protect our great country, we must respond. CBP is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The Trump administration tried blocking the law, also known as the Green Light Law, but the lawsuit was dismissed. After the law passed, the acting Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf ordered a review. New York was the 13th state to enable illegal immigrants to apply for and obtain drivers licenses from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants do not need Social Security credentials to apply but must show documents that prove their name, date of birth, and residency in New York state. James office said the Trump administration singled out and targeted New York state despite 12 other states passing similar laws. This law is legal and enforceable, and two separate federal courts have already dismissed meritless lawsuits against it. The Green Light law was designed to make New York roads safer, provide a boost to the states economy, and allow immigrants to come out of the shadows, her office stated in a press release. The largest manufacturer of a pesticide suspected of harming children announced this week that it would cease its production. The decision was based not on accumulating evidence of the chemicals risks, the company hastened to explain, but on its collapsing sales, which have plummeted more than 80% since the 1990s. But the dangers and economics of the pesticide, chlorpyrifos, arent so easily separated. The companys announcement happened to come the day sales of the pesticide were halted in California, where farmers were using more of the chemical than any other states when Gov. Gavin Newsom approved the ban last year. Although the chemical is still in wide use and manufacture by others, Corteva Agrisciences decision to stop making it speaks to the impact of a responsible policy like Californias as well as the lack thereof nationally. California was only the second state to impose a chlorpyrifos ban and the first to implement one, following a 2018 decision by Hawaii that takes effect in 2022; officials in New York, Washington and other states have taken steps to join them, as has the European Union. Newsoms decision came after President Trumps Environmental Protection Agency rescued the company from a planned federal ban. In wide commercial use since the 1960s, when it was patented by Dow, chlorpyrifos is applied to a wide variety of crops, including such California staples as almonds, grapes and oranges. Its inexpensive and effective against an array of insects and other pests, killing them by disrupting their nervous systems. The trouble is that its potentially harmful to other species, too, including humans. The insecticide belongs to a class of nerve agents originally developed for chemical warfare in Nazi Germany, among them the more potent poisonous gas sarin. Based on its risks to those handling and inhaling it where its applied, the EPA banned most residential uses of the chemical two decades ago. Since then, a series of studies have linked chlorpyrifos exposure to neurological damage, particularly in the developing brains and nervous systems of fetuses and children. Suspected consequences include low birth weight, developmental delays, intelligence deficits, and attention and behavioral disorders. That heightened concerns that the pesticide poses serious risks to farm workers and their families; others living, working and attending school in agricultural areas; and, to a lesser but significant degree, consumers ingesting residue on fruits and vegetables. The EPA under George W. Bush and Barack Obama responded with a series of further restrictions on chlorpyrifos, limiting use on certain crops, heightening protective requirements for farm workers, and requiring buffer zones to protect water, wildlife and people. Those measures culminated in 2015 and 2016 with a plan to ban the pesticide based on the risks of exposure through food, water and air. But the Trump administration led by Scott Pruitt, the EPA administrator who accumulated more than a dozen ethics investigations before leaving his post slow-walked and eventually stopped the decision. Quantifying a chemicals dangers to humans is complicated, but there is no doubt that chlorpyrifos poses substantial risks. The chief controversy here is whether the government should favor public health or corporate profits. Given the powerful interests looking out for the latter, it pays to have a few policy makers protecting the rest of us. 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. Minds can get pretty overwhelmed in a modern office. Image: Getty Images Your colleagues are having a conversation around you and in the background, you can hear someone else talking loudly on the phone. Doors slam and people scurry past into meeting rooms, disrupting your chain of thought as you try to get on with work and check your emails. Meanwhile, your phone pings with notifications from WhatsApp and Slack. In the modern world of social media, instant messaging, emails and more, we are required to do several things at once. Our brains are busier, but despite this, we are still expected to take in, process and produce huge amounts of information which can leave us feeling mentally strained. Dubbed cognitive overload by researchers, its a growing problem that affects our work and our health. Emotionally exhausted Recalibrating our operating systems to keep pace with the new challenges, as well as opportunities, that come with progress, is not always a simple matter, says Dr Ken Druck, a psychologist, author and expert on personal and professional development. Inundated with even greater capacity for processing and managing information, we can become mentally and emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed. READ MORE: How to sort out your overloaded inbox once and for all Although technological advances in the workplace are frequently lauded, they come with downsides. The dangers and problematic side effects, such as cognitive overload, must also be considered and addressed. Side effects such as burnout have become an intricate part of popular culture and our language for the past 40 years, Druck says. When our minds are tasked with an unrelenting stream of critical thinking, problem solving, complex interpersonal communication and strategic decision-making, our minds get tired, he adds. Driven by the desire to maintain, protect or attain even higher organisational status and productivity, and keep pace with organisational goals, we push ourselves harder. Exhausted, overworked and depleted, we experience a state mental fatigue that diminishes our capacity in all of the critical functions listed above. Story continues Research has shown that both our health and work suffers as a result of cognitive overload. A study by the University of California, Irvine - The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress suggested that people compensate for the constant interruptions by working faster. Although this sounds positive, it comes at a price: workers experience more stress, higher frustration, time pressure and effort. Work smarter, not harder Although we might pride ourselves in being able to do several things at once, our brains arent actually designed to multitask. As multiple studies have shown, we actually get far more done by doing less. And according to Stanford University researchers, people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time. Multitasking has also been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and make it difficult to think clearly. So what can you do to reduce cognitive overload at work? Although this isnt easy - particularly if you work in an open-plan office with noise and distractions - Druck says there are a variety of effective individual, departmental, organisational and work-life balance approaches to reducing the mental strain. READ MORE: How to be mindful at work Firstly, its important to work smarter, rather than just harder. This might mean setting aside 15 minutes every few hours to check your emails, so you can concentrate on your work the rest of the time with fewer interruptions. It might not be feasible to do the same with platforms such as Slack, as many workplaces use such apps as the main form of day-to-day communication between bosses and employees. However, setting your status to away in order to focus on your work every so often may help. Unfortunately, the likelihood is that were likely to be bombarded with even more distractions in the form of new technology and apps, so its a matter of setting clear boundaries when it comes to using them. Many of us find ourselves checking Facebook, Twitter or Instagram without even thinking about it, so logging out or blocking the websites on your work computer may make you less likely to scroll mindlessly. Reducing extraneous noise can help too, which may mean bringing earphones or ear plugs to work so you can cut out background noise when youre trying to concentrate. Perhaps most importantly, take regular breaks to disconnect from work and step away from your computer and smartphone, Druck adds. Balance your menu of daily activities with music, silence, exercise, walks in nature, lifelong learning and laughter to get your mind off of the steady stream of work problems to be solved. A UK court on Friday directed Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani to pay USD 100 million towards a conditional order granted to three Chinese banks pursuing the recovery of over USD 680 million owed to them as part of a loan agreement. In what is in effect a deposit to be paid into court pending a full trial in the case, Judge David Waksman has set a six-week timeline for such a payment to be made as he concluded that he did not accept Ambani's defence that his net worth was nearly zero or that his family would not step in to assist him when push came to shove . In my overall conclusion, Mr Ambani has not satisfied me that he can't make any payment at all, said Judge Waksman, as he expressed particular criticism of a lack of candour and transparency on the part of Ambani's defence in reference to his financial means. The Reliance Group indicated that it plans to appeal against the ruling, which will involve a process of seeking permission to appeal. Mr Ambani is reviewing the order of the UK Court and will take legal advice as to further remedies in appeal, a spokesperson for Anil Ambani said. The order pertains to an alleged personal liability of Mr Ambani and will have no bearing on the operations of the Reliance Infrastructure Limited, Reliance Power Limited and Reliance Capital Limited, the spokesperson said. The banks Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd Mumbai Branch, on behalf of itself, China Development Bank and Exim Bank of China welcomed the order and said they remain confident of their claim succeeding at trial. This is a straightforward debt claim to recover outstanding loans made to RCom (Reliance Communications) in good faith and secured by a binding personal guarantee given by Mr Ambani, which he has refused to honour, a statement on behalf of the banks said. We remain very confident in our claim. We hope that Mr Ambani will comply with the court's order and look forward to the swift resolution of the case at trial, the statement said. Another senior Reliance Group official added that based on the legal advice, the RCom chief intends to seek further remedies in appeal and is confident that he will have the opportunity to establish that the Chinese claim is without any merit . Earlier, during a half-day hearing, the court was told that Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani was a wealthy businessman and now he is not as a result of a "disastrous turn of events" in the telecom market in India. The Chinese banks had sought summary judgment against Ambani over an alleged breach of a personal guarantee on a debt refinancing loan of around USD 925 million in February 2012. Ambani, 60, denies providing authority for any such guarantee, resulting in the High Court action in the UK the jurisdiction agreed to as part of the terms of the loan agreement. At the hearing at the Commercial Division of the High Court of England and Wales in London to set the terms for the "conditional order" granted to three Chinese banks last year against the Reliance Communications (RCom) boss, his legal team sought to establish that his net worth was zero once his liabilities were taken into account. "The value of Mr Ambani's investments has collapsed since 2012. The Indian telecom sector in particular has been dramatically hit by the Indian government's change of policy in relation to the grant of spectrum," notes his defence. "Whereas Mr Ambani's investments were worth more than USD 7 billion in 2012, they are now worth USD 89 million, and his net worth is zero once his liabilities are taken into account... Quite simply, he was a wealthy businessman, now he is not," said his barrister Robert Howe. The banks' counsel called Ambani's claims into question and repeatedly referred to his "lavish lifestyle". "So, Mr Ambani's assertion is that he is massively personally insolvent, is bankrupt. Has he filed for bankruptcy in India," questioned Justice David Waksman during the course of the half-day hearing. Ambani's legal team, including leading Indian lawyer Harish Salve, responded in the negative, followed by a brief reference in court to India's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) only recently coming into play. "The evidence overall is that Mr Ambani could not come close to paying a sum of USD 700 million into court," said Howe. The banks, represented in court by barrister Bankim Thanki, sought to establish that Ambani had been "at best economical with the truth" in his evidence statements to the court in relation to his financial means. They also pointed to a series of instances where Ambani family members had stepped in to bail him out, even as Ambani's defence sought to establish that their client had no access to the assets and shares under the name of his mother Kokila, wife Tina Ambani and sons Anmol and Anshul in the form of loans. "Are we seriously to believe that his own mother, wife, and sons can't help him in his hour of need for the purpose of complying with a conditional order," said Thanki, who claimed Ambani's evidence was akin to the proverbial "glossy lipstick on the pig" in terms of some "blatant" lies despite the burden of proof lying with him in the case. "ADA's (Anil Dhirajlal Ambani) brother Mukesh is widely regarded as the wealthiest man in Asia and is ranked by Forbes as the 13th richest person in the world and by Bloomberg as the 14th richest person in the world. He has an estimated net worth of USD 55 to 57 billion," notes the banks in court. Also read: Budweiser, Hoegaarden beers to be back in Delhi as tribunal stays ban Also read: RCom loan default case: Anil Ambani tells London court his net worth is 'zero' NEWSALERT-DL-VIRUS-DDMA All private offices in Delhi to be closed except those under exempted category in view of rising COVID-19 cases: DDMA.All private offices in Delhi to be closed except those under exempted category in view of rising COVID-19 cases: DDMA. Both Mir and Syed Irfan who is a brother of Naveed Babu have been accused of being the HMs OWGs. SRINAGAR: Tainted Jammu and Kashmir police officer Davinder Singh and four others, including two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militants, and their two alleged over-ground workers were on Friday sent to 15-day judicial custody by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu. While Mr Singh was soon sent to Hiranagar jail in J&Ks Kathua district, the others HM militants Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu and Asif Ahmed Rather, Kashmiri lawyer Irfan Shafi Mir and Syed Irfan Ahmed were lodged in high-security Kotbalwal jail on the outskirts of winter capital Jammu. Both Mir and Syed Irfan who is a brother of Naveed Babu have been accused of being the HMs OWGs. Mr Singh had earlier pleaded before the judge that he may face a serious threat to his life if he too is lodged in Kotbalwal prison as among its inmates are several militants he had arrested when serving in the J&K polices counterinsurgency special operations group (SOG). The judge after allowing Mr Singhs plea passed directions to the authorities to lodge him in some different jail. Mr Singh was arrested along with Naveed Babu, one of the most wanted HM militants, and Rather in Kashmirs Kulgam district on January 11. Mr Singh, who was posted as deputy superintendent of police at the anti-hijacking squad at Srinagar international airport, has been placed under suspension after he was arrested travelling with militant duo in a Hyundai i20 car along the highway connecting J&Ks twin capitals Srinagar and Jammu. They were reportedly on their way to Chandigarh. The authorities have also recommended to the government that Singh may be dismissed from service. Investigations had reportedly revealed that Mr Singh had accompanied militants or helped them in relocating to various parts of country on different occasions in lieu of money and other considerations. However, the Centre later asked the NIA to probe the case. When you hear the phrase gift bag, you probably imagine some sweet treats, light libations, and maybe a candle or a pair of socks. Although the 2020 Oscars gift bags do include some of these smaller items, they also offer things like $25,000 worth of treatments from a plastic surgeon and a 12-day cruise on the worlds first ultra-luxury yacht (worth nearly $80,000). Yeah, that might beat a box of chocolates. We thought the 2020 Grammys gift bags were luxurious, but that was before we took a peek inside of what the 2020 Oscar nominees will receive ahead of Hollywoods biggest night. Each year, the Everyone Wins Nominee Gift Bags are produced by Distinctive Assets and delivered to all of the 2020 Oscar nominees during the week leading up to the show. The 2020 Oscars nominees in the Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, and Supporting Actor and Actress categories will receive these indulgent goodie bags to celebrate their nominations. The entire bag is valued at $225,000. Yes, you read that right. Its full of countless items and experiences that were seriously jealous celebs will receive, but we highlighted some of the best (and most extravagant) ones below. Scenic Eclipse cruise Courtesy of Distinctive Assets Scenic Eclipse is the worlds first ultra-luxury yacht (carrying just 228 guests), and the 2020 Oscars nominees will receive a 12-day cruise for two. Onboard, they can indulge in a spa sanctuary, butler service, eight restaurants, chef-prepared picnics, and excursions. The trip is valued at $78,190, NBD. Millianna Giuliana Earrings Courtesy of Distinctive Assets These woven crystal earrings are handmade by artisans in Washington and come in six colors. They retail at $195. Hotsy Tosty Haus bath bomb Courtesy of Distinctive Assets So, a bath bomb is something you might actually give out in one of your own birthday party gift bags, right? Were guessing you probably wouldnt choose one that costs $105, though. Hotsy Totsys The Royal Chakra Bath Bomb weighs more than a pound and is handcrafted with 24 karat gold. Thats a damn fancy bath bomb. Story continues Spanish island getaway Courtesy of Distinctive Assets Faro Cumplida is the only active lighthouse in Spain, and its been transformed into a livable getaway for eight guests in three suites. Nominees will be able to stay there. Talk about escaping the real world. Maybe theyll retreat here if theyre upset after their Oscars loss. Treatments and procedures from a plastic surgeon The 2020 Oscar nominees are gifted $25,000 to spend on treatments and procedures at Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevichs New York City office. Options include botox, chemical peels, injectables/fillers, and laser skin resurfacing. Baby alpaca throw blanket Courtesy of Distinctive Assets Johanna Howard Homes throw blankets are made by artisans in Peru, and each is individually dyed over an open fire. One retails for $450. Personal training package Although were pretty sure most celebs already have access to personal trainers, in their 2020 Oscars gift bags, theyll receive a package of 10 personal training sessions with premier LA trainer Alexis Seletzky. CBD Barkeep Courtesy of Distinctive Assets Youve probably tried CBD lotion, lip balm, or gummies, but did you know theres a CBD simple syrup to give your cocktails a little extra something? CBD Barkeep comes in lavender, elderflower, blueberry, and vanilla. We have a feeling the 2020 Oscars nominees might whip this out after the big night, win or lose. Stained glass portrait Courtesy of Distinctive Assets Each 2020 Oscars nominee will receive a one-of-a-kind, custom stained glass portrait of themselves. These are pretty cool, but we have to wonder if theyll actually hang these in their homes. This is just a small glimpse into the 2020 Oscars Everyone Wins nominee gift bags. We wish them all the best of luck on Sunday, but we know if they dont win, theyre pretty stocked up on things to lessen the blow. It wasnt 2012 Presidential loser Mitt Romneys faith that caused him to vote to impeach President Trump, whom he once begged to rescue him from political oblivion. While Romney, who undoubtedly entertained visions of succeeding a President Trump after his vote helped remove from office, says it was his faith that caused him to believe Trump really did abuse his power to pressure the Ukrainians to dig up dirt on the Bidens, more likely it was because that Romney wanted to put an end to an administration that might expose his link to the Bidens and Burisma, Romney will go down in the history as the only senator to vote to impeach a member of his own party, but the question remains why he retained such animus against the man who forgave Romney his 2016 rant warning, as Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, and that seditious bunch later would, that Donald J. Trump was an unhinged danger. Trump supported Romneys Utah Senate run. Et tu, Mitt? Why, as CNN put it, has Mitt Romney "been a lone Republican voice expressing concern about President Donald Trump's July phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump asked Ukraine's President to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his family"? Little notice has been paid to the fact that Joseph Cofer Black, a former CIA operative, served as Romneys special adviser in his 2012 campaign for President. As Breitbart News reported at the time: In October 2011, Romney announced that Black, who had served in the CIA since 1974, had been selected as a special adviser. I am deeply honored to have the counsel of this extraordinary group of diplomats, experts, and statesmen, Romney said at the time. Their remarkable experience, wisdom, and depth of knowledge will be critical to ensuring that the 21st century is another American Century. Black trained for covert operations and eventually became the director of the National Counterterrorism Center from 1999 until 2002. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks perpetrated by al-Qaeda, Black was appointed ambassador at large and coordinator for counterterrorism in December 2002 by President George W. Bush. John Brennan succeeded Black in his job as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Cofer Black would come to know Hunter Biden as well. Black would wind up serving on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma at the same time that Hunter, who had no special knowledge of Ukraine or the energy business, was being paid ungodly sums to curry influence with the Obama-Biden administration. Was Black also hired because he was an adviser to a former governor and future senator with good connections in the Washington swamp? As The Federalist reported last September: As Democrats and the media remain fanatically obsessed with assembling some form of a quid pro quo from the infamous Trump-Zelensky phone call, new details have emerged regarding Burisma, the company for which Hunter Biden worked and the company that Ukraines top prosecutor had been investigating before Vice President Joe Biden had the prosecutor fired via a months-long pressure campaign. According to web archives, top Mitt Romney adviser Joseph Cofer Black, who publicly goes by Cofer Black, joined Burismas board of directors while Hunter Biden was also serving on the board. According to The New Yorker, Hunter joined Burismas board in April of 2014 and remained on it until he declined to renew his position this past May. Meanwhile, according to Burismas website, Black was appointed in February of 2017 and continues to serve on its board. The timelines would indicate that Black and Biden worked together at Burisma, and indeed, web archives from late 2017 show Black and Biden listed simultaneously on the board. There is no doubt that Burisma as was stockpiling people on its board who could provide it with cover from prying investigations, like the son of a vice president and a special adviser to a GOP presidential candidate. The nature of Hunters job is known -- his father, Vice President Joe Biden, would get a Ukrainian prosecutor fired, taking the heat off Burisma to protect his son. What Blacks role was, or why he was on the board other than providing potential access is unclear. But certainly he could tell us something about the Burisma-Hunter connection True, Romney did vote to call witnesses, but there was no guarantee Hunter Biden would make the short list. Blacks name wasnt even mentioned. Romney was willing to risk Hunter Biden being called if other witnesses like John Bolton could potentially help get Trump out of office. Why was Black on the Burisma board at the same time as Hunter Biden? Mere coincidence? What did he know and when did he know it? What did Romney know and when did he know it? Why was a former adviser to the only Republican senator to vote to impeach the President who legally asked the Ukrainians, in accordance with treaty and U.S. law, if they knew anything about Ukrainian corruption and possible interference in U.S. elections, on the Burisma board? Romneys former adviser could tell us much. Daniel John Sobieski is a former editorial writer for Investors Business Daily and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Chennai: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (February 8) said that the economy is at its "robust-level" and asserted the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country is at an all-time high, while interacting with industry traders in Chennai at an event titled `Jan Jan ka Budget`. The Finance Minister said, "Economy is at its robust level and macroeconomics is at its best. The fundamentals are strong. The foreign exchange reserves and FDI investments are at their maximum level," adding that there is also a plan by Centre to increase the interaction of banking officials. She said that there is a plan by the government to increase the interaction of banking officials, officials of Ministry to reach put to MSME entrepreneurs at the field level. Talking about the issue of sanctioning loans, she said, "If the banks are denying loans without reason to the MSMEs they are welcome to send their complaints by mail to a special centre which is to be announced shortly. A copy of the same should be sent to the bank manager. Sitharaman exuded confidence that "India will get back to 8 per cent growth" and said the government is making efforts to "pursue the goals". Notably, the year 2019 was a difficult year for the global economy with the world output growth estimated to grow at its slowest pace of 2.9 per cent since the global financial crisis of 2009, declining from a subdued 3.6 per cent in 2018 and 3.8 per cent in 2017. Amid a weak environment for global manufacturing, trade and demand, the Indian economy slowed down with GDP growth moderating to 4.8 per cent in the first half of 2019-20, lower than 6.2 per cent in the second half of 2018-19. Why does a gambler stake money on an odds-on shot months before a race is set to begin? This makes sense if they feel their fancy is a certainty and the odds are only going to come in closer to the event. Its the stuff of nightmares, but Donald Trump is now odds-on to be re-elected when American voters go to the polls for the big one in November. Punters with Betfair, the exchange where the prices are set by its punters, who can act as bookies by laying as well as backing their fancies, had the president at evens at the beginning of the year. Its very different today. If Trump secures re-election, his backers right now will be paid 66 or 67p plus their stake. In the fractional odds favoured on these shores thats 4/6. All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters Some of the more traditional bookies have him at even shorter prices. William Hill, for example, is quoting 4/7. Why isnt that putting off the punters? Its because they read the news. The farce of an impeachment trial may turn out to be one of the more glaring miscalculations the Democratic Party has made, hardening the resolve of the presidents supporters and inducing them to open their wallets, just like it did when the Republicans impeached Bill Clinton. But it isnt just that. The US economy is in fair shape, enjoying its longest unbroken spell without a recession since the Second World War. A number of red light indicators that serve as handy predictors of downturns started to flash red last year and then there were the trade wars Trump embarked upon. But the black swan that some economists feared failed to glide in. The American jobs market remains robust, wages are rising, house prices are appreciating. The countrys grotesque inequalities remain, and its budget deficit is spiralling. The coronavirus is also scaring people, and scared people tend not to act rationally. But even paying due regard to pathogens, Oxford Economics still puts the odds of a US recession at just one in four this year. Its base case calls for slow but steady GDP growth of 1.6 per cent. If that holds good then its good news for Trump, whose approval rating has been on a steadily rising trend. Slow and steady is just fine if youre in work and expect to stay there, if the markets make your pension fund look cheery and if youre managing the mortgage repayments on your home. People like that may feel its better the devil they know, all the more so when they look at a fractious and divided opposition. Incumbency is a powerful advantage. It wasnt just that impeachment turned into an own goal. The Democrats made themselves look like jackasses (their partys mascot) when they mucked up the results of the Iowa caucus that kicked off primary season. The phrase get a grip comes to mind. The leading contenders are going to spend the coming weeks tearing lumps out of each other and theres no guarantee that supporters of the eventual loser will back the winner. A good number of Bernie Sanders supporters swung behind Trump last time around. The Vermont senator enjoys the shortest price available on any of Trumps rivals. Hes available at between 4-1 and 5-1, with Michael Bloomberg next, ranging from 6-1 out to 8-1. There is still ample time to turn it around. Trump is still Trump and the world and its economy have a habit of doing unexpected things. But the Democrats need to sort themselves out. What should trouble those hoping against hope that they can win the argument is that unlike the hapless leader of Britains Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, they can do that and still lose. Hillary Clinton and Al Gore have been pilloried as candidates, but they both won the popular vote. Trouble is, the victory that matters is the US electoral college. So yes, all those people whove put money down at short prices have reason to feel optimistic even though theyll have to wait months to pocket their meagre returns unless they're among those who use the Betfair exchange professionally and habitually trade in and out of positions. A win is a win regardless of the price, even if its a loss for the America and the world. On January 30, I was in Ahmedabad, a city that was central to Mahatma Gandhis life and work. It was here that he established the most celebrated of his ashrams, on the banks of the Sabarmati river; here that he revised and refined his moral and political philosophy; and here that he conceived and planned the Rowlatt Satyagraha, the Non Co-Operation Movement, and the Salt March. Ahmedabad was once Gandhis city. Yet, in recent decades, Ahmedabad has wilfully, deliberately, turned its back on the legacy of its greatest resident. Gandhi lived and died for Hindu-Muslim harmony; yet the city that he once called home has become a laboratory for the articulation of majoritarian prejudice. Nowhere else in India has the power of Hindutva been so explicitly and nakedly displayed. Ever since 2002, the Muslims of Ahmedabad have been increasingly marginalised, politically and economically; as well as victimised, socially and culturally. In where and how they are permitted to live or work, in what they are allowed (and not allowed) to do, the Muslims of the city have been made to feel that they are second-class citizens. Since 2002, Ahmedabad has become a laboratory for Hindutva in other respects as well. It is here that the cult of the Supreme Leader was first forged; with a single man said to represent the state of Gujarat and the culture of Gujarat, as he is now said to represent the Union of India and Indian nationhood itself. It was also in Ahmedabad (and Gujarat more generally) that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah first sought to systematically tame and control the press, the universities, and civil society organisations, in preparation for what they would seek to do at an all-India level after May 2014. I have myself known (and loved) Ahmedabad for more than four decades now. I first visited the city in February, 1979; and have gone back many times since. Before 2002, the intellectual culture of the city was as argumentative and freewheeling, as that of my home town, Bengaluru. But after 2002, the space for debate and dissent has steadily shrunk. Some remarkable writers, activists, lawyers and social workers continue to live in Ahmedabad. However, these individuals face far greater hurdles and constraints in their work than they would in (for example) Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, or Kochi. In October 2018, I had an intimate first-hand experience of this closing of the Gujarati mind, when the ruling party made it impossible for me to take up a professorship (ironically, in Gandhian studies) in Ahmedabad. Fifteen months later, I was, however, able to visit the city for a talk on January 30. I spoke on what Gandhi would have made of India today. The talk I delivered in Ahmedabad is up online. I wont rehearse its arguments here; rather I shall write of what I saw in the city before and after my lecture. I reached on the 29th afternoon, and for the rest of the day, had engaging conversations with those who represent the shrinking (but never extinct) traditions of free and independent thought in Gujarat. The next morning, I went on my own to the Sabarmati Ashram; walking around a place I have grown to love greatly over the years, especially for its austerity and tranquillity attributes it might lose once an aggressive plan for its modernisation is put into effect by the present regime. On the early evening of the 30th, I was taken by my hosts to the Nehru Bridge, to join a human chain of those commemorating the martyrdom of the Mahatma, murdered by a Hindu fundamentalist on that day 72 years previously. We stood together on the bridge; Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian; men, women, children; lawyers, trade unionists, teachers, workers. At around 5.17pm, we sang the National Anthem. This was moving enough, and more uplifting things were to come. After my lecture, I was taken for a public meeting at the locality of Rakhial, home to people displaced by the development of the Sabarmati waterfront. These mostly Muslim oustees had stoically rebuilt their lives; now, in the aftermath of the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the threat of a National Register of Citizens, they feared a further round of victimisation. So they had organised themselves to resist this galloping majoritarianism, non-violently. Every evening, they heard speeches, sung songs and recited poems on liberty, freedom, justice and above allinterfaith harmony. On the main podium was displayed a portrait of Gandhi. These daily meetings in Rakhial were now in their third week. Every day, the attendance was growing; and the crowd becoming more diverse. The local residents were, of course, the bulwark; working-class Muslim men and their wives and children. Middle-class Hindu professionals from the other side of the river were also coming to show their solidarity; as were students and professors from the citys most prestigious educational institutions. Two weeks before my visit to Ahmedabad, on the day of the Uttarayan festival, some students of the Gujarat Vidyapeeth an institution founded by Gandhi had flown kites with slogans against the CAA emblazoned on them. This innovative (and absolutely peaceful) act of protest had been suppressed by the police, who had been permitted by the trustees of the Vidyapeeth to enter the campus and intimidate students. This outrageous overreaction provoked a satirical comment on social media which read: Section 144 in the air? Modi hai tho mumkin hai! The timidity of the trustees of the Gandhian institutions in Ahmedabad is in striking contrast to the courage of the man they claim to be following. On the other hand, the protests in Rakhial are admirably reinvigorating the spirit of Hindu-Muslim solidarity that had for so long been largely absent in Gandhis own city. The human chain on Nehru Bridge on January 30 was conducted in that spirit as well. The Gandhians of Gujarat may abandon him; the politicians of Gujarat may betray him; but in the minds and hearts of many ordinary Amdavadis, the Mahatma lives on. Ramachandra Guha is the author of Gandhi: The Years That Changed The World The views expressed are personal Several months ago, I fielded several calls and emails expressing outrage that Waco-based Ken Starr former federal judge, former U.S. solicitor general, former law professor and the famous independent counsel whose wide-ranging, four-year investigation into real estate and sex more than two decades ago threatened to topple a Democratic president involved in a White House tryst had himself in 2007 helped jet-setting financier and sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein largely elude stern American justice. All bubbled up from the political and societal swamp last summer when Epstein was nabbed on sex-trafficking charges amidst our swelling, long-overdue #MeToo era. Besides being my friend, Judge Starr serves as a cherished member of the Waco Tribune-Herald Board of Contributors. I have learned much from his expansive legal insights, even if we vigorously disagree over the Constitution, including the dangers of an imperial presidency and a federal judiciary fast sinking into partisan muck already corrupting Congress and the presidency. (Starr, for the record, is less convinced of this than I am.) During our second meeting on occasion of Starrs inauguration as Baylor University president in 2010, he quizzed me on what Ben Franklin told Elizabeth Powel when she asked the 81-year-old wit, journalist, diplomat and patriot what the constitutional convention of 1787 had produced, a republic or a monarchy. The judge was startled I knew the answer: A republic, if you can keep it. And at a spirited symposium at Baylor Law School honoring late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, Starr graciously (and inaccurately) compared my writing to that of the eminent, word-prudent conservative justice in his court decisions, an estimation that no doubt has Scalia spinning madly in his grave. It was during this event that Starr and some Baylor law professors, to my question about the Senates unprecedented refusal to consider the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland by President Obama to succeed Scalia, answered that the Senates inaction was not necessarily unconstitutional but it certainly was not constitutional. Such are the niceties that confound and frustrate the everyday, ordinary citizen, leaving some convinced that grasping the full meaning of founding documents is akin to grasping air. Explaining our wonderfully sober and sensible system of law and order to readers understandably outraged over another symbol of our nations moral decline I refer to Epstein and his prostitution and plundering of underage girls is never easy. Our system of justice may be imperfect, but its superior to others, ensuring that every defendant, no matter how disreputable, no matter how damning the charges, has a competent defense. Otherwise our society quickly descends into little more than court-ordained lynching. True, high-dollar clients get high-dollar lawyers, but thats a problem of Americas growing inequality gap as much as American justice. And so I explained to callers and correspondents rankled about Judge Starr last summer. Yet few Wacoans have expressed outrage over Judge Starrs defending President Trump of two impeachment articles. And this contest went to the very heart of the Constitution that Starr and I so revere. It highlights a presidential administration unprecedented in its recklessness that has battered not only presidential norms going back to George Washington but also our brittle system of checks and balances that separates the United States from democratic pretenders. The Trump White House may well have imagined Starrs enlistment bolstered suggestions that he, after all, knows a thing or two about legitimate impeachments and that this did not rise to the level of the impeachment saga targeting President Bill Clinton. Credit the local silence over Judge Starr to the fact that what was once Bush Country brimming with the compassionate conservatism of a Republican president who spent much time at his ranch just outside town has rapidly mutated into Trumps flyover country, complete with a virulent political strain less compassionate and only vaguely conservative, where citizens quietly wonder about the patriotism and sanity of one another based on fealty to President Trump. Then again, the relative quiet over Starrs impeachment trial cameo role may suggest something else. The Trib editorial board is on record as agreeing with Starrs initial suggestion put forward in these pages on Sept. 25 that formal censure of this president would have been preferable with a presidential election so near. To quote the former jurist and constitutional scholar, alluding respectfully to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and to lawmakers contending with a rash and unruly president in another tumultuous century: Her predecessor from long ago, Henry Clay, found a sensible middle course the Peoples House spoke its mind in a resolution of censure [of President Andrew Jackson], but in doing so did not embark on a mission nigh unto impossible to seek to overturn the results of an honest and fair presidential election. Starr for the defense Starrs Sept. 25 argument is one to which I subscribe, though only to a point: Impeachment is inherently anti-democratic, which is why it should be reserved for extraordinarily grave breaches of ethics and law. But thats also why so many pundits and politicians now accuse Starr of hypocrisy and why his name may come to define the word, deservedly or not. More than two decades ago, the mild-mannered independent counsel spent several years helping make possible the impeachment of a duly elected president involved in a tawdry White House fling a sordid affair far removed from the questionable real-estate dealings that initially fueled the Starr investigation. Alas, Starr last week stepped forward to defend a president accused of something far more serious and consequential than lying about a sexual dalliance: abusing a public trust in trying to coerce an imperiled foreign ally and with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer cash to tilt an approaching U.S. presidential election in his favor. Republican lawmakers were in the dark about the Republican presidents misdeeds and expressed alarm upon discovering the congressionally approved aid had not been smartly delivered to Ukraine. It didnt help that Starr, 73, a Republican and (till recently) a Fox News analyst whose investigation in the 1990s aggressively targeted a Democrat, now urged restraint and kid gloves for a fellow Republican. The Trump defense teams claim that House charges against President Trump were a brazen and unlawful attempt to undermine his 2020 reelection is pretty rich, given mounting evidence from Soviet-born Rudy Giuliani stooge Lev Parnas and now former national security adviser John Bolton, long a favorite of the far right, that Trump was trying to do the very same thing last summer and got caught. And theres the argument that the impeachment drive is part of an attempt to overturn the 2016 election again pretty rich if you remember that, right up till Election Day 2016, candidate Donald Trump declared the election was rigged and he might not accept the election results, leaving open the possibility of civic unrest. Age of Impeachment Interestingly, Trump during that period did nothing to calm supporters including Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who called for pitchforks and torches if Trump lost. As the Boston Globe quoted one Trump supporter of a possible election loss in the perennial battleground state of Ohio: Theres going to be a lot of bloodshed. But thats what its going to take. Yet Starrs artful, often moving address in defense of President Trump before the Senate last week offered some inconvenient truths for House Democrats, including the fact some on Capitol Hill and beyond have been almost as reckless in calling for this presidents impeachment, well before his wildly inappropriate July 25 call to the Ukrainian president, even before the much-anticipated, slow-baking Mueller Report was issued. To quote Judge Starr in a soaring moment in the Senate: In the House, resolution after resolution, month after month, has called for the presidents impeachment. How did we get here with presidential impeachment invoked frequently and its inherently destabilizing as well as acrimonious way? Unfortunately for Starr, he figures strongly in the regrettable answer. The judge correctly laments what he says has steadily devolved into the Age of Impeachment, even as he awkwardly welcomes the 1999 death of the independent counsel statute under which he relentlessly dogged President Clinton over a multitude of ethical and legal sins and crimes, some well beyond the scope of what was envisioned: But in the meantime, Americas constitutional DNA and its political culture had changed. Even with the dawn of the new century, the 21st century, impeachment remained on the lips of countless Americans and echoed frequently in the Peoples House. The impeachment habit proved to be hard to kick. Lock her up! Judge Starr is right, though hes a fine one to say so. Republicans who should have courageously reined in such impulses themselves stood mute during occasional calls to impeach or worse. Often they were complicit in whipping mobs into a frenzy. I sat in congressional town-hall meetings in Waco where an occasional constituent pressed for President Obamas impeachment for such crimes as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), enacted through executive action. And to roaring laughter, the mayor of Moody announced during a McLennan County Republican Club luncheon in 2016 that he had been shocked to see a Hillary Clinton sign in his town of 1,300. Only after the homeowner mowed his lawn did he realize the sign declared: Hillary for Prison. At another point, Judge Starr argued that the impeachment of a president is justified only when ultimately pursued in a bipartisan manner. Again, good point, except it raises questions about his own role as chief architect of the Clinton impeachment, which unfolded before a House and Senate anything but bipartisan. As my former Trib colleague Carlos Sanchez, a veteran newspaperman long of the Washington Post, wrote back when Starr arrived to serve as Baylor president in 2010, the impeachment of a Democratic president by Republicans in 1998-99 may well have fueled the political polarization that Starr today so deeply and so justifiably and so ironically laments. As Sanchez quoted Ken Gormley, the author of The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr, a book published amidst Starrs arrival in Waco: I believe this whole moment in history was the beginning of a division in the country that hasnt corrected itself yet. It was the beginning of red state versus blue state. Judge Starrs argument before the Senate that no specific crimes are cited in the impeachment articles and surely must be to be credible might prove compelling except this president and all his men have argued on various occasions that this president is above the law, which logically and legally must imply he is liable for offenses that cannot be so readily committed by ordinary citizens, given they dont hold such immense power. Abuse of power? Obstruction of Congress? No such laws? If the judge seeks a criminal code of presidential offenses, he must remember the greatest law book of all for Americans: his beloved Constitution. What is the recourse when a president runs counter to the checks and balances? Another election that he was already obviously trying to fix? Another call-out to foreign powers such as Russia to render his campaign aid and comfort? Inconsistencies aside, Starrs address with its slow-motion oratory and thought-provoking historical footnotes might have set a higher tone in the impeachment trial. The fact it didnt is proof Starr was an anomaly in a Trumpian sideshow, trotted out for the amusement of the peanut gallery. Soon afterward, other defense lawyers proved they hadnt been listening, setting out to complete the task Trump began last summer by pillaging the target of his skullduggery and even trying to impeach Obama post-presidency, the knee-jerk resort of Trump apologists when all else fails. No less than principled conservative editors of National Review lambasted Alan Dershowitzs claim that a president can subvert the Constitution in various ways without violating criminal statutes. Meanwhile, complications have piled up like rubble clogging a storm drain, including the nonpartisan Government Accountability Offices buttoned-down determination that, well, yes, the presidents withholding congressionally approved funding is a violation of the law: Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law. And a Department of Justice attorney has now argued in court on a matter unrelated to impeachment that, well, no, Congress cannot use federal courts to enforce its subpoenas, which conflicts with what Trump defense lawyers insisted House Democrats should have done: take their spurned subpoenas for evidence and witnesses to federal court to decide on the subpoenas merits. Monarchy or republic? Judge Starr took some lumps for coming to Trumps aid, which suggests his sincerity in all this. For its Page One, the New York Times dredged up the ugly Baylor University sexual-assault scandal over which Starr presided to his downfall in 2016, pitting some of his comments against a not-so-confidential Margolis Healy report regarding creaky Title IX protections for campus students. And old wounds among alumni and regents were reopened, as a Baylor professor emeritus conveyed to the Trib in a letter in defense of Starr, a popular president during his tenure: He was one of the best presidents Baylor University ever had. The Board of Regents at Baylor should have all been fired and replaced with a reasonable-sized board serious about their positions and not reduced to a bunch of in-fighting politicians. One could liken them to Nancy Pelosi and her fellow hoodlums in Congress. Nor were pundits and politicians kind. Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor for the PBS NewsHour, tweeted: Ken Starr says unlike judges, who serve for life, presidents are elected for a limited term, and should be less subject to impeachment. Did he make this argument during Clinton impeachment? And the New Yorker highlighted the irony: Kenneth Starrs remarks at the Senate impeachment trial were a bizarre spectacle: the man who brought us the last impeachment and trial of a president lecturing the Senate on the dangerous evils of impeachment. Another critic billed Starr and Dershowitz the Abbott & Costello of Impeachment. Perhaps the unkindest cut came from right-wing media star Ann Coulter, who tweeted: Ken Starr litigation strategy: Torture the senate with such an excruciatingly boring presentation that they cannot take another minute of this trial. To which right-wing House Freedom Caucus thug Matt Gaetz tweeted: This defense needs a little less Atticus Finch and a little more Miss Universe. Which says more about the lack of intellect of Coulter and Gaetz than it does Starrs abilities as an attorney in the crucible of history. In the end, Judge Starrs arguments for the defense were edifying, dignified, even eloquent, yet relentlessly confounding given the disorienting truth-isnt-truth context of the moment, conjuring up for constitutionally astute citizens Mrs. Powels question more than Dr. Franklins answer in 1787. The fact that Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate of 2012, suddenly found himself a pariah in his own party for voting to convict Trump this week while at the same time emerging as a study in Profiles in Courage alongside Edmund Ross in historical estimation certainly underlines Mrs. Powels inquiry. So do the thinly veiled threats of payback from a hate-filled, vengeance-seeking president recharged by an anemic, craven, avert-thy-eyes Senate. Indeed, by late Friday the White House purge had already begun with victims including Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Council, and his twin brother Yevgeny, who wasnt even an impeachment witness. A presidential vendetta not only made a complete blasphemy of the National Prayer Breakfast but threatened significant consensus-building and constitutional governance. In short, Judge Starr was the wrong man at the wrong time defending the wrong president. His address reminds me of the apocryphal West Texas tale of the minister who gets lost on his way to a funeral and winds up preaching a barnstorming eulogy over the wrong remains. One is left impressed but dumbfounded. When a neighbor of mine asked her son-in-law, an appellate lawyer, how on earth Judge Starr, so deeply respected as a constitutional scholar, so cognizant of history, could defend a potty-mouthed, two-faced charlatan infamous for constitutional transgressions given the likely judgment of almighty history, he gently lectured her: Thats what good lawyers do, and Ken Starr is a good lawyer. Well, Im glad historys not important to him, she replied, because Trump probably wont pay him. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In recent years plenty has been written about the links between Wexford and Mexico - most notably through Wexford native William Lamport, who provided the inspiration for masked swashbuckling cult hero Zorro. Local councillor Leonard Kelly had the opportunity to discuss these links in detail recently as he met with Mexican Ambassador to Ireland Miguel Malfavon at the Mexican embassy in Dublin. Coincidentally, Ambassador Malfavon had only visited Wexford the day prior to Cllr Kelly's arrival and was already sold on the beauty of the model county and interested in carving out links with his home country. 'The previous day the Ambassador had visited Hook Head and Loftus Hall,' Cllr Kelly said. 'It was fortunate timing and he was really impressed with Wexford and thinks it's a lovely place. I would hope that the ambassador would see fit to visit Wexford town at a later date with a view to exploring further avenues to develop links between Wexford and Mexico.' The interaction with the ambassador came about when Anthony Long of Zafiro Tours got in touch with the Wexford councillor to discuss Wexford-Mexican links. This culminated in last week's meeting with the ambassador which was captured by TV Azteca from Mexico. The film crew also visited Wexford where they got a walking tour and visited the Irish National Heritage Park. While Wexford did have 'Zorrofest' in recent years, Cllr Kelly says it is his hope that new life can be breathed into establishing a festival or event to celebrate the like of William Lamport. 'Mexico is a massive country and there is huge tourism potential there,' he said. 'Some kind of event around the link with Mexico and William Lamport could really help to grow the links between the two countries.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 11:19:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, held a phone conversation Friday on cooperation to fight novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). Bonne expressed France's support for China in fighting against the NCP, and admiration for China's calmness, wisdom and capability in effectively bringing the situation under control within a short time. France is willing to share experience with China and carry out cooperation to help China fight the epidemic, Bonne told Wang, adding that France is fully confident in China's final victory in the battle. Wang thanked and expressed appreciation for France's support for China, stressing that the whole country is pulling together and working in unity to fight the epidemic. With a highly responsible attitude to the Chinese people and the international community, China has adopted the most strict prevention and control measures, Wang said. So far, these various measures have gradually taken effect, as cured patients have obviously outnumbered the deceased patients and the increase of suspected cases has slowed, he said. The Chinese nation has never surrendered to any difficult challenges, Wang said, stressing that China is fully confident in winning the battle against the NCP. Noting that the epidemic is a common challenge for mankind, Wang pledged that China will continue to share information with the international community in an open and transparent manner and strengthen cooperation. China has no intention in playing down the challenge brought by the NCP, he said, while calling on countries around the world to respect professional advices by the World Health Organization (WHO) and avoid taking restriction measures on traveling and trade. China hopes that France would continue to push forward the normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries with an objective and fair attitude, he said. Wang and Bonne also exchanged views on bilateral communication and cooperation in the next stage and agreed to maintain close communication, carry out exchanges at various levels, deepen practical cooperation and well implement the two heads of state's consensus, so as to strive for greater development of bilateral ties on a higher level. External shocks could destabilise economy View(s): External shocks have been serious setbacks to the Sri Lankan Economy since independence. Once again the Sri Lankan economy is facing severe external Shocks. Slow growth of the international economy will reduce the countrys exports. The dip in world tourism will cripple the countrys attempt to revive tourism. There is a likely hood of a spike in fuel prices (although prices have fallen at present) and economic dislocation due to the impact of Corona virus. 72 Years In the 72 years of Sri Lanka post independence economic history, external Shocks have been determining factor in the countrys economic performance. After a short period of favorable external trading conditions, the country faced a severe deterioration in the terms of trade. In the late 50s and 60s the country faced a fall in export prices for tea and rubber while the countrys imports cost more. This caused a severe balance of payments problem and erosion in the countrys foreign reserves. This resulted in imposition of import controls and exchange controls. The government followed inward looking economic policies that also failed to resolve the problem. The external Shocks of the 1970s were exasperated by world food prices rising at the same time as when there was severe droughts that led to a sharp fall in domestic food production. One of the fundamental reasons why external Shocks have severe impact on the country is due to the character of the countrys exports and imports. Exports are very elastic in demand, in other words the world demand for our exports could fall. This is particularly so in respect of the countrys primary agricultural exports. The diversification of our exports after 1978 has reduced this instability somewhat but in contrast the countrys imports are highly inelastic. The intermediate imports of fuel, fertiliser, raw material for manufacture, machinery and other capital goods are vital. Fuel imports constitute around 15 % to 20% of imports. When fuel prices rise it is a massive burden on the balance of payment. International fuel prices tend to fluctuate and the country has faced fuel price hikes during the post-independence years. Even today there is today a threat of oil price increases due to the tensions in the middle east. Although the country has achieved self-sufficiency in rice and increased production in other food crops as well, the country continues to be dependent on imports of essential food items. These include wheat, grain, sugar, milk and dhal. These imports also basically inelastic. Global economic downturn Even before the current situation developed by the middle of last year there was an expectation that the world economy would slow down. Around the middle of last year the global economy was estimated to dip in 2020. South Asia which was the fastest growing region in the world was expected to grow at less than the 6% in 2020. The current world situation implies that growth will fall in the South Asian region. These global developments of low growth will impact on the Sri Lankan economy. Export growth is likely to be adversely affected. Export growth Sri Lankas export growth has been far less than other countries in the region. This is specially so compared to the high export growth of Bangladesh and Vietnam. One of the underlying reasons for this inadequate export growth of manufactures is that while countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam have liberalised their economy, Sri Lankas protection has increased. Export growth requires low import tariffs. What has happened over time is that the effective rate of protection has increased. Although there have been efforts in 2019 to reduce or eliminate Para tariffs, this has been inadequate. In the light of the challenges facing the countrys exports it is vital that there is further trade liberalization. Brexit Britains exit from the European Union provides both opportunities and challenges. The country must be prepared to exploit the opportunities such as the location of British investments in Sri Lanka and export possibilities to Britain. This once again requires a forward looking pragmatic trade and investment policies. Tourism The current situation in world tourism is a massive blow to Sri Lankas tourism. The country was trying to revive its adversely affected tourism when the new wave of tourism decreased. It is not only that we are adversely affected by the global dip in tourism but also affected by the cutoff of Chinese tourists into the country. The Chinese are the second largest single destination of tourists. Therefore this year the tourist sector will continue to be adversely affected. Furthermore local tourism too may decrease owing to fears of the Novel Corona virus outbreak. This dip in tourism will affect a number of other sectors in the economy that are linked to tourism. These include transport, gem trade, arts and crafts, food and beverages. Therefore the Sri Lankan economy is likely to grow at a slow pace. Other challenges Quite apart from the current global impact on the Sri Lankan economy there are impending challenges. The countrys entitlement to the European Unions GST + Concession expires in 2023 owing to Sri Lanka having achieved the high middle income status in 2019.The continuity of the GSP plus status till 2023 is not automatic but subject to the country observing certain conditions. This implies that the countrys competitiveness in world trade has to improve as other countries will continue to enjoy the GST+ status. Conclusion The external Shocks the country may face in 2020 could destabilize the economy, increase the countrys external vulnerability. The weak external finances and the high debt repayment obligations this year makes the countrys economic predicament serious. It is imperative that the government is conscious of these threats to the economy and adopts policies and measures to litigate their impact. The prudent management of fiscal and monetary policy will be an important determinant of the countrys capacity to face the external shocks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 08:43:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A doctors provides online medical services to patients at an office of the Internet Hospital of Jiangsu Province Hospital in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 7, 2020. To ease the burden of hospitals overloaded with patients amid the virus outbreak, Jiangsu Province Hospital has stepped up efforts to provide online consulting and preliminary screening for the novel coronavirus, which can help reduce the number of visiting patients, and thus lower the possibility of cross infection. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng) How Long Each Candidate Spoke Party strategy Health care Impeachment Foreign policy Opioids Gun control Supreme Court Race Money in politics Climate change Poverty Note: Each bar segment represents the length of a candidates response to a question. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had the most speaking time of the seven Democratic presidential candidates in the debate in New Hampshire. The debate kicked off with a lively discussion about how to beat President Trump in the general election. The two leaders in the Iowa caucuses, Mr. Sanders and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., came under sustained criticism in the debate. Mr. Biden disparaged Mr. Buttigiegs lack of experience in government and warned against supporting a candidate with far left policies like Mr. Sanders. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts argued that the Democrats could unite their party by campaigning against corruption. Note: The size of each circle represents the total length of a candidates responses to a topic. Foreign policy, race and the direction of the Democratic Party were the most discussed topics in the debate. These three topics took up nearly half of the candidates speaking time. They tried to appeal to black and Latino voters with plans to decriminalize marijuana, close the racial wealth gap and protect voting rights. The candidates were also asked about whether abortion would be a litmus test in their nominations for the Supreme Court. Several candidates said they would like to codify a womans right to an abortion into law. Get full coverage of the Democratic presidential debate from the Times. Ever since the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019, 73-year-old Narayan Gaikwad, a resident of Jambhali village in the Shirol taluka of Maharashtras Kolhapur district, has been on the move. He travels through villages in the region, spending up to four hours a day talking to farmers and agricultural labourers about the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC). This story is part of a series on the everyday heroes of rural Maharashtra. *** Ever since the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019, 73-year-old Narayan Gaikwad, a resident of Jambhali village in the Shirol taluka of Maharashtras Kolhapur district, has been on the move. He travels through villages in the region, spending up to four hours a day talking to farmers and agricultural labourers about the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Im a part-time farmer and full-time social worker, Gaikwad says. The modest statement doesnt tell the full story of Gaikwads days, which begin at 4 am, comprise seven hours of labour in the fields, and then a motorcycle ride to the neighbouring villages, for spreading awareness about government policies and the rights of the marginalised. In his signature white kurta-pyjama and Gandhi cap, Gaikwads is a familiar figure in the area. Someone has to do the job of making people aware, he shrugs. Gaikwad has already canvassed the streets and farms of more than 15 villages over the past month as part of his CAA, NRC awareness drive, and aims to cover all 54 villages of Shirol taluka. He asks people to examine why are Muslims not included in the law? and where the lakhs and lakhs of people who dont have documents (to prove their citizenship) will go. The response from his listeners isnt usually encouraging. Many do not know about the provisions of the CAA, NRC. When he shares the information with them, his listeners wonder why they should care. We are finding it difficult to survive, why should we listen to you? When it will come to us, well see what to do is what he is often told. But Gaikwad who considers Savitribai and Mahatma Phule his inspirations isnt easily disheartened. People threw cow dung at Savitribai, and yet she worked hard and never gave up, he points out. In Shirol taluka, the apathy is due in no small part to the farmers circumstances. The region is still reeling from the devastation of the August 2019 floods, with compensation still awaited, and cases of farmers suicides. People are tired now, says Gaikwad, quietly. There is a limit to everything. The local media doesnt contribute to raising awareness levels, so Gaikwad has conversations with as many people as he can farm workers, street hawkers, sweepers, in villages like Takavade, Shirdhon, Rajapurwadi, Rajapur, Dattawad, Khidrapur, Danwad, Nandani, Jambhali, Alas, Bubnal. In villages, you will find people sitting and talking under a tree. I directly go there and inform them about the CAA and how its taking our nation towards dictatorship, he says. At times, I go directly to the field where several farmers and labourers work. I talk to them and make them aware of the CAA. His method is simple: multiple rounds of discussion. Even after that if people dont understand then we will get experts and activists like Kumar Shiralkar and Uday Narkar to talk to them, he says. While several people want to join him in spreading awareness, the biggest impediment lies in making ends meet. Every labourer in Shirol is working at least 12 hours a day to make ends meet, he shrugs. How will they join protests if they have nothing to eat? The lack of funds impedes his plans as well. If I have to hold a sabha or a rally, renting a mic costs at least Rs 800, he says. Often, in spreading awareness about CAA and NRC, what Narayan Gaikwad must counter, is long-held prejudice. For instance, when speaking with villagers at the Kopeshwar temple yatra in Khidrapur village, a villager shouted that Muslims were infiltrators who should be removed from India. Even as Gaikwad spoke of Partition and constitutional safeguards, the villager stormed out of the meeting. Such hate speech can only be challenged by teaching people that we are all Indians and everyone is our brother and sister. Everyone has to read the Preamble to the Constitution, says Gaikwad. Once, Gaikwad received a threat to his life, but seemed unfazed. If you fear [danger], you shouldnt get into this work. Someone has to bell the cat, otherwise, the cat will eat all the mice, he says, and laughs. The time for intellectuals to speak up, he says, is now. Go to weekly markets, and start talking to common people, he exhorts. His own oratorical skills are powerful, and Gaikwad is convinced that even if his words do not have an immediate impact on his listeners, they will mull over his message later and experience a shift in mind-set. Tyana doka aahe (they have a brain), he says. At night or after work, they think about what I said and why I was saying it. Watching Gaikwad as he carries out door-to-door campaign is enough to show why his words are difficult to ignore. The government doesnt want to waive the loans of farmers and they have crores of rupees to spend on NRC? he asks a rapt audience during a discussion in Nandani village. On a visit to a Dalit basti in Jambhali, Gaikwad and the residents discussed the Constitution, and how the governments policies were destroying the ideals enshrined in it. After one door-to-door campaign, a farmer from Jambhali village Raosaheb Koli called Gaikwad and told him they needed to start protesting the CAA, NRC. Koli suggested that farmers be brought together for an open meeting, where the issue could be discussed. These open meetings should be held at the village level, and each village must pass a resolution scrapping the amended CAA and NRC. All the villages should then send this to the state government and that is how the law will be repealed, Gaikwad says. A major hurdle Gaikwad contends with is the rampant spread of misinformation through social media, WhatsApp, and some of the local news outlets as well. Tey tel, chutney, mit, lavun detat (they exaggerate their reports). I read articles properly and only pick up whats factually right, says Gaikwad, who ended his schooling in Class 11 because of financial constraints and began working in the fields. He goes through a stack of newspapers and magazines in his attempt to glean and share the truth. Shika, Sanghatit vha, Sangarsh Kara (Educate, Organise, Agitate), Gaikwad advises. This is the only way to defeat fascist forces. The government has said that CAA will be implemented, but what will they do if all the states refuse to implement it? A Thai soldier remained holed up in a shopping mall late Saturday after gunning down at least 17 people, in an attack on a normally sedate town centre relayed through Facebook posts. The shooting spree in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima began late in the afternoon at an army barracks. Three people were killed -- among them at least one soldier -- when Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma opened fire, police said. "He stole an army vehicle and drove into the town centre," police Lieutenant-Colonel Mongkol Kuptasiri. There the gunman used weapons stolen from the army arsenal - including a machiene gun - to bring carnage to a town centre. There were "17 deaths, 14 wounded" by late Saturday, an unnamed spokesperson from the national hotline for emergency services across the country told AFP - a death toll later confirmed by a police spokesman. "The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead," spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said. He urged the public and media not to share any information that could jeopardise the safety of anyone trapped inside. Earlier chaotic scenes, relayed through social media, showed people fleeing while at least one fire roared and what appeared to be the sound of automatic gunfire filled the air. The gunman also posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded including "should I surrender?" and "no one can escape death". In one Facebook video -- since deleted -- the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open jeep saying, "I'm tired... I can't pull my finger anymore" and making a trigger symbol with his hand. There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol. A Facebook spokesperson said "we have removed the gunmans accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it". - army in place - In a fast-moving incident, authorities would not confirm local media reports that the gunman had taken hostages. But a witness who was inside the mall before the attack told AFP the shopping centre was thronging with shoppers on a long weekend. "There were loads of people at the mall today," a 32-year-old from the city said, requesting anonymity. "I was pretty shocked when I found out because I just left the mall not long before." Street lights below the shopping centre were switched off as army and police units sealed off the Terminal 21 mall. The city - better known as Korat - is home to one of Thailand's largest barracks in a country where the military is enmeshed in politics and society. Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. Several shootings at courthouses late last year renewed concern about gun violence in the Southeast Asian country. In another high-profile case, a two-year-old boy was among three people killed in Thailand when a masked gunman robbed a jewellery shop last month. Late last year two lawyers were shot dead by a clerk at a court in the east of the country during a hearing over a land dispute. Last week, the South Dakota House of Representatives passed bill H.B. 1057, known as the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, which stipulates that any medical professional providing a minor, emancipated or not, under 16 with gender transition care, including gender reassignment procedures or administering hormones and puberty blockers, will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, a year in jail, and a maximum fine of $2,000. The Republican-led House voted 4623 in favor of the bill, moving South Dakota closer to becoming the first state in the history of the United States with such legal restrictions. The bill now goes to the Health and Human Services Committee of the State Senate, and if approved there, to a vote by the Senate as a whole, which has a 305 Republican majority. Just over a month into the new year, six other states have begun work on bills that seek to restrict the access of transgender youth to health care services related to gender transition and to punish doctors who get in the way. State legislatures in Missouri, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Carolina are all considering bills nearly identical to South Dakotas H.B. 1057. South Dakota House of Representatives (Credit: Flickr.com, South Dakota Public Broadcasting) At a time of intensifying class tensions and emerging mass struggles, the bill appeals to the most reactionary elements of American society. It seeks to vilify transgender people in an attempt to move the spotlight away from growing social inequality, to divert attention from the fundamental class issues to issues of identity. Trump is taking advantage of the issue of transgender rights to spread backwardness and disorientation. Appealing to his right-wing and fascistic base, he reversed the bathroom policy and banned transgender people from the military. The reactionary and obscurantist outlook behind the campaign against transgender people was summed up by Republican South Dakota State Representative Fred Deutsch, a sponsor of H.B. 1057, who in 2016 introduced the first bathroom bill, which sought to ban transgender students from public school bathrooms of their preferred choice. Deutsch recently stated that gender reassignment physicians are carrying out actions akin to the experiments of Nazi doctors. To me, thats a crime against humanity when these procedures are done by these so-called doctors, he said. You know, Im the son of a Holocaust survivor. Ive had family members killed in Auschwitz. And Ive seen the pictures of the bizarre medical experiments. I dont want that to happen to our kids. And thats whats going on right now. Deutsch makes fascism, whose origins lie in the inherent breakdown and failure of capitalism, equal to gender transition surgery. He outrageously equates the sadistic experiments of the Nazis with the voluntary and desired treatment of gender dysphoria in young people who face bullying and increased risks of suicide. The South Dakota bill places the onus of the complex issues of transgender people on doctors, professionals whose are discharging their responsibilities in the treatment and care of their transgender patients. Attacking doctors who provide transitional care for transgender youth, the bill aims to prevent youth from obtaining it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 2 percent of high schoolers identify as transgender; 27 percent of these youth feel unsafe at school or traveling to or from their school campus; 35 percent are bullied at school; and 35 percent attempt suicide. The CDC found that youth who receive puberty blockers, a means of gender transition that involves hormonal changes and does not include surgery, have a reduced risk of suicide. In recent years, the Democratic Party has also cynically taken advantage of the plight of transgender people, creating a national controversy in 2016 in response to a reactionary North Carolina law that would require transgender people use the bathroom corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate. The World Socialist Web Site wrote that the law is reactionary and must be opposed, together with the rest of the recent efforts by Republican-controlled state legislatures to pass laws invoking religious liberty to whip up bigotry and codify intolerance against gay and transgender people. The WSWS added: There is an immense element of political and electoral calculation and cynicism on both sides of this controversy. In an election dominated by mass anger over economic inequality and the control of the political system by Wall Street, there is a desire by both parties to change the subject. The Republicans are seeking to mobilize their base among more backward, disoriented and economically depressed middle class layers. The Democrats are seeking to appeal to layers of the more privileged upper-middle class that have made various issues of identityrace, gender, sexual orientationtheir obsessive focus. The working class must defend the democratic rights of transgender people and must oppose efforts by the Trump administration and its backers to turn transgender people into outcasts and scapegoats. The only way to defend the most basic democratic rights is not by adapting to the identity politics-obsessed Democratic Party, but through the building of a mass revolutionary movement in the working class aimed at ending capitalism and securing democratic rights for all. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:16:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi soldier and two Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Saturday in a clash in the central province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said. The deadly clash erupted in the morning when IS militants attacked an army outpost in Mteibijah, a rugged area in the eastern part of the province, Mohammed al-Bazi told Xinhua. A reinforcement force was dispatched to the area for security as the extremist militants withdrew to their hideouts in Mteibijah, al-Bazi said. Iraqi security forces have repeatedly tried to retake control of Mteibijah, but the vast rugged land and mountains have made it difficult for them to dislodge the extremist militants from the region. The security situation in Iraq has improved since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. He who feels it knows it. Hegemonic expansionism is the root cause of instability in Nigeria. Like a cancer it goes in remission for a while and once conditions are favorable it resumes its metastasis. Textbook Fulani expansionism is at work in Adaraland located within Kaduna State of Nigeria, going by a report presented by the Adara people recently to the Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government into incessant killings in that State (ref: https://dailypost.ng/2020/02/07/kaduna-crises-adara-community-reveals-reason-behind-prolonged-unrest-in-kachia-kajuru-chikun-others/? ). Cultural genocide is going on right before our eyes in Southern Kaduna. Modern day political slavery is happening in Nigeria where minorities have less rights than cattle. The Adara people are being systematically strangulated and politically asphyxiated. Denied popular representation and the ability to elect their own leaders even at the grassroots, they are saddled with expansionist rulers at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. They are endangered on their own land, buffeted by Fulani bandit-terrorists. They are unprotected by the security forces who are completely under the control of their tormentors. Their pains do not end there. A corollary of hegemonic expansionism is distributive injustice. You cannot have one without the other. In the distribution of amenities and socio-economic patronage, the Adara complain that they are denied a share not to mention a fair one. Well you have to be seated at the table to get a fair share of its spoils. The Adara are not even afforded standing space within the dining-room. This is the nature of life when you have hegemonic expansionists as next-door neighbors It is also the height of man's injustice to man. As you read this, Adara tribal territory would in almost all certainty already have been earmarked for the obnoxious RUGA 2.0 resettlement program for Fulani herdsmen and Fulani bandit-terrorists. As a people, the Adara people exist solely at the mercy of God. The selfish Southern Nigerian elites are unconcerned about their plight because they are as yet untouched. Many ignorant ones in their midst are even trenchant in their support for the expansionist oppressors of their Adara compatriots. Unable to learn from history, they forget that what goes around surely comes around. To address persistent expansionist instability, Nigerians may need to embrace the idea of decentralized federal, regional, state, zonal, and community police forces. With the benefit of current experience, the danger from a rogue President far outweighs that from rogue State Governors. Ditto between State Governors and Local Government Chairmen. To you Adara people, you may have no one to speak out for you, not to talk of people ready to defend you. But remain steadfast. God who created all peoples, has a purpose for creating the Adara as a distinct people. You have the greatest defender in God. Men may turn their backs against you, but the Divine Creator who knows all his creatures by name, will never turn his back on the work of his own hands. Help is coming from above, sooner than you think. Be steadfast. Nothing, not even hegemonic expansionism and distributive injustice lasts forever. Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE. Bengaluru polices decision to demand a Rs 10-lakh bond to rein in anti-CAA protests has come under criticism from legal luminaries, a noted Kannada writer and a former minister. In a joint statement, former additional advocate general H G Shivanna, high court advocate H D Amaranath, advocate Dhananjaya, Kannada writer K Marulasiddappa, former chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority S G Siddaramaiah and former minister Prof B K Chandrashekar called the hike in the bond illogical and unnecessary and slammed the mechanical functioning of the city police. The Constitution of India clearly upholds the fundamental principle that a civilised society has every right to non-violent protest. The Supreme Court, while stating this in the Jammu and Kashmir lockdown case of January 10, 2020, has conveyed the crucial message that it is against the law to impose Section 144 mechanically to prevent (the) expression of dissent and (the) organising of public meetings. Section 144 can be imposed only when there is a clear indication of violence, incitement to riots, (a) threat to public safety or danger. There is no room in (the) law for orders based on mere speculation. It is the duty of the police to control protests when they turn violent. If they are unable to carry out this duty and prevent damage to or loss of public property, it only shows up the inefficiency of the police, the statement reads. The statement further said: If the Rs 10-lakh bond rule is implemented, only the very rich organisers will have the right to protest. As for the rest Dalits, progressives and cultural organisations they will just have to shut up. Is this the real agenda of the police? The signatories, however, expressed confidence that the state government would not take such a stand and urged the chief minister to instruct the police not to implement this undemocratic decision. Boris Johnson has failed to convince large swathes of voters that he can avoid a no-deal Brexit at the end of the year, a new poll has suggested. Despite the prime ministers claim that no-deal is no longer possible, just 40 per cent of those questioned thought he would strike a free trade deal with the EU by his self-imposed deadline of 31 December, while 42 per cent thought he would not. And a week after the UK left the European Union, voters believe on balance that Brexit will harm the national economy, their own finances, Britains international standing and the strength of the Union over the coming years, the survey found. But the BMG poll for The Independent suggested that, after almost four years of dominating the political agenda, Brexit is fading away as a concern in voters minds. The proportion of voters believing relations with the EU are the most important political issue has fallen from 45 per cent in December and 24 per cent in January to 16 per cent now. 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 Brexit fell behind health (24 per cent) as the most important issue for the first time in months, but remained ahead of the environment on 14 per cent. The survey found some indications that voters are becoming reconciled to Brexit, with 52 per cent saying they want to stay out of the EU against 48 per cent who would prefer to be inside. The 52-48 split is the same as the outcome of the 2016 referendum and the first majority for Leave in the regular BMG poll since February 2017. Meanwhile, Mr Johnsons Conservatives maintained their comfortable lead in the polls, with 41 per cent support against 29 per cent for Labour and Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent. Tories were down three points since January, but the only beneficiaries in the poll were Greens - up three points on 8 - while the main opposition parties were unchanged. The prime ministers personal ratings were improved, with 53 per cent satisfied and 47 per cent dissatisfied with his performance - an overall score of plus-6 compared to minus-2 in January. Jeremy Corbyns rock-bottom ratings recovered marginally, with 77 per cent dissatisfied and 23 per cent satisfied, for an overall figure of minus-54 compared to minus-58 in January. Some 42 per cent of those questioned said that they expected the UK economy to deteriorate over the next three years after Brexit, compared to 30 per cent who thought it would improve. Over the same period, voters expected a deterioration in their own financial positions (by 31 per cent to 14 per cent), the UKs influence in the world (by 36-30), Europes influence in the world (32-11) and regional inequalities in the UK (33-15). A Brexit 50p coin with the EU's 12-star symbol engraved onto it (Sam Harris /SWNS.COM) A massive 50 per cent thought Brexit would weaken the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the next three years, compared to just 17 per cent who thought it would be strengthened. Over the longer term, more voters expected the economy and the UKs global standing to recover than to continue to decline, but more felt that the damage to the Union and regional inequality would persist over the next 10-20 years. Despite these findings, some 40 per cent said they felt optimistic about the future following Brexit day on 31 January, against 31 per cent who were pessimistic. And there was support for Mr Johnsons decision to pursue a hard Brexit settlement rather than trying to maintain close ties with the EUs single market and customs union. Some 43 per cent said the PM should seek a deal which would secure the maximum freedom for the UK to decide its own rules and regulations, even if this means looser ties with Europe and more barriers or costs to trade and travel within Europe. By contrast, 40 per cent said any deal should maintain closer links and the fewest barriers to trade and travel, even if it means accepting European rules and regulations. Closer links with the EU were favoured by under-45s, while older voters backed greater freedom for the UK to set its own rules. Only 29 per cent of those questioned thought the UK would rejoin the EU within the next 50 years, while 41 per cent believed it would not. But again there was a stark generational divide, with 37 per cent of 18-24 year-olds and 41 per cent of 25-34s expecting a return to the bloc, compared to just 22 per cent of 55-64 year-olds and 17 per cent of over 65s. Among those who expected a return to the EU, 38 per cent expected it by the end of the 2020s and 33 per cent by the end of the 2030s. - BMG questioned 1,503 British adults between 4 and 7 February. Pupils of Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin sitting their Leaving Certificate Examination which began yesterday. Photo: Tom Burke Well balanced with a nice choice of questions is how teacher Donal Power described the Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Higher Level paper. Mr Power of the Institute of Education, Dublin said there was a good choice of short questions, although he thought the phrasing of the first slightly tricky - the term adulteration of milk may have been unfamiliar to some students. While, in recent years, he regarded the soil question as challenging, this year he thought it was more manageable. In Question 3, the Option 1 graph question was very topical, about the 2013 fodder crisis. Mr Power thought Question 5 a bit unusual because it mixed plant science in a bit soil science. However if students had practised with past papers they would have found this quite doable he said. In Question 6, he said some students might have found it hard to draw the digestive system of fowl or a bird. We adopted a strategy that said drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder. These things are all connected, but thats the point, he said. So are all of the things that need to change in order to prevent violence and remove the effects of systemic racism, not just from criminal justice but from our economy from health from housing and from our democracy itself. Voting in Delhi picked up pace towards the evening with 42.20 per cent voters having cast their exercise by 4 pm. The polling percentage was 30.18 per cent till 3 pm, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app. Voting for 70-members Delhi assembly will conclude at 6 pm. Prominent among those who cast their votes were President Ram Nath Kovind, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani and Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and S Jaishankar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also cast their votes. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes including 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. There are 869 third gender voters. The voting is being held at 13,571 polling stations of which 3,141 are critical and 144 vulnerable polling stations. The contest is largely triangular between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress. Both BJP and Congress have given a few seats to their allies. AAP had secured a landslide victory in the last polls winning 67 seats. The results will be declared on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By James Oliphant MANCHESTER, N.H. - After his better-than-expected showing in the Iowa caucuses, Pete Buttigieg is likely to draw the spotlight - and incoming fire from rivals - as Democratic presidential contenders debate on Friday in New Hampshire, just days before the state's pivotal primary. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, eked out a win over U.S By James Oliphant MANCHESTER, N.H. - After his better-than-expected showing in the Iowa caucuses, Pete Buttigieg is likely to draw the spotlight - and incoming fire from rivals - as Democratic presidential contenders debate on Friday in New Hampshire, just days before the state's pivotal primary. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, eked out a win over U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in Iowa, according to the state Democratic Party's complete count, which has been marred by technical and organizational errors. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S Senator Amy Klobuchar trailed behind in the nation's first nominating contest. Following his disappointing effort in Iowa, Biden's campaign on Friday said that Anita Dunn, a longtime Democratic strategist and former White House aide to President Barack Obama, would assume a larger leadership role within the campaign. But aides to Biden downplayed the move, noting that Dunn has been advising the campaign all along. "This is not a reshuffling," one aide said. "This is giving her a slightly broader portfolio." Historically, candidates who win the Iowa caucuses see a boost in New Hampshire, and two opinion polls released this week showed Buttigieg within striking distance of Sanders, who has consistently been atop the field in the state. But with controversy surrounding the Iowa results, New Hampshire's primary on Tuesday takes on added importance in the Democratic race for the nomination to face President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez added to uncertainty surrounding the nominating process on Thursday by calling for an audit of the Iowa caucuses after an array of problems delayed the final count. Even so, Buttigieg, 38, is likely to bear the brunt of more attacks at the debate than he has in past events - primarily over his relatively thin track record in public office. Biden, in particular, is expected to challenge Buttigieg on his experience, with Biden highlighting his achievements as a senator and vice president under Obama, aides said. At a campaign event in New Hampshire earlier this week, Biden said there was a risk in the party nominating someone whos never held an office higher than mayor of a town of 100,000 people in Indiana. Biden has turned up the heat not only on Buttigieg, but on Sanders. On Wednesday, he warned that if the self-described democratic socialist became the nominee, every Democrat in America up and down the ballot, in blue states, red states, purple states and easy districts and competitive ones will be branded with the same label. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump appeared to make reference to Sanders, who favors a government-run healthcare system, by declaring: We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare! CAN HE BEAT TRUMP? For Sanders, who represents the neighboring state of Vermont, the New Hampshire contest amounts to what can be considered a home game. In 2016, he swamped rival Hillary Clinton in the state by more than 20 percentage points after Clinton, the eventual nominee, defeated him in Iowa. Now that Sanders has shown himself to be a viable threat for the nomination, he is almost certain to be quizzed by Biden and others on the stage about whether his leftist agenda would draw enough voters in November to beat Trump. The evening is also important for Warren, who finished third in Iowa. If Sanders were not in the race, the senator from neighboring Massachusetts would likely be in a better position in polls ahead of the primary. Warren has argued at campaign events that she is the most electable candidate in the field, with the capacity to unite progressive and moderate voters. Also onstage at St. Anselm College in Manchester will be Klobuchar, California billionaire Tom Steyer and businessman Andrew Yang, who qualified for the debate after missing the earlier one in Iowa. Notably absent will be Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire former New York mayor, who is not competing in New Hampshire but has been assembling a formidable campaign operation in later voting states. Although Bloomberg has been ascending in national polls, he failed to meet the criteria for the Friday debate. (Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Caroline Stauffer, Peter Cooney and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can achieve great philanthropic work now that they have stepped down from their roles in the royal family, David Furnish has said. Speaking to Press Association, the filmmaker said the couple were at an interesting juncture of their life right now. And I know how passionately they want to give back and they really feel that they have a platform and an awareness and an opportunity to really do great, great philanthropic work, he said, Furnish went on to describe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as like family to him and his husband, Sir Elton John. We have a lot in common with Harry and Meghan, he said. World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Show all 24 1 /24 World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Italy World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Argentina World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Belgiam World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down US World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Brazil World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Chile World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Belgiam World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down Canada World reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down UK Elton and Prince Harry launched our MenStar Coalition at the International Aids Conference in Amsterdam, weve raised money and given money to Sentebale, his HIV/Aids childrens charity work in Lesotho. And Meghan and he both share a great love of Africa and so much of the work we do is based in Africa. In January, Prince Harry and Meghan revealed their decision to step back from the royal family and pursue a financially independent life split between North America and the UK. On Thursday, the couple made their first joint public appearance since making the announcement at an event hosted by JP Morgan in Miami, Florida. Prince Harry is said to have made a speech at the event in which he spoke about how difficult the last few weeks had been for him and Meghan but how he does not regret his decision. Prior to Harrys departure to Vancouver, which is where the couple are currently thought to be residing, he delivered a speech at a private dinner for the Sentebale charity and explained there was no other option for him and his family but to step away from the royal family. Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve, he said. For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. 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. The children are being locked up again, say the children who were locked up in the 1940s. It just keeps going on, over and over, said Kazumu Naganuma, who was imprisoned for four years during the 1940s because he was a Japanese American. Its hard to imagine that after 75-plus years, this is still happening. Naganuma remembers little about the barbed-wire fences, the guard towers, the crummy barracks and the smelly latrines of his four years at the Crystal City detention center in Texas. Fewer and fewer of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government in dozens of concentration camps and racetrack stables during World War II survive to remember the details. Many, like 77-year-old Naganuma, who left the camp when he was 5, were too young to recollect. Four camp survivors came to the National Japanese American Historical Society office in Japantown in San Francisco on Friday as part of the lead-up to this weekends annual Day of Remembrance, when camp survivors assemble to remind the rest of the country either that anti-immigrant detention and discrimination is making a comeback or that it never really stopped. Each survivor took a few moments to tell his or her story and probe the wounds that havent healed. I was a thoughtless teenager, just trying to live my teenage life and not knowing what was going on, said Chizu Omori, 89, who was locked up in the Poston, Ariz., camp. I know now. I got angrier as I got older. Part of that anger stems from the realization that what happened to them is happening all over again at the southern border, to another generation of locked-up parents and children this time trying to enter illegally from Central America and elsewhere who are living through what they say is another round of anti-immigrant hysteria. Locking people up, thats our countrys history, Omori said. Thats the American story. Thats what we do. Hiroshi Shimizu was born at the Topaz camp in central Utah and spent his first four years locked up. Its amazing to consider being a child and not experiencing freedom, he said. Thousands of Bay Area residents were locked up in horse stalls at the old Tanforan racetrack in San Bruno or at the Manzanar concentration camp on a hot, lonely stretch of U.S. 395 southeast of Yosemite. A museum opened at that site in 2004 featuring air-conditioning, something the inmates never got. Among those at the remembrance was documentary filmmaker Jon Osaki, whose 2017 movie, Yonsei Eyes, examined the detention and its legacy. He said the isolationism of the 2020s isnt much different from the hysteria of the 1940s, when anyone of Japanese descent U.S. citizen or not was considered a potential enemy of the United States. Barbed wire is barbed wire, he said, and hysteria is hysteria. 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. Remembrance events "Compassion Has No Walls" rally to protest family detention - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. 630 Sansome St., San Francisco. Day of Remembrance program and procession through Japantown - 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. 1881 Post St., San Francisco. See More Collapse Its politicians trying to placate their political base and use fear to win elections, he said. A lot of good people knew this was wrong then, and now, and stayed silent. The survivors arent done yet. On Friday, theyll join others in a rally in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in the Financial District to demand an end of immigrant family separation and detention. Two days later, on Sunday, they will meet in Japantown to light a 12-foot memorial candelabrum consisting of 10 guard towers, representing the 10 main concentration camps of the 1940s. Never again, Omori said, is now. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@ sfchronicle.com, Twitter:@SteveRubeSF ST PAUL After reporting blunders and national scorn, the results are out : former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont are Iowans top picks for a Democratic presidential candidate. The two are riding their Iowa successes into New Hampshire, with its second-in-the-nation primary just around the corner, followed by the Democratic runners-up: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Minnesotas own U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. So what do Iowas results mean for its neighbor to the north? Minnesotans were the first in the nation to begin casting votes in January, thanks to the states no-excuse early voting. And Super Tuesday is less than one month away, when Minnesotans top pick for president will be revealed. If financial contributions are any indication, Klobuchar is leading the pack in her home state. According to the Federal Elections Commission, the senator, who touts her rural know-how and Midwestern practicality, has pulled a whopping $2.3 million in contributions from up north far outpacing her competitors, Republican and Democrat alike. ADVERTISEMENT Of the Democratic candidates, fellow Midwestern moderate Buttigieg appears to be Minnesotas second-favorite, earning $428,000 in individual contributions. Sanders ranks third at $299,000, Warren fourth at $220,000 and Biden fifth at $82,000. Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party would not comment on individual presidential candidates, but spokesperson Brian Evans said in a written statement Friday that, "After three years of broken promises and disastrous policies from Donald Trump, people across Minnesota are glad the contest to nominate his replacement has finally kicked off." "DFLers, independents, and even some Republicans are looking forward to voting in our Democratic primary and fired up to fire Donald Trump come November," he added. Meanwhile, Trump himself has committed to winning over Minnesota in November, hoping to break its longest-in-the-nation streak of voting for Democratic presidents after coming close in 2016. In October, on the heels of Trump's campaign rally in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota Republican Party Chair Jennifer Carnahan said the state has "an incredible opportunity in 2020 to turn that tide." Trump's campaign has poured tens of millions of dollars into campaigning in the state, and according to FEC filings, he has earned the second-most contributions of all presidential candidates, second to Klobuchar, with $465,000 in individual contributions from Minnesotans. Bruce Robbins in The Nation: So vegetables are politics now! The line is pronounced by a character in Alain Tanners 1976 film Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000, a film that bids farewell to the political hopes of 1968 but somehow manages to be upbeat. John Berger, the English art critic, novelist, and universal man of letters who cowrote the film with Tanner, also managed to sustain an almost magical political buoyancy in the grim and uncertain years that followed the 60sand, like the character in Tanners film, he seems to have done so in part through vegetables, as well as animals, relocating so as to live in proximity to both. I met Berger in Geneva a couple of years after the film came out. At the time, he was living in the French Alpine village of Quincy. There were already whispers about how, after the heady 1960s, his work had become too nostalgic for the apparently disappearing simplicities of peasant existence, and the day I met him he did nothing to dissuade me of this view. He was speaking, in torrential French, at the launch of an exhibition of Jean Mohr photographs of mountain villagers. I dont remember much of what he said, except that, like Mohrs portraits, he found in his neighbors a nobility that otherwise seemed to be lacking in modern life. In a cafe afterward, he invited me to Quincy. I was looking forward to the visit with embarrassing eagerness, but it was not to be. Before it could be arranged, I wrote something on the nostalgia question, beginning with an examination of Pig Earth, Bergers newly published account of French peasant experience. I sent him a draft and got a letter back signed by his wife, Beverly Bancroft. The letter was slightly ambiguous: He hadnt read it, and he didnt like this sort of thing. That was the end of our budding relationship. More here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 02:37:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), MINUSCA in short, welcomed a Bangui court's sentencing of 28 militia members to imprisonment for their violent crimes, including the murder of civilians and 10 peacekeepers. The verdict of the Bangui Court of Appeal was handed down Friday in the trial of 32 fighters from the mostly-Christian Anti-Balaka militia, who were accused of crimes committed in May 2017 in Bangassou and other communities in the country's southeast. According to news reports, dozens of Muslims were slaughtered in the town during the massacre. Prison sentences ranged from 10 to 15 years, with two of the commanders as well as three other senior figures given life sentences. The verdict has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against impunity in CAR. Along with the murder of civilians and UN peacekeepers, the militia members attacked the MINUSCA office in Bangassou, using heavy weapons, and forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, said the mission. In a statement, head of MINUSCA Mankeur Ndiaye said the verdict demonstrates "the will of the Central African State to fight against impunity through its judiciary system." This step, he added, "is essential for the country to move forward towards an effective reconciliation." CAR's Minister for Justice said that it was the first time a court in the country had handed down a sentence for crimes against humanity, as defined by the judicial system there. CAR became engulfed by intercommunal violence in 2013, led by Anti-Balaka militia and a mainly-Muslim rebel coalition, known as Seleka. Armed groups still control large parts of the mineral-rich nation, but a peace deal signed a year ago between the government and 14 rebel militias brought a fragile peace into effect, under the leadership of President Faustin Archange Touadera, who reportedly called on Thursday for international partners to help clamp down on groups violating terms of the accord. RTE have announced the death of broadcaster Keelin Shanley following an illness. She was 51. Keelin had been dealing with cancer for some time and passed away peacefully this afternoon. With over 20 years experience as a journalist and broadcaster, she had most recently been anchor of the Six One News on RTE One. Keelin joined Prime Time, RTEs flagship current affairs television programme, in 1999 where she worked as a reporter and presenter. Her work on Prime Time and Prime Time Investigates resulted in Keelin winning three IFTA awards, a National Media Award, a Radharc award and a Justice Media Award. Jon WIlliams, Managing Director of RTE News & Current Affairs, described her as a "fearless, generous, and passionate" journalist. "Keelin was the best of us - and we are heartbroken," he said. "Her legacy of over 20 years journalism with RTE saw her help tell the stories of so many often marginalised. She strove to inform, probe and encourage. Always inquisitive, interested, thoughtful and kind. "The fact that she presented our flagship Six One News while dealing with cancer is inspirational in itself and so typical of Keelin's determination to live life to the full. "Our hearts go out to Conor, Lucy and Ben and her wider family. We are all poorer for her loss." With heaviest of hearts, just announced that our friend #KeelinShanley died today. She fought cancer with same equanimity & good humour brought to everything else. Our hearts are breaking for Conor, Lucy & Ben. Keelin was the best of us. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam. Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) February 8, 2020 In more recent times, Keelin presented Morning Edition, The Consumer Show, Crimecall and The Irish Book Awards on RTE One. She also worked as a radio presenter across several programmes on RTE Radio 1: Morning Ireland; News at One; Today with Sean O'Rourke; and Late Debate. In January 2018, Keelin took up her role as a new presenter of the flagship RTE Six One News. RTE Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: Everybody at RTE is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and friend Keelin Shanley. "A passionate and dedicated public service journalist, Keelin had an expertise that challenged and probed as well as an ease that endeared her to all. "Most recently, Keelin co-presented the Six One News, watched by huge audiences daily. Keelin was incredibly popular with all her colleagues. But our loss is nothing compared to that of her much-loved family. " Keelin is survived by her husband Conor and their children Lucy and Ben. Tributes President Higgins said Keelin Shanley brought great professionalism and dedication to her work as a journalist. In a statement, he said: "People all over Ireland will have been greatly saddened by the news of the death of Keelin Shanley, broadcaster and award-winning journalist. "Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, she brought great professionalism and dedication to her work as a journalist. "Sabina and I send our deepest condolences to her husband Conor, their children Lucy and Ben, her wider family and her wide circle of friends." Four rare mountain gorillas including a pregnant mother and infant have died in a Uganda lightning strike in a 'big loss for the species'. The gorillas, which were part of the 17-member Hirwa group, crossed from Rwanda into Uganda, Africa, last year before making themselves at home in the Mgahinga National Park. Andrew Seguya, executive secretary of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), told the BBC: 'This is extremely sad. Four rare mountain gorillas (file image) have died in a lightning strike at Mgahinga National Park in Uganda in a 'big loss for the species'. The species, which are part of the 17-member Hirwa group, were an 'immense' contribution to the gorilla population, according to the executive secretary of the GVTC 'The potential of the three females for their contribution to the population was immense.' Meanwhile 13 members of the Hirwa family have been found and feeding well in the area. The species wanders around the Mgahinga park which lies within the Virunga Massif mountain range, which straddles Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Mountain gorillas have thicker fur compared to other great apes like chimpanzee, bonobos, and baboons. They are among the most endangered primate species only found in three countries. The gorillas, which include a pregnant mother and infant, were part of a group which flowed freely between the volcanic Virunga mountain range that stretches across Rwanda's National Park and Uganda's Mgahinga Park Hirwa is locally translated at 'lucky one' in Kinyarwanda and has been one of the most visited gorilla families in Rwanda. Around 400 gorillas flow freely between the Rwandan protected area and Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The wider landscape of Mgahinga boasts three wildlife reserves, eight national park and four forest reserves. Bwindi Forest, Rwenzori Mountains and Virunga national parks are UNESCO world heritage sites. The devastating announcement at Mgahinga comes just months after an adorable robotic gorilla was used to infiltrate the gorilla world in Uganda. The four gorillas were reportedly involved in the filming for the BBC documentary, according to the Sun. Spy Gorilla is one of 36 new animatronic beasts which have been created for the second series of BBC's Spy In The Wild. The programme, which took three years to make, gives an insight into animals' behaviour including a cute baby jaguar and puffin. Samples from the post-mortem are being tested and confirmation of the cause of death at Mgahinga is to be expected within the next three weeks, GVTC confirmed. A Thai soldier has killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more following a rampage at a military base and a shopping mall. The soldier armed himself with a machine gun and targeted soldiers, including his superiors, at a cantonment and civilians at a shopping mall in Korat, north of Bangkok. Dozens remained critically injured following the attack, which was broadcast live on Facebook, Thai media reported. Media reports said the soldier, whose identity was subsequently confirmed by law enforcement authorities, carried out the attack with a stolen military truck. At least one senior military officer was killed while several other uniformed personnel were wounded by the gunman, who remained at large. I am tired now, the soldier reportedly said while streaming the attack. I cannot move my finger anymore. The Facebook page he used has since been deleted, reports said. Other videos circulated on social media appeared to show the gunman walking with a rifle along the road during the attack. The attack took place about 10 miles apart between the military base and the shopping mall, where hostages were also reportedly held. About 60 hostages were rescued by security forces around 8.00 p.m. local time, with more civilians still feared trapped in the shopping mall. Federal authorities have placed the neighbourhood on lockdown and declared the gunman wanted. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and state Sen. Brian Stack will meet with stakeholders in the sale of Jersey Citys Christ Hospital a meeting officials hope will help save the hospital from closure. Fulop and Stack will meet Tuesday with CarePoint Health owner Vivek Garipalli, representatives of RWJBarnabas Health, and Avery Eisenreich, a minority owner of Christ Hospital and the principal owner of the Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center properties. CarePoint and RWJBarnabas announced in October a tentative deal that would bring Christ Hospital and HUMC into the RWJBarnabas network. But on Monday, the two companies acknowledged that negotiations had broken down, leading Fulop to request Gov. Phil Murphys help in salvaging a deal for at least Christ Hospital. A senior staff member of Murphys office will also be in attendance Tuesday, Fulop said. Im happy all the key stakeholders accepted and will be coming, Fulop said. Closing the hospital is not an option. Following the news of the impasse, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli appointed a state monitor to review the financial health of Christ Hospital, and to potentially do the same for the hospitals in Bayonne and Hoboken. In a letter to Garipalli and the two other principal owners of CarePoint, Persichilli said she appointed the monitor because Christ Hospital is in financial distress and at risk of further financial deterioration. Lawmakers from Hudson County, including Stack, then sent a letter to senior leadership of RWJBarnabas Health, CarePoint Health, and Eisenreich on Thursday requesting a day-long meeting next week in Union City to discuss the stalled negotiations. The letter said a roundtable was needed to discuss the future of acute care healthcare services in Hudson County and potential impacts to the community in the event the bankruptcy action is filed and CarePoint consequently petitions for closure." "We will also seek to explore whether the transaction can be revived, the legislators wrote. Fulop said earlier in the week that thousands of residents could lose access to healthcare and more than 1,000 employees would lose their jobs if Christ Hospital closed. The meeting, which was initially proposed for Wednesday, will now take place at Jersey City City Hall, Fulop said. A complex, years-long legal battle between Facebook and the IRS will finally be resolved in court, as the company attempts to fend off tax liability that could cost it some $9 billion. The trial will begin this week in U.S. Tax Court, where the IRS will argue that more of Facebook's profits should have been taxed at the higher U.S. rate, rather than in the company's Irish subsidiary, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bertie Thomson, a Facebook spokeswoman, said the company looks forward to presenting its case in court. 'This trial is about transactions that took place in 2010, when Facebook had no mobile advertising revenue, its international business was nascent, and its digital advertising products were unproven,' she told the Journal in a statement. 'Our business has had hits and misses but we stand behind the actions taken over a decade ago during a time of great risk and uncertainty for the company.' Facebook will go to trial this week in US Tax Court over a long-running dispute about its overseas profits. Pictured: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen last year The government has said in court documents that in 2010 Facebook Inc sold the rights to exploit the Facebook platform outside the United States and Canada to Facebook Ireland Holdings. The price used for the intangible property was determined by Facebook's tax adviser Ernst & Young (E&Y). 'The IRS examination team's preliminary positions suggested that the E&Y valuations of the transferred intangibles were understated by billions of dollars,' the lawsuit said. E&Y was not immediately available for comment. Facebook Ireland Holdings in turn leased the rights to exploit the Facebook platform to its own subsidiary, Facebook Ireland Ltd, in return for a fee, accounts for Facebook Ireland Ltd, filed with the Irish company registry, show. Facebook Ireland Ltd. is Facebook's main international business unit, reaping sales of 4.8 billion euros in 2014, the last year for which accounts are available. Facebook Inc in the United States could have licensed its intellectual property directly to Facebook Ireland Ltd but then it would have to report that income in the United States and pay tax there. A thumbs up symbol stands at the entrance to the Facebook Inc. European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland in a file photo It does have to pay tax on the money it received from intermediary Facebook Ireland Holdings. Moreover, if Facebook Ireland Holdings paid less for the rights than it charges Facebook Ireland Ltd., this margin allows profit to be built up in the lower tax jurisdiction. U.S. technology companies sometimes don't even have to pay the 12.5 percent Irish corporate tax rate. They frequently take advantage of a quirk of Irish tax law which allows companies to designate an Irish registered company as being tax resident elsewhere -- an arrangment tax professionals have termed a 'double Irish'. This involves the rights-holding company being designated as tax resident in a tax haven. However, since the companies concerned are Irish-registered, the transactions don't trigger a U.S. tax bill. Facebook previously declined to say where Facebook Ireland Holdings was tax resident. It is an unlimited company, which means it doesn't have to file accounts so there are no public documents on its status. On Apr. 22, 1970, a group of environmental activists promoted the first nationwide Earth Day. The response was huge: an estimated 20 million people participated in related events, and lawmakers recognized the public support for environmental legislation. Jerry Yudelson, who organized activities on the Caltech campus that first Earth Day, notes the similarities and differences between the environmental activism of his generation and todays response to the global climate crisis. It started as kind of a feel-good movement, he says, describing the chorus of voices from college campuses calling for improvements to local environments. There was water pollution all over the country and, in the year before, the largest oil spill in the countrys history at that time, in the Santa Barbara channel. Campus activists, Yudelson notes, modeled their efforts after the Vietnam War teach-ins. It was driven largely by young people, and you can see the same thing happening now. In fact, theres now a call out nationally for three days of climate strikes starting with Earth Day. Yudelsons forthcoming memoir, The Godfather of Green (Wyatt-MacKenzie, Apr.), brings principles of spiritual mindfulness and stewardship to the discussion. The most successful movements of the modern era, whether [led by] Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela, have been based around spirituality, says Yudelson, who went on to be California governor Jerry Browns lead solar power director and pioneer in sustainable architecture. A lot of people are environmentalists because they love nature. It changes how they think about themselves, and it encourages the kind of thing that religious people would call love. But its also about respect and responsibility. As Earth Days 50th anniversary approaches and the climate crisis looms, PW spoke with authors and editors about forthcoming titles that explore the beauty, human history, and precariousness of myriad landscapes across the globe, from the Arctic Circle to a river in Colombia to the deserts of the southwestern U.S. Other titles address climate change, offering explanations and proposing solutions. In this feature, we also hear from childrens book authors about how they translate complex environmental issues for young readers, and round up a resource list of forthcoming books for the next generation of Earth Day celebrants. See below for more on Earth Day books. This Land Is Your Land: Earth Day 2020 Forthcoming books examine environmentalism and conservation in the U.S. from the 19th century to the present. Weather or Not: Earth Day 2020 Authors contemplate the effects of climate change and offer sometimes harrowing, sometimes hopeful glimpses of the future. Atmospheric Conditions: Earth Day 2020 These forthcoming books address climate change from a variety of angles. Troubled Water: PW talks with Candy J. Cooper and Marc Aronson In Poisoned Water, about the Flint water crisis, Cooper and Aronson convey lessons in social justice and government accountability to young readers. Observation and Conservation: PW talks with Sy Montgomery and April Pulley Sayre The authors discuss their latest childrens books, Condor Comeback and Being Frog, and how they kindle an early love and respect for Earths creatures. The Whole Wide World: Earth Day 2020 Published in time for Earth Days 50th anniversary year, these childrens books showcase the natural world, provide guidance for paving a path to sustainable living, and profile people making a difference. Some pub dates may have changed since this feature published in February. YPSILANTI, MI - YpsiFest wont be taking place in Ypsilanti this year, much to the chagrin of some city residents. The outdoor event, previously known as the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, will take place at the Washtenaw Farm Council, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd in Lodi Township, about 2 miles north of Saline. The festival is typically held in August, but dates have not yet been released. Organizers for the event blamed Ypsilanti City Council for pushing YpsiFest outside of the city. The council voted in September to eliminate a special ordinance that allowed an exclusive event space in a three-block radius near Depot Town, Riverside Park and downtown. YpsiFest threatens to leave city after council repeals protective ordinance Ypsilanti City lied, threatened, removed our financial protection, and raised fees, organizers said in an announcement posted to Facebook. There was no way to continue hosting the festival in the city. The ordinance banned vendors from encroaching on the festivals space. Without it, the festival cant charge vendors for permits to operate in the area, which organizers argued cut off a key revenue source. Ypsilanti Mayor Beth Bashert said in response Saturday that I wish Ypsi Fest all the success in the world at their new location, the mayor said in an email. "I am sorry to hear that they did not have a positive experience working with our city. Our staff is professional and has a strong track record of working with a multitude of events in our city. I hope Ypsi Fest has a positive experience and successful festival at this new location. Ypsilanti has many festivals annually that have run efficiently and smoothly for a number of years. We are proud to have a wide variety of events that continue to find our city professional and easy to work with including the Elvis Fest, Beer Festival, a number of car shows, Cider Festival, Pride Festival, First Fridays Art Walk, and more. City Council unanimously decided to eliminate the protective ordinance last in part because, members said, issuing a special event permit for the late-August festival would offer the same protections. Council members in September 2019 said the age restriction, which barred children under 18 from attending the free festival without an adult, was unfair. Festival organizers said they tried to negotiate for a space with Ypsilanti Township, as well as Eastern Michigan University. Ypsilanti Twp chose not to allow us to host the festival at one of their existing parks, the announcement states. We are working with them to develop a inactive park that can accommodate festivals as a part of their Parks Master Plan. EMU and the private property owners decided that there were too many risks involved with hosting such an large event. Some residents voiced their disapproval of the change on social media, expressing frustration with both City Council and festival organizers. Shame on the city council for this issues they have created, wrote Marie Chappel in response to the Facebook announcement, but moving our festival to another city is disrespectful to the citizens, too. Doesnt Ypsilanti value our long-time festivals or at least the revenue they bring in? I am confused by these decisions, wrote Donna Joanne Brigman. The 2019 YpsiFest took place Aug. 23-25 and had about 30,000 visitors, organizers said. The Washtenaw Farm Council grounds have up to 55,000 square feet of rentable space, according to its website. The Washtenaw Farm Council grounds is a terrific location in this transition year, the festival announcement states. We will bring local artists, vendors, musicians, and talent just as we always have. In fact, we have more planned this year than ever. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 04:27:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi (C) attends an emergency session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU) in Amman, Jordan, on Feb. 8, 2020. The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU) on Saturday voiced its rejection of the U.S. Middle East peace plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, the state-run Petra news agency reported. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU) on Saturday voiced its rejection of the U.S. Middle East peace plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, the state-run Petra news agency reported. The remarks were made during the 30th emergency session of the APU, which convened representatives of 20 Arab countries in Amman, capital of Jordan. At the meeting, Jordan's Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said the Palestinian issue is facing its most difficult conditions, especially as the Israeli occupation is protected by the biased U.S.. Tarawneh, who is also APU president, called for forming an "Arab rejection front" that eliminates division and embraces unity. He added that there will be no future for any solution that is rejected by Palestinians. He noted that no solution is viable without an independent Palestinian state on its national soil on the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Speaking during the event, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said the current conditions require constant coordination among the Arab states. Chairman of the Palestinian National Council Salim Zanoun said that solutions mentioned under the U.S. deal are destructive and rejected as they neglect the right of return for Palestinian refugees and recognize Jerusalem in its entirety as a capital for Israel. Almost half of Britons feel optimistic about the UK's post-Brexit future, according to a new poll. Most people were in favour of paying more tax to fund better social care, including support for the elderly. More than half of those aged over 55 - 57 per cent - said they 'felt positive' about Britain's future outside the EU. A total of 56 per cent of Britons were open to increasing the amount they pay in tax, rising to 70 per cent of those aged over 55. Almost half of Britons feel optimistic about the UK's post-Brexit future, according to a new poll. Pictured: Boris Johnson on Thursday While in the 18 to 34s, 43 per cent were willing to fork out more in tax to make sure the social care system was properly funded, The Express found. Age UK's Caroline Abrahams said: 'It's great to see so much support for the idea that we all need to put our hands in our pockets to help fund a decent care system. 'Let's hope the Government takes notice and responds.' Clwyd West MP and former Brexit minister David Jones said: 'It simply goes to prove that people voted last December on the basis of looking for a brighter future.' A total of 43 per cent thought those aged over 75 should pay for their TV licences. More than half of those aged over 55 - 57 per cent - said they 'felt positive' about Britain's future outside the EU. Pictured: People celebrating Brexit on January 31 First-time home buyers would also be encouraged to know that 44 per cent of people surveyed - among all ages - think financial support should be given to those looking to get on the property ladder. At 11pm on January 31, the UK officially divorced from the bloc after three years of bitter political struggle that split families and paralysed Westminster. Boris Johnson hailed the 'moment of hope, a moment many people thought would never come' and said Brexit would 'unleash' the UK's potential - but warned there will be more 'bumps in the road'. Many Remainers are still deeply uneasy about severing ties with the bloc and are cautioning that the Brexit saga is not yet concluded. Britain has now entered an 11-month transition period with the EU, during which time the government will race to strike a trade deal before December. A t least 20 people have been killed and 31 injured after a soldier launched a gun rampage in Thailand. The gunman, who has been named by police as Jakrapanth Thomma, killed his commanding officer before stealing weapons from a military camp, a defence spokesman told BBC Thai. The suspect then drove to the centre of Nakhon Ratchasima city and entered a shopping mall, where he remained holed up more than nine hours after the deadly assault began. He live-streamed the mass murder on Facebook and posed for selfies before his social media account was taken down. His current whereabouts have not yet been confirmed. The suspect posted selfies on Facebook / Social Media/AFP via Getty Image Shortly before midnight local time (5pm UK time), police announced they had secured the entire mall and released photos of officers escorting people to the exits. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there were no more bodies left inside the mall. However, they said they were still searching for the shooter. Gunfire could be head coming from the mall shortly before 3am (8pm UK time) as ambulances approached the scene, but no announcements were issued on the gunman's whereabouts. People embrace after being rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall / AFP via Getty Images Police and soldiers stormed the Terminal 21 mall and helped hundreds of people to escape after the shooting began at around 3.30pm local time, defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said. The soldier opened fire in several places, including a house and an army base, before heading to the mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, which is about 250 km (155 miles) from the capital Bangkok, police said. Local media showed footage of the soldier getting out of a car in front of the mall and firing off a series of shots, sending people fleeing for cover. "We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad," Mr Kongcheep said. People were evacuated from the Thai shopping mall by security forces / via REUTERS One video from a bystander showed a man slumped at the wheel of a car in a pool of blood. It was unclear if he was among the dead. Another video showed at least four people who had clearly been shot and showed no sign of movement. CCTV footage from inside the mall, shared on social media, showed the gunman dressed in black and wearing a mask, his gun slung over his shoulder with no sign of other people around. He appeared to be armed with an assault rifle, based on security camera video aired on Thai Rath television. Security forces enter the shopping mall while the attacker remains inside / REUTERS Video taken outside the mall showed people diving for cover as shots rang out. One woman named Nattaya Nganiem, said she and her family had just finished eating and were driving away when she heard gunfire. "First I saw a woman run out from the mall hysterically," she said. "Then a motorcycle rider in front of her just ran and left his motorcycle there." The Public Health Minister said a doctor was shot while helping an injured person. People were seen rushing out of the mall / THAI ROYAL POLICE/AFP via Getty During the attack, the suspect posted on Facebook: "Death is inevitable for everyone", and later asked: "Should I give up?" In a later post, he wrote: "I have stopped already." Facebook said it had since removed the suspect's account. A representative for the platform said in a statement: "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this tragedy in Thailand. There is no place on Facebook for people who commit this kind of atrocity, nor do we allow people to praise or support this attack," "We have removed the gunman's accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it." Security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they prepare to enter the mall / REUTERS Thai media said the suspect's mother was being taken to the mall to try to persuade him to hand himself in. Video showed her in tears saying "why did he do it?" as she got in a police vehicle. The incident comes just a month after another high-profile mall shooting, which took place in the central Thai city of Lopburi. In that case, a masked gunman carrying a handgun with a silencer killed three people, including a 2-year-old boy, and wounded four others as he robbed a jewelry store. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his sexist comment when he suggested that women should heed their male counterparts' counsel while voting. Irani questioned his intentions in making such a comment on Twitter earlier. "Don't you think that women are capable enough to decide on their own about whom to vote?" Irani tweeted in response with a hashtag #AntiWomenKejriwal. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal exercised his franchise along with his family members at the Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area amid tight security. After polling, the AAP national convenor in a tweet said: "All should go and cast their votes, it can be for any party but all should vote. I specially urge women to step out and vote. Sometimes it happens that women stay back at home and do not cast their votes. No one should be at home today." Voting has been underway since 8 a.m. for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, where the ruling AAP, BJP and Congress are in a three-cornered fight. Counting of votes will take place on February 11. A fresh look at Abraham Lincoln will be the topic of a free program Monday at Jacksonville Public Library. The one-hour discussion will begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented by Tom Emery, a regular contributor to the Journal-Courier. By Trend One of the priority spheres in the field of inbound tourism in Azerbaijan is the Chinese market, Member of the Council of Experts of the Azerbaijani Association of Travel Agencies Kanan Khanifayev told Trend on Feb. 7. An increase in the number of Chinese tourists was predicted in the goals set for 2020, Khanifayev added. "Despite difficulties in the implementation of these plans, we are trying to attract tourists from alternative destinations due to coronavirus, the member of the Council of Experts said. We hope that thanks to Novruz holiday, Formula 1 and UEFA EURO in Baku, we will achieve our goals to expand the tourist flow." Khanifayev added that the operations of foreign airlines in Baku will create conditions for travel agencies to develop tours from other destinations. China is one of the main priority markets for attracting tourists to Azerbaijan. The State Tourism Agency stated in 2019 that numerous tourists from China will visit Azerbaijan. In accordance with the "Memorandum of Understanding on the facilitation of group trips of Chinese tourists to Azerbaijan", signed last year between the Azerbaijani State Tourism Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of Chinese tourists who will come to Azerbaijan may reach 200,000 persons in the coming years. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz American woman and a Japanese man became the first foreigners to have died from the new coronavirus in China as the death toll jumped to 723 in the country with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598, health officials said on Saturday. The American citizen died in Wuhan, the US embassy here said on Saturday, the first confirmed foreign death from the outbreak. "We can confirm that a 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at Jinyintang hospital in Wuhan, China on February 6," a US embassy spokesman said. "We offer sincerest condolences to the family for their loss," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the spokesman as saying. The New York Times reported that the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions, citing two people familiar with the matter. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said earlier that 19 foreign nationals in China have been confirmed to have contracted the virus and undergoing treatment in hospitals. READ: US Citizen In Wuhan Dies From Coronavirus Infection, Confirm Officials Two of them were discharged after recovery, the ministry said without disclosing details. Earlier reports said that four Pakistanis and two Australians contracted the virus. Though the US woman is officially stated to be the first foreigner to have died due to the coronavirus, a Japanese man hospitalised in Wuhan with pneumonia has also died, the Japan's foreign ministry announced in Tokyo. The Ministry citing Chinese medical authorities said on Saturday the man in his 60s, was possibly infected with the coronavirus but due to difficulties in diagnosing the disease his death had been attributed to viral pneumonia. His cause of death was given as viral pneumonia, it added. The man is potentially the first Japanese to have died from coronavirus, it said. Eighty-six deaths were reported in mainland China with 3,399 fresh cases from 31 provincial-level regions, the country's National Health Commission said on Saturday. State-run CGTN television network reported that the death toll has climbed to 723 while confirmed cases jumped to 34,598. Among the deaths, 81 are in Hubei province and its provincial capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, two in Heilongjiang, as well as one in Beijing, Henan and Gansu, the commission said. By the end of Friday, 26 confirmed cases, including one death, have been reported in Hong Kong. Macau reported 10 cases, while Taiwan reported 16 cases, it said. A total of 4,214 new suspected cases were reported and 1,280 patients became seriously ill, and 510 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, according to the commission. It added that 6,101 patients remained in severe condition, and 27,657 people were suspected of being infected with the virus. As many as 2,050 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery. Meanwhile, a central government inspection group has arrived in Wuhan to thoroughly investigate issues related to Dr Li Wenliang, the whistleblower who was admonished by police last month when he flagged the coronavirus in his special media. Li, 34, died on Thursday, plunging the whole of China into grief and anger over police highhandedness in stifling vital information which resulted in the coronavirus becoming a massive epidemic in China and the world. The inspection team would probe the issues related to Li, an ophthalmologist with the Central Hospital of Wuhan, who passed away early Friday after being infected with the novel coronavirus, official media reported. Also health authorities in Tibet said on Saturday that medical observation had been lifted for 32 close contacts of the region's only confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, with no symptoms reported. The health commission of Tibet said the 32 people were discharged from their two-week isolated medical observation in cities of Lhasa, Shigatse, Shannan and Naqu. None of them reported fever or other symptoms. Tibet reported its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus on January 30. The patient is now in a stable condition, state-run Xinhua news reported. Pangolins may be an intermediate host of the virus, as indicated by a study led by South China Agricultural University. Researchers found the metagenome sequence of the novel coronavirus strain separated from pangolins to be 99 per cent identical to that from infected people. The commission said 3.45 lakh 'close contacts' have been traced, adding that among them, 26,702 were discharged from medical observation on Friday. Over 1.89 lakh others are still under medical observation. The death toll of the coronavirus cases overseas went up 220 with Japan reporting 86 followed by 33 in Singapore. Chinese health officials have sent more than 11,000 medics, including the country's best ICU staff, to the city of Wuhan. Among them, over 3,000 doctors and nurses are intensive care specialists, Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, told media here. "We are fully aware of the urgent need for ICU professionals in Wuhan. The current medics have been working for quite a long time and are exhausted both physically and mentally," Guo said. The World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said the world was running out of masks and other protective equipment against the novel coronavirus. When we suffer at the hands of another person, our natural inclination may be to seek revenge. But causing more harm likely isnt the answer or our best way to respond. There are countless stories of revenge throughout the history of humankind and they also appear in the Bible. The definition of revenge is the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or a wrong suffered at their hands. Revenge is a matter of the heart that we as Christians can come to better understand by looking to Gods Scripture for clarity and direction. When weve been aggrieved, we may wonder what the righteous and just course of action is and if revenge is permitted according to the Bible. Where Is Revenge Mentioned in the Bible? Revenge is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. God warned His people to avoid seeking revenge and to let Him avenge them and bring about perfect justice how He saw fit. When we want to retaliate, we should keep in mind that causing another person harm will never undo the harm we have already endured. When we have been victimized, it is tempting to believe that revenge will make us feel better, but that isnt the case. When we take the scope of Scripture into view, what we learn is that God knows the pain and hardship of injustice, and He promises that He will make things right for those who have been mistreated. It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them (Deuteronomy 32:35). Do not say, Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work (Proverbs 24:29). Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:19). We have comfort in God that when we have been hurt or betrayed by another person, we can trust that rather than taking on the burden to seek revenge, we can surrender to God and let Him handle the situation. Instead of remaining victims filled with anger or fear, unsure of what to do, we can trust that God knows the big picture of what happened and He will allow for the best course of justice. Followers of Christ are encouraged to wait on the Lord and trust Him when they have been hurt by another person. What Does It Mean That "Revenge Belongs to the Lord?" Revenge belongs to the Lord means that it is not our place as humans to retaliate and repay a wrongdoing with another wrongdoing. It is Gods place to make the situation right and it is Him who will bring justice to a hurtful circumstance. The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve (Psalm 94:1-2). God is the righteous judge. God decides the avenged outcome of every injustice. God, all-knowing and sovereign, is the only one who could bring about restoration and just vengeance when someone has been wronged. There is a consistent message throughout Scripture to not seek revenge, rather to wait for the Lord avenge the wrongdoing that one has suffered. He is the judge who is perfect and loving. God loves His children and will take care of them in every way. Therefore, believers are instructed to submit to God when weve been harmed because He has the task of avenging injustices endured by His children. Does the Verse "an Eye for an Eye" Contradict This? "But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise (Exodus 21:23-25). The passage in Exodus is part of the Mosaic Law that God established through Moses for the Israelites. This particular law addressed the judgment rendered when someone viciously hurt another human being. The law was put in place to guarantee that the punishment was not too lenient, nor too extreme, for the crime. By the time Jesus entered the world, this Mosaic law had been twisted and distorted by some Jewish people trying to justify seeking revenge. During His earthly ministry, and in His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus quoted the passage found in the book of Exodus about revenge and preached a radical message that His followers should abandon that type of vengeful pseudo-justice. You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also (Matthew 5:38-39). With these two passages next to each other, there may appear to be a contradiction. But when the context of both passages is taken into consideration, it becomes clear that Jesus got to the heart of the issue by instructing His followers to not seek revenge on those who harm them. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law (see Romans 10:4) and taught the redemptive ways of forgiveness and love. Jesus doesnt want Christians to get caught up in repaying evil with evil. Therefore, he preached and lived the message to love your enemies. Is There Ever a Time When It's Right to Take Revenge? Theres never a fitting time to seek revenge because God will always bring about justice for His people. We can trust that when we are wronged or hurt by others, God will avenge the situation. He knows all the details and will avenge us if we trust Him to do that instead of taking matters into our own hands, which will result in making matters worse. Jesus, and the apostles who preached the Gospel message after Jesus resurrection, all taught and lived the same wisdom that instructed Christians to love their enemies and that vengeance was the Lords. Even Jesus, as He was being nailed to the cross, forgave His perpetrators (See Luke 23:34). Though Jesus could have taken revenge, He chose the way of forgiveness and love. We can follow Jesus example when we have been mistreated. Is It Wrong for Us to Pray for Revenge? If youve read through the Book of Psalms, youll notice in some chapters, there are pleas for revenge and for the wicked to suffer. When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office (Psalm 109:7-8). Most of us can relate to having similar thoughts and feelings that are found in the Psalms when we have been wronged. We want to see our perpetrator suffer just as we have. It would almost seem as though the Psalmists are praying for revenge. The Psalms shows us the natural inclination to seek revenge, but they go on to remind us of Gods truth and how to respond. If you take a closer look, youll notice the Psalmists prayed for Gods vengeance. They were asking God to bring about justice because truly, their circumstances were out of their hands. The same is true for Christians today. Rather than praying specifically for revenge, we can pray and ask God to bring about justice according to His good and perfect will. When a situation is out of our hands, praying about it and asking God to intervene can be our first response to navigating difficult circumstances, so that we dont fall into the temptation of repaying evil with evil. 5 Things to Do Instead of Seeking Revenge The Bible provides insightful teaching on what to do when we are wronged by someone instead of taking revenge. 1. Love Your Neighbor Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord (Leviticus 18:19). When Christians have been harmed, the answer isnt revenge, it is to love. Jesus echoes this same teaching in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:44). When we want to hold a grudge against the one who have betrayed us, Jesus invites us to let go of the hurt and instead to love our enemy. When you find yourself consumed with revenge, take steps to see the one who hurt you through Gods loving eyes and allow Jesus to empower you to love them. 2. Wait for God Do not say, Ill pay you back for this wrong! Wait for the Lord, and He will avenge you (Proverbs 20:22). When we are wanting to seek revenge, we want it now, we want it quickly, and we want the other to suffer and hurt just as much as we do. But Gods word tells us to wait. Instead of seeking revenge, we can wait. Wait for God to make things right. Wait for God to show us a more righteous way to respond to someone who has hurt us. When youve been hurt, wait and pray to the Lord for guidance and trust that He will avenge you. 3. Forgive Them And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25). While it is common to remain angry and bitter toward those who have hurt us, Jesus taught us to forgive. When youve been hurt, embarking on the journey of forgiveness will be part of the solution to letting go of the pain and finding peace. There is no limit to how often we should forgive our offenders. Forgiveness is incredibly significant because when we forgive others, God forgives us. When we forgive, revenge no longer seems important. 4. Pray for Them Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:28). This may seem difficult, but praying for your enemies is an incredible step of faith. If you desire to be more righteous and to live more like Jesus, praying for those who have hurt you is a powerful way to move away from revenge and closer to forgiveness. Praying for those who have wronged you will help you heal, let go and move on rather than staying angry and resentful. 5. Be Good to Your Enemies On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21). The solution to overcoming evil is to do good. Ultimately, when we have been mistreated, God instructs us to do good to our enemies. This may seem impossible, but with Jesus help, anything is possible. God will empower you to live up to this instruction to overcome evil with good. You will feel much better about yourself and the situation if you respond to someones wrongdoing with love and goodness rather than revenge. The Bible gives us wise guidance when it comes to being wronged and suffering because of malicious intent by another human being. Gods word equips us with a list of righteous ways to respond to such hurt. A consequence of this broken, fallen world is that humans hurt each other and do hideous things to one another. God doesnt want His beloved children to be overcome with evil, or a revengeful heart, as a result of being hurt by someone else. The Bible is consistently clear that vengeance is the Lords task, not ours. We are human, but He is a God who is perfectly just in all things. We can trust God to make things right when weve been wronged. What we are responsible for is keeping pure and holy hearts by loving our enemies and praying for those who hurt us. Getty Images/SIphotography Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta paid his respects Saturday to the nation's longest-serving president Daniel Arap Moi, who died Tuesday at age 95. Moi, a former schoolteacher who became Kenya's longest-serving president, will lay in state for the public in Kenya's parliament before being sent to his village for burial. His critics called him a dictator for his authoritarian style, although Moi enjoyed strong support from many Kenyans and was seen as a unifying figure when he took over after the death of Jomo Kenyatta, who had led the country following its independence from Britain in 1963. Funeral events will last three days until Monday February 10. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 08:45 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20633e28b 1 National virus,coronavirus,health,health-ministry,China,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,wuhan,COVID-19 Free Almost a month after the first novel coronavirus case outside of China was confirmed in Thailand on Jan. 13 and amid the viruss subsequent spread to a number of other countries, Indonesia seems to remain free of the fast-spreading illness. While the fact that there are zero known cases in the country has brought relief, it has also raised questions about what sets Indonesia apart from countries with confirmed cases, especially as 85 cases had been recorded across six neighboring Southeast Asian countries as of Friday. A study by a group of researchers from Harvard University suggests that Indonesia should have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus by now, given the high number of airline passengers traveling between the country and Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. The study, carried out by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, revealed that Indonesia's zero confirmed cases "may suggest the potential for undetected cases in these locations given the expected connection before travel control measures were implemented. However, the study has not been peer-reviewed. It was published on pre-print server medRxiv on Wednesday. The findings are based on estimated air travel volume from Wuhan to international destinations and a generalized linear regression model to predict imports of novel coronavirus cases across 26 locations. With an average daily number of passengers of about 100, the model showed that Indonesia should have confirmed one to 10 infections with the novel coronavirus. "We recommend that outbreak surveillance and control capacity should be rapidly strengthened in those locations lying below the 95 percent [prediction interval] lower bound to ensure cases are detected if occurring and avoid the emergence of self-sustained transmission," researchers said in the study. The questions range from whether Indonesia's humid, tropical climate somehow protects it, whether Indonesians immune systems play a factor and whether Indonesia even has the capacity to detect the virus that causes flu-like symptoms. Read also: Indonesia should have confirmed coronavirus cases by now: Study Much of the concern has been directed toward the competence of the Health Ministry's laboratory, the only one authorized to run tests on suspected cases, in detecting the new virus, 2019-nCoV. The ministry has repeatedly brushed off these concerns. Its communicable disease prevention and control director, Wiendra Waworuntu, said on Thursday that the lab had received 2,000 primers for testing from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January. The ministry's lab has tested 50 specimens as of Friday; 49 of them tested negative while the remaining test was still awaiting results. Wiendra said Indonesia had learned from its previous encounters with outbreaks, including the 2002-2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. During the SARS epidemic that killed 774 people in 17 countries, Indonesia recorded only two probable cases according to WHO data. A 2011 study conducted by the University of Hong Kong and published by open-access publisher Hindawi showed that the high temperatures and high relative humidity in Indonesia might be the reason it did not have nosocomial outbreaks of SARS. The case was possibly different in Singapore and Hong Kong, where there was an intensive use of air conditioning, as transmission occurred in well air-conditioned environments. Read also: Indonesia prepares for the worst in coronavirus outbreak This was because the study found that "high temperature at high relative humidity had a synergistic effect on inactivation of SARS coronavirus viability while lower temperatures and low humidity support prolonged survival of the virus on contaminated surfaces". While acknowledging that there was still much to be learned about the new strain of the virus, R. Wasito, a veterinary professor at Gadjah Mada University who had previously studied coronaviruses, said the novel virus might not last long in Indonesia due to exposure to heat and the sun. There was also the possibility, still in need of scientific evidence, that stress during winter season might weaken one's immune system thus making transmission easier, he said. China is currently in the winter season, which usually lasts until March. While the novel coronavirus came from the same family as SARS, WHO representative to Indonesia Navaratnasamy Paranietharan told The Jakarta Post via email on Thursday that the two outbreaks could not be compared as many factors of the 2019-nCoV are still unknown. Vivi Setiawaty, the head of a biomedical research center at the ministry's Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes), argued it was too early to determine the virus' characteristics. She said that although viruses would be inactivated at temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius and that more cases were confirmed in countries with cooler weather, there had also been confirmed cases in tropical countries with similar weather to Indonesia. The Philippines, for instance, had recorded the first death from the novel coronavirus outside of China. Vivi emphasized the role of people's immune systems in countering the virus while also attributing the zero cases in Indonesia to the countrys preparedness in preventing the outbreak. Health Ministry disease control and prevention director general Anung Sugihantono mentioned three factors influencing disease transmission, namely the agent the virus itself the host and the environment, with the last two factors still leaving many unanswered questions in the effort to understand, scientifically, why Indonesia had not recorded any cases. "When we talk about hosts [of the virus], the immune system against the novel coronavirus is different from one person to another, one ethnicity to another. This is what we'll be studying further, whether these factors have led to no cases being found in Indonesia," Anung told journalists on Thursday. "In terms of environment, we live in a tropical country and the people commonly have activities outdoors. Where these have influences in virulency must also be reviewed scientifically," he added. The ministry, Anung said, was also actively looking into deaths from pneumonia amid the outbreak, claiming there had been no significant increase in such deaths. However, he did not immediately provide data. The novel coronavirus can cause severe pneumonia or breathing difficulties for some people, according to the WHO. Anung acknowledged that any fault in the detection processes could lead to different lab test results, adding that the ministry was continuously evaluating each step in the detection processes, such as in diagnosing patients, taking samples for lab tests and using test kits and equipment. Chairul Anwar Nidom, the chair of Airlangga University's Avian Influenza Research Center, called on the government to facilitate good coordination between the central government and regional administrations. "From my experience during the avian influenza outbreak, there were too many meetings and seminars. Viruses can be very dynamic, and so the key is coordination, he said. He suggested the government appoint a leading sector to orchestrate efforts at all levels of administration. The ministry said it had continuously worked alongside local health agencies to monitor people who had traveled to countries affected by the virus. It said it would also train local medical and lab workers on the novel coronavirus, opening up the possibility of the expansion of lab testing into other areas. Editors note: The article has been updated with information on a study by Harvard University researchers. The 2020 Democratic presidential candidates will take the debate stage tonight in New Hampshire following the chaotic Iowa caucuses on Monday. ABC, WMUR-TV and Apple News are partnering to host the eighth Democratic National Committee-sanctioned debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester days before the February 11 New Hampshire primary. Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race What time is the debate? The debate will air live from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. How can I watch it? The debate will air live nationally on ABC and locally on WMUR-TV. ABC News will livestream the debate on ABC News Live, featured on Apple News, Roku, Hulu, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, the ABC News site and mobile phone apps. WMUR-TV will livestream the debate on www.WMUR.com and WMUR's mobile app. Get ready for the debate all day on CNN.com and stay with us for real-time news, analysis and fact-checking during and after the debate. CNN will have live TV programming breaking down the biggest moments and story lines from the debate after it concludes. Who is debating? Former Vice President Joe Biden Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren Businessman Tom Steyer Entrepreneur Andrew Yang Who is moderating? ABC's George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate. They will be joined by WMUR-TV's Adam Sexton and Monica Hernandez. Who didn't make the cut? Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick How was the stage decided? There were two pathways outlined by the DNC to qualify for the New Hampshire debate. Candidates could either qualify by winning at least one pledged delegate from the Iowa caucuses, or by meeting both a polling requirement and a grassroots fundraising requirement. For the polling requirement, candidates had to either meet the four-poll threshold or the early state polling threshold, as described by the DNC. For the four-poll threshold, candidates had to receive 5% or more support in at least four polls, which could have been national polls or single-state polls in New Hampshire, South Carolina and/or Nevada. For the early state polling threshold, candidates had to receive 7% or more support in two single-state polls in New Hampshire, South Carolina and/or Nevada. To meet the grassroots fundraising requirement, candidates had to submit a certification by 9 a.m. ET on Friday showing that the campaign received donations from at least 225,000 unique donors and a minimum of 1,000 unique donors per state in at least 20 US states. The qualifying donations had to be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 6. What happened at the last debate? In a tense and dramatic exchange in the moments after the CNN/Des Moines Register debate in January, Warren accused Sanders of calling her a liar on national television. Sanders responded that it was Warren who called him a liar and said they should not talk about it right then. Warren and Sanders were at odds over whether he told her, during a private dinner in 2018 about the presidential election, that a woman couldn't win. Neither backed off their previous statements during the debate. There were some clashes on stage during the debate, but overall the four candidates who were at the top of the Iowa polls -- Biden, Buttigieg, Sanders and Warren -- had a generally careful approach. The Iowa debate also brought the most substantive foreign policy debate of the Democratic race to date, with tensions flaring in the Middle East bringing the issue to the forefront. A short, but direct, debate between Warren and Buttigieg on health care highlighted not only their key differences in the race, but how the two candidates are likely to go after each other in the coming months. Chandigarh, Feb 8 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday exuded confidence over the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. "We would form the next government in Delhi with a comfortable victory," he told the media here. Polling was underway for Delhi's 70 Assembly seats which will decide the fate of 672 candidates from the BJP, Aam Aadmi Part and Congress in a three-cornered contest. Eighteen-year-old Rohit Vishwakarma, a high school student used Braille marking on a polling machine to vote for the candidate of his choice on Saturday and said he has a clear vision of the future he wants for himself and for the country. "Education and jobs are the key issues for us youths. And, though I cannot see, my vision is very clear about what future I want for myself and the country," Vishwakarma, who aspires to be an IAS, told PTI. However, for Hari Om (21), another visually-challenged youth who cast his vote in the high-stakes Delhi polls, "nationalism is the top priority". The college student, a native of Uttar Pradesh, said, "I am 21, but I voted for the first time. I am very excited after getting my finger inked even though I can't see it." Asked what are the issues that he factored in to decide the candidate of his choice, he said, "I voted for national interest and the party which puts nation above all issues." Both Vishwakarma and Om voted at a polling station in Kalkaji constituency. For people with disability, the poll authorities had made special arrangements, and volunteers were assisting them within the polling stations. Shyam Sunder (33) who works in a PSU bank also voted in Saturday's election that saw over 61 per cent voter turnout. Asked about his priorities, he also counted "nationalism" as the main factor in his decision-making for voting. "For me country comes first, national security and national interest above issues like jobs, education and health. If country is not safe, what will happen to other issues," he said. Many other visually-challenged voters expressed sentiments on similar lines. Looking to capture power after a gap of 22 years, the BJP had mounted its one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge fuelled by its planks of Hindutva and nationalism, and its strident opposition to Shaheen Bagh protests. The issue often dominated the political discourse during the campaign, with many BJP leaders targeting the ruling AAP, and the Congress, accusing them of "misleading people" holding anti-CAA protests in Delhi. A section of voters on Saturday claimed that the prolonged street agitation demanding revocation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was "not an issue in the beginning of the campaign" but "political parties had slowly turned it into one". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A lengthy Fox News research document warns its employees to be wary of disinformation spread by several Pro-Trump guests, including the presidents attorney, Rudy Giuliani and network contributor John Solomon, according to a Thursday report from The Daily Beast. The document, dubbed Ukraine, Disinformation, & the Trump Administration, is 162 pages long. Its especially critical of Solomon, The Daily Beast reports, after he made several unsubstantiated claims the Ukrainian government interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Solomon is a former opinion columnist at The Hill, where his work fueled Giuliani to dig up dirt in Ukraine, according to the report. John Solomon played an indispensable role in the collection and domestic publication of elements of this disinformation campaign, the briefing notes. Also Read: Fox News Stars Rail Against Romney for Trump Impeachment Vote: 'Going to Be Associated With Judas' Solomons questionable reporting, as the report put it, has also been referenced multiple times by President Trump on Twitter. He and Giuliani did not respond to TDBs request for comment. A rep for Fox News did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment. The research document, put together by Fox News senior political affairs specialist Bryan S. Murphy, also claims Giuliani is especially gullible when it comes to Ukrainian fake news; this stems from his desire to find out more about Hunter Bidens ties to Ukraine, according to the report. Internal Fox News Document Warns That Pro-Trump Guests Are Amplifying Disinformation'(Report) Giuliani shows a high susceptibility to disinformation shared by Ukrainians Ukrainian prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko and his associates, according to Murphys writing. Also Read: Fox News' State of the Union Coverage Got Twice as Many Viewers as CNN, MSNBC Combined Murphys report also calls out Fox News guests Victoria Toensing and Joe DiGenova for spreading disinformation. The married couple worked alongside Giuliani to find out more about Hunter and Joe Biden, according to The Daily Beast, and were employed by indicted Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash. Both Toensing and DiGenova did not respond to TDBs request for comment. You can read the full report here. Read original story Internal Fox News Document Warns That Pro-Trump Guests Are Amplifying Disinformation (Report) At TheWrap The lone Muslim corporator of the BJP in the party-ruled Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday announced that he was resigning from the "changed" BJP, which he said is doing the "politics of hate" over the new citizenship law. In a letter to the district BJP unit, Usman Patel, the corporator from the municipal ward no. 38, wrote that he was resigning from all posts in the party with which he has been associated for the last 40 years. Patel has posted a video of the announcement on social media. "I had joined the BJP 40 years ago after getting inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP has changed now. It is now doing the politics of hate," he said in the video clip. The passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Parliament in December, 2019, has triggered protests in many parts of the country. Patel stated that the CAA was against the Constitution and Muslims. "I and my friends are resigning from the primary membership of the party," he stated. Patel also added that he would lend his support to the ongoing protests against the CAA at different places. In January, at least 80 Muslim leaders of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh had resigned from its primary membership in protest against the CAA, calling it a "divisive" measure. The CAA provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees who had migrated to India before December 31, 2014 owing to religious persecution in Muslim-dominated Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. WESTWEGO, La. (AP) Members of a Louisiana city council surprised residents and a representative from a Chinese chemical company at a public hearing by voting to turn down the company's request to build a plant. A vote had not been scheduled for Tuesday night's public hearing in Westwego, news outlets reported. The meeting was intended to provide information about a proposal from Wanhua to build a storage and distribution facility. Eduardo Doval, CEO of the company's U.S. operations, gave a presentation on the plan before residents were given the opportunity to ask questions. The plant was expected to take in shipments of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, or MDI, from China. The product would then be distilled on site for use in paint, shoe soles and padding for furniture and cars. This project, we believe, is safe, Doval said. It's very benign and very environmentally sound. But residents and city leaders said the representative failed to answer questions about potential dangers of the chemical under different conditions like reacting to heat and water and in the event of a hurricane. After about an hour, city councilman Glenn Green said he had heard enough. I'd like to make a motion, mister mayor, that we deny the permit for this operation, he said. The council then voted unanimously to deny the company's request. Last year, Wanhua dropped its bid for a chemical manufacturing plant in Convent. Christian Democrats mostly support Biden; atheists more likely to support Sanders, Warren: Pew Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian members of the Democratic Party are more likely to support former Vice President Joe Biden while atheist and agnostic members prefer either Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, according to Pew Research Center. A report released by Pews Fact Tank on Friday found that among Democratic candidates, Biden polled the strongest with Christian respondents. According to Pew, 36 percent of Protestants, including 37 percent of the subcategory of white evangelicals, picked him as their first choice for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sanders placed a distant second among Protestants with 13 percent, while Warren, herself a member of the United Methodist Church, had 11 percent support, and Episcopalian Peter Buttigieg had 5 percent, tying former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Biden was also the top choice among his fellow Catholics, with 34 percent of Catholic respondents selecting him as their first choice as the nominee. By contrast, 18 percent of Catholic respondents chose Sanders, 10 percent chose Warren, 8 percent chose Bloomberg, and 7 percent chose Buttigieg. Sanders did poll the strongest among religiously unaffiliated respondents, with 28 percent of unaffiliated picking him as their first choice. Sanders also led in the subcategories of unaffiliated, with 30 percent of atheists and 36 percent of agnostics picking him over the rest of the Democratic field. For her part, Warren placed second among the three classifications, getting the support of 21 percent of unaffiliated respondents, 29 percent of atheists, and 23 percent of agnostics. Among respondents labeled Nothing in particular, another subcategory of unaffiliated, Sanders led with 23 percent, followed by Biden with 18 percent, and Warren with 16 percent. The national survey was conducted in January in advance of the Iowa Caucus, drawing from a sample of 5,861 voters classified as Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters. While a practicing Catholic known to be open about his faith, Biden has garnered the occasional public opposition from Catholic Church clergy over his stance on abortion. Last October, for example, Biden was denied communion by Father Robert E. Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church of Florence, South Carolina. Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church, Morey told SC Now at the time. Our actions should reflect that. Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching. A round 150 British nationals are to be flown back from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan on Sunday and quarantined at a facility in Milton Keynes. Two earlier flights transporting UK citizens as evacuees from the city - the epicentre of the virus outbreak - are at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. Three people have been confirmed to have coronavirus in the UK so far. South Central Ambulance Service said that Kents Hill Park, a conference centre and hotel, will be used to house the next returning Britons after they land at RAF Brize Norton. The individuals will remain at the site in isolation for 14 days, it added. The Britons will land at Brize Norton on Sunday / Getty Images Everyone boarding the plane at the Chinese city will be assessed and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK on Sunday morning. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that the flight would be the final service chartered by the Foreign Office to bring UK nationals back from the Chinese city. The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, does not present a risk to local people. The local site has been chosen because it offers appropriate accommodation and other facilities for those coming back from Wuhan while they stay in Milton Keynes, the ambulance service said. It also allows their health to be regularly monitored and has the necessary medical facilities close at hand should they be required. Coronavirus: The confirmed cases around the world All staff working at the facility will wear appropriate protective equipment at all times. It comes after a British honeymooner was taken to hospital after he and dozens of other passengers tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is quarantined off Yokohama in Japan. Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, said on Friday that he was being taken to hospital while his wife, Wendy, remained on board the ship. There are 78 people with British passports including crew among the nearly 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship, according to reports. Princess Cruises said an additional 41 people, including Mr Steele, had tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess, taking the total number of cases to 61. The company said the quarantine on the ship was due to end on February 19, barring unforeseen developments, and confirmed that all the affected guests were being taken to hospital. There are no plans to fly anyone off the ship and back to the UK at the moment. A separate ship in Hong Kong, the World Dream, has about 66 British passport holders on board. Nobody on that ship has tested positive. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown that the reported number of new cases has fallen over the past two days, which experts welcomed with caution. There were roughly 3,900 new cases reported worldwide on February 5, 3,700 on February 6 and 3,200 on February 7 the vast majority in China, WHO figures show.A An exhibition centre converted into a hospital / AFP via Getty Images But experts warned it is not yet clear if this represents an actual fall in cases or whether the fall will prove sustainable. The Department of Health and Social Care said that 620 people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus as of 2pm Friday, with three cases confirmed. It is understood that the third person in the UK to be diagnosed with coronavirus caught the illness in Singapore. He is reported to be a middle-aged British man and is understood to be the first UK national to contract the disease. The man is thought to have been diagnosed in Brighton and was transferred to St Thomas Hospital in London, where there is an infectious disease unit, on Thursday afternoon. Professor Keith Willett, NHS strategic incident director, said the patient had called the NHS 111 service after becoming concerned. After a telephone assessment, they were advised to make their way to Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton for testing, he said. Following a pre-arranged plan with the NHS they drove themselves to the hospital, were tested in isolation and away from public areas of the hospital, and returned home in isolation in their own car. Two other patients, who had recently travelled from China, are still being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary infectious diseases centre in Newcastle. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said the Kashmir issue would continue to remain the "cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy". Chairing a meeting here with the leaders from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a follow-up to Prime Minister Imran Khan's address to the PoK's Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on February 5, Qureshi said that a lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute was essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia region. "Kashmir would continue to remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy," Qureshi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Pakistan's Foreign Ministry (FO). During the meeting, which was also attended by PoK leader Raja Farooq Haider Khan, the participants called for the complete removal of lockdown on communication and media in the Kashmir valley. Indian abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5, 2019 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. India has categorically told the international community that its move to scrap Article 370 was an internal matter and has also advised Pakistan to accept the reality. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Andrea Leadsom has sent Boris Johnson a stark warning against 'male-dominated' workplaces ahead of a cabinet reshuffle in which he is expected to sack five women. The Business Secretary, who believes her own job could be at risk, has said that gender equality should be 'the absolute norm' - in what could be seen as a reference to the Prime Minister's upcoming changes. Her comments come as nervous ministers were on Thursday pictured filing through Number 10 for what could be their last appearance at the top table. Those who may be at risk - alongside Ms Leadsom - include Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, Therese Coffey, the welfare secretary, Theresa Villiers, the environment secretary, and Esther McVey. The Business Secretary, who believes her own job could be at risk, has said that gender equality should be 'the absolute norm' (Ms Leadsom is pictured leaving Number 10 after what could be her last cabinet meeting) Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Ms Leadsom - a former Conservative Party leadership contender - said: 'Working in the City in the 90s, I saw for myself how a male-dominated environment can limit a career. 'It would be much better if we just didn't have to talk about diversity any more; if equality was the absolute norm.' Mr Johnson has been widely tipped to make sweeping changes to his Cabinet now that the UK has left the European Union. If it had not been for Brexit, the PM may have immediately moved to change his ministerial team in the immediate aftermath of his crushing general election victory in December. His 80-seat Tory majority and continuing election honeymoon period mean the premier does not need to worry too much about the potential repercussions of sacking lots of ministers. However, Number 10 will be keen to get the reshuffle right because Mr Johnson will only have one chance to set the direction of his new government. Mr Johnson has been widely tipped to make sweeping changes to his Cabinet now that the UK has left the European Union (pictured, Mr Johnson leaving Downing Street earlier this week) Numerous ministers are widely expected to be fired, with Nicky Morgan frequently named in recent weeks. Ms Morgan did not stand at the general election but was then elevated to the House of Lords to allow her to serve as Culture Secretary. That appointment was always due to be a temporary arrangement with Ms Morgan having previously outlined her desire to step away from frontline politics. The prime minister is understood to be resigned to suffering the embarrassment of a sharp drop in the number of female cabinet members, according to The Times. At the moment eight women sit around the cabinet table but Mr Johnson is hoping that there will soon be a new influx of women into government. Nicky Morgan, pictured arriving in Downing Street on Thursday morning, is widely expected to be replaced as Culture Secretary Andrea Leadsom, pictured walking along Downing Street alongside business minister Kwasi Kwarteng on Thursday morning, could be ousted as Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured alongside Chief Whip Nick Spencer, had previously been tipped for the sack after a disastrous general election campaign for the Commons Leader Of the 109 paid positions across government, 38 are held by women and an increase in their number could allow the prime minister to claim to be leading the most female government. Oliver Dowden, the Cabinet Office minister, and Kit Malthouse, the police minister, could be promoted. Many had predicted Jacob Rees-Mogg would also be axed after a disastrous election campaign for the Commons Leader. But he is thought to have repaired much of the damage to his reputation with a series of solid performances in the Commons in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak has been tipped for a big promotion. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey (left) and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox (right) could also be moved next week But Rishi Sunak, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been tipped for a big promotion Mr Sunak is a favourite of Number 10 and it would not be a surprise to see him handed a bigger job next week. Steve Barclay, the former Brexit secretary who lost his job last Friday when the UK left the EU, is also likely to make a quick comeback to Cabinet. There had been speculation that Chancellor Sajid Javid was in danger of losing his job after clashes with the PM's top aide Dominic Cummings. But Mr Javid's allies believe he is now 'pretty safe' after apparently receiving a private assurance from Mr Johnson that he will not be moved. In the last general election the Tories did relatively poorly among younger women. A YouGov analysis of the election on December 12 showed a significant gender gap among 18 to 24-year-olds. While they attracted 28 per cent of younger males only 15 per cent of women in that age group voted Conservative. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. By Online Desk Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin and her beau Guy Hershberg have been blessed with a baby girl. The 35-year-old actor had earlier stated that the whole experience of pregnancy has been surreal for her. The 'Dev.D' star in September opened up about her relationship with boyfriend Guy Hershberg, an Israeli classical pianist, on social media. On the work front, Kalki's latest is the ZEE5 original web series "Bhram". The actress, who recently made her Tamil film debut with "Nerkonda Paarvai", is currently prepping for another web series. Mumbai, Feb 8 : The All India Professionals Congress (AIPC) will launch a nationwide protest against the electoral bonds which is "a massive fraud" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, a top leader said here on Saturday. "The BJP has utilized the electoral bonds to legitimize the questionable sources of funds by keeping the names of donors anonymous, which is a scam", said national spokesperson of AICC and Maharashtra AIPC President Sanjay Jha. Addressing the media on Saturday, Jha termed as "worrying" the proposed divestment of Life Insurance Corporation of India through an IPO since the BJP-led government has already bled several PSU and banks, including the Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC). "We will raise the issue of proposed divestment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd also, which appears to be a case of selling the family jewels to benefit some crony capitalists," Jha said. He slammed Prime Minister Naredra Modi for allegedly spreading fake news from a satirical website, 'Faking News' to attribute comments to ex-Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah. "Modi has diminished the high standards of the august office of the Prime Minister, and that too in the sacrosanct halls of the Parliament. It was an outrageous remark and must be strongly condemned, especially as it was used to justify high-profile arrests in a sensitive matter. Fake news is a danger to modern democracies and India remains susceptible courtesy BJP's mammoth WhatsApp manufacturing factory", said Jha. He said elections to the Delhi Assembly would be a crucial test for the future of India's "secular, inclusive democracy" against the backdrop of an atmosphere of authoritarian fascism witnessed in the country in recent years. AIPC Vice-President Mathew Antony said that over the next few months, AIPC Chairman Dr Shashi Tharoor will spearhead its campaign to expand to urban professionals across India by opening chapters in all 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra this year. The AIPC will make relevant governance interventions in Maharashtra for the welfare of the people, and create a diverse base of members including corporate executives, lawyers, doctors, chartered accountants, artistes, activists, teachers, professors, home-makers, businessmen, traders, intellectuals and other public personalities, said Antony. On Wednesday, regulators effectively eliminated one of the biggest obstacles to renting an apartment in New York City: broker fees. Tenants in the city have often had to deal with middlemen contracted by landlords who control apartment listings, viewings, and leases. Even if renters find their own apartment online, they can still be required to pay landlords brokers upfrontan amount that can range from an extra months worth of rent to 15 percent of the lease. Thats in addition to paying the first months rent and a security deposit to the landlord. Advertisement In a surprise addendum to the sweeping rental laws passed last year, regulators determined that renters can no longer be charged broker fees, eliminating one more barrier for tenants who dont have the extra income to afford them. City renters praised the news. Brokers, on the other hand, were left reeling from yet another change that upended their entire business world, with two industry groups filing a lawsuit to oppose the rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slate spoke to one broker at Nooklyn, a Brooklyn-based real estate agency, who wished to remain anonymous. She estimates that she makes around $5,000 per year from broker feesand notes that thats much less than brokers at many other agencies make. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement What was your reaction when you heard about thisnot a new ruling, but a new interpretation of a ruling? My initial reaction is a little confused, to be honest. Im not necessarily opposed to it. As a human being, I understand it. But I think that it, like most of these laws that have changed since July, is having a lot of adverse effects that these lawmakers are not understanding. Its very much clear to me that a lot of these lawmakers dont have a real sense of how this business works in this city, because theyre also harming New York residents with some of these laws. There are some cases where no broker fees is going to be really helpful for people. But for a lot of people, its only going to raise rent all across New York City. I think its going to hurt small landlords, like small homeowners in New York City, lifelong New York residents who own a two- to three-family home who cant afford to pay the brokers fee to get their units rented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You said that in some cases itll be helpful. What cases would those be? My brokerage carries a majority of no-fee listings, so its always kind of been part of my morals as a broker. I really dont like collecting a broker fee. I usually work with owners who pay the broker fee. There are some cases where [renters] should pay the broker fee, because its going to be a better deal for you in the long run. In most cases, the people that [the rule change] is going to help are people who cant afford to put three months upfront to move in. Thats a lot of money for a lot of people. First months [rent], security, and broker fee, its a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something that I think is really good that had been passed previously or they were trying to pass was that brokerage fees cant be over a certain amount. Right? I think that they were trying to pass something to the effect of like a broker fee cant be more than one months rent. I think that makes a ton of sense. My commission is based off of one months rent. But in general, the landlords going to pay us. My first Manhattan apartment, the commission was 15 percent of the year[s rent]. Thats insane. Advertisement Advertisement What would you say the general vibe is like among real estate brokers in New York right now? Its not good. I think I started at the very tail end where it was very easy to make money in this business. And pretty much since I started its just been law after law or change after change thats making the job a lot harder or less lucrative or whatever. A lot of the changes that are happening, morally I dont necessarily disagree with, but its definitely something that probably means I wont be able to just continue. The brokerage community and the real estate community is drowning right now. My advertising costsI was paying $50 a month to advertise. Thats two years ago. Im now paying a minimum of $700 a month to advertise listings now. And in the summer, it goes up to about $2,000 a month to advertise my listings. This is not something that my brokerage pays for. Advertisement I think a lot of people are leaving this business. A lot of brokerages are going to go under. I think more than anything its just going to stress Manhattan. I think Brooklyn has more so gotten on board with the no fee thing. Manhattan is going to struggle. People are angry because brokerages either cant or wont help their brokers right now and their sales agents right now, monetarily like they need to be. And all these laws are hitting owners, theyre hitting brokerages, and then theyre also hitting sales agents. Its hitting every facet of the community. Advertisement Advertisement You say you agree with these laws morally. Do you think that, despite the short-term shockwaves, overall this will end up being a net positive? Advertisement I dont know that Im smart enough to see that far ahead right now. I think the reason a lot of other communities dont work like this is because most other cities dont have this complex of an infrastructure when it comes to housing. I understand progress and moving forward and adjusting and putting tighter restraints on brokerages for sure. I totally understand that, but I think its swinging too quickly and too far to the other end. More than anything, its going to hurt tenants. Not all tenants, but if you have below 700 credit and you dont make over 40 times the rent, youre screwed. Could you explain that a little bit more? Advertisement Manhattan sometimes can be a little stricter than this, but for the most part where I work all over Brooklyn, you need to make 40 times the rent and you need good credit [to be approved to rent]. Usually that is 700 and above. With the right landlord, I can swing 650 and above at times. But the tenant laws are so strong in New York, which is wonderful. Its very hard for a landlord to evict someone and it takes a very long time, so New York landlords are already very strict on who they let qualify for their apartment. Advertisement Advertisement There used to be wiggle room for people who dont have 700 credit or who dont yet make 40 times the rent. The easiest way is with a guarantor, right? Like a mom or dad or an aunt or somebody whos willing to say I vouch for this person and well pay their rent if they dont pay the rent. But again, thats a very privileged thing to have. And theres a lot of marginalized communities in New York City who need to have housing who dont have 40 times the rent, good credit, or a guarantor with 60 times the rent to cover them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What sometimes would help with those things, the wiggle room would be, maybe if you offer them an extra month[s rent] up front. Pay first, security, and last, or maybe you offer two months up front. It makes the landlords feel more secure about letting you in and getting approved for the apartment. Part of these laws that changed is you can only collect first and security. Theyre trying to protect New Yorkers by doing that. I understand why theyre doing it. Theyre trying to make sure that landlords arent gouging people and saying, well, I need six months upfront. The problem is now for anybody who has bad credit, theres no way to get them approved. I cant help them. And especially international people, right? They dont have credit, so one of their only ways then is an American guarantor, a U.S. guarantor, or collecting multiple months upfront, which I now cant do. So, its hard to get international students housing now. A lot of these laws are changing and really affecting all of that. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the brokerage fee, yes, I just think that landlords are going to raise rent. Theyre trying to put restrictions on that, like with how much you can raise rent per year. But theres just, theyre all loopholes that are happening in New York City to get around that. I dont know if you know net versus gross rent is. Its something thats really common now where the landlords are saying, Well, Ill offer you a month free off of rent. Like my building offered me two months free off of my rent. My rent is $3,050 a month and they offered me two months free on a 14-month lease. The gross rent is $3,050. When you take two months free off of my rent and you divvy it up throughout the 14 months, Im really paying something to the effect of like $2,700 a month, thats the net rent. Thats a loophole of how these landlords are getting around the incremental ranked rent increases. I didnt pay a brokerage fee to move into this building, but my brokerage fee was completely folded in to all of the rent Im paying, to the month free that Im paying. All of those things. And after my first year here, they are allowed to incrementally raise the rent off of the $3,050. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How are other brokers reacting to the news? If were looking at it, towards the brokerage community, its a devastating blow, right? It is. Just with everything thats come at us. One thing at a time would have worked, but because of the application fee changes that happened earlier in the year, our brokerage cut all of our commissions by 10 percent, so Im losing money there this year. On top of it, StreetEasy has monopolized this entire industry to a point that I think should be absolutely illegal, but theyre too big of a force. It seems nobody can really do much about it. Theyve increased their advertising from $1.50 per listing per day. Now theyre charging $6 per day per listing. A lot of us used to put up 10, 20 listings. We cant afford that anymore. So then theres another cut in my pie. And then theres this, right? In general, I dont collect a lot of broker fees, so Ill survive. But Manhattan is going to crumble. Advertisement But Im talking about it in perspective of brokerages. Thats probably not the most important facet, right? Its just something that might be for the greater good. And I see that perspective completely. I just hope that if thats the route were going here with all of these laws, that it does actually help housing for marginalized communities, for lower income communities, for all of that. Because a lot of these laws I think are only making it harder for them to get into apartments. And a lot of these laws seem like theyre only going to raise rent. Advertisement You said you made a choice not to collect broker fees that often. Is that a common choice among newer brokers? Advertisement Advertisement Its really going to depend on where you work and rent apartments. I work for a brokerage that has a lot of issues, but in general theyre pretty good about trying to be no-fee friendly. Ive also just rented a million apartments in New York and I know I sure as hell cant afford a broker fee. But I also primarily rent in a neighborhood that is a lot of lower to middle class, for millennials who just got out of school, who cant afford it. I would love to say its just a moral thing, like I dont believe in that, make the landlord pay it. But a lot of it is just also, I know my clientele cant pay it. Advertisement Have you seen more landlords moving toward paying their own broker fees? Yeah, definitely. I live on the border of Williamsburg and Bushwick. Most of my clients [live in] Bushwick, Ridgewood, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bed-Stuy, those kinds of areas. Even in the last two years its come pretty far. But my small landlords, which tend to be some of the best apartments because theyre usually giant, 75 percent of them dont pay the broker fee because they cant. Its expensive. Whats the alternative if they cant pay the broker fee? I guess the alternative is maybe more owners will rent out their stuff their self. Maybe they wont hire a broker. Thats part of what Im wondering. Its going to be a learning curve for them. And the big landlords will just pay up. Thats my guess. But its going to be a large amount of work gone for real estate in the city. That, or the rents go up and the landlords cough it up. Moukondo flanked by Mbella Moki (left) and Papi Fonderson Screenshot from amateur video Moukondo Daniel Ngande, Mayor of Tiko has abandoned his party the Social Democratic Front, SDF, ahead of Sundays Municipal and Legislative Elections, Cameroon-info.net has learnt. Throughout the campaigns, Moukondo who became Mayor in 2013 on the SDF ticket has not been seen campaigning for his party, apparently protesting the fact that he was dropped from the list of candidates to take part in the Municipal Elections. The Chief of Ebonji Village and former SDF Electoral District Chairman for Tiko however emerged at the campaign rally of the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, in Tiko Thursday, February 6, 2020. Though he tried to chew his words, he drove home the message that it is now time for the people to vote for the CPDM, and not the SDF because the SDF cannot expect to win elections without him. My councillors today voted me as the best mayor of the decade. But the funniest thing is this: How can FC Barcelona win the Champions League finals without Messi? Journalists have asked me many questions today. They want to know my message to the electorate now that I am not in the race. I told them that I came to power when people had the impression that Tiko cannot change. But I have made people to see that Tiko can change. So when you are voting, vote wisely. Vote those who will continue to make Tiko better than you want it. Dont vote hawkers, people who will sell all your things. Vote people who have this town in their heart. Choose wisely. After Mounkondos address at the CPDM rally, the CPDM campaign team leader for Tiko, Senator Mbella Moki Charles said: The father of the town has spoken. I want to promise Mr. Mayor that the legacy that he has highlighted in Tiko, we have the best men and women to sustain that legacy. To this, the SDF Mayor smiled, said thank you and nodded in approval. It is therefore clear that Moukondos romance with the SDF has been ruptured and it is only left to see him in CPDM colours in the days ahead. Let us change and sustain Tiko once and for all. It is an election that has to do with the soul of Tiko Subdivision. So, you should not joke with it. You should not play with it if you make yourselves bananas, monkeys will eat you, Mbella Moki said. Mbella Moki went on to present the CPDM candidates, adding that the CPDM opted to present a more responsible parliamentarian for Tiko in the person of Prince Mokondo Stanley Findi. Hear Mbella Moki: The Central Committee sent me here to help you win back the Tiko Council. Not only to win back the council, but also to see to it that we bring you a more responsible parliamentarian for Tiko, not one who runs to Douala when things are hot. Not a parliamentarian who is negotiating to sell your patrimony. Washington, Feb 8 : Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's new Ambassador to the US, has presented his credentials to American President Donald Trump at a special ceremony held in the White House, it was reported. The ceremony took place in the Oval Office on Thursday. The envoy was accompanied by his wife and peer Reenat Sandhu, currently serving as the Indian Ambassador to Italy, the American Bazaar news said in a report on Friday. According to a statement released by the Indian Embassy in Washington, Trump warmly welcomed Sandhu back to Washington and wished him success in his new role as New Delhi's top diplomat in America. On his part, Sandhu "affirmed his commitment to work towards strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the US which is anchored in mutual trust and friendship, democratic values and people-to-people ties", it added. At the State Department, Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, welcomed Sandhu back to Washington and said in a tweet that the new envoy was a "strong champion of US-India ties". Addressing a 200-plus strong gathering of senior US administration officials, lawmakers, business leaders, educators, Indian-American community activists including a good number of Sikhs, press and media persons, at his official residence in Washington, Thursday evening, Sandhu said: "It is like coming back home." Sandhu, who replaced Harsh Vardhan Shringla, had previously served as the deputy chief in the Indian embassy in Washington. Capt. De Lao, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division guards the corner of a hallway U.S. Army photo by SSG James Avery, 1BCT10MTN Public Affairs The US Army is trying to figure out how to see through walls to identify threats and to map structures above and below ground. The service recently issued a request for information to help inform the development of a See Through the Wall (STTW) system. It would be "man-portable systems that give the soldier the ability to detect, identify, and monitor persons, animals, and materials behind multi-leveled obstruction(s) from a long standoff range," among other capabilities. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US Army is trying to figure out a way to give its soldiers the ability to see threats through walls, according to a recently published request for information. The Army is modernizing in a way it hasn't in decades. The service has already seen the development of incredible new technologies, such as pocket-sized drones and next-generation night-vision goggles wired to a weapon sight to let soldiers shoot around corners. The Army now wants to eliminate a frightening unknown: The threat that waits on the other side of the wall. It wants to know how its soldiers can see through obstacles. The service is looking to develop "man-portable systems that give the soldier the ability to detect, identify, and monitor persons, animals, and materials behind multi-leveled obstruction(s) from a long standoff range," according to a request for information released in late January. The Army explained that the system should be able to see through various types of obstacles, including dense vegetation, and use biometric data to track, positively identify, and differentiate between targets. For example, the resulting system should be able to tell friend from foe. The Army wants a system that can "track, locate, isolate, range, and count personnel and animals in a building or structure," the request said, adding that it should also be able to determine whether detected individuals are "sitting, standing, walking, or lying down." Story continues The so-called See Through the Wall (SSTTW) system would also "be able to detect hidden passages and rooms inside of a structure," as well as "map the structure and detect hidden rooms, passages, alcoves, caches, etc. including those underground." The Army expects the system to create 3D maps of structures. The Army request said that it also expects the system to be capable of identifying potential threats to soldiers assigned to clearing operations, such as tripwires, improvised explosive devices, and other traps. While the desired STTW system would primarily be carried on a soldier's person, the Army explained that it would be ideal if it was also able to be mounted on an unmanned aerial system or unground combat vehicle. The Army said that submitted white papers "should address what the path forward is for the US Army to meet this goal." The latest RFI, which will conclude in March, is not the first time the Army has looked into this kind of technology. In October, the service awarded Lumineye, Inc. a $250,000 prize for their wall-penetrating radar, technology designed to help soldiers and first responders that won the service's Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) competition. Related Video: The US Military Created the Worlds Smelliest Weapon Business Insider 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. Workers in protective suits spray disinfectant on a woman as she arrives at a hotel being used for people held in medical isolation in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province in this Feb. 3 file photo. AP The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China has risen to 722, while new cases jumped to 31,774, reversing declines over previous days. China's ruling Communist Party faced public anger and recrimination over the death of a doctor who was threatened by the authorities after trying to sound the alarm about the new virus back in December. The head of the World Health Organisation says it received a response from China on Saturday on the dispatch of a WHO-led international mission to the country, where a new virus has emerged. Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the team leader will leave on Monday or Tuesday and the rest of the experts will follow. Asked whether members of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be part of the team, he replied, "We hope so." Tedros wouldn't immediately name the leader or the rest of the team, or give further details, saying that WHO will publicize everything as soon as we're ready. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Its a common question for a wine tasting judge: how lucky are you and how did you get this dream job? And indeed, it is a fantasy life, but also a lot of work. For the intensive week of tasting that is the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, judges are faced with thousands of wines to evaluate and score, swirling and sniffing, sipping and swishing their way through red, white, rose and sparkling with barely a break between rounds. Each judge tastes between 100 and 130 wines per day, challenged to evaluate batches of 10 to 14 wines per flight of a single varietal within a certain price point. Imagine comparing a dozen superb Pinot Noirs priced at $52-$57.99 and trying to determine the very best. Yet for the intrepid oenophiles that make up the five dozen-plus team, the labor pays off in many ways. These judges are all wine experts in various fields, from media to sales to making their own fine wines, and each gain valuable takeaway knowledge from the exercise. Consider Larry Van Aalst, a retired sommelier and CRN digital talk radio host out of Rohnert Park. He has been judging at the competition for more than a decade and said it helps him to keep abreast of the many fine wines from California for his Whats Cookin on Wine/Sonoma Wine Report. Then, theres Bill Hayes, the Wine Category Manager for the BevMo! retail chain of 163 stores throughout California, Arizona and Washington. With a career spanning more than 33 years in the wine industry, Hayes said he appreciates how judging helps further his relationships with winery owners and winemakers, as well as gives him exposure to the thousands of world class wines entered in the competition each year. Get an insiders look from these other longtime judges: Pat Henderson Buy your public tasting tickets today Advanced tickets for the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting are for sale at winejudging.com. See More Collapse Owner of About Wine Consulting in Santa Rosa Henderson first judged in the late 1980s, when it was called the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition. Today, he runs a business advising on vineyard selection, harvesting, winery design, winemaking and blending and establishing brands. As a winemaker, you need to be familiar with a variety of wines, not just the ones you are making, he said. Being a judge at the largest wine competition in America is a great opportunity to taste a lot of wines from many appellations and made in a diversity of styles. That diversity is key to keeping things interesting over the decades, he said. As a judge, you need to review the wine on its own merits and not be biased by your personal preferences we drink more Sauvignon Blanc in our house than any other varietal, for example, he said. Its important to stay focused through the long hours of tasting and be consistent in your scores. Wine flavors do build up on the palate, but Hendersons solution is to snack on olives to break up red wines tannins and drink plenty of crisp, sparkling water for whites. And through it all, he still adores the fermented grape. Ive never grown tired of wine, he said. Ive been making wine for more than 30 years, and I am still learning new things every vintage. For me, winemaking is the perfect balance of science and art with a wild card of Mother Nature thrown in the mix. Every year with a new harvest, you get a chance to try to make better wines than the year before. Denise Gill Alexander Valley Vineyards tasting room manager in Santa Rosa Gill has judged at the competition since 2006, and has worked at top wineries including Ancient Oak Cellars in Santa Rosa, Hop Kiln Estate in Healdsburg, White Oak Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg, Blackstone Winery in Kenwood and Fritz Underground Winery in Cloverdale. I enjoy tasting the diversity of the wines at SFCWC and noting changes, she said. My favorite wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Chardonnay is a great example of trends, as some years the wine has a lot more oak than other years. Hours of tasting can be demanding, Gill admitted. By the last few flights of the day, I will remind myself of all the dedication each winery puts into producing their wine and recommit to giving my best awards, she said. I realize that wine judging is a lot of work, however, it is also glamorous. I enjoy the respect received by the panel coordinating team, my fellow judges and the beautiful wineries. To keep her palate fresh through sampling all those wines, Gill grazes on Costeaux French Bakery bread from Healdsburg, drinks plenty of water and for big, tannic red wines, nibbles on rare roast beef. The big, daily lunches are welcome respites, too. I never get sick of wine, she said. It is the perfect beverage for sipping after a long work day. I especially enjoy having wine with friends and pairing it with dinner. For people who dream of being a judge, meanwhile, Gill suggests that they take the Advanced Wine Evaluation Class offered at UC Davis. You learn about varietals, flavor profiles and wine faults, and there is an option to take a blind tasting test at the end of the class to qualify you to be a judge at the California State Fair, she said. Shauna Rosenblum Winemaker at Rock Wall Wine Company in Alameda Rosenblums father, Kent Rosenblum, founded Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda, and by the age of 2, she was reading grape brix levels on a refractometer. In 2008, her family sold Rosenblum Cellars and started Rock Wall Wine Company. By the end of the first harvest, the then-25-year-old was named head winemaker. A year later, she entered the wine judging arena and has participated in the competition for 11 years. Her tip for taste bud survival through near endless wines is simple. Water. So much water, she said. I usually aim for a gallon per day in my regular life, and I try to drink even more when judging to keep my palate fresh. Swishing water also helps with another effect born of her love for Zinfandel and Italian red varietals like Sagrantino, Nebbiolo and Montepulciano. Its crazy, the impact wine has on our teeth, she said. Most wines pH is between 3 to 4 (as a measure of ripeness in relation to acidity), so to keep the pH that low in ones mouth for an extended duration can harm the enamel. Everyones teeth are black from all the red wine. Even though judges spit the wines, alcohol does enter the body when they taste, so Rosenblum recommends everyone eat, eat, eat. The amount of food one must eat at breakfast and lunch to be able to handle tasting up to 120 wines a day might not be exactly glamorous, but its definitely fun, she said. A detransitioner in agony recounts how gender doctors manipulated him into castration, hormones Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Warning: This article contains graphic details of chemical and surgical procedures performed on an individual who once identified as transgender. Descriptions also include bodily functions of adult subject matter. When Marcus Fitz started ejaculating blood it finally occurred to him that just maybe the medical professionals he trusted had been misleading him. For several years, he said, the doctors he saw enticed him with gender transition surgery and led him to believe that being castrated was a beneficial option that would improve his overall health and well-being. Fitz, 41, is originally from the Midwest and now resides in California. He is among the rising number of people known as "detransitioners," having identified as transgender for over a decade. Fitz lived a "mostly stealth" life and frequently lied to coworkers, neighbors and new friends about his biological sex. Now suffering from a host of medical complications as a result of years of hormone treatment, including phantom pain in his groin and bouts of severe depression, he is five years into his detransition journey and is reintegrating with his anatomically male body. At his request, he is using a pseudonym in this article and other identifying details have been removed for fear of harassment. He believes it's important that people learn about the deceptive practices at gender clinics that push cross-sex hormones and transgender surgeries, which he says have left him psychologically scarred, physically mutilated, and with a severely compromised endocrine system. To verify Fitz's story, CP corroborated his account with several people he identified who confirmed that the story he shared was truthful. CP also reviewed medical documents and relevant court filings. Gender confusion early on Growing up in the culturally conservative Midwest, school was always hard for Fitz, as he was frequently bullied throughout every grade. "I was not the most masculine boy. I had effeminate traits, was called homophobic slurs and this was well before the age of developing any sense of sexuality. So I grew up with this idea that gay was bad and not something that I wanted to be," he detailed. As he matured and became more aware of his sense of self and how he would carry himself, he began to see how homosexuals were mocked and that he was displaying some of those behaviors and stereotypes. Uncomfortable with his body during adolescence, the pubertal processes were never explained to him. The random erections, nocturnal emissions, and other bodily developments caused extreme self-consciousness, leading him to think he was a pervert, the kind he saw villainized in books and movies. Fitz was not raised in a religious home, calling his upbringing "secular" but with "good Midwestern rural values." Politically speaking, he has always leaned to the left but considers himself an independent and not an ideological purist. It was at a public university in the Midwest in the late 1990s and early 2000s where he first heard about transgenderism, recalling a moment when he read an article in the student newspaper written by someone who said he realized that being effeminate made him a woman despite actually being physiologically male. Seizing on this, Fitz thought: This is the answer! I'm not gay, I'm just actually a woman. Thus, a relocation to the West Coast was in order so he could figure this out in an ostensibly more supportive environment. Upon graduating from college he sold all his belongings, said goodbye to his family and headed to California. Not long after he settled in, he went to a community free clinic in the city where he talked to a clinician who, he would later find out, was not a licensed therapist and was serving in more of an intern role, a student volunteer. "I spoke to her maybe four times. She was fascinated with me," Fitz said, noting his earliest memories of exploring transition. Much of what she said during those sessions was along the lines of "discovering your authentic self" as the opposite sex and other transgender jargon Fitz now considers to be nonsense. She ultimately referred him to a local gender clinic so he could seek medical transition, which he did. After waiting an hour at this new clinic, he had a 15-minute appointment with a registered nurse who immediately affirmed him as the opposite sex. At the end of the appointment she prescribed him hormones. "If you think you are trans, that means you are trans," Fitz said the nurse told him, adding that those were her exact words. "Then I was given this piece of paper to sign which had many scary things on it and I was told not to worry about them, that they 'would do everything in our power to prevent them' and that this was basically a formality." The paper was an informed consent document, which CP reviewed. Fitz was prescribed estradiol and spironolactone. Estradiol is synthetic estrogen in pill form. Spironolactone is an anti-androgen, a testosterone suppressant, also in pill form. He started taking the drugs, began dressing in women's clothes part time, and consulted pro-transgender internet resources, which he says contain "all sorts of horrible advice." Further contributing to the idea that transgenderism was a glamorous pathway was the 2005 film "Transamerica" starring Felicity Huffman, who received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her leading role in the movie. The movie reportedly contains a line saying that after genital surgery "not even a gynecologist would be able to tell the difference, which, Fitz says, is "stupidly untrue." As Fitz became more serious about becoming trans he realized that there was only one way to go: cut off all ties with family, and change one's name, wardrobe and sex marker on all of his official legal documents. "There's no alternative. That's just what you do," he told CP, adding that transition is always billed as "medically necessary." Within the institutions promoting the medicalization of gender, the people staffing the offices have an answer for almost every concern or objection. When Fitz expressed concerns about the ill effects the hormones might have on his liver, he said he was told: "Well no, don't worry about that. That's why we do blood tests every six months." The small dose of estrogen he was given was quickly increased. He soon found himself taking six milligrams of estrogen. He was told up front that spironolactone was a diuretic, which concerned him about the potential damage to his bladder, wondering if he was going be incontinent later in life. After he started detransitioning, he was informed that the six milligrams of estrogen he had been prescribed was the legal maximum dose. The transgender illusion intensifies, the surgery push "This whole [transgender] thing became kind of intoxicating, socially and physically. It was kind of a thrill. I felt I was treated better. People were smiling at me on the street, holding doors open for me. I was getting all this positive attention," Fitz recalled. "And estrogen in males, it kind of dulls our senses, mellows us out and it feels good." But it also made him a bit of a mess, he admitted. During his transition years he was unemployed and underemployed a number of times, going on unemployment insurance for a single 18-month period spanning 2008 to 2010. Every time Fitz went to the clinic for an appointment, the office staff would try to sell him on the idea of surgery, he said, marketing it to him as though it was the next logical and necessary step in his journey. "Every appointment began with: 'How are your prescriptions and would you like any surgery?'" he said. "It was like going into a restaurant and the waiter offering you the menu," he said, describing the office staff as reading from a sales script. "It was an up-sale." Though he didn't have benefits, when Fitz was able to work full time it made him feel successful, that things were at last going to work out after years of struggling. Being a "free" clinic, the office had a sliding scale program that was government-subsidized. "I would go in and they would ask: 'What is your income, what are you assets?'" he recalled. "So if you're making nothing and you have maybe $5,000 in your checking account, you don't have to pay anything not for the appointment, not for the pills. If you're making $10 or $15 dollars an hour and you have $10,000 in your checking account, then maybe you have to pay $15 dollars as a co-pay. But it was never very expensive at all," he said. The financial ease with which he was able to acquire the drugs psychologically fed his perception that none of this was a particularly big deal and that this was, in fact, normal medicine. After one such "up-sale" in the gender clinic in 2011, Fitz said he "broke" and said to them: "You're always asking me about surgery. What have you got? What are you trying to do?" He was then told about feminizing facial surgery where they would shave down part of his brow, shave down his Adams apple called a chondrolaryngoplasty and place implants in his chest and hips. They also offered the full vaginoplasty, where they remove the testicles and invert the penis to resemble a vaginal canal. "'Or we could just do an orchiectomy,'" he recalled being told. The surgery involves removing the testicles from the scrotum. But they didn't say the word "testicles" when they explained the procedure, he asserted. "That word was never used. The gender clinic staff always avoided sex-specific biological terms, preferring genderist euphemisms instead. I was told we were 'removing the part that makes testosterone.' I thought they were removing a tiny part of the testes, not the whole of them," he said. This was appealing to Fitz because he was informed it wouldn't change how he looked, felt, or functioned, and that it would cut down on his dependence on hormones. "I thought, that sounds great! It's a win-win," he said, thinking this would alleviate his concerns about the wear and tear the hormonal treatment was having on his bladder and liver. Additionally, the surgery was relatively inexpensive only $1,000 and would only take 20 minutes to perform. The doctors made it sound as though he would be getting a mole or a tooth removed, as though a tiny piece of his testicles was a bothersome, worthless piece of his anatomy that was harming him, and that the procedure to remove it was perfectly safe and normal. He agreed to the surgery, though he asked if he should get a second opinion. He recalled being told that he did not need a second opinion and to just get a letter signed off by a urologist. Fitz called up a urologist and had a consultation with him. The urologist asked him if he was sure he wanted to proceed and if he had spoken with his doctor. The urologist signed off on it and an appointment for surgery was scheduled for six weeks later in November. In 2015, when he began detransitioning, Fitz looked back at the experience and recalled being amazed at how quickly it all happened. Asked to describe what the surgery was like, Fitz recounted: "I was told to lie in a bed and my legs were placed in stirrups. They then put you out, cut a little hole in the scrotum, and then fish them out and cut them off." The surgical procedure was a much bigger deal than what he was led to believe. On the day of the operation, he took public transit to go to his surgery appointment and was surprised that they made him take off all his clothes and put on a hospital gown and haircap, and lie on an operating table. This was no simple mole removal or tooth extraction, he would soon learn. As he was wheeled into the operating room and was surrounded by medical staff, surgical equipment and lights, Fitz's fears mounted. "I started to ask questions like 'what's that?' and 'who is this?'" he said. No one answered him. Right before the anesthesia drugs took effect and he became unconscious, as they had already inserted the needle in his arm, he remembered saying, "Stop!" The surgical aftermath When he finally came to, he was "looney tunes all day" because of the drugs and he was in an enormous amount of pain. When the bandage dressing came off a few days later he could see that this was a radical change. Contrary to their promises, he was shocked to find that he looked quite different. "And when I went to my doctor for a follow-up, the doctor was gleeful, celebrating the surgery as a wonderful metamorphosis," Fitz said. Because his appointments were always relatively short approximately 15 minutes he never got to say much. Fitz described himself during his earlier years as a party kid and a "serial one-night stander," never having had many close long-term relationships. Fueling his thinking that his decision to transition was the right thing to do was the political environment of the day. Radical change was in the air, he remembers sensing at the time. The Occupy Wall Street movement was making noise around the country and the Arab Spring was underway. "I had this feeling that the world was changing. People were also talking that in 2012 the world was going to end," he said, "a lot of revolution, so let's charge forward. But I was behaving in a short-sighted way." There were several times he would go to bed with someone and, as a passable woman, his female partner would be surprised to find he had male genitals. Fitz now regrets not being honest about that. He teased men sexually but was afraid of them and never put himself in scenarios where he would be alone with men or slept with men. Sometimes he would engage in prolonged kissing with men, he said. But after the surgery, sex was all but impossible. "I didn't hate my genitals, but now they looked strange, weird. My scrotum looked like a deflated balloon, like the weird thing that hangs off a chicken's neck. It's lifeless, an empty sac," he said. He did not have sex for approximately one year. "But then I had sex because I wanted to have sex and I discovered that I was ejaculating blood," he said. On one particular occasion when he was with a woman he became sexually aroused and had a premature ejaculation, and it was bloody. CP confirmed with an endocrinologist that this is indeed possible after an orchiectomy. "That scared me, so I went back to my doctor and he said, 'Oh, I don't know. This shouldn't happen, we'll run all kinds of tests," Fitz said. They ran tests and it took several weeks to get the results. He was then advised to "wait it out," get a different desk chair, and to stop riding his bicycle. Fitz took all of those steps but nothing helped. As doubts about what he had undergone began to set in, he thought the problem might be that he needed better, more expensive doctors. For that he'd need a higher salary so he decided to learn to code and write software. By the end of 2014, he got hired as a software engineer. With better health coverage he thought he'd be able to see any doctor he wanted. At his last appointment at the gender clinic, he received a message along the lines of: "Oh, by the way, your last blood test indicated that some of your levels are low and we need you to start taking prescription-level Vitamin D and calcium." When Fitz asked if this was a temporary prescription he was told that it was not, that it would probably be for the rest of his life. When he pressed the staff further he was told that it was as a result of the surgery. "The surgery was supposed to make me healthier," he replied, "why would I now need to take prescription vitamins?" The reason was that he was no longer producing the necessary hormones needed to maintain adequate bone density. Fitz said he kept asking questions but before he knew it, his 15-minute appointment was over and he had to leave. Increasingly concerned, he starting asking for his medical records and began reviewing them carefully. He also asked for the letter he was asked to get signed from a urologist so he could go forward with the surgery. The letter said that Fitz was of sound mind and was in good physical health, exceeded the standards of care set forth in the current guidelines from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. For the first time, Fitz looked up the WPATH standards of care which stipulate that before hormonal treatments begin patients are supposed to have had a psychological evaluation. Fitz maintains he never had one. Prior to surgery he was supposed to, according to the guidelines, have two more evaluations. Fitz says he never had those either. Upon closer review of his medical records, which he shared with CP, he realized that the doctor had taken notes of his thoughts but had never noted any of Fitz's concerns about what the drugs might do to his liver or bladder. Irked by this bias, he began researching his doctor's background and discovered that his doctor was actually a trans-identifying woman who presented as a man. All these years he thought he had been discussing his distinctly male health issues with a man. "I felt horribly betrayed," Fitz told CP. "There's an intimate level of appreciation for your genitals and if you're not even the same sex you can't fully understand that, just as I have no idea what it's like to menstruate or ovulate because, obviously, I can't." Fitz also discovered that the doctor was a clinical activist, and when she was not working at the gender clinic she was giving slideshow presentations at various meetings with other doctors for more "gate-opening." This doctor called herself a "gate-opener" as opposed to a gatekeeper. Determined to get some answers, he scheduled yet another appointment. "This letter is an outright lie," he recounted telling the doctor when he confronted her. "You lied to the surgeon and said I exceeded the standards of care, but the standards of care said I should have talked to three therapists and I haven't talked to any." Fitz said the doctor responded by telling him that she wanted to ensure he wouldn't be denied the operation because she knew he couldn't afford a therapist and suggested the surgery for his own benefit. Fitz told CP he now wishes he had a recording of their conversation. He said the doctor then got up and left the room and returned with a signed document. He said the doctor brandished the consent waiver he signed and reminded him that he was warned about the potential for adverse effects caused by the treatments. At first, Fitz said he didn't recognize the form because many years had passed since he had last seen it. He then realized it was his informed consent document that he had signed in 2006. The form wasn't included in his medical records when he requested to see them because it had been filed in his administrative record, which he does not have access to. "So they get you to sign this piece of paper and then they put it away where you can never see it or find it and then they only produce it when you start calling them out," he explained. "It's for their benefit, it's a defense for them." Suicidal ideation sets in amid devastation The weight of what had transpired and the years of deception summarily hit Fitz. Extremely depressed and in agony, he imagined and researched ways to kill himself, wondering how he might cause his death in a relatively painless way. He thought he might travel to Canada and try to fall asleep in a snow drift or maybe swim out in the Pacific Ocean and drown himself. He sank even deeper into despair and thought he should maybe destroy his entire body, ashamed his family would discover what he had done if his body was ever recovered. Perhaps then the best course was to try and have some kind of contraption crush him under a heavy object, or maybe self-immolate by flying to Hawaii and jumping into a volcano, he remembered thinking. Fitz also considered taking the leftover pain meds his doctor had prescribed and acquire a gun and kill himself in front of his doctor at the next Pride parade because this doctor always had a booth at the event pushing transgender medicine and surgeries. Maybe offing himself in such fashion could make an "unignorable political point and stun the doctor," he said. He said he had it all planned out but ultimately balked. Fitz said he attempted suicide once, opting to jump to his death from the balcony of his high-rise apartment, but it was foiled. His cat was looking like she was going to jump off with him and he didn't want her to die, so he stepped back from the edge. But then he felt as though suicide was wrong entirely and he should try to channel his anguish in a positive direction and use his painful experience to help other people in similar situations. Shuffled around to doctors In the months that followed, he was shuffled around to various doctors, all of whom were either LGBT-identified themselves or sympathetic to transgenderism. None of them helped him, he said. One told him he needed to get some therapy to help him get over his "internalized transphobia." Exasperated beyond words, he figured he would go revisit the surgeon that performed the orchiectomy years earlier, thinking a follow-up visit might provide more answers. When Fitz returned to his office, he said the surgeon was surprised to see him and claims he denied any responsibility for the complications he suffered after the operation. According to Fitz, the surgeon got defensive and asked him to leave his office. Fitz said he didn't budge, recalling that he told the surgeon that he was indeed a big part of his ordeal and that the surgery caused a lot of his misery. The surgeon got up and opened the door, demanded Fitz leave or he would call the police and suggested he call a lawyer. Fitz went home and started looking for local medical malpractice lawyers, calling dozens of different attorneys, most of whom did not return his phone calls. A few talked to him but refused to work with him and allegedly called him a "bigot" or "transphobe." Others thought his situation was weird and told him they didn't understand the issues and didn't want to get involved because it sounded too risky. Only one person said he would help him. "I felt very stuck. If only one in 40 would help me then I must be desperate, I'll do anything my attorney says," Fitz told CP. As he pursued legal recourse, he also finally found a physician who was willing to help him detransition, a doctor who advised him to get therapy, which he did. Fitz also opened a Twitter account and began tweeting under a pseudonym. He was frequently attacked by transactivists and their left-wing cheerleaders. As it became clearer he was detransitioning and rejecting a trans identity, many of his local friends started distancing themselves because they either felt outwardly offended or uncomfortable around him and stopped talking with him. These supposed friends considered him a political liability. Around this time, existential questions were besetting him. "Am I trans? Is anybody trans?" he would wonder. Compounding the confusion was the emergence of news stories about Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce, and Rachel Dolezal, a white woman who worked for the NAACP who claimed to be black. As transgenderism was being mainstreamed, his peers would excitedly ask him if he was happy to see positive coverage of transgender-identifying persons. "And I would say: 'Well, actually, no. The whole thing is a fraud and it's starting to fall apart for me and I bet it will for everyone else too,'" he would respond. Such exchanges were awkward and he found himself not getting invitations to parties and gatherings of friends. Others whom he thought were friends stopped taking his phone calls. Fitz found the cognitive dissonance staggering that Dolezal was widely mocked and rejected for saying she felt like she was black but Jenner was enthusiastically embraced for saying he felt he was a woman. The only people who offered him any meaningful help and support at the time were Christians and radical feminists. "But today, a few short years later, support is more diverse, as more of the general public has become aware of how little sense transgenderism actually makes. I've got support from men and women, gay and straight, left and right," he said. On Twitter, the only ones who would tweet sympathy were radical feminists. He started learning more about radical feminism, and much of the analysis made a lot of sense to him. Radical feminism, he soon learned, was quite different from third wave liberal feminism, which supports transgender ideology. Fitz took legal action against one of the doctors who treated him but is not legally permitted to say how it ended. But he was, at the time, satisfied with the conclusion. The postoperative agony continues As the months went by in his detransition process, Fitz increasingly found himself wanting to live free from hormones so he stopped taking them. Doctors told him not to do that but he did anyway and he soon got sick. Because of the hormone withdrawal, he started experiencing menopause-like symptoms. "I was irritated and confused. I was fatigued. I had hot flashes and cold chills. I became easily injured. It was a bad deal," he said. About a year into his detransition, he received a diagnosis of being medium functional on the autism spectrum, a common comorbidity to gender dysphoria that gender ideologues usually ignore. Fitz maintains that that condition contributed to his struggles to communicate effectively with doctors. Fitz also had to get a mastectomy. As a result of the estrogen intake he had grown breasts. After having a prescription drug crash on one particular day, he recounted how the proverbial fog lifted and he took stock of his life, surveying the past near-decade, feeling like it had all been "some weird party-trick." "I used to look in the mirror and I thought I looked too male and I need to correct that. And now I was looking in the mirror and I looked too female," he said. He shopped around for various surgeons to remove the excess breast tissue, but some refused him because he was a detransitioner. Before he could proceed, his surgeon requested he go on testosterone for a year. He found that, as a male, testosterone made him feel healthy and clear-headed and that it helped him sleep. "I hate that I now have an addiction to chemical testosterone," he said. "Testosterone is also expensive. And when it's not a government plan that is paying for everything, it's costly. And it's also a controlled substance, much more regulated than estrogen because it's more abused." Fitz said it is always an administrative hassle when he changes insurance companies. He thought that once he stopped taking the estrogen the breasts would go away, especially because when he was younger he had gynecomastia a condition that occurs as a result of an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in boys or men, caused by a hormonal imbalance that went away on its own. Unfortunately, his transgender chemically-induced breast growth was there to stay. Fitz underwent a mastectomy in February 2019. Fighting back Fitz has managed to reunite with his family but they do not talk about his transition. To this day, they do not know he had an orchiectomy. He is unsure about what they know of his cross-sex hormone use. "I don't bring it up and they don't ask questions," he said. "They're aware of some details but not all." "They were glad to have me back. But I feel really awful for my sister because I abandoned her. She has a few kids. She had a baby when I left, and now she has two boys and one is in high school. "I feel guilty about that." Yet as he continued to search for answers, he found some detransitioners online, all of whom lived in California. He eventually got together with a few of them and discussed their transition journeys. Around that same time, another former transgender presented an opportunity for Fitz and a few others to meet with attorneys from a Christian legal firm to discuss their legal options. Fitz had never heard of this firm but since other lawyers "didn't give a damn" about him, he was grateful for any legal advisers who might be willing to listen and help. "I didn't know they were conservative-leaning Christians and when I looked them up it didn't bother me," he told CP. In the fall of 2017, he and about a dozen other detransitioners went to their headquarters and sat at a table for several hours and shared their stories with them. "From breakfast to dinner we talked. We talked and the lawyers listened. And it was very nice. Because to that point, no one was listening to us," he said. After they shared their personal ordeals, they discussed what they might do on a legal front. CP confirmed with another detransitioner that this meeting indeed happened. Fitz believes lawsuits are the best tool for social change and hopes to be part of a large-scale effort to sue the gender clinics that harmed him and his fellow travelers. Though he took action against his doctor, he also wanted to sue the surgeon who performed the orchiectomy. But as a result of state statute of limitations, he could not. Many states, including California, have one-year statutes of limitations for legal action to be taken against surgeons for malpractice. Because Fitz didn't attempt to have sex for over a year after his surgery, it was too late for him to realize he had a problem, and his primary care doctor had told him to wait it out and that it would get better on its own. This is a typical experience of other detransitioners he has spoken to who also regret their surgeries, he noted. "They'll say 'I want to sue!' And my first question to them is: 'Well, how long has it been?'" Fitz said. "It often takes up several years to come out of this gaslighting fog of what has happened to us and by then it's far too late." He believes the laws are written to protect the doctors and their insurers. When lawsuits are filed against doctors, the plaintiffs mostly deal with their insurance companies, he said. Fitz still wants to sue the surgeon who removed his testicles but does not know if that is possible. "I'd like to sue WPATH for their convoluted, misleading and negligent standards of care. I'd like to sue the Endocrine Society for being complicit. I'd like to sue the California Medical Board. I'd like to join a class-action lawsuit. I don't know how these things can happen," he said. Other attorneys with whom he has explored this seem interested but often act cagey and only call him when they want to speak with him but never reply to his emails when he wants to communicate with them. "The other side has decades on us, in terms of setting up the laws in their favor, so it's very tricky," he said. "It all sounds so crazy but that's because it is crazy. When you start to look at it underneath a microscope it really is eugenics, a messed-up situation." Fitz believes that the transgender movement shares significant overlap with the transhumanist movement, specifically the notion "that your body is just a machine you can take apart and put back together." In addition to taking part in lawsuits, he wants to organize detransitioners and is interacting with groups and individuals that have gone public with their detransition stories. CP contacted the Endocrine Society to ask whether the organization was backing any research on or offering any support to detransitioners, and how their guidelines are adhered to in clinical practice, and if they take a position on the promotion of surgery as the best option in light of how it was marketed to Fitz. No one was available to speak and we were referred to their guidelines. Dealing with regret, fighting for hope "I wish I would have been taught to accept myself. A lot of this [transgender ideology] is a weird, inside-out head game of discovering your 'true self.' But it really ends up destroying yourself," he said, when asked what would have helped him not go down this route in the first place. "I wish I had learned that there was nothing wrong with being an effeminate boy, that it didn't make me a woman," he said, adding that same-sex attraction itself is not harmful, and that medical and surgical interventions are not the solution to psychosocial problems or mental illness. When he sees opposition to transgender medicine, he often encounters outrage about the pathway to sterilization that the combination of chemical puberty suppression and cross-sex hormones creates in gender-nonconforming youth. While that is a legitimate issue, Fitz implores people not to forget the myriad of medical harms that result from the gruesome surgeries that are not discussed as often. "I have scars on my genitals now. I am missing some of my genitals. I have phantom pain. I have a chemical dependence on a regulated drug made by a private corporation," Fitz said. "I feel like I'm pretty much f-----. I wish that I could just go buy some land and farm and leave the world behind. But I can't. Because of all this. It's such an unnecessary mess. It didn't get me anywhere. "If you're not satisfied with the result of these treatments and surgeries, the medical community will abandon you," he said. "And nobody will know what to do with you because they refuse to research us and they refuse to publish information on what our needs are," he said of detransitioning people. What compounded his confusion for so long was the atmosphere of the city, with gay rainbow and trans pink and blue-striped flags flying everywhere as people saunter around in the streets sporting "they/them" pronoun buttons. Fitz believes he looks a little better after having had the mastectomy though he still experiences numbness in his chest from the operation. "I've been told I can get testicle implants to look even better but that wouldn't affect how I feel or function. I'd still have the phantom pain because you need the nerves to be communicating with the organ that is missing. I'd still have the sexual disruptions and dependence on pharmaceuticals," he said. His attorney had to work extra hard to get his sex markers changed back to the original on his legal documents. Detransitioning his identification papers has presented more hurdles than switching them to opposite sex markers. "I actually had to have a legal battle to restore my birth certificate. Some of the other documents were tricky at some points too," Fitz said. "I'm willing to talk to anybody who seriously seems interested in caring. I've talked to several journalists. Most of them don't end up publishing. I never know why." He concluded: "I hope for a medical breakthrough to restore my wrongful amputation, to help me look and feel whole again, and to put pharmaceuticals behind me. I write to researchers working to bioprint regenerated testes in the lab, to let them know people like me exist, and I donate to their efforts. I write to surgeons performing penile transplants, to ask that they explore testicle transplants. And I meditate on restoration by means beyond science, including miracles." Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 20:35:51|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A police force in Wales became the first in Britain to use DNA test to prove a man had stolen a cow worth 3,000 pounds (about 3,900 U.S. dollars), British media reports said. Dyfed-Powys police used DNA evidence from the heifer, which escaped from a field and was retagged by a neighboring farmer in August 2017, to prove it had been stolen. A familial connection was proved as the blood samples were compared against cows on the original owner's farm. The heifer was later returned to its owner. David Owens, 51, pleaded guilty to theft at Swansea Crown Court earlier this week. The force said the investigation started in December 2017, when a farmer reported the theft of one of his 300 cows which had escaped from his field four months earlier. Owens had denied the missing animal was on his land, but the complainant recognised it among the herd. Three arrested with stolen cash after robbing man at Cancun ATM Cancun, Q.R. Three men who robbed a man at gunpoint as he left a Cancun bank have been taken into police custody. Quintana Roo Police of Benito Juarez identified the detainees as Yair N and Moises N, both 29 and Jorge N, 45. The three robbed a man of his cash as he left a bank ATM in SM 50 of Cancun earlier this week. Preventive officers patrolling La Luna Avenue saw a man requesting help around noon. When they stopped, he told him that he had just been robbed. According to police information, the victim said he had withdrawn money from a Banamex bank branch. Upon getting into his car, three subjects threatened him with a gun, stripping him of his cash before fleeing. The victim was able to describe his attackers to police who immediately began a search for the men. Officers were successful in locating and arresting them. They were found in possession of the stolen cash. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 16:48:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Governor Kate Brown of the U.S. state of Oregon Friday declared a state of emergency in several counties over severe flooding that has caused landslides, partial closure of inter-state highways, and evacuation of residents in low-lying areas. "Fast-moving, severe floods have required the evacuation of residences and shut down critical roads in northeastern Oregon," said Brown in a statement. The state of emergency will remain in effect for 30 days in the three counties of Umatilla, Union and Wallowa in northeastern Oregon, according to the declaration. Local newspaper The Oregonian said Friday that Pendleton, the county seat of Umatilla county, was one of the hardest hit by the flooding of the Umatilla River and its tributaries, which have caused widespread damage. Westbound traffic on an about 320 km-long stretch of Interstate 84 Highway was closed between Hermiston and Ontario due to the floods. An estimated 45 residents, including all living at two mobile home parks in the riverside area, were evacuated, while about 200 structures were submerged or soaked in flood water, said the newspaper. It quoted Roger Cloutier, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Pendleton, as saying that the flooding was the worst in history for the eastern Oregon city. Governor Brown pledged to mobilize the Oregon National Guard, state police forces and other government agencies to help local authorities to combat and aid in the recovery from the flood. Not guilty: Senate acquits Trump of impeachment charges President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House. With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, senators sworn to do impartial justice stood and stated their votes for the roll call guilty or not guilty in a swift tally almost exclusively along party lines. Trump, the chief justice then declared, shall be, and is hereby, acquitted of the charges. ADVERTISEMENT The outcome followed months of remarkable impeachment proceedings, from Speaker Nancy Pelosis House to Mitch McConnells Senate, reflecting the nations unrelenting partisan divide three years into the Trump presidency. What started as Trumps request for Ukraine to do us a favor spun into a far-reaching, 28,000-page report compiled by House investigators accusing an American president of engaging in shadow diplomacy that threatened U.S. foreign relations for personal, political gain as he pressured the ally to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of the next election. ratio ADVERTISEMENT No president has ever been removed by the Senate. A politically emboldened Trump had eagerly predicted vindication, deploying the verdict as a political anthem in his reelection bid. The president claims he did nothing wrong, decrying the witch hunt as an extension of special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian 2016 campaign interference by those out to get him from the start of his presidency. Trumps political campaign tweeted videos, statements and a cartoon dance celebration, while the president himself tweeted that he would speak Thursday from the White House about our Countrys VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax. However, the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said there will always be a giant asterisk next to the presidents acquittal because of the Senates quick trial and Republicans unprecedented rejection of witnesses. A majority of senators expressed unease with Trumps pressure campaign on Ukraine that resulted in the two articles of impeachment. But two-thirds of them would have had to vote guilty to reach the Constitutions bar of high crimes and misdemeanors to convict and remove Trump from office. The final tallies in the GOP-held Senate fell far short. On the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, the vote was 52-48 favoring acquittal. The second, obstruction of Congress, also produced a not guilty verdict, 53-47. Only one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, the partys defeated 2012 presidential nominee, broke with the GOP. Romney choked up as he said he drew on his faith and oath before God to vote guilty on the first charge, abuse of power. He voted to acquit on the second. All Democrats found the president guilty on the two charges. Both Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868 drew cross-party support when they were left in office after impeachment trials. Richard Nixon resigned rather than face sure impeachment, expecting members of his own party to vote to remove him. Ahead of Wednesdays voting, some of the most closely watched senators took to the Senate floor to tell their constituents, and the nation, what they had decided. Influential GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee worried a guilty verdict would pour gasoline on the fire of the nations culture wars over Trump and rip the country apart. He said the House proved its case but it just didnt rise to the level of impeachment. Other Republicans siding with Trump said it was time to end what McConnell called the circus and move on. Most Democrats, though, echoed the House managers warnings that Trump, if left unchecked, would continue to abuse the power of his office for personal political gain and try to cheat again ahead of the 2020 election. Even key Democrats from states where Trump is popular Doug Jones in Alabama and Joe Manchin in West Virginia risked backlash and voted to convict. Senators are elected to make tough choices, Jones said. Several senators trying to win the Democratic Partys nomination to face Trump Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar dashed back from early primary state New Hampshire to vote. During the nearly three-week trial, House Democrats prosecuting the case argued that Trump abused power like no other president in history when he pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, ahead of the 2020 election. They detailed an extraordinary effort by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that set off alarms at the highest levels of government. After Trumps July 25 call with Ukraine, the White House temporarily halted U.S. aid to the struggling ally battling hostile Russia at its border. The money was eventually released in September as Congress intervened. When the House probed Trumps actions, the president instructed White House aides to defy congressional subpoenas, leading to the obstruction charge. Questions from the Ukraine matter continue to swirl. House Democrats may yet summon former national security adviser John Bolton to testify about revelations from his forthcoming book that offer a fresh account of Trumps actions. Other eyewitnesses and documents are almost sure to surface. In closing arguments for the trial, the lead prosecutor, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., appealed to senators sense of decency, insisting right matters and truth matters and Trump is not who you are. Schiff told The Associated Press he hoped the votes to convict will serve as a constraint on the presidents wrongdoing. But were going to have to be vigilant, he said. Pelosi was initially reluctant to launch impeachment proceedings against Trump when she took control of the House after the 2018 election, warning against a partisan vote. But a whistleblower complaint of his conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy set off alarms. The presidents call was placed the day after Mueller announced the findings of his Russia probe. When Trump told Pelosi in September that the call was perfect, she was stunned. Days later, the speaker announced the formal impeachment inquiry. The result was the quickest, most partisan impeachment in U.S. history, with no Republicans joining the House Democrats to vote for the charges. The Republican Senate kept up the pace with the fastest trial ever, and the first with no witnesses. Seventeen ambassadors, national security officials and others had testified in the House. Trumps star attorney Alan Dershowitz made the sweeping, if stunning, assertion that even if the president engaged in the quid pro quo as described, it is not impeachable, because politicians often equate their own political interest with the national interest. McConnell braced for dissent, but with a 53-47 Republican majority he refuted efforts to prolong the trial with more witnesses, arguing the House should have done a better job. Roberts, as the rare court of impeachment came to a close, wished senators well in our common commitment to the Constitution, and hoped to meet again under happier circumstances. ___ A British honeymooner transferred from the cruise liner Diamond Princess to hospital in Japan with the coronavirus is said to be feeling well and in good spirits. Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, was moved to hospital on Friday while his wife Wendy remained on board the ship. The liner had been isolated in the port of Yokohama before going back out to sea, with 61 people having been taken to hospitals after testing positive for the virus. Staff in protective clothing on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama Bay (@daxa_tw handout/PA) Wendy Marshall Steele has been in telephone contact with her husband. She said on Saturday that he was still feeling healthy. Alan is well, Japanese doctors are excellent, she posted on Facebook. He is in a little room. Just Dr and nurse visit him. Mrs Marshall Steele said she was also well but had cabin fever as she continued to be confined to her room on the ship, a status shared with nearly 3,700 other passengers and crew. It was a hard first night without Alan. But hey, we are constantly in touch. Japanese doctors are excellent and he is in safe hands, she wrote. UPDATE on #coronavirus testing in the UK: As of 2pm on Friday 7 February 2020, a total of 620 tests have concluded 617 were confirmed negative.3 positive. Updates will be published at 2pm daily until further notice. For latest information visit: https://t.co/CZh5JdyN2Q pic.twitter.com/bljtqZM9MI Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) February 7, 2020 A total of 78 British passport holders including crew were among those who boarded the ship, sources told the PA news agency. The ships operator, Princess Cruises, said the vessels quarantine was due to end on February 19, barring unforeseen developments, and confirmed all affected guests were being taken to hospitals. Story continues David Abel, a friend of Mr Steele who is also a passenger on the ship, said Wendy is missing her husband a great deal but said they are in regular contact. He told BBC Breakfast: Alans been in touch with me a couple of times today. If all goes well, hes being tested again in a couple of days time, and if he is clear they will test him again 48 hours later and if he still remains clear he will be released from the hospital. But wheres he going to go? He will not be allowed back on board the ship. Mr Abel said he thinks the process of quarantining is essentially important, but added: I wish the UK government would send out a ship or a huge plane and bring us to the UK. I would far sooner be in the UK under a better controlled environment than being on board the ship, to tell you the truth. Meanwhile, some 150 Britons being flown back from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan on Sunday will be quarantined at a facility in Milton Keynes. South Central Ambulance Service said Kents Hill Park, a conference centre and hotel, would be used to house the returning citizens after they landed at RAF Brize Norton. The group will remain at the site in isolation for 14 days, it added. (PA Graphics) Everyone boarding the plane in the Chinese city, which is the epicentre of the outbreak, will be assessed and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK on Sunday morning. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that the flight would be the final service chartered by the Foreign Office to bring UK nationals back from the Chinese city. The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, does not present a risk to local people. The first group of Britons who returned on a flight last month are continuing their period of quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. The local site has been chosen because it offers appropriate accommodation and other facilities for those coming back from Wuhan while they stay in Milton Keynes, the ambulance service said. The death toll in the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday, while new cases jumped to 34,546. The Department of Health and Social Care said that 620 people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus as of 2pm on Friday, with three cases confirmed. It is understood that the third person in the UK to be diagnosed with coronavirus caught the illness in Singapore. He is reported to be a middle-aged British man and is understood to be the first UK national to contract the disease. The man is thought to have been diagnosed in Brighton and was transferred to St Thomas Hospital in London, where there is an infectious diseases unit, on Thursday afternoon. Two other patients, who had recently travelled from China, are still being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary infectious diseases centre in Newcastle. One is a student at the University of York, while the other is a family member. A U.S. citizen diagnosed with the coronavirus died at a Chinese hospital Thursday, as confirmed cases of the illness have climbed to nearly 35,000 globally. The 60-year-old patient was being treated at Jinyintian Hospital in Wuhan, China, the city where the outbreak started, according to a State Department spokesperson. Authorities did not identify the person. The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad, the spokesperson said. We are working around the clock to inform U.S. travelers of the risks related to the novel coronavirus, to assist Americans in need, and to combat the spread of this outbreak. More than 3,000 additional cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed since Friday, bringing the total number of diagnoses internationally to 34,886. Outside of China, only one death and 288 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported, according to the World Health Organizations most recent situation report. Twelve coronavirus diagnoses have been made in the U.S. The cases were confirmed in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington state and, most recently, Wisconsin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. Public health officials announced last week that a UMass Boston student was diagnosed with the disease, marking the first coronavirus case reported in Massachusetts. The man, who is in his 20s, traveled to Wuhan, arrived at Boston Logan International Airport, sought medical attention and has stayed in isolation since. His few close contacts are being monitored for any symptoms, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. The risk to Massachusetts residents and the general American public remains low, officials have said. The potential public health threat posed by the virus to both the world and the U.S. is high, though, according to the CDC. The fact that this virus has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread in China is concerning, the CDCs website says. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. Coronaviruses are spread through respiratory secretions, droplets from coughs and sneezes, according to BPHC. Symptoms may include a fever, cough, shortness of breath and pneumonia. Officials have urged the public to take preventative measures similar to those taken during the flu season, including washing hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when feeling sick. Related Content: Kiev, Feb 8 : Iranian Ambassador to Ukraine Manouchehr Moradi has said that Tehran might hand over the black boxes of a downed Ukrainian Boeing passenger plane to Ukraine or another country if the Islamic republic could not decipher them, Ukrinform reported. The diplomat made the remarks during a forum held at the Iranian Embassy in Kiev on Friday, Xinhua reported, citing Ukrinform. Moradi noted that other countries should wait for the results of a comprehensive investigation of the tragedy, which is being led by Iran, where the tragedy occurred, and based on international law. Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Riaboshapka stated earlier that Kiev was ready to invite Iranian, French and Canadian experts to decrypt the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane shot down near Tehran, but insisted that the process should take place in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Boeing-737, which was flying from Tehran to Kiev, was mistakenly shot down by Iranian troops on January 8 near Tehran time shortly after take-off. In total, 167 passengers and 9 crew members were killed. An American citizen has died from coronavirus in China, the US government has confirmed. The US national passed away Thursday from the virus in Wuhan - the epicenter of the outbreak. Officials have not released the name or gender of the 60-year-old victim, who is the first-known American to die from the illness. The US Embassy in Beijing released a statement Saturday morning which read: 'We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss. 'Out of respect for the family's privacy, we have no further comment.' As of Saturday morning US time, coronavirus - which has triggered global alarm - has infected more than 34,500 people and killed more than 700. The number of fatalities has now surpassed the death toll from the SARS outbreak of 2003, according to Al-Jazeera. At least 25 countries have now confirmed cases of coronavirus, including the US, where 12 people have been struck down with the infection. An American citizen has died from coronavirus in China, the US government has confirmed. Medical staff are pictured at work in an isolated intensive care unit of a Wuhan hospital on Thursday As of Saturday morning US time, coronavirus - which has triggered global alarm - has infected more than 34,500 people and killed more than 700. The intensive care unit of a Wuhan hospital is pictured On Friday, the last two flights that the US State Department chartered to evacuate Americans from the coronavirus outbreak's epicenter in Wuhan landed in Texas and California after one passenger on each showed symptoms of the infection, forcing the planes to be held temporarily. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sources told Fox that there were 'two persons of interest' had started to show signs of the virus, such as cough, trouble breathing or fever. The first plane landed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego after being paused in Vancouver, Canada. A second plane slated landed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas - with its final destination at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska - after being held at Travis Air Force Base in California. Abigail Roth, five, wore a face mask during her harrowing journey back to the US from Wuhan with her mother and sister. The family was on the second flight out of Wuhan, and is now under quarantine in California There are currently 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, with the most recent confirmed on Wednesday in an unidentified Wisconsin patient Elsewhere, coronavirus is currently causing panic in Singapore, where 33 cases have been reported. On Saturday, anxious shoppers in the city-state formed long lines at grocery stores and cleared the shelves of essential items, after the government raised its alert level over the outbreak. Singapore raised the alert level Friday to 'orange' --the same as during the deadly SARS outbreak, indicating the virus is severe and passes easily between people. The announcement has triggered panic among the 5.7 million, with shoppers -- many wearing masks -- rushing to stock up on items including rice, noodles and toilet paper. More than 41,500 cases have been confirmed in at least 25 countries and territories around the world and more than 630 people - all but two of whom were in China - have died Pictures circulating on social media showed empty shelves in some stores, carts filled with goods and long lines at counters in Singapore A nurse feeds water to a patient in the isolation ward in a hospital in Wuhan on Thursday Pictures circulating on social media showed empty shelves in some stores, carts filled with goods and long lines at counters. 'I'm afraid that if they further raise the alert level, we will not be able to go out,' a 50-year-old housewife, who did not want to be named, told AFP after leaving a grocery store. The highest level on Singapore's four-point scale for dealing with disease outbreaks is 'red', one above 'orange'. The government urged calm, with Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing saying there was no need to rush out to buy crucial supplies. 'There is no risk of us running a shortage of essential food or household items,' he wrote on Facebook. Singapore raised its alert level amid a growing number of virus cases in citizens with no recent travel history to mainland China and no known links to previous infections. Hong Kong has also been hit by a wave of panic-buying in recent days as it seeks to battle the virus, with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of crucial goods. The Ocean County Prosecutors Office is investigating a fire in Toms River Friday night that left one woman dead, the office announced Saturday. When authorities responded to a report of a fire in the Silverton neighborhood of Toms River Friday night, a home was fully engulfed and began spreading to nearby residences. Three children and one adult escaped the fire, but a female body was discovered in the home after the fire was extinguished, the prosecutors office said. The prosecutors office did not release the name of the woman killed, but New Jersey 101.5 reported Saturday afternoon that the victim is Sara Trahey, a media specialist at Ella G. Clarke School in Lakewood. Saras many contributions to her students and fellow staff members will truly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Trahey family at this very difficult time, Lakewood schools Superintendent Laura Winters said in a statement emailed to the radio station. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the fatal fire is being investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office arson unit, Toms River police department detective bureau and Ocean County Sheriffs Office crime scene investigation unit. A Toms River police officer also was transported to Community Medical Center and treated for smoke inhalation, the prosecutors office said. The officers condition is unknown. This story has been updated. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A week after a 35-year-old RTI activist in Odisha was found dead by the roadside in coastal Kendrapara district, the police ruled out a case of murder and instead attributed it to an accident. The body of Ranjan Kumar Das, a RTI activist known for filing multiple RTI applications into several irregularities in Kendrapara district was found just about 2 km from his home in Beruan village on the morning of February 1. Das was supposed to return home the previous night, but did not come back. His body with multiple injuries on his face along with his motorcycle was found in a ditch near his home. Police officials in Kendrapara said Dass post-mortem report indicated that he probably died of a road accident. The motorcycle-borne Das slipped into the field and sustained injuries which turned fatal, said Marshaghai police station inspector Kalindi Behera. A three-member team of doctors of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack conducted the post mortem. But we are still investigating the case, Behera said. Das had taken to RTI activism 8 years ago, filing a series of applications seeking information into the irregularities in the district. Recently, he had lodged a case before the Odisha Lokayukta alleging encroachment of 1100 acres of government land by seafood exporter Falcone Marine in Mahakalpada for shrimp farming. He had also filed RTI applications seeking details of expenditure on roads built by the rural development department, quality of dry food for babies in Anganwadi centres as well as irregularities in government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana. RTI activists, however, were not convinced by the revelations of the police saying a concerted attempt is being made to close the case. If Ranjan died in an accident, how was his vehicle found parked near his body. Besides, the injuries on his body showed he was thrashed. We dont have any faith on the Odisha police and will soon petition the Orissa High Court for a CBI probe into the case, Pradip Pradhan, a leading RTI activist said. The family members of Das also dismissed the police probe saying the police did not probe into how CCTV cameras installed in his house was taken off just a couple of days before his death. The police needs to look into why the CCTV cemara was taken away and the data erased. My son was murdered due to his RTI activism. It was surely not an accident, the deceased activists father Laxmidhar Das said. The whole world was made to fit in Chestnut Hill Elementary's gymnasium this week. The first of what school administrators hope to be many events of its kind, "We All Belong" encouraged more than 100 students to bring their families and friends to the school on Thursday to explore the cultures of 16 different countries from across the globe. "We have a variety of different countries and cultures represented within our student body, and sometimes when students come to school with a different lunch or different attire, everyone wonders 'where is that from, where did you get, why are you eating it' -- those types of things," said Chestnut Hill Principal Tracy Renfro. "We needed to bring a little more cultural awareness to our student body." Toni Gallagher, who attended the event with her 8-year-old daughter Allison, thought the night was a great opportunity for the kids and hopes the school hosts similar events in the future. "I think it's very interesting -- it's really cool for kids to get to see the different cultures around the world," Gallagher said. The night featured about 20 presenters, many of whom were family members of students, such as Fernando Villarreal, who presented for Mexico. Villarreal, who has presented at similar events hosted by Midland Public Schools in the past, was encouraged by his daughter Liliana to showcase a variety of wood-carved and textile materials from his native Mexican culture. In planning for the event, students were asked to compile a list of what they wanted to know about other countries, which included things like language, clothing, geography and food. The list was then passed along to the presenters. "Most of (our presenters) are families of the students, which is phenomenal, so that our whole community get's a sense of who we are as Chestnut Hill," said Spanish teacher Jennifer Brenes. "It was a great outreach to the community." Presenters also included representatives from Dow Chemical's MENA group -- representing countries from the Middle East and North Africa -- as well as students from Saginaw Valley State University, who presented for Japan, China, South Korea and the Philippines. The increase in cyber attack incidents in the country have increased exponentially over the years, with 3.13 lakh incidents reported in 2019 (up to October) alone, while it was just 49,455 in 2015. "As per the information reported and tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a cyber security agency of the government, in 50362 (2016), 53117 (2017) 208456 (2018) incidents have reported," Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre informed Rajya Sabha in written reply. From April 2017 to March 2019, total 11,816 incidents of cyber attacks on ATMs of different banks have reported, said the Minister. The cyber security incidents include spreading of virus/Botnets/spyware, attacks on servers, spoofing and phishing attacks, attacks on critical infrastructure, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and Wireless networks; attacks on applications such as E-Governance, E-Commerce, said the Minister. "According to the logs analyzed and made available to CERT-In, the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers performing the attacks appear to belong to countries like Algeria, Brazil, China, France, Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, USA and Vietnam," said the Minister. To check the repeat of attacks, the Government has formulated Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism for implementation by all Ministries/ Departments of Central Government, State Governments and their organizations and critical sectors. Cyber security mock drills are being conducted regularly to enable assessment of cyber security posture and preparedness of organisations in government and critical sectors. The Centre has set up National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) to generate necessary situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing for proactive, preventive and protective actions by individual entities. Phase-I of NCCC has been made operational, said the Minister. UN stepping up response in Burkina Faso as displacement rose by 1,200% in 2019 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The United Nations will step up relief efforts in Burkina Faso amid a 1,200 percent increase in forced displacement while some are concerned that the Trump administration could reduce U.S. troops in violence-ridden West Africa despite the presidents vows to defeat the Islamic State. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Chief, Filippo Grandi, visited displaced people across the Sahel region (dry land below the Sahara desert) of Africa this week, meeting with widows and children who lost loved ones to Islamic extremism in the region. Grandi met displaced populations in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. Those nations are among the West African countries dealing with the rise of extremist groups, some of which are affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliates that are sheltering terrorists fleeing the Middle East. Grandis visit comes as over half a million people are estimated to have been forcibly displaced in the underdeveloped country of Burkina Faso. The once peaceful country has seen an exponential rise in terror attacks committed by radical groups since 2016. Violence increased exponentially in Burkina Faso in 2019. Hundreds were killed. In one reported attack last December, 14 were murdered by gunmen who stormed a Sunday church service in eastern Burkina Faso. Most recently, 20 civilians were killed in an overnight attack in northwestern Burkina Faso last Saturday. According to the UNHCR, the number of people forced to flee their homes in Burkina Faso rose 10-fold in 2019. According to Grandi, 90 percent of the displaced people he saw were mostly women and children. Grandi heard stories from survivors of the most horrifying violence that includes the killing of men and boys by armed groups that raid villages at night. After the men and the boys are killed, often they destroy homes and schools, Grandi said. The women are obliged to flee, often alone with no means and to take refuge in villages in safer areas, often they are displaced many times. One of the women displaced by the violence is Rinata Baguigna. She told UNHCR about how she watched militants kill 10 of her family members. She said that when the extremists left, she buried the dead. The next morning, she fled with her five children. The women are so affected. They jump at the slightest noise, Baguigna was quoted as saying. They have nightmares Their husbands killed in front of them and then some were raped. UNHCR interviewed one village chief named Hamidou Billagra who was forced to abandon his village. "For us, they're the same people, those who come to steal, those who come to kill, it's the jihadists," he said. "Most of my family have made it here but they have nothing to eat. We sleep outside and have to keep some of our belongings outside too." The UNHCR warns that the needs of the displaced are greater than one of the world's poorest countries can handle. "These people basically have nothing," Grandi said. About 90 percent of those displaced in Burkina Faso are living with host families in larger communities, the UNHCR reports. Many host communities lack water and food. The UNHCR and its partners have distributed about 7,000 shelters in Burkina Faso but estimates suggest that at least 28,000 more are needed. The UNHCR said that it is less than 70 percent funded for Burkina Faso. Grandi said that rich countries like those in Europe tend to think of the crises in Africa in terms of how they relate to their own national security whether they will be impacted by increased migration or the spread of terrorism. What needs to be understood is that the emergency is here, Grandi said. This is where people suffer first and foremost. This is where women are raped and children are killed. An entire generation is missing out on the school year. This is really where we need to intervene with more resources urgently. Grandi contends that the world must intervene before this crisis becomes unmanageable. The rise of extremism in the Sahel region has coincided with the influx of Islamic State fighters fleeing from the Middle East into Africa after territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria. According to a 2018 report from the Combatting Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, there could be as many as 6,000 Islamic State-aligned militants spread over nine cells in Africa. U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raised concern after it was reported that the Pentagon is considering a drawback of troops from within the United States Africa Command. The Pentagon is in the midst of a review of global U.S. troop positioning as it tries to better align with the National Defense Strategy to focus more attention on threats from Russia and China. House Armed Services Committee Chair Democrat Adam Smith of Washington warned that decreasing U.S. investment in West Africa would result in the need for the United States to reinvest at many more times the cost down the road. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina joined up with Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware to send a joint letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Jan. 16 about the need for U.S. presence in West Africa. In addition to the violence in Burkina Faso, extremist violence has also impacted other West African countries, such as Cameroon, Niger, Mali, and Nigeria. As one of Trumps campaign promises in the 2016 election was to defeat the Islamic State, the Coons-Graham letter warned that there are at least a dozen terror groups with ties to the Islamic State or al-Qaeda in Africa. They stressed that European partners like France rely on U.S. intelligence and logistic support for their counterterror operations in West Africa. A reduction at this time would counter the intent of the NDS which states as one of its goals to bolster existing bilateral and multilateral partnerships and develop new relationships to address significant terrorist threats that threaten U.S. interests and contribute to challenges in Europe and the Middle East, Coons and Graham wrote. Last Thursday, Esper told reporters that the U.S. is not going to totally withdraw troops from Africa and stressed that no decisions have yet been made. I know the inclination is whenever someone says review, the word that automatically pops up in their head is reduction, Esper said. It is a rebalancing. Esper explained that some regions will see an increase of troops as a result of the review while others wont see any change and some will see a decrease. In January, West African leaders called on the U.S. to stay in the fight. Togo President Faure Gnassingbe told The Washington Post that thousands of fighters from the Middle East have reached West Africa since the U.S.-led defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria under the Trump administration. Togo is one of four countries that borders Burkina Faso to the south. Gnassingbe refuted Trumps claim that the Islamic State has been defeated. Look at the recent attacks, Gnassingbe said. More professional, more powerful, and the consequences are devastating. U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Washington Post last month that Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliates are trading advice on how to build explosives, collect taxes and recruit. Senegal President Macky Sall told the newspaper that terrorists are building networks from Libya to Niger and are striving to take over an expansive region. [I]t takes a collective effort America, Europe, Africa to oust terrorism, Sall said. The West Bengal government on Saturday withdrew the notification that mandated car pool and bus services for ferrying students in 26 schools of the city. State minister Partha Chatterjee said the circular was issued by the officials of the school department in the last week of January without informing authorities concerned. "After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to know about the developments, she took up the issue with me, and we asked the school department to withdraw the circular with immediate effect. I fail to comprehend the need behind issuing such a circular. "We don't even know if there is any such precedence in other cities," Chatterjee said. An official at the school education department said the notification, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, had been withdrawn, but refused to cite any reason for the move. In its notification, the department had asked authorities of 26 prominent schools in Kolkata to "mandatorily introduce" a system by April, under which students would be ferried in school buses or pool cars. It also restricted use of personal vehicles to "emergent and exceptional cases". Among the institutes that have received the circular are South Point School, Modern High School for Girls, La Martiniere School for Boys/Girls, St Xavier's, Don Bosco, St James, Gokhale Memorial, and Future Foundation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, urged Friday that no stigma should be associated with the new coronavirus. "It is the responsibility of us all to ensure there is no stigma associated with the disease. They are unnecessary and unhelpful," said Ryan in a technical briefing on the novel coronavirus at WHO headquarters. He added that profiling of individuals is "awfully and completely unacceptable," and "it needs to stop." Ryan underlined that governments have the responsibility to educate their populations on the act of discrimination. "This is a very important responsibility, and something we do need to engage with," he reiterated. During the same event, Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, voiced similar concern. Van Kerkhove said that the WHO has provided an interim name for the disease, calling it the "2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease." "We thought it was very important that we provide an interim name, so no location was associated with the name," she said. "We want to ensure that there was no stigma associated with this virus." The WHO said the final name of the disease will be provided by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the final decision being made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. ~ 35 candidates applied for positions on the new management board. ~ PHILIPSBURG: --- The Council of Ministers have decided to grant the management team of GEBE another 6-month contract for them to finalize a loan with Windward Islands Bank (WIB). SMN News learned the GEBE management has been in discussion with the local bank for a 48M USD loan, sources say the bank asked that there be some stability with GEBE management since they began discussions with the current management team for the loan for the utility company and the bank wants to continue and finalize the discussions with the same team since they are the ones working with the bank Terms of Reference for the loan. Minister of VROMI Chris Wever said that the Council of Ministers proposed the extension to the management of GEBE for them to finalize some important matters. Wever said that government is also concerned that the company will be left without management should the recruitment process not completed in time. He said GEBE hired the services of an external company to conduct the recruitment and several persons applied for the positions that are due to become available by April 2020. Government informed the Supervisory Board of Directors that they want the new management team when selected to take office by November 1st, 2020, thereby the recruitment should be completed by that time frame. SMN News understands that GEBE hired Dutch company Ernst and Young (EY) to conduct the recruitment process for GEBE top management positions meaning the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Operations Officer (COO). Sources say as much as 35 persons applied for the coveted positions, including the current management team CEO Kenrick Chittick, CFO Iris Arrindell, and COO Veronica Webster, also it's Chief Internal Auditor Sharine Daniel, Andrew Zagers GEBE finance manager. Other persons that also applied are former Minister of TEATT Ted Richardson, and former COO of GEBE Romellio Maduru, Patrick Drijvers, Giovani Williams, Ramiro Hernandez, and others. (Newser) President Trump threw the spotlight on a Philadelphia fourth grader during his State of the Union address, but appeared to fumble a key factabout the kind of school she attended. Trump made Janiyah Davis a showpiece for the school-choice movement Tuesday when he referred to "countless American children ... trapped in failing government schools" and said Davis would at last get a scholarship to attend any school she wanted. But the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Davis already attends the sought-after Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III. Opened in a shiny new facility last fall, MaST III is funded by taxpayer dollars but run independently, meaning its 900 students don't have to pay tuition. story continues below Even Janiyah's mom, Stephanie Davis, isn't sure how her daughter won the plum State of the Union spot. It seems government officials wanted a student who needed scholarship and settled on Janiyahwho previously had a partial scholarship to attend a private Christian school, but the $5,200 tuition remained hard to afford, and Janiyah moved to MaST III. "I don't view MaST as a school you want to get out of at all," says Davis. "I view it as a great opportunity." Now, Davis says, she and Janiyah plan to discuss their options. Behind all this is a battle between Trump and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf about how much the state incentivizes donations to private-school scholarships. Trump advocates for more legislation to allow students to change schools, per the New York Post. (Read more charter school stories.) The local police have arrested two Iranian nationals for indulging in various crimes in India. Mehraj and Mehdi, the suspects, landed in New Delhi on December 26, 2019, on a tourist visa. They committed crimes later on, said the police. The suspects hired a car and went to Ratangarh, Rajasthan on January 6. They approached a merchant and expressed a desire to glance through the Indian currency notes. When the merchant was showing them the notes, the duo diverted his attention and lifted Rs 50,000 from his drawer, added the police. Based on a complaint, the police had formed a team to arrest the suspects. The CCTV footage from Haryana and Maharastra police indicated their movements in those two states. The suspects reached Karwar on February 2 and stayed at a hotel. The local police in Rajasthan alerted about the suspect to their Karwar counterparts who rushed to the lodge and arrested them, said the police. The duo was handed over to the Rajasthan police. A cruise ship that was denied the right to dock by Japanese harbour authorities amid fears of the spread of the virus which originated in China spreading across parts of Asia was on Saturday allowed to return to Taiwan. The MS SuperStar Aquarius, carrying over 1,700, mostly Taiwanese passengers docked at Keelung Harbour from where it left on Tuesday. No one has been identified as positive for the new coronavirus yet, but medics in hazmat-style suits were preparing to board the ship to examine the passengers. The ship had been meant to dock at Naha in Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday and leave on Thursday. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced new border control measures to prevent the disease from entering and spreading further into Japan. The cruise ship is owned and operated by Star Cruises, a cruise line headquartered in Hong Kong and operating in the Asia-Pacific market. LUSAKA, Zambia - At a Chinese-run hospital in Zambia, some employees watched as people who recently returned from China showed up with coughs but were not placed in isolation. A doctor tending to those patients has stopped coming to work, and health workers have been ordered not to speak publicly about the new virus that has killed hundreds around the world. The virus that has spread through much of China has yet to be confirmed in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat to the continent where an estimated 1 million Chinese now live, as some health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak. Countries are racing to take precautions as hundreds of travellers arrive from China every day. Safeguards include stronger surveillance at ports of entry and improved quarantine and testing measures across Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and some of the worlds weakest systems for detecting and treating disease. But the effort has been complicated by a critical shortage of testing kits and numerous illnesses that display symptoms similar to the flu-like virus. The problem is, even if its mild, it can paralyze the whole community, said Dr. Michel Yao, emergency operations manager in Africa for the World Health Organization. Those growing worried include employees at the Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital in the mining city of Kitwe in northern Zambia, near the Congo border. Chinese companies operate mines on the outskirts of the city of more than half a million people. One company is headquartered in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the virus outbreak. Hundreds of workers travelled between Zambia and China in recent weeks. Were definitely not prepared. If we had a couple of cases, it would spread very quickly, physiotherapist Fundi Sinkala said. Were doing the best we can with what resources we have. The Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital, or Sinozam, a low-slung facility near the citys train station, has taken some precautions, including checking patient temperatures with infrared thermometers and establishing isolation areas. Employees wear masks. Gloves, disinfectant and oxygen inhalers have been stockpiled. Sinozam treats many Chinese in Kitwe and its precautions go further than other hospitals in the area. But the employees and others familiar with the matter, some of whom spoke anonymously under the new rules, say some Chinese patients checked in with coughs and fevers but did not get placed in isolation. Visiting Zambian health officials concluded the patients did not merit special treatment and did not take samples to test for the virus. After the people recovered, they were sent home with antibiotics, employees said. On Wednesday, the hospital set up a new fever clinic, where people arriving with a high temperature are now taken to right away. Its unfortunate the ward wasnt set up earlier, Sinkala said. Two people familiar with the matter say a doctor tending to the sick has fallen ill. Dr. Yu Jianlan has not come to work in the past week and hospital administrators have not explained her absence, Sinkala said. The other person spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Hospital administrator Li Zhibing said there were no patients with a fever and said Yu had a urinary tract infection, not a fever. But a notice posted by the Zambia-China Co-operation Zone, which manages the hospital, quoted an employee as saying on Jan. 27 that the facility probably sees 120 fever patients a day, and at least 70 of them are carrying germs of various diseases. Earlier this week, a Zambian official acknowledged for the first time that his country was following up on an unspecified number of suspected cases. Zambia is one of 13 African countries identified by WHO as a high priority because of busy travel links with China. Copperbelt provincial health director Dr. Robert Zulu, who oversees Kitwe and the surrounding region, told The Associated Press he would not discuss details, citing privacy. But he added, when any case is confirmed, you will be informed. Crucially, no one in Zambia has been able to test for the virus so far. Like most African countries, it has been waiting for a substance known as a reagent, which labs require to confirm whether a patient is infected. Labs in just six of Africas 54 countries were equipped as of mid-week. That means a wait of two or more days to know whether a sample shipped to South Africa or even outside the continent tests positive. Without testing, officials are just relying on the symptoms and whether they persist. But from what we are learning right now, some people show hardly any symptoms at all, Sinkala said, calling that the hospitals biggest worry. Zambia is one of the additional countries WHO planned to equip by the end of the week. As of Friday, WHO emergencies chief Dr. Mike Ryan said 28 labs across the continent could diagnose the new virus. Adding to concerns at Sinozam, three employees say Zambian health officials visited on Tuesday and have been testing the bodies of two Chinese patients that have been in the morgue for days, though some added it was out of an overabundance of caution. Li, however, dismissed the accounts of testing the bodies as rumours. He said one died last month of malaria and the other of a heart attack. The bodies are still there because family members in China wish to come and pay respects but cannot because of the outbreak, he said. Zambias health ministry spokesman, Dr. Abel Kabalo, called the employee accounts of events at the hospital very strange. He vowed that if Zambia confirms a case, authorities will definitely inform the world. Its pointless to hide information, Kabalo said. The WHO says countries are obligated to inform it of any confirmed cases and are requested to report suspected cases as well. The WHO chief has publicly urged countries to share information. So far, African countries appear to be complying, a WHO adviser on health security, Dr. Ambrose Talisuna, told reporters. Several African nations such as Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia have announced their precautions, including updates on negative test results for suspected cases and demonstrations of surveillance and quarantine capabilities. Ethiopian Airlines, however, faces questions by some in Africa about why it continues to operate more than 30 China flights a week while other African airlines have suspended theirs. Adding to the difficulties in diagnosing the new virus are numerous diseases in Africa with symptoms that include fever or coughing or both. Its impossible to diagnose the new virus by symptoms alone, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said, adding that there is a significant likelihood that the virus will be confirmed in Africa. And there is a risk that panic overtakes good public health and good science. The foundation has committed up to $20 million to help health authorities in Africa and South Asia, another vulnerable region, improve their disease surveillance, isolation and treatment for the virus. Concerns are high among some in Kitwe. A local pharmacy manager, Edward Goma, estimated that his business had sold more than 800 face masks in the past few days. So far everyone is scared, he said. And yet he has not noticed the stricter surveillance measures seen in other countries, beyond temperature checks at the international airport an hours drive away. The 15th Metallurgical Construction Group, based in Wuhan, said on its website that its overseas operations in Zambia and Congo must purchase masks, disinfect living quarters and workspaces daily and check workers temperatures three times a day. Chinese employees are temporarily barred from returning to Africa, while those in Zambia are not allowed to go to China, said Li, the hospital administrator. Chinese embassies in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa have been unusually outspoken, giving news conferences and television interviews to discuss their response to the outbreak. Embassies require arriving Chinese citizens to declare where they have been in China. They also urge citizens to voluntarily isolate themselves for 14 days. We are now practicing hygiene, even in the mines, said the Kitwe-based president of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia, Joseph Chewe. Any report of a person with coronavirus here will be very disastrous. ___ Kang reported from Beijing. Anna reported from Johannesburg. Maria Cheng in London and Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal, contributed. NSW rail workers will refuse to staff the states new intercity fleet, citing safety concerns with the multibillion-dollar trains, escalating tensions between the Berejiklian government and rail union. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union said there is a "design fault" with the $2 billion South Korean-built fleet, which has already had its rollout delayed across NSW. The government disputes the claim. An artist's impression of the new trains that are being built in South Korea. While the first two 10-carriage trains arrived in NSW in December last year for testing, nine months late, it is still unclear when the entire fleet is expected to be rolled out. The union and government have been at loggerheads for more than a year over the new fleet and its potential impact on rail jobs, with the trains technically able to operate with a single driver and no guard. Roughly two dozen countries around the world have taken precautionary measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus as the death toll continues to rise. Accounts emerging from China suggest that many more people in the country are dying of the disease than officially reported. Scientists continue to probe the origin of the virus. This page has updates from Feb. 8. For updates from Feb. 9, click here. NYC Clears 4 Suspected Cases New York Citys Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has cleared another four suspected case of coronavirus on Feb. 7, leaving only one patient who is under investigation for possible infection by the virus. The fourth person under investigation for novel #coronavirus in NYC is NEGATIVE. We are still waiting for results for the fifth person under investigation from @CDCgov. Updates: https://t.co/AKpJIDztv1 pic.twitter.com/xyzybw2XYC nycHealthy (@nycHealthy) February 7, 2020 France Closes Schools After Outbreak French authorities said theyre closing two schools near a ski resort where five British nationals tested positive for the new coronavirus, including a child. Eleven Britons, including the five who tested positive for the virus, are being examined in local hospitals. The group of 11 includes a 9-year-old child who recently spent time in a school in Contaminesa mountain village of which he was also a residentas well as in another establishment where he attended French lessons, regional health official Jean-Yves Grall told a televised news conference. There were three children in all among the group of 11, and one has contracted the virus, Grall said. It was not immediately clear whether the 9-year-old in question had tested positive. The first measure is to make sure the two schools are closed next week, in order to allow more ample investigations and to have time to analyze the situation, Grall said. Authorities would be tracing who was in contact with confirmed cases. 5 British Nationals Contract Coronavirus in France Five British nationals including one child tested positive for the new coronavirus after staying at a ski chalet in France, health officials said on Saturday. The five people were staying in the same accommodation as a British man who was in Singapore from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. That man became infected with the coronavirus. After arriving in France on Jan. 24, the man stayed in the chalet in Contamines-Montjoie in eastern France, according to Agnes Buzyn, Frances health minister. The total number of people infected with the virus in France has now reached 11. There are three confirmed cases in the United Kingdom. Read more here. US Citizen Diagnosed with Coronavirus Dies in Wuhan A U.S. citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said on Saturday. We can confirm that a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, an embassy spokesman told AFP. The embassy spokesman told Reuters that the American victim died at Jinyintan Hospital. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, the spokesman said. Out of the respect for the familys privacy, we have no further comment. Read more here. The Mysterious Origin of the Wuhan Coronavirus Analysis It has been two months since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan and its spread has shown no signs of slowing down in China. More than 35 Chinese cities have been put on lockdown by Chinese authorities in an attempt to isolate confirmed and suspected cases. The lives of millions of people are in danger as the virus shows signs of spreading further in China as well as internationally. There are significant gaps in the official investigations into the origins of the Novel Coronavirus. In order to contain the virus, one first needs to understand how a virus that allegedly originated in animals found its way to humans. For this to happen, the Chinese authorities need to release their animal testing data and samples. Testing results from animal samples collected at epicenters would give important insights into what animals might serve as intermediate hosts for the new coronavirus. Read more here. 7 New Cases in Thailand: Health Ministry Thailands public health ministry reported seven new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, including three Thais and four Chinese. The new cases brought the total reported in the country to 32, among the worlds highest number of infections outside of China. The seven new cases are all in hospital, said Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Disease Control Department. One of the Thai cases was part of the group of 138 evacuated from Chinas coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan on Tuesday, Suwannachai told reporters. The other two Thais had exposure to tourists, he said. Among the four Chinese, three are members of the families of previously reported cases, while the other is a tourist from a risky area in China, said Suwannachai. Among the 32 cases Thailand has reported so far, 23 are Chinese while nine are Thais. United Arab Emirates Confirms 2 New Cases The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced two new cases of coronavirus on Saturday. The latest cases bring the countrys total to seven. The two new cases involve Chinese and Filipino nationals who are under observation. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, announced today two new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to seven in the country.#mohap_uae #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/y8C7MC16xA MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) February 8, 2020 Hong Kong to Penalize Those Who Breach Quarantine The Hong Kong government announced late Friday that anyone who breaches the countrys quarantine efforts amid the coronavirus outbreak will face six months in prison or a HK$25,000 ($3,200) fine, Radio Television Hong Kong reported. According to the public broadcasting service, Hong Kongs Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung announced the penalties just hours before the quarantine was to be enacted. The quarantine measures require Hong Kong residents coming from mainland China to self-isolate for 14 days at home and not receive visitors. Non-residents coming from mainland China are likewise required to self-isolate at their intended accommodation. Those who have no intended lodging will be sent to camps, while those who dont carry a valid visa will be barred from entering Hong Kong. The Philippines Sends Supplies to Filipinos in Wuhan The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Saturday that it has sent supplies to Filipinos in Wuhan, according to Filipino media company ABS-CBN. A DFA-backed team on Thursday visited neighborhoods in Wuhan where Filipinos were residing to provide them with groceries and other basic items, the news agency reported. The department said that the move comes ahead of plans to evacuate the trapped Filipinos; 56 have signaled their intent to return to the Philippines. A chartered flight is intended for the group, to be flown to Clark International Airport in the province of Pampanga. The group will then be quarantined for 14 days in Athletes Village in New Clark City in Tarlac. The Phillippine government on Feb. 2 banned all foreign travelers from mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong from entering the country. That same day, the country reported its first death, which was also the first death outside China from the virus. Japanese Man Dies at Hospital in Wuhan A Japanese man in his 60s has died in Wuhan, Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported, citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He was hospitalized for severe pneumonia and the ministry said it was told by the Chinese side that he died of viral pneumonia. Although the man was suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, results were not yet available from diagnostic tests, the news agency reported. If results confirm coronavirus, he would be the first Japanese death in the outbreak. US Citizen Diagnosed with Coronavirus Dies in Wuhan A U.S. citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, AFP reported, citing the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Saturday. We can confirm that a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, an embassy spokesman told AFP. Read more here. Scenes from Wuhans Makeshift Hospitals: Like a Death Camp There is no medicine, no medical staff, no hot water, very limited food, no heating, unstable electricity Please help us! said one patient who was being confined at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan, where the coronavirus first broke out. In a Feb. 6 video posted to social media, the patient can be heard saying, This in fact is a death camp! Since Feb. 5, the Wuhan government began sending coronavirus patients with mild or moderate symptoms to these makeshift hospitalscalled fangcang facilities in Chinesewhich have been set up in over a dozen stadiums, school gyms, and exhibition centers across the city. Since the policy was put in place, more and more patients published videos capturing the scenes at these facilities, where there is a lack of treatment and unsanitary conditions. Read more here. Not even a place to wash your handsNot even a quarantine roomThere is also no doctors around. Footage from inside a makeshift hospital in #Wuhan shows that the #Quarantined areas do not have basic necessities like bathrooms or clean water. pic.twitter.com/sLx9ly7MS5 The Epoch Times China Insider (@EpochTimesChina) February 6, 2020 Japan Confirms 3 More Cases on Ship, Bringing Total to 64 Another three people on a cruise liner off Japan have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases from the ship to 64, Japans health ministry said on Saturday. The three cases are two Americans and one Chinese, Kyodo News reported, citing the countrys Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Japans health minister on Friday said 41 people aboard the Diamond Princess had tested positive for coronavirus in addition to 20 previously identified cases, with those infected being moved to hospitals on land. The liner was placed on a two-week quarantine upon arriving at Yokohama on Feb. 3. Japans health ministry said on Saturday that some 279 of the 3,700 people on board the ship when it arrived had been tested for the virus. Censorship Increases as Chinese Mourn Whistleblowers Death Chinese netizens are mourning the death of Li Wenliang, the whistleblower doctor who first publicized information about the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019. Early morning on Feb. 7, Li passed away after contracting the virus from a patient he had treated. Soon after, there was an outpouring of grief and anger on social media. Chinese censors quickly began deleting such messages. Early morning on Feb. 7, Li passed away after contracting the virus from a patient he had treated. Soon after, there was an outpouring of grief and anger on social media. Chinese censors quickly began deleting such messages. Li and several doctors in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, had alerted the public about the illness before authorities confirmed it. But he was visited by local police and reprimanded for rumor-mongering. After public outcry, Chinese authorities touted Li as a hero who warned people about the virus. Read more here. Chinese Raise Questions About Wuhan Bioresearch Lab When virologists and medical experts around the globe discussed the suspicious nature of the Novel Coronavirus and pointed to Wuhans P4 lab as a likely source, netizens inside China were watching. A Chinese scholar recently challenged Wuhans P4 lab to explain how the proteins of the Novel Coronavirus seem to have been precisely engineered to enable the virus to bind onto human cells. He also disclosed unethical and unprofessional practices he previously observed in Chinas bioresearch labs. According to Wuhan-based Yangtze Daily, Shi Zhengli, Deputy Director of Wuhans P4 Lab, publicized a statement on Feb. 2 saying: I pledge with my life that the 2019 Novel Coronavirus has nothing to do with our lab. This virus is a punishment imposed on mankind from nature, to condemn mankinds uncivilized way of living. Those of you who believe rumors or so-called scientific analysis by unqualified researchers, I advise you to shut your damn mouths! Read more here. White House Asks Scientists to Probe Origins of Virus The White House has asked scientists to rapidly assess the origins of the new coronavirus. Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, conveyed the request to Dr. Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, in a letter this week. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine should rapidly examine information and identify data requirements that would help determine the origins of 2019-nCoV, Droegemeier wrote, using another name for the virus, which is also known as the Wuhan coronavirus. Read more here. For updates from Feb. 7, click here. Epoch Times reporters Zachary Stieber, Mimi Nguyen Ly, Olivia Li, Nicole Hao, Xiang Zhang, and Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Cathay Dragons flight attendants voted overwhelmingly for future industrial action, but dropped their threat of an immediate strike, the union revealed on Saturday afternoon. Cabin crew delivered an emphatic message to the airline to temporarily scrap all mainland China flights when 90 per cent of union members supported downing tools over the companys response to the coronavirus outbreak. The Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association (FAA) said it had obtained permission to hold a rally in Tung Chung for members on Sunday afternoon, where they would consult on their next steps. Members voted 420 to 22 in favour of industrial action, with 25 abstentions. Cathay Dragon has approximately 2,000 cabin crew. A last-ditch appeal from Cathay Pacific boss Augustus Tang Kin-wing for flight attendants at the carriers sister airline not to take disruptive action was dismissed by union chiefs as only encouraging a potential strike. FAA chairwoman Rebecca Sy On-na, who was dismissed as a flight attendant by the company in a previous incident during the city's anti-government protests last year, said: Although we passed the motion, we wont strike immediately because we dont want the company to be prepared for the strike. She added: We dont want to set a timeframe [for strike] to make it more effective. Sy said her members would mull the options on Sunday at the rally. We have to see how angry [our members] are ... they will decide what to do, she added. In a memo to all staff on Friday night, Tang said there was no legitimate basis for a strike, as the airline had taken every precaution to limit the risks involved with flying to mainland China. With virus fears in Hong Kong growing daily, the threat of a mass strike and flight disruption is high, despite threats from the company it will discipline and even fire anyone who refuses to show up for work. Story continues On Thursday, Cathay Dragon CEO Algernon Yau Wing-wah was blunt about the consequences for the approximate 2,000 flight attendants, though not all are unionised. If you fail to report for duty in accordance with your roster, this will be treated as missed duty and unauthorised absence, and the company reserves the right to take action against you according to your conditions of service and the Employment Ordinance, Yau said. Cathay Dragon has suggested flight attendants seek independent legal advice to clarify their right to strike. Tang said the health, risk and protection assessment, plus the economic and connectivity considerations meant he was disappointed by the call for strike action. The airlines cabin crews, among a number of voices, have called for the Hong Kong government to completely close all borders with the mainland to contain the spread of the highly infectious disease locally. Under increased pressure to take action, the government has gradually shut down borders, leaving three open: the Hong Kong International Airport, Shenzhen Port, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. This is a critical time for our airlines, Tang said. In these challenging times, we have a responsibility to continue offering vital connections between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Any such action would also be disruptive. We sincerely hope that the union will reconsider its position, in order to avoid any disruption to our operations during this already challenging time for Hong Kong and our airline. The Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association said an all-out strike was necessary because once cabin crews report for duty, their destination can be changed, meaning a non-mainland flight could turn into one. It is all or nothing, said Rebecca Sy On-na, the unions chairwoman. We are asking for a 100 per cent vote from cabin crew. We dont want any chance that our members can still fly to mainland China ports. Cathay has begun reducing flights to the mainland by 90 per cent, modifying in-flight services to reduce crew exposure to passengers, cleaning aircraft cabins more thoroughly, and offering masks for all cabin crew. On Wednesday it said it was reducing its worldwide flying by 30 per cent, while of the 22 mainland destinations serviced by the airline, all would be cut except Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xiamen. The next day it announced a voluntary unpaid leave scheme for all 27,000 staff, who were strongly urged to take it. Tang said action was needed because preserving cash was key and the airlines current situation, faced with an outbreak that had sapped travel demand, was just as grave as the 2008 global financial crisis. Sy compared the actions of the government with that of Cathay, who both only gradually shutdown borders and reduced Chins flights. Anytime there is a chance people can come from the mainland then there will be a chance for people to be infected, and the virus will spread right away, she said. This article Coronavirus: Cathay Dragon cabin crew vote to strike but will hold off for maximum impact first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. A local pharmacy in Singapore ran out stocks of masks, hand sanitisers, and thermometers amid fear of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. There are 18 confirmed cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Singapore as of February 3, 2020, as reported by the country's Ministry of Health (MOH). SOPA Images The coverage on this blog has ended for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC Asia-Pacific's team. Total cases: 34,886, mostly in China. Total deaths: At least 723 in China, 1 outside of China. 4:09 pm Canada confirms seventh case of coronavirus The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the country's seventh case of the coronavirus on Saturday, Canadian officials told CNBC. The agency indicated on its website tracking the outbreak that Canadian province British Columbia has a total of four confirmed cases, and the province of Ontario has three. 1:44 pm Volkswagen postpones restarting production at some China plants Volkswagen said Saturday that it has pushed back resuming production at some of its China plants, Reuters reported. The company will not restart production until Feb. 17 at most plants in its joint venture with SAIC motor and the Tianjin plant in its joint venture with the FAW Group due to the coronavirus outbreak. One car-manufacturing plant Volkswagen operates with SAIC in Shanghai and most of the plants in the FAW joint venture will restart on Feb. 10, the German automaker said in an emailed statement on Saturday. Volkswagen said it was facing supply chain challenges as China goes back to work after the extended Lunar New Year holiday, as well as limited travel options for its employees. 10:19 a.m. Singapore confirms seven more cases Singapore's Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed seven new cases of the coronavirus,, bringing the total number of cases in the city-state up to 40. Five of the seven are linked to previously announced cases, according to Singapore news outlet The Straits Times. Of the 40 confirmed cases, two have been discharged from the hospital but four remain in critical condition, the Times reported. 9:08 a.m. France issues tougher travel warning to China France's foreign office on Saturday issued new travel advice for its citizens due to the coronavirus outbreak, saying it did not recommend traveling to China unless there was an "imperative" reason to go. Until now it had formally discouraged travel to Wuhan, where the virus originated from, and recommended travelers to the rest of China be vigilant and consider putting off trips. 8:36 a.m. France to close two schools near ski resort Two schools near a French ski resort where five Britons have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus will be shut next week as authorities try to determine with whom those infected had been in contact, a regional health official said. Eleven Britons, including the five who tested positive for the virus, are being examined in local hospitals. There were three children in all among the group of 11, and one has contracted the virus. 8:29 a.m. Bank of Italy says GDP impact of coronavirus may be significant The effect of the new coronavirus on the Italian economy is hard to assess and a significant impact cannot be ruled out, the Bank of Italy warned on Saturday. Addressing the annual Assiom-Forex conference of Italian financial market participants, Governor Ignazio Visco said the impact, which the central bank is currently trying to assess, may be temporary and limited to "a few decimal points" of aggregate demand growth. However, "bigger effects cannot be ruled out," he said. 5:41 am: Boeing says it still will attend Singapore Airshow U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing still plans to attend the Singapore Airshow, the company told CNBC. "Boeing remains committed to the Singapore Airshow and will be an active participant," the company said in a statement. "In the current circumstances, and like most other exhibitors, we're adjusting our presence at the show." According to Reuters, U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin said it will not attend the Singapore Airshow, citing the city-state's recently raised health alert. The airshow, one of the world's biggest, is scheduled for Feb. 11 to Feb. 16. 12:46 am: US citizen dies in Wuhan After the 2016 presidential race, Scott Adams said reality isn't fixed but is, instead, situational. Democrats and Republicans, he argued, were watching two different movies. One movie had Trump as an eccentric, America-loving man who would fix systemic problems; the other movie had Trump as Hitler and his concentration camps. Time would tell which movie was fiction and which was a documentary. (Hint: There are no concentration camps.) At the Democrat debate in New Hampshire, it was clear that the Democrat candidates are watching a very different movie from the rest of America and, more significantly, a movie different from the data. Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer are not enjoying "morning in America." Instead, they're trapped in a nightmarish American landscape filled with poverty, hate, and despair. The candidates live in an America with both endemic and epidemic poverty, all made worse under Trump. Except that employers created 225,000 new jobs in January alone and real wages keep rising. For Democrats, systemic racism is omnipresent. Reality, though, has Americans saying race relations and minority status are better under Trump than under Obama. Laughably, Elizabeth Warren, whose campaign witnessed a mass minority walkout in Nevada owing to racist working conditions, earnestly lectured the audience in New Hampshire about the problem of systemic racism. And Bernie, the old Marxist, insisted, "We have a racist society from top to bottom." The candidates were united in stating that Trump is an utterly evil, bizarre, dishonest, corrupt, racist blight on America, as proven in part by his saying mean things about Democrats. None was troubled by the irony of their making over-the-top attacks on Trump while simultaneously claiming that Trump is mean and divisive. The assembled Democrats want some version of socialized medicine. They seem to have missed the fact that European socialized medicine worked because, in the post-WWII era, America absorbed Europe's defense costs. Europe didn't have socialized medicine; it had America-subsidized medicine. All seven candidates blame corrupt profiteers for everything: drug prices, drug abuse, crime, poverty, alarms that go off too early in the morning. You name it, and it's the evil corporations. They all boast that they will milk corporations dry; never mind that corporations are what fund America through taxes, whether their own or the ones their employees pay. With the exception of Yang, the candidates are all on board with continuing to prosecute Trump after he's left office. The fact that Yang warns correctly that this is a banana republic approach to governance that deters good candidates is irrelevant. They want their pound of flesh except that it's utterly reprehensible for Trump to investigate Hunter and Joe Biden for corruption. That's different because... Every candidate strongly supports an abortion-based Supreme Court litmus test. Biden tries to avoid stating that outright, saying instead that he refuses to support any candidate who will not recognize "unenumerated [i.e., made up] rights under the Constitution." Biden is still proud of borking Judge Robert Bork. The herd of presidential candidates, from 38-year-old Baby Boy Petey to the antique Biden and Bernie (both of whom look every year of their age and then some), are certain that they'd be better commanders-in-chief than Trump because they'd pay attention to their advisers (Petey's sure Trump doesn't read reports), and be thoughtful, and defer to the U.N. All seven wannabe commanders-in-chief think Alexander Vindman was a true "hero" for releasing classified information for no reason other than his disagreement with the policy choices of his commanding officer (i.e., Trump). In the real world, that's grounds for court-martial; in Democrat world, you get a standing ovation. Ultimately, Tom Steyer said the most sensible and, simultaneously, the most stupid thing of all. He pointed out that, from a Democrat point of view, all of the candidates have the same ideas, all of which are preferable to Trump's policies. However, he said, "it's the economy, stupid" is still the guiding election principle, and the Democrats must pull together on the economy to win. Steyer's problem all of the candidates' problem is that Trump's economy is superb and every one of their ideas will destroy it. Aside from those overarching points, a few other things to note: Buttigieg came out with the arrogance of an Iowa winner but stumbled badly on race relations in South Bend. Klobuchar was irritating by being both boastful and self-deprecating. Bernie lies (but he's a Marxist, so it goes with the territory). Elizabeth Warren always says, "Look" and then lies. Yang is not as intelligent as he likes to think he is. Biden kept saying, "I've already been trying to do what all of you are promising to do," but he was excitable and semi-coherent, so everyone ignored him. Steyer is pointless. Franklin said he merged the public information office and social media into one entity called the Communications Unit to create a more seamless flow of information. One part wasnt talking to the other, so there were opportunities for miscommunication if one is communicating one thing and the other something else, he said. During this first month, Franklin said, a large share of his focus will be on orchestrating the annual shift change. One of the big things Ive talked about is the need for us to put more supervisors out into the field to ensure that our officers are properly supervised and they have the necessary tools to do their jobs, he said. Were working on looking at each position within our department those lieutenant and sergeant positions and looking to push as many of those out into the field as possible to help shore up that span of control that we have. Franklin injected much levity into the proceedings, thanking specific family members and friends for the different roles they played in helping him become Tulsas first African American police chief on a permanent basis. Sophie Choudry rang in her 38th birthday with a grand bash in a plush restaurant in Mumbai which was attended by a host of celebrities. Several high profile guests took to social media to share a glimpse of the party. Pictures and videos showed celebs in the likes of Nushrat Bharucha, Rakul Preet Singh, Neha Dhupia, Dia Mirza, Amrita Arora, Pulkit Samrat and his actor girlfriend Kriti Kharbanda, supermodel and entrepreneur Malaika Arora, designer Manish Malhotra, television actor Karan Tacker, producer Pragya Yadav, celebrity fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala letting their hair down and having a swell time. Take a look below- READ: Sophie Choudry: Best Of The Bollywood Star's Talk Show Work It Up Inside Sophie Choudrys birthday bash: Sophie took to Instagram to share pictures from her birthday and thanked her friends, giving a special shoutout to Poorna Patel and Yasim Karachiwala for being a part of the celebrations. She captioned the images, Blessed to bring in my birthday with loved ones last night...Thank you all for being there. You know I love you guys. WATCH: How Sophie Choudry Is Getting Rid Of Her 'Diwali Sins' Sophie is a former video jockey and television host. She made her Bollywood debut in 2005 with David Dhawans comedy Shaadi No 1. She has also appeared in films like Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Aggar, Aa Dekhen Zara and Daddy Cool. In 2014, Sophie participated in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 7, which was won by television actor Ashish Sharma. On the professional front, though Sophie has been missing from the limelight, she still manages to be in the news. She is one of the go-to emcees for most of the celebrities for their events. READ: Sophie Choudry To Vinta Nanda: 'He Will Pay! They All Will!' And she is without a doubt, a regular at most of the Bollywood parties. Her Instagram handle is filled with pictures with other celebrities. Sophie's friendship with Manish Malhotra is well-known and she often accompanies him to his fashion shows, as she had done for the recent one featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Qatar a few days ago. READ: Sophie Choudry: Best Tropical Looks Of The Fit Bollywood Sta Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. MANCHESTER, N.H. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.s fourth-place finish in Iowa and his wobbly standing here in New Hampshire are now testing the central premise of his candidacy that he is the Democrat with the strongest chance to defeat President Trump and forcing his team to scramble to prove that claim before voters move on to other candidates. The sudden reordering of the early primary race took on a heightened sense of urgency for Mr. Biden on Saturday as a new poll showed him sliding to 11 percent support in New Hampshire. Campaigning in the state just three days before its primary, Mr. Biden went on the offensive against his chief competitor for moderate Democrats, Pete Buttigieg, belittling his record as the former mayor of a small city, questioning his support from African-American voters and declaring, This guys not a Barack Obama. It was a striking departure from Mr. Bidens self-assured posture throughout most of the campaign. He has said he is the clear front-runner in the party. His allies still cite his strength in general election polls constantly, and have even featured them in his television commercials. He has spent months targeting Mr. Trump rather than driving a sustained message at his rival Democrats, and his attempts to do so at Friday nights debate, while aggressive, did not appear to hurt them. Now Mr. Bidens campaign is confronting its greatest moment of peril to date, marked by worrisome polls, jittery donors and tensions within the staff. PHOENIX Tony Valdovinos didnt know he was in the U.S. illegally until he tried to join the Marine Corps at 18 and learned he was born in Mexico. Valdovinos, now 29, channeled disappointment into activism, knocking on doors in Latino neighborhoods and registering people to vote, though he cant cast a ballot himself. He also enrolled in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to work and protects them from deportation. He now runs a firm helping elect Arizona candidates. This is the greatest nation in the world, Valdovinos. I feel a responsibility to serve this country. DACA recipients like Valdovinos are assuming prominent roles in the 2020 elections. They are becoming leaders in the Democratic presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer and get-out-the vote groups in immigrant communities, using their shared language and culture to build trust. Jeanne Batalova, a senior analyst for the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, said political involvement helps DACA recipients facing an uncertain future feel empowered. They are doing what they can to exercise their agency, to shape their lives and destinies, Batalova said. The campaigns are heating up as the Supreme Court prepares to decide the future of DACA, which President Trump wants to end for the estimated 652,880 recipients. Like many of them, Valdovinos calls himself an American and wants everyone engaged in an election that may shape their future more than any other in their lifetime. The current state of DACA is very precarious, said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. We have to be worried with this administration and this Supreme Court, which are capable of creating a mass deportation of human beings who dont know any other country than the United States. Gallego has long supported DACA recipients, inviting one, second grade teacher Vanessa Mendez, to be his guest last week at Trumps State of the Union address and recently attending a performance of Americano!, a new Phoenix musical inspired by Valdovinos life. We cannot give in to the fear, Valdovinos said about the upcoming court decision. We have to fight for the right to have our lives. Berkeley journalist and immigrant rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas, who famously revealed he was brought to the U.S. illegally from the Philippines in the New York Times Magazine in 2011, said he identifies with DACA recipients even though he was too old to qualify. Now 39, Vargas discovered his status when applying for a drivers license at 16. Vargas, who also previously worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, said he is encouraged by immigrants like Valdovinos who feel American. Its part of the maturation of this generation, the sophistication of how we tell our stories, Vargas said. Many of the DACA recipients are among the most civically engaged Americans youre likely to meet. They include Argentine-born Belen Sisa, 25, Sanders deputy press secretary in Washington. DACA opponents say the program rewards children of families who broke the law. Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar called unsuccessfully for the deportation of DACA recipients who were invited by members of Congress to attend Trumps State of the Union address in 2018. Precedents exist for activism by non-voters in the U.S., like the women who fought in the early 20th century for voting rights and African Americans who toppled barriers like literacy tests disenfranchising many black people into the 1960s. If the Supreme Court lifts DACA protections, Congress could vote to put the program on surer legal footing. But Congress lack of comprehensive immigration reform prompted President Barack Obama in 2012 to create the program that gives immigrants who are in school, graduated from high school or served in the military two-year reprieves on deportation if they dont commit major crimes. Trump said in a November tweet that if DACA is overturned, a deal would be made for them to stay, but he also alleged some recipients are very tough, hardened criminals. Anita Snow is an Associated Press writer. New York President Donald Trump's lawyers want to put the brakes on a lawsuit filed by an advice columnist who has accused him of raping her in the 1990s and is seeking his DNA as possible evidence. Trump attorneys argued in legal papers this week that E. Jean Carroll's defamation suit and "extensive and burdensome" information-gathering requests should be delayed until New York's highest court rules on whether another woman can proceed with a somewhat similar suit. Carroll and the other woman, former "Apprentice" contestant Summer Zervos, claim Trump besmirched them by calling them liars after they, separately, accused him of sexual assault. In Zervos' case, Trump's lawyers have argued that an incumbent president can't be sued in state courts, and they are asking the state high court to decide. "That threshold issue should be decided" before Carroll's case goes any further, Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz wrote. If a court agrees, Carroll's suit would be on hold for months. She questioned Trump's bid to hold off her case, asking Wednesday on Twitter: "What is (Trump) afraid of?" Requests for comment were sent Thursday to her legal team and Trump's. A previous Trump lawyer tried unsuccessfully last month to get the case dismissed or put on hold, though his arguments were different. Carroll, a longtime Elle magazine advice writer, alleged last year that Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. She said it happened after they ran into each other by chance and bantered about trying on a bodysuit. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Trump has said Carroll was "totally lying" to sell a book she published last year. He said he'd never met her, dismissing a 1987 social-scene photo of the two and their then-spouses as a moment when he was "standing with my coat on in a line." Carroll said his remarks hurt her career by making readers reluctant to seek her advice. She is seeking a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches unidentified male genetic material in skin cells on a dress that Carroll says she wore during the alleged rape, didn't launder and has since worn only once to a photo shoot for a magazine story that aired her allegation last year. Zervos, a California restaurateur, was a 2006 contestant on the Trump-hosted reality show "The Apprentice." A decade later, she became one of more than a dozen women who came forward during Trump's presidential campaign to accuse him of sexual assault or sexual harassment over the years. Zervos alleged he subjected her to unwanted kissing and groping when she sought career advice on two occasions in 2007, once in his New York office and once at a California hotel where he was staying. New Delhi, Feb 8 : After casting her vote along with family members, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, here on Saturday, appealed the people to vote for development. Speaking to the media, Priyanka said, "I hope the people of Delhi will vote for development, progress and the issues that matter to them most. They should not be distracted by issues that don't pertain to development." Asked about the Congress lacklustre campaign in the elections, she said the party had put in good effort. "I hope for the best," she said. On protests against new citizenship law (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and provocative speeches during the campaign, the Congress leader said, "I have always said the people should not be distracted from the issues that affect their lives." The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years from 1998 to 2013, is looking for a comeback in this election. The Congress was reduced to zero (seat) in the 70-member Assembly in the 2015 polls, the AAP won 67 seats and the BJP three. Lonelyguy.org scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 8 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the lonelyguy homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the lonelyguy homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if lonelyguy has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the lonelyguy homepage on Twitter + the total number of lonelyguy followers (if lonelyguy has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the lonelyguy homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the lonelyguy homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Lonely Guy DESCRIPTION Video Sharing Site KEYWORDS video sharing, video uploads, phpmotion V3 video cms OTHER KEYWORDS wedding, videos, seo beratung, marketing, suchmaschinenoptimierung, webseitenoptimierung, beratung The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.22 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.22 OpenSSL/1.0.0-fips mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. The language of lonelyguy.org as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for lonelyguy.org by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND 08.02.2020 LISTEN The airwaves of Ghana have been hit with the incessant and far apar positions of the three-legged unit that holds the electoral matters in Ghana. This three-legged unit encompasses political Parties, the Electoral Commission and the Ghanaian voter. Before going further, let me bring to light that a nation or individual that has negative feelings about itself or resist change is a typical mercury that poison the progress of the country. It may sound outrageous going forward but as a developing country like Ghana, we need to build institutions we can trust to leave their constitutional mandates in their hands without ill feeling. Apart from the Bible and Quran, the constitution of Ghana stands as one of the books well structured and has created room for any unforeseen event of national character or development challenges. It is in this sense that the representation of the people is placed in chapter seven of the 1992 constitution with its supporting articles 42, 45 and 46 giving powers to the citizens of Ghana and the Electoral Commission of Ghana respectively. Article 42 of the 1992 constitution stipulates that every citizen of Ghana of the age of eighteen years or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and entitled to be registered for the purpose of public elections and referenda. Article 45 spells out the functions of the electoral Commission in paragraph; (a) allows the EC to compile the register of voters and revise it at such periods as may be determined by law (d) to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose (e) to undertake programmes for the expansion of the registration of voters The freedom of the EC is impeccably emboldened by article 46 where the Commission is free from directions from authorities or any individual. The constitution in its own wisdom allowed the establishment of Political Parties and granted them through article 55 (3), the opportunity to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes. Since the enactment of the 1992 constitution which has allowed room for amendment, the articles that establishes the electoral Commission have been boosted by Acts of parliament, ACT 451 enacted after the 1992 Parliamentary and Presidential elections which received mix feelings from Political Parties in Ghana. Positive electoral reforms were made including the establishment of IPAC for better resolution of concerns of Political Parties, reformation of voters register and the conduction of both Parliamentary and Presidential elections on the same day. Another major reform that made a remarkable impact in our elections transparency was the bringing onboard the biometric voter register which was generally accepted by all Political Parties. It was therefore unfortunate or even fortunate that the results of this new mechanism for elections was tested at the Supreme Court leading to a number of technical and personnel recommendations laid before the election conducting body. It is now head aching to note that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has taken the tangent to compile a new voter register for the 2020 elections which could be in clear breach of one of the major recommendations of the Supreme Court after the 2012 election petition. It recommended that the voters register must be completed and made available to all Political Parties as early as possible. This is substantial since the process involves registration, exhibition and to getting a final register for Political Parties before December 2020. To avoid another long 8 months or more of court hearing in the coming years, the idea of a new voters register should be looked into properly. In the lead up to the just ended District Assembly and Unit Committees elections, the EC carried out a limited voters registration exercise prior to which the EC showed low knowledge on the expected number of young people who were ready to register, leading to their continues shift from the 700, 000 expected number of people they gave at IPAC meeting. At the end of the process, 1.2 million new registrants were recorded a closed figure to the 1.7 million projected figures from the Ghana Statistical Service. The difference in the recorded and projected figures could still be attributed to the number of registration centers during the limited registration exercise. These are implications that there are doubts in the registration processes. To avoid these doubts, the EC could work closely with the Ghana Statistical Service and the National Identification Authority to be able to get accurate data on the number of qualified voters who are Ghanaians and of sound minds. The NIA once it is able to finish its mass registration by the end of 2020, supported by the outcome of the 2020 Population and Housing Census scheduled in June, the EC can base on them to build a strong, reliable and transparent new voters register to suit the interest of all Ghanaians since there would not be conflictions in the figures being churned out. During the 2019 limited voters registration, the EC set selected stations and, in some districts, only at the district offices of the EC for the exercise. This was a big challenge and any attempt to repeat same in the new exercise proposed will do us no good since it would greatly give some Geographical locations opportunities than others. It cannot always be that we are reducing cost, we spend on development issues and the free and fairness of our elections is far a development than the establishment of a hospital since elections violence or protest can damage the whole country. To avoid voter suppression, the EC should take its time, refurbish the current BVDs, secure computers and do limited registration covering every polling station and ensure names of foreigners, minors and the dead are removed through a rigorous exhibition exercise. One of the intriguing factors that have caused greater doubts about the impartiality of the EC is the way the EC boss is appointed, the perception of Minority Parties and the imbalanced stands of the EC dealing with all Parties. The NPP in 2016 promised to axe Charlotte Osei if they won the elections and it happened and this has marred the integrity of the EC when it comes to their constitutional mandate in article 46 of the 1992 constitution. Madam Charlotte Osei was removed from office and replaced by a new Commissioner who the Opposition Parties have also seen as a plot to give the Governing Party an advantage. This manifested during the processes leading to the failed referendum to amend article 55(3) of the 1992 constitution. The position of the EC appeared to be a deviation from paragraph (d) of article 45 which grants the EC to educate the public. They rather were on social media and media houses campaigning for a YES vote. This implies that in other competitive elections, the EC can campaign for a particular Political Party as it did during preparations towards the failed referendum. The declaration of the Ayawaso West Wugon by-elections as free and fair by the EC created concerns that need to be addressed. An election that was soiled with voter suppression by vigilante groups from the NPP leading to the boycott of the election by the NDC and it is said to be free and fair. This was a clear repetition of the December, 1992 Parliamentary elections which many Opposition Parties boycotted because they were said to be suppressed in the earlier Presidential elections in November, 1992. The EC continues deaf ear to concerns from the Opposition has charged the political atmosphere going towards the 2020 general elections. This has called for the amendment of article 70, to not allow the president to appoint the Commissioners of the EC and other important public officers to avert the speculations that characterize the judgements of Opposition Parties towards such officials. It will give opportunity for such officials to Stay more neutral since they will not be appointed by any President. By: Hon. Kunsaari A. Enbong Ass. Member, Chache electoral area Bole district A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New Yorks Hudson River on Wednesday, police said. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New Yorks highest court, was found floating off Manhattans west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said.Ad Police pulled Abdus-Salaams fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said. Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo named her to the states high court in 2013. Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all, Cuomo said in a statement. The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a U.S. judge. Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful. A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website. She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991. James E. "Bookie" Turner was a colorful and controversial law enforcement officer and politician in Hamilton County from 1958-1975. He was one of eight children and was a student at Chattanooga Central High School. He was a Navy Veteran who served on the battleship USS Tennessee during World War II. His nickname Bookie allegedly came from his other siblings who claimed that, although he professed a love of reading, he also used that as an excuse to get out of family chores. Bookie was co-founder of Turner Funeral Home with two of his brothers. Eugene Turner became a colorful and also controversial politician in his own right. In 1940 Bookie was appointed Hamilton County coroner and claimed to the youngest person to hold that position in the United States. He defeated Republican V.W. Red Maddox in 1958 to become Sheriff of Hamilton County and served three two-year terms before being elected to the position of Fire and Police Commissioner for the City of Chattanooga in 1963. In 1971 he was defeated by former FBI agent Gene Roberts and lost his final race for mayor against Pat Rose in 1975. He was re-elected for another term in 1967 while under indictment in Federal Court at Chattanooga for allegedly taking bribes for allowing the entry of moonshine whiskey into Chattanooga. According to the government, he was paid 50 cents per gallon for each quantity being delivered into the municipality without fear of criminal prosecution. Turner was indicted for a conspiracy that included Gordon G. White, Sherill E. Penney, George G. Buddy Hendricks and 37 other unindicted (not charged) co-conspirators who were participants in the lucrative scheme. Bookie hired famed Watergate and successful Jimmy Hoffa prosecutor James F. Neal of Nashville. His co-counsel was the widely respected civil attorney John K. Morgan of Chattanooga. The government was represented by two Department of Justice prosecutors from Washington, D.C. and local United States Attorney J.H. Reddy. Because some of his three co-conspirators had lengthy criminal records and Turner had none his lawyers tried unsuccessfully to get a separate trial from them on the grounds of unfair prejudice. Bookie had refused to make any public statement but, on several occasions, claimed that he would tell his story when he took the stand. The trial took over three weeks and the government presented a barrage of participants in the moonshine industry including manufacturers, drivers, distributors and purchasers of the illegal product that was sold in good time houses and to private citizens and clubs. The government, relying upon Bookies repeated pronouncements that he would tell his story to the jury when he took the stand, made the fatal mistake of putting on just enough to overcome a Motion for Judgment of Acquittal at the end of the government proof to get the case to the jury and was saving all of its strong evidence to cross-examine Turner when he testified. Senior District Judge Robert L. Taylor from Knoxville recessed the court until the next day and instructed the defense to meet and decide what would be their order of proof of witnesses. The defendants and their lawyers met as ordered and what occurred has been substantiated by two independent sources. This history is not intended to be a criticism of Bookie Turners lawyers, James Neal and John Morgan. They had professionally attacked the governments case. An old-time lawyer (Crawford Bean) suggested the strategy that had the effect of the government being unable to further prove the case against Bookie by cross-examining him or by putting on what is known as rebuttal proof to contradict his testimony. Juries acquit defendants for two reasons: 1.) they believe the accused was not guilty; or 2.) the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt pursuant to the instruction given to the jury by the judge. According to sources in the room when the defendants and their lawyers met, Neal and Morgan asked each attorney if they were going to put their defendant on the witness stand. Crawford Bean, attorney for George G. Buddy Hendricks, replied that his client was not going to testify because he had a criminal record. Bean, after stating that his client was not going to testify, shocked the group by saying that Turner would be a fool to testify because the prosecution had produced very little evidence against him. Bean said that if Bookie took the witness stand, he would be devastated and convicted on the evidence they were holding back to use on his cross-examination. This statement produced a turmoil with Neal and Morgan stating that their client had to testify because of his previous claims to exonerate himself from the witness stand. After much discussion and attempted efforts by his lawyers to have him take the stand, Turner shocked the crowd and said, Im going with Crawford (Not to testify). Neal and Morgan, in order to protect themselves in the event Turner got convicted over their urging to testify, had Bookie write out a document that stated that they had advised him to testify and if he was convicted that he had not taken their advice. Said document has been lost in time. Turner was acquitted and his co-conspirators were convicted. The reader can reach his or her own conclusion as to whether Bookie would or would not have been found guilty if he had taken the stand to testify. Neal and Morgan remained great lawyers throughout their illustrious careers. But for one case an old timer like Crawford Bean better understood the thinking of the 12 jurors who decided James E. Bookie Turners fate. * * * Bali has been hit hard by the coronavirus as the once bustling streets filled with Chinese tourists are now barren following a sweeping flight ban. Struggling businesses that have been forced to cut staff and shopping centres have been left empty. Indonesia suspended flights to and from mainland China on Wednesday, leaving an estimated 5,000 Chinese people stuck on the island. Pictures from Bali airport showed the impact of the flight ban to and from mainland China Australians on the island fear many local businesses will collapse if Chinese tourism does not return soon. 'The coronavirus is already hitting the Balinese economy hard,' an Australian tourist posted on Facebook. 'We are staying at the lovely Anvaya (hotel) in Kuta and occupancy is only 50 per cent and staff have been laid off.' She said hotel operators have told her they may have to lay off staff. Australian's on the island fear many local businesses will collapse if Chinese tourism does not return soon Some locals even fear the financial impact will be as devastating economically as the Bali Bombings of 2002. 'One of our Bali friends employs 20 drivers who drive Chinese on their tours and they have zero work,' one Australian tourist said. 'Locals have fresh memories of what it was like when tourists stopped coming after the bombings. The fear is there again.' Other Australian said fear of the disease had caused mass-panic with people rushing out to buy hand sanitiser from stores. 'Went to nine different mini marts yesterday and all sold out,' a woman wrote online. An estimated 5,000 Chinese stuck on the island and some are applying for visa extensions Around 2.1 million Chinese travelled to Bali last year making the nation the second most popular visitors after Malaysia. Economic conditions on the island could even worsen after the Chinese Consul General in Denpasar Gou Haodong announced on Thursday that they would evacuate around 250 citizens. The citizens will be flown back to China on a specially charted Boeing 777 to Wuhan, where the virus first began, according to ABC News. Many Chinese citizens are reluctant to return home with 22 visa extensions already lodged with the Bali's provincial Government. Around 2.1 million Chinese travelled to Bali last year making them the second most popular visitors after Malaysia By Trend Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on Feb. 6 in connection with an increase in labor pensions, according to which all labor pensions were increased by 16.6 percent from Jan. 1, Azerbaijans deputy prime minister, Deputy Chairman - Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali Ahmadov wrote in the article Great Gift for Pensioners on his Facebook page, Trend reports Feb. 7. It should be admitted that a serious growth in pensions is a significant increase in the family budget of about 1.2 million people, reads the article. Given that just a few months ago, the minimum level of pensions was increased by more than 70 percent, it is possible to imagine the scale of attention and support that the government, by direct instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, is rendering to improving the living conditions of pensioners. Ahmadov noted that, first of all, the order on raising pensions can be considered as another clear manifestation of the principle of President Ilham Aliyev: The people of Azerbaijan are at the center of our policy. The manifestation of inexhaustible care for a person, the improvement of people's living conditions is the main priority of the Azerbaijani government, which is why there is a strong unity between the people and the authorities, according to the article. The deputy prime minister emphasized that another important feature that should be noted in the context of raising pensions is that, in fact, this initiative is the result and an important component of Azerbaijans economic and social reforms. There is no need to prove that improving the well-being of the people is the main goal of these reforms reads the article. However, it should be emphasized separately that the above-mentioned order is a direct result of the reforms that are being carried out. Raising pensions requires more than 500 million manat ($294.1 million) per year. The reforms that are successfully being carried out in Azerbaijan are accompanied by the creation of new jobs, higher salaries, elimination of informal employment and strengthening of labor and financial discipline in all areas. Each of these positive processes, in turn, makes it possible to implement policies aimed at improving the living conditions of various categories of the population, including pensioners, according to the article. In other words, improving the well-being of the people is reflected not only in the statements of the Azerbaijani government, but also in the real work and its results, Ahmadov said. Increasing pensions should be regarded as strong evidence confirming successful implementation of the concept of reforms announced by President Ilham Aliyev, the article noted. The people see the fruits of the large-scale reforms announced years earlier and ongoing today, and they believe that more confident reforms will create the opportunity to further improve the well-being of the people. The YAP deputy chairman added that it is necessary to recall the anti-Azerbaijani propaganda of malicious external forces and the radical opposition trying to denigrate Azerbaijan, its successful policy, to change the opinion of people through lies and manipulations. Rather, they should be reminded that over the past six months only in the field of raising pensions two major social projects were implemented, and last year, the minimum pensions were increased by more than 70 percent, and this year all labor pensions were raised by 16.6 percent, said Ahmadov. However, in many countries we are facing the opposite picture, the deputy chairman noted. The well-known Yellow Vests movement lasting more than one year in the center of Europe appeared as a protest against the deterioration of the conditions of the pension appointment, and hasnt lost its relevance so far. In another European country, the government several years ago had to take such an unpopular decision as reducing pensions, as a result of which the cabinet changed repeatedly, the economic and political crisis broke out, reads the article. Many examples can be brought, but I dont see the need for this, because Im not going to criticize any particular countries. It is obvious that Azerbaijans rapid socio-economic development extremely worries the radical opposition, crosses out their political prospects and nullifies their authority among the people. Therefore, the opposition resorts to the dirtiest methods, trying to realize its unhealthy political ambitions, acts together with external anti-Azerbaijani forces and helps them, Ahmadov said. There is no doubt that Azerbaijans success is a source of pride of the people. In terms of development, Azerbaijan holds a worthy place in all prestigious ratings, and the country is ranked among the successful countries of the world, so one should rejoice and be proud of it. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz WASHINGTON Sen. Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg found out what its like to finish at the top in Iowa: you're targeted by your rivals in New Hampshire. The Vermont senator and the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor were often on the receiving end of attacks from the other five candidates on the debate stage at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Sanders had to defend his electability as a democratic socialist and the expected large price tag on his proposals, such as Medicare for All. Buttigieg had to defend his record on race as mayor and his relative lack of political experience on the national stage. And former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg took hits even though he wasnt on stage, as rivals criticized him for spending tens of millions to win the Democratic presidential nomination. I dont think anybody ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a line that drew hearty applause from the audience. I dont think a billionaire ought to be able to do it and I dont think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it. More: A New Hampshire primary win is key for multiple Democrats. Here's what we know The debate comes four days before New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary. In the first few minutes of the debate, former vice president Joe Biden, who stumbled to a fourth-place finish in Iowa, acknowledged he wont win New Hampshire. Ill probably take a hit here, said Biden who is pinning his hopes on stronger finishes in Nevada (Feb. 22) and South Carolina (Feb. 29) where more diverse populations could give him a boost. The debate could also be the last for long shots Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer, who also got the least amount of speaking time. Here are some highlights from the night. Klobuchar on Trump: He blames the king of Denmark, who does that? Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that she believes the United States needs friends in the world. Story continues Her comments came after billionaire Tom Steyer criticized Trumps strategy of isolating the United States. Klobuchar said that instead of having allies, we have a president that literally blames everyone in the world. He blames Barack Obama for everything that goes wrong, Klobuchar said of Trump. He blames his federal reserve chair he appointed himself. He blames the king of Denmark, who does that? He blames the prime minister of Canada for, he claims, cutting him out of Home Alone 2, who does that? she continues. Thats what Donald Trump does. -- Rebecca Morin Candidates team up against Bloomberg and his money Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wasnt on stage but the candidates were eager to talk about the billionaire presidential candidate who is spending tens of millions to win the Democratic nomination. I dont think anybody ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a line that drew hearty applause from the audience. I dont think a billionaire ought to be able to do it and I dont think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it. The Massachusetts senator known for her consumer activism also criticized her rivals for accepting money from PACs that can spend without limits. Put your money where your mouth and say is and say not to PACs, she said as she asked viewers to send $5 to her campaign and bemoaned the influence of big money in campaigns. Understand this, our democracy hangs in the balance. I cant stand the big money in politics, Sen. Amy Klobuchar agreed. I just simply think people dont look at the guy in the White House and say, can we get someone richer? the Minnesota senator said. I dont think they think that. They want to have someone they can understand. MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) greet each prior to the start of the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College on February 07, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Seven candidates qualified for the second Democratic presidential primary debate of 2020 which comes just days before the New Hampshire primary on February 11. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775475047 ORIG FILE ID: 1204728676 Bernie Sanders tried to turn the criticism of wealthy people to Pete Buttigieg. I dont have 40 billionaires, Pete, contributing to my campaign. Buttigieg responded that Donald Trump and his allies raised $25 million just on Friday. We need to go into that fight with everything weve got, the former mayor said. Buttigieg also disputed the suggestion that his campaign is fueled by rich people. As the only person on stage who is not a millionaire or billionaire, Buttigieg said, he knows something about building a movement. Because mayor of South Bend is not exactly a powerhouse fundraising position. Buttigieg said he is standing on the stage because of the thousands of average people who contributed. -- Ledyard King, Savannah Behrmann and Maureen Groppe Steyer pushes Biden on supporter's 'racist' comments Tom Steyer took Joe Biden to task for a comment made by one of his backers in South Carolina. State Sen. Dick Harpootlian questioned what was behind Steyers payments to another state legislator. Mr. Money Bags a.k.a @TomSteyer has paid S.C. State Rep. Jerry Govan almost $50,000 for a month worth of work? Is he pocketing the dough or redistributing the wealth? cc: Steyer FEC report, Harpootlian tweeted Some members of the states black caucus thought that was a racially charged attack by implying Govan had done something illegal or wrong. Steyer challenged Biden to come with me and the Legislative Black Caucus and disavow Dick Harpootlian. Biden countered that Steyer should join him in the overwhelming support he has from that black caucus. Biden said he has double the support that Steyer or anyone else has, which prompted Bernie Sanders to interject that several members of the black caucus support him. Steyer called Harpootlians remarks openly racist and again called on Biden to do the right thing. Biden said hes already talked to Harpootlian and I believe hes sorry for what he said. -- Maureen Groppe Buttigieg says 'systemic racism' part of why drug arrests went up in first mayoral year Pete Buttigieg pointed to systemic racism as one of the reasons why marijuana drug arrests went up in the first year he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana. There is no question that systemic racism has penetrated to every level of our system and my city was not immune, Buttigieg said. But when asked specifically why marijuana drug arrests went up during the first year of his tenure, Buttigieg said that one of the strategies that his community adopted was to target gun violence and gang violence. We adopted a strategy that said that drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder, Buttigieg said. These are all connected. But so are all the things that need to change." Warren was then asked whether it was a substantial answer from Buttigieg, who has been struggling to gain support among black voters. Warren simply said: No, which was followed by a wave of applause. You have to own up to the facts, Warren said. And its important to own up to the facts of how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system. In addition, Yang used the moment to plug his Freedom Dividend which would provide $1,000 per month to every American over 18. We cant regulate (racial disparity) away through any other means except by putting money directly into the hands of African Americans and Latinos, and people of color to allow businesses to actually flourish and grow in those communities, he said addressing Warren. Billionaire Tom Steyer teed up the questioning, taking the discussion away from the Supreme Court to questioning why race wasnt being discussed more substantially. We have not said one word about race, Steyer said. Not one word. The night is still is young, many questions to come, a moderator said, before throwing it over to Linsey Davis, who asked a question about race. -- by Rebecca Morin and Ledyard King Speaking time halfway through the debate Halfway through the three-hour debate, Pete Buttigieg was leading the pack with nearly 16 minutes of speaking time. Following closely behind were Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden, with nearly 15 minutes each. Sen. Elizabeth Warren followed at 11 minutes, while Tom Steyer and Sen. Amy Klobuchar were both at almost nine minutes. Andrew Yang, who received only 1% in Iowa, had only spoken for five minutes. -- Savannah Behrmann Strong support for Roe v. Wade The candidates came out strongly in favor of abortion rights, with Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren saying their Supreme Court nominees would have to support abortion rights. Its a womans right to do that. Period, Biden said. Amy Klobuchar said she would only appoint judges that respect precedent, and that includes Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision saying women have a constitutional right to an abortion. The candidates also all backed legislation enshrining that right in law. Buttigieg was asked about his proposal to expand the Supreme Court. He said its not a partisan move because he wants to also change the structure of the court so not all the justice are chosen through a political process. -- Maureen Groppe Drug crisis front and center in New Hampshire Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who has often talked about her fathers alcoholism, said she would put a special emphasis on substance abuse treatment as president. Speaking in a state where 467 people died of drug overdoses in 2017, the Minnesota Democrat said she would devote nearly $100 billion to combat opioid addiction. She explained how she would raise the money from closing tax loopholes and using money from n upcoming. The people of New Hampshire and the people of our country deserve better, she said. I will get this done. And its personal for me. Andrew Yang was asked how he would implement his required three-day treatment for those arrest for drug use. There arent enough beds in New Hampshire or the nation to handle that, he was told. Yang said he could take money from drug companies that have profited from the addiction epidemic. The epidemic, he said, is not a money problem but a human problem. Pete Buttigieg was asked about his proposal to decriminalize drugs: Does that include heroin, meth and cocaine? Buttigieg said it still wouldnt be lawful to produce or distribute such drugs. Without explaining how he would deal with drug users, Buttigieg talked about holding responsible drug companies who suppressed evidence of the addictiveness of their opioid medicines. That has to happen, he said, even as the nation realizes that drug addiction is a medical issue, not a moral failure of those battling addiction, he said. -- Ledyard King and Maureen Groppe Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Sanders pressed about his record on guns Sen. Bernie Sanders was asked about his gun control views in the past, including voting against background checks and a waiting period for buying firearms in his past. I come, like New Hampshire, from a very, very rural state Bernie explained. In Vermont, until last ... two years ago, we had virtually no gun control legislation at all. I represented that perspective. He continued that The world has changed and my views have changed. The bottom line is that I will not be intimidated by the NRA, he concluded. Were going to run the gun policy that the American people want. However, Biden continued to hit Sanders on his track record, slamming him for voting against the ability to sue gun manufacturers, and the Brady Bill That mandated federal background checks on firearm purchasers. "Think of all of the thousands and thousands of people who died!" Biden declared. While you were representing your constituency, in a gun state, in fact, all those folks in California, New York, Pennsylvania, they're getting killed by the thousands during that same period." We have to be held accountable for the things we did, Biden continued. -- Savannah Behrmann Candidates show love for Bernie following Clinton criticism Sanders' fellow candidates showed him some love when the moderates brought up 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's criticism of his track record, saying Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. Biden gave Sanders a quick side hug, the pair lightly laughing. Sen. Amy Klobuchar on if Sen. Sanders would be able to get the support he needs from Republicans: "I like Bernie just fine. We actually have worked together on a number of things including pharmaceuticals." https://t.co/SX4bKxtFPe #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/LzzoIJz5QF Good Morning America (@GMA) February 8, 2020 Klobuchar also quipped, I like Bernie just fine!" The two Senators then joked about whether it was the "Sanders-Klobuchar" amendment or "Klobuchar-Sanders" on a bill they worked on together --Savannah Behrmann Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, embraces Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Buttigieg avoids attacking Biden in moment of unity Pete Buttigieg passed up a chance to attack Joe Biden over the issue of impeachment and the fact that Republicans are continuing to delve into Biden and his sons activities in Ukraine. Buttigieg was asked if its risky for Democrats to nominate someone under investigation. No, he said. And we wont let them change the subject. Buttigieg said he and Biden are competitors but weve got to draw a line here. Republicans efforts to turn a father against a son, he said, is the kind of dishonorable behavior that shows why Democrats need to win in November. Biden thanked Buttigieg and agreed that Republicans are trying to create a diversion. He brought up Trumps firing today of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Counsel. The nation should give Vindman a medal, Biden said, not Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk show host honored by Trump at Tuesdays State of the Union address. Biden encouraged the audience to stand up and clap for Vindman. Thats who we are, Biden said, and its not what Trump is. -- Maureen Groppe Steyer questions Buttigieg's ability to go toe-to-toe with Trump Businessman Tom Steyer, who is polling near the bottom of the field, took on Pete Buttigieg, who is surging following his strong showing in Iowa. The issue here is not about who has the best health care plan. All the health care plans are better. A million times better, Steyer said. The question is who can go toe-to-toe with Mr. Trump. Who can take down Mr. Trump because hes the real threat to the country. And let me say you have to have experience to take him down, Steyer continued, directing his criticism to the 38-year-old, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor. This is not a question of hes nice guy whos going to listen. We need people with experience thats why Im worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe- to-toe with this guy and take him down or were going to lose. Buttigieg responded he can win based on his military service and his experience running an industrial Midwest city that is the exact kind of community that (Trump) pretends to speak for but turns is back on. If we want to beat this president weve got to be ready to move on form the playbook weve relied on in the past, Buttigieg said. And unify this country around a new and better vision. Steyer is also running an ad this week in New Hampshire calling Buttigieg an "untested newcomer." -- Ledyard King Senators highlight Romneys 'courage' after impeachment trial Sen. Amy Klobuchar dismissed former mayor Pete Buttigiegs assertion that non-Washington experience is best for meeting the moment for the White House, highlighting the experience and courage that came from the Senate impeachment trial. We had a moment these past few weeks, mayor, and that moment was these impeachment hearings Klobuchar said. There was courage that you saw from only a few people. There was courage from Doug Jones, our friend of Alabama, who took that tough vote. There was courage from Mitt Romney, who took a very, very difficult vote [on impeachment], Klobuchar said, highlighting that Buttigieg said the trials were exhausting to watch. Sen. Mitt Romney was the sole GOP vote for convicting Trump on one count earlier this week, while Sen. Doug Jones was considered a potential swing vote serving in a staunchly red state. The other senators on the stage also mentioned Romneys vote Friday night. Warren stated that all-but-one of her GOP colleagues locked arms by voting for acquittal. Sanders declared Republicans knew Donald Trump is a crook but didnt have the guts, with the exception of Romney, to vote against him. --Savannah Behrmann Andrew Yang says throwing presidents in jail is not an 'American tradition' Entrepreneur Andrew Yang said that he is not opposed of presidents being investigated, but there should be limits to it and you have to see what the facts are on the ground after you assume office. The question came after Sen. Elizabeth Warren was asked whether investigating President Donald Trump is the best way to unify the country. Warren said she believes that no one is above the law. We need to reestablish the rule of law in this country, Warren said. Yang was asked about his past comments where he said that a leader throwing a past president before them in jail is not the way things are done in the United States. Does that mean that any alleged conduct by the president or his administration should not be investigated? said moderator Linsey Davis. Yang said that countries that have thrown past presidents into jail have generally been developing countries. Unfortunately thats a pattern that once you establish is very, very hard to break, he said. Whats a more American tradition, we move the country forward, we dont focus on the mistakes of the president leaving office. -- Rebecca Morin Biden, Sanders spar on Medicare for All again Former Vice President Joe Biden slammed Sen. Bernie Sanders for his signature policy, Medicare for All, saying that the Vermont senator has yet to say how he is going to pay for it. Bernie says you have to bring people together and we have to have Medicare for All, Biden said. And he says he wrote the damn thing, but hes unwilling to say what the damn thing is going to cost. Biden claims that Sanders has said well figure it out later in terms of how much his bill will cost. Biden also doubted that Sanders could get Medicare for All passed, noting that he busted my neck to get the Affordable Care Act passed. Sanders, however, said that if we do what Joe wants, the United States will spend $50 trillion over the next 10 years. We are spending twice as much per capita on health care as do the people of any other country, Sanders said. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the health care industry last year made $100 billion dollars in profit. Sanders said that Medicare for All would same the American people substantial sums of money. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also piled on, saying Medicare for All does not have widespread support like Sanders has said it does. I keep listening to the same debate, and its not real, she said, adding that two-thirds of the Democrats in the Senate have yet to sign onto Sanders bill. -- Rebecca Morin MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - FEBRUARY 07: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks as former Vice President Joe Biden listens during the presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College on February 07, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Seven candidates qualified for the second Democratic presidential primary debate of 2020 which comes just days before the New Hampshire primary on February 11. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775475047 ORIG FILE ID: 1204722838 The debate over old vs. new Pete Buttigieg made the case for generational change, arguing for a perspective that will leave behind the politics of the past and turn the page. Joe Biden had a wide grin on his face when Buttigieg said hes not the right candidate if voters are looking for the person with the most Washington establishment experience. But he is if they want a different perspective. The politics of the past were not all that bad, Biden responded. He mentioned legislation he worked on to ban chemical weapons and fight violence against women. He also touted his early support for same sex marriage. I dont know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden is so bad, Biden said. Buttigieg countered that the last Democratic administration was successful because it met the moment. Now we have to meet this moment, and this moment is different, he said. -- Maureen Groppe Sanders: Trump lies all the time Bernie Sanders was asked if Democrats should fret if he wins the nomination given how President Donald Trump has already gone after the Vermont senator who describes himself as a democratic socialist. Those hits are going to keep coming if youre the nominee, moderator George Stephanopoulos asked the senator. Why shouldnt Democrats be worried? Because Donald Trump lies all the time, Sanders retorted. He will say terrible things about Joe (Biden). He has (said) ugly, disgusting things about Elizabeth (Warren). At the end of the day everybody up here is united, Sanders continued. No matter who wins this damn thing, were all going to stand together to defeat Donald Trump. Sen. Amy Klobuchar raised her hand when the candidates were asked who would be afraid of a socialist running as the partys candidate in November. "I think we are not going to be able to out-divide the divider in chief, and I think we need someone to head up this ticket that actually brings people with her, instead of shutting them out Klobuchar answered, continuing that, "Donald Trump's worst nightmare is a candidate who will bring people in from the middle." -- Ledyard King and Savannah Behrmann Buttigieg goes after Sanders Pete Buttigieg wasted no time drawing a distinction between himself and Sen. Bernie Sanders, saying Democrats must unite the country, not divide it by saying if you dont go all the way to the end, it doesnt count. Are you talking about Sanders? he was asked. Yes, Buttigieg replied. Sanders disputed the description. Needless to say, Ive never said that, he responded. Sanders said the way to bring people together is with an agenda that works for working people, not billionaires. Before the debate, Sanders had accused Buttigieg of being beholden to wealthy donors. -- Maureen Groppe Biden says he probably wont win New Hampshire In the opening minute of the debate, former Vice President Joe Biden already stinging from a poor showing in Iowa acknowledged he also probably wont do well in New Hampshire Tuesday. Ill probably take a hit here, Biden said. He pointed to the fact that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire in 2016 and represents a neighboring state. Biden said he considers not just Iowa and New Hampshire, but also Nevada and South Carolina, to be the starting point for the nominating contest. Biden is counting on his strong support from African American voters to do well in subsequent states. The question that prompted his response was why he has criticized Sanders and Pete Buttigieg as too risky to be the nominee when they won Iowa. Biden said that Sanders label of Democratic Socialist would hurt other Democrats lower on the ballot. And Buttigieg, Biden said, is a great guy and a patriot but is the former mayor of a small city who hasnt shown he can attract a broad spectrum of support. -- Maureen Groppe Democratic presidential hopefuls Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Billionaire activist Tom Steyer arrive onstage for the eighth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by ABC News, WMUR-TV and Apple News at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, on February 7, 2020. Will verbal punches be thrown? And now for the recurring question before each debate: Who will throw the most punches and which candidate will be the biggest target? When former Vice President Joe Biden was perceived as the frontrunner as the debates began last year, California Sen. Kamala Harris went after his record on busing. In the long run, the attack didnt help Harris, who dropped out in December. And Bidens poor showing in Iowa means he may go after the top Iowa finishers. Biden did that Wednesday in New Hampshire when he suggested both Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg were risky choices. Biden said Sanders identification as a Democratic Socialist would make it harder for Democrats farther down on the ballot to win. Buttigieg is a dicey choice, Biden said, because hes never held an office higher than mayor of a small city. Friday, Sanders accused Buttigieg of being beholden to rich donors. "I like Pete Buttigieg, nice guy," Sanders said at an event in New Hampshire. "But we are in a moment where billionaires control not only our economy but our political life." His campaign started promoting #PetesBillionaires on Twitter. -- Maureen Groppe Key milestone: A New Hampshire primary win is key for multiple Democrats. Here's what we know Veterans courting veterans U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who did not qualify for tonights debate stage, is trying to get the attention of viewers in another way. Gabbard launched an ad Friday morning promising to bring a soldiers values to the White House: dignity, honor, respect and service. In her underdog campaign, Gabbard has been focusing most of her attention on New Hampshire. The state has a disproportionate share of veterans, which could help the Army veteran. But shes not the only candidate with military experience. VoteVets, the political action committee that backs liberal veterans running for office, has run ads in New Hampshire supporting Pete Buttigieg, a former Navy officer. On Thursday, Buttigieg held a conversation with New Hampshire veterans at an American Legion Post in Merrimack. -- Maureen Groppe Candidates show force in walk up to event space Andrew Yang may be trailing distantly in the polls, but his campaign did turn out the most young enthusiasts on the two-lane road leading to Saint Anselm College, waving signs and encouraging drivers in passing cars to honk their support. No. 2 in the highway straw poll were Elizabeth Warren supporters, chanting L! I! Z! The presence required a certain amount of commitment, given the freezing rain that was falling. (It is New Hampshire, after all, and in February.) The media filing center, set up in a gym, was set up with work spaces for 414 journalists, plus a dozen TV crews lined up along one wall. -- Susan Page New Hampshire voters are independent in more ways than one Democrats may not be the only New Hampshire voters paying close attention to tonights debate. The state allows independents voters not registered as Democrats or Republicans to participate in Tuesdays primary. And unaffilated voters make up the biggest chunk of the electorate. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won independents in his 2016 primary race against Hillary Clinton. But more moderate candidates -- like former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar are targeting disaffected Republicans whove become independents. And outsider candidates like Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and entrepreneur Andrew Yang could also grab some of the independent vote away from Sanders this time. New Hampshire is independent in another way as well. The state has a reputation for going its own way by delivering surprises to the frontrunner. It famously made Bill Clinton the Comeback Kid when he finished second place during a turbulent stretch of his 1992 campaign. And just when it looked like Barack Obama had a straight shot to the nomination with his 2008 win in Iowa, New Hampshire Democrats gave the victory to Hillary Clinton instead. When Clinton was the frontrunner for the 2016 nomination, however, New Hampshire voters flocked to Sanders. The latest Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk poll released Thursday shows Sanders at 24% with Buttigieg close behind at 23%. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was the choice of 13% and Biden was picked by 11%. No other candidate was in double digits. In an NBC News/Marist poll released hours before the debate, Sanders led with 25%, Buttigieg got 21%, Warren had 14% and Biden was at 13%. -- Maureen Groppe Who will be on stage and what's at stake With the chaos of the Iowa caucuses (mostly) in the rear-view mirror, the top candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination appear on stage tonight for a debate in New Hampshire four days before the Granite State holds the first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday. New Hampshire could be the moment where Iowa's top finishers former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders separate themselves from the pack. Or where Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden regain their footing after third and fourth places finishes in Iowa, respectively. It could also mark the end of the line for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Andrew Yang. Klobuchar out-performed her polling in Iowa but still walked away with only 1 national delegate. Yang left Iowa with 0. The candidates' order on stage was determined not by the Iowa results but by averaging the results of polls taken nationally and in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. That put Biden in the center, flanked by Sanders and Warren. They're sharing the stage with Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Yang and businessman Tom Steyer. Yang, who was absent from the Iowa debate last month, met the qualifications for New Hampshire which included polling and donor thresholds. More: In New Hampshire primary, could Pete Buttigieg end Joe Bidens 50-year political career? Moderators include George Stephanopoulos, "World News Tonight" Anchor, ABC Managing Editor David Muir and ABC News Live Anchor Linsey Davis. Joining them will be WMUR-TV Political Director Adam Sexton and WMUR-TV News Anchor Monica Hernandez. The focus on New Hampshire could be welcome news for Democrats who saw the Senate acquit President Donald Trump Wednesday and watched as Iowa's caucuses disintegrated into confusion following multiple issues that delayed election results. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic debate: Seven candidates on New Hampshire stage make case SBC observes Racial Reconciliation Sunday with goal of making churches more diverse Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Southern Baptist Convention will be observing its annual Racial Reconciliation Sunday on Feb. 9, with this years emphasis being on the cultivation of multiethnic churches. The SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission posted a link on Twitter to a bulletin insert written by pastor Jamaal Williams for congregations to use this Sunday. Titled Intentionally Cultivating Multiethnic Churches, Williams briefly described his experience of becoming senior pastor for a predominantly white congregation. The pursuit of diversity is not an easy path, he wrote. Not only does it challenge heart-level issues of prejudice, but it challenges lifelong preferences regarding music, expressiveness in services, preaching style and more. Williams gave three pieces of advice on how pastors can handle the issue: be careful when directing a church toward more diversity, listen to congregants, and ask for forgiveness and grace. Many of the challenges weve had to overcome are the result of the man in the mirror. Sometimes weve gone too fast or too slow, and weve spoken too strong and too soft, continued Williams. One of the greatest apologetics in the next 20 years will be multiethnic churches. As cultural divides continue, and likely deepen, I believe people will ask Why? when they look at our churches and see blacks and whites, Hispanics and Asians, young and old, women and men, rich and poor, standing, living, laughing, weeping, walking together. Initially known as Race Relations Sunday when it was first observed in 1965, in 1998 the SBC voted to change the name of the observance to Racial Reconciliation Sunday. The SBC was originally formed in 1845 as the pro-slavery church for Baptists, holding its inaugural meeting at First Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia. In 1995, the Southern Baptist Convention issued a formal apology for its earlier support of slavery and segregation. More recently, SBC leadership has made efforts to advance racial reconciliation and to reach out to historically African American churches. For example, in 2015 then SBC President Ronnie Floyd took part in a summit on racial unity held in Jackson, Mississippi, alongside Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA. In 2016, Floyd participated in panel discussion titled "A National Conversation on Racial Unity in America" in St. Louis, Missouri. The sin of racism is a spiritual stronghold in this nation and now is the time this wall must come down, wrote Floyd at the time. As we repent of it personally, repent of it in our churches, and repent of it in our nation, we will perhaps see the next great spiritual awakening in our generation. Last June, current SBC President J.D. Greear preached to about 1,000 people at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, about horrible history of racism in Western churches. You see, the Gospel teaches us that there's only one kind of person: human, said Greear, as reported by the Baptist Press at the time. We all got one common problem: sin. We only have one hope: the blood of Jesus. And that means all people red and yellow, black and white all alike are precious in His sight because all are afflicted with the same problem; all require the same solution. The unveiled on Saturday its strategy for the assembly elections in Bihar, scheduled later this year, wherein it hopes to play a significant role despite the shadow of mightier alliance partners -- the JD(U) and the BJP. The party's president Chirag Paswan, who recently took the mantle from his father and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan, announced at a press conference here that he would embark on a state-wide 'Bihar First' yatra - with the promise of pulling the state out of its long history of backwardness. He also sought to clear speculations in a section of the media that the party, which has six members in the Lok Sabha, may insist on more than 40 seats in the assembly where its tally is a measly two. "It would be irresponsible on my part to disclose to the media the number of seats my party would like to contest, before discussing the same with my alliance partners. We have identified 119 seats in the 243-strong assembly which are held neither by the JD(U) nor the BJP where our party will devote itself to strengthen the NDA's prospects," Paswan added. The JD(U), headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has a 70-plus tally, while the BJP has just over 50. The 2015 assembly election was fought by the JD(U) in alliance with the RJD and the Congress and its return to the NDA has strengthened the BJP-led coalition, while making the task of working out a viable seat-sharing formula trickier. Paswan, however, clarified that the 119 seats were identified not to stake the LJP's claim but with the focus on "wresting these from the opposition". "Our party will prepare a list of potential candidates in a transparent manner. Only those aspirants will be considered by the parliamentary board who succeed in making 25,000 members in the assigned assembly segment," he said, adding that the list will be shared with other NDA partners and a final decision will be taken by the three parties together. "At present, our focus is on reorienting ourselves after having spent much time and energy in Delhi. My 'Bihar First Yatra' will commence on February 21 and conclude on April 14 with a rally in Gandhi Maidan," he added. Incidentally, April 14 happens to be the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, a revered figure among Dalits who constitute the LJP's main support base. The LJP was founded while was a member of the Union cabinet headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Its founding president quit the NDA in protest against the Gujarat riots of 2002 and joined the Congress-led UPA and became a Union minister again after the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. In 2014, when made his poll debut, the party contested as an ally of the NDA and put up its best performance in a Lok Sabha polls, winning six seats out of the seven it had contested. Last year, the party maintained its tally despite contesting one seat less than five years ago. The decision by the Department to grant an exception from the two/three crop rule is very welcome and has come in time before sowing has commenced. The exception will apply on a case by case basis for farmers who had winter crops, maize or potatoes on their 2019 BPS application. They must also be able to demonstrate that they were adversely affected by weather conditions in late 2019. Further details will be made available later. The exemption will not be available to everyone. The Teagasc National Tillage Conference last week posed lots of questions and very few answers. Everyone went away thinking but with some degree of optimism - the key to a successful conference. A paper on how integrated pest management (IPM) is critical for managing pyrethroid resistance in aphids focused on chemical control of aphids. It stated that IMP was important, but gave no detailed advice and didn't address the impact of pesticides on natural beneficial predators. Likewise, a paper presented by a British researcher at the Teagasc Tillage Forum last autumn had no information on the loss of predators. We gave too many years saying that the cost of an aphicide was only a couple of euros per acre, totally ignoring the impact on non-target species and the benefits they contribute by feasting on aphids. With the loss of chemical active ingredients and very few new replacement products, research must focus on enhancing habitats to promote desirable species. There is likely more to be gained both environmentally and financially by not using insecticides. We need a strategy to restore biodiversity to fields that have being sprayed annually with insecticides. The role of IPM is not "to protect the pyrethroid class of insecticides" - it is to use strategies to minimise/avoid their use. The next paper addressed the development of herbicide resistance to grass weeds in Ireland. It highlighted the need for a variety of IPM tactics as well as using herbicides. The spread of resistant weeds from one farm to the next may in many cases be due to lack of hygiene practices when moving machinery, particularly combines, from one farm to another. On disease control and the loss of Chlorothalonil (Bravo), Stephen Kildea had a perfect take on IPM when saying that "ideally, strategies for their control are interactive in nature, utilising equally variety, agronomy and chemistry with each component aiding the other." The loss of Chlorothalonil is a serious loss in the short term until a suite of IPM strategies is developed to control both septoria in wheat and ramularia in barley. Chlorothalonil was our key player in protecting other chemistries from the development of resistance. More precise nutrient application has a role to play in disease control. Teagasc is currently researching the contribution of boron and sulphur to septoria control. Cereals are sensitive to boron which becomes toxic to them at high levels. Boron is also known to decrease the incidence of rhizoctonia on beans and peas, clubroot in brassicas and yellow rust in wheat. Sulphur is known to decrease powdery mildew in both barley and wheat; ramularia in beet; blackleg and common scab in potato and alternaria, light leaf spot and sclerotinia in oilseed rape. It is therefore important in our overall IPM strategy to correct critical trace element deficiencies and at the same time be conscious of toxicity risks. Currently we have limited information on trace element levels in soils but will have to enhance our knowledge if we are to reduce our dependence on pesticides. Tillage carbon footprint Karl Richards gave tillage farming a much needed boost by stating that the carbon footprint of Irish tillage crops is generally low. He encouraged tillage farmers to apply organic manures, to sow cover crops, incorporate straw and adopt min till and expanded rotations. Dermot Forristal outlined cultivation techniques for oilseed rape production, highlighted its capture of carbon and stated to benefits to soil biology in adopting good rotational practices. A Danish speaker related that cover crops are compulsory in Denmark. Similar to Ireland, the Danes have found that late harvesting of the main crop resulting in late establishment and poor growth/ environmental and financial benefits of the cover crop. That is a serious problem in Ireland for GLAS participants, who have in difficult seasons been forced to sow crops before the deadline date, knowing that the crop was unlikely to be successful. Future environmental/ farming programmes need to place more trust in farmer judgements and provide for flexibility in the terms and conditions. This year is the International Year of Plant Health which will promote plant health in "light of increasing trade and new plant risks caused through climate change". Protection of plant health will "help to end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment and boost economic development". We must all play our roles. PJ Phelan is a tillage advisor based in Tipperary and is a member of the ACA and ITCA Vietnam supports the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNSC to strengthen their cooperation in line with the UN Charter, said Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN In his speech at a meeting held by the UNSC in New York on February 6, Quy affirmed that Vietnam applauds the OSCEs humanitarian assistance, intermediation and mediation activities as well as its efforts to promote peace processes at hot spots in Europe. He emphasized that activities of regional organisations must comply with the UN Charter and supported the OSCE's role in monitoring and helping with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Quy also reiterated the principle of peacefully settling disputes in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Speaking at the meeting, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama, who is also Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, confirmed three priorities of the OSCE in 2020, including promoting field conflict settlement, especially the crises in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The OSCE will implement its commitments to enhance the role of women in the peace and security process, as well as in the fight against corruption, terrorism, smuggling and weapons proliferation, Rama said. It will also work to establish regional stability through dialogues between the OSCE and citizens and civil social organisations in order to ensure human rights and rights of ethnic minority groups, prevent human trafficking, discrimination and dissemination of hostile statements, Rama added. Representatives of the UNSCs member nations asserted their countries support for cooperation between the two organisations, and the role played by the OSCE in promoting dialogue and humanitarian assistance in areas with conflicts in Europe, especially in promoting the implementation of the Minsk agreements on the crisis in Ukraine. They stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in ensuring and promoting rights of women and children, human rights and compliance with laws; protecting civilians in conflict areas; and combating human trafficking and terrorism. Established in 1975, the OSCE groups 57 member countries in North America, Europe and South Asia, including four out of the five permanent members of the UNSC, namely the UK, the US, Russia and France./.VNA Vietnam successfully fulfils role as President of UNSC in January Head of Vietnams mission to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy chaired a session on January 31 to review activities of the UN Security Council (UNSC) during January, the month Vietnam held the rotary Presidency of the UNSC. Workers speed up the production of protective gowns at Fujian Chunhui Clothing in Fuzhou, Fujian province. (GUO CHEN / JUE GUO / LIN SHANCHUAN / XINHUA) By ZHANG LEI Demand for masks and medical supplies has soared in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The overall confirmed cases in China had reached more than 31,200 as of Friday, China's National Health Commission said. The People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force has been making all-out efforts to purchase materials badly needed in the fight against the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic. China is also looking to ratchet up domestic production and speed up the transportation of these supplies to key regions. Meanwhile, imports keep pouring in and the General Administration of Customs has designated special windows and green passages to facilitate the customs clearance of medical supplies. Special trains loaded with tons of selected agricultural products headed to Hubei province to augment the province's supplies of daily necessities. Greater efforts are being made to uphold social stability by cracking down on assaults on healthcare workers, illegal price hikes of medical supplies and goods key to people's livelihoods. The international community has also provided China with urgently needed medical supplies, and stands ready to offer more assistance and work together with China to combat the epidemic. Staff from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport unload newly arrived prevention supplies on the tarmac. (CHEN BIN / LIU XIAO / LU BOAN / XINHUA) The second batch of fruit and vegetable cargo train sets out from Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to Hubei province. (CHEN BIN / LIU XIAO / LU BOAN / XINHUA) A CT device donated by a medical equipment company from Zhejiang province is ready to be shipped off to Wuhan. (YUAN YUN / XINHUA) Couriers register the goods to be delivered, as many choose to stay at home purchasing daily necessities online. (CHEN BIN / LIU XIAO / LU BOAN / XINHUA) Independent scientists questioned research on Friday that suggested that the outbreak of coronavirus disease spreading from China might have passed from bats to humans through the illegal traffic of pangolins. South China Agricultural University, which said it had led the research, said on its website that the discovery will be of great significance for the prevention and control of the origin (of the new virus). Chinas official Xinhua news agency reported that the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus strain separated from pangolins in the study was 99 per ... Last months kerfuffle over the renaming of their exhibit hall took Westport Historical Society officials by surprise. Okay, its not the Historical Society anymore. Thats part of the problem. To recap: Last year, the nonprofit organization rebranded itself as the Westport Museum for History and Culture. Of the people who noticed, some did not care. Others were aghast. The new name was part of a new mission. A new director had been hired. Her goal was to change the image and activities of the institution, from a fusty-sounding, perhaps elitist society to a more modern, presumably more welcoming museum. She wanted to run with the bigger dogs. But to attain museum status at state and national professional levels meant doing business differently. To some members, business became the operative word. The museum sold off a number of items that had been donated over many years, including costumes and furnishings for the period rooms (which themselves were remodeled, for other functions). The gift shop was reimagined to make more money (and its long-serving director dismissed). The archives are sequestered behind a $40-per-hour wall. Those were moves the public saw. Behind the scenes, there were changes too. New faces joined the board. Longtime volunteers were told or felt that their services were no longer needed. Privately, they commiserated with each other. Publicly, they said nothing. Then, last January, came news that the Sheffer Gallery the main exhibit space would bear the name Daniel Offutt. He was a Westonite, with no apparent connection to the Westport Historical Society or museum. His estate donated a large sum of money, however, so the Sheffer family who had donated substantial sums themselves in the past and volunteered plenty of sweat equity too was consigned to the dustbin of this particular historical organization. That was bad enough for many Westporters. The fact that Ann Sheffer was told the news through a cheery, isnt-this-great email, was the final straw. Long-simmering resentment of the museums changes exploded into the blogosphere. But the museum is not the only institution to feel the wrath of former supporters who feel theyve been wronged. A couple of miles away, MoCA Westport has moved into new digs: Martha Stewarts old Newtown Turnpike television studio. You may not have heard of MoCA, but you certainly know its previous iteration: the Westport Arts Center. Like the historical society, that nonprofit has a long history in town. Founded as a way to bring Westports many artists, art patrons and art lovers together, it had an itinerant existence until landing at the then-closed Greens Farms Elementary School. There as artists rented individual studios, worked in close proximity and mounted shows in the hallways and the old gym a true community flourished. When the school reopened, the WAC moved to Riverside Avenue. The space was long and narrow, but it worked as a gallery and for educational programs. As with the historical society, a new board and new directors brought new ideas and visions. It too became a museum, in the process alienating longtime members, who felt their contributions and ideas were no longer valued. Many banded together to form a new group. The Artists Collective of Westport has carved out a new niche. They work collaboratively on artistic and educational projects. Theyve formed a true artists community. Theyve even found their own permanent exhibit space at the Westport Country Playhouse. Its called the Sheffer Studio Space. You cant make this stuff up. Troubles at the two organizations raised important questions: What is the role of a nonprofit cultural institution? Who do they serve? How should they grow? When is change good, and when is it too much? And, even thornier: Who is to judge? The historical society seems to have misjudged the devotion a good number of Westporters felt for its mission, and the way it was carried out. This was, after all, a historical society, and in its race to re-invent itself, it seemed almost to be erasing history. Of course, a town like Westport is always changing. Theres something to be said for looking to the future, for not doing things the same way all the time, for bringing in new faces with fresh ideas. The key is to do it without making the new blood seem like cold blood. The Westport Arts Centers metamorphosis into MoCA appears to be less controversial. Still, theyve lost the support and membership dollars of a sizable group of important Westporters. Theyve got a lot of space to fill out on Newtown Avenue. The Artists Collective has a nice, comfortable home now. The Sheffer name still lives there. Some things dont need to change. Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com. US and Afghan troops came under "direct fire" in eastern Afghanistan late Saturday, a US military official said, in an incident that apparently caused multiple casualties. The nature of the violence was not immediately clear. One Afghan official said the two sides had "clashed", while another source told AFP an Afghan commando had opened fire at the Americans. "A combined US and Afghan force conducting an operation in Nangarhar Province was engaged by direct fire on Feb. 8", US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett said in a statement. "We are assessing the situation and will provide further updates as they become available." In the past, US forces have been targeted in so called "insider" attacks -- where Afghan security forces target international soldiers with whom they are working. "An Afghan commando opened fire," a local security official told AFP, adding that the shooting lasted a long time. An official in Nangarhar meanwhile said the attack happened in the Shirzad district military headquarters, and that foreign forces had cordoned off the area. "Several helicopters landed in and departed from the HQ compound taking out casualties. We don't know how many killed or wounded," the official told AFP. A second Nangarhar official said: "This evening Afghan and US forces clashed in Shirzad district of Nangarhar. We believe there are casualties". The latest incident comes even as US and Taliban negotiators are seeking to reach a deal that would allow the United States to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan after more than 18 years of war. - Deadliest year - Last year was the deadliest for US forces in Afghanistan since combat operations officially finished at the end of 2014, highlighting the challenging security situation that persists. In December, Taliban infiltrators in the Afghan military killed nine Afghan soldiers in central Afghanistan. In July, an Afghan soldier killed two US troops as they were visiting an Afghan army base in Kandahar. US President Donald Trump has long questioned the wisdom of keeping troops overseas and has described the war in Afghanistan launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks as a drain on blood and treasure. But last year he cancelled a previously unannounced summit at the Camp David presidential retreat with the Taliban because of an attack that killed an American. He later allowed veteran US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad to resume the talks, which had taken place for months in Qatar. As talks have fluctuated, violent attacks in the country have raged, with the number of clashes jumping to record levels in the last quarter of 2019, according to a recent US government watchdog report. Also Saturday, at least four police officers and two civilians were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted a police checkpoint in Helmand province, according to the provincial governor's spokesman Said Omar Zwak. In this file photo taken on June 6, 2019, US soldiers look out over hillsides in Nerkh district of Wardak province; US and Afghan troops have come under "direct fire" in eastern Afghanistan, a US military official says Most of the petroleum stations in Badagry communities have closed as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria suspended distribution of fuel to the city. Chairman, South-West Chapter of the union, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Badagry that the suspension was due to harassment and molestation of its members by men of Customs and Army in the area. According to him, NUPENG has directed its members to stop the distribution of petroleum to Badagry until justice is done. He said NUPENG will be forced to extend the suspension to Lagos as a whole if nothing to correct the injustice was done to members. An injury to one is an injury to all, he added. The chairman said the customs under the Joint Border Patrol operations arrested a tanker driver, who missed its way in Badagry and drove it to Nigeria Customs Service. The customs was of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A in Ikeja. A tanker driver from Port Harcourt was sent to Badagry to deliver petroleum to a station, unfortunately, he missed his way and while asking for direction, the tanker driver was arrested by the men of joint border patrol. The tanker was taken to FOU in Ikeja. I wrote to the Controller on the issue and met DC Enforcement on the matter and I was directed to the Officer in Charge of Legal issues in the same office. OC Legal told me that he had not received the file from the joint patrol operation office and promised to call me later. But surprisingly, our enforcement unit in Agbara stopped a tanker to check his paper to find out if its delivery documents were intact, but there were errors in his documents, he said. Aboyeji said the enforcement team thought it was a stolen product, adding that they did not know that it was a product that was under investigation that had been sold to a buyer. Thinking that it was a stolen product, they drove it to Area K Police Command in Morogbo. I wrote a petition to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police as regard to the incident. Surprisingly, soldiers under the drilling exercise came to police station beat my members and forcefully drove away the tanker with its contents. We later heard that the tanker was used to remove the petroleum of a filling station in Badagry that had been sealed since February 1. Both the products and the tanker have not been found, this is not done in a civilized society, a product under investigation to be sold out just like that, he said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates A student-teacher was let go from her teaching role after giving her class an assignment that upset several parents. The student-teacher, who remains unnamed, was a Black female student at Vanderbilt University. The students were fourth graders at Waverly Belmont Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee. The task, which was part of a Black History Month lesson plan, was titled Lets Make A Slave, . it was reportedly based on an infamous 1712 speech by William Lynch, a slave owner. The students were asked, to keep their slaves subservient, plantation owners should, with a blank space left for their answer. One parent, Karen Lockert, whose son is Black, said the exercise forced him to question if his white peers viewed him differently. [My son] felt that sense of looking differently at his friends For me, I said, Were not going to look differently at people unless they treat you differently. Another parent told WZTV that they believed it was horrible and wrong to teach this kind of stuff to fourth-graders. Nashville Metro Public Schools issued a statement on the student-teachers dismissal, saying her teaching material was not age-appropriate . Vanderbilt University also released a statement, calling the assignment an unfortunate situation President Donald Trumps triumph appears total after the collapse of his impeachment trial in the US Senate, leading to his acquittal Wednesday night. Not only that, his popularity ratings too have soared, according to the Gallup polls. The Democrats are in disarray, and as of now he looks a clear frontrunner in the run-up to the November presidential elections. President Trumps victory in the Senate trial was a foregone conclusion with its Republican majority standing firm behind their leader. Senate rules require a two-thirds majority for a successful impeachment, and it was clear from the beginning that the Democrats and Mr Trumps rivals could never muster that figure. Mr Trump continues to be the Republicans best and only bet now, and theres simply no credible opposition to him within the party. Senator Mitt Romney, the lone Republican to vote against the President, whom he publicly accused of committing an appalling abuse of public trust, finds himself ostracised and staring at the end of his political career. Massachusetts governor Bill Wield, talk show host and former US representative Joe Walsh, and realtor Rocky De La Fuente have thrown their hats into the ring, but nobody considers them serious challengers to Mr Trump. The Iowa Republican caucuses that took place on February 3 gave the President 97 per cent votes, illustrating clearly which way the wind is blowing. The Democrats, on the other hand, present a much-divided house with as many as 11 presidential hopefuls and a diminished support base. Former vice-president Joe Biden is widely considered the Democrats favourite, but some reports suggest Bernie Sanders, the Brooklyn-born senator from Vermont, has a chance of taking the lead. If the Iowa caucuses 2020 results are anything to go by, the results are significant. While President Trump got an overwhelming majority of Republican votes, the Democrats vote was split, with Pete Buttigieg securing an unexpected 26.2 per cent share, Bernie Sanders 26.1 per cent, Elizabeth Warren 18.2 per cent and Joe Biden trailing with just 15.8 per cent. These results are not just a big upset, but also reflective of the turmoil within the Democratic Party. President Trumps popularity, meanwhile, continues to grow despite his unpredictable behaviour, frequent gaffes and claims of past misconduct. According to the latest Gallup polls, approval for Mr Trump has shot up from 41 per cent in October last year to 48 per cent in January this year, which suggest that impeachment proceedings actually helped him! Gallups economic confidence index shows an even sharper rise between October 2019 and January 2020, up from 21 (on a scale of 100 to 100) to 40. As much as 62 per cent of Americans said the economy is excellent or good, as against eight per cent, who described it as poor. Clearly, the Presidents hard-nosed economic decisions, particularly the renegotiating of trade deals (with Canada, Mexico, China and India), has the approval of large numbers of Americans. Also, employment is at a 50-year high and the economy has been doing consistently well over the past few years. Not surprisingly, in the same period, the polls saw a happy rise in US satisfaction levels, or the percentage of Americans who are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, which is up from 28 to 41 per cent. Satisfaction levels havent been this high since 2005. In short, President Trump is doing pretty good. Yet, on the flip side, Americans have never been as divided as they are today. While President Trump might have been acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial and is pushing ahead with a popular tailwind, it does not mean that the fundamental churnings within American society and politics have ended. Far from it. Timothy Naftali, co-author of the book Impeachment: An American History, pointed out in an interview that wrongs do not necessarily lead to impeachment. Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998 but like Mr Trump was later acquitted in a Senate trial. However, a failed impeachment trial also does not suggest that the charges were wrong. In the end, as in the Clinton case, the Trump impeachment was all about politics and power. The substance of the charges was secondary and in the ultimate analysis of little consequence. President Trump might have triumphed and is likely on the path for a second stint as US President, but he has not been able to unite the country behind him. If anything, it is more fractured today with the Gallup polls showing that 50 per cent Americans continue to disapprove of him. Given the current political configuration in the United States, this disapproval rating will translate to little; politics, economics and the US strategic outlook can be expected to remain consistent over the medium term. This can only be good news for India. For President Trump, despite his hard dealings in trade and business matters, does not appear to disfavour India. Even his unwelcome offers to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue appears more a concession to the Pakistani leadership than an ill-intentioned snub to India. For Washington continues to negotiate with Islamabad over a possible deal on Afghanistan and President Trump has to keep the Pakistani leaders appeased. Donald Trump will be visiting India later this month as a confident and relaxed President. He will be tough in negotiations and expect concessions from India, which he most likely will extract. Yet, in the overall scheme of things, the strategic engagement between the two countries can only be expected to intensify during his tenure. India and the United States have a common opponent in the form of the great disrupter, the Peoples Republic of China. President Trump has emerged as the first US leader to stop his countrys slide into total indebtedness to China. His America First slogan, slapping of import duties on Chinese goods and decision to enhance US military presence in the Indo-Pacific region suggest a mindset determined to resist Chinas total domination of Asia and its spreading global ambitions. An unrestrained hegemon in Asia is not in Indias interest either. Besides, India also faces an economic as well as a strategic challenge from China. New Delhis repeated requests for greater market access for Indian goods and services or a resolution of border disputes has met with prevarication or obfuscation. New Delhi will do well to further cultivate a politically rejuvenated President Trump, fresh from his Senate triumph, and determined more than ever before to push through his overall agenda for America. Two young women from Alabama will be honored in Washington D.C. for their volunteer work in their communities. Brooke Bennett, a 7th grader at Saint James School in Montgomery and Lindsey Wood, a junior at Thorsby High School were named Alabamas top two youth volunteers of 2020 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, which comes with a $1,000 prize and a trip to the nations capitol. Wood made and sold more than 10,000 hair bows over the last seven years, giving more than $7,000 worth of products for children entering the foster care system through her initiative Bows That Bless. Wood said she was inspired by her best friend who was adopted through foster care. Wood fills backpacks and diaper bags with clothes, bottles, blankets and stuffed animals and donates them to foster care organizations. This makes the process of entering foster care more comforting and smoother for the children, Wood said in a press release. Wood also speaks at schools to advocate for children in the foster care system and volunteers at a foster care camp each year. Bennett is the co-founder, along with her twin sister Breanna, of Women in Training, Inc. (WIT), which provides menstrual hygiene products to students in her community. Bennett began WIT by collecting menstrual products in bags for young women and girls in her community who might otherwise have to miss school during their periods after she learned 20 percent of American girls and women cannot afford menstrual products. People often think this is a problem that affects only poor girls in Africa, Asia, and South America, Brooke said. However, girls right here in Alabama and throughout the United States suffer, too. Since starting WIT in July 2019, Bennett has partnered with a local OBGYN to create a period guide to hand out in the community. Four other students were recognized as finalists including Anna Lee, 17, of Saraland who collected more than $1,500 in gift cards, as well as basic toiletries and linens to teens experiencing housing instability; Anushka Sikdar, 17, of Mobile, who founded Light The Way, donating more than 500 homemade pillows to children with cancer; Anna Wilkes, 18, of Pelham, founder of Kits For Kids, which provided backpacks with clothes and hygiene products to children in the foster care system; and Chayce Pyfrom, 17, of Huntsville, who volunteers his time to Free2Teach. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has recognized youth volunteer work across the country for the last 25 years. During their trip to Washington D.C., the students will get a chance to meet top youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. Middle level and high school students are doing remarkable things to shape the future of their communities through volunteer service. They inspire all students and schools to drive learning with real-world challenges, said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of National Association of Secondary School Principals. Congratulations to each of the 2020 honorees its an honor to celebrate your commitment to creating positive change. The university places a high value on our students right to free speech, and we are committed to protecting their right to do so safely, according to an email sent to the campus. The Division of Safety and Security is working with students to gather detailed information about the incident that took place at the F Street house. We will fully investigate complaints in accordance with university and department procedures. TODAY: Negotiations between the Giants and Puig are all but dead, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Puig isnt a priority for the team now that Pence and Billy Hamilton have been added to San Franciscos outfield mix. FEBRUARY 7: Yasiel Puig has been the top dog on the free agent market for over a week now. His market situation remains largely unclear, though a few new tidbits of information have emerged today. Both the Rays and Giants have given some indication of interest in the 29-year-old outfielder, per reports from Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link) and Robert Murray (via Twitter). Its not clear in either case just how extensive the interest is. Trouble is, both teams face some rather clear limitations on paper. The San Francisco club made quite a bit more sense before they reportedly struck a deal today with Hunter Pence. Its still possible to imagine a fit, but thatd mean crowding out some of the players to whom the team has seemingly wished to provide opportunities. Down in Tampa Bay, chasing after Puig would presumably represent a value-driven proposition. After all, theres no need from a roster perspective. The Rays already have two righty bats in their corner outfield mix in Hunter Renfroe and Jose Martinez. No doubt the budget-conscious club would only move on Puig if it gets a bargain and/or has other machinations in mind for making a late tweak to its roster mix. As we covered in the above-linked post, there are some other conceivable fits on paper. But as yet we havent heard of keen interest from many of the teams that could possibly match. With only a week or so left until camps open, itll be interesting to see how this situation develops. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 15:46 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063501ed 4 National KSP,coronavirus,outbreak-in-Indonesia,misinformation,Natuna Free The Executive Office of the President has opened an integrated information center to publish official data and information regarding the novel coronavirus at its office in the Bina Graha building in the Presidential Palace complex, Central Jakarta. The offices undersecretary for political information and communication, Juri Ardiantoro, said on Friday that the information center would provide transparent data on a regular basis to avoid misinformation regarding the outbreak. The information center will provide updates on the handling of the 2019-nCov in an integrated system [with input from] ministries, institutions and regional administrations, Juri said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday as quoted by news agency Antara. The latest data regarding the outbreak would be available every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the center would regularly hold press conferences, Juri went on to say. He added that updated information on 243 Indonesian citizens quarantined in Natuna, Riau Islands, would be among the information provided by the center. Read also: Indonesia readies plans for post-quarantine period: Health Ministry Executive Office of the President undersecretary on human development Abetnego Tarigan expressed hope that the centralized distribution of information regarding the outbreak would avoid any stigmatization of the Wuhan evacuees quarantined in Natuna. Meanwhile, the offices undersecretary for politics, law, defense and human rights, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, said she had met with the Natuna community and local officials during a visit on Thursday. She added that her team was assuring the local community that the government was actively handling the outbreak and would provide clear information to the public about what was happening there. Unfortunately, we did not have direct contact with the evacuees being observed, because that is part of compliance with the WHO protocol, she said, referring to the World Health Organization. Jaleswari said Natuna residents had accepted the governments move to quarantine Wuhan evacuees on the island after receiving clear information from law enforcement authorities and government officials. The governments decision to quarantine the evacuees there had previously been met with opposition from residents concerned about the coronavirus spreading in the region. The government will always guarantee observation in accordance with health standards and protocols, she said. (syk) Delhi Assembly Polls Live Updates: The voter turnout in Delhi elections was recorded at 57.74 per cent on Saturday. In a single-phased Delhi poll, which started at 8 pm, only north-west and East Delhi has recorded above 30 per cent voter turnout. In north-west Delhi, the voting percentage was 34.82 per cent till 2 pm. In East Delhi, the voter turnout was 31 per cent. In Shaheen Bagh, which falls under Okhla constituency, recorded a voter turnout of 14 per cent only. Delhi Police conducted flag march from Shaheen Bagh to Jamia University on Saturday. Both the places have been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests lately. Polling is underway for 70 constituencies in Delhi. The national capital will seal the fate of 672 candidates in the fray for 70 assembly seats. There are over 1.47 crore eligible voters to exercise their franchise in Delhi election 2020. Polling began at 8 am and will end at 6 pm. The election commission (EC) which is conducting the Delhi election 2020 is all geared up for the polls riding high on tech-savvy elements such as QR codes and mobile apps. The EC has identified 516 locations and 3,704 polling booths as critical voting stations with the paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure smooth elections. Activities are these polling stations will also be monitored through webcasting. Delhi Police has made tight security arrangements across the national capital and is keeping an extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive areas in view of the ongoing anti-CAA protests. The police have deployed nearly 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) to ensure violence-free and smooth Delhi Assembly polls. Also Read: Delhi Election 2020: Polling in national capital today; here's all you need to know Also Read: Delhi Election 2020: How to vote, find polling booth, and other FAQs Catch all the latest updates on Delhi Assembly polls 2020 on BusinessToday.In 8.11 pm: The total voter turnout at the end of voting in 2020 Delhi Assembly elections stood at 57.74 per cent. Voter turnout in North West Delhi was pegged at 57.07 per cent, North East Delhi at 62.75 per cent, South Delhi at 56.73 per cent, Central Delhi at 57.67 per cent, South West at 56.79 per cent, East Delhi at 60.41 per cent, West Delhi at 58.34 per cent, and North Delhi at 56.38 per cent. 7.01 pm: Delhi: Voting for #DelhiAssemblyElections concludes; visuals from polling booth in Shaheen Public School, Shaheen Bagh. pic.twitter.com/sR9Una1xu4 ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 6.08 pm: Women protesters from Shaheen Bagh vote in batches to keep agitation alive On a sit-in for over a month against the Citizenship Amendment Act, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh voted in batches on Saturday so that the agitation remains unaffected. While some of the women voted in the morning, others chose to get their fingers inked in the afternoon and the remaining in the evening. In the meantime, the menfolk from Shaheen Bagh filled in at the protest site when the women protestors were away completing domestic chores. The Shaheen Bagh protest site had become a focal point in the BJP's poll campaign. (PTI) 6.00 pm: Voting percentage was pegged at 54.65 per cent by 6:00 pm. 5.41 pm: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shaheen Bagh. #DelhiElections2020: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. pic.twitter.com/URTFL7OpJq ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 5.30 pm: Voter turnout in Delhi Assembly elections reaches 53.18 per cent. 5.08 pm: Voter turnout touches 45 per cent in 2020 Delhi Assembly election till 5 pm. 4.25 pm: Voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls reaches 42.70% till 4 pm. #DelhiElections2020: 42.70% voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 4 pm. pic.twitter.com/heFORHrWmp ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 3.45 pm: Taapsee Pannu shuts down troll heckling her for voting in Delhi elections Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu on Saturday blasted a social media user who targeted her for casting vote in Delhi Assembly elections even after shifting to Mumbai for work. Taapsee, who is looking forward to the release of her film "Thappad", posted a picture with her family on Twitter after casting the vote and urging her fans to do the same. One of the social media users criticised the actor for not getting her name transferred to the voting list in Mumbai, where she works as an actor. "Why are people who live in Mumbai deciding for us, it's been quite a long time since @taapsee shifted to Mumbai. She should get her vote shifted too," the comment read. In a lengthy reply, Taapsee said no one has the right to question her citizenship as she is "more of a Delhite than a lot of others who might just be living here but probably don't contribute". "I am living in Delhi as much if not more than Mumbai. My income is taxed through Delhi... Kindly don't question my citizenship, worry about yours n your contribution to it. And also to add, you can take a girl out of Delhi but you can not take Delhi out of this girl. And you are no one to tell me what I should do and what I should not. I guess this response will be enough to tell u how much of a Delhiite I am," she tweeted. (PTI) 3.32 pm: Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat casts his vote at Sanchar Bhawan. Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat after casting his vote at Sanchar Bhawan. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/5s1VERfUoc ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 3.22 pm: Arvind Kejriwal, Smriti trade barbs over special appeal to women voters Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union minister Smriti Irani traded barbs on Twitter on Saturday after the AAP leader issued a "special appeal" to woman voters and asked them to discuss with men as to who could be the right choice for votes. Irani, a BJP Lok Sabha MP, took a swipe at Kejriwal, asking if he does not consider women capable enough to decide for themselves who to vote for. (PTI) 3.15 pm: Former President Pranab Mukherjee casts vote in New Delhi Constituency Former President Pranab Mujherjee arrives at a polling station at Kamraj lane to cast his vote. Former President Pranab Mukherjee cast his vote at a polling station at Kamraj lane in New Delhi Constituency. #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/l1kO0yDmq7 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 3.00 pm: 30.18 % voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 3 pm 2.45 pm: Delhi voting percentage: 27.41% voter turnout till 2 pm; Shaheen Bagh's Okhla constituency records 14% only The voter turnout in Delhi at 2 pm was recorded at 27.41 per cent on Saturday. In a single-phased Delhi poll, which started at 8 pm, only north-west and East Delhi has recorded above 30 per cent voter turnout. In north-west Delhi, the voting percentage was 34.82 per cent till 2 pm. In East Delhi, the voter turnout was 31 per cent. The voter turnout in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's constituency was 21.65 per cent. Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia 's constituency, Patparganj recorded 31.48 per cent voter turnout till 2 pm. Read more here: 34.82% voter turnout till 2 pm; Shaheen Bagh's Okhla constituency records 14% only 2.30 pm Did not slap AAP worker, I tried to, says Alka Lamba Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk, Alka Lamba clarified that she did not slap the AAP worker but "tried to". Lamba got into an ugly spat with an AAP worker on Saturday morning who allegedly used bad language against her son. 2.15 pm: 34.82% voter turnout till 1 pm in Delhi election 2020 The voter turnout in Delhi at 2 pm was recorded at 27.41 per cent on Saturday. In a single-phased Delhi poll, which started at 8 pm, only north-west and East Delhi has recorded above 30 per cent voter turnout. In north-west Delhi, the voting percentage was 34.82 per cent till 2 pm. In East Delhi, the voter turnout was 31 per cent. The voter turnout in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's constituency was 21.65 per cent. Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia 's constituency, Patparganj recorded 31.48 per cent voter turnout till 2 pm. In Shaheen Bagh, which falls under Okhla constituency, recorded a voter turnout of 14 per cent only. Congress' Alka Lamba's Chandni Chowk constituency saw 25.47 % voter turnout. 2.10 pm: Wrestler Sushil Kumar votes at a polling booth in Baprola village Delhi: Wrestler Sushil Kumar after casting his vote at a polling booth in Baprola village. #DelhiElection2020 pic.twitter.com/sqWobuydpS - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 1.55 pm: Delhi Police carries out flag march from Shaheen Bagh to Jamia Delhi Police conducted flag march from Shaheen Bagh to Jamia University on Saturday. Both the places have been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests lately. 1.45 am: Delhi Election 2020: Oldest woman voters casts vote Centenarian Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter in Delhi, on Saturday cast her vote and urged people to take part in the democratic exercise. Aged 111, she came to a polling station in CR Park along with her son, grandson and other family members. She flashed her inked wrinkled finger to photographers after voting. "I am happy to vote in this election. I don't remember how many elections I have taken part in, but as a responsible citizen, we must vote. I urge other citizens to also come out and vote," Mandal told PTI. Born in undivided India in Barisal (now in Bangladesh) in 1908, Mandal has seen the subcontinent go through turbulent phases many times, including two partitions, and lived "twice as a refugee" in India along with her family before finding a home in the national capital. (PTI) 1.37 pm: Public transport should be subsidised for students, says Priyanka Gandhi's son Raihan "It was a nice feeling to take part in the democratic process. Everyone should exercise their right to vote; I think everyone should have access to public transport and it should be subsidized for students," said Raihan Rajiv Vadra, son of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra. Raihan Rajiv Vadra, son of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra: It was a nice feeling to take part in the democratic process. Everyone should exercise their right to vote; I think everyone should have access to public transport and it should be subsidized for students. https://t.co/bpZTQprAZr pic.twitter.com/qylCEuoYeV - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 1.26 pm: Priyanka Gandhi, son Raihan cast vote for the first time Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with her son Raihan Rajiv Vadra and husband Robert Vadra at a polling booth in Lodhi Estate. Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter, cast their vote at booth no.114 & 116 in Lodhi Estate. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/4wUQbioglL - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 1.15 pm: Kejriwal hits out at Smriti Irani; says women decide their family vote Following BJP leader Smriti Irani questioned Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, he came with a rebuttal to her anti-women charge saying women of Delhi have already decided as to who they are going to vote for. 1.00 pm: Delhi chief election officer to brief media at 6:30 pm today 12.43 pm: Delhi Police, paramilitary force hold flag march at Brij Puri Delhi Police and paramilitary force personnel hold flag march in Brij Puri. "There's adequate arrangement in place for smooth conduct of polls. All senior officers along with the forces patrolling the area. PCR&QRTs deployed at sensitive areas," said Jt CP Eastern Range Alok Kumar Delhi: Policemilitary force personnel hold flag march in Brij Puri. Jt CP Eastern Range Alok Kumar says, "There's adequate arrangement in place for smooth conduct of polls. All senior officers along with the forces patrolling the area. PCR&QRTs deployed at sensitive areas". pic.twitter.com/HRyEMFGg6K - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 12.38 pm: District wise polling percentage till 11 am: North west- 18.08% North East- 20.26% south- 16.24% central- 14.95% south west- 18.85% East- 18.06% West- 15.50% North- 16.92% New Delhi- 14.00% Shahdara- 18.92% South East- 16.70% 12.28 pm: CEC Sunil Arora casts vote at Nirman Bhawan Delhi chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora casts vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi constituency. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is contesting against BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress's Romesh Sabharwal Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora after casting his vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Delhi CM & sitting MLA from the constituency,Arvind Kejriwal is contesting from here. BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal fielded against the CM. pic.twitter.com/F3RFJ3MAu5 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 12.15 pm: Delhi Election 2020 Voting Live: 15.57% voter turnout till 12 pm; protest-hit Shaheenbagh records 4.66% The voter turnout at 12 pm was recorded at 15.47 per cent on Saturday. Among all nine districts, North-east Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout of 19.24 per cent. The New Delhi district recorded the least voting percentage at 11.63 per cent till 12 pm on Saturday. Besides, Babarpur (20.48%), Gokalpur (21%) and Mustafabad (21.13%) were the three constituencies that had recorded over 20 per cent voter turnout at 12 pm. Read more here: Delhi voting percentage: 15.57% voter turnout till 12 pm; Seelampur recorded 19.94% 12.00 pm: LK Advani casts vote at polling booth on Aurangzeb lane Senior BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their votes at a polling booth on Aurangzed lane in Delhi Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/pazf3j7d53 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 11.55 am: Delhi Assembly election 2020: Alka Lamba loses her cool, slaps AAP worker at polling booth Congress candidate Alka Lamba slapped an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker at a polling booth near Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi on Saturday. Lamba slapped after he allegedly passed some comments on her son. Lamba is contesting from Chandni Chowk seat in the Delhi elections. Read more here: Delhi Assembly election 2020: Alka Lamba loses her cool, slaps AAP worker at polling booth 11.46 am: Don't you think women are capable enough to decide who to vote for: Smriti Irani asks Kejriwal BJP's Smriti Irani asked Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Twitter if he doesn't consider women capable enough to decide who to vote for. Kejriwal had on Saturday morning appealed to all women voters of Delhi to vote in large numbers adding that they discuss with men about who they should vote. 11.42 am: Don't be lazy, exercise your right, says Congress leader Sonia Gandhi Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi Saturday urged people to go out and vote. 11.37 am: Key statistics about Delhi Elections 2020: Check here Number of seats: 70 Number of candidates: 672 Key parties in fray: Incumbent AAP, BJP and Congress Counting: February 11 Exit Poll: After polling closes on Feb 8 Voter profile: Total number of voters: 1,47,86,382 Male voters: 81,05,236 Female voters: 66,80,277 Service voters: 11,608 Third gender voters: 869 Senior citizens aged 80 and above: 2,04,830 Youth aged 18 and 19: 2,32,815 Polling stations: Number of polling centres: 2,689 Number of polling booths: 13,750 Security deployed 40,000 security personnel 19,000 home guards 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces 11.28 am: Manoj Tiwari mocks Kejriwal's temple visit, says he went to worship or define Hanuman ji BJP Delhi President Manoj Tiwari took a jibe at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's temple visit a few days ago. "He went to worship or defile Hanuman ji," said Tiwari. Manoj Tiwari, BJP: Woh (Arvind Kejriwal) pooja karne gaye the ya Hanuman Ji ko ashudh karne gaye the? Ek haath se joota utaarke,ussi haath se mala lekar...kya kar diya? Jab nakli bhakt aate hain na toh yahi hota hai. Maine pandit ji ko bataya, bahut baar Hanuman Ji ko dhoye hain. pic.twitter.com/lETgFhgfK7 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 11.20 am: BJP ridiculing me ever since I read Hanuman Chalisa on TV channel, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Saturday took to Twitter saying that the BJP has been mocking him ever since he recited Hanuman Chalisa on a news channel a few days ago. He said that god is for everyone, to bless everybody, even the BJP. TV , ? , - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2020 11.13 am: Actor Taapsee Pannu casts vote with family Actor Taapsee Pannu casts vote with family in Delhi election 2020, says 'every vote counts'. Taapsee Pannu casts vote with family, says 'every vote counts' Read @ANI story | https://t.co/X1A2IvJVuw pic.twitter.com/dCp3otL5O7 - ANI Digital (@ani_digital) February 8, 2020 11.08 am: Congress president Sonia Gandhi casts vote at NirmalBhawan Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi arrives with daughter Priyanka Gandhi to cast their votes at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Delhi: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi arrives at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency, to cast her vote. She is accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who will cast her vote at booth no.114 & 116 at Lodhi Estate. #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/h4dWGVL1nh - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 11.00am: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi casts vote at polling booth in Aurangzeb Road Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at a polling booth number 81 & 82 at Aurangzeb road to cast his vote in Delhi election 2020. Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at polling booth number 81&82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast his vote in #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/FtDxzMRRys - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 10.56 am: former PM Manmohan Singh arrives with wife to cast vast at Nirmal Bhawan Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh along with his wife arrives at Nirman Bhawan to cast their vote. Nirman Bhawan falls in New Delhi Assembly constituency. Delhi: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh cast their vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/8uQVVv04Xr - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 10.50 am: District wise voting percentage till 9 am District wise polling percentage till 9 AM Northwest- 5.08% Northeast- 5.77% South- 4.56% Central- 3.91% Southwest- 5.70% East- 5.38% West- 4.04% North- 4.58% New Delhi- 4.11% Shahdara- 5.68% South East- 4.76% 10.45 am: Voters come out in scores to cast votes in Jamia Nagar Voters queue outside a polling booth in Jamia Nagar as voting for Delhi election 2020 is underway Delhi: Voters queue outside a polling booth in Jamia Nagar as polling for legislative assembly elections is underway pic.twitter.com/d8vqZVd0Xv - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 10:38AM: President Kovind and his wife cast votes President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President's Estate. Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President's Estate. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/SyOBmEesOS - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 10.10 AM: Bridegroom casts vote in Shakarpur Dressed in his wedding attire, a bridegroom arrived at a polling station in Shakarpur to cast his vote. Voting underway in Delhi, visuals from a polling booth in MCD primary school in Shakarpur. A bridegroom also cast his vote with his family. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/KiUvTfhFw6 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 9.56 am: CM Arvind Kejriwal and family cast votes at a polling booth in Civial Lines Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family cast their votes at a polling booth in Civil Lines. 9.52 am: 110-year-old voter turns up at Sanoth village in Narela A 110-year-old voter arrived at a polling booth in Sanoth village in Narela constituency to cast his vote. 9.47 am: "Will not show papers" politics will be defeated, says BJP leader Ram Lal BJP leader and RSS promoter Ram Lal said that the "Kaagaz nahi dikhayenge (will not show papers)" politics will be defeated in Delhi. Lal was referring to the anti-CAA protests in the national capital. 9.44 am: CM Kejriwal seeks mother's blessings as he leaves to cast his vote Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sought his mother's blessings before he left his house to cast his vote. Kejriwal is fighting Delhi election 2020 from the New Delhi constituency. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves for casting his vote.BJP's Sunil Yadav& Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/2N14o8KyCi - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 9.37 am: BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi arrives to vote at South Extension-II BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi casts her vote at a polling booth in South Extension-II #DelhiElections2020 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP Meenakshi Lekhi casts her vote at a polling station in South Extension Part-II. Delhi pic.twitter.com/vytVmaaWeU - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 9.32 am: Menaka Gandhi arrives at Nirman Bhawan to vote BJP leader Menaka Gandhi arrived at the Nirman Bhawan voting station to cast her vote. 9.27 am: EVM malfunction reported at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth number 114 in New Delhi constituency 9.17 am: Congress candidate Alka Lamba casts vote at polling booth in Tagore Garden Extension Congress's Chandni Chowk candidate Alka Lamba arrived at a polling booth in Tagore Garden Extension to cast her vote. She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of AAP and BJP's Suman Gupta. Delhi: Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta. pic.twitter.com/tRVk3Y6r2z - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 9.09 am: Polling not started at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to technical issue in EVM The voting for Delhi election 2020 has not yet begun at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar owing to a technical issue in the EVM. EC's technical team has reached the spot to look into the issue. 9.02 am: Delhi Election 2020: Lt Governor Anil Baijal casts vote at polling booth in Greater Kailash Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal arrived at a polling station in Greater Kailash (GK) to cast their vote. AAP's sitting MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj is in the fray against BJP's Shikha Rai and Congress's Sukhbir Pawar from the GK constituency. Delhi: Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal cast their vote at a polling station at Greater Kailash; AAP's sitting MLA and candidate Saurabh Bhardwaj is contesting against BJP's Shikha Rai and Congress's Sukhbir Pawar from here pic.twitter.com/mmKItjEOdl - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.58 am: Today, Delhi will vote for better education, future of their children, says Manish Sisodia Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from patparganj Assembly constituency said on Saturday that the people of Delhi will vote for better education and future of their children. Delhi: Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency at Mayur Vihar Phase II. He says, "Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children"; The BJP has fielded Ravi Negi from the constituency. pic.twitter.com/tdFPc1cVqJ - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.55 am: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan casts vote at polling booth in Krishna Nagar Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan arrived at a polling booth in Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar with his mother to cast his vote. Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with his mother arrive at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar to cast their votes; BJP's Anil Goel and Congress's Ashok Walia contesting from here against AAP's sitting MLA and candidate SK Bagga pic.twitter.com/TUfhc4oMJ7 - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.45 am: BJP MP Parvesh Verma votes at Matiala constituency polling station BJP MP Parvesh Verma arrived at a polling station in Matiala constituency to cast his vote. See visuals. Delhi: BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote at a polling station in Matiala assembly constituency; BJP and Congress have fielded Rajesh Gehlot and Sumesh Shokeen from the constituency, respectively. Gulab Singh Yadav of AAP is the current MLA and party's candidate from Matiala pic.twitter.com/u0toVZVMNX - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.37 am: People come out in big numbers to vote in Shaheen Bagh Scores of people turn up to cast their vote at polling booth in Shaheen Bagh. A long queue of people was seen at a voting station in Shaheen Public School in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh which has been the epicenter of anti-CAA protests lately. A queue of voters at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh, Okhla. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/4hB60BtqGd - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.28 am: Vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics, tweets Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday took to Twitter to appeal to Delhiites to exercise their franchise and free Delhi from "lies and vote bank politics." "I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics", tweeted Shah. , - Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 8, 2020 8.20 am: Union Minister S Jaishankar votes at a polling station in Tuglak Crescent Union Minister S Jaishankar reached a polling station in Tuglak Crescent to cast his vote. See visuals. Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has cast his vote at the polling station set up at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent. He says, "it is basic duty of every citizen to vote. It is important to get out there and contribute." pic.twitter.com/y8quQkTS8L - ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 8.16 am: PM Modi appeals to youth to vote in numbers Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to appeal to young voters to come out in maximum numbers and create a new voting record. "Today is the voting day for the Delhi Assembly elections. My appeal to all voters is that they participate in this festival of democracy in maximum number and create a new voting record. Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers," PM Modi tweeted. Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers. - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2020 8.10 am: Kejriwal appeals to women voters Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to specially appeal to all women voters. He said in his tweet that the way women take the responsibility of their homes, the same way they should take the responsibility of the country and Delhi. He appealed to women to come out to vote and also bring the men of their houses. - , - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2020 8.00 am: Polling begins for 70 constituencies of Delhi. Voting will end at 6 pm. 8.00 am: Delhi Election 2020: Polling to begin soon: How to check your name on voter's list You can vote only if your name appears in the voter list which is also known as the electoral roll. Here is how you can verify your name on the voter's list: Visit the official website of CEO Delhi (ceodelhi.gov.in) or the official website of the Election Commission of India (eci.gov.in) Find 'Check Your Name in The Voter's List (Electoral Roll) by Voter ID No' or 'Check Your Name in The Voter's List (Electoral Roll) By Voter's Name' on the CEO Delhi home page and click on it. You would be directed to another page where you would have to fill in all your details such as your name, father's name, age, state, district, Assembly constituency and captcha code Hit search. Your details would appear at the bottom of the page. Your details as a voter in the Delhi Election 2020 would also include your polling station. 7.48 am: Delhi Assembly election polling to begin in 1 hour, see visuals from Jhandewalan The national capital is all set to vote for Delhi Assembly election 2020. The polling begins in an hour at 8 am. See visuals from Jhandewalan 7.40 am: Tentative voting schedule of BJP leaders Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari will vote at 9 AM at Block C-8 Govt Sec School, Yamuna Vihar Parvesh Verma will vote at Sarvodaya boy's school at 8 AM Kapil Mishra will cast his vote at 8 AM B-5, MCD primary school, Yamuna Vihar BJP MP Gautam Gambhir will cast his vote from Rajender Nagar Dr Harshvardhan will vote at 8 AM from Ratna Devi School Krishna nagar Vijay Goel will at 10 AM at St Equivar School, Civil Lines Ramesh Bidhuri will vote at 9 am from MCD School Bhangar mohalla, Tughlakabad 7.30 am: See the schedule of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi will cast his vote around 10:30 am at NP Senior Secondary School in Aurangzeb Lane. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will vote at Nirman Bhawan polling booth. Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh will vote at 10.30 am at Nirman Bhawan polling booth. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will vote along with Robert Vadra between 11.30 am and 1 pm at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya polling booth at Lodhi Estate. 7.24 am: See voting schedules of Kejriwal, Sisodia and AAP leaders 1. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Time: 9 AM Polling station: Rajpura State Transport Authority, 35, Bhiku Ram Jain Marg - Rajpur Rd, Civil Lines 2. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia Time: 10 AM Polling station: MCD School , B32 Pandav Nagar 3. Gopal Rai Time 8:30 AM Place: Nagar Nigam Pratibha Bal balika Vidyalay, Babarpur Road 4. Sanjay Singh Time: 11:00 AM Polling station: St Columbus School Ashok place, North Avenue 5. Saurabh Bharadwaj Time - 8 AM Polling station: SDMC School, Chirag Delhi, near Pracheen Shiv Mandir, GK 6. Rajendra Pal Gautam Time: 8 AM Polling station: MCD Primary school, O&P Pocket, Dilshad Garden 7.15 am: Delhi elections will be a cakewalk for AAP, says satta market The bookies of satta bazaar have placed their bets on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is likely to reclaim power with ease. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party may win nearly 57-59 seats. A delhi-based bookie told Mail Today that AAP was flying at 69 two weeks ago. However, the BJP appears to be getting all the limelight in the view of Shaheen Bagh protests. "By 11/12 we mean that if a punter says 'yes' for 12 (seats) then he confirms that BJP would be get more than 12 seats. If he says 'no' for 11, it means BJP would get less than 11 seats," the bookie said. "The rates do fluctuate during polls. If Amit Shah addresses a large gathering and makes a scathing attack on his opponents, and if his remarks get media attention, the BJP surely benefits from such political developments. Similarly, Kejriwal's successful roadshows also have a positive impact on AAP," he added. 7.00 am: Delhi Metro service up and running since 4 am for elections Delhi Metro started its services at 4 am on Saturday to facilitate the polling personnel and other reach their designated voting stations on time. Trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes till 6 am after which normal metro services will be resumed. 6.55 am: Triangular contest between AAP, BJP and Congress The Delhi Assembly election 2020 will be a three-cornered fight between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. It will be interesting to see if Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP will repeat its stellar performance of 2015 Delhi election. While the BJP which bagged all seven seats in Delhi Lok Sabha election held in May 2019, it will targeting at expanding its vote share in the national capital as well. The Congress on the other hand is looking to better its performance than last time when it did get any seat in the Delhi Assembly polls, however the party improved its vote share in 2019 polls. 6.45 am: Delhi Assembly Election 2020 voting to begin at 8 am Following a high octane campaigning by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress and BJP, its now over to delhi voters to choose the next government in the national capital. Delhiites will come out to vote across 13,750 polling booths today. Voting will begin at 8 am and will end at 6 pm. Over 1.47 crore people, comprising 2.08 lakh first-time voters will be eligible to cast their votes today. There are over 672 candidates in the fray out which 148 are independents and 79 women. The poll percentage in 2015 was 67.47 while it was 65.86 in 2013. Passengers wear protective masks aboard the World Dream cruise ship, being quarantined at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal amid concerns of coronavirus infections, in Hong Kong, China on Feb. 8, 2020 in this still image obtained from social media video. (Dr. Peter Lo via Reuters) NYC Clears 4 Suspected Cases: Coronavirus Updates for Feb. 8 Roughly two dozen countries around the world have taken precautionary measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus as the death toll continues to rise. Accounts emerging from China suggest that many more people in the country are dying of the disease than officially reported. Scientists continue to probe the origin of the virus. This page has updates from Feb. 8. For updates from Feb. 9, click here. NYC Clears 4 Suspected Cases New York Citys Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has cleared another four suspected case of coronavirus on Feb. 7, leaving only one patient who is under investigation for possible infection by the virus. The fourth person under investigation for novel #coronavirus in NYC is NEGATIVE. We are still waiting for results for the fifth person under investigation from @CDCgov. Updates: https://t.co/AKpJIDztv1 pic.twitter.com/xyzybw2XYC nycHealthy (@nycHealthy) February 7, 2020 France Closes Schools After Outbreak French authorities said theyre closing two schools near a ski resort where five British nationals tested positive for the new coronavirus, including a child. Eleven Britons, including the five who tested positive for the virus, are being examined in local hospitals. The group of 11 includes a 9-year-old child who recently spent time in a school in Contaminesa mountain village of which he was also a residentas well as in another establishment where he attended French lessons, regional health official Jean-Yves Grall told a televised news conference. There were three children in all among the group of 11, and one has contracted the virus, Grall said. It was not immediately clear whether the 9-year-old in question had tested positive. The first measure is to make sure the two schools are closed next week, in order to allow more ample investigations and to have time to analyze the situation, Grall said. Authorities would be tracing who was in contact with confirmed cases. A view of the house where five British nationals including a child, who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, were staying at the French Alpine resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, France, on Feb. 8, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters) 5 British Nationals Contract Coronavirus in France Five British nationals including one child tested positive for the new coronavirus after staying at a ski chalet in France, health officials said on Saturday. The five people were staying in the same accommodation as a British man who was in Singapore from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. That man became infected with the coronavirus. After arriving in France on Jan. 24, the man stayed in the chalet in Contamines-Montjoie in eastern France, according to Agnes Buzyn, Frances health minister. The total number of people infected with the virus in France has now reached 11. There are three confirmed cases in the United Kingdom. Read more here. US Citizen Diagnosed with Coronavirus Dies in Wuhan A U.S. citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said on Saturday. We can confirm that a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, an embassy spokesman told AFP. The embassy spokesman told Reuters that the American victim died at Jinyintan Hospital. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, the spokesman said. Out of the respect for the familys privacy, we have no further comment. Read more here. People wearing face masks visit a hand sanitizer station at Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 8, 2020. (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images) China Refuses to Release Data on Animal Sample Tests It has been two months since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan and its spread has shown no signs of slowing down in China. More than 35 Chinese cities have been put on lockdown by Chinese authorities in an attempt to isolate confirmed and suspected cases. The lives of millions of people are in danger as the virus shows signs of spreading further in China as well as internationally. There are significant gaps in the official investigations into the origins of the Novel Coronavirus. In order to contain the virus, one first needs to understand how a virus that allegedly originated in animals found its way to humans. For this to happen, the Chinese authorities need to release their animal testing data and samples. Testing results from animal samples collected at epicenters would give important insights into what animals might serve as intermediate hosts for the new coronavirus. Read more here. Thailand, UAE Confirm New Cases Thailands public health ministry reported seven new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, including three Thais and four Chinese. The new cases brought the total reported in the country to 32, among the worlds highest number of infections outside of China. The seven new cases are all in hospital, said Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Disease Control Department. One of the Thai cases was part of the group of 138 evacuated from Chinas coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan on Tuesday, Suwannachai told reporters. The other two Thais had exposure to tourists, he said. Among the four Chinese, three are members of the families of previously reported cases, while the other is a tourist from a risky area in China, said Suwannachai. Among the 32 cases Thailand has reported so far, 23 are Chinese while nine are Thais. The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention, meanwhile, announced two new cases of coronavirus. The latest cases bring the countrys total to seven. The two new cases involve Chinese and Filipino nationals who are under observation. People wearing masks in a subway station in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2020. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo) Hong Kong to Penalize Those Who Breach Quarantine The Hong Kong government announced late Friday that anyone who breaches the countrys quarantine efforts amid the coronavirus outbreak will face six months in prison or a HK$25,000 ($3,200) fine, Radio Television Hong Kong reported. According to the public broadcasting service, Hong Kongs Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung announced the penalties just hours before the quarantine was to be enacted. The quarantine measures require Hong Kong residents coming from mainland China to self-isolate for 14 days at home and not receive visitors. Non-residents coming from mainland China are likewise required to self-isolate at their intended accommodation. Those who have no intended lodging will be sent to camps, while those who dont carry a valid visa will be barred from entering Hong Kong. The Philippines Sends Supplies to Filipinos in Wuhan The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Saturday that it has sent supplies to Filipinos in Wuhan, according to Filipino media company ABS-CBN. A DFA-backed team on Thursday visited neighborhoods in Wuhan where Filipinos were residing to provide them with groceries and other basic items, the news agency reported. The department said that the move comes ahead of plans to evacuate the trapped Filipinos; 56 have signaled their intent to return to the Philippines. A chartered flight is intended for the group, to be flown to Clark International Airport in the province of Pampanga. The group will then be quarantined for 14 days in Athletes Village in New Clark City in Tarlac. The Phillippine government on Feb. 2 banned all foreign travelers from mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong from entering the country. That same day, the country reported its first death, which was also the first death outside China from the virus. Japanese Man Dies at Hospital in Wuhan A Japanese man in his 60s has died in Wuhan, Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported, citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He was hospitalized for severe pneumonia and the ministry said it was told by the Chinese side that he died of viral pneumonia. Although the man was suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, results were not yet available from diagnostic tests, the news agency reported. If results confirm coronavirus, he would be the first Japanese death in the outbreak. Workers set up beds at an exhibition center that was converted into a hospital in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on Feb. 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Scenes from Wuhans Makeshift Hospitals: Like a Death Camp There is no medicine, no medical staff, no hot water, very limited food, no heating, unstable electricity Please help us! said one patient who was being confined at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan, where the coronavirus first broke out. In a Feb. 6 video posted to social media, the patient can be heard saying, This in fact is a death camp! Since Feb. 5, the Wuhan government began sending coronavirus patients with mild or moderate symptoms to these makeshift hospitalscalled fangcang facilities in Chinesewhich have been set up in over a dozen stadiums, school gyms, and exhibition centers across the city. Since the policy was put in place, more and more patients published videos capturing the scenes at these facilities, where there is a lack of treatment and unsanitary conditions. Read more here. Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the Novel Coronavirus, in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 5, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) Japan Confirms 3 More Cases on Ship, Bringing Total to 64 Another three people on a cruise liner off Japan have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases from the ship to 64, Japans health ministry said on Saturday. The three cases are two Americans and one Chinese, Kyodo News reported, citing the countrys Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Japans health minister on Friday said 41 people aboard the Diamond Princess had tested positive for coronavirus in addition to 20 previously identified cases, with those infected being moved to hospitals on land. The liner was placed on a two-week quarantine upon arriving at Yokohama on Feb. 3. Japans health ministry said on Saturday that some 279 of the 3,700 people on board the ship when it arrived had been tested for the virus. The cruise ship Diamond Princess is seen at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Feb. 7, 2020. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters) Censorship Increases as Chinese Mourn Whistleblowers Death Chinese netizens are mourning the death of Li Wenliang, the whistleblower doctor who first publicized information about the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019. Early morning on Feb. 7, Li passed away after contracting the virus from a patient he had treated. Soon after, there was an outpouring of grief and anger on social media. Chinese censors quickly began deleting such messages. Li and several doctors in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, had alerted the public about the illness before authorities confirmed it. But he was visited by local police and reprimanded for rumor-mongering. After public outcry, Chinese authorities touted Li as a hero who warned people about the virus. Read more here. A photo of doctor Li Wenliang at a vigil in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Chinese Raise Questions About Wuhan Bioresearch Lab When virologists and medical experts around the globe discussed the suspicious nature of the Novel Coronavirus and pointed to Wuhans P4 lab as a likely source, netizens inside China were watching. A Chinese scholar recently challenged Wuhans P4 lab to explain how the proteins of the Novel Coronavirus seem to have been precisely engineered to enable the virus to bind onto human cells. He also disclosed unethical and unprofessional practices he previously observed in Chinas bioresearch labs. According to Wuhan-based Yangtze Daily, Shi Zhengli, Deputy Director of Wuhans P4 Lab, publicized a statement on Feb. 2 saying: I pledge with my life that the 2019 Novel Coronavirus has nothing to do with our lab. This virus is a punishment imposed on mankind from nature, to condemn mankinds uncivilized way of living. Those of you who believe rumors or so-called scientific analysis by unqualified researchers, I advise you to shut your damn mouths! Read more here. White House Asks Scientists to Probe Origins of Virus The White House has asked scientists to rapidly assess the origins of the new coronavirus. Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, conveyed the request to Dr. Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, in a letter this week. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine should rapidly examine information and identify data requirements that would help determine the origins of 2019-nCoV, Droegemeier wrote, using another name for the virus, which is also known as the Wuhan coronavirus. Read more here. For updates from Feb. 7, click here. Zachary Stieber, Mimi Nguyen Ly, Olivia Li, Nicole Hao, Xiang Zhang, and Reuters contributed to this report. The Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA) has constituted a coordination committee to monitor spiritual programmes, meditation drills and community services to be taken up by thirteen convicts in the 2002 Sardarpura post-Godhra riots case, an official said on Saturday. The convicts will be divided into two groups and will report at Indore and Jabalpur in the state, MPSLSA member secretary Giribala Singh told PTI. On January 28, 2020, the Supreme Court had granted bail to thirteen convicts ofSardarpura post-Godhra riots case of Gujarat, in which 33 Muslims were burnt alive, and had asked them to relocate to Madhya Pradesh and undertake community service. MPSLSA executive chairman Justice Sanjay Yadav will preside over a meeting of the coordination committee next week to discuss issues related to the convicts, she said, adding that the superintendents of police of Jabalpur and Indore will also participate in the meeting. "The committee will also discuss on how to facilitate employment for the convicts as directed by the court. The convicts have been divided into groups of seven, which will report at Civil Lines police station in Jabalpur, and six, which will report at Palasia police station in Indore," she said. The MPSLSA will have to furnish a report every three months on the conduct of these 13 convicts, she added. Queried on when the convicts will arrive in Madhya Pradesh, she said it would depend on when they are released on bail. The Supreme Court, in its order, had said all the convicts will have to undertake community services for six hours a week besides reporting to the local police station on a weekly basis as bail conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Folk duo Hudson Taylor will perform at the Hot Spot Music Club in Greystones on Saturday, February 29 at 9 p.m. Tickets are 22 at thehotspot.ie. Since their debut, they have released one studio album along with three EPs, and have built up a reputation as one of the greatest new folk acts around right now. While Hudson Taylor officially formed in 2011, the band goes back a lot further than that, since the two men that make the duo up are brothers. Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor grew up in a very musical house as the sons of a musician father and a mother who was a dancer by trade would do. It was only natural that they would pick up guitars and start playing covers of the Beatles and Beach Boys songs that their father would share with them from an early age. Soon after the brothers built up a repertoire of covers, they started busking in the centre of their home city, Dublin, and put some of their first songs up as videos on YouTube. Five years since the release of their debut album, Irish brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor are proud to confirm the details for their second long-player - Loving everywhere I go - to be released on Feb 28, 2020. The anti-Chinese racism in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak has a long history in North America. Shortly after the first Canadian case of the new coronavirus was announced in January, David Shao, a healthcare worker from Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba province, was taunted by colleagues to go home and stop spreading the virus. He was not sick; he was, however, the only Chinese person in his workplace. Shao came to Canada in 1989 from Shanghai, China. He had never been to Wuhan. In fact, he had not been abroad for more than a year. Unfortunately, these comments were all too familiar to him. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, his colleagues also told him to stay away and go home. Shaos experiences throughout these two outbreaks are a reality for many Chinese people in Canada and beyond. As with SARS, the latest health epidemic is a reminder of the pervasive racism that deems Chinese populations to be inherently foreign, unhygienic and carriers of disease. There have been countless social media posts labelling Chinese people dirty and unclean. A video of a Chinese woman eating bat soup allegedly in a Wuhan restaurant went viral and was accompanied by the claim that the outbreak started from such practices. That the video was shot on the Pacific island of Palau, that the dish is a local delicacy (not a Chinese one), and that the outbreak did not start from a bat soup did not seem to matter to those eagerly wanting to believe that Chinese people get sick because they eat revolting food. But disease and bad hygiene have less to do with what is eaten and more to do with the condition in which the food is prepared. And that is often determined by bad policies and lack of control rather than the food preferences of an ethnic group. Chinese people have faced perceptions of being unhygienic and dirty long before SARS and the coronavirus came along. As early as the 19th century Opium Wars, the Chinese nation was referred to as the sick man of East Asia. This slur took a literal turn as Chinese migrants to North America came to be associated with poor hygiene and proneness to disease. In the late 19th century, in Canada, it was not uncommon for white-owned restaurants to advertise that they did not employ Chinese workers. One such restaurant in the city of Victoria claimed, the stomach of a person of refined tastes must revolt at the mere idea that his dinner has been cooked by a Chinaman, shortly after replacing its Chinese cooks with Germans. This perception of Chinese people as unhygienic was often drawn from bad living conditions in Chinatowns. In 1887, Vancouvers Chinatown was described by reporters as an eyesore to civilisation and pest-producing. In 1890, during a cholera scare in Vancouver, the local press demanded that the government take action against that citys Chinatown. Despite the lack of evidence that cholera had arisen from the neighbourhood, the city council designated Chinatown an official entity in the medical health officer rounds and health committee reports, a designation that placed the neighbourhood under closer scrutiny for by-law infractions. Other designated entities included sewerage, scavenging sites, slaughterhouses and pig ranches none of which were residential. Chinese people were indeed living in poor conditions, but that was hardly their fault. Despite repeated petitions to improve infrastructure, the local authorities had neglected the immigrant area for years, seeing it as a low priority. As a result, Chinatown was filled with garbage and manure, as it lacked a sewage system, while its residents lived in overcrowded spaces lacking ventilation. It is because of government neglect that these communities experienced higher rates of contagious diseases, including tuberculosis. Sewage was finally introduced in 1896 but overcrowding was not resolved. Instead, the city authorities often resorted to the demolition of houses in Chinatown on the basis that they were dangerous to the health of the city, leaving many Chinese workers homeless. Today, conditions in Chinatowns across Canada have markedly improved, but the stigma has remained and the SARS and coronavirus outbreaks have just added more fuel to the fire. The Lunar New Year is an especially busy time for Chinese businesses, but this year because of news of the epidemic, Chinese malls and restaurants across the country remained empty. The Federation of Chinese Canadians in the city of Markham, Ontario has reported that some Chinese businesses have suffered losses of between 20 percent and 90 percent as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, Torontos Chinatowns saw their revenues drop between 40 percent and 80 percent. And while some of the most marginalised communities are suffering the financial consequences of the outbreak and public panic, the Canadian authorities are not only doing little to address anti-Chinese racism and popular misconceptions, but also in some places are undermining the capacity of local medical facilities to cope with a potential outbreak. In Ontario, the conservative government of Doug Ford is in the process of consolidating 35 public health units into 10 as a cost-saving measure. These public health units provide infectious disease control and restaurant inspections crucial measures to ensure sanitation standards are met. Consolidation could lead to layoffs that affect service delivery. These cuts are happening alongside the governments gutting of the Employment Standards Act eliminating paid sick days and requiring workers to provide sick notes to take leave. Countless studies have shown that employees without paid sick leave were far more likely to continue working when symptomatic, risking transmission of the illness, instead of resting at home. It is no surprise then that, in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, more than 175 health workers have signed an open letter demanding that the Ontario government restore paid sick day provisions. In the end, what would help Canada prevent an outbreak is strengthening its health care sector and making sure its financial needs are addressed. What would definitely not prevent it, however, is leaving xenophobia and Sinophobia unchecked. Our organisation, the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter, continues to receive numerous emails, phone calls and social media messages blaming Chinese people for the virus. In a classic case of victim blaming, we even got accused in an email of inflaming societal divisions by publicly confronting racism. It is clear to us that conjuring century-old stereotypes about Chinese people will not help Canadians stay safe from the coronavirus. It could, however, break communities. Kate Shao and Kennes Lin also co-authored this article. Kate is a director at the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter and works as a human rights consultant. Kennes is the co-chair of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter and works as a Registered Social Worker in Toronto in immigrant mental health. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Harris: The Senate Trial of Donald Trump Has Been a Miscarriage of Justice U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday delivered a speech on the floor of the United States Senate announcing that she will vote to convict President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Highlights from Harris remarks: When the framers wrote the Constitution they didnt think someone like me would serve as a United States Senator. But, they did envision someone like Donald Trump being president of the United States. Someone who thinks that he is above the law and that rules dont apply to him. So, they made sure our democracy had the tool of impeachment to stop that kind of abuse of power. Unfortunately, a majority of United States senators even those who concede that what Donald Trump did was wrong are nonetheless going to refuse to hold him accountable. The Senate trial of Donald Trump has been a miscarriage of justice. When the American people see the president acting as though he is above the law, it understandably leaves them feeling un-trustful of our system of justice, distrustful of our democracy. When the United States Senate refuses to hold him accountable, it reinforces that loss of trust in our system. There will be moments in time and history where we experience incredible disappointment, but the greatest disappointment of all will be if we give up. We cannot ever give up fighting for who we know we are, and we must always see who we can be unburdened by where we have been. That is the strength of our nation. After the Senate votes, Donald Trump will want the American people to feel cynical. He will want us not to care. He will want us to think that he is all powerful, and we have no power. But were not going to let him get away with that. Were not going to give him what he wants. Because the true power and potential of the United States of America resides not with the president, but with the people. All the people. Full transcript of Harris remarks below: Mr. President, when the framers wrote the Constitution they didnt think someone like me would serve as a United States Senator. ADVERTISEMENT But they did envision someone like Donald Trump being president of the United States. Someone who thinks that he is above the law and that the rules dont apply to him. So, they made sure our democracy had the tool of impeachment to stop that kind of abuse of power. The House managers have clearly laid out a compelling case and evidence of Donald Trumps misconduct. They have shown that the president of the United States of America withheld military aid and a coveted White House meeting for his political gain. He wanted a foreign country to announce not actually conduct announce an investigation into his political rivals. And then he refused to comply with congressional investigations into his misconduct. And, unfortunately, a majority of United States Senators even those who concede that what Donald Trump did was wrong are nonetheless going to refuse to hold him accountable. The Senate trial of Donald Trump has been a miscarriage of justice. Donald Trump is going to get away with abusing his position of power for personal gain, abusing his position of power to stop Congress from looking into his misconduct, and falsely claiming hes been exonerated. ADVERTISEMENT Hes going to escape accountability because a majority of senators have decided to let him. They voted repeatedly to block key evidence like witnesses and documents that could have shed light on the full truth. And we must recognize that still in America, there are two systems of justice one for the powerful and another for everyone else. So lets speak the truth about what our two systems of justice actually mean in the real world. It means that in our country too many people walk into courthouses and face systemic bias. Too often they lack adequate legal representation whether they are overworked, underpaid or both It means that a young man named Emmett Till was falsely accused and then murdered, but his murderer didnt have to spend a day in jail. It means that four young Black men had their lives taken or turned upside down after being falsely accused of a crime in Groveland, Florida. It means that right now, too many people in America, are sitting in jail without having yet been convicted of a crime but simply because they cannot afford bail. And it means that future presidents of the United States will remember that the United States Senate failed to hold Donald Trump accountable, and they will be emboldened to abuse their power knowing there will be no consequence. Donald Trump knows all this better than anybody. He may not acknowledge that we have two systems of justice, but he knows the institutions in this country be it the courts or the Senate are set up to protect powerful people like him. He told us as much, when regarding the sexual assault of women, he said, When youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. He said that Article II of the United States Constitution gives him as president the right to do whatever he wants. Trump has shown us through his words and actions that he thinks he is above the law. And when the American people see the president acting as though he is above the law, it understandably leaves them feeling un-trustful of our system of justice, distrustful of our democracy. When the United States Senate refuses to hold him accountable, it reinforces that loss of trust in our system. Now, Im under no illusion that this body is poised to hold this president accountable. But despite the conduct of the United States Senate in this impeachment trial, the American people must continue to strive toward the more perfect union that our Constitution promises. And its going to take all of us, in every state, every town, everywhere to continue fighting for the best of who we are as a country. We each have an important role to play in fighting for those words inscribed on that United States Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law. Frederick Douglass, who like many, I consider to be one of the founders of our nation, wrote that, the whole history of the progress of human liberty that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. The impeachment of Donald Trump has been one of those earnest struggles for liberty. In this fight, like so many before, it has been a fight against tyranny. This struggle has not been an easy one and it has left too many people across our nation feeling cynical. For too many people, this trial confirms something theyve always known: that the real power in this country lies not with them, but with just a few people who advance their own interests at the expense of others needs. For many, the injustice in this trial is yet another example of the way that our system of justice has workedor, more accurately, failed to work. But heres the thing. Frederick Douglass also told us that, if there is no struggle, there is no progress. He went on to say, Power concedes nothing without a demand. And he said, It never did and it never will. In order to wrestle power away from the few people at the very top who abuse their power, the American people are going to have to fight for the voice of the people and the power of the people. We must go into the darkness to shine a light, and we cannot be deterred, and we cannot be overwhelmed, and we cannot ever give up on our country. We cannot ever give up on the ideals that are the foundation for our system of democracy. We can never give up on the meaning of true justice, and it is part of our history, our past, clearly our present, and our future that in order to make these values realin order to make the promise of our country realwe can never take it for granted. There will be moments in time and history where we experience incredible disappointment, but the greatest disappointment of all will be if we give up. We cannot ever give up fighting for who we know we are, and we must always see who we can be unburdened by who we have been. That is the strength of our nation. So, after the Senate votes today, Donald Trump will want the American people to feel cynical. He will want us not to care. He will want us to think that he is all powerful, and we have no power. But were not going to let him get away with that. Were not going to give him what he wants. Because the true power and potential of the United States of America resides not with the president, but with the people. All the people. So in our long struggle for justice, I will do my part by voting to convict this lawless president and remove him from office. And I urge my colleagues to join me on the right side of history. Greece has sought to bolster its Mediterranean presence in recent weeks in response to heightened tension with Turkey, ramping up its meanoeuvres but sparking accusations of adventurism at home. Over the past month, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has revamped a defence agreement with the United States, sent a warship to join a French naval battle group and will deliver defensive missiles to Saudi Arabia. The latest flurry has exposed the recently elected, US-educated prime minister to accusations of "adventurism" in a particularly volatile Middle East. "You are embroiling the country in adventures that lie beyond its capacity and change decades-old foreign policy," leftist former PM Alexis Tsipras told Mitsotakis last month. Mitsotakis, who became prime minister in July, has shrugged off the criticism as short-sighted. "We are strengthening the framework of our strategic alliances, not just with the US... our military cooperation (with France) has never been better," he told lawmakers in January as parliament prepared to approve the US defence deal. A few days earlier, a Greek warship had joined the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, whose battle group is on a mission against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. According to diplomats, France has encouraged Greece to be more "autonomous" and play a more active role in EU defence initiatives. And after a decade-long debt crisis that saw Greek arms spending drop by over 70 percent, the Mitsotakis government wants to be heard, says Spyridon Litsas, professor of international relations at the University of Macedonia. - 'Idle is risky' - "Being idle during these days of high volatility is equally risky and has nothing substantially to offer to Greece's attempt to achieve a return to international politics after the economic crisis of 2010," he says. Greek relations in Turkey -- never particularly warm -- have taken a turn for the worse in recent months under the added burden of migration and an energy exploration scramble in the eastern Mediterranean. Right now, "France is the ideal Greek ally", Panagiotis Tsakonas, a professor of international law at Athens University, told AFP. "The two countries share views on the situation in the eastern Mediterranean," he said, citing involvement of French firms in energy exploration off Cyprus, historically Greece's chief ally. Turkey has pushed ahead with drilling activity in Cyprus's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) despite EU threats of sanctions. Greece last month signed an agreement with Cyprus and Israel on EastMed, a huge pipeline project to ship gas to Europe. The rivalry has extended to Libya. Turkey signed a maritime and military cooperation memorandum with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in November, carving out energy spheres of influence in the Mediterranean at the expense of Greece. Athens retaliated by expelling the GNA ambassador and by seeking to build ties with Khalifa Haftar, a general based in the east who controls three-quarters of Libyan territory. Other Middle Eastern states wooed by Athens -- the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt -- are foes of Turkey and back pro-Haftar forces. Constantinos Filis, executive director of the Athens-based Institute of International Relations, agrees that Athens "must demonstrate its presence and secure backing in the face of Turkish claims in the region". But he is less sanguine about Greece's February 4 announcement that it would send a batch of US-made Patriot defensive missiles to Saudi Arabia to guard energy facilities. "This could risk involving (Greece) in a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran," says Filis. Mitsotakis, whose father Constantine served as prime minister in the early 1990s and cultivated close links with the family of US President George HW Bush, has faced furious criticism of being too pliable towards Western allies, especially Washington. The PM drew fire last month when, ahead of a visit to the White House, he called Greece "the most reliable and predictable ally of the United States in NATO in this region", according to state agency ANA. - Fighter jet upgrade - Rejecting the attacks, Mitsotakis insists that "predictability in foreign policy is a big advantage". "In the United States I said it's good to be predictable. All alliances are based on the notion of predictability," he told parliament. Athens has agreed a $1.5 billion upgrade to its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and is also interested in US-made drones and possibly F-35 warplanes. The Greek defence ministry also insists that a greater US presence is good for the country's struggling arms industry. It says US forces will invest over 12 million euros ($13 million) on airbase infrastructure in Larissa and around six million euros at Marathi, part of the US base of Souda, Crete. Over the past month, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has revamped a defence agreement with the United States, sent a warship to join a French naval battle group and will deliver defensive missiles to Saudi Arabia Rep. Waters: Impeached President, Illegitimate Acquittal Todays illegitimate acquittal is fitting for a dishonorable, unpatriotic, dangerous, illegitimate, and impeached president. Anyone who lends any credence to the idea that this unlawful outcome serves as a credible exoneration of Donald Trump is an enemy to the rule of law and the Constitution. The founders of this country never imagined that our democracy would be confronted with a corrupt president who would be aided and abetted in the coverup of his crimes by a coequal branch of government. Despite the fact that the House Managers presented an ironclad set of facts that Donald Trump did in fact abuse his power and obstruct Congressional investigations of his crimes, the Senate has utterly failed to do its job. This was not a credible trial. No witnesses were called. No evidentiary documents were presented. The jurors abandoned impartiality and openly colluded with the guilty defendant. The presiding justice remained silent in the face of unprecedented attacks on judicial norms. I applaud the courage of the 48 Senators 45 Democrats, 2 Independents, and 1 Republican who put their careers on the line to protect and defend our nation from the most dangerous president our country has ever known. Each and every Trump-party elected official who betrayed their oath of office and protected the deplorable interests of a conman over the interests of this country is a national disgrace who should be voted out of office without delay. ADVERTISEMENT The American people can rest assured that this fight is not over, and all is not lost. The Democratic House majority will continue to provide a check on this president. Each House committee chair will continue to conduct proper oversight of this administration. We will continue to fight in the courts and demand that our lawful subpoenas be upheld. Donald Trump has been impeached. His conviction was bipartisan. His acquittal was partisan. This is the legacy of Donald Trump, now and forever. His presidency is an utter failure and disgrace, and history will record it as such. In November, the American people can and will do what insufferable and pathetic Trump-party Republican Senators didnt have the courage to do: remove him from office once and for all. He may have retired from public Royal duties but it didnt stop Prince Andrew performing a special Royal mission for the Queen last week. The Duke carried a message to the Chinese government from his mother on Friday expressing sympathy for those affected by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. It was delivered when he attended a dinner hosted by the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming. The meeting, recorded in photographs posted to Lius Twitter account, marks one of the Dukes first major appearances since he withdrew from public duties in November after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Pressure is mounting for the Prince to co-operate with the FBI, which is investigating the late financiers crimes in the US. The Duke of York with Sarah, the Duchess of York, third and second from right, Princess Beatrice, far right, her fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, far left, and the Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming and his wife Hu Pinghua last week Liu announced on Twitter: Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi [Jinping] and Chinese people: At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York. In a separate tweet, Liu continued: My wife and I invited Duke of York and his family to our residence and celebrated Lunar New Year. Their enthusiasm for China and contribution to China-UK relation is highly appreciated. Andrews divorced wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, their daughter Beatrice, and her fiance, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were also present. The Royal message came soon after Liu reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Prime Minister Boris Johnsons father, Stanley Johnson, over the British Governments handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Last week it emerged that Andrew will give Princess Beatrice away when she marries in the Chapel Royal at St Jamess Palace in May. But there was a row over a plan to ring Westminster Abbeys bells on his 60th birthday. Epstein victim Virginia Roberts, who alleges the Prince had sex with her three times when she was a teenager, which he vehemently denies, tweeted: The only thing that should be ringing for him is the sound of shackles tied around his ankles on his way to the tower. The Duke was spotted yesterday driving from his house in Windsor beside his former wife Sarah. The pair met two days after Beatrice, 31, and Edoardo Mapellis wedding arrangements were announced. Earlier this week the Prince agreed to turn down a promotion to the rank of Admiral ahead of his 60th birthday later this month. The move would have been in line with a long-standing policy under which senior Royals are treated as if they had stayed in the Armed Forces and are promoted to higher ranks as a result. THE coronavirus crisis has disrupted Chinese demand for oil and is driving down wholesale energy prices here. Naturgy and Bord Gais Energy said the wholesale price of oil fell 15pc last month; wholesale electricity by 7pc. The two differed on the monthly decline in natural gas prices; Naturgy put it at 13pc, Bord Gais at 11pc. Both attributed the slump in prices to China's battle to contain the spread of coronavirus. "The outbreak of the coronavirus has taken its toll on global energy markets," said Bord Gais energy trader David Grainger. "With China being the largest oil importer in the world, decreased demand could see prices track downwards as a result of economic slowdown and limited demand for oil," Naturgy energy analyst Lauren Stewart said. While oil in January remained 6pc more expensive than 12 months ago, average wholesale prices for electricity and natural gas dropped by 47pc and 52pc respectively over the year. "There is great value currently in the energy market," said Ms Stewart, who added: "This stands to benefit businesses in the short term." Electricity demand last month increased by 2.6pc nationwide. But this was offset by a 5pc increase in output from wind farms, which contributed 42pc to Ireland's grid network, slightly higher than in December. Gov. Ned Lamonts marijuana-legalization bill does not include a provision for people to grow the plant for themselves. But even a chief opponent of cannabis legalization, state Rep. Vincent Candelora, says that if the state were to adopt any marijuana legalization, the General Assembly should follow the lead of Vermont, where in 2017 the legislature approved a law allowing only home growing for state residents, and has yet to set up a retail structure. Advocates for the states underground cannabis industry say the prohibition against home growing say its a sign that the larger corporate entities, which have expanded as legalization has spread from the West Coast and Colorado to Massachusetts, are trying to protect their future market in Connecticut, if or when full legalization occurs. Lamonts office said Friday that the current model that will be submitted to the General Assembly is centered on a regulatory structure that would initially assure state oversight of cannabis cultivation and products. A leading advocate for full legalization, state Rep. Josh Elliott, said hes focused on getting an adult-use bill passed, and if home growers are cut out of the equation, it could be an issue to revisit in the future. Joseph Raymond, of the New England Craft Cannabis Alliance, said that last years failed Connecticut legislation, which also ignored home growing, was an example of the corporate cannabis market flexing its lobbying muscle. Home cultivation hurts their bottom line, said Raymond, who will support the bill just the same when it is submitted to the law-writing Judiciary Committee. Overall the bill is great, but the legislature needs to know that if you approve adult use, you have to allow homegrown, Raymond said in a phone interview, stressing that the current bill advances the issue by including so-called micro-marketers; targeting investment in cities where the war on drugs was disproportionately waged; and the expunging of criminal records for those convicted of possession. So what they would be saying is Were wrong, were going to erase your criminal record, but we dont trust you growing six plants in your house, Raymond said. The governors priority is a fully competitive marijuana marketplace for adult use only, said Max Reiss, Lamonts communications director. There are questions that remain on home growing, like how to enforce it in a regulated market; what role law enforcement should play; how do we remain in line with our neighboring states? We believe that focusing on getting a fully regulated marketplace up and running should be our priority in the short term. A highly regulated market is critical to public safety by helping to ensure the product is of a certain quality, including staying within designated THC levels, and is not distributed to minors, said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin. This model has worked well for Connecticut in our highly successful medical marijuana program, which provides a solid foundation for a future adult recreational environment. Allowing homegrown not only puts us outside all of these important safety parameters, it doesn't have the needed support in the legislature." There are more than 38,000 patients registered in the medical cannabis program, which is regulated by the state Department of Consumer Protection. Karen OKeefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Friday that its too early in the legislative session to determine whether the organization will again push for a home-grower provision. Last year we testified that home growing should be added, but we also really support getting a bill over the finish line, she said, noting that a section of Lamonts proposal would allow for studying the issue, with a report back to lawmakers in 2023, a year after the full legalization bill would take effect. Last year the Illinois legislature voted to become the 11th state to allow retail sales for adults. The law also allows medical patients to grow five plants, but creates $200 civil penalties for others growing their own cannabis. I do not support the legalization of marijuana, however if legalization happens, in my opinion the least-offensive way to do it is to allow for home growing, said Candelora, R-North Branford. That eliminates the commercialization of marijuana, along with manipulated levels of THC, vaping, gummies, cookies, sodas and marketing. In the Vermont model, everybody who wants to partake can grow and smoke their own instead of getting into a commercialized market. Elliott, D-Hamden, who after the bill failed last year said he wanted to make the issue an amendment to the state Constitution and put before statewide voters in 2022, said he will advocate again for home growing. Also, those with medical cards should be allowed to grow it, Elliott said. Veterans who come back with PTSD should have it as medicine as well. There is a strong argument that can be made that these people should be allowed to care for themselves and use the plants healing properties. Youre allowed to brew beer at home, said OKeefe, from the Marijuana Policy Project. Cannabis is safer. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Use of this type of location-tracking data by the government has not been tested in court. And in the private sector, location data and the multibillion dollar advertising ecosystem that has eagerly embraced it are both opaque and largely unregulated. Last year, a Times Opinion investigation found that claims about the anonymity of location data are untrue since comprehensive records of time and place easily identify real people. Consider a commute: Even without a name, how many phones travel between a specific home and specific office every day? This weeks revelations dredge up many questions about C.B.P.s workflow: What precisely does the agency mean when it claims that the data is not ingested in bulk? Who in the agency gets to look at the data and for what purposes? Where is it stored? How long is it stored for? If the government plans to outsource the surveillance state to commercial entities to bypass Supreme Court rulings, both parties ought to be questioned under oath about the specifics of their practices. The use of location data to aid in deportations also demonstrates how out of date the notion of informed consent has become. When users accept the terms and conditions for various digital products, not only are they uninformed about how their data is gathered, they are also consenting to future uses that they could never predict. Without oversight, it is inconceivable that tactics turned against undocumented immigrants wont eventually be turned to the enforcement of other laws. As the world has seen in the streets of Hong Kong, where protesters wear masks to avoid a network of government facial-recognition cameras, once a surveillance technology is widely deployed in a society it is almost impossible to uproot. Chief Justice Roberts outlined those stakes in his Carpenter ruling. The retrospective quality of the data here gives police access to a category of information otherwise unknowable. In the past, attempts to reconstruct a persons movements were limited by a dearth of records and the frailties of recollection. With access to [cellphone location data], the Government can now travel back in time to retrace a persons whereabouts, subject only to the retention polices of the wireless carriers, which currently maintain records for up to five years. Critically, because location information is continually logged for all of the 400 million devices in the United States not just those belonging to persons who might happen to come under investigation this newfound tracking capacity runs against everyone. The courts are a ponderous and imperfect venue for protecting Fourth Amendment rights in an age of rapid technological advancement. Exhibit A is the notion that the Carpenter ruling applies only to location data captured by cellphone towers and not to location data streamed from smartphone apps, which can produce nearly identical troves of information. President Trump tweeted on Saturday morning to explain why he fired national security official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who had testified before the House Intelligence Committee that the president's July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "improper." "I don't know [Vindman], never spoke to him or met him (I don't believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly.......and was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, 'OUT.'" What they're saying: The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman; they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military. Alexander Vindman's attorney David Pressman responding to Trump's tweets Context: Vindman was fired on Friday just before U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland was dismissed. The firings took place two days after Trump was acquitted by the Senate. Trump "expressed deep anger ... over the attempt to remove him from office because of his actions toward Ukraine," the Washington Post writes. Go deeper: Flash A Chinese UN envoy on Friday refuted accusations by the United States over China's counter-terrorism efforts in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. At a Security Council meeting on the threat posed by the Islamic State, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the remarks by the U.S. representative regarding Xinjiang are "unwarranted." Senior Policy Advisor for U.S. UN Mission Michael Barkin, who addressed the council earlier than Wu, claimed that "Uighurs" (Uygurs) and other Muslims have been "detained in internment camps under the guise of counter-terrorism" in Xinjiang. He labeled China's counter-terrorism measure as "confinement that is based and imposed on the basis of ethnicity and religion." Wu said that Barkin's "attacks" are "completely baseless, and represent a wanton interference in China's internal affairs and a brazen attempt to provoke confrontation." In nature, he said, the issues Xinjiang faces are not about ethnic group or religion or human rights, but rather they are about counter-terrorism. Recalling the past, Wu said that for some time, Xinjiang suffered frequent terrorist attacks, which seriously jeopardized the lives and property of all ethnic communities and gravely violated human dignity. "In response, China has taken resolute, law-based measures to combat terrorism and extremism, eliminating to the extent possible the breeding ground and conditions for terrorism and extremism, effectively curbing the trend of rampant terrorist activities and safeguarding citizens' basic rights, including the right to life and development," Wu expounded. "Those measures have produced good results," he said. "At present, the situation in Xinjiang is largely stable, and local economy continues to grow. People of all ethnic groups live in harmony. The region has been free of terrorist attacks for over three years." He noted relevant policies and measures against terrorism and extremism in Xinjiang constitute a crucial part of the global counter-terrorism efforts. The Chinese envoy also rejected the remarks of Britain's representative, who echoed the U.S. stance. "Regrettably, Britain once again blindly followed the footsteps of the United States and put up unfounded charges against China," Wu said. He expressed the hope that Britain has "recorded our positions on this matter," urging Britain not to use the Security Council "to make trouble, to spread rumor and to interfere with the internal affairs of China." Charbel Kassas (right), 11, is fighting for his life after allegedly being mowed down by a drunk driver. His sister Mabelle (left) was also injured. Their parents do not have Medicare and are asking for donations The parents of a young boy fighting for his life after being struck by a car allegedly driven by a drunk driver are unable to afford his medical bills. Charbel Kassas, 11, was critically injured when an out of control car slammed into him while walking with his cousins to get ice cream on February 1 in Oatlands in Sydney's north west. His sister Mabelle, 12, was also injured in the horror accident. Their parents Assaad and Rania have only been in Australia for a short time and do not have access to Medicare. Charbel is in a coma at Westmead Children's Hospital and is in a critical condition with serious injuries to his spine and brain. Family friends launched a GoFundMe page to help the Kassas family with spiraling medical expenses. 'All medical expenses are out of pocket and will increase dramatically. They need to be by their son's bedside and he will require full time care,' the page read. 'We are now seeking for the communities help and contribution. Any donation made towards this beautiful humble family is greatly appreciated.' The two children (pictured at front, with their parents and siblings) were rushed to hospital. The Kassas family are now asking for donations to help cover the medical bills Abdallah siblings Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, died at the scene in Oatlands, Sydney's north-west, alongside their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr (pictured: the scene of the crash Samuel William Davidson (pictured), 29, was allegedly three times the legal blood alcohol limit when he drove into the group of seven children A GoFundMe page has launched to help support the Kassas family with their son's medical bills (Pictured: Scene of the incident) As of Sunday morning, a total of $35,000 has been raised of $100,000 goal. Abdallah siblings Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, also died in the accident in Oatlands, Sydney's north-west, alongside their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr. Samuel William Davidson, 29, was allegedly three times the legal blood alcohol limit when he drove into the group of seven children. He is facing 20 charges, including four counts of manslaughter following the four children's deaths. A funeral for the Abdallah siblings will be held at the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park on Monday morning. HOW THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDED * Seven children were riding their bikes along the footpath of Beddington Road, Oatlands, just before 8pm on Saturday * The children were on the way to buy ice cream when a Mitsubishi 4WD allegedly ploughed into them *Residents raced to children's aid and frantically tried to save them while waiting for emergency services *Four children - including a boy, two of his sisters and a family friend - died at the scene * Another boy, ten, was rushed to hospital with critical head injuries but is now in a stable condition * Two girls were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries *Male 4WD driver, a 29-year-old from Oatlands, underwent roadside breath test and allegedly returned positive result *The alleged driver Samuel Davidson was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police with his 24-year-old male passenger *Davidson was charged with four counts of manslaughter Advertisement Danny and Leila Abdallah said they hope that if any good is to come from the tragic accident which killed three of their children, it will be that parents 'enjoy every minute with your kids' A makeshift shrine has been set up at the scene where seven children were mowed down The Abdallah parents broke down on Tuesday at the shrine and embraced each other, before revealing they forgived the driver accused of killing three of their children Danny and Leila Abdallah, who lost three children in the tragedy, have been regulars at the site of the car crash in the recent days. Less than 12 hours after the accident happened, Mr Abdallah bravely fronted media to pay tribute to his son and two daughters. 'I'm numb... that's what I feel at the moment,' he said. 'These kids were just walking innocently, enjoying each other's company ... and this morning I woke up and I have lost three kids. 'I told them to go for a walk, a little walk and stay together. 'You guys should be OK'. A stray bullet fired during a skirmish between the police and protesting commercial motorcyclists (also known as Okada riders) in Lagos pierced the stomach of a schoolgirl and ruptured her bladder, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt. Mariam Shobukola, 15, had accompanied her school principal to make a payment at a Point of Sales (PoS) shop in Aboru, Iyana Ipaja, when she was caught up in an ensuing melee after scores of commercial motorcyclists began agitating against the high handedness of police officers enforcing the Lagos State traffic law. The Lagos State government began the enforcement of the states Transport Reform Law on February 1. The police, however, had received severe criticisms after they began enforcing the law outside the legislations coverage areas. On Wednesday, violence erupted at the Iyana Ipaja area between commercial motorcyclists and security operatives of the Lagos State Task Force. After she was hit, Mariam, a pupil at Delight International School, Aboru, was quickly taken to Peak Health Hospital where she was stabilised before she was referred to General Hospital, Orile Agege, for further treatment. Mukaila Shobukola, her father, told PREMIUM TIMES that she suffered serious damages as the bullet entered her stomach through her hip. The result of the Computerized Tomography (CT) scan showed that the bullet, indeed, penetrated the youngs girls abdomen through the right side of her hip. The police caused all this, why would they shoot in the neighbourhood? Now we have been left on our own to bear the pain, said Mr Shobukola. I am not a motorcycle operator neither is any member of my family before we were caught up in this unfortunate incident. Gladys Ihezuo, the principal at Delight International School, told PREMIUM TIMES that the proprietor sent her to send money to the schools book supplier but because she was unfamiliar with the area, Mariam was asked to accompany her to the PoS shop. Mrs Ihezuo narrated that there was no sort of violence in the area, while they were at the POS shop. Everywhere was calm, people cannot be running and we will be on the street, she said. We had finished the payment, we wanted to collect the receipt when I heard gunshots from a distance. She shouted my name and I saw her on the floor beside me. I didnt even know her name, I tried helping her up before I saw blood all over her, this was when I started shouting for help, Mrs Gladys said. The principal said people began to run helter-skelter in the melee that ensued. While others were running, about two men stopped and helped us, if we didnt move her to one side, stampede would have occurred, she said. Mr Shobukola, who works as a painter, said he was at work when he was called that his daughter was shot. We have been moving her around since then, from Orile Agege hospital, we were referred to LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital), about three surgeries have been done. Mariam Shobukola, stray bullet victim. Just between yesterday, we have spent nothing less than 135,000 and there are still bills of over 100,000 awaiting payment. This is a General Hospital but nothing is free here, I dont know where to run to, this is unfortunate, Mr Shobukola said. Efforts to reach the Lagos police spokesperson, Bala Elkana, were unsuccessful as he neither returned nor responded to phone calls. He later sent a message to PREMIUM TIMES saying CP (commissioner of police) has ordered an in-depth investigation into the case. Media reports had erroneously said the schoolgirl was shot dead. But during Wednesdays incident, Mr Elkana had said no life was lost in the attack, but Salifu Umar, an Inspector of police was injured by the hoodlums. Advertisements Do rural, working-class voters vote against their interests? Thats been the complaint leveled by Democrats and progressives since at least the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, when we saw the rise of Reagan Democrats. The voting against their interests canard refers to economic interests. Its being raised anew in hand-wringing essays about why rural, working class voters still support Donald Trump and whether theyre going reelect him. Why do rural voters support Trump when hes failed to deliver on promises of a manufacturing revival and his economic policies have cost rural Americans jobs and income? The question is packed with assumptions and a measure of condescension. To start with, its presumptuous to suggest we know what anyone elses best interests are. The question assumes rural voters should prioritize economic interests over all other interests. It suggests theyre deluded or foolish for voting Republican in general and for Trump in particular. It assumes progressives care about working-class voters. Finally, its a swipe at so-called values voting (well talk about that in the next column). Author Thomas Frank has argued that the Republican Party distracts working class voters by ginning up a culture war and blaming it on liberal elites. They supposedly do this to hide the partys true interest, which is bending the political and economic system to its advantage and to the detriment of the working class. Linguistics professor and author George Lakeoff argues that all people vote their values and identity rather than their direct economic interests. Their political choices fit a moral frame or story each political party has about the way things should be. Other writers claim working-class voters are driven by the negatives of racism and resentment more than by economics. However, economics is very much a factor in the calculation rural voters are making in 2020. They just look at it differently from the way the professional/managerial class thinks they should. The bottom line is that neither party addresses working-class economic interests. Its arguable that Trump is more clued in to those interests than Democrats are. Hes at least given voice to them. Take trade, for instance. Much has been made of the continuing drain on manufacturing jobs despite Trumps promises and the pain inflicted on farmers by Trumps trade wars. But Trump, regardless of his motives, is right when he reminds working-class communities that theyre going to heck in a handbasket and political elites simply dont care. Hes also right that past trade agreements and imbalances have hurt working-class people. And the negative effects of his economic policies (especially, low wages) havent been all that much different from past policies touted by both parties. Overall, the economic message from both parties to the working class has been, Sorry about that, but your job and income losses are the price we pay for progress, meaning globalization. Some outdated jobs like coal mining and farming are of necessity going to disappear, so you need to retrain and move to the cities where the higher-wage jobs are. Moving and education both take money, which is a huge barrier. But there are other prohibitive factors, such as a loss of identity, culture and social support. These are essential to working-class survivalfor instance, while professionals hire people for child care, car repairs and emergency needs, working class people depend on community, church and family. Now, leading Democratic candidates are pushing for either a ban or phasing out of fracking, which has been one of the few economic lifelines for the working class in Pennsylvania. And whats their better idea? Democrats minimum wage increases, subsidized child care and health care seem like pipe dreams and, in any case, are likely to end up like Obamacare, skipping over the working class (even increasing their costs) to focus on the poorest people. Whether Democrats talk about taxing the rich or helping the poor, the reality is the working class ends up paying. That said, social security and Medicare are exceptions and working-class voters would do well to keep an eye on them. Economic survival is top of mind for Pennsylvanias rural voters. However, despite what both parties say, rural voters have no good choices. So, you calculate your least-bad economic choice while factoring in your values. Usually, values help clarify muddy political choices, but like everything else in the Trump era, values get complicated too. Becky Bennett lives in south-central Pennsylvania and is a freelance writer and editor. She was editor of the Public Opinion newspaper in Chambersburg for 18 years. Across the Divide examines rural perspectives on issues facing Pennsylvania and the nation. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Jan. 27, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Pentagon Reminds Personnel to Be Apolitical Ahead of Election The Pentagon last week urged all U.S. military personnel and Department of Defense employees to avoid any actions that could be perceived as an endorsement of a political candidate or group. In a memo to personnel and employees, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said that each person must be unwavering in our personal commitment to exemplary ethics and living by core values grounded in duty and honor. Workers can vote and undertake other political actions but should stay apolitical while on the job, Esper said in the memo, dated Feb. 5 and released on Feb. 7. All Department of Defense personnel should be steadfast in our commitment to defend the Constitution and our nations democratic principles, Esper wrote (pdf). As citizens, we exercise our right to vote and participate in government. However, as public servants who have taken an oath to defend these principles, we uphold DoDs longstanding tradition of remaining apolitical as we carry out our official responsibilities. Any actions that imply endorsements from Department of Defense personnel could undermine the hard-earned trust and confidence of the American people, Esper wrote. Leaders in the department reported to Esper last year about the annual ethics training, and personnel who are required to complete the training must do so by Nov. 30 of this year. Additionally, military and civilian leaders should regularly discuss ethics and values with their teams in the normal course of leading and decision-making, Esper wrote. The secretary wrote a similar memo in August 2019, reminding Pentagon personnel to focus on being ethical. His predecessor, Patrick Shanahan, sent out memos a few months earlier to Pentagon employees, writing, Our policy and tradition also clearly limit active duty members from engaging in partisan political activities or actions that could appear to imply DoD sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause. What I wanted to do is remind everyone that were not going to politicize the military, Shanahan told reporters about the memos. Troops have become embroiled in controversy for allegedly political actions during this election cycle. A major in the South Carolina Army National Guard attended a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden last year while wearing her uniform. Maj. Ginger Tate told Biden she was praying that the former vice president would be elected president. It was very emotional; Im sure it was heartfelt by the major, but it was also incredibly wrong and a violation of the U.S. military regulations and policies, retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said during an appearance on CNN. Troops have brought hats bearing the Make America Great Again campaign slogan popularized by President Donald Trump to events that Trump is attending. After one instance, the Air Force said in 2018 that theres no rule preventing airmen from bringing personal items to be signed by the president. Richard Spencer, then-secretary of the Navy, sent a message to sailors and Marines last year telling them that they must remain apolitical. Sailors and Marines, along with the Department of the Navy (DON) Civilian Employees, have a long history of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States, Spencer wrote at the time. Now that election season is approaching, it is appropriate for us to remember that, as military professionals, we are an apolitical body and our members cannot participate in activities that could appear to imply sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause. In a display of kindred community, hundreds gathered Friday in Colorado Springs to attend the burial of a retired Air Force sergeant who died with no family by his side. Air Force Staff Sgt. Clyde Baldwin died Jan. 18 at the age of 91. He served from 1950 to 1970 in the Vietnam and Korean wars, said program specialist Rich Munoz. Baldwin was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal. The retired sergeants only known relatives live in Oklahoma, Munoz said, and could not attend the funeral. Instead, hundreds of people, most of whom Baldwin did not know, attended in their place. He was a very kind, humble, very simple man," said Nici Heisler, executive director of The Bridge assisted living home, where Baldwin lived for three years before he died. "He didn't like people to fuss too much over him ... all of our staff became like his family. She fondly recalled his last Christmas gift request: a hot rod calendar of vintage cars. "SSGT Baldwin was incredibly deserving of the wonderful service respectfully laying him to rest today." RELATED: The UK firm OneWeb launched 34 satellites from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early on Feb. 7 as part of its effort to provide global high-speed internet access using satellite communications by 2021. The Russian Soyuz rocket left Baikonur at 0242 local time (2142 GMT Thursday), the second OneWeb launch out of 21 planned. OneWeb launched six satellites from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, in February 2019. Several companies are competing in the race to provide internet access using satellites, with Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos among the business leaders posing challenges to the British start-up. OneWeb founder Greg Wyler intends to put 648 satellites into the Earths orbit and begin commercial use in 2020. The firm has attracted around $1.7 billion from the Airbus Group, Coca-Cola, Virgin Group, Qualcomm, and Softbank to deploy the satellite network. The success of the project depends in large part on Russian partners after OneWeb signed an agreement with Frances Arianespace and Russian space agency Roscosmos in 2015 to launch all its satellites using Soyuz rockets. Igor Komarov, the former general director of Roscosmos, claimed the contract amounted to more than $1 billion. Despite becoming a key consumer in Russias rocket industry, OneWeb has been unable to obtain frequencies for work in Russia for more than two years, as Russias FSB security service considers OneWeb a threat to Russias national security. By Nadezhda Tsydenova An army corporal opened fire on a group of mobile police officers at the Makara Area of Gwoza LGA, Borno on Sunday. Sergeant Roland Tafida, who would have completed his tour Saturday got shot in the blast. He died after losing much blood while others were badly injured. The shooting also damaged some facilities at the Limankara Police Training Camp. Tafida was among the MOPOL Special Forces Team deployed to Gwoza last August, on counter-insurgency operations and would have completed his six months anti-terrorism operation on February 8, 2020. Roland, a father of two young girls, had already planned to depart Borno this weekend after his tour of duty. An eyewitness told PRNigeria that the killing was unfortunate and disheartening. He recalled that the whole drama started between the soldier and another police officer over a girlfriend. Some people intervened and settled the matter when the aggrieved Army corporal asked a driver of an anti-aircraft gun Hilux belonging to his military base, to turn and face the Limankara Police Training Camp. Immediately after turning the vehicle, they opened fire and shot at the Camps facility. It was at that moment, Roland Tafida, the late police sergeant, was killed by a stray bullet because he was not involved in the earlier altercation. The blast from the anti-aircraft vehicle totally disfigured his left leg thigh as he was returning to the camp after he went to charge his phone somewhere. The MOPOL officer could have survived the terrible assault, but nobody could take him to a medical facility as he lay in his own pool of blood, bleeding profusely and bled to death. It was the Army major that came out to beg the aggrieved MOPOL personnel. He was the one who restored order and normalcy, otherwise, a mayhem would have erupted. After begging the police officers, the major arrested the killer corporal, and thereafter, the Army Theatre Command, contacted the Borno Police Command. The Rolands aunt, Mrs. Zwancit Dazang, said neither the Police or the Army have informed them of Rolands death. We only got to know about our sons tragic death in the social media. He was dressed in combat boots, jeans and a MOPOL T-shirt, with his rifle strapped on his shoulder, when he was shot, Dazang said. The anti-aircraft truck is a lethal ammunition that can bring down a plane or helicopter from the sky; it can even destroy an armoured tank. That a soldier will use it to eliminate an innocent, but a fellow security officer like him, is unimaginable.The soldier must be brought to book. Our son was there in Borno to defend his country. So, why should he be eliminated by someone he never hurt, or offended? The military and the police authorities constituted a joint fact-finding committee to probe the incident and have apprehended the culprit. He was taken to the Maimalari Barrack in Maiduguri, while the military has taken responsibility for the damaged facilities at the Police camp. PV: 0 Jalingo Millionaire, Chief Uche Obi, has regained his freedom after five days in the hands of his captors. Following his release f... Jalingo Millionaire, Chief Uche Obi, has regained his freedom after five days in the hands of his captors. Following his release from captivity, Chief Uche Obi has accused Sani Abubaka Danladi the former Acting Governor of Taraba State of sponsoring his recent abduction. Obi while narrating his ordeal to journalist in Jalingo, accused Danladi of sponsoring police from the police headquarters Abuja to carry out what he described as criminal act Since Wednesday last week.i discovered strange people that were trailing me, I went to the gym that very day in the evening, I saw one black Hilux Jeep parked beside my car, I was watching to see who will come out from the Jeep but the people did not come out, I decided to leave the car and take another dimension The next day which was Thursday, after taking stock of my businesses, as I was heading home, I discovered a white Hilux with tinted glasses parked close to my gate, I diverted to another direction again On Friday, when I was in my office with my customers, a friend of mine came and excused my customers that he wanted to talk to me in private, when I granted him audience, he told me that he heard some people in a restaurant where he was eating saying they are policemen from Abuja, that they came down to Jalingo to arrest me, the people said they have already obtained a court warrant When I heard the story, there was nothing I could do than to run for my life, that was when I ran to the police headquarters here in Jalingo and reported to the commissioner of police, I also enquired from him if there was an official information for my arrest on his table but the commissioner told me point blank that he was not aware of any such development, he, therefore, referred me to his Deputy Commissioner, the DC himself denied any Knowledge of warrant of arrest on me When I came back from the police on Friday, the next day being Saturday I decided to stay indoors so that whatever wants to happen to me will happen in my room, as I was reflecting over the incident, I discovered that since 1989, I came to Jalingo, I had no problem with anybody apart from Sani Abubaka Danladi, the former Acting Governor of Taraba state Only recently I had problems with Sani Abubaka Danladi, we had an issue in the court, I then decided to call the younger brother to Sani and get information from him but the younger brother promptly told me that his elder brother can not petition me or send people after my life, I then called my brother by name Okechukwu, I told him that I have no problem with anybody here in the state apart from Sani Danladi but this is what has been happening within some few days ago When Okechukwu called Danladi, he, first of all, denied that he is not behind any petition against me and he did not send anybody against me. But that same day around 2:pm, some people started calling me that they are policemen, that they came from Abuja Force Headquarters, that they learnt I went to the commissioner of police claiming that their coming to Jalingo was illegal, that I should come to the Jalingo police headquarters and they will prove to me they are in Jalingo not on illegal duty, they insisted to know when am leaving my house I suspected something wrong and i said they should go and invite me at the Force Headquarters not in Jalingo, that was when I forwarded their number to my brother Okechukwu, my brother then used the number and forwarded it to one of the DIGs in Abuja, the DIG called the number on several occasions but none of the acclaimed policemen picked Okechukwu called me that the DIG is calling them but they are not picking, the said policemen called me once again, I then asked them to pick the call that has been coming to their phone, I revealed to them that the number calling their phone is form one of the DIGs in Abuja That was how we ended our call with them that Saturday, late in the night, my wife gave me her phone that my brother Okechukwu was calling and that he wanted to talk to me, when I picked the phone call, OkeChukwu told me that is just now that he discovered that the person who wrote the petition against me was Sani Danladi Okechukwu then told me that Sani Danladi just called him (Okechukwu) that me Uche Obi is proving stubborn and he (Sani Danladi) is going to show to me that if I know five DIGs himself knows more than fifty DIGs and the IG himself, that as he was speaking to Okechukwu, his men have already surrounded my house, that was when Okechukwu advised me to at least find my way out of my house for that night Okechukwu said the way Sani called him and was vibrating, he knew I would not be safe if I fall into their hands,that there will be trouble The Jalingo businessman while narrating his experience wondered why the police were hunting him even in the night with a court order, He said he decided to inform his wife of the decision he was stepping out of the house to look for a hide out till the next day. On reaching my gate, as I stepped out, I discovered the same Black Hilux that followed me on Wednesday on one side while the White Hilux was by the other side, a voice came from the bush that Hei, stop there or I shoot you, some men came from the bush and picked me and threw me at the back of the White Hilux. Obi.said as soon as he was pushed into the Hilux, the people brought out a tick cloth and blindfolded his face, He said they drove him around for over fours while his face was blindfolded. To my surprise, when they took me to one house, they came and loosened the rope that they tired my hands with, they brought one paper that I should sign, that was when I asked them why they giving me paper to sign without losing my eyes to see what am signing, they shouted at me that at this point I must obey whatever they say, I sign the document with my eyes blindfolded. Obi who said he has no idea of where he was taken to,called on the federal government of Nigeria and Taraba state government to take note that nobody conducted his abduction but Sani Abubaka Danladi. He said he has already reached out to his family members and informed them that his life was under threat and the person behind it is Sani Danladi. Obi called on the IGP to conduct proper investigations into the matter since Abubaka is not above the law of the land. Two suspected cow smugglers have been arrested after a brief encounter with police in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, officials said on Saturday. The main accused, Ikram, was injured in the encounter, Station House Officer HN Singh said. When a police team intercepted a vehicle carrying cows, the accused opened fire, which led to a brief encounter, the SHO said. Ikram was admitted to a hospital here, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven months after closing its meatpacking plant in San Leandro, Smithfield Foods Inc. is closing its San Jose facility and laying off 139 workers, marking its departure from the Bay Area after decades in business. In a letter to state officials, the Smithfield, Va., pork processor said it regretted the circumstances that made the layoff necessary. Along with 105 production employees, plant managers, supervisors, human resources personnel and other workers are affected. The layoffs are effective March 13. The plant produced bacon and corned beef, according to Smithfields website. This decision is a result of a lease expiration and the projected sale of the building by the property owner, Smithfield said in an email to The Chronicle. Consequently, the company is discontinuing its operations in San Jose. The news has been devastating to some workers who have worked at the plant for years, said Jonathan Hughes, a union representative in San Jose for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, which represents the workers. It was fairly short notice, and they didnt need to move their plant, Hughes said. There are other locations that could have worked locally. Smithfield has been downsizing its operations amid a companywide reorganization announced in 2015. Most of its plants and distribution centers are in the South and Midwest. Founded in 1936, Smithfield was sold to WH Group, a Chinese company headquartered in Hong Kong, in 2013. It has more than 40,000 employees in the U.S. Smithfield said it is offering the San Jose employees jobs at other locations within the company or with other local employers, along with relocation assistance. The closest Smithfield operation is in Los Angeles. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The San Jose plant is in an industrial enclave of the city near the intersection of Highway 101 and Interstate 880, not far from the office buildings lining North First Street that house the headquarters of tech companies PayPal and Nutanix. It was once known as Mohawk Packing and acquired by Smithfield in the late 1990s, according to city records. With its closure, the meatpacking sector in San Jose is down to one midsize operation San Jose Valley Veal compared with seven or eight such facilities 20 years ago, Hughes said. Other Bay Area meatpacking centers have shrunk over the decades. San Leandro, where Smithfield shut its Saags plant last year, has lost several producers. Part of San Franciscos Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood is known as Butchertown, for the area where the city concentrated its slaughterhouses in the 19th century. The Swift & Co. plant in South San Francisco, crucial to that citys development, closed in 1968. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika MOSCOW NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who spent nearly 11 months in orbit to set a record for the longest spaceflight by a woman, landed safely Thursday in Kazakhstan along with two International Space Station crewmates. The Soyuz capsule carrying Koch, station Commander Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, touched down southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 3:12 p.m. local time. Koch wrapped up a 328-day mission after her first flight into space, providing researchers the opportunity to observe the effects of long-duration spaceflight on a woman. The study is important since NASA plans to return to the moon under the Artemis program and prepare for the human exploration of Mars. Koch smiled and gave a thumbs-up as a support team helped her out of the capsule and placed her in a chair for a quick post-flight check-up alongside her crew mates. Russian space officials said they were in good shape. Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and now lives near the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston, Texas, with her husband, Bob, told The Associated Press last month that taking part in the first all-female spacewalk was the highlight of her mission. Koch lived in Livingston in 2013 when she gained entrance into the astronaut program. Koch said she and fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir appreciated that the Oct. 18 spacewalk "could serve as an inspiration for future space explorers." Parmitano and Skvortsov spent 201 days in space. After preliminary medical evaluations, the crew will be flown by Russian helicopters to the city of Karaganda in Kazakhstan. Koch and Parmitano will then board a NASA plane bound for Cologne, Germany, where Parmitano will be greeted by European space officials before Koch proceeds home to Houston. Skvortsov will be flown to the Star City Cosmonaut Training Center outside Moscow. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A delegation of Congress including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party chief Rahul Gandhi met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Friday and discussed ways to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Rahul Gandhi took to twitter and wrote, "A delegation of Congress Party leaders met Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa in Delhi yesterday. We had a friendly and cordial discussion on a wide range of issues, including ways to strengthen the relationship between our two countries." Rahul Gandhi also shared a picture of the Congress delegation including him and Singh along with senior party leader Anand Sharma meeting the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived here on Friday on his four-day visit to India. During his first overseas visit since his brother Gotabaya was elected President in November last year, Rajapaksa would hold talks on a number of key areas including trade, defence and maritime security cooperation. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister will also have meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Taxpayers gave an estimated 150,000 a year to provide care for the troubled teenager who pushed a six-year-old boy from the top of the Tate Modern, it emerged yesterday. A furious political row blew up after the Mail revealed Jonty Bravery, who has a personality disorder, was allowed to visit the London art gallery on his own with some blaming austerity. But figures obtained by the Mail show a huge amount of public money was spent on the 18-year-old, who was in council care. Bravery, who suffers from autism, admitted to two care workers his plan to throw someone from a tall building. Tate pusher Jonty Bravery (pictured), who has a personality disorder, was allowed to visit the London art gallery on his own with some blaming austerity. Bravery, 18, suffers from autism and admitted to two care workers his plan to throw someone from a tall building. He has received 24-hour day and a team of up to six carers, figures suggest In a shocking audio recording obtained by the Mail and BBC News, Bravery vowed to push somebody off a building almost a year before he hurled the French boy from the London landmarks 100ft viewing balcony last summer, nearly killing him. Yesterday commentators blamed the attack on cuts to public services. But the Mail has seen records suggesting that 150,000 a year was spent on Braverys round-the-clock care. He had a team of up to six carers and was housed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in a private two-bedroom flat where the rent was about 650 a month. Braverys care was outsourced to a private firm, Spencer and Arlington. It meant he had two carers all day and all night, working in shifts. They helped him with domestic chores and kept him company at his flat in Northolt, west London. One of the carers claimed to the Mail that on the day Bravery was allowed to visit the Tate unsupervised he did have staff assigned but they were permitted to stay at the flat while he went out alone. Yesterday political commentator and broadcaster Iain Dale stormed off a TV set in a row over the case. Grace Blakeley, an economics commentator for New Statesman magazine, told ITVs Good Morning Britain: This is all because of the way in which the council has to cut things out. Very, very vulnerable children with severe mental health problems just dont get provided for. Its another story you can trace back to austerity. Political commentator and broadcaster Iain Dale (pictured) stormed off a TV set in a row over the case, yesterday. Records suggests that 150,000 a year was spent on Braverys round-the-clock care. He was housed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in a private two-bedroom flat where the rent was about 650-a-month Another guest, BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake, added: He went out on his own presumably because there wasnt somebody who could accompany him. There wasnt the resources. Mr Dale angrily told them: Utter, utter rubbish. It had nothing to do with cuts its to do with people doing the sensible thing... you dont need to have thousands of pounds to be sensible. The Care Quality Commission, which regulates the care industry, yesterday launched an urgent probe into the case. Bravery has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and will be sentenced later. ChoiMasksBlue.JPG Kendra Titley Medical face masks can block some germs, but germs also linger on their surfaces. Researchers say they've created a new type of face mask with a salt coating that can neutralize germs. The technology has been tested on three influenza strains. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Medical face masks can feel almost impossible to keep on properly. Wearers constantly touch them to readjust, move them to scratch their faces, and regularly take them off and put them back on. All of those actions can help the germs on a mask's surface get into your body. Experts say that for most people outside of Wuhan, China, face masks are unlikely to protect you from the current coronavirus outbreak, for example. But Hyo-Jick Choi, a biomedical engineer and professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, says he has a potential solution: A mask that can kill harmful pathogens, rather than just block them. The secret ingredient is table salt. wuhan face mask Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images Because the molecular structure of salt is crystalline, its hard, sharp corners can pierce viruses, rendering them unviable, Choi says. His team has been testing salt-coated masks in the lab for the past few years, and found that they can inactivate three strains of the influenza virus. The team published those initial findings in the journal Scientific Reports in 2017. They think the pathogen-neutralizing technology could significantly improve infectious-disease prevention efforts and hope to bring the masks to market within the next 18 months. How the salt-coated mask works Viruses and other pathogens travel either through the air; in droplets such as saliva or phlegm from coughing, sneezing, speaking, or breathing; or on surfaces. "The coronavirus-carrying droplets, expelled from coughing, sneezing, speaking or breathing, can stay on the surface of the masks," Choi told Business Insider. "The biggest technical challenge of the current surgical mask and n95 respirator is that they cannot kill the virus sitting on their surface, which increases the chance of the contact transmission." Story continues But when a virus-carrying droplet encounters a mask coated in Choi's salt solution, he says, it begins to absorb the salt. Then once the liquid evaporates, all that remains is the virus and the crystallized salt which slices through the virus, neutralizing it. The process takes as long as it takes the water to evaporate, Choi said. In his lab tests, he added, "the virus is inactive within five minutes, and it all got destroyed within 30 minutes." Failed experiments sparked an idea for new masks Choi said he got the idea for a salt-coated mask from the failure of a different experiment. He was trying to develop oral vaccinations that are easier to deliver than shots. As part of that process, a weakened form of a virus was mixed into a sugar solution. But the structure of the sugars kept cutting the virus particles open, making the vaccine ineffective. "Crystal formation in sugar-based formulations destabilizes vaccines," Ilaria Rubino, a University of Alberta Ph.D student in Choi's lab group, told Business Insider in an email. "We wondered: Would then crystal re-growth of salt be able to inactivate viruses?" ChoiMasks4.JPG Hyo-Jick Choi The group began developing a salt film coating and applying it to the fibers of mask filters. Then they built and tested prototypes. Choi now has a provisional patent on the technology. Choi says the technology is commercially scalable Rubino said the simplicity of the salt-coating solution makes it easy to integrate into existing mask manufacturing processes. "One of the advantages of our technology is that it is not complicated, yet it is robust," she said. "This would require very low capital investment and the material (salt) itself is inexpensive." She added that the team hopes to work with companies to begin manufacturing the devices commercially within two years. "This also means that salt-coated masks could be stockpiled in preparation for pandemics and epidemics," Rubino said. "They could be readily used at the time of outbreak, irrespective of the disease." Read the original article on Business Insider Unlike most Americans, I tuned in to the New Hampshire Democratic debate, the drumroll finale from George Stephanopoulos asking each of the last seven candidates standing what they'd do about childhood poverty. Not exactly a burning question, given that childhood poverty rates have collapsed under President Trump. Nevertheless, they all flunked. In seven different ways, each leftist Democrat demonstrated some kind of disconnect from reality, in the end making one wonder which asteroid they lived on. They started with Andrew Yang, who quickly reached for the $1,000-a-month shtick for single moms. As if that hasn't been tried since the War on Poverty was introduced in the 1960s and didn't make things worse, replacing dads with government cash. Apparently, he's never heard of it. They then moved on to Pete Buttigieg, who wanted us to know that we were living in a deep, deep depression, with only the rich, and "people whose names were on buildings," making any money in this terrible Trump economy. Forget those good economy claims, actually only the stock market is rising, and the rest of us are starving. The job formation, the raises, the new companies, the fattened 401(k)s don't seem to exist in his fevered imagination. According to Pete, whatever was going on good in the economy was going to the stock market, the coupon-clippers, all the bad guys the progressives were talking about in 1870, and nobody, of course, with a 401(k) had any stake even in those stocks. Buttigieg is living on the far planet from this bunch. Elizabeth Warren was next, touting her experience teaching special ed kids, coming up with the usual leftist spiel of throwing more government money at the problem. "I talked before about a two-cent wealth tax. But the whole idea behind it is we can do early childhood education and good quality childcare, universal pre-K for every child in America," she said, throwing in big raises for the bureaucrats and teacher union members, of course, all in the name of "investing in our children." It was loony stuff, because how many times has she pledged that two-cent tax of hers for other stuff, for everything under the sun, actually free health care, free college education, free everything? Now it's free childhood education? There aren't enough billionaires to pay for even one of those free-for-all programs, and there she goes again, pledging those two cents to somewhere else. Memo to Fake Indian: You can spend the wampum only once. Then we got into the grotesque, with Joe Biden, who didn't really care about the childhood poverty question, just persuading us that far from being the rich, privileged swampster who's done well on the Beltway corruption rackets, with all those relatives he's made rich, he's really himself just poor starving Joe, advocate for the little guy, describing his childhood as one of layoffs and smokestacks, his dad a poor hardhat who was always getting laid off. Joe didn't care about the childhood poverty question; he just wanted us to know he wasn't a rich, corrupt swamp thing who'd grown rich in public office. Creepy Joe's planet is another distant one. Screen shot from a camera at a television. More weird came from Bernie Sanders, who argued that childhood poverty was the result of President Trump's tax cuts for billionaires. It was "the same reason that we give massive trillion-dollar tax breaks to the rich and large corporations, same reason we give tens of billions in subsidies and tax breaks, while half of our people life paycheck to paycheck..." So tax everyone to death, and no more childhood poverty got it? Just ask Venezuela how that worked out. Bernie Sanders is truly on some other planet with that one. Amy Klobuchar was no better. She spoke of Democratic defeats, talking of how Democrats apparently had no idea what normal people wanted, which is why they were out on their ears. Then she went into an anecdote about Franklin Roosevelt's funeral, saying a weeping man said that though he didn't know Roosevelt, "he knew me. He knew me." This rather sounds like President Trump, actually. Talking about how Dems have been out of tune with voters and then saying Trump was the one who was out of tune, while she was presumably in tune, was the height of funhouse mirror world. Put her on another planet, too. That's how you got Trump, lady. Tom Steyer was all over the place at the end, pandering to every interest group, wheeling it all back to global warming, his crank cause. Planet Tom, there he was. None of these Democrats had the slightest grasp of reality. Even the most basic of them, the tax-and-spend money-shovelers, were out of tune with reality. Some of their ideas were old, very, very old, and failed, to boot. Others simply wanted to project an altered reality. After hearing all seven of these wrong answers, it's pretty clear the party is on its own asteroids, floating around in the nothingness, clueless as to why America elected President Trump. These constant misses are what doesn't resonate with voters. It's a pretty good clue that they're all about to go down in flames come November. The suburban rail project could kick-off with an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore, but it is yet unclear if the Cabinet will approve it soon. Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi was vague about the timeframe as he addressed a press conference after inaugurating the Chunar-Chopan electrified railway line in Uttar Pradesh. After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated the Centres commitment to the suburban project in last weeks Budget speech, railway board chairman V K Yadav said he expects the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to approve the project soon, paving the way for work to begin this financial year. Asked if the project would get CCEAs nod this time, Angadi shot back: Whyare you doubting us? To the explanation that the project was cleared two years ago in 2018-19, but did not take off, the minister said: During that time Karnataka had a coalition government and nobody pursued the project. Since I became minister, Im taking it forward. Initial boost While the projects total cost is estimated at Rs 18,600 crore, the state and the Centre would fund 20% each in equity. The other 60% will be sourced through loans. Responding to a question, Karnataka Railway Infrastructure Development (K-RIDE) Limited managing director Amit Garg said Rs 1,000 crore is required to kick-start the work on the ground. In the first financial year, we propose to invest 5% of the construction cost and 50% of the land cost. So, an estimated Rs 1,000 crore is required, he said. Garg said they are in talks with several international agencies to get the loan. Funding is key since K-RIDE will require 15% of the project cost next year and 20% the year after. Asked about private investment, he said investors are unlikely to put money in large infrastructure projects oriented towards social welfare. Though the rate of return for the suburban project is a healthy 11%, large infra projects like this have several risks, besides delay in land acquisition, construction, funding, technical risks and risks of land acquisition. Once the project takes off, they may show interest, he said. Let's talk about the popular China Life Insurance Company Limited (HKG:2628). The company's shares received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SEHK over the last few months, increasing to HK$22.75 at one point, and dropping to the lows of HK$18.70. 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 China Life Insurance's current trading price of HK$19.72 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at China Life Insurances outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for China Life Insurance Is China Life Insurance still cheap? Good news, investors! China Life Insurance is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is HK$35.07, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. However, given that China Life Insurances share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Can we expect growth from China Life Insurance? SEHK:2628 Past and Future Earnings, February 8th 2020 Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. However, with a negative profit growth of -3.1% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesnt appear to be a driver for a buy decision for China Life Insurance. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Although 2628 is currently undervalued, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. I recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to 2628, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 2628 for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current undervaluation, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on China Life Insurance. You can find everything you need to know about China Life Insurance in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in China Life Insurance, 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. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, is Saturday hosting a summit on Libya and the Sahel region organized by the African Union Peace and Security Commission on the eve of the opening of the 33rd AU session dominated this year by the security solutions and conflicts on the continent Larry Deckerhoff, MIM, well-known adviser to companies and entrepreneurs in The Woodlands (Texas), announced the continuation of The Woodlands Lunch Forum with a luncheon event scheduled for Friday, 28 February 2020 at Amerigos Grille, 25250 Grogans Park Drive in The Woodlands. The Forum is scheduled to start at 11:30 AM and last one and a half hours. Mr. Deckerhoff indicated, The theme of this Lunch Forum is Advanced Health for the New Millennium, Immunotherapy and Rejuvenation. Among our featured speakers will be Ralph Fucetola JD, President of The Woodlands own Institute for Health Research - http://www.InHeRe.org. He will be joined by two experts in rejuvenation and immunotherapies. The short presentations will leave plenty of time to connect and enjoy the extraordinary cuisine at Amerigos Grille. The Institute, founded in 1998, focuses on leading-edge, natural and nutritional support for vigorous aging and powerful immunity. The Institute President will introduce advanced approaches to health and longevity through the featured speakers who are positioned to inform and enlighten, in cooperation with NutraSpace, Health Matching Accounts and Natural Solutions Foundation. Interested participants are requested to RSVP to stephen.contreras1@hotmail.com the requested donation of $50.00 includes a three course gourmet lunch. Donations in excess of luncheon value are tax-deductible. The President of the Institute concluded: We look forward to a growing presence in The Woodlands community as our alliances with local and regional companies and researchers continue to mature. Our research interests include areas as diverse as longevity nutrition, immunotherapy and autism retrieval. Speakers: 1. Ralph Fucetola JD President, the Institute for Health Research http://www.InHeRe.org 2. Bill Hayes, NutraSpace http://www.NutraSpace.com 3. Elliot Gorog, HMA - http://www.HealthMatchingAccounts.com What scientists term interoceptive electrical signals is believed to be spiritism/superstition; prophecy by religious/ superstitious (believers) people. Both have a tendency to hijack your free will. Therefore, you may not be free and your decision isnt made out of the free will. But decisions (variants) are to be made out of free will. For instance, a signal from the stomach could prompt people for a snack. Is this interoceptive electrical or spiritual? This paper talks about political decision ; what informs people as such ; a) ethnic tribal sentiments , b ) partisan, c ) cronyism, d) superstition, e) identification with the aggressor, f) free will g ) no idea ? Scientists claim breathing patterns, and specifically exhaling, could be used to predict when a decision is made although not what it will be. The concept of free will is one of the most difficult philosophical questions. The concept of free will is fundamental to human society Our legal systems are dependent on it but neuroscientists have struggled to identify it in the human brain. Modern scientists pose a profound philosophical problem; if the laws of physics govern the brain's electrical activity then how can free will actually exist? And if free will doesnt exist, how can individuals be held accountable for their activities - (both here on earth and after as some believers believe). Arguably, the latter is the philosophy of believers attributing everything and all to a God who will sit in state to pronounce judgment as they profess. Thus, believers are grossly irresponsible to their acts of omission and commission. For instance, God is good, all the timeall the time, God is good, God knows why, he gives and takes back they claim. Scientists believe that brain signals known as readiness potential (RP) proceed not only voluntary movements but also the intention to move, are one of the strongest arguments against the existence of free will. Did you choose your faith? Having the opportunity what would you have become? Why are you a sympathizer of the political party? Other researchers have countered that RP signals may simply be an artifact of measurement and not actually which determine the choices we believe we make. Now, new research from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has investigated the origin of RP signals themselves. The EPFL Hopes that the origin of the RP could provide some insights into how the human brain actually comes to form decisions and exercise choices. The study published in the journal Nature Communications, the research suggest that the origin of RP signals and the free will is linked to breathing. The regular cycle of breathing is part of mechanism that leads to conscious decision making and acts as free will. Moreover, we are more likely to initiate voluntary movements as we exhale EPFL researchers. The legal system is based on people being accountable for their actions. Must people be accountable for their political actions and/ or inactions? Olaf Blanke, EPFL Foundation Bartarelli Chair in cognitive Neuroprosthetics and the papers senior author said the findings suggest acts of free will are affected by other systems of the human body. He says Acts of free will are hostage to a host of inner body states and the brains processing of these internal signals . Interestingly, such signals have also been shown to be of relevance for self consciousness , Mr. Blanke noted. It might not be just breathing either. RP signals from the stomach could potentially drive the human desire to hunger after particular foods. This is what drives people into religion, traditional- cultures and customs, politics, and media business under guise of serving their people, nation and country. The gut mind connection is an active field of research and intercoceptive messages ( political, religion/ superstition, traditional cultures and customs, paparazzi ) sent to the brain certainly impact food cravings. Politics, religion/ superstition, traditionalism, paparazzi and political terrorism crave for FOOD based on propaganda, deception and blatant lies as well, as sabotage! In Ga language noko fio! But for now, the latest EPFL research only improves predictions of indulgence in that craving (FOOD) and not what you will actually crave. In conclusion, I suggest, having the ability to think critically in free will and to make well informed decisions as to who gets the nod to be elected into public office as an MP (member of parliament) and President to truly serve Ghana is hijacked by ethnic- tribal sentiments, extreme partisan politics, cronyism, superstition (doomsday election prophets, fetish priests/priestess), media corruption and political terrorists. Why? Simply because, the nation lacks critical minds! FLOATING VOTERSASSOCIATION (FloVA) offers: Comprehensive Voter Education ( CVE) to empower the electorate FloVA deal to negotiate our votes with political parties in a legal binding social contract to deliver on time - bound If you have been impacted by this file, you may please, register with us, donate or support FloVA to achieve its aims and objectives. You may contact listed address or visit http//: www.flovagh.org (soon -2-log-on) NB: The commentator, KKO is a free thinker, and an advocate of human security. AAP set to sweep Manoj Tiwaris parliamentary seat India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: The BJP's Manoj Tiwari is expected to suffer a setback as the AAP is set to sweep his parliamentary seat. Tiwari who is the party's president in Delhi was elected from the Northeast Delhi seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The India Today Exit poll says that the AAP will win 9 to seats under this constituency. The BJP on the other hand is predicted to win 1 to 3 seats. Delhi Exit Poll 2020: Newsx-POLSTRAT predicts clean sweep for AAP The Net-NewsX exit poll has predicted a huge victory for the AAP. The AAP would win 53-57 seats, while the BJP will win. 11 to 17 the exit poll says. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats the poll also says. According to the Times Now IPSOS poll, the Aam Admi Party would win 47 seats and the BJP will end up with 26. The Republic Jan ki Baat poll says that the AAP will win 48-61 seats and the BJP will end up with 9 to 21. The India Today Axis My India exit poll gives the AAP 9-10 in West Delhi and the BJP 0 to 1. The BJP will bag 35 per cent of the vote share while the AAP will end up with 57 per cent, the exit polls says. The poll also says that in West Delhi, the AAP would win 9 to 10 seats. The BJP on the other hand may win draw a blank or end up with just one seat in this segment, the exit poll says. Delhi exit polls: This BJP MP predicts 50 seats for his party Sudarshan News gives the AAP 40 to 45 and the BJP 24 to 28. The Congress on the other hand will get 2 to 3 the poll says. India TV on the other hand gives the AAP, 44 and the BJP 26. The Congress will not open its account the poll says. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero gives the AAP, 54 and the BJP 15. It gives the Congress just one seat. India New Neta on the other hand gives the AAP 53-57 and the BJP 11 to 17. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats, the poll says. The Delhi Exit polls at a glance The ABP C-Voter poll says that the AAP will end up with 49 to 63 while the BJP could end up 5 to 19 seats. The Congress is unlikely to open its account or end up with 4 seats, the poll also predicts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 19:36 [IST] Chinese enterprises along with foreign companies have come together to fight the massive novel coronavirus outbreak by donating funds, medical and daily necessities. As of Feb. 6, more than 1,930 enterprises donated money and supplies worth more than 19.2 billion yuan ($2.75 billion) to aid China's epidemic battle, according to CSR-Cloud, a commercialization platform for research results at the Research Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS-CSR). CSR-Cloud reported that 1,249 private enterprises donated a total of 11.97 billion yuan. The Alibaba Group topped the list with a 1-billion-yuan donation. Tencent donated 500 million yuan and the Yunhong Group donated 310 million yuan. Bosideng and Baidu each donated 300 million yuan, and companies such as ByteDance, China Merchants Bank, Meituan Dianping, Muyuan Foods, Liby, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China Fangda Group, and Evergrande each donated 200 million yuan. COFCO tops the list of China's state-owned enterprises with its donation of supplies and funds worth a total of 762 million yuan. This includes donations from its brand - China Mengniu Dairy Company which gave milk supplies worth a whopping 660 million yuan. The China Merchants Group came in second with its donation of 210.5 million yuan while the China Three Gorges Corporation took the third spot with its donation of 154.35 million yuan. By Feb. 6, 82 of China's state-owned enterprises contributed a total of 3.4 billion yuan. As of Feb. 6, 254 enterprises from outside the Chinese mainland donated a total of 1.38 billion yuan in cash and supplies. Donations from companies in America, the Hong Kong SAR, and South Korea rank among the top three. Among them, 74 American companies donated a total of 384 million yuan. Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), which is part of the Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas, is the top donor with its contribution of more than 100 million yuan. Aside from donations, companies, foundations and industry associations also mobilized massive aid efforts. China Fortune Land Development (CFLD) not only donated 21 million yuan, but also cut rents by half from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22 for all businesses renting shops, booths and offices in its commercial properties. Wanda Group also waived rents and property management fees for businesses renting shops, booths and offices in its real estate properties nationwide until Feb. 25. This amounts to 4-billion-yuan in aid. Fosun Foundation procured medical and epidemic prevention supplies and materials worldwide and sent them to the coronavirus-hit areas. BYD donated 10 million yuan along with face masks worth 1 million yuan bought by its overseas branches. It also assembled hundreds of drivers and staff to form a fleet of community cars to help medical staff travel to and from work as well as to help the general public in need of emergency trips. China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission worked with more than 300 national-scale social organizations in the power, machinery, textile, steel, coal, petrochemical, commerce and logistics industries to help fight the pneumonia epidemic through a variety of ways. It also donated cash and various supplies such as masks, glasses, disinfectants, detergents, home appliances and food. The Commission also made sure that the companies building the temporary hospitals in Wuhan received the construction materials they needed to finish their work. Many companies also mobilized their workers to work around the clock to produce the essential products for people in the virus-hit areas. We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy Shikara should have also declared that it has simplified the story to let nothing interfere in the narrative of the tragedy of a people. Cast: Sadia, Aadil Khan Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Writer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopras Shikara, that tells the deeply sad and tragic story of Kashmiri Pandits forced exodus from their homeland in January 1990, is dedicated to his mother who could never return home. Its personal. And a labour of both, love and exhalation. The tragedy of four lakh Hindus being driven from their homes, jobs, schools, lives and rendered homeless, refugees in their own country by a handful of militants while the state and Centre watched is unfathomable, unpardonable. In more ways than one, it was like the second Partition. Shikara declares, at the very onset, that it has mostly used real refugees and not actors for an authentic look and feel. Theres little artifice here, it seems to suggest. Shikara should have also declared that it has simplified the story to let nothing interfere in the narrative of the tragedy of a people. No complexity, no politics, no crimp are allowed in, not even a suggestion about where the blame may lie. According to Shikara, it doesnt really lie with Delhi, neither with Srinagar, nor with the Delhi-appointed governor, Jagmohan. It lies with Islam, Pakistan-trained militants, but above all with Kashmiri Muslims who either turned foe or rapacious. There is, of course, no deadline on telling a story. But the timing of when one decides to tell a story often carries a story of its own. Its almost as if Shikara was timed to appear after the abrogation of Article 370. As if to justify yet another tragedy perpetuated by the state. There is a tinge of obscenity in accusing a people of complicity in a crime when they are under lockdown, muzzled, turned prisoners in their own homes. In Shikara, Vidhu Vinod Chopra is often at pains to say that he is against hate, any shade of hate. And even adds, for good measure, that leader ka kaam jorna hota hai, todna nahin. But his film fits a certain narrative thats in currency, one that tries to justify state-sponsored atrocities in the name of righting past wrongs. In 1987, young Shiv Kumar Dhar (Aadil Khan) meets sweet Shanti Sapru (Sadia) at the shoot of a Bollywood film in the haseen vaadiyan of Kashimir. She is training to be a nurse and he is a writer, poet and soon-to-be professor. When they meet, she is clutching a book of his poems and he, on the insistence of a directors assistance, grabs her hand. They have a cute, short courtship after which they marry, in the course of which it is established that Shivs best-friend, Latif miyan, is soft on the heroines bestie. Shiv and Shanti want to build a house for which his besties dad, Khurshid saab, sends stones after stopping the construction of his own house, thus establishing a utopia where all was well and Kashmir was indeed a paradise. But Khurshid saab, a Muslim leader, is killed, and Shiv, who now teaches at Srinagars Amar Singh College, is whisked away to meet his friend who is being guarded by boys carrying automatic assault rifles. Go to India, sell your house and go to India, he is told. Pindi Pindi, Rawalpindi, the conductors of buses scream. J&K Commander Force puts out hit-lists of Hindus who must leave or face consequences. Some prominent Pandits are killed, including Shivs Naveen bhaiyya and, on the night of January 18-19, 1990, Shiv and Shanti leave for Jammu with other Kashmiri Pandits, abandoning on the way a calf. In the refugee camps, theres government apathy, inefficiency and insults heaped by trucks carrying tomatoes while an old man cant stop wailing about returning home, to Kashmir. And then, many years later, a man comes to Shiv, asking him to sell his house. Thats the day Shiv writes his first letter to the President of America. Shikara, in fact, opens when Shiv is writing his 1,664th letter to the US President on his typewriter in his 28th year in the Muthi Refugee Camp. Though this is a recurring theme in the film, its not quite clear to me what he says in those letters apart from telling George Bush and subsequent US presidents that the guns they sent to Afghanistan are being used to kill Kashmiris. In these letter-writing scenes, Shanti often suggests to Shiv to share stuff from their personal lives, some happy news as well with the US president, as if he was their friend, reading Shivs letters, interested in their lives, waiting for the next one even if hes unable to respond or help. There is a particularly troubling melancholy to the dogged discipline of letter writing, posting and repeating the exercise without a response or riposte from someone you think has the power to change things, better your life. It carries a hint of being driven to quiet madness by a tragedy, apathy and yet an attempt to clutch onto some dignity in the relentless, scholarly appeal. Shikara has a few such tiny but brilliant vignettes that are cinematically quite clever, powerful. The film, written by Abhijat Joshi, Rahul Pandita and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, uses these to layer the story, and make the unbearable bearable. But the films real power comes from the love story of Shiv and Shanti who hug and clutch at each other every time something bad happens. They are not just shielding and protecting each other, but theres almost a belief in that action that the sheer power and tenacity of their grip around each other will dissuade the storm coming their way. As Shiv and Shanti move from the tent to an 8x8 pucca apartment, we see how she quietly deals with her own trauma, or shares his. And when they move around the presidential suite of a hotel in awe and finally sit in the bathroom, next to a bathtub decorated with rose petals, its their bond, their love which makes their yearning for their home very touching. Shikaras casting, by Indu Sharma, is inspired. Apart from people from the Jagti refugee camp, many of whom have a blank, forlorn wait in their eyes, its Kashmir-born Aadil Khan and Sadia as the leads who really bring a breeze of the Valley to Shikara. Both are good and the rough, amateur edges they have, obvious in between scenes where they dont have dialogue, is actually very fresh, very charming. Sadia has a bit of Leela Naidu and Swaroop Sampat in her, and Aadil has an old world charm born out of not just good looks, but decency. Together, they add a moral sting to this tragic tale. Often, writers and directors who want to tell big, sweeping, epic tales of historic proportions, turn that into a backdrop, placing front and centre a love story. Its the easiest way to humanise a story, to give a face to a tragedy. But in those choices, in who those characters are, what they say and do, they also sell a world view and make a statement. The problem with Shikara is not that it wants to tell the story of a people forced out of their homes. But that it paints the common Kashmiri Muslim as a colluder, an active one at that. The film shows two types of Kashmiri Muslims one who turned to militancy and killed Hindus, and the other who, at least on the surface, tried to save their homes, but did so only so he could take them over. There is no third type of Kashmiri Muslim in Shikara. But there is a cow. Calf, actually, lost, sad and abandoned. The film weeps for the calf, but not for the thousands of Kashmiri families who have, since 1990, lost a son, a husband, a father, a relative, friend or neighbour to bullets that sometimes come from militants and sometimes from the Indian Army. She's always willing to support causes that are close to her heart. And Kristen Wiig did just that on Friday night to raise money to benefit the Australian Wildfire Relief. The 46-year-old beauty stunned in a bold green dress as she led the celebrities in attendance. Helping hand: Kristen Wiig stunned when she arrived at the annual Tommy Alastra pre-Oscars party on Friday night. The event helped raise money for the ongoing Australian wildfires Guests created Cryptographs also known as digital collectibles as part of the Doodles for Dollars campaign. Kristen opted for a long sleeved midi dress that featured pleats from the waist down. She teamed the look with a pair of taupe colored boots with a modest heel. The actress styled her short pixie cut over to one side and stunned for a very minimal amount of makeup. Tequila Don Julio 1942 and Natural Vitality CALM, the anti-stress drink, sponsored the star-studded event. Doing his bit: Ryan Phillippe drew a picture of a beach getaway location to help raise money for the cause Gorgeous: Shanina Shaik put her best model foot forward in a stunning marigold dress from New Zealand designer, Paris Georgia Elegant: She slicked her dark hair back into a low bun and accessorised with drop earrings and bracelets on her wrist Ryan Phillippe also joined in at Tommy Alastra's annual Oscar Friday party to raise funds. He rocked a blue T-shirt underneath a navy blazer and pair of dark trousers. The ex-husband of Reese Witherspoon completed his look with a pair of tan colored shoes and had his glasses hanging off his shirt. Shanina Shaik put her best model foot forward in a stunning marigold dress from New Zealand designer, Paris Georgia. She slicked her dark hair back into a low bun and accessorised with drop earrings and bracelets on her wrist. Making a statement: Eve got all heads turning in a black power suit with no top underneath her blazer Attendee: Evan Ross also made an appearance at the event on Friday evening in Hollywood Unique style: The son of Diana Ross opted for a red and black striped two-piece set that resembled a pair of pyjamas Eve got all heads turning in a black power suit with no top underneath her blazer. The rapper posed in front of a silver back drop which matched her bucket bag. Evan Ross also made an appearance at the event on Friday evening in Hollywood. He opted for a red and black striped two-piece set that resembled a pair of pyjamas. The son of Diana Ross added a khaki colored jacket over the top and accessorised with some chains around his neck. Wife, Ashley Simpson, was not in attendance. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment February 8th marks the anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts, one of Americas most beloved youth organizations. For over a century, presidents, CEOs, astronauts, and athletes have begun their journeys as Scouts. But on this anniversary, the future of this storied organization is far from certain. The Wall Street Journal reports that since 2008, the Scouts have lost nearly a million members and now face lawsuits over the sexual abuse of children and cover-ups that also go back decades. With the Mormon church announcing in November that it plans to pull nearly half a million additional members out of the Boy Scouts, bankruptcy or even the end of the organization seems somewhat likely. Those of us who have watched this sad story unfold cant help but notice that the Scouts quickening decline coincides with the groups decision to betray its founding values. In 2013, the Scouts began accepting openly gay members and then leaders. Shortly afterward, they opened their ranks to transgender members, and thendespite the organizations nameto girls. Families who might have turned to scouting to guide their young men into adulthood are left wondering: What do the Boy Scouts really have to offer? As one dad who grew up in Scouting told WORLD magazine, I realized it wasnt the same organization The loss of the Scouts is just another blow in a culture already failing young men. So-called deaths from despairdrug overdoses, alcoholism, and suicidesare at a historic high, and young men have been the hardest hit. TIME magazine reports that as of 2017, the male suicide rate was three times higher than the female rate, and youth suicides are at their highest point in 20 years. Many of these are attributable to loneliness and a sense of alienation. More and more, young men, especially, feel that they dont belong and arent welcome anywhere. Its a process that starts early, in subtle ways. More than ever before, schools cater to girls, slashing recess and P.E. time and requiring longer hours sitting at desks. Around 13 percent of boys are now diagnosed with ADHD, and a growing number of them are put on medication like Adderall and Ritalin. In our misguided, one-size-fits-all understanding of equality, theres almost nowhere boys can go to be with other boys. And, of course, the epidemic of fatherlessness is at the root of so much of the despair we see around us. We talk a lot about gender here on BreakPointhow Gods creation of human beings as male and female is good, beautiful, and life-giving. Often times, were responding to stories about the transgender ideology, or same-sex marriage. But the plight of boys, including the fall of the Scouts, hits even closer to homeespecially for those of us raising boys. That task is harder than ever before, but its not impossible. Despite the failing institutions around us, alternatives exist for parents committed to raising their sons to be godly young men. Trail Life USA is an organization formed by ex-Scouting families and theyre dedicated to Christian values. Its been profiled in WORLD magazine, and has a membership of around 26 thousand nationwide, many of whom describe it as the spiritual successor of the Boy Scouts. And there are other organizations too, often hosted by churches, like the Royal Rangers, the Royal Ambassadors, and the Troops of St. George. Many congregations also host custom-made programs tailored to connect boys with their dads, or boys without fathers to men who can mentor them. As sad as the Boy Scouts decline is, parents of sons do have other options. And by Gods grace, churches and parents who believe what the founders of the Scouts believed: that boys are real, that they have a unique and God-given calling that should be cultivated, will continue to offer these alternatives. After all, if the Church doesnt, who will? Originally posted at breakpoint.org Theres nothing quite like seeing Paris Eiffel Tower lit up at night, wading through the bright water and pristine beaches of Thailand, or watching Icelands famed Geysir erupt. But theres one thing these destinations all have in common: a ton of tourists. To combat the trend of Instagramming crowds swarming a destination, tour company Intrepid Travel released its annual list of lesser known and less frequently visited locations their Not Hot List to steer travelers toward communities that could benefit from tourism dollars and alleviate the burden of overtourism. The global tourism industry is changing, and travelers are becoming increasingly conscious about their actions especially with protests such as the Global Climate Strike shining a light on environmental issues, Intrepid Travels CEO, James Thornton, said in a statement. The general publics awareness has shifted and there is a desire from tourists to ensure they are benefiting the communities they visit and local people they meet, while respecting their cultures, economy and the environment too. The Not Hot List aims to meet this growing demand and promote lesser-known destinations that are just as worthy of travelers time. Overtourism has been an issue for years as people from all over the world flock to Instagrammable as well as highly sought after cultural destinations. For example, in Thailand, the government closed the famous Ko Phi Phi Les Maya Bay (of the 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Beach" fame) indefinitely due to overtourism and has been trying to encourage visitors to seek out experiences in other parts of the country. And in New Zealand, the government will tax tourists in an effort to combat overtourism. To encourage people to look beyond the well-traveled path, Intrepids list covers intriguing destinations all across the world, often building on what people already love about a country (like spending time with an elephant herd in Cambodia) while exploring lesser visited areas. Here is Intrepids 10 Not Hot List destinations and why they say you should head there now. Story continues Dragon island serves as a sanctuary for birds in the bay north of Dakhla, Western Sahara. At low tide a land bridge appears allowing people to walk the few kilometers to the island. | David Degner/Getty Images Dakhla, Morocco Experience white sand dunes and gorgeous beaches on the edge of the Sahara in this Moroccan city. And when you get hungry, feast on fresh seafood right from the Atlantic waters. The Gambia Intrepid says that The Gambia may receive far fewer visitors than other popular African destinations like South Africa and Kenya, but abundant birdlife and pristine beaches make it a great place to explore the continent from. Greenland Marvel at towering icebergs and expansive landscapes on the largest island in the world. Intrepid says Greenland has a population of less than 60,000 people, making it the perfect place to claim your own piece of quiet (and chilly) paradise while youre there, at least. The Haida Gwaii Islands, Canada Intrepid calls these remote Canadian islands the Galapagos of the North, noting its diverse wildlife like grizzly bears, whales and sea lions. The islands are the ancestral home of Canadas Haida First Nations people and travelers can visit local villages as well as hear First Peoples stories while there. Moldova Sip wine at a local winery with more than 120 miles of underground passages and about 2 million bottles before standing in awe of a 14th century cave monastery in this tiny country in Eastern Europe (pictured above). And take in the countrys Soviet past by noting architecture like buildings built with pre-manufactured concrete slabs. Nicaragua Volcanos and lush vistas beckon in this Central American country where visitors can feast on classic Nicaraguan dishes like tamales. While there, learn about the countrys revolutionary history before heading to the beach for a relaxing end to the trip. Northeast Cambodia While one of Cambodias biggest tourism draws tends to be the famed Angkor Wat, there is so much more to discover in this Southeast Asian country. Hang out with a herd of elephants in their natural habitat, chase waterfalls and discover temples that are less famous but still breathtaking. Sudan Discover ancient ruins and boundless sand dunes in Sudan. Intrepid said that while the country was included in President Donald Trumps most recent travel ban, they hope its actually a catalyst for more people wanting to visit as travelers in the past have wanted to learn more about countries they hear about in the news. Sulawesi, Indonesia When people think of Indonesia, they tend to think of Bali. And while Bali and its beaches are wonderful, there is much more to discover in the country. In Sulawesi, Intrepid says travelers can walk through dense bamboo forests and boat past green rice paddies, making it a perfect place to explore the Southeast Asian nation from. Tajikistan Tajikistan boasts the chance to discover the history of the Silk Road with crumbling reminders of Soviet influence, according to Intrepid. And one of the best parts of this Central Asian country, according to the tour company, is how little it has changed over the years, allowing travelers a truly unique experience often sought but rarely found. Tainted cop Davinder Singh claims threat to life India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: Tainted cop, Davinder Singh has claimed that he faces a serious life threat. He told the court that if is lodged in the Kotbalwal prison he faces a life threat. He said that the jail has several terrorists he had arrested when he was serving in the J&K police department. The court took into consideration his plea and ordered the authorities to lodge him in a different jail. The authorities then lodged him in the Hiranagar jail in Kathua district. Singh was arrested along with Naveed Babu, a top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. Singh has been accused of helping the Hizbul terrorists. Following his arrest, he was suspended. The authorities have recommended that he be dismissed from service. Raids at multiple locations in Shopian to trace Davinder Singhs terror links Recently the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe into the case. After being produced before the court, Singh was remanded to 15 days judicial custody. A group of students following the Higher National Diploma (HND). These students protested outside the Presidential Secretariat on the Galle Road this week. The Government has now allocated a separate area for agitation. Pic by Eshan Fernando A little known road rule could see motorists fined hundreds of dollars if they are caught walking away from their car and leaving the window open. Many motorists are unaware that leaving a car window open just a few centimetres is against the law in most Australian states. According to NSW road rules, motorists can be fined $114 if they are more than three metres away from their car with the windows down 2cm or the vehicle is unlocked. Many motorists are unaware that leaving a car window open just a few centimetres is against the law in most Australian states (stock image) For drivers in Queensland, unattended cars with the windows down 5cm or more can result in a $40 fine. In Victoria, drivers who leave their windows down more than 5cm will be hit with a $117 fine. Motorists in Tasmania will have to cough up $70 if caught with their windows down. In November a mother was outraged when she was hit with a $114 fine for leaving her car windows down in Leichhardt in Sydney's inner-west on a 28C day. She had parked in the street for just under an hour and left a gap of just a few centimetres between the window and the door frame. But it was enough for rangers to fine her $114. NSW road rules state that drivers can be fined if they are more than three metres away from their car if the windows are down or the vehicle is unlocked In November a mother was outraged when she was hit with a $114 fine for leaving her car windows down in Leichhardt in Sydney's inner-west on a 28C day (pictured: the fine) 'There are rules and then there is common sense, this is absolutely ridiculous,' Emily, who only wanted to give her first name, told 7 News. 'The police are the Grinch that stole Christmas,' she said. She said that nobody knew about the 'absurd' offence that it was a 'crazy revenue spinning law'. 'This is my car, can I be fined for leaving my house window locked open? Where does this stop?' she said. At a Chinese-run hospital in Zambia, some employees watched as people who recently returned from China showed up with coughs but were not placed in isolation. A doctor tending to those patients has stopped coming to work, and health workers have been ordered not to speak publicly about the new virus that has killed hundreds around the world. The virus that has spread through much of China has yet to be confirmed in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat to the continent where an estimated 1 million Chinese now live, as some health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak. Countries are racing to take precautions as hundreds of travellers arrive from China every day. Safeguards include stronger surveillance at ports of entry and improved quarantine and testing measures across Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and some of the world's weakest systems for detecting and treating disease. But the effort has been complicated by a critical shortage of testing kits and numerous illnesses that display symptoms similar to the flu-like virus. "The problem is, even if it's mild, it can paralyse the whole community," said Dr Michel Yao, emergency operations manager in Africa for the World Health Organization. Those growing worried include employees at the Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital in the mining city of Kitwe in northern Zambia, near the Congo border. Chinese companies operate mines on the outskirts of the city of more than half a million people. One company is headquartered in Wuhan, the city at the center of the virus outbreak. Hundreds of workers traveled between Zambia and China in recent weeks. "We're definitely not prepared. If we had a couple of cases, it would spread very quickly," physiotherapist Fundi Sinkala said. "We're doing the best we can with what resources we have." The Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital, or Sinozam, a low-slung facility near the city's train station, has taken some precautions, including checking patient temperatures with infrared thermometers and establishing isolation areas. Employees wear masks. Gloves, disinfectant and oxygen inhalers have been stockpiled. Sinozam treats many Chinese in Kitwe and its precautions go further than other hospitals in the area. But the employees and others familiar with the matter, some of whom spoke anonymously under the new rules, say some Chinese patients checked in with coughs and fevers but did not get placed in isolation. Visiting Zambian health officials concluded the patients did not merit special treatment and did not take samples to test for the virus. After the people recovered, they were sent home with antibiotics, employees said. On Wednesday, the hospital set up a new fever clinic, towwhich here people arriving with a high temperature are now ushered to right away. It's unfortunate the ward wasn't set up earlier, Sinkala said. Two people familiar with the matter say a doctor tending to the sick has fallen ill. Dr Yu Jianlan has not come to work in the past week and hospital administrators have not explained her absence, Sinkala said. The other person spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Hospital administrator Li Zhibing said there were no patients with a fever and said Yu had a urinary tract infection, not a fever. But a notice posted by the Zambia-China Cooperation Zone, which manages the hospital, quoted an employee as saying on January 27 that the facility probably sees 120 fever patients a day, and at least 70 of them are carrying germs of various diseases. Earlier this week, a Zambian official acknowledged for the first time that his country was following up on an unspecified number of suspected cases. Zambia is one of 13 African countries identified by WHO as a high priority because of busy travel links with China. Copperbelt provincial health director Dr. Robert Zulu, who oversees Kitwe and the surrounding region, told The Associated Press he would not discuss details, citing privacy. But he added, when any case is confirmed, you will be informed. Crucially, no one in Zambia has been able to test for the virus so far. Like most African countries, it has been waiting for a substance known as a reagent, which labs require to confirm whether a patient is infected. Labs in just six of Africa's 54 countries were equipped as of mid-week. That means a wait of two or more days to know whether a sample shipped to South Africa or even outside the continent tests positive. Without testing, officials are just relying on the symptoms" and whether they persist. But from what we are learning right now, some people show hardly any symptoms at all, Sinkala said, calling that the hospital's biggest worry. Zambia is one of the additional countries WHO planned to equip by the end of the week. As of Friday, WHO emergencies chief Dr Mike Ryan said 28 labs across the continent could diagnose the new virus. Adding to concerns at Sinozam, three employees say Zambian health officials visited on Tuesday and have been testing the bodies of two Chinese patients that have been in the morgue for days, though some added it was out of an overabundance of caution. Li, however, dismissed the accounts of testing the bodies as rumors. He said one died last month of malaria and the other of a heart attack. The bodies are still there because family members in China wish to come and pay respects but cannot because of the outbreak, he said. Zambia's health ministry spokesman, Dr. Abel Kabalo, called the employee accounts of events at the hospital very strange. He vowed that if Zambia confirms a case, authorities will definitely inform the world. It's pointless to hide information, Kabalo said. The WHO says countries are obligated to inform it of any confirmed cases and are requested to report suspected cases as well. The WHO chief has publicly urged countries to share information. So far, African countries appear to be complying, a WHO adviser on health security, Dr Ambrose Talisuna, told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'I'm absolutely fine': Wrestler Nisha Dahiya issues video after reports of her being shot dead Delhi woman sub-inspector shot dead near Rohini East Metro station India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 08: A 26-year-old woman sub-inspector of the Delhi Police was shot dead near Rohini East Metro station on Friday night, officials said. The SI, Preeti Ahlawat, was posted in Patparganj Industrial Area Police Station, police said. A call about the incident was received around 9.30 pm, they said, adding she received gunshot wounds on her head. "We have identified the suspects and CCTV footage of the area has been collected," said SD Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Rohini). Chhota Shakeel planning targeted killings of political and judicial figures in Delhi; FIR lodged Three empty cartridges were found from the spot, the officer said, adding a case has been registered and a probe is on. Personal enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the killing, the officer said. Ahlawat joined the Delhi Police in 2018. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 9:22 [IST] Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, this week helped present a bipartisan legislative report that will help prevent cost overruns and inefficiencies afflicting state information technology projects. The Information Technology Task Force - which Glenn was appointed to last summer - has sparked an Auditor General review. The goal is to implement best practices for managing IT projects across all state departments, protect consumers, and improve accountability. Future legislation is expected. "We are fighting to improve services for Michiganders and save money for hard-working taxpayers," Glenn said. "Our task force report illustrates a myriad of ideas on how to improve IT services for the people of Michigan." Glenn said there is a long list of the state's IT failures with projects that cost millions more than they should, all while delivering poor service to customers. "Some of the issues I feel strongly about are helping put an end to human trafficking and helping children in abusive homes get the help they need," Glenn said. "That's why I was alarmed when I learned the system related to trafficking and child abuse cases through the Department of Health and Human Services system cost $231 million in the past several years - yet it continued to have persistent and significant errors." About 40,000 Michigan residents were victimized and wrongfully accused of fraud between 2013 and 2015 by a faulty computer system used by the Unemployment Insurance Agency. A failed Secretary of State computer system overhaul started in 2005 resulted in service issues, lawsuits and cost overruns. Among the findings and recommendations: State departments should provide updates to the Legislature on IT projects that exceed their budgets or aren't completed on time. This will improve oversight and transparency on behalf of taxpayers. All state IT contracts should include "clawback" provisions to help hold contractors accountable. These provisions often call for money to be repaid or other penalties if a contractor fails to deliver on contractual obligations. Accounting practices and terminology should be standardized across all state departments, and all of the state's IT projects should by managed by the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) within the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. The task force found some IT projects did not define basic terms and could not determine if a project was on time or within budget because of differing language and interpretations. As part of the process to improve overall management, the state Auditor General conducted a review focused on helping ensure true costs for projects are identified from start to finish. "This task force and its recommendations are a significant step in the right direction," Glenn said. "The state must do a better job. The findings and continued work by this task force will ensure taxpayer dollars are spent more wisely in the future and that our information technology projects are truly serving the needs of our residents once completed." Members of the Gage County and surrounding communities have found a workout partner and therapy aid from an unlikely source: goats. Jen Schurman has run Shepherds Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue in Pickrell for nearly three years now, alongside the herd shes had for over 13 years. The rescue currently has 51 goats between Schurman and vice president of the rescue Shelby Steinbergs herds, as well as goats displaced due to the flooding last spring and other rescue situations. There are people who perceive as soon as I say that Im a goat rescue that Im coming to their farm and raiding it and taking their sheep and goats, Schurman said. Thats not who we are, thats not what we do. Our purpose is purely to take those animals that are either out of neglect situations or that have been in pet homes that could no longer be in those homes. UCLA Health has published several benefits to animal assisted therapy, including lower anxiety levels, reduced loneliness, elevated moods and relaxation, improved cardiovascular health, and lower blood pressure levels and overall physical pain levels. Schurman said she got the idea for goat-assisted therapy after being treated for a tumor. During that time, my herd of goats were very much what kept me going, Schurman said. Previously, Schurman did animal-assisted therapy with dogs for 20 years with the Bryan Health hospital system, but said she received reluctance from some of the residents. Later, while working at a nursing home in Lincoln, Schurmans daughter was doing 4-H with goats when they decided to have the residence help kids practice before the Gage County Fair. What I found was all of the residents who didnt want anything to do with the therapy dogs were all over the goats In a lot of ways, theyre better than my therapy dogs were, because theres no preconceived notions that people have about how they work. So thats kind of where were at right now, Schurman said. She now works roughly four hours a day in addition to her job taking care of the animals. Schurman said there are currently no certifying bodies in the U.S. that will certify a goat for animal-assisted therapy. She is working on a program that would allow the insurance coverage necessary for her to pair people with goats as their therapy partner, which Schurman said is the ultimate goal of the program. She is also working with the University of Nebraska College of Law to obtain a 501c3 status in Nebraska and federally to help care for the animals and fund educational materials. Theres basically three goat and sheep-specific rescues in the United States: one on each coast, and us here in the Midwest, Schurman said. So its important for us to be able to get into the 501c3 status so we can apply for grants, because we need to not only build additional buildings, but we need to be able to start an education center so that I can teach people how to be a responsible goat owner, what its like to have a goat as a pet, and teach the therapy part of what I do. In the meantime, Schurman has been training the goats, which she says is no different than training therapy dogs. Just like every dog cant be a therapy dog, not every goat can be a therapy goat, Schurman said. Its really hours and hours of situational training. You practice things like going into a building and being able to stand while people go past you, being able to go up and down stairs, being able to walk on different surfacesthe only difference is the goats not going to sit, but stay is definitely a command that we train. Schurman has also been using goat yoga as a way to socialize the goats. Goat yoga started by Lainey Morse of Oregon in 2016, and has since grown to an international fitness trend. Schurman has previously done goat yoga with the Beatrice Mary Family YMCA, and currently does it with Juniper Spa and Gateway Mall in Lincoln. Every time I do goat yoga, I get an opportunity to change 30-40 peoples view of what a goat isGoats have the same capability of recognizing human facial expression, human emotion. Goats are responsive in that way, which is what makes them excellent therapy animals, Schurman said. The goats milk is also being used Clean Slate Soap in Beatrice, and a portion of the proceeds from the products named after the goats goes back to the rescue. Schurman said several goats will be available for adoption by March, and that volunteers are always welcomed, especially those with construction experience. More information and upcoming events can be found at the Shepherds Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue page on Facebook or shepherdsrestrescue.com/ Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dotted around Taiwan lie the remains of abandoned bunkers originally built to repel an invasion from China, during a period in the islands history when it was under martial law and fear of a Chinese attack was a part of daily life. The threat from China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own to be brought under Beijings rule by force if needed, has not gone away but the ageing bunkers are no longer needed for defence purposes. Today, farmers use the retired bunkers as storage rooms for tools, while some have become part of the parks and others along the coast are sought-after spots for photo opportunities by Instagramers seeking likes for their sunset views. I find it very bizarre across Taiwan there are numerous bunkers, a mark of war, but if you ask residents what is it, when was it built and for what purpose, no one knows now, says Chen Kuo-ming, a military site enthusiast who has been searching and mapping the old bunkers since 2002. Some of the bunkers actually date back to when Taiwan was a Japanese colony, before and during the Second World War, and were upgraded when the Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, Chen says. Clam farmer Ding Long-kai, who is in his mid-sixties, remembers as a child the pillboxes along the beaches of Yunlin on Taiwans western coast, which lies on the Taiwan Strait facing China. It was restricted to go to the beach and get close to the pillboxes, Ding says. But as the coastline has changed and maintenance lapsed, many of the old pillboxes are merging back into the sand or being encircled by clam farms. I remember seeing slogans such as kill the communists and reclaim the mainland on the pillboxes. But this is the only one left; the rest have been removed by other farmers, Ding adds, pointing to the one remaining in his clam farm. Up the coast from Yunlin in Hsinchu, local official Lin Zi-xing is trying to protect the bunkers that remain near his home. Recalling how he used to try and sneak into the bunkers as a child to play, Lin says it would be a shame to lose this part of Taiwans history. He has turned one of the bunkers into a climbing frame for children, and another into an exhibition hall for tourists to learn about the history of the area. I got into a lot of trouble with the residents because of this, partly because of land issues but also because it reminds the older generation of war which no one wants to talk about, Lin says. Chen says the bunkers also serve as a reminder that tensions between China and Taiwan still exist. Lets not forget, Taiwan and China are still in a hostile state, he says. Reuters Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 20:38:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai on Saturday rolled out 28 measures to cushion companies against the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic, according to a press conference of the municipality. Supportive measures include strengthening fiscal support to enterprises that have contributed to the fight against the epidemic, reducing or exempting their rent and introducing tax incentives. Their employees will also enjoy lower rates of medical insurance payments. According to Ma Chunlei, head of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the new measures will be implemented on Saturday and will be extended for another three months after the end of the epidemic. Foreign companies will also benefit from the related supportive policies and be treated on the same footing as other types of enterprises, said Xu Wei, spokesperson for the Shanghai municipal government. "Shanghai is working to create a fair and just business environment to make sure that foreign investors and foreign-invested companies can share the same national treatment," said Xu. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization has worked with the Shanghai Branch of the China Development Bank and the Bank of Shanghai to establish an emergency fund for manufacturers of emergency materials. It has raised 5 billion yuan (about 714.3 million U.S. dollars), said to Liu Ping, chief engineer of the commission. "So far, we have received fund applications worth a total of 7.45 billion yuan from 85 companies. Some of them have already received loans," Liu said. Shanghai will also provide subsidies to support technological projects and investments that will boost the production capacity of epidemic preventive materials such as masks and protective suit, said Liu. The city is also working to exempt charges for online office service for six months. A number of Chinese cities, including Beijing, Qingdao and Suzhou, have rolled out supportive measures to help businesses tide over the ongoing epidemic. The city of Beijing, for instance, has promised to enhance financial support for loans to firms that face temporary difficulties amid the coronavirus outbreak, vowing that the loans will not be suspended or withdrawn. It also extended the collection period of social insurance premiums to the end of July to allow companies in tourism, catering and other hard-hit industries to delay their payment. U.S. 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 New Delhi: A first time voter shows her Voter ID during Delhi Assembly elections 2020, at a polling station at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Feb 8, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: First time voters queue up to cast their votes for the Delhi Assembly elections 2020, at a polling station at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Feb 8, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: A first time voter shows her Voter ID during Delhi Assembly elections 2020, at a polling station at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Feb 8, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: A first time voter shows her Voter ID during Delhi Assembly elections 2020, at a polling station at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Feb 8, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 8 : As voting began on Saturday for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, long queues of voters, including first-time voters, were seen at Shaheen Bagh, the site of the anti-CAA protests. 672 candidates are contesting the Delhi polls. Wajiha Fatiha, a BSc. cardiology student at Jamia Millia Islamia who lives in Shaheen Bagh, said: "I want that the person who could do some good work for the people of Delhi should win." "Politicians shouldn't ask for votes on the basis of religion. I won't vote on the basis of religion. I want a government which keeps development as the first priority and is secular," said Zoya, another resident of Shaheen Bagh and a student of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya. "I want a government which gives better facilities and security to the students," said Nasht, a BBA student of Jamia. She did not comment on the CAA issue. Energy Ministry seeks Rs. 10 billion loan to prevent power cuts By Damith Wickramasekara Probe on last Monday's unannounced countrywide blackout View(s): View(s): A stoppage of fuel supplies by the Petroleum Corporation to the Electricity Board due to non-settlement of an outstanding bill which triggered an unannounced all island power cut last Monday morning is pushing the Power and Energy Ministry to fast track negotiating a Rs 10 billion loan from state banks. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) served the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) an ultimatum by stopping fuel supplies to the CEB thermal power plants. The CEB, which owes the CPC Rs. 88.9 billion in unpaid dues cut power to consumers without notice the day before Independence Day. CEB, CPC and Finance Ministry representatives along with officials of the Bank of Ceylon and the Peoples Bank are due to attend the meeting presided over by Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera tomorrow. The outstanding dues are over the threshold of Rs. 80 billion that the CEB is allowed to maintain with the CPC. As the CPC-CEB differences mounted this week, Minister Amaraweera has instructed the CEB to take measures to settle 50 percent of the portion due to the CPC for fuel delivery each month. A letter sent by the CPC to the Power and Energy Ministry Secretary on January 31 states that Rs 986 million was due from the CEB to them from December 2019 to January 29, 2020. The CPC had stressed that it would be facing a severe financial issue itself if it continued to supply uninterrupted fuel to the CEB from February 1. The island-wide power cuts last Monday lasted two hours after the CPC suspended fuel supplies to the CEBs Kerawalapitiya power plant. Neither Minister Amaraweera nor power sector regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka was informed of the move. The power cuts were later suspended after the minister intervened and he has now appointed a committee to probe the incident. A senior Government source said the Cabinet had now approved a proposal to raise the CEBs credit limit with the CPC to Rs 100 billion, considering the impending drought situation and the need to buy emergency power. Minister Amaraweera, meanwhile, told the Sunday Times that he would submit a Cabinet paper next week seeking approval for the construction of three 300 MegaWatt (MW) Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plants amounting to 900MW in total. One 300MW plant will be from Japan while the other will be from India. Both projects will be on Government-to-Government basis. The third power plant will be subjected to international competitive bidding. He said the Government hoped to finalise the agreements on these projects in three months. Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also approved a proposal to amend the National Electricity Act by removing a clause which requires the declaration of the lowest cost on long term generation plans as reported in the Sunday Times in its January 26 issue.. The death of Chinese doctor Lee, who was the first to warn of a new type of Coronavirus infection in Wuhan, was reported on Feb. 7 (local time), and pro-democracy activists in the Chinese region expressed their sorrow by demanding an apology from the Chinese government. "Chinese people should no longer be silent for the sake of the country, for everyone related to the country, and for Dr. Li Won-Ryan," Wang Dan, head of the China think tank dialogue, comprised of pro-democracy activists in China, said on his SNS. "The Chinese government must make an official apology to Dr. Lee. The apology must be made public by the government. On Sina Weibo, a Chinese social networking site, there have been continuous postings calling for the Chinese government to apologize along with messages commemorating Lee's death. Dr. Lee Won-Ryan was the first person to tell the world about the new Coronavirus that was slowly spreading in Wuhan, China. Lee played a crucial role in releasing the mass outbreak of "unknown causes of pneumonia." However, he was punished by Chinese authorities for damaging social order with fake news. Lee is known to have been infected by the virus while taking care of patients without protective equipment such as masks and other early stages of the new Coronavirus outbreak. Having been hospitalized for coughing and fever since January 10th, he was confirmed to have been ill and died in the early morning of 7th (local time). Ontario Premier Doug Ford waded into U.S. politics during a visit to the countrys capital on Friday, criticizing high-profile Democratic politicians and appearing to endorse President Donald Trumps bid for re-election. Ford took shots at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Bernie Sanders during an event organized by the Canadian American Business Council. The premier was in Washington, D.C., along with a group of other provincial leaders to attend the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. While critiquing the actions and views of the left-leaning politicians, Ford expressed a desire to see the upcoming U.S. election results tilt toward the other end of the political spectrum. Lets see what happens in the election, he said. But right now, again, the economy is booming here, is booming in Ontario. We hope the election is going to turn out the right way. Literally, the right way. Ford said he enjoyed Trumps state of the union address this week and slammed Pelosi for ripping up a copy of the remarks on television. I was disappointed when I saw Nancy Pelosi get up there and start tearing the speech up, he said during the event with the Canadian American Business Council. Its uncalled for. I think its a shame. Ford also took aim at Sanders, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, describing his political leanings as actually scary. I always say socialism doesnt work, Ford said. Raising taxes does not work. Show me anywhere in the world that it works it doesnt. Ford is one of four Canadian premiers in the U.S. this weekend to help foster better co-operation and improved trade between their provinces and U.S. states. Earlier in the day, Ford announced Ontario would negotiate trade agreements with individual states in a bid to work around federal Buy American policies which have been touted by Trump. That plan will see the province attempt to strike so-called strategic investment and procurement agreements with states to increase trade. Fords office said the premier has meetings scheduled over the weekend with the governors of Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Ontario is the top trading partner with 19 states and the second-largest trading partner with nine others. Opposition politicians back home were quick to condemn Fords commentary on U.S. politics. Green party Leader Mike Schreiner called Fords remarks wrong and said the premier should not be taking sides during a U.S. election. Sadly, Premier Ford shares Trumps irrational opposition to renewable energy and climate action, he said in a statement. Like Trump, Ford is cutting taxes for the rich and waging war on the places we love. NDP ethics critic Taras Natyshak said Fords focus should be on his home province, not U.S. affairs. Schools across Ontario and public health units are laying off staff, he said on social media. Maybe get back to Ontario and focus (on) our schools and health. Read more about: Sydneysiders who recently visited the Haymarket area are being urged to look out for symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, after Legionella bacteria was identified in a local cooling tower. The tower, which is no longer operating, was found to be contaminated during an investigation into two Legionnaires' cases earlier this year, according to the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. The SESLHD says the two affected people - a man in his 40s and another in his 70s - have since recovered, and there is no ongoing risk to the Haymarket area. They're asking people who may have been in the area in the past two weeks to watch for symptoms. The district's deputy public health director Vicky Sheppeard said symptoms could develop up to 10 days after exposure and included fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) announced today that it will hold its annual meeting of shareholders at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at Embassy Suites located at 10250 East Costilla Avenue, Centennial, CO 80112. Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company has returned $113 million back to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. The Company has fixed the close of business on March 23, 2020 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Additional information, including details of the business to be conducted at the meeting, will be included in the Companys Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, to be sent to shareholders and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company targets low capital expenditure projects with potential for generating high returns on capital. The Company has returned $113 million back to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC. Contacts: Corporate Development Greg Patterson 303-320-7708 www.goldresourcecorp.com More than a one lakh retailers across the country will be hit by 200 per cent import duty hike, toy importers, who went on strike on Saturday, said. The Centre, in the Union budget, has proposed raising the import duty on toys from 20 per cent to 60 per cent from the next fiscal, saying that the step would support the MSMEs and promote local manufacturing. Protesting the move, the toy wholesalers of the city went on a one-day strike, contending that the import duty hike will result in the closure of businesses and a spur in unemployment. "The 200 per cent import duty hike is a rude shock for the toy industry. It cannot be absorbed by the market as it will make the goods unaffordable for the masses. "We seek immediate rollback to the previous rate of 20 per cent. We are protesting with a token one-day shutdown today (Saturday)," West Bengal Exim Association joint secretary Mohit Banthia said. The wholesale market on Canning Street in the city wore a deserted look due to the strike. The toy importers and retailers will attempt to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her visit to the city on Sunday, Banthia said. The country imports toys worth around Rs 2,500 crore annually, of which 75 per cent are from China, officials said. Of the Rs 2,500 crore import, Kolkata's share is of Rs 130 crore, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday night arrived Addis-Ababa Ethiopia with Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State, and Prof. Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River State ahead of 33rd Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). The were received by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and Nigerias Ambassador to the North African country, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, among others. Earlier, the Presidency in a statement said President Buhari would be with other leaders from the 55-country organisation for the AU Summit with the theme, Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. During the summit, the Nigerian leader would take part in the 29th Forum of Heads of State and Government of Participating States of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the 27th Session of New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (AUDA-NEPAD). The meetings, according to the statement, will precede the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly. In Nigerias capacity as a member of the AU Peace and Security Council, President Buhari will participate in the High-Level meeting of the Peace and Security Council on the situation in the Sahel and Libya, and High-Level Ad-Hoc Committee on South Sudan, his spokesman Garba Shehu said. On the margins of the summit, the President would deliver a keynote speech at a High-Level Side Event on Stop the War on Children: Dividend of Silencing the Guns. He would also hold bilateral meetings with several leaders and begin a state visit to Ethiopia on February 11, at the invitation of Mr Ahmed. The chairmen of the Committees on Foreign Affairs in the Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa and Yusuf Baba, were also part of the leaders accompanying the President. Ministers on his entourage are Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs), Hadi Sirika (Aviation), Niyi Adebayo (Industry, Trade, and Investment), Retired Major-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Defence), and Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture). Other government officials are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Major-General Babagana Monguno; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar; and the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD (Nigeria), Gloria Akobundu. When you hear from Academy members, you understand why brilliant filmmakers and performers get snubbed every year at the Oscars. Anything from making a movie too long to winning Academy Awards in the past can disqualify deserving nominees in voters minds. Martin Scorsese, whose film The Irishman received 10 Oscar nominations in 2020, got used to snubs from the Academy decades ago. When you check on Scorseses list of Oscar nominations and wins, youll find no recognition at all for his 1970s work. That tradition mostly continued through the 80s and 90s. (Scorsese won his only Oscar in 2007 for directing The Departed.) Among several snubs across those decades, three calls by the Academy really stand out. Taxi Driver: Not even a Best Director nomination Robert de Niro confers with Martin Scorsese on the set of Taxi Driver, circa 1976. | Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Images While Scorsese really broke through with Mean Streets (1973), his first film that got major award consideration was Taxi Driver (1976). This haunted vision of New York won Best Picture at Cannes and received award recognition around the world. Scorsese received multiple nominations for his directing, and he won the Best Director award from the National Society of Film Critics. However, the Academy failed to even nominate him for directing Taxi Driver. (The films producers did receive a nod for Best Picture.) That year, Ingmar Bergman and Lina Wertmuller were among the worthy directors receiving nominations. However, Scorsese didnt even make the cut. Then John G. Avildsen won the award for Rocky. Raging Bull: Losses for Best Picture and Best Director Robert De Niro, the star of so many great Scorsese films, won an Oscar his first time he got a nomination. That came in 1975, for his performance in The Godfather: Part II. In 1981, De Niro collected his second statue for his stunning work in Raging Bull. As productions go, that Scorsese picture ranks among the best films of the 80s. (You could extend that timeline much longer.) Academy voters agreed and nominated the film for eight Oscars. However, only De Niro and Thelma Schoonmaker (Best Editing) won at the 81 ceremony. Best Picture went to Robert Redfords Ordinary People, a film few critics (or fans) considered superior to Raging Bull. Meanwhile, Best Director went to Redford for his directorial debut. Thats a textbook snub. Goodfellas: Scorsese lost the Best Director Oscar to Kevin Costner American actor Robert de Niro talks with director Martin Scorsese on the set of Raging Bull. | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Speaking of Scorsese films considered great at the time that have only grown in reputation since, the masters 1990 film, Goodfellas, received six Oscar nominations. Scorsese had cracks at both Best Writing and Best Director that year. Obviously, he didnt win either. In the directing category, Kevin Costner walked with the Oscar for Dances With Wolves. Once again, that decision did not hold up over time. So did the Academy handle it? As usual, they awarded Scorsese the Best Director Oscar for The Departed, a picture that doesnt even rank among his top 10. With Scorsese in the running for Best Picture (producer) and Best Director for The Irishman, his list of snubs may get longer after the 2020 Oscars. Also see: What Are Joe Pescis Chances to Win His Second Oscar in 2020? Many market observers have called for a recession in recent years, but it still hasn't happened. Despite some bumps in the road here and there, the American and global economies continue to hum along. There are new concerns that the record-breaking market expansion might be challenged by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak (or, perhaps more accurately, the impact of the response to the coronavirus outbreak) emanating from China. Even in that scenario, it's important to remember that recessions are a normal feature of the economy. When the next one hits, investors shouldn't panic. In fact, you can even play a little defense by buying stakes in recession-resilient stocks like NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) and Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG). Here's why these solid businesses deserve a closer look. The world's leading renewable energy company NextEra Energy has quietly been one of the best stocks of the 21st century. It went from a market valuation of less than $10 billion at the start of the century to a market cap of $130 billion today. When dividend payments are factored into the calculation, shares have delivered a total return of 2,350% in that span. While investors probably cannot expect another 1,000% return in the near term, NextEra Energy provides a way to own two important pieces of the power sector: electric utilities and power generation. The company's two electric utilities, Florida Power and Light (FPL) and Gulf Power, both deliver electricity to customers in Florida. FPL alone generated $2.3 billion in net income in 2019. The smaller, recently acquired Gulf Power generated only $200 million in adjusted earnings last year, but that marked a 25% increase from 2018. NextEra Energy has ambitious plans to drive down costs, improve service reliability, and increase operating efficiency at Gulf Power in the next few years. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources (NEER) builds, operates, and sells power generation assets to electric utilities across the country. It generates more electricity from the wind and sun than any other company on the planet. In fact, if NEER was a country, then it would rank eighth in installed onshore wind power capacity. It generated $1.8 billion in net income in 2019. NextEra Energy should hold up well in a recession because electric utilities are highly regulated, which provides a guaranteed income stream and rewards operating efficiency. That bodes well for FPL and Gulf Power, but also for NEER, which counts numerous electric utilities as customers. And, as the company noted on its fourth-quarter 2019 earnings conference call, onshore wind and utility-scale solar are expected to become the lowest-cost source of electricity in the United States by the middle of the decade. That provides an excellent growth opportunity for NEER and should also benefit FPL and Gulf Power, which are building tens of millions of solar panels in the next decade. Simply put, NextEra Energy is a great dividend stock for investors with a long-term mindset. New name, new structure, new growth opportunity When water utility Aqua America finally closed its acquisition of natural gas utility Peoples, the combined entity decided to change its name to Essential Utilities. The name is fitting: Running water and heating fuels are essential for modern life. In water, Essential Utilities owns over 13,300 miles of water lines, 188 wastewater treatment plants, and serves 1 million customers across eight states. In natural gas, the company owns over 15,200 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines, another 2,400 miles of gathering pipelines, and serves over 740,000 customers in three states, although most are in Pennsylvania. Similar to electric utilities, both water and natural gas utilities are highly regulated. That provides a guaranteed income stream and aligns the interests of the company with its ratepayers. As Essential Utilities invests in and modernizes its infrastructure, it can request rate increases from state regulators. The new company will look to quickly leverage its size. Today, the rate base of Essential Utilities is comprised of approximately $5 billion in water infrastructure and $2.2 billion in natural gas infrastructure. But the business expects to invest $1.4 billion in infrastructure through the end of 2021. While some of that value will be wrapped up in replacing aging assets, Essential Utilities expects to grow its rate base by 7% per year in 2020 and 2021. The higher the rate base, the higher the earnings that can be generated in the future. Simply put, the combination of water and natural gas creates a unique opportunity for investors seeking low-risk, recession-resilient stocks. The Sixers will have guard Josh Richardson back Friday against Memphis. Read more The 76ers will have Josh Richardson back. The shooting guard will be available off the bench for Friday nights game against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing the last six games with a strained left hamstring, which he suffered in Jan. 22s loss to Toronto. Richardson left that game after less than 4 minutes of play. Richardson was cleared to return Friday after partaking his pregame workout. The 26-year-old is averaging 15.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steal in 38 games. Fridays matchup will mark just the 20th game where the Sixers have had their entire starting lineup intact. This isnt the first time this season that Richardson has dealt with injury. He missed two games with right hip flexor tightness in November. Then, in his third game back from that injury, experienced right hamstring tightness. That sidelined him for the next six games. The Sixers have gone 2-4 in that span. Richardson said he thinks he may have overcompensated with his left hamstring following his return from the hip injury GREENVILLE Iowa was a mess. New Hampshire is already being written off by some Democrats as another unrepresentative, largely white state. Nevada, another caucus state like Iowa, remains up in the air and lower on the national radar. South Carolina: The eyes of a deeply unsettled Democratic Party turn to you. After more than a year of a relatively stable campaign, the "First in the South" Democratic primary race is entering a frenetic final stretch with more uncertainty than ever. South Carolina's Feb. 29 results will serve as one of the final headlines heading into Super Tuesday on March 3, when more than a dozen states will weigh in on the race, giving the Palmetto State an outsize role in shaping the national narrative at a critical inflection point. All that means the next three weeks could yield a storm of activity, said Gibbs Knotts, a College of Charleston political science professor who recently published a book on the history of the "First in the South" primary. "It's even more important now because no one's really emerged as a clear front-runner, you really have a half-dozen people who can still make a case," Knotts said. "And more so than ever, there's a focus on the lack of diversity in the first two states. South Carolina is the first big test with African American voters." South Carolina has long been viewed as Joe Biden's "firewall," the early-voting state that would give the former vice president a decisive victory regardless of what happened elsewhere and propel him into Super Tuesday with momentum. His extensive relationships around the state and popularity with the African American voters who comprise a majority of the Democratic electorate here gave him a clear edge. But his allies often questioned whether such a wall would even be necessary. Now, there is no doubt. Iowa lit the first flame, giving Biden a fourth-place finish that he admitted was a "gut punch." Another fourth-place finish in New Hampshire on Tuesday, as the latest polls have indicated may happen, would set the fire fully ablaze. The only question left is whether the South Carolina wall is strong enough to put it out. He faces historical headwinds. The only eventual Democratic candidate in modern history to have lost both Iowa and New Hampshire was Bill Clinton in 1992. But even in that case, the then-governor of Arkansas rose to a second-place finish in the Granite State, earning the moniker of the "Comeback Kid." Biden supporters in South Carolina, while still confident in his chances, have expressed more concern in recent days than at any prior point in the race. But they argue 2020 is unlike any other election that's come before it, and the geographical strengths and weaknesses of Biden's candidacy are unlike any other White House hopeful that has come before him. In the words of Amanda Loveday, a South Carolina Democratic strategist helping lead Biden's super PAC: "It's a really crazy year." "We have a very divided Democratic Party, and that's new to us," Loveday said. "Democrats have a hard time getting out of our own way a lot of times, but this is the most divided we've been in a really long time." The past week served as a preview of some of the February surprises that may arise as the primary approaches. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The latest wildcard in the mix is a group of Upstate conservative activists who are encouraging Republican voters to show up for South Carolina's open primary and vote for Bernie Sanders. Some Democratic strategists are skeptical of whether it will have an impact. After all, Democratic campaigns spend millions of dollars on advertising and field organizing to motivate actual Democrats to get out and vote and even with all that effort, many still don't. But given that pollsters generally only contact voters who have previously participated in Democratic primaries, Republican crossover voters could still have an unpredictable effect on the results and the nominating delegates that are distributed proportionally afterwards. Meanwhile, Biden's rivals smell blood in the water. Businessman Tom Steyer used a dispute between state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a white Biden supporter, and state Rep. Jerry Govan, a black Steyer adviser, over Govan's large payment from the Steyer campaign to take a whack at Biden, slamming Harpootlian for "Trump-like dirty campaign tactics." Steyer has focused more exclusively on South Carolina than any other candidate, spending millions on advertising and field organizing to cut into Biden's lead among black voters. He is the only candidate set to return to the state Sunday even though New Hampshire's primary will be just days away. But, unlike come-from-behind candidates in previous cycles, Steyer is not emerging from Iowa with any particular momentum of his own after coming in a distant seventh place there, depriving him of any helpful talking points about his own viability. After Pete Buttigieg's strong performance in Iowa, Claflin University NAACP President Terin Tyson said the former South Bend, Ind., mayor's campaign reached out to her looking to capitalize with an endorsement the timing of which she said she understood but declined. Buttigieg recently spoke on the campus of Claflin, a historically black university in Orangeburg, as he tried to make inroads with the black voters that have eluded him thus far on his unlikely rise into serious contention for the nomination. "I'm not exactly sure they were completely sold on Mayor Buttigieg," Tyson said of the reaction among students to his appearance, though she added that they appreciated him coming. "Definitely a majority of our students are leaning toward Joe Biden's campaign for several reasons, but I think the main reason is because he is a familiar face." Even some of the deepest underdogs suddenly see fresh hope for a surprise performance in the state. A super PAC supporting Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, whose late entrance into the race has struggled to make much of a splash, has made a last-minute push in South Carolina with substantial investment in advertising and field organizing. South Carolina voters may well be in for more surprises yet. "The stakes are so high, it's in such a crucial position in terms of the election calendar and it's going to be the last stand for some candidates," Knotts said. "So it's only going to get more intense." Event Overview: SECURA North Africa is a tradeshow for fire, safety & security and is organized in Algeria to cover the whole North African region. The objective of this event is to gather all stakeholders and professionals in the field of industrial, commercial security, worker safety, firefighting and cybersecurity at the same place for the three days. (Natural News) Two new flights have brought back to the United States about 350 American citizens who were living in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. And according to reports, theyre all now being quarantined for two weeks for observation. The one flight landed at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, while the other landed at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in Southern California. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directed them there, as well as multiple other flights to locations elsewhere around the country. As previously announced, these individuals will be subject to a CDC managed 14-day quarantine, the CDC announced in a statement, adding that the Department of Defense (DOD) will work closely with our interagency partners and continue to provide support to the situation as requested. Footage of the two planes landing in California was captured by KCRA Channel 3 News. Individuals currently in lodging are being contacted and accommodated to secure alternate arrangements, reads a statement issued by Travis Air Force Base, located in Fairfield. Those being quarantined there will be held away from on-base residential housing, its important to note. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the statement adds, will be responsible for all care, transportation, and security of the evacuees during the quarantine period. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how novel coronavirus infections are now doubling every three to four days: Despite Chinas lockdowns, coronavirus is still spreading and is probably much worse than officials are claiming Similar measures implemented in communist China, though on a much larger scale, appear to not be working as hoped, with on-the-ground sources reporting that many more people are sick and dying than the official numbers suggest. The communist Chinese regime has also been caught silencing people for telling the truth, including a local Wuhan doctor who was handed a misdemeanor charge simply for warning his friends and colleagues about coronavirus back in December. This doctor ended up contracting coronavirus himself, and since that time the communist Chinese government has reversed course and now wants everyone to report in about recent travel to the most effective areas, or else face a potential death sentence. Here in the U.S., a child who was being quarantined at March Air Reserve Base near Corona, California, from the first evacuation flight out of Wuhan was recently rushed to the hospital after coming down with a fever. According to the Riverside County health agency, the child, who was accompanied by parents also in quarantine, was taken to Riverside University Health System Medical Center via ambulance for testing and observation. Official results are still pending. Once the results are in, they will then be sent to the CDC which will presumably make a public announcement one way or another about whether the child in question does, in fact, have novel coronavirus. At the time of this writing, there are now 11 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. Six of these are located in California, and all of these involve people, or the spouses of these people, who recently traveled to Wuhan. Yet we keep accepting flights from China carrying USCs and LPRs but no quarantine restriction, noted one commenter at The Epoch Times about how people are still coming into America from China via commercial flights while not being tested or quarantined. CDC is basically asking [five] questions and taking a temp. On passengers that might not show signs for [two] weeks. Makes zero sense. To keep up with the latest news about the spread of novel coronavirus, be sure to check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com KCRA.com NaturalNews.com HANOI - The coronavirus epidemic in China could wipe US$5.9 billion to $7.7 billion from Vietnams tourism earnings in the next three months as international travelers stay away from the region, state media said on Friday. The tourism sector estimated to see two million fewer Chinese visitors due to the virus, which could result in $1.8-$2 billion of lost tourism revenue, reported the official Voice of Vietnam Radio. China, where the outbreak began late last year, was Vietnams biggest source of foreign tourists, accounting for a third of the 18 million visitors last year, official data showed. Vietnam said it would also stop issuing visas for foreign visitors who had been in China in the past two weeks. The government on Wednesday said its gross domestic product growth in the first quarter of this year will likely be one percentage point slower than the 6.8 percent target. Vietnam confirmed an additional case of the new virus on Friday, bringing the total in the Southeast Asian country to 13 cases. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said the feedback given by voluntary organisations, social workers and the civil society has an important role in the implementation of government schemes and policies at grassroots level. The chief minister was addressing a pre-budget interactive session with voluntary organisations and consumer forums here. He said it was an effort of his government to include important suggestions of various social organisations in the preparation of the public welfare budget so that the benefits of the budget can reach every section of the society. The chief minister said the state government has always paid attention to the suggestions of voluntary organisations and social workers on issues related to public interest. He said the suggestions made by voluntary organisations have been instrumental in formulating laws like Right to Information, Food Security Act and Right to Education. Gehlot said the role of NGOs and social workers is important to creating harmony in the society. Energy Minister B D Kalla, Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Meena, Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasara among others attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the victims of the Streatham terrorist remains in hospital as police reveal the lengths they have already gone to in their investigation. The man in his 40s, who was stabbed during the attack in south London on February 2, remains in a critical but stable condition. Two other women who were also injured one in her 50s who was stabbed and one in her 20s who was injured by glass following the discharge of a police firearm were previously discharged from hospital. One of the victims of the Streatham terrorist remains in hospital as police reveal the lengths they have already gone to in their investigation. Pictured: Sudesh Amman's body after being was shot dead by officers at the scene Sudesh Amman was shot dead by officers after grabbing a knife from a shop and attacking his victims in south London. The 20-year-old, who was wearing a fake suicide belt, had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in December 2018 but was freed automatically halfway through his sentence on January 23. Sudesh Amman, 20, (pictured) was shot dead by officers after grabbing a knife from a shop and attacking his victims in south London Amman was put under 24-hour police surveillance on his release after it is understood security services regarded him as an 'extremely concerning individual' and an armed police team was tailing him on the day of the attack. Police say that they have so far interviewed more than 100 witnesses, scoured through hours of CCTV footage and seized 250 pieces of evidence during their continued investigation into the attack. Searches at an address in Streatham and another in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, have also been carried out. Commander Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We continue to carry out extensive enquiries and our focus remains on ensuring there is no wider threat connected with this incident. 'However, we are confident that this was an isolated incident and we have found nothing to suggest that this was anything other than the attacker acting completely on his own. 'Whilst we've already spoken to many people who witnessed the attack, we are still keen to speak with anyone who may have seen what happened last Sunday and who may have information that could still be useful to our enquiries. 'To that end we will have officers in the Streatham area on Sunday a week on from the attack giving out appeal leaflets and speaking with members of the public.' Police say that they have so far interviewed more than 100 witnesses, scoured through hours of CCTV footage and seized 250 pieces of evidence during their continued investigation into the attack. Pictured: Scene at Streatham High Road, south London Officers have also carried out searches at an address in Streatham and another in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire Officers will be visiting the Streatham High Road area on Sunday, February 9 to hand out leaflets and appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident but has not yet come forward. The Metropolitan Police said they are co-operating with the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation can call police in confidence on 0800 789 321. Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign team is out with a new ad, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg probably won't like it. Biden clearly isn't a fan of Buttigieg going after his record as vice president, even daring his younger competitor to openly call the Obama administration a failure. So it's not shocking to see his campaign go after the mayor's record, especially as he tries to establish himself as a legitimate contender for the nomination following a strong showing in the controversial Iowa caucuses. The ad pits Biden's record against Buttigieg's in an effort to show that while Buttigieg was achieving small scale goals in South Bend like putting colorful lights underneath bridges, Biden was helping the Obama administration make changes on the global and national level, including negotiating the Iran nuclear deal and passing the Affordable Health Care Act. Be warned, though they're not particularly nice about the distinctions. Watch the ad below. Oh wow...Biden ad makes fun of Pete Buttigiegs mayoral record, joking he revitalized the sidewalks of South Bend while Biden negotiated Iran deal/helped with auto bailout https://t.co/AqjH0UJdS4 Liz Goodwin (@lizcgoodwin) February 8, 2020 More stories from theweek.com For better pasta sauce, throw away your garlic American democracy is dying Angela Merkel's hand-picked successor steps down in Germany amid split in ruling party The state government has cleared more than half its backlog of school maintenance projects and says it is on track to deliver its election promise of wiping the list by mid-year, but questions have been raised over whether it can complete works on time. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said more than $200 million had been spent on 968 school maintenance projects over the summer holidays, leaving 47 per cent of backlogged works remaining. A worker tests for hazardous materials at a NSW school. Credit:Kiran Ridley "The effort made by tradespeople, builders and department staff across the state has been incredible," Ms Mitchell said. She said the projects included "sprucing classrooms, fixing roofs and tidying up grounds". Painting was the most common maintenance job, with about 250 projects. There were more than 100 of each roof and floor projects, 63 accessibility works and 10 cases of asbestos removal. P olice are investigating after a 71-year-old man was left seriously injured in an assault in south London. The man was walking to the shops in Norbury, Croydon, at around 10am on Wednesday when he was approached by a man who asked him what was in his pockets. The victim replied that he didn't have anything, prompting the man to walk away. But around 30 seconds later he turned around and attacked the elderly man from behind, kicking him in the back. The suspect then fled, leaving the victim lying on the ground. The London Ambulance Service were flagged down and treated the victim, who refused any further treatment at the time. It has since emerged that he has suffered several serious injuries, including a broken hip, a broken thigh bone and broken ribs. He continues to be treated in hospital. The suspect is described as an Asian male, in his 30s, with a scruffy beard. He was wearing dark clothing and had a black woolly hat at the time of the incident, which took place under the bridge near Norbury Station. - Vice Ganda and Ion Perez recently went on a trip to Amanpulo in Palawan - Following their trip, Vice recently shared some photos and videos from their vacation - Aside from this, local celebrities also left comments on Vice and Ion's sweet photo - The said photos and videos elicited various reactions from netizens on social media PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Celebrity couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez have buzzed the online community with their latest trip to Amanpulo in Palawan. Following this news, KAMI learned that Vice shared a series of photos and videos from their vacation on his social media account. Watch the video below: Furthermore, the comedian even posted a photo of himself together with Ion by the beach. In his caption, Vice wrote, "When LOVE wins we win." Aside from this, local celebrities including Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo, Maja Salvador, KC Concepcion, Kim Chiu, Bela Padilla, and Angel Locsin have commented on the said post. Source: Instagram @praybeytbenjamin Source: Instagram Source: Instagram @praybeytbenjamin Source: Instagram Various netizens also reacted and left comments on Vice and Ion's sweet photos together. "Ang saya ng puso ko para sainyo, grabe!" "I'm happy for you meme Vice you're glowing." "Love you ViceIon! Enjoy your vacay! So happy for you guys." "Kahit kaming mga single, feeling namin may jowa kami dahil sa sobrang kasweetan niyo meme." "Naiiyak na ako meme kasi for how many years ka na naghihintay ng right person for you, ngayon nahanap mo na siya how to be you po." PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! As reported earlier by KAMI, Vice Ganda is one of the celebrities who is known for their lavish lifestyle. After years of hard work, the comedian's newly customized van was finally revealed to the public. The said van was customized by none other than 'Atoy Customs' who is famous for custom van interiors. Aside from this, Atoy is known to have worked with other celebrities in the local showbiz industry as well. Vice Ganda is a prominent showbiz personality in the Philippines. He never fails to make people laugh, especially when he banters with the other hosts of Its Showtime. Aside from hosting Its Showtime, he also makes blockbuster movies annually. POPULAR: Read more news about Vice Ganda Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! Source: KAMI.com.gh There were no casualties among Ukrainian troops in the past day. Russia's hybrid military forces on Friday mounted six attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. Read alsoOSCE SMM: Recent developments in eastern Ukraine positive, but full implementation of ceasefire required "The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire six times on February 7," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 8, 2020. The enemy opened fire, employing proscribed 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, an anti-tank missile system, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the villages of Novomykhailivka, Vasylivka, Orikhove, Krymske, and Hladosove. There were no casualties among Ukrainian troops in the past day. "Since Saturday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Orikhove, using 122mm artillery systems and 120mm mortars," the update said. No Ukrainian army casualties registered on Saturday have been reported yet. Submitted to the Tribune Assumed Names January 2020 No. #13396 E & B Miller Farms, 1630 S. Lackie Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Eric Miller and Rebecca Miller Filed: January 2, 2020 No. #13397 I Review Lab, 151 Watkins Pl., Apt. 113, Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Robert Campbell Filed: January 2, 2020 No. #13398 Cyrus Hosting Services, 151 Watkins Pl., Apt. 113, Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Robert Campbell Filed: January 2, 2020 No. #13399 Panda Sweets, 5082 Park Street, Kinde, MI 48445 By: Amanda Siemen Filed: January 2, 2020 No. #13400 Z-Fresh Dairy, 3261 Berne Rd., Elkton, MI 48731 By: Jacobus Zwemmer Filed: January 2, 2020 No. #13401 Arntz Electric, 8701 Lincoln Rd., Harbor Beach, MI 48441 By: Chris Michael Arntz Filed: January 3, 2020 No. #13402 Organized Designs by You & I, 5047 McKinley St., Elkton, MI 48731 By: Josie Rose Brown Filed: January 3, 2020 No. #13402 Women's Missionary International, 165 W. Pigeon Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Lena Soper and Genevieve Henderson Filed: January 6, 2020 No. #13403 McCarty Repair, 41 S. Pinnebog Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Darcy McCarty Filed: January 6, 2020 No. #13404 Joe's Tree Service, 278 Washington Street, Port Austin, MI 48467 No. #13405 M & D Estate Sales, 1801 Agnes St., Ubly, MI 48475 By: Michael M. Particka and Denise R. Niebel Filed: January 8, 2020 No. #13406 Jake & Anne Inc. DBA Verona Tavern, 12 N. Verona Rd., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Anne Tschirhart Filed: January 9, 2020 No. #13407 Nate's Drywall, 3458 Maxwell Rd., Owendale, MI 48754 By: Nathan Ford Filed: January 9, 2020 No. #13408 Safelock Storage, 6024 Port Austin Rd., Caseville, MI 48725 By: Hersel Fouladbaugh Filed: January 13. 2020 No. #13409 Irion Improvements, 3450 Moore Rd., Owendale, MI 48754 By: Ryan Irion Filed: January 14, 2020 No. #13411 Bad Axe Area Fire Department, 420 S. Hanselman St., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: John S. Hunt; Bad Axe Fire Protection Association Filed: January 15, 2020 No. #13411-A Darling Realty, 4697 N. Caseville Rd., PO Box 1051, Caseville, MI 48725 By: David J. Watts Filed: January 16, 2020 No. #13412 ABC Oil & Gas Company, 252 S. Hanselman St., Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Jo Wolschlager Filed: January 22, 2020 No. #13413 Golden Hemp, 2425 Munford Rd., Ubly, MI 48475 By: Tammy Ann Glaza Filed: January 23, 2020 No. #13414 Rebecca Lynn Photography, 7645 Learman Rd., Harbor Beach, MI 48441 By: Rebecca Roggenbuck Filed: January 23, 2020 No. #13415 Carl Apley, 275 Church Rd., Filion, MI 48432 By: Carl Merrel Apley Filed: January 27, 2020 No. #13416 Hair Force 1, 44 N. Main St., Elkton, MI 48731 By: Brent Salas Filed: January 30, 2020 No. #13417 Lonnie's Irion Farms, 6310 Stein Rd., Pigeon, MI 48755 By: Lonnie Dennis Irion Filed: January 30, 2020 No. #13418 Wild Fowl Bay Taxidermy, 9849 Pigeon Rd., Bay Port, MI 48720 By: Lowell S. Brown and Cathleen C. Brown Filed: January 30, 2020 No. #13419 Green Girl Wellness, 222 Dark Avenue, Bad Axe, MI 48413 By: Shar Mohr Filed: January 30, 2020 No. #13420 J & S Automotive, 26 Wrights, PO Box 554, Elkton, MI 48731 By: Edwin Backes Filed: January, 31, 2020 Warranty Deeds Week of Jan. 27-31 Ronald and Janis Picard to Brieann Lynn Wolfe; parcel of land located in Village of Kinde R & L Development to Harbor Tool & Machine, Inc.; parcel of land located in City of Harbor Beach Michael and Karen Burkhard to Matthew A. Klosowski; parcel of land located in City of Bad Axe Douglas Jeffery Wilch to Michael J. and Yvonne M. Curtin; parcel of land located in Sherman Township Larry Goretski to Matthew Neterer; parcel of land located in Port Austin Township Thomas Wayne and Shelley Lee Stilson to Lynette Ballard Trust; parcel of land located in Grant Township Packmann LLC to William C. Cannon; parcel of land located in Village of Kinde Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-RP2 To Michael and Bethany Guza; parcel of land located in Sand Beach Township Thomas Wayne and Shelley Lee Stilson and William F. Stilson and Iszabella Stilson; parcel of land located in Grant Township Scott C. and Amanda L. Oberski to Maxx Alent: parcel of land located in Paris Township Marcella S. Keel to Walter D. and Linda L. Gierhart; parcel of land located in Village of Port Austin Danae DeWolf to Kevin M. and Laurie A. Dyke; parcel of land located in Hume Township Jenna McCoy to Jesse Vogel and Gene Vogel; parcesl of land located in Sherman Township Judgments of Divorce January 2020 Nicholas Brian Crampton and April Crampton Douglas James Fritch and Tammy Sue Fritch Jess Alton Putman and Janice Kay Putman Bruce J. Van Dyke and Hannah Kathrine Van Dyke Probate Court Week of Jan. 23-29 Estate of Joan M. Wiencek, Deceased, of Port Austin, File #19-41,578-DE - Informal Probate, Proof of Service filed Estate of Susan T. Reynolds, Deceased, of Caseville, File #19-41,737-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Eric T. Nelson, Deceased, of Meade Twp., File #19-41,843-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed Estate of Wanda S. James, Deceased, of Ubly, File #20-41,865-DE - Informal Probate, Last Will and Testament filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Inventory filed Estate of Margaret A. Carpenter, Deceased, of Kinde, File #19(1)41,621-DE - Informal Probate, Proof of Service filed Estate of Barbara E. Orlik, Deceased, of Pigeon, File #20-41,861-DE - Informal Probate, 2 Notice of Duties for Personal Representative filed Estate of Joseph W. Ayotte, Deceased, of Hampton, VA, File #20-41,870-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed Estate of Thomas H. Schmidt, Deceased, of Port Austin, File #19-41,591-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Debra A. Heilig, Deceased, of Owendale, File #20-41,867-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Mark Ackerman, Deceased, of Ubly, File #20-41,859-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed Estate of Richard H. Weisenbach, Sr., Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #20-41,872-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed Estate of Gloria A. Barclay, Deceased, of Harbor Beach, File #19-41,691-DE - Informal Probate, Agreement in Modification of Testate Shares filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Samuel M. Gage, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #18-41,490-DE - Informal Probate, Receipt of Distributive Share filed, Waiver/Consent filed, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Gordon W. Lasceski, Deceased, of Kinde, File #19-41,740-DA - Supervised Satisfaction and Release of Claim filed Week of Jan. 30-Feb. 5 Estate of Judith Reimann, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #19-41,707-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed Estate of Robert Bloomer, Deceased, of Clinton Twp., File #19-41,729-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed Estate of Raymond B. Volmering, Deceased, of Sherman Twp., File #15(1)40,111-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed Estate of Geraldine M. Simmons, Deceased, of Caseville, File #19-41,812-DE - Informal Probate, Statement and Proof of Claim filed Estate of Merrily R. Kirchen, Deceased, of Colfax Twp., File #19-41,747-DE - Informal Probate, Petition for Adjudication of Testacy and Complete Estate Settlement filed, Petition for Supervised Administration after Previous Adjudication filed, Notice of Hearing filed, Inventory filed, 2 Proof of Services filed Estate of Shawn W. Koehn, Deceased, of Elkton, File #20-41,873-DE - Informal Probate, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed Estate of Scotty J. Scott, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #20-41,877-DE - Informal Probate, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed Estate of Bradley A. Neal, Deceased, of Pigeon, File #16-40,749-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed By PTI NEW DELHI: It was the fifth day of their anti-CAA hunger strike at Khureji Khas in northeast Delhi, but despite being worn out a group of 75 women made their vote count in the Delhi Assembly polls on Saturday. Sharika Anjum (32), who looked sapped and pale, said none of the 75 women who have been observing the indefinite hunger strike missed out on exercising their right to franchise. Asked about the issues she voted on, Anjum said, "I voted to save the Constitution and to defeat the Hindu-Muslim politics." Farida (21) said she went to the pooling booth, around half-a-kilometre from the protest site, with her father in the morning. "Our vote is for India and its unity. Our vote is against the politics of hate," she said. Fallahuddin Falahi, 34, who has been attending the anti-CAA protest for 27 days said the women voted early and returned to the protest site "to keep the stir going". Around 300 women have been protesting against the amended citizenship law at Khureji Khas, a key anti-CAA protest site in northeast Delhi, for the last 27 days. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday said that her ministry will wait for one more year to take a call on long term capital gains tax (LTCG). Sitharaman has come under criticism for not repealing the tax. Speaking to opinion makers and analysts in New Delhi, the finance minister said the LTCG was introduced in 2018 and market volatilities are not letting her make a reasonable estimate on it. "Much before let us say I have burnt my fingers, I am told withdraw it. The reason why we didn't go that far on LTCG is because let us have an assessment at least one-year of a normal response to a tax. Lets us hope this year, after which we would take up considered view," she said. Talking about the dividend distribution tax (DDT), FM Sitharaman explained that the responsibility was shifted to the investor's applicable rate from the company to reduce middle-class investors' outgoes. Also Read: Budget 2020: FM Nirmala Sitharaman has kept a balanced focus on investors, taxpayers Stock market benchmark indices had tanked by over 2.5 per cent on the budget day last Saturday. Experts opined that investors were peeved at the absence of any action on LTCG and the shift on DDT. Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said that the government's view is that all kinds of incomes need to be taxed, and not levying it on a particular stream like LTCG will create arbitrage opportunities. She had an interesting duel with veteran i-banker Hemendra Kothari and Motilal Oswal, the promoter of a brokerage house named after himself at the session over the two taxes. Oswal pointed out that the DDT move is pinching promoters dearly because they are anyways in high tax bracket and claimed that the overall outgo is going till 58 per cent. "You (Oswal) are talking about one section, whereas we thought that we want to put money in the hands of the other section which is the retail," she said. Also Read: NRIs to be taxed only on Indian income, not foreign, says FM Sitharaman When Oswal replied saying promoters may not declare dividends at all because of the tax liability, Sitharaman had an interesting retort. "Will the shareholders be tempted to go to the company which does not pay dividends?" Later, she clarified at a press conference that a lot of thought was given to the issue of DDT. "The middle class will pay lesser than what they were paying. a middle-class shareholder will have more money now," she said. Meanwhile, on concerns regarding an ambitious divestment target of Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty said they are confident of achieving the "reasonably decent" target. He said there are spillover transactions of BPCL and Concord, IDBI Bank and LIC on the financial side, which will ensure that the money gets mopped up. Additionally, there is also up to Rs 70,000 crore from minority stake sales in companies which the government will be collecting, he said. Chakraborty also said that spectrum sale revenues on 5G or AGR receipts are not included in the Rs 1.33 lakh crore target from the communications front, exuding confidence that the ministry will be able to mop-up the figure. Also Read: Budget 2020 will release additional Rs 3 lakh crore to spur consumption: Nirmala Sitharaman He said routine spectrum license fee payments alone will deliver up to Rs 65,000 crore. Meanwhile, Sitharaman lauded the "dynamism" of Reserve Bank in responding to the budgetary move by extending the restructuring scheme for small businesses, and also welcomed the changes on cash reserve ratio against lending to certain sectors of the economy. On the changes in the cooperative banking laws, she made it clear that the powers of the registrar of cooperative societies at the state level have not gone down but explained that the monitoring of entities has gone up to restore credibility in banking. "If you are being called a 'bank', it will be only then that it will be regulated by the RBI so that the credibility of the banking functions in India are kept intact," she said. Scottish police have spoken to the 16-year-old schoolboy who was blitzed with 'predatory' social media messages by disgraced SNP politician Derek Mackay. Detectives have not 'received any complaint of criminality' but are 'assessing available information' in the wake of Thursday's bombshell revelations the MSP bombarded the teenager 270 times on Facebook and Instagram. The youngster had told the Scottish Sun: 'I was happy to speak to the police and will tell them everything that happened. 'I didn't think what he was doing was a crime but I knew it was wrong and should be highlighted.' Scottish police have spoken to the 16-year-old schoolboy who was blitzed with 'predatory' social media messages by disgraced SNP politician Derek Mackay (pictured) Derek Mackay in Parliament on Wednesday hours before the allegations against him broke Mr Mackay allegedly called the schoolboy 'cute' as well as offering to take him to a rugby game and out to dinner. As Nicola Sturgeon's finance secretary, he looked to have a bright political future and was tipped to become next party leader. But accusations of 'grooming' have torpedoed his career - Mr Mackay has resigned from the Scottish government and been turfed out of the SNP. He retains his seat in Holyrood, but is facing mounting calls to quit amid the backlash. Opposition politicians have condemned what they described as 'predatory' behaviour from Mr Mackay saying the messages amounted to 'grooming'. A mock-up of text messages allegedly exchanged between Derek Mackay and a 16-year-old boy, who said he was distressed by the messages Mr Mackay, a father-of-two who came out as gay in 2013, has not been seen in public since the story broke on Wednesday night. It was later reported that the Renfrewshire North and West MSP had also sent dozens of unwanted messages to an SNP activist over a period of four years. Shaun Cameron, 25, told the Daily Record on Friday that the MSP contacted him on Facebook after meeting him at an SNP event when he was 21. He said some of the messages were 'quite suggestive' - alleging the then finance secretary had asked him in September 2017: 'Got any naughty pics?' Ms Sturgeon confirmed to MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday that she had accepted Mr Mackay's resignation from Government - saying his behaviour had fallen 'seriously below the standard required of a minister'. In his resignation statement, Mr Mackay accepted he had 'behaved foolishly' and he apologised unreservedly to the teenage boy and his family. He said at the time: 'I take full responsibility for my actions. I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry.' Soon after starting his trip on an Uber cab, while speaking to one of his friends over the phone, Bappadittya Sarkar was turned in to the cops by the cab driver over suspicions of him being a 'communist' and indulging in anti-national activities. When 23-year-old poet from Jaipur Bappadittya Sarkar booked a cab at 10.40 pm on 5 February after a long, tiring day at an anti-CAA protest in Mumbai, little did he know that he would embark on a horrific journey back home. Soon after starting his trip on an Uber cab, while speaking to one of his friends over the phone, Sarkar was turned in to the cops by the cab driver over suspicions of him being a "communist" and indulging in anti-national activities. Bappaditya Sarkar was in Mumbai on an invitation to read his poetry at the Kala Ghoda festival. On Wednesday, late at night, after taking part in anti-CAA protests at Mumbai's Nagpada area (which has lately been christened Mumbai Bagh, inspired by Delhi's now-iconic protest venue, Shaheen Bagh), Sarkar booked an Uber cab from Juhu's Silver Beach to his accommodation in Kurla. "As I got in, I thought of calling a friend who had called me earlier in the day, but I couldn't talk to him because I was in Mumbai Bagh. I was talking to him about how there are different ways of protesting in different cities, how there is a difference in protest culture in different states. We were also talking about what happened in Shaheen Bagh (a burqa-clad infiltrator was caught in Shaheen Bagh). I was telling him how otherwise it would have majorly invalidated the movement, had she not been caught," recounts Sarkar, while speaking with Firstpost. "We were talking about people's discomfort with laal salaam', and how we could make Jaipur's protests more effective," Sarkar adds. Suddenly, the Uber driver stopped the car and asked if he could go and withdraw some money from a nearby ATM, to which Sarkar readily agreed. A few moments later, the driver returned with two policemen, and that's when Sarkar realised that the car was stopped outside Santacruz West Police Station. "The policemen asked me where I was from, and why I was carrying a dafli. I told them I'm from Jaipur and that I was carrying the dafli because I was sloganeering at Mumbai Bagh earlier in the afternoon," the poet recalls. He further adds that the cab driver then said to the policemen: "Sir, aap isko andar lo, ye desh jalane ki baat kar raha hai. Bol raha hai main communist hoon, hum Mumbai mein Shaheen Bagh banadenge. Mere paas poori recording hai (Sir, you should arrest him. He was talking about burning the country and was saying that he is a communist. He said he will make a Shaheen Bagh in Mumbai. I have full recording [of his telephonic conversation])." Describing the cab driver, Sarkar says that he was a lean, tall, fairly well-spoken guy in his early 30s or late 20s. "He kept on reiterating that I shouldn't think that he wouldn't understand anything [that Sarkar spoke over the phone]. I don't know where he was getting that from." "I told the policemen to listen to the recording and arrest me if they find me saying 'Hum desh jala denge' or anything that is inciting, or can be perceived as anti-national. I turned to the Uber driver and said, 'Sir aapko kis baat ka bura laga, ye batao. Aap police station kyu le aaye ho mujhe itni si baat pe?' (Sir, tell me what exactly hurt you. Why did you drag me to the police station for such a thing?)" To this, the cab driver responded saying: "Tum desh barbaad kardoge aur hum dekhtey rahenge? Main kahin aur le jaa sakta tha tujhe, shukr mana police station laaya hun (You think you will ruin the country, and we will just be silent spectators? I could have taken you elsewhere, thank your stars that I brought you to a police station)." Speaking with Firstpost, Sarkar mentions how the last statement really scared him. "It felt very orchestrated maybe when he was overhearing my conversation, he was thinking of how to turn me in. It wasn't instinctive, it was too planned," Bappaditya points out, adding what fueled his fear was the fact that while the cab driver reportedly threatened him, the police did not react in any way. "They were just silent spectators; they didn't say anything to him, they didn't reprimand him, nothing." Sarkar informs that the police told him not to wear a red scarf and kurta, and not carry the dafli because "mahaul kharab hai (These are tough times)." To this, Sarkar responded saying if people are getting scared by a mere percussion instrument and slogans of freedom, then these are tough times indeed. "We laughed it off. But because it was fresh, there was some kind of fear that had settled in," the poet adds. The Times of India reports that one of the policemen reportedly told that the driver was alerted because of Sarkar's attire, coupled with his conversation over the phone, where he used words like "protest" and "Shaheen Bagh". After a basic enquiry, they didn't find anything suspicious, neither could the Uber driver provide them with any recording of the said conversation. They did, however, take both of them to the police station for a statement. Sarkar recollects that to be yet another bizarre experience. They asked me about my ideology and the people I read. Then followed other absurd questions, which included unnecessary details like my father's salary, and how I sustain myself without a job; the kind of poems I write, my social media handles. They insisted I give them the email of the Kala Ghoda fest organiser, which I refused but agreed to concede the first name." After giving his statement to the police which was on the first floor of the Santacruz West Police Station he came downstairs to see the driver still present there. "I just asked him if he'd eaten food. He said, "Haan haan, maine khana khaa liya hai (Yes, I have eaten)." He also told me that he ended the trip," Sarkar recounts, marking it as the last piece of correspondence with the driver. He says his question came from a very humanitarian ground, as they were stuck at the police station in the middle of the night for two long hours. "After all, he is not my enemy. The fight is not against an individual here; it is against the mentality, the ideology. It is ideological warfare, which is supposed to be fought not with violence and guns, but with poetry and discussions," Sarkar opines. "The reason why I am protesting and I am on the streets is because I love people. I am not fighting against something, I am fighting for something." With a sense of fear having crept in already, Sarkar says he called his friends and shared his live location with them. "I didn't want to travel alone that night, so I went to a friend's place and he told me I should relocate," he mentions, and adds that he was also scared because the driver already knew where he was staying. "I just wanted to be safe. I had a long day and I didn't want any more trouble." When asked how this experience has changed him or affected him, Sarkar reflects: "It has made me more careful; it has made me want to equip myself in situations where if I might get detained, as to how much information can be given, what you can refuse... It is so dystopian for a young person... We shouldn't normalise going to jail or be questioned for having an opinion, or perhaps having an ideology that is not populist or state-sponsored." Firstpost reached out to Uber, and their spokesperson replied saying, "As soon as the incident was brought to our attention, we took it up on priority. We are in touch with both the rider and the driver, and are reviewing the matter." Safety incidents are picked up in several ways: they can either be raised by rider or driver in the app, called in, or picked up from social media. Once an incident is received, Uber's safety response team analyses the situation and depending on the situation the necessary action is taken. Before Uber begins its review, based on the nature of the incident, as a policy, the company might put the accounts in question on hold to ensure the safety of the platform. The safety experts speak with both the rider and driver to understand the situation. Sarkar says Uber "proactively" called him and heard his side of the story, condemning what he had to go through and called it an outright "infringement of his privacy". When Sarkar was asked about his plan of action, he says he doesn't intend to file an FIR against the driver. "I believe in rehabilitation and reconciliation. I feel in fact Uber should sponsor his therapy, and I don't mean this to insult him or mock him in any way. Everybody needs therapy. There is so much normalisation around keeping things to oneself and then them piling up. I think therapy is important. For a person like him who went violent in a passive way, this definitely needs to be addressed." All five of the new coronavirus cases identified in France are British nationals, the countrys health minister has said. A nine-year-old child is among those who have contracted the virus, all of whom were staying in the same chalet in the ski resort Contamines-Montjoie, near Mont Blanc, Agnes Buzyn said. They are receiving treatment and are not in a critical condition. The group was in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore between 20 and 23 January, travelled to the French Alps and visited the group for four days, before returning to the UK on 28 January, where he is understood to have since tested positive for the virus. A further six British nationals, including two children, who came into contact with the initial case have been hospitalised as a precaution in Grenoble, Lyon and Saint-Etienne, Ms Buzyn added. Two schools in the area have temporarily closed, a regional health official said some hours later, revealing the nine-year-old had spent time in local schools. Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under 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hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing 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attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty France has now confirmed 11 cases of the virus since the outbreak began. The UK has confirmed three cases, the third being a British national believed to have contracted the virus in Singapore. He was discovered to have the virus on Thursday. The third person found to be infected with the virus in the UK is also believed to have caught it in Singapore. An international investigation has been launched to trace those who have been in close contact with those discovered to have contracted the virus, Frances director general of health, Jerome Salomon, said. We have close relations with the Singapore authorities which are investigating a professional meeting which would have been held in Singapore from 20 to 22 January, during which 94 foreigners were gathered in a hotel, local media reported Mr Salomon as saying. A spokesperson for the UK foreign office said it was urgently seeking information from the French authorities and stands ready to offer any support. The virus is poised to become more deadly than SARS, having now claimed more than 720 lives. Against the advice of the World Health Organisation, several countries are now implementing travel and trade restrictions in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. On Saturday, Hong Kong announced a mandatory two week quarantine for travellers from mainland China. Anyone caught flouting the new rules could face imprisonment and a fine. The Supreme Court Friday stayed the proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) against a minor allegedly involved in the sensational gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl in Kathua. A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Ajay Rastogi and V Ramasubramanian stayed the proceedings after Jammu and Kashmir administration claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had erroneously affirmed the order of a trial court holding him as juvenile at the time of the offence in 2018. Having heard senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing on behalf of the petitioners and after perusing the averments made in the application for stay, we direct that the further proceedings pending before the Juvenile Justice Board at Kathua, titled as...shall remain stayed, the bench said, listing the matter for further hearing on March 16. Senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for J&K adminstration, said the high court had on October 11, 2019, wrongly affirmed the trial court order of March 27, 2018, without appreciating that the date of birth recorded in the municipal and school records are contradictory to each other. He said that despite the notice to the minor accused issued by the apex court on January 6 on the administrations appeal, the JJB has continued its proceeding against the accused, treating him as a juvenile. Patwalia contended that the accused is one of the main conspirators of the entire incident and kidnapped, gang-raped and murdered the victim. He said it is the admitted case of the accused that there was contradiction in his date of birth recorded in the municipal and school records and therefore, the opinion given by the medical board holds paramount importance. Patwalia said that medical board constituted by the high court by its order of February 21, 2018 had opined that the accused was aged between 19 to 23 years at the time of offence. The JJB had last year framed charges against the minor and continued with the proceedings of examination of prosecution witnesses. The top court on May 7, 2018 transferred the trial of the case from Kathua in Jammu to Pathankot in Punjab and ordered for day-to-day trial after some lawyers prevented the Crime Branch officials from filing a charge sheet in the sensational case. The special court on June 10 last year sentenced three men to life imprisonment till last breath for the ghastly crime that shook the nation. Sanji Ram, the mastermind and caretaker of the devasthanam (temple) where the crime took place in January, 2018; Deepak Khajuria, a Special Police Officer, and Parvesh Kumar, a civilian -- the three main accused --were spared death penalty, a punishment sought by the prosecution during the year-long in-camera trial in the court. The three who were given life term were convicted under Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) sections relating to criminal conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, gang rape, destruction of evidence, drugging the victim and common intention. The other three accused -- Sub Inspector Anand Dutta, Head Constable Tilak Raj and special police officer Surender Verma -- were convicted for destruction of evidence to cover up the crime and handed down five years in jail and Rs 50,000 fine each. The trial court had acquitted the seventh accused Vishal Jangotra, son of Sanji Ram, giving him the benefit of doubt. According to prosecution, the eight-year-old girl was kidnapped on January 10, 2018 and was raped in captivity in a small village temple, exclusively manned by Ram, after keeping her sedated for four days. She was later bludgeoned to death. Congratulations, ahaljolfa.info got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Ahaljolfa.info scored 74 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 26 Jul 2019, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the ahaljolfa homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the ahaljolfa homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if ahaljolfa has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the ahaljolfa homepage on Delicious. 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The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/radiofarda_ DESCRIPTION / . ACCOUNT CREATED ON 03 Apr 2009 LOCATION Czech Republic TWEETS 125446 FOLLOWERS 544371 LISTED 1010 In a plea agreement, Darryl Albert Varnum, of Westminster, admitted to leaving a threatening voice-mail message at the Florida office of a House member, who officials did not identify. Lusaka, Zambia At a Chinese-run hospital in Zambia, some employees watched as people who recently returned from China showed up with coughs but were not placed in isolation. A doctor tending to those patients has stopped coming to work, and health workers have been ordered not to speak publicly about the new virus that has killed hundreds around the world. The virus that has spread through much of China has yet to be confirmed in Africa, but global health authorities are increasingly worried about the threat to the continent where an estimated 1 million Chinese live, as some health workers on the ground warn they are not ready to handle an outbreak. Countries are racing to take precautions as hundreds of travelers arrive from China every day. Safeguards include stronger surveillance at ports of entry and improved quarantine and testing measures across Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and some of the world's weakest systems for detecting and treating disease. But the effort has been complicated by a critical shortage of testing kits and numerous illnesses that display symptoms similar to the flu-like virus. "The problem is, even if it's mild, it can paralyze the whole community," said Dr. Michel Yao, emergency operations manager in Africa for the World Health Organization. Those growing worried include employees at the Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital in the mining city of Kitwe in northern Zambia, near the Congo border. Chinese companies operate mines on the outskirts of the city of more than half a million people. One company is headquartered in Wuhan, the city at the center of the virus outbreak. Hundreds of workers traveled between Zambia and China in recent weeks. "We're definitely not prepared. If we had a couple of cases, it would spread very quickly," physiotherapist Fundi Sinkala said. "We're doing the best we can with what resources we have." The Sino-Zambia Friendship Hospital, or Sinozam, a low-slung facility near the city's train station, has taken some precautions, including checking patient temperatures with infrared thermometers and establishing isolation areas. Employees wear masks. Gloves, disinfectant and oxygen inhalers have been stockpiled. Sinozam treats many Chinese in Kitwe and its precautions go further than other hospitals in the area. But the employees and others familiar with the matter, some of whom spoke anonymously under the new rules, say some Chinese patients checked in with coughs and fevers but did not get placed in isolation. Visiting Zambian health officials concluded the patients did not merit special treatment and did not take samples to test for the virus. After the people recovered, they were sent home with antibiotics, employees said. On Wednesday, the hospital set up a new fever clinic, where people arriving with a high temperature are now taken to right away. It's "unfortunate" the ward wasn't set up earlier, Sinkala said. Two people familiar with the matter say a doctor tending to the sick has fallen ill. Dr. Yu Jianlan has not come to work in the past week and hospital administrators have not explained her absence, Sinkala said. The other person spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Hospital administrator Li Zhibing said there were no patients with a fever and said Yu had a urinary tract infection. But a notice posted by the Zambia-China Cooperation Zone, which manages the hospital, quoted an employee as saying on Jan. 27 that the facility "probably sees 120 fever patients a day, and at least 70 of them are carrying germs" of various diseases. Last week, a Zambian official acknowledged for the first time that his country was following up on an unspecified number of suspected cases. Zambia is one of 13 African countries identified by WHO as a high priority because of busy travel links with China. Copperbelt provincial health director Dr. Robert Zulu, who oversees Kitwe and the surrounding region, told The Associated Press he would not discuss details, citing privacy. But he added, "when any case is confirmed, you will be informed." Crucially, no one in Zambia has been able to test for the virus so far. Like most African countries, it has been waiting for a substance known as a reagent, which labs require to confirm whether a patient is infected. Labs in just six of Africa's 54 countries were equipped as of mid-week. That means a wait of two or more days to know whether a sample shipped to South Africa or even outside the continent tests positive. Without testing, officials are "just relying on the symptoms" and whether they persist. "But from what we are learning right now, some people show hardly any symptoms at all," Sinkala said, calling that the hospital's biggest worry. Zambia is one of the additional countries WHO planned to equip by the end of the week. As of Friday, WHO emergencies chief Dr. Mike Ryan said 28 labs across the continent could diagnose the new virus. Adding to concerns at Sinozam, three employees say Zambian health officials visited on Tuesday and have been testing the bodies of two Chinese patients that have been in the morgue for days, though some added it was out of an overabundance of caution. Li, however, dismissed the accounts of testing the bodies as "rumors." He said one died last month of malaria and the other of a heart attack. The bodies are still there because family members in China wish to come and pay respects but cannot because of the outbreak, he said. A man who was squatting at an asylum seekers' centre while he allegedly had access to 500,000 has been refused bail on theft charges related to a money laundering investigation. John Sankeni (40), who has no fixed address, appeared before Judge John Lindsay at Dublin District Court yesterday after his arrest by members of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. He faced two charges of theft of 4,500 and 1,500 from a Greek shipping company at a bank in west Dublin on July 7, 2016. He also had a connected charge for failing to give gardai his correct address. He was arrested as he attended offices of the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Dublin in relation to immigration matters. He was taken to Irishtown garda station and charged. Gda Sean Byrne said the accused replied "OK" after each charge was put to him. Further charges in relation to money laundering will be brought, he said. Gda Byrne objected to bail, citing concerns that the accused was a flight risk and had access to 500,000 in a bank account. The officer said the accused provided one address but had not lived there for 10 years. Defence solicitor Tony Collier pleaded for bail and said his client had lived in Ireland for 10 years. The accused told his solicitor he had been in receipt of social welfare payments, but the garda said there was no record of that. He agreed the man had only 7 cash on him, as well as a bank card, when arrested. Premature Another home address in Swords was given. The court heard he claimed he had lived at the Mosney direct provision centre in Co Meath. However, it had no record of the man. Mr Collier said his client had been living there unofficially and was "squatting" because his partner lived there. He said Mr Sankeni had not been charged with money laundering offences and argued it was premature to deny bail. However, the judge refused bail and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on February 14. The accused has not yet indicated a plea. The Syrian army took control of the strategic northwestern crossroads town of Saraqeb on Saturday in the latest gain of a weeks-long offensive against the country's last major rebel bastion of Idlib. "Army units now exercise full control over the town of Saraqeb," state television reported, over footage of the town's streets deserted after weeks of bombardment. It said Syrian troops were combing the area for landmines and explosives left behind by the jihadists and allied rebels. Saraqeb is the second key highway town to be recaptured by government forces in the past two weeks, after the rebels were pushed out of Maaret al Numan last month. Weeks of intensive air strikes and a bruising ground offensive have emptied entire towns in the Idlib region and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing. The violence has displaced 586,000 people since December, according to the United Nations, and killed more than 300 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Saraqeb is a strategic prize for the government it seeks to take back control of two major highways that meet in the town. The M5 motorway connects the capital to second city Aleppo. Running up from the Jordanian border in the south, it is Syria's longest highway. The Observatory said on Friday that government forces were in control of the whole extent of the M5 in Idlib province. Only a 30 kilometre (20 mile) section in neighbouring Aleppo now remains in rebel hands. Saraqeb sits at the crossroads with the M4, the main east-west highway in Idlib which linking Aleppo with the Mediterranean port city of Latakia, a government bastion. After a string of advances since the intervention of Russia on its side in 2015, the government now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory. The conflict has killed more than 380,000 people since it broke out in 2011. Syrian troops advance through Idlib province towards Saraqeb, a strategic crossroads town long in the sights of government commanders The fighting in Idlib province has sent hundreds of thousands of fleeing civilians onto the roads, seeking relative safety nearer the Turkish border Perry said Friday during a news conference at the Detroit church that she is aware of what her election as bishop means to others. If you look at scripture, Jesus said absolutely nothing about homosexuality, she said. And over and over and over again, we see Jesus always being with people who were perceived by other folks to be on the margin, to be outsiders or less than or not worthy. Senior RSS functionary Ram Lal has predicted that the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protestors, who have often voiced their resistance to the Act by saying they will not show official documents to prove their identity, will be dealt a blow by the results of Delhi assembly polls, said a news agency report. Ram Lal also urged voters to carry their official documents with them and keep in mind who can make Delhi the best capital city in the world, when they press the button on the voting machine. He made the comments after casting his vote in the capital on Saturday. My message to the voters is aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen (Take your document with you today and you must show your document, thats my appeal to you), Lal said. ALSO WATCH | Delhi: Long voter queues at Shaheen Bagh, tight security at CAA protest hub Protestors opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have often raised kagaz nahi dikhayenge (wont show papers) slogans in order to register their defiance to the Act. Ram Lal said that Delhi will get a government that can coordinate with the Centre. Today, mentality of not showing documents will be defeated and, he said. Another senior BJP leader Shyam Jaju, made a similar comment by claiming that those who were allegedly funding the anti-CAA stir Shaheen Bagh will be defeated in the polls along with their supporters. Aam Aadmi Partys Amanatullah Khan funded Shaheen Bagh and Delhis Deputy CM supported it...They have done nothing to lift the blockade (at Shaheen Bagh), Jaju said, claimed PTI. The voting in Delhi ended at 6 pm on Saturday and the counting of votes will take place on February 11, Tuesday. Vietnam's agriculture exports to China could plunge by as much as $800 million if the novel coronavirus epidemic continues to hurt trade, officials estimate. Phan Van Chinh, director of the Foreign Trade Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said at a meeting Friday that if the nCoV epidemic was contained within three months, damage to agriculture exports to China would be $400-600 million, and if it lasted longer, the figure could climb to $600-800 million. MoIT Minister Tran Tuan Anh said the nCoV is likely to inflict great damage on trade with China, the largest buyer of Vietnamese agricultural produce last year, and both short-term and long-term solutions were needed to address this problem. The Ministry of Planning and Investment had estimated earlier that if the outbreak was contained in Q1, Vietnams Q1 export value could fall by over 20 percent year-on-year, with exports to China falling 25 percent. But if it prolongs to Q2, exports to China could fall by as much as 56 percent, it said. Dragon fruits and watermelons were obvious early victims of the nCoV outbreak, with hundreds of container trucks stuck at border gates for over 10 days after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday as custom authorities blocked trading to limit the risk and spread of the nCoV. The container truck owners/drivers found some relief after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the resumption of border trade to ensure economic activities are not overly restricted by the virus. However, officials and traders are still concerned that other fruits like lychee and mango would face the same challenges if China continues to limit trade activities. Vu Ba Phu, director of the Trade Promotion Agency, said that Vietnam must find new markets soon for these fruits immediately. He said more market research was needed to find the best market for each fruit. While Vietnam has been exporting large quantities of dragon fruits to South Korea, surveys show that consumers there prefer Vietnamese grapefruit, he noted. Officials have said that the E.U. and other countries with which Vietnam has signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have the potential to become replacement markets. China was Vietnams third biggest export market last year with a value of $41.4 billion, up 0.1 percent year-on-year, in which agriculture, forestry and seafood experts amounted to $7 billion, according to Vietnam Customs. The iconic car driven by Mel Gibson in the Mad Max films is up for sale. The 1974 Ford XB Falcon GT351 that featured in the iconic Australian films has been put up for sale at the Orlando Auto Museum in Florida in the United States. The Falcon coupe, known in the movie as the Pursuit Special Interceptor, appeared in the first and second films, as well as the most recent installment Max Mad: Fury Road starring Tom Hardy. Scroll down for video Mel Gibson drove the Interceptor in the first two films before it later ended up in a junk yard The 1974 Ford XB Falcon GT351 'Interceptor' from the Mad Max films has been put up for sale by the current owners at the Orlando Auto Museum in Florida, U.S The museum hosts a range of famous movie cars including one of the Delorean DMC-12 cars from Back To The Future and James Bond's Aston Martin DB5. The business has decided to cull some of its famous cars including the Australian icon ahead of a move to a new premises in three hours away in Orlando, according to Which Car. The Interceptor is currently fitted with all the custom parts seen in the movies, including two large fuel tanks in the rear, a custom front end and aggressive wheel arches. It also likely features the original 351ci V8 which is attached to the imposing but non-functioning Weiand 6-71 supercharger that pokes out the bonnet. The Interceptor is currently fitted with all the custom parts seen in the movies, including two large fuel tanks in the rear, a custom front end and aggressive wheel arches The price of the Falcon is currently listed as 'price on application' but there is speculation it could fetch for as much as $5million after Steve McQueens Ford Mustang used in Bullitt sold for a similar amount in January. Despite the astounding potential price, the Interceptor previous spent many years rotting away under a canvas at a wrecking yard in the Adelaide Hills. It was only when a fan of the films tracked the car down and purchased it that the car was finally fully restored. He then toured the car around Australia before it was sent to the National Motor Museum in Adelaide. The Interceptor was later sold to a UK museum that was purchased in 2011 by the current owner and real estate developer Michael Dezer who sent the car to the U.S. BJP deploys over 1,500 of its workers on Delhi polling day India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deployed over 1,500 of its party workers in each assembly constituency. This has been done to ensure that the party wins by a huge margin. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah had said on Friday that the party would win over 45 seats in the 70 member Delhi Assembly. The party is banking heavily on the rural, upper-middle-class and middle-class voters. Our leaders have conducted rallies on a large scale. I myself undertook 74 rallies and public meetings. We have been able to expose the Aam Admi Party, Delhi BJP chief, Manoj Tiwari said. Explained: Why Delhi Assembly Election is a vital one Meanwhile, at least 10-15 party workers have been deployed near each polling booth in Delhi. This is to ensure that there is a massive turnout of the voters. Prior to this during the campaign, the party has campaigned at the grassroots levels. Shah too has campaigned extensively and has held nukkad or corner meetings too. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said regarding Googles delay tactics in an antitrust investigation. In September, Texas announced its investigation, supported by 49 other attorneys general, into the big tech company for its ad business and other complaints of anti-competitiveness. Now, AG Paxton is saying that the state wont back down from the fight, even if it requires more serious measures. ( CNBC February 5, 2020) House Rep. Rashida Tlaib said on Friday that she held colleague Ilhan Omars hand during triggering moments of President Trumps State of the Union speech and that she walked out when Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Medal of Freedom. It was a huge struggle for me because I dont think people realize its worse when youre actually there, the congresswoman from Michigan said on Friday during a panel discussion with Omar. Turning to Omar, Tlaib said there were moments of triggering and I kept holding your hand and we intentionally sat next to each other to support each other. Tlaib; Omar, the Somali-American congresswoman from Minnesota; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; and Ayanna Pressley are four first-term Democratic female members of the House who are known by the moniker the squad. Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party have attacked 'the squad', accusing them of holding anti-Semitic views. House Rep. Rashida Tlaib said on Friday that she held colleague Ilhan Omar's hand during President Trump's State of the Union speech on Tuesday Tlaib and Omar are seen sitting next to each other during the State of the Union address at the US Capitol Building on Tuesday Tlaib said she and Omar sat next to each other during the speech in order to support one another Omar (left) takes a selfie with Tlaib (standing far right), fellow House Rep. Pramila Jayapal (center), and House Rep. Yvette Clark Trump's remarks during his speech angered Democrats, who say it was hyper-partisan and provocative Ocasio-Cortez, the representative of New Yorks 14th congressional district, and Pressley, who was elected by Massachusetts 7th congressional district, boycotted the State of the Union in protest of Trumps policies. But Tlaib, who is of Palestinian Arab origin, and Omar, the Somali-born refugee, decided to attend while wearing ethnically traditional outfits as an act of defiance. I'm joining my sisters in Congress in wearing white - my white #PalestinianThobe - to #SOTU, Tlaib tweeted on Tuesday before Trumps address to the nation. A thobe is an ankle-length garment with sleeves that is worn primarily in Middle Eastern countries. Tlaib and Omar are two of the four members of the so-called 'squad' featuring House Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (second from right) and Ayanna Pressley (far right) White is also the color of the womens suffrage movement. Female Democrats in Congress wore white as a way to honor the movement that fought for womens right to vote. Tlaib added in her tweet: Being #unapologeticallyMe is my way of protesting this #ImpeachedPresident. Omar also tweeted on Tuesday in response to Tlaib, writing: Yes sis, our presence is resistanceI am wearing my Ayeeyos Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the peoples house. Ayeeyo is the Somali word for grandmother. Tlaib and Omar appeared on a panel featuring the other two members of the squad at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Friday. Tlaib said that she remained seated during the speech but decided to leave when the president announced that Limbaugh, the conservative radio host, would receive the Medal of Freedom. Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley boycotted the speech, but Tlaib announced on Tuesday she would attend while wearing traditional Palestinian garb I'm joining my sisters in Congress in wearing white - my white #PalestinianThobe - to #SOTU, Tlaib tweeted on Tuesday before Trumps address to the nation. A thobe is an ankle-length garment with sleeves that is worn primarily in Middle Eastern countries Omar also said she would attend Trump's State of the Union while dressed in a traditional Somali outfit Omar also tweeted on Tuesday in response to Tlaib, writing: Yes sis, our presence is resistanceI am wearing my Ayeeyos Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the peoples house. Tlaib eventually walked out of the speech citing Trump's 'lies, bigotry, and shameless bragging about taking away food stamps that people depend on to live' Tlaib also said on Friday that she walked out in part due to Trump's decision to award conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom We ended up leaving, especially when they just went full out applause when they put that medal around Rush, Tlaib said. Limbaugh is a controversial figure because of statements he has made in the past about racial minorities. Last week, Limbaugh announced on his radio program that he has Stage 4 lung cancer. Tlaib and Omar were among several Democratic members of Congress who rose to their feet and shouted at the president during his address when he vowed to sign a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs. 'Working together, Congress can reduce drug prices substantially from current levels,' Trump asserted during his address Tuesday evening from the House Chamber. 'I have been speaking to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and others in Congress in order to get something on drug pricing done, and done quickly and properly. 'I'm calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices,' he continued, a jab at Democrats who have worked on a similar bill that the president is describing. 'Get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately,' the president vowed. This caused an uproar from Democrats, especially from female lawmakers, many of whom were dressed in all white to stand in solidarity with the women who fought in the 20th century suffrage movement. Tlaib and Omar led the chant 'HR3' and held up three fingers during Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday evening The demonstration from Democratic lawmakers, which included 'boos' and groans, came as Trump talked about healthcare and said he would sign a bipartisan bill that reduced prescription drug prices 'I'm calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices,' he continued, a jab at Democrats who have worked on a similar bill that the president is describing. 'Get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately' Holding up three fingers was a reference to the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which was proposed by Democrats, and named after late Congressman Elijah Cummings (pictured) The Democrats held up three fingers as they booed, groaned and chanted 'HR3!' Their chant was making reference to the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which was named after the late Democratic congressman who died at 68 from 'complications concerning longstanding health challenges.' Cummings and Trump sparred publicly, especially after the president took a hit at the district he represented, which includes Baltimore and the president slammed it for failing and being 'rat infested' due to the congressman's leadership there. The Democrats attempted to portray that this bill would meet what he said he is looking to achieve: singing a bill that would lower drug prices. The bill was passed in the Democrat-majority House in mid-December, and is awaiting a vote in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Trump's speech on Tuesday mirrored more of a campaign rally than a usual State of the Union address and caused Democrats to erupt at several points in boos and groans. After the speech, Tlaib tweeted: I walked out of that speech. The lies, the bigotry, and the shameless bragging about taking away food stamps that people depend on to live - it was all beneath the dignity of the office he occupies. Shame on this forever impeached president. Trumps speech angered Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who tore up a copy of the presidents speech at the conclusion of his remarks. Kelani Cables set to aggressively expand By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): Kelani Cables PLC has set its sight on aggressively expanding the product portfolio while also investing in both related and unrelated sectors in business. This includes forming joint ventures, finding new export markets and even buying into firms related to cable manufacturing, Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO Kelani. Cables PLC told the Business Times in an interview on Wednesday. For starters the company, which has added to its bottom-line over the years through time-tested management practices of Kaizen, an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap major improvements, is looking at forming a joint venture on technical know-how with a foreign firm to manufacture transformers in Sri Lanka for exports. We are the number one enamel winding wire (EW) manufacturer in Sri Lanka. With a joint venture with a foreign firm, we want to manufacture transformers for exports, Mr. Saranapala explained. The company also has plans to manufacture water pumps. The annual water pump requirement in Sri Lanka is 25,000 pumps. We can see an opportunity in this sector, Mr. Saranapala said noting that the idea is to move away from traditional businesses and implement out of the box thinking. Kelani Cables exports volumes have also considerably arisen over the past few years. Now the company exports to nine countries with Myanmar and Pakistan being added recently. Mr. Saranapala noted that Myanmar has an annual GDP growth forecast of 8.5 per cent and a population of over 65 million. There is a huge potential in this market and we have just started in Pakistan which also looks promising, he said. The annual world cable market is growing at nine per cent. As such, Mr. Saranapala sees unprecedented potential in exports. Kelani Cables is also set to acquire three units of machines for aerial cable bundling. This is an expansion area we are looking at, Mr. Saranapala added. In support of the core business of cables, the company started trading related items. As a result, in addition to the turnover from cables, the trading items related to electrical industry added considerably to its bottom line. We gradually built this sector up. Now it is adding real value to the bottom-line. For an example Kelani Cables is the number one in terms of volume generation in insulating tape, Mr. Saranapala added. In addition to this, Mr. Saranapala said the company, which celebrated half a century last year, is also interested in industry-related start-ups. We would like to work with innovative start-ups to further our company goals, he said. Kelani Cables was awarded the World Class Award (highest) in the large manufacturing category at the Global Performance Excellence Awards (GPEA) 2017 at Okada Manila, Philippines. Asia Pacific Quality Organisation organises the Global Performance Excellence Awards every year to recognise the best performing business organisations in the Asia and Pacific Rim region. Kelani Cables was the only electric cable manufacturer to win at GPEA 2017, Mr. Saranapala said. Kelani Cables won the Sri Lanka national quality award in 2016. Kelani Cables has been consistently growing in profits and this is due to consistent pricing, availability of products islandwide and constantly discussing with industry stakeholders on new upcoming projects and their requirements, Mr. Saranapala explained. He is very appreciative of his staff, saying: We have 521 associates. F ive Brits, including a child, have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in France. It comes after they came into contact with a person who had been in Singapore, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said on Saturday. The minister said they were not in a serious condition. The total number of people infected with the virus in France has now reached 11. Ms Buzyn said the group of newly-infected people with the virus formed "a cluster, a grouping around one original case." 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 "That original case was brought to our attention last night, it is a British national who had returned from Singapore where he had stayed between January 20 and 23, and he arrived in France on January 24 for four days," she said. She added that the latest outbreak had occurred in the mountainous region of Savoie in eastern France. Tests are being carried out on samples in Wuhan / AFP via Getty Images The group had all been staying in a chalet in a ski resort. The death toll in the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday, while new cases jumped to 34,546. Les Contamines-Montjoie, near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, where five British nationals including a child have tested positive for the new coronavirus / AFP via Getty Images The Department of Health and Social Care said that 620 people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus as of 2pm on Friday, with three cases confirmed. It is understood that the third person in the UK to be diagnosed with coronavirus caught the illness in Singapore. Medical staff in Wuhan embrace / AFP via Getty Images He is reported to be a middle-aged British man and is understood to be the first UK national to contract the disease. Around 150 British nationals are to be flown back from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan on Sunday and quarantined at a facility in Milton Keynes. Two earlier flights transporting UK citizens as evacuees from the city - the epicentre of the virus outbreak - are at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. Three people have been confirmed to have coronavirus in the UK so far. South Central Ambulance Service said that Kents Hill Park, a conference centre and hotel, will be used to house the next returning Britons after they land at RAF Brize Norton. The individuals will remain at the site in isolation for 14 days, it added. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that the flight would be the final service chartered by the Foreign Office to bring UK nationals back from the Chinese city. The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, does not present a risk to local people. After exercising his franchise, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged people to vote and expressed hope that his Aam Aadmi Party will retain power in the capital. "I appeal to all, especially to the women, to cast their votes today. I am hopeful that the people of Delhi will vote on the basis of the work done. I am hopeful that Aam Aadmi Party will come back to power for the third time," he said while interacting with media. Kejriwal was accompanied by his wife - Sunita Kejriwal, mother and son. The AAP chief also showed his inked finger to people and media after exiting the polling booth. A sitting MLA, Kejriwal is contesting against Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate Sunil Yadav and Congress's Romesh Sabharwal from New Delhi constituency. Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. Congress did not open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Refresh this page throughout the Democratic debate for live updates Seven Democratic presidential candidates meet in New Hampshire for the second debate of 2020, just a few days after a muddled Iowa caucus kicked off voting in the primary. Candidates sharing the stage include: Former Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; billionaire activist Tom Steyer and businessman Andrew Yang. Sanders rejects USMCA Sanders voted against ratifying the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, an updated North American free trade deal approved by Congress and signed by the president this year. Trump celebrated the new deal as a big win for blue-collar workers who had seen their jobs move across the border while companies take advantage of cheaper labor. Sanders said the agreement doesnt include important environmental regulations. Trump visited Michigan the day after signing the USMCA to tout its impact on the states manufacturing and agricultural industries. Michigans top trade partners are Mexico and Canada, making a working agreement vital for businesses here. Dana Incorporated workers cheer as President Donald Trump visits Dana Incorporated, 28201 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, Mich on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Trump visited with workers at the plant to celebrate Wednesday's signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com Warren calls for laws protecting abortion Warren said a federal law is needed to protect abortion rights in the wake of efforts by several states to ban abortions and specific procedures. The Massachusetts senator said American women cant rely on the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court to let the landmark Roe v. Wade case stand. She said womens right to have dominion over our own bodies is at risk. States are heading toward trying to ban safe, legal abortion and the Supreme Court seems headed in exactly that direction as well. We need a national law to protect a persons right to control their own body. #DemDebate Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 8, 2020 Look, Ive lived in an America in which abortion was illegal, and rich women still got abortions, and thats what we have to remember about this, Warren said. States are heading toward trying to ban abortion outright. The Supreme Court seems headed in exactly that direction as well." Sanders pledged to only appoint judges who support Roe v. Wade, while other candidates expressed support for preserving abortion rights. Candidates briefly sparred on whether the Supreme Court should be expanded to appoint more liberal justices. Biden said its a bad idea, however, noting that whichever party seizes political control could also tweak the court. Buttigieg also agreed that the Supreme Court shouldnt become a political battlefield. Buttigieg criticized for race relations Buttigieg struggled to answer a question about why African Americans were arrested at a higher rate for possession of marijuana while he was mayor. His apparent lack of support among black voters has been one of the major criticisms dogging his campaign. Buttigiegs campaign has noted black Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for using marijuana, and he proposed legalizing the drug and expunging peoples records. Warren used the moment to launch into a call for eliminating institutional racism. Sanders called for an end to the War on Drugs, saying it has disproportionately affected black and Hispanic Americans. Steyer admonished the moderators for failing to bring up race. Are you kidding me? said Steyer. For goodness sakes pull it together. Biden said Democrats cant take their traditional support from the black community for granted. War. What is it good for? The candidates spent a sizable chunk of time discussing whether the U.S. should keep combat troops in the Middle East. Buttigieg, a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves who served on tour in Afghanistan, said he will put an end to endless wars. It's time to end endless wars and bring our troops home. #DemDebate. pic.twitter.com/bIh94F2mHv Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 8, 2020 Warren said decades of conflict in the Middle East havent been worth the lives and resources lost. What have all these years of war brought us? Warren asked. Democratic candidates also criticized Trumps decision to order an airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Biden and Buttigieg said they would not have ordered the strike. There is no evidence that that made our country safer, Buttigieg said. Its also the case that if we learned nothing else from the war in Iraq, its that taking out a bad guy is not a good idea if you do not know what you are doing. Pete Buttigieg on strike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani: "If we learned nothing else from the war in Iraq, it's that taking out a bad guy is not a good idea if you do not know what you are doing." https://t.co/1KRijhR9Ie #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/AxnoAHxPgA ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 8, 2020 Klobuchar mentions Michigan visit Klobuchar referenced a visit with dockworkers in Michigan during the debate. In September 2019, the Minnesota senator came to Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company in River Rouge and brough doughnuts to United Auto Workers on the picket line outside General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck facility. She made a similar case to reporters then that shes the candidate for voters looking for a sensible moderate. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, left, shows reporters a map of Great Lakes shipping routes while visiting Nicholson Terminal & Dock on a tour of Midwest states Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 in River Rouge, Michigan. (Malachi Barrett | MLive.com) Republicans slammed for Trump acquittal Sanders slammed Senate Republicans for acquitting Trump this week, finding him not guilty of two impeachment charges. They knew that Donald Trump is a crook," Sanders said. Steyer called it a sham trial" because the Republican-led Senate voted against amendments to subpoena additional witnesses and documents. Trump was impeached due to his effort to investigate Bidens relationship to his son Hunters position at a Ukrainian energy company. Trump has alleged Biden improperly allowed his son to benefit from Bidens political connections, though there has been no evidence that Biden broke the law. Buttigieg said Biden shouldnt face investigation for the financial dealings of his family. No, were not going to let them change the subject, Buttigieg said. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or anybody. This is about an abuse of power by the president. Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)AP Trump gave a vengeful speech at the White House Thursday after he was acquitted by the U.S. Senate, while GOP members of Congress consider investigations of Bidens family. Buttigieg declined to attack Biden when asked whether his sons dealings will be a liability if he became the Democratic nominee. Buttigieg he and fellow Democrats should "draw a line on the attacking Biden about the situation. The former South Bend, Ind. mayor called Trump unbelievably dishonorable for seeking to weaponize a son against his own father. All criticism for Medicare for All Health care has been one of the most divisive issues in the Democratic primary, which candidates split between putting all Americans on a government-run Medicare for All program or offering a buy-in option that allows people to keep their current insurance. What Medicare for All will do is save the average American substantial sums of money while expanding coverage. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/KH8oMSgYkD Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 8, 2020 Klobuchar and Biden, who have positioned themselves as pragmatic moderates, criticized Sanders for propping up an expensive and unrealistic proposal. Biden said he Congress wont go for it, citing his experience in fighting to establish the Affordable Care Act. I busted my neck getting Obamacare passed," Biden said. Candidates clearly agree that Sanders is now the frontrunner. Matt Grossmann (@MattGrossmann) February 8, 2020 Klobuchar also reminded the audience that Buttigieg had once supported Medicare for All in a 2018 tweet. The economy, stupid Steyer couldnt sit through a discussion on health care during the February Democratic debate, saying hes tired of hearing the same arguments over and over again. Steyer interjected, saying Democrats should instead be focused on the economy and countering President Donald Trumps claims of the best economy in American history. He said everyone on the stage has a better plan for health care than Trump, but that is not the question in front of us today. How are we going to beat Donald Trump? Its the economy, stupid, Steyer said, citing a famous quote from President Bill Clintons 1992 campaign. Steyer also expressed concern that Trump could sail to reelection after being acquitted of impeachment charges this week. I dont think theres any question, George, that after this week, theres a real threat that Donald Trump can get reelected, Steyer said moderators. Top of the field takes aim Former Biden was asked to explain his criticism for Sanders and Buttigieg. Biden argued President Donald Trump will exploit Sanders for being a self-described democratic socialist." Klobuchar said she was concerned about Sanders political brand in an appeal to voters in the middle." She said Trumps worse nightmare is a Democrat who can bring in independents and moderate Republicans who are tired of the presidents behavior. Sen. Amy Klobuchar at #DemDebate: "Truthfully, Donald Trump's worst nightmare is a candidate that will bring people in from the middle, the people that are tired of the noise and the nonsense and they are tired of the tweets and the mean stuff." https://t.co/Y3LWCvEZfY pic.twitter.com/rcyzhaKd4s ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020 Sanders shrugged off the criticism. He said his agendas focus on securing higher wages and improving health care will bring together a working-class movement. Donald Trump lies all the time, Sanders said. Hes said terrible things about Joe and me and everybody else up here. Each of the candidates were asked whether they are worried about having a democratic-socialist on the ticket. Klobuchar was the only one to raise her hand, and Trumps social media team quickly isolated the clip and shared it on Twitter. Biden also seemed to acknowledge he wont win New Hampshire. He said Sanders will probably take the state since hes the neighboring senator. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, Biden said. State of the race Reporting of the Iowa caucus results was delayed by technical glitches, flooded phone lines and other problems. By Friday, The Associated Press reported Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders were essentially tied, with Elizabeth Warren trailing. The Iowa caucus shook up the assumed ranking of candidates, with Biden falling to fourth place. The former vice president called his underwhelming finish a gut punch, the Associated Press reported. From left, Democratic presidential candidates entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and businessman Tom Steyer stand on stage Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, before the start of a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP Candidates who did worse in Iowa will face pressure to prove their viability tonight, said Matt Grossman, director of Michigan State Universitys Institue for Public Policy. The debate could turn negative, he said, especially considering the posture several candidates took this week. Billionaires love Pete Buttigieg read one fundraising email sent by the Sanders campaign Friday. Biden criticized Sanders and Buttigieg, the Associated Press reported. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer began running a new ad warning Trump will campaign on the idea his opponents are a bunch of socialists." There are reasons to attack Sanders and Buttigieg now that they have won something, at the same time there are dangers in a multi-candidate race that it will decrease the likability of the attacker and the attacked, Grossman said. Biden deciding to come after Sanders could make them both look bad, benefiting another candidate like Warren in one example Grossman provided. How do I watch the debate? The eight Democratic debate, hosted by ABC, WMUR and Apple News, is scheduled to run from 8 to 11 p.m. at St. Anselm College in Manchester. It will also stream live on the ABC app, ABC.com and connected devices such as Roku, AppleTV and Amazon Fire TV. Who is participating? Geneva, Feb 8 : Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, urged that no stigma should be associated with the fast-spreading novel coronavirus. "It is the responsibility of us all to ensure there is no stigma associated with the disease. They are unnecessary and unhelpful," Xinhua news agency quoted Ryan as saying in a technical briefing here on Friday. He added that profiling of individuals is "awfully and completely unacceptable," and "it needs to stop". Ryan underlined that governments have the responsibility to educate their populations on the act of discrimination. "This is a very important responsibility, and something we do need to engage with," he reiterated. Also speaking at the briefing, Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, voiced similar concern. Van Kerkhove said that the WHO has provided an interim name for the disease, calling it the "2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease". "We thought it was very important that we provide an interim name, so no location was associated with the name," she said. "We want to ensure that there was no stigma associated with this virus." The WHO said the final name of the disease will be provided by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the final decision being made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. As of Saturday, the virus has killed 722 people in China, the epicentre of the outbreak. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) TOKYO Buhl resident Tim Pond has kept touch with the rest of the world on Facebook after his cruise ship was quarantined Feb. 5 due to the coronavirus. Pond boarded the 13-deck Diamond Princess on Jan. 20 at Yokohama in Tokyo Bay and visited Okinawa, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam. The ship was scheduled to return to Yokohama on Sunday but docked a day early. Originally the captain said it was so we could make it through customs and immigration because the Japanese Ministry of Health was cracking down harder, he said Friday via Facebook Messenger. Instead, it was because Hong Kong officials had notified the captain that a Chinese passenger who had left the ship Jan. 25 in Hong Kong had tested positive for the coronavirus on Feb. 1, the 56-year-old WinCo Foods employee said. Another person was taken off the ship Feb. 3 after a medical emergency, he said. The ship remained in Tokyo Bay while authorities decided what action to take. The State Department sent me an email that said the (two-week) quarantine started officially on Feb. 5 at 7 a.m., Pond told the Times-News. Japan is 15 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time. We were given a questionnaire to fill out, Pond said. Only those with cough, sneezing, and fever were given tests that were sent off. They checked everyones temperature. They provided us with thermometers yesterday that we are to use to check our temperatures throughout the day. If it spikes over 37.5 degrees Celsius (about 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit) were supposed to call immediately for help. So far, more than 60 of the 3,700 people onboard have tested positive for the virus, the Washington Post reported Friday. Some passengers are more concerned about breathing contaminated air than being exposed on land. Pond said he is fortunate to be in a suite while under quarantine. I have the bedroom and bathroom of a normal cabin and then a small living room area outside that and a balcony that wraps around both rooms, he said. So I can go out when I want I just have to put on my mask and disposable gloves and stay a meter from the railing. I cant imagine being in an inside cabin, Pond said. Many of the more than 3,000 passengers are stuck in cabins without windows. They did start to allow passengers in inside cabins to go out on deck, he said. They have to wear face masks and disposable gloves and remain a meter apart from anyone else. They go deck by deck. One side of the floor goes to the top deck and the other side goes to the seventh deck promenade. The ship leaves the bay daily to make water, he said. Pond said he is spending the hours inside his cabin watching television and surfing the web on his iPad. The captain said there would be some new activities they would try today, he said Friday. They have been working very hard to keep everyone as comfortable as possible considering the circumstances. Times-News reporter Mychel Matthews would like to talk to anyone who may know someone quarantined because of the coronavirus. She can be reached at mmatthews@magicvalley.com or by calling 208-735-3233. A future levee system and flood wall along Orange Countys coastal perimeter just took the first step toward reality with a design contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Friday. A joint venture company created by engineering firms Stantec and Jacobs, called Galveston Coastal Services Joint Venture, was awarded the contract and is expected to spend the next two years designing seven pump stations and more than 25 miles of new flood control structures. Essentially, we are creating a coastal spine that will help protect the Texas coast, providing a solution that not only benefits this area long term, but the millions of people and businesses in this region that are most impacted by weather, Jacobs Senior Vice President of Federal & Environmental Solutions Pankaj Duggal said in a statement. The project will stretch 27 miles along Orange Countys boundaries, starting with a pump station and flood structures at Cow Bayou and expanding north of Orange and west of Bridge City. The entire project is expected to cost around $1.9 billion, according to the U.S. Army Corps. The companies predict it will take 540 employees across several skill areas to complete the design in a time frame of the next 18 to 24 months, but the partnership also includes local businesses. The joint venture will use at least 20 local enterprises and will spend about 40% of its design budget with Southeast Texas services, according to the companies. Construction is expected to begin in 2022, and the project completion target is sometime in 2026. Once complete, the project is expected to reduce the impact from extreme storm surge and coastal flooding by providing barriers and improving natural drainage systems. The Orange project, as it has been dubbed, is one part of a three-tiered project that will also see levee upgrades and environmental restorations around Port Arthur and Freeport. Planned Orange County flood control 15.6 miles of new levees 10.7 miles of new concrete flood walls and gates Seven new pump stations from north of Orange to southwest of Orangefield 453 acres of marsh restoration 560 acres of forested wetland preservation See More Collapse Unlike the portion planned for Port Arthur and southern Jefferson County, this project will bring flood protection structures and restoration measures to parts of Orange County that havent been protected by levees before. It also will have structures built to the latest specifications from the Army Corps, which Port Arthur and Drainage District 7 currently do not have. DD7 Supervisor Ronnie Hollier said certain sections of the earthen levee will be raised, a portion of the wall that was breached in a previous storm will be restored and its walls will be replaced with new, stronger structures. All of our steel sheet pile walls there are around 1,500 feet, but after (Hurricane) Katrina those are no longer allowable, he said. That will be replaced with steel and concrete T wall. The portions of the Port Arthur levees and walls currently maintained by DD7 were lobbied for by Rep. Jack Brooks in the 60s and finished in 1980 for around $84 million. Since then, the community and some of the largest refineries and petrochemical plants in the world have grown up around the coast, complicating the role of the seawalls and levees. This will protect us for the next 60 to 70 years, Hollier said. Whether you believe in climate change or not this project helps predict where the sea level will rise, and helps protect against greater storm events. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jdickjournalism A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the price and scope of the Orange County Coastal Storm Risk Management that is a part of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Corps Feasibility Study. The Jacobs-Stantec joint venture recieved a single award task order contract for the design not to exceed $228 Million. The overall scope of the Orange project is estimated at $1.9 billion. The number of cases of the new coronavirus continue to increase as the death toll rose to 772, including the first U.S. citizen. It marked the first confirmed non-Chinese death of the new virus and came at a time of increased criticism of the way Beijing is handling the epidemic. Very little is known so far about the U.S. citizen who died of the virus on Thursday in Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak. The person was around 60 years old and died at a hospital. The New York Times hears word that the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions. Advertisement The total number of cases increased by almost 3,400, reaching 34,546 amid anger inside China directed toward the ruling Communist Party over the death of Li Wenliang, the doctor who was threatened by police after he tried to raise a red flag about the new virus more than a month ago. The doctor was hailed as a hero on social media, where mourning turned into attacks against the government and demands of freedom of speech. The topics Wuhan government owes Dr. Li Wenliang an apology, and We want freedom of speech quickly trended on Weibo, the heavily censored Chinese platform that is similar to Twitter. They were deleted. The fact that the messages were even allowed to stay up for a few hours seemed to suggest that officials were having a hard time figuring out how to deal with the outrage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outrage inside China comes as experts abroad were still trying to get access to China. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been trying to send a team of experts but has not been invited to enter China. The World Health Organization tried to be diplomatic and said they were just sorting out arrangements but for now its experts havent been allowed to assess the situation personally. U.S. experts are included on a list proposed by the WHO. Officials think that Chinas top leaders may not be eager to accept foreign assistance out of fear that it would be interpreted as a sign that China needs outside help to deal with the epidemic. For now, experts say that it is still difficult to know just how deadly the new virus is and how quickly it is spreading. It is hard to say how lethal this novel coronavirus infection is, Allen Cheng, an infectious diseases expert at Monash University in Melbourne, told Reuters. While the crude mortality appears to be around 2%, there are likely to be many people who have been infected that havent been tested. Even though most of the cases have been in China, around two dozen countries have reported cases, including five British nationals who were infected in a French ski resort. They contracted the virus after they stayed in a the same ski chalet as someone who had been in Singapore. None of them were in a serious condition. Members of Teachers Union of Ireland are picking outside a number of local schools and Dundalk Institute of Technology today (Tuesday) in protest over pay discrimination. Today's strike action comes about after talks on Friday involving the public service agreement oversight group and the union failed to produce any progress The dispute has been going on since 2010 when the Government unilaterally introduced a reduced pay scale which saw newly qualified teachers earning less than their colleagues who had qualified before them. Teaching Unions campaigned against the discriminatory pay scale, highlighting it equated to a pay cut in excess of 50,000 over the first 10 years of a new recruit's career. TUI President Seamus Lahart said 'We have exhausted every avenue open to us to bring this matter to resolutionand have been left with no choice but to take strike action over the ongoing scandal of pay discrimination.' In October 2019, TUI members voted by a margin of 92% to 8% to engage in a campaign of industrial action demanding the Government immediately return all members to the agreed pay scale, with the Union announcing in November that it would take strike action in February unless the matter was resolved. The TUI President stated in conclusion 'We are making it clear today that our campaign will continue until pay discrimination has been eliminated. Discrimination has no place in our schools. Paying colleagues different rates for carrying out the same work is morally wrong.' Locally the strike will see TUI Members picketing at O'Fiaich College & Institute of Further Education and the Dundalk Institute of Technology. Local post-primary schools are also affected by the strike. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) members, the union has directed its members not to provide cover for striking TUI colleagues. This has forced the closure of some voluntary secondary schools on health and safety grounds. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is awarding $15 million in federal funding for a water pipeline in eastern New Mexico, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich announced Thursday. The fiscal 2020 funding for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project represents an increase of $11.7 million in previous years. Tripling the federal investment in the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System is a major victory, Heinrich said in a news release. I have worked for more than a decade to increase federal funding for this major infrastructure project, also known as the Ute Pipeline Project, which is important to providing cities in eastern New Mexico and Cannon Air Force Base with affordable, clean water. The funding for the project, headed by the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, will be used to continue the construction of a water pipeline from Cannon Air Force Base to Portales. The project was federally authorized in 2009, to provide potable water to seven communities and Cannon for municipal, commercial and industrial use from a renewable surface water supply at Ute Reservoir. The member communities include Clovis, Curry County, Elida, Grady, Melrose, Portales and Texico. The project will replace current groundwater supplies from the Ogallala Aquifer with renewable sources from Ute Reservoir. The Fourth National Climate Assessment warns that producers are extracting water faster than it can be replenished and the aquifer should be considered non-renewable, Heinrichs office said. We have known for a long time that pumping unlimited groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer is unsustainable, the senator said. The mayors of Clovis and Portales, who are both members of the water authority, praised the increase in funding. These dollars will be put to beneficial use immediately, Clovis Mayor David Lansford said in the release. He is chairman of the water authority. We are also very grateful to the many individuals who have recognized the need and advocated for the accelerated completion of the (water project). This water infrastructure project represents a shared vision that the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has had for years to deliver affordable, clean water to our communities, said Ron Jackson, Portales mayor and water authority vice chairman. I am incredibly excited to see this monumental increase in funding that will truly move this project forward. BERLIN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The chief executives of Ericsson and Nokia will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel next week, two government sources said on Friday, amid debate in Berlin over how best to regulate foreign providers of telecoms equipment. No further details were immediately available on the talks, which come amid calls from some lawmakers to ban China's Huawei , the global leader in telecoms networks, on national security grounds. Nokia of Finland is the second largest telecoms equipment supplier, followed by Ericsson of Sweden. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke Writing by Douglas Busvine Editing by Michelle Martin) A soldier was killed and three others were injured on Saturday as the Pakistani army violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing of small arms and mortar shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The soldier, manning a forward post, was killed and three others were injured in Degwar sector, they said. Earlier, a defence spokesperson said Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars in the sector around 3.45 pm. The Indian Army mounted an effective retaliation, the spokesperson said. The casualties suffered by the Pakistani troops in the retaliatory action was not known immediately, the officials said, adding that the cross-border firing between the two sides was underway when last reports were received. A police official said the Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas, besides the forward posts, causing panic among the local residents. However, there was no report of any civilian casualties, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Syrian army took control of a strategic northwestern crossroads town on Saturday, its latest gain in a weeks-long offensive against the country's last major rebel bastion of Idlib. The advance on Saraqeb came shortly after Turkey sent additional troops into the region and threatened to respond if its military observation posts in Idlib, set up under a 2018 truce, come under attack. "Army units now exercise full control over the town of Saraqeb," state television reported, showing footage of the town's streets, deserted after weeks of bombardment. Since December, government forces have pressed a blistering assault against the Idlib region with Russian support, retaking town after town despite warnings from rebel ally Turkey to stop. The violence has killed more than 300 civilians and sent some 586,000 fleeing towards relative safety nearer the Turkish border. The United Nations and aid groups have appealed for an end to hostilities, warning that the exodus risks creating one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of the nearly nine-year war. But President Bashar al-Assad's forces have continued their advance. Saraqeb is a strategic prize for the government as it seeks to regain control of the M4 and M5 highways that meet in the town. The M5, Syria's longest highway, connects second city Aleppo to Damascus and continues south to the Jordanian border. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that government forces were in control of the whole of the M5 in Idlib province. Only a 15 kilometre (9 mile) section, southwest of Aleppo city, remains in rebel hands. The regime was poised to recapture more of the road on Saturday after it overran the area of Al-Eis in south Aleppo province following battles with rebels and jihadists, according to the Observatory. Al-Eis, which overlooks the M5, was on a front that saw fierce fighting between the regime and its opponents in 2016. Syrian troops advancing north of Idlib linked up near Al-Eis with their comrades pushing south of Aleppo on Saturday, state news agency SANA said. The two units had recently waged separate battles in rural Aleppo and southern Idlib, but are now conjoined for the first time as they push north along the M5 highway. - Three million trapped - A few months ago, Saraqeb counted some 110,000 residents, the Observatory says. But weeks of deadly bombardment by the government and its ally Russia has levelled much of the town and sent its inhabitants fleeing north towards the Turkish border. Some three million people, half of them already displaced by Syria's devastating war, live in the remaining rebel territory. Some 50,000 fighters are also in the shrinking pocket, many of them jihadists but the majority allied rebels, according to Observatory estimates. With Saraqeb recaptured, little more than half of Idlib province remains in rebel hands, along with slivers of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees and fears another influx, has called on Damascus to halt its Idlib campaign. Tensions between them rose on Monday after a rare flare-up between regime and Turkish forces in Idlib killed more than 20 people on both sides. Turkey has since sent reinforcements into northwest Syria, prompting Damascus to accuse Ankara of trying to hamper its advance. - Turks 'blocking advance' - According to Turkish state news agency Anadolu, Ankara has sent more than 350 vehicles with commandos and ammunition to bolster its observation posts in Idlib since Friday. A Turkish security source said the troops' sole mission was to reinforce the 12 existing posts, established under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing a major battle and an ensuing humanitarian crisis. Turkey says three of its outposts, all in the southeastern part of Idlib, have been surrounded by the Syrian army. The Observatory said that all the Turkish reinforcements were deployed to outposts behind the front line north of Saraqeb. "They have formed a buffer blocking further regime advances in Idlib," Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman said. Some Turkish troops were seen heading towards a military airport in the Taftanaz area, 16 kilometres (10 miles) north of Saraqeb, said an AFP correspondent. Others were deploying to a military base south of Idlib city. Turkey has threatened to respond if any of its posts come under attack. "Our observation posts in Idlib continue their duties and are capable of protecting themselves with the weapons and equipment they possess," the Turkish defence ministry said on Twitter. "In the event of a new attack, proper response will be given in the strongest manner, based on the right of self-defence." burs-rh/ho/cm According to a January 2020 letter sent to affected individuals, PIH Health became aware of a data breach back on June 18, 2019. The letter states that patient Protected Health Information was accessed through PHI Health employee email accounts. The Personal Health Information that was accessed included patient names, treatment and diagnosis information, Social Security Numbers, and drivers license numbers. Medical information is considered to be among the most personal and private of information under California law, says Keller Grover LLP attorney Eric A. Grover. For that reason, healthcare providers are required to give patients timely notice of data breaches and the negligent release and disclosure of medical information can, under certain circumstances, give rise to claims by affected individuals for money damages. Similar medical data breaches involving the failure to properly secure medical information have given rise to class action lawsuits. Earlier this year, for example, St. Joseph Health Systems finalized a class action lawsuit settlement valued at over $30 million involving St. Josephs alleged failure to properly secure its network, allowing patient information to become publicly accessible on the internet. If you have any information about the PIH Health data breach or are a California resident that has been affected by the data breach and have questions, contact Keller Grovers attorneys at 888-535-5291 or by email at info@kellergrover.com. Keller Grover LLP is a leader in the field of medical information privacy litigation and has represented clients in numerous medical data breach class action cases, including lawsuits against St. Joseph Health Systems, Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, Health Net and 21st Century Oncology. Keller Grover will not charge you for reviewing your information and all information that you provide to Keller Grover in the process of seeking legal advice will be held strictly confidential. (Attorney Advertising) The Latvian Ministry of Defense has prepared the Cabinet of Ministers draft order on the alienation of a land area of about five hectares in the Jaunaluksnensky volost of the Aluksnensky Territory, BNS reports. The military department did not specify for what purposes the site will be used since access to this information is limited. However, the draft order of the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers says that according to a decision adopted by the previous government in 2016, an action plan was approved to develop the air defense potential and expand the radar coverage area to monitor airspace and modernize existing air defense systems, Interfax reports. (Natural News) Were constantly being told weve hit peak oil, which is depressing news although its usually delivered to me by the same people who told me the ozone layer would be so depleted by now that Id get skin cancer after ten minutes outside without a lead-lined suit. (Article by C. Douglas Golden republished from WesternJournal.com) However, theres one thing I get the feeling well never hit: peak crazy college leftist. The latest mother lode of insanity comes from Arizona State University, where police are reporting a male individual is under investigation after being caught on camera allegedly making threats to conservative students, police there have said. We are aware of a video circulating on social media where an individual appears to be making threats. We are working with the University to address the matter, ASU police tweeted. We are aware of a video circulating on social media where an individual appears to be making threats. We are working with the University to address the matter. Arizona State University Police Department (@ASUPolice) February 6, 2020 It wasnt clear whether the individual was a student or not. ASUs Students for Trump shared the video online on Thursday, which shows an articulate, measured, completely sane young man engaging in Socratic dialogue with members of the organization. Specifically, he said he wanted to slash Republican throats. But dont worry he wanted to slash the throats of Every fing Republican! Sk my fing b-lls! Slash Republican throats! Slash fascist throats! WARNING: The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive. CRAZY LEFTIST ON COLLEGE CAMPUS Watch as a tolerant leftist threatens to slash the throat of @realDonaldTrump and every Republican. We will NOT let the left silence us! @TrumpStudents #KeepAmericaGreat pic.twitter.com/PZcTLhR6MK Students for Trump at ASU (@sft_asu) February 6, 2020 Congratulations on doing a fantastic tryout for Atari Teenage Riot, but other than that theres really nothing thats going to generate sympathy or support here. If he didnt realize he wasnt going to be recorded by a cell phone camera, well, we live in the year 2020 when pretty much everything is, so good work there. We will NOT let the left silence us! Students for Trump tweeted. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, meanwhile, retweeted the video while pointing out how this is nothing new. Here is a violent leftist threatening to cut the throat of our @TrumpStudents leader in Arizona This is the type of violence our students face every single day Just wait until Trump gets re-elected! pic.twitter.com/rynboeZK6d Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 6, 2020 This is the type of violence our students face every single day, Kirk wrote. Just wait until Trump gets re-elected! Well, I mean, well never hit peak crazy college leftist but I dont think anyone is going to be prepared for the kind of massive oil-field of crazy well discover if Trump gets elected to a second term. The greatest irony here is that this is the kind of thing that Donald Trump gets accused of by leftists on a daily basis. His rhetoric, they say, is inciting people to violence. Any actual examples of this usually arent forthcoming or tenuous at best. Meanwhile, videos like this show up and were told theres nothing to see here. Of course. Actual incitement to violence can apparently get overlooked so long as the individual involved has the right sort of political views. Read more at: WesternJournal.com The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has sharply risen to 722 with 86 new mortalities in a single day, mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province, while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 34,546, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. Eighty-six deaths were reported in mainland China with 3,399 fresh cases from 31 provincial-level regions, the country's National Health Commission said. Among the deaths, 81 are in Hubei province and its provincial capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, two in Heilongjiang, as well as one in Beijing, Henan and Gansu, the commission said. By the end of Friday, 26 confirmed cases, including one death, have been reported in Hong Kong. Macao reported 10 cases, while Taiwan reported 16 cases, it said. A total of 4,214 new suspected cases were reported and 1,280 patients became seriously ill, and 510 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, according to the commission. It added that 6,101 patients remained in severe condition, and 27,657 people were suspected of being infected with the virus. As many as 2,050 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery. The commission said 3.45 lakh 'close contacts' have been traced, adding that among them, 26,702 were discharged from medical observation on Friday. Over 1.89 lakh others are still under medical observation. The death toll of the coronavirus cases overseas went up 220 with Japan reporting 86 followed by 33 in Singapore. Kerala has reported three cases while 647 evacuated Indians from Wuhan are going through quarantine in Manesar. Meanwhile, Wuhan began combing communities to ensure every confirmed or suspected patient is located and attended to as a senior official vowed to nail any official deserter "to history's pillar of shame." A conference on epidemic control on Thursday ordered the megacity with a population of over 11 million to make all-out efforts to locate patients confirmed or suspected to be infected with the virus, close contacts of confirmed cases, as well as patients with fever. Once identified, these people must be treated or placed in quarantine in a timely manner, the conference said, adding that "no family or individual shall be neglected," state-run Xinhua agency reported. City officials said checkpoints are being set up outside every community and apartment building to measure residents' body temperatures, while community workers and volunteers are paying house-to-house visits to conduct checks. Fever patients found in the process will be escorted to community clinics, which will decide whether they should be quarantined at home or be sent to other isolation areas. Police will step in if a patient refuses to obey quarantine rules and all persuasion fails, officials said. Chinese health officials have sent more than 11,000 medics, including the country's best ICU staff, to the city of Wuhan. Among them, over 3,000 doctors and nurses are intensive care specialists, Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, told media here. "We are fully aware of the urgent need for ICU professionals in Wuhan. The current medics have been working for quite a long time and are exhausted both physically and mentally," Guo said. The World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said the world was running out of masks and other protective equipment against the novel coronavirus. Pangolins could be responsible for the spread of the deadly coronavirus in China, scientists said on Friday after they found the genome sequence separated from the endangered mammals 99 percent identical to that from infected people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Parvesh Verma on Saturday cast his vote at a polling station in the Matiala assembly constituency as voting is underway in the Delhi assembly elections. The BJP has fielded Rajesh Gehlot and Congress Sumesh Shokeen from the constituency in west Delhi. They are up against Gulab Singh Yadav of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)the current member of legislative assembly. The BJP leader said his party is key to the development of Delhi. Verma, the West Delhi Lok Sabha MP, was barred from holding public meetings, processions, rallies, roadshows and giving interviews for 24 hours by the Election Commission on Wednesday. The poll body said it found he had violated the Model Code of Conduct with his statement against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in which he called the AAP leader a terrorist. The commission is of the considered view that Parvesh Sahib Singh made vitriolic aspersions against Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi which violate provisions under clause (2) part 1 of the Model Code of Conduct, read the EC order which came into effect at 6pm on Wednesday. The commission issued the notice to Verma on January 30, taking cognizance of his statement given to a TV channel against Kejriwal. Wednesdays order comes even as Verma denied casting vitriolic aspersions on Kejriwal. It was the second time in less than a week that Verma has been banned by EC for his controversial remarks, which opposition leaders allege is divisive and communally-charged. On January 30, the poll panel had barred Verma for four days for his remarks on Shaheen Bagh where a gathering has been on a sit-in protest for over a month. Verma had allegedly said those participating at Shaheen Bagh could enter homes to rape and kill women, indicating the site would be cleared on BJP being elected to power. EC panel had then banned him from campaigning in the Delhi elections for 96 hours. Verma called the ban unjustified. This ban is unjustified, as the election commission has issued this order without asking me for an explanation. I didnt call him a terrorist. In the TV interview I had explained that I had called him a Naxalite and not a terrorist, he said. But this shows that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is scared and is either reciting Hanuman Chalisa or my name by repeatedly complaining to the election commission. Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited (HKG:259) CEO & Executive Director, Kwok Wai Li, recently bought HK$196k worth of stock, for HK$1.09 per share. That might not be a big purchase but it only increased their holding by 0.1%, and could be interpreted as a good sign. Check out our latest analysis for Yeebo (International Holdings) The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Yeebo (International Holdings) In fact, the recent purchase by CEO & Executive Director Kwok Wai Li was not their only acquisition of Yeebo (International Holdings) shares this year. They previously made an even bigger purchase of HK$53m worth of shares at a price of HK$1.10 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being HK$1.09). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Kwok Wai Li was the only individual insider to buy over the year. Kwok Wai Li bought a total of 55.36m shares over the year at an average price of HK$1.11. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! SEHK:259 Recent Insider Trading, February 8th 2020 Yeebo (International Holdings) is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Yeebo (International Holdings) insiders own 17% of the company, worth about HK$181m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Yeebo (International Holdings) Tell Us? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Yeebo (International Holdings). That's what I like to see! I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow for free. 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 Democratic presidential primary has been under way for more than a year. But it wasn't until last Monday that voters got their first chance to weigh in on who should be the party's nominee. The storied Iowa caucuses which have kicked off the Democratic race since 1972, in large part because of their complex rules seemed especially important this year, given the large Democratic field. So all eyes were on Iowa on Monday night. Pete Buttigieg, the winner in Iowa by the narrowest of margins. Credit:AP And then: nothing. Those who stayed up late to find out the results were disappointed, but so too were those who went to bed early, certain they'd know the winner as soon as they reached for their smartphones on Tuesday morning. In fact, there would be no results for some time, and the final tally didn't arrive until Friday morning. Mayor Pete Buttigieg barely edged out Senator Bernie Sanders in the delegate count, Senator Elizabeth Warren came third, and former vice-president Joe Biden ended up a dismal fourth. But for once, the process was more important than the results. That's because, at precisely the time Democrats need to be championing accessibility, transparency, and reliability in elections, they failed to deliver all three. Evangelist Alveda King -- Amidst Skips and Rips: POTUS Sets Tone for a Praying America NEWS PROVIDED BY Alveda King Ministries Feb. 7, 2020 ATLANTA, Feb. 7, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Evangelist Alveda King submits the following and is available for comment: This week President Donald J. Trump's SOTU address glorified God, encouraged America and gave honor to whom honor is due. The next day, the National Prayer Services activities kicked off. At the annual prayer breakfast on Thursday, joined by over 3,500 worshippers, POTUS, PELOSI and LEWIS all spoke and CeCe Winans sang. The bipartisan Congressional Prayer Caucus who hosted the event, opened up with worship music and prayers. In the keynote address, conservative author Arthur Brooks encouraged biblical love amid a nationwide "crisis of contempt and polarization," reminding attendees that Jesus ordered His followers to love and not just tolerate their enemies. Afterward, in a moment of heart wrenching transparency, President Trump revealed the challenges of embracing Agape Love; by saying "I'm trying." For a brief political hiatus, all were prayerful. What a blessing. My February week of prayer in DC ended at The Museum of The Bible with a delightful and uplifting oasis experience at "An Evening to Inspire." Pray for America ya'll. Amidst skipped handshakes and emotional speech rip-ups, America experienced a week of prayer; spearheaded by non-other than our President. To be honest, while President Trump chose to avoid shaking hands with his adversaries during the week of the impeachment saga, I must admit that I agree with his wisdom. There is a scripture for that. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." 1 Timothy 5:22 The year 2020 is off to a prayerful beginning. Let's not forget that in January, President Trump, our most prolife president ever, gave us an historical first by speaking to the masses at the March for Life. Meanwhile, as Valentine's Day approaches, Jensine Bard writes: IT'S TIME FOR A RESPITE as we approach a DAY that is MARKED by LOVE ... VALENTINE'S DAY and a MOVIE that will take you there!!! The movie FIRST LADY is a story of "Firsts" in Life, In Love, In Romance and, Yes, Politics Too! With Stellar Cast: Nancy Stafford, Corbin Bernsen, Stacey Dash, Alveda King and Cameo by Film's Writer and Director, Nina May. Releasing In Selected Theaters Nationwide FEBRUARY 14, 2020. Yes, 2020 is progressing. In the coming days, may God have mercy on our souls. May America repent, return to God, sow and reap agape love; and receive the eternal blessings of victory in Christ Jesus! SOURCE Alveda King Ministries CONTACT: Leslie Palma, 917-697-7039 Related Links www.alvedaking.com Share Tweet U.S. President Donald Trump has fired two key witnesses in the impeachment investigation against him, as he started an apparent campaign of retaliation just two days after he was acquitted by the Senate. Mr Trump fired Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, just hours after dismissing Ukraine expert Alexander Vindman, a decorated Army lieutenant colonel, according to statements released by Sondland and Vindmans lawyer. The most powerful man in the world buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit has decided to exact revenge, Mr Vindmans attorney David Pressman said in a statement, adding his client was escorted from the White House. It was an astonishing move by Mr Trump to clear his administration of people who have testified in the impeachment probe, which investigated Mr Trumps attempt to pressure Ukraine to pursue investigations that could help his 2020 re-election bid. Mr Sondland a political appointee who donated 1 million dollars to the Trumps presidential campaign testified publicly that he believed there was a quid pro quo in Mr Trumps demand that Kiev pursue investigations. I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union, Mr Sondland said in a statement, reported by multiple U.S. media outlets. Our work here has been the highlight of my career, he added. Ukraine expert Mr Vindman who worked on National Security Council was one of a number of Trump administration officials that listened in on a July 25 call where Mr Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky to do a favour and investigate his political rival. It was inappropriate, it was improper for the president to demand an investigation into a political opponent, especially a foreign power, Mr Vindman said during his testimony. Earlier on Friday, Mr Trump who was acquitted this week on all impeachment charges indicated that Mr Vindman would be removed. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not, Mr Trump said. According to multiple U.S. media reports, Mr Vindman will be reassigned to a position in the Defense Department. Mr Trump was impeached in December in the House of Representatives. He was charged with abusing his office to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his political rival ahead of elections this year, leveraging military aid to lean on Kiev, and then obstructing the investigation by Congress. The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him earlier this week in a vote that was largely along party lines. As usual, the White House runs away from the truth. Lt. Col. Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution. This action is not a sign of strength, Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate said on Friday. (dpa/NAN) RTE presenter and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador Keelin Shanley by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland of Cystic Fibrosis National Awareness Week (April 11-17) and 65 Roses Day. 65 Roses Day takes place on April 15 and sees volunteers selling purple roses nationwide to raise 65,000 for services for people with cystic fibrosis. Pic. Robbie Reynolds COLLEAGUES, friends and politicians have paid tribute to RTE broadcaster Keelin Shanley, who passed away peacefully this afternoon aged 51. The award winning journalist, who became a Six One News anchor in 2018, had been dealing with cancer for some time. She is survived by her husband Conor and their children Lucy and Ben. President Michael D Higgins was among those that paid tribute to Ms Shanley and her family this evening. Expand Close Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry on the newsroom couch. Photos: Kyran OBrien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry on the newsroom couch. Photos: Kyran OBrien "People all over Ireland will have been greatly saddened by the news of the death of Keelin Shanley, broadcaster and award-winning journalist," he said in a statement. "Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, she brought great professionalism and dedication to her work as a journalist. "Sabina and I send our deepest condolences to her husband Conor, their children Lucy and Ben, her wider family and her wide circle of friends." Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin expressed his sympathies and said he was "deeply saddened" to hear the news. "Keelin was always very warm and engaging in person and was an incisive and professional journalist. Keelin was an extremely skilled broadcaster, flawlessly moving from programmes like Crimecall and Morning Edition to co-presenting RTEs flagship Six One news; her warmth and compassion always to the fore. Expand Close Keelin Shanley on RTE Crimecall / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keelin Shanley on RTE Crimecall I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to her husband Conor, their children Lucy and Ben, her family, friends and all her colleagues and friends in RTE. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam. Ms Shanley became an ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland in 2014, and Chief Executive of the organisation, Philip Watt, described her as a "wonderful spokesperson" for the community. "Cystic Fibrosis Ireland today mourns the death of Keelin Shanley who has been a long-standing ambassador for our 65 Roses campaign. Keelin always gave generously of her time over the past six years, and was a wonderful spokesperson for, and friend to, the CF community. On behalf of the cystic fibrosis community in Ireland, we wish to extend our deep appreciation of Keelins constant support, and express our condolences to Keelins husband Conor, children Lucy and Ben, and to her family, friends and colleagues." RTE Morning Ireland presenter Audrey Carville described it as "the worst possible news" on Twitter earlier today. "Our beautiful friend and colleague Keelin Shanley has died. She was so smart and funny and brilliant at everything she did. We will miss you so much Keelin. Deepest sympathies to the family you adored. Rest In peace," she said. Expand Close RTE News anchors, Keelin Shanley and Catrions Perry pictured in the new RTE News TV studi at RTE Donnybrook. The new studio goes into operation today. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp RTE News anchors, Keelin Shanley and Catrions Perry pictured in the new RTE News TV studi at RTE Donnybrook. The new studio goes into operation today. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. While campaigner Vicky Phelan said "cancer has taken another brilliant woman." "I met Keelin last year on the Six One. We instantly struck up a friendship, based on our experience of living with Stage 4 cancer," she said on Twitter. "We shared information on clinical trials and I was delighted when she started on a new drug. Unfortunately, with this illness, time is all you can buy. I have no doubt that she spent her time with her husband, Conor and two children. My sincerest condolences to her family and friends." In a statement this afternoon, Managing Director of RTE News and Current Affairs, Jon Williams said: "Keelin was the best of us - and we are heartbroken. "From Prime Time Investigates to Morning Edition, Morning Ireland to the Six One News, there wasnt a corner of RTE News and Current Affairs untouched by Keelins fearless, generous, and passionate journalism. "For Keelin, the story was never about her - always about others. Her legacy of over 20 years journalism with RTE saw her help tell the stories of so many often marginalised. "She strove to inform, probe and encourage. Always inquisitive, interested, thoughtful and kind. The fact that she presented our flagship Six One News while dealing with cancer is inspirational in itself and so typical of Keelin's determination to live life to the full. Our hearts go out to Conor, Lucy and Ben and her wider family. We are all poorer for her loss." RTE Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: Everybody at RTE is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and friend Keelin Shanley. A passionate and dedicated public service journalist, Keelin had an expertise that challenged and probed as well as an ease that endeared her to all. "Most recently, Keelin co-presented the Six One News, watched by huge audiences daily. Keelin was incredibly popular with all her colleagues. But our loss is nothing compared to that of her much-loved family. My sincere sympathies go to Conor, Lucy, and Ben, to Keelin's extended family, and to her wide circle of friends." Expand Close RTEs Keelin Shanley (left) with co-anchor Caitriona Perry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp RTEs Keelin Shanley (left) with co-anchor Caitriona Perry Keelin grew up in Monkstown, Co. Dublin. Having graduated from Trinity College with a degree in biochemistry, Keelin worked as a researcher in the Department of Pharmacology in the University of Bologna. She then returned to Ireland and started working with RTE, presenting a number of science and technology in the late 1990s. Keelin joined Prime Time in 1999 as a reporter and presenter, and in more recent times, Keelin presented Morning Edition, The Consumer Show, Crimecall and The Irish Book Awards on RTE One. She took up the role as a new presenter of the flagship RTE Six One News in January 2018. Her death comes just two years after Ms Shanley was announced as the new presenter alongside former Washington Correspondent Caitriona Perry, where they became the first female duo to host the flagship show. Speaking at the time of the announcement RTE bosses described Ms. Shanley as someone who would bring her "intellect, competitive drive, and focus on storytelling to RTE's Six One News. Working as a reporter and presenter with Prime Time over ten years, she made a number of award-winning documentaries. She also presented special budget and election coverage, Morning Edition, The Consumer Show and documentary Hacked on RTE One, as well as Morning Ireland, Today with Sean O'Rourke show and The Late Debate for RTE Radio 1. Ms Shanley also worked as a news reporter for Radio France International and for CNN World Report. In 2011, the award winning journalist revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer and had undergone a mastectomy. Ms Shanley's mother also died of ovarian cancer a year after she was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 59. Speaking about the tragedy at the time, the journalist thanked the thousands of volunteers across Ireland who raised money for the Irish Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Day fundraising campaign. Ms. Shanley herself had been diagnosed with cancer on 25 February 2011, the same day as the general election. She said at the time: I was talking to the radiologist about schools and I remember she interrupted me and said, You know Keelin, I would have to say Im quite concerned about this and I knew immediately then, she recalled. You dont have to wait for the results of the biopsy. Ireland has seen a strong turnout at the polls today in what is being considered the most unpredictable General Election in years. Political experts have warned that no party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own. Opinion polls suggest that Sinn Fein is on course to challenge the 90-year duopoly of the state's two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The Irish Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power with recent polls putting his party in third place. Ireland has gone to the polls today in what is being considered the most unpredictable General Election in years. The Irish Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar (pictured) is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power with recent polls putting his party in third place The country is having its first Saturday General Election for more than a century. In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25 per cent, with Fianna Fail second on 23 per cent and Mr Varadkar's party on 20 per cent. It would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border if this is reflected when the votes are counted tomorrow. But the odds would still be stacked against their current party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, in leading the next government as Taoiseach. Irish President Michael D Higgins, accompanied by his wife Sabina Higgins, has already cast his vote at a polling station in St Mary's Hospital, Dublin. The president greeted the assembled count staff and said he was glad the weather had remained sunny on a day when Storm Ciara had threatened to dampen turnout. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (right) with partner Matthew Barrett before the Guinness Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, today Mr Varadkar, right, and his partner Matthew Barrett watch the Six Nations rugby union international between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, today Michael D Higgins was accompanied by his wife Sabina Higgins to vote at a polling station in St Mary's Hospital in Dublin The president greeted the assembled count staff and said he was glad the weather had remained sunny on a day when Storm Ciara had threatened to dampen turnout. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own Sinn Fein's polling performance has far surpassed the expectations of party strategists who, coming off the back of several disappointing elections, only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliament's 160 seats. It means that even if the party had a perfect run and won all 42 seats which is an extremely unlikely outcome in itself it would still end up short of a majority. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. But it is thought that Sinn Fein may be unable to find enough like-minded left-leaning allies to form a workable government. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, both centre-right in outlook, have unequivocally ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein. For either to change their position would represent a major U-turn. Fianna Fail topped the opinion polls early in the campaign and leader Micheal Martin could yet emerge as Ireland's next Taoiseach. The current incumbent, Mr Varadkar, will be hoping his administration's economic record and handling of the Brexit process will convince enough voters to renew his tenure in Government Buildings in Dublin. Leader of Ireland's Fianna Fail party, Michael Martin (second from left) with his wife (centre) and their children as they arrived to cast their votes at St Anthony's boys school in Ballinlough, Cork However, Brexit did not feature prominently in his campaign that was instead dominated by domestic issues such as spiralling rental prices, record-breaking homeless numbers, controversy over the state pension age and a struggling health service. There appears to be a mood for change and Sinn Fein could attract support from younger voters who want to end Fine Gael's nine years in power but are unwilling to trust Fianna Fail again after the financial crash that marked its last term of office. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been keen to remind the electorate of Sinn Fein's historic IRA links and as the campaign entered its latter stages the past crimes of the provisional movement drew increasing focus. Mr Varadkar's last government a minority administration that included several independent TDs was sustained in power through a historic confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. Pictured: Polling station in Bunscoil Chriost Ri school, Cork That landmark pact between two parties founded from opposing sides of Ireland's civil war of the 1920s took 70 days to negotiate following the inconclusive 2016 General Election. Ireland could be in for more protracted government-formation talks if this election produces another fractured result. The willingness of smaller parties such as Labour and the Greens to become a junior coalition partner could prove critical. A new confidence and supply deal cannot be ruled out potentially a reverse of the last one with Fine Gael supporting a Fianna Fail led-minority. A strong result for Sinn Fein could even force Ireland's two traditional political superpowers to contemplate the once unthinkable a grand coalition in government together. No CM, ministers from other states; AAP invites only Delhi residents for swearing-in ceremony Kejriwal to take oath with 6 ministers: PM Modi invited for swearing-in-ceremony AAPs foray into national politics will begin by going local Days after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal all set to meet PM Modi today Explained: Why Delhi Assembly Election is a vital one India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 08: The Delhi Assembly election has begun on Saturday morning, the national capital is having only half state with 70 assembly seats, still the Delhi Assembly Election has the involvement of eminent leaders of Centre even the Prime Minister himself. The campaign for the assembly polls in the national capital made headlines with the leaders including Union Ministers making controversial speeches and raising incendiary slogans. This year Shaheen Bagh's anti-CAA protest following firing, and many others issues like the student protest at Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia University and the firing incidents were the major issues took place just before the Delhi assembly polls. Explained: What words MPs are not allowed to use in Parliament Amid this, some top leaders allegedly made provocative statements for which the Election Commission had to serve them notice. Some of those leaders to whom EC served notice were Union minister Anurag Thakur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP MP Parvesh Verma, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who got EC notice for promising setting up Mohalla Clinics on court premises. The eminent political figures Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also made controversial election speeches. Rahul Gandhi's controversial election speech while accusing the Modi-BJP-government of having failed to deliver its promise of job creation has irked the BJP leaders where he said that the youth will hit PM Modi with 'danda' (sticks) in six-seven months making it difficult to step out of his home, Contradicting, Rahul, PM Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha, took a jibe at him and said some 'tubelights' take time to respond. During campaigning both the parties BJP and the Congress to woo the voters also brought in its chief ministers from other states to Delhi rallies. Theses leaders included Congress' leaders- Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, and BJP's leaders- UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar of Bihar. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) does not have a ruling presence outside Delhi but has some say in Punjab Assembly with 19 MLAs. Delhi has sizeable population of groups that can influence the outcome of the assembly election. Delhi has a mixed population of Punjabis form about 35 per cent, Purvanchalis (people from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand) form about 30 per cent of population). This makes the leaders on UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Punjab vote aggregators in Delhi. Explainer: As Centre drafts bill with 5yr jail for fair skin ads, is it time to be 'fair'? An assembly election often becomes a prestige battle for the party in power at the Centre because India's capital New Delhi is part of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi CM Kejriwal defeated both the Congress and the BJP in 2015 when Modi government was in power at the Centre with a single-party majority after 30 years. Hence, the 2020 Delhi Assembly election is a similar prestige battle for the Modi-led-BJP government. As Delhi houses the national capital, so it's chief minister gets more opportunity than the counterparts to meet foreign dignitaries. Moreover, the Delhi CM gets more attention in media and everywhere more often than any of the counterparts. Congress workers on Saturday held a protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Register of Citizens (NRC) and Population Register (NPR) here, alleging police repression. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora said: "Assam Pradesh Youth Congress has started -- 'Jail Bharo Andolan' today. BJP government falsely implicated a Congress worker and put him in the jail." "Some people are being threatened. The police repression is going on. To warn the BJP government, we have started this movement," he said. Likewise, anti-CAA protests were also held in Tripura and Bengaluru in Karnataka on Saturday. Protests have been going on in various parts of the country against the newly amended citizenship law since December last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons who have returned from China were tested for coronavirus at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) on Friday. Both of the persons were tested negative for the deadly virus which has so far killed 719 in China. "Till now two patients were admitted here, for observation. Both of them have been discharged. Both of them had returned from China. Both the patients were tested negative for Coronavirus," said Dr Ramalingappa Antartani. "The second patient was admitted on 5 February. A thorough check-up was done but he didn't show any symptoms so we have not tested him for coronavirus. He was given antibiotics and discharged," he added. The special flight of Air India was deployed for evacuating Indians from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan to New Delhi. Several countries including India had their citizens evacuated after the deadly virus broke out in mainland China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although it won't see a return to direct flights to Toronto at least for now Brandon will be getting more flights to Calgary this summer. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A WestJet flight to Calgary leaves Brandon Municipal Airport Friday afternoon. The airline is increasing the number of flights between the two cities to 11 from seven this summer. (Bud Robertson/The Brandon Sun) Although it won't see a return to direct flights to Toronto at least for now Brandon will be getting more flights to Calgary this summer. WestJet said in a news release Friday it is boosting the number of flights between the two cities to 11 times a week from seven, closely mirroring its winter schedule. "In the winter, we do a schedule (that's) very similar, in which we have the regular lunchtime flight, which is seven days a week," said Carla Richardson, the City of Brandon's director of transportation. The Calgary-based airline then adds an additional five overnight flights, which come in late at night and head back out early in the morning. "We're very excited that they're going to do this in the summer and give us four of those overnight flights go out in the morning during the spring and summer," Richardson said. "That will mirror our operational requirements closer to what we have to staff in the winter," she said, adding that includes staff in the morning to see the flight out and make sure the runway and terminal conditions are up to standard. "Then, we still have to staff people late at night to welcome that flight in, as well," she said. "We're just working out the schedule kinks now." She noted the added revenue from additional flights will make up for any extra staffing costs. "We're really pleased to see this," Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said Friday. He said WestJet closely monitors demand for its services, and adding flights shows how strongly Brandon is performing on this route. Chrest admits it doesn't make up for the loss of direct flights to Toronto, which were offered for a short time in 2016. Brandon would like to be able to offer air service west and east, he said. Unfortunately, the Q400 turboprop aircraft WestJet uses for its Calgary-Brandon flights do not have the fuel capacity to make it to Toronto, and there are not enough passengers here to fill the larger aircraft that can make the flights. The best thing the city can do is to keep demonstrating to WestJet that its west leg to Brandon is "a winner," Chrest said, and show the airline the city is a good candidate for routes out east. City of Brandon economic development director Sandy Trudel agrees. "We always knew what our demand and our potential was, but there's the challenge of matching an aircraft size with what the market is able to sustain," she said. The Q400 was a perfect fit for Brandon when WestJet added the aircraft to its fleet, Trudel added. "That was a perfect alignment between the flight volumes that were occurring and the aircraft size." She said there is no lack of clarity on Brandon's desire for an eastern flight; it's just a matter of matching up the right aircraft with the number of passengers required to make it profitable. Still, Trudel said, the expanded summer route between Brandon and Calgary is "great news for us. Obviously, every travel destination option that we can provide to our residents from Brandon is a win for us. "It's keeping that money and the expenditures that are associated within our local economy and it's also making it, obviously, more convenient for our residents, which then makes our community that much more appealing." She added it's a good sign of the growth that's been happening in Brandon. "WestJet makes wise business decisions, and obviously they see the potential for this expanded route, which is really good news." Trudel noted the community has strong business and personal ties to the west. "That was a really easy decision (on WestJet's part to add a Calgary-Brandon flight in 2013), and our flight numbers have demonstrated that confidence." A spokesperson for WestJet could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. brobertson@brandonsun.com Delhi Election: After exit polls predicted a comprehensive win for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi Assembly elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reportedly called a meeting of senior leaders of the party and its election strategist Prashant Kishor to discuss the security of Electronic Voting Machines, or EVMs. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has roped Prashant Kishor-led political consultancy firm I-PAC, which was a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, for Delhi Assembly Elections 2020. According to media report, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha and Gopal Rai are also present at the meeting. Several exit polls predict Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal returning to the power for a third term with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) likely to secure over two-thirds majority. India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicts a landslide victory for Aam Admi Party in 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is expected to win 59-68 seats, the survey predicts. Meanwhile, BJP will once again remain a distant second with only 2-11 seats. Congress will not be able to win any seats, the exit poll suggests. Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed the exit polls with the party's state unit chief Manoj Tiwari claiming that all exit polls will be proved wrong on the result day, February 11. Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs this evening after exit polls predicted a dismal performance by the national party. The meeting was attended by the party's national chief JP Nadda, along with other party leaders including Vijay Goel, Prakash Javadekar, Hardeep Singh and Nityanand Rai. The counting of the votes polled in all the 70 Assembly constituencies during Delhi elections will happen on February 11. The result for Delhi elections 2020 will also be announced on the same day. The voter turnout in a single-phased Delhi elections, which started at 8 am today, was low as compared to previous Assembly election. Over 57 per cent of the enlisted voters exercised their franchise on Saturday. Overall voter turnout for Delhi elections in 2015 was 67.47 per cent. Also Read: Delhi Exit Poll Live Updates: India Today-Axis My India predicts another landslide victory for AAP Also Read: Delhi Elections: Amit Shah summons BJP MPs as exit polls predict AAP returning to power A Sunbury kebab shop owner is recovering in hospital after being shot in the leg as he returned home from a family friend's wedding. Grandfather Yusuf Kucukbas, the long-time owner of Cheeky Kebabs, was with his wife when he was ambushed in front of his Belleview Drive house just after 1am on Saturday. Detectives say he had just parked his car and was approaching his front door when he was blasted with a shotgun at close range. Mr Kucukbas, 56, is a grandfather of three with a fourth on the way. On Saturday, he remained in a stable condition at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 8:41AM Pokemon Day 2020 is almost upon us. And with the festivities, you can share your love for your favourite Pokemon. You can vote for your Pokemon of the Year via Google. You can head to this link or type "Pokemon vote" on your Google search bar. Voting will be open until February 14 at 5:59 am PST. To vote, select the region of your favourite creature and then scroll through the list, which is arranged by the National Pokedex number. And yes, it has all 890 Pokemon from every region. You will need to be signed in to your Google account to vote. You're allowed one vote per category per day for a maximum of eight votes daily. According to the official blog post about the competition, "votes will be counted based on the Pokemon's National Pokedex number, even for Pokemon that have multiple forms, including regional forms." While accompanying a whale-watching tour off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, on February 3, first mate Emma Nelson got an up close and personal look at a humpback whale giving birth. A small caudal fin can be seen appearing from the female whale in this underwater footage captured by Nelson, who was holding her underwater camera off the side of the boat, below the water. Toni Colombo, of Ultimate Whale Watch, the company that was running the trip, described the spectacle as the FIRST TIME this has been recorded on video; no whale birth has ever been recording on film! Writing on Instagram, Nelson described it as monumental. Yay for science and new discoveries, she wrote. Credit: Emma Nelson via Storyful After such a huge election victory, Boris Johnson should now be enjoying a walking on water phase. Although his opinion poll ratings are improving, they did not break through the darkening clouds at Westminster. We have had a bad week, one senior Tory admitted. Even Johnsons wins are being called into question. While aides had highlighted the prime ministers skill in avoiding a breach with Donald Trump over Huawei, the plaudits proved premature: it has now emerged that the US president was apoplectic at Johnson in a tense phone call. Although the PMs aides describe this version of events as overblown, that is not a denial. It should have been the week when Johnson deployed his bouncy optimism to launch plans for the UN COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November, widely seen as the worlds last chance to tackle global warming. It will be a huge test for the UKs diplomatic mettle to broker a compromise between China, India and the EU. The universally loved Sir David Attenborough was booked to appear alongside Johnson at Tuesdays launch. Jason Segel as Peter in AMC's "Dispatches from Elsewhere," a series premiering March 1 that was filmed in Philadelphia, in locations that included the atrium of the Curtis Center. Read more You cant watch it all. Television, though, keeps coming. Over the next few months, with the addition of two more major streaming services, the fear of missing out could be replaced by the fear of never sleeping (or having quite as much money) again. On April 15, Comcast customers will get free access to Peacock, the cable giants new streaming service, and its 15,000 hours of content. (Everyone else waits until July 15. Price plans vary.) READ MORE: Comcast's Peacock streaming service hopes to lure cord-cutters with old-school concept. May brings the launch of HBO Max, which for $14.99 a month will carry all HBOs programming as well as content from WarnerMedias other libraries, and original shows, including at some point an adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies best-selling novel Americanah, starring Lupita Nyongo. And, oh, yes, HBO Max will be the new home of Friends. The spring also brings some goodbyes. ABC will air the series finale of Modern Family on April 8, capping an 11-season run that included five consecutive Emmy wins for outstanding comedy. Foxs Empire, the music-fueled drama cocreated by West Philadelphias Lee Daniels, will bow out in May after six turbulent seasons. ABCs Philadelphia-set How to Get Away with Murder ends on May 14. Heres some of what we have to look forward to: Homeland (9 p.m. Sunday, Showtime). In its eighth and final season, the spy series comes full circle, as a former captive again becomes the focus of suspicion. This time, though, its CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) whose loyalty is questioned just as her old boss, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), sends her back to Afghanistan on a crucial mission. For Life (10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC). Fictional legal drama starring Nicholas Pinnock (Counterpart) was inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr., who won his own freedom after a wrongful conviction under New Jerseys kingpin law and went on to become a lawyer and represent others. High Fidelity (Feb. 14, Hulu). Zoe Kravitz stars as Rob, the owner of a record store whos recalling past relationships after having her heart broken, in whats obviously a different take on the Nick Hornby original. Fun time-flies fact: Kravitzs mother, Lisa Bonet, played one of the exes of the movie-version of Rob (John Cusack). That was 20 years ago. Utopia Falls (Feb. 14, Hulu). Billed as the first ever performance-based sci-fi series for culturally diverse and socially and politically minded young audiences," its a teen drama with music, set on a postapocalyptic Earth. And you thought Hollywood had run out of ideas. Outlander (8 p.m. Feb. 16, Starz). The fifth season of the time-traveling romance finds Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) navigating the tricky loyalties of colonial America, where Claire knows that the British wont be in charge forever. Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin), more comfortable in the 1960s, must meanwhile find ways to make the 18th century their own. READ MORE: "Outlander": Can a TV adaptation ever be too faithful? Duncanville (8:30 p.m. Feb. 16, Fox). New animated sitcom created by Amy Poehler, Mike Scully (The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation), and Julie Thacker is about a teenage boy named Duncan and his family. Voice cast includes Poehler, Ty Burrell, Wiz Khalifa, and Poehlers former Parks costar, Rashida Jones. Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist (9 p.m. Feb. 16, NBC). After a Jan. 7 preview, this charming musical dramedy is making its time-slot premiere. Jane Levy (Suburgatory) stars as a talented coder who suddenly develops the ability to hear other peoples thoughts expressed through music. Mary Steenburgen plays her mother, Peter Gallagher her father (who has a progressive neurological condition), and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) her boss. The Good Lord Bird (10 p.m. Feb. 16, Showtime). Eight-episode adaptation of Lambertville, N.J., author James McBrides National Book Award-winning historical novel was written and produced by Ethan Hawke, who also plays abolitionist John Brown. Hunters (Feb. 21, Amazon). Al Pacino yes, Al Pacino stars as one of the people tracking Nazis living in 1977 America in this new series, which The Irishman star reportedly prefers to think of as a 10-hour film. Better Call Saul (10 p.m. Feb. 23, AMC). After its fifth season premieres following The Walking Dead, the Breaking Bad prequel moves on Feb. 24 to 9 p.m. Mondays, with Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) at last embracing the name Saul Goodman. And if you didnt catch the Breaking Bad sequel El Camino on Netflix, you can see it when it makes its cable TV premiere on AMC Feb. 16. READ MORE: "Better Call Saul" star Bob Odenkirk keeps pitching a happy ending. Dispatches from Elsewhere (10 p.m. March 1, AMC, moving to 10 p.m. Mondays on March 2). Can I tell you exactly whats happening in this new, filmed-in-Philadelphia series in which executive producer Jason Segel plays a man who stumbles into a highly stylized adventure? I cannot. I will say that Philadelphia looks great at times even magical and that Sally Field, Richard E. Grant, Andre L. Benjamin, and Eve Lindley also star. For those who refuse to go in blind, a 2013 documentary called The Institute might shed some light. Hillary (March 6, Hulu). Filmmaker Nanette Burstein explores the life and career of Hillary Clinton in a four-part documentary series. The Plot Against America (9 p.m. March 16, HBO). What if Charles Lindbergh, not Franklin D. Roosevelt, had been elected president in 1940 and led us toward fascism? Thats the question that was posed in Philip Roths 2004 alternate history, which has been adapted into a six-part miniseries by The Wires David Simon and Ed Burns. Little Fires Everywhere (March 18, Hulu). Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington produced and star in an incendiary adaptation of the Celeste Ng bestseller about mothers and daughters, race, and class. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (March 20, Netflix). Oscar winner Octavia Spencer headlines this miniseries about the pioneering African American hair-care entrepreneur who made her own large fortune. Ozark (March 27, Netflix). Third season of the crime drama picks up six months later. Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner who won a supporting-actress Emmy for her role all return. Killing Eve (April, BBC America). The network has not yet announced an exact date for the return of its addictive spy thriller, which pits Sandra Ohs Eve against the charismatic psychopath known as Villanelle (Jodie Comer). READ MORE: Sandra Oh on "Killing Eve": "Grey's" veteran has a new cutting edge. Masterpiece: World on Fire (9 p.m. April 5, WHYY12). Seven-part British drama stars Helen Hunt, Sean Bean, Lesley Manville, and Jonah Hauer-King in a story about ordinary people living through World War II. Mrs. America (April 15, FX on Hulu). In yet another sign of how complicated watching TV has become, this FX miniseries about the 1970s fight over the Equal Rights Amendment premieres not on the cable network, but on FXs new portion of the streaming service Hulu, which, like FX, is owned by Disney. Cate Blanchett stars as ERA opponent Phyllis Schlafly, Rose Byrne (Damages) as feminist leader Gloria Steinem, and Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black) as U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first African American candidate to seek a major partys nomination for president. Fargo (10 p.m. April 19, FX). After a nearly three-year wait, the fourth season of the Noah Hawley anthology series inspired by the Coen brothers 1996 film will premiere with back-to-back episodes. Chris Rock stars as the leader of a crime organization in 1950 Kansas City. Defending Jacob (April 24, Apple TV+). The 2012 best seller about a father whose 14-year-old son becomes a murder suspect has been adapted for a limited series. Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) star as Jacobs parents and Philadelphia native Jaeden Lieberher now billed as Jaeden Martell (It, Knives Out) as Jacob. Billions (9 p.m. May 3, Showtime). Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) will guest-star in the fifth season of the high-finance drama as an Ivy League sociology professor and best-selling author. Genius: Aretha (9 p.m. May 25, National Geographic Channel). After profiling Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, Nat Geos anthology series takes up the story of Aretha Franklin, and plans to run the first four episodes on consecutive nights. Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), who is playing the Queen of Soul, has said she will do all her singing live on set. Mad R-E-S-P-E-C-T. This week on The Sound Kitchen, you'll hear the answer to the question about the island region which just voted for independence from Papua New Guinea. There's listener news, great music and of course, the new quiz question. Just click on the Audio arrow above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. You'll hear the winner's names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, On This Day, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music so be sure and listen every week. Send me your music requests! I'll make programs of your favorite music when I can't be in the kitchen to cook something up new for you write to me at [email protected] For our DX enthusiast and shortwave listener friends: I am sad to announce we no longer have a shortwave frequency; we have severe budget constraints which no longer permit us to broadcast via shortwave. "Paris Live", our afternoon news program, is on-the-air Monday Friday, from 13:00 to 14:00 UTC/GMT. You can hear "Paris Live" on our website, rfienglish.com, or on World Radio Network. For North America: WRN broadcasts the quotidian RFI English programme three times a day from Monday to Friday, from 05:00 to 05:59, from 09:00 to 09:59 and from 15:00 to 15h59 UTC/GMT. For Africa and Asia: WRN broadcasts the quotidian RFI English programme three times a day from Monday to Friday, from 05:00 to 05:59, from 09:00 to 09:59 and from 15:00 to 15h59 UTC/GMT. For Europe: WRN broadcasts the quotidian RFI English programme three times a day from Monday to Friday, from 06:00 to 06:50, from 11:00 to 11:59 and from 19:00 to 19:59 UTC/GMT. In Paris, you can hear us on World Radio Paris on DAB+, Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 16:59. To listen to our features (now podcasts only), go to our website and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose Listen to RFI / Features, and you've got 'em ! You can either listen directly, or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone. Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is [email protected] Did you know there's an RFI English newsletter? If you subscribe, you'll receive our newsletter every day. Just click on Newsletters, fill out the form, and you'll stay up-to-date with RFI English. RFI Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni ([email protected]) and Chrystelle Nammour ([email protected]) from our Listener Relations department on all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me ([email protected]) when you write them so that I know what is going on, too. N.B. You do not need to send them your quiz answers! Email overload! We've made a Facebook page just for you, the RFI English Clubs. It is a closed group, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, go to the Facebook link above and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click decline). Welcome to our new RFI Listeners Club members:Muhammad Usama from the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan; Dibya J Borthakur from Assam, India and Ranjit Darnal from Gandaki, Nepal. So glad you have joined us! You too can be a member of the RFI Listeners Club just write to me at [email protected] and tell me you want to join, and I'll send you a membership number. It's that easy. When you win a Sound Kitchen quiz as an RFI Listeners Club member, you receive a premium prize. RFI's Planet Radio department is sponsoring an e-POP (e-Participatory Observers Project) competition. It's a video contest, with some really great prizes! This is the first year that English speakers have been invited to participate, so let's show RFI how many of you are out there, and are an active part of the RFI English service! It's a really cool project: Planet Radio is looking for two-minute videos about climate change, told by the humans who are experiencing it first hand the people we rarely get to hear from. Your grandfather. Your aunt. People in your community. Your video should be inter-generational: interview an older member of your family or in your community who has lived the changes climate change has brought. This project is about humans; that's the whole point of ePOP, how climate change has affected the ordinary citizen the people we rarely hear from. Your video can be in any language you just have to provide the translation into English to Planet Radio. And it can't be more than two minutes. It's open to everyone, although there is one prize for women under the age of 25 (Young sisters! Get to work!). Most of the prizes involve a trip to Paris, and I would get to meet you! Plus there's video equipment to be given away the prizes are great! Here's the link for the guidelines. The deadline for entries is 15 March. I fully expect Planet Radio to be bombarded with entries from you, the RFI English service listeners! This week's quiz: On 21 December, I asked you about the birth of a nation: earlier that month, the citizens of a group of islands in the Pacific voted overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea. You were to send me the name of that region. The answer is: Bougainville. Bougainville Island is the largest of the several islands and atolls which make up the region. Today's capital is the island Buka, though there is speculation that Arawa will become the permanent capital. Bougainville has huge mineral wealth, so there's no mystery as to why Papua New Guinea doesn't want to let go. The population of the region is around 250,000 people. And 98 percent of them voted for independence! The winners are: Ras Franz Manko Ngogo, the president of the Kemogemba RFI Club in Tarime, Mara, Tanzania; Tasneem Saleh from Nilphamari, Bangladesh; Arundhati Mukherjee from West Bengal, India; Nomula Srinivas Rao from Hyderabad, India and Sunita Mainali from Kathmandu, Nepal. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program:Gnid by Tadd Dameron, performed by the Chet Baker Trio; traditional bamboo band music from Bougainville; The Flight of the Bumblebee by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Favela by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vincicius DeMoraes and Ray Gilbert, performed by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65 and French African Queen, written and sung by Gregory Porter. Do you have a musical request? Send it to [email protected] This week's question ... You'll have to listen to the show to participate. You have until 9 March to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 14 March podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address in with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. Send your answers to: [email protected] or Susan Owensby RFI The Sound Kitchen 80, rue Camille Desmoulins 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux France or By text You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country's international access code, or + , then 33 6 31 12 96 82. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your text and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or to form your own official RFI Club, click here Brighton has been hit by coronavirus panic as residents rush to buy face masks and hand sanitiser after a local man fell ill with the disease. Pharmacists in the city have seen the protective items sell out after a middle-aged man took himself to A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital last weekend suffering flu-like symptoms. The anonymous victim was then whisked 55 miles to a specialist infectious diseases unit at Guy's Hospital in London, where he will remain in isolation for at least two weeks. A sign on the window of Yung Feng Oriental Food Store in the city stated: 'It has arrived in Brighton' And in an effort to stop the spread of infection, a Brighton Chinese supermarket has even banned shoppers from entering unless they agree to wear a facemask and sterile gloves. A sign on the window of Yung Feng Oriental Food Store stated: 'It has arrived in Brighton.' The store owner said: 'We are a Chinese supermarket and we have a lot of Chinese customers so we are taking all the precautions we can. Shoppers have been banned from entering the Chinese supermarket unless they agree to wear a face mask and sterile gloves 'We saw that the virus appears to be spreading and we don't want to take any chances. I don't think we are scaremongering. We are doing what we can to make sure people are safe.' The sign continued: 'Our shop only take(s) delivery orders from today. 'Or the store only accepts customer wear masks and disposable gloves, gloves available in our store.' Face masks and hand sanitisers have sold out at Superdrug, Kamsons Pharmacy, Boots and Paydens Pharmacy in the city. The man, who returned from Singapore by plane last week, took himself to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton on Sunday night after suffering from flu-like symptoms. He was then transferred to Guy's Hospital in London (pictured) It comes as a student at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton is self-isolating for 14 days, following advice from Public Health England. In a message to parents the school said that the student was at home and the school would be notified if they do present symptoms. The school said it had been advised by health authorities that schools do not need to close. The UK patient who arrived in France from Singapore on January 24 had been attending a business conference at a 1,000-a-night hotel in the Asian country Five Britons diagnosed with coronavirus in a French ski chalet caught the killer infection from the Brighton man who stayed at the same resort. The middle-aged patient had flown from Singapore to the Alpine village of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc where he spent four days. But he only displayed symptoms of the highly contagious bug on his return to the UK, where he was quarantined as the third coronavirus patient on British soil. The UK patient landed in France from Singapore on January 24 after attending a business conference at a 1,000-a-night hotel in the Asian country The gathering at the luxury-laced Grand Hyatt comprised more than 100 people and has been linked to the spread of coronavirus in at least three other states. However during his stay in France he infected five fellow Britons - including one child - who all tested positive with the disease in France today. The unnamed patients were in a 'stable condition' and they were being monitored constantly, according to French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn. A child quarantined on Christmas Island is being tested for coronavirus as the Morrison government hopes a second and likely final Qantas flight to evacuate Australian residents will be permitted to leave Wuhan early on Sunday. As the number of total cases worldwide climbed above 34,000, a third cruise ship was also discovered to have coronavirus cases on board. A child is being tested for coronavirus on the Christmas Island quarantine facility. Credit:AAP On Saturday, Australia's deputy chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said a girl, who only days ago was evacuated from Wuhan to Christmas Island, had "developed symptoms that could be coronavirus". A specimen has been sent to Perth with the results not due back until Sunday. Professor Kelly said the child had been further isolated from the 277 other evacuees on Christmas Island, but she was well and it was "certainly not a serious illness at this stage". Wildlife volunteers would be allowed to enter bushfire zones with other emergency services as part of a push to hasten response times to injured animals after environmental disasters, under a plan presented to the state government. A co-ordinated and licensed model, similar to the volunteer-based CFA and SES, would prevent "zealous" wildlife volunteers illegally entering fire grounds and putting lives at risk, Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick told the Andrews government. Wildlife carer Lisa Palma with ringtail possum triplets Larry, Harry and Sally. Lisa has been working with the Animal Justice Party on its proposal to the government. Credit:Paul Jeffers "The recent fires have caused unprecedented damage to many of Australia's native wildlife species," Mr Meddick says in the proposal. "We need to ensure that our highly skilled wildlife experts can be mobilised seamlessly by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to provide on the ground support during critical environmental incidents. The NDA government has not defined whether the USD 5 trillion dollars economy it aims to achieve is real GDP or nominal, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Saturday and claimed real GDP would not touch the figure at the current growth level by 2024 or 2025. Chidambaram, who spoke on the Union Budget at a meeting organised by the party here, hit out at the government for allegedly proving to be incompetent in managing the economy. "Firstly, the Modi government has still not defined whether 5 trillion dollars is real GDP or nominal. Secondly, while Modi keeps on saying 2024, the economic survey, in the introduction, the goalpost has been shifted from 2024 to 2025. Be that as it may, at the current level of growth, real GDP will not touch 5 trillion dollars either by 2024 or 2025," the former Finance minister said. Chidambaram was replying to a query on the government's ambitious target of USD 5 trillion economy. Interacting with the audience, he said the NDA government should not "clutter" the tax structure by seeking to introduce separate systems, one giving exemptions and other not. Asked by a member of the audience whether there is a possibility of the government withdrawing various tax exemptions leading to the common man not having options to save money and tax, he felt that there was still confusion within the government on the matter. "Even if all the income tax payers opt for the new system, the maximum benefit will be Rs 40,000 crore.What is Rs 40,000 crore when India's GDP is almost 2.7 trilllion dollars," he said. The impact would be so minimal that it won't make a big difference, he claimed. Noting that the IT exemptions are savings, he said their withdrawal would lead to a decline in the savings habit which is not good for the country. "More than anything else, I don't think the tax structure should be cluttered like this. You don't have anywhere a tax structure, system A, system B, system A for exemptions...without exemptions. I think it is cluttering up tax system. I would not have done it. The sooner they clarify what their intention is, the better," he said. On the proposed disinvestment in LIC, he said there was no clarity whether the government would list or disinvest the insurance behemoth. "Without clarity about whether they are listing or disinvesting. I cannot comment on it. But on LIC, unless they convince me why they want to disinvest, our present position is we are deeply suspicious of their motives to disinvest LIC," he said. Chidambaram, who lashed out at the Union Budget for allegedly failing to lead the economy on the path of progress and job creation, alleged that the Modi government was like a helpless doctor who failed to diagnose the illness of a patient and treat him effectively. "Altogether, the bottomline is we have a patient who is extremely ill. Doctor has proved himself incompetent. Diagnosis of the doctor is hopelessly wrong," he said. People who diagnosed the illness correctly like Dr Arvind Subramanian, former Chief Economic Adviser, were allowed to go from the government, he said. "Not having diagnosed the illness of the patient, the doctor is helpless. The least the doctor can do is to say...I am sorry. We made mistake, will Dr Manmohan Singh come and advise us," he said. Asked whether it is true that the country spends one per cent GDP to keep 950,000 troops in Kashmir, he said there were more troops there than necessary. "I think we are keeping many, many more troops in Kashmir than I would ever accept as necessary. I think it is wrong. We should thin out our troops deployment in Kashmir. More than that, I think we should give back freedom to the people of the Kashmir valley," Chidambaram said. Slamming the centre for invoking the Public Safety Act against former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah to keep them in detention for upto a further two years, he said "there cannot be a greater outrage, a greater assault on liberty than what they have done. I think all of us should collectively pray for that the freedom of the people of Kashmir, the 75 lakh people of Kashmir valley, is restored," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When I saw the trailer for the photograph at the movies last week I kept expecting it to turn into a thriller but I was happy that it just seems to be a romance! Issa was in two different movie previews that day, love her! Reply Thread Link same- i've seen many trailers start out the way this one did, and then bam! the guy is a psycho Reply Parent Thread Link I also saw it before Uncut Gems and thought odd fit, and also the trailer is way too long, but I will see it just the same. Reply Parent Thread Link really looking forward to candyman. Reply Thread Link here just to say issa rae is absolutely stunning Reply Thread Link I'm definitely excited for The Photograph. Reply Thread Link I forgot what Erivo is going to be in next but there's a preview tomorrow at the Oscars. Reply Thread Link Its a promo for the NatGeo show, an ABC sister channel, Genius. She's playing Aretha Franklin. Playing another Black American women, while continuing to hate us. Cannot stand her. Reply Parent Thread Link i'm so proud of issa's glow up and i'll be buying tickets for the photograph & the lovebirds to support ha Reply Thread Link I can't wait for Zola, which is directed by a black female director, Janicza Bravo. And "The Last Thing He Wanted" by Dee Rees with Ben Affleck, Anne Hathaway and Willem Dafoe, but the critics have slammed it :/ Edited at 2020-02-08 10:24 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link ecstatic for Antebellum, Octavia butlers INFLUENCE I've followed Issa since the misadventures of awkward black girl soooooo <3333 GET THAT SHMONEY ISSA Reply Thread Link Yes! I can't believe we used to watch her on Youtube, and now she's making so many movies! Reply Parent Thread Link yes I remember watching her on Youtube and now she's in the big leagues Reply Parent Thread Link Octavia Butler is who I thought of. Is this not based on the story she wrote? NVM. I watched the trailer and realized I had seen it before, but it made me think more of something syfy ish than Butler's story. There's also a YouTube series, from anoth black director, that travels this same idea road. People take a pill to go back voluntarily. Edited at 2020-02-09 12:43 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yesss I love that Issa was able to go from youtube to actually making TV and movies! Reply Parent Thread Link Good luck with that you have going on, OP! The Photograph is on a few billboards i see regularly. It looks really romantic, so we are going to see it for our V day "date." But I just read up on it a bit, and it sounds cheesy. I guess still perfect V Day material, though. Reply Thread Link Awesome! OP, did you watch They've Gotta Have Us? I thought it was good but they could have given Black woman a lot more time (surprise, surprise). Edited at 2020-02-08 11:09 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I'm still excited for this despite reading ontd's post about Lakeith. I guess I will watch for Issa. Reply Thread Link Haha same. I still thought he was so cute in the trailer, but ontd has lifted the veil. Reply Parent Thread Link What's his problem? My search capacity is really lazy rn lol I'd love a twitter summary. Reply Parent Thread Link He's a deadbeat dad and homophobic among other things. Check out this post for infos on his "lovely" personality lol. https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/117047155.html Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so excited for Candyman Reply Thread Link Has anyone seen Clemency? I keep waiting for it to come up on streaming (or even torrent lol) and it's Taking. So. Longggggg. Reply Thread Link These posts are so good, OP. Thank you for delivering again (I missed the last part unfortunately, apologies, sis)! <3 I think, for whatever reason, I'm interested in seeing Antebellum (like, men probably have no business telling that story, but...). Maybe Candyman? I'd be interested in seeing how different the film/story could be framed from a woman's lens? Reply Thread Link After celebrating at an early birthday bash for Paris Hilton, supermodel Heidi Klum touched down at Los Angeles International airport in a neon green hoodie. Followers of the Project Runway alum got an early glimpse of the eye-catching hoodie on her Instagram Friday morning in a selfie of herself falling asleep. 'Good bye NYC,' she captioned the photo of herself with closed eyes and looking ready for a nap. 'Wow still dark outside.' Well rested: Supermodel Heidi Klum touched down at Los Angeles International airport in an neon green hoodie after posting sleeping selfie The AGT host looked like she slept well on the five hour flight home, as she strutted out of an elevator with catwalk elegance. She also sported the same sunglasses, previously tucked into her hoodie on Instagram, a large red birkin, white sneakers and matching slacks. The German native appeared relaxed and rolled the bottoms of her pant legs for an extra flair after a fun night partying with soon-to-be birthday girl Paris, Nicky Hilton, Lil' Kim and Diplo. 'Good bye NYC,' she captioned the photo of herself with closed eyes and looking ready for a nap. 'Wow still dark outside' Catwalk: The AGT host looked like she slept well on the five hour flight, as she strutted out of an elevator with catwalk elegance in a pair of white sneakers and matching slacks She had her hands full from the layers she stripped down to for a more weather appropriate choice after coming from chilly NYC. The model kept her blonde tresses in the same loose waves she sported the night before to Hilton's early 39th birthday. While enjoying the city, Klum stayed busy joining her friend Zac Posen for lunch, attending Christian Siriano's 'Harley Quinn-inspired' fashion show and ultimately spending her last night helping ring in her special day. Whirlwind weekend: While enjoying the city, Klum stayed busy joining her friend Zac Posen for lunch, Christian Siriano's 'Harley Quinn-inspired' fashion show and ultimately spending her last night to watch Paris blow out some candles On her Instagram story Klum captioned a video of Paris dancing wildly, 'Happy Birthday you beautiful creature.' In the model's additional videos, the Fragrance mogul can be seen shimming on the floor in a skin-tight pink dress and matching sunglasses before her sister Nicky brought out a birthday cake. Klum also featured all the glamorous details from the party, including Paris' rainbow and unicorn balloons. The old economic rule of thumb was simple: when the US sneezed, Australia caught a cold. It was an explanation of Australia's dependence, along with the rest of the developed world, on the American economy and its millions of well-paid consumers. But what happens when Australia's largest trading partner, China, shuts down key parts of its economy because of an outbreak of the coronavirus? When China was hit by SARS in 2003, Australian iron ore exports to the country were worth just $1.7 billion. By 2018, they had reached $51.4 billion In the past 24 hours companies as different as Toyota and Nintendo have warned of an economic fallout from the virus, which is forcing firms to shutter operations on mainland China with flow-on impacts to its suppliers. Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, in evidence to a House of Representatives committee on Friday, noted there were already signs that local businesses would be affected as they struggled to replenish their inventories from Chinese warehouses and factory floors. For Eleni Crockett, living with severe arthritis was sheer agony until a wonder jab changed her life. The joint condition had destroyed her knees, causing swelling and horrendous pain that was so bad she could barely walk. At just 63, her only option on the NHS was major surgery: a total knee replacement. But this might last only ten years, she was warned if it worked at all. Instead, Eleni opted for a radical and experimental new therapy. She paid 7,500 for injections of stem cells taken from her own body fat at the private Regenerative Clinic in Londons Harley Street. The treatment, called Lipogems, could banish her pain and immobility, she was told. It simply involved taking a small amount of fat from her stomach, back or thighs, and injecting it straight into her damaged knees. For 63-year-old Eleni Crockett (above), living with severe knee arthritis was sheer agony until a wonder jab changed her life. She paid 7,500 for injections of stem cells taken from her own body fat at the private Regenerative Clinic in Londons Harley Street. The treatment, called Lipogems, could banish her pain and immobility, she was told Princess Michael of Kent, the wife of the Queens cousin Prince Michael, recently appeared in a slick promotional video for a clinic in the Bahamas that offers similar joint therapy. (Above, the princess in the Bahamas) Stem cells inside the fat would then help healthy new cartilage to grow, restoring her joints to good health or so the theory goes. And, for Eleni at least, the investment paid off. Its tremendous, says the PA from North London, who works at a European bank in the City. The swelling has disappeared and Im no longer on painkillers. And shes in good company. Princess Michael of Kent, the wife of the Queens cousin Prince Michael, recently appeared in a slick promotional video for a clinic in the Bahamas that offers similar joint therapy. Look at that, the Princess declares proudly in the five-minute film, holding her right arm high above her head after stem-cell injections for a painful shoulder. Its amazing I think stem cells are the future, theres no doubt in my mind. The Princess paid for her treatment and received no money for endorsing the procedure. But for all the anecdotal evidence supporting the treatment, it remains hugely controversial. Most specialists say there is little robust evidence to show it works and it has not been approved by the UK medicines regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. So whats the truth about using your own fat to fix creaky knees and are some clinics preying on patients desperation to sell a largely unproven therapy? Growing demand... despite the costs The truth is that for the millions in the UK who seek treatment every year for osteoarthritis, there is often little hope. Standard approaches include advising patients to lose weight and get more exercise. Many are reliant on painkillers, while injections of inflammation-reducing steroid drugs can help, but neither option works long- term and they come with troublesome side-effects. Ultimately, in severe cases, the only solution available on the NHS is a total knee replacement. But one in five fails, with infections, swelling and worse mobility, caused by a poorly fitting prosthesis, all common. Having to have a second implant can happen, too. A few decades ago, it was rare for someone under 65 to have a total knee replacement. However, people in their 40s are increasingly becoming patients and, as they often demand far more of their new joint, the complication rates for these younger patients are higher than average. So it is not really surprising that there is increasing interest in regenerative medicine: therapies that encourage the body to heal itself in the case of knee arthritis, by growing new cartilage and potentially delaying surgery. And despite little real evidence that it works, private clinics are already offering patients early access to such therapies at huge cost. The Regenerative Clinic was co-founded by internationally renowned orthopaedic specialist Professor Adrian Wilson. Simon Checkley, the clinics chief executive, admits: There are lots of people saying, What the hell are you doing? Youre sticking fat into peoples knees and charging them thousands of pounds is that really ethical? But weve had patients with such bad arthritis that they cant walk, completely transformed by treatment. You cant argue with that. Some patient testimonies back this up. Eleni says: Its changed my life. I had severe osteoarthritis but I was so desperate to avoid surgery. Im glad I did. Even if I do go on to need surgery, Ill potentially have delayed it for ten years. Yet, understandably, most doctors remain highly sceptical. A few decades ago, it was rare for someone under 65 to have a total knee replacement. Now, people in their 40s are increasingly becoming patients and, as they often demand far more of their new joint, the complication rates for these younger patients are higher than average. So it is not really surprising there is increasing interest in regenerative medicine: therapies that encourage the body to heal itself. (File image) There may be dozens of trials from around the world, but they are inconsistent in their methods, and use too few patients to be considered reliable. In the US, Google has banned all advertising for products that contain stem cells or another regenerative therapy which uses blood cells, known as platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, because regulators describe the treatments as new and exploratory. And in the UK, experts have rubbished claims that Lipogems can treat arthritis. Some doctors have claimed it provides no benefits, much like another controversial knee procedure called arthroscopy. Professor Chinmay Gupte, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and senior lecturer in knee surgery at Imperial College London, warns: These are extremely expensive treatments, and largely unproven. The problem is when youre desperate, youll try anything. The patients who say it didnt work The one-hour Lipogems procedure involves extracting a cupful of fat from the stomach, back or thighs. Fat has high levels of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have the capacity to regenerate and repair damaged tissue and are being investigated for their potential in a range of conditions, from multiple sclerosis to heart disease. But Lipogems therapy does not use pure stem cells doing so would require a licence from health watchdogs the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority and the Human Tissue Authority. Instead, the fat cells are minimally manipulated in a 15-minute process to remove excess oil and fat in a machine that shakes it through a cylinder filled with ball bearings. These are extremely expensive treatments, and largely unproven. The problem is when youre desperate, youll try anything. Prof Chinmay Gupte, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and senior lecturer in knee surgery at Imperial College London What remains is micro-fragmented fat, a cluster of cells which contains thousands of different types of cell. One to five per cent of these are said to be stem cells. Up to 8ml is then injected back into the patients knee and they leave the same day. Prof Wilson says many feel an immediate benefit because some of the cells produce an early anti-inflammatory effect. The treatment is also remarkably multi-purpose, with patients at the Regenerative Clinic patients often having ankles, knees or elbows treated at the same time. Injections into the face, to smooth out wrinkles, can be given. The clinic has also recently begun offering the injections to rejuvenate the vagina, and help restore tissues after childbirth and the menopause. They say unpublished data shows 82 per cent of 92 of their patients treated with Lipogems experienced a dramatic reduction in their pain and improved knee function after one year. But two-year data exists for only 15 patients. According to the clinic, 12 have done well, while a few have gone on to have pain or additional surgery. Despite little real evidence that it works, private clinics are already offering patients early access to such 'regenerative' therapies at huge cost. The Regenerative Clinic was co-founded by internationally renowned orthopaedic specialist Professor Adrian Wilson. (Pictured, Harley Street) But it insists: If it lasts for a year, which studies do show, its unlikely to be a placebo. We know the placebo effect doesnt last for much longer than about six weeks. Our data shows most have a dramatic improvement in pain well beyond that point. But Professor Sally Roberts, head of the Spinal Studies and Cartilage Repair Research Group at Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, Shropshire, warns: With MSCs from fat, you dont know what youre getting, or what effect youre getting. And an online search reveals that some patients have been left feeling angry and ripped off. One wrote: I was charged 8,000 for the procedure and got nothing but extra pain, which they cant deal with. Another complained: Since the surgery sadly my pain has increased. One male patient needed a total knee replacement just 15 months after his treatment in February 2018. He said: I did not experience any noticeable improvement after the operation. Fears that cells may turn to bone Exactly how the stem cells from fat treatment works is unclear. One theory is the cells home in on damaged tissue and, in this case, turn into cartilage cells, which rebuild the joint. Its not without risk: some experts fear that if the cells keep multiplying they could eventually turn into bone and have a damaging effect. The more credible explanation is the bundle of fat cells work together to release proteins that trigger regeneration inside the knee joint like a mobile pharmacy, churning out the good stuff, says Prof Wilson. The next step, he says, is to identify precisely whats in the fat that triggers this healing process. Then it might be possible to use whatever it is in higher concentrations. The clinic is now backing a study in Pakistan where running a clinical trial is significantly cheaper to prove the treatment actually works. A thousand patients will receive several different treatments, including Lipogems and PRP. All will have an MRI scan at 12 months to see whether cartilage has regrown. Prof Wilson adds: No matter what we say, this will take five to ten years to become mainstream in the UK because of the resistance of my colleagues. Our outcomes are good. It will just take a while for the rest of the medical profession to catch up. Until the evidence emerges, however, for patients it remains an expensive lottery. Either is possible. But there is no way to generate useful innovations without trying new things. Giving states more latitude, if they want it, offers policymakers the chance to adopt different reforms on a relatively small scale and get answers that other states can learn from. Those governors and legislators who fail, of course, will have to answer to their constituents. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the leader of Belarus on Friday for another round of difficult talks on closer integration amid mounting economic pressure by Moscow on its ex-Soviet ally. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the Kremlin of flouting Russian commitments for energy supplies while trying to strong-arm him into a closer alliance. Some in Belarus fear that the Russian leader could be eyeing a full merger of the two nations in order to extend his rule. Lukashenko and Putin smiled broadly as they sat down for talks at Putins residence in Russias Black Sea resort of Sochi. The Kremlin has argued that Belarus, which relies on Russia for most of its energy needs, should accept greater economic integration if it wants to continue receiving Russian resources at subsidized prices. Putins Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak said late Friday that oil, which Russia cut off at the start of the year, can be supplied to Belarus only at market prices. But he said an agreement was reached to supply natural gas for 2020 at the same price as last year. Putin and Lukashenko met twice in December but failed to resolve their differences, resulting in Russia cutting oil supplies. The transit shipments of Russian crude to Europe via Belarus have continued unimpeded, but the Belarusian oil refineries have been reduced to a minimum capacity, depriving the country of a major source of income. In the past, Belarus cashed in on exports of petroleum products made from cheap Russian oil. Lukashenko is looking for alternative supply sources, and last month Belarus purchased a shipment of crude from Norway. On Tuesday, Belarusian officials discussed possible future oil supplies via neighboring Lithuania. However, observers noted that Belarus Soviet-style economy depends on cheap Russian energy and cant afford oil imports at world prices. Earlier this week, Lukashenko boasted about warming ties with the United States in an apparent bid to win concessions from Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Belarus last weekend. Pompeo said the U.S. could provide Belarus with 100% of its oil and gas needs and noted that it wants to help Belarus uphold its sovereignty. Vladimir Isachenkov is an Associated Press writer. Award-winning drag queen Courtney Act performed on top of Australias iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday evening to kick off BridgeClimbs Mardi Gras celebrations. This was the first drag performance at the summit of the internationally famous landmark. Dressed in a customised climb-suit Act sashayed and sang live to an array of pride anthems including Lizzos Juice, Katy Perrys Teenage Dream and Kylie Minogue's classic All The Lovers to a 50-strong crowd of fans at the top of the Bridge. International drag queen superstar Courtney Act performed on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Credit:Bridge Climb What a buzz to sing live on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Summit sundeck was definitely one of the most fabulous stages Ive performed on and the crowds energy was phenomenal. Sydney is definitely ready to strut into Mardi Gras now," Act told Social Scene. Prior to Act's performance, climbers were treated to a surprise proposal from local Courtney Act fans, when Andrew popped the question to Mike. The couple first met in Spain eight years ago before Mike followed his heart and moved from Switzerland to Sydney so they could be together. The couple now live in Kirribilli with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, making it the perfect place to propose. Climbers included executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou, makeup artist Max May, Amazing Race Winners Tim and Rod and celebrity personal trainers Blake Bridges and Heston Russell. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 Indonesia stands almost alone in Asia in defying the coronavirus global outbreak, but the government is nevertheless preparing the nation for the eventuality. While it has no ready answer for this exceptionalism, President Joko Jokowi Widodo ordered a meeting between the Health Ministry and the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister on Friday to discuss how far the country of 270 million people is prepared when the day Indonesia has its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus flu. Given how rapid the virus is spreading around the world, the first Indonesia case could immediately multiply many times over in a short time. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Jorge Ramos was born in Mexico City and became a journalist there. He eventually came to America on a student visa, got a job at a Spanish-language TV station in Los Angeles, liked it, and stayed. Along the way, he became rich and famous as the face of the news on Univision, America's largest provider of Spanish-language content. Although registered as an independent, his political stances, especially his support for open-borders, align him completely with the current hard-left incarnation of the Democrat party. On Friday, a very unhappy Ramos acknowledged that Trump fulfilled one of his campaign promises. When Trump said that he was going to build a wall and that Mexico would pay for it, Leftists simultaneously castigated him for racism and laughed at the notion that Mexico would ever pay to keep its citizens from fleeing corruption and poverty within Mexico by illegally crossing into the United States. After all, for Mexico, illegal immigration into America is a great gig, because it acts as a safety valve and a source of funds. If they didn't have unlimited access to America (that is, unlimited by such constraints as visas and immigration policies), Mexican citizens who have been burdened by decades of corruption and mismanagement would have no option but to suffer and then, finally, to rise up in revolution. For decades now, from the government's point of view, it's been better to give unhappy citizens a pamphlet with advice about crossing the border safely (albeit illegally) and then sit back and wait for the remittances ($26.1 billion in 2017) that help keep the Mexican government afloat. Imagine the shock for the open-border left when Trump didn't just keep his promise, but went one better, by getting Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador (aka AMLO) to act as his armed enforcer at Mexico's southern border, blocking caravans making their way to America from mismanaged countries south of Mexico. Well, you don't actually need to imagine the shock, because Ramos spells it out for you in a New York Times opinion piece: Mexico has effectively turned into an extension of Mr. Trump's immigration police beyond American territory. And this is the case on multiple fronts: On the southern border with Guatemala, they prevent Central American migrants from coming into Mexico; on the northern one, they block those seeking entry to the United States from leaving. The decision of Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also known as AMLO, to follow this approach is misguided. He should let migrants continue their journey north. [snip] This is a radical change in immigration policy for the United States. In the past, Central American asylum seekers were allowed to remain on American soil while waiting for their cases to be processed. Central American immigration has always been a source of frustration for the United States. But the most powerful country in the world holds a certain degree of responsibility for what goes on in its hemisphere, and it is perfectly capable of accepting the most vulnerable people on the continent. It has done it before, and can still do it. That's some serious arrogance there. This man, whom America graciously allowed in, now insists that America simply open her borders and welcome tens of millions of illiterate, unskilled people because he claims she has an entirely imaginary responsibility to make life better for them. The fact that unlimited illegal immigration often makes life less good for those in America legally, whether African-Americans who lose jobs and housing to these illegal aliens or taxpayers who find themselves funding people who have no right to be here, is irrelevant to Ramos. He's like the houseguest who insists that he's entitled to invite his whole family and their neighbors over and, by the way, would you please give all of them your ATM card? Ramos is correct that Latin America is bedeviled by "extreme poverty and gang violence." Large parts of Latin America are in terrible shape but that doesn't give the population license to bring those problems to America. This is not a war or a genocide, and they are not refugees. Their desire to come to America is rational, but that doesn't mean it's rational for Americans that they come. Moreover, as noted at the top of this article in connection with Mexico, Ramos's approach does nothing more than give corrupt, ineffective Latin American governments a way to relieve population pressure and bring in money. In other words, Ramos wants to prop up the same dysfunction he claims to despise. If Ramos wants to help beleaguered Latin Americans, he needs to go to those countries and use his fame and intelligence to change the government and culture on the ground there. That's hard work, though. It's easier to write opinion pieces for the New York Times. At the launch event in Hanoi, the VRCS handed out 10,000 face masks and 1,000 hand sanitisers free of charge, along with leaflets on preventive measures for local residents. Distributing free masks at the launching ceremony. (Source:Vietnam Red Cross Society) President of the VRCS Central Committee Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said that to respond to the nCoV threat in a timely way, the VRCS has kept a close watch on the development and maintained regular information sharing with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to call for assistance if needed. It has also devised response plan against the virus, she added. Earlier, the committee presented a relief of 1.1 billion VND (47,200 USD) to nine localities to launch communications campaigns on nCoV prevention, public health care and blood donation. The organisation also offered 40,000 N95 masks worth a total of 100,000 USD to China and sent personnel to distribute the relief in Wuhan, China. Vietnam reported two more 2019-nCoV cases on February 6th, bringing the total in the country to 12. On February 1th, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision declaring the nCoV-caused disease an epidemic in Vietnam. Earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the 2019-nCoV outbreak a public health emergency of international concern./. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Luxembourg national reached out to them to be repatriated from the Hubei province. The individual will travel back to Luxembourg via London and Berlin. The person will then be put in quarantine under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. In an official statement, the government confirms the individual in question is currently in good health, but has been put in quarantine as a precautionary measure. A first medical check confirms the individual shows no signs or symptoms of infection, and the initial report will be completed at the CHL on Monday. They will have to remain in quarantine for the maximum incubation and coronavirus infection period of 14 days to avoid putting anyone else at risk. China death toll hits 722 The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak soared to 722 in China on Saturday, including the first foreign victim, as Hong Kong imposed a mandatory quarantine on mainland arrivals to block the spread of an epidemic that has caused global panic. With 86 more people dying in mainland China -- the highest one-day jump so far -- the toll was closing in on the 774 killed worldwide during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. A 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with the virus died on Thursday in Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the health emergency, according to the US embassy, which did not provide more details about the person. Hubei counts a further 3.000 new infections. - travel restrictions going too far?- Chinese president Xi Jinping is confident the epidemic will be under control. In a call with US president Donald Trump, Jinping highlights the fact WHO warned against the tendency to overreact. The US, for instance, have put travel bans in place, restricting Chinese citizens and individuals who had travelled to China from entering the country. China criticises this and deems it an overreaction. The Porter property owners say the ruling unlawfully takes away their private beaches without compensation, the Northwest Indiana Times reported. They want the federal court to prohibit the state from enforcing the ruling so they can control who can access the beach near their homes. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, has expressed appreciation to Government for meeting the wide-ranging logistical and other needs of the Ghana Police Service as they work to discharge their constitutional mandate. The provision of logistics and the implementation of a number of policies and programmes have not only increased the operational efficiency of the Service, IGP Oppong-Boanuh emphasises, but also boosted the morale of personnel. Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh expressed the Services appreciation in a speech read on his behalf by Commissioner of Police (COP) Prosper K. Agblor, Director General in charge of Legal and Prosecutions, at the 2019 edition of the annual West African Security Services Association (WASSA) celebration of the Ghana Police Service held on Friday, 7th February 2020 in Accra. On behalf of the men and women of the Ghana Police Service, I want to express our deep appreciation to Government for the ongoing efforts to resource the Service. With these resources, we can more confidently discharge our duties to the good people of Ghana, he stated. Addressing the gathering earlier, the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also Chairman of the Police Council, outlined a long list of measures and interventions provided by the Akufo-Addo government since it assumed office three years ago, including the promotion of over 20,000 personnel across all the ranks, the procurement of over 700 multi-purpose vehicles, construction of 320 housing units at the National Police Training School in Accra, and a substantial increase in the compensation paid to the families of personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty. "A number of capacity-building courses were funded by Government to equip officers, including detectives with requisite knowledge and skill to work effectively and to keep pace with the complexities of contemporary policing. "Government also procured a large number of Weapons, Body Armour Vests, Body Cameras and Motor Bikes for the Service. We have also procured 3 Helicopters, created the Airborne Unit and internally recruited six Constables who are currently undergoing training in South Africa to become Pilots for the Service. Fifteen (15) personnel were also taken to South Africa to undergo training to establish the Canine (K9) unit," he added. Vice President Bawumia urged the Police and other security agencies to uphold the highest form of professionalism, especially in the fight against increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, and as we head into the December 2020 elections, emphasising, The public will only provide you with credible information when they trust their officers, when they feel respected by officers of the Police Service, and when they feel that their civil liberties and human rights are fully guaranteed. The Police therefore can only be effective and efficient in the discharge of your mandate if you remain professional, accountable and responsive to the needs of the citizenry. "It is our expectation as government and citizens that you would selflessly continue to undertake your constitutional mandate with professionalism for the good people of Ghana." WASSA is a special day set aside to make merry amongst senior and junior officers of the security services, and to soberly reflect and take stock of the past, make corrections and forge ahead for an improved service delivery in the future. The WASSA was attended by a number of officials including the Minister for the Interior and MP for Nandom, Hon Ambrose Dery; Minister for Defence and MP for Bimbilla, Hon Dominic Nitiwul; the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen O. B. Akwa; Retired Senior Officers; and a cross section of men and women of the Ghana Police Service. Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil more than doubled in January compared with the previous year, according to official data. More than 280 square kilometres were cleared, an increase of 108 per cent. It was the largest area cleared in the month of January since 2015, when such data started being collected, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The data, published on Friday, was collected by the INPE's satellite-based DETER system, which monitors deforestation in real time. In comparison, 136 square kilometres were cleared in January 2019, 183 square kilometers in 2018 and 58 square kilometers in 2017. INPE data published in mid-January found that deforestation in the Amazon in northern Brazil had soared 85 per cent in 2019, clearing 9,166 square kilometers -- the highest number in at least five years -- versus 4,946 square kilometres cleared in 2018. The sharp increase overlapped the first year in office of President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic who has eased restrictions on exploiting the Amazon's vast riches. Bolsonaro made headlines in August when he attempted to minimise the resurgence of forest fires that had shocked the world. On August 2, INPE then-president Ricardo Galvao was sacked by Bolsonaro's administration, which accused him of exaggerating the extent of the deforestation. On Wednesday, Bolsonaro unveiled a sweeping plan for the Amazon rainforest that would open indigenous lands to mining, farming and hydroelectric power projects. Many NGOs said this would further increase deforestation. The bill, which has yet to be approved by Congress, is a "dream" for the far-right leader but a "nightmare" for environmentalists and tribal leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he is hopeful that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will form the government in Delhi for the third time. I am hopeful that people will vote on the basis of work done in Delhi, and that AAP will form the government in Delhi for the third time, Kejriwal said after casting his vote in Delhi Assembly elections at a polling booth in Civil Lines in north Delhi. He is contesting Assembly elections from New Delhi constituency and is pitted against BJPs Sunil Yadav and Congresss Romesh Sabharwal. Delhi Assembly Elections: Track Live Updates Kejriwal also appealed to the people of Delhi to cast their votes. I appeal to all, specially to the women, to cast their votes today, he said. Kejriwal was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, mother and son. Voting on 70 seats of Delhi began at 8 am on Saturday and will go on till 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on February 11. The AAP had swept the last assembly election in 2015, winning 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP had won three, and Congress drew a blank. This time too, the party is hopeful of returning to power in the national capital. They campaigned aggressively in run-up to elections, with party leaders highlighting the work done by AAP government in the last five years. For Assembly elections, the party has readied an army of nearly a lakh volunteers to ensure a high voter turnout and keep an eye on any possible malpractice in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The BJP, hoping to return to power in Delhi after more than two decades, has deployed nearly 10-15 party workers per polling booth. This time, we have campaigned at the grassroots level, said Shyam Jaju, Delhi BJP in-charge. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former chief minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, is hoping for a revival. In Pics: Early voters in Delhi Assembly Elections After two hours of polling, a meagre 5.60 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Delhi Assembly polls till 10 am, according to Election Commissions Voter Turnout app. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election. Out of the total number of eligible voters, there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. Health insurance is protection, scheme to take care of health of a person and works it works by buying a policy from a company or an insurance agent. Depending on the premium paid the health insurance policy will pay specified amounts for the medical expenses incurred to overcome the health problem. Currently the trend of some of the reputable companies seems to be to build in a health insurance policy as a benefit to an employee. Some countries offers free health insurance to their citizen. In India certain sectors like railways, army and the employees working with the central government are covered in a health scheme provided cover to almost 20 million people in different part of the country. Health like education should be essential and should be freely available to all the citizens of a country. Some developed countries realizing the importance of the health of the nation spend as much as 6% to 8% of their GDP on it and have advanced facilities in their government run hospitals. Some examples include the United Kingdom where the National Health Services hospitals provide all the health requirements to majority of their citizens. Sweden and Norway follow similar government run health schemes. As per the census of USA in the year 2004, it was noted that 245.3 million people had health insurance coverage; however 45.8 million lived without an insurance cover. In response to some of these stats Senator John Kerry said. "Great physicians and nurses, skilled, caring and unparalleled in their training, intervened in my life and probably saved it. I was lucky but other Americans are not. It is time to speak again and stand again for the ideal that in the richest nation ever on this planet, it is wrong for 41 million Americans, most of them in working families, to worry at night and wake up in the morning without the basic protection of health insurance." Developing countries like India have priority of spending in other sectors like the army and the infrastructure development and barely 2% of the GDP is spent on the health and results in the government hospitals lack in facilities especially for any advanced procedures such as heart surgery or hip replacement. Health insurance schemes are particularly important for individuals from the lower income group to provide them and their family members with adequate cover in event of any mishap or illness. The escalating medical costs are due to the advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that have become the hallmark of modern medical care. An insurance scheme will guarantee that no compromises are made in your treatment for wants of funds. Remember when negotiating a policy you ask for adequate cover as the provided by the health insurance will depend on the type of policy purchased. 'Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it' - Unknown Author New Delhi: In a joint operation with Military Intelligence Jammu and Kashmir, the Mumbai Police busted illegal VOIP exchanges and SIM boxes on Thursday. According to Army sources, two functional SIM boxes were recovered with 100 slots each and almost 200 SIM cards, along with 2 routers, 3 modems, antennas, batteries and connectors, and other items were seized during the raids carried out in Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Kerala's Changaramukulam. During the raid, one accused was arrested from Changermakulam. Primary information about the drive is being obtained and ensured. In September 2019, defence persons received calls from suspicious numbers, seeking information related to important defence installations. The callers posed fictitious identity and the involvement of ISI was suspected. Further investigation by Military intelligence and Mumbai Police revealed few illegal VoIP exchanges at Noida and Kerala, which route calls incoming from Pakistan to local numbers, which were then used to extract information from defence persons. Based on this Mumbai Police carried out joint operation with Military intelligence. The exchanges which converted international voice calls originating from Pakistan into local GSM calls using the Chinese SIM Boxes (boxes fitted with GSM SIM cards of local cellular service providers) were busted in the carried on February 6, 2019. These SIM boxes also used dynamic IMEI system, which made them difficult to be tracked. This system is declared illegal by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Since Indian systems cannot control the calls generated in such systems, they are also used for anti-national activity. Therefore, the Department of Telecommunications is not permitted to transmit international VoIP calls through the normal telephone network. The SIMBOX methodology is a financial fraud to the Government of India as well as to mobile companies. Investigations so far have revealed that the busted exchanges caused revenue losses in crores to the country''s telecom department. Subsequent probe had then revealed that those exchanges were being used by hostile intelligence agencies to seek military information through calls and posed security threat to nation. After the preliminary inquiry and the confirmation of the usage of unauthorised SIMBOX (SIMBOX), the Dongri PS. Thane registered the crime under Section 419, 420, 465, 468, 471, 120 (b) of IPC with the clause 1 of Indian Telegraph Act 1885, Sections 4, 20, 25, with Section 3, 6 Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933, and forwarded the investigation to the crime branch. Few arrests have been made in Kerala and probe is underway to ascertain identity of more individuals who are involved and locations of other similar exchanges. More arrests are likely to be made in this connection in the near future, as they might also be linked to compromising India''s internal security, army sources said. Olmsted County Commissioner Stephanie Podulke was recently appointed to the State Advisory Council on Mental Health, concentrating on a subcommittee for childrens mental health and juvenile corrections. Appointed by Gov. Tim Walz, Podulke is serving as the representative for rural counties in the state. She has worked with youths for most of her professional life initially as a licensed middle- and high-school teacher, later as a program manager for specialized foster care and finally as an in-home family therapist, where she worked with troubled families to prevent children from being placed in out-of-home care. In situations where placement was unavoidable, Podulke has assisted family in planning for an eventual successful reunification of the youth back into their families and communities. "Growing up is challenging work: emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Children and youth with mental health problems have added stresses of severe anxiety, physical and emotional trauma, and difficult socialization experiences," Podulke said. "Due to statewide budget restraints and cuts, too many of our children experiencing mental health challenges or who are reacting to family, social, and school circumstances over which they have no control, have limited programming, and often enter the juvenile correctional system for lack of more restorative options. We need to change this." The State Advisory Council on Mental Health and Subcommittee on Childrens Mental Health are comprised of people from all areas of Minnesota with a variety of mental health and juvenile corrections backgrounds. Podulke said she hopes the diverse group can develop and improve restorative options and programming, which will divert youth from entering the juvenile correctional system and help them achieve their full potential. ADVERTISEMENT "We need to develop in-state, local programs and residential facilities which allow troubled children and youth to remain in contact with and eventually successfully reintegrate with their families and communities," she added. In 2019, the Minnesota Department of Human Services awarded $5 million in funding to build a mental health crisis center in Rochester. This facility will serve 10 counties in Southeast Minnesota, and construction is expected to begin this spring. "Our state, our children, and our youth need mental health crisis centers like this in all regions," Podulke said. "We all believe in the possibilities of human potential and social change." In an area populated with predominately African American churches built during the post-Civil War era, houses of worship have often celebrated Black History Month with afternoon programs where speakers tout the successes of champions from the civil rights era. This year, historic and contemporary congregations are seeking creative approaches to highlight the struggles and strides of the black community. Some churches are replacing prayer breakfasts with concerts. Others are using worship services and book clubs to highlight important themes like voting and social injustices. Mount Zion AME on Glebe Street draws its annual February focus from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, which has designated this year's theme as "African Americans and the Vote." The idea is an ode to the 15th Amendment, established 150 years ago granting black men the right to vote, and the 19th Amendment a century ago that culminated the women's suffrage movement. Dr. Lionel Kimble Jr., vice president for programs at ASALH, said the theme also takes into consideration challenges facing the black community, such as voter suppression initiatives. Its still something were wrestling with today about whos allowed to vote," he said. On Sunday, Mount Zion will welcome Judge Jan Bromell Holmes, a family court judge for the 15th judicial circuit, during its morning worship service. Holmes became the the first black female family court judge in Georgetown County when she was elected in 2007. The Rev. Kylon Middleton, pastor of Mount Zion, said Sunday's celebration will help set the stage for November, when voters will cast ballots in what the pastor described as a "consequential election year." The service also will include renditions from the College of Charleston Gospel Choir, part of the historic church's ongoing efforts to engage with young adults. Its just been one of those ongoing challenges to bridge the gap with that community and looking beyond the regular speaker mill that we normally would use," he said. This is a season of activism. People who've never been active are now feeling that call to do something. Nearby on Calhoun Street, Emanuel AME will welcome the Congressional Black Caucus Institute on Feb. 22, when the institute will conduct a free advocacy and campaign training talk about strategies for improving access to high quality education. On Feb. 27, radio talk show host Joe Madison will host a panel discussion on voting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church. Details surrounding that event have not yet been released. At Royal Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Isaac Holt said he's incorporating black history in his sermons, highlighting people such as James Weldon Johnson, who penned "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the black national anthem. The church also hosted an event with the International African American Museum and the Liberty Hill community on voter disenfranchisement. Honoring African American history won't be limited to predominately black congregations. Two Rivers Church, a United Methodist Community, will host an online book group this month, as participants read "Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools." Author Monique W. Morris, co-founder of the National Black Womens Justice, argues in the book that racism and patriarchy have led society to often mislabel young women. While the church aims year-round to be anti-racist, Pastor Wendy Hudson-Jacoby said families wanted to educate themselves this month on issues facing schoolchildren. It came out of a desire to talk about what it means to have education systems that are really set up where every child of every background can thrive," she said. The church was founded years ago as LGBTQ-affirming, but that quickly expanded to incorporate inclusiveness around wealth, race and physical abilities. Two Rivers is still predominately white, which the pastor hopes will change. Hudson-Jacoby said it's important for white Christians to study African American history because it helps shed light on injustices faced by marginalized communities. "We have to work on dismantling white supremacy on our end," she said. In the North Area, congregations are looking to engage the youth through musical experiences. The Rev. Clinton McPherson pastors Greater Mt. Zion AME, the first black congregation established in Goose Creek. Old hymns and new contemporary music will aim to both honor history and minister to younger audiences in the church's first-ever Black History Month concert. The Feb. 22 concert will welcome notable in-state gospel artists and groups, such as the Columbia-based Gospel Legends as well as Berkeley County's Pastor H.E. Dixon and Truth Tabernacle Choir. The program is slated for 5 p.m. at 468 Howe Hall Road in Goose Creek. Admission is $15, and food will be sold after the event. "Im not knocking an afternoon program with a speaker," McPherson said, but "as we learn more about our history and our heritage, we realize we dont come from ordinary people. We come from trailblazers. We come from trendsetters. Oftentimes, we get complacent with the same old, same old." To Radical Republicans who demanded an explicit constitutional right to vote, this bias undermined a key result of the Civil War, which was to reassert the supremacy of the federal government. If states were allowed to continue regulating voting rights, people would never be guaranteed equality. The whole fallacy lies in denying our nationality, said Oliver Morton, a Radical Republican senator from Indiana. I assert that we are one people and not thirty-seven different peoples; that we are one nation, and as such we have provided for ourselves a national Constitution. Morton was among a few lawmakers who saw in the 15th Amendment what one called an almost fatal defect. John Bingham, an Ohio representative and the lead author of the 14th Amendment, which included the positive guarantee of birthright citizenship, said that under the terms of the 15th Amendment, an aristocracy of property may be established; an aristocracy of intellect may be established; an aristocracy of sect may be established. Bingham was soon proved right. Following the collapse of Reconstruction, white-supremacist governments reclaimed power throughout the South and rewrote their state constitutions to include poll taxes, literacy tests and bars against voting by people with criminal records. None of these explicitly mentioned race. They didnt have to they unmistakably targeted black citizens, who were poorer, less educated, and more likely to be arrested and convicted of minor crimes. Blacks who persisted in exercising their right to vote also faced a decades-long campaign of violence and intimidation led by the Ku Klux Klan. Again, the 15th Amendments protections went only so far. Congress passed laws to stop the violence, but the federal government eventually gave up trying to enforce them. And when the Supreme Court was asked to strike down racist voting laws, it declined. If the great mass of the white population intends to keep the blacks from voting, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, the justices hands were tied. It was a political matter to be resolved by the states voters. By the early 20th century, black voter registration in the South had fallen into the low single digits. The 15th Amendment was a dead letter in the South, and it would not be revived in a meaningful way until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The amendment also did nothing to give political voice to half of the adult population. It was another 50 years before the Constitution was updated again to include women. That amendment, the 19th, turns 100 this year. Following the form of the 15th, it was written in the negative, as was the 24th, which barred poll taxes, and the 26th, which barred states from denying the vote to 18-year-olds. Again and again, a nation founded on the premise of universal human equality has backed into enforcing that ideal in practice. Todays efforts to reduce voting are rooted more in partisanship than in race. In places like North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida and Ohio, Republican politicians pass voter-ID laws, conduct voter-roll purges and push other measures that drive down turnout among people who lean Democratic especially black, young and lower-income voters. In the absence of an explicit constitutional right to vote, laws like these are harder to strike down, even though they should be as intolerable as the poll taxes and literacy tests of the last century. Well, we've heard all the debates and it's time to cast our votes. I think it would be most helpful if RTE had a programme explaining our voting system. In all my years of being involved in elections it never ceases to amaze me the number of people who do not understand it (PR STV). It it a wonderfully democratic system compared to our neighbours Britain, who have a first-past-the post system. People should check out Citizens Information online where it is very well explained. In brief: A candidate is elected when he/she reaches the quota, The quota is calculated by dividing the total valid poll by one more than the number of seats to be filled. For example: In a four-seat constituency with a total valid pool of 25,000, the quota is 25,000 divided by five (one more than the number of seats) and then add one. The quota is 5,001. If a candidate is elected on the first count and he/she has a surplus, the surplus is transferred in proportion to how many second preferences the other candidates received in the elected candidate's vote. For example: Candidate A receives 6,000 first preference votes at the first count. The quota is 5,000. A is elected with a surplus of 1,000 votes. Out of A's 6,000 total, 30pc gave their second preference to B, and 20pc gave their second preference to C. B receives 300 votes (30pc of 1,000) and C receives 200 votes (20pc of 1,000). Where a candidate reaches the quota after the first count, only the ballot papers that brought them over the quota are examined (the votes that were transferred from the previous count). So when you vote make sure you exercise your full vote and complete the ballot paper. A number 4 vote may well end up as a number 1 vote after a number of counts. Eamonn Kitt Tuam, Co Galway Silence of suspense will hang over the exit poll There will be some noise this weekend. The sound of balloons bursting, jaws and pennies dropping and chickens, like governmental and electoral mistakes, fluttering home to roost. The result of tomorrow night's exit poll will, however, be awaited in silence Mary F Rogan Anach Cuain, Co na Gaillimhe Once upon a time, there were election promises The only heading I can classify the political parties' manifestos under is 'Fairytales'. Joe Brophy Dublin 14 Bid to halt Sinn Fein an attack on electorate's will The sheer level of bile and venom hurled at Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald on account of her stand in opposing the Special Criminal Court is a bitter and incorrigible attack on democracy. There appears to be a steely determination by opponents of Sinn Fein to form a consensus to create a political atmosphere where Sinn Fein is rendered politically toxic and impotent. On the issue of the Special Criminal Court, McDonald is not a lone voice. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Amnesty International and the UN Commission on Human Rights have all expressed their opposition to the continuation of these courts, especially when used against civilians. Indeed, there was a time when Fine Gael and Labour also opposed such draconian measures. Trial by jury is a bulwark of our Constitution. In the Irish State we are lucky in that our Constitution is highly valued and robustly defended by the Supreme Court. Indeed, one respected member of the judiciary, the late Cearbhall O Dalaigh, felt obliged to stand down as President of Ireland due to criticism for exercising his right to refer suspect legislation back to the Supreme Court for adjudication. Tom Cooper Templeogue, Dublin SF march from Armalite to ballot box is not over At a time when the country is still reeling in the aftershock of the recent brutal gangland murder and dismemberment of a teenager, the last thing we need to hear on RTE's 'Prime Time' leaders' debate is Mary Lou McDonald being unable to commit Sinn Fein's unequivocal support for the Special Criminal Court (yet again). Like many, I was also appalled the Sinn Fein president hadn't bothered to check the exact wording of reprehensible comments made by Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy about murder victim Paul Quinn, whom the Independent Monitoring Commission believe was brutally killed in 2007 by an IRA gang - and that she has failed to appropriately censure the Northern Irish finance minister for his comments. The long march from the Armalite to the ballot box continues for Sinn Fein despite all their bluster about delivering radical change. Chris Fitzpatrick Dublin 6 Fine Gael will pay heavily for its failure on health When asked to set out key policies they will introduce in their first 100 days in office, Fine Gael again repeated the promise to "bring in free GP care" ('100 days: How parties propose to fix health crisis', Irish Independent, February 4). This is a laudable objective but given the deterioration in the quality of the GP service in recent years, Fine Gael's stewardship is now a great concern. For example, for the first time since the introduction of the medical card, GPs no longer provide a blood test service as before. The GPs, in pursuing a dispute with Health Minister Simon Harris, arbitrarily decided to throw their patients into the front line of that dispute and withdrew this service. That has left many elderly persons who require annual blood tests worried and has eroded confidence in the quality of the service. The minister has sat on his hands and allowed the GPs - as he claims - to breach the terms of their contracts and has abandoned patients caught in the middle in the process. This failure to resolve what should be a relatively straightforward issue is but a small example that goes some way to explain why the electorate has lost all trust in Fine Gael's ability and/or will to deliver a readily accessible quality primary healthcare service. They will pay a heavy price for this. Jim O'Sullivan Rathedmond, Co Sligo Brexit-like anger drives rise of McDonald's party The forces that delivered Brexit exploited the anger and disenchantment of older voters to destroy the future aspirations of Britain's youth. It looks like Sinn Fein is using the same playbook. Its surge has been driven by the anger of young and frustrated citizens. But the young, the old and everyone else will wake up to a very different Ireland should Sinn Fein succeed. That anger will not find release in Sinn Fein. The economy we depend on to provide opportunity and pay for vital services will be ruined. We're going through public anger and political denial but let's not let ourselves wake up to the grief of self-destruction tomorrow. Dr Tony O'Donnell The Curragh, Co Kildare Let's not weight to remove the Imperial Measures With the UK now out of the EU, is not time to send the final vestiges of British colonialism back where it belongs and certainly beyond the borders of our European nation? I refer to the continued use of the British Imperial Weights and Measurements and particularly with regard to our national broadcaster RTE. I don't mind when an interviewee refers to "a couple of miles" or "inches from" but I think the interviewer should transpose the measure into metric to educate and inform. It would take about six months to convert attitudes. I am insulted when supposedly professional journalists still report in miles, yards, feet and inches as well as stone, pounds. I am outraged and have complained directly, and without response, to RTE's 'Operation Transformation' when they weigh participants in stone, lbs and oz as primary measurements. These weights and measures don't belong in this or the last century. They belong in the previous century with the Weights and Measures Act of 1824 and the Act of 1878 which established the British Imperial System. If they have a place anywhere it's not in the EU, not in the 21st century. Eugene P Hogan Corduff, Dublin WILLIAMSPORT-A wrongful death and negligence suit has been filed against a Maryland truck driver and his employer stemming from an accident in which a car was sandwiched between two rigs on Routes 11/15 in Snyder County. Charles A. Bussard, 60, of Hagerstown, and Seven-D Wholesale Inc. of Scranton have been sued by the estate of John Wendt, 66, who was killed last July 9 on Routes 11/15 in Shamokin Dam. The southbound tractor-trailer truck driven by Bussard struck the rear of the stopped Wendt car, pushing it into the trailer of another rig that also was stopped for a red light, borough police said. It was determined by computer data taken from Bussards truck that it was traveling at 37 miles an hour and no braking occurred before impact, Chief Timothy Bremigen said. Bussard stated at the time of the crash he was not familiar with the area, was looking at traffic signs and did not see the car until impact, the chief said. He told someone else at the scene he may have fallen asleep, the accident report states. The rig met inspection requirements but the sticker was out of date by several months, Bremigen said. The suit was brought by Wendts widow, Patricia, who lives in the Selinsgrove area. It states the impact caused her husbands car to be pushed through the rear axle of the stopped rig. Double-D is liable for the actions of its employee, according to the suit that seeks unspecified damages in excess of $50,000. The suit originally was filed in Lackawanna Court but Thursday was transferred to U.S. Middle District Court. Shamokin Dam police charged Bussard with driving at an unsafe speed, following too closely and two counts of careless driving. One of them charged unintentional death. He was fined $575 plus costs. The decision on which charges to file was made following consultation with District Attorney Michael Piecuch, Bremigen said. The accident closed the busy highway for five hours. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The Love Island villa is currently in turmoil amid the fallout from Casa Amor, which namely saw Callum Jones ditch Shaughna Phillips for new girl Molly Smith. And amid the drama, there's set to be some light-hearted relief in the form of Sean Paul as he hosts a Spotify party for the islanders this weekend. Ahead of his arrival, the rapper, 47, gave his verdict on the islanders as he heaped praise on 'real and loyal' Shaughna, while remarking there's 'so much drama' in the South African abode. Guest star: There's set to be some light-hearted relief in the Love Island villa in the form of Sean Paul as he hosts a Spotify party for the islanders this weekend The Get Busy hitmaker swiftly declared that Shaughna was his favourite islander as 'her name is the closest to mine!' However, Sean was quick to show his respect to the democratic services officer for the way she handled Callum's shocking betrayal. He said: 'I love that shes real and loyal, even when Callum dissed her, she never flip up.' The music star is set to entertain the islanders with his new single 'Calling On Me', with Sean hoping the islanders 'let loose' as there's already 'so much drama' in the wakes of the Casa Amor bombshells. Go girl: The rapper, 47, gave his verdict on the islanders as he heaped praise on 'real and loyal' Shaughna, while remarking there's 'so much drama' in the South African abode 'My songs always inspire closeness but for real Im just hoping the Islanders get loose and have a great time!' he remarked. 'Theres already been so much drama I just wanna create a relaxed vibe and take their minds off it.' Sean, who married his sweetheart Jodi Stewart in 2012, knows a thing or two about love and wasted kno time in dishing out soime advice to the contestants. Discussing what the key to finding love is, he advised: 'You dont search for love, it smacks you in the face, it trips you off your feet. It takes you by surprise.' Tension: The Love Island villa is currently in turmoil amid the fallout from Casa Amor, which namely saw Callum Jones ditch Shaughna Phillips for new girl Molly Smith Praise: However, Sean was quick to show his respect to the democratic services officer for the way she handled Callum's shocking betrayal Continuing his touching statement, he added: 'Dont trust technology trust, the butterflies. Love is a feeling its not something that should be caged in a word.' Meanwhile, Love Island related complaints to Ofcom doubled overnight after Callum left Shaughna heartbroken when he returned to the villa with new girl Molly on Thursday. Complaints soared after viewers watched Shaughna breakdown when she was told Callum hadn't stayed loyal and had chosen Manchester native Molly over her. Shaughna was left speechless when Callum walked back into the villa, before telling him 'congrats hun' and confiding in the girls that she wanted to leave. Got 2 Love U: 'I love that shes real and loyal, even when Callum dissed her, she never flip up' Wise words: Discussing what the key to finding love is, he advised: 'You dont search for love, it smacks you in the face, it trips you off your feet. It takes you by surprise' Ofcom figures obtained by The Sun reveal that complaints doubled compared to those received following the previous night's episode of the show. On Twitter, viewers were threatening to complain to Ofcom after Shaughna's heartache over her partner Callum. Many were outraged and pointed out how producers played Casa Amor previously - after Ofcom received a record 4000 complaints in 2018 when Dani Dyer was left distressed by a misleading video of her partner Jack Fincham. Casa Amor kicked off earlier in the week, with the shift seeing the villa divided with new bombshells entering and tempting the currently-coupled stars. Gutted: Love Island related complaints to Ofcom doubled overnight after Callum left Shaughna heartbroken when he returned to the villa with new girl Molly on Thursday Dumped: Complaints soared after viewers watched Shaughna breakdown when she was told Callum hadn't stayed loyal and had chosen Manchester native Molly over her Couples can either stay together or pair with a newbie. While Shaughna opted to stay single, Callum returned with Molly, who he'd previously confessed he is more sexually attracted to than his previous partner. Flooding Twitter, users were left complaining about both the cliffhanger ending during Thursday's episode and the distress caused to Shaughna on the show. Fans penned: 'Actually considered phone ofcom to complain... Gonna make a complaint to Ofcom about #loveisland having me in tears tonight #loveisland2020... 'Totally feel for Demi and Shaughna seeing it played out in front of millions of people. People deserve to be treated better @Ofcom... Officially preparing my complaint to ofcom about these frigging cliffhangers #LoveIsland... 'Me writing a complaint to ofcom for leaving us on a cliffhanger at such an intense moment which weve been waiting for ALL DAY... Ofcom must have to get extra staff once is on cos everyday.l people scream ofcom... Im writing to ofcom.' Love Island continues Sunday at 9pm on ITV. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, behind, wave to supporters with Philadelphia mother Stephanie Davis and her children, including daughter Janiyah Davis, center, after landing at the Philadelphia International Airport. Read more President Donald Trump turned a Philadelphia fourth grader into a poster child for the school-choice movement Tuesday when he told the nation that thousands of students were trapped in failing government schools" and announced that the girl was at last getting a scholarship to attend the school of her choice. But Janiyah Davis already attends one of the citys most sought-after charter schools, The Inquirer has learned. In September, months before she was an honored guest at Trumps State of the Union address, she entered Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III. MaST III opened in the fall in a gleaming facility on the site of the former Crown Cork & Seal headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia, part of a charter network so popular that the school received 6,500 applications for 100 seats next year. Like all charters, its independently run but funded by taxpayers meaning that Janiyah and the other 900 students at the school do not pay tuition. How she landed in the audience during Trumps prime-time speech Tuesday remains a bit of a mystery even to Janiyahs mother, Stephanie Davis. In an interview Friday, Davis, a teachers assistant who lives in Northeast Philadelphia, said she received a call several weeks ago from the principal at Janiyahs former school, Olney Christian School at 425 E. Roosevelt Blvd. After attending public kindergarten, Janiyah moved to Olney Christian for first through third grades. Tuition there is $5,200 for elementary students. She received a partial scholarship, Davis said, but it was still a struggle to afford. So Janiyah transferred to MaST III after she was accepted there last summer. READ MORE: We never thought wed get in: The tense wait for a Philly charter school seat The principal at Olney Christian told Davis that someone had contacted her asking about students with financial issues who may be up for scholarships, Davis said. Then she got a call from a man saying pretty much the same thing that the principal said," and telling Davis to expect a call from the White House. When a call came from Washington, I was kind of hesitant to answer. I thought it was a scam, Davis said. She was told she had an invitation to the White House, but didnt quite believe it until she received an official email confirming that she and Janiyah were invited to the State of the Union. Davis said she had no idea she and Janiyah would be named during Trumps speech. She had been told there was the possibility of her daughters receiving a scholarship, but I never knew that it was going to be this big," she said. Trump pointed to Janiyah in pushing for expanded school choice an issue popular with conservatives and advocates who believe all students should have the right to attend a school of their choosing, paid for with government money. For too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools, Trump said. To rescue these students, he said, 18 states had created scholarship programs so popular that tens of thousands of students remain on a waiting list." One of those students is Janiyah Davis, a fourth grader from Philadelphia, Trump said. Janiyahs mom, Stephanie, is a single parent. She would do anything to give her daughter a better future. Because of a scholarship personally paid for by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the president told Janiyah Tuesday night, you will soon be headed to the school of your choice. When Trump said their names, Davis said she was really surprised and honored. She was also surprised that Janiyah was chosen to receive a scholarship. I dont view MaST as a school you want to get out of at all. I view it as a great opportunity, Davis said. Davis said she isnt sure whether Janiyah will stay at MaST, or return to Olney Christian or go to another school. She said she and her daughter are discussing their options. Asked why Janiyah was selected for a scholarship despite already attending a school in a high-performing charter network, Angela Morabito, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, said, "Education freedom is about going to the best school for your child. Even the best school, as ranked by statistics and averages, isnt the best fit for every child. Each of the 50,000 kids waiting for a new opportunity in Pennsylvania has different needs and goals, let alone the millions of students across America stuck in a school that isnt right for them. Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have taken swipes at Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf this week, saying Wolf harmed Janiyah and students like her with his veto last year of a bill that would have dramatically expanded a state program that awards tax credits to businesses and individuals that donate toward private-school scholarships. Wolf approved a smaller increase to the program as part of last years budget. READ MORE: Vice President Mike Pence pushes school choice during visit to Catholic elementary in West Philadelphia The president and DeVos back a $5 billion annual federal tax credit program to give families scholarships to pay for the school of their choice or other state-approved education options. School-choice supporters believe families should have the right to use government money to pay for whatever school they deem appropriate for their children. Supporters of traditional public schools believe such programs harm school districts by diverting resources and students away from them. J.J. Abbott, Wolfs spokesperson, said in a statement that it is unfortunate that the White House chose to distort both Gov. Wolfs strong education record and the situation at hand. However, given the more than 15,000 false or misleading claims that the president has made while in office, no one can really be surprised by it anymore. Davis, who along with Janiyah flew home to Philadelphia on Air Force Two this week, said she supports Trumps push for school choice, but is not sure about the rest of the presidents positions. For Janiyah, the speech was a wonderful experience," Davis said. She said her daughter has been nonchalant about it. I know shes happy. I still feel like shes trying to process it all. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has named career diplomat Karen Pierce as its new ambassador to the United States, the first woman to hold the U.S. post, with the task of shoring up relations with London's closest ally after Brexit. Pierce, 60, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, replaces Kim Darroch who resigned last July after U.S. President Donald Trump labelled him stupid and wacky following the release of confidential memos in which he had branded the U.S. presidents administration inept. "It is a time of huge opportunity for the friendship between the UK and US and I am delighted that Karen Pierce will take forward this exciting new chapter in our relationship," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. "Were proud to be sending to Washington such an outstanding diplomat, and I warmly congratulate her on her appointment." Pierce is currently Britain's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and Permanent Representative at the UN Security Council. Relations between Britain and the United States, which both sides often describe as a "special relationship", have fluctuated since Trump took office in 2017. He criticised Johnson's predecessor Theresa May's handling of Brexit and there have been disagreements over Iran, plans for a tax on digital companies, and most recently Britain's decision to allow Chinese firm Huawei a role in building its 5G mobile phone network. However, both allies have said ties are strong and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week Britain would be "at the front of the line" for a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States. Pierce began her career at the Foreign Office in 1981 and was Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan between 2015 and 2016. She has also served as Permanent Representative to the UK Mission to the World Trade Organization among other international organisations. "I am honoured to have been asked to represent the UK in the U.S. I think it is the UKs single most important relationship," she said in a statement. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Uzbekistan sent trial shipments of dried fruits such as raisins, dried apricots and prunes worth about $90,000 to Japan in 2019, Trend reports via Uzbek media. In quantitative terms, 16 tons of Uzbek raisins, five tons of prunes and three tons of prunes were exported to Japan. The main supplier of dried fruits of Japan in 2019 was the US, with 22,900 tons of raisins. The top list also included Turkey, Chile, Australia, South Africa and China. Uzbekistan ranked 10th, ahead of Argentina and only slightly behind Iran. The main supplier of prunes to Japan was also the US which exported 5,300 tons in 2019. Chile supplied 200 tons, and France supplied over 100 tons. Uzbekistan ranked 5th with five tons. Japan imports commercial quantities of dried apricots from four countries - Turkey, South Africa, China and the US. Pakistan shipped only four tons in 2019 and Uzbekistan three tons of dried apricots. "Due to the fact that Japan is one of the most difficult markets for fruit and vegetable products in the world, we are very pleased to note the progress that Uzbekistan has made in the Japanese market," noted economist at the Investment Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Andriy Yarmak An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan's neighboring Pakistan deferred its verdict against the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on 11 February in two cases of terrorist funding. Hafiz himself requested to postpone the decision. Lahore's Anti Terrorism Court, ie ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta reserved the judgment last week in two cases against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief for providing funds for terrorist activities. For your information, let us tell you that Hafiz Saeed had gone a new way to postpone the decision. He made an application before the ATC court on Saturday i.e. in which all the cases of terrorist funding running against him should be clubbed and the verdict should be given only after joint hearing of the two cases. Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta, taking Hafiz's application, gave the next date. On this matter, the officials said that the deputy prosecutor opposed Saeed's plea and argued that the trial in both the cases has been completed, in which case the court of law can pronounce the verdict. But the court issued notice to the prosecution and the defense, giving the 11th date for arguments on Saeed's fresh plea. In the case, terrorist Hafiz Saeed was produced amid heavy security arrangements. Presented. Hafiz Saeed and others were charged on December 11 in both cases. After this, there was a daily hearing. Hafiz Saeed's statements have also been recorded in both these cases. Hafiz has said not to be guilty, calling the allegations against him baseless. Both the above cases of terrorist funding were registered by the Anti-Terrorism Department of Punjab Police in Lahore and Gujranwala cities. Explain that the counter terrorism department has registered a total of 23 FIRs against Hafiz and his associates. Saeed was arrested on 17 July last year. He is kept in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. Also Read: Donald Trump interferes in impeachment process, two officers were dismissed Imran Khan's party leader posted anti-Hindu posters, apologized after opposition Likee creator donates 50,000 masks in China to help people combat Coronavirus Terror Funding Case: Today Pakistan court will give verdict on terrorist Hafiz Saeed Malaysian counterterrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who has been hailed for the capture of hundreds of militant suspects during his four-year stint despite threats to his life, has been promoted to head the police force in Johor state, officials said this week. Ayobs transfer and new assignment with the rank of Commissioner of Police will take effect March 6, the Royal Malaysia Police announced late Thursday in a statement. It will cover efforts to combat general crime and maintain public order and security in one of Malaysias biggest states. His successor in the top counterterror role has yet to be named. Ayobs promotion was overdue and he needed to be exposed to a bigger role, Abdul Hamid Bador, the nations police chief, told the local media on Friday. He has done a wonderful job, he said. So he has been given the opportunity to be out there to lead, Abdul Hamid said. Although rumors of Ayobs transfer had circulated over the past six months, it was understood that he was only notified about the promotion late Thursday evening. He was summoned to meet with the Mohamed Farid Abu Hassan, director of the polices Special Branch, on the same day and later by Abdul Hamid, the Inspector General of Police, who broke the news to him. Ayob told BenarNews that he was looking forward to the new challenge. It is something new for me. Insyallah (God willing), I will carry out the task given to the best of my ability, he said briefly. Under Ayobs leadership in counterterrorism efforts, more than 500 suspects from multiple terror organizations, including Islamic State (IS), have been arrested. The father of two who hails from Pendang district in the northern Kedah state was appointed as the polices counterterrorism chief in 2016. That same year, Malaysias most wanted terrorist, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, had threatened to kill Ayob. It was only the beginning of many threats that followed from members and supporters of IS. Ayob had to limit his movements. At one point, he was placed under heavy security due to the threats he received. He is hardly seen in public with his family or wife, who is also a top police officer, to avoid any unwarranted attention and exposure to threats. Ayob, who holds a Masters degree in information technology from a local university, joined the police force in December 1991. He served three years as a cadet officer in the Criminal Investigation Department before being transferred to serve in the Special Branch, whose functions combine the roles of elite police unit and domestic intelligence agency. He has been with the Special Branch ever since. He joined the counter terrorism desk in 1995 before it became a separate and bigger unit with its own budget to combat terrorism and extremism in the Southeast Asian country. The Peterboro | Photo: Jessica G./Yelp Craving Chinese food? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Chinese spots around Detroit, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture next time you're on the hunt. Winter is the top season of the year for consumer spending at restaurants across the Detroit area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a small business CRM software provider. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Detroit-area restaurants grew to $25 for the metro area in the winter of last year, 2% higher than the average for the rest of the year. 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. 1. The Peterboro photo: jeffrey t./yelp First on the list is The Peterboro. Located at 420 Peterboro St. in Midtown, the cocktail bar and Chinese spot is the highest-rated Chinese restaurant in Detroit, boasting four stars out of 319 reviews on Yelp. 2. Johnny Noodle King photo: rose m./yelp Next up is Hubbard-Richard's Johnny Noodle King, situated at 2601 W. Fort. With four stars out of 703 reviews on Yelp, the Chinese spot, which offers ramen and noodles, has proved to be a local favorite. 3. Dynasty Chinese Food Photo: Dynasty Chinese Food/Yelp Jefferson Chalmers's Dynasty Chinese Food, located at 13340 E. Jefferson Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Chinese spot four stars out of 14 reviews. 4. Kwong Village photo: rob d./yelp Kwong Village, a Chinese spot, is another go-to, with four stars out of 20 Yelp reviews. Head over to 6600 Michigan Ave. to see for yourself. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. When Alexa Chung launched her eponymous fashion label, she explained that she had been irked by people perceiving her as famous for doing nothing. Sadly, the model and television presenter is struggling to prove shes more than just a pretty face. I can disclose that her label Alexachung lost a staggering 3.9 million last year. I can disclose that her label Alexachung lost a staggering 3.9 million last year That means her operating company, Alpha Charlie, is now carrying accumulated trading losses of 7.4 million. The business had lost 2 million in 2018, 1.5 million the previous year, and 75,000 in its first trading period, 2016. Luckily, Alexa has managed to persuade shareholders to pump a total of 8.9 million into the business including 4.9 million last year, leaving it a healthy 1.5 million in the black. Among the investors to have ploughed money in are film producer Eric Fellner and his model girlfriend Laura Bailey, as well as Lady Dunstone, wife of Carphone Warehouse co-founder Sir Charles. Clearly, theyre not into fast fashion or quick returns. While its become fashionable to carry round your shih tzu or miniature poodle in a designer handbag, eccentric actress Helena Bonham Carter turned up at a party this week carrying her hefty Tibetan terrier. Hes called Pablo either after Escobar or Picasso, we dont know, she tells me, jokingly, at the launch of actress Sophie Wards debut novel, Love And Other Thought Experiments, at Daunt Books in Londons Marylebone. Pablos lovely. Helena Bonham Carter turned up at a party this week carrying her hefty Tibetan terrier Helena plays Princess Margaret in Netflix drama The Crown and was left bereft when she had to leave her pooch to continue the shoot. I missed him while filming today, she laments. The 53-year-old acquired the dog with her boyfriend, the university lecturer Rye Dag Holmboe, 32. She describes him as her fur baby Pablo, that is, not toyboy Rye. BBC star Jane Hill claims there is an even more daunting challenge to overcome than when she 'came out' in 2009. She said: 'Women going grey is the big taboo that we still haven't broken' BBC star Jane Hill broke down barriers when she came out in 2009. Now, the newsreader claims there is an even more daunting challenge to overcome. Women going grey is the big taboo that we still havent broken, she tells me. We now have much older women on TV, which is brilliant. Im 50, Im not old there are men in their 70s still doing the job but the nut that we havent cracked is having a woman on telly with grey hair. The broadcaster, who has been dyeing her hair since her 20s, declares: I would love to go grey, to be that pioneer. But my hairdresser told me it would take a year and a half to completely grow out. I thought: Im not going to get that time off work. The Oscars are over-rated says composer Anne Dudley, who won a gong for The Full Monty score. You have to carry it around with you all night and its too big to put in your handbag, Anne, who fronts an Oscars special for Scala Radio this weekend, tells me. Its most useful for waving around when youre trying to get into the parties. Looking forward to Valentines Day? Comedian Michael McIntyre says hes dreading next Friday because restaurants will be full of distant husbands and wives who feel compelled to dine a deux. Its quite difficult, he tells me. Comedian Michael McIntyre (pictured with his wife Kitty) says hes dreading next Friday because restaurants will be full of distant husbands and wives who feel compelled to dine a deux You have all these couples who have been together a long time, so if we go out for a dinner, no ones really talking to each other. Instead you hear that awkward cutlery clunk. McIntyre, whos been married to aromatherapist Kitty for 17 years, insists: Im romantic all the other days. Over to you, Kitty . . . Former Air Force official Bui Xuan Thanh started making replicas of fighter planes in the 1970s. PAINSTAKING: Thanh dedicates his replica planes to pilots who lost their lives protecting the nation, or for distinguished guests or heads of state on special occasions. VNS Photo Nguyen Thanh Over 40 years, he has created thousands of replicas of fighters which have become souvenirs for many veterans, politicians, heads of state and collectors. In his house located on Le Trong Tan Street, Thanh Khe District in the central city of Da Nang, the most important positions are dedicated to his most sophisticated beautiful replicas. I might be the only person in Vietnam who makes replicas of fighters from aluminium, Khanh says. Born in the northern province of Phu Tho, he used to work maintaining fighter jets, weapons and machines for the Air Force Division when his factory was still located in the north. When the northern border war broke out in 1979, he moved to Da Nang where his company was relocated. As a skilled worker, he was assigned to verify product quality. Thanks to his meticulousness and patience, he was assigned to making replicas of fighters for exhibitions or as souvenirs for the company. At first he used mica, but then due to material shortages, he switched to aluminium that was both cheaper and more eye-catching. Making a replica of a fighter is not a piece of cake. Thanh still has photos and detailed designs of fighters of various kinds like the MIG15, MIG17 and Su 22M4 aircraft, which are collectables. Turning a design into a realistic replica takes time. To start, he creates moulds based on the designs of each fighter jet. Each mould is a masterpiece. The moulds taken to the workshop have the body and wings pre-cast. Other details like rockets attached to the wings are also cast in their own moulds, depending on the size. Assembling the parts takes the most time. Thanh has to sharpen each part thoroughly so they are smooth and shiny, which demands patience. It can take him months to complete an order. Among the dozens of replicas that he has made, the replicas of Su 22M4 fighters with swing wings are the most sophisticated. EYE ON IT: Thanh is often seen in his small workshop wearing glasses and absorbed in every small detail of the replicas. Meaningful gift Thanh is often seen in his small workshop wearing his glasses and absorbed in creating every small detail of the replicas. He does not remember how many replicas he has made in the past 42 years. It is countless, he says. After finishing an order for 79 replicas from former comrades, he immediately received another. The replicas are sometimes gifted to veterans or distinguished guests and heads of state. Thanhs special customers are pilots who ask him to make replicas of the fighters they flew. On the first page of the record of the 45th anniversary of Factory A32 is a photo of late Party General Secretary Do Muoi pictured with managers of the factory during his visit in 1997. It was the first time he had presented his work replica to a party leader, which left him with immense pride. Thanh was also asked by the factory to make nearly 300 replicas as gifts for the guests. It was the first time I'd created so many replicas, he recalls. Im so happy that many people still trust my skills. I will continue my work as long as Im still healthy. VNS Nguyen Thanh International airlines set up routes to Vietnam as aviation market booms With new foreign airlines setting up air routes to Vietnam and existing airlines increasing flight frequency, the Vietnamese aviation sector is becoming extremely busy. With Iowa in the history books but not completely settled, Democrats head to the Granite State to battle it out. Scott was in Iowa this week and has the latest. Meantime, Jeremy and Andrea fill us in on what's happening with voter registrations along what's becoming known as the "Blue Spine of Texas." All that and more as we go behind the headlines for a look at what's really going on at the Texas Capitol and in Washington with the state's #1 political podcast: The Texas Take. Join the conversation featuring Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace, and Chronicle ace reporter Andrea Zelinski. When a powerful earthquake struck Albania more than two months ago, buildings collapsed like houses of cards atop sleeping families. As the country struggles to put the pieces back together, it is facing a structural reality that the disaster exposed: the scourge of illegal construction that has allowed unsafe homes to sprout up across the poor Balkan country. For decades builders, engineers and officials have flouted safety codes, piling storey upon storey on top of homes that were not built to support such weight. When the 6.4 magnitude quake shook the country in late November, nearly 90 buildings were reduced to rubble while more than 80,000 were damaged, with 51 lives lost. While not all of the devastation could be blamed on illegal construction, experts say it was a key factor in the extent and deadliness of the disaster. Two months on in the town of Thumane, one of the hardest-hit areas, Vjollca and Meleq Mesiti consider themselves lucky to be alive but are still grappling with the loss of their home and bakery, which was turned into a pile of bricks. "A whole life's work collapsed in a matter of seconds," says Vjollca, 49, as the couple search through the rubble for expensive equipment. "We're still in shock," 53-year-old Meleq adds. After hurling brick after brick out of the rubble, Vjollca starts pulling out dozens of baking pans, some still brimming with baked loaves covered in dust. "Life goes on!" she says wearily. The Mesitis, who are staying with relatives, were among 17,000 people made homeless overnight by the earthquake. Some 10,000 of those are still living in tents in the heart of winter, according to official figures. - 'Violations from A to Z' - Albanian authorities say they are finally cracking down on those who have shirked building laws, a practice that dates back to the unbridled construction boom that followed the fall of communism in the early 1990s. Regulations could not keep up with the crazed urbanisation as developers rushed to scoop up land and erect buildings. "One thing is certain, in the majority of cases, the loss of human lives is due to the violation from A to Z of all building regulations," says Luljeta Bozo, an engineer and university lecturer in the capital Tirana. Since the earthquake, more than 80 people have been arrested, including builders, engineers, officials and former mayors, according to Tirana's chief prosecutor Elisabeta Imeraj. "We've been able to prove that in some cases there was not even the minimum amount of documentation needed to issue a building permit," she told AFP. Some applications had no earthquake risk assessments at all, Imeraj said, adding that in some cases buildings had up to four extra floors illegally tacked on. In a country with a widespread corruption problem, experts say bribes have helped get some illegally constructed buildings made "legal" after the fact. The government has pledged to toughen penalties for those who ignore regulations, for example by seizing or demolishing illegal property -- generally not easy to carry out. - 'My life is here' - The government has costed out a billion euro (dollar) rebuilding effort ahead of a February 17 donor conference in Brussels. Authorities have chosen 18 sites where new housing blocks will be erected for those made homeless by the quake. But in a country still emerging from its communist past, when private property was banned, some are strongly attached to their land. Elvira Leka, for example, refuses to leave the site of her badly damaged white house in Thumane. Since the earthquake, the 45-year-old has been living in a tent next to the house with her ailing husband and their son and daughter. A cow, donkey and chickens mill about outside. Leka says she has no interest in moving to the new apartments to be built just a few hundred metres (yards) away. "My life is here, I'd rather live with animals than with human beings," she says. Nearby in the hamlet of Likesh, however, the Subashi family has been luckier. An NGO is rebuilding their homes on the ruins of the old ones, thanks to funds raised from the Albanian diaspora. "During the earthquake, the roof collapsed on my back, I couldn't understand where I was," recalls 87-year-old Halil Subashi. "Today, I'm happy that they're helping us build our houses, it's as if I was born a second time." Don Hand was dejected, dismayed and desperate for what he thought would be a compromise. Already, hed seen a Texas Methodist minister set his ordination papers ablaze, a protest that prompted another to come out as gay and a group of ministers to demand a more gay-friendly United Methodist Church, just a few years after its 1968 founding. At the UMCs 1972 national meeting, where delegates tensely debated an official stance on homosexuality, Hand scribbled a half-sentence amendment intended to strike a middle ground. It left intact the resolutions language that all people are equal in the eyes of God, but added that homosexuality was nonetheless incompatible with Christian beliefs. It passed. There wasnt a whole lot of heat or anger, Hand, a San Antonio trial attorney and Methodist layman, recalled in an interview this week. It was just a smooth piece of business. Nearly half a century later, Hands 16-word addition is at the core of a schism that many believe will fracture the nations second-largest Protestant group in May. The proposed divorce, announced last year, follows years of challenges to the so-called incompatibility clause, which more liberal United Methodists say has alienated LGBTQ congregants and ministers. Those tensions came to a head last year, when UMC leaders put forward five proposed plans that would create anywhere from one to four new global Methodist denominations and, potentially, dissolve the current UMC. Most of the proposals would create new denominations based on ideological views, with traditionalists and progressives going their separate ways 52 years after the UMC was created through a merger. And while at least one of the proposals is predicated on a desire for reconciliation and grace through separation, many expect a nastier divorce that could entangle local churches in battles over property, theology and parishioners. This is now coming home to every zip code in America, said Terry Mattingly, a longtime religious commentator and current fellow at University of Mississippis Overby Center. Thats how widespread this is going to be. Methodism has broken down, and there is no one in Methodism with the power to settle this. Much of the in-fighting can be traced back to the 1972 meeting at which Hand proffered his amendment. But even before that, there were signs of conflict, said Ashley Dreff, a Methodist historian at High Point University in North Carolina. Dreff said that the sexual revolution of the 1960s influenced some Methodists to adopt more progressive views on sexuality and other social issues, particularly in coastal cities such as San Francisco. But those liberal bastions were outliers the birth of the United Methodist Church came at the tail end of the Civil Rights movement. Interracial marriage had only been legalized a year prior, and explicitly racist or discriminatory laws were still on the books in many states, including Texas. Dreff described the views on sexuality among more liberal Methodists as "extremely radical" for the time. And so, after the 1968 merger of the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church that created the UMC, Methodists needed to reconcile divergent views on theology, scripture and social issues. Rather than truly hash out the differences, Dreff said, the UMC opted to uphold theological pluralism, creating with it a big tent and room for wide diversity in opinions and approaches. It was a temporary and flawed fix, Dreff said. I like to say it is the beauty and the bane of United Methodism because it's beautiful in concept, but it does not work in practice, especially when it comes to sexual ethics, she said. Because when you are creating a sexual ethic within a theologically plural society, someone's going to be left out. That much became clear to Hand at a 1971 meeting of Texas Methodists. Months earlier, Wil Schaefer, a San Antonio-area minister, had been stripped of his ordination after a regional discipline board found hed had a heterosexual affair. Incensed, Schaefer walked down the meetings aisle with what at first appeared to be a flaming bouquet. In fact, it was his ordination papers engulfed in flames. Bishop, here are my credentials! he shouted. Schaefers display of disobedience motivated another Texas minister to come forward and ask his Methodist brothers to deal publicly with what they have known privately, according to a 2017 paper by Methodist historian Robert Sledge. Most of the ministers and leaders of the church have known this about me for some five years, Gene Leggett said at the meeting. We have lived by an unspoken agreement of you leave me alone and Ill leave you alone... I am a homosexual. Like Dreff, Sledge noted that views on sexuality at the time were heavily influenced by social and political issues. The battle cry of the Age of Aquarius was if it fees good, do it! he wrote. Months later, another meeting of southwestern Methodists was interrupted, this time by a protest from a group of young men calling themselves the Gay Liberation Front. The group insisted that attendees take up no other business until the issue of homosexuality was settled, according to Sledge. And they brought with them a list of 10 demands. Those included that Methodists accept the authenticity of the gay lifestyle; cease to define gay people by their sexuality alone; acknowledge that oppression of gays is an extension of oppression of women and Third World peoples; and campaign against Texas anti-sodomy laws. Hand later wrote that he was amazed at the rudeness and display of contempt hed seen. To him, the protests were expressions of entitlement by those who were unwilling to abide by centuries-old standards of Christian morality. In 1972, Hand and others arrived at the meeting in Atlanta gravely concerned. The agenda called for delegates to vote on various doctrinal statements, including one on human sexuality. The proposed statement called for more efforts to understand human sexuality, affirmed that sex outside of marriage could be exploitative within as well as outside of marriage, and stated that homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of sacred worth. Hand took issue with some of the language, which he saw as ambiguous and reflective of the ongoing sexual revolution and thus a serious departure from the teachings of Christian tradition. He added his compromise, a caveat at the end of the proposals last sentence noting that we do not condone the practice of homosexuality, and consider this practice incompatible with Christian doctrine. The compromise statement was kind of a papering over of the broader issue, Sledge told the Chronicle. It was a way for traditionalists to accommodate the concerns of the insurgents without sacrificing their convictions. Since then, the incompatibility clause has been challenged at almost every UMC meeting. Over the same period, the denominations regional bodies in the United States have continued to clash over discipline, race and gender issues, contrasts so stark that two Duke University sociologists once declared that there were, in reality, seven Methodist churches in America. These differences may be so potentially divisive that the church, remembering the struggles of the past, prefers to ignore them, the papers authors wrote in 1985. ... Although some of the specific conflicts within Methodism appear on the surface to be over ideology, polity or between racial and cultural groups, the underlying causes may be regional differences. Those trends persist today, Mattingly noted. There never was a united Methodist Church It was always a compromise. Recent research by Ryan Burge, a professor of religion and political science at Eastern Illinois University, shows that support for gay marriage among United Methodists mirrors broader trends in America. Nearly 80 percent of United Methodist voters under 35 years old support gay marriage, Burge found. Less than half of those older than 76 held similar views. It also found wide variations in support for gay marriage based on region, education and church attendance. Yet his research also found United Methodists care far less about gay marriage as a voting issue than they do national security, health care of government corruption. Why is the split coming to a head now? Scott Jones, the resident bishop of the Texas Annual Conference, pointed to two things: The legalization of same-sex marriage in America, and the UMCs expansion in Africa and Asia, where attitudes toward homosexuality and other social issues are typically more conservative. Thats shifted some power away from more liberal United Methodists. We have been debating issues about human sexuality since 1972, Jones said. It has always been controversial. Dreff, the Methodist historian, added that the legalization of same-sex marriage has forced ministers to take a side on the issue -- and risk losing their ministerial credentials. All of a sudden, they're being asked to perform same sex marriages by their congregants, and are for the first time having to kind of confront how the United Methodist Church understands sexuality, she said. Dreff agreed that the issue is likely to at least split the UMC. But she doesnt necessarily see that as a bad thing for Methodism, which has a history of schisms dating back to slavery. Shes choosing to view it with optimism, as potential new life coming into the church that allows it to reach new people in underserved communities that are worthy of love and worthy of affirmation. Hand, 90, stands by the balance he sought with the incompatibility clause, nearly five decades after he wrote the fateful half-sentence. But he added he doesnt mind if other Methodists see it otherwise. I think its important that the members be happy, he said this week. And if they cant be happy together, they can divide. robert.downen@chron.com Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Voters in Delhi are casting their ballot to choose members for the 70-seat assembly with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (BJP) looking to retain power with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trying to snatch the Capital away from it. More than 14.7 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the bitterly fought Delhi assembly election in which 672 candidates in the fray. Thousands of security personnel are keeping an eye on the 13,571 polling booths across 2689 areas in the Capital. The polling will continue till 6pm in the Delhi assembly elections. The votes will be counted on February 11. Heres what the AAP and BJP are tackling in the Delhi assembly elections this year: 1. The AAP led by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wants to repeat its spectacular performance in the 2015 assembly elections, when it won 67 of the 70 seats. It has enumerated the work it has done in the last five years to woo the voters in the Capital. 2. The BJP is looking to unseat the AAP as it hinged its political campaign on the issues of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA and national security. The party has called Kejriwal a terrorist and accused him of siding with anti-nationals in Shaheen Bagh, the heart of protests against CAA in Delhi. 3. That attack continued on the polling day on Saturday as leaders of the BJP picked on the Delhi chief minister over his temple run and his special appeal to women voters in the national capital. Union minister Smriti Irani attacked Arvind Kejriwal for what she interpreted was a sexist remark as the AAP leader responded saying they know how to vote. 4. The BJPs Delhi unit chief, Manoj Tiwari, said Kejriwal made the idol of Hanuman impure after his visit to the temple dedicated to the Hindu celibate god. In turn, the AAP leader tweeted condemning the BJPs politics. 5. The Congress, which drew a blank in Delhi after ruling it for 15 years, has been behind in the race with the Delhi assembly polls being seen largely a battle between the AAP and BJP. 6. Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk constituency Alka Lamba made news after she tried to slap an AAP worker who was interrupting her during a media interaction. She accused the worker of making objectionable comments about her son. 7. The five critical polling stations in Shaheen Bagh, which has seen women at the forefront of the anti-CAA protests, saw voters pouring in amid tight security. The colony in southeast Delhi has been thrust into the national spotlight as protesters have blocked a major road for months, demanding the repeal of the contentious citizenship act. Two incidents of shooting were reported in the area within a week. 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led several political leaders in tweeting to urge people to come out in large numbers to vote in the Delhi assembly elections. The Prime Minister made special mention of his young friends as he asked them to exercise their franchise. Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted to appeal to the people to vote in order to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics. 9. The voter turnout, however, was low at nearly 30% at 3pm with just three hours left for polling. Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of 67.12% in the last assembly elections held in 2015. 10. The AAP got 54% votes in the 2015 polls but it dipped to 26% in the municipal elections in 2017 and 18% in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 when it couldnt even open its account. Both the BJP and the Congress have improved their vote share in this period. The BJP polled 56% votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, up from 36% in 2017 and 32% in 2015. Congress got just 10% of votes in 2015 but it increased to 21% in 2017 and 23% in 2019. A meeting about the challenges and opportunities for retailers in New Ross post-bypass opening is being held next Tuesday, February 11, at 8pm. County Wexford Chamber President Sean Reidy said the chamber has to act fast in conjunction with Wexford County Council in making the town a shopping destination. The announcement of the imminent closure of Nolan's book shop sparked panic locally last week, following the announcement of the closure of Noreen O'Donnell's boutique and news that Sheridan Insurances are due to move offices to their Wexford headquarters next month. Mr Reidy said the new Chamber CEO Fiona Lewis will address the meeting in the Brandon House Hotel, along with a speaker from a town that has been successfully bypassed. 'The meeting will deal with the challenges and opportunities that arrive when you have a situation where a town has been bypassed. There are a lot of very good examples of towns that are thriving after being bypassed, including in Co Wexford in Gorey, and there are positive reports coming out of Enniscorthy too.' Mr Reidy said since he took on the role of Chamber president in the autumn he has had meetings with New Ross retailers concerned about the future of their businesses. 'County Wexford Chamber applauds the opening of the inspiring Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge and New Ross bypass. We look forward to maximizing the opportunities this improved infrastructure presents for business, for inward investment, for retailers and for tourism in New Ross and County Wexford. We will be engaging with the different sectors in wide ranging consultations and presentations to devise strategies for the future. I think the whole retail environment generally is facing new challenges with the struggle of internet shopping. All of that feeds into the challenge for the retail sector in the context of the bypass opening so we have to look at how the bypass can enhance business and make New Ross a retail destination.' Calling for 'innovative thinking', Mr Reidy said improvements need to be made to the public realm (the town's public spaces), adding that discussions about that have to take place between the chamber and the council. 'This needs to happen very quickly. The challenges that downtown retail businesses face in the modern world are profound and require new thinking and an innovative approach involving all the stakeholders. We need to reverse the current downward trend that has been evident for the past number of years. This is an important moment for the town of New Ross and we need to work together in a constructive way to ensure a bright future for the businesses and people of the town.' A meeting of the old New Ross & District Chamber committee (soon to be called the strategic committee) is due to take place today (Tuesday) ahead of the public meeting next week. Mr Reidy said he has highlighted the need for urgent action with Ms Lewis. 'I think there are two ways to look at the bypass. Obviously there is a challenge there. We should look at the opportunities that are there for retail. Retail is being challenged everywhere, not just in New Ross because of people shopping online. The towns that have been really successful are the towns that have become niche destinations like Clonakilty. I would be optimistic and I think the opportunities of the bypass are what we should be focussing on. We need to meet the retailers as I think we need to recreate New Ross as a shopping destination. New Ross has been a market town with a big hinterland for centuries. There is no reason that needs to change.' Citing Glenmore as an example of a nearby market, Mr Reidy said many Glenmore and Tullogher residents stopped driving into New Ross in the afternoon and early evenings in recent times for fear of getting stuck in traffic. 'The bypass is going to open up that market and that is one of several.' Speaking about the closure of his shop, Nolan's book shop co-owner Paul Brennan said: 'You wouldn't have to be a genius to see that footfall in Ross has fallen drastically over the past five or six years. It's challenging times ahead for people. I honestly think it's at crisis point at the moment. I am not knocking the town because I love the town but that's just the way the town has gone. You wouldn't have to be a genius to see that footfall in Ross has fallen drastically over the past five or six years. It's challenging times.' Do we as journalists have a mistaken idea of how events influence people? We live in such a polarized country. People have already made up their minds about Donald Trump and the two parties. Thats not completely irrational. If you are in favor of gun rights and against abortion rights, I understand why you wouldnt change your mind about Donald Trump because of the news of the day. If you want more gun control and you want abortion to be available, the fact that the economy added several hundred thousand jobs in the last few months is not going to suddenly make you like Donald Trump. The problem with this system is that it can really reduce accountability in politics. People are going to stand by their side even in extreme cases. It happened during Bill Clintons impeachment, and were living in an even more polarized time now. There is even less room for persuasion than there was back then. Did impeachment end up mattering to people? We dont know right now. If you looked at the polling, you can say it didnt matter much. But the only poll that really matters is the election in 2020. Polling also suggests that Americans are somewhat exhausted by the Trump presidency. There are some number of people who dont hate him but are tired by the chaos. I think its too early to know whether this damaged him at all with those people. Throughout impeachment, polling constantly indicated a split of some kind oriented by party, even with slight majorities. The final acquittal vote was almost perfectly party line. Why are we seeing so little gray? Steve Bannon, Mr. Trumps former White House adviser, has said that were not going to hug it out, meaning America is not going to hug out these big issues. Theres a really dark version of that, which is that we have a level of societal conflict that we havent had in some time. Theres also some truth in that, whether its about the social issues like gun control or abortion, whether its about how religious a society we should be or how diverse a society we should be. There are these huge debates, like impeachment, where basically the parties neatly line up on either side of those debates. It is very hard given the stakes and the starkness of the disagreements for any individual news story, even one this big, to move someone. What to make of an age of impunity The acquittal was another instance of how the biggest stories in the Trump years have eventually concluded without politically fatal consequences. Valentines Day also known within the Ghanaian parlance as Vals day originated from the Roman priest Saint Valentine. Saint Valentine was actually a very charismatic priest who reached out to others, most especially the poor, needy and marginalised in the society. In order to commemorate all his good works, the feast of Saint Valentine was established by the Roman Pope Gelasius in AD 496 and it has since then been remembered every February 14 on the catholic calendar as a feast day. Valentines day has since developed into a tradition of courtly love by the 14th century within the era of Geoffrey Chaucer. By the 18th century, it was used as a medium of expression of love by couples in England. The situation at stake now seems to drift away from the initial purpose for which the day was instituted. From onset, Valentines day was mainly used in remembrance for the good works done by the Roman martyr Valentine and also to as far as possible replicate the good deeds which he once exhibited. In Ghana, this day is marked with extravagance, ranging from the purchase of expensive gifts or souvenirs to expensive dates usually at very expensive places. Most often than not, these gifts are not given to wives or husbands. Instead they are given to boyfriends, girlfriends or concubines. Reaching out to the poor or needy; the very essence for this day is long forgotten. Instead what we see is the dashing of gifts to concubines, girlfriends or boyfriends. The question here is, do the receivers of these gifts really merit or deserve them? Are they really in need, as in poor and helpless? Would Saint Valentine really be happy that he is been remembered this way? The dark side of the commemoration of Valentines day remains untold. There have been several reports on some of the negative practices in which people indulge in on account of this day. Notable amongst such deviant behaviour is promiscuity. Most people see this day as one to which they would use to exhibit their sexual prowess without bearing in mind the numerous STIs which abound. Apart from the fact that it has been set aside as a day for showing love, it is also a feast day in accordance with the catholic doctrine. It is therefore sacrilegious to use this holy day to practice promiscuity. If nothing at all, all and sundry should join hands with the church by praying for the marginalised, the poor and less privileged in society. It is not bad to give out gifts to loved ones but the main bone of contention here is whether we are really living up to the main purpose for the institution of Valentines day. It should be a day in which the marginalized like; the beggars, the blind, the crippled, etc should be remembered and made to know that they are part and parcel of society. Just as Saint Valentine ministered to the persecuted Christians and conducted weddings for some Roman soldiers who were not allowed to marry, the same should be emulated in our society. Inmates in our prisons could also be reached out to on this said day, in order to showcase or extend our love to them. In as much as possible, it should not be a day that would be used to promote or indulge in immoral practices. With regards to how Valentines day is observed in our part of the world, is the celebration hyped? Or is it really necessary? Written by; Dakurah Sebastian Email: [email protected] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 11:37:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Resident Representative of UNDP China: We are confident that together we will win this fight against #Coronavirus Historically dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, three-way race led by Sinn Fein is new dynamic for Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has begun voting in a general election, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar hoping to secure a new term on the back of Brexit but voters likely to judge him more on his domestic record. Polls opened across the country at 07:00 GMT on Saturday, with a small number of islands off the west coast voting on Friday to allow for rough seas that could disrupt the transport of ballots by boat. Some 3.3 million people are eligible to vote to elect 159 members of the Dail, the lower chamber of Parliament in Dublin. Varadkars Fine Gael party has been in power since 2016 but polling suggests they are trailing centre-right rivals Fianna Fail and republicans Sinn Fein. On Monday, Sinn Fein which had been the political wing of the IRA paramilitary group was leading with 25 percent, with Fianna Fail at 23 percent and Fine Gael at 20 percent. The groundswell of support caught Sinn Fein itself off guard after it sank to 9 percent at local elections last year. Analysts say it may only be able to gain a few seats and retain its position as the third-largest party in Parliament. This election is wide open, Varadkar said at his final campaign stop in the western town of Ennis on Friday. Its a three-horse race, three parties, all within shouting distance of each other. Miscalculating public mood Varadkar launched his campaign after successfully helping to broker a deal cushioning Britains EU exit on January 31 by avoiding a hard border with British-run Northern Ireland. An open frontier was a key requirement of the 1998 peace agreement that largely ended 30 years of violence over British rule in the north, which left more than 3,000 people dead. Varadkar has warned voters that Brexit is not done yet, as London prepares for talks with Brussels to secure a longer-term trade deal in record time before the end of this year. Failure to do so could present an existential threat to the Irish economy, he said. But experts suggest he may have miscalculated the public mood with surveys indicating Brexit was a low concern among the electorate. Other parties have hammered Fine Gael over failings in healthcare, housing and homelessness. Varadkar acknowledged he understood that on Friday. You want us over the next three years to focus on issues like health and housing with the same passion and intensity that weve focused on Brexit in the past three years, he said. Varadkar is Irelands first mixed-race and openly gay premier who has come to represent a more socially progressive country after years of dominance by the Roman Catholic church. But, despite Brexit and landmark votes to overturn strict abortion laws and introduce same-sex marriage, some predict he could be on his way out. Varadkar is young, hes gay, he looks like part of the new Ireland, Eunan OHalpin of Trinity College Dublin told AFP news agency. Yet his personal popularity appears to have dipped, and that of his party has dipped very significantly. Negotiations Polls close at 22:00 GMT on Saturday and will be followed immediately by an exit poll giving the first indication of the outcome. Counting begins at 09:00 GMT on Sunday with some results expected from the early afternoon. A three-way race led by left-wing Sinn Fein is a new dynamic for the Republic, where governments have been historically dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Since 2016 Fianna Fail have propped up Fine Gael in government with a confidence and supply arrangement that could implicate them in the perceived failings of the government. (Young people) blame the current government and coalition of parties in government for this mess, said OHalpin about the housing shortage. Despite its opinion poll lead, Sinn Fein which wants to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic is only fielding 42 candidates and cannot form a majority government even if they all win. Both Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin a 59-year-old former teacher are adamant they will not form a coalition with Sinn Fein. On Friday, Martin said Sinn Fein, have not cleaned themselves from their bloody past. The only party who can lead an alternative government is Fianna Fail, he said in his home city of Cork. However, David Farrell, a professor of politics at the University College Dublin, told Reuters news agency that the election could be most pivotal for Sinn Fein, which has struck a chord with younger voters on the defining election issue: the cost and availability of housing. Were seeing a version of what weve seen elsewhere, a growing constituency, particularly among younger voters and those who feel left behind that the neoliberal agenda has not worked for them, said Farrell. The gains Sinn Fein are making are consistent with what were seeing in other democracies. We just need change in Ireland, its very obvious, said Eilis Wall, a 40-year-old preschool owner who travelled 200km (125 miles) to Dublin from the western county of Clare on Wednesday to join thousands of childcare workers calling for better state funding. Fine Gael have really let us down and Fianna Fail were worse before that. Im voting for change, she told Reuters news agency, adding that meant switching to Sinn Fein from Fine Gael. Democratic presidential contender Elizabeth Warren is getting a lot of mileage out of her endorsement from former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Castro, fresh off a six-day run of heavy campaigning for Warren in Iowa on Monday, was in New Hampshire by Tuesday morning and was out west trying to win votes for her in Colorado this weekend. Castro dropped out of the presidential race at the beginning of the year and immediately threw his support to Warren. He proceeded to spend four of the next five weekends in Iowa, working for Warrens campaign. That culminated at a high school gym in Iowa, where Castro spelled out why he thinks Warren could beat President Donald Trump in November. Shes the hardest-working candidate of all the candidates, Castro said. He said Warren can appeal to working-class voters in such key states as Pennsylvania and Michigan, but also energize a diverse coalition of voters to win in places like Florida and Arizona. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Despite all the travel, Castro did have a chance to be back in San Antonio briefly this week. But even then, he found time to do an interview with MSNBC on Warrens behalf. She is the candidate that can unify the Democratic Party in a way we need to if we are going to beat Donald Trump, Castro said on MSNBC. On Friday, Castro was in Boulder, Colo., to stump for Warren and will be in Denver today to help with a training session for Warrens door-to-door campaign workers. Warrens support from the Castro family doesnt end with Julian Castro. This coming Monday, civil rights leader Rosie Castro his mother leads a community outreach event for Warren starting at 7 p.m. at Progreso Hall at 1313 Guadalupe St., Suite 200. That starts a weeklong Latino outreach program in Texas by the Warren campaign that will include stops in Laredo, McAllen, Corpus Christi and Houston. Warren is not attending those stops herself. Wicklow father of three Les Martin is continuing his campaign for newborn screening expansion, which could save 50 babies a year in Ireland. Both of his sons, Cathal (Cogs) and Ciaran (Kiwi), have been diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD). Cogs was diagnosed when he was aged two and a half. Kiwi was also tested for the condition aged nine months. However, his condition was detected early, and he received potentially life-saving support over in Italy in 2017, which greatly benefited him. Sadly, the condition wasn't detected in Cogs early enough. His parents were told he might only have months to live but he is still fighting on three years later. Les has been calling for the expansion of the Newborn Screening Programme to include more rare conditions after the family took a trip to Italy so Kiwi could be a part of a clinical trial therapy for MLD which proved a success. Les explains: 'Under the law in Italy any newborn child has the right to be screened for any conditions that has treatment available. They have 40 conditions they can be treated for and that number is growing all the time. An extra 350 children are being treated per year since the introduction of the law. In Ireland newborns are only screened for eight conditions, which is very low. The average in Europe is 22 conditions. I wrote to all of the politicians, the HSE and President Higgins - basically anyone I could think of. I also started an online petitions which collected over 10,000 signatures in a very short space of time. John Brady invited me to talk in the Dail. Afterwards I was approached by a number of politicians, including Senator David Norris. 'The issue has since been raised in the Dail by Deputies John Brady, Pat Casey, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly. It was also debated in the Seanad for over two and a half hours before being passed unanimously without any need for a vote.' New legislation has been drafted by Senator David Norris but its introduction seems to have stalled with the elections taking place and a possible change of Government. 'I'm just very keen that we don't lose any of the momentum we have built up,' says Les. 'But I am encouraged by the progress I have made. I know things take time but there are children born every week in Ireland with conditions that aren't being tested for. It's not something I can just forget about.' The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established as an independent advisory committee and will advise the Minister and Department of Health on all new proposals for population-based screening programmes and revisions to existing programmes. The inaugural meeting of the NSAC took place in November of last year. 'I'm thankful for the support of all the Wicklow TDs and hope any new Government will keep up the progress that has been made,' adds Les. He is also extremely grateful to the support offered from Irish President, Michael D Higgins, with the whole family visiting Aras an Uachtarain, including Holly, the sister of Cogs and Kiwi. 'President Higgins has been very nice to us. He invited us up to Aras an Uachtarain and spoke to use for over an hour. I have also been working alongside other rare disease advocates. It's Rare Disease Week at the end of February and President Higgins has invited us and around 50 to 60 other families to Phoenix Park for Rare Disease Day.' Les believes the success of his campaign will be Cathal's lasting legacy in helping to save the lives of other Irish children. 'It's amazing how one little boy can change so much for so many. 50 children a year could be saved with proper screening and that will be Cathal's gift to the world. He showed us that Ciaran had the same condition and helped save him too.' Les also wants support and a budget for the HSE Rare Disease Plan and a genetics service without the 12-month waiting list. 'I would also ask the Government to support the 300,000 people in Ireland with a rare disease. The plan has been allowed to sit idle by the past two Governments. But following our requests Sinn Fein and Fine Gael have included it in their manifesto. New born screening needs to be expanded and the Rare Disease Plan needs to be implemented. We also need a functioning genetic service without huge waiting times. I would ask people to take time to remind politicians of these three items. People have been so good to us in Wicklow but this is above politics. This is about children's lives and their well-being.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 01:40:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KWEKWE, Zimbabwe, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two miners had been killed and another two were injured after a gold mine collpase in Zimbabwe on Wednesday night, a local official confirmed on Friday. Two bodies were immediately recovered after a tunnel at Globe and Phoenix Mine collapsed on Wednesday night in Kwekwe at Zimbabwe's Midland Province, with initial reports saying as many as 20 miners were trapped. However, Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit chairperson Fortune Mupungu told Xinhua that only five miners were underground at the time of the tunnel's collapse, and confirmed two had died. He said another two miners got injured and were sent to the hospital, the other one came out unscathed. Mupundu said mine officials were notified of the tunnel collapse by the miner who escaped unscathed, setting in motion the rescue efforts. The army engineers had also joined the rescue, and were assessing the state of mine, he said. A California woman says that instead of helping her 16-year-old son with autism when he was having a series of seizures, Fresno police hit and handcuffed him while the family was at a fast food restaurant. Lourdes Ponce said her son -- who has epilepsy and autism, according to his family -- started having seizures while he was in the restaurant bathroom Thursday. She wrote about the incident in a Facebook post. Family members called 911 after they tried to help the boy but couldn't get the bathroom door open. Though she had requested medical help, eight police officers showed up, Ponce said. "The police didn't help David. Instead, he was hit," the boy's sister, Montserrat Ramos, told CNN. "We had explained what his medical problems were, but they didn't understand." The officers thought he was on drugs, Ponce wrote in her post, which included a video that shows an officer holding the teenager from behind. Another video shows officers trying to place the boy into the back of a patrol car, and a woman screaming, "He's sick, take him to the hospital." The videos provided by the family don't show the officers hitting the boy. In a statement to KFSN, the Fresno Police Department said: "This case is currently under Administrative Review. The review will include the examination of all the information pertaining to the officer's contact including Body Worn Cameras." CNN has reached out to the police department for more details. In a video posted by Ramos on Facebook, the boy is kneeling beside the police car, handcuffed. As his sister tries to calm him, he begs for the handcuffs to be removed, saying they hurt. "He is only 16 years old; the only mistake he made was having a seizure," Ramos told CNN. Her brother has had seizures since he was 5, she said. Ponce told KFSN that it was only after she showed police paperwork documenting her son's history of epilepsy that EMS was dispatched to take him to the hospital. Ramos said her brother left the hospital Saturday, but he had to go back Sunday and is now back at home. His recovery has been difficult and "he's not doing well," his sister said. A card with the portrait of Dr. Li Wenliang at Li's hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7. Li, regarded as a whistleblower on the coronavirus outbreak, died of a disease contracted because of the virus. He was one of the first to raise concerns about the outbreak in Wuhan, before contracting the virus himself. EPA The death of a young doctor who was reprimanded for warning about the new coronavirus outbreak in China triggered an outpouring of praise for him Friday, and fury that the communist authorities put politics above public safety. In death, Dr. Li Wenliang became the face of simmering anger at the ruling Communist Party's control over information, and complaints that officials lie about or hide disease outbreaks, chemical spills, dangerous consumer products and financial fraud The 34-year-old ophthalmologist died overnight at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he worked and likely contracted the virus while treating patients in the early days of the outbreak. ''A hero who released information about Wuhan's epidemic in the early stages, Dr. Li Wenliang is immortal,'' the China Center for Disease Control's chief scientist, Zeng Guang, wrote on the Sina Weibo microblog service. Police had reprimanded eight doctors including Li in December for warning friends on social media about the emerging threat. China's Supreme Court later criticized the police, but the ruling party also has tightened its grip on information about the outbreak. Weibo users have left hundreds of thousands of messages below Li's last post. A post by one of Li's coworkers, an emergency room nurse, said the freezing Wuhan weather was ''as gloomy as my mood.'' ''To you, we are angels and so strong. But how strong a heart can watch the people around me fall one by one without being shocked?'' wrote Li Mengping on her verified account. Others placed the blame for the deaths on Chinese officials, not an animal species from where the virus might have spread, and said those who made trouble for the doctor should face consequences. The most pointed online comments were quickly deleted by censors. The ruling party has faced similar accusations of bungling or thuggish behavior following previous disasters. They include the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a 2005 chemical spill that disrupted water supplies to millions of people in China's northeast, sales of tainted milk that sickened thousands of children and the failure of private finance companies after the global economic crisis. In each case, officials were accused of trying to conceal or delay the release of information members of the public said they needed to protect themselves. The party often responds by allowing the public to vent temporarily, then uses its control of media and the internet to stifle criticism. Critics who persist can be jailed on vague charges of spreading rumors or making trouble. American dies of coronavirus in China Japanese with suspected coronavirus infection dies in China China's Communist Party faces anger and recriminations over virus China virus death toll rises to 722 with 31,774 cases On the streets of Beijing, the capital, residents expressed sadness and said that China should learn from Li. ''He was such a nice person, but still didn't pull through,'' said Ning Yanqing. ''Those left do not dare to speak out. Alas, I don't know what to say.'' Some online comments Friday hinted at broader dissatisfaction with the party and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has tightened controls on society since taking power in 2012. The most powerful Chinese leader since at least the 1980s, Xi gave himself the option of remaining president for life by changing China's Constitution in 2018 to remove a two-term limit. Referring to one of Xi's propaganda initiatives, a message that circulated on social media said, ''My 'Chinese Dream' is broken.'' In Wuhan, local leaders were accused of telling doctors in December not to publicize the spread of the virus in order to avoid casting a shadow over the annual meeting of a local legislative body. As the virus spread, doctors were ordered to delete posts on social media that appealed for donations of medical supplies. This prompted complaints that the authorities were more worried about their image than public safety. Li was detained by police after warning about the virus on a social media group for his former classmates. The latest episode is unusually awkward for the ruling party because Li was a physician, part of a group who are regarded as overworked and underpaid heroes, and are China's line of defense against a frightening new disease. ''He showed a responsible attitude toward society,'' said Cai Lin, a Beijing resident. ''He was honest and faithful. So I think all of society should reflect on this.'' The World Health Organization, which has complimented China's response to the outbreak, said in a tweet that ''We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did on the virus.' The official propaganda apparatus tried Friday to mollify the public. ''Some of Li Wenliang's experiences during his life reflect shortcomings and deficiencies in epidemic prevention and control,'' said state television on its website. Chinese Ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai said on Twitter, a service the ruling party's internet censorship blocks the public from seeing, ''Really saddened by the death of Dr. Li Wenliang. He was a very devoted doctor. We are so grateful to him for what he has done in our joint efforts fighting against #2019nCoV.'' The Speaker of Ghanas Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, has urged the World Bank and the developed world to accept the fact that most African nations abhor homosexuality. According to Prof. Oquaye who doubles as a pastor, the practice of tying aids to the recognition of gay rights and marriages in Africa is unhealthy. Speaking during a courtesy call by the country director for the World Bank Pierre Frank Laporte, Prof. Oquaye asked the identity of the African to be respected. The World Bank should dissociate itself from some of this modern reinterpretation of human rights and with special reference to the Africans own conceptualization, for example, gay rights. If we dont like it, respect our view and dont link it to aids, assistance, economic development because they have nothing to do with that. We are not for example in Ghana castrating people because they are gays and we are not engaged in any anti-human rights issueIt is time we look at this new interpretation of human rights which is gaining economic underpinnings in global relationships. The country director on his part assured the Speaker that the World Bank is clear in its mind the part it wants to play in eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring development through a partnership. Meanwhile, the World Bank has cautioned Ghana against excessive borrowing as the country heads to the polls this year. According to the Bretton Wood Institution, Ghana risk being classified as debt distressed if the development is not checked. Government days ago raised 3 billion dollars on its latest roadshow. The countrys debt stock stands in excess of 200 billion dollars prompting calls for the Akufo-Addo led government to pull the brakes on the borrowing. Speaking to the media after a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, the Country Director for the World Bank in Ghana, Pierre Frank Laporte, however, argued the fiscal responsibility Act will serve as a check for borrowing. 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 Candidates running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada made their pitch to party faithful at an event for the provincial party in Halifax on Saturday. Former cabinet ministers Peter MacKay and Erin O'Toole widely seen as the two front runners in the race positioned themselves as the most capable of beating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an election and attacked him for what they say is his lack of substance and opposition to natural resource development. Lesser-known candidates Marilyn Gladu, Rudy Husny and Rick Peterson each spent substantial portions of their speeches introducing themselves in addition to presenting substantive policy ideas. The five leadership hopefuls spoke to the hundreds gathered at the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia's annual general meeting, in what was their first opportunity for the candidates to appear beside each other since the 2020 leadership campaign began last month. Peter MacKay addresses regional issues MacKay, who is from Nova Scotia, peppered his 15 minutes with myriad references to the province's history, promising a Conservative government far more respectful of the federation than the current Liberals. The former defence and justice minister attacked Trudeau's record on the environment, which he said failed to produce results while at the same time is crippling key natural resource industries. "This Liberal government is so blinded by ideological opposition to natural resource development it is crushing our economy," he said. "And while our country flounders, the prime minister pursues his vanity project at the United Nations." Watch: Conservative leadership hopefuls speak in Halifax MacKay promised to bring jobs to the region by supporting big projects similar to the now-cancelled Energy East pipeline that would have transported crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to the east coast for refining and export. He repeated a familiar Conservative argument stating that Canada must take a global view when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and that exporting liquefied natural gas could help reduce emissions in the face of ongoing demand for fossil fuels. Story continues "Even the United Nations has said we're going to be using fossil fuels for 40 years to come," he said. "We could throw all our car keys in Halifax Harbour, turn down the heat, turn off the lights, walk around naked in the dark eating organic beets and it won't make a difference." Erin O'Toole calls himself 'true blue' Erin O'Toole, a former veteran affairs minister and current MP, also took aim at Trudeau. "Unlike the Trudeau government, who constantly seems to be fighting for attention from magazine covers and global celebrities, Canadians want a government that gives them the chance to succeed and keeps our great country united," said O'Toole, who also has ties to Nova Scotia from his university days and time with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He attempted to position himself as the "true blue" conservative candidate, a not-too-subtle dig at his opponents who support progressive ideas. "Either you believe that we move backward by shifting to the left, or you believe, like I do, that we win by moving forward by uniting all conservatives on the right," said O'Toole. MacKay and O'Toole are so far the only official candidates in the race, having met the first round of requirements to enter $25,000 and 1,000 signatures that include people in 30 ridings across seven provinces and territories. The other three campaigns say they have the money required to pass the first hurdle, but are still collecting the signatures. Altogether, candidates must pay a non-refundable $200,000 fee, a refundable $100,000 compliance deposit and submit 3,000 signatures. Saturday's event was open to all prospective candidates, so long as they paid a $1,000 fee to the Nova Scotia PC Party for costs. Gladu and Peterson both appealed for signatures to help them meet the party's requirements top become official candidates. Marilyn Gladu touts engineering background In her speech, Gladu, the current Conservative MP for Sarnia-Lambton, touted her experience in the private sector and noted she was the first female engineer to be elected as an MP. She worked as a chemical engineer for 10 years with Dow Chemical in Quebec and for another five years with Worley Parsons, an engineering company in the natural resources sector. "When it comes to leading a huge and diverse team, I think that's an experience I've had," said Gladu. Gladu said she would support building infrastructure for rural hospitals and coming up with innovative ideas on how to get more doctors, nurses and personal support workers into rural communities as Canada's population ages. She said she will put forward a viable climate plan that would help Canada meet its 2030 Paris Accord targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time get pipelines built to both coasts. Rick Peterson running for second time Peterson, a businessman from Alberta, began his speech by praising the others running for the leadership and appeared to partially endorse MacKay. He suggested he will make MacKay his second choice on the ranked ballot the party uses, and he hopes others do the same. Peterson is running for the second time, after having placed 12th out of 14 in the 2017 race. The signature policy pledge of his campaign is reducing the corporate tax rate to zero and instituting a flat 15 per cent personal tax rate for individuals. "This is a plan that will supercharge the economy," Peterson said. Peterson said he would also introduce a carbon-pricing scheme targeting the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, similar to what the province of Alberta has implemented under Premier Jason Kenney. Finally, Peterson said he would roll back new gun laws implemented by the Trudeau government last year. Rudy Husny wants 'generational change' For Husny, the event was an opportunity for him to come out of the backroom and onto the big stage. He's a longtime Quebec Conservative organizer and staffer, but said the old ways of the party need to be jettisoned. "Our economic message is great . . . but it's not all about cutting," he said. "It's about smart spending, it's about investment, that's the message we have to tell Canadians." One of his ideas is a move to e-government. Husny lamented the process for obtaining passports and benefits from the government, and said he would move much of that online. Husny also said he would be a pro-energy voice in Quebec and would champion the country's resource sector. Prospective candidates have until the end of February to register in the leadership race, and party members will elect the new leader on June 27. Watch: John Baird 'seriously considering' Conservative leadership bid, says Kenney M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet in conjunction with the National Recruitment Federation Skillnet and the Drogheda & District Chamber will be hosting a Commuter Jobs Expo in City North on Feb 13 2020 from 2-8pm. A spokesperson fro Skillnet said: 'We will have over 55 companies from the North East and along the M1 Corridor and Recruitment Agencies exhibiting. 'We are trying to attract commuters back to work locally.' Drogheda Region has one of the highest commuter rates in Ireland. East Meath, according to census 2016, has the highest percentage of commuters travelling for more than 90 minutes each way every day. Drogheda Chamber of Commerce, Love Drogheda BIDS, and The Mill Enterprise Hub are collaborating on a new strategy to encourage more startups, multinationals and remote workers to base themselves in the wider Drogheda region. The owner of the house in Kolkata's Ekbalpore area where a girl was allegedly gang-raped by her four "friends" have been arrested, officials said on Saturday. The owner of the house on Bhukailash Road knew what was going on inside the room on Thursday night and he did nothing, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said. "In this manner, he actually helped the four accused in committing the crime. We are trying to find out if he had played any other role in it," he said. The owner was summoned to the police station for questioning in the morning and was arrested after he admitted of knowing about the crime, the officer said. The four persons who were earlier arrested have been sent to police custody till February 10 when produced at a city court, he said. Police are awaiting the medical test reports of the girl to confirm the gang rape, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The federal government has cleared the way for a Silicon Valley startup to deploy thousands of its self-driving delivery vehicles on US streets. Nuro, based in Mountain View, California, is now able to launch up to 5,000 of its R2 autonomous vehicles over the next two years, according to the US Department of Transportation. The R2 has no steering wheel, pedals or side mirrors as it's designed to be unmanned and carry cargo. Large compartments on its side open up to reveal deliveries, such as groceries or pizza. Nuro said it will initially deploy the R2 in six zip codes in Houston, covering 160,000 residents. It plans to start delivering Domino's pizza in Houston soon, although it didn't specify an exact date. In December, the company announced a partnership with Walmart to test autonomous grocery delivery in Houston sometime this year. The federal government has told self-driving companies to apply for exemptions to its vehicle standards in order to more quickly get innovative technologies onto roadways. Nuro is the first company to receive an exemption from the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which requires cars to have a long list of safety features including airbags and seat belts. "Since this is a low-speed self-driving delivery vehicle, certain features that the department traditionally required -- such as mirrors and windshield for vehicles carrying drivers -- no longer make sense," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a statement. The R2 is also classified as a low-speed vehicle so it doesn't have to meet the same safety requirements as cars and SUVs. Low-speed vehicles can only go as fast as 25 miles per hour and must not weigh more than 2,500 pounds. Nuro is required to report any crash-related information to the federal government and to periodically report general information about the R2's operation. A spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation declined to offer additional details on what other data must be provided. "One will need to look at the fine print of the reporting requirements to fully assess if NHTSA will be requiring robust enough information on adverse events to fully quantify the risks and benefits of the deployments," said Bryan Reimer, a research scientist in the MIT AgeLab and the associate director of the New England University Transportation Center at MIT. "I'm glad to see that this is only for low speed deployments as one needs to walk before anyone is allowed to run." Initially, the R2 will be followed by a vehicle with a human driver who will monitor it and intervene remotely if needed. The R2 is already being tested on private land. Nuro plans to build only a few hundred R2s in its first year and will remain focused on Houston for the time being. It expects to produce thousands more vehicles once it releases its next-generation R3. The company did not say when it plans to release the R3. Unlike most self-driving companies, Nuro is focused on carrying goods rather than people. There are fewer safety and ethical questions when an autonomous vehicle is carrying groceries than a human being. Such questions as to whether a pedestrian or a passenger should be prioritized in a crash can be avoided. Most self-driving companies have not applied for government exemptions as they continue to develop and alter their vehicles. Companies offering self-driving rides today, such as Alphabet's Waymo, are relying on vehicles that include traditional car components, including steering wheel, pedals and mirrors, which have given them a quicker path to deployment. Oscars 2020: Historic races to watch originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Each Oscar win is historic for the honoree, but some have more notable implications for the history of the award show. Although most eyes will be on the night's biggest categories, especially best picture, there's definitely reason to watch the ceremony in its entirety. MORE: Complete list of 2020 Oscar nominations Here are some of the night's more historic races. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, history will already have been made. Conductor Eimear Noone will become the first female conductor ever to lead the orchestra on Hollywood's biggest night. Id be dead inside if I didnt have any concerns. Luckily for me, I have friends in the orchestra and I have friends on the page in front of me," she told Variety. "The background changes, but the little black dots on the page are always home for me. No matter what country Im in or what concert hall, it doesnt matter -- the score is where my mind and my heart are. 1. "Parasite," the South Korean film about class warfare from director Bong Joon-ho, could become the first non-English movie to win best picture and best international feature film. Five other movies have been nominated in both categories, and while each of them -- "Z," "Life Is Beautiful," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Armour" and "Roma" -- won best foreign language film, they all came up short for best picture. (Last April, the best foreign language film category was renamed best international feature film.) PHOTO: The Kim Family (Woo-sik Choi, Kang-ho Song, Hye-jin Jang, So-dam Park) in the film, 'Parasite.' (NEON + CJ Entertainment) 2. "Harriet" star Cynthia Erivo, the third person ever to receive acting and song nominations for the same movie, could become the youngest EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) ever, should she pick up either award. PHOTO: Cynthia Erivo attends the 26th annual Screen Actors' Guild awards at the Shrine Auditorium, Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images, FILE) 3. Scarlett Johansson could become the first woman ever to win best actress and best supporting actress in the same year. She was nominated for her roles in "Marriage Story" and "JoJo Rabbit," respectively. Story continues PHOTO: Scarlett Johansson attends the EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, Feb. 2, 2020 in London. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images) 4. "Joker" composer Hildur Gunadottir could become the fourth woman ever to win best original score. PHOTO: Hildur Gudnadottir attends the EE British Academy Film awards 2020 after party at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, Feb. 2, 2020. (Gary Mitchell/Barcroft Media via Getty Images) 5. Real-life couple Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach directed "Little Women" and "Marriage Story," respectively, and both have been nominated for best picture. They are the first known couple to be pitted against each other in the Oscars race, though exes James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow competed in the best director category in 2010. Bigelow won, and became the first and only woman ever to win the award. PHOTO: Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig attend the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020 at Royal Albert Hall, Feb. 2, 2020, in London. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) 6.In the animated feature category, either "Toy Story 4" or "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" could become the second sequel ever to win. "Toy Story 3" was the first. PHOTO: A scene from 'Toy Story 4.' (Walt Disney Picture) 7. If Joaquin Phoenix wins the best actor Oscar for "Joker," he would become the second person to pick up an Academy Award for playing the Batman villain. (Heath Ledger won best supporting actor in 2009 for playing the Joker in "The Dark Knight.") This phenomenon has only happened one other time: Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro both won Oscars for playing Vito Corleone in "The Godfather" and "The Godfather, Part II," respectively. The eighth Democratic presidential debate of the 2020 campaign, hosted by ABC, WMUR, and Apple News, had seven candidates, lasted 2 1/2 hours - and did not have many statements that merited fact-checking. Here are eight claims that caught our attention. - - - "The reality is on my watch, drug arrests in South Bend were lower than the national average, and specifically to marijuana, lower than in Indiana." - Former mayor Pete Buttigieg Buttigieg was challenged by moderator Lynsey Davis over the fact that when he was mayor a black resident in South Bend, Indiana, was four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white resident. This was a point raised in an Intercept article that noted the rate was 4.3 times for a black person than a white person between 2012 and 2018, compared to 3.5 times in the state of Indiana for that time period. His response was a non sequitur. Davis quickly noted that more blacks were arrested in 2012 than in 2018 (the last year for which there is data). Data supplied to the FBI show 151 blacks and 75 whites were arrested in 2012, compared to 186 blacks and 96 whites in 2018. The number of black arrests dipped as low as 71 in 2013, but in every year far more blacks were arrested for marijuana possession even though South Bend has a black population of about 27,000 and a white population of around 64,000. Between 2012 and 2018, 805 blacks were arrested, compared to 449 whites. So even though blacks are about 30 percent of the population, they were arrested twice as often as whites. The Buttigieg campaign issued a statement claiming that in his second term black residents in South Bend were less likely to be arrested for marijuana than residents of Indiana. The numbers were presented as arrests as a percentage of the entire population. The campaign did not respond to a question for equivalent data for his first term. - - - "In 1988, I probably lost a race for Congress . . . because in 1988, I said that we should ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in this country. That was 30 years ago. Furthermore, I am very proud that today I have a D-minus voting record from the NRA." - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sanders likes to talk about his D-minus rating from the NRA, and his loss in his first congressional race. He says the NRA's endorsement of his opponents during his first congressional race in 1988 may have cost him the election. This was one of Sanders' repeated claims in the 2016 campaign, so we dug into this deeply then. Sanders' most recent grade from the NRA (technically the NRA's political action committee, the NRA-Political Victory Fund) was, indeed, a D-minus. Since 1992, the first year the NRA issued a grade for Sanders, he has received between a C-minus and F. Since 1988, Sanders has been consistent on restricting the use of semiautomatic firearms (often called "assault weapons"). The evidence for whether his stance had anything to do with his 1988 loss is mixed. He could have just as easily lost the election because he split votes with a Democrat, as opposed to being the only candidate without an NRA endorsement. The NRA had endorsed one of his opponents, Peter Smith, in 1988 because Smith signed the NRA pledge to not support "additional restrictive firearms legislation." But Smith changed his mind once he was in Congress and supported a ban on certain semiautomatic rifles. That angered the NRA, which actively campaigned for Sanders in 1990 to successfully oust Smith. That's how Sanders first won a seat in the House. - - - "Everyone on this stage except Amy [Klobuchar] and me is either a billionaire or is receiving help from PACs that can do unlimited spending. So if you really want to live where you say, then put your money where your mouth is and say no to the PACs." - Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts Warren has sworn off PAC money for her presidential run and said all her opponents for the Democratic nomination (save for Klobuchar) should be doing the same. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang's bids are all being assisted by super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. Tom Steyer is a billionaire. Bernie Sanders is supported by a 501(c)4 group called Our Revolution. "Our Revolution can raise unlimited sums from wealthy patrons that dwarf the limits faced by candidates and conventional PACs," according to the Associated Press. "Unlike a super PAC, however, the group doesn't have to disclose its donors - a stream of revenue commonly referred to as 'dark money.' " Warren is not backed by a super PAC, but she gets air cover from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a political action committee that is limited in the amount of money it can raise from individual donors. The PAC has an affiliated politically active nonprofit, P Street Project, that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. PCCC tweeted during the debate: "If you believe Super PACs & anonymous wealthy donors have no place in our primary, chip in to fund @ewarren's grassroots-funded campaign for big, structural change now, & our work electing progressives who will fight for campaign finance reform." (Sanders and Warren supporters say Our Revolution and the PCCC are grassroots-funded.) - - - "The president turned to me with the entire security apparatus and said, 'Joe, I want you to organize getting 156,000 troops out of Iraq.' I did that. I did that." - Former vice president Joe Biden This is one of Biden's go-to defenses when he's challenged on his 2002 vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq. During President Barack Obama's first term, Biden chaired a committee that made sensitive decisions about the pace and scope of the withdrawal of nearly 150,000 troops. But the Obama administration didn't end there. Biden usually leaves out what happened in the second term. By 2014, with no U.S. forces in the picture, the Islamic State terrorist group began to take control of parts of Iraq. By 2016, Obama had sent 5,000 U.S. troops back into the country to reverse the Islamic State tide. Biden was still the vice president. We previously gave Two Pinocchios to Biden for this selective retelling. - - - "I made a mistake. I said it 14 years ago. I trusted George Bush to keep his word. He said he was not going to go into Iraq. He said he was only using this to unite the United Nations, to insist we get inspectors in to see what Saddam was doing when we got elected." - Biden This is Biden's standard line in explaining his vote to support an invasion of Iraq. But this version of history is disputed by former president George W. Bush. "I'm sure it's just an innocent mistake of memory, but that recollection is flat wrong," Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told the Fact Checker. He included a link to a podcast titled "A Polite Word for Liar." Here's what happened. Biden, during the Senate debate on a resolution authorizing force against Iraq on Oct. 10, 2002, argued that the resolution was designed to ensure diplomacy. But he also fought against alternatives offered by more liberal Democrats that would have required Bush to first win United Nations authority for an invasion or else seek a new war resolution from Congress. "The reason for my saying not two steps now is it strengthens his hand, in my view, to say to all the members of the Security Council: 'I just want you to know, if you do not give me something strong, I am already authorized, if you fail to do that, to use force against this fellow,' " Biden argued on the Senate floor. The U.N. ordered weapons inspectors back into Iraq, but the administration got impatient with the results, calling for the inspections to end almost as soon as they started. Irritating allies, the administration argued that the inspections could not be allowed to drag on because the U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf region had proceeded too far to turn back from war. Nevertheless, Biden continued to express support for his vote. "I supported the resolution to go to war. I am not opposed to war to remove weapons of mass destruction from Iraq," he said in a February 2003 speech. "I am not opposed to war to remove Saddam [Hussein] from those weapons if it comes to that." But he added that Bush was not being straight with the American people about the possible financial and military burden. In a Washington Post opinion article just before the conflict began, Biden unsuccessfully argued that an invasion should be delayed until the administration obtained a U.N. resolution authorizing an attack. That was the position taken by Senate liberals that Biden had previously dismissed during the debate about the war resolution. Bush, in his book "Decision Points," wrote: "Some members of Congress would later claim they were not voting to authorize war but only to continue diplomacy. They must not have read the resolution. Its language was unmistakable: 'The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.' " - - - "We are spending twice as much per capita on health care as the people of any other country." - Sanders Sanders often says this line in debates but he never gets it quite right. He apparently meant to say that the United States spends twice as much as other developed countries - defined as members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Instead, he said twice as much as any other country. The United States pays far more per capita on health care than any other major country in the world ($9,892 in 2016) - twice as much as Canada ($4,753). The OECD median was $4,033. But Switzerland is a major developed country, and U.S. costs are 25 percent higher than Switzerland's ($7,919). These figures come from a study by a team led by a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher. More recent OECD estimates show the United States spent $10,586 per person, compared with Switzerland ($7,317 per person), Norway ($6,187 per person) and Germany ($5,986 per person). All of those are more than half of U.S. spending, though the OECD average was just under $4,000. So Sanders would have been correct if he spoke about the average or median of other developed countries. - - - "500,000 people going bankrupt for what reason? Because they have cancer or heart disease or Alzheimer's." -Sanders Sanders often repeats this talking point, usually asserting that 500,000 people go bankrupt every year because of medical bills. That's approximately two-thirds of the 750,000 total bankruptcies per year. We've previously given Three Pinocchios to Sanders for this claim. He tweaked his wording at this debate, attributing the bankruptcies to serious diseases and not just medical bills. The 500,000 figure is based on an editorial published by the American Journal of Public Health in March. The researchers surveyed debtors and asked about factors that contributed to their bankruptcies. Forty-four percent said either medical bills or loss of work related to illness "very much" contributed; 22 percent said either medical bills or illness "somewhat" contributed. Combining both groups of respondents, the study estimated 530,000 bankruptcies a year. But the study doesn't establish that all 530,000 bankruptcies were caused by medical bills. It's broader because it measures medical bills and illness. It measures contributions to bankruptcy, not causes. And it includes respondents who said medical bills or illness factored into their bankruptcy either "somewhat" or "very much." A different study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the same question of medical bankruptcies and found that the rate was far lower: 30,000 to 50,000 a year. However, this study was limited to non-elderly people who were admitted to the hospital for non-birth-related reasons, so it covers only a subset of all people facing medical debt. The research team Sanders cited once included Elizabeth Warren, who contributed to earlier versions of the study when she was a Harvard University professor. Interestingly, though, the senator from Massachusetts never makes the same claim about 500,000 medical bankruptcies a year. - - - "If we do what Joe wants, we'll be spending some 50 trillion dollars on health care over the next 10 years. That's the status quo, Joe. That's what Health and Human Services says." -Sanders Sanders has twice before in the debates referred to a "status quo" of spending $50 trillion over the next 10 years. In the third debate he said the cost of the status quo would be $50 trillion over 10 years, compared with more than $30 trillion for Medicare-for-all. When we queried the Sanders campaign during the debate for the source of the $50 trillion figure, we were directed to posts that were written by Paul Waldman for The Post's "The Plum Line," an opinion column. Waldman compared a government projection that national health spending would be about $50 trillion over the next decade to an estimate that projected the federal cost of Medicare-for-all as $32.6 trillion. In one column cited by the campaign, Waldman wrote: "So if Medicare-for-all actually costs $40 trillion, we would save $10 trillion. Hooray!" Waldman told the Fact Checker he has not read academic studies that looked closely at the impact of a Medicare-for-all plan on national health expenditures. It turned out that all but one of five major studies, from the left to the right, predict the Sanders plan would increase health spending, not reduce it. The author of the fifth predicts a decline but said Sanders's statement is exaggerated. We ended up giving Sanders Three Pinocchios for his comment. Global warming to blame for hottest day in Argentine Antarctica Buenos Aires, Feb 7 (AFP) Feb 07, 2020 Global warming is to blame for Argentine Antarctica recording its hottest day since readings began, Greenpeace said on Friday. Temperatures climbed to 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.9 degrees Fahrenheit) at midday Thursday at the research station Esperanza base, the highest temperature on record since 1961, according to the National Meteorological Service. The previous record stood at 17.5 degrees on March 24, 2015. The new record is "of course shocking but unfortunately not surprising because Antarctica is warming up with the rest of the planet," said Frida Bengtsson, marine environment specialist for Greenpeace, in a statement. At Marambio, another Argentine base in Antarctica, temperatures reached 14.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the hottest temperature for a day in February since 1971. The news comes after a decade of record temperatures on the planet and a 2019 that was the second hottest year since registers have been kept. And the new decade has begun along the same tendency, with last month the hottest January on record. The effects of global warming have already seen ocean levels rise due to melting ice caps. The two largest ice caps on the planet, in Antarctica and Greenland, have already lost an average of a combined 430 billion tons a year since 2006. According to UN climate experts, the oceans rose 15 centimeters during the 20th century. It's a threat to coastal towns and small islands the world over. One of the largest glaciers in Antarctica is the Thwaites glacier, which is the size of Britain. Scientists say that if it melted it would raise sea levels by 65 centimeters. "Over the last 30 years, the amount of ice melting off Thwaites and adjacent glaciers has nearly doubled," said the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration group of scientists in a statement. Argentina has had a presence in Antarctica for the past 114 years, including several scientific research bases, and is also a signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, which came into force in June 1961 and prohibits any militarization of the continent. 2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is still a slight favorite to win the upcoming New Hampshire Democratic primary contest, but former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is experiencing a surge in support. For the first time in the ongoing tracking poll conducted and released by the Boston Globe/Suffolk, Buttigieg has a slim, one-point lead over Sanders. According to the survey, Buttigieg clocks in at 25 percent, with Sanders closely behind at 24 percent. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren earns 14 percent support and Biden trails with 11 percent. While the average of polls still shows Sanders with a small lead over the former mayor, there is no question that Buttigiegs performance in Iowa has given him momentum heading into New Hampshire. In fact, the same poll from the Boston Globe/Suffolk released last Wednesday showed Sanders with a nine-point lead over Buttigieg, who had just 15 percent support at the time. In just a few days, the former mayor has surged by 10 points. Sanders won the New Hampshire Democratic primary by 22 points in 2016 when he was facing off against Hillary Clinton. He is the senator from the neighboring state of Vermont. While losing New Hampshire wouldnt be a fatal blow to the Sanders campaign, it would be a disappointment given the clear advantages he has in the state. The Democratic primary race is far from over It wouldnt be election season without media pundits writing political obituaries after one chaotic caucus in Iowa, and this year isnt any different. But the Democratic Primary race is far from over, especially since voters in more diverse states like South Carolina a place far more representative of the party as a whole havent even had a chance to weigh in yet. While Buttigieg is, indeed, surging in New Hampshire and former Vice President Joe Biden has been slumping since Iowa, the entire race can be flipped upside down once the primary heads south and ultimately goes national. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Sirius Minerals shareholders will decide its future in a make-or-break vote on March 3. Investors will choose whether to back a 405million takeover from global mining group Anglo American, which has made a 5.5p-per-share offer for the struggling Yorkshire potash miner. For the takeover to go through, Anglo needs 75 per cent of votes cast in its favour. Crunch vote: Investors will choose whether to back a 405m takeover from global mining group Anglo American Sirius's management has said it is the only way to avoid going bust it has only enough cash to last until the end of March. It is thought up to 50 per cent of Sirius's stock could be owned by individuals, a huge percentage for a firm that spent years trading on the FTSE 250 index. Sirius is worried many retail backers will not register a vote because they own stock through investing platforms. Unless a shareholder contacts the investing platform to tell them how they want to vote, the platform will often automatically include their shares in a default vote. Shares were flat at 5.53p. Donabate Portrane Community Council has expressed 'disappointment' at the consultation process being undertaken by Fingal County Council on an Urban Framework Plan for Donabate but the council has defended the process. Donabate Portrane Community Council said that the process was 'only a limited consultation with selected community groups', which did not include the community council. A spokesperson for the community council said the 'community at large will only be permitted to engage with the process after the draft Urban Framework Plan has been published, essentially at a time when it is too late in the process to meaningfully engage'. The spokesman for Donabate Portrane Community Council said it does however, welcome the move to have an Urban Framework Plan for the town. The community council says that despite major residential growth, the town continues to suffer with commercial, retail and community facilities only capable of serving a small rural village. But the community council said it was concerned that the county council has been 'rebuffing its efforts over the last few months to have a meaningful consultation process carried out into the framework plan'. It criticised an 'invite-only' meeting about the plan in Donabate Library held recently where it said some residents were denied entry. The community council said that a number of local politicians 'pleaded with the council officials to allow residents to attend the meeting'. 'These politicians protested strongly against this course of action,' the community council spokesperson said. Fingal County Council has sought to assert that, as the proposed Urban Framework Plan is a non-statutory document, there is no need for them to engage in proper public consultation. However, Donabate Portrane Community Council has pointed out that the country council permitted full public consultation from the outset in relation to another non-statutory plan for the Castlelands Masterplan in Balbriggan during 2018 and 2019.' The community council spokesperson said: "The position adopted by Fingal County Council in excluding the Donabate community from the process has fundamentally damaged the trust between it and the community. We have once again written to Fingal County Council, expressing in the strongest terms our objection to the approach they have adopted.' Donabate Portrane Community Council has called a public meeting in the Parish Hall in Donabate for Tuesday, January 28 next, at 8pm and has invited Fingal County Council to attend and to co-host this meeting with Donabate Portrane Community Council. Fingal County Council defended the process and said there would be 'extensive consultation' on the plan. Fingal County Council said the event in Donabate Library had over fifty people, comprising representatives from 25 community groups, attending a workshop on the plan. A council spokesperson said: 'Over the next few weeks further workshops are planned with businesses, residents' associations and schools as part of this extensive participatory process which will lead to a draft plan. This will be subject to further consultation and input from the local community. The process mirrors what happened in Rush where the council developed a similar plan, in collaboration with the local community, which seeks to rejuvenate and improve the town centre there.' Fingal County Council's Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure, Matthew McAleese, said: 'The process we used in developing the Rush Urban Framework Plan is recognised as best practice participatory planning and we found that having small focused groups worked very well in determining from the local community and businesses what the vision for their town centre should be.' Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said that the Council was working closely with the elected councillors who represent the area to make sure that the concerns of the community are considered. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) on Saturday deliberated upon a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for the regulation of passengers, personal and cargo vehicular traffic among the four countries. The discussion in this regard was held during a meeting of the BBIN member nations in the national capital today, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Representatives of Bhutan participated in the meeting in an observer capacity, while the Indian delegation was led by Vikram Doraiswami, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. The meeting was held to discuss the passenger and cargo protocols that are to give effect to the MVA for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal signed on June 15, 2015. The delegation recalled commitments made at the highest political level for implementation of the BBIN MVA and the importance of trade, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contact, through enhanced regional connectivity, including through facilitation of regional cross-border road transport, as per a joint statement released after the meeting. They expressed satisfaction over the progress made by each country in internal consultations with their stake-holders for the Protocol for the movement of Passengers. In addition, they also discussed in detail various aspects of the draft Protocol for the movement of cargo vehicles, discussing the existing draft text jointly for the first time. In this regard, the three delegations reaffirmed their understanding that the BBIN MVA safeguards the rights and obligations of all parties under other international Agreements and bilateral agreements within the group, including those relating to landlocked countries. "The delegations also discussed a draft enabling MOU to be signed by Bangladesh, India, and Nepal for implementation of the BBIN MVA by the three countries, bearing in mind the consent provided by the Royal Government of Bhutan for the entry into force of the MVA among Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, without obligation to Bhutan, pending the completion by Bhutan of its internal procedures for ratification of the BBIN MVA," the statement read. They agreed to consider expediting the finalisation of this MoU, expressing gratitude to Bhutan for offering its consent in this regard. The meeting agreed to endeavor to revert by May 2020 on the process of internal consultations by respective countries based on the discussions of the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:16:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Research institutes and companies from many countries have been at the center of a scientific race to combat the novel coronavirus epidemic by pushing for the development of a vaccine, as well as more accurate tests for the virus. A research team at Oxford University's Jenner Institute is preparing to begin clinical testing of a novel coronavirus vaccine candidate, the university said in a statement released Friday. The vaccine is currently being produced at the university, and will be transferred to Italian manufacturer Advent Srl, which will initially produce 1,000 doses for the first clinical trials. When developing the vaccine, the institute used the same approach it took when developing a vaccine against another coronavirus that caused the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. "By using technology that is known to work well for another coronavirus vaccine, we are able to reduce the time taken to prepare for clinical trials," said Professor Sarah Gilbert of the Jenner Institute. A microbiology lab at Imperial College London's Department of Infectious Disease is also developing a vaccine against the novel coronavirus. The biggest challenge of developing a vaccine is "the time to make it, show that it works and making (it) available in sufficient quantities that large populations can access it," said Robin Shattock, who is leading the Imperial College London team, adding that "China has done a heroic job in trying to contain the epidemic." Meanwhile, a group of Chinese institutions have been stepping up their efforts for vaccine development. The Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University and biotech company Stermirna Therapeutics have launched a program to develop an mRNA vaccine, saying that vaccine samples would be ready within 40 days. Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai are also making joint efforts on virus vaccine development with their U.S. counterparts from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Medical Branch and the New York Blood Center. In Washington D.C., a U.S. health official said Friday the development of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus is going well, with "no glitches." Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a news briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services that the U.S. health authority is working with biotech company Moderna to develop the vaccine. Fauci said one of the first steps that the vaccine development has to go through proved successful after researchers inserted the virus gene, published by their Chinese counterparts in a database, into Moderna's messenger RNA platform, allowing it to express proteins. The next step is to put those proteins into a mouse model to induce immunogenicity, and if that continues, initial clinical trials to test the vaccine's safety in a small group of humans would kick off within two and a half months, according to Fauci. Other researchers and companies have been working to facilitate the rapid development of test for the novel coronavirus. Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a U.S. molecular diagnostics company based in the state of Utah, announced Thursday that its research-use-only test for the virus is ready to be commercialized. The test could rapidly identify and verify the most optimal target on the virus genome for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, the company said. The announcement came after two weeks of design, development, and verification to ensure the PCR test's performance, the company said, adding the test's unique design would provide enhanced accuracy and efficiency when detecting the presence of the coronavirus. Mumbai: Actor Aparshakti Khurana is right now gearing up for the romantic drama "Helmet", his first solo release as a Bollywood hero, opposite Pranutal Bahl. He was also recently seen the recent short film "Nawab", a relationship drama. The actor says in personal life he is driven by relationships. He adds that he always prioritises his loved ones over career and that does not make him a "less ambitious" person. "I feel things will get worse in the future, considering we are getting obsessed with our careers. We rarely meet our real friends. These days, if someone prioritises relationships over professional life, people tend to call them 'less ambitious', and they are looked down upon by people who are living a life that only revolves around their career. That is untrue in my philosophy. I am someone who is very much driven by my family members and childhood friends, and I will never get so obsessed with my career as to miss out on the touch and warmth that I get from them. Does that makes me sound less ambitious? I do not know, but that surely makes me happy," Aparshakti told IANS. "Nawab" released on YouTube channel Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films on Wednesday, and revolves around a young couple in a marriage that is revealing cracks owing to high ambition. The film also features Maria Goretti, Geetika Vidya, and Seema Pawha, and is directed by Mansi Jain. Born and brought up in Chandigarh the actor made his Bollywood debut with a character role in Aamir Khan's 2016 blockbuster "Dangal". He has since then carved a niche as a credible actor with brilliant comic timing in films such as "Badrinath Ki Dulhania", "Stree", "Luka Chuppi", "Jabariya Jodi", "Pati, Patni Aur Woh" to name a few. Talking about opportunities in the film industry, and carving own space, Aparshakti said: "I think I am fortunate to be part of some interesting stories. Also, although those parts were small, each one of them was different from the another, and that is how I managed to show my versatility." Police are investigating a homicide after a mans body with signs of trauma was found on a sidewalk in southwest Albuquerque Saturday morning, according to a police spokesman. Around 7:10 a.m. officers arrived to 6505 Trujillo SW, near Coors and Bridge, in response to a down and out call, Gilbert Gallegos said in an email. Albuquerque Fire Rescue was called to the scene and determined the victim was beyond medical assistance, Gallegos said. Gallegos said officers canvassed the neighborhood and victim identification is pending. (Newser) Orson Bean, the witty actor and comedian, was hit and killed by a car in Los Angeles, authorities said. He was 91, the AP reports. The Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed Bean's Friday night death, saying it was being investigated as a "traffic-related" fatality. The coroner's office provided the location where Bean was found, which matched reports from local news outlets. A man was walking in the Venice neighborhood when he was clipped by a vehicle and fell, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Brian Wendling initially told local stations. A second driver then struck him in what police say was the fatal collision. Both drivers remained on the scene. Police were investigating and didn't identify the pedestrian to local outlets, which named Bean based on eyewitness accounts. story continues below Bean enlivened such TV game shows as To Tell the Truth and played a crotchety merchant on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He appeared in a number of filmsnotably, Anatomy of a Murder and Being John Malkovichand starred in several top Broadway productions. His career also took unexpected turns: He was blacklisted during the Cold War "because I had a cute communist girlfriend," he once said, took time off in the 1970s to live a hippie lifestyle in Australia, and later became a conservative commentator on Breitbart. Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1928 as Dallas Frederick Burrows, he never lost the Yankee accent that proved a perfect complement to the dry, laconic storytelling that established him as popular humorist. He had picked the stage name Orson Bean "because it sounded funny." (Read more celebrity death stories.) WSU Partners with U of U Dental Program to Help Underserved Communities February 7, 2020 OGDEN, Utah Weber State Universitys Department of Dental Hygiene is partnering with the University of Utah School of Dentistry to elevate learning opportunities and provide care to underserved populations in northern Utah. This endeavor is an ideal educational approach at many levels, said Dr. Yasmen Simonian, dean of the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions (DCHP). It will promote interprofessional education for both dental students and dental hygiene students at the U of U and WSU. Students will provide care to clinical patients and deliver a full range of dental services focused on underserved populations. The partnership will allow both programs to extend comprehensive care to Utahns with limited access to dental services, such as low-income families, blind, disabled, 65 and older, those living in rural areas, and Medicaid patients. This is a major step forward in our schools ability to address the oral health care needs of underserved populations throughout Utah, said Dr. Rory Hume, dean of the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Our school and university are delighted to have developed such a strong and collegial partnership with the excellent people and program at Weber State University, During the academic year, five dental students from the University of Utah and five dental hygiene students from Weber State will regularly visit the partnering campus to work in cross-disciplinary teams, providing patient care and simulating private dental practice. Interprofessional education focuses on teaching students how to provide team-based, collaborative care for better patient health. We are really excited about this opportunity because it is great for everyone, said Kelly Ganzen, U of U dental student. We get to work with hygienists, and they get to work with dentists. Patients dont have to wait for care. The goal is that the hygiene students will have their patients and do their work, and then if patients have needs like fillings, we could just do it right away instead of making them wait. The arrangement developed through the School of Dentistrys commitment to the state legislature to combine interprofessional educational experiences between students in state entities while providing care to underserved populations. Funding from the state legislature has provided the School of Dentistry the opportunity to establish partnerships with four state dental hygiene programs: Dixie State University, Weber State University, Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. I think its fantastic because it gives us an opportunity to show the dental students how we learn, and then we get to see how they do things, said Cherise McAllister, WSU dental hygiene student. It is a little crowded and a little hectic in the clinic, but that is all part of the process. Its teaching us how to work together and get along, which will help create a more cohesive dental practice in the end. For photos, visit the following link. wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Colleges-and-Departments/Health-Professions-Dr-Ezekiel-/Dental-Hygiene/Dental-Partnership Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. This browser is no longer supported at MarketWatch. For the best MarketWatch.com experience, please update to a modern browser. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sat, February 8, 2020 20:07 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206356663 2 Lifestyle Christian-Siriano,fashion,united-states,New-York-Fashion-Week,fashion-designer Free American creator Christian Siriano kicked off New York Fashion Week with a gleeful mix of comics, cubism and glamour, in the build up to Sunday's Oscars where he could well triumph. The young designer, based in New York since he was 22, has become one of the city's biggest fashion attractions over the last few years with the exit of several big names. His outfits are sought out and worn by stars on the red carpet. This season he drew inspiration from characters and emotions from the DC Comics superhero film Birds of Prey. "The whole idea was everybody has a little inner Harley Quinn in them," Siriano, referring to the movie's main character, told AFP before the show. Quinn, the Joker's former companion, is an extreme anti-hero who sways between good and evil. The 34-year-old Siriano sought to make her "more romantic, beautiful, elegant" and didn't skimp on the sequins, velvet and shimmering fabric to make his creations shine. It is par for the course for this master of the spectacle who added his touch of glamour with long robes, padded shoulders and opulent materials, velvet in particular. The designer also took flamenco by the arm, using its frills and traditional Cordobes hats as well as--more daringly--cubism. The last outfits of the collection were all formed of angles. Read also: Glamor and pop-art energy at first day of New York Fashion Week While designers increasingly ponder the relevance of the catwalk, Siriano is clear: it is part and parcel of what he does. "Fashion is so hard right now. It's rough. But this is my dream fantasy world. So I feel if we didn't have this some of my clothes wouldn't make sense anymore and that's so sad," he said. "That's why I get up everyday to do this job because I like the dream world of it." "I take a lot of risks and I think people are intrigued by that hopefully. You never know who's going to sit front row, you never really what the shapes are going to be. So I hope that gets people coming back." Hollywood's darling, Siriano is living a high-stakes, high-stress moment, with Thursday's show and the Oscars on Sunday. "It's the worse. Half my team is at my studio right now," preparing the outfits that will grace Sunday's red carpet. "It's so hard. It's the hardest we've ever had." Bangkok, Feb 8 : A Thai soldier went on a shooting rampage in northeastern Thailand on Saturday, leaving a number of people wounded, police said. Posts on social media appear to show the scene of a shooting near a shopping centre at Nakhon Ratchasima, BBC reported. According to police, the soldier stole a vehicle from his barracks before attacking people with an assault rifle in the city, which is also known as Korat. Details are awaited. Bombardier Inc. has Quebec in a bind again. As the debt-laden plane and train maker explores selling one of its core businesses and exiting a jetliner venture with Airbus SE, its home province is feeling the need to get involved again but not at any cost. Unwilling to add to the $1 billion (U.S.) his predecessor invested in the plane program now known as A220, Premier Francois Legault is exploring alternative tools to preserve thousands of jobs, in whats shaping out to be his biggest economic test yet. Hes walking a fine line. A self-described nationalist whose Coalition Avenir Quebec party rose to power for the first time 16 months ago, Legault has vowed to close the income gap with wealthier Ontario and keep corporate head offices in Quebec. Yet he cant been seen as too generous with Bombardiers management, whose image has been tarnished after awarding itself generous pay bumps while cutting jobs, receiving government aid, and failing to turn the company around. Bombardier: their failure, your bill, an editorial at Montreal-based La Presse editorial read last month. Public opinion has lost some of its sympathy for Bombardier, said Michel Nadeau, a former deputy chief executive officer at the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the provinces influential pension fund manager. The Legault government cant step in with big amounts if they help, it has to be small. Bombardier said in a statement it currently has no request for help before the Quebec government. A Canadian industrial champion with roots in snowmobiles before acquisitions turned it into a major builder of jets and subway cars, Bombardier has been a source of pride and a major employer in Quebec. Yet its glory days are now behind it as it focuses on reducing a $10 billion debt load that can partly be traced back to the C Series, a single-aisle jetliner that ran into multiple delays and overruns. Airbus gained control of the program in 2018 at no cost, renamed it the A220 and now employs 2,700 workers at the Mirabel plant, 53 kilometres outside Montreal. Serious Mistake The deal took power away from Quebec, which had poured $1 billion into the program just two years earlier in exchange for a 49 per cent stake but saw its share shrink to about 16 per cent with the entry of Airbus. Investing directly in the plane rather than the company as a whole was a serious mistake by the Liberal government that now leaves little say to its successor over asset sales, said Legault. Were in a situation thats not easy, Legault, a former businessman who co-founded leisure airline Air Transat, told reporters Feb. 5. Were currently looking at ways to protect jobs without investing too much of Quebecers money. Theres no obvious solution. The company has received billions in loans, tax credits and equity injections from federal and provincial governments over the years, including $596 million (Canadian) in reimbursable loans that it says it has completely paid back. And its trying to reduce debt. Short of a massive cash injection which Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon ruled out as not appropriate- Bombardier has little choice but to downsize. The company has already sold assets in recent years, including in a pending deal for its CRJ jet unit with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. It said last month that it is rethinking the program with Airbus, which calls for more cash and may prompt a writedown. It discussed combining its rail unit with Frances Alstom SA. According to the Wall Street Journal, its in talks to sell its private-jet unit to Textron Inc. and its remaining A220 stake to Airbus. Quebec would retain its 16 per cent stake, the Journal reported. Pile Up The story of Bombardier has been a multiple car pile up because people just wont look away, said John OConnell, chief executive officer of Toronto-based Davis Rea Ltd., who doesnt own the stock. And governments are the same as any other investor: prone to driving into the back of previous crash victims. Quebec is not entirely powerless. The Caisse paid $1.5 billion for a 30 per cent stake in the rail division in 2016 and will likely weigh in as Bombardier considers a tie-up with Alstom SA. While technically independent, the Quebec savings manager follows a twin mandate commanding it to contribute to Quebecs economic development. It declined to comment on any further investment. Legault said the train unit has a lot of potential as public transportation orders are set to jump in coming years. For now though, most Bombardier jobs in the province can be found in aerospace, with a staff of about 10,800 employees, against 1,500 in rail. Head Office The province is the worlds third-largest aerospace hub, with about than 43,378 positions and 191 employers as of Jan. 1, according to CAMAQ, an industry group focused on labour and training. That expertise means that jobs are likely to stay in Quebec in the short to medium term even if Bombardier drops the Airbus venture or sells the business jet unit, said Karl Moore, a professor of management strategy at Montreals McGill University. Its the well paying corporate jobs and the related business for lawyers or accountants that may go away, he added, a move reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s, when fears of Quebec separatism drove companies away from Montreal. Legault has often lamented head office losses due to acquisitions, such as Lowes Cos.s purchase of Rona Inc. The provincial governments popularity hovered at 60 per cent last month, according to a Leger poll commissioned by Legaults party. A misstep on Bombardier could put an end to the extended honeymoon. You dont want to be a Quebec government who loses jobs in Quebec, Moore said. Read more about: A winter storm has shut down roads in the Rockies, and it won't let up until Friday night. The storm began Thursday across the northern Rockies of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, spreading into Colorado and the Wasatch Range in Utah during the evening. The storm will continue Friday in these areas, with snow showers lingering into the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued dozens of winter weather alerts across the region. SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Feb. 7, 2020; Rockies snowstorm Salt Lake City and Denver have picked up around 3 inches of snowfall so far, but Salt Lake City won't see much more. Precipitation there has changed to rain. However, high elevations around the city could see several inches of additional snowfall today. Denver is forecast to receive a few more inches of snowfall. TREACHEROUS travel with major backups due to avalanche mitigation along I-70 west of Idaho Springs pic.twitter.com/IrekM3Ebkn Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) February 7, 2020 Higher elevations across the Rockies and Wasatch could see totals of 12 to 36 inches, along with wind gusts of 50 mph or greater, by the time the storm fades tonight. Blowing snow will result in occasional whiteout conditions with low or no visibility. Due to the hazardous roads and the need for avalanche control, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed sections of Interstate 70 between Denver and Vail Pass this includes the Eisenhower Tunnel area as well as US-6 over Loveland Pass. This is the announcement on the CDOT website: "There will be extended closures on I-70 and US-40 for avalanche control Friday morning and the potential for closures through the weekend. Travelers heading to the mountains this morning will see multi-hour waits as crews blast avalanche paths and remove the resulting debris. It is strongly advised that traffic wait in Denver or other locations until the roadway has officially reopened." Check chain laws here for the latest updates on winter driving. Story continues Unfortunately, snowstorms often result in missed deliveries, which frequently lead to missed pickups. Shippers who need loads picked up will turn to anyone who can provide that service, and they are usually willing to pay a higher rate. This equates to an opportunity for freight brokers to earn higher margins in the early days after a storm ends. SONAR Tickers: OTVI.DEN, OTRI.DEN Even though the current storm will fade Friday night, snow showers could return to the Denver freight market by Sunday. Occasional closures on I-70 west of Denver are possible through the weekend. Early next week may be a good chance for brokers to pounce on freight that wasn't picked up on time because of the weather. Denver is a healthy market right now. FreightWaves SONAR shows plenty of outbound freight available (OTVI.DEN), indicated by the medium blue shading on the map directly above. Because there is an abundance of freight, tender rejections (OTRI.DEN) are fairly high, too, indicated by the height on the map. Carriers are turning down around 10% of outbound loads offered by shippers. In other words, carriers can be selective because there's plenty of freight from which to choose. Other notable weather Look for moderate to heavy snowfall through this evening and some freezing rain, from West Virginia to Upstate New York and interior New England. Some parts of the Northeast and southern Quebec could pick up 12 to 24 inches with areas of ice accumulation. This includes places on Interstates 81 and 90, such as Buffalo, Rochester and Watertown, as well as Plattsburgh on Interstate 87. SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Feb. 7, 2020; Northeast winter storm Interstate 95 from Boston to Washington will be wet instead of white. However, strong winds will hit much of the Eastern Seaboard, even in places where it doesn't snow or rain. Heavy snowfall will return to the Cascades of Washington and Oregon late Friday night through Saturday. Snowqualmie and Stevens passes could become trouble spots again. SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Feb. 7, 2020; Northwest snow and rain Meanwhile, additional flooding is possible in western Washington as periods of heavy rain will keep drenching the lowlands, valleys and western slopes of the Cascades. Roadblocks are possible due not only to flooding, but also to potential mudslides and landslides. Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please be careful out there! Image by Pexels from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. In a daring robbery in two Mangaluru-bound trains early on Saturday, thieves decamped with gold and diamond jewellery and cash worth around Rs 20 lakh from two families, Railway police said. Both the thefts took place in the air conditioned compartments of the Chennai-Mangaluru superfast express and Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Malabar Express. Railway police officials said the robbery on the Chennai-Mangaluru train had taken place between Tirupur and Tirur. "As per the complaint from the 54-year old woman passenger Ponnimaran, who was travelling with three other people to Kannur for a wedding, she noticed that her bag containing the gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh and Rs 22,000 in cash was stolen," they told PTI. The family immediately alerted the police and the RPF personnel climbed aboard the train from the next station itself and recorded the statements of the passengers. The Malabar Express theft took place between Vadakara and Mahe stations. "The three members of a family, who reached Nedumbasserry airport from Singapore, had boarded the Malabar Express from Angamally and were on their way to Payannur near Kannur. As the train reached Mahe, they realised that gold worth nine sovereigns was missing," a senior Railway police official said. RPF has launched a probe and CCTV visuals are being examined. The Railway police also launched a search at bus stands and lodges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash China on Friday refuted the comments of a U.S. official on China's public health support to Africa, calling the comments "ridiculous," according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. According to reports, the U.S. official said Washington has cited concern over China's "scientific spying program" as the reason it wants to block China's plan to help build the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and said China was hoping to "steal Africa's genomic data" through the construction of the Africa CDC HQ. "This is just as ridiculous as the recent allegations by the U.S. side that China is building the African Union conference center to steal their data," spokesperson Hua Chunying said at an online news briefing, adding it shows some people in the United States consistently use their own mindset to think of others. She said the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic had revealed the poor condition of Africa's public health system, and Africa hoped that the international community would help it build the Africa CDC. In 2015, China started helping Africa with its public health security system and capacity building. In 2016, China and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly supporting the Africa CDC, and the two sides agreed to jointly support the building of the Africa CDC and strengthen Africa's public health capacity in accordance with the principle that the initiative is proposed, agreed to and led by Africa. Both China and the United States have public health experts working as consultants at the headquarters for technical support. The health sector is an important area in China-Africa cooperation, Hua said, adding that China has sent medical teams of 21,000 members to Africa and has treated 220 million African patients. Some Chinese doctors even sacrificed their lives in Africa. They are deeply respected by local people. Hua said the United States and some other Western countries closed their embassies and evacuated diplomats and citizens from three West African countries after the Ebola epidemic outbreak in March 2014. The Chinese government helped Africa at the earliest stage, sending not only urgently needed supplies but also medical teams of over 1,000 military and civilian doctors to the most severely stricken areas. "Chinese diplomats and medical experts chose to stay. They fought together with local people until the virus was defeated," Hua said. "At this critical moment in fighting the novel coronavirus, many African governments and people have also expressed their support for China," said the spokesperson, stressing that China-Africa friendship cannot be shaken by a few individuals distorting the truth. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is circulating a discussion draft bill that would use the enforcement of laws against distribution of child sex abuse material (CSAM) as a means of shutting down end-to-end encryption services provided by the big tech companies. The bill, which is also reportedly being worked on by Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat of Connecticut), would create a 15-member bipartisan National Commission on Child Exploitation Prevention that would be responsible for establishing the rules and overseeing the removal of CSAM content from the internet. The law would make the Attorney General the chairman of the commission and give him or her the authority to modify any of its recommendations. Called the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act of 2019, the bill would make technology companies liable for state prosecution and civil lawsuits for child abuse and exploitation content unless they follow best practices outlined by the commission. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is taking the lead on a bill that would halt end-to-end data encryption [Photo Credit: J Scott Applewhite, AP] On January 30, Bloomberg published a draft of the bill noting, The draft bill from Graham, the South Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, mounts a double attack against encrypted services such as Apple Inc.s iCloud and Facebook Inc.s WhatsApp chat. It jeopardizes technology companies immunity to lawsuits by victims for violating child exploitation and abuse statutes and it lowers the standard to bring such cases. At the heart of the proposed law is an attack on what is known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act which protects providers of computing devices, apps and internet services from liability for content copied or posted by users onto their products. Companies that refuse to follow the commissions best practices will lose their Section 230 protections for any content deemed to violate the content rules set by the commission. Although the draft bill does not specify any of the rules, it is transparently obvious that it would require law enforcement immediate and unfettered access to devices, communications and cloud accounts. As has been explained by technology experts, the bills references to law enforcement identifying, categorizing, and reporting material related to child exploitation or child sexual abuse would be impossible to do on devices and services with end-to-end encryption. End-to-end encryption is the popular method used by the consumer technology corporations of protecting electronic communications and data stored on computer devices by using cryptographic keys to block eavesdropping, surveillance and interception of information. The use of end-to-end encryption by the public, corporations and other organizations has been on the rise since the exposures by Edward Snowden in 2013 that the US government was capturing and storing the mobile phone and email communications of the entire population in a massive and illegal electronic dragnet. Companies such as Apple and Facebook have been deploying end-to-end encryption in their products by default for several years now. Apple has battled publicly with the Justice Department several times since 2014 over demands by the FBI for back-door access to the encrypted iPhones of mass shooters. In the most recent of these incidents, the shooting at the naval base in Pensacola, Florida, on December 6, it emerged that Apple had actually begun to cave into the demands from Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump for law enforcement access and a backdoor to encrypted data and communications. As reported by Reuters at the time, Apple did in fact turn over the shooters iCloud backups in the Pensacola case, and said it rejected the characterization that it has not provided substantive assistance. Behind the scenes, Apple has provided the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation with more sweeping help, not related to any specific probe by dropping plans to offer consumers the ability to fully encrypt their iCloud backups. Clearly, Senator Graham, the US Justice Department and others are attempting to exploit public fears and concerns about child sexual abuse as a means of pushing through their agenda for the abolition of encryption that has been underway for five years. As Riana Pfefferkorn of the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School explained, This bill is trying to convert your anger at Big Tech into law enforcements long-desired dream of banning strong encryption. It is a bait-and-switch. Dont fall for it. Gizmodo, the technology and science site, wrote on January 31, It doesnt take a genius to see where this is going. The federal government, and especially the DOJ, have wanted tech companies to build surveillance backdoors into their end-to-end encrypted messaging services for years. They insist that they are only interested in preventing major crimes like terrorism or sex trafficking, but in reality, building those backdoors would create a convenient pipeline for domestic surveillance. The technique of exploiting the public disorientation caused by terrorist violence and other criminality by the state to attack fundamental democratic rights has been employed increasingly by the political, law enforcement and national intelligence establishment since the events of September 9, 2001. The provisions of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act were adopted in 1996 (also known as Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996) which state, No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. This section of the 1996 legislation was, in part, a response to the growth of the internet and has been frequently referred to as a key to the flourishing of the World Wide Web and sometimes as The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet. The intensifying assault on end-to-end encryption is part of the ongoing drive by the state to censor and regulate content on the internet. Democrats, in particular, have led the campaign against big tech with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts and candidate for the partys 2020 presidential nomination, campaigning since March 2019 for a break up of the tech monopolies. There has also been a steady campaign conducted by the New York Times, under the guise of the fight against so-called surveillance capitalism, to utilize the egregious privacy violations carried out by the tech monopolies to mobilize the public behind government censorship of online content. Significantly, none of these initiatives warn the public about the role of the state and military-intelligence apparatus in utilizing artificial intelligence and the communications infrastructure to spy on the entire population. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Neasa Hardiman had just completed a major television project when one of the senior figures associated with the drama decided to pay her a compliment. "He told me," Hardiman recalls, "that he was really happy that I had directed as well as I had because they had had a bad experience with a female director before and were taking a leap of faith with another one." As compliments go, it could hardly be more backhanded - although the person uttering the words may not have realised for a moment just how sexist his remarks had been. Expand Close Award: Neasa Hardiman with her IFTA from 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Award: Neasa Hardiman with her IFTA from 2016 "It's something that women working in certain aspects of the film industry have to put up with a lot," she says. "Or, there are times where you might have directed something brilliant and you're really proud of it and the producer turns to your cinematographer and goes, 'Well done!' "But you've just got to get on with it, even though there appears to be this intractable glass ceiling and an unconscious bias. I can't tell you the amount of times I've been told over the past few years, 'You know what? You really think like a man!' I don't - I think like a woman, because I am a woman." By any measure, the Dubliner is one of the most successful directors this country has ever produced. She won a Bafta for directing the gritty BBC drama series Happy Valley. She has made a handful of critically lauded films, and there's considerable excitement about her forthcoming west of Ireland set feature, Sea Fever. And she is no stranger to working with big budgets, having directed the superhero Netflix series Jessica Jones. Right now, she is in Tel Aviv making another series for Netflix. It's an international spy thriller called Hit and Run and it will likely be on our screens at the end of this year or beginning of 2021. "For too long, there simply haven't been enough female directors - and even though that is changing, there's still a sense that women aren't trusted with bigger projects. Once something is in the realm of about $5m per hour, say, those jobs tend to go to men. By doing that, the industry is sending out a really clear message to women: 'You don't belong here'." The obstacles that female directors face will be writ large at tomorrow night's Academy Awards. Yet again, no female has been nominated for the Best Director gong. Expand Close Director Mary McGuckian. Photo by Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Director Mary McGuckian. Photo by Gerry Mooney Video of the Day Since the first Oscars, in 1929, there have been 449 nominations for best director. Just five of them were women and only one of those, Kathryn Bigelow, has won the award. One in 609 When it comes to cinematography - a pivotal role in the fortunes of any film - the statistics are even starker: of the 609 nominations in Oscars history, all but one were men. Rachel Morrison - nominated in 2018 for Mudbound - remains the only female ever to be in contention for cinematography's most coveted prize. "I don't believe in being nominated because we are women," she told the Guardian this week. "It has to be about the work. People were in an uproar about Little Women [whose director, Greta Gerwig, was overlooked], but maybe it wasn't perceived to be one of strongest films of the year. "That said, my favourite films this year were almost all female-helmed: Atlantics, Portrait of a Lady [on Fire], Honey Boy, The Farewell. Change has to start from the ground up - more female directors. Period. And we need to be given similar budgets, similar access to time, to toys [film technology and studios], etc. Most of the best pictures were huge productions like 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Joker. "How can Honey Boy [directed by Alma Har'el], which was made for $2.5m, ever be expected to compete?" Irish film-maker Aoife Crehan has worked in the business for more than a decade. Last year, her debut feature, The Last Right, was released. She has first-hand experience of the difficulty of being a woman in what used to be seen as a man's world. "The creative process involves a battle of self-belief and self-doubt," she says, "with the self-belief winning out strong enough to produce something. From my experience, what can make it hard for women directors is that as a woman, you are at times met with attitudes of patronisation or dismissiveness from some male collaborators, co-workers and peers that can feel intrinsically sexist and/or resentful. It's like, 'How did YOU get funded or financed?' "This is another obstacle to the creative thought process that is above and beyond the myriad other obstacles that are already involved in directing a film. I think female directors have to be twice as brave as male directors because they are battling this patronisation and dismissiveness." Director Mary McGuckian says the challenges females face to become directors is echoed in the wider society. "There are very few women in charge of the Fortune 500 companies," she says. "There is this societal sense that women aren't to be trusted in roles of responsibility." McGuckian says the damning statistics about the pitifully low number of women who have been nominated in the director and cinematography categories only tells part of the story. "The BFI [British Film Institute] has studied this and they've found that while only a small proportion of directors are women, only a tiny proportion of those go on to make three films or more - in other words, have a career in this industry. I'm someone who fits into that tiny cohort and there really are very few of us." The upshot of all of this, she says, is a gross absence of films made from the female viewpoint and about the experience of women. Her forthcoming film, A Girl from Mogadishu, would - in all likelihood - not have been made by a man. It tells the story of one woman's experience of female genital mutilation. "I would have struggled to get a film like this financed in the past," she says. "But Ireland is a much more enlightened place and there's a sense now that stories like this really have to be told." For Grainne Humphreys, director of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the great travesties of movie history is how the work of gifted female directors has essentially fallen through the cracks. "There are any number of introspectives about Kubrick and Hitchcock and Scorsese and Coppola but what about those great women who made wonderful films, people like Agnes Varda? Sometimes, it's not even possible to get to see the work that female directors have made, or it can be incredibly difficult to find those films." A central thematic plank of this year's DIFF will be the celebration of the work of female directors from all over the world. Great forgotten or obscure films made by women will also be shown at the festival which runs from February 26 to March 8. "We're also showing - over two days - Mark Cousins' incredible 14-hour documentary [Women Make Film] on female film-makers," she says. "It gives a sense of how many wonderful films have been made by women in all parts of the world and right throughout movie history. And it begs the question: why haven't these film-makers been celebrated like their male counterparts?" Humphreys believes young film-makers are coming of age in a more enlightened time when there is a hunger for movies to be a made from a female viewpoint and from that of minorities that have, too often, been excluded in the past. It is a sentiment shared by Ruth Barton, associate professor of Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin. "There's a sense that the tide is slowly turning," she says. "People are questioning just why it is that the vast majority of directors are male and why men continue to dominate a field like cinematography, and that's a good thing." But, she feels, there is a long road ahead. "It is a truth that women get offered lower budget films - with documentaries and relationship films seen as being more appropriate for them - because they [women] are seen as a risk and not able to handle big budget releases." Barton says that when it comes to awards, such as the Oscars, the likelihood is that voters have been "conditioned" to honour muscular films made by men. "You need a cultural shifts in the kind of films that are being valued. You also need an understanding that women can direct big budget action films like 1917 and Joker." Role models She believes role models are very important. "If you look at a list [of nominees] and you don't see someone like you on it, it can be difficult to project yourself into the future and imagine you yourself doing just that. I think active discrimination is what we have to have [to make nominations more inclusive] - whether it's quotas or whether it's just re-education and looking in different places to find those nominees." Aoife O'Toole is the manager of the annual Dublin Feminist Film Festival [DFFF]. "If you can't see it, you can't be it," she says. "It is massively discouraging and disheartening to not see women's creative work in the film industry recognised and rewarded. "There are many talented female film-makers creating wonderful work so one has to wonder at the criteria for selecting nominees and eventual winners. The challenge of calling this out is that it risks 'othering' women by perpetually drawing attention to women as a distinct category, but when awards committees so persistently ignore female-made films, it begs the question of whether this work continues to be seen as a niche category - as 'women's films' - rather than simply great film." DFFF aims to highlight the work of female film-makers that might otherwise be forgotten. "In an industry where women remain in the minority - even if there are signs of improvement - it's important and necessary to have festivals like DFFF to give female film-makers a platform to showcase their work," O'Toole says. "Despite a high-profile and highly active push to increase the number of films directed by women here, the number continues to hover around 20pc in any given year. But even with growing vocal demands for inclusion and Screen Ireland's important and admirable gender parity plan, 20pc remains far too low a number." For Dr Lynn Farrell, research fellow at Queen's University Belfast's School of Psychology, and a specialist in the phenomenon of gender bias, the importance of female role models - of directors like Neasa Hardiman, Aoife Crehan and Mary McGuckian - cannot be underestimated. "The impact of female role models can be particularly powerful for women," she says, "and has been found to increase their empowered behaviour when completing a leadership task. These approaches are likely to be important when tackling gender bias in the film industry also - we need to be aware that there's a problem that can operate at the implicit or unconscious level, and we need to see women succeeding in this domain to inspire future generations and show that women are welcome and valued here. Unconscious bias "This is probably best reflected in the phrase 'If she can see it, she can be it' espoused recently by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media [named after its actress founder] which looks to tackle gender bias and stereotypes in the media." Dismantling gender bias is no easy task, however. "Women are stereotyped as being communal and caring while men are more independent and assertive," Farrell says. "We see this both through self-report questionnaires and measures of implicit or unconscious bias. "Related to this, women are stereotypically associated with caring and support professions while men are associated with leadership roles. Higher power and status is also typically ascribed to men. So when women enter professional domains not typically associated with them, they face this perceived role incongruity between stereotypes of their gender and of the role, which can result in a lower evaluation of women in this role." For Neasa Hardiman, hard work and self belief are essential in order to make it as a director. "I'm not afraid to say I've worked constantly bloody hard at this and am really talented and really good at my job and that's why I am where I am. But there are obstacles that are put in the way of women and I long for the day where my femaleness - and that of other women directors - is no longer relevant, where articles like this don't have to be written." To counter Huawei, U.S. could take 'controlling stake' in Ericsson, Nokia: attorney general U.S. President Trump delivers State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington By Mark Hosenball and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General William Barr said on Thursday the United States and its allies should consider the highly unusual step of taking a "controlling stake" in Finland's Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson to counter China-based Huawei's dominance in next-generation 5G wireless technology. In a remarkable statement underscoring how far the United States may be willing to go to counter Huawei Technologies Co, Barr disclosed in a speech at a conference on Chinese economic espionage that there had been proposals to meet the concerns "by the United States aligning itself with Nokia and/or Ericsson." Barr said the alignment could take place "through American ownership of a controlling stake, either directly or through a consortium of private American and allied companies." "Putting our large market and financial muscle behind one or both of these firms would make it a far more formidable competitor and eliminate concerns over its staying power, or their staying power," Barr said. "We and our closest allies certainly need to be actively considering this approach," he added at the event hosted by Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Both firms have a combined market capitalization of about $50 billion and it is not clear what source of funds the U.S. government could potentially tap to take stakes in the firms or if foreign regulators would approve. Ericsson declined to comment, while Nokia did not immediately comment. The companies' shares edged higher after Barr's comments in European trading. Last month, a group of six U.S. senators introduced legislation to provide over $1 billion to invest in Western-based alternatives to Chinese equipment providers Huawei and ZTE and accelerate development of an open-architecture to allow for alternative vendors to enter the market for specific network components. Story continues Barr said China had emerged as the "top geo-political adversary" and added: "China has stolen a march and is now leading in 5G ... They have already captured 40 percent of the market and are now aggressively pursuing the balance." U.S. government investments in public companies are rare except in the case of bailouts to save ailing firms and jobs, and such investments in foreign companies are even rarer. U.S. officials have criticized Huawei for its close ties to the Chinese government and they added the company to an economic blacklist last year, saying it was involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security. The Trump administration has pressed nations not to grant Huawei access to 5G networks and alleged Huaweis equipment could be used by Beijing for spying, which the Chinese company has repeatedly denied. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year barring U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by companies posing a national security risk. At the same CSIS event, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Beijing was seeking to steal American technology by "any means necessary." He said the bureau currently had about 1,000 open investigations of Chinese technology theft across its 56 regional offices, while FBI counterintelligence chief John Brown said it had arrested 24 people last year in China-related cases and another 19 already in 2020. Wray said the investigations spanned "just about every industry sector" and the threat needed to be addressed through action across the whole of the U.S. government. China was aggressively exploiting U.S. academic openness to steal technology, using "campus proxies" and establishing "institutes on our campuses," Wray added. William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said that among China's priorities was stealing U.S. aircraft and electric vehicle technology.In advance of Thursday's event, Evanina estimated the theft of American trade secrets by China costs the United States "anywhere from $300 to $600 billion" a year. The comments from the top law enforcement officials reflect an aggressively stepped-up campaign by the Trump administration to counter Chinese espionage operations. This has snared a growing group of Chinese government officials, business people, and academics. The campaign has included charges against a leading American academic at one of the top U.S. universities. Last month, prosecutors charged Charles Lieber, chair of Harvard University's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, with lying about participating in China's Thousand Talents Plan, which aims to attract research specialists working overseas. The Chinese embassy in Washington earlier rejected the U.S. allegations as "entirely baseless." "The people-to-people exchange between China and the US is conducive to stronger understanding between the two peoples and serves the fundamental interests of our two countries," it said. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball and David Brunnstrom; additional reporting by David Shepardson editing by Chris Sanders and Tom Brown) The Puducherry government has initiated steps to get the UNESCO World heritage status for Puducherry, a top official said on Saturday. As part of this initiative, the administration held a conference under the banner "Puducherry Heritage Conservation: Road to UNESCO nomination." The conference was organised by the territorial government in association with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Later talking to reporters, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar said the government had initiated steps to get the Union Territory listed among the world heritage sites. "The administration has set in motion the process to get UNESCO World heritage status for Puducherry. The conference is a beginning and it is a long drawn out process," he said. Preparation of an inventory of sites and places to include them in the dossier would be the next process. The Chief Secretary felt that the success of the project hinged on the active and constructive involvement of the public. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A controversial plan to build apartments and a hotel on a historic Anglican church site has caused uproar in the seaside village of Huskisson on the NSW South Coast. Opponents have held meetings and demonstrations at the site of the Huskisson Holy Trinity Family Church to save what they have called the Cathedral of Trees. Historian Shirley Fitzgerald and Alfred Wellington, the head of the Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council, in front of the Holy Trinity Family Church in Huskisson on the NSW South Coast. Credit:Louise Kennerley They have also sent a petition with thousands of signatures to Shoalhaven City Council, picketed the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney to halt the development and boycotted the Huskisson Hotel, co-owned by Stephen Bartlett, the developer of the church site. However, the development is one step closer after the council voted last month to support the rezoning of the land from religious purposes to mixed business uses with a height limit up to 16 metres. Jim Rees spends his days at the Arklow Maritime Museum surrounded by objects, by artefacts, by photographs, by scrawled handwriting and by the printed word. The museum in the Bridgewater complex, overlooking the river, is a wonderland of shipping souvenirs and reminders of old fishing boats. And Jim has made his name trawling (if that is the right word) through mounds of documents in his academic efforts to make sense of the past. Then it struck him recently that perhaps he had been under-estimating one further ingredient among the elements in the make-up of history. He began to muse on the way that a picture, the right picture, can tell a thousand words and lead the way to enlightenment. Being a man of great energy and intellectual curiosity, he decided move on from mere musing to assembling a series of illustrations. Since Arklow is his particular field of expertise, the images he selected and presented to his local historical society were all related to his home place. But his conclusion that paintings and drawings can throw a light on where we come from is surely universal and may be applied to any town. An appreciative audience lapped up his lecture on the topic at the public library and he was later kind enough to give the reporter from the 'People' a re-run. As he points out, photography was not available to the world at large until the 1840s and it was several decades later before the cameras arrived in County Wicklow. The oldest surviving photo of Arklow is probably one taken of the opening of the lifeboat house on the South Quay in 1873. Jim has no idea who took the shot, a copy of which forms part of the museum's fine and marvellously varied collection. Photography was of course poised to revolutionise the Victorian media as newspapers were set to adopt photos as their first choice for illustration. Editors could point to the camera images as incontrovertible records of what was going on. Jim is prompted to wonder whether photography was an altogether reliable replacement for an artist with a paint-brush or pencil. He cites the talented cameraman who captured compelling shots of the carnage at the Battle of Gettysburg. Mathew Brady did not let the fact that he arrived at the scene of combat a fortnight after the last shot was fired stand in the way of his endeavours. He had a team of assistants whose job was to haul scattered bodies into convenient groups the better to convey the impact of the slaughter. Brady, it seems, was capable of taking as much artistic licence as any painter and his efforts helped to mould the impact which Gettysburg had on public opinion. Jim's survey of pictures delves back to the close of the 14th century, long before anyone was ever asked to say 'Cheese!', to an image held in Oxford University's Bodleian Library. It is looking remarkably fresh for its age, its colours vivid on the reproduction which the Arklow man projects on to his screen. The painter, whose name has been lost, depicts an outdoor scene with armour-clad soldiers, all bristling with spears. These horse-mounted warriors have reached a riverbank or seashore where boats are waiting, with crewmen handing out what looks like a burger bun. The soldiers and their weapons are stylised beyond all reality while the proportion of the boats is laughable, yet no one is laughing. This painting is not supposed to do the job of a photograph, but rather it is intended to tell the story of a troubled military outing. Richard the Second was not one of the foremost English monarchs and his experiences in Ireland proved bothersome. In 1399, King Richard landed on the south coast determined to put Art MacMurrough under his thumb. The visitors were well armed and ready for battle but Art proved elusive and unwilling to take on a head-to-head engagement. Rather than confront Richard's well equipped forces, their wily opponent concentrated on attacking his supply wagons. As a result, by the time they reached Arklow, or so the story goes, the visitors were starving hungry and ready to take any food on offer from the ships moored there. According to contemporary texts, some of the soldiers drowned, so desperate were they to lay hands on the proffered bread. The painting was almost certainly created years after the events it immortalises but it contains all the ingredients needed to tell the story of the royal expedition. Many of the earliest pictures passed down from the Middle Ages are maps such as the misshapen representation of Ireland dated 1460. Jim is gratified to note that Arklow is prominently featured, though the name used for the town by the map maker is not the one now in everyday use. 'Arcello' is one of at least 27 variants on Arklow or Inbhear Mor he has come across in his four decades of research. Copies of this map are believed to have circulated among mariners in such far away countries as Turkey and Egypt. Sailors would have been well advised to hold off their voyages until the year 1500 when more detailed maps were drawn up. The cartographers responsible, who were based in Italy, had a decent grasp of the outline of Ireland and they had clearly heard reports of the sand banks off the eastern seaboard. These hazards appear as large islands, as a warning to sailors to give them as wide a berth as possible. 'Maps were works of art,' enthuses Jim, who cites as an example the Arklow map found in the British Library where officials believe that it dates back to the 18th century. He believes that they should re-asses this as it does not feature a significant bridge. It also includes Arklow Castle in the ruined state that Oliver Cromwell's troops left it in 1650. He concludes that some time around 1680 is more likely correct. The late 13th century castle, built by the Fitzwalter family, may have been a ruin but the structure was a landmark and it attracted all sorts of painters and drawers. A pencil drawing, from 1794, shows how the British military built a slate-roofed barracks beside the old keep, a building which remained in use up to 1922 when it was the target of a Republican raid. A more colourful and eccentric image comes from the following year when Arklow was staging post for the great Croghan Kinsella gold rush. The belief that there was gold in them thar hills on the County Wexford border drew all manner of hopefuls to the area, until the government clamped down on the pan-handlers. The painting shows how a system of sluices was constructed on the mountainsides to allow close examination of stream water for the precious metal - of which there was not a lot. The Battle of Arklow in 1798, which marked the turning of the tide against the United Irishmen spawned much artistic endeavour - not all of it reliable. Jim mutters 'bullshine' (or something like it) as he puts a lavish illustration purporting to show the rebels in the town under a flag proclaiming the slogan 'Liberty or Death'. The man holding the flag is supposed to be Father Michael Murphy attempting to rally his men, standing in front of them and attempting to rouse their spirits. 'Father Michael Murphy was killed off his horse!' snorts Jim, 'and the buildings are totally wrong. This was drawn by a guy who never saw Arklow.' For a view of the conflict which is actually helpful to the historian, a better source is 'Captain Holmes's Battle of Arklow'. Holmes was commissioned as an artist by the British Army and his superiors were not expecting Leonardo da Vinci and not looking for propaganda. Where modern generals have the benefit of video teams and cameras carried on drones, their late 18th century counterparts relied on men with a pen such as the captain. The drawings he produced were then used in debriefing sessions so that they might learn from the experience. His Arklow effort confirms, to those who know how to look, the suggestion that the Royal cannons were deadly effective in deciding the outcome. 'You can get so much historical information from a work of art,' insists Jim Rees. His museum is after all a maritime museum and it offers to callers an interesting selection of sea views and pictures of boats, large and small from the 19th century. Reproductions of works by George du Noyer, who paid a visit to the town and its environs in 1861 at the behest of the Royal Society of Antiquarians, are gorgeous. Perhaps the most intriguing images of all, however, are those put on the page by architect John Townsend Trench. Asked by the Earl of Carysfort to create a record of the nobleman's estate, Trench made delightful coloured drawings of each building in Arklow: 'I don't believe that there is any other town in Ireland has the likes of it,' says Jim Rees gratefully. Samsung Unpacked event is just a few days away and ahead of the big day, images of the Galaxy Z Flip have leaked, showing the device in its entirety. The images, received by Engadget, show off a tall foldable device with a 22:9 aspect ratio in its unfolded form. When folded, the dual-lens camera is visible next to the small external display that would show time and other notifications. Earlier leaks of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip suggest that the successor to the Galaxy Fold will sport a 6.7-inch display, Snapdragon 855+ SoC, 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB internal storage. It is expected to be priced around USD 1,400. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Not Romney. I am aware that there are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision, and in some quarters, I will be vehemently denounced, he said Wednesday. I am sure to hear abuse from the President and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before God demanded it of me? In this space last week, I compared the current U.S. Senate to the weak-willed Roman Senate of antiquity that caved to the excesses of the most tyrannical emperors out of sheer self-interest. History also remembers that the Emperor Nero ordered Seneca, his onetime counselor, to commit suicide when he fell out of favor. Romney might well have committed political suicide. And it was equally clear that, like Seneca, there were principles more important to Romney than mere self-preservation. By Representative Randy Bridges Feb. 07, 2020 | 03:49 PM | PADUCAH Budget subcommittees met throughout the week to discuss funding proposals for transportation projects, education and human resources needs. Those proposals will also be heard by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee and may be included in the budget bill that is expected to come before the House by late February or early March. This week we also passed legislation that strengthens our ability to keep children safe as they ride and exit school buses. HB 34 would allow local school districts to install cameras on school bus stop arms those mechanical signs that come out when school buses stop to let children on and off. As you know, it is illegal - and dangerous - to pass a school bus that stopped to allow children to disembark. However, there seems to be a growing disregard for this law and the safety of our school children. The bill also provides for cost and revenue sharing agreements with third parties to pay for camera installation and manage the enforcement. HB 34 also increases the fine for illegally passing a school bus. We are continuing our work to make Kentucky more welcoming to members of our military and veterans. The Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee approved a bill that would allow military families relocating to Kentucky after retiring or an honorable discharge to start their children in the school district where they are moving. This bill builds on legislation we passed last year that allows those in active duty to enroll ahead of their assignment. Before I finish, I would like to share some information about the General Assembly's Legislative Page Program. This is a great educational opportunity to experience democracy in action by serving a day on the House Floor during the session. They work on the floor, delivering messages, running errands, and copying materials. Page supervisors oversee the program, ensuring that pages are safe and behaving appropriately. Children must be ten and older, and a parent or guardian must also be present. We all enjoy having the children in the chamber and, frankly, they serve as a fitting reminder that the work we do will impact our state for generations. As you can see, we are off to a busy start. If you have any questions or comments about this session, I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Randy.Bridges@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at legislature.ky.gov and you can also follow me on my Facebook page, Kentucky State Representative Randy Bridges - District 3 or on Twitter @RepRandyBridges. The first full week of February saw several key pieces of legislation deliberated in committee and on the House Floor. At the same time, members of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and budget review subcommittees continue to work on the House version of the state budget. The budget must reflect our commitment to spend taxpayer money wisely, lay the groundwork for a solid financial future, and provide necessary services. We are working now to keep that commitment. Kyoto: Something about the people who take distillery tours they dont usually require much convincing about the product. The barrel ageing room of the Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery in the Kyoto prefecture, Japan, in December 2019. Credit:Chris Zappone So it was on a blustery day at the far end of Kyoto prefecture in Japan, on a visit to the Yamazaki Distillery. After waiting for the Hello Kitty-liveried regional train to pass, we pulled into the property. Id been to a few wine and whisky tastings before. My interest in Yamazaki was as much professional as thirst-related. Inside the distillery, we were greeted by a Ms Watanabe wearing an unwavering genuine smile. Photo credit: BBC From Good Housekeeping True crime dramatisations dominated our television screens last year, and the nation's appetite for the macabre shows no signs of abating in 2021. BBC, ITV and Netflix will air dramas based on some of the most infamous cases in the UK and beyond, and feature acclaimed actors transforming into real-life serial killers. Here are the series we can expect to be released later this year... The Pembrokeshire Murders (ITV) Photo credit: Slaven Vlasic - Getty Images Luke Evans is the detective in charge in ITV's series The Pembrokeshire Murders, which depicts the pursuit of a cold-blooded serial killer. The three-part drama is adapted from the true crime book Catching the Bullseye Killer, written by Senior Investigating Officer Steve Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill. Beauty and the Beast's Evans plays Wilkins, who in 2006 reopened two unsolved double murders from the 1980s. Employing pioneering forensic methods, Wilkins and his handpicked team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the murders to a string of burglaries committed in the 80s and 90s. The cast also includes Keith Allen as John Cooper, Owen Teale as Gerard Elias, Alexandria Riley as Jackie Richards, Caroline Berry as Pat Cooper, Oliver Ryan as Andrew Cooper and David Fynn as ITV News journalist Jonathan Hill. The Pembrokeshire Murders is airing on ITV now. Four Lives (BBC One) Photo credit: BBC Stephen Merchant has transformed into real-life serial killer Stephen Port for BBC One's upcoming factual drama, which has now changed its name from The Barking Murders to Four Lives. The series aims to go behind the sensational headlines by telling the case from the perspective of the families of Stephen Port's victims, and focus on their fight to uncover the truth about what had happened to their lost sons and brothers in the face of a now widely criticised police investigation. The series is created by Jeff Pope and Neil McKay, whose credits include The Moorside, a dramatisation of the 2008 disappearance of 9-year-old Shannon Matthews, and Appropriate Adult, about serial killer Fred West. Story continues The cast also includes Sheridan Smith, who plays Sarah Sak, the mother of 23-year-old victim Anthony Walgate, and Jaime Winstone. Last year, actor Michael Jibson confirmed that the series was being postponed due to the ongoing criminal case. Four Lives will launch on BBC One later this year. The Serpent (BBC) Photo credit: BBC Jenna Coleman leads BBC and Netflix's The Serpent alongside acclaimed French actor Tahar Rahim as Charles Sobrhaj, one of the most elusive criminals of the 20th century. Coleman plays Marie-Andree Leclerc, Sobhraj's partner and frequent accomplice, with Billy Howle and Ellie Bamber cast as Herman and Angela Knippenberg. Charles Sobhraj was the chief suspect in the unsolved murders of up to 20 young Western travellers across India, Thailand and Nepal's 'Hippie Trail' in 1975 and 1976, becoming Interpol's most wanted man at the time and had arrest warrants on three different continents. The eight-part series also features Alice Englert (Top of the Lake), Mathilde Warnier (The Widow), Gregoire Isvarine (The Inside Game), Sahajak Boonthanakit (Only God Forgives), Fabien Frankel (Last Christmas), and Chicha Amatayakul (Girl From Nowhere). The Serpent is airing on BBC One now and available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Impeachment: American Crime Story (FX and BBC Two) Photo credit: Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images The next instalment in Ryan Murphy's anthology series will focus on Bill Clinton's abuse of power and subsequent affair with Monica Lewinsky between 1995 and 1997. Booksmart's Beanie Feldstein will play Monica, who was a 22-year-old White House intern at the time, while British actor Clive Owen will play Clinton, who was 49 at the time. Sarah Paulson is playing Linda Tripp, and Annaleigh Ashford stars as Paula Jones. Murphy recruited Monica Lewinsky to produce the series, so we will finally see the story from her perspective. American Crime Story will air later this year on FX and BBC Two. Mansfield Murderers (Sky Atlantic and NOW TV) Photo credit: Getty Images This four-part crime drama follows the shocking story of Susan and Christopher Edwards who murdered Susan's parents and buried their bodies in the garden. Susan and Christopher Edwards shot Patricia and William Wycherley and buried them at the Wycherleys' home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, in 1998. The couple then stole thousands of pounds, and spent many of it on Hollywood memorabilia, before being found guilty in 2014. Oscar-winner Olivia Colman will play Susan, and Giri/Haji and Flowers' star and writer Will Sharpe will direct. Mansfield Murders will launch on Sky Atlantic and Now TV later this year. My Name is Lizzie (Channel 4) Photo credit: Tristan Fewings - Getty Images The Virtues actress Niamh Algar leads the cast in a four-part drama examining the controversial honeytrap at the heart of one of Britain's most high-profile cases. The series shines a light on the high-pressure investigation into the devastating murder of Rachel Nickell in 1992. Revealing the complicated and toxic sexual politics of the early '90s and the police's obsession with the wrong man, a female undercover officer, codename 'Lizzie James', is asked to become sexual bait for a suspected killer. With access to previously unheard audio, video and written materials, My Name is Lizzie includes scenes of verbatim dialogue as part of a ctionalised retelling of events, taking viewers behind the scenes of one of the UKs most awed and controversial police investigations. My Name is Lizzie airs on Channel 4 later this year. Anne (ITV) Photo credit: BBC One ITV's four-part drama follows the real-life story of activist Anne Williams, who dedicated her life to campaigning for justice following her sons death at Hillsborough. Written by novelist Kevin Sampson, who was present at Hillsborough Stadium on the tragic day that ninety-six football fans died, Anne stood defiantly alongside other parents and their families who fought for justice for the 96 loved ones who lost their lives at a football match. Determined to unearth the truth about Hillsborough, Anne refused to believe the official line on how the disaster unfolded, seeking new medical opinion, tracking down witnesses whose statements were altered, and leaving no stone unturned in her fight for truth and justice. Maxine Peake (above, in BBC One's award-winning Three Girls) will star as Anne Williams. Inventing Anne (Netflix Anne will air on ITV later this year. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP Photo credit: Hearst Owned You Might Also Like 5 things to know about Oscars best picture front-runner '1917' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com It's still anybody's guess as to who will win the Oscar for best picture Sunday night, but many oddsmakers are predicting it'll be the World War I drama "1917." Written and directed by Sam Mendes, who is also up for best director and best original screenplay, "1917" tells the story of two British soldiers faced with a seemingly impossible task: cross into enemy territory to deliver a message calling off an attack. If they're unsuccessful, 1,600 will die, including the brother of one of the main characters. "1917" has an 89% approval rating on the criticism aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, and according to Box Office Mojo, has earned more than $253 million worldwide since it was released last December. (It went wide on Jan. 20.) Already the winner of the Golden Globe for best dramatic motion picture and best director, here are a few other things you need to know about the film. MORE: Complete list of Oscars nominations 1. It's based on personal stories: Mendes told ABC News at the Oscars luncheon last month that the story is based on tales his grandfather told him when he was a child. "It was me and my cousins pestering him, thinking we were going to hear stories of heroism and bravery and how he won his medals and it was going to be cool, and instead, he turned around and told us stories of absolute chaos and the randomness of how thin the line was that separated him, who stayed alive, from his friends who all died alongside him," Mendes said. "He told one very memorable story of dragging a man back through no man's land who was pleading with him to leave him there saying, 'I'm dying. Don't pick me up. Save yourself.' But, my granddad dragged him back on his own back. And when he put him back down in the trench, when he finally reached the end of the journey, he laid him down and realized that he was already dead and he had been shot while he was being carried. But had he not been carrying this man, he himself would have received the bullet. So he was effectively carrying a human shield." Story continues "You never know, as a storyteller, or as a filmmaker, what's going to grab you or not let you go," he continued. "And this wouldn't let me go." 2. It doesn't look like anything else: "1917" earned 10 Oscar nominations, more than any other film, including best picture, best director for Mendes, and best original screenplay for Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Many critics believe Mendes has a great shot at best director, largely because of how the film was shot. "I always felt once I had decided that it was going to be two hours of real-time, that the story was going to be told in a very, very condensed time period. It seemed a natural thing to not have any cuts," Mendes said. "For me, the process of editing very subtly and in tiny ways can take you out of a sense of real time, a sense of believing that these people are crossing a landscape and that you're living and breathing with them. You're experiencing every second passing in what is effectively a race against time and you're watching them take every step and you're going to have to take it with them. So, it felt like a way of locking in the audience with the characters so they couldn't escape." 3. The cast and crew prepared for a very long time: Mendes told ABC News that pre-production was "very lengthy and very detailed." "Every step of the journey had to be constructed. Every trench had to be measured, the exact length, every orchard, every farmhouse, every town street had to be exactly the right length of the scene because there was no way of cutting distance or jumping time," he explained. "There were some pretty absurd occasions when it was just me in a field with the script, trying to say the lines at the speed at which I thought they were going to be spoken. Or even in one case, just running and throwing myself to the ground and getting up and running again for another 40 yards. And the frame was hooked down again." Ultimately, he said they built more than a mile of trenches, which was "very exhilarating to watch it just grow and grow and grow." Meanwhile, the actors did historical research, traveled to France and examined the original sites, he said. PHOTO: Director Sam Mendes speaks with actors George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman on the set of the 2019 film, '1917.' (Universal Pictures) 4. Some unscripted moments made the final cut: While much of the film was meticulously planned, plenty of it wasn't. "At the end, if you've seen the movie, Schofield, played by George MacKay, has a final run and he gets knocked off his feet, not once, but twice, neither of which were planned," Mendes said, adding that they were often left to contend with the elements, too. "I said, 'If... you get knocked off your feet, just get up and keep going and we'll see what happens.' I always said to them, 'Just remember, it's not you slipping in the mud, it's your character slipping in the mud. It's not you. If you fumble over a line, it doesn't matter.'" 5. It took a while for Mendes to realize what a success it was: A passion project from the start, Mendes wasn't sure that "1917" would resonate with audiences until it began previews. "There's a particular kind of energy that exists in the room when something is really gripping an audience, and ... after about half an hour, I thought, 'They're with this,'" he recalled. "All this awards season hoopla is great and it's a wonderful thing for everyone who's involved in the movie, but at the end of the day, what matters most to me is that audiences turn up to see this in the movies. Given the fact that it's a very big, ambitious film, it's not a franchise. There's no existing IP, and it doesn't have two giant stars in the leads." "And so the fact that it's connected with audiences is incredibly moving," he continued. "Having lived with it for two years and lived and breathed it every second for that time, to watch it then take off and people embrace it has been a great thing." A Chinese doctor who was punished after raising the alarm about Chinas new coronavirus died from the pathogen yesterday, sparking an outpouring of grief and anger over a worsening crisis that has now killed more than 630 people. At least 31,000 people have now been infected by a virus that ophthalmologist Li Wenliang brought to light in late December before becoming its latest victim. The virus is believed have emerged from a market selling exotic animals in Wuhan before jumping to humans and spreading across China and abroad as millions travelled for the Lunar New Year holiday. Researchers at the South China Agricultural University have identified the endangered pangolin as a potential intermediate host for the disease, as the genome sequences of viruses found on the scaly mammal are 99 percent identical to those on coronavirus patients. The virus has since spread across China, prompting the government to lock down cities of tens of millions of people, and panic has spiralled around the globe as more than 240 cases have emerged in two dozen countries. A quarantined cruise ship in Japan now has 61 confirmed cases. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, whose countries have tussled over trade and human rights, spoke on the phone about the health emergency. Xi urged the US side to respond reasonably to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Trump expressed his confidence in Chinas ability to tackle the epidemic, the White House said. Beijing has been angered by bans on arrivals from China instituted by the United States and other countries. Li, 34, died early Friday, Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo platform, an announcement that triggered deep sadness on social media over a doctor hailed as a hero. He is a hero who warned others with his life, a fellow Wuhan doctor wrote on Weibo. There was also a rare collective bout of anger at the authorities and bold demands, including the hashtag we demand freedom of speech, which was censored. Those fat officials who live on public money, may you die from a snowstorm, wrote another Weibo user in a comment that was later scrubbed. In a sign that the criticism has shaken the Communist government, its anti-graft agency announced that it was sending a team to Wuhan to conduct a comprehensive investigation into issues involving Dr. Li Wenliang reported by the masses. The foreign ministry and the National Health Commission expressed condolences for his death. Death censored Lis death has also highlighted the enormous risks that frontline doctors have taken to treat patients in overwhelmed and under-equipped hospitals in Wuhan, the quarantined city of 11 million people where the virus emerged in December. Medical staff are overstretched and lack sufficient protective gear, the deputy governor of Hubei province admitted Thursday. Li sent out a message about the new coronavirus to colleagues on December 30 in Wuhan but was later among a group of people summoned by police for rumour-mongering. He later contracted the disease while treating a patient. Censors appeared to struggle with how to deal with his death. State-run newspaper Global Times and state broadcaster CCTV first reported on Weibo that Li had died late Thursday, only to delete their posts after the death rapidly surged to be among the top topics on the popular platform. The World Health Organization reacted to the first reports of his death to express sadness. Analysts have said local authorities played down the extent of the outbreak in early January because they were holding political meetings at the time and wanted to project an aura of stability. The first fatality was reported on January 11. The death toll has since soared to 636, with 73 more reported on Friday and an additional 3,000 new infections. Global spread To control the spread, authorities have placed some 56 million people in Wuhan and surrounding cities under virtual lockdown. Authorities in Wuhan are combing communities to find people suspected or confirmed to have the virus and place them in quarantine, state media said. Major airlines have suspended flights to and from the country, while several countries have advised their citizens to leave China. But cases keep emerging. Two cruise ships carrying thousands of holidaymakers in Hong Kong and Japan have been placed under quarantine as authorities test people for infections. On Friday another 41 people tested positive aboard the Diamond Princess in Japan, bringing the total number of infected cases on the ship to 61. Another cruise ship carrying a passenger suspected of infection with coronavirus will not be allowed to dock in southern Japan, the government said Friday. In Hong Kong, 3,600 people are facing a third night confined aboard the World Dream, where eight former passengers have tested positive for the virus. While global concerns mount, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that that world was facing a chronic shortage of masks and other protective equipment. Apple contractor Foxconn said Friday it would start making face masks alongside iPhones at its Shenzhen factory, aiming for 20 million by the end of February On Saturday, the death toll from the new coronavirus recorded its largest daily jump 86 to raise the count to more than 800 deaths, nearly all in China. In doing so, the toll surpassed the total number of fatalities 774 people attributed to the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in 2002 and 2003. In Wuhan, the center of the outbreak, the first deaths of an American and a Japanese citizen were recorded. Beijing, Feb 8 : In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Apple in the beginning of this month closed all of its corporate offices, stores as well as contact centers in China due to the coronavirus outbreak, the closures were expected to last through February 10 but now Apple retail chief Deidre O'Brien revealed that the reopening time is on hold until further notice. The tech giant closed all 42 stores in the country from February 1 based on the latest advice from leading health experts. "Apple's Retail Stores are actively working to reopen at a date that will be determined next week. Additional cleaning, health protocols and local restrictions around public spaces will factor into this decision. Retail teams will receive updates from their managers on the opening date for their store and on other supportive steps we are taking," O'Brien said in a letter to employees recently. According to O'Brien, the company is working to reopen Apple's corporate offices and contact centers next week. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China has reached 722, authorities said on Saturday, while the number of confirmed cases also rose to 34,546. Chinese health authorities said they received reports of 3,399 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 86 deaths Friday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Xinhua reported. Among the deaths, 81 are in Hubei Province, two in Heilongjiang as well as one in Beijing, Henan and Gansu respectively, according to China's National Health Commission. Another 4,214 new suspected cases were reported Friday, said the commission. Also Friday, 1,280 patients became seriously ill, and 510 people were discharged from hospital after recovery. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon and mother-of-two Poppy Jennings shared a steamy smooch during a night out with their co-stars last month. The pair locked lips as they stepped out at the Chelsea Hotel in Sydney's Chatswood. Hayley, 32, - who has been accused by trolls of being a trans bride - showed off her countless tattoos in a black dress as she packed on the PDA with Poppy, 38. Scroll down for video Spoiler alert! MAFS brides Hayley Vernon (left) and mother-of-two Poppy Jennings (right) shared a steamy smooch as they enjoyed a night out with their co-stars in Sydney last month Hayley wore a black figure-hugging frock that left little to the imagination, while Poppy wore a silk pink blouse and a black miniskirt. The girls were both dolled up on the night, wearing heels and a full face of makeup. While sitting down together, the pair locked lips and could be seen giggling as they smooched and got close. Girls gone wild! While sitting down together, the pair locked lips and could be seen giggling as they smooched and got close Looking good! Hayley, 32, - who has been accused by trolls of being a trans bride - showed off her countless tattoos in a black dress as she packed on the PDA with Poppy, 38 Close: They appeared in high spirits as they cosied up together, with Poppy touching Hayley's leg as they kissed They appeared in high spirits as they cosied up together, with Poppy touching Hayley's leg as they kissed. On the night, they joined their MAFS co-stars, Vanessa Romito, 31, who Hayley was seen holding hands with in September, as well as teacher and bride Mishel Karen, 48. On the show, Hayley 'married' truck driver David Cannon, 31, while Poppy tied the knot with FIFO worker, Luke Eglin, 39. Girls night! On the night, they joined their MAFS co-stars, Vanessa Romito, 31,(second right) who Hayley was seen holding hands with in September, as well as teacher and bride Mishel Karen, 48 (far right) Brides: On the show, Hayley 'married' truck driver David Cannon, 31, while Poppy tied the knot with FIFO worker, Luke Eglin, 39 On Friday's Kyle and Jackie O Show meanwhile, Hayley insisted that her 'derogatory comment' about truck driver husband David Cannon's $25 hourly wage 'not cutting it' was a 'joke.' The brunette added that David, 31, has 'insecurities' about money, before hinting that they've split. Hayley said that she thought David was simply looking for an excuse to blow up their relationship, after finding out about her past drug addiction. Speaking out: On Friday's Kyle and Jackie O Show meanwhile, Hayley insisted that her 'derogatory comment' about truck driver husband David Cannon's $25 hourly wage 'not cutting it' was a 'joke' (pictured together) What's the go? The brunette added that David, 31, has 'insecurities' about money, before hinting that they've split 'Money and his living situation was always a massive thing to him and his family,' she said, describing it as an 'insecurity' of his. 'We were in the pool one night and he goes, "now babe you don't care that I only earn $25 an hour do you?" 'I'm like, "this is weird as 'f**k." Why the hell are you mentioning your wage?' she said. Claims: Hayley said that she thought David was simply looking for an excuse to blow up their relationship, after finding out about her past drug addiction She said she was so thrown off by David's bizarre comment, that she tried to lighten the mood by jokingly saying, ''well that's not going to cut it then is it?!'' In a last ditch attempt to clarify the sticky situation, Jackie asked: 'So it was a joke? 'Of course,' said Hayley. She added: 'I've been raised never to discuss someone's wage or anything like that.' 'The fact that the guy even works, I will applaud anyone that wakes up everyday to do a job,' she said. 'It gets lower': Hayley and David's rocky start doesn't bode well for their future together, with Hayley confirming on Friday that things only get worse for the pair What she wants: 'If you can put a smile on my dial, you make me happy and you've got good energy, we've got good banter, that's all I give a stuff about,' she said Causing a stir: But viewers were left outraged on Thursday, when Hayley allegedly said, 'your $25-an-hour wage is not going to cut it for me' during an off-camera chat 'If you can put a smile on my dial, you make me happy and you've got good energy, we've got good banter, that's all I give a stuff about,' she said. Hayley and David's rocky start doesn't bode well for their future together, with Hayley confirming on Friday that things only get worse for the pair. 'It get's lower,' she said of their relationship, 'It goes up and down like a yo-yo.' The pair tied the knot on the show on Tuesday. But viewers were left outraged on Thursday, when Hayley allegedly said, 'your $25-an-hour wage is not going to cut it for me' during an off-camera chat. Nine declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia about this story. At the start of 2004 Sharon Muscet, then 32, was living in London and working 70 hours a week as a marketing executive for a global wine company. By the end of that year the successful businesswoman was being fed antibiotics through a tube and was facing the prospect of losing her left foot after a horror stingray accident in Adelaide, South Australia. 'I was on a work trip back to Australia when I decided to take a little paddle at a beach in Glenelg,' the now 48-year-old told FEMAIL. It was the first day of their visit Down Under and Sharon was determined to show the wine distributors her beautiful hometown, but in the murky water she didn't notice a threatening tail. At the start of 2004 Sharon Muscet, then 32, was living in London and working 70 hours a week as a marketing executive for a global wine company (pictured) Are stingray barbs fatal? The stingray's spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point. The underside may produce venom, which can be fatal to humans, and which can remain deadly even after the stingray's death. To prevent being stung it's best to wiggle your feet around stingray-infested areas because the vibrations will scare them away. If the puncture isn't severe hot water kills stingray venom and may relieve the pain associated with the sting. Source: Healthline Advertisement 'I took a step and landed on a stingray, which pushed its barb into the bottom of my left foot,' she said. The stingray's spine, or barb, has serrated edges and a sharp point. The underside of the barb can produce venom, which can be fatal to humans. Although it was bleeding Sharon was determined to continue the trip, and simply patched up the wound. But on the flight back to London her foot 'blew up like a balloon' and she was told the barb had caused extensive nerve damage. A serious infection had settled in. 'I had 10 operations during this time and was off my feet for a total of two years. There was a permanent PICC line inserted into my arm feeding me the harshest antibiotics... they turned the whites of my eyes orange.' 'I took a step and landed on a stingray, which pushed its barb into the bottom of my left foot,' she said Although it was bleeding Sharon was determined to continue the trip, and simply patched up the wound She was flown back to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after three months to be treated by their new foot clinic. On two occasions doctors talked about amputating her injured foot but they were able to save it by inserting plates and screws around her third and fourth toes. 'I have been left with neuropathy in that foot, meaning I can't feel anything,' she said. Sharon describes those two years as some of the 'toughest' in her life, made lighter by the fact she reconnected with an old friend - who would later become her husband and father to her children Luka, 13, and Hugo, 11. She also decided to devote herself to things she had always wanted to do but put off when she was working so hard, namely singing lessons, knitting and mosaics. Sharon even studied to become a marriage celebrant so she could bring joy to her friends, something that occupied her time while she wasn't able to walk. Sharon describes those two years as some of the 'toughest' in her life, made lighter by the fact she reconnected with an old friend - who would later become her husband and father to her children Luka, 13, and Hugo, 11 (pictured) However her remarkable recovery was left shaken when the brave Australian suffered a heart attack in 2011. 'I stared death in the face again. That day I fought for my life. I wasn't ready to go. I was a mother. I still have so much life to live,' she said. It was Easter Sunday and Sharon was at home in bed when she woke with the 'most intense' pain in her chest that extended right up to her jaw. 'The pain was indescribable. An ambulance was called. The paramedics performed an electrocardiogram (ECG) on me. I saw the ambulance officer's glance between one another when they read my ECG,' she said. 'It was the look they gave each other that told me everything. I was scared. I was close to dying and I knew it.' Thinking only of her boys Sharon was worked on by an emergency heart surgeon. However her remarkable recovery was left shaken when Sharon suffered a heart attack in 2011 'That day I put up the biggest fight of my life and I survived,' she said. Knowing that she'd now brushed hands with death twice, Sharon wasn't in a position to take life for granted. She now shares the realities of loss and grief with others through a global movement called 'The Love in Death' and released a book about her life: 7 Life Lessons Learned Through Loss: Powerful stories of love, hope, transformation and legacy. In addition to being a marriage celebrant she became a funeral director and has conducted several hundred 'celebrations of life' for those who have passed. 'Let's say a family has just lost their child. It is unfathomable what the family goes through. It is incredibly emotional and difficult,' she said. The accident completely altered Sharon's life and the course it was going to take, but that's not something the mother-of-two feels angry about 'I feel if I can make just a small difference to a family at the most difficult time in their life, by honouring their loved one in a beautiful way and having them focus on the love, then I have been of service to them. 'I have no feelings to describe that. The work I do comes from a place in my heart, of deep love and connection.' The accident completely altered Sharon's life and the course it was going to take, but that's not something the mother-of-two feels angry about. 'Upon reflection I can say that this accident was the best thing that ever happened to me,' she said. You can learn more about Sharon Muscet by visiting her website. Niall Horan has had an amazing career. Because of this, he certainly has some interesting things to say. Horan recently opened up about his success, Harry Styles attitude towards One Direction, and the hard parts of being in a boy band. Harry Styles performing in Los Angeles, California | Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images Do Niall Horan and Harry Styles want One Direction to reunite? In an interview with RTE, Horan said he appreciated the opportunities that being in One Direction offered him. I dont think you can regret anything. I went around the world at 16, plucked from Mullingar, as my father says, packed a suitcase and never came back. He continued Ive got to witness things some artists never will in terms of pandemonium and madness, Ive had No 1 albums, hit singles. We had a great time and well have an even better time when we do it again. In the interview, Horan initially said everyone in the band liked their job. Wed be absolutely ridiculous not to reform the band. We havent really spoken about the whens but we do know we will. We have all said individually that we will and I think it would be stupid if we didnt. Did Harry Styles feel the same way? Harry Styles and Niall Horan performing together | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia Horan compared himself to Harry Styles. The phrase `happy to be anywhere is me. Harrys the same, bubbly character. Me and Harry have a similar taste in music, and similar mates. We live down the street from each other in London and LA and we went to an Eagles gig in London last Summer. Horan said not everyone in the group reacted to their fame like Styles and himself. Some people handle things differently. Me and Harry had a great time in the band but Ive heard some of the boys saying theyve struggled with it mentally but thats life. Ive always been a happy go lucky type person. Was being in One Direction ever a challenge? According to Billboard, Horan still feels being in One Direction was challenging at times. It was that crazy and its very fun. You know, its just certain situations, you know, like when you couldnt leave the hotel or you go to a city and we traveled the world but never seen it type thing. He elaborated That was the part I always struggled with, because Im not like, an indoorsy, sit-down, play video games type person. I have to go out and do something. So thats the only part I [ever] struggled with. What is Niall Horan doing now? Niall Horan feels he and Harry Styles have similar attitudes | Image Group LA via Getty Images In his interview with RTE he discussed his love of travel. Im not a sit on the beach person. I did nine weeks backpacking in SE Asia when the band finished. Ive been living in California on and off for the past few years and my cousin was over and he suggested we go on a road trip so we did and stayed in an Airbnb in Joshua Tree and one in Yosemite National Park. Horan continued I love driving. Drove up, did a massive hike. Ive got houses but theyre not mansions. Sure why would I need a mansion? Theres only one of me. Horan has seen the world, sold numerous records, and garnered numerous fans. Despite this, hes still practical and grateful for his success. We could all learn from his attitude. Also see: This British Rock Star Told One Direction Were Here to F*ck You Lot Off A streaker who hopped a fence and made a dash across a rugby pitch wearing only his socks has won a free month's stay at a luxury resort for his efforts. Tama Jake Joseph, 21, ran across Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand on Friday during a match between the Highlanders and the Sharks. Fans and players could be seen laughing and cheering as the streaker ran across the pitch with '#Puklife' written across his torso before he was tackled by security. A streaker ran across Forsyth Barr Stadium in New Zealand on Friday and won a free month's holiday at a luxury resort The words alluded to a condition set by controversial Snapchat star Tim Mullins who dared people online to streak across the oval and in return they would receive a one month stay at a resort in Nicaragua in Central America along with other prizes. Mullins congratulated the man online and called him a 'true Kiwi legend'. However New Zealand police said they have now charged a 21-year-old man, believed to be Joseph, with offensive behaviour in relation to the incident. 'Police in general discourage such behaviour and urge members of the public to consider the consequences of their actions,' a spokesperson said. 'A few moments of infamy on social media is not worth the risk of possible charges.' The streaker will appear in Nelson District Court on Wednesday. Fans and players could be seen laughing and cheering as the streaker ran across the pitch with #Puklife written across his torso before he was crash-tackled by security The streaker has now won a free holiday to Nicaragua in Central America after controversial Snapchat star Tim Mullins dared his fans in exchange for the prize But in a video posted to the streaker's Facebook page he did not appear to be worried. 'Just got out of the cells,' he said. 'And that is how you get free festival tickets and a trip away overseas.' Mullins has now opened up the streaking competition again for the Chiefs and Crusaders match on Saturday night. In 2018, Mullins held a similar competition that saw another streaker take to the field naked before they were tackled by security. Although the streaker faced up to a $5,000 fine at the time he said it was worth it to win the free holiday. Fitness tests in California schools may be suspended for three years over fears of the negative effect the test has on non-binary students forced to identify as male or female. The state's current fitness assessment measures a student's body mass index which requires every student to select whether they are 'male' or 'female'. A number of school districts have complained to the state that this practice is discriminatory against students who identify as non-binary. Under current requirements, California students in grades five, seven and nine must take a fitness test that involves a one-mile run, curl-ups, push-ups and a measure of body mass index. The new proposal, brought forward by California Governor Gavin Newsom, could suspend the current test for three years until a new assessment is developed. Physical education will still remain a requirement for graduation. California Governor Gavin Newsom, pictured talking to students in Sacramento, wants a three-year suspension on school physical fitness tests while the state evaluates the model Students hold their position during a yoga class at Capri Elementary School in California - Governor Gavin Newsom wants a three-year suspension on physical fitness tests in California schools so the model can be modified or a new assessment be drawn up if required Governor Newsom wants to pause physical education tests for students for three years due to concerns over bullying and the test discriminating against disabled and non-binary students. The move also comes after annual test results show a growing percentage of students scoring not healthy. H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the California Department of Finance, said the state has received complaints that the current examinations measurement of body mass index is discriminatory to non-binary students. A measurement calculated from weight and height, BMI screenings require students to select 'male' or 'female,' he said. 'Dispelling myths, breaking down stereotypes, and improving school climate is one way California is working to keep all students safe and healthy, consistent with the Governor's commitment to a California that respects all students,' Palmer said in an email. 'The issue of BMI screening plays a role in the issues of both body shaming and bullying.' California Governor Gavin Newsom tucked a proposal to suspend the state's school fitness test for three years over bullying and body-shaming fears in his education budget bill for next year Students in California, pictured above, will still be required to complete physical education classes to graduate but may not have to take a school fitness test for three years The proposal was tucked inside Newsoms education budget bill for next year. School districts nationwide use such tests and the exercise can inform growing children about potential health problems, experts say. But the results from tests and BMI measurements should not be used to diagnose health risks, according to the Society of Health and Physical Educators. During the proposed physical fitness test programs suspension, the state would study whether the current test should be modified or redrawn anew, Palmer said. This would involve consulting with experts on fitness, physical education, gender identity and students with disabilities to decide whether the current test needs to be modified or if a new assessment should be established. Physical education classes would remain a requirement for graduation. Initiated in 1998, the school tests can include a one-mile run, push-ups and other measurements. Annual state reports of the fitness test since the 2014-2015 school year show a steady decline in the share of students scoring healthy, according to a review by The Associated Press. Students' scores have particularly dropped in the category of the fitness test that measures 'aerobic capacity' which can be tested in a one-mile run or by other methods. Other categories also test for flexibility and exercises like push-ups. In the last five years, the percentage of fifth graders scoring healthy in the aerobic category has dropped by 3.3 percentage points. In seventh and ninth grades, the drops are 4.4 percentage points and 3.8 percentage points, respectively. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, visiting a Sacramento school 2007. Critics of the BMI test point out that, according the the test, Schwarzenegger would have been officially classified obese when he won the top bodybuilding title of Mr. Olympia in 1974 Critics of BMI argue that according to the test, Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured here training for Mr. Olympia in 1977, would have been classified as obese when he won Mr. Olympia in 1974 Meanwhile, the percentage of students identified as 'needing improvement' and having a 'health risk' went up: by 3.3 percentage points among fifth graders, 4.4 for seventh graders and 3.8 among ninth graders. The Department of Education did not immediately comment on those results. Bodybuilder and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had several school fitness initiatives during his time in office. He said through a spokesman that physical education classes should be the top priority. 'Whether the state uses fitness tests or not, Governor Schwarzenegger believes that the most important thing is that our students have access to daily physical education classes to promote a healthy and fit lifestyle,' said Daniel Ketchell, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger. Ketchell agreed that BMI screenings are flawed. He said, for instance, that the 6-foot-2-inch and 240-pound Schwarzenegger would have been officially classified obese when he won the top bodybuilding title of Mr. Olympia in 1974. ABC News(MANCHESTER, N.H) -- Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar didn't speak the most among rivals at Friday night's ABC News Democratic debate, but more than anyone else she went after former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg had been enjoying something of a victory lap since a strong showing at the controversial Iowa caucuses, which set off a tumultuous week for the Democrats that including President Donald Trump's State of the Union and his acquittal resulting from impeachment hearings. Klobuchar, who along with fellow Democratic candidates Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, had to give up precious campaigning time in Iowa to be present in Washington for the Senate's Trump impeachment vote on Wednesday, and she turned the topic of impeachment to deliver a punctuated jab at Buttigieg. "What you said, Pete, as you were campaigning through Iowa, as three of us were jurors in that impeachment hearing, you said it was exhausting to watch and you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons," Klobuchar said. She went on to compare the two-term mayor's popularity with voters now to Trump's popularity in 2016. "It is easy to go after Washington because that's a popular thing to do," Klobuchar said. "[It] makes you look like a cool newcomer. I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." "I'm not a political newcomer with no record," she added. "I have a record of fighting for people." In a different moment, while in a discussion about the Affordable Care Act, Klobuchar launched another attack at Buttigieg, as well as Sanders and Warren. "I keep listening to this same debate, and it is not real," she said. "It is not real, Bernie, because two-thirds of the Democrats in the Senate are not on your bill and because it would kick 149 million Americans off their current health insurance in four years. And let me say what else. Elizabeth wants to do it in two years. And Pete, you sent out a tweet just a few years ago that said affirmatively you are for Medicare for All. So I would like to point out that leadership is taking a position, looking at things and sticking with them." Her performance seemed to resonate with voters. Shortly after the debate ended, Klobuchar announced she had met her goal of raising $1 million before midnight. ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl said Klobuchar was having "her best debate." "She's taking on her opponents, making contrasts, but also clearly articulating the case for her candidacy," Karl said. ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran similarly said Klobuchar had her best debate. "She's hit Buttigieg hard, and taken on Bernie to good effect as well. And she's done it while delivering her message -- that she is the most pragmatic, optimistic, centrist candidate on that stage," Moran added. He noted it might be "too little, too late," but said, "she is shining here tonight." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. AS the death toll staggers at over 3,000, it is worrying for all citizens that those in auth Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But unfortunately, some companies simply don't succeed. To wit, the Cairo Communication S.p.A. (BIT:CAI) share price managed to fall 59% over five long years. That's not a lot of fun for true believers. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 34% in the last year. Unfortunately the share price momentum is still quite negative, with prices down 9.1% in thirty days. See our latest analysis for Cairo Communication To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). BIT:CAI Past and Future Earnings, February 8th 2020 What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Cairo Communication's TSR for the last 5 years was -50%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 25% in the last year, Cairo Communication shareholders lost 31% (even including dividends) . However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 13% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Cairo Communication . Story continues But note: Cairo Communication may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on IT exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Kevin Conway, who brought intensity to roles large and small on the screen and the stage, including memorable turns in the 1970s in the plays When You Comin Back, Red Ryder? and The Elephant Man, died on Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 77. Geraldine Newman, his longtime partner, said the cause was a heart attack. Mr. Conway got a late start on his acting career, but by 1969 he was making his Broadway debut in Arthur Kopits Indians. His first significant film role was in Slaughterhouse-Five, George Roy Hills adaptation of Kurt Vonneguts novel, in 1972. Early on, he often played explosive characters and tough guys. In 1978 he worked opposite Sylvester Stallone in both F.I.S.T., a tale of organized labor and organized crime, and Paradise Alley, in which he played a hoodlum in the mean streets of 1940s New York. Mr. Stallone, he said, had suggested that he get a tattoo of an eagle on his forehead to make the character more memorable. I told him I wasnt crazy about the idea, Mr. Conway told People magazine. A thing like that could cut down your employment opportunities. Baghdad, Iraq On a recent morning, at the foot of a towering building known as the Turkish restaurant in Baghdads Tahrir Square, a man dressed in black rallied a small audience, calling for an end to the United States presence in Iraq. Blue caps against American interference, the crowd clamoured, wielding batons and metal rods underneath a clear, blue sky. The men nicknamed the blue caps after their signature headgear are die-hard supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shia leader known for his mercurial temper and large, cult-like following which includes a well-armed militia. Blue, because its the colour of peace, explained 38-year-old Nateq Al Gerawi pointing to a fellow cap-wearing Sadrist. But just two hours later, videos were posted online showing alleged Sadrists striking young anti-government student protesters with batons. Changing stance For months Al-Sadr worked to remain at the forefront of Iraqs anti-government protests, a popular movement that swept across the capital and southern cities in October, driven by demands for basic services, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption and foreign interference in Iraqi affairs. His followers provided support and at times a degree of protection to the civilian uprising. But in recent weeks al-Sadr has shifted position. In late January, he withdrew support for the protests only to call on his supporters to return to the streets a week later, causing confusion among those on the streets and widening a rift between his die-hard supporters and the largely leaderless youth who have driven the protest movement. Al-Sadr then approved the decision to name Mohammed Allawi as prime minister-designate, a choice that has been met with opposition among the non-aligned protesters. Earlier this week, seven protesters were killed and more than 150 wounded when clashes broke out between protesters and organised Sadrists in Najaf. The incident came just hours after al-Sadr called on his supporters to come together to reveal the saboteurs and the nationalist pretenders by helping the security forces. The blue hats have to pave the way for this with love, peace and compassion, he said in a Tweet. In his weekly sermon on Friday, the revered Iraqi Shia religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemned the security forces for failing to protect the protesters in Najaf. There is no excuse for shirking that duty, he said. That afternoon, a group of non-aligned protesters marched through Tahrir carrying the Iraqi flag and chanting: Sistani, your sons are in Tahrir. A stones throw away, inside the Turkish restaurant, women clad in black chanted slogans in support of the Mahdi army, al-Sadrs militia, known since 2014 as Saraya al-Salam. The Turkish restaurant building was once a hub for protesters [Sofia Barbarani/Al Jazeera] Theyve split the square in two For the first months of Iraqs uprising, the Turkish restaurant in Baghdad was known for being a protest stronghold and a place for communal gathering. On Sunday al-Sadr supporters removed the demonstrators, turning the unfinished building into a bare and quiet space. Muqtada al-Sadr is killing us, said a teenage protester, before catching a glimpse of a loitering tall man in a blue hat and lowering his voice. They are killing in Baghdad and in Nasiriya [and] they took down the pictures of our victims, he said, pointing to the Turkish restaurant, where the portraits of killed protesters once hung but were torn down by Sadrs supporters. Some protesters say they are grateful for the arrival of the blue caps. They cleared the [Turkish] restaurant of drugs, said Jamal Jassm, 48. Others, like a 17-year-old known as Vife, say they have stopped feeling comfortable inside Tahrir square: Theyre at checkpoints and starting to give us orders. What appeared to be a unified civilian movement soon fractured into opposing camps as reports of violent incidents increased. In Tahrir Square, the division is stark, with blue caps congregating primarily around the Turkish restaurant and manning checkpoints, and non-aligned protesters rallying next to the Freedom Monument, with Tahrirs busy roundabout acting as a buffer zone. Medo and other young protesters say the blue caps are causing divisions in the protest movement [Sofia Barbarani/Al Jazeera] The blue caps have split the square into two, were trying to reunite the square, said Medo, a 19-year-old protester who asked that his real name not be used. They insult us, if we answer back, they threaten us with violence, said another young protester sitting in a tent by the Tigris river. But Medo and his friends say they know what they are up against a gang of armed men whose allegiance to Muqtada al-Sadr is primary. Roots of power Al-Sadr was born into one of the countrys most prominent religious families in 1974, but his father, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr, did not intend for his seminary to be inherited by his son. Instead, he left it in the hands of a fellow scholar, who ultimately delegated the responsibility to Muqtada. 200128220456441 And while he inherited his fathers followers, not everyone trusted that al-Sadr could live up to the Grand Ayatollahs iconic image. His volatile nature and poor academic record young Muqtada did not complete his religious studies were well known among the Iraqi public and many, including politicians, as well as neighbouring Iran remained sceptical. His powerful family ties helped him maintain his position of authority and in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, al-Sadr made a bid to expand his political power. Harnessing nationalistic sentiment in the country, he began to build his eponymous political movement along with an anti-US militia, successfully appealing to millions of followers from low-income areas by offering education and health services. The young religious scholars often reckless decision-making did not deter old and new followers alike from backing him as he built a political base, lending him the popular support that would later make him a key power broker in Iraqi politics as the head of the Sairoon Alliance. A local imam in Sadr city is part of the powerful Shia leaders group of die-hard supporters [Sofia Barbarani/Al Jazeera] In May 2018, Sairoon won the largest number of seats in the countrys parliamentary elections, effectively giving its leader veto power in recent deliberations to appoint a new government. Al-Sadr likes to pretend to be a cleric above and beyond the political, but actually, everything hes done and especially his militiamen, are anchored in a political understanding of the country that theyre in their policies are political, not religious, Mitchell Belfer, President of the Euro-Gulf Information Centre (EGIC), told Al Jazeera. 200127175149848 While Iran was once suspicious of relying on al-Sadrs volatile nature, his recent visits and meetings in Iran suggest a marked improvement in his relationship with the neighbouring country, with some analysts suggesting Tehran is showing a newfound readiness to support al-Sadr, further emboldening him in his quest for power. Now that the dust has settled in relation to the Iraq-Iran relationship, once again, his flavour of the month is Tehran, said Belfer. But as he rises through the ranks of Iraqs political system, al-Sadr may be losing the support among his less-hardened supporters, namely those who have joined the protests. Hes a good leader, but In January al-Sadr momentarily withdrew his support for the anti-government protests when he called for a separate million-man march against the US presence in Iraq. Many expected to see the countrys squares empty out and for demonstrators to join the anti-US protests. But anti-government protesters still gathered separately from the Sadrists, setting the stage for the later clashes between rival groups. 180517053738881 Anti-Sadrists took to social media to publicly denounce al-Sadr, while some Sadrists openly defied the Islamic scholars commands. Ali, a 29-year-old man from Sadr City and a staunch al-Sadr supporter did not heed the clerics orders to leave the protests. I love Muqtada al-Sadr because he was the one who fought against the American interference, the first one to call for demonstrations, said Ali. Hes a good leader but Im participating in these demonstrations [for the] homeland, not al-Sadr and I will still be in the square participating until I achieve the demands of the martyrs. But when al-Sadr called on his supporters to return to the streets last week, some anti-government protesters said they would not be welcome. We do not rely on al-Sadr supporters, we do not want them back, not until they are free, said 60-year-old Abdul Ridha Abdul Raheem. According to EGICs Belfer, the initial support lent by al-Sadr to the demonstrations was not a genuine acceptance of their demands, but rather a way for him to exercise a degree of control. His security personnel, his militiamen, were basically protecting the demonstrators, but actually what they were really doing was learning their strength and their weaknesses, their leadership, said Belfer. A former academic high achiever who conned 10 people into sending over 2,500 into his bank accounts - opened under five different pseudonyms - has been sentenced (stock photo) A former academic high achiever who conned 10 people into sending over 2,500 into his bank accounts - opened under five different pseudonyms - has been sentenced. Matthew Corry yesterday pleaded guilty at Londonderry Crown Court to 10 courts of fraud by false representation. The 31-year-old, who is originally from Church Brae in Strabane but whose bail address is at Castle Hill in Dungannon, committed the offences by taking payments over the internet for goods which he never sent to his 10 victims, between September 2017 and July 2018. Corry, who had previous convictions for committing similar offences in England and in Northern Ireland, advertised cameras, soundbars and speakers on Gumtree. The items did not exist and the people who ordered and paid for the non-existent items are all currently out of pocket. A barrister for the Public Prosecution Service told Judge Philip Babington that Corry was caught when officers from a government department known as Action Fraud - set up to detect cyber crime and internet fraud - told police that they had received complaints from the victims. "The injured parties sent or transferred money into his bank accounts but they did not received the items they had intended to purchase. The defendant was identified and... the police went to his home at Church Brae in Strabane on November 14, 2018," the barrister said. The prosecutor said initially Corry denied the offences before he eventually admitted his guilt. "He said he had worked with someone he had met in prison in England and that he knew the goods were dodgy or possibly stolen," the barrister added. Defence barrister Stephen Mooney said after leaving grammar school with 11 GCSEs and three A-levels, Corry went to Manchester University to do a degree in engineering. Instead of completing his degree, however, he developed drugs and gambling issues. In relation to previous convictions in Leicester three years ago, Mr Mooney said Corry "was the fence for a much larger criminal enterprise rather than being the brain behind it". The barrister said Corry had already spent three-and-a-half months in custody for the current offences and his family had brought 1,600 in cash to court with them by way of compensation for the victims. Judge Babington described Corry's offending as "mean and beyond contempt" and added: "Hopefully these 10 people will learn not to believe everything they see on the internet". Judge Babington then imposed an Enhanced Combination Order under which Corry will be on licence for three years and will have to complete 60 hours of community service. The district judge also made a compensation order of 2,500 to be shared between Corry's 10 victims. He told Corry the compensation had to be paid within seven days. Over the weekend, police said they had arrested two juvenile males ages 14 and 16 and charged them with burglary and theft. Police said additional people are being sought in the case. The victims vehicle had been recovered. Two masked men armed with a machete and a knife terrorised an older couple during an aggravated burglary in east Belfast. The men entered the house via the front door of the property on Picardy Avenue at around 10am on Saturday. The pair threatened the occupants with the weapons and demanded money. One of the males searched upstairs in the property before both fled with a mobile phone. The intruders are described as in their 20s, wearing work trousers and sweatshirts with the hoods up. Both spoke with Belfast accents. DUP MLA Robin Newton condemned the incident. "That young men armed with large knives forced their way into the victims home searching for money and valuables will send a wave of fear across the local community," the east Belfast MLA said. "This is not an isolated incident in the district. It is fortunate this couple were not seriously injured. "However, if these thugs are not caught it is likely they will seek out other opportunities to commit violent crimes. Anyone who is prepared to carry a knife and make threats is dangerous. "I would appeal to the PSNI to increase their presence in the area and also ask the public to help the police by using the police 101 number. Detectives are keen to hear from witnesses or anyone who was in the area and who may have captured dashcam or mobile phone footage. Call 101, quoting reference 772 08/02/20. A Houston Police Department officer who was severely burned Christmas Eve 2018 when a driver plowed into his squad car, has returned to work after a lengthy recovery that included 38 surgeries, the department announced Friday. Officer John Daily has been assigned to administrative duties, police said. "It feels great to be back," Daily said in a tweet from the department. My goal is to get back to the streets to serve the community." Daily and HPD officer Alonzo Reid were assisting another officer around midnight when a driver plowed into their Chevy Tahoe, with its lights and sirens activated, in the 10100 block of Telephone Road. The car flipped and caught fire. Reid sustained less severe burns and recovered faster, but Daily suffered burns on 50 percent of his body, police said at the time. Over the course of his recovery, donations poured in to help with his medical bills. Food and gift cards also helped his parents travel back and forth from their home in California to Houston, according to earlier reports in the Chronicle. The charges against Cesar Collazo, the man originally accused of striking Daily's car, were dropped last May, court records show. DNA evidence showed that he wasn't the driver at the time of the crash, records say. Sean Teare, the vehicular crimes chief for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, said the driver has since been charged in the incident. The driver, whose identity was not immediately available Friday night, is currently being extradited from Mexico, Teare said. Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 04:01:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PARIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- French soldiers killed "more than 30 terrorists during several successive operations" near Mali's border with Burkina Faso, France's defense ministry announced on Friday. In Gourma, a crossroad region in Mali's central belt that flanks the border with Burkina Faso, soldiers of the French Barkhane force killed about 20 militants and destroyed several vehicles on Thursday and Friday, the ministry said in a statement. A drone and two helicopters had been involved in two strikes targeted area where the militants had been spotted, it added. Ten more insurgents had been neutralized this week in the Liptako region, a stronghold of Islamic State. "Success of Barkhane and Malian armed forces: more than 30 terrorists have been neutralized in the region," Florence Parly, Minister of Armed Forces tweeted. "I salute the courage of our soldiers and of our Malian partners. Our efforts will continue in the Sahel region," she added. Last week, France said it would send 600 more soldiers to the Africa's Sahel region, notably to the area between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, in order to reinforce its military operation to uproot militants in the zone. Advertisement By National Weather Service Feb. 08, 2020 | PADUCAH By National Weather Service Feb. 08, 2020 | 08:34 AM | PADUCAH For nearly three weeks in January, western Kentucky basked in an unprecedented stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures that would have rewritten the record book for the month. As it turned out, a cold streak in the last 12 days bumped January down to the 9th-warmest ever in Paducah. Even so, the month still enjoyed high temperatures almost 5 degrees warmer than normal, and lows that were 7 degrees warmer than average. In fact, a record warm low temperature was set the night of January 10th at 59 degrees (the normal January low is 26.) That led to a near-record high of 67 on the 11th, one degree shy of the all-time mark set in 2017. That same day was also the wettest of the month, with 3.09 inches of rain on the 11th. That single day accounted for more than half of the 5.65 inches of total precipitation for all of January. The long warm stretch contributed to the fact that there was no measurable snow at Barkley Field in January. This was the first snowless January in Paducah since 2007. Burma The Irrawaddy Business Roundup Shipping containers at Asia World Port in Yangon in 2016. / The Irrawaddy YANGONChinas coronavirus outbreak has continued to hit Myanmars tourism sector and border trade hard, causing massive losses for producers, exporters and tourism businesses during the week. These sectors were hit hardest, as they are heavily reliant on Chinese business, but other sectors in Yangon and Mandalay also saw slowdowns connected to concerns about the virus outbreak. In addition, business delegations from France and Belgium held meetings with Myanmar businesses to explore investment opportunities and to expand business ties with Myanmar. A business delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce and the US Commercial Service also visited Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest economic hub, to seek further economic ties there. French seek investment opportunities in Myanmar The business delegation from the French-Myanmar Business Council and the ASEAN Committee of MEDEF International (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) visited Naypyitaw and Yangon during the week to explore potential investment opportunities in Myanmar. The French delegation met Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Soe Win, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyitaw. During the meeting, the sides discussed Myanmars investment climate and economic reforms as well as potential for cooperation between the two countries around trade, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. The 28 members of the delegation represented prominent French international companies in energy, water, transportation, infrastructure, banking, micro-finance and trade. The delegation also met Myanmar businesspeople at a business matching event at the Yangon headquarters of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). According to a UMFCCI statement, French Ambassador to Myanmar Christian Lechervy said the event aimed to explore investment opportunities between the two countries, encourage interaction between private-sector players, and promote opportunities through business relations. The UMFCCI said that French investors are eyeing investments in the energy, railway and transportation sectors and the construction of ports in Myanmar. France is ranked 12th among the top sources of foreign investment in Myanmar, with 22 French enterprises having invested a total of about US$515 million (about 750 billion kyats) in the country as of December 2019, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration. US delegation explores business ties in Mandalay The delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (AMCHAM) and the US Commercial Service visited Myanmars second-largest economic hub, Mandalay, on Wednesday to seek more economic ties there. Led by US Ambassador Scot Marciel, 20 American business delegates explored opportunities for expanded trade and business ties to the Mandalay region, the US Embassy said in a statement. The delegation met with officials from the Mandalay regional government and counterparts from the Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MRCCI) and participated in a business showcase to network with Mandalay-area businesses. Marciel said the US government is committed to promoting responsible business investment and trade that benefits the people of Myanmar. The US opened the American Business Corner in Mandalaythe first of its kind in ASEANin March 2019 to help American companies find business opportunities and to help increase commercial ties between two countries. According to the DICA, the US is ranked 13th among top investors in Myanmar, with 22 enterprises having invested a total of US$531 million as of December 2019. Virus hits Myanmar tourism and border trade Myanmars tourism sector was badly hit by the governments suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists amid growing fears over the outbreak of coronavirus, according to tour agencies. On Monday, Myanmars Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT) also asked travel companies and tour operators to temporarily stop providing services to Chinese travelers planning to visit Myanmar. The move aims to ban Chinese visitors who come to Myanmar with e-visas, as opposed to visas-on-arrival. Travel agents said they had to cancel all bookings by Chinese customers due to the MOHT follow-up announcement. According to the MOHT, Chinese tourists have constituted the majority of foreign travelers to Myanmar since last year. According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, as of Jan. 31, about 2,300 Chinese visitors were arriving by plane to Myanmar every day. On Wednesday, the ministry said that figure had dropped to 323 visitors per day. Likewise, according the Ministry of Commerce, trade across the Myanmar-China border has been virtually halted since the outbreak began in China, causing huge losses to Myanmar famers and exporters. The Commerce Ministry said that Myanmar has lost around US$15 million per day since the second week of January as border trade with China has stopped at major border gates in Muse and Chinshwehaw in Shan State and Kanpiketi in Kachin State. Hundreds of trucks full of watermelons have been sitting at the Muse border gate since late January. The Commerce Ministry said they will be searching other markets to make up for the losses. Belgium to expand trade and investment relations with Myanmar A group of Belgian entrepreneurs held a roundtable meeting with Myanmar businesspeople at the UMFCCIs headquarters in Yangon on Monday to learn about current economic reforms and to seek investment opportunities in Myanmar. According to the UMFCCI, a total of 15 Belgian entrepreneurs plan to expand their investments in Yangon and Mandalay, particularly in the pharmaceutical, medical, energy, agriculture, construction and food sectors. DICA does not compile official data on Belgian investment in Myanmar. However, the EU accounts for only around 3 percent of total foreign investment in Myanmar. According to the Ministry of Commerce, EU countries shared only 7.6 percent of Myanmars total foreign trade in 2018-19 and 6.22 percent in 2019-2020. You may also like these stories: Myanmars 10 Key Economic Moments of 2019 The Irrawaddy Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup With days until New Hampshires first in the nation primary, the top seven 2020 democrats returned to a debate stage in Manchester, making their final pitch to the states voters that theyre the the best pick to take on Donald Trump this November. The debates hosted by ABC News began with a sharp jabs between Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg the two clear leaders coming out of the messy Iowa caucuses earlier this week as Joe Biden, who came in fourth place behind third-place Elizabeth Warren, attempted to pull both down as he seeks a come back after a whopping on Monday. When our opponent is saying if you dont go all the way to the edge it doesnt count, politics that say its my way or the highway, Mr Buttigieg said, attacking Mr Sanders for his perceived refusal to compromise on political issues. But, Mr Sanders disagreed with the argument that he is such an ideological purist, and portrayed that difference as a symptom of the class struggle he sees as a major plague to America. He continued: The way you bring people together is by presenting an agenda that works for the working people of this country, not the billionaire class. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters The night involved high stakes for the seven candidates on stage, and Mr Biden seemed to sense that gravity. After recognising that he had suffered a heavy blow in Iowa, he insisted that he was staying in the fight at least through the contest in South Carolina. Then, he went on the offensive against Mr Sanders and Mr Buttigieg. Imagine youre going to unite the country, walking into Congress and saying, I got this bill. Its going to provide healthcare for everybody. I dont know how much its going to cost. Well figure it out later, Mr Biden said of Mr Sanders single-payer Medicare for All healthcare proposal, which the Vermont senator says should replace Obamacare. How much is it going to cost? Who is going to pay for it? he asked. I busted my neck getting Obamacare passed. While Mr Biden also attacked Mr Buttigieg, it was senator Amy Klobuchar, who is hoping for a dark horse win in New Hampshire on Tuesday, who mounted one of the harshest attacks on the former Indiana mayor. Making what was a rare reference to the presidents recently resolved impeachment, Ms Klobuchar noted that senators on the stage had been involved in that process, and said they took the issue seriously. Then, she attacked Mr Buttigieg for comments on the campaign trail that the process was exhausting. What you said, Pete, as you were campaigning through Iowa as three of us were jurors in the impeachment hearing, you said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons, she said. (He later clarified that he was saying Americans were at risk of disengaging from the political process, not that he was personally uninterested in those issues). On policy and issues of substance, the candidates touched upon everything from ending private prisons and detention centres, healthcare reforms, climate change, gun violence, the attack on abortion rights in the US and the countrys nearly two decades of war in the Middle East. But, beyond the attacks, the candidates also projected a sense of unity, with Mr Sanders promising that the candidates will unite to take on Mr Trump in November no matter who is elected. And, they focused on Mr Trump, even on those issues of substance. When we come up against Donald Trump, the team that has been trying to take away health care for millions of people whats going to matter the most is we are the people on the side of those who need health care across the country, Ms Warren said. Thats who Democrats are. Andrew Yang, the billionaire who has described the crisis facing America as one of purpose, with millions facing the potential of lost jobs due to automation and a runaway tech industry, took issue with the focus that Mr Trump is the problem. The president is just the most prominent symptom of the issues facing America. Donald Trump is not the cause of our problems, Mr Yang said, and it is a mistake to pretend that he is. Mr Yang was joined by Tom Steyer as a relative outsider on the stage, with the Mr Steyer choosing to make improving race relations his raison detre for the evening (one that proved contentious among the candidates, who described the issue in varying terms from being an issue of criminal justice, to one of economic concerns). I am the person on this stage who will say openly, Im for reparations. Something wrong happened...and anyone who thinks racism is a thing of the past and not an ongoing problem is not dealing with reality, Mr Steyer said. The New Hampshire primary will be held on Tuesday evening. Mr Sanders leads in aggregates of polls in the state at 26.3 per cent, followed by Mr Buttigieg at 21.8 per cent, Ms Warren at 13.3 per cent and Ms Klobuchar at 8 per cent. Ofcom received 300 complaints over the BBC's Horrible Histories Brexit Day special that critics claimed trashed the UK'. Horrible Histories Brexit was broadcast on January 31 and suggested Britain had historically failed to produce anything of note, relying only on imports. The series of 'comedy' clips for CBBC was hosted by left-wing comedian Nish Kumar and was slammed by hundreds for being a 'waste of the licence fee and public money'. In one sequence, Queen Victoria is labelled 'foreign' and portrayed as a dullard who is shocked to discover that sugar, tea and cotton do not come from England. Her manservant performs a song suggesting that Victorians only had access to these goods because of slavery and imperial might. Yet slavery was abolished four years before Victoria came to the Throne. He sings: 'Sugar is Caribbean-imported. For sugar in your cup of tea, slavery's been supported. I know it's wrong, your Majesty, but slaves in Africa worked hard in fields of sugar cane to sweeten up your char.' The Queen and her servant then sing: 'British things, British things, I thought that they were many. British things, British things, afraid there's hardly any.' The servant then adds: 'Your British things are from abroad and most are frankly stolen.' The song concludes: 'British things, British things, there are none we declare. All our favourite British things seem to come from elsewhere.' Even the BBC's commentators were unimpressed, with veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil branding it 'anti-British drivel of a high order' and asking: 'Was any of the licence fee used to produce something purely designed to demean us?' Of the Horrible Histories film, Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan said on Twitter: 'Why is the BBC paying nasty pieces of work like Kumar to trash Britain like this? An outrageous and shameful abuse of public money.' Former MP Douglas Carswell wrote: 'The crassness of this BBC children's clip is remarkable. The slave trade was made illegal before Victoria became Queen. Her governments went to great lengths to stamp it out. Brits had access to tea and sugar due to free trade. Buying imports is not un-British.' Horrible Histories Brexit was broadcast on January 31 and suggested Britain had historically failed to produce anything of note, relying only on imports At the time, several BBC critics claimed the sketch featuring Queen Victoria, which was previously broadcast in 2009, bordered on racist because it claimed that people, goods and traditions from elsewhere could never be British. One viewer said: 'Anti-British propaganda like this has led people to stop paying their licence fee.' James Cleverly, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, said: 'Are Nish and the Horrible Histories Team saying that no matter for how long and how intimately things are part of mainstream life, they aren't really British if they originated overseas? Sounds a lot like the argument made by the BNP about people like me. And Nish.' Oscar winner Lord Fellowes, who wrote the screenplay to the film Young Victoria, said: 'It's pretty rough involving Queen Victoria in the slavery argument. Slavery had been ruled illegal in Britain in the 1770s and it was abolished in the colonies in 1833.' In one sequence, Queen Victoria is labelled 'foreign' and portrayed as a dullard who is shocked to discover that sugar, tea and cotton do not come from England Her manservant performs a song suggesting that Victorians only had access to these goods because of slavery and imperial might. Yet slavery was abolished four years before Victoria came to the Throne Daisy Goodwin, the screenwriter for television drama Victoria, also raised concerns about her portrayal. She said: 'He [Nish] is completely right to point out that the British Empire was based on the exploitation of other people... but I think it's a bit unfair on Queen Victoria who was neither racist nor stupid.' A BBC spokesman said at the time of the backlash: 'The Horrible Histories video is light-hearted and not anti-British. 'We are a nation, like most others, that enjoy a patchwork of traditions and culture from other countries. Our children's audience are able to take these things as intended. 'Horrible Histories takes historical accuracy incredibly seriously. Many goods common in Britain during the Victorian era were harvested or produced by slaves in other countries even though Britain abolished the slave trade before Victoria became Queen.' VANCOUVERLast week, in defiance of all rules of civility, I called Myriam Larouche at 5:45 a.m. It was gracious enough that she answered at that hour. Then, she proceeded to tell me cheerfully about her life. She told me of her study and travels during two planned years abroad, of her family back in Quebec, and of the city that had just begun to feel like home until it devolved into a near ghost town as it reckoned with a deadly virus outbreak. Until Thursday night, Larouche was living in Wuhan, China the epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened more than 30,000 people, killed more than 625, and is still spreading. Everybodys hiding, everybodys staying home, she said at that time. All the days are quite similar, we try to stay busy studying or watching any TV, if its possible. This week, an evacuation flight carried Myriam and 175 other Canadians back to this country. It may have arrived early Friday morning, but she and her fellow evacuees still must endure 14 days in quarantine before they can go home to their families. Its an unenviable itinerary spending day and night in a comfy but confined room at an air base, under advice that its really better not to get up and walk around. I have a feeling shell face it undaunted, though. In the days after our first conversation on the phone, Myriam and I kept up a game of chat-tag through time zones. You can follow some of that chat in our live blog of her journey back to Canada. What struck me about talking to her was that, despite being at the very centre of a world news event causing all shades of ugliness in the forms of death, suffering and racism, she exuded qualities the rest of us seemed to have forgotten: Optimism. Joy. Calm amid the storm. Maybe, while were all working out how to process our concerns and fears about the novel coronavirus, we could take her attitude as an example. The 25-year-old from LAscension, Que., was in Wuhan to study tourism management at the Central China Normal University on a scholarship, and she had no intention of wasting any of her time there. Myriam had been in Wuhan five months and had spent her spare time exploring the city and country. She sent me smiling photos from a sunny trip to Guilin in the south of China. When the outbreak started to get serious, Myriam wasnt cavalier about it. She stayed in her dorm room, wearing a mask whenever she had to go out to get food, and spent time reassuring her mom back home, who was worried about her. Eventually, Myriam contacted her university and Global Affairs to ask for help to get back to Canada. But neither did she let the outbreak entirely colour her experience of Wuhan. While confined to her room, she continued to chat and play games over the internet with the many other international students she had met there. She told me she wondered if there was a way she would be able to go back to the country to continue her studies, after the outbreak. Im telling myself that this could have happened anywhere in the world, she said, matter of factly on the phone. I was supposed to be here for two years, but maybe Im going to come back earlier. With officials and politicians focused on messages of getting Canadians out of Wuhan, there was something refreshing in hearing Myriam talk about, one day, going back, before she had even left. Chatting with Myriam felt like chatting with any one of my friends. Were the same age, and share a desire to seize opportunities to learn and see new parts of the world. She comes across warmly, often smiling, and texting fluently in the millennial language of emojis. None of that attitude seemed compromised by her circumstances. Prior to the flight to Canada, when Myriam had to go through the intense scrutiny of Chinese government checkpoints and sit in the airport for 10 hours with only instant noodles to eat. But for every time she confessed trepidation about the trip to come, she was as quick to say everything was great and that she was so excited. I found myself drawn to Myriam, and invested in her journey. On Thursday night, though I had been up for 18 hours so that I could report when the evacuation flight took off from Wuhan, I was excited to message her to welcome her home to Canada, and to note that we were briefly in the same city as the flight stopped in Vancouver (she answered with emojis and thank yous). Reporting on this novel coronavirus from the West Coast, Ive encountered a range of attitudes: cautious confidence in our public health system, panicked misconceptions and many, many painful memories of SARS. There is something primal about sickness and our fear of it. It brings out our worst instincts, when whats needed most is logic and reason. Its hard to be calm when people are dying in a global emergency. Myriams approach was appealing. Shes taking the requisite precautions and staying safe. But as much as shes thinking about coronavirus, shes also thinking about what happens next. We could do that, too. Read more about: Z etter Townhouse, EC1 Warning: the cosy, plush, softly lit interior of Clerkenwells Zetter Townhouse is sickeningly romantic. But book with two mates on 14 February and youll be boozily rewarded for your refusal to couple up. Staff are offering each table-of-three one complimentary cocktail from the Menage a Trois menu. Choose between a Fig Leaf Collins, Oak-Infused Kir or the cutesy, yet potent, Rose Petal Gimlet. (thezettertownhouse.com) Nordic Bar, W1 This gloriously trashy drinking den in Fitzrovia is every student union bar rolled into one. Happy-hour deals and shots of Day-Glo alcohol rule. Its hosting a Love Stinks, Lets Drink night for single drinkers looking to suppress a sense of dread on the 14th and if you arrive in a group of six, you get free jelly shots. Because obviously the best way to prove youre a mature adult capable of a loving relationship is to mainline vodka-infused jelly. (nordicbar.com) Pop Brixton, SW9 Avoid the restaurants full of gooey-eyed, oyster-slurping couples, and instead drown your sorrows in plastic pints of Brixton Port Authority craft beer and New Zealand Cellars most niche pinot noir at this street-food market. Theyre actively encouraging the dateless to console each other on the communal tables. And if you do meet the love of your life across the picnic benches, you could head over to Pop trader Don Luigis oh-so-intimate six-course dinner with free Prosecco. (popbrixton.org) All the hospitals are taxed with a large flu season and other bugs, said Dr. Mark Jarrett, the chief quality officer for Northwell Health, which operates 23 hospitals across Long Island and elsewhere in New York. About 400 patients are coming to its emergency rooms each day with flulike symptoms. Everybody is at maximum capacity, Dr. Jarrett said. Northwell activated its emergency operations center earlier this month in response to concerns that the virus, now in epidemic proportions across China, could become a pandemic, similar to the hospital systems reaction to the threat of swine flu in 2009 and Ebola in 2014. Although the Trump administration declared a public health emergency for coronavirus late last week, Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stressed on Friday at a news briefing that the risk for Americans was still low. Hundreds of people who returned to the United States from Wuhan have been quarantined at military bases, and others possibly exposed have been asked to self-quarantine or stay at home. But Dr. Redfield also said that officials were beginning to actively discuss what other steps would have to be taken in the event that the new coronavirus spread in this country. Asked about emergency funding, Alex M. Azar II, the secretary for health and human services, said he did not believe agencies required additional funds right now. Still, across the country, hospitals are taking steps to prepare for the potential threat. Some are already scrambling to find sufficient supplies of medical face masks, especially so-called N95 respirators, which are more effective for preventing infection. Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with global demand and the desperate need for supplies in China. US Strikes al-Shabaab in Somalia, Wounding 2 Terrorists The United States and the Somalian government coordinated to launch two air strikes against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, the U.S. military said on Saturday. The air strikes targeted terrorists and a compound in the vicinity of Jilib on Feb. 6. Initial assessments released on Feb. 8 concluded that an al-Shabaab facility was severely degraded and two al-Shabaab terrorists were wounded. Airstrikes are one way we help prevent al-Shabaab from building a safe haven to plan deadly attacks against the U.S. homeland and East African partners, said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Bradford Gering, deputy director of operations for U.S. Africa Command, in a statement. We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of these airstrikes, U.S. Africa Command said. The United States began ramping up engagement in Somalia last year, conducting 72 air or drone strikes against al-Shabaab, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit. That marked a 24 percent increase from 2018 and a nearly 200 percent increase from 2016. Al-Shabaab attacked the Kenyan Defense Force Military Base in Manda Bay, Kenya, on Jan. 5, killing an American soldier and two U.S. contractors. Kenyan and U.S. forces fought back, killing four al-Shabaab terrorists and repelling several dozen other militants. The attack at Manda Bay demonstrates that al-Shabaab remains a dangerous and capable enemy, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, U.S. Africa Command commander, said in a statement after the attack. They are a menace to the people of East Africa and U.S. national interests there and their sights are set on eventually attacking the U.S. homeland. It is important that we continue to pursue al-Shabaab and prevent their vision from becoming a reality. Kenyan police officers checking vehicles after an ambush by gunmen in Lamu county, Kenya, on Jan. 2, 2020. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) The United States, in coordination with the Somalian government, conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab in Qunyo Barrow on Jan. 16, the first strike since Dec. 31. That strike killed two terrorists. Another strike was carried out three days later near Bangeeni, killing three militants. And another strike carried out in the vicinity of Jilib on Jan. 27 killed one terrorist, according to U.S. Africa Command. Another strike against al-Shabaab in the same area took place on Feb. 2, killing one terrorist. And, in coordination with the Somalian government, a Feb. 4 strike by the United States in the Beer Xaani area killed one terrorist. William Gayler, a U.S. Army major general and director of operations for the command, said earlier this month that removal of even one terrorist makes the region and the U.S. safer. The command has said that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of the strikes and said theyre complying with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict to protect civilians. Some locals have said that some civilians were injured or killed by some of the recent strikes. Mohamed Osman Abdi, a Somalian journalist, said that one strike in Jilib killed his brother-in-laws daughter and injured others. According to a 2019 Amnesty International report 14 civilians were killed and eight others have been injured in U.S. strikes in Somalia. The U.S. military said in April 2019 that a woman and child were killed by a drone strike in Somalia in April 2018 after initially stating the allegations by Amnesty werent substantiated. The strikes came as Somalia forces are scheduled to take the lead on security in the country in 2020. The United Nations African Union Mission in Somalia currently leads the security after a mandate extended their deployment but reduced personnel by 1,000 last year. By Mario Cavolo When the United States 2009 H1N1 swine flu emerged, an international emergency, a declared global pandemic, it eventually infected 60 million and initially killed a minimum of 18,449 cases that year. But the final story of the H1N1 global pandemic was far worse than that, with close to 300,000 deaths, according to the final tallies in 2012 reported by the CDC, as you will read below. Which is why I am scratching my head at how bizarrely negative forces are attacking China and Chinese people as it engages a remarkably aggressive front addressing this Corona virus outbreak which started in Wuhan, central China. I am forced to ask and answer a few questions. During 2009 H1N1 outbreak, I don't recall xenophobic anti-America attacks across the globe, do you? In fact, do you recall it took six months for the U.S. to declare a national emergency? Did any government from the onset in April 2009 through the end in April 2010, including the month of June, when H1N1 was declared an international emergency global pandemic, then send out a notice to its citizens that they should leave the United States? Close their borders to American travelers? Nope, not a peep. Like I said, something's not right, folks. I am reading hateful vicious attacks on the Chinese government for their supposed intentional conspiracy to intentionally under report the number of infections, yet that is exactly and always the case with such flu outbreaks no matter what country and the CDC reports illustrate that crystal clear. The U.S. H1N1 swine flu numbers were vastly underestimated and updated three years later, because dear friends, that is the nature of such viral outbreaks which don't care which country they started in. There is never enough man power, there are never enough test kits, there is never enough medicine or medical supplies. China is not trying to hide these hardships, they are well known, they are being reported on the news daily in China. There are always people who die, thousands of them whom we'll never know if they actually died because of a particular virus. Those are the facts, not any problem unique to China's healthcare system or government. Its not a conspiracy, its just tragedy. According to the June 27, 2012 research report followup three years later, it gets much more disturbing when you learn about the CDC's final estimate of the H1N1 virus global death toll. You and I find at this at this article at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy website, the CDC's 18,449 total deaths number was "...regarded as WELL BELOW THE TRUE TOTAL, mainly because many people who die of flu-related causes are not tested for the disease." So during the 2009 outbreak, was anyone accusing the American medical and government authorities of hiding the numbers? Were Americans with hidden cameras strolling into the Mayo Clinic to PROVE how many people were really dying? The absurdity of these vicious attacks are that whether or not a person specifically does have the Corona virus or some other viral bug presenting as pneumonia, the treatment is the same supportive treatment anyway. Something's not right here folks. The world should be applauding China's unprecedented, broad, aggressive response. (WHO officials and many other government and healthcare officials across the globe are.) I am on the ground here in China READ IT HERE watching with my own eyes and it is quite incredible by any measure, not to mention an enormous economic sacrifice. Instead of looking at the will of an entire system of government acting faster than any other government on the planet could, we are one month later, still busy bashing a few local government officials in Wuhan who should have told us a couple weeks sooner. And yes, that is true those local officials screwed up. And by the way, those officials are in deep trouble for it. Just like the recent Puerto Rican politicians who are in trouble when we learned they didn't distribute hurricane emergency supplies that were sent to them to help during last year's terrible hurricane. A disgrace. Individual people screw up all the time and hopefully justice gets served later, but that's not an indictment of an entire country's government. Secondly, on this point, every provincial government has sent out a notice to its government officials pretty much saying that if they are stupid enough to do the same, they will face the wrath of harsh punishment. I don't doubt it for a moment. Lets contrast to what countless western politicians have gotten away with and remain in office to remind all of us that human error, stupidity and greed is not unique to any particular skin color or race or country. "What about..." reactions don't help. And here's the mic drop for you: "The CDC researchers estimate that the H1N1 2009 pandemic virus caused 201,200 respiratory deaths and another 83,300 deaths from cardiovascular disease associated with H1N1 infections." Total: 284,000 deaths. Shocking, isn't it? Was there a travel ban for any length of time to and from the United States? Did China, Germany, Japan or any other country close their border to American travelers? Today I noticed in the updates that following the United States Department of State policy suggesting U.S. citizens leave China, the United Kingdom embassy just released the same recommendation to subjects of the kingdom. In 2009, did UK subjects in America get a notice from their kingdom to leave America? No. Did the world suggest we isolate from America? Close the U.S. borders!? No. Did Americans get xenophobically attacked and targeted by anti-American sentiments like the Chinese are experiencing now? Um, no. Fascinating and disturbing to say the least. If you're an expat currently in China, unless you're in Wuhan, fact is that you're most likely safer and more peaceful and more stable by simply staying put than by leaving right now. You couldn't be safer than in this country, where almost everyone is staying home and dutifully isolating themselves with awareness. Not to mention that the Chinese government's decision to safeguard the society, the families, the people, is coming at a devastating economic cost in the hundreds of billions. I have a friend in Mesa, Arizona. He told me earlier that the big popular China City buffet, a huge busy place, has no customers. Does that make any sense at all? Let's test our ability to reason, to be rational: If you were in Miami and you heard that there was a virus outbreak that started in Milan, in central Italy, would you cancel your dinner reservation at the Italian restaurant that night in South Beach? No. Would you buy a pizza next week at Joey's Pizzeria in Delray Beach? If you were in Singapore and you heard there was a virus outbreak in Dallas, Texas in the central United States, would you stop going to your favorite local Texas southern BBQ restaurant with the owner from Houston, in Singapore? Would you avoid olive-skinned dark-haired Italian-looking people on the street in Chicago? Would you avoid big guys wearing cowboy hats, cuz they're obviously from Texas in Singapore cuz there's a virus in Dallas and they might have just gotten off the plane? There's a strange senseless bullying extremism and activism in today's society and you should do your best to avoid it and not be a part of it. It is fomented by a small group of extremist activists while definitely not supported by your average mainstream person who is simply exhausted by their outrage-inducing antics. Finally, here are some straight up, sensible accurate descriptions of this Corona virus which started in Wuhan, China. Its not called the China virus and neither was H1N1 called the America virus. Whether two weeks or two months from now, this flu season type virus will have passed and the joy of Spring will have arrived. Just like every flu season. However, don't misunderstand me. The extra caution and the remarkable response by the Chinese governments and people together to quell the spread of this virus was warranted because, yes it is correct that this corona virus is nastier than the usual annual flu bug, as was H1N1 in 2009. As of now, what we can confidently note the following regarding this Corona virus: This Corona virus is highly contagious, it spreads quite easily. It binds to lung tissue and so in particular, likes to cause pneumonia, that's what infection of lung tissue is. That's more severe than a respiratory infection which is only in your throat or bronchial tubes. The Corona virus currently has a 2% death rate. That's a lot higher, around 20x higher, than a more typical annual flu virus with a death rate of 0.1%. However, a 2% death rate is still much lower by comparison to the SARS virus which had a 9% death rate or the MERS virus with a really nasty 37% death rate. The Corona virus is causing severe symptoms in 10-15% of cases. 80% to 90% of deaths from this virus are happening in elderly patients, mostly with other existing health problems, not younger people. That characteristic by the way, is in contrast to the America 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus which in fact had a higher death rate amongst younger people including children rather than those over 60 years old. China identified and shared the Corona virus genome in record times, in only days and of course, immediately shared it with all international health and disease organizations. Medical researchers are already discovering that certain existing anti-viral medications seem to be effective against this Corona virus. It's impossible not to marvel at China's broad and aggressive domestic response directed by the provincial level governments to restrict movement, restrict transportation, restrict business for a period of time combined with the voluntary dutiful cooperation of its 1.3 billion citizens who are in the majority quietly staying at home these weeks to let the virus pass; this model response is already being hailed by the international community as a remarkable unprecedented response setting a new standard in understanding what is possible for future outbreaks in whatever country they may occur. Is it inconvenient and costly. You bet. Like I said, something's not right with the way humanity is responding to what's happening here. I haven't put my finger on it because well, its certainly complex and the world is upside down in many other ways that I also can't for the life of me understand or explain without ending up writing a very thick book. But I do know this: It needs to stop. This vicious, political, xenophobic racist attacks and smearing of all things China needs to stop. Its really not helping anyone in the political corridors of Washington nor is it doing anything to help the man on the street who is just concerned with taking care of his family. My family is originally from the Basilicata region of Italy, the little hillside Italian towns of Potenza and also, Grottola, which is just outside of Matera. They left their home country and moved to America where I was born, in Yonkers, New York. America became their home and it was my home until I left, too. Now over two decades ago, I left the United States, the country I was born in, the country that has plenty to admire and plenty to improve. But I left and I came to China and now China is my home. If you had asked me thirty years ago if this was my life plan on planet earth, I would have said you were nuts or a really bad fortune teller. But that's how it has turned out. I am truly blessed with my lovely Chinese wife and our family living here in Shenyang in China's northeast. You get my meaning? I am a mature adult like many with the powers of observation. I can easily see that whether we are talking about China or the United States or any other country, their societies and their governments have good points and bad points. The xenophobia needs to stop now. Whether in a couple of weeks or months later, this nasty flu type Corona virus will begin declining and the joy of Spring will arrive. Between now and then if you don't have anything good, anything supportive to say about China or Chinese people, how about you just keep your mouth shut. Mario Cavolo, Shenyang. Compact-SUV sales (sub-four-metre) in January 2020 sees the Maruti Brezza at the top while the Tata Nexon. The Indian compact-SUV segment has quite a few interesting products that span under four metres of length. In the month of January 2020, the segment saw a total sales of 28,226 units in the country. Compared to the figure of 27,676 units in January 2019, sales went by 1.99% or 550 units. Starting with the segment leader, the Maruti Brezza achieved 10,134 units in sales, but was down by 23.06% from 13,172 units in the same month, last year. The reduced sales figure was mainly due to potential buyers waiting for the facelifted Brezza (which was unveiled at Auto Expo 2020). No Sub 4m SUV sales Jan-20* Jan-19 Diff % 1 Maruti Brezza 10,134 13,172 -3,038 -23.06 2 Hyundai Venue 6,733 0 6,733 3 Ford EcoSport 3,852 4,510 -658 -14.59 4 Tata Nexon 3,382 5,095 -1,713 -33.62 5 Mahindra XUV300 3,360 0 3,360 6 Mahindra TUV300 649 1,506 -857 -56.91 7 Honda WRV 116 3,393 -3,277 -96.58 Total 28,226 27,676 550 1.99 *Sales data for Jan 2020 is credit to Auto Punditz. Coming in at the second position, the Hyundai Venue hit an appreciable 6,733 units in sales in January 2020. There is no data for comparison since the South Korean brand introduced the compact-SUV relatively recently. The Ford EcoSport has always been regarded as one of the popular names in the compact-SUV market. Essentially a compact-crossover, the Ford EcoSport garnered sales of 3,852 units in January 2020 in comparison to 4,510 units in the same month, previous year; a decline of 14.59%. The Tata Nexon, on the other hand, sits in the fourth position on the sales chart. At 3,382 units and a sales decline of 33.62% compared to January 2019, the Tata Nexon is expected to pick up its lost market with its facelifted avatar that was launched towards the end of last month. Meanwhile, the Mahindra XUV300 which is arguably one of the best well-rounded products in the segment (in terms of body style as well as pricing) garnered 3,360 units as sales in January 2020. The vehicle was not available in January 2019. The Mahindra TUV300 is not as desirable as the other names in the segment (mostly due to its questionable styling) and could attain a sales figure of only 649 units in January 2020, compared to 1,506 units in January 2019. In other words, it encountered a market drop of almost 57%. At the bottom of the chart rests the Honda WR-V which accounted to just 116 units of the overall sales of sub-four-metre compact-SUVs in the country, in the month of January 2020. In January 2019, Honda Car India sold 3,393 WR-V units; translating to a sales decline of over 96%. A Delhi Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) suspected to have shot dead another PSI, has allegedly committed suicide. According to the police, PSI Dipanshu shot and killed PSI Preeti on Friday night near Rohini East Metro Station. While the police were investigating her murder they discovered Dipanshu's dead body in a car near Karnal. Preeti was posted at Patparganj Industrial Area Police Station. She was walking towards her home from the metro station at 9.30 pm last night when she was shot and killed. Police found several bullet wounds on the body. Police have collected CCTV footage from the area and are examining it for clues. Both, Dipanshu and Priti, had joined the Delhi Police in 2018 and were batchmates. Police are now ascertaining the motive behind the murders. A case has been registered and further investigations are being conducted. Tennessee Bill Would Allow Students to Carry Concealed Guns on Public College Campuses Two Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill in the state House and the Senate that would allow public college students with concealed carry permits to bring their guns to school campuses. According to the legislation, HB 2102 and SB 2288, registered students at public colleges would be allowed to take a concealed handgun anywhere on property owned by the school, as long as the student has a concealed carry permit and otherwise in compliance with state law. This was a constituent request that comes from a movement across the nation to allow gun owners with the appropriate permits to carry their concealed weapons on college campuses for personal safety, state Rep. Rush Bricken (R), told Nashville NewsChannel 5. The most effective way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. This bill applies to law-abiding citizens who are properly trained and permitted. Bricken is the sponsor of the House version of the bill. The effort comes several years after Tennessee passed a bill in 2016 which allows full-time faculty, staff and other employees of public universities to carry guns on school grounds after providing written notice to local law enforcement agencies. All 50 states allow citizens to carry concealed weapons if they meet specific state requirements. Still, only 10 states have provisions that allow concealed weapons to be carried on public college campuses, namely Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. There are currently 16 states that prohibit concealed carry on college campuses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 23 states, individual colleges and universities have the right to decide whether to ban or allow concealed carry weapons on their properties. Utah is the only state that has a law explicitly defining public colleges and universities as public entities. Thus, they dont have the authority to ban concealed weapons on their properties. Five other states in 2020 are considering some form of legislation to loosen or remove restrictions on concealed guns on public college campuses. Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, Iowa, and West Virginia currently have pending bills regarding the issue. The arbitrary restriction against CWP [concealed weapons permit] holders carrying on college campuses is likely the most irrational law in the Florida Statutes, said state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R), the sponsor of Floridas House Bill 6001, reported the Sun-Sentinel. I challenge anyone to find a specific and valid factual argument to support itnone exists. Rain, flooding and gale force winds continue to batter much of NSW, with forecasters warning that conditions will deteriorate further on Sunday. More than 200 millimetres of rain are predicted for some parts of the state over Saturday night and into Sunday, prompting the NSW Bureau of Meteorology to issue a severe weather warning. Parramatta received 40 millimetres of rain. Credit:Jacky Ghossein "There is potential for very heavy ... rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding," the bureau said. The bureau's acting chief, Jane Golding, warned the conditions were not to be underestimated. AMHERST Another step happens Monday in the five- to seven-year process that could result in construction of a new school or major renovations to Fort River Elementary. The Amherst Town Council will convene a public forum on whether to borrow $750,000 to pay for the design of a new school, and could then vote on whether to approve the measure. The forum starts at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., followed by a regular meeting of the council. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, in a Dec. 11 letter, informed the town that more than half the cost of building a new school could be paid by the state. The letter refers to an eligibility period during which the authority would work with Amherst to determine the Districts financial and community readiness to enter the MSBA Capital Pipeline. After this, the authority would determine whether Amherst is eligible to receive an invitation from the MSBA Board of Directors to the Feasibility Study phase, the guidelines say. A feasibility study would determine the approximate costs to construct a new building or to repair Fort River school and recommend a best path forward. Efforts to build a new school in Amherst were defeated at Town Meeting in 2016 and 2017. The School Building Authority had offered the town a $33.7 million construction grant, but Town Meeting members rejected measures providing local funding. As the outbreak of novel coronavirus has lead to the death of more than 700 Chinese nationals, aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday said that foreigners who went to China on or after January 15 will not be allowed to enter India. The DGCA, in its circular to airlines on Saturday, reiterated that all visas issued to Chinese nationals before February 5 have been suspended. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clarified, "These visa restrictions will not apply to aircrew, who may be Chinese nationals or other foreign nationalities coming from China." "Foreigners who have been to China on or after January 15, 2020, are not allowed to enter India from any air, land or seaport, including Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan, Indo-Bangladesh or Indo-Myanmar land borders," the DGCA said. Among Indian airlines, IndiGo and Air India have suspended all of their flights between the two countries. SpiceJet continues to fly on Delhi-Hong Kong route. On February 1 and 2, Air India conducted two special flights to Chinese city of Wuhan, epicentre of the outbreak, evacuating 647 Indians and seven Maldivians. Till date, three Indians have tested positive for novel coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa covering the entire expanse of bilateral ties between the two countries including in areas of defence and security. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. Officials said a range of key bilateral issues, including trade and investment, as well as defence and security figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. His tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. However, ties between the two countries have been on an upswing in the last four years. President Gotabaya Rajpaksa visited India in November in his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office. Both sides resolved to further deepen bilateral defence and security ties during the Sri Lankan president's visit. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five leaders from a predominantly Christian militia in Central African Republic were given life terms on Friday for war crimes and crimes against humanity after dozens of Muslims were slaughtered in a southeastern town in May 2017. Twenty-eight individuals were sentenced in all, climaxing a trial at the Criminal Court in the capital Bangui that broke new ground in a country struggling to provide justice for victims of militia violence. "It's the first time that a sentence for crimes against humanity has been handed down by a CAR court," Justice Minister Flavien Mbata said, an assertion backed by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). Two commanders, known by their nicknames of Pino Pino and Bere-Bere, as well as three other senior figures, Romaric Mandago, Patrick Gbiako and Yembeline Mbenguia Alpha, were given life sentences of forced labour. The others were given terms of between 10 and 15 years of forced labour, mainly for murder and illegal possession of weapons. The sentences can only be appealed once under CAR law. Massacre One of the world's poorest countries, the CAR has been grappling with violence since 2013. The "Pino Pino" militia was one of the predominantly Christian and animist armed groups that sprang up to combat a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, the Seleka. Violence has prompted nearly one in four of the population to flee their homes. By Camille LAFFONT (AFP) Vicious fighting brought the country to the brink of sectarian war, prompting intervention by France, the former colonial power. CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera now governs with the support of MINUSCA, a 14,700-strong UN peacekeeping force. But armed groups control two-thirds of the country, typically claiming to represent a religious or ethnic group and frequently fighting over its rich mineral resources. The trial concerned an attack on a district in the southeastern town of Bangassou and a nearby UN base on May 13 2017. According to the UN, 72 people were killed, 76 were wounded and 4,400 people fled their homes. The militiamen especially targeted members of the Muslim community who had taken refuge in the town's Catholic church. Ten UN peacekeepers were killed in attacks by armed groups in the Bangassou area between May and November 2017. Central African Republic. By (AFP) Pino Pino is the nom de guerre of a self-described general named Crepin Wakanam, and Bere-Bere is the name of his lieutenant, Kevin Bere. Bere-Bere turned himself in to a MINUSCA base in January 2018, saying he sought their protection against his former chief. Four months later, Pino Pino was arrested with 33 followers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, which then extradited him. Friday's verdict came two days after the first anniversary of a peace agreement signed in Khartoum between the government and 14 militia leaders -- the eighth such attempt to end violence. Fighting has forced nearly a quarter of 4.5 million people in the CAR to flee their homes. Judicial void The FIDH said Friday's verdict "demonstrates the growing will of the CAR judicial authorities to conclude high-profile trials of the perpetrators of violence and international crimes." It is the first time a CAR court has ruled on a massacre of this scale. The country's judiciary has been hobbled by lack of funding and a weak central government. A Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid body comprising national and international judges, was tasked in 2018 with handing down punishment for serious violations of human laws, but has not revealed the status of its inquiries. Killarney actress Jessie Buckley delivered a beautiful and powerful performance of her song Glasgow No Place Like Home at the BAFTAs last week Killarney actress Jessie Buckley delivered a beautiful and powerful rendition of her song 'Glasgow' at the BAFTA's last week, despite narrowly missing out on winning the 'Best Actress' award for which she was nominated. Buckley, who was nominated for her role in the critically acclaimed film 'Wild Rose', lost out to Renee Zellweger for her role in 'Judy', a film that Buckley also starred in. Jessie's performance, which can now be viewed on our Facebook page, was so powerful that it left Zellweger fighting back tears as she beamed proudly up at her co-star and friend. As the camera panned around the audience, other stars such as Brad Pitt, Daniel Kaluuya and star of 'The Crown' and Oscar winner Olivia Colman were enraptured by the Kerry actress' performance. In a sign of how fast Buckley's star is rising, Zellweger name-checked her in her acceptance speech. "Jessie Buckley, you are a superstar! I'm so proud of you for this evening. You are such a special person. You elevate everything that you do and I love you and I admire you, and I'm just so grateful for our collaboration. Thank you for our friendship. Thank you!" she said. In an interview before the awards ceremony, Buckley said that she was in shock to be nominated and that she was just determined to enjoy it all as much as she could. Buckley was recently back on our big screens for her role as Queen Victoria in the film 'Dolittle', and she has two more films set for release later this year - 'Misbehaviour 'and 'Ironbark'. In 'Misbehaviour', the 30-year-old will join Kiera Knightly and Greg Kinnear as she takes up the role of Jo Robinson while in 'Ironbark', Buckley will star as Sheila Wynne alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. Veteran actor and Hollywood's Golden Era icon Kirk Douglas was honoured in a private funeral service here in presence of his son, actor Michael Douglas, daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones and wife Anne Buydens. The "Spartacus" star was laid to rest at the Westwood Village Memorial Park, reported USA Today. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg was also spotted at the funeral along with Douglas' other two sons Peter and Joel. The actor passed away at the age of 103 on Wednesday. A decorated artiste, Douglas appeared in over 92 films and won many honours including the highest award that can be given to a US civilian, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He received the Cecil B DeMille Award at the 1968 Golden Globes. Nominated three times for the best actor Oscar, Douglas received the Honorary Award for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the film community in 1996. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A self-appointed paedophile hunter has admitted wrecking a police cell by smearing his own excrement over the walls. Lurgan man Caolan Murray appeared via video-link as his solicitor told Craigavon Magistrates Court the 26-year-old was entering guilty pleas to all four of the charges against him. Murray (26) admitted using disorderly behaviour on the Old Portadown Road in Lurgan, assaulting a police constable and damaging a police car on Boxing Day last year. He also confessed to causing criminal damage to a police cell on December 27 by smearing excrement over the walls and door. Murrays solicitor asked for him to be freed on bail pending sentencing. But a police officer said he had objections to the self-styled paedo hunter being freed amid fears he would commit further offences, revealing that he has more than 30 previous criminal convictions including entries for causing damage, assault, assaulting police and disorderly behaviour. In November 2018, Murray, who is heavily involved in the Not One Nonce Can Escape (NI) Facebook group, was jailed for seven months for common assault and having a crossbow. The court heard Murray was involved in a so-called sting streamed live online on February 18, 2018. Four days later he confronted the same man at his home armed with a crossbow. In court last week, Murrays solicitor claimed his client has changed his ways and has sought help to address his addiction issues. Refusing to free Murray, however, District Judge Rosie Watters told the court that despite the submissions: I still think theres a risk of further offences being committed. Facebooks Twitter account appears to have been hacked. A post appeared on Facebooks official Twitter profile shortly after 11.30pm which said: Hi, we are O u r M i n e. Well, even Facebook is hackable but at least their security better than Twitter. to improve your accounts security Contact us: contact@o u r m i n e .org For security services visit: o u r m i n e. org The post was quickly deleted but the same message reappeared within seconds two more times. 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 Independent has contacted both Facebook and Twitter for comment. Ourmine is a hacker/security group that has previously hijacked the Twitter account of Jack Dorsey, the companys chief executive. It used its access to post a string of Vine videos it had created using the tech founders account on that app. It has also claimed credit for taking down the hugely popular Pokemon Go app in 2016, and Netflixs Twitter account in the same year. Other victims include the NFL, Mark Zuckerberg, Wikileaks and Sundar Pichai, of Alphabet. RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Saturday said that anybody who wants to work (in India) will have to do so with the Hindu community and for their empowerment. Addressing a lecture on the topic "Vishwaguru Bharat, an RSS perspective" at Dona Paula near here, Joshi referred to his communication with an intellectual who had said that India should become a "supre-rashtra" in the year 2020. "Anybody who wants to work (in India) will have to work with the Hindu commumnity by taking them along and for their empowerment. Hindus have witnessed the rise and fall of India since the time immemorial. India cannot be separated from (the) Hindu (community). Hindus have always been at the centre of this nation," Joshi said in Marathi. He also added that since Hindus are not communal or antagonist, "nobody should be reluctant to work for the Hindu community". The RSS leader further said, "The world says India will become a superpower in 2020, but I remember my conversation with an intelectual who had said that India should become a super-rashtra (super nation) in 2020". Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was among those who attended the lecture. "To create awareness and unity amongst Hindus does not amount to (taking) an action against others (community). No one should feel it that way. We can say with utter self confidence before the entire world that Hindus becoming strong won't result in destructive activities, but (such proposition) will work for the society and humanity," he added. Invoking history, Joshi said Hindus never invaded other countries. "Whatever wars (they had fought) were for self defence. Everyone has the right to self defence," he said. "It is India's duty to teach the world to walk on the path of 'samanvay' (coordination). Nobody else other than India and Hindus can do this," Joshi said. He said some communities in the world keep preaching that only their path is "great". "But we are from the (Hindu) community which says that we have our own path so as you. When the world will accept this ideology, then all the issues would get solved. It is the duty of India to take the world on that path," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi reported an estimated voter turnout of 54.65 % till 6pm for the assembly election to the 70 constituencies, the Election Commission of India officials said. Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of 67.12% in the last assembly elections held in 2015. More than 14.7 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Delhi assembly election for the 672 candidates in the fray in the keenly-watched battle for the national capital. There are 81,05,236 male voters, 66,80,277 female voters and 869 third gender voters. They queued up to vote in the 13,571 polling booths across 2689 areas in the Capital. In the last elections, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had registered a landslide victory by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had got three seats and the Congress zero. The AAP is contesting on all the 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its alliestwo for Janata Dal(United) and one for Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kejriwals AAP is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term and the BJP is looking to win by cashing in on Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former chief minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to the AAP in 2015 polls, is hoping for a revival. The AAP has focused on local governance issues and its track record in the past five years and the BJP campaigned on the larger ideological issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and national security. Chief minister Kejriwal is contesting from prestigious New Delhi seat and the BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against him while Congress nominated Romesh Sabbarwal from the seat. The AAPs Dilip Pandey is contesting from Timarpur, Atishi from Kalkaji, Raghav Chadha from Rajender Nagar. The BJP has fielded Vijender Gupta from Rohini. Former AAP leader Kapil Mishra is the BJP candidate from Model Town in this election. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga is a BJP candidate from Hari Nagar. Congress has fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar. Former AAP leader Alka Lamba is a Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk. Haroon Yusuf is contesting from Ballimaran. To ensure peaceful polling in all the 70 assemblies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel are also on duty. Additional staff from the PCR, traffic, and communication have also been pressed into service to man the polling booths. There are 3,141 polling stations which have been identified as critical along with 144 vulnerable polling stations and 102 expenditure sensitive pockets. All the five polling stations in Shaheen Bagh have been declared critical by Delhis chief electoral officer (CEO). Alleged El Paso mass shooting suspect hit with federal hate-crime charges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Already facing capital murder charges, the alleged gunman who killed 22 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, in August 2019 was hit with federal hate crime charges on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the case. Patrick Crusius, 21, pleaded not guilty in October to capital murder charges after being indicted by an El Paso County grand jury in September. Crusius was indicted by prosecutors on 90 federal charges, including 22 counts of committing a hate crime resulting in death, 22 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder, 23 counts of a hate crime involving an attempt to kill and 23 counts of use of a firearm during a crime. Attorney General William Barr will decide whether to pursue the death penalty. He is accused of being the sole gunman to carry out the Aug. 3 killing rampage that federal authorities investigated as an act of "domestic terrorism," meaning the suspect was allegedly intent on "coercing and intimidating a civilian population," officials said. Crusius allegedly told investigators following his arrest that he set out to kill as many Mexicans as he could after driving from his home in Allen, Texas, about 650 miles east of El Paso, officials said. PHOTO: File photo: Walmart employees pay their respects at a makeshift memorial for the Aug. 3, 2019 shooting victims at the Cielo Vista Mall Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 6, 2019. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) During the investigation of the massacre, investigators discovered a screed allegedly written by Crusius and posted on the dark website 8chan, in which he discussed his hate for immigrants and Mexicans, authorities said. Law enforcement officials told ABC News that Crusius cased the Walmart, going inside without any weapons, apparently to size up the clientele inside the store, which is about 5 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. MORE: Mass shooting that killed 20 in El Paso investigated as 'domestic terrorism': Officials After seeing the 1,000 to 3,000 people that police estimate were inside at the time, Crusius exited the store and allegedly armed himself, officials said. He returned wearing protective ear muffs, safety glasses and wielding a high-powered assault-style rifle, according to video surveillance of him inside the store. Story continues Police officials said Crucius allegedly started firing indiscriminately at victims, many of whom were doing back-to-school shopping, before he even walked through the front door. PHOTO: File photo: Texas State Troopers keep watch on Aug. 6, 2019, at the makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting that left a total of 22 people dead on Aug. 3 at the Cielo Vista Mall WalMart in El Paso, Texas. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) The victims killed ranged in age from 15 to 90. More than two dozen people were injured in the rampage. MORE: Alleged El Paso gunman Patrick Crusius indicted for capital murder by grand jury Eight of the 22 people killed were Mexican nationals and nine additional Mexicans were among those wounded, officials said. Weeks before the shooting, Crusius' mother contacted police to express concern over her son owning an assault rifle due to his age, maturity level and lack of experience, the family's attorneys, Chris Ayres and R. Jack Ayres, told ABC News in August. PHOTO: File photo: El Paso Walmart shooting suspect Patrick Crusius pleads not guilty on Oct. 10, 2019, during his arraignment in El Paso, Texas. (File-Briana Sanchez/AP) A day after the El Paso mass shooting, another gunman killed nine people, including his sister, and injured 27 in Dayton, Ohio. Officials said the gunman, 24-year-old Connor Stephen Betts, allegedly carried out the massacre with a .223-caliber rifle that he legally purchased. Betts was wearing a ballistic vest, a mask and protective ear muffs when he allegedly opened fire on people lined up outside bars in Dayton's bustling Oregon District, police said. Betts was shot to death by police officers who were nearby when the shooting broke out. By PTI PESHAWAR: The Pakistani Taliban has confirmed that one of its key leaders and another member of the group were killed in a clash with security forces in Afghanistan. In a statement published by the SITE monitoring group Friday, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, who served on the group's consultative council and had been a deputy leader, had been killed January 31. Haqqani's close confidant Qari Saifullah Peshawari was also killed in the clash that took place inside Afghanistan during a "mission", a senior Pakistani Taliban leader told AFP. Afghan security forces declined to comment, and it was not immediately clear what type of mission Haqqani may have been on. Haqqani was not thought to be related to the Haqqani network, which is also affiliated to the Afghan Taliban. Both Islamabad and Kabul have long accused each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability. Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade, with thousands of civilians and security personnel dying in extremist attacks, especially after the TTP began their campaign of violence in 2007. But overall levels of extremist-linked violence dropped dramatically last year, with 2019 seeing the fewest deaths since 2007 -- the year the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group was formed. Analysts have credited the fall to military offensives against the Taliban in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and Khyber where they were headquartered, as well as operations in the country's largest city of Karachi. In 2018, the TTP was further degraded after a US strike in Afghanistan killed their leader Maulana Fazlullah, who was notorious for allegedly having ordered the attack on education activist Malala Yousafzai. DUBLIN Irelands elections are usually two-horse races. But this time theres a third contender, as a party with historic links to the Irish Republican Army soars in the polls. Irish voters choose a new parliament Saturday, and a restive electorate is rattling the two parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael that have dominated the countrys politics since it won independence from Britain a century ago. Polls show a surprise surge maybe even a lead for Sinn Fein, the party historically linked to the IRA and its violent struggle for a united Ireland. Sinn Fein is a major force in Northern Ireland but has long been a minor political player in the Republic, shunned by the bigger parties because of its ties to the IRA. But the partys left-wing proposals for tackling Irelands housing crisis and creaking health care system are striking a chord, especially with young voters. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said there is a thirst for change in Ireland. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael essentially identical parties have had it all their own way now for almost a century, she said. The two big parties are fierce rivals but share a broadly center-right outlook. For decades power has alternated between them. Irelands next taoiseach, or prime minister, is highly likely to be either current Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael or Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. But support for the two parties has fallen since the 2008 global financial crisis, which hit the debt-fueled Celtic Tiger economy particularly hard. Ireland was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy and forced to seek a humiliating international bailout that was followed by years of austerity. The last election, four years ago, saw voters shift to protest parties and independents. It produced a Fine Gael minority government propped up by Fianna Fail votes. Varadkar took office after becoming Fine Gael leader in 2017. The son of an Indian doctor and an Irish nurse, he was Irelands youngest-ever taoiseach and its first openly gay leader. For many, he was the face of a confident, modern Ireland that has loosened the grip of the Roman Catholic Church, legalized abortion and same-sex marriage, revitalized a long-stagnant economy and built up a thriving high-tech sector. Polls suggest Fine Gael is trailing both Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, though the margins are narrow. Jill Lawless and Nicolae Dumitrache are Associated Press writers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:52:17|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that more than 1,000 illegal immigrants have been rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard so far this year. As of Feb. 6, some 1,040 refugees and migrants have been registered as rescued or intercepted at sea by the Libyan Coast Guard and have disembarked in Libya, an increase of 121 percent compared to the same period in 2019, the UNHCR said. The UNHCR also said it requires more than 85 million U.S. dollars for its humanitarian operations to assist refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people in Libya. Due to the state of insecurity and chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, Libya became a preferred point of departure for many illegal immigrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward European shores. Shelters in Libya are currently overcrowded with thousands of immigrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan authorities, despite international calls to close them. Manama Leading social media users have stressed the significance of raising awareness about cyber bullying, which was highlighted by the "Have only good things to say" campaign that was launched in the presence Information Minister Ali Al Romaihi. Omar Farooq, a social media activist, said that despite the praise for his online videos, there is a small number of people who attempt to criticise in an abusive and uncivilised manner, noting that ignoring such comments is the best solution. Mr Farooq called on youth people to ignore negative comments and cyber bullying so that the problem does not deepen and becomes offensive to all parties. I have never considered filing a report against any of the bullies for their comments so that the issue is not given a greater dimension, he said. Mona Al Mutawa, a journalist and an activist on Twitter said she appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Information Affairs in presenting a burning issue - cyber bullying. The campaign should be expanded through cooperation among the ministries of information and the competent authorities in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), he added. This will help protect the Gulf community from online abuses that negatively impact public opinion and mislead people with fabrications and lies that affront individuals and societies. Salah Abdulmajeed, a short filmmaker, said that he was pleased to be part of the ministrys campaign. Cyber-bullying is a phenomenon that some people tend to magnify, he said. Our advice is not to respond to abusers and to focus instead on creative work to serve the community. The aim of the bullies is to disrupt creativity and to unsettle people keen on it. The world is suffering from a blatant misuse of social media, disseminating inaccurate information and highlighting insolences that are alien to Gulf societies, Mr Al Romaihi said. Confronting social media abuses is a social responsibility that everyone, without exception, should bear through adopting a moderate discourse that shuns sedition and abuses, the minister said as he patronised the event. Bahrain has numerous national success stories that have demonstrated the effectiveness of using social media to spread goodness, love and peace in a way that reflects our authentic Bahraini identity, Mr Al Romaihi said. He thanked the Bahraini youth for their active participation in the campaign embraced by the ministry to raise awareness about the terrible effects of electronic bullying. He wished all people involved in the campaign success. The campaign seeks to highlight the impact of words on people and society and is part of the ministrys responsibility as a main platform for the national media to raise awareness and spread the right practices that serve the community, especially in light of the increase in the number of bullying cases and the spread of rumours in an easy way without checking their validity. The Information Minister pointed out that Bahrain possesses stories of success that confirmed the effectiveness of using social media networks to promote goodness, tolerance and peace. He thanked the Bahraini youth for their active participation in the national drive which is adopted by the Information Ministry to raise awareness of the repercussions of cyber-bullying. The campaign aims to sensitise people to the importance of the word on individuals and the society. It is also part of the Information Ministrys responsibility as a main national media platform to raise awareness and promote good practices that serve the community, especially amidst the rising number of bullying cases and the easy spread of rumours. P olice will return to Streatham a week after a convicted terrorist stabbed two people while under surveillance. The 20-year-old, who was wearing a fake suicide belt, had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in December 2018, but was freed automatically halfway through his sentence on January 23. Scotland Yard said officers will visit the Streatham High Road area on Sunday to hand out leaflets appealing for information. A police officer is seen near a site where a man was shot by armed officers in Streatham / REUTERS Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: "We continue to carry out extensive inquiries and our focus remains on ensuring there is no wider threat connected with this incident. "However, we are confident that this was an isolated incident and we have found nothing to suggest that this was anything other than the attacker acting completely on his own. "Whilst we've already spoken to many people who witnessed the attack, we are still keen to speak with anyone who may have seen what happened last Sunday and who may have information that could still be useful to our inquiries. Police activity outside a property on Leigham Court Road, Streatham, following the terror attack in Streatham High Road / PA "To that end we will have officers in the Streatham area on Sunday - a week on from the attack - giving out appeal leaflets and speaking with members of the public." Amman was put under 24-hour police surveillance on his release after it is understood security services regarded him as an "extremely concerning individual", and an armed police team was tailing him on the day of the attack. Detectives have identified more than 100 witnesses to the incident and seized more than 250 exhibits, while a team of officers are reviewing hours of CCTV footage. There have been searches at an address in Streatham and another in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. A man in his 40s, who was seriously injured in the attack, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. Two other women who were injured - one in her 50s who was stabbed, and one in her 20s who was injured by glass following the discharge of a police firearm - have already been discharged from hospital. The Metropolitan Police said they are co-operating with the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Advertisement A Thai commando has been killed as security forces desperately try to capture a rogue soldier who has killed at least 21 people in a gun rampage inside a shopping mall - where he is still holed up more than 12 hours after he first struck. Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, is hiding out in the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, a city 155 miles northeast of Bangkok, after opening fire on terrified civilians this afternoon. He began his murderous rampage at his barracks, where he executed his commanding officer along with two other soldiers, before commandeering a humvee and tearing away from the scene. As he drove along the motorway toward the shopping centre, Thomma opened fire on civilians at a house and a Buddhist temple before making his way inside the mall - where he was caught on CCTV stalking the corridors. He is now locked in a siege with police, who have helped hundreds of people escape after storming the shopping centre and escorting terrified shoppers away from the scene. One member of Thailand's security forces was killed and two were wounded early on Sunday in a raid on the shopping mall - in which a series of explosions and more gunfire could be heard. Thai media said the suspect's mother was being taken to the mall to try to persuade him to give up. As she was led to a police car, she was heard saying 'why did he do it?' with tears in her eyes. The shooter is thought to be holed up in the basement and is exchanging gunfire with officers as they try to bring his rampage - in which he also injured 31 and shot a doctor helping an injured person - to an end. Several volleys of gunfire were tonight heard ringing out from inside the besieged mall where the gunman is holed up. Two more casualties were seen being taken out of the building after the repeated gunfire. There were fears the shooter could try to hide in the panicked crowd. Images posted on social media showed people sprinting across the mall car parks and walkways once they were freed. A picture shows Jakrapanth Thomma, who is the alleged attacker, in front of an explosion at the mall today Coffee shop staff hide in the shop as gunman Jakapanth Thomma goes on a shooting spree in Thailand today Chilling CCTV show a gunman walking through a mall after killing at least 12 people the taking hostages in Thailand tonight People run together as they are rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall, where a mass shooting took place today. The shooter remains at large as police desperately try to find him People follow a soldier after being rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall. A Thai soldier opened fire during the mid-afternoon rush. Officials say at least 21 were killed and 31 injured People run together as they are rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall, where a mass shooting took place today Visibly distraught shoppers were escorted out of the shopping mall following the horror shooting, as medics rushed to help those injured A Thai police officer stands with some rescued people as he checks the list of people still trapped within the incident, after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at a shopping centre Thai rescue workers help a injured victim after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Thailand today People are evacuated from a shopping mall by members of security forces after a shooting rampage in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand today (left and right). Noppadol Sirijanya, a member of the Sawang Metta Tham Rescue Center in Nakhon Ratchasima, said a rescue team had successfully evacuated more than 100 people from the mall. The shooter is still thought to be in the area Hundreds of people were able to escape (pictured, being escorted away from the shopping centre) after police and soldiers stormed the mall but the gunman is thought to be still at large inside Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase a shooter hidden in a shopping mall after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand today Thai security forces enter a shopping mall chasing the hidden shooter after he murdered at least 21 civilians Two soldiers are seen inside Terminal 21 Korat mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand as they search for they search for a shooter who killed at least twenty people earlier today Thailand security forces enter in a shopping mall as they chase a shooter hidden inside after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21 shopping centre Police from the Crime Suppression Division urged fleeing shoppers to 'raise their hands' and identify themselves on the ground floor 'and authorities will evacuate you'. Hospitals across the country braced for a grim night ahead as residents flooded the hospitals to give blood and search for relatives. A brave lone policeman is among those thought to have entered the shopping mall to search for the shooter. Video shows him holding a semi-automatic handgun as he stalked the empty floors of the building. Earlier Thomma relayed his shooting spree through Facebook posts which charted the attack from army barracks in the city to the mall. The gunman posted photos of himself online dressed in full tactical gear and holding a rifle which he smuggled from the army compound's arsenal. He also posed for a photograph in front of the burning shopping centre with reports suggesting the blaze was caused by a gas canister that exploded when it was hit with a bullet. Thomma also wrote several posts on his Facebook page including 'should I surrender' and 'no one can escape death'. In one Facebook video - since deleted - the assailant filmed from an open jeep saying, 'I'm tired... I can't pull my finger anymore' and making a trigger symbol with his hand. Thomma also posted a picture of a revolver with the captions 'It is time to get excited' and and 'nobody can avoid death'. The gunman seized weapons from the army arsenal before embarking on his shooting spree. Local media earlier showed footage of the soldier getting out of a car in front of the shopping mall and firing a series of shots, sending people running. People fled while at least one fire roared and what appeared to be the sound of automatic gunfire filled the air. Thomma posted pictures of himself armed in full tactical gear during the rampage in Thailand today Thailand security forces enter in a shopping mall as they chase a shooter hidden inside after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21 A Thai police officer stands with some rescued people as he checks the list of people still trapped within the incident, after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at a shopping centre The people trapped within the incident are rescued by the officials, after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at a shopping centre The people trapped within the incident are rescued by the officials. According to reports, at least 21 people were killed and many more injured in the mass shooting The gunman, described by police as a soldier angry over a land dispute, appeared to be armed with an assault rifle, based on security camera video aired on Thai Rath television. Thai Rath said the incident began at about 3.30pm (pictured, police commandos search the mall for the shooter) People gather near the Terminal 21 shopping mall where a mass shooting took place today. Police were eventually able to evacuate hundreds of shoppers before the death toll soared any higher Defence ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said hundreds of people had been brought out of the complex safely, but there could be dozens still in the building (pictured, police at the scene) Thomma posted a picture of this gun on his Facebook as he tore through the city of Korat in northeastern Thailand, shooting civilians, members of the armed forces, and police todday Police evacuated terrified shoppers from the Terminal 21 mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima - also known as Korat - in Thailand early on Sunday where a soldier killed at least 21 people in a shooting rampage that he relayed via Facebook posts The mall was busy with shoppers on a long weekend for the Buddhist Makha Bucha holiday. CCTV footage from inside showed the gunman dressed in black and wearing a mask, his gun slung over his shoulder with no sign of other people around. 'We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad,' said defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit. A volunteer rescue worker recounted a bloody scene of horror after his team carried four corpses to the hospital. 'I've never seen anything like this,' Peerapong Chatadee said. 'I just feel so sad. He is a solider he should not have fired at unarmed people.' The Thai Health Minister told reporters around 10 people were already in hospital in a 'critical condition.' Kongcheep said at least 21 people had been killed and it was not clear whether the gunman had taken hostages in the mall. 'It's not known how many are still inside,' he said. The bloodshed began on Saturday afternoon when Jakrapanth shot three people - among them at least one soldier - at a senior officer's house and then at nearby army barracks. 'He stole an army vehicle and drove into the town centre,' police Lieutenant-Colonel Mongkol Kuptasiri. There the gunman used weapons stolen from the military arsenal to bring carnage to a town centre, walking into the Terminal 21 mall - an airport-themed shopping centre filled with colorful Lego sculptures, a merry-go-round and huge replicas of landmarks from around the world. He 'used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead,' police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said. Jakrapanth's motive remains unclear. But throughout the day he posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded, including 'should I surrender?' and 'no one can escape death'. Armed Thai soldier on guard behind a defensive line, outside the mall , after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at the Terminal 21, a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand People run together as they are rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall, where a mass shooting took place today This screenshot made on February 8, 2020 from the Facebook page of Jakrapanth Thomma, a Thai soldier wanted in connection to a deadly attack in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, shows him holding a gun at an unknown location Thai soldiers are pictured preparing (left) and entering (right) the shopping centre, where the gunman is still at large today in Korat This handout released by the Thai Royal Police's Crime Suppression Department on their Facebook page on February 8, 2020 shows a wanted poster for Jakapanth Thomma, a Thai soldier wanted in connection to a deadly attack in the northeastern city Korat Thomma posted images during his killing spree on Facebook. At 19.20pm (1220GMT), he wrote 'So tired', with a picture of him holding a rifle. Facebook has since removed his account Thomma is pictured in fully army camo in a picture posted to his Facebook earlier today One video from a bystander showed a man slumped at the wheel of a car in a pool of blood. It was unclear if he was among the dead. A woman interviewed by Thailand's Channel One television said she had heard gunshots when she was at the shopping mall and hid in a clothing store with other people before escaping. The man who was identified by police as the suspect had posted on his Facebook page earlier in the day that 'Death is inevitable for everyone.' He also posted a picture of what appeared to be him holding a gun. 'The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead,' a police spokesperson said earlier this afternoon. In the initial stages, people were unsure what was happening. Nattaya Nganiem, who shot a video from outside the mall in which gunshots were heard, recounted what she experienced. 'We just left the mall after we had our meal. While we were in our car on the opposite side, we heard a loud sound and then we could see people starting to run out. First I saw a woman run out from the mall hysterically. Then a motorcycle rider in front of her just ran and left his motorcycle there. 'I thought, what's happening? Then we heard several gunshots. The motorcycle guy probably had seen the gunman from where he was. We couldn't see the gunman but we could hear the sound of the gun. It was terrifying. 'We were just inside having dinner and my child was getting unusually restless, that's why we left, otherwise, we would have been stuck inside there. I can't believe this is happening in my hometown. I mean, this shopping mall, we go there almost every other day. ' People run together as they are rescued by Thai commandos from Terminal 21 shopping mall, where a mass shooting took place today Thai rescue workers standby outside the area, after a suspected Thai soldier opened fire in a rampage at a shopping mall A group of armed commando soldiers walk close together outside Terminal 21 Korat mall. Police commandos were searching the mall for the shooter, and police said they had secured the building from the ground floor up Thai army Sergeant Major Thomma can be seen in an earlier picture Police and bystanders stand near the scene of a shooting at the Terminal 21 mall, in Korat, Thailand today Once she got home and learned what had happened, she fainted, she said. Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok. It is a hub for Thailand's relatively poorer and rural northeastern region. One officer said the soldier had been involved in an argument about a land deal and shot two people who were involved, another soldier and a woman. The man then took a gun from the base where he is stationed outside the city and drove to the mall, shooting at people along the way. The mall was shut down and the street outside was closed while authorities attempted to arrest the gunman. Facebook, where Thomma's selfies first appeared, sent its condolences to the victims and their families and said there was no place on Facebook for anyone who commits or supports such atrocities. 'We have removed the gunman's accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it,' it said. Hashtags #KoratShootingRampage and #SaveKorat were trending on social media in Thailand. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul asked on his Facebook page for blood donations at four hospitals in the vicinity of Korat. Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong issued an order for local army commanders to rush to the scene and investigate. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed condolences to the families of those killed, a government spokeswoman said. Videos from the scene show members of the public running frantically after the gunman opened fire in the northeastern city of Korat earlier today Police swoop on a shopping mall in Thailand as a gunman kills at least 12 and holds 16 hostages Pictured is an explosion at the shopping mall in Thailand today where a gunman went on a shooting spree leaving at least 12 dead Terminal 21 Korat is part of a small chain of Thai shopping centers run by Bangkok-based property developer LH Mall & Hotel Co. The malls feature floors modeled after major cities around the world. The size of the mall posed a challenge for security forces as they tried to capture the gunman. It consists of seven main retail floors, including one below ground level, and scores of shops and restaurants. It also houses a movie theater on the top floor. Many malls in Thailand, including Terminal 21's namesake in Bangkok, have metal detectors and security cameras at entrances manned by uniformed but unarmed security guards. Checks on those entering are often cursory at best. Gun violence is not unheard of in Thailand - but such major shootings are rare in the Southeast Asian country other than in the far south, where a decades-old insurgency persists. Firearms can be obtained legally, and many Thais own guns. Mass shootings are rare, though there are occasional gun battles in the far south of the country, where authorities have for years battled a long-running separatist insurgency. Several shootings at courthouses late last year also renewed concern about gun violence in the Southeast Asia country. In one high-profile case, two lawyers were shot dead by a clerk at a court in the east of the country during a hearing over a land dispute. Nakhon Ratchasima, commonly known as Korat, is one of the biggest cities in northeastern Thailand, a rice growing area and one of the poorest regions in the country of 69 million. The Oscars were undoubtedly designed with the best intentions. Sadly, over the years, the ceremony has awarded films whose director, stars and producers have mustered up the energy to campaign over those who genuinely deserve awards. Despite this, the films that usually win the main trophies are films you would expect to receive Oscar nominations. Scanning your eyes over the list of past winners does offer some surprises, though mainly lower down the list in the technical, make up and costume sector. These are the categories where films you would never expect to win creep up and snatch the main prize and, with the 2020 ceremony happening this weekend, we have looked at the best examples. Click through the below gallery to see what made the list 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Show all 27 1 /27 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Alice in Wonderland (2010) Its only 108 minutes long, but Alice in Wonderland manages to feel longer than a Lord of the Rings extended cut. There are no laughs and theres no enjoyment factor beyond, Oh, look, its Johnny Depp being weird and quirky again! It might be a visual marvel, but Alice in Wonderland shouldnt have won an Oscar for Best Art Direction because anything that would encourage people to see this movie is wrong. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Beetlejuice (1988) Tim Burton's Beetlejuice won an Oscar for the only category it was nominated in Best Make Up. While the film was deserving of far more recognition, its status as an Oscar-winner may come as a surprise to many. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Death Becomes Her Death Becomes Her might not have given Meryl Streep one of her 20 Oscar nominations, but it did win Best Visual Effects ahead of Alien 3 and Batman Returns. The award seems quite rogue given all we get is a stretchy neck and a woman with a hole in her body, but then it was the 1990s. For her part in the film, on-screen legend Streep described the shoot as tedious and like being at the dentist, and claimed it would be her first, last and only effects-driven movie. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Dick Tracy (1990) Warren Beatty spearheaded this live-action version of Dick Tracy, which featured an all-star cast including Al Pacino (pictured). Despite negative reviews, the film racked up an impressive seven nominations and won in three categories: Best Art Direction, Best Make Up and Best Original Song. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them JK Rowling's extension of the Harry Potter universe is a far cry from the adaptation of her original wizarding book series. However, Fantastic Beasts won an Oscar for Best Costume Design with its first film a win made even more surprising by the fact that, despite being nominated for 12 Academy Awards across eight films, the Harry Potter series never won a single one. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Golden Compass This adaptation of Philip Pullmans Northern Lights might have a rating of 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but it still managed to win an Oscar for its visual effects. The Academy was impressed by the computer-generated animals and grand vistas of the Arctic. But the flashy CGI doesnt take away from the fact the film makes one of the most fantastical books ever published utterly dull. So unpopular, this box-office bomb caused its studio, New Line Cinema, to merge with Warner Brothers. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Grinch The Grinch might be the greatest Christmas film, but its still not a great film. Still, Jim Carreys furry green get-up did win it the Oscar for Best Makeup. Considering it took around eight hours to apply each day, you could say it was deserved. Jim Carrey told Graham Norton that a CIA operative had to be brought in to teach him specialist techniques for enduring torture and said the procedure was like being buried alive every day. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Exorcist When taking into account the Academy's inability to nominate horror films over the past few decades, it's increasingly impressive to learn the film considered one of the most shocking of all time won two back in 1974. The Exorcist is a terrific film that deserved its wins for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. It received a further eight nominations, including Best Picture. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Happy Feet Mumble the penguin might look more real than the animations that came before him, but he also looks more lifeless. Happy Feet was one of the first films to use motion capture technology instead of Walt Disney style hand-drawn animations. But who wants an exact replica when you can have big white eyes and toothy grins? Apparently the Oscars do, because they gave Happy Feet Best Animated Film. Granted, the scene where a baby Mumble raps Close to the Edge is cute. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Harry and the Hendersons (1987) It's doubtful that even the makers of Harry and the Hendersons expected their film about a family's encounter with the cryptozoological creature Bigfoot to win an Oscar. But it did (Best Makeup). Universal Pictures 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Imitation Game The Imitation Game is as difficult to decipher as a heap of unbroken code. It features a number of historical inaccuracies, which range from the benign to the outright offensive. One scene shows a detective using Tipp-Ex in a time period where it hadnt been invented yet. One plotline slanders Alan Turings memory by suggesting he covered up for a Soviet spy. But despite the film's confusing diversions and ridiculous accusations, Graham Moore won for his screenplay. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) While a far cry from the four Oscar wins awarded to Raiders of the Lost Ark, sequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom considered to be the weakest of Steven Spielberg's original trilogy took home the award for Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Innerspace (1987) Innerspace hasn't endured as a must-watch classic like similar films that were released in the 1980s, but it has an Oscar win to its name the science-fiction adventure, starring Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan and Martin Short (pictured), won Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Men in Black It does seem weird that Men in Black won an Oscar for makeup considering the two main characters arent wearing any. But when you think of all the oozing purple aliens they shoot at, it starts to make more sense. The action film also won an Oscar for Best Musical Score thanks to contributions from Will Smith himself (though we all know the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme tune is his only award-winning sound). Sony Pictures Releasing 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Muppets The plot of The Muppets is essentially: One day a boy and girl fell in love and together they overcame an obstacle of some sort. While the old films featured big-name celebrities, in the reboot there is a feeling of will this do? Jack Black is paraded out like he were Hollywood royalty, even though at this point in his career, he was probably accepting offers to turn Christmas lights on. It managed to win an Oscar for the song 'Man or Muppet'. To be fair, there were only two others nominated in the category. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Pearl Harbor Theres nothing the Oscars loves more than a war film, so that explains why they would give a film as bad as Pearl Harbour three awards. Michael Bays movie manages to make his retelling of the Pearl Harbor disaster orientate around a self-indulgent love triangle. Bay has no excuse for the poor quality, the film cost more to make than the real Pearl Harbour cost the US government. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Back in 2007, we were all far too love-drunk on the image of Jonny Depp in eyeliner because somehow we convinced ourselves that Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was a good film. No one finds Johnny Depp in eyeliner attractive anymore so we can all be a bit more honest: its not good. The overly complicated, rambling sequel was nominated for four Oscars and ended up beating Superman Returns to win Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Rango (2011) Johnny Depp's reptilian underdog Rango beat out a boot-wearing pussycat as well as a panda with an affinity for kung fu to win Best Animated feature at the Oscars. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Song of the South (1946) Song of the South has long had controversy heaped upon it with many believing the film's African-American characters to be racist and offensive stereotypes. Because of this, it might come as a surprise to learn the film is an Oscar winner, taking home the Best Original Song trophy for "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah". Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Spider-Man 2 There havent been many Oscar nominations for superhero films, which makes sense because they often arent very good. Aside from Peter and Marys upside-down kiss in the pouring rain, Spiderman 2 is boring. Still, it managed to beat Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and I, Robot to win Best Visual Effects. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Suicide Squad After Suicide Squad won an Oscar Suicide Squad has more Oscars than became a meme. Twitter pointed out that the Marvel anti-hero team-up has won more gold men than Gary Oldman and Willem Dafoe combined. To be fair it didnt win Best Film, but Best Makeup. Regardless, that anyone managed to bear the unbearable Joker and the overly sexualised Harley for long enough to notice what anyone looked like is a miracle. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) Sweeney Todd took home the best Art Direction Oscar, an impressive feat considering other Tim Burton films have been far more deserving of the prize, but failed to even be nominated. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Tarzan Toy Story 2s 'When She Loved Me' is sad enough it could make Ross Kemp cry, but it didnt get the Oscar in 2000. Instead, Tarzan won Best Music for Phil Collins 'Youll Be In My Heart' a song which lacks all the emotional resonance of drum hit 'In the Air Tonight'. In an extremely bizarre decision, Collins soundtrack was inserted in rather than sung by the characters, because co-director Kevin Lima thought a singing Tarzan would be ridiculous. Because a man swinging from trees like a monkey isnt ridiculous? Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar U-571 A French-American submarine films tarring Matthew McConaughey and Jon Bon Jovi isn't a film you'd ordinarily assume would win an Oscar, but U-571 proved an exception. It won Best Sound Editing. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Wolfman Rick Baker won Best Makeup and Hair for his work turning Benicio Del Toro into a ferocious wolf. After multiple director changes and other backstage drama, Joe Johnstons much-troubled production nearly didnt get made. Humankind would have been better off if they hadnt managed to resolve their issues. The Wolfman is poorly paced and divulges into CGI overload for an action-heavy climax that is too grizzly for its own good. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar The Young Victoria This film is about as passionless as the Victorian era itself. Watching it is to spend an hour and three-quarters waiting for it to start. The Young Victoria was meant to reimagine the Queen as a young woman full of life, but director Jean-Marc Vallee ends up replacing all of Emily Blunts smouldering mischievousness with drab reserve. Luckily, two-time Oscar winner Sally Potter saved the period drama by winning yet another costume design award. Rex Features 27 films you'll never believe won an Oscar Ex Machina (2015) Nobody expected the fantastic Ex Machina to win anything at the Oscars, but when it was named as the victor in the Best Visual Effects category, it went down as the best twists of the evening. It beat Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian, The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road The Oscars take place on 9 February and you can watch the ceremony through the night in the UK on NOW TV. Find a list of films brilliant films that never received a single Oscar nomination here. A double-decker bus was left without a roof after crashing into a low bridge in Yorkshire. The driver attempted to pass under a 12-foot-railway bridge near York city centre but misjudged the height, tearing its roof clean off. North Yorkshire Police confirmed there were passengers on board the Reliance bus but no one was injured. One lucky passenger who was sat on the top deck during the collision is believed to have escaped the crash unscathed. An unnamed witness said: He was up there and was incredibly lucky, or very short, I am not sure. Metro maps from around the world Show all 24 1 /24 Metro maps from around the world Metro maps from around the world Washington DC, USA Serving the US capital, the DC metro transports an average of 600,000 people a week (though ridership is on the decline). It also has one of the best maps in the world. It is clear but detailed and intricate, even marking the city's notable sights and green spaces WMATA Metro maps from around the world Madrid, Spain Some might argue that diagonal lines would be welcome here. On the contrary, the right angles make the map more spacious, making it easier to pick out stations and giving the map its unique appeal Metro de Madrid Metro maps from around the world Toronto, Canada U-bends welcome. This map is hard to fault, its shining feature is the particularly clear interchange symbol TTC Metro maps from around the world Copenhagen, Denmark While it is surely not the reason for its construction, the circular line really ties this map together Metroselskabet Metro maps from around the world Tbilisi, Georgia It might be easy to lay out a clear metro map when there are only 22 stations to mark, but the Tbilisi Metro still deserves credit for doing so in such a satisfying way TTC Metro maps from around the world Beijing, China The lines are impressively clear for a system so complex as Beijing's. The map as a whole is an uncomfortable mess due to the oversized text BMTROC Ltd Metro maps from around the world Glasgow, Scotland Clear and appealing, this map can't be faulted SPT Metro maps from around the world Saint Petersburg, Russia As it stands, it is clear enough. However, the under-construction Line 6 (brown) starts to show that those free-weaving lines are liable to clutter. The colour-coded interchange symbols are a joy as is the practice of greying out stations that are closed (see top-right) Peterburgsky Metropoliten Metro maps from around the world Paris, France Shocking stuff. The density of stations doomed this map before it was ever designed RATP Metro maps from around the world Caracas, Venezuela A simple enough map to read. Note that around half of this system is under construction as marked by the striped lines Metro de Caracas Metro maps from around the world New York City, USA This map gets a lot of stick for being confusing but it is after all the metro system with the most stations in the world. And anyway, its not exactly hard to follow when the entire city is laid out on a grid MTA Metro maps from around the world Rio De Janiero, Brazil This map might be the one that most closely corresponds to the real world layout of the system. The bicycle symbols marking stations that are covered by Rio's bike share scheme are a welcome feature Invepar Metro maps from around the world Prague, Czech Republic Including the tram network could easily have led to a muddle, but this map is saved by clever colour-coding and line density DPP Metro maps from around the world Oslo, Norway No real cause for complaints here, nothing too worthy of praise Sporveien T-banen Metro maps from around the world Newcastle, England Clear and simple, though with only one intersection to deal with, it would be a feat for it not to be clear and simple. The only metro to link two stations with a ferry crossing Nexus Metro maps from around the world Melbourne, Australia Clear enough, though one dreads to imagine the state of those stations in the central loop at rush hour on a Friday Metro Trains Melbourne Metro maps from around the world Boston, USA All the different branches on the same line make it difficult to understand but satisfying to look at MBTA Metro maps from around the world Dubai, UAE A near criminal use of colour Serco Metro maps from around the world London, England The original. Best viewed without the zoning map underlay, which, while relevant for ticket buyers, impairs the look of what is otherwise a heroic attempt at making sense of a sprawling and uneven system TfL Metro maps from around the world Lisbon, Portugal Hardly an inspired layout. Some charm in the symbols - bird, flower, ship, compass - which mark the different lines Lisbon Metro Metro maps from around the world Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Errs on the side of confusing due to the amount of information packed in. The walking figures to show which stations are close enough to walk between are welcome but do the lines really need to numbered as well as coloured? Spad Metro maps from around the world Kiev, Ukraine Reckless. Due to the questionable spacing of stations along the rest of the lines, the interchange symbol ends up looking like an accident KCC Metro maps from around the world Istanbul, Turkey One major complaint is that the blank lines are not explained. It is up to the viewer to guess that these are future lines Metro Istanbul Metro maps from around the world Berlin, Germany Here you have half of a good metro map, the other half is a mess of similarly coloured lines passing along routes that merge and diverge seemingly at whim BVG But yes, he came out unscathed - he just left. He said something to the effect that he did not have time for this, and he was just gone. It was crazy. Investigations are continuing today to look into the bizarre crash. A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: We can confirm that a bus has gone into bridge on Leeman Road in York. The detached roof held up commuters during rush hour (York Press/SWNS) There were passengers on the bus, but it doesn't look like there have been any injuries at this stage. Michael Hinton, from York, was stuck in traffic behind the bus when he saw the attempt to go under the structure. He said: I had just picked up my bairns from the after-school club and was a couple of cars behind, he told The York Press. I saw the double-decker bus going down Salisbury Terrace and thought it was strange because they can't get under the bridge. True enough he just went through. He centred himself to go down the middle as they always do. He was going at normal speed. The bus had no problem getting through but the roof didn't make it. I just hope no one was on the top because they will have suffered serious injury. It was like a can opener - it just peeled the top off and the bus carried on going through. There was glass everywhere. It made such a noise and a mess. Recovery vehicles arrived at the scene at around 5:30pm after the road was closed during rush hour traffic. Reliance Buses tweeted: Our staff are responding to the incident and we are working hard to establish the circumstances. A spokesperson for the Ambulance Service said the bus driver was checked at the scene, but was not taken to the hospital. SWNS V oters are heading to the polls in Ireland's general election today. The country is having its first Saturday General Election for more than a century. Sinn Fein could be on course to challenge the 90-year duopoly of the states two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, if the polls are correct. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power. Recent polls have put his party in third place. Leo Varadkar faces a task to hold on to power / POOL/AFP via Getty Images In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25 per cent. Fianna Fail was on second on 23 per cent and Mr Varadkars party on 20 per cent. If those levels of support are borne out when the counting of votes begins on Sunday, it would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border. However, the odds would still be stacked against party leader Mary Lou McDonald leading the next government as Taoiseach. Its polling performance has far surpassed the expectations of party strategists who only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliaments 160 seats. That means even if Sinn Fein had a perfect day and won all 42 seats it would still end up well short of a majority. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own. a real estate agent talks to potential residents about the pros and cons of choosing a co op or a condominium Housing co-operatives and condominiums seem similar, but there are reasons for weighing a co op vs condos. You can rent them or use them as single-family homes. As a result, co-ops and condos are most popular in older, larger cities. Here are some important differences between the two. Co op vs Condos: Ownership So whats a condominium? Well, a condo is a specific unit in a multi-unit structure. A buyer typically owns such a unit as a private residence. A condo owner also has undivided ownership rights to common elements. A co-op unit also typically occupies a multi-unit building. However, the co-op owner doesnt actually own the unit that is occupied. Instead, all the residents own shares in a corporation that holds title to the entire property, including the individual units. The corporation grants leases or contracts to occupy the units to shareholders, who also get to use the common areas. Co-ops and condos have more in common with each other than they do with other housing options. For instance, they are both usually part of multi-unit buildings. However, they feature divergent costs of ownership, management, and tax benefits. Most importantly, they differ in ownership. From those basic differences spin a number of other distinctions. Co op vs Condos: Governance Theres a vast divide between condo and co-op management. Co-ops are governed by their members, who are democratically elected to boards of directors. They also receive input from various committees. These boards and committees decide all policy matters. For example, the decide when to perform major repairs and which service providers to contract with. Their power also includes controls on individual co-op members. Most notably, they can dictate who a co-op owner can sell to. Owners of condos similarly elect a board of directors. The condo board has a lot of say in business matters such as contracts with service providers like landscaping companies and when to perform major repairs such as roof replacements. However, condo boards are generally less intrusive in residents affairs than co-op boards. Story continues Co op vs Condo: Costs a multi-unit housing complex can be comprised of co ops or condominiums Co-ops tend to be less costly to purchase per square foot than similar condo units. Closing costs may be lower as well. Condos are likely to be somewhat more costly per square foot. Plus, at closing a condo buyer will pay for title insurance and other closing costs that a co-op buyer does not. Both types generally require a monthly fee. A co-op members fee includes their share of the buildings mortgage and taxes as well as operating costs such as utilities, security, maintenance and amenities. With a condo, the monthly fees are often lower than for a comparable co-op. Owners typically make mortgage payments to a lender rather than the association. Condo real estate taxes may be paid into an escrow account or directly to the tax collecting authority. Co op vs Condo: Control Joining a co-op is similar to joining a club. The co-op can control who lives there. Buyers will likely face personal interviews before being approved to join the co-op. Once in, a co-op buyer cant just sell to anyone. Buyers have to be approved by the co-op. Many co-ops also restrict renting of units. Condos on the other hand, can generally be sold to anyone without approval of the board. Co op vs Condo: Financing and Taxes The co op vs condo discussion may come down to how youll pay for it. For instance, co-ops may require that buyers have a loan-to-value ratio of 75% or less or even require paying cash. Condos are less finicky. If you can qualify for the required loan, you can probably buy a condo. Condos generally allow sublets as well. Tax benefits are different depending on whether youre getting a condo or co-op. The condo buyer can deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes on his or her personal tax return, just like a single-family home buyer. Co-op residents, however, can only deduct a share of the mortgage interest and real estate taxes paid by the co-op. The Bottom Line a multi-unit housing complex can be comprised of co ops or condominiums Although co-ops and condos have distinct differences, its tough to say that one is better than the other. Co-ops tend to cost less while allowing residents more control over who moves into the building. However, they give up some control themselves. Condos allow more individual freedom, but can be more costly than co-ops. Housing Tips If the co op vs condos debate proves too much for you, a financial advisor may help you figure out which is right for you. Finding the right financial advisor that fits your needs doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Its worth noting that co-op values can be more resistant to financial downturns including the last major housing market collapse. Thats likely because they tend to place more stringent financial requirements on members. Photo credit: iStock.com/FG Trade, iStock.com/ah_fotobox, iStock.com/sx70 The post Co-ops vs. Condos appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. 'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." "I can resist everything except temptation." "The truth is rarely pure and never simple". It would take an audacious writer not just to put words into the mouth of Ireland's best-known wit, but also to reimagine the relationship between Oscar Wilde and his wife Constance. Andrew Meehan has already proved himself a brilliantly inventive writer with his 2017 debut, One Star Awake. A former head of development at the Irish Film Board, where he worked on films like What Richard Did and Song of the Sea, Meehan has long honed his dialogue and perfected murky humour. His own natural grasp of humour certainly proves that he's well enough placed to take on this challenge. And yet in The Mystery of Love, Oscar is relegated to the sidelines; or more specifically, the footnotes. This is, more often than not, Constance Lloyd's story in the telling. We think we may already know the details of Oscar's marriage to Constance. After their marriage broke down - it's thought they had been sexually estranged for years - the two remained on affectionate terms. Constance forced Wilde to give up his parental rights to their sons Vyvyan and Cyril, and she fled with the boys to Europe, staying variously in Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Here, as we first land into their marriage, or what's left of it, Oscar Wilde is sitting in Reading Gaol, after being convicted of gross indecency with other men. Constance, Vyvyan and Cyril are starting anew in Italy. She is convinced that they are better off away from England and the furore around Wilde's controversial jailing. She has never been so happy; nor, admittedly, has she ever been as bored: "She can see it in their bronzed skin and in their faces. Little boys should not have a care in the world. Oh for the day when they'll be old enough to play patience and make themselves useful with the spring clean." Constance is in a ruminative mood, and thinks back on some choice moments in her marriage to Oscar; being pregnant and racked with morning sickness, meeting 'LJW' (Lady Jane Wilde), her time living at 100 Lancaster Gate in London and his various indiscretions. Her recollections of their wedding day is an arguable high point, as is her take on the pair's general dynamic. "Had she been coming to see them as brother and sister? Such is a marriage, yet her love will always be that of a wife. Her felt truths are those of a mother." Oscar, interjecting in the book's footnotes, appears to recall no shortage of tenderness, beauty and genuine love in the marriage. She sees the Oscar before a crowded room - "he would poise himself before delivering his take on the decorative arts with an eloquence that moved through her like some repellant liquid" - and the Oscar before her, in person ("constrained and soggy-seeming, and with his grotty manuscripts tucked under his elbow as unthreatening and lovely as a cup of cocoa"). Video of the Day The account positively shimmers with passages like this. Constance Wilde is a brilliantly companionable and reflective central character, and Meehan's sense of place and time is rock-solid. There's an ethereal note to the poetic delivery of Constance's story, and it makes for a pleasant pacing. Yet it's in Oscar's footnote interjections that Meehan can really stretch his legs as a comic writer. By turns tender, eloquent and droll, Oscar's asides, usually addressed to Constance herself are as biting and ticklish as you might expect. "It was important to be his wife and not his mother or his maid," the narrator observes of Constance and Oscar. To which he replied: "You were, without knowing it, all three." Elsewhere, Oscar observes of his own celebrity: "Were there not all these reminders of whomever the world thought me to be, I might have been inclined to forget it myself." What Meehan crucially appears to have captured are the various flavours of love that can be found in most marriages, not least one as eventful as this one. The story of Oscar and Constance has long been compelling: under Meehan's astute eye, even more so. Yet even if The Mystery of Love wasn't written about these two enchanting figures, it's a wonderful read in its own right. Three suspected motorcycle-borne criminals were arrested on the city outskirts, police said on Saturday. Gulshan Kumar, Vikram Singh and Roshan Singh were riding on a motorcycle when they were signalled to stop by a police party engaged in checking at near Patta Bohri Friday evening, a police official said. However, they jumped the signal to escape but were chased and arrested by the alert policemen, the official said, adding sharp-edged weapons were seized from their possession. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against them at police station Domana and further investigation in on. In a separate case, an alleged drug peddler was arrested after over 15 gram of charas was seized from his possession during checking of vehicles at Battal Ballian village in Udhampur district late Friday night. Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Rathian village, was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Audrey Tan (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore Sat, February 8, 2020 11:26 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063474da 2 SE Asia #singapore,#coronavirus,buying,China Free Politicians and supermarket chain representatives on Friday called on shoppers to remain calm, saying Singapore has sufficient stocks of essential supplies and food. This was after items began flying off shelves at some supermarkets here when Singapore announced earlier in the day that it will be raising its disease outbreak response to the coronavirus situation by a notch to orange, which is just below the highest level of red. Many photos and posts circulating on social media showed long queues at supermarkets and empty shelves. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing in a Facebook post gave his assurance that Singapores supply lines for essential supplies like rice and instant noodles are intact. The Governments announcement of moving its disease outbreak response up a level to orange came even as three more Singaporeans, who did not have any links to previous cases or travel history to China, were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus originating from Chinas Wuhan city. Representatives from supermarkets also assured that Singapore has enough stocks of food and groceries, and urged shoppers to exercise restraint. FairPrice's Mr Seah said there was a surge and some panic buying of food and groceries at its physical and online stores, resulting in some shelves to be empty. But he urged people to remain calm as stocks are being replenished. Mr Seah said: We have stocks and they are being replenished from our warehouse but if everyone starts to buy a lot more than what they need, there will never be enough. Hence I hope we all stay calm and not get into this mode and behaviour." FairPrice has also stepped up the cleaning regime for all its stores, made available hand sanitisers for customers to use in-store, and put in place twice daily temperature screening for all staff. Masks were distributed to staff for their use should they feel unwell. A spokesman for Sheng Siong, another supermarket chain, also called on shoppers to avoid over buying. "Currently, we have sufficient inventory in Singapore for food supplies and toiletries to meet customers' usual daily needs," she said. "Customers do not need to over purchase on groceries and necessities. Our sources of supply are well-diversified and we will continue to work closely with our suppliers." Sales and marketing manager Calvin Tan, 35, said he visited a FairPrice outlet at Marine Parade on Friday evening for his weekly grocery shopping but changed his mind once he saw the queues. Said Mr Tan: "The bulk-buying just creates more panic. And with everyone so close together, it could even result in a higher chance of getting infected." Meanwhile, a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) spokesman told The Straits Times that Singapore does not import livestock or raw meat from China. But as there is no evidence that infections of the novel coronavirus are associated with the consumption of food, no restrictions have been imposed on food imports from China, she said. Still, in the event of any food supply disruptions caused by the outbreak, Singapores food supply is unlikely to be affected, as Singapore imports its food from more than 170 countries. While fresh food items such as vegetables, fruits and fish are imported from China, the country is not the Republics only source, said the SFA spokesman. Such food items also come from other countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the United States, Australia, and South Africa. Diversification has always been one of our key strategies to ensure a secure supply of safe food, said the SFA spokesman. Our importers are ready to tap other available sources should there be a disruption of food supply to minimise the overall impact on our food supply. There is no risk of us running a shortage of essential food or household items. We also have our national stockpile for essential items, said Mr Chan, adding that his ministry is in close contact with retailers here. Other politicians who also encouraged the public not to hoard groceries included labour chief and Minister in the Prime Ministers Office Ng Chee Meng, and Workers Party chief Pritam Singh. Mr Singh shared a Facebook post by supermarket chain FairPrices chief executive Seah Kian Peng telling people not to panic buy, and added: There is no need to hoard items. We will all get through this together. Under the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition or Dorscon, orange means the outbreak is deemed to have moderate to high public health impact. Twenty-four hours after being elected with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Christian Democrats (CDU), and Free Democrats (FDP) as Minister President of the state of Thuringia, Free Democrat politician Thomas Kemmerich announced his resignation. Kemmerich stated at a press conference Thursday afternoon that his party's parliamentary group had decided to table a motion to dissolve parliament. If the required two-thirds of deputies fail to support the measure, he would call for a confidence vote in his government. If the parliament is dissolved, new elections must be held within 70 days. Kemmerich could theoretically remain minister president during this period. If he loses a confidence vote, the parliament has three weeks in which to elect a new minister president. Should this take place, former Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) intends to stand. If no candidate can secure a majority, new elections must be held within 70 days. Earlier Thursday, Kemmerich was still ruling out the possibility of his resignation in an interview on the Morgenmagazin show on public broadcaster ARD. But the pressure then became too much to bear. In the face of an outpouring of outrage among the population, one leading politician after another turned their back on Kemmerich. CDU party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer threatened to take punitive measures against any members in Thuringia who cooperate with Kemmerich. This would amount to a breach of the party line, which excludes all cooperation with the AfD, with all the consequences following from that, she said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke from South Africa, stating that the election result had to be overturned. The CDU could under no circumstances be part of a government under Kemmerich, she said. His election broke with the fundamental conviction that no majority should be won with votes from the AfD. FDP leader Christian Lindner, who was aware of the FDP Thuringia's plans from the outset and initially welcomed Kemmerich's victory, travelled to Erfurt, the state capital, on Thursday to convince him to resign his post. The Social Democrats (SPD) called for a meeting today of the coalition committee, which regulates disputes within the federal government. What happened in Thuringia was a cold, calculated plan, SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil told Spiegel Online. Both CDU leader Kramp-Karrenbauer and the FDPs Lindner were well aware of the various potential scenarios, he added. Until now, a consensus has existedno cooperation with Nazis. This has now been called into question, continued Klingbeil. However, it would be a mistake to believe that Kemmerichs resignation means the issue of cooperating with the AfD has been dealt with. The collaboration with the party of the fascist Bjorn Hocke in Thuringia was a trial run in which, as Klingbeil correctly pointed out, the leaderships of the parties involved were fully informed. They wanted to see how far they could go and therefore made sure to remain in the background. The goal was to break the taboo of collaborating with the AfD so that next time around, the cooperation could go even further. There was no lack of pledges from the bourgeois parties in the early 1930s never to cooperate with the Nazis. But this did not prevent them from bringing the Nazis into government (for the first time in Thuringia in 1930), appointing Hitler chancellor in 1933, and voting en masse for the Enabling Act, which legally consolidated his dictatorship. It is now clear that strong factions of the CDU and FDP are pushing for close cooperation with the AfD. Burkard Dregger, head of the CDU in the Berlin state Senate, described Kemmerichs election as a democratic decision that should not be criticised. Former CDU Thuringia Minister President Bernhard Vogel advised his party to work as part of Kemmerichs government. And the former president of the Federal Agency for the Protection of the Constitution, Germanys secret service, Hans-Georg Maassen, described the election as a huge success. The main thing is that the socialists are out, he said. Although the Left Party and SPD are protesting loudly over the events in Thuringia, they are equally complicit. There have been and continue to be prominent advocates of AfD positions within the SPDs ranks, like Thilo Sarrazin and Heinz Buschkowsky. In the federal government, the SPD is implementing the AfDs refugee policy. There is nothing in the party programme that would represent a principled barrier to their cooperation with Gauland and Hockes AfD. General Secretary Klingbeil has already announced that the SPD will place the strong state at the centre of their future election campaigns, a state capable of action. The Left Party and its lead candidate in Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, have shifted so far to the right that the notorious anti-communist and former German President Joachim Gauck personally intervened to call on the Left Party and CDU to cooperate. Even some commentators in the bourgeois press are aware that an irreversible shift of bourgeois politics to the right has taken place in Thuringia. What Thuringia experienced on February 5, 2020, is not simply a turning point in the history of this small, rather unimportant state, wrote Die Zeit. It is an act that will have tremendous impact on many things in the Federal Republic in the coming months and years: the dam has burst. The Augsburger Allgemeine also referred to the events as amounting to the bursting of the dam. Kemmerichs election was only possible because the CDU there indirectly sided with Hocke, who described the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz as the monument of shame. Londons Financial Times commented, Germanys post-war consensus about excluding right-wing extremist parties broke down on Wednesday. ... With the election of Thomas Kemmerich, the AfD has become a kingmaker in German politics for the first time. Polands Rzeczpospolita opined, The dark scenario of the German elites has become reality. The election in Thuringia is a political earthquake that will not only unsettle Berlin, but also Warsaw. The established parties are being driven to line up alongside the AfD by the deep polarisation of society, the intensification of the class struggle, and the return of militarism. Bourgeois rule and capitalism are no longer compatible with democratic forms of rule. The danger of fascism can only be stopped through the independent mobilisation of the working class on the basis of a socialist programme. By Trend The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Georgia jointly with CBA Kaizen organized a conference in Tbilisi on the investment climate of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. An exchange of views took place on the development of the transport and logistics system of Turkmenistan, in particular along the Lapis Lazuli, the Caspian Sea - Black Sea transport corridors, and other projects. The event was attended by representatives of ministries and branch departments, representatives of banking institutions, transport, logistics companies, French-Georgian and British-Georgian chambers of commerce and industry, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The unique nature of the economic development and investment climate of Turkmenistan was noted at the conference. Turkmenistan is initiating a number of large international projects, including the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor along Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor. The agreement on transit and transport cooperation Lapis Lazuli between Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Turkmenistan was signed on Nov. 15, 2017 at the ministerial meeting of the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Ashgabat. According to the Lapis Lazuli project, railways and highways should connect the Afghan Turgundi city of Herat province with Ashgabat, then with the Caspian Turkmenbashi port. The corridor will extended to Baku, then through Tbilisi to Ankara with links to Poti and Batumi cities, then from Ankara to Istanbul. The project budget, which aims to facilitate transit logistics and simplify customs procedures, is estimated at $2 billion. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Alleging that the BJP-led Union government was in a state of denial about the economic slowdown, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday advocated putting cash in people's hands to revive demand. He also sought to debunk prime minister's assertion that rejection of duly passed laws will lead to anarchy, saying that unjust laws must be opposed. Taking potshots at the Union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chidambaram said that after 160 minutes, it sounded like "Satyanarayan Pooja". The senior Congress leader was here to deliver a lecture on "CAA-NPR-NRC and Union Budget". For the last six quarters the growth rate has declined, and this has never happened in India before, the former finance minister said. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman "did not utter a word about demonetization but it all started with demonetization in November 2016," he said. Every number presented in the Budget was suspect, Chidambaram alleged. The Goods and Services Tax was a good idea but it was implemented by bad "implementors", he said. "The problem with Indian economy is that there is no demand because people do not have money. There is no investment. "Answer to (problems of) India's economy is very simple. First admit the state of the patient. We have a patient who has to be wheeled to the ICU. But Prime Minister and FM are keeping the patient outside the ICU saying it is alright and there is no need to go to ICU, while the world says alright you keep him outside the ICU, but at least you can not have these incompetent doctors treat him," he said. "So we have a very sick patient and a very incompetent managers and I don't think India deserves it," he added. "The classic solution to India's economic situation is to put the money into the hands of poor. In economy language, put the money into the hands of masses and not classes," he said. "But this government will not do that because this government is `suit boot ki Sarkar' (government of the rich)," he said. The government gave Rs 1.44 lakh crore to 200 companies through corporate tax cuts, the Congress leader claimed. "They have money to (give to) the classes but the companies did not invest, instead they spent money in paying their loans," he said. Investors shy away when economy is declining, and also when there is social disharmony, the Congress leader said. "Today we are hit by both negative factors. There are protests and there are morchas and there is a sliding economy," he added. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chidambaram said, "PM comes out with a theory that if you are protesting, it will lead to anarchy. He should have been born then and told this to Mahatma Gandhi. He (Modi) said that you can not protest the law that is made by Parliament, but Rowlatt's Act was also made by (British) Parliament," he said. Quoting Gandhi, Chidambaram said unjust laws must be disobeyed and opposed. "Satyagraha and disobedience is the DNA of India given by Mahatma Gandhi," he said. Also read: Chidambaram rates Modi govt's Budget 2020 'zero'; raises questions over $5 trillion economy target Also read: I-T dept probes Tamil star Vijay; Rs 77 crore unearthed from financier of Bigil Bird EV1 electric hatchback to launch in India for around Rs 10 lakh. Running costs claimed are as low as Rs 60 for 100km. Haima Automobile has officially announced its Indian debut at Auto Expo 2020 with the introduction of the electric hatchback, Bird Electric EV1. The Chinese brand has also confirmed that the new EV will be priced around Rs 10 lakh (on-road). The EV1 is a joint effort by Haima New Energy and Bird Group. A production facility has been planned in Manesar, Haryana. Being in its early stages of planning, it would take at least 12 months (or more) to roll out the first batch of Bird Electric EV1 units from the Manesar plant. The electric hatchback is aimed to offer excellent value for money in the B-segment, thanks to the governments continuous support to the development of EVs. The Bird Electric EV1 is powered by a permanent-magnet synchronous motor and comes in two formats: 20.5kWh battery with 200km range and 28.5kWh battery with 300km range. Coupled to the smaller battery pack, the motor generates roughly 39bhp and 95Nm of torque. The torque output rises to 105Nm with the bigger battery pack. Normal charging hours stand at 9 hours for the 20.5kWh variant and 11 hours of 28.5kWh. There are no words on fast-charging support yet. Claimed range figures are on the scale of 200km and 300km for the 20.5kWh and 28.5kWh variants, respectively. The top speed is capped at 120km/h. Even though the 28.5kWh showcases better output figures, it is about 105kg heavier than the lesser 20.5kWh which weighs in it at 930kg. However, the main highlight of the Bird Electric EV1 is its running costs. The company claims that the electric hatchback can do a 100km trip for just Rs 60 (which is much lesser than a litre of petrol or diesel at present). The initial asking price would still seem high for the performance it packs, but the EV industry is constantly developing new products and technologies to bring the prices down and up the desirability. The ongoing Auto Expo 2020 sees the participation of multiple EV brands across major segments of the Indian automotive market. Major names such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and even Maruti Suzuki have come up with some plans to promote emission-free modes of mobility in the country; most of which are being showcased in both concept and product-ready formats at the 15th instalment of the popular biennial automotive show. (Newser) Hundreds more people evacuated from the virus zone in China began arriving Friday at military bases across the US to begin a two-week quarantine. There were no signs of illness among those who flew into Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, said Dr. Jennifer McQuiston of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said fewer than 100 people, including babies, will stay at Lackland, the AP reports, she but did not have an exact number. The plane arrived from the Wuhan region of China, the center of the outbreak of the new coronavirus. It was scheduled to drop off more people later Friday in Omaha. A military base in San Diego also received Americans who will be quarantined. Earlier evacuation flights brought people to March Air Reserve Base in Southern California and Travis Air Force Base between San Francisco and Sacramento. story continues below U.S. officials said at a news conference in Washington on Friday that more than 800 people have been brought from Wuhan on recent flights. All evacuees are being quarantined for 14 days and monitored for signs of illness. The new virus is in the coronavirus family that includes Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It causes fever, cough, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pneumonia. It has sickened more than 31,000 people and killed more than 600, virtually all in China. (Trump's reelection campaign could benefit from a coronavirus bump, one analysis says.) New Delhi, Feb 8 : The voter turnout in the Delhi Assembly seats where the top AAP leaders were contesting saw a turnout surpassing the city's overall percentage, with New Delhi constituency held by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being an exception. While the overall voter turnout was 60.24 per cent, New Delhi seat, where Kejriwal contested, saw only 51.64 per cent turnout. However, the seats from where other senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders and Kejriwal's Ministers contested saw a turnout of over 60 per cent. Patparganj Assembly seat, from where Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia contested, saw a turnout of 61.28 per cent, while the Baburpur seat from where Labour and Employment Minister Gopal Rai was in the fray saw a turnout of 65.40 per cent. Najafgarh, where Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot was contesting, saw a turnout of 64.38 per cent, while the voting percentage in Water and Culture Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam's constituency Seemapuri was 68.08 per cent. AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj was contesting from the Greater Kailash Assembly seat where the turnout was 65.20 per cent. Counting of votes will be held on February 11. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. KYODO NEWS - Feb 8, 2020 - 17:51 | World, All, Coronavirus North Korea on Saturday marked the 72nd anniversary of the founding of its army, amid wide-ranging efforts by the country to prevent the spread of a new pneumonia-causing coronavirus raging in neighbor China. On the anniversary in 2018, North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang at which it displayed what appeared to be intercontinental ballistic missiles including its Hwasong-15, seen as capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to anywhere on the U.S. mainland. This year, North Korea's state-run media did not report that Pyongyang conducted such a parade in a break from past years. The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most influential newspaper, said Saturday that the nation's army has overcome "so severe and dangerous difficulties," but made no direct mention of nuclear forces and the United States. [KCNA/Kyodo] In late January, a photo taken by a private satellite showed many soldiers practicing formations at an airfield on the outskirts of Pyongyang, raising speculation that North Korea would hold a military parade in the not-so-distant future. North Korea, however, has apparently shifted its focus to strengthening measures to contain the new coronavirus, such as effectively prohibiting foreign tourists from crossing the border from China. Spreading worldwide, the new virus, which is believed to have originated late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected more than 30,000 and killed over 700 in the country. Foreign affairs experts say North Korea is vulnerable to infectious diseases against the backdrop of chronic food and medical shortages triggered by economic sanctions aimed at thwarting Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions. In the past, North Korea barred foreigners from entering the nation during the 2002-2003 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014. At a key ruling party meeting held late last year, meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to unveil a "new strategic weapon" to be possessed by his country "in the near future," while retracting his promise to refrain from ICBM or nuclear tests. Related coverage: U.S. citizen dies of new coronavirus in Wuhan, 1st American death Japanese man suspected of new coronavirus infection dies in China Half of secondary virus infections occur in incubation period: study The bid by the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to regain access to the many accounts held by its members in banks in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Jersey, Liechenstein and Luxembourg has fallen through. The accounts were blocked upon a directive by the Nigerian government in 1999. A five-man panel of the Supreme Court was not convinced by the family to defer from the judgements of lower courts. In a judgment on Friday, the court held that it was too late for the Abacha family to query the decision taken by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1999, via a letter authored by the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN)Justice Chima Nweze, who authored the panel's lead judgment in the appeal marked: SC/2010 posited that in view of the evidence presented by parties, he was left with no other options than to uphold the earlier concurrent decisions of the two lower courts (the Federal High Court, Kano and the Court of Appeal, Kaduna division), to the effect that the action was statute barred. Justice Nweze was absent at the court's proceedings on Friday but his lead judgment was read by Justice Amina . Nweze in the lead judgement, said: In all forms, with the eloquent submission of the respondents' counsel, and submissions anchored on the admitted evidence, I have no hesitation in affirming the concurrent decisions of the lower courts. Accordingly, I hereby enter an order dismissing this appeal. I further affirm the concurrent findings and decisions of the lower courts. Appeal dismissed. According to court documents, the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in December 1999, authorised the then AGF, Agabi to request the Swiss authorities to freeze all bank accounts held in its jurisdiction by the late Head of State, General Abacha, his children, servants, agents and any other individuals or companies liked to them between 1993 and 1998. The Nigeria government was also said to have requested the Swiss authorities to seize and detain all banking and other documents relating to the affected accounts, charge and prosecute all holders of such accounts, in order to recover and pay over to the Federal Government of Nigeria all monies falsely and fraudulently taken from the government and people of Nigeria. Also, the FG was said to have engaged a foreign financial investigator, Enrico Monfrini of Hauchomann & Bottage in Geneva, Switzerland, to assist in recovering all looted monies by Gen Abacha and his family members and other public servants and third parties who have used their position or participated as accomplices to misappropriate public funds. Following these steps by the Federal Government, the accounts of the Abachas found in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Jersey, Liechenstein and Luxembourg were frozen, an action members of the late Head of State challenged by filing a suit, marked: FHC/KN/CS/6/2004, on January 28, 2004 before the Federal High Court, Kano. The suit filed on behalf of the Abachas by Alhaji Abba Mohammed Sani, had the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents. After hearing parties, the court rendered its judgment in 2006, in which it upheld the argument by the respondents to the effect that the case was not only statute barred, the plaintiff could not relitigate the same case that had been decided by the court's Abuja division in suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/347/2001brought by Sulgrave Holdings Inc & 19 others against the FRN & three others. Alhaji Sani appealed the decision of the Federal High Court, Kano at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna. But in its judgment on December 15, 2009, the appellate court upheld the decision of the trail court and dismissed the appeal, a decision Alhaji Sani again appealed to the Supreme Court, which the apex court dismissed on Friday. Other members of the Supreme Court's five-man panel that heard the appeal, Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Augie and Paul Galumje, all agreed with the lead judgment as written by Justice Nweze. [music] michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: President Trump has undertaken a campaign of retribution against those who crossed him during the impeachment inquiry and favors for those who have tried to protect him. Peter Baker on the post-acquittal presidency. Its Friday, February 14. archived recording [HORNS] Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States. michael barbaro Peter, I want to begin with retribution. How does that start? archived recording (donald trump) Well, thank you very much, everybody. Wow. peter baker The day after his acquittal in the Senate, the president gathers people in the East Room of the White House for an event. Its not quite a press conference. Its not quite a speech. Its really kind of a mix, a mix of a celebration of his acquittal but a venting session of his grievances. archived recording (donald trump) I want to start by thanking some of and I call them friends, because you develop friendships and relationships when youre in battle and war. peter baker And he wants to thank the people who stood behind him, names them in the audience. archived recording (donald trump) Mitch McConnell, I want to tell you, you did a fantastic job. [APPLAUSE] peter baker Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader who did more than anybody to secure his acquittal in the trial. And he mentions Jim Jordan archived recording (donald trump) When I first got to know Jim, I said, huh, he never wears a jacket. What the hells going on? Hes obviously very proud of his body. [LAUGHTER] peter baker and other members of the House, the Freedom Caucus, the conservative Republicans who always stood by him in the most aggressive and assertive and staunch way. And then, of course, he turns to his enemies. The people he blames for his ordeal, the people he thinks have treated him so unfairly, have plotted against him, been disloyal or what have you. And he names ones that you would expect, of course. archived recording (donald trump) Nancy Pelosi is a horrible person. peter baker Nancy Pelosi, he says shes a horrible person. archived recording (donald trump) A corrupt politician named Adam Schiff made up my statement to the Ukrainian president. He brought it out of thin air just made it up. They say hes a screenwriter, a failed screenwriter. peter baker He names, of course, Adam Schiff, the lead House prosecutor. archived recording (donald trump) And then you have some that used religion as a crutch. They never used it before. peter baker He names Mitt Romney, the Republican, the only Republican senator to vote for conviction. archived recording (donald trump) But, you know, its a failed presidential candidate, so things can happen when you fail so badly running for president. peter baker These two now, of course, are really at odds. And you see the visceral anger in the president in this moment. And he mentions Colonel Alexander Vindman, a member of his own staff, a detailee from the Pentagon working on Ukraine issues, and his twin brother Yevgeny Vindman, who also works at the N.S.C. staff. He says it almost in passing. archived recording (donald trump) Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and his twin brother, right? peter baker And he says it with such dripping disdain in his voice. Youd get the sense immediately, of course, that this is somebody whos really angry at the president, and hes got his attention. michael barbaro And remind us what puts Vindman in this list of enemies. peter baker Colonel Vindman was one of the members of the White House staff, the National Security Council staff who were subpoenaed by the House to testify in the impeachment inquiry. He didnt come forward voluntarily. He was required to by law to give his testimony to the committee. And during his testimony, he told about being on the famous July 25 call between the president and President Zelensky of Ukraine when the president asked him to investigate Joe Biden and the Democrats. And Colonel Vindman told the committee that he thought that was inappropriate, and he reported it to his superiors at the N.S.C. And for that, he has been on the target list of President Trump and his allies ever since. Painted as disloyal, painted as even treasonous to the country. His patriotism questioned even though hes a decorated veteran of the Iraq War, injured in battle, and really, a kind of a symbol to both sides of sort of where this fight has evolved. archived recording (donald trump) Our country is just respected again, and its an honor to be with the people in this room. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. peter baker And so he comes to the end of this sort of rambling, meandering talk that goes on for an hour and two minutes. And you get the sense that this is not the end and that theres more to come. archived recording Well, President Trump has begun his revenge in the wake of his impeachment trial. peter baker Colonel Vindman, the same witness he had just talked about so dismissively at the East Room event finds himself escorted out of the White House by security guards and told his services are no longer needed michael barbaro Wow. peter baker exiled back to the Pentagon from which he came. Not just him archived recording Escorted out of his job and off the White House grounds, as was his twin brother, who was also assigned to the N.S.C. peter baker His brother Yevgeny Vindman who didnt do anything, had nothing to do with the impeachment hearings at all, except to show up and sit behind his brother just as a matter of family support also dismissed from his post at the National Security Council, marched out at the same time by security and sent back to the Pentagon. archived recording Today, Vindmans lawyer issued a statement saying, quote, The truth has cost him his job, his career and his privacy. peter baker You can understand why a president might not want somebody on his staff who had testified an impeachment hearing against him. But it was handled in a way that was meant to maximize the public message, right? Ill tell you what I mean by that. The N.S.C. is currently undergoing a downsizing. And in fact, the plan was to move Colonel Vindman out as part of that, or at least to use that as the cover to to say, its not about reprisal. Its not about his role in impeachment. Its just part of this overall restructuring. And thats frankly how other presidents might have handled a situation like that. michael barbaro Come up with a rationale. peter baker Come up with a rationale, come up with a public face-saving kind of storyline, a narrative, at least, that even though people would see through it, would at least have the veneer of looking professional rather than vindictive. That was not what the president wanted. He made sure they did this separate from that reorganization. They did not explain it as part of that reorganization. And they did not deny when we called them that day that this was what it looked like, which was, of course, an act of retribution. michael barbaro OK, so what happens next? peter baker Well, we thought that was the story for the day, these two brothers being marched out of there. michael barbaro Right. peter baker And then we discover as the evening arrives that its not over. archived recording Now were getting word that the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, he is out as well. peter baker Gordon Sondland, you may remember him. He was the ambassador to the European Union, who had been deeply involved in the Ukraine pressure campaign, on the phone with the president and required to testify, became a key witness in the House hearings. He said that they were operating on the order of the president himself. He said that it was clearly a quid pro quo, and he said that everyone was in the loop. Suddenly, it turns out hes out as well. Now, as with Vindman, there was a way to do this that would have minimized the public kerfuffle. Gordon Sondland actually was ready to leave. He had told his superiors at the State Department that he was ready to step down on his own. And he got word that Friday you have to resign today, they told him. But he says, no. I dont want to resign on the same day that youre pushing out these Vindmans as if Im part of some sort of purge. michael barbaro Wow. peter baker If you want me today, youre going to have to fire me. And they called back and said, OK, youre fired. michael barbaro So at this point, its clear that this is a vindictive purge of anyone who did anything that put the president in a negative light during the impeachment process. And what is the reaction to that, that very clear and deliberate message from the president inside Washington? peter baker Certainly among Democrats, even among a few Republicans who say whats the message youre sending? If you respond to a subpoena, as ordered by the law, and you give your testimony, you shouldnt be punished for doing that. The presidents view is, why should I have people I cant trust working for me? Its my right as the president to have a staff that serves my interests that I believe is loyal. And hes made clear that loyalty is a number one when it comes to this president. Theres no other quality that matters more to him. michael barbaro And, Peter, as somebody whos covered many White Houses, is he right about that? Is it ultimately a presidential prerogative to decide if someone testified against you, that, you know, you no longer want them around, you dont want them in those jobs anymore, especially presidential appointments? peter baker Its a good question, right? Because it does feel like it would be untenable to have testified and provided damaging testimony against the president, and then come to work every day afterwards. You would think, in fact, you might not want to necessarily do that. But the question isnt whats the right place then for that person to work. The question is what the message the president is trying to send by what hes doing, right? michael barbaro Right. peter baker This president has made a point of making sure everybody knows these people are out, and theyre out because of him and because he will not tolerate disloyalty. michael barbaro OK, so that is the campaign of retribution so far, post acquittal, which brings us to the campaign of protection for the presidents allies. peter baker Right. Its not enough just to go after his perceived enemies. Now its time to do something to protect his friends. And for him, this is going to start with a colorful character and longtime friend and adviser named Roger Stone, whos about to go to prison. michael barbaro Well be right back. So, Peter, before we get to how the president is trying to protect Roger Stone, remind us who Roger Stone is. peter baker Roger Stone has been in American politics going back decades. He is somebody who calls himself a dirty trickster. archived recording (roger stone) Im certainly guilty of bluffing and posturing and punking the Democrats. Unless they pass some law against [BLEEP] and I missed it, Im engaging in tradecraft. Its politics. peter baker Hes a self-proclaimed fan of Richard Nixon. Even to this day, he has a Richard Nixon tattoo. michael barbaro Right. peter baker Hes somebody whos involved early on in some of the Reagan and Dole campaigns, but over the years kind of drifted off into the side, really kind of more of a fringe character, a conspiracy theorist, a provocateur. archived recording 1 In 1980, Stone began a lobbying firm with Paul Manafort that unapologetically catered to human rights abusers. archived recording 2 He has these maxims on how he conducts his political strategy. One of his rules is never turn down an opportunity to have sex or be on television. archived recording 3 Weve seen a lot of colorful characters in the world of political consulting, none more colorful than Roger Stone. And that is the most charitable adjective you can apply to the single weirdest man possibly in the history of political consulting. peter baker Hed been friends for years with Donald Trump. And like Roger Stone, Trump comes from the outside, right? He was not part of the Republican establishment. But suddenly, hes powering forward toward a presidential bid. And he brings with him people like Roger Stone, who had not been in the center of American politics now for years. michael barbaro Right. And my recollection is that its during that campaign that Roger Stone gets into very significant trouble. peter baker Right. He becomes wrapped up in the whole story about the Russian hacking of the Democratic emails. archived recording Hillary Clintons campaign dealing with more email problems. The email account of campaign chairman John Podesta was hacked and many of the emails released. peter baker Things he said gave the impression that he might have known about it in advance. michael barbaro Right. archived recording So were you surprised when John Podestas emails came out, as you seemed to predict ahead of time? archived recording (roger stone) I was interested, like the rest of the country. archived recording Were you surprised? archived recording (roger stone) No, I wouldnt say that I was surprised. peter baker And that puts him right in the heart of this. Is he a link between the Trump campaign and Russia through perhaps WikiLeaks, which is the cutout that the Russians used to get these emails out. And so, once the president wins and comes into office, his friend Roger Stone finds himself under investigation for what he knew and when he knew it. And then Congress jumps in. They call Stone to testify at the House Intelligence Committee. And this is where he really gets into trouble. archived recording (roger stone) We had a very frank exchange. I answered all of the questions. I made the case that the accusation that I knew about John Podestas email hack in advance was false, that I knew about the content and source of the WikiLeaks disclosures regarding Hillary Clinton was false. peter baker He starts telling things that are demonstrably not true. And he ultimately ends up getting charged with lying to Congress. He also tries to get an associate of his to not tell the truth, threatens him even, threatens to kill his dog. michael barbaro Whoa. peter baker And he was put on trial. And last fall Roger Stone was convicted of seven crimes, seven felonies, including lying to Congress and witness intimidation. michael barbaro And these are conditions on very serious charges of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Thats right. I remember thinking when that happened, like, whoa. This is the big leagues for Roger Stone. peter baker Exactly. And the question is, why is he lying? Why is he obstructing? Is he trying to protect the president? This is how this all fits together, right? This goes back to the whole Russian interference. This goes back to the Mueller probe. This goes back to the things that have dominated this presidency for three years and frustrated this president for three years. So he sees Roger Stones conviction as an illegitimate shot at him, at himself, the president. A way of trying to take him down because they couldnt take him down any other way. michael barbaro OK. So Peter, how does the president try to protect Stone after this conviction? peter baker So even as hes in the middle of this campaign of retribution against the Vindman brothers and Gordon Sondland, he is increasingly aware that the sentencing for Roger Stone is coming up. And then, when Monday comes around and the prosecutors present their recommendation for a sentence to the court, the prosecutors ask for seven to nine years behind bars. Thats the normal sentence that would be required under the sentencing guidelines passed by Congress for crimes of the type that Roger Stone was convicted of. So they didnt go outside of those guidelines. They simply said we want to sentence him to what the guidelines say. That doesnt mean the judge would go along with it, but that was their recommendation. Well, that set the president off. archived recording The president expressed his outrage on Twitter, calling it a very unfair situation, adding, Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! peter baker In the middle of the night, he starts sending out tweets, angry tweets. How can this happen? Nine years, this is outrageous. And theyre going after him. How come they dont go after my enemies but they go after him? And that just sort of sets the town ablaze. archived recording Controversy in the nations capital now over a sentencing recommendation for President Trumps longtime friend Roger Stone. peter baker Heres a president weighing in directly on a court case involving a friend of his. This is something that we have not seen really since Watergate. Presidents dont, especially publicly, weigh in on prosecutions of people that they are personally connected to, at least except in the venue of issuing pardons at some point, which they sometimes do. So this has shocked a lot of people. But what really shocked a lot of people in Washington was when they woke up a few hours later on Tuesday and they saw not only these tweets, but they saw that the attorney general of the United States, Bill Barr, had essentially overruled the career prosecutors. archived recording Breaking news involving President Trump. A stunning reversal in the sentencing recommendation for Trump confidant Roger Stone. peter baker And said, no, were not going to ask for a sentence this heavy. Were going to ask for something lighter. michael barbaro So not seven to nine years, something less. peter baker Not seven to nine years, something less. It doesnt specify what, but something below what the guidelines would normally call for. And so this is causing a huge furor in the U.S. attorneys office in Washington. archived recording What is going on? President Trump knows how to get away with stuff when were not watching. peter baker The four career prosecutors who worked on the Stone case, all four of them, quit. archived recording Were following some truly stunning, breaking news, still developing by the minute this hour. Federal prosecutors in the Roger Stone criminal case have resigned this afternoon. peter baker One after the other. One, two, three, four, just like that. archived recording This does not happen. Prosecutors dont resign just days before they go to sentencing after a case that theyve worked so hard on. peter baker One of them actually quits his job altogether, leaves the Justice Department as a whole. archived recording In protest. peter baker Well, they dont say it, but thats the obvious conclusion. Yes, theyre protesting the overruling of their recommendation. And I think that they felt like they had an ethical obligation. If they had told the court this is the sentence we think is appropriate, and then suddenly a day later the same department is coming and saying, no, we dont how is that tenable for them to continue on that case? michael barbaro And, Peter, given what has just happened the firing of Vindman, Sondland, Vindmans brother what is the reaction to this intervention? Not just the retribution, but this protection? peter baker Well, in effect, the Democrats are saying we told you so, right? archived recording (chuck schumer) No serious person believes President Trump has learned any lesson. He doesnt learn any lessons. He does just what he wants, what suits his ego at the moment. peter baker Senator Schumer, the Democratic leader in the upper chamber goes to the floor and gives a pretty passionate speech in which he says that the natural consequence of acquitting the president on the Ukraine matter means that he feels completely unleashed and empowered to do whatever he thinks is right for his own political interests. archived recording (chuck schumer) We are witnessing a crisis in the rule of law in America, unlike one we have ever seen before. Its a crisis of President Trumps making, but it was enabled and emboldened by every Senate Republican. peter baker Even amongst some Republicans, youre seeing you know some discomfort, particularly among moderate Republicans who tried to give the president the benefit of the doubt by standing with him in the impeachment trial. A couple of them had said even, well, maybe hell have learned a lesson from all of this and hell be more measured, hell be more restrained in the future and that that would be a good thing. Well, what youre hearing a lot of people saying is that doesnt seem to be the case. And I think that the question going forward is going to be, is it just a burst of energy and lashing out in the days after the acquittal, or is this the beginning of a months long recalibration of his administration? What is he going to do going forward? michael barbaro Right. Is this the post-aquittal presidency, one in which enemies are punished and allies are at all costs protected? peter baker Right, exactly. And that the instruments of government are to serve the presidents interests, not just the publics interests. michael barbaro Peter, what you have described here is what an old school political terms might be called a strategy of carrots and sticks, but on steroids, right? You protect those who have done right by you, and you punish those who have somehow wronged you. And in the case of the president, that steroided up strategy clearly worked when it came to impeachment. And we talked to you. We talked to many of our colleagues about the fact that there was genuine fear of crossing this president, and that that influenced how the Senate voted in the impeachment trial. So if this strategy is working and by all accounts, it is working why shouldnt the president keep it up? peter baker Well, its a great question. I think one of the things weve learned about the last three years is that the norms, the standards, the lines that we used to think of that constrained a president were more aspirational and conceptual than they were legal. You go look. You go back far enough, youre going to find plenty of presidents who punished their enemies and protected their friends. But in the post-Watergate period in particular, when we put in new guardrails, we put a new laws, we put in new systems, we thought that that had been minimized at the very least, right? That, yeah, youre going to probably give an appointment to somebody whos been good to you. And youre going to maybe take away a grant from the state of somebody who crossed you on a vote. These things happen. They happen under any presidency. This is that, as you put it, on steroids. And its overt. Its right out there in the open. He wants everybody to know what hes doing. He wants everybody to understand. You are loyal to this president or you should get out. And thats true of people in government. Thats true of people even in Congress. Hes made very clear that the Republican Party has no room for anybody who is not on his side. Youre either in his camp or youre not. michael barbaro And, of course, theres a larger context here, which is were in the middle of a presidential election. And I wonder how this behavior by the president fits into his re-election strategy. peter baker You say that all this fits into a broader approach by this presidential politics. Its not about unifying. Its about dividing. Its about us versus them. And this is what the appeal is to his constituents. It is: I am fighting for you. And they are trying to stop me. Its the deep state, its the Democrats, its the fake news media. Theyre all trying to stop me, and by extension, you. And thats why you should stick with me in this election this fall. So this idea that Washington is all alarmed by retributions and protections of friends because it violates norms doesnt hurt his appeal to many of his voters out there, because its part of this larger argument that hes making. And the larger argument is I am a force of disruption. I am a force that is shaking things up. And the reason why youre seeing things in the news that are bad about me is because theyre fighting back. And you should stay with me because its not just me. Its about you too. michael barbaro Peter, thank you. peter baker OK, thank you. michael barbaro On Thursday, in an interview with ABC News, Attorney General Bill Barr said that the presidents interference in cases like Roger Stones was making it all but impossible for him to run the Department of Justice. archived recording (william barr) To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about people in the department, our men and women here, about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors and the department that were doing our work with integrity. michael barbaro But Barr did not directly criticize the president, and confirmed in the interview that he had overruled prosecutors to recommend a more lenient sentence for Stone. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. archived recording Are there any senators in the chamber wishing to change their vote? If not, the yeas are 55, the nays are 45. The joint resolution as amended is passed. michael barbaro Employee morale is at an all-time low at e-cigarette company Juul, according to internal documents and audio obtained by BuzzFeed News. After a quick rise to startup stardom, Juul had become the biggest e-cigarette maker in the country and was valued at $38 billion in early 2019. But by November, the company had laid off more than 650 people 16% of its 4,000-person staff. 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Col. Alexander Vindman, who was physically removed from the White House on Friday as part of the presidents post-impeachment purge. But the Purple Heart recipient fought back on Saturday in a statement from his lawyer, basically calling Trump a petty liar who is trying to intimidate anybody who stands up to him. For Vindman, it appears Trumps bullying isnt working, and hes punching back. The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, the statement read. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military. The full statement: The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman; they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silence, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military. Trump is picking another fight with the military Donald Trump and his supporters like to push the absurd idea that this president is a tough commander-in-chief with strong ties to the military, but time and again he has attacked decorated veterans. It started early in Trumps political career when he claimed late Sen. John McCain wasnt a war hero because he was captured. It continued throughout the 2016 campaign when he waged an all-out assault on the Gold Star Khan family. Now, Trump didnt just drag a Purple Heart recipient out of the White House for speaking the truth about his Ukraine crimes, but he took to Twitter to smear him with lies and question his military service altogether. At the end of the day, Trump seems to enjoy picking fights with men and women he knows are respected and revered in a way hell never be. Thats clear in his latest back-and-forth with Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a man who has done something this president never has: honorably serve his country. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter We heeded to people's plights during the pandemic: Stalin on 100 years of governance DMK terms PSA as draconian, demands release of Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti India oi-PTI Chennai, Feb 08: Describing the Public Safety Act as draconian, the DMK on Saturday slammed the Centre for extending the detention of Kashmiri leaders, including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and demanded their immediate release. The Centre had booked the two former chief ministers under the stringent Act on February 6, barely hours before their six-month-long "preventive detention" was to end. Hitting out at the centre, the main opposition in Tamil Nadu alleged the PSA was draconian and condemned their further detention. Alleging that such draconian laws could be implemented in any State and against any leader, DMK president M K Stalin said such a scenario was not appropriate for both the country and Centre-State relations. Keeping leaders who have faith in India's integrity under detention went against human rights and personal liberty and it was tantamount to ridiculing people's faith in Constitution and democracy, he alleged, adding the abrogation of Article 370 without "respecting the Assembly and people was a burial of democracy." 389 persons under detention in J&K "The BJP is making a mockery of federalism by bending laws since it got a majority by winning (Lok Sabha) elections," he said in a statement here. Further, Stalin, who has been demanding the release of all Kashmiri leaders ever since they were first detained in August last year, said no one could accept BJP using the government machinery and laws as per its "whims and fancies." Continuing to keep leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah in detention, "is a blatant misuse of power," impinging on fundamental rights and freedom of expression, he alleged. Dubbing their detention as something that did not appear to be a "honest act of the Central government," he alleged it was due to the BJP's "selfishness," and it has raised a suspicion among the people whether the saffron party desired to maintain Kashmir as a restless province. Detaining Kashmiri leaders by coming up with "new, artificial reasons should be given up," he said and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately release all the leaders and "open up the doors of democracy," in Kashmir. Political parties had reacted sharply to the slapping of the PSA on four prominent Kashmiri politicians and said the move belied the Centre's claim of normalcy in the union territory. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah and two political stalwarts -- National Conference leader and former minister Ali Mohammed Sagar and PDP leader Sartaj Madani -- were booked under the PSA by the administration on Thursday. Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and two others booked under Public Safety Act The People's Democratic Party had said the BJP-led government at the Centre was "testing the patience" of the people by such "undemocratic moves". The CPI(M)'s Jammu and Kashmir unit condemned the slapping of the PSA on the prominent Kashmiri leaders, while the Congress termed the decision "unfortunate." Omar's father, Farooq Abdullah was booked under the PSA in September last year which was reviewed again in December for a period of three months. The PSA was enacted by Omar's grandfather Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in 1978 initially to check timber smuggling. The law, which came handy for police force to book separatists and militant sympathisers, has two sections -- 'public order' and 'threat to security of the state'. The former allows detention without trial for six months and the latter for two years. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 14:55 [IST] The number of cases of the deadly novel coronavirus being reported on a daily basis in China is "stabilising", the World Health Organisation said on Saturday. The UN health agency said this was "good news" but cautioned that it was too early to make any predictions about whether the virus might have peaked. "There has been a stabilisation in the number of cases reported from Hubei," Michael Ryan, head of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said at a briefing in Geneva. The central Chinese province of Hubei has been at the epicentre of the virus outbreak and has been placed under lockdown by the authorities in an effort to contain the virus. "We're in a four-day stable period where the number of reported cases hasn't advanced. That's good and may reflect the impact of the control measures that have been put in place," Ryan said. But he added that it was "very early to make any predictions". WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the trend was "not really accelerating" but also called for "caution". The coronavirus has infected more than 34,500 people and killed more than 700. Tedros warned against misinformation about the virus, saying it made the work of healthcare staff harder. "We're not just battling the virus, we're also battling the trolls and conspiracy theorists that push misinformation and undermine the outbreak response," he said. Asked about a planned WHO-led international mission to China, he also said a list of names had been submitted to Chinese authorities and the team leader would be travelling there on Monday or Tuesday. "The rest of the experts will also follow after that," he said. Asked if the mission would include members of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he said: "I hope so". China has been critical of measures taken by the United States in response to the virus and has so far rejected an offer of assistance from the CDC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A U.S. citizen who was diagnosed with the new coronavirus has died in Wuhan, China, in what appears to be the first known and confirmed death of an American from the viral outbreak. We can confirm that a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at a hospital in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, a U.S. Embassy spokesman told AFP. The embassy spokesman told Reuters that the American victim died at Jinyintan Hospital. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, the spokesman said. Out of the respect for the familys privacy, we have no further comment. News of the Americans death comes as a Japanese man in his 60s died in Wuhan, Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported, citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The man was hospitalized for severe pneumonia and the ministry said it was told by the Chinese side that he died of viral pneumonia. Although he was suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, results were not yet available from diagnostic tests, the news agency reported. If results confirm coronavirus, he would be the first Japanese death in the outbreak. Wuhan, a city in Hubei province, China, is the epicenter of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov), for which the first case was reported in early December 2019. Over two dozen countries, including the United States, have confirmed cases of the virus. The White House on Friday asked scientists to rapidly assess the origins of the new coronavirus. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 formed a coronavirus task force, which has been providing the president with daily updates on the outbreak. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said the United States was prepared to spend up to $100 million to assist China and support coronavirus efforts by the World Health Organization. The United States has sent nearly 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China, including masks, gowns, and respirators, a State Department official said. The United States has confirmed 12 cases of the coronavirus. The latest confirmed case is in Wisconsinalso the first case in the state. Other coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts, Illinois, Arizona, Washington state, and California. The new coronavirus is in the same family of pathogens as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which caused hundreds of deaths in China in 2003, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed more than 500 worldwide since 2012. A senior official of a crematorium in the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan says their intake has skyrocketed in recent weeks, suggesting more people are dying of the disease than officially reported. Hundreds of foreigners have been evacuated out of Wuhan over the past two weeks. A second evacuation plane to airlift Australians out of Wuhan was delayed after China did not give it clearance to land, Australian officials said on Saturday. Click here to follow our special coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Epoch Times reporters Zachary Stieber and Cathy He, and Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times One man is dead, another in critical condition after related shooting incidents involving police officers in Boston and Brookline late Friday morning. The Norfolk County District Attorneys Office has confirmed the dead mans identity as 41-year-old Juston Root. A 49-year-old employee of Brigham and Womens Hospital suffered a gunshot wound to the head in the incident. He was brought into the hospital for treatment, where a police spokesman said he is currently in critical condition. According to police accounts, officers responded to a 9:21 a.m. 911 call for a man with a gun near the intersection of Vining Street and Fenwood. That intersection is near the entrance to the hospital. When officers arrived at the area, they confronted the suspect who pulled out what appeared to be a firearm. Officers shot at him, then tried to take him down to the ground. He fought with an officer then bolted to his nearby car and fled the scene. Officers chased him through the city, picking up other police units as they traveled. A spokesman said the chase ran along Route 9 into Brookline. Near 1195 Boylston St., Root apparently lost control of his vehicle and struck several other cars. Now out of his car, officers and one State Police trooper confronted Root at which time he pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the officers. They fired upon him and he suffered at least one gunshot wound. The suspect was transported to nearby Beth Israel Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Root is reported to have suffered mental health issues for many years and had numerous run-ins with police. Boston and Brookline police and the State Police detectives are investigating the incident. With some of the biggest dividends of the stock market MLP partnerships are tempting, but you have to know how to get paid without getting burned. Partnerships are all about paying stockholders to own them. The whole structure of a partnership is set up to pass through profits right to their owners without imposing corporate income tax costs. Investors are already paying regular income taxes on their dividend income. Partnerships come in a variety of structures that include limited partnerships (LPs), master limited partnerships (MLPs), general partnerships (GPs) and limited liability companies (LLCs). For my purposes I tend to refer to all of them as publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) or just good old partnerships. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Partnerships have been around in various forms for many years and exist not just in the U.S. market, but in an increasing number of other nations and tax jurisdictions. But its been the U.S. thats been the biggest market for these companies thanks to a massive tax reformation that took place in 1986. Prior to 1986, partnerships were operating wildly in the U.S. That was thanks to out-of-this-world effective income tax rates for individuals that topped 70% and a loophole in the U.S. tax code. This loophole meant that partnerships could be structured to generate large amounts of tax losses which could then be used not just to offset current dividend income, but also offset active income including salaries and bonuses. Tax reform legislation changed the code for partnerships and all other pass-through investments. As a result, losses can offset passive investment income. This brought carnage for those gaming the system prior to the tax reforms. And on top of that, the petrol industry further soured investors that werent prepared for the changes. A Real Partnership Lets move forward to our current market. Partnerships have continued to mature and expand, resulting in a great opportunity for investors seeking high dividends from solid cash-generating assets. Story continues The industries that fit the bill for partnerships include a variety of businesses involved in energy production, processing and distribution as well as other major capital asset businesses including infrastructure and transportation. Energy of course continues to be the biggest part of the U.S. partnership market. This means that you need to be careful not to be too invested and thus exposed to a potential fall in crude oil, natural gas or coal. Such falls can have quite dire consequences for cash flows, dividends and stock prices. Partnerships have devastated too many investors, tempting them with super high dividends and then succumbing to market woes. How bad can it be? When a partnership goes under it results in suspended or eliminated dividends, or even worse, bankruptcy. Partnerships are just like any other stocks that pay you to own them. Each of them has to prove how theyre going to continue to be profitable with market downturns including the current downdraft of lower crude oil prices. And then they have to prove how each will be able to continue to finance their debt. Taxes Get Paid One Way or Another Before I get to some of my favored partnerships, I need to go through how the taxes work on these partnerships. As noted above, partnerships are structured as pass-through investments. Partnerships earn profits and then pass them through to pay shareholders. That process happens before the partnership pays federal or state taxes. This helps avoid the dreaded double taxation challenge that impacts dividends paid by ordinary common stocks. But it comes with some additional benefits as well as some pitfalls. To start, lets look at the benefits. Not only do you as an investor in a PTP get paid more by not having the PTP pay taxes before you get your cut, but the PTP gets to also pass through depreciation and other costs which is listed as return of capital. The result is that for the dividends paid by PTPs, much of the cash is actually deemed as return of capital and not actual earned income. This means that investors arent liable for income taxes on much or in some cases all of the dividend income. But the return of capital then must be used to reduce your cost basis for your investment in the PTPs. So, when you sell, youll pay taxes on the capital gains that youve had. But you wont have to pay until you sell. So, at worst, youll defer your tax bills and perhaps, just maybe, you might pay at a lower tax rate for the gains. However, there is a hidden benefit here. If you die before selling, the shares cost basis is reset to the current market, so the tax bill goes to nill. But of course you have to die to get this benefit, so there is some cost. Partnerships and Retirement Accounts One more limitation concerns qualified retirement accounts that hold partnerships. IRAs, SEPs and other plans can hold PTPs, but these are not the most tax-efficient accounts to get the full tax benefits of the partnership structure. And if you own too many of these PTPs inside a qualified account you could owe taxes as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). The tax code establishes that somebody will eventually have to pay taxes on income, even income generated by partnerships. This means that since most income paid by a PTP is return of capital, UBTI limits wont kick in for the vast majority of the dividend income paid by partnerships. K-1s Are OK PTPs dont pay any tax at the corporate level on qualified activities. Instead, quarterly distributions are passed directly to unitholders. (If youre unfamiliar, a unitholder is an investor who owns one or more units in an MLP or investment trust). Investors pay individual taxes on their distributions. But PTP distributions are highly tax-advantaged and offer a significant tax shield. Because many PTP distributions arent dividends, unitholders dont get a 1099 form at tax time. Unitholders receive a K-1, a standard form typically mailed in February. There are some big tax benefits to owning PTPs. Specifically, due to depreciation allowance, 80%-90% of the distribution you receive from a typical MLP is considered a return of capital by the IRS. You dont pay taxes immediately on this portion of the distribution. Instead, return of capital payments reduce your cost basis in the particular PTP. Youre not taxed on the return of capital until you sell the units, which means, at worst, that you get to defer taxes for years to come. And there are other ways to invest in PTPs while completely avoiding these tax considerations. There are exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds which invest in PTPs. The benefit of buying these funds is that all of the K-1 forms and cost basis calculations are handled by the fund manager, and fund holders simply receive a 1099 at tax time. In other words, all the income passed through from the PTPs held in the fund is considered dividend income. You pay taxes on these distributions as you would for any other dividends. And funds help avoid a rare potential additional tax on some qualified investment accounts and plans, unrelated business tax income (UBTI). 3 MLPs and an ETF Alternative MLPs in the U.S. are largely focused on the petroleum market. And the market for crude and natural gas has been facing challenges since summer 2019. After a bit of a respite in December and early January, the market has taken it on the chin again thanks to the fallout from the coronavirus (2019 n-CoV). The argument goes that as the virus leads to less production of goods and services as well as restricted travel in Asia, that demand for crude oil and natural gas will drop, depressing demand and resulting in lower prices. That said, China only buys 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from the U.S. but it does make up 13% of global consumption of crude. But the key to remember is that MLPs in the U.S. petroleum market are largely focused not on production, but on pipes, terminals and storage facilities. These are less at risk for oil and gas pricing than producers or refiners. But pipeline MLPs do have to deal with counterparty risks. This means that they have to manage the risks that their contracted producers and contracted consumers of petroleum will be able to stand up to their contracts. Because if they dont, then pipes go idle and so too shall cash flows for revenues. The three MLP pipelines below each have been in the markets through thick and thin. So, they have proven their ability to deal with counterparty risk. MLPs to Buy: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) Source: Chart by Bloomberg Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) has a vast network of natural gas, crude oil and other petroleum-related pipelines. Despite the challenges in the markets, revenues are still ample. EPD brought in $8 billion for the recent quarter. It is efficient in its operations, with operating margins running at a fat 18.5% which in turn works to deliver a return on equity of 20.1%. With ample cash and debts manageable at 46.2% of assets, Enterprise is a capable company. And it is a value as the shares are at a mere 2.4 times book value and only 1.8 times trailing revenues. The dividend distribution is running at 44.5 cents for a yield of 6.8%. And those distributions continue to rise by an average annual rate of 4% over the past five years. Investing in quality MLPs is all about buying and owning for the longer term for income and gradual gains. And Enterprise has proven to be a longer-term performer. Source: Chart by Bloomberg The shares have returned 197.7% over the past trailing ten years for an average annual equivalent return of 11.5% per year. Plains GP Holdings (PAGP) Source: Chart by Bloomberg Plains GP Holdings (NYSE:PAGP) is the general partner of Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE:PAA). As the general partner it has the controlling interest and ownership in Plains All American. And PAA has a massive collection of terminals, storage and pipe for crude oil, natural gas and refined products. Plus it is one of the primary pipelines for core U.S. shale production in the Permian Basin. Revenue is strong with the most recent quarter showing over $9 billion. And that revenue has been gaining over the past five year by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The operating margin for the general partner is more modest at 5.9%, but the return on shareholders equity is ample at 16.5%. And cash is on hand and debts are low at only 31.9% of assets. Whats more, the stock is a big bargain as it is valued at a 90% discount to the trailing revenues of the company. Source: Chart by Bloomberg Given the focus on crude oil from the Permian, the stock market hasnt been too keen to provide a better valuation for the share. This shows in the price-to-revenue ratio of 0.1. And the shares are newer to the public market, so the trailing four years have only resulted in a return of 13.1%. The distributions are running at 36 cents per share for a yield of 8.3%. And the distributions are up by 20% over the past year. All of the distributions are fully shielded from current income tax liability, making them worth even more. Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP) Source: Chart by Bloomberg Refined products are where there are better stories. Marine fuel standard changes are providing opportunities for pipes, storage and marine terminals. And that also extends to diesel, gasoline and jet fuels. This is why Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) is a prime pick for me. MMP calls Tulsa, Oklahoma home, and it deals with refined products. Revenues continue to climb with the compound annual growth rate over the past five years running at 7.3%. And operating margins are a whopping 44.1%, which in turn delivers a return on equity of 40.2%. Source: Chart by Bloomberg Dividends provide a yield of 6.8% and the distributions are rising, with the five-year annual average running at 9.1%. And MMP has returned a positive 373.3% over the past ten years for an average annual equivalent return of 16.8%. ETF Alternative: Alerian MLP (AMLP) Source: Chart by Bloomberg For investors wanting to gain the income and longer-term growth of MLPs without K-1 tax forms, there is the Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEARCA:AMLP). This ETF has the three MLPs as primary synthetic holdings in the fund. The ETF hasnt been gaining investor attention because the MLP space has been challenged. This means AMLP is a bit of a bargain. But for those that do like to buy a bargain, youll be well paid. The dividend is running at 19.5 cents for a yield of 9.5%. And this ETF works for those seeking to avoid K-1s. Neil George was once an all-star bond trader, but now he works morning and night to steer readers away from traps and into safe, top-performing income investments. Neils new income program is a cash-generating machine one that can help you collect $208 every day the markets open. Neil does not have any holdings in the securities mentioned above. More From InvestorPlace The post 3 MLPs and a Rich ETF to Buy for Excellent Portfolio Padding appeared first on InvestorPlace. The conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on five of six charges of recruiting and grooming teenage girls for sexual encounters with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is not and should not be the end of the story. While Maxwell has been held accountable for her actions, the men who engaged in th Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed? You voted: A 24-year-old scrap trader was shot dead by assailants allegedly over a monetary dispute in Maulana Azad Colony here on Saturday, police said. The incident happened at 12.45 pm under Loni border police station area when the unidentified assailants fired four rounds at Salim killing him on the spot, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said. A fellow scrap dealer Shafeeq has been detained in connection with the death, the SP said. Salim's elder brother told police that his younger brother was shot dead as he had apparently asked Shafeeq to repay dues of Rs 4 lakh. Shafeeq used to purchase copper wires from Saleem but of late was trying to change to a different business, the brother said. Saleem used to constantly ask Shafeeq to clear the dues, he said. The brother has also levelled allegations against eight persons for their involvement in the killing. CCTV footage is being monitored to identify all the persons, the SP said. An FIR has not yet been lodged and all other offenders will be nabbed after an investigation, Jadaun added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 07, 2020] BSI Group issues ISO/IEC 27001:2013 standard certification, the worldwide recognized information security management certification, to Cheetah Mobile BEIJING, Feb. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, BSI Group (BSI), the internationally renowned certification body, issued the ISO/IEC 27001: 2013 information security management certification to Cheetah Mobile. It is the most authoritative information security management system certification in the industry. After long-term internal security construction and external review, this successful certification once again reflects Cheetah Mobile's firm commitment to protect user data security. Fulfilling our information security managment responsibilities. The ISO 27001 certification standard is recognized worldwide as the most authoritative, widely accepted, and most applied system certification standard in the field of information security. Mainly for the information security field, in addition to privacy, confidentiality, and information technology, it also includes many other aspects including legal and regulatory compliance, personnel management, assets management, etc., and puts forward very specific requirements and standards for each. Based on the ISO 27001 information security system, Cheetah Mobile has upgraded its user privacy and information security procedures, and regulatory policies, as well as established a complete set of information security systems in line with international standards for many important areas, including auditing systems, data security, asset management, personnel training, and workflows. BSI's design, development, and operation and maintenance services of Cheetah Mobile's PC-client and mobile-client apps, gaming software, live stream software, and intelligent-terminal embedded software (including robots and other products) all passed the review and achieved certification. Han Jianqi, Vice President of Cheetah Mobile's brand marketing, and Lin Peng, Director of BSI's security platform, attended the ISO 27001 security management system certification ceremony. Lin Peng stated in his address that "Cheetah Mobile has always attached great importance to information security and privacy protection. Now that we have successfully achieved this certification, we can better meet the needs and expectations of users, customers, partners, and regulatory agencies. Next, we hope to cooperate with organizations such as BSI to build a greener and healthier industrial ecology, bring the benefits of technology to society, and accelerate the process of more safely digitalizing the industry and implementing smart technologies." Edward Sun, Senior Vce President of Cheetah Mobile's brand marketing, stated that "Cheetah Mobile, as the leader among China's overseas internet companies, has created a deep foundation for security with our popular mobile application tools Cheetah Cleanup Master and Cheetah Security Master. We have also both made fruitful explorations and gained experience in terms of information security and user privacy. Cheetah Mobile is making strategic upgrades from the mobile internet to the AI-driven industrial Internet. Better information security and develop standards will also be maintained for our AI business to introduce a greener and healthier Industry ecology. Protecting data security and user privacy is the responsibility of Cheetah Mobile, as well as our obligation and commitment. We will work hard to implement the content regulated by ISO 27001, continuously improve and enhance the company's security management level and technical capabilities, further improve our core competitiveness, and achieve better results. So getting certification today is not an end, but a very good start." Quan Zhenjun, BSI's Director of Strategic Development in China, also delivered a speech: "Cheetah Mobile successfully passed the ISO 27001 internationally recognized certification, indicating that Cheetah Mobile's information security management capabilities meet the standard requirements. During the six-month collaboration, we observed Cheetah's positive attitude toward this work, as well as the emphasis and huge investment placed on information security. I hope that in the future, high-quality companies such as Cheetah Mobile will share their experience and knowledge in information security management around the world, lead the industry standard, and jointly create universal information security standards for the whole world. I believe that this review's excellent results can also drive the entire industry's process for information security protection and privacy protection compliance. This collaboration will only be a starting point. In the future, BSI is willing to cooperate with Cheetah Mobile in working toward standardization." Part of China's first round of overseas mobile internet companies, Cheetah Mobile has a flawless information security management system, and continues to invest in security. Through the implementation of various security technologies and management and control processes, the work of information security protection has been advanced to a first priority. The company established an independent first-level department for information security and privacy protection, set up a fitting information security management system, and implemented security controls based on infrastructure security, application security, data security, and personal privacy security to achieve enhanced security, identify security risks, improve defense capabilities, and achieve safe and controllable policy goals. In addition to the internal annual audit mechanisms, Cheetah Mobile is also engaged with an internationally recognized third-party auditing authority to review company operations within the framework of standards for international service organizations in order to constantly improve the company's measures in the field of information security. Cheetah Mobile's Security Platform Director Lin Peng also said, "Besides strictly adhering to information security standards, Cheetah Mobile continues to explore strengthening the user experience. More advanced features were recently introduced for our apps, such as Clean Master and Security Master, and we are committed to creating a conscientious product, in order to provide users with more convenient, easier to use, and more professional products and services." Cheetah Mobile's commitment to information security and data privacy is a long-standing precept. In the future, Cheetah Mobile will continue to cooperate with BSI and other relevant organizations to improve the information security and user privacy management standards of the internet and AI industries, and continue to guarantee Cheetah Mobile's diversified businesses worldwide growth. About BSI BSI is the business standards company that helps organizations all over the world make excellence a habit. For more than a century we have been challenging mediocrity and complacency to help embed excellence into the way people and products work. Working with over 84,000 clients across 193 countries, BSI is a truly international business with skills and experience across a number of sectors including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food, and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards Development and Knowledge Solutions, Assurance and Professional Services, BSI improves business performance to help clients grow sustainably, manage risk and ultimately be more resilient. Contact BSI Website:https://www.bsigroup.com/zh-CN/ Phone number: 400 - 005 - 0046 WeChat: BSI_China SOURCE BSI Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 23:17:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Promoted by the reforms by various regions in China, the local authorities' abilities to govern and serve the people have been significantly improved. Using big data technology, more efficient ways have been developed to solve problems in the public sphere, according to a report by Xinhua-run Outlook Weekly. KEEPING DATA BUSY, NOT PEOPLE "I never expected that filling out one piece of paperwork is all you would need to change your household registration status, obtain property ownership certificates and transfer schools," said Ge Xiaoju, who recently settled in eastern China's Zhejiang Province as a worker. It only took her a few days to go through the procedures, which she expected would take months. The convenience Ge enjoyed is the result of a reform conducted by Zhejiang to promote digital transformation and make sure that only one trip is needed for people to handle affairs with the authorities. An e-government service platform set up by Zhejiang Province has seen over 30 million registered users. On the platform, people can get access to government services concerning giving birth, school entrance, retirement, funeral and interment, starting businesses and investment, among others, with multiple departments coordinating with each other using the platform to provide more convenience. South China's Guangdong Province also set up a service platform that can integrate nearly 60 kinds of electronic certificates including ID cards, social security cards and driver licenses. By using the platform, residents can apply for certificates of no criminal record and obtain other services. BROAD PARTICIPATION Since 2018, Shanghai has been upgrading its system of "grid management" and has set up a city-level center for its digitized management, 16 district-level centers, 214 township-level centers and 5,902 neighborhood-level centers. In Shanghai's Jingan District, over 100,000 sensors have been installed for trash cans, fire exits, community gates and electric meter boxes, among other facilities, forming an Internet of Things system to gather data from the grassroots level and help make the district's governance more refined. "Big data has made it easier for all parties to communicate with each other, offering support for the people to express their opinions and for the government to release information," said Li Zhihong, a researcher with the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences. By using big data, social governance can become quantitative, making it more efficient to solve problems in the public sphere, Li said. TREND TOWARD SHARING In China, more and more local governments including those in Beijing, Shanghai and southwest Guizhou Province have launched open platforms for administrative data sharing. "Data sharing is premised on sophisticated urban management," said Wu Jincheng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology. Based on public administrative data sharing, Zhejiang is teaming up with neighboring cities and provinces including Shanghai, Jiangxi and Anhui to enable cross-regional marriage registration, household registration for newborns and student record transfer. The plan is workable given the IT infrastructure established by the Zhejiang provincial government, which includes a special cloud platform integrating more than 800 information systems across departments, as well as a public data platform gathering more than 20.7 billion items of categorized basic data. "The opening of the data will unleash tremendous potential," Hu Bin, an official with the Guizhou provincial center for digital administrative affairs, told Xinhua in front of a big screen in the provincial data commanding center. In 2019, Guizhou launched a similar cloud platform, a network integrating administrative services from the provincial level down to the village level and a data platform designed to realizing inter-regional and cross-department data use. "IT infrastructure building in departments at various levels has been planned in a unified manner," said Li Gang, deputy chief of the Big Data Development Administration of Guizhou, noting that the practice saves cost and lowers technical barriers hindering data mobility. A Nigerian man identified as Abdulrauf Alade Owolabi has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offence court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. Owolabi who was sentenced with an option of N250,000 as fine for being in possession of false documents and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $5,000. Following his arrest in connection to a case reported against him during an operation tagged Operation Rewired between the Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the convict was arraigned on a two-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Thursday, February 6, 2020. One of the counts reads That you, Abdulrauf Alade Owolabi, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, and with intent to defraud, represented yourself as Courtney Lopez and defrauded one John Howard, an American Citizen, an aggregate sum of $5,000 under the pretext that you are in love with him and made a promise of marriage, a representation you knew to be fraud and committed an offence contrary to Sections 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No: 14 of 2006. He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Share this: Based on Vatican discussions on the state of the Catholic Church, The Two Popes might initially seem a little short of Hollywood drama. But behind the scenes, intrigue stalks the movie, which has been shortlisted for three Oscars tonight. Its stars, Jonathan Pryce and Sir Anthony Hopkins, are up for best actor and best supporting actor respectively. Jonathan Pryce and Sir Anthony Hopkins are up for best actor and best supporting actor respectively But it is the nomination for best adapted screenplay which is causing consternation as missing from the citation is British writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce, despite his substantial contribution to the script. He was called in to help Anthony McCarten adapt his 2017 play The Pope for the screen, drawing on his detailed knowledge of Catholicism. Yet his name does not appear on the films official credits, apparently at the behest of producers Netflix, which means he will not be invited to the podium if the film wins. British writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Despite his substantial contribution to the script of Two Popes his name does not appear on the films official credits Last night the Writers Guild of America confirmed Cottrell-Boyce was eligible for a co-writing credit. But senior director of credits, Lesley Mackey, said: [Netflix] determines what they believe is a good-faith credit based on how the film was written. In this case they believed the credit was solely due to Mr McCarten. Mr Cottrell-Boyce could have chosen to protest that and ask us to arbitrate. That didnt happened. Mr Cottrell-Boyce was eligible but there was no protest. Cottrell-Boyce, who also worked with Danny Boyle on the opening celebrations of the 2012 London Olympics, was not available for comment yesterday, but a friend of the writer told The Mail on Sunday: Its all a bit confusing and rather disappointing. It doesnt seem that credit has been given where credits due. British newcomer Florence Pugh is up for best supporting actress for her role in Little Women Tonights awards are expected to be dominated by the epic war movie 1917, which is hot favourite to win best picture. Its British director Sam Mendes, who based the film on his grandfathers experiences in the trenches, is tipped to take the best director prize. Joker star Joaquin Phoenix is favourite to win best actor while Brad Pitt is expected to pick up the best supporting actor gong for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. British newcomer Florence Pugh is up for best supporting actress for her role in Little Women, although it is expected to go to Laura Dern for Marriage Story. Renee Zellweger is expected to win best actress for playing Judy Garland. Last night Oscar insiders revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been invited to present an award but had respectfully declined. They had been approached about presenting the best documentary Oscar, expected to be won by American Factory, a film about a Chinese-owned US car plant made by Michelle and Barack Obamas production company. A source said: They had been expected to attend but then the Obamas announced they werent coming because of security concerns so Meghan and Harry backed out too. ...and whos writing Brads speeches? He was the toast of last weekends Baftas with an hilarious acceptance speech that brought the house down even though he wasnt there to deliver it. But there is now speculation that Brad Pitt, not normally known for his quick wit, has hired a professional writer to craft his words. At the Baftas, co-star Margot Robbie read out his speech, saying he was naming his best supporting actor prize Harry because it is coming back to America with me. The speech also included a joke that made reference to both Brexit and his love life, when he said: Hey Britain, heard you just became single, welcome to the club. Brad Pitt, not normally known for his quick wit, has hired a professional writer to craft his words It is not the first witticism he has made on the podium this awards season. At the Golden Globes, he quipped that he would have shared the raft with his Once Upon A Time In Hollywood co-star Leonardo DiCaprio a dig at the stars fate at the end of Titanic. He also made a self-deprecating joke at the Screen Actors Guild Awards that he would put the statuette on my Tinder profile. While Pitts representatives declined to comment, a source who has worked with the star told The Mail on Sunday: Brads a nice guy but not the sharpest tool in the woodshed. When he started coming out with these slick acceptance speeches and great one-liners it was obvious to me someone else was probably writing the words. Good for him. Who wouldnt want to look and sound their best when they are up there getting an award? Brad can handle the looking good part so kudos to him if he has hired someone to help him sound witty and intelligent. Hopefully he has something prepared for tonight, when he is the clear favourite to win yet another best supporting actor gong at the Oscars. Extreme wind gusts, swirling snow and widespread flooding made travelling treacherous as a storm system moved into north-eastern United States, leaving rising water and at least five deaths in its wake across the south. More than 400,000 homes and businesses were without power yesterday after the US National Weather Service (NWS) warned of gusts up to 97kmh from Virginia into New England. Falling trees damaged homes and power lines in many places. North Carolina and Virginia, where hundreds of people had to be pulled from flooded homes, had the most customers without electricity. With water levels rising fast after up to 20cm of rain in just three days, the Tennessee Valley Authority said it began making controlled releases from some of its 49 dams in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. That could lead to more flooding downstream, authorities warned. Creek water was still raging Alabama's Buck's Pocket State Park, where a person was seen inside a car as it disappeared under the surface two days earlier. Rangers walked for kilometres above the swollen creek but found no trace of the vehicle. In the Tampa, Florida, area, tornadoes blew a tree on to a mobile home, trapping an elderly woman, and toppled a construction crane along an interstate highway. The dangerous winds formed the leading edge of a band of weather that stretched from Tennessee to Maine, blowing snow into northern states. As much as 10cm fell overnight in Ohio, contributing to car accidents in the Akron area, and the Ohio Department of Transportation urged people to make room for nearly 1,300 state crews working to improve the icy conditions. Up to 20cm of snow was predicted in West Virginia, and Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia, where he said more than 500 people had to be rescued from their homes as the waters rose. Citing floods, rain, snow, power outages or all of the above, many school districts cancelled classes in state after state. Authorities confirmed five storm-related fatalities, in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Anita Rembert was killed and her husband was injured, but their child and two grandchildren were unhurt as high winds destroyed two mobile homes near the town of Demopolis, Alabama. They emerged to a scene littered with plywood, insulation, broken trees and twisted metal. At least four other people died in vehicles that were hit by falling trees or lost control in heavy rain or floods. Authorities pleaded with motorists to avoid driving where they can't see the pavement. Storm Ciara is expected to make landfall in the United Kingdom this weekend, bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 80 miles per hour. Forecasters warn that Storm Ciara, named by the British Meteorological Office (Met Office) on Wednesday, could disrupt transport and damage buildings over the weekend. The Met Office has issued weather warnings for four consecutive days from Saturday to Tuesday. A yellow wind warningthe lowest of its three warningshas been given for areas in the northwest of the UK on Saturday. This extends to the whole of the UK on Sunday, along with a raised amber wind warning for the southeast of England. Frank Saunders, Met Office chief meteorologist, said, Storm Ciara will bring damaging winds and heavy rain across the UK this weekend and we have issued a range of severe weather warnings giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm. Saunders added that gales of up to 60 mph are expected inland, while stronger winds of 80 mph or more will hit coastal areas in England and Scotland. The Met Office has also warned that southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales will suffer heavy rain over the weekendwith between 60 and 80 mm of rain falling in some places. As a result of the weather warnings and the subsequent risk of debris railing onto the tracks, rail companies have advised passengers to check services before traveling. Nick King, network services director at Network Rail, which owns most of the UKs railways, said there would inevitably be some reduced services and speed restrictions in place. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity that saves lives at sea, warned people on its Twitter page to avoid exposed areas and breaking waves. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. After an organisation of warkaris (pilgrims) criticised Sharad Pawar for "promoting atheism" and urged the community members to stop inviting him to religious events, the NCP chief on Saturday hit back saying that there was no need for anybody's permission to visit temples. Rashtriya Warkari Parishad had recently issued a statement in which it had urged the community members to stop inviting today's "atheist rulers" for religious functions or for events like inaugurations or lectures. "Honourable Sharad Pawar saheb says there is no need of 'Ramayana'. He supports those who indulge in insult of gods, saints, Hindu religion...Therefore, warkaris should remain cautious in future and always remember that they are Hindu first," the Parishad had said. It also urged the warkari community to stop inviting those politicians to religious functions, inaugurations or to give lectures, who promote atheist thought. Addressing a gathering in Alandi, a popular pilgrim town in Pune district, Pawar said there was no need to seek anyone's permission to visit Lord Vitthal's temple in Pandharpur and pray there. "If you want to worship Lord Vitthal, you visit Pandharpur. If you want to worship Saint Dnyaneshwar and Saint Tukaram, then you visit Alandi and Dehu respectively. There is no need to take permission from anyone to visit these places," he said. "Therefore, if anyone says that you don't have permission to visit these places, then I think they don't understand the thought of the warkari sampraday (sect)," he said. "A true warkari will never take such a stand. I think we should ignore such things and follow our own choices," the former Union minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 61 number of coronavirus cases have been confirmed onboard the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship filled with thousands of passengers quarantined off a port near Tokyo prompting one stranded American to plead with President Trump for help. This was disclosed by the Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato at a news conference on Friday. He said another 41 people on the liner, operated by Carnival Japan Inc., had tested positive for the deadly illness, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 61. All of them have been removed from the ship and taken to local hospitals. Read Also: Coronavirus: WHO Identifies Nigeria, 12 Others As Top Priority Countries The Washington Post reported that eleven of those passengers are Americans. Twenty-eight of those infected aboard the ship are from Japan, seven from Australia, seven from Canada, three from Hong Kong, one from Argentina, Britain, New Zealand, and Taiwan, and one Filipino crew member, the Washington Post reported, citing Japanese media. One person is in serious condition, according to the report. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. 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System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04821505a8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048216b740)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04821505a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048216b740)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f048217b600)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048216b740)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048216b740)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482020e50)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04825b8610)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04825b8610)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 A new study published in The Royal Society of Medicine is one of multiple studies over the years that has emerged questioning the efficacy of the HPV vaccine. The researchers conducted an appraisal of published phase 2 and 3 efficacy trials in relation to the prevention of cervical cancer and their analysis showed the trials themselves generated significant uncertainties undermining claims of efficacy in the data they used. The researchers emphasized that it is still uncertain whether human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination prevents cervical cancer as trials were not designed to detect this outcome, which takes decades to develop. The researchers point out that the trials used to test the vaccine may have overestimated the efficacy of the vaccine. A part of the problem, as the study points out, is that its unknown as to whether certain infections would clear, or would persist and lead to cervical changes. This is a big point. Every year around the world, approximately 13.1/100,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, so the rate of incidence is quite low. Furthermore, the vaccination is offered to girls aged 9-13, as the study points out, before sexual debut and naive to HPV infection. The study reviewed 35 published papers relating to 12 randomized blinded non-HPV vaccine-controlled Phase 2 and 3 trials of Gardasil and Cervarix conducted from 2001 to 2016 assessing efficacy against cervical cancer and its precursors. Researchers also examined 39 meta-analyses and systematic reviews of HPV vaccine efficacy. No Evidence HPV Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer They emphasized after their examination that that none of the trials they examined were actually designed to determine efficacy or effectiveness of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer. In fact, there were no reported cases of cervical cancer in any of the trials. The time between first exposure to HPV and peak development of CIN3 is 710 years. It takes a further 10 years or so for cervical cancer to develop according to natural history studies. All trials had a mean length of follow-up of six or fewer years, apart from the HPV-023 extension with a mean follow-up of 8.9 years. The authors point out that it was even questionable whether or not the vaccine prevents pre-cancerous lesions. HPV Infections Often Clear On Their Own One issue is that cervical cancer takes many years to develop. Out of all the women who get an HPV infection, approximately 70 percent of those are going to clear that infection all by themselves. The body will take care of it, and you dont even have to detect it, within two years of the infection, approximately 90 percent of women will have cleared that HPV infection with no help. By three years, half of the remaining 10 percent will have progressed into a CIN 2 3 lesion, a pre-cancerous legion. So, approximately 5 percent of of the original 100 percent of women with an HPV infection will develop into a pre-cancerous lesion. So now, you have that small group of women who now have pre-cancerous lesions, so now lets look at those moving into actual cancer. What we know is that amongst women with CIN 3 lesions, which is a little bit more severe than CIN 2 lesions, it takes five years for approximately 20 percent of those to develop into cancer, if they do. Furthermore, it takes about 30 years for 40 percent of them to become cancer. The information above is why multiple studies have questioned the administration of the HPV vaccine. In a study published in Autoimmunity Reviews, the authors note that The decision to vaccinate with HPV vaccine is a personal decision, not one that must be made for public health. HPV is not a lethal disease, in 95 percent of the infections; and the other 5 percent are detectable and treatable in the precancerous state. So, one must ask themselves, What are the chances of a 9-13 year old girl getting an HPV infection? And what are the chances of that infection clearing itself? Furthermore, the vaccine only provides 5-10 years immunity, so when that 9 year old reaches the age of 19, or perhaps sooner, the immunity theyve received from a few, out of many types of HPV infections, is no longer there. There are more than 100 HPV infections, and only 12 of them are carcinogenic to humans. Furthermore, the idea that the HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, according to this recent study, is not a correct assumption, so one must ask themselves why is it marketed in that manner? Corroboration From Other Studies Again the main study of discussion in this article is complemented by many others that emphasize the same thing. For example, a study published in 2013 in Current Pharmaceutical Design carried out a review of HPV vaccine pre- and post-licensure trials to assess the evidence of their effectiveness and safety. They found that, HPV vaccine clinical trials design, and data interpretation of both efficacy and safety outcomes, were largely inadequate. Additionally, we note evidence of selective reporting of results from clinical trials (i.e., exclusion of vaccine efficacy figures related to study subgroups in which efficacy might be lower or even negative from peer-reviewed publications). Given this, the widespread optimism regarding HPV vaccines long-term benefits appears to rest on a number of unproven assumptions (or such which are at odds with factual evidence) and significant misinterpretation of available data. For example, the claim that HPV vaccination will result in approximately 70% reduction of cervical cancers is made despite the fact that the clinical trials data have not demonstrated to date that the vaccines have actually prevented a single case of cervical cancer (let alone cervical cancer death), nor that the current overly optimistic surrogate marker-based extrapolations are justified. Likewise, the notion that HPV vaccines have an impressive safety profile is only supported by highly flawed design of safety trials and is contrary to accumulating evidence from vaccine safety surveillance databases and case reports which continue to link HPV vaccination to serious adverse outcomes (including death and permanent disabilities). We thus conclude that further reduction of cervical cancers might be best achieved by optimizing cervical screening (which carries no such risks) and targeting other factors of the disease rather than by the reliance on vaccines with questionable efficacy and safety profiles. Is The HPV Vaccine 100% Safe? Given the information above, I would personally have a hard time justifying giving my daughter the HPV vaccine. The risk is very low for a young girl to develop cervical cancer, as you can see from the information provided above. Furthermore, the HPV vaccine is not completely safe for everybody. For example, after the HPV vaccine, a disabling syndrome of chronic neuropathic pain, fatigue, and autonomic dysfunction may manifest. In questionnaires from 45 individuals who experienced issues after HPV vaccination, Twenty-nine percent of the cases had immediate (within 24 h) post-vaccination illness onset. The most common presenting complaints were musculoskeletal pain (66%), fatigue (57%), headache (57%), dizziness/vertigo (43%), and paresthesias/allodynia (36%). Fifty-three percent of affected individuals fulfill the fibromyalgia criteriaAfter a mean period of 4.2 2.5 years post-vaccination, 93% of patients continue to have incapacitating symptoms and remain unable to attend school or work. A Study published in Clinical Rheumatology entitled Serious adverse events after HPV vaccination: a critical review of randomized and post-marketing case series also brings up concerns: HPV vaccine randomized trials were identified in PubMed. Safety data were extracted. Post-marketing case series describing HPV immunization adverse events were reviewed. Most HPV vaccine randomized trials did not use inert placebo in the control group. Two of the largest randomized trials found significantly more severe adverse events in the tested HPV vaccine arm of the study.Is The Aluminum In HPV Vaccines The Issue? A study published in Current Medical Chemistry states, Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical sciences understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. (source) Many scientists presented facts about vaccines and vaccine safety at the recent Global Health Vaccine Safety summit hosted by the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. An interesting point that caught my attention was made by Dr. Martin Howell Friede, Coordinator of Initiative For Vaccine Research at the World Health Organization. He brought up the topic of vaccine adjuvants like aluminum. In certain vaccines, without these adjuvants the vaccine simply doesnt work. Dr. Friede mentioned that there are clinical studies that blame adjuvants for adverse events seen as a result of administering vaccines, and how people in general often blame adverse reactions to vaccines being the result of the vaccine adjuvant. He mentioned aluminum specifically. He showed concern given the fact that without adjuvants, we are not going to have the next generation of vaccines. He also stated that, When we add an adjuvant, its because it is essential. We do not add adjuvants to vaccines because we want to do so, but when we add them it adds to the complexity. And I give courses every year on how do you develop vaccines and how do you make vaccines and the first lesson is, while you are making your vaccine, if you can avoid using an adjuvant, please do so. Lesson two is, if youre going to use an adjuvant, use one that has a history of safety, and lesson three is, if youre not going to do that, think very carefully. You can read more about that, and find links to the conference and its full coverage in this article I published about it a few weeks ago. In 2018, a paper published in The Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry found that almost 100 percent of the intramuscularly injected aluminum in mice as vaccine adjuvants was absorbed into the systemic circulation and traveled to different sites in the body such as the brain, the joints, and the spleen, where it accumulated and was retained post-vaccination. The researchers also found massive damage to motor neurons and behaviour abnormalities after injection. This study complimented and earlier study published in in 2015 that found the following: Evidence that aluminum-coated particles phagocytozed in the injected muscle and its draining lymph nodes can disseminate within phagocytes throughout the body and slowly accumulate in the brain further suggests that alum safety should be evaluated in the long term. When it comes to the HPV vaccine, there are multiple examples of injury. Here is one specific examples out of many you can read about more in depth. The Takeaway Its no secret that vaccines are not completely safe for everyone, its clearly not a one size fits all product, and thats evident by the fact that nearly $4 billion has been paid out to families of vaccine injured children via the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA). As astronomical as the monetary awards are, theyre even more alarming considering that only an estimated 1% of vaccine injuries are even reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). If the numbers from VAERS are correct only 1% of vaccine injuries are reported and only 1/3 of the petitions are compensated then up to 99% of vaccine injuries go unreported. Furthermore, vaccines are a liability-free product, thats part of the NCVIA. There is no incentive to make a safe product. Ask yourself, with all of this information out there, is it right to make vaccines mandatory? Its no secret that vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, not because people are lacking education, but the complete opposite. Its on the rise because more and more people are coming across information that does not resonate with them, and they are looking for answers. The community at large should not use terms like anti-vax or pro-vax. Neither should the word conspiracy be tossed around. This simply separates people when, at the end of the day, we all want the same thing and thats healthy children. Accordingly. the concerns of vaccine safety advocates should be addressed, acknowledged, and not ignored. Health officials have boarded a cruise ship in Taiwan to test holidaymakers for coronavirus. The SuperStar Aquarius had been on a four-day round-trip from Keelung, near Taipei, with more than 1,730 passengers on board. But it has been forced to turn back after being refused access to Naha, Okinawa, by Japanese authorities over coronavirus concerns. The SuperStar Aquarius had been on a four-day round-trip from Keelung, near Taipei, with more than 1,730 passengers on board Health officials have boarded the ship, which is owned by Hong Kong-based Star Cruises, to test the holidaymakers for coronavirus The ship, which is owned by Hong Kong-based Star Cruises, has been granted special permission to dock despite the government implementing a ban earlier in the week on all international cruises calling at the island. Taiwan Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said that the SuperStar Aquarius had been allowed to berth as around 90 per cent of the guests on board are from Taiwan. Among the rest of the guests are 18 Filipino passengers, three Malaysians, three Vietnamese, one South Korean, one Indonesian, one Burmese, one Singaporean and one Chinese, Star Cruises said. Both the guests and crew are now being screened for the fever. Mr Shih-chung, who also heads the Central Epidemic Command Centre, added that if anyone tests positive for coronavirus they will be treated in a local hospital. Pictured: Masked Taiwanese police officers guarding the SuperStar Aquarius It is thought that more than 40 passengers on the cruise liner have visited China in the past 30 days. Pictured: Officials quarantine the ship It is thought that more than 40 passengers on the cruise liner have visited China in the past 30 days. Mr Shih-chung, who also heads the Central Epidemic Command Centre, boarded the ship along with 25 medical workers to begin the screening process which he estimated would take around six hours. He added that if anyone tests positive for coronavirus they will be treated in a local hospital. The other passengers will be kept on the ship in quarantine to safeguard the health of people in Taiwan. The ship has been granted special permission to dock despite the government implementing a ban earlier in the week on all international cruises calling at the island. Pictured: Epidemic prevention workers boarding the ship Pupils from Dromtrasna NS showing off their work theyve done on the One Good Idea project which they will showcase in the Omniplex Limerick later this month It's been all go the past few weeks for the sixth class pupils in Dromtrasna N.S as they get ready to showcase their 'SEAI One Good Idea' project on climate change. The competition aims to encourage pupils to develop an awareness campaign to creatively make people aware of the simple changes that we can all make in our lives to help combat climate change. Two teams from the school were fortunate enough to be selected to progress to the next round which involves producing a one minute film to be shown in Omniplex Limerick later this month. The names of the two teams are Climate Kids and Biofulers. The 'Climate Kids' idea was inspired by climate activists which is very topical at the moment. They want to create a youth portal on the government's climate action website which contains child friendly information about the Climate action plan in Ireland. 'Team Biofulers' project involved researching bio-fuels as an alternative to fossil fuels an electric vehicles, with a particular interest in algae. Algae can grow in lots of places but what is interesting is that it can grow on waste water and clean it at the same time. If grown locally in open ponds for example it would not only be environmentally friendly but would also provide much needed employment and sustainability in our community. It was the only time that I wished Id had a mask, he said. So do masks really work? The answer is yes and no. Dr. Tierno said he had seen people wearing surgical masks on the subway and it was like having no mask at all. Air can seep in through the gaps. A cloth mask, too, provides little protection. Sometimes mask wearers cover only their mouths, leaving noses exposed. For most people, a mask is not necessary, he said. In February, the surgeon general urged the public to stop buying masks, warning that it wont help against the spread of the coronavirus but will take away important resources from health care professionals. Seriously people STOP BUYING MASKS! the surgeon general, Jerome M. Adams, said on Twitter. When one is needed mostly in a place where a lot of illnesses have been reported people should wear an N95 respirator, a heavy-duty mask fitted to the face that filters out 95 percent of smaller air particles. But, Dr. Tierno warned, it is a very tough mask to breathe through. Please! Wash your hands. This seems so simple that Trevor Noah recently made a joke about it on The Daily Show. Health professionals say washing hands with soap and water is the most effective line of defense against colds, flu and other illnesses. Just think about where your hands have been in the past 24 hours. Now, think about all the hands that have touched airplane tray tables and seatbelt buckles. If that doesnt give you pause, consider whether you bite your nails, touch your face or rub your eyes. The 10 dirtiest things are your fingers, Dr. Tierno said. WESTPORT Hoping to celebrate a popular and versatile instrument, as well as invite involvement with its nonprofit music program, the Suzuki Music School hosted its third annual Connecticut Guitar Festival this weekend. The Westport Library played home to a kickoff concert Friday night featuring several classical guitarists and other accompanists. According to the bank, although Cambodias growth is projected to slide to 7 percent, the country has remained a fast-growing economy in East Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, its export growth has continued to stay high despite a slight decrease due to falling external demand. A boat travels along the Mekong river as high-rise buildings are seen in the distance in Cambodia's Phnom Penh city (Photo: AFP) In the sphere of garment and footwear, the US has emerged as a more important market for Cambodian exports that increased 23.2 percent in 2018 as compared with the 21.4 percent in 2017. Meanwhile, the countrys total export value to the European Union (EU) surged 31.4 percent in 2018. Claire Hollweg, a senior economist for Cambodia, pointed out that the countrys construction activities are ongoing thanks to upbeat domestic demand and the tidal wave of investment. The tourism sector has also experienced an expansion. However, tourism in Siem Reap will need a boost as the province is experiencing a drop in the number of holidaymakers. Unfavourable weather conditions have also affected rice productivity. The livestock sector (cows, buffaloes and pigs) dropped 6.3 percent while the poultry sector (chicken and ducks) saw a rise of 5.3 percent in 2018. The WB has forecast that in 2020, Cambodias economy will remain strong thanks to high foreign reserves and government savings of more than 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The report, however, also points out a slowdown in such spheres as construction, garment and tourism this year./. A 40-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday for allegedly fatally stabbing his wife at their home in Hayward as their 11-year daughter watched, police and prosecutors said. The charge against Elmer Ugarte, 40, stems from the stabbing of his wife Maria Hernandez, 38, in the 24000 block of Willimet Way in Hayward, near Birchfield Park just east of Interstate Highway 880, at about 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Ugarte, who is a student according to jail records, was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in Alameda County Superior Court in Dublin. Ugarte stabbed Hernandez multiple times when she returned to their home on Tuesday evening, Hayward police Detective Jason Mosby wrote in a probable cause statement. Before Hernandez came home she phoned the couple's 11-year-old daughter to lock her bedroom door because Ugarte was intoxicated, Mosby said. Hernandez drove to the home with the couple's 12-year-old son but told him to stay in the car while she went inside, according to Mosby. When Hernandez went inside she told the daughter to get some belongings to go to her grandparents' house, Mosby wrote. But Ugarte called out to Hernandez and as she walked toward him he started stabbing her multiple times, Mosby said. Hernandez fell to the ground and Ugarte continued to stab her, according to Mosby. "The entire event was witnessed by the 11-year-old," Mosby wrote. Ugarte washed the knife and his hands and then fled in his vehicle, leaving his two children behind, according to Mosby. The 11-year-old daughter called police to report the stabbing and multiple officers who responded to the scene found Hernandez suffering from multiple stab wounds to her torso and she was pronounced dead at the scene, Mosby said. While Ugarte was on the run he called a family member and disclosed that he had killed Hernandez by stabbing her, Mosby wrote. Ugarte was arrested in Mountain View at 7:52 p.m. Tuesday. Police in San Jose are investigating the city's fourth homicide of the year after a man was fatally shot early Friday morning. The man turned up at a hospital about 4:40 a.m. with at least one gunshot wound, according to the San Jose Police Department. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Police believe the death is tied to a report of shots fired in the 1600 block Tully Road earlier Friday at 4:28 a.m. Police said they have no suspects in the shooting. A 76-year-old Oakland man missing since Monday has been found, police said Friday. Willie Benton, considered at-risk, was safely located and police thanked AC Transit for their help in finding him. The California Highway Patrol is investigating what appears to be a single-vehicle crash that left one person dead Friday morning south of Pleasanton. At about 8:15 a.m., CHP officers were called to an area near the intersection of Sunol Road and Castlewood Drive southwest of Pleasanton in unincorporated Alameda County, just west of Interstate 680, according to CHP spokesman Officer Tyler Hahn. "Right now it's unknown exactly what happened," Hahn said. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle, a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, on its roof with damage to the front end, suggesting it may have collided with one or more trees that line the roadway in that area before it came to a stop about 20 or 30 feet off the road, Hahn said. It's not clear when the car left the road or how long it was there before it was spotted by a passing motorist, but officers noted that the engine was cold by the time they arrived, according to Hahn. "As soon as it became light out and commuters started using that roadway, it was spotted pretty quickly," he said. The investigation is still underway and the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau was called to the scene. Police in Daly City are investigating a commercial theft that occurred last week at a Victoria's Secret store. On January 31 at 2:54 p.m., officers with the Daly City Police Department responded to a report of three subjects stealing more than $2,000 in merchandise from the store. The suspects took the merchandise and left the store without paying, police said. The first suspect is described as a black man in his 20s, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with an average build and wearing a blue jacket over a hooded sweatshirt and black shoes. The second suspect is described as a black woman in her early 20s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a slender build and wearing a yellow sweatshirt, blue pants and pink shoes. The third suspect is described as a black woman in her early 20s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with an average build and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and white shoes. An emergency medical technician student and BART police helped save a man from overdosing at the Civic Center BART Station in San Francisco on Monday, police said. Nicholas Stallcup was waiting for a friend to catch an 11:30 p.m. train from the Civic Center Station to the MacArthur Station when he descended the station stairwell to find a man on the floor, police said. The man was unresponsive and overdosing from opioids, so Stallcup started performing CPR to restore the man's breathing. Police said Stallcup found the man blue in the face, with his eyes rolling back, his breath almost gone and his pulse weakening. Stallcup, who just finished his third week of training at the City College of San Francisco to become an EMT, was able to perform CPR until the man gasped for air and his pulse returned. BART police then arrived at the scene and were able to administer two doses of the opioid antidote Narcan to the man, and he was ultimately transported to the hospital for treatment. A 38-year-old man fatally shot Thursday night at a Vallejo park is the city's first homicide this year, police said. Officers responded to the shooting shortly after 7 p.m. at Highlands Park on Regents Drive and found a man with at least one gunshot wound, according to a release from the Vallejo Police Department. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital and later died, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective J. Scott at (707) 648-4531 or Detective J. Caitham at (707) 648-4342. Police in Daly City arrested a suspect last week in connection with an armed robbery at a Macy's store. On Jan. 28 at 5 p.m., officers with the Daly City Police Department responded to a report of a robbery with a knife at a Macy's store. A loss prevention officer at the store reported he confronted a man in a fitting room for shoplifting, and the man pulled a knife and threatened to kill the loss prevention officer. The loss prevention officer backed away, the suspect told others to keep their distance, and the suspect fled the store via Southgate Avenue. A responding police officer stopped a SamsTram bus, and the suspect, identified as a 39-year-old San Francisco resident, was found on the bus. The suspect was taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of robbery, possession of methamphetamine and Fentanyl, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and on two outstanding warrants, police said. All lanes reopened nearly three hours after a gravel tractor-trailer overturned on its side on U.S. Highway 101 north of College Avenue Friday morning, the California Highway Patrol said. A sedan that was involved in the collision around 7:20 a.m. sustained major front-end damage, and the wreck caused unsafe gashes in the roadway and Caltrans planned to fill with concrete, the CHP said. All lanes reopened shortly before 10 a.m. The tow truck to remove the overturned trailer arrived at the scene around 9:15 a.m. 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. Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the American Declaration of Independence, had no doubt about the value of a free Press. Our liberty, he said, depends upon the freedom of the Press. Were it left to me to decide to choose between government without news-papers and newspapers without government, I would not hesitate to choose the latter. Coming from the greatest of the Founding Fathers of what would become the worlds greatest democracy, thats pretty powerful stuff. Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the American Declaration of Independence, had no doubt about the value of a free Press, writes JOHN HUMPHRYS For two tumultuous years, as a fledgling correspondent still in my 20s, I watched the most momentous battle for a free Press the United States has ever endured. Two young reporters, of whom nobody had ever heard outside their home town, took on the most powerful figure in the land and won. Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward became the most famous reporters in history, the heroes of Hollywood movies, the stuff of journalistic legend. Richard Nixon became the first President of the United States to be forced to resign in disgrace. Watergate became the mark against which every great scandal since has been judged. The suffix gate is now added routinely to the mundane and the momentous. Cummings doubtless watched closely as President Trump took down the liberal media, cosied up to the Right-wing Fox News and took control of his own social media, writes JOHN HUMPHRYS I had stood on the White House lawn 46 years ago watching Nixon board the presidential helicopter for the last time, reflecting on how the words of his historic predecessor had been vindicated. And Im writing about it now because the freedom of the Press is being questioned again not just in the United States but in this country, too. Surely not? Theres been no Watergate here. True, but what brought Nixon down was not the original laughable attempt by a gang of misguided idiots to harm the Democratic Party, but the way he tried to cover it up. When all else failed, he and his henchmen resorted to threatening the media specifically the Washington Post. And this is where there is a mildly worrying similarity. The Trump White House sees the mainstream media as the enemy just as the Nixon White House did. I attended many a press briefing in the West Wing, watching the ultimately fatal breakdown in trust between reporters and Ron Ziegler, Nixons powerful press secretary. One of the more colourful threats came from the Attorney General no less and concerned Katharine Graham, the publisher of the Washington Post. He warned that if she published a secret White House report shes gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer. But Graham was made of stern stuff. The report was published. Its pretty unlikely that even Dominic Cummings, the man so often described as Boris Johnsons evil genius, would sink to that vulgar level. But when people in power try to exert pressure on the media they have many weapons at their disposal. The BBC has been feeling it for some months now. You may not be too distressed that Boris Johnson has never been interviewed on Today as Prime Minister but it matters. Power must be held to account. All power. And one way of doing it is to ask questions of those who exercise it on our behalf. Ive probably done more political interviews than any other hack in the country, and sometimes I was too aggressive. But that doesnt mean we must now substitute a warm hug for a rabbit punch. Nor, God forbid, does it mean that the interview simply becomes another vehicle for the politician to deliver a party political broadcast. And nor should we meekly accept as a substitute for interviews the Prime Minister appearing on Facebook to answer carefully selected questions with carefully prepared answers. Thats the North Korean way of doing things. Richard Nixon became the first President of the United States to be forced to resign in disgrace, writes JOHN HUMPHRYS We know why Cummings is following this strategy. He wants radical change and he cant see a power bloc without wanting to smash it. Especially if its the BBC. He also seems genuinely to believe that his man does not get a fair hearing from the mainstream media. Lets not pretend that journalists are always scrupulously fair. One reason the most powerful correspondents in Washington treated Nixon with such contempt was that theyd worshipped his old enemy, JFK. They had turned a blind eye to Kennedys scandalous behaviour in the White House. Or Camelot as it was known. Nixon did some great things. He ended American involvement in the Vietnam war and opened the door to Communist China for starters. But they never forgave him for not being Kennedy. And now the White House and the Press are at war again. Cummings doubtless watched closely as President Trump took down the liberal media, cosied up to the Right-wing Fox News and took control of his own social media. His hardline approach has met with huge approval. Did anyone but the liberal media think impeachment was really on the cards? Wasnt it just wishful thinking that Trump would eventually go the way of Nixon? Fox gives far greater coverage to Boris Johnson than to other politicians and delights in the behaviour that made the British media so squeamish during the election. Its still at it. This week, Foxs website ran five surprising quotes from Boris Johnsons old news-paper columns. Among them: Voting Tory will cause your wife to have bigger breasts and increase your chances of owning a BMW M3. By contrast, the CNN website preferred to concentrate on the story of reporters being shut out of lobby briefings in London. Do voters care? Well, they werent exactly marching on Number 10 this week. Nor did they seem much fussed when the BBC and ITN refused to broadcast Johnsons address to the nation as the UK left the EU. Cummings had used a Downing Street crew to film it rather than a news broadcaster, so the BBC rather bizarrely used a producers voice speaking Johnsons words instead. Doubtless, BBC management was making a point, but why havent they taken a similarly robust stand over Johnson boycotting Today and Newsnight and ordering his senior ministers to do the same? They seem perfectly happy to afford Johnson et al the full sofa treatment on Breakfast Television. But perhaps the worm is beginning to turn. When the lobby came under attack, the BBC and ITV stood firm, just as rival news-papers did. Led by the Mails own political editor Jason Groves, they walked out of 10 Downing Street rather than be divided into lines of favourites and excluded. To an outsider this might look like an over-reaction. But it made my old hacks heart stir to see so many reporters, particularly those sympathetic towards the Johnson government, turn their back on his favours. The British media, beyond the BBC, is not much liked. Journalists can be boisterous and roguish and even irresponsible. Its not so long ago that Boris Johnson was one himself, arguing fiercely for the freedom of the Press. How sad if his legacy were to be censorship however limited it may seem. He would do well to remember the key words at the heart of Jeffersons declaration. Freedom of the Press, he said, cannot be limited without being lost. Its that word limited that matters. Vivaldi hotline that would tax a saint Heres a sentiment you dont often read in a national newspaper: three cheers for the Department of Work and Pensions! Or maybe that should be two. What that much-maligned government department has done is get rid of Vivaldi. Not that Ive anything against the great man. His Spring violin concerto has been immensely popular since he composed The Four Seasons three centuries ago. So popular, in fact, that the DWP used the opening 30 seconds on a loop to play to their clients when they were put on hold for a few minutes to calm them down. It might have worked except that it was usually much more than a few minutes. Sometimes it was approaching an hour. Heres a sentiment you dont often read in a national newspaper: three cheers for the Department of Work and Pensions! Or maybe that should be two, writes JOHN HUMPHRYS Unsurprising, then, that when the DWP did a survey, it showed the music was having the opposite effect on callers to the one intended. It was causing them anxiety. Pity it took the DWP so long to make that discovery. Fourteen years to be precise. But lets be fair: theyve now replaced Vivaldi with a mix of different, unnamed tracks, composed especially to relax the listener. I heard a few this week. They were ghastly. And I suspect that may be deliberate. The DWP like every other government department is pressed for cash. If you hear horrible music, what do you do? You hang up. The result? Fewer callers. Meaning fewer claims. And if this doesnt work? Well, then, they ratchet up the anxiety levels. Stand by for some film scores. Maybe Jaws. Or Psycho. That should do it. The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. on Girard Street, near the Columbia Heights neighborhood and the campus of Howard University. Police are searching for at least two men. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 11:44 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206349409 1 National Sibolga-bomb-blasts,verdict,victims,compensation,LPSK Free An East Jakarta court ordered the government on Wednesday to grant financial compensation to victims of a bomb attack that occurred in a residential area of Sibolga, North Sumatra, in March 2019, a victim-protection agency has announced. The compensation totaled Rp 1.7 billion (US$124,156) for the 152 victims. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) said it appreciated the verdict. LPSK deputy chair Susilaningtias said the compensation was awarded differently from other terror attack cases. Traditionally, compensation went towards repairing destroyed buildings, houses and electronics, she said. In the Sibolga case, the compensation will also cover living expenses for the victims, who have lost jobs and have suffered lasting effects from severe wounds sustained in the attacks. Initially, it was difficult for us to list and count the victims financial losses. However, we eventually found a way, hence the compensation, Susi said in a statement that was made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday. The Sibolga attack was the first case for the agencys newly formed compensation assessment team, she added. The agency formed the team to measure and assess financial losses for victims of crime, including terrorism. Especially in this case, the LPSK also received help from the Sibolga public works agency and the spatial agency, said Susi. The court also handed down guilty verdicts to Rinto Sugiarto, Asmar Husin, Azmil Khiar Simanjuntak, Heryanto Chaniago, Zulkarnaen Panggabean and Rosliana for their involvement in the attack. They received various sentences, from six years to life imprisonment. Donald Trump Jr has appeared to admit that two officials fired by his father lost their jobs because they had testified against him. Gordon Sondland revealed he had been recalled as US ambassador to the European Union on Friday evening, hours after Lt Col Alexander Vindman had been escorted from the White House, where he was working as an expert on Russia with the National Security Council. Both had given evidence to House committee hearings which led to Donald Trump being impeached on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress. Mr Trump was acquitted this week by Republican allies in the Senate, even though some admitted they did not dispute the allegations against him. Amid speculation that Mr Vindman was likely to be fired, the president had admitted he was unhappy with him but appeared to suggest the decision would be made by someone else, saying: "Well, I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not. They'll make that decision." Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Show all 26 1 /26 Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Donald Trump Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clintons deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Whistleblower Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Second Whistleblower The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rudy Giuliani Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trumps personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the presidents enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a shadow foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trumps behalf and has called himself a hero. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Volodymyr Zelensky The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the favour he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin. AFP/Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pence The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had one or two phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trumps actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rick Perry Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didnt even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Joe Biden The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trumps opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Bidens son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Hunter Biden Joe Bidens son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Bidens lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Barr The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trumps preoccupations with the Bidens and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a cover-up of a cover-up. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pompeo The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works. Gordon Sondland testified that Pompeo was "in the loop" and knew what was happening in Ukraine. Pompeo has been criticised for not standing up for diplomats under his command when they were publicly criticised by the president. AFP via Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Nancy Pelosi The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Adam Schiff Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a parody of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a four Pinocchios rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Taylor The most senior US diplomat in Ukraine and the former ambassador there. As one of the first two witnesses in the public impeachment hearings, Taylor dropped an early bombshell by revealing that one of his staff later identified as diplomat David Holmes overheard a phone conversation in which Donald Trump could be heard asking about investigations the very day after asking the Ukrainian president to investigate his political enemies. Taylor expressed his concern at reported plans to withhold US aid in return for political smears against Trumps opponents, saying: It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House. It's another thing, I thought, to leverage security assistance -- security assistance to a country at war, dependent on both the security assistance and the demonstration of support." Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal George Kent A state department official who appeared alongside William Taylor wearing a bow tie that was later mocked by the president. He accused Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trumps personal lawyer, of leading a campaign of lies against Marie Yovanovitch, who was forced out of her job as US ambassador to Ukraine for apparently standing in the way of efforts to smear Democrats. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Marie Yovanovitch One of the most striking witnesses to give evidence at the public hearings, the former US ambassador to Ukraine received a rare round of applause as she left the committee room after testifying. Canadian-born Yovanovitch was attacked on Twitter by Donald Trump while she was actually testifying, giving Democrats the chance to ask her to respond. She said she found the attack very intimidating. Trump had already threatened her in his 25 July phone call to the Ukrainian president saying: Shes going to go through some things. Yovanovitch said she was shocked, appalled and devastated by the threat and by the way she was forced out of her job without explanation. REUTERS Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Alexander Vindman A decorated Iraq War veteran and an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Lt Col Vindman began his evidence with an eye-catching statement about the freedoms America afforded him and his family to speak truth to power without fear of punishment. One of the few witnesses to have actually listened to Trumps 25 July call with the Ukrainian president, he said he found the conversation so inappropriate that he was compelled to report it to the White House counsel. Trump later mocked him for wearing his military uniform and insisting on being addressed by his rank. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Jennifer Williams A state department official acting as a Russia expert for vice-president Mike Pence, Ms Williams also listened in on the 25 July phone call. She testified that she found it unusual because it focused on domestic politics in terms of Trump asking a foreign leader to investigate his political opponents. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Kurt Volker The former special envoy to Ukraine was one of the few people giving evidence who was on the Republican witness list although what he had to say may not have been too helpful to their cause. He dismissed the idea that Joe Biden had done anything corrupt, a theory spun without evidence by the president and his allies. He said that he thought the US should be supporting Ukraines reforms and that the scheme to find dirt on Democrats did not serve the national interest. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Tim Morrison An expert on the National Security Council and another witness on the Republican list. He testified that he did not think the president had done anything illegal but admitted that he feared it would create a political storm if it became public. He said he believed the moving the record of the controversial 25 July phone call to a top security server had been an innocent mistake. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Gordon Sondland In explosive testimony, one of the men at the centre of the scandal got right to the point in his opening testimony: Was there a quid pro quo? Yes, said the US ambassador to the EU who was a prime mover in efforts in Ukraine to link the release of military aid with investigations into the presidents political opponents. He said that everyone knew what was going on, implicating vice-president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo. The effect of his evidence is perhaps best illustrated by the reaction of Mr Trump who went from calling Sondland a great American a few weeks earlier to claiming that he barely knew him. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Laura Cooper A Pentagon official, Cooper said Ukrainian officials knew that US aid was being withheld before it became public knowledge in August undermining a Republican argument that there cant have been a quid pro quo between aid and investigations if the Ukrainians didnt know that aid was being withheld. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Hale The third most senior official at the state department. Hale testified about the treatment of Marie Yovanovitch and the smear campaign that culminated in her being recalled from her posting as US ambassador to Ukraine. He said: I believe that she should have been able to stay at post and continue to do the outstanding work. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Fiona Hill Arguably the most confident and self-possessed of the witnesses in the public hearings phase, the Durham-born former NSC Russia expert began by warning Republicans not to keep repeating Kremlin-backed conspiracy theories. In a distinctive northeastern English accent, Dr Hill went on to describe how she had argued with Gordon Sondland about his interference in Ukraine matters until she realised that while she and her colleagues were focused on national security, Sondland was being involved in a domestic political errand. She said: I did say to him, Ambassador Sondland, Gordon, this is going to blow up. And here we are. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Holmes The Ukraine-based diplomat described being in a restaurant in Kiev with Gordon Sondland while the latter phoned Donald Trump. Holmes said he could hear the president on the other end of the line because his voice was so loud and distinctive and because Sondland had to hold the phone away from his ear asking about the investigations and whether the Ukrainian president would cooperate. REUTERS He did not specify who "they" referred to but his comments came against a background of suggestions that the NSC, which is thought to have about 180 staff, could be reduced in size. However, later on Friday, the president's oldest son, giving sarcastic thanks to the Democrat who led the impeachment inquiry against his father, tweeted: "Allow me a moment to thank -- and this may be a bit of a surprise -- Adam Schiff. "Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might had had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam! #FullOfSchiff." The tweet appeared to confirm that the firings of Mr Vindman and Mr Sondland were revenge for them giving evidence about the president's actions. Mr Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, was also fired from his position as a lawyer with the National Security Council, although he had no involvement in the impeachment process. Both are expected to return to the Department of Defence. No official reason has yet been given for them losing their previous jobs. The National Security Council does not comment on personnel matters. Alexander Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, said in a statement: "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. "Lt Col Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honour, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful." The decorated Iraq veteran had listened in to a 25 July call between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in which the US president pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to launch investigations into his Democratic political rivals. Mr Vindman testified that he was unsettled by the call. In an emotional statement at the end of his testimony he thanked his late father for bringing him and his family to America from the former Soviet Union, saying: "Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth." At another point, he said: "Here, right matters." Mr Sondland had been involved in efforts in Ukraine to press officials to investigate Mr Trump's political opponents. He told the impeachment hearings there had been a "quid pro quo", involving the withholding of US military aid until Ukraine announced the investigations the presidents wanted. Eric Trump says the government saves money by staying with Trump hotels He also claimed other top figures were "in the loop", including vice-president Mike Pence, secretary of state Mike Pompeo and chief of staff Mick Mulvaney Some of the other witnesses who gave evidence have already left their jobs, including former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who was recalled in May after apparently getting in the way of efforts to pressure officials in Kiev to investigate Mr Trump's rivals. In the 25 July phone call he appeared to threaten her, saying: "Well, she's going to go through some things." Ms Yovanovitch retired last month. Her replacement, William Taylor, vice-presidential aide Jennifer Williams and NSC offiial Tim Morrison all of whom also gave evidence have also left their posts. There is speculation that there may be more firings in the wake of Mr Trump's Senate acquittal. One name in the frame is Mr Mulvaney who did not testify, despite demands from the House of Representatives that he do so. However, he did admit at a White House press briefing that Mr Trump had withheld US military aid to Ukraine at least in part to pressure Kiev to investigate conspiracy theories about the Democratic Party, saying: "I have news for everybody: Get over it. There's going to be political influence in foreign policy." Despite Mr Trump's assertion that his job is safe for the time being, there are suggestions he will be replaced by Mark Meadows, a Trump loyalist currently serving as a Republican congressman for North Carolina. The Washington Post reports that the president has discussed firing Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community's inspector general, who passed on a complaint from a whistleblower about the 25 July phone call to Congress. The paper says another possible target is Victoria Coates, a deputy national security adviser. Last week the literary agents for a government official behind the Anonymous book A Warning which claims to come from a Trump insider who describes themselves as part of the "resistance" to the president denied that Dr Coates was the secret author. The US government saide Maria Perez, right, and her partner, Josue Hernandez, second from left, had 3 days to get out of the country with or without their 8-year-old daughter Jonayra, left, who is being treated in Philadelphia for metastatic cancer. Their son Josue Hernandez, Jr. is third from left. The family lives in Vineland, NJ. Read more An undocumented South Jersey couple who had been ordered to leave the United States with or without their cancer-stricken 8-year-old daughter has been granted permission to stay so the child can continue to receive lifesaving treatment in Philadelphia. Its a victory in a wider battle between parents of desperately sick children and the Trump administration, which has sought to remove family members to homelands that often provide mediocre medical care. Many mothers and fathers say that would mean certain death for their children. Maria Perez and Josue Hernandez of Vineland have been granted a two-year deferment from deportation, which allows them to continue to help their daughter, Jonayra, an American citizen by birth. The girl receives care at St. Christophers Hospital for Children, and the parents feared a forced return to Mexico would mean her death. She needs attention immediately when she is sick, and as her parents, we know exactly what she needs and how to anticipate when she will be ill after chemo, Perez said. Only a mom or dad can anticipate the medical needs of a child with cancer. Hernandez said, There was so much fear all time that we could be deported and with that the fear that my daughter would die if we had to leave. A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services declined to comment, saying the agency does not discuss individual cases. In mid-August, with no public notice, USCIS stopped accepting applications for whats called deferred action, ending a small humanitarian program that the government had run for decades. It allows undocumented families to live and work in the U.S. while fighting serious illnesses including leukemia, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy. READ MORE: Girl in the U.S. legally to fight cancer might see her mother deported Families were told to get out or face deportation sparking outrage from medical professionals, elected officials, and advocates. After a month of criticism, USCIS restored the program and began accepting applications anew. The government gets about 1,000 requests a year for deferred action, which grants no immigration status but shields families from removal. Perez and Hernandez were told by the government in August that they had 33 days to leave the U.S. Two weeks later, the ground shifted again: The federal government would examine their case because they had met newly established filing deadlines. Then came news that the program would be restored. Its thrilling that they were approved, said Audrey Allen, the familys Conshohocken-based attorney. They were just so relieved. Theyre really the only ones that can anticipate [Jonayras] needs. The grant of deferment, Allen said, opens avenues for the family to live a normal life, to obtain work permits and drivers licenses and openly participate in American society. Hernandez, 38, and Perez, 36, crossed the border in 1999, and today live in Vineland, a city of 61,000 where he works a construction job. Hernandez has had one contact with law enforcement: In 2006, he was stopped for driving under the influence, and entered the New Jersey Pretrial Intervention program, which offers an alternative to prosecution. Like Jonayra, her 12-year-old brother, Josue, who also has health problems, was born in the United States. READ MORE: Trump policy change threatens to drive families with sick children out of the United States Last February, Jonayra came home from school with a swollen right knee. Her parents took her to a doctor, who immediately referred the girl to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, which two days later transferred her to St. Christophers. Surgeons removed part of Jonayras back and neck, excising a mass nearly two inches wide. She was diagnosed with stage 4 large B cell lymphoma, which had metastasized to her liver, spleen, kidney, and bones. Jonayra didnt leave the hospital for three months. Today, after intensive chemotherapy, she is home and healing, able to return to school, but weary and confronting follow-up care. Technically, only the parents are in danger of deportation, but the children are fully dependent on their parents. Relapse rates are much higher in developing nations, even when patients get similar treatment, studies show. Hernandez and Perez never married, but have lived together as a family since the birth of their son in 2007. Jonayra was a healthy baby, but at age 5, her parents learned that she, like her brother, had immunodeficiency, specifically, common variable immune deficiency. CVID patients are more prone to develop certain forms of cancer. Especially with lymphoma, Perez said, it often comes back three or four times. If we are not in the United States, she will die. With deferred action we know we can be here to take care of our daughter and she will continue to get life-saving treatment. [February 07, 2020] PawnHub.io Becomes Hong Kong's First Fully Licensed Crypto Lender HONG KONG, Feb. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong-based crypto lending firm PawnHub.io is the first company of its type to obtain a license from the Government of Hong Kong. The firm will partner with a leading US-based cryptocurrency custodian, to provide insurance coverage for clients' Bitcoin assets of up to $100 million USD anywhere in the world. Crypto lending is fast becoming an integral part of the crypto ecosystem with PawnHub being the first regulated crypto lending firm to be based in Asia; home to some of the world's biggest cryptocurrency nations, such as South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Cryptocurrencies have been around for less than a decade, and major financial instruments that are commonplace with fiat, such as loans and bonds, are just getting started in the cryptocurrency economy. Statistics that support the rapid growth of the crypto lending industry are staggering. The world's largest asset classes, (the global stock market and residential real estate) are collectively worth an estimated $217 trillion, with global debt at $244 trillion, a debt-to-asset ratio of 80%. Cryptocurrencies, on the contrary, are under-leveraged. Cryptocurrencies have an estimated value of $200 billion, with a debt-to-asset ratio of only 2%. There is huge growth potential in the crypto lending landscape in the coming future. The innovative business model of PawnHub brings to the Bitcoin communiy the best of both worlds, by allowing them to retain ownership of their crypto assets while having immediate access to liquidity. Bitcoin is divisible, fungible, often instantly transferrable, with users able to use the loans to diversify into other assets such as real estate, and automobiles. With a unique position as the pioneer crypto lender in Asia, and as the first crypto lender to be fully licensed in Hong Kong, PawnHub is well-positioned to serve the evolving crypto space. PawnHub has streamlined its loan processes to be simple and transparent when it comes to fees. Its unique and innovative business proposition combined with its reputation as the first licensed crypto lender in its region, makes PawnHub one of the most trustworthy, and viable options for lenders to leverage their bitcoin for improved liquidity. Media Contact Info Contact Name: Dudley Contact Email: [email protected] To learn more about PawnHub.io visit - www.pawnhub.io Find PawnHub on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pawnhublimited Follow PawnHub on Twitter - https://twitter.com/PawnHubLimited Join the official PawnHub Telegram - https://t.me/pawnhubofficial PawnHub is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. About Bitcoin PR Buzz - Bitcoin PR Buzz has been proudly serving the PR and marketing needs of Bitcoin and digital currency tech start-ups for over 7 years. Get your own professional Bitcoin Press Release. Click here for more information about Bitcoin PR Buzz. Related Images image1.png View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pawnhubio-becomes-hong-kongs-first-fully-licensed-crypto-lender-301001221.html SOURCE PawnHub [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Around 14,000 of Infantino's baby carriers have been recalled because its buckle can break, and the child can fall out. These items were sold at Target and Amazon from November 15 to December 20, 2019, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a news release this week. The carriers were manufactured in China, and no injuries have been reported. If you have these popular baby carriers, you can return it and get a free replacement. Go Forward 4-in-1 Evolved Ergonomic Carrier - lot code: 2018 0619 Go Forward 4-in-1 Evolved Ergonomic Carrier - lot code: 2018 0719 Flip Front2back Carrier - lot code 2018 0719 Up Close Newborn Carrier - lot code 2018 0719 "The front facing infant carriers are cotton with a front padded pouch. The carriers have a black body and black straps or a gray body and black straps," the US Consumer Product Safety Commission described the product. You can find the code sewn into the inside of the carrier. Other similar products were not affected by this recall. Consumers can call Infantino at 1-800-840-4916, email the company at Recall@infantino.com or go online to www.infantino.com and click on Recalls for more information. In one of the pictures, Kamya can be seen flaunting her toned body in a bikini. Along with the picture, the 40-year-old actress wrote, My body is my canvas, each mark tells a story and reminds me how Im braver than what caused it, each dot which at some point I may have tried to hide as a silly conscious younger self and the ever-changing pounds on me depending on my love for my baby and my love for food! I m proud of and own my canvas and cant wait to fill it with the brushes of my desires in the years to come (sic)." (Image: Instagram) file-20200206-43084-jm3jye.jpg Before machines can search for privacy violations, they need to understand the rules. Imilian/iStock/Getty Images Plus Helping machines understand regulations file-20200131-41541-11yjvh8.jpg An example of a simple knowledge graph. Karuna Pande Joshi, CC BY-ND Extracting the terms and rules file-20200114-103959-wfrfz1.jpg The researchers application automatically extracted Deontic rules, such as permissions and obligations, from two privacy regulations. Entities involved in the rules are highlighted in yellow. Modal words that help identify whether a rule is a permission, prohibition or obligation are highlighted in blue. Gray indicates the temporal or time-based aspect of the rule. Karuna Pande Joshi, CC BY-ND You have permission to drive. But to drive, you are obligated to get a drivers license. You are prohibited from speeding (and will be punished if you do so). You can park in areas where you have the dispensation to do so (such as paid parking, metered parking or open areas not near a fire hydrant). file-20200130-41532-1s7gk6i.jpg A knowledge graph for GDPR regulations. Karuna Pande Joshi, CC BY-ND Youre trailing bits of personal data such as credit card numbers, shopping preferences and which news articles you read as you travel around the internet. Large internet companies make money off this kind of personal information by sharing it with their subsidiaries and third parties. Public concern over online privacy has led to laws designed to control who gets that data and how they can use it.The battle is ongoing. Democrats in the U.S. Senate recently introduced a bill that includes penalties for tech companies that mishandle users personal data. That law would join a long list of rules and regulations worldwide, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard that regulates online credit card transactions, the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation , the California Consumer Privacy Act that went into effect in January, and the U.S. Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act Internet companies must adhere to these regulations or risk expensive lawsuits or government sanctions , such as the Federal Trade Commissions recent US$5 billion fine imposed on Facebook.But it is technically challenging to determine in real time whether a privacy violation has occurred, an issue that is becoming even more problematic as internet data moves to extreme scale . To make sure their systems comply, companies rely on human experts to interpret the laws a complex and time-consuming task for organizations that constantly launch and update services. My research group at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has developed novel technologies for machines to understand data privacy laws and enforce compliance with them using artificial intelligence. These technologies will enable companies to make sure their services comply with privacy laws and also help governments identify in real time those companies that violate consumers privacy rights.Governments generate online privacy regulations as plain text documents that are easy for humans to read but difficult for machines to interpret. As a result, the regulations need to be manually examined to ensure that no rules are being broken when a citizens private data is analyzed or shared. This affects companies that now have to comply with a forest of regulations Rules and regulations often are ambiguous by design because societies want flexibility in implementing them. Subjective concepts such as good and bad vary among cultures and over time, so laws are drafted in general or vague terms to allow scope for future modifications. Machines cant process this vagueness they operate in 1s and 0s so they cannot understand privacy the way humans do. Machines need specific instructions to understand the knowledge on which a regulation is based.One way to help machines understand an abstract concept is by building an ontology, or a graph representing the knowledge of that concept. Borrowing the concepts of ontology from philosphy , new computer languages, such as OWL , have been developed in AI. These languages can define concepts and categories in a subject area or domain, show their properties and show the relations among them. Ontologies are sometimes called knowledge graphs , because they are stored in graphlike structures.When my colleagues and I began looking at the challenge of making privacy regulations understandable by machines, we determined that the first step would be to capture all the key knowledge in these laws and create knowledge graphs to store it.The key knowledge in the regulations consists of three parts.First, there are terms of art: words or phrases that have precise definitions within a law. They help to identify the entity that the regulation describes and allow us to describe its roles and responsibilities in a language that computers can understand. For example, from the EUs General Data Protection Regulation, we extracted terms of art such as Consumers and Providers and Fines and Enforcement.Next, we identified Deontic rules: sentences or phrases that provide us with philosophical modal logic , which deals with deductive behavior. Deontic (or moral) rules include sentences describing duties or obligations and mainly fall into four categories. Permissions define the rights of an entity/actor. Obligations define the responsibilities of an entity/actor. Prohibitions are conditions or actions that are not allowed. Dispensations are optional or nonmandatory statements.To explain this with a simple example, consider the following:Some of these rules apply to everyone uniformly in all conditions; while others may apply partially, to only one entity or based on conditions agreed to by everyone.Similar rules that describe dos and don'ts apply to online personal data. There are permissions and prohibitions to prevent data breaches. There are obligations on the companies storing the data to ensure its safety. And there are dispensations made for vulnerable demographics such as minors.My group developed techniques to automatically extract these rules from the regulations and save them in a knowledge graph.Thirdly, we also had to figure out how to include the cross references that are often used in legal regulations to reference text in another section of the regulation or in a separate document. These are important knowledge elements that should also be stored in the knowledge graph.Rules in place, scanning for complianceAfter defining all the key entities, properties, relations, rules and policies of a data privacy law in a knowledge graph, my colleagues and I can create applications that can reason about the data privacy rules using these knowledge graphs.These applications can significantly reduce the time it will take companies to determine whether they are complying with the data protection regulations. They can also help regulators monitor data audit trails to determine whether companies they oversee are complying with the rules.This technology can also help individuals get a quick snapshot of their rights and responsibilities with respect to the private data they share with companies. Once machines can quickly interpret long, complex privacy policies, people will be able to automate many mundane compliance activities that are done manually today. They may also be able to make those policies more understandable to consumers. Normally, new cars are launched on glitzy motor show stages, or at carefully choreographed events taking place in huge convention centres, or maybe the odd stately home. Not so for Subaru. Its new Impreza e-Boxer hybrid is, arguably, one of its most important new cars in several years, certainly of this year, and yet its reveal took place in entirely prosaic circumstances. Not for Subaru the glamour of a major motor show, and there were certainly no scantily-clad models - the temperature of the snow-covered forest, near Rovaniemi in Finland, would have triggered multiple cases of hypothermia in that case. No, the Impreza hybrid was simply standing on ground covered in packed snow, in a small courtyard amid the trees that surround a series of Arctic test tracks and off-road courses. The cover was, equally simply, removed, and there it was. A shiny new car, and not an ounce of glamour about the event. To be honest, that's a very Subaru way of doing things, and as is so often the case concerning the Japanese car maker, it felt rather refreshing and free of fuss. As anyone who's owned or driven a previous Subaru will know, they are usually free of the notions of some other car makers, but they work; they feel good (often great) to drive; and their owners love them. Who, then, are we to argue with the venue and nature of this reveal? Given the fact that Subaru is part-owned by Toyota these days, you'll be expecting this to be a plug-and-play version of a Toyota hybrid. But it's not, and indeed Subaru people are insistent that the company is not now and never will be a subsidiary of Toyota. Toyota owns a percentage of Subaru, and Subaru owns a percentage of Toyota. The two companies work together, but they are independent of one another. Of course, given the connection, it would have been daft of Subaru not to lean on Toyota for its hybrid expertise and you can see the connections in the specification. As with a Toyota hybrid system, the Impreza e-Boxer combines petrol engine and electric motor, driving through a CVT automatic transmission, with a compact stack of batteries under the boot floor. There, the similarities disappear. Subaru, of course, uses its own engine - a 2.0-litre, direct injection flat-four 'Boxer' petrol unit, which has an obvious lineage with the company's older units, but which is said to be 80 per cent new in this configuration. The permanent four-wheel drive is also purely mechanical (Toyota, by contrast, places an electric motor directly on the rear axle of hybrid models if it wants to offer a four-wheel-drive version. Subaru is, again, dogged on this point - it says it "doesn't believe in on-demand four-wheel-drive systems." Such doggedness once again makes the Impreza almost uniquely rugged amongst hatchbacks, and the system has standard torque-vectoring, so that it can actively send power to an individual wheel when needed, rather than simply braking a spinning wheel. Added to the engine is a 12kW electric motor, fed by a compact lithium-ion battery pack under the boot floor. The total power output is 150hp, and the engine makes 194Nm by itself. Subaru has not yet given us a system torque figure. Nor, indeed, has it given us a fuel economy or CO 2 figure. The WLTP figure for the same powertrain in the slightly heavier Subaru XV crossover should give us a clue - it records 7.9 litres per 100km and 180g/km of CO 2 . Thankfully, for now, the XV, its Forester cousin and the Impreza will be taxed on the older, NEDC2 figure. For the XV that's 149g/km, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the Impreza to dip down to around 140g/km and a Band B2 tax cost of 280. Subaru claims that it's ten per cent more fuel efficient than the standard car. The hybrid gets some subtle styling tweaks compared to the regular hatch - new lights and bumpers front and rear, and some tasty new ten-spoke alloy wheels. It also comes, as standard, with Subaru's binocular-vision 'EyeSight' camera system, which looks after emergency automated braking (which now also works in reverse), lane-keeping steering and adaptive cruise control. It also, noticeably, failed to be foxed by Finnish conditions, which is a rarity for such camera-based systems. The Impreza is also hugely safe, and has been awarded the highest score ever in the Japanese NCAP crash tests. We can't tell you yet what the Impreza hybrid is like to drive. The cars that Subaru had brought along to its 'Snow Days 2020' event in Finland were pre-production models and off-limits to nosey journalists. There was the option of a passenger ride, though, and while these things are usually less than thoroughly informative, we did leap at the chance - not least because our assigned driver was Finnish rally star, and nowadays rally driver trainer, Jarkko Miettinen. This was not going to be some careful amble around the block... Indeed, Subaru has carved out a long, sinuous route between the trees and the snowbanks, and Jarkko got stuck in as only a Finnish rally driver with studded tyres and four-wheel drive can - at maximum attack levels. There definitely seems to be much better thrust in the Impreza hybrid than in the disappointing petrol-only 1.6-litre version that we've previously tested. The 'Lineartronic' CVT transmission comes with paddle shifts in this hybrid, and Jarkko made full use of them, wringing every last drop of performance from the screaming flat-four. It doesn't quite feel hot-hatch quick, but on packed snow and driving through studded tyres, it sure as heck felt fast enough. Of course Jarkko was not taking a classical cornering line. Instead, he was tucking the nose tight into every apex and then, using a combination of left-foot braking and judicious flattening of the throttle, was carving broad arcs through the snow with the rear tyres' studs. The effect was as balletic as it was ballistic, and proved - as much as can be felt from the wrong side of the car - that Subaru has certainly not forgotten how to tune a chassis and steering to an enthusiast's desires. The Impreza hybrid won't arrive in Ireland until April, and Subaru Ireland isn't talking about prices for it as yet (although it's almost certainly going to be more than the 25,995 asked for the 1.6 Impreza). One has apparently already been sold, sight-unseen, proving once again that Subaru's loyal customer base is prepared to take as read that the car will be to their taste. It'll be a critical car in Subaru's moves to lower-carbon motoring, and the third hybrid model - alongside the XV and Forester - that the brand will launch in the space of 12 months. A fully-electric crossover is also being developed, in co-operation with Toyota. Subaru's rallying days are now, sadly, long since behind it, but carving those curves around a forest stage in snowy Finland, you can still feel that past - that wonderful, exciting, past - reaching out to touch the future. Lufthansa flies direct to China from its hub in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa via Getty Images) German flag carrier Lufthansa said it will suspend all flights between Germany and China from today until 9th February. Lufthansa-owned Swiss and Austrian Airlines will also cancel flights to and from China. The three airlines will fly once more to their Chinese destinations to allow passengers to take booked flights and bring crew in China back, according to a Lufthansa statement. It will continue to fly to Hong Kong. Several major airlines, including British Airways, have suspended or reduced flights to and from China as the number of cases of coronavirus, and deaths from the illness, continue to grow. US-based United Airlines said it was also cancelling flights due to a sharp drop in bookings. READ MORE: British Airways suspends China flights over coronavirus outbreak The German government said on Wednesday that it is planning to evacuate around 100 German citizens out of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the coronavirus originated in the coming days. A Federal Health Ministry spokesperson told Bild that all affected people will be accommodated in an isolation station for 14 days after landing [in Germany] without any symptoms of illness." Lufthansa said today that there was a suspected coronavirus case on board one of its planes from Frankfurt to Nanjing on Wednesday. Passengers sitting near the man believed to be infected, as well as cabin crew were examined upon landing. Germany has so far confirmed four cases of people with coronavirus, all of whom are stabile, according to Bavarian health minister Melanie Huml. READ MORE: Germany confirms three more coronavirus cases The first coronavirus case, reported on Monday, is a 33-year-old German man who works at automotive-supplier Webasto. He contracted the virus from a Chinese co-worker, who had come over from Shanghai to the Bavaria-based Webasto company office for a seminar. She first reported feeling ill on the plane back to China, and was confirmed as having corona shortly after she arrived back. Story continues The German patient was Europes first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus outside of Asia. The virus has killed more than 130 people in China so far, and infected around 6,000. It has spread to 13 other countries, including the US, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan. READ MORE: How coronavirus outbreak is hitting companies around the world A man who talked to Townsend after the crash outside the school said he was talking to himself and said, I just lost my son. Mashburn said Friday that theres no evidence the crash was intentional. A Bell 406 helicopter with three passengers aboard crashed in the Russian region of Tatarstan, a deputy spokesperson for the Volga Transport Prosecutors Office said, TASS reported. The rescuers cannot land at the crash site due to a lack of any adequate space for landing. One survivor can be seen from the air, while the fate of the rest people is not immediately known, Maya Ivanova said. "The Bell 406 [helicopter] with three people on board [crashed] outside Laishevo. One of the people is definitely alive, as he can be seen from the rescuers helicopter. The fate of the others is unknown. The rescue helicopter is unable to land because of the forest. The Volga Transport Prosecutors Office set up an inquiry into the breach of the flight safety legislation," she said. Boris Johnson is planning to bring in a new law that will take power away from the head of the NHS and give it to Downing Street, it has been claimed. Staff at No10 are concerned that NHS England's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens wields too much power over the health service. Mr Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings believes current legislation allows Sir Simon too much freedom and restricts the Government's ability to tweak the healthcare system as it sees fit, reports The Times. A new law due to come into effect next year will mean Sir Simon is forced to obey ministers' orders, which they hope will speed up changes they want to implement. The changes in the NHS's power structure are among a wider set of reforms dreamed up by the Prime Minister and his staff. Boris Johnson's staff (he is pictured left) at No10 are concerned that NHS England's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens (right) wields too much power over the health service Mr Johnson has been under increasing pressure to deliver results when it comes to healthcare after winning the winter election and achieving Brexit on January 31. One of his plans will see each hospital and GP surgery in England absorbed into separate and legally independent local care groups. The idea has been slammed by NHS executives who claim it is an unnecessary distraction from the desperate bid to reducing A&E and cancer patient waiting times. NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens is paid a six-figure salary and was appointed head of the NHS in April 2014. Mr Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings (pictured outside Downing Street last month) believes current legislation allows Sir Simon too much freedom and restricts the Government's ability to tweak the English healthcare system In his role, he is directly accountable to the Government for the management of 120billion of annual funding. He has known Boris Johnson since they were studied together at Oxford University. Officials told The Times Mr Johnson is not planning on waging a personal feud with Sir Simon, but has simply instructed Department of Health staff to 'be more assertive' with NHS officials after the election. Sir Simon hit the headlines last month when he slammed American actress Gwyneth Paltrow for her Goop 'wellness products'. Paltrow's brand has repeatedly come under fire for selling costly and controversial products, such as vaginal jade eggs and a 'vampire repellent' spray to 'conjure up positivity'. Sir Simon said consumers are risking their health and wasting their money by buying into 'too-good-to-be-true remedies' from the likes of Paltrow. He said: 'Myths and misinformation have been put on steroids by the availability of misleading claims online. 'Gwyneth Paltrow's brand peddles 'psychic vampire repellent' ($27); says 'chemical sunscreen is a bad idea'; and promotes colonic irrigation and DIY coffee enema machines, despite them carrying considerable risks to health and NHS advice clearly stating there is 'no scientific evidence to suggest there are any health benefits associated with colonic irrigation'. The health chief also recently warned the NHS faces a climate emergency and vowed to set a 'practical, evidence-based and ambitious date' for the NHS to reach net zero. This will include re-examining transport and machine emissions and using new technology to make as many as 30million outpatient appointments redundant nationwide, sparing patients thousands of unnecessary trips to and from hospital. I was shot in a church by a man whom I had never previously met. Three weeks earlier, my shooter aimed a gun at his sister and threatened to shoot her. She wrestled the gun away from her brother, and called the police. The police came, took the gun, and asked her if she wanted to press charges. It was her brother so she said no. The police handed the gun back to him and left. That same man fired a bullet while running towards me, shouting, and at point-blank range as I turned away that entered my spinal cord and tore through my vertebrae and nerves, causing irreparable damage. After hours of surgery and years of rehabilitation, Im lucky to be alive today but too many others are not. As grateful as I am to be alive, Ive had to overcome so many obstacles. I shouldnt have had to relearn how to walk. I shouldnt have had to leave my career as a veterinarian. I shouldnt have spent the past 28 years in constant pain. Ive persevered because of one sad reality: the 100 Americans who are shot and killed each day in this country, along with the hundreds more who are wounded, will never get the same chance. I have no issues with responsible gun ownership. My father served in World War II, my husband served in Vietnam, I grew up with guns in the house, and my children know how to safely handle firearms. What I have a problem with is guns in the wrong hands. This is about common-sense gun safety measures that save lives measures that could have prevented my shooting and helped protect so many others. Two laws, if enacted, could make Pennsylvania drastically safer for families and children living here. Red flag laws allow loved ones and law enforcement to stop gun violence before it happens by temporarily preventing someone in crisis from accessing firearms. Its this law that wouldve allowed my shooters sister to get the gun out of his hands before he shot me. Comprehensive background check laws, including all guns sold in private sales, make sure that guns dont end up in the hands of people who shouldnt have them people with felony convictions, fugitives and other people prohibited from possessing guns. Pennsylvania has enacted neither law. Beyond those pieces of legislation, we need to address the long-term financial and emotional burden that survivors of gun violence face. My family went back to one earned income because the level of pain I face escalated so high on rainy days, I couldnt focus on work. The hospital bills, the career disruption, the lingering trauma it all adds up, and it becomes another price that survivors of gun violence pay. It doesnt have to be that way. Right now, our state has access to millions of dollars of federal funding dispersed by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) reserve. These funds can go directly to survivors to help with reimbursement, or to cities, hospitals, and community organizations in Pennsylvania to help survivors and prevent future violence. We already have so many important groups in our state that are helping survivors recover from trauma that no one should have to experience. Pennsylvania should use VOCA funds to support survivors and to expand vital victim services that can interrupt the cycles of violence in our communities. For victims and survivors throughout the state, we must do more. As a country, we are a nation of survivors, and this week, during National Gun Violence Survivors Week, Ill share my story because enough is enough. There are countless Americans like me, each with our own stories of how gun violence has shattered our lives. Every story deserves to be heard. Every voice telling their story has power. And when we share our stories when we keep the spotlight on how gun violence affects each and every one of us we can use our power to create meaningful change. Starr is a member of the Everytown Survivor Network and an active volunteer with her local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, as well as with GunSenseUs in Chester County. On Friday, a Brigham and Womens Hospital employee was shot after police responded to an active shooter incident. The 49-year-old hospital valet, whose name has not yet been released, is now in a serious but stable condition. Our valet colleague is being cared for by our clinical teams and is in serious but stable condition. His family members have expressed gratitude for our communitys care of their loved one, the hospital tweeted. "As they focus on his recovery, they have requested privacy. The shooter was identified by the Norfolk district attorneys office as 41-year-old Mattapan resident Juston Root. Authorities responded shortly after 9:20 a.m. for a report of a person with a gun. A Boston police official said that a suspect pulled out and pointed directly at the responding officers what appeared to be a firearm. Root was later was shot and killed by police after a car chase that started at a Boston hospital, where the valet was injured, and ended on Route 9 in Brookline on Friday. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 00:44:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Palestinian protesters burn tires during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Feb. 7, 2020. A Palestinian man was killed on Friday and dozens were injured during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, medics and eyewitnesses said. (Xinhua/Ayman Nobani) RAMALLAH/GAZA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was killed on Friday and dozens were injured during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, medics and eyewitnesses said. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a short text message that Badder Nafla, 19, died after wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire during clashes in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated on Friday afternoon in several West Bank cities and villages in rejection to the new U.S. plan for peace in the Middle East, also known as "the Deal of the Century." The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a press statement that over 40 Palestinians were injured on Friday in the clashes with Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas, rubber-coated metal bullets and live ammunition at the demonstrators. Israeli-Palestinian tension has been growing over the past three days. The Palestinian health ministry said four Palestinians have been killed and dozens were injured in the West Bank since Wednesday. Palestinian Authority officials accused Israel earlier on Friday of using the U.S. peace plan "to increase its assaults on the Palestinian people, their lands and their holy sites." Great St. Louis, the nonprofit connected to libertarian megadonor Rex Sinquefield, filed an update with the Missouri secretary of state over the summer: In August, it disclosed that longtime Democratic operative Michael Kelley, of the Kelley Group and Show Me Victories, sits on its board. Kelley ran former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stengers campaign and is currently working for St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons reelection effort. Great St. Louis donated $700,000 to Stengers political efforts in 2018, including some donations that paid Show Me Victories. But Kelley said in an interview that he joined Great St. Louis in August 2019 and was not involved in the hundreds of thousands of dollars the nonprofit donated to Stengers political efforts in 2018. Kelley said he was asked to be on the board and that Great St. Louis has supported regional issues he agrees with, particularly as it relates to public safety. The first donation from Great St. Louis tied to Stengers efforts was $100,000 to repay a debt to Show Me Victories held by a campaign fund that supported Prop P, the 2017 sales tax increase for county police. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Amid bright sunshine and early morning chill, an estimated 15.69 per cent of 1.47 crore eligible voters cast their votes till noon on Saturday in the election for the 70-member Delhi Assembly seats. The polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security with long queues of people reported at several polling stations. There are 672 candidates in the fray to elect a new government. The estimated turnout for North East Delhi till noon was 19.85 per cent, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout App. Area-wise, East Delhi reported 17.28 per cent polling, North West Delhi 15.75 per cent, West 14.20 per cent, South 14.10 per cent, South West 17.56 per cent and Central 12.52 per cent turnout, the app said. President Ram Nath Kovind, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan and S. Jaishankar were among various MPs, including controversial BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who cast their votes early morning along with their families. Kejriwal, who is seeking another term from the New Delhi constituency, cast his vote along with his father, mother and wife at a polling booth in Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area amid tight security. Congress interim Chief Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party President Rahul Gandhi turned up at the polling stations early in the day. Sonia Gandhi, who was discharged from the hospital after four days following stomach infection, arrived at a polling booth in central Delhi's Nirman Bhawan. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also exercised his franchise at the Nirman Bhawan polling station. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP from Kerala's Wayand, also cast his vote at the NP Senior Secondary School in Aurangzeb Lane here. A polling officer, Udham Singh, posted at Babarpur Assembly constituency in east Delhi died after cardiac arrest. There was enthusisam among voters of Neb Sarai, one of Asia's largest unauthorised colony as young voters came out in large numbers to exersice their right to choose their representative. The polling will end at 6 p.m. and the results will be announced on February 11. In the election, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making yet anothet attempt to return to power, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is determined to stage a comeback after 20 years. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, is expecting a resurgence in its vote share. The Election Commission has identified 516 locations and 3,704 polling booths as critical voting stations where paramilitary forces have been deployed. Activities at each polling station are being monitored through webcasting. The police have deployed around 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. The criminal case of a kayaking trip attack on the Flint River near Huntsville is expected to go to trial this summer, and lawsuits stemming from the incident have ended. Negotiations have been unsuccessful between the prosecutor and defense attorneys for three suspects in the criminal case. At a hearing this morning in Madison County Circuit Judge Jim Smiths courtroom, the criminal case was set for trial on Aug. 3. The three suspects: Zach Young, Jordan English and Brittany Pratt, are indicted on misdemeanor charges of assault. The charges stem from a June 4, 2019 incident on the Flint River, a popular kayaking destination in eastern Madison County. A group of Huntsville high school students and recent graduates alleged they were attacked by a group of adults including Young, English and Pratt as they floated down the river. Young and English are accused of punching an 18-year-old in the face, causing a broken nose and eye socket. Young is also charged with punching another teen in the head. Pratt is accused of punching a young woman in the face during the incident on the river. Ms. Pratt maintains her innocence, said her defense attorney Josh Graff. Witnesses corroborate her description of the events as they occurred that day. At this point, were just waiting to go forward. Attorneys for Young and English couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Lawsuits Two lawsuits that stemmed from the case have been resolved. English has been ordered to pay $250,000 plus court costs to the family of Collins Nelson, the 18-year-old injured in the incident. English didnt show up to court or respond to the lawsuit, so Madison County Circuit Judge Alan Mann issued the default judgement. Huntsville attorney Will League, who represented the Nelson family, said they could ask the probate judge for wage garnishment or transfer of assets if English doesnt respond to the judgement. A second lawsuit, against Young, was privately settled outside of court, records show. League declined to say how much money his clients received, and the amount isnt listed in court records. A young man had his whole life ahead of him and it was severely interrupted for no good reason, League said. His friends went off the college and hes had to stay home and work to get better. League said Nelson is still under the care of a neurologist because of a brain injury he suffered in the attack. This is a case of people thinking they own the river and being bullies, he said. Hajar Alafifi assumes duties as Chairperson of Unilever Sri Lanka View(s): With effect from February 1, Hajar Alafifi has assumed duties as Chairperson of Unilever Sri Lanka and joins the Unilever South Asia Leadership Team. She is taking the helm from her predecessor, Carl Cruz who has been appointed as Managing Director, Unilever West Africa Multi Country Operation (MCO) Ghana and Nigeria. Ms. Alafifi arrived in Sri Lanka from London, where she last served as the Global Brand Vice President Household Cleaners and the Dishwash business, home to the iconic brand Sunlight. With close to two decades of Unilever experience in diverse markets such as Morocco, South Africa, Netherlands and London, Ms. Alafifi has pioneered the strategy to drive sustainable growth on many brands for Unilever, the company said in a media announcement. Speaking about her new role, Ms. Alafifi said, Sri Lanka is a significantly important market for us and this goes hand in hand with the exciting times of new development for the country. When analysing the key performance indicators of Unilever Sri Lanka over the last few years, it is evident that the Unilever Sri Lanka team has worked tirelessly to ensure the growth of the business and delivered exceptional results. Looking forward to the future, we will harness our shared visions to capitalise on the current market situations present in Sri Lanka. I am eager to start the process of energizing our team, building on the gains we have made and bringing to life our vision of improving the lives of Sri Lankan consumers. The new Unilever Sri Lanka chief is also a passionate advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in its holistic dimension. As a result, she has a burning purpose to change the status quo on the Womens Agenda. Standing as a true propellant for talent, her belief in leading with impact is expected to actively mentor the team at Unilever Sri Lanka. This will no doubt, have a direct result on her drive to enable business transformation while disrupting the status quo, the statement said. Unilever Sri Lanka is one of the biggest FMCG companies in Sri Lanka, with 29 market leading brands in categories such as Home Care, Personal Care and Foods. The company was established in Sri Lanka in 1938 with brands such as Sunlight, Lux and Pears Rose. Paris, 7 February 2020 (SPS) - The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has issued an urgent appeal to the Moroccan authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the Sahrawi activist, Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir, imprisoned in Morocco, demanding her immediate release. In a statement published Friday, the Observatory also asked the Moroccan occupation authorities to provide "medical care necessary to improve the health of the Sahrawi prisoner, who suffered a serious deterioration of her health due to the refusal of the prison administration to transfer her to hospital". The observatory indicated that "the serious situation that Saharawi political activist Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir has been going through since her arrest on 15 November 2019, as part of her struggle for her right to self-determination, has worsened as a result of the difficult conditions in which she was arrested as well as the systematic refusal of the Moroccan occupation authorities to provide her with the necessary medical care". "Given the gravity of the situation, the Observatory renewed its request to the Moroccan occupation authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the Sahrawi activist, as well as to all human rights defenders in Occupied Western Sahara ". "Ms. Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir, as well as all the Sahrawi defenders detained in Moroccan prisons, must be released," declared the Observatory. It added that "Morocco must immediately open a thorough, independent, effective and impartial investigation into the ill-treatment to which she has been subjected, while identifying those responsible for these violations and bringing them to justice in accordance with international instruments for the protection human rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular its articles (1 and 2.12) ". (SPS) 062/SPS/T [February 07, 2020] Southern California Edison Files 2020-22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Southern California Edison (News - Alert) today filed its proposed 2020-22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan with the California Public Utilities Commission. SCE's multiyear plan builds on the progress made last year to reduce the risk of fire ignitions caused by utility infrastructure. "Our wildfire mitigation plan is a comprehensive effort to address the wildfire challenges in high fire risk areas which represent about 27% of the area we serve," said Phil Herrington, SCE's senior vice president of Transmission & Distribution. "The women and men of Southern California Edison remain dedicated to keeping our communities safe and making our system stronger against the increasing threat of extreme conditions driven by climate change, which also supports the state's broader electrification efforts." The company's 2020 plan will advance the maturity of SCE's wildfire mitigation capabilities in a number of dimensions. In 2020, SCE proposes to: Install at least 700 circuit miles of covered conductor, reducing ignitions caused by objects that contact distribution power lines or conductor-to-conductor contact. Install fast-acting fuses at more than 3,000 locations; these fuses help interrupt electric current more quickly and reduce the risk of ignitions. Continue enhanced inspections, applying advances in the company's risk model to prioritize and address the inspection findings for the overhead assets across transmission, sub-transmission, distribution and generation facilities in high fire risk areas. Deploy at least 375 weather stations. By year's end, the company will have one of the country's largest, densest networks of weather stations. Actively identify and trim or remove trees that may pose a risk of falling into power lines. Advance new technologies. SCE is piloting Distribution Fault Anticipation and Early Fault Detection, a set of complementary predictive technologies that provide advance warning of potential equipment failures and allow for proactive repairs, thus minimizing ignition risks. The company is also piloting "Open Phase" wire-down technology, a novel way of detecting and isolating wire-down incidents that could pose a wildfire risk. Leverage machine learning and aalytics, also known as "big data," to improve inspections and automated sensing of electric system and equipment conditions. This big data effort will continue to drive improvements in safety and reliability as these capabilities mature and expand. Engage Access and Functional Needs customers and partner with community-based organizations and community stakeholders to support their resiliency, working with existing philanthropic partners and deploying customer programs for PSPS preparedness, all-hazard awareness and emergency planning. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) SCE recognizes that PSPS is a disruptive hardship, but it is necessary to protect Californians from catastrophic wildfires. Patrols conducted after PSPS events have found multiple instances of equipment damage and tree branches contacting power lines that could have ignited a fire. As more mitigations are deployed, the company expects to reduce the scope and impact of PSPS, but PSPS will have to remain available as a tool to mitigate wildfire risk during severe weather and high Fire Potential Index events. The company's ability to isolate circuit segments and its use of real-time weather data and field conditions before activating PSPS aids in reducing the number of impacted customers. For example, during the unprecedented "extreme red flag warning" issued by the National Weather Service last October, about 2% of the company's customers were impacted. To further reduce PSPS impacts this year, the company is rapidly developing circuit-specific plans. For targeted circuits, SCE is applying a multipronged approach that includes: leveraging existing isolation equipment and/or installing additional sectionalization equipment targeting grid hardening and remediation measures providing resiliency solutions such as assistance with battery backup generation pursuing microgrid opportunities where they are feasible SCE remains committed to providing timely notification to potentially impacted customers, local governments, public safety agencies and the California State Warning Center before, during and after a de-energization event. SCE will continue to work with local governments and public safety agencies, as well as essential service providers and business customers, to refine the program. Results through 2019 SCE met or exceeded nearly all the goals in its 2019 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Since 2018, SCE has: Installed more than 500 miles of power lines with covered conductor. Installed fast-acting, current limiting fuses at more than 10,000 locations. Added more than 50 remote-controlled sectionalizing devices to isolate portions of circuits during potential fire ignitions and reduce the number of customers impacted during a PSPS. Conducted enhanced inspections in 2019 on 100% of overhead equipment in high fire risk areas, including the use of infrared cameras to inspect equipment and identify potential issues that could lead to ignitions. As required, the company addressed all high-priority safety issues within 24 hours. Removed thousands of hazard trees that could fall into power lines and lead to a fire ignition. Deployed 482 micro weather stations and installed 161 high-definition cameras that visually cover nearly all of SCE's high fire risk areas. Information from the weather stations and camera feeds is publicly available. Continued a robust community outreach effort to help customers prepare for wildfire-related issues, including PSPS. SCE conducted more than 350 meetings with local government and tribal officials, community organizations and customers. SCE actively identified Medical Baseline and critical care, or life support, customers to get their current contact information and enroll them in outage notifications. SCE also took extra precaution with critical care customers, including home visits. About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005553/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A soldier went on a shooting rampage on Saturday in Thailand, killing at least 20 people and injuring many more before being shot dead by security forces. Photo: Narong Sangnak/Shutterstock The widow of a soldier who lay dead in his barracks for three weeks because his superiors didn't notice that he wasn't on duty has blasted the army. Iraq War veteran Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan, 33, was found dead in his room at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on January 23. The father-of-three's body was so severely decomposed when it was found that his cause of death may never be established. The widow of a soldier who lay dead in his barracks at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, (pictured) for three weeks because his superiors didn't notice that he wasn't on duty has blasted the army Now his widow, Beth Mongan, said it is 'outrageous' that he was able to lie undiscovered because no-one thought to check on him. After completing an analysis his phone records, police told Ms Mongan that he died at the end of 2019, The Sunday Mirror reports. Lance Corporal Mongan - whose intelligence role meant he would have signed the Official Secrets Act - was supposed to move to 77 Brigade Headquarters, Berkshire, a week after he was last seen alive. He was not listed as Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from this base, as is army protocol. His senior officers in information telecommunications at his current barrack also didn't notice he was missing. Mrs Mongan - who remained close with Lance Corporal Mongan after their separation - said he was bullied due to his slight accent he had after living in Ireland when he was young. Iraq War veteran Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan, 33, was found dead in his room at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on January 23 (stock image) He told his wife he was physically assaulted by a pair of Northern Irish soldiers in November 2018. He reported the attack and a bullying investigation went on until December 2019. Mrs Mongan said: 'There is no way he would have [taken his own life]. As far as I am aware there was no note and he was in very good spirits.' A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The circumstances surrounding the death of a soldier in Catterick are being investigated. 'It would be inappropriate to comment any further.' ROCKFORD -- The impeachment of President Donald Trump further divided an already divided nation, and it wasn't even a real trial, said U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, as she visited Rockford on Friday just days after the president's acquittal. "It was a deeply flawed process," said Duckworth, one of 47 Democratic senators who cast guilty votes in Trump's impeachment trial. "I've actually been on a jury trial. And this was not a real trial. ... To not be able to subpoena witnesses and documents after new things came to light that were not apparent during the House investigation was a real detriment. "I looked at what evidence was presented. It was clear that the president had done something wrong. ... That said, I'm glad it's over. We need to work on issues for the country and move forward." She made the remarks to reporters following a ceremony at Rockford University where Duckworth, a 51-year-old former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and Purple Heart recipient, was presented with the Jane Addams Medal for Distinguished Service, the school's highest public recognition. Duckworth is the 38th woman to receive the awards, named after the school's Nobel Prize-winning graduate and bestowed upon women who have taken stands in their lives that required critical thinking and courageous action. "Medal recipients in the tradition of Jane Addams are pioneers in their professions, outstanding in character and recognized for their contributions to the arts, sciences and society," said Rockford University President Eric Fulcomer. "These attributes are clearly evident in the life and unfinished legacy of Senator Duckworth." As she accepted the award, Duckworth stressed the need for the nation to come together and focus on what unites us rather than what divides us. "I think we're all better when we're taking care of one another," she said. "It's one of the greatest blessings of our country that we are a nation of such diverse people who have come together who believe in ideals of our democracy, but it's also a challenge. It's the greatest challenge we have." Duckworth urged Americans to embody the spirit of Jane Addams and her commitment to service. "To me what defines America as great is the belief that we are all brethren, that our lives are braided together, that our fates like our states are united," she said. "I truly believe that just as picking up a rifle and shipping off to war in service to America is service, so too is picking up a soup spoon to feed the less fortunate or picking up a piece of chalk to teach low-income kids or a hammer to build a house for those in need. Service comes in many forms." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Democratic hopeful Elizabeth Warren said a federal law is needed to protect abortion rights in the wake of efforts by several states to ban abortions and specific procedures. The Massachusetts senator said American women cant rely on the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court to let the landmark Roe v. Wade case stand. She said womens right to have dominion over our own bodies is at risk. Look, Ive lived in an America in which abortion was illegal, and rich women still got abortions, and thats what we have to remember about this, Warren said. States are heading toward trying to ban abortion outright. The Supreme Court seems headed in exactly that direction as well." U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pledged to only appoint judges who support Roe v. Wade, while other candidates expressed support for preserving abortion rights. Candidates briefly sparred on whether the Supreme Court should be expanded to appoint more liberal justices. Former Vice President Joe Biden said its a bad idea, however, noting that whichever party seizes political control could also tweak the court. Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg also agreed that the Supreme Court shouldnt become a political battlefield. Biden said he would use abortion as a litmus test for his judicial nominees. A litmus test on abortion relates to the fundamental value of the constitution," Biden said. A woman does have a right to choose ... If you call that a litmus test it is a litmus test. ATLANTA--A new method to detect cancer in its early stages using a targeted MRI contrast agent that binds to proteins has been identified by a team of researchers led by Georgia State University Regents' Professor Jenny Yang. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, Yang and her colleagues at Georgia State and Emory University describe a newly identified biomarker for detection of liver metastases. With current tests like biopsies, cancer in the liver is often detected in advanced stages, which can limit treatment options and lower overall survival rates. The discovery could have wide-ranging impacts, including more effective diagnosis and precision treatment, and less risk to patients. "This is a game changer. It has the possibility to have many more applications, really for any type of cancer," said Yang. "We are already applying it to 10 different types of cancer in the lab." The researchers, whose work is funded by the National Cancer Institute, developed an agent that can target certain receptors -- in this case, chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The receptor is overexpressed in common metastasis organs, such as the liver, among people who have cancer. The CXCR4 targeted protein-based MRI contrast agent is expected to overcome major barriers in early diagnosis by showing even tiny instances of cancer cells on multi-color scans called precision MRI (pMRI), a new imaging methodology. Using MRI technology, contrast agents carry the element gadolinium to enhance the images. During her previous work analyzing calcium, Yang decided to test how a metal, like gadolinium, would interact with protein. The protein wraps around the element and carries it to the site for imaging. Yang's team found that protein design is much more effective in targeting the signs of disease. "Currently, it is difficult to see early stages of disease in the liver, even in invasive biopsy," said Yang. "Diagnostic testing using this contrast agent can not only identify the presence of disease but differentiate the stages of disease with high sensitivity and accuracy. That's the beauty of this work." The findings are so promising, the targeted protein contrast agent is now being fast-tracked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first step toward clinical trials to gauge its efficacy in humans. "We have already met with the FDA, so we have a blueprint," said Yang. "We hope within 18 months to two years we can conduct our first clinical trials in patents." Yang, who is also the associate director of the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, holds 17 U.S. and 18 foreign patents in protein engineering. She recently became the university's first professor to be awarded a fellowship by the National Academy of Inventors. Her start-up company InLighta Biosciences has been a key channel to allow her to compete for important funding and bring new discoveries to the marketplace. The research builds on a 2019 study published in the journal Nature Communications, in which Yang's team identified the first early detection of liver fibrosis using a collagen-targeted protein contrast agent. Combined, these studies represent the work of more than a dozen scientists from universities across the U.S., and their discoveries could help transform a $300 million industry that has seen few advances in the past several decades. "We have been using the same contrast agents for 30 years with few breakthroughs," said Yang. "I think this is my biggest scientific contribution. And I hope there are many more to come." ### - Legendary photographer Reverend Dr Chris Tsui Hesse has been the genius behind many political pictures available to Ghana today - The currently 87-year-old served Ghana as a presidential photographer from Kwame Nkrumah's reign to that of JJ Rawlings - A recent visit to the residence of Chris Tsui Hesse by a popular Facebook user Bernard Anbataayela Mornah reveals that the 87-year-old is just as strong and healthy as ever Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Reverend Dr Chris Tsui Hesse is a legendary photographer who has served Ghana in an unbelievable way, being the foremost cinematographer, photographer, filmmaker and film administrator and moving on to become the personal cameraman of Nkrumah and seven other heads of states in Ghana. A recent visit to the residence of Chris Tsui Hesse by a popular Facebook user Bernard Anbataayela Mornah reveals that the 87-year-old is just as strong and healthy as ever. The Facebook influencer posted pictures of himself and the legendary photographer, saying, Made time to pay unannounced visit to Rev Chris Hesse, personal photographer of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's 1st President at his Residence. It was a unique opportunity meeting the man who had close range contact with Africa's foremost READ ALSO: Ghanaian billionaire Cheddar narrates how he started life as a scrap dealer See the post below: According to Sammyflex.com, the other heads of state that Chris served as a personal photographer include General J. A. Ankrah, General A.A. Afrifa, Prime Minister Dr. K. A. Busia, General I. K. Acheampong, General Akuffo, President Dr Hilla Liman and Flt. Lt. President J. J. Rawlings. The respected legend also had amazing credentials to his credit. Chris' academic credentials include a Bachelor of Divinity (1985) and Doctor of Philosophy in Film and Arts from the University of Southern California, USA (1989). He is well known and recognized for his outstanding expertise in cinematography as is depicted in several award-winning productions such as Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980), Heritage Africa(1989), Harvest at 17 (1994) and Cross Roads of People, Cross Roads of Trade (1994). READ ALSO: Son uses fake account to propose to mother; she denies both husband & children In other news, on Friday, March 23, 1849, a Black slave by the name Henry Brown started a very risky plot of escaping from slavery by sending himself as a mail in a wooded box away from a Virginia plantation. A news report by Face2FaceAfrica.com indicates that the Black genius slave who was an active church member was helped by a church colleague named James Caesar Anthony Smith and a white storekeeper to escape. It is reported that Henry Brown became highly uncomfortable staying at the Virginia plantation after his wife and child were taken away from him and sold to a plantation in North Carolina. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #Yencomgh Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh In this undated photo distributed Feb. 7 by the North Korean government, workers produce face masks to help prevent spread of a new coronavirus in Pyongyang. AP North Korea is exerting every effort to prevent the new coronavirus from reaching Pyongyang, the country's state media said Saturday. The capital's anti-epidemic headquarters is meticulously carrying out testing and disinfection measures at every road into Pyongyang and at the same time strengthening all tests and medical monitoring, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, even though no confirmed case has been reported in the North North Korea announced Friday that it had restructured departments at its Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters so that responsibilities were rearranged to better deal with the virus. Gordon Sondland, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, issued a statement late Friday saying that President Donald Trump is set to recall him from the role. I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union, Sondland said in a statement issued via his attorney. I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and decimated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union, he added. I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career. The Epoch Times has contacted the White House for comment. Sondlands statement was released shortly after Lt. Col. Alexander Vindmans lawyer said that Vindman was fired by the White House. Both Vindman and Sondland testified in the Democrat-led House of Representatives impeachment inquiry against President Trump. The Senate voted to acquit Trump on Wednesday, Feb. 5, of the two charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, ending the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Democrat-led House voted along party lines to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 after an impeachment inquiry that lasted for months. House Democrats who sought Trumps impeachment claimed that the president withheld millions of dollars to Ukraine in exchange for investigations. Sondland, at the House impeachment hearing in November 2019, confirmed that he never heard directly from Trump about a quid pro quo that connected military aid for Ukraine in exchange for investigations into corruption, saying I never heard from President Trump that aid was conditioned on an announcement of [investigations]. But Sondland also said at the hearing that we all understood that a meeting at the White House for Ukraines president was conditioned on an investigation or a statement announcing investigations. Everyone was in the loop, Sondland said at the hearing. It was no secret. He added, Was there a quid pro quo? The answer is yes. Sondland also said that he received no direct orders or much communication from Trump himself but that he was acting on behalf of Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal attorney. Giuliani denied that assertion. Trump, Ukrainian officials, and other White House officials at the time categorically denied the allegations of bribery and quid pro quo. When Republican lawmakers pressed Sondland at the November hearing, he admitted that no one had told him about investigations and relied only on presumptions that he had made. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times (Adds details; updates price action) Feb 7 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Friday, led by declines in energy stocks, with investors also shrugging off a strong jobs report as a mounting death toll from the coronavirus epidemic hurt sentiment. * The death toll in mainland China reached 637 on Friday, with a total of 31,211 cases, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. * A plane from Wuhan, China carrying an initial group of 176 Canadian evacuees from the epidemic landed in Ontario on Friday, with all evacuees to be quarantined on the Trenton air force base for two weeks, the Globe and Mail reported. * The energy sector dropped 1.5% as U.S. crude prices were down 1.1% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.8%. * At 10:04 a.m. ET (1504 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 72.9 points, or 0.41%, at 17,684.59. The index was set to snap a four-day winning streak. * Domestic data showed Canada added more than twice the number of jobs than expected in January, the latest indication that the economy could be strong enough to persuade the Bank of Canada not to cut rates next month. * The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.5%. * On the TSX, 75 issues were higher, while 154 issues declined for a 2.05-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 35.02 million shares traded. * The top percentage gainers on the TSX were Cae Inc , the world's largest civil aviation training company, and uranium miner Cameco Corp. Their shares rose over 3% after the companies reported higher quarterly profit. * The biggest decliner on the main index was Aurora Cannabis , down 13.7% and on track to post its worst day since November, after the pot producer issued a bleak outlook as it struggled with high costs and a slow roll out of retail stores in Canada. * The second biggest decliner on the TSX was Silvercorp Metal, down 12.8%, after the company missed quarterly profit expectations. Story continues * The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis, Enbridge Inc and Bombardier . * The TSX posted 22 new 52-week highs and one new low. * Across all Canadian issues there were 63 new 52-week highs and seven new lows, with total volume of 57.08 million shares. (Reporting by Sagarika Jaisinghani in Bengaluru; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel) Pump jacks and wells are seen in an oil field on the Monterey Shale formation where hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is used to extract gas and oil near McKittrick, Calif., on March 23, 2014. (David McNew/Getty Images) Sanders-Proposed Fracking Ban Could Scupper US Economic Miracle: Experts Ban on fracking could eliminate U.S. energy independence Democratic senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) introduced his Fracking Ban Act to the U.S. Congress on January 28th, which if approved would ban hydraulic fracturing across the United States by 2025. The bill was authored by Sanders and one of his most high-profile supporters in the Democratic primaries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). The bill would ban fracking near homes and schools by 2021 and then, starting in 2025, it would ban fracking nationwide. The hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) process, however, has played a huge role in the United States transition to energy independence. The shale revolution meant that horizontal drilling techniques coupled with high-pressure rock-fracturing methods made previously inaccessible tight oil and gas extractable. In his State of the Union Address on February 5, President Donald Trump said that We have unleashed a revolution in American energy. The United States is now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. Speaking on the shale revolution in November, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that The energy independence of the United States people have been talking about it for 50 years, and I never thought it would happen, and here it is. Its in the nature of a miracle, it seems to me. So its a great thing, I would say. Thats not to say there arent issues to manage but I think its been a great thing for the country. I think to shut down the shale industry, yeah, that would probably not be a good thing for the economy. Effects of a Fracking Ban on the Economy According to independent energy research consultancy Rystad Energy, the United States holds over 264 billion barrels of recoverable oilmore than either Russia or Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, up to 50 percent of American oil reserves are unconventional, meaning that they could only be extracted by fracking. Research (pdf) from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago shows that recovering such oil and natural gas reserves through fracking boosts local economies via increased income (by around 7 percent), employment (by 10 percent) and housing prices (6 percent). Furthermore, the increases are found to outweigh the costs associated with fracking activity, such as increased truck costs, noise, and air pollution, and marginally increased rates of crime. According to study co-author Prof. Chris Knittel, This study makes it clear that on net there are benefits to local economieswhich we believe is useful information for leaders in the United States and abroad who are deciding whether to allow fracking in their communities. American Petroleum Institute (API) Director of Communications Ben Marter said that U.S. leaders should empower U.S. energy leadership, but restrictive energy policies like a ban on fracking would threaten Americas energy security, surrender control of Americas energy future, and retreat from Americas energy leadership. The API stresses that for more than half a century, U.S. presidentsboth Democrats and Republicanshave called for an end to Americas reliance on foreign energy. Furthermore, for the United States to lead the world in natural gas and oil production delivers tremendous benefits to consumers while reducing emissions and unlocking a new era of U.S. energy leadership. Steve Gorem, a policy adviser at The Heartland Institute, said that the shale revolution and ramping U.S. oil production brings a new level of stability to the U.S. and world economic systems. He outlined how oil price increases during the 1973 crisis spurred the 1973-1975 recession. He contrasted this with the situation today, where On September 14 of last year, 25 drones and missiles exploded at two oil processing facilities of Saudi Arabia. More than 5.7 million barrels of Saudi production capacity was taken offline, more than half of Saudi output. But oil prices hardly budged. On January 8 of this year, Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at two Iraq facilities housing U.S. military personnel. Yet, world oil prices today remain at low levels, just above $50 per barrel. The missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Iraq in previous decades would likely have triggered large oil price spikes. Green New Deal The Bill is in line with the Green New Deal proposal Sanders says he will implement if elected president. The Green New Deal plans to Transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to 100 percent energy efficiency and sustainable energy by 2030 at the latest and to end greed in our energy system through public ownership of renewable energy. The Deal would also fully electrify and decarbonize the transportation system, including the shipping and aviation industries. The fossil fuel industry would be prosecuted and sued for the damage it has caused, offshore drilling would be banned and fossil fuel resources on public lands would be kept in the ground. All new federal fossil fuel permits would be terminated. Both imports and exports of fossil fuel would be banned, while the Deal states that Fracking and mountaintop removal coal mining are two particularly harmful methods used to extract fossil fuels. They make surrounding communities less healthy and less safe. They must be immediately banned. Initial Bans From 2021 The Act states that The Ban Fracking Act would institute an immediate federal ban on all new federal permits for fracking-related infrastructure and a ban on fracking within 2,500 feet of homes and schools by 2021. Then, starting in 2025, it would ban fracking nationwide. However, the legislation also insists on a just transition for employees in the fracking industry. The bill directs the Department of Labor to partner with other federal agencies and stakeholders to develop a plan to prioritize the placement of fossil fuel workers into good-paying jobs in the communities in which they live as the United States moves quickly to an energy system based on sustainable energy and energy efficiency. The bill focuses on what it says are the dangers of fracking to public health, workers and communities, and especially to averting climate change. We must realize that workers in the fracking fields are not the enemy, coal miners are not the enemy, and oil rig workers are not the enemy. Climate change is the enemy, said Sanders. Fracking is a danger to our water supply. Its a danger to the air we breathe, it has resulted in more earthquakes, and its highly explosive. To top it all off, its contributing to climate change. If we are serious about clean air and drinking water, if we are serious about combating climate change, the only safe and sane way to move forward is to ban fracking nationwide. Sanders bid to ban fracking echoes that of his Democratic Party running-mate, Elizabeth Warren, who has promised to ban fracking on her first day in the job if she is elected president in 2020. On my first day as president, I will sign an executive order that puts a total moratorium on all new fossil fuel leases for drilling offshore and on public lands. And I will ban frackingeverywhere. Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 6, 2019 The Sanders Bill claims that fracking results in the leakage of methane, a greenhouse gas. Furthermore, it states that natural gas is not a bridge gas on the way to a decarbonized economy. Renewable energy and storage eliminate any need for fracked gas, it says, while all the technologies needed to support a transition to 100 percent renewable electricity exist at commercial scale and equal or cheaper costs compared to fossil fuels. Sanders believes that low-income communities, communities of color, indigenous communities, and other environmental justice communities in the United States are disproportionately exposed to pollution from hydraulic fracturing, and that hydraulic fracturing is not in the national interest of the United States. However, it seems certain that any bill aimed at a ban on fracking would need to pass congress, and could even be subject to legal challenges. According to Standard & Poors, The bill appears unlikely to become law and would be subject to years of legal challenges if it ever did, but its introduction marks perhaps the most extensive legislative proposal to hamper domestic oil and natural gas growth. A statement from Bernie Sanders said the bill has been endorsed by a number of environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace USA, and Friends of the Earth, as well as Hollywood personalities such as film-maker and activist Josh Fox and actor Mark Ruffalo. However, analysts at Rystad Energy believe a federal ban on fracking would have a relatively minor effect on oil and gas production. Recent analysis conducted by Rystad Energy suggests that if the fracking activity were to be eliminated on federal acreagein accordance with a stated policy goal of at least one presidential candidatethe result would be a widespread shift of capital from federal to private and state-owned acreage in a bid to replace the lost oil volumes. In other words, a potential fracking ban would likely have a little immediate impact on nationwide oil and gas production figures. Washington, Feb 7, 2020 (AFP) - Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell on Friday briefed US leaders on a trip to Iran aimed at easing tensions and discussed a US Middle East plan that he has denounced. On his first trip to Washington since assuming his position in December, Borrell met Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and said afterward they discussed "everything." The State Department said in a statement the two talked about "prospects for peace in the Middle East, US-EU trade relations and holding Iran and Russia accountable for their destabilizing actions." Borrell earlier in the week visited Tehran where he met President Hassan Rouhani and voiced hope for an easing of tensions and preservation of a 2015 accord that sharply curtailed Iran's nuclear program. Fears of all-out war soared last month when the United States killed Iran's most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Iraq. Trump in 2018 walked out of the nuclear deal negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama and instead imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran, vowing to combat the clerical regime's regional role. Borrell will also meet in Washington with Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, the architect of a Middle East plan unveiled last week, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress. Borrell has criticized Trump's long-awaited Middle East initiative, saying the Israelis and Palestinians should directly negotiate a two-state solution based on the lines before the 1967 Six-Day War. The US plan "departs from these internationally agreed parameters," Borrell said in a statement earlier this week. Borrell said the European Union was "especially concerned" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's push to annex much of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The Trump plan was widely seen as giving a green light to annexation by saying that areas of Jewish settlements would become part of Israel, while also proposing a demilitarized Palestinian state. Borrell's criticism came after the European Union was unable to issue a joint statement denouncing the Trump plan due to opposition from a handful of members, most vocally Hungary's right-wing government. The Palestinian leadership swiftly rejected the plan and has refused to deal with Trump, seeing him as biased after a series of major pro-Israel steps including recognizing contested Jerusalem as the Jewish state's undivided capital. Ireland's three main parties are tied neck-and-neck following Saturday's general election according to an exit poll, leaving the question of who will control the next government hanging in the balance. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's incumbent Fine Gael party, their centre-right rivals Fianna Fail and left-wingers Sinn Fein all received 22 percent of first preference votes, according to the Ipsos MRBI poll issued as the polls closed at 2200 GMT. The survey of around 5,000 voters leaving the polls -- which has an estimated margin of error of 1.3 percent -- put Fine Gael on 22.4 percent, Sinn Fein on 22.3 percent and Fianna Fail on 22.2 percent. However, Ireland uses a single transferable vote system to elect multiple deputies from each of the 39 constituencies, making it hard to extrapolate a likely seat forecast from the exit poll figures for first preference votes. That means the outline of the next parliament will only start to become clear during the count, which gets under way at 0900 GMT on Sunday. "We've never seen a general election result like it. Basically a statistical tie between what are now the three big parties," said Pat Leahy, political editor of The Irish Times newspaper. He told RTE television that forming a government could prove "a very difficult exercise" unless parties compromised on their pre-election stances ruling out particular coalition arrangements. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which have traditionally held a duopoly on power, pledged they would not form a coalition with Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the now-defunct Irish Republican Army paramilitary group. Meanwhile Fianna Fail said they would not back Fine Gael in a "grand coalition". But analysts told AFP this was likely to be pre-election "posturing". - Varadkar banking on Brexit - Varadkar was hoping to secure a new term on the back of his Brexit strategy. He plumped for an early election after successfully helping to broker a deal cushioning Britain's EU exit on January 31 by avoiding a hard border with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. However, the campaign was dominated by domestic issues -- notably healthcare and housing -- and opinion polls showed Fine Gael losing ground. The exit poll paints a more optimistic picture for Varadkar, but since no party seems set to secure a majority it is likely negotiations will begin as votes are counted. In office since June 2017, Varadkar, 41, is Ireland's first mixed-race and openly gay premier who has come to represent a more socially progressive Ireland after years of dominance by the Roman Catholic Church. Varadkar, whose party has been in power since 2011, cast his vote on the outskirts of Dublin, seeming in a relaxed mood as he chatted with officials and posed for selfies with voters. - Domestic concerns - Polls opened at 0700 GMT, although a small number of islands off the west coast voted on Friday to allow for rough seas potentially disrupting the transport of ballots by boat. In the capital, a stream of voters made their way to polling stations on Saturday. Liam Allen, 27, said housing was a "big concern" for him. "I still live at home with my parents and for the foreseeable future I won't be able to afford a home," he told AFP. Nurse Terry Sanor said: "I'm hoping that the health service will improve, and the waiting list, and the pay for the nurses and the housing." Either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail have traditionally held the reins of power. "I'm hopeful there will be change. In this country, for far too long it's been dominated by two parties," said 60-year-old James Comiskey. Alexander Faw, 22, said: "I'm looking for a more left government of Ireland." - FF, SF leaders upbeat - Some 3.3 million people were eligible to vote to elect 159 members of the Dail, the lower chamber of parliament in Dublin. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, 59, voted with his family in his Cork city constituency. "We are very confident. We had a good campaign," he told reporters outside the polling station. "Housing and health and the impact of the cost of living on people have been the dominant issues of this campaign." Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald voted in central Dublin. "People have told us throughout this campaign that they want change," the 50-year-old told reporters outside the polling station. "They want a change in representation and they want a change in government." An iconic homemade sign used to mock Nigel Farage during a European parliament debate is to go on display at a museum in Brussels, The Independent has learned. The House of European History, which tells the continents story from emergence to integration, will include the object in a special exhibition about Brexit from later this month. On 1 February 2017 Labour MEP Seb Dance scrawled hes lying to you on a piece of paper with an arrow pointing at Mr Farage, in what he calls a moment of pure rage and anger. I decided I had to try to do something and, noticing the empty chair behind him, I made a sudden decision to grab a piece of paper and scrawl a simple message on it, he explained at the time. The images went viral around the world, tapping into a frustration their opponents felt about Brexiteers conduct before, during, and after the EU referendum campaign. The sign will be displayed alongside other objects and documents related to Britains contribution and departure from the European Union. Last Friday the UKs flag outside the European parliament was hauled down and taken to the museum for safe-keeping. Mr Dance told The Independent: I loaned the House of European History my sign as I thought it provided another side of the Brexit story. It is of course (so far) a victory for Mr Farage, but there is and will always be opposition to his brand of politics. Its ascendency now is a threat to all of those who believe in liberal democracy, multilateralism and solidarity among nations. It was a moment of pure rage and anger against populism and my hope was that it would play whatever small part in making people question what he says. The incident happened during a debate in which Mr Farage argued in favour of Donald Trumps immigration policy, whose implementation he argued represented genuine democracy. 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 Ukip MEPs made a formal complaint about the sign to the parliamentary authorities. Then-MEP Bill Etheridge described the protest as disgusting and defamatory. A spokesperson for the House of European History confirmed the sign had been received on loan after it put a call out for historic artefacts relating to the UKs departure. Other items received included a "friendship" scarf featuring both a UK flag and EU flag, worn by MEP Rory Palmer during the final sitting of British representatives in Brussels. We are currently inventorising all the objects we received. We will show a selection of the objects in a temporary showcase in the House of European History, in the next one or two weeks, the spokesperson said. The museum is located in Parc Leopold near the European parliaments base in Brussels. It tells the story of the continents history from the conception of the idea of Europe, through to modernity, via centuries of war and ultimately integration. Entry to the museum is free and it is designed to be enjoyed in all the EUs languages, with most commentary on displays provided through an audio guide. The museums creation was an initiative of the European parliament and it opened in 2017. The New Hampshire Democratic primary is increasingly looking like a dual front-runner race as former Mayor Pete Buttigieg leaps ahead to join Sen. Bernie Sanders at the front of the pack, according to newly released polls. Sanders and Buttigieg are statistically tied in both a Monmouth University survey released Thursday and a Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll out Friday. Each survey was taken during the aftermath of Mondays bungled Iowa caucuses. The results set up a possible outcome that few had given much thought to before this week: Sanders and Buttigieg may emerge from the two earliest-voting states with roughly equal momentum, leaving their strongest rivals scrambling to regain footing even as the race expands to more diverse contests in the South and West. The Monmouth poll showed Sanders, of Vermont, with the support of 24% of likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire; and Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind., with 20%. Those numbers are technically within the polls margin of error of each other. Former Vice President Joe Biden was at 17%, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren had 13%. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was at 9%. The Suffolk numbers were even tighter: Sanders was at 24%, and Buttigieg was at 23%. No other candidate was within 10 points of them in that poll. Suffolk has been polling New Hampshire voters constantly this week, releasing new results from its tracking poll every day. According to the poll, Buttigiegs support has doubled since the beginning of the week, when he captured just 11% of likely voters. Campaigning around New Hampshire this week, Sanders and Buttigieg have each claimed victory in the Iowa caucuses. And as of right now, both have a legitimate argument: With 99% of precincts reporting, Buttigieg and Sanders are locked in a virtual tie in the delegate count. While the Monmouth poll had a four-day collection period, which began on the day of the Iowa caucuses, the latest Globe/Suffolk poll was only collected Wednesday and Thursday. That meant the news of Buttigiegs unexpectedly strong showing in Iowa had sunk in a bit more by the time that polls field period began. A little more than half of primary voters in both polls said they had yet to firmly settle on a Democratic candidate. I dont think Iowa has sunk in yet. Things are still shifting there, Patrick Murray, who runs the Monmouth poll, said in an interview. But even without an outright win, Buttigiegs strong showing has the potential to bring him more attention, Murray said particularly if his performance was strong in the Democratic debate in Manchester, N.H., on Friday night. Thats because Murray sees the most uncertainty existing among electability-minded voters those who said they are most interested in finding a candidate who will defeat President Trump. And Buttigieg tends to be more popular among these voters than among those who prioritize particular issues. Some of these other supporters of Biden and Klobuchar are the ones taking a look because theyre the ones most concerned about electability, Murray said, referring to voter curiosity about Buttigieg. There is sometimes a temptation to lump Iowa and New Hampshire together as a kind of opening chapter to the nominating process. After all, both are heavily white states and nonrepresentative of the countrys population at large. And indeed, the results this year could end up being quite similar in both states. But the two contests differ significantly. Iowas consists of caucuses which favor candidates with younger and more activist supporters and includes only Democrats. New Hampshires election is a simple primary and is also open to political independents. In 2016, when Sanders beat Hillary Clinton in the primary there, he relied largely on the support of independent voters. He is a political independent, and he still does well among this group. But the 26% support he is now earning from non-Democrats in the Monmouth poll is still far less than the nearly three-quarters of independent voters he got in 2016. This reflects the complications of a more crowded field this year and the fact that the independent voters who participate Tuesday may skew slightly more conservative than they did in 2016. That is because there was a competitive Republican primary that year. With Trumps nomination all but guaranteed among Republicans this year, a broader cross-section of independents may consider weighing in on the Democratic race. Buttigieg, who is the only other candidate to break 20% among non-Democrats in the Monmouth poll, could stand to gain. Warren whose poll numbers in New Hampshire crested in the fall but who still stands a chance at a strong showing is far less popular among independents. She pulls the vast majority of her backing from Democrats and from liberals. The divide between her liberal supporters and Sanders falls strikingly along gender lines. He is nearly twice as popular among New Hampshire men than he is among women there, according to the Monmouth poll. For Warren, the inverse is true. A possible asset for Warren is that college graduates make up an outsize share of the New Hampshire primary electorate. Sanders tends to underperform with this group; according to Iowa entrance polls, on Monday he did only half as well among those with a college degree as he did among less-educated voters. But so far, no other candidate has consolidated the support of college-educated New Hampshire Democrats either. Warren, Sanders and Buttigieg each command about one-fifth of these voters, according to Monmouth. Biden and Klobuchar are not far behind. Giovanni Russonello is a New York Times writer. There was a short list of high school graduates, but no shortage of applause and tears at Freedom International Schools first graduation ceremony. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There was a short list of high school graduates, but no shortage of applause and tears at Freedom International Schools first graduation ceremony. The class of 2020 Devotha Kwizera, Daniel Pembele and Prince Busime walked across the stage Friday to collect their diplomas at Mission Baptist Church, during an afternoon ceremony that marked the first of its kind for the independent school for teenage refugees who have gaps in their education. More than 50 family members, friends and teachers filled the pews to celebrate their accomplishments with speeches and songs, only 17 months after the faith-based school opened in the West End. It was a day Kwizera, 20, thought would never come. Five years ago, she arrived in Winnipeg with little knowledge of English, aside from her ABCs and basic counting skills. "I havent been in school my whole life. I couldnt imagine one day I would graduate I feel like its a miracle," Kwizera said after the ceremony. Born and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Kwizera had only studied grades 1 through 3 before she gave up on school. When her family sought refuge in Canada, she took up school again, but became overwhelmed by what she didnt understand (English is her third language) and dropped out. She later found out about Freedom International School, and began studying to collect the credits she was missing. At the same time she built on her Grade 2 reading level, she raised two children. Principal Francine Wiebe couldnt hold back her tears as she watched the three students walk across the stage in their maroon robes and graduation caps. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I cant help but be humbled for the resilience of these children," Wiebe said, adding Kwizera read five hours every school day, beginning when she enrolled in September 2018 until the spring of 2019, when she was able to read at a Grade 9 level. "They showed up, they worked hard, they came to the homework club, they sought extra help." Wiebe spoke repeatedly about how historic a moment it was for the school, which opened in September 2018 in a single classroom near Central Park. The school has grown to 16 students in that time, and now runs classes out of six rooms at Mission Baptist Church (771 Sargent Ave.). The school teaches newcomers between 13 to 21, whose reading and basic academic skills are behind their peers. Students hail from Tanzania, South Africa, Colombia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, among other countries. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie She's currently completing her 250 hours of community service following her prosecution for her role in the college admissions scandal. And Felicity Huffman enjoyed some time outdoors on Friday with a hike with her dog, Tucker, at Fryman Canyon in studio City, Los Angeles. The 57-year-old actress kept things casual during the hour-long walk and was joined by a friend. Getting into the outdoors: Felicity Huffman was spotted enjoying a hike with a friend on Friday while taking a break from her court ordered 250 hours of community service Felicity rocked a grey long sleeved top that was zipped up all the way to the top of her neck. She teamed the look with capri length tights and carried her car keys in her hand. The Desperate Housewives alum protected herself from the sun with a large wide brimmed straw hat and a pair of shades. Warm: Felicity rocked a grey long sleeved top that was zipped up all the way to the top of her neck Sun safety first: The Desperate Housewives alum protected herself from the sun with a large wide brimmed straw hat and a pair of shades Felicity's outing comes after she was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, on October 25 - following a 11 day of a sentenced 14 day sentence. Her jail time came after she pleaded guilty to paying $15,000 to a purported charitable contribution in order to have her eldest daughter Sophia's SAT scores increased, an in turn, get into college. Along with her completed jail time, the Golden Globe nominee has been completing her 250 hours community service. Felicity's outing comes after she was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, on October 25 - following a 11 day of a sentenced 14 day sentence, for her involvement in the college admissions scandal (pictured with husband William H. Macy, and daughters Georgia Grace and Sophia Grace in 2014) Under fire: Lori Loughlin is another actress caught under fire. Her trial will continue in October 2020. She and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli have continued to plead not guilty to their charges Felicity has been working at The Teen Project in Los Angeles. The non-profit organization serves at-risk homeless and sex trafficked young women. She is also on probation for the next nine months and must pay a $30,000 fine. The Otherhood star was among the 50 parents accused of paying bribes and cheating to help their children into some of America's top universities. Lori Loughlin is another actress caught under fire. Her trial will continue in October 2020. She and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli have continued to plead not guilty to their charges. The Full House beauty and designer have been charged with paying $500,000 to get their daughters Bella and Olivia into USC as crew recruits, even though neither of them are rowers. Its the most expensive flight Ben Iontton or Natalie Walker ever took, and they didnt even reach their destination. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Its the most expensive flight Ben Iontton or Natalie Walker ever took, and they didnt even reach their destination. In what was described as an "unprecedented" move, the U.K. residents were ordered by a Winnipeg judge this week to pay $100,000 each in restitution to TUI Airways after their drunk and aggressive behaviour resulted in their Los Cabos, Mexico-bound flight being diverted to Winnipeg, Jan. 30, stranding hundreds of passengers overnight. The incident shined a spotlight on what the International Air Transport Association has called the "significant problem" of unruly passengers. Ben Iontton (Facebook photo) Iontton, 25, pleaded guilty to mischief over $5,000 and assaulting a police officer, while Walker, 34, pleaded guilty to mischief over $5,000 and causing a disturbance. Each was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Prosecutor Peter Edgett said the "exceptional" nature of the circumstances merited the "unprecedented" restitution order. "It was a number that we thought was reasonable and justifiable," Edgett said Friday. Distinct from a fine, which is intended to deter behaviour, restitution orders are meant to compensate victims for financial losses incurred as a result of a crime. TUI spent $100,000 lodging and feeding the Winnipeg passengers, Edgett said. The flight diversion meant hundreds more passengers in Los Cabos were unable to make their departing flights on time, incurring further costs. The $100,000 restitution order was "off the charts" in terms of precedence, Edgett said. In the closest comparable case, a B.C court in 2013 ordered two men to pay $38,000 in restitution after their behaviour resulted in their Beijing-bound flight being diverted to Vancouver. The award was reduced to $10,500 each on appeal. Unruly plane passengers jailed, fined $100,000 each Click to Expand Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press Files Air carrier TUI Airlines lodged passengers in Winnipeg hotels overnight after pilots diverted a flight bound for Los Cabos, Mexico to Winnipeg when a man and woman from the United Kingdom aboard the flight became drunk and unruly. Posted: 5:42 PM Feb. 4, 2020 A man and woman from the United Kingdom have been sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $100,000 each after their drunken escapades aboard a Los Cabos, Mexico-bound plane forced pilots to divert it to Winnipeg late Friday morning. Ben Iontton, 25, pleaded guilty in provincial court Tuesday to mischief over $5,000 and assaulting a police officer while Natalie Walker, 34, pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance and mischief over $5,000. Read Full Story Unlike the case when the flight of a domestic airline is diverted, U.K.-based TUI Airways did not have a second crew available to take over when its flight made an unscheduled landing in Winnipeg, resulting in more costly delays. "There was just a different dynamic in place here," Edgett said. He and defence lawyer Amado Claros -- who represented both Iontton and Walker -- jointly recommended the hefty restitution order, knowing there were thorny issues of jurisdiction at play. "Some of the costs were in Mexico, some happened here, you also have the jurisdiction of England, so there was some give and take," Edgett said. One jurisdictional question was clear. Under Section 7 of the Criminal Code of Canada, anyone who commits a criminal offence aboard a flight that terminates in Canada "shall be deemed to have committed that act in Canada." "In this case, even though the flight left England, some of it happened in these spots of (questionable) jurisdiction 30,0000 feet in the air, because it landed in Winnipeg, the Criminal Code says we have jurisdiction," Edgett said. Iontton and Walker will be deported upon completing their sentence and will not be allowed back in Canada. And the restitution order will follow them home. TUI can make an application to U.K. courts to enforce the order, opening Iontton and Walker up to garnishment orders, liens, and other enforcement measures. Court heard Iontton works in construction and Walker as a cleaner. "They may not be of means yet, but that doesnt mean they wont have means when they mature, get older, get an inheritance," Edgett said. "They arent out of it." For John Webb, air travel had always been a trouble-free prelude to a well-deserved vacation. Then he met Iontton. "I have never been on a flight with someone who behaved that way," the U.K. resident said Thursday from Los Cabos. "It has somewhat spoiled the holiday we had planned," Webb said. "I never thought it would get so bad until it was really happening." It has somewhat spoiled the holiday we had planned. Passenger John Webb Webb was seated across the aisle from Iontton and watched as he went from seemingly sober to a raging, uncontrollable drunk over the span of two or three hours. Web estimated Iontton downed up to 10 large glasses of wine, provided free with the flight, according to Web, before flight attendants cut him off. By that time he had already been stumbling about the plane, spilling food and drink on passengers and verbally abusing those in his path. Iontton became so unruly and aggressive three flight staff had to handcuff and strap him to his seat. "He tried to jump out of the seat, but he didnt really get the opportunity," Webb said. So this guy disrupted our flight instead of being in mexico we are now stuck in canada for the night #tui #worststarttoaholiday pic.twitter.com/0H3YW18snY Lord Dewey Wingrave (@Deweybwoi91) January 31, 2020 Walker, meanwhile, seated several rows away, was raising her own ruckus after she had several in-flight drinks and dipped into a bottle of duty-free gin. One passenger, court heard Tuesday, said she yelled and swore at flight crew and pointed her legs in the air, pretending to give birth. It was Walkers continuing antics upon landing in Winnipeg that delayed departure to the point the flight had to be suspended. TUI Airways did not respond to an interview request. Flight diversions for disruptive passengers remain a "pretty rare occurrence" in Winnipeg, said Winnipeg Airport Authority spokesperson Jennifer Cameron. Rare, maybe, but not unheard of. In March 2018, four U.K. men en route to a stag party in Las Vegas were arrested after their drunk and disruptive behaviour caused their flight to be diverted to Winnipeg. The men reportedly drank their own duty-free liquor, smoked e-cigarettes, intimidated passengers and fought on the plane. Back home in Manchester, Craig Hopwood, Michael Ward and Scott Capper were sentenced to two years in prison. Daniel Howarth was sentenced to 19 months. Cameron said flight diversions for other reasons -- including medical emergencies, weather conditions, and refueling -- are routine. The number of diversions "vary from year to year depending on an array of external factors and circumstances," she said. Before takeoff, pilots decide on alternate routes and landing destinations in case of an emergency, said a spokesperson for civil air navigation service NAV Canada. If an emergency landing is deemed necessary, flight staff alert NAV Canada, who will confirm if the airport has the runway capacity or room to handle the plane. "We are equipped to accommodate a flight diversion and we partner with the airlines and NAV Canada to get the planes en route to its intended destination as quickly as we can," Cameron said. "In a case like we saw last week, we reached out to the RCMP so there was that added element, but more or less we are quite used to things like diversions Our manager of operations and our team will work with them to help (arrange for) accommodations and get them to their intended destinations as quickly as possible." The RCMP is the primary investigating agency for the Richardson International Airport. When it comes to disruptive passenger, pilots dont consult with police before making a decision to divert a plane, said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre. "Their primary (concern) is the safety of the passengers in that aircraft, so that decision is solely based on the information they receive and they will act accordingly," he said. "Theres no back and forth with police. They are in the aircraft and have to make the determination." Theres no back and forth with police. They (the pilots) are in the aircraft and have to make the determination. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre According to the International Air Transport Association, there were 8,731 "unruly incidents" reported on aircrafts in 2017, or one for every 1,053 flights. Forty-nine per cent of the incidents involved non-compliance with safety regulations, followed by alcohol related offences (27 per cent) and non-compliance with smoking regulations (24 per cent). According to Transport Canada, behaviour that can result in a flight diversion includes harassment, verbal abuse, physical or sexual assault, intimidating behaviour, smoking, drunk or disorderly conduct, ignoring safety instructions and endangering aircraft safety. "If any of these occur during flight, the aircraft may make an unscheduled landing and the police will meet the aircraft," a Transport Canada spokesperson said in an email to the Free Press. "The decision to remove a passenger or divert a flight due to unruly passenger behaviour is at the discretion of the flight crew." Westjet, responding to a Free Press query, said incidents involving "disruptive guests" remains "uncommon." Barry Prentice, a transportation economist and professor of supply chain management with the Asper School of Business, suggested the IATAs figures on unruly passengers exaggerates the extent of the problem. Westjet, responding to a Free Press query, said incidents involving disruptive guests remains uncommon. "It is not something we can take too lightly, but at the same time I dont think we should think this is some sort of trend," Prentice said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "What do they define as an incident? Those safety regulations may be someone who didnt put their seatbelt on It comes back to how great is that safety issue. Ive never heard of a plane crashing because someone on board was making a fuss." And if alcohol-related incidents are a serious problem, there is a simple solution, Prentice said. "Cut off the number of drinks someone can have or ban alcohol completely," he said. At least one air passenger would agree. "If they had served (Iontton) just two glasses of wine, I think we would have safely made it to Mexico," John Webb said. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca While Russia has been playing for power in Africa in recent years by sending arms, offering mercenaries and cinching mining deals, the foundations of Moscows claim to renewed global influence are shaky at best, a new political risks report claims. The reality, says Daragh McDowell, an analyst at consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, is that the Kremlin is putting profit ahead of power, and is relying on private military contractors (PMCs) and political technologists to project its influence on the world. Russia, however, can only use such deployments in states with weak democratic and legal norms, and is doing so primarily to secure mineral rights and concessions in exchange for services rendered, McDowell argues. Such deals are creating a scenario in which Russian claims to a host of resources, many vital for the production of electric batteries and other next-generation technologies, are dependent on governments goodwill that Moscow is ill-equipped to stay in power, the analyst warns. In fact, Russia has already become the world's biggest gold buyer. Russia has moved to take advantage of a desire by African countries which, notably, are the largest voting bloc in the United Nations to lessen their reliance on China. The strategy has, so far, worked, even with President Vladimir Putin acknowledging his administration cannot come close to matching Beijings financial firepower. According to official figures, Russias annual volume of its trade with Africa has doubled to $20 billion over the last five years, but that still pales in comparison to the continents $300 billion in trade with the European Union and $60 billion with the United States in 2018. Moscows focus on the continent riches has seen state-owned companies scaling up their activities in the resources sector, particularly in the search and production of coltan, cobalt, gold and diamonds. In Zimbabwe, for instance, a 2018 joint venture between Russias JSC Afromet and Zimbabwes Pen East began developing one of the worlds largest deposits of platinum group metals. Related: Bear Run Sends Oil Down For 10th Straight Session In Angola, diamond giant Alrosa (MCX:ALRS), the worlds top producer by output, increased its stake in local miner Catoca to 41%, which provides the Russian company with a production base outside the home country. (Click to enlarge) Private energy giant Lukoil is reported to have projects in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria and be looking to acquire a stake in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Russia is also offering nuclear power technology for several African countries, including the construction this year of the first nuclear plant in Egypt, financed by a $25-billion loan. The main risk related to Putins ongoing strategy in Africa, McDowell says, is who would own the resources targeted by partnerships if local allies give Russia their back. Guinea is an example of the potential downside for Russia if local allies fail. Prompted by Guineas importance as a supplier of bauxite for Russian aluminium producer Rusal, Russian diplomats in the capital, Conakry, have openly supported President Alpha Condes efforts to extend his term in office; this has helped fuel months of increasingly bloody civil unrest, McDowell notes. Presidential and legislative elections in Guinea are due in 2020, and China is also competing with Russia for access to its bauxite and iron ore deposits. A scenario could arise, the analyst warns, where a new leadership could challenge or reverse mineral deals agreed by President Conde. At that point, who owns Guinean bauxite or iron ore would become a matter to be disputed globally, with consequences to be seen, McDowell concludes. By Mining.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) has launched a series of exciting business events and initiatives to take place across the County during Local Enterprise Week (LEW), which is happening between March 2 and 6, this year. LEW Fingal features a host of events and activities that are aimed at stimulating business activity locally, in conjunction with various key business support organisations and state agencies, including: Enterprise Ireland, Plato Dublin, Chambers of Commerce, Enterprise Centres, Empower, IBM Ireland and PayPal Ireland among others. Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien highlighted the necessity for all small enterprises to use the opportunity as a platform for accelerating business growth: 'Through our Local Enterprise Office, Fingal County Council is providing vital services and assistance to our local businesses, ensuring that they are availing of the array of state supports on offer. We want to ensure that our SMEs are well equipped to identify and take advantage of programmes and supports available to them through the LEO and other state bodies.' AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: 'In Fingal, we strive to create a dynamic environment conducive to business growth and local job creation. Local Enterprise Week is an excellent opportunity to network, keep up with developments and find the right supports for your business. I am particularly pleased to see so many of our state agencies and business organisations supporting Local Enterprise Week this year.' Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the LEO Network and Head of Enterprise in Fingal said: 'We have a great selection of opportunities for anyone involved in an existing business or a start-up. The events are occurring in various locations throughout Fingal. As with previous years, most of these events will be fully booked out in advance, so we are encouraging anyone interested in participating to book a place as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment.' The week kicks off on a high on Monday morning, March 2 with an intensive half-day Business Start-up Bootcamp in Newbridge House in Donabate. On day two, local businesses will join Fingal Dublin Chamber for a networking breakfast focusing on several successful entrepreneurs, called 'Behind the Business' in Malahide. At lunchtime, Plato Dublin will be running a seminar helping businesses to prepare for growth at the IBM Campus in Damastown. And in the evening 'Empower Fingal' will host an Ethnic Enterprise Expo. Wednesday will see three events taking place, with the LINC in Blanchardstown running a seminar in the morning for start-ups seeking to raise finance. Meanwhile in the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown, Enterprise Ireland will host an informative event explaining how companies can benefit from accessing innovation grants to fund their continued growth. There will also be a full-day Brexit workshop happening at the BEaT Centre in Balbriggan. On Thursday morning, Balbriggan Chamber will host a business networking seminar while LEO Fingal funs a workshop on financial skills for SMEs. The Fingal Enterprise Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday evening in County Hall Swords, where the best of Fingal entrepreneurship will be celebrated. Local Enterprise Week finishes up on Friday, with a Trading Online Voucher (TOV) seminar, at the Riasc Centre in Swords, and at lunchtime the Fingal Enterprising Women Network, run by LEO Fingal, will celebrate International Women's Day with a special business networking lunch at the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport, featuring acclaimed chef and food entrepreneur Catherine Fulvio. Find out more at www.localenterprise.ie/fingal Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson on Friday pulled out of international industry event GSMA Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020 due to outbreak of novel coronavirus across several countries and continued spreading of the infection. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus epidemic has risen to 636 with 73 new mortalities reported, mostly from the worst-affected Hubei province, while the total number of confirmed cases has crossed 31,000. "Following the outbreak and continued spreading of the novel coronavirus, Ericsson has closely monitored the development and adhered to recommendations from relevant national authorities and international bodies, such as the WHO. After an extensive internal risk assessment, Ericsson has decided to take further precautionary measures by withdrawing from MWC Barcelona 2020, the largest event in the telecom industry," Ericsson said in a statement. The infection has spread to 25 countries, including in Spain, where the Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020 is scheduled to start from February 24. Ericsson is one of the leading telecom companies that participates in MWC at a significant scale. "The health and safety of our employees, customers and other stakeholders are our highest priority. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We were looking forward to showcasing our latest innovations at MWC in Barcelona. It is unfortunate but we strongly believe the most responsible business decision is to withdraw our participation from this year's event," Ericsson President and CEO Borje Ekholm said. E-mail query sent to the GSM Association elicited no immediate reply. "Ericsson appreciates that GSMA have done everything they can to control the risk. However, as one of the largest exhibitors, Ericsson has thousands of visitors in its hall each day and even if the risk is low, the company cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees and visitors," Ericsson said. Also read: Apple penalised to pay $27 million for not informing iPhone users that software update could slow devices Also read: Google Maps turns 15! Sundar Pichai thanks app for helping him find veg burritos Google is celebrating 15 years of its Maps services and has just pushed out an update to the app that come with a fresh design. This isnt just a few new tweaks though. The app now looks noticeably different. That is if you already have the updated version as it may not have changed yet for some users. Google has given the app an all-new icon too. Instead of a map like before, its now a pin drop featuring the usual Google colors ( you can view a video of the icon evolution below). As with many things that Google does, the new design and features are all about making things quicker and easier to access for the user. Advertisement The fresh Google Maps design starts with the navigation tab The core of this fresh new design in Google Maps is really all about the navigation tab at the bottom. These tabs have been updated to put the most useful stuff at your fingertips so you have to fiddle around less in the menus. These tabs include Explore, which is what youre likely used to as this is just the standard map with the ability to search for places. Like a new brewery or coffee shop. Theres also a commute tab if you typically use Maps for routes to and from work or anywhere else. The Saved tab is for things youve searched for and wanted to bookmark. So for example, say you found a new place to try ramen and you didnt have a chance to go right away, so you save it. These things will show up in the Saved tab. Advertisement The last two tabs are Contribute, which youll use if youre uploading images of places you can find in maps or if you want to see what others have contributed, and Updates, which despite the name is not about updates to the app. Instead, its a feed of changing places that other users are finding to be trendy. These must-see locations can be recommended by local users, or even publishers. New features focused on improving public transit rides Another big part of this new update is the attempt to improve your public transit ride. Advertisement Users can now check to see what the temperature of the ride is like. With details about whether its cooler or warmer coming from other passengers who have ridden the same transit route. Another cool new feature is the ability to see how many carriages are available on Japanese trains. This is a Japan-only feature, and it makes sense, as Japans trains are famously packed at certain times of the day, making it impossible to get a seat. This feature aims to help you plan around that. Theres a feature that tells you what sort of security is onboard your transit too. Overall it seems like most of these are quality of life improvements for the app. And it definitely seems like users will appreciate them. Realty firm Central Park on Saturday said it will invest around Rs 1,000 crore to develop a luxury housing project in Gurugram, Haryana. The company will develop over 500 housing units in the 13-acre housing project 'Bellavista', which is part of nearly 50-acre township 'Central Park Resorts' in Gurugram. Central Park has already launched the first tower comprising 360 studios and one bedroom apartments starting at Rs 1.76 crore. The second tower, having around 150 units, will be launched in the next 3-4 months. The cost of project including the land value is Rs 1,000 crore, Central Park said.The total built-up area of these two towers is around 10 lakh sq ft. Amarjit Bakshi, CMD, Central Park, said there are more than 500 expats from 30 nationalities living in this township. The company would target foreigners, particularly Japanese, in this new project, he added. Kulwant Khurana, President Sales, Marketing & CRM, Central Park, said, It will be a very innovative product. CXOs of large corporations will find it suitable to their needs and tastes and will make it a home." In the township, the company has so far developed more than 1,500 units in three phases. This is the fourth phase. Gurugram-based Central Park has delivered 5.5 million sq. ft of residential and hospitality projects. It has over 10.9 million square feet of existing development and another 12 million square feet of planned projects in Gurgaon, Delhi and Goa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration is scheduled to release its 2021 fiscal budget request on Monday, and its expected to propose about $740 billion for defense. Thats an increase of just $2 billion over current funding levels, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday that the Pentagon needs to accept the fact that its budget wont be growing very much. Speaking at an event in Washington sponsored by the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Esper said we have to brace ourselves that at best, defense spending will be level in the coming years. In the meantime, Esper is pushing ahead with an effort to shift billions in defense funds from legacy weapons systems and offices to modernization programs that focus on new technologies. Pentagon officials have identified $5.7 billion in cuts they want to make in aging, outdated or redundant programs, and Esper will ask Congress to approve the use of that money for what he says are more pressing projects, including nuclear modernization, missile defense, artificial intelligence and hypersonic weapons. Esper said the effort is driven in part by the need to stay ahead of China and Russia. The Chinese have used at least the last 18 years while we were in Iraq and Afghanistan to make enormous strides with regard to the professionalization of their force, modernizing their doctrine, building new capabilities, going after us asymmetrically, Esper said. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 10:43 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634639f 1 National Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,China,Indonesia Free The Chinese government has given a warm response to an Indonesian policeman who went viral on social media for singing the song "Jiayou, Wuhan" (Stay strong, Wuhan), saying it proves that "there's warmth in humanity" as people across the world cheer for China to remain strong in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Hans, a police officer of Sorolangun Police precinct in Jambi recently made the news in Indonesia after a video of him singing the song dedicated to encouraging people in Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak -- made the rounds on social media, even gaining him international fame as he was interviewed by Chinese media. In a video uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 2 by a user identified as Navid, Hans was seen singing the song with another man on singing app Smule, where Hans goes by the username ucok_hans and the other man went by username NavidLie88. The YouTube video description read "Singing with an Indonesian policeman". An Indonesian-language Chinese media outlet later interviewed Hans, during which the policeman shared a bit about himself and said that although he had never been to China himself, he could sing several songs in Chinese. He also sang the "Jiayuou Wuhan" song during the interview, Antara reported. "To my friends in Wuhan, we always pray for and support you and hope that the [coronavirus] outbreak will soon end," Hans said after singing the song. In response to the viral video, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that during such a difficult time caused by the outbreak, the Chinese government acknowledged that Wuhan and China "is cheered on through social media by so many lovely people from all corners of the world." "The virus is cold but there's warmth in humanity," Hua said in a briefing on Thursday. "Let this friend from Indonesia know that the epidemic will pass one day, and when that day comes, we welcome all who support Wuhan and China to visit China, especially Wuhan," she added. Indonesia recently evacuated 243 people comprising 237 Indonesian nationals, including students, five Indonesian diplomats and a foreigner and the spouse of an Indonesian citizen from cities in Hubei, including Wuhan, back to Indonesia to escape the fast-spreading virus. They are currently undergoing a two-week observation period under quarantine in Natuna, Riau Islands. The Health Ministry confirmed on Monday that they were all healthy and not showing symptoms of coronavirus infection. "I am glad to hear that the Indonesian students are in good condition, and when the epidemic is over, they are welcome to return and resume their studies and life in China," Hua said. As of Friday, the death toll from the coronavirus hit 636, with Chinese authorities confirming that more than 30,000 people on the mainland had been infected, AFP reported. The far-flung virus has spread to more than 20 countries, with two deaths confirmed in the Philippines and Hong Kong. (afr) By Express News Service BENGALURU: Far & East, the much anticipated chic Asian brasserie, recently opened its doors at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru. Chef Atsushi Yonaha and chef Leong Then helm the kitchen bursting with flavours from China, Thailand and Japan while bar mixologists concoct fragrant artisanal cocktails with an Oriental twist. The restaurant exudes a rich elegance of style and substance mostly reminiscent of places seen in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Singapore. The gleaming steel and glass hotel stands tall in the centre of a mixed-use cluster development located close to Mekhri Circle. You cant miss the three buildings, which independently make for an office space and shopping centre, private residences and the towering hotel. Quirky decor elements such as black monkeys, green leaf patterned upholstery, brass snakes and colourful artworks welcome you to this sky-high destination. The menu is divided under specialities such as Peking Duck & Dimsums, Sushi Rolls, Nigiri, Sashimi, Wok, Charcoal Grill and few others. We started our meal with the Wild Mushrooms and Larb Gai from the appetiser section. The mushrooms had the perfect bite and the chicken dish with the aromatic leaves, lime and crunchy rice was deliciously flavourful. The chefs showmanship is in full display in the open kitchen from where sushi, sashimi and nigiri orders are executed with utmost precision. The sashimi is top-grade, directly imported from Japan every couple of weeks and the presentation of every dish is top-notch. You could opt for a single serving of either Salmon, Hamachi, Hotate, Tako, Mackarel, Ebi and Maguro or order a sashimi platter with a selection of six, all served with freshly grated wasabi stem. Dont forget to take in the sweeping views of the citys skyline in all its illuminated splendour from the top. Apart from the indoor seating at the restaurant, you could also opt to sit in the balcony for a few drinks and nibbles while enjoying Bengalurus pleasant weather. Also, the bar menu has some heady cocktails concocted with an Asian twist. Take, for example, the Tom Yummy infused with vodka, galangal, lemongrass, lime and honey or the Sichuan Daiquiri with rum, Sichuan pepper, lime and simple syrup. For the mains, you may opt for a sumptuous Pad Kaprow Gai with chicken, holy basil leaves, chili and oyster sauce and a vegetarian Makhua Yaow Pad Horapa with green long eggplant, chili and sweet basil. These can be savoured with a side of Roast Garlic Noodles with haricot beans and Rice Edamame Pine Nuts with toban paste. For desserts, we would recommend the Tub Tim Krob and the dramatic presentation of the Floating Dessert with Asian-inspired mignardises such as Matcha Opera, Thai Chai Custard, Yuzu Cremeux and Black Sesame Praline Choux Pastry.The author is a city-based hospitality professional, food lover and travel enthusiast (CNN) Having a hard day at work? Stressed out about deadlines or bosses or meetings? It may help to stare a plant, according to researchers from Japan. The researchers felt that a lot of employees underestimated the respite that plants offer from work-related stress, so they conducted an experiment on workers at an electric company in Japan and observed their changes in stress levels pre- and post-involvement with plants. The findings, recently published in the HortTechnology journal, showed that the number of employees with high scores on an anxiety measurement test decreased their scores slightly. Another 27% of employees in the study showed a significant decrease in resting heart rate. Many studies have been done on the health effects of indoor plants, but most of those were performed in either laboratories or quasi-office settings and only included passive interaction. This study verified the stress-reducing effect of gazing intentionally at a plant for a few minutes and actively engaging in the care of it in a real office setting when an employee felt fatigued. The results suggest that if employers provided active encouragement for workers to take three minute "nature breaks," the mental health of their employees would improve, said Dr. Masahiro Toyoda, lead author of the study and professor at the University of Hyogo, where he specializes in horticultural therapy. The study is the "latest of those that continue to point out that plants are beneficial to humans," said Dr. Charles Hall, Ellison Chair of International Floriculture at Texas A&M University. "It's something we inherently knew, but has suddenly been quantified. And so now, we're seeing the numbers behind the reasoning," he said. Alleviating anxiety with plants To gauge the employees' usual stress levels during days when they felt fatigued, the researchers used a measurement tool called the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory index (STAI) and recorded their pulse rates in the morning and night. First, there was a week-long control period without plants during which the participants measured their pulse by hand when they felt fatigued, and then took a second reading after three minutes of gazing at their desktop. The participants were then told how to water and care for the plants, and each chose one favorite plant. During the remaining two weeks of the study, workers first measured their pulse under the same condition, but the second reading came after three minutes of gazing intentionally at the plant placed on their desk. STAI scores decreased slightly after the intervention period, and the number of participants whose pulse rate lowered after a three minute rest also increased. A decrease in pulse rate demonstrates sedation of your sympathetic nervous system, known as the body's fight-or-flight response. Judging by positive feedback given by about half of the participants, the authors said affection for a plant of one's own may have played a role in reducing stress. The authors point to theories and perspectives emphasized in previous studies as a basis for why their experiment worked. From the perspective of attention restoration theory -- which asserts that people can concentrate better after spending time in, or looking at, nature -- previous research found what it called "soft fascination" is important to recovery from stress. A desk plant in the current study "provided the opportunity for soft fascination in the office environment," the authors said. Why a plant for stress reduction didn't work for everyone Taking care of a plant didn't ease the stress of all the employees in the study. Some workers saw their pulse rate or anxiety levels increase, and some saw no significant change. To avoid participants feeling anxious when their plants withered or died, the authors kept more plants at the ready for a swap. But according to Hall, this may not have mattered for people who experience anxiety on a regular basis. "I think the anxiety among those in the study where their anxiety increased, it was because of that particular phenomenon that all of a sudden they're responsible for taking care of a plant and then all of a sudden the plant's not doing well and they have some anxieties from that," he said. Some people could have gotten used to the plants and were no longer affected. "There have been some pieces of evidence related to human stress reduction by nature with plants or by plants," Toyoda said. "However, when we get accustomed and/or bored to the same scene, the stress recovery effect will not continue so long." The study was performed with 63 employees between the ages of 24 and 60, who worked on desktop monitors for traditional 40-hour work weeks. Improve your well-being with nature The researchers cited a distressing rate of stress and mental health disorders suffered by workers in Japan as motivation for conducting their study. "The adoption of greenery into the office environment is becoming widespread as the need for improving mental health becomes greater," they said. If you can't keep a plant on your desk, there are other things you can do to reduce stress during those long days at work. Hall suggests that gazing out of a window could have similar effects, or taking a short walk outside of your building. Regularly spending time in nature is always a good idea -- according to a 2019 study, just two hours per week is enough to improve your health and well-being. "To get good effects of stress reduction brought by a small plant, let's enjoy the time of 3-minute gazing at the plant without thinking or words," Toyoda said. "This state is similar to that of mindfulness, which pays attention to the present moment." This story was first published on CNN.com "Keeping a plant on your desk can reduce workplace stress, study says" But post August 5 last year, they have been conspicuous by their remaining quiet on the vital issue. SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference faction led by the Valleys chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday asked people to observe complete shutdown on February 9 and 11 to commemorate the hanging of Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru and his mentor Muhammad Maqbool Bhat in Delhis Tihar jail seven and 36 years ago, respectively. In its first statement issued since August 5 last year when Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status and split up into two Union Territories the amalgam of separatist parties urged the people to remain steadfast in pursuance of our demand for resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with its peoples will that has priceless sacrifices at its back. It added that this would be the best way to pay tribute to our martyrs including Guru and Bhat. The separatist parties and their leaders, including the Mirwaiz, chose to maintain a complete silence on the governments August 5, 2019 moves and related developments. In the past, both he and separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani would almost on daily basis make statements on various issues including sanctity of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution even when under house arrest. But post August 5 last year, they have been conspicuous by their remaining quiet on the vital issue. Prior to Fridays statement from the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference, the only statement that was issued on his behalf during past six months was to deny media reports that he had signed a bond stating that he would not indulge in any political activity over the issue to secure his release after being detained by the police on the day when Parliament approved the resolution abrogating special status to J&K under Article 370 and a bill for splitting the State into two UTs. However, his aide Syed-ur-Rehman Shams was quick to deny it and while quoting the politician-cleric, he had said that the Hurriyat Conference faction headed by him (Mirwaiz) stands firm by its principled stand on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and stands by the people in this unprecedented situation that all are facing. He had claimed that all the means and avenues to communicate with the people have been snatched from the Mirwaiz and, therefore, he was unable to communicate with the outside world. Nevertheless, the separatist leaders maintaining silence flabbergasted their many supporters and even common Kashmiri. It is an open secret that it are these separatist leaders whose writ would run in the Valley, the reality that was witnessed during the unrests of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016. In absence of any guidance from the mainstream as well as separatist parties, the people of the Valley found themselves in a helpless situation. Four men, aged between 20 and 25 years, were arrested for raping a 12-year-old girl in Kolkata on Friday, police said. A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, has been filed against the accused, officials said. Police officials said the girl had gone out with one of the accused, who was her friend, on Thursday afternoon. When she did not return home, the girls parents filed a missing complaint with the police. The girl, officials said, returned on Friday morning and filed a complaint at the Ekbalpore police station. According to her complaint, the girl met one of the accused, and the two went to a house at Parnasree in south west Kolkata. There they were joined by another accused and the three allegedly consumed alcohol. They then went to another house in Ekbalpore area where they were joined by two more accused. The four then allegedly raped the girl. We have arrested four persons on charges of raping a minor girl. A case under Pocso Act has been initiated. Further investigation is on, said Syed Waquar Raza, deputy commissioner of police (port division). Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday called on President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here during the Delhi leg of his five-day visit to India. The visiting dignitary had earlier held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the two sides focused on expanding cooperation over terrorism as well as promoting joint economic projects in the Island nation. In a press statement subsequent to the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for the minority Tamils in the Island nation. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Switzerland is voting in a referendum on whether it should be illegal to discriminate against someone because of their sexuality. Conservative Switzerland, unlike many of its western European neighbours, does not yet have laws that specifically protect lesbians, gays and bisexuals from discrimination. The government hopes to change that. Parliament passed a law in 2018 to extend anti-racism statutes to cover sexual orientation, and offenders could be jailed for three years. But opponents last April obtained the minimum 50,000 signatures necessary under Switzerland's system of direct democracy to put to the matter to a vote, to be held tomorrow. Switzerland is voting in a referendum on whether it should be illegal to discriminate against someone because of their sexuality The measures would make it illegal to publicly denigrate, discriminate against, or stir up hatred against people based on their sexual orientation. Operators of restaurants, cinemas and public facilities such as swimming pools, for example, would not be able to discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation if the measure passes. 'I trust the Swiss people will not let themselves be censored,' said Marc Frah, a member of the small Federal Democratic Union (EDU) party, which launched the referendum. His party, which has a Christian base and is stronger in the German-speaking east, has placed posters around the country showing a blonde woman with bulging eyes and black tape forming a cross over her mouth. Supporters of the law have countered with images of two pink hearts rubbing up against each other beneath an umbrella . The measures would make it illegal to publicly denigrate, discriminate against, or stir up hatred against people based on their sexual orientation Caroline Dayer, an expert in preventing violence and discrimination, said attacks on gays, already common, had increased as the vote has stirred emotions. In Switzerland, two-thirds of lesbians and 80% of gay men are targeted at some point in their lives, she said. The government stresses that the new law will not hinder public debate or affect private conversations. Even jokes about gays are still okay 'as long as they respect human dignity', Interior Minister Alain Berset said in a video message to voters. Opinion polls suggest opponents do not have enough backing to scupper the new law, with 65% inclined to vote yes, according to Swiss broadcaster RTS. Even so, the law's supporters say Switzerland still trails most neighbours on LGBT+ rights. The protections under the new law do not apply to gender identity, for example, meaning transgenders are excluded. Mathias Reynard, a Socialist MP who first raised the need for homophobia protection in 2013, hopes to bring Switzerland in line with 18 other European jurisdictions on gay marriage and a debate is planned next month. Civil unions are already legal. Results are expected at around midday on Sunday, after polls close. Most voters have already cast their ballots through the post. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:48:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement on Saturday the death of three Egyptian fishermen in a recent boat capsizing accident in the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah. The Egyptian ministry said the Saudi fishing boat had six Egyptian fishermen on board, noting three of them drowned and three others were wounded. "A representative from the Egyptian consulate in Jeddah was sent to check on the health condition of the injured during their treatment until they were discharged from hospital," said the statement. A Saudi military official said in an earlier statement that the fishing boat capsized on Feb. 5 because of an explosion of a sea mine planted by Yemeni Houthi rebels. On Feb. 4, a total of 32 Egyptian fishermen, who were arrested by Houthi coast forces in the Red Sea and detained for two months, were released and sent back to Egypt aboard an Egyptian airplane. Christina Koch, an astronaut with NASA, landed back on Earth on February 6 after spending 328 days on the International Space Station (ISS). Her feat set a world record because she is now the only woman who can boast the longest continuous time in space. She returned in the Soyuz crew ship along with two other Astronauts. They were Luca Parmitano from the European Space Agency and Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency. The ship landed in a desert in Kazakhstan and after the post-landing medical checks, the astronauts proceeded on their way back home. Koch and Parmitano board a NASA plane that will take them to Cologne, Germany. Parmitano will get off there and Koch will proceed to Houston. NASA plans to send a woman to the moon in 2024 and, given her record, Christinas name could figure in the list. Daily Mail UK says Peggy Whitson, also of NASA, held the previous record set for a single spaceflight by a woman. It lasted 289 days and she set the record in 2017. It now stands in the name of Christina Koch who did it on December 28. Her 328-day mission translates into the equivalent of 291 trips to the Moon and back. She is now seventh on the list for overall time spent in space by US astronauts. NASA has hopes for women astronauts Christina Koch seemingly loves to make history. In October, she was associated with the first-ever all-woman spacewalk. Her partner was Jessica Meir, another woman astronaut with NASA. The two of them conducted a couple of spacewalks together in January. Before leaving the ISS, Christina interacted with journalists on the ground. She was all praises for Peggy Whitson whose record she beat. Discuss this news on Eunomia She referred to Peggy as a heroine of mine and a mentor in the space program. The new record holder wants to be an inspiration for future explorers. Incidentally, while the first woman in space was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, there has been only one woman, Yelena Serova from Russia who spent time in the ISS. Both of them are now lawmakers in the Russian parliament. Daily Mail UK goes on to add that NASA feels the long term uninterrupted stay of Koch in the space lab will provide researchers with useful data. These will cover various aspects of the female body during long-duration spaceflights. Data of this nature will help NASA set up a permanent space station on the Moon. Contributions by NASA in space research According to The Guardian, before departing from the ISS, Christina Koch said she would miss the friendship of her crewmates and the views from the space lab. She also said that she wants to feel the wind on her face, one of the very simple pleasures back on Earth. She blasted off on March 12 last year and is an example of how NASA is contributing to space research in different spheres. Christina was in space for 328 days and it was the longest continuous spaceflight ever undertaken by a female astronaut. It fell short by 12 days of the US record set by Scott Kelly in 2015/16. Until now, more than 560 men have been to space since 1961. The corresponding figure for women is not even 70. NASA is way ahead of other space agencies There are several space agencies in the world. They are from Europe, Russia, China, and others and are involved in space research. However, NASA is way ahead of them. The International Space Station is the best example. Scientists from all over the world come here and associate in projects that help to understand more about space. NASA sent the first man to the moon half a century back. It has also positioned a couple of its robots, Curiosity, and InSight on Mars. These operate on Renewable Energy. NASA now plans to send humans, including women, back to the moon. That will be a huge step towards conquering Mars. The American space agency encourages participation of private companies like SpaceX of Elon Musk and Boeing in its programs. Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a vital role in the scheme of things. Technavio has been monitoring the friction stir welding equipment market and it is poised to grow by USD 989.95 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 10% 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/20200207005277/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global friction stir welding equipment market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Growing demand from automotive industry has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, need for huge investments in R&D of new welding technology might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market 2020-2024: Segmentation friction stir welding equipment market is segmented as below: End-user Automotive Industry Aerospace Industry Railway Industry Shipbuilding Industry Others Product Fixed FSW Equipment Mobile FSW Equipment Geographic segmentation APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40468 Friction Stir Welding Equipment 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 friction stir welding equipment market report covers the following areas: friction stir welding equipment market size friction stir welding equipment market trends friction stir welding equipment market industry analysis This study identifies use of new materials by industries as one of the prime reasons driving the friction stir welding equipment market growth during the next few years. Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the friction stir welding equipment market including some of the vendors such as Concurrent Technologies Corp., FOOKE GmbH, Gatwick Technologies Ltd., HFW Solutions LLC, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp., Manufacturing Technology Inc., Midea Group (KUKA AG), Norsk Hydro ASA, PaR Systems LLC and Yamazaki Mazak Corp. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the friction stir welding equipment 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 Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist friction stir welding equipment market growth during the next five years Estimation of the friction stir welding equipment market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the friction stir welding equipment market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of friction stir welding equipment market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200207005277/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/ US President Donald Trump dismissed Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, from his post on Friday evening (local time). Sondland, who was the second witness who testified against the President in last year's impeachment hearings, said he was informed of Trump's intention to recall him, The Washington Post reported. His ouster came hours after Trump removed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his twin brother from their posts at the National Security Council. On Friday, Trump said his impeachment by the House should be "expunged" because it was a "total political hoax." He continued to target House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Mitt Romney, the only Republican who voted to convict him in the Senate trial that ended with his acquittal on Wednesday. The crux of the case against Trump was the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Trump was absolved of all charges by the US Senate in the impeachment trial on Wednesday. First, in a 52-48 vote, the President was found not guilty of the charge of abuse of power. Then again he was acquitted of the second impeachment article: obstruction of Congress with 53-47 vote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) The ruckus over a Gayle King interview clip has morphed into a vicious social-media battle including harsh words from Snoop Dogg and Susan Rice, NBC News reports. The spark was a clip of King interviewing WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, and asking her about the 2003 rape allegation against Kobe Bryant. With King now said to be facing death threats, Dogg piled on: "What do you gain from that? I swear to god, we the worst," the rapper said an expletive-filled video. "Why y'all attacking us? We your people!" After accusing her of failing to "come after" Harvey Weinstein, Dogg insulted her and told her to "back off ... before we come get you." Among the reactions: "Gayle King is one of the most principled, fair and tough journalists alive," tweeted former national security adviser Susan Rice. "...You come for @GayleKing, you come against an army. You will lose, and it won't be pretty." story continues below "All these years why didnt you ask or interview Kobe when he was living!!" said comedian Rickey Smiley, host of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, per the Washington Post. "Protect @LisaLeslie at all cost! You're a real Superhero!! Sorry you had to through that ... We are our own worse enemies!" tweeted LeBron James. Singer-songwriter Ari Lennox called King "self-hating" and a "coon" who was "tearing down the legacies of so many phenomenal, beautiful black men," per the New York Daily News. "It's so sad and disappointing that successful Black Women are being used to tarnish the image and legacy of successful Black Men even in death," tweeted Bill Cosby from prison. "You always have this unease in the black community when it comes to this view of black men being taken down with rape accusations," black journalist Roland Martin tells the Post. "Within the black community, we also have to deal with the reality and have serious discussions about sexual assault." "Though Kobe Bryants death may have elevated him to a god in the minds of some people, his legend already growing to mythic proportions, this is not about him," writes Allison McGevna at Essence. "It is about violenceemotional, verbal, and physicalagainst Black women being the default of so many Black people in this country." King, who described herself as "mortified" and "embarrassed" by the clipwhich took one moment out of a "very wide-ranging interview"is reportedly discussing the clip's release with top CBS executives. (See what King's BFF, Oprah Winfrey, had to say .) It doesnt take serious writers long to learn that we need to be fanatical about quality with every element of our stories. So why, when we demand quality everywhere else, do we embrace Hollywood hacker stereotypes when it comes to technology? Weve all seen the tropes: bad guys breaking into important systems and holding the world for ransom, until good guys save the world by guessing the secret password in the nick of time. Hollywood hackers tend to be the smartest people in the story, but awkward in social settings; the world would be a better place if only they werent so misunderstood. There are plenty of other ways storytellers opt for superficial technical solutions. Want to hold a secret meeting? Bring in a superhacker dwarf to disable the security cameras by glomming onto the building Wi-Fi from an SUV in the parking rampwith no prior recon and no advance knowledge of the video system. Thats what Brad Thor did in Blacklist, in which U.S. government agents use Skype for secure communication. But its okay, because good secret agents do their Skyping from behind a TOR proxy. Want to bring the United States to its knees? Find a smart 21-year-old to write a virus and introduce it to every internet service provider in America. Then watch the fun as the president of the U.S. guesses the secret password and saves the world. Thats pretty much the story in The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. I wonder if Hollywood will turn that book into a movie. Maybe good guys need to see Evil Corps database, where bad guys keep their master plan to take over the world. To access it, the good guys need to breach several firewalls and face a gauntlet of cyberstalker programs, all designed to destroy their laptops and ruin their credit. Why do we keep producing this stuff? I know, its fiction. Were supposed to suspend disbelief. But come onis this the best we writers can come up with? Our laziness has consequences. No wonder the public thinks theyre all just sitting ducks for any smart attacker looking to take over the world. The public deserves better. We can deliver better. The real world offers plenty of sources of inspiration for technology-fueled tension. In 2015, two terrorists murdered 14 people at a San Bernardino Christmas party. They died in a shoot-out and left behind an encrypted iPhone. The FBI needed to get into that phone and threatened to bankrupt Apple unless the company built a software update to bypass the phones security safeguards. Think about being in the middle of that game of chicken. Remember Stuxnet? Neither Israel nor the NSA will confirm that they introduced malicious software to Iran in 2008 to sabotage the countrys nuclear centrifuges. Kim Zetter chronicled it in Countdown to Zero Day. Imagine discovering an international software weapon. Tension? Drama? You betcha. In my day job in the software industry, I encounter real-life situations that threaten to shut down the world all the time. I also routinely see smaller cybervictim scenarios that break my heart. Fiction writers should salivate at dramas like these. They all come with terrible trouble, layers of conflict, a deadline, and an unlikely hero at the grass roots. These stories smoke any cheap Hollywood hacker nonsense. As a writer, youre supposed to entertain, educate, inform, and inspire the world. Why not insert some realism around technology? Forget the dumb stereotypes. Theres gold in them thar technology scenes. Learn how to mine it. Your readers will thank you. If youre a writer who isnt a technology professional, how do you build realistic technology scenes? Its no different than any other writing challenge: you do your homework. If you want a character to hack into the DMV or disable a video surveillance system, plan a realistic attack. It should take about five minutes to figure out why using Skype for secure communications is a bad idea. And for the sake of audiences everywhere, research what firewalls do (and dont do). Instead of making up tech gibberish, engage a few real-world technology professionals. Ask questions. Use tech pros as beta readers. If you cant find anyone near you, contact me via my website: dgregscott.com. Ill help. Show some respect to the professionals who keep the world running. Youll end up with a better story for your trouble. D. Greg Scott has 40 years of IT experience and has been a columnist at several tech magazines. His latest novel, Virus Bomb, was published in May by Morgan James. The VNPOLY factory produces high-quality DTY sufficient for medical masks In order to serve Tomihu Medical Equipment Trading JSC, the best medical mask manufacturer at the moment, VNPOLY's leaders, customer care specialists, and technicians visited the customers factory to provide advice and support. With the rapid spread of the acute respiratory infection caused by the new strain of coronavirus, the demand for medical masks has increased sharply, and VNPOLY stands ready to accompany medical mask manufacturers to ensure high production standards, meeting peoples needs in time, while actively contributing to the prevention and control of the infectious disease spreading throughout the country. In fact, the main raw material for producing medical masks is often imported from China by domestic enterprises, but China has banned the export of products, raw materials, and machinery for producing masks to ensure domestic supply. Many mask manufacturers said that material sources are becoming scarce and that their stock is only enough to cover manufacturing in the next few days. Companies are looking to import raw materials from diverse countries such as India, South Africa, or Egypt. The price of raw materials from these markets is also increasing sharply over prices before the outbreak. Although there are urgent orders from Korean, Japanese, and American customers, VNPOLY still gives top priority to domestic orders for mask production to help prevent the disease from spreading. Our company is supplying raw materials to some customers manufacturing medical masks and is always ready to meet domestic orders for DTY to serve mask production. We also offer the best price and customer care policy, said Dao Van Ngoc, general director of VNPOLY. The DTY produced by VNPOLY has been certified with OEKO TEX Standard 100 by Hohenstein, the world's most prestigious certificate for the safety of textile materials. The DTY produced by VNPOLY has been certified with OEKO TEX Standard 100 by Hohenstein, the world's most prestigious certificate for the safety of textile materials. VNPOLYs DTY has satisfied demanding customers with high quality and safety requirements such as those from Korea, Japan, and the US. Medical mask manufacturers are fully assured of the quality and cost when using the DTY of VNPOLY to produce components of safe and standard medical masks. Amid the escalating epidemic threat, there are people who have to wear masks for many hours a day and masks made from safe materials will give them comfort without adversely affecting their health and helping to prevent acute respiratory infections caused by corona virus. At the recent meeting, Tomihu Medical Equipment Trading JSC highly appreciated the co-operation and support from VNPOLY and expressed great satisfaction with the recently imported batch of five tonnes of DTY from VNPOLY. Employees of the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) notified on suspicion in abuse of power or authority by former heads of detachments of State Border Service of Ukraine as the SIB reported. The investigation established that the former heads of departments of operative activity of the Administration of State Border Service of Ukraine and a separate department of the Administration of State Border Service of Ukraine organized illegal detention of Mikheil Saakashvili and his departure to Poland in February 2018, the SIB reported. Besides, the searches in the territory of Odesa region and in Kyiv were held within the investigation. The suspects face imprisonment for 3-8 years. On May 28, 2019, Mikheil Saakashvili got his Ukrainian citizenship - again. This is mentioned in the decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky who reinstated the citizenship of the former Georgian leader. On May 29, Saakashvili returned to Ukraine. On October 7, 2019, the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office opened criminal proceedings for the unlawful expulsion from Ukraine of Saakashvili. On July 26, 2017, President Petro Poroshenko, by his decree, ceased Ukrainian citizenship of Saakashvili. On January 29, the Supreme Court began to consider the legality of this decision. On February 12, 2018, the border guards expelled the ex-president of Georgia from Ukraine to Poland as part of the readmission procedure. The Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently, at which a committee was elected for the coming year. The meeting took place in the IFA Centre and a large number of members turned up. Reflecting on the past year, chairperson Ray Murphy thanked the members for attending over 52 events throughout the county, and around the country, during 2019. He said that attending these events involved travelling 'a great deal of the time' at the members' own expense. Some of the commemorations and events took place locally, but many were held as far away as Cork and Dublin. 'A huge effort was made by the group in 2019 to procure outfits and equipment for Norman 850, the year-long commemoration of the 850th anniversary of the landing of the Normans in Ireland, at Bannow,' said Mr Murphy at the meeting. The society's PRO, Maria Nolan, presented a photographic report, highlighting many of the events the members participated in during the year. She focused attention on the many events that took place relating to Norman heritage commemorations. Ms Nolan, in her report to the members, acknowledged the support the society received from Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and, in particular, paid tribute to former district manager Liz Hore for her contribution towards the cost of attire and equipment. 'It was a spectacular year for the county, giving the group the wonderful opportunity to showcase themselves in a diverse range of period costumes,' said Ms Nolan. The election of officers then took place, with the following committee being elected for 2020: chairman - Ray Murphy; vice-chairperson - Paul Murphy; secretary - Bridget Murphy; assistant secretary - Margaret O`Neill; treasurer - Bridget Murphy; assistant treasurer - Tim Corrigan; PRO - Maria Nolan and quartermaster - Graham Cadogan. The meeting concluded with all members looking forward to the many events to come in 2020, when the focus of attention will be placed on commemorating the War of Independence and the Civil War. Holocaust survivor shares harrowing story, urges Americans to 'call out' religious persecution Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Holocaust survivor shared her story of pain and loss to encourage the international community to stand up, call out religious and ethnic intolerance and persecution, and work toward the idea of never again. Theodora Klayman shared her story Wednesday during a National Prayer Breakfast sideline event on religious persecution worldwide co-hosted by the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and 21Wilberforce. Born in 1938 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Klayman was 7 years old at the end of World War II. I still do remember, so I will speak about that, she said. She described Yugoslavia as a country cobbled together after World War I and made up of differing historical alliances, many religions, several languages, and serious ideological and political disagreements. These disagreements resulted in the formation of an ultranationalist group known as the Ustasa, who broke off from the Yugoslav establishment and collaborated with the Nazis. With the support of Nazi Germany, the Ustasa ruled the Independent State of Croatia, eager to persecute anyone who was not politically conservative, Croatian, and Catholic, Klayman said. Klaymans grandfather was a Jewish Rabbi who had served as the community rabbi for more than 40 years and taught religion courses in the local school alongside the Catholic priest. She described her familys relationship with their predominantly Catholic neighbors as very cordial. For the forty years my family lived there, practically no anti-Semitic incidents occurred in that area, she recalled. But just a few months after the Nazis invaded Yugoslavia, Klaymans parents and infant brother, Zdravko, were arrested. Her father was deported to the notorious Jasenovac concentration camp and their mother to Stara Gradiska, a subcamp of Jasenovac. Fortunately, their housekeeper was able to get Zdravko released from jail. Both children were taken to Ludbreg, where they were cared for by their grandparents. But by 1942, the entire reaming Jewish community of Ludbreg was deported, including my family members, she said. All were soon killed. Klayman and her brother were left behind with their mothers sister and her Catholic husband, Ljudevit. However, in 1943, Ljudevit was arrested on suspicion of supporting the partisan resistance movement and sent to Jasenovac. In his absence, his wife was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she soon died from an intestinal illness. Meanwhile, Klayman and her young brother hid with their neighbors, the Runjaks, and pretended to be their children. Most people knew we were the Rabbis grandchildren and were aware where we were hiding, but they never denounced us, she said. After liberation, Ljudevit, realizing that Klayman and Zdravkos parents had been killed, legally adopted the children. He was concerned for their well-being, she recalled, especially as the local priest had made veiled threats against them. He then made the decision to have my brother and me baptized for added protection, she said. The family of three attempted to rebuild their lives. Eventually, Klayman moved to Switzerland. She married Daniel Klayman, a Jewish American research chemist, in the fall of 1958, and the two later they settled in the Washington, D.C., area with their two children. The recipient of degrees from the University of Maryland in French and in teaching English as a second language, Klayman taught in the Maryland public school system for 30 years. The history of the Holocaust, my history, highlights the precariousness of persecuted people and the power of individuals, even whole towns, to stand up and do what is right even in extraordinary times," she said. Klayman emphasized she will forever be grateful to those who fought against the Nazis and those who sheltered and protected her and her brother, risking their own lives to do so. Tragically we all know that such hatred, even genocide, did not end with the Holocaust, she said. We are here this morning to highlight the experiences of people who are being persecuted today solely for their religious or ethnic identity. Leaders and laypeople have the capacity to act, they must now summon the will to do so. Klayman said she hopes her story inspires listeners to stand up, call out religious and ethnic intolerance and persecution, and work toward the idea of never again. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 07/02/2020 Presiding Officer, James Doohan and Garda Eamonn Gallagher return with the ballot boxes after voting concluded this evening on Inishbofin Island in Co Donegal ..Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin 07/02/2020 Presiding Officer, James Doohan and Garda Eamonn Gallagher return with the ballot boxes after voting concluded this evening on Inishbofin Island in Co Donegal ..Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Ireland uses proportional representation by the single transferable vote (PR-STV) as its electoral system. Simply put, this is the formula that converts all the votes cast into seats in the Dail. This is a premium article Premium articles will soon be available only to Independent.ie subscribers. There are 516 candidates contesting the election in 39 constituencies. Ballot papers will list all candidates in alphabetical order for each constituency. There will be a photo of the candidate and information on their profession, address and any party affiliation they have. Voting Each voter is asked to rank the candidates in order of their preference. You should mark a number one next to your preferred candidate, the person you would most like to see represent you in the next Dail, then number two should go to your next preferred candidate, then three, and so on. You can vote all the way to the end of the ballot or as far down as you feel you have preferences. There is no correct number of preferences. Wicklow has the longest ballot paper with 20 candidates to choose from, and some people will mark preferences from one to 20, but, on average, voters tend to express about five or six preferences. It is your vote and you decide how many, or how few choices you express. This is the great advantage of PR-STV, it gives every voter one vote but many choices. Some people choose to engage in complex calculations about candidates that they don't want to see being elected. The system allows this, but it often requires guestimating which candidates will be eliminated, and at what point. This is an imperfect science and your vote could well end up in a parcel of votes being transferred in a surplus. Read More The spirit of the system encourages voters to express preferences for candidates they want elected. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. You do not need your polling card to vote but you may be asked for identification, so do bring some along. Your vote is secret, so it is not a good idea to write any messages or additional thoughts on the ballot, it could result in your vote being invalidated. For the same reason, selfies in polling stations are not allowed. Counting Counting of votes begins tomorrow at 9am. All votes are sorted and counted first. A formula is used to calculate the number of votes (known as the quota) that a person needs to be elected, which is based on whether the constituency returns three, four or five TDs. Occasionally, a candidate may be very popular and get more votes than the quota on the first count. That candidate is elected and their extra (surplus) votes above the quota are transferred to other candidates still in the race by looking at their number two preferences. When these votes are added to the vote counts of the remaining candidate, if no additional candidate reaches the quota, the candidate that has come last is eliminated and their number two preferences get re-allocated to the remaining candidates in the race. This process is repeated until all seats are filled. Dr Theresa Reidy is a political scientist in University College Cork No one can say for sure whether Energy Minister Angus Taylor or someone in his office falsified a document designed to paint Sydney's lord mayor Clover Moore as a climate change hypocrite. But one thing is clear: they may as well have. And it may yet happen again. Because this whole unseemly affair goes to show that, if you want to do something like this, you can absolutely get away with it. Let's remind ourselves of what we know happened: Taylor's people furnished The Daily Telegraph with some hopelessly wrong figures about City of Sydney councillors' air travel habits. They were dutifully turned into a hatchet job on Moore, whom News Corp has long despised. But once it was revealed the numbers were cooked, the whole thing backfired and the cops were called in to investigate. There ensued a long back-and-forth as to how the fake document came to be: Taylor insisted it was downloaded from the council's website, the council reckons that's impossible. Taylor issued an apology to Moore, and along the way his staffer Josh Manuatu was outed as the backroom boy who planted the story. Police cordoned off a street after a woman's death which may have involved 'hazardous materials.' Emergency services were called to a house in Eaton Street, Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent, at 5.45pm on Friday, Staffordshire Police said. The body of a woman was found inside and her death is being treated as unexplained at this stage, but police said it possibly involved hazardous materials. Police cordoned off a street in Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent after a woman's death which may have involved 'hazardous materials' The area was cordoned off and some residents in neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precautionary measure while crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service assessed the scene. Police said five emergency responders were taken to hospital for precautionary checks for possible effects of the suspected materials. The area was cordoned off and some residents in neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precautionary measure while crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service assessed the scene Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent three crews to the scene while at least two ambulance from West Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene. A fire service spokesman said: 'We were called by the police to an incident on Eaton Street. Crews from Hanley and two from Newcastle are on the scene' The identity of the person has not been released. A post mortem will take place. Coptic Orphans Staff Only 3% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received at least 9 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Coptic Orphans outperforms most other charities in America, says Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator about the significance of this rating. Coptic Orphans is awarded the much coveted 4-star rating for its ninth consecutive time. Charity Navigator recognizes Coptic Orphans for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. This is Charity Navigators highest possible rating and indicates that Coptic Orphans adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way. Only 3% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received at least 9 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Coptic Orphans outperforms most other charities in America, says Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator about the significance of this rating. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Coptic Orphans apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness. Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplingers Financial Magazine, among others, have profiled and celebrated Charity Navigators unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector. Charity Navigator evaluates ten times more charities than its nearest competitor and currently attracts more visitors to its website than all other charity rating groups combined, thus making them the leading charity evaluator in America. Charity Navigators decision to award Coptic Orphans these four stars, nine times in a row, shows that we deeply value our supporters contributions, and that we use them carefully and transparently, said Coptic Orphans founder and executive director, Nermien Riad. Coptic Orphans is committed to being the organization where donors can have the most impact in Egypt for every dollar they donate, said Riad. Because of that, we hold ourselves to rigorous standards of financial management which has earned us all of our 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator. Coptic Orphans is an award-winning international Christian development organization that unlocks the God-given potential of vulnerable children in Egypt, and so equips them to break the cycle of poverty and become change-makers in their communities. Coptic Orphans works through grassroots partners and volunteer networks to strengthen local communities for sustainable impact. Since 1988, Coptic Orphans has transformed the lives of over 55,000 children in Egypt. To learn more, visit http://www.copticorphans.org. Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501 (c) (3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America's charitable givers. Charity Navigator, can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 139 Harristown Road, Suite 101, Glen Rock, N.J., 07452. http://www.charitynavigator.org. For press and media inquiries, please contact Suzanne Toma. Media Contact: Suzanne Toma, Coptic Orphans Communications Director stoma@copticorphans.org 703-641-8910 Five overground workers (OGWs) of militants were arrested by security forces in two separate operations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. "Acting on a specific information, police busted a module of Hizbul Mujahideen, which was active in the Chadoora area of Budgam district," they said. Three OGWs -- Amir Shafi Dar, Shabir Ahmed Ganie and Mudasir Ahmed Khan -- were arrested from the district, the officials said. "These individuals were active in the area for the last few months and were involved in various subversive activities and providing shelter and logistic support to terrorists," they said. In another operation, security forces apprehended two OGWs from the Hajin area of Bandipora district, the officials said. Irfan Aziz Bhat and Mohammad Asif Parray were allegedly associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), they said. "They were behind posting of threatening posters in Hajin and adjacent areas," the officials said, adding a laptop and a printer used for printing the posters were seized. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Vice President Joe Biden upped his attacks on former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, suggesting the Democratic Party would be in peril if its presidential nominee was someone as green as the 38-year-old ex-mayor. 'I do believe we're a party at risk if we nominate someone who's never held an office higher than mayor of South Bend, Indiana,' Biden told a crowd in Manchester, gathered at the Rex Theatre Saturday afternoon. Later, during a brief gaggle with reporters at his Manchester field office, he said of Buttigieg, 'This guy's not a Barack Obama.' The Biden campaign also put out a new ad, which put the two candidates' records side-by-side, and was tougher on Buttigieg than the digs the former veep was deploying onstage. While Biden helped get the Affordable Care Act passed giving healthcare to 20 million Americans, the ad boasted, Buttigieg 'installed decorative lights under bridges giving citizens of South Bend colorfully illuminated rivers.' And while Biden saved the auto industry after the 2008 crash, the spot said, Buttigieg 'revitalized the sidewalks of downtown South Bend by laying out decorative brick.' On Saturday, a new Boston Globe and Suffolk University survey showed Buttigieg even besting Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's been on top, by one point. Biden, like in Iowa, remained in fourth. He downplayed expectations in the Granite State, though said people shouldn't count him out. 'Look, the reports of our death are premature,' he told a field office of volunteers Saturday afternoon. 'I've never paid attention to all that frontrunner talk from the time I entered the race,' former Vice President Joe Biden said at a campaign stop Saturday in New Hampshire Former Vice President Joe Biden takes a selfie with attendees of his Manchester, New Hampshire event Saturday afternoon The two boys who recited the 'pledge of allegiance' to the crowd also gave Vice President Joe Biden some colored pictures Former Vice President Joe Biden spoke Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Rex Theatre Figure skater Michelle Kwan was one of the opening speakers at former Vice President Joe Biden's event Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire At the Rex Theater, though, he said he never bought into the idea that he was the race's 'frontrunner,' despite being in the lead for months in national polls. 'I've never paid attention to all that frontrunner talk from the time I entered the race,' Biden said. Biden pointed to his childhood struggle with a stutter, and the tragedies that rocked his life. 'Nothing's been easy,' he told the audience. He talked about going door-to-door when running for the U.S. Senate in his late 20s. That win, 'didn't come easy,' Biden said, 'but I persevered and prevailed.' 'The same thing goes for both the primary and the general election,' Biden continued. 'Like so much else in my personal and professional life I will, in fact, prevail.' Biden appeared at the Rex Theatre after participating in a food assembly line early Saturday morning in Manchester, helping feed the city's hungry. He had returned to the state, after spending some time in Delaware, to participate in Friday night's Democratic debate. There, he suggested he thought Sanders would win the state. 'I took a hit in Iowa, and I'll probably take a hit here,' Biden admitted Friday night during the Democratic debate at the nearby St. Anselm College. Biden has a hill to climb in the next four days before New Hampshire votes, as the last six poll released in the Granite State have him in fourth place. Joe Biden seen in this screen grab from a video posted by Olympic Figure Skater and Campaign Surrogate Michelle Kwan speaks to a young unidentified boy at a campaign rally in Manchester New Hampshire on February 8, 2020 Vice President Joe Biden continued to go after former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Saturday. Buttigieg bested Biden in Iowa during Monday's caucuses Former Vice President Joe Biden also continued to go after Sen. Bernie Sanders, suggesting Sanders' 'democratic socialist' label would tank the party's chances of taking back the U.S. Senate WARM RECEPTION: Vice President Joe Biden chats with a local resident as he volunteers at a food distribution event while campaigning in Manchester Saturday morning Former Vice President Joe Biden asked for some crowd participation at Friday night's Democratic debate in New Hampshire, telling the audience they should stand and applaud for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman who got removed from the White House earlier in the day Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was fired by President Trump Friday as part of a post-impeachment purge of officials who testified against him. Vindman testified about Trump's Ukraine plot in November before the House Intelligence Committee Saturday marked his first full day back on the campaign trail since Wednesday, when he seemed to be righting the ship. At a campaign stop at a church-turned-VFW events hall in Somersworth, New Hampshire, Biden began attacking Sanders and Buttigieg by name. He made similar arguments on the debate stage Friday night, standing alongside six Democratic rivals. 'Bernie has labeled himself, not me, a democratic socialist,' Biden pointed out Friday. 'I think that's the label that the president is going to lay on everyone running with Bernie is he is the nominee.' Biden suggested that Democratic voters shouldn't just pick a candidate who they think can beat President Trump but also a nominee who can give Democratic senate hopefuls a bump, in order for the party to yank away control from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Sanders, with his democratic socialism, would poison that, Biden contended. On Saturday in Manchester, he made the point again. 'It's going to depend a lot on who's at the top of the ticket,' he told voters. 'Can the person you're voting for beat Donald Trump, that's the first question?' he said. 'Can they help us win back the Senate?' is another. 'So ask yourself, will it be easier or harder for a Democrat to win with a democratic socialist at the top of the ticket, self-stated. Or is it going to be harder?' he said of Sanders. As for Buttigieg, Biden has been hammering his inexperience. 'He's a mayor of a small city who has done some good things but has not demonstrated his ability,' Biden argued on the New Hampshire debate stage. But Buttigieg also teed up one of Biden's most memorable moments in that venue. The ex-mayor was asked if the Democrats should be concerned about nominating a candidate who was still 'under the threat of investigation.' 'No. And we're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden this is about an abuse of power of the president,' Buttigieg said. 'The vice president and I and all of us are competing, but we've got to draw a line here,' Buttigieg added. The 38-year-old hopeful then went after Trump. 'To be the kind of president to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son, who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father, is an unbelievably dishonorable thing,' Buttigieg said. When it was Biden's turn to speak, the ex-veep thanked Buttigieg for his sentiment and then he called Trump's attacks on he and his son 'a diversion.' 'But here's the deal, whomever the nominee is the president is going to make up lies about,' Biden said. He then pointed out what happened to Vindman, who had testified to the House Intelligence Committee as part of impeachment proceedings. 'And, by the way, Colonel Vindman got thrown out of the White House today, walked out,' Biden said. 'He should be pinning a medal on Vindman, not Rush Limbaugh,' the former vice president added. He then asked audience members to get up on the feet. 'I think we should all stand and give Colonel Vindman a show of how much we support him,' Biden urged. 'Stand up and clap for Vindman. Get up there!' 'That's who we are, we are not what Trump is,' Biden said. The GALA LGBT awards will take place in the Mansion House in Dublin today. The awards honour those who work for a better future for LGBT people in Ireland and worldwide. A large number of people thronged the DefExpo 2020 venue here to get a glimpse of India's growing defence prowess as the showpiece event was opened to public on Saturday. All roads led to the venue in the southern part of the state capital. Crowd swelled as the day progressed and there were traffic snarls in areas surrounding the venue. At the venue, long queues of visitors could be seen at various entry points. However, the long queues did not deter the visitors as they patiently waited for their turn for security checks. Santosh Singh, a resident of the Chinhat area in Lucknow, said he stood in a long queue at 10 am and was finally able to pass the security check around 1 pm. "Like me, thousands of people have come from other parts of Lucknow and districts to have a first-hand idea of the event," Singh said. "There is undoubtedly a high quotient of excitement among the visitors. Tanks on display are the most sought after equipment as they provide the best background to click selfies," he said. Anupam Chauhan, who lives in the Indiranagar area of Lucknow, said, "The response to the mega event is definitely positive among the residents." "Live demonstrations at the DefExpo venue are the biggest crowd-pullers," Chauhan said. A resident of IIM Road, Bharat Singh 'Pooredarbar' has termed the ongoing DefExpo as a "good platform to showcase" India's military prowess, and also a good occasion to highlight India as a defence manufacturing hub. He said, "Excitement among people of all age groups was clearly visible at the DefExpo." Social media entrepreneur Aadesh Shukla, who lives in the Dubagga area of the state capital, said, "The ongoing Defence Expo in Lucknow has evoked a tremendous response from the people. What is more pleasing to see is that people are going through various social media tool links of the DefExpo to know more about it, and then uploading their special moments of the DefExpo on various social media platforms."Buses have been deployed to facilitate people to go to the venue of the DefExpo on Saturday and Sunday. AC buses have also been deployed. These buses will not charge any ticket from passengers. Lucknow regional manager of Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) Pallav Bose said, "Buses have been deployed on 13 routes for DefExpo. The buses will be in operation from 8 am to 6 pm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of terrified shoppers were evacuated from a Thai mall early Sunday as armed police said they had "taken control" of the ground floor of the complex from a gunman who killed at least 20 people. But authorities did not give any firm details on the whereabouts of the attacker - a junior army officer named Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma. There were fears the shooter could try to hide amongst the panicked crowds. Police from the Crime Supression Division urged fleeing shoppers to "raise their hands" and identify themselves on the ground floor "and authorities will evacuate you". Earlier Jakrapanth relayed his shooting spree through Facebook posts which charted the attack from an army barracks to the mall where an unknown number of shoppers remained trapped. Hospitals across the country braced for a grim night ahead. "There are about 20 dead," Kongcheep Tantravanich, defence ministry spokesman said. "Police, military commandos and sharp shooters are surrounding Terminal 21," he said. The Thai Health Minister told reporters around 10 people were already in hospital in a "serious condition." The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when Jakrapanth shot three people -- among them at least one soldier -- at an nearby army barracks. "He stole an army vehicle and drove into the town centre," police Lieutenant-Colonel Mongkol Kuptasiri. There the gunman used weapons stolen from the army arsenal to bring carnage to a town centre, walking into the Terminal 21 mall. He "used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead," police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said. Jakrapanth's motive remains unclear. But he throughout the day he posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded including "should I surrender?" and "no one can escape death". In one Facebook video -- since deleted -- the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open jeep saying, "I'm tired... I can't pull my finger anymore" and making a trigger symbol with his hand. There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol. A Facebook spokesperson said "we have removed the gunman's accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it". A witness who was inside the mall before the attack told AFP the shopping centre was thronging with shoppers on a long weekend. "There were loads of people at the mall today," a 32-year-old from the city said, requesting anonymity. "I was pretty shocked when I found out because I just left the mall not long before." Street lights below the shopping centre were switched off as army and police units sealed off the Terminal 21 mall. The city - better known as Korat - is home to one of Thailand's largest barracks in a country where the military is enmeshed in politics and society. Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. Several shootings at courthouses late last year renewed concern about gun violence in the Southeast Asian country. In another high-profile case, a two-year-old boy was among three people killed in Thailand when a masked gunman robbed a jewellery shop last month. Late last year two lawyers were shot dead by a clerk at a court in the east of the country during a hearing over a land dispute. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vietnam National Single Window, a one-stop shop for customs clearances, saw 13 ministries and central agencies integrate a total of 188 administrative procedures as of late January this year. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue chairs a meeting on trade facilitation, held in Hanoi on February 6. He asked the relevant ministries and agencies to make efforts to improve trade facilitation PHOTO: VGP Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who also serves as chairman of the national steering committee for ASEAN single window, national single window and trade facilitation, chaired a meeting in Hanoi on Thursday on the agencys tasks for this year, reported the Government news website. The ministry reported the national single window system had a total of 188 administrative procedures, up 15 units compared with 2018. Also, 22 other procedures are set to be connected with the system soon. It handled over 2,800 million sets of applications from more than 35,000 firms. The relevant ministries have adopted 37 out of 51 new procedures, accounting for 72.6% of the total compared with the target set earlier this year. All procedures are expected to be adopted within the first quarter. Local authorities have completed a test run on customs declarations with the Eurasian Economic Union and have conducted negotiations with other countries on the exchange of quarantine and origin certificates. Officials stated that previous improvements in administrative procedures have to a certain extent boosted the development of imports and exports and have enhanced the competitiveness of both the business community and the nation. As a result, the total import and export earnings surged to US$500 billion last year from the 2018 tally of some US$400 billion. Deputy Prime Minister Hue remarked that 2020 is the final year of the plan for rolling out the national single window, ASEAN single window, and trade facilitation. Therefore, he asked the ministries and agencies to continue executing their tasks and various measures in line with the instructions of the prime minister and the steering committee. The senior Cabinet leader urged them to speed up the reduction and simplification of specialized inspection procedures. In an attempt to contain the outbreaks of the novel coronavirus and a highly fatal bird flu strain known as H5N1, he called on officials to analyze and assess the impact of these diseases on goods purchases so that they could suggest specific measures for specialized checks and customs clearance activities. The move is meant to get the outbreaks under control and avoid the delay and build up of goods, thereby creating favorable conditions for firms to do business and safeguarding trade. He told the Vietnam Logistics Business Association and its members to reduce warehousing costs by 10%-20% to support the owners of mall centers and supermarkets that seek to purchase farm produce. SGT Vietnam 2019 customs revenue hits all-time high of US$15 billion Vietnams active participation in multilateral and bilateral trade agreements created a pathway for improvements in the countrys business environment and support local enterprises to grow. Voting for the 70 seats in Delhi Assembly concluded on Saturday with the state registering a poor turnout as month-long campaigning that saw political parties stooping to new lows to grab power furthering the divide over CAA with communal and hate speeches failed to spur the National Capital to go out and vote Polling in the 70 seats of the Delhi Assembly concluded on Saturday with the state registering a very poor turnout as month-long campaigning that saw political parties stooping to new lows to grab power furthering the divide over CAA with communal and hate speeches failed to spur the National Capital to go out and vote. Delhi had recorded 57.06 percent polling on Saturday till 6 pm, the official time when polling closes, a dismal show as compared to the 2015 Assembly election when the National Capital had recorded a voter turnout of 67.08 percent. Soon after election silence ended at 6.30 pm, all exit polls unanimously predicted a clean sweep for the Aam Aadmi Party while an absolute wipeout for Congress. However, the BJP's tally is varying between 2 to 23. High turnout in minority-dominated areas The three minority-dominated seats of Mustafabad, Matia Mahal and Seelampur recorded the highest voter turnout in the Assembly elections here on Saturday, polls officials said. According to the data shared by the officials, Mustafabad in northeast Delhi recorded 66.29 percent voter turnout till 5 pm. Matia Mahal in old Delhi, the area that saw anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests, recorded a voter turnout of 65.62 per cent. Seelampur, another minority seat in northeast Delhi, recorded 64.92 per cent voting. The seat had also seen anti-CAA protests in December. According to data based on the EC's Voter Turnout app, of the 11 districts, northeast Delhi recorded the highest turnout of 62.75 percent, while New Delhi saw 51.57 percent, the lowest till 6 pm. Missing names, VVPAT issues, slow pace irk voters The polling was smooth and police maintained a strict vigil in sensitive areas. Delhi Police personnel, along with paramilitary force, conducted flag marches in sensitive areas of northeast Delhi, Shahdara and east Delhi. At Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in the national capital, some voters complained about deletion of their names from the voters list. Similar issues were reported from Seelampur constituency as well. Asma Rehman, ex-councillor and wife of AAP candidate from Seelampur Abdul Rehman, alleged that names of many voters were missing from the voters list this time. She also claimed that voters' slips were not properly distributed in some areas, including Chauhan Bangar and Jafarabad Gali Number 26. Meanwhile, a few voters complained of sluggish pace of voting. There were some complaints related to VVPAT slips and some voters also complained of their names missing from the voters' list. Congress's New Delhi candidate Romesh Sabharwal said VVAPT slips did not show his name and photo. "I gave a written complaint to poll authorities after which the machine was replaced," Sabharwal said, adding that polling was halted for some time. "Senior officers, along with forces, have been conducting flag marches in sensitive areas. Motorcycle patrolling are also being done. Besides, PCR and Quick Response Teams have also been deployed in sensitive areas," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar. Shaheen Bagh women protesters vote in batches On a sit-in for over a month against the Citizenship Amendment Act, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh voted in batches on Saturday so that the agitation remains unaffected. While some of the women voted in the morning, others chose to get their fingers inked in the afternoon and the remaining in the evening. "The women here had decided a day before voting that some of them would go out for voting in the morning, while others will stay back for chores. The others will go in the afternoon and then come back to the protest site. By the evening, we will be a full house again, all geared up to continue our protest," said Zaheeda Khan, a resident of Shaheen Bagh. Taking a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "biriyani" remark, Mohammad Ayub, a resident, said they were voting to prove a point that they were not being served any "biryani". Adityanath was served a notice by the Election Commission for his "Kejriwal is feeding biryani in Shaheen Bagh" comments. The Shaheen Bagh protest site had become a focal point in the BJP's poll campaign. "Many people have alleged that we were protesting for Delhi elections and that some political parties were funding us and serving 'biryani'. They should know that we are still protesting as Delhi votes and will continue the agitation after the polling," Ayub said. "No party serves us 'biryani'. The women cook and bring food to feed the protestors," he added. Congress' Alka Lamba gets into altercation; BJP's Parvesh Verma seeks vote for 'nationalist' party On Saturday, Congress's Chandni Chowk candidate Alka Lamba on Saturday got into an altercation with an AAP worker outside a polling booth, a purported video of which has gone viral. The video shows Lamba arguing with the AAP worker. She can be then seen trying to slap the man, but misses. Lamba alleged that the man used "very foul" and objectional language against her. The Chandni Chowk MLA was outside one of the polling booths in her constituency. BJP leader Parvesh Verma, who was banned by the EC twice from campaigning in Delhi, urged voters to queue up at polling booths in large numbers and vote for the 'nationalist' party. In a video, released on Twitter, the BJP MP also said that voters "of a particular community" in Shaheen Bagh, Jamia and Seelampur are voting for the Aam Aadmi Party to repay their debt for having been served with "biryani" and given "money" during anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh. AAP, BJP urge electors to vote in large numbers President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their franchise. Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their votes. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal voted at the Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents blessings. Former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior RSS functionary Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - as you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who led a very aggressive campaign and covered 60 assembly seats, appealed to voters to "free" the national capital from lies and vote-bank politics. "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions. "I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics," Shah tweeted. BJP president JP Nadda also appealed to all the voters to vote in large numbers. "Each vote of you is important for the unity and integrity of the country and holistic development of Delhi. Your vote only will be script the golden future of Delhi. 'Pehle Matdan, Phir Jalpan'. Jai Hind," Nadda tweeted. Hundreds of people, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in many areas across the country, often raise the slogan of "kagaz nahi dikhayenge" (we will not show documents. "My message to the voters is 'aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen' (Today, take your document along with you and show your document)," Lal said. Responding to AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that no one in the BJP was worthy of becoming the CM, senior BJP leader Shyam Jaju, "We have no dearth of chief ministerial candidates. We will declare our CM face at the right time." AAP candidate from Chandni Chowk Prahalad Sahni said that vote is being cast on the development plank, asserting that the Shaheen Bagh issue has no impact in the Delhi assembly elections. First-time electors vote for jobs "Ballot over bullets" and "jobs over freebies" were among the priorities for many of the first-time voters who queued up at polling booths, excited to exercise their franchise. Also among the first-time voters were Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's son Pulkit Kejriwal and Congress leader Ajay Maken's son Aujaswi Maken. "I kept those at the lowest strata who are just able to make their ends meet in mind before I pressed the (EVM) button. The new-generation electorate would vote for equality, development, healthcare, education and clean air," said 21-year-old Akshay Singh. Praveen Punj, a first-time voter at Tilak Nagar polling booth said, "We can't fight these forces with bullets. Even if they fire, we should not. They can only be fought with ballot. Happy to have made my contribution for the first time." He also posted a selfie on social media showing his inked finger with a caption "ballot over bullets #firsttime". "Employment should be the topmost agenda for any voter to decide. Rest everything is secondary. Light, water... whatever amenities, even if they are expensive they can be availed if there is income. So my vote is for jobs rather than freebies," said Prahalad Kumar, a first-time voter in Nangloi. Sadaf Mehboob (18), a student of Jamia Millia University, who cast her vote from a polling station in Shaheen Bagh, said, "My vote has gone for a party that has worked for development in the last five years." "My vote has gone for better education, health, and jobs for the youth, as I am one. It was heartening to see so many youth coming out to vote in Shaheen Bagh area that has become the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in Delhi," she added. Kejriwal's son Pulkit said he felt good after voting for the first time. When asked if his father will be the chief minister again, he said whoever people choose will become the CM. Over 1.47 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that will decide the fate of 672 candidates in 70 Assembly constituencies which are seeing a triangular contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), opposition BJP and the Congress. Polling for the 70 seats of Delhi assembly began at 8 am on Saturday amid tight security. The votes will be counted on 11 February. With inputs from PTI Protesters block rail line near Dupont and Dufferin in support of Coastal GasLink pipeline opponents Keith Burgess/CBC A Toronto rally held in solidarity with Coastal GasLink pipeline protesters in B.C. on Saturday disrupted freight and passenger train services for several hours, and additional cancellations are expected Sunday. Via Rail says several trains running between Toronto and Ottawa and between Toronto and Montreal will be cancelled Sunday morning. They include routes 40, 42, 45, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 643. The Toronto demonstration was held at the Davenport Diamond, near Bartlett Avenue and Dupont Street, which is the intersection where CP Rail and GO train tracks meet. On Saturday, Via Rail had cancelled all trains running between Toronto and Ottawa, as well as trains between Toronto and Montreal, following the third day of protests near Belleville, Ont. A total of 68 trains have been cancelled since Thursday night, the rail service says. Friday and Saturday's cancellations affected 14,000 passengers, it said in a statement. CP Rail also suspended trains along the route due to people walking on and around the tracks, Toronto police Const. Ed Parks told CBC Toronto. GO trains along the Barrie line were suspended as a precaution, but were later deemed safe to move slowly through the area, Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins told CBC News. Rally held in support of pipeline opponents Protesters have said they're holding the "disruptive rally" in solidarity with members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk territory who are protesting the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Wet'suwet'en territory, B.C. On Saturday afternoon, CN obtained a court injunction to end the Tyendinaga Mohawk rail demonstration. It remains unclear what those demonstrators plan to do next. WATCH | We'tsuwet'en supporters block trains, delay traffic: The $6-billion, 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline has been approved by the province, and 20 First Nations band councils signed agreements in support of it, including five of the six band councils in the Wet'suwet'en nation. Story continues "Joining actions across Canada, supporters in Toronto are taking action to show that this invasion is unacceptable," organizers of the Toronto protest said in a news release. Hundreds of people across B.C. also took to the streets on Saturday one day after RCMP officers in Northern B.C. arrested 14 people at a fortified checkpoint blocking access for Coastal GasLink pipeline workers near Houston. Protesters disbanded Saturday evening Toronto police said earlier Saturday that they were speaking with organizers of the rally to come to an understanding. "We are going to continue to talk with organizers to try to resolve this," Parks told CBC Toronto. Parks said the protest began with 19 people, but later grew. By 6 p.m., police said the protestors had decided to disband. HURON COUNTY The Huron County Landfill plans on expanding over the course of this year. Plans are to expand the landfill 40 acres immediately south from its current parcel of land on McMillan Road in Sheridan Township. Angelo Caramagno, a general manager with Flint-based Emterra Group, which owns and operates the landfill under the Huron Landfill Corporation name, said landfills generally go through an expansion process every few years, and expansion is needed to provide low-cost solid waste disposal to the residents of the Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, and Lapeer counties. Expanding a landfill is an involved and lengthy process, Caramagno said, explaining that an engineering firm with expertise in landfill design and hydrogeology prepares the construction permit application, which is then submitted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for review. The state then reviews the application for approval. As part of an advisory analysis of the site from EGLE, the expansion must be consistent with the countys Solid Waste Management Plan, requires a completed construction permit, and must comply with state and federal air quality requirements The landfill was initially licensed in 1985 as Cove Sanitary Landfill, which then progressed through numerous owners until the current ownership took over in January 2013. Huron County and Sheriday Township receive quarterly payments from Emterra for having a landfill located in those jurisdictions. Caramagno said that once the application is submitted, he hopes for a permit issuance for as early as June. Emterra plans on beginning construction in August, with certification to come in the fall. Completion of the expansion is expected by January 2021 at the earliest. ROME, N.Y. An inmate at the Mohawk Correctional Facility was convicted of assault after the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association says he attacked a corrections officer last July. Jason Melendez, 34, was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in 2008 and has been serving a 15-year sentence. NYSCOPBA says on July 8, Melendez punched an officer several times in the face and head after the officer tried to counsel him about smoking. Additional officers came in to help restrain Melendez after the attack. After the incident, the injured officer needed 10 stitches in his lip and was treated for a cut over his eyebrow. Melendez was transferred from Mohawk to Clinton after the attack. It is not clear how much time, if any, was added to Melendezs sentence for this conviction. T he Solar Orbiter, a spacecraft designed and built in Stevenage, is ready for its journey to the Sun in a mission to unlock its secrets. It has been described as "the most significant UK investment in a space science mission for a generation". The spacecraft is expected to blast off into space in the Atlas V 411 rocket from Nasa's Cape Canaveral site in Florida on Sunday. It will orbit the star, beaming back high-resolution photos and measuring the solar wind as part of the mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and partly funded by the The UK Space Agency. Artist impression of The Solar Orbiter in front of the Sun / PA Dr Chris Lee, the UK Space Agency's chief scientist, said: "Understanding how our Sun works is a UK science strength, with teams investigating how solar storms build and grow. "The Solar Orbiter represents the most significant UK investment in a space science mission for a generation. "Science teams across the UK proposed the mission in the first place and are now supporting major roles in four of the 10 instruments." Solar Orbiter at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. / PA The 1.3 billion mission will run parallel to Nasa's Parker Solar Probe, which has flown closer to the Sun than any spacecraft since its launch 18 months ago. Here is everything you need to know about the Solar Orbiter. What is the Solar Orbiter's mission? The Solar Orbiter will help scientists understand more about the Sun and its influence on the Solar System as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) mission. The mission will also help answer questions such as how the Sun's magnetic field is generated, how flares and other eruptions produce the energetic particles that lead to extreme space storms. The spacecraft built to unlock the mysteries of the Sun has been described as "the most significant UK investment in a space science mission for a generation". / PA Big space storms have the ability to disrupt electrical equipment and power grids on the ground and put satellites at risk. Predicting when these storms occur could help the governments and companies protect these satellites and other communications infrastructure. What role did the UK play? Scientists in the UK helped design four of the 10 instruments on the Solar Orbiter, while the UK Space agency provided 20 million of funding for the 1.3 billion project. The design and implementation of the spacecraft was undertaken by aerospace company Airbus in Stevenage. European Space Agency Solar Orbiter Project Manager Cesar Garcia listens as Airbus Defense and Space Solar Orbiter Project Manager Ian Walters discusses the agency's science mission to the sun / REUTERS Chris Lee, the UK Space Agency's chief scientist, said: "Solar Orbiter is the most important UK space science mission for a generation, both because of its leading roles for UK science and industry but also because of the crucial information it will give us about living near a star like the Sun." How will the spacecraft reach the Sun? The spacecraft will take two years to reach the Sun. It will use gravitational force of Venus and Earth to adjust its trajectory, which will place it into an elliptical orbit around the Sun. The Solar Orbiter will make a close approach to the Sun every five months, and at its closest will only be 26 million miles away, closer than the planet Mercury. During these times, it will be positioned for several days over roughly the same region of the Sun's surface, as the Sun rotates on its axis. This will allow the orbiter to observe magnetic activity building up in the atmosphere that can lead to powerful flares and eruptions. What will happen to the Solar Orbiter at the end of the mission? The mission is expected to last 11 years. Once the Solar Orbiter runs out of fuel and power, scientists will lose all communication with the spacecraft. A fraudster who sold the same two forests in Co Roscommon 'over and over again' to unsuspecting investors has been given an extra two years in jail on foot of an appeal by prosecutors. Garret Hevey (43) from Shankill used the pseudonym James Baker when he incorporated Arden Forestry Management Limited, which offered investment opportunity in the Irish forestry sector, in November 2013. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 5.5 million from 143 investors passed through an AIB bank account in Dun Laoghaire between the account's opening in January 2014, and it's freezing in June 2016. Gardai began investigating the company when one of the investors discovered that Arden FML was not the registered owner of the land he had invested 52,000 in. The investor had asked to visit what had been identified as his investment at which point an email was sent to Hevey by his coaccused saying 'sh*t, he wants to visit the land registry, how do we get over that?' The Finnish investor was taken to a forest in Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, but when he asked to go to the land registry he was told there was no time. Upon returning home to Greece, the investor carried out his own inquiries with the land registry and was 'dismayed' to find the land registered to someone else. Hevey, of Brookdene, Shankill, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly inducing investment in Arden FML between January 1, 2014 and June 13, 2016 and three counts of inducing individuals by deception to make payments on dates between September 2015 and May 2016. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Melanie Greally on July 27, 2019 which was found to be 'unduly lenient' by the Court of Appeal on Monday. Resentencing Hevey to six years imprisonment, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said Arden FML could not be regarded as anything other than 'an engine of fraud' because false names were used when the business of the company commenced. Mr Justice McCarthy said the same two forests, located in Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, were being sold 'over an over again' by Arden FML. If the monies had been used for the intended purposes, he said 858 acres of forestry should have been acquired but in reality, the company purchased a mere 30.2 acres of forest. The minimum permissible investment was STG10,400 which afforded the investor two acres of forest land, while the largest individual investment was 491,381. Mr Justice McCarthy said Arden FML attracted investors through Google Ads and their marketing campaign targeted overseas investors, who would have had limited knowledge of the Irish forestry sector. They were provided with an 'impressive looking' investor pack which included a brochure containing unauthorised endorsements from AIB, Confor, FBD and Forest Sale Ireland. It used a virtual office with an address at 629 Trinity Street, Dublin, and with an associated phone number. The company also issued fraudulent timber certificates from a non-existent forestry company. Mr Justice McCarthy said investors were given false folio numbers, which were taken from genuine purchases of land, but the same numbers were 'used and re-used'. He said the company also offered a 500 reward to investors who attracted new investors. Payments slightly in excess of 270,000 were paid out to investors in the form of purported government grants and thinning payments. Investors were paid using the monies of later investments because the 30.2 acres which had been purchased were not eligible for government grants. Investigations showed that Hevey received payments of 501,332 from the AIB account, of which 281,613 was spent on Google Ads. In addition, 1.5 million was transferred to an account in the United Arab Emirates, the two beneficiaries of which (the account) were Hevey and his coaccused. Hevey also accepted that he had a connection to a company called 'Clarence' and there was evidence that 60,000 had been transferred to it. Sentencing Hevey to six years imprisonment on Monday, Mr Justice McCarthy said 'fraudulent conduct of the present kind' must fall into the most serious category of offending. He said the sentencing judge erred in selecting a headline sentence lower than 'in or about nine years', where the maximum is ten years. Mr Justice McCarthy said the sentencing judge also fell into error by attaching too much weight to the mitigating factors. He said a two-year reduction from the headline sentence would have been appropriate for Hevey's 'relatively late' guilty plea and the other mitigating factors. Hevey had a lengthy history of employment in national and international companies and he enjoyed the respect of former colleagues. He had no relevant previous convictions and testimonials spoke to his qualities as a husband and father as well as his engagement with charitable concerns. A further 12 months was taken off in circumstances where Hevey may 'have hoped for and been working towards a release date after four years' in jail, the judge said. Mr Justice McCarthy, who sat with President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Brian McGovern, said a significantly higher sentence than six years may have been appropriate at first sentence. The court did not think it appropriate to suspend any portion of the sentence, the judge added. Hevey's coaccused, David Peile (42) of Avondale Court, Ballyguile, in Wicklow, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment in Arden FML between January 1, 2014 and June 13, 2016 and guilty to two charges of of inducing individuals by deception to make payments on dates between September 2015 and May 2016. Peile, who was second in charge and who sometimes went by the name David Marshall, was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Greally. No appeal has been lodged in respect of Peile's sentence. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Mostly clear. Low around 30F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low around 30F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes. As the country erupts over the CAA and NRC, all I can do is think of Daya Ram from Pakistan in Jodhpur and Tehmina from Afghanistan in Delhi, says Geetanjali Krishna. IMAGE: Hindu refugees from Pakistan celebrate after the Lok Sabha passes the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, at Majnu Ka Teela in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo At a time when many of us are up in arms over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens, I'm reminded of conversations I've had with refugees across the country in the last few years. I remember Tehmina (name changed) from Afghanistan, whose husband was kidnapped and lost to the Taliban. She was tortured by her in-laws for years before she was able to flee to India with her three children. She now lives in Delhi, a non-citizen who can't open a bank account, buy property, get a proper job or live a normal life. All she has by the way of identification, is the Refugee Card issued by the UNHCR. I also remember Daya Ram, who fled to India from the Sindh province in Pakistan over a year ago after facing acute religious persecution. Over the years, he told me, his family fled to India in stages, whenever they could collect enough money to pay for a couple of them to come to India on a 15-day religious visa and pay agents Rs 20,000 per person in "fees". Daya Ram was the last person in his family to leave his homeland -- where he was reviled for being Hindu -- for India where he is reviled for being a Pakistani. Till the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill became an Act, I have to say I hadn't given their religious affiliation even a moment of thought. Call me naive, but to me both Tehmina and Daya Ram have faced similar problems in India. Refugees and displaced people pouring in from its neighbouring conflict zones have no status in the country. Both Tehmina and Daya Ram have entered India without official papers. Both live in a strange limbo in camps and settlements, away from their respective homelands, unable to call India their own. Tehmina's elder son, now 22, only gets jobs where he can be paid in cash and kept off books as he has no means of identification. Her eleven year old, has been too traumatised to even go to school. For years, she has educated him at home. Daya Ram faces the same prospects as his brother Amir Khan (half his family adopted Muslim names to avoid persecution in Pakistan) who fled to India three years ago, also on a 15-day religious visa. Both live in the Aanganwa camp for Pakistani Hindu refugees in Jodhpur. After all this time, his brother has no job. Around him, neighbours are getting their daughters married younger and younger, to avoid them being "dishonoured" in the close confines of the camp. "Often I wonder," he said to me, "what is this life worth?" Which is why as the country erupts over the CAA and NRC, all I can do is think of Daya Ram from Pakistan in Jodhpur and Tehmina from Afghanistan in Delhi. They have faced the trauma of fleeing from the countries of their birth -- and the problems of fitting into the country they have sought refuge in. Instead of looking at refugees through the unnecessary lens of religion, India should ratify the 1967 Protocol of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention (signed by 140 of the world's 190-odd nations). If not, then at least the powers that be need to look into the eyes of Tehmina and Daya Ram to see that fear knows no god. Neither, for that matter, does humanity. Their son, Azlan Nihar, is one of 800 Pakistani students stranded in Wuhan whom the government in Islamabad is refusing to evacuate. While other countries have evacuated their citizens from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, officials in Islamabad said a similar move by Pakistan would be irresponsible because the country lacks the ability to prevent the spread of the virus and treat those infected. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (February 8) called upon the Sri Lankan government to ensure equality, justice, peace, and respect for Tamils in the island nation. The Prime Minister held delegation-level talks with his Sri Lanka counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is currently on a five-day visit to India. The delegation-level talks focussed on expanding cooperation over terrorism as well as promoting joint economic projects in the island nation. Modi said, "I am confident that the Sri Lankan government will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within united Sri Lanka." He further said, "India and Sri Lanka are neighbours as well as close friends. We share common bonds. Terrorism is a big problem in our region. Both of us have fought it befittingly. We will further increase our cooperation against terror." Recalling the painful and barbaric Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in April last year that killed 259 people, the Prime Minister said: "These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity as a whole." Modi said, "Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future are connected with each other in every region. Stability, security, and prosperity in Sri Lanka are in India`s interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region." He further added, "India has been a trusted partner in the development efforts of Sri Lanka. The new Lines of Credit announced last year will give more strength to our development cooperation." Rajapaksa noted that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed several important issues, adding "I am very pleased to be here my first official visit abroad after assuming office as a Prime Minister. Today, our discussions were based on the outcome of the discussion that the Prime Minister and President Gotabaya had during his very successful visit to India in November last year." The meeting focussed on promoting joint economic projects in Sri Lanka and enhancing bilateral relations over trade and investment. The two leaders also discussed ways to increase people-to-people contact and encourage tourism between the two neighbours. Prior to the talks, Rajapaksa, who is on a five-day trip to India, laid a wreath at the Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier this morning, he was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rajapaksa arrived here on Friday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on the visiting dignitary and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. A delegation of Congress Party led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi met the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on the same day. Rajapaksa will leave for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where he will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Security has been beefed up in Varanasi ahead of his visit. On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre and later in the day to Tirupati, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. 'Who will break the bread for us?' is the title of Fr Brendan Hoban's reflection on the decline in priest numbers and the implications for the Irish Catholic Church. The Co Mayo priest has warned for many years that priests in Ireland are disappearing and that something radical needs to be done about it. Otherwise a "Eucharistic famine" will prevail, because "without priests we have no Mass and without Mass we have no Church." For most of the 20th century, the Irish Church had well stocked seminaries and could afford to send, not just missionary priests, but also diocesan ones, overseas to serve where clerics were not as plentiful. However, the steep decline in vocations in recent decades has caused some observers to predict that in less than 20 years, Ireland will be "effectively priestless". In 1984, there were 171 ordinations in Ireland. This contrasts with 2018, when the Diocese of Kerry celebrated its first ordination in 11 years. Fr Sean Jones was one of six ordinations that year for six dioceses. In 2016, the Towers Watson report produced for the Council of Priests in the archdiocese of Dublin predicted a drop of up to 70pc in the number of priests in active ministry by 2030. Some 57pc of the priests currently serving in Dublin's 200 parishes are over 60 years of age and this is projected to increase to 75pc by 2030. Proposals put forward in the Towers Watson report to counter the drastic drop in personnel include a reduction in the number of Masses on offer, allocating more work to permanent deacons and lay volunteers, "making it increasingly attractive to priests who are over 75 to remain involved in some capacity" and recruiting priests from overseas. A number of Irish dioceses have already reached out to the Church in Africa and Asia and invited priests to come and serve in their parishes in a bid to counter the collapse in priest numbers locally. There is no national strategy on inviting priests from overseas to serve in Ireland, it is up to individual bishops. Some have embraced the strategy enthusiastically while others continue to wait and see, as opinion is still divided on the merits of "importing" priests. A spokesperson for Dublin, the country's largest diocese, said it has not established a formal relationship with any particular diocese outside Ireland to invite priests to serve here. The priests from abroad who are currently serving in Dublin have come on a case-by-case basis. At the moment there are 29 priests in ministry in Dublin from Asia (India and China), Africa (Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania) and from Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia and Romania). Twelve of them are here primarily for studies and another 17 are available for full-time ministry. Expand Close Fr. Ciprian Matei from St Peter and Paul Church in Portlaoise. Pic Steve Humphreys 5th February 2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fr. Ciprian Matei from St Peter and Paul Church in Portlaoise. Pic Steve Humphreys 5th February 2020 "Some of these priests are here by arrangement of the archdiocese to serve the different ritual and ethnic chaplaincies in Dublin," the spokesperson explained. But these figures do not include non-Irish nationals from religious congregations who are serving in diocesan appointments, nor does it include non-Irish who are helping ethnic groups who meet in parishes administered by religious congregations. The overall number of priests from overseas working on the ground in Dublin parishes is therefore much higher. One diocese which has sought to shore up its priest numbers and maintain all its parishes by inviting priests to come in from abroad is Kildare and Leighlin. Bishop Denis Nulty had fostered a relationship with the Catholic Church in Romania which has resulted in three young priests coming to his diocese. In Newbridge, Fr Eugen Dragos Tamas has worked alongside 48-year-old Fr Paul Dempsey, who was recently appointed by Pope Francis as the new bishop of Achonry, as well as with Dominican Fr Paul Lawlor and Fr Michael Cudzilo from Poland. Fr Ciprian Matei is ministering in Portlaoise and Fr Petru Medves is based in the parish of Bagnelstown. More may follow. Strong bond As Fr Dempsey prepares to leave his international parish team in Newbridge to take up his episcopal role, he told Review: "Between Newbridge, Caragh and Prosperous, the area that I am responsible for at the moment, the priest make up is as follows: three Irish, two Polish, one Romanian and one Sri Lankan. "Personally, I have found the Romanian priests fantastic. A strong bond has been built between Kildare and Leighlin Diocese and the Diocese of Iasi and the Archdiocese of Bucharest. The people here are very much getting used to priests coming from different countries, it gives the sense of a universal church." Another diocese similarly reaping the benefits of priests from overseas ministering in its parishes is Elphin in the west of Ireland. A spokesperson told Review that there are 15 priests from overseas ministering in Elphin's parishes from Cameroon, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland and Sri Lanka. Of these, 12 of the priests are diocesan, two are from a missionary society and one is from a religious order. "We have two formal relationships with overseas dioceses/societies - one with the Diocese of Kumba, Cameroon and another with the Missionary Society of St Paul in Nigeria. We have informal relationships with other dioceses where priests come from a particular diocese to replace their fellow diocesan priest who has returned home." However, this enthusiasm is not mirrored by everyone in the Irish Church. Fr John Quinn is a spokesman for the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) in Ireland, which has a membership of over 1,000 Irish priests. The 65-year-old ministers in Swords in north Co Dublin and before that worked in the south inner city for 25 years. Ordained in 1986, he was considered a 'late vocation' when he joined the seminary at 23. "We know the statistics, and the future is not looking great as regards numbers, which are going down very rapidly and that will escalate over the next five to 10 years. "Certainly, within the next 20 years we will have a problem with the eucharist being celebrated." Church closures due to a lack of priests will particularly affect the faithful in rural areas. Yet he questions if bringing in priests from overseas "is the solution to our particular need in Ireland? We're not sure about that". He stresses that the ACP's scepticism is about querying a strategy and its effectiveness for the crisis in Ireland. "We certainly wouldn't want to be giving the impression that we are not welcoming guys from abroad - that wouldn't be the ACP's agenda at all. Where we deviate from the bishops who bring in priests is - it is great in the short term, but in the long term we need a church that is reforming in a more radical way." Cultural sensitivities A thornier issue relates to cultural sensitivities. "It might not be that easy for priests from abroad who come from a very different culture to feel at home here. They might be more conservative and have different attitudes towards women or different attitudes towards same-sex relationships and they may come from a different political system than our own. So, it is not straight forward." Fr Quinn refers to "some problems" where priests have "said stuff that has been a little bit off the wall and have had to be pulled up on it by the local bishop or the ACP". He does not know if there is any programme for new arrivals to help them acclimatise and understand the weave and waft of Irish society and worries that they are just thrown in at the coalface. For the ACP, bringing in priests from other dioceses kicks the can down the road on reform issues such as inviting priests who left to marry to return to ministry and ordaining women deacons. "The Church is very slow to dialogue about all this," says Fr Quinn. He also feels the bishops need to engage with the membership of the ACP, which is "a voice for priests in the country who may not necessarily have a voice or feel they are not being listened to". Referring to Pope Francis's efforts to bring about more collaboration and synodality, he observes: "We need to see more of that in the Irish Church, where people are asked their opinions, because it is the people in the pews that need to be asked how they feel about the future and where they feel the Church is going. "Everybody's opinion is important. We are a Catholic eucharistic people; it needs a priest to celebrate the eucharist. When there aren't priests to do that, it becomes a problem. Rather than waiting for the situation to become absolutely critical, we need to address this now because the clock is ticking." Yet word from the pews in St Joseph's in Monaghan on Sunday was "foreign priests are as good as our own priests". According to parishioner, Pat Hamill, who attended Sunday morning Mass before heading on to work: "We have to get used to it. "We have no other choice. While there may be a wee bit of a problem with communication, we'll adjust." By PTI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa covering the entire expanse of bilateral ties between the two countries including in areas of defence and security. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. Officials said a range of key bilateral issues, including trade and investment, as well as defence and security figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. Delhi: Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold delegation level talks at Hyderabad House. pic.twitter.com/ofPUpaegLl ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. His tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. However, ties between the two countries have been on an upswing in the last four years. President Gotabaya Rajpaksa visited India in November in his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office. Both sides resolved to further deepen bilateral defence and security ties during the Sri Lankan president's visit. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Former Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Trump for firing former National Security Council adviser Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified against Trump during the House impeachment investigation, and giving conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh the nation's highest civilian honor during Tuesday's State of the Union. What Biden is saying: "Lieutenant Colonel Vindman got kicked out of the White House today. He should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not rush Limbaugh. I think we should all stand now and give Col. Vindman a show of support. Get up there...That's who we are. We are not what Trump is." Watch Biden call for a standing ovation for Vindman: Go deeper...Biden on Limbaugh Medal of Freedom: He doesn't understand American decency VANCOUVERAs researchers work to understand the global coronavirus outbreak, a new figure has been drawn into the conversation: the pangolin. Pangolins are small creatures covered in scales that resemble artichoke leaves. The highly endangered species, also known as the scaly anteater, is one of the most trafficked animals on earth. Thats because of black market demand for its meat and scales as a delicacy and as a component in traditional Asian and African medicines. When the animals are frightened, they curl up into little balls making them easy prey for poachers. Bats are a likely original source of the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 600 people and sickened more than 31,000, but scientists have not figured out how the disease could have jumped from bats to humans. Chinas official Xinhua news agency on Friday said scientists from South China Agricultural University discovered that the genome sequence of the coronavirus strain in pangolins was 99 per cent identical to that of infected patients. The research paper has not yet been published, and scientists in Britain and Hong Kong have called for caution before acting on the announcement. Here is everything you didnt realize you needed to know about pangolins. Why do people eat these small animals, which are covered in hard scales, as food and medicine? Some advocates of traditional Chinese medicine think the hard scales of the pangolin, when ground down into a powder and mixed with other ingredients, can treat everything from arthritis, to lactation difficulties, to acne, asthma and liver cancer. Pangolin scales are actually made of keratin, the same material thats in human fingernails, and there is no evidence of any therapeutic or medical applications. Perhaps because of the world-wide scarcity of the animals, pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of southern China and Vietnam. And in some parts of Africa, including Ghana, pangolin scales and bones are used in traditional medicine as well as spiritual rituals, according to a 2015 study. How big is the underground smuggling industry? Banned since 2017 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a staggering quantity of pangolin products is still being traded around the world. Networks originate from West African bushmeat markets in Cameroon and Nigeria to middlemen and traffickers in Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong, and to mainland China, home to most of the demand spurring the global trade, according to the South China Morning Post. Last year, Hong Kong officials seized a record eight tonnes of pangolin scales from a shipping container, which originated from Nigeria and was bound for Vietnam. Hong Kong officials are trying to stop the well-connected city from acting as a hub for endangered species trafficking in Asia. In May 2018, the government increased the maximum jail term for trafficking and possession of endangered species from two to 10 years, but this hasnt deterred smugglers eyeing huge profits from the illegal trade. Forty grams of roasted pangolin powder can fetch $86-$110 Cdn. Last March, mainland China cracked down on nine pangolin smuggling gangs and rounded up 34 suspected smugglers, but the demand in the country remains high, customs officials reported. How commonly is pangolin found in traditional Chinese medicine in Canada? Folk medicine doctors may have used pangolin in the past in Canada, but with new regulations overseeing the traditional Chinese medicine industry in Ontario and British Columbia, and a global ban on the pangolin trade, its use by regulated Canadian practitioners is likely non-existent, said Pierre Chen, an instructor at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Mississauga. Talking to the Star, Chen stopped to consult a modern textbook and found no references to pangolin. Only when he flipped through an older textbook did he find a citation. According to the text, pangolins scales are the valuable part. Once the animal is killed, it is placed in hot water to remove the scales, he said. The scales are considered a cooling herb and, according to the old text, theyre beneficial for helping with abscesses or boils on the skin, as well as for promoting lactation and treating joint pain. Are illegal pangolin products making their way to Canada? If pangolin scales are making their way into Canada, theyre being smuggled in likely from underground breeders in countries such as Vietnam and Laos, Chen said. Last summer, the Canada Border Services Agency said officers at the Montreal-Trudeau airport intercepted undeclared pangolin meat in suitcases on two occasions. Joanna Chiu is a Vancouver-based reporter covering both Canada-China relations and current affairs on the West Coast for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued an ultimatum to Damascus after the death of 8 Turkish soldiers in Idlib as a result of an attack by the Syrian army. The Turkish leader said that the command of the Syrian government forces should withdraw fighters from Turkish observation posts in Idlib by the end of February. He threatened that if this does not happen, Ankara will solve the problem on its own. Political analyst Mehmet Perincek told Vestnik Kavkaza that the tragedy was provoked by the United States. "Turkey, Russia and Syria proceed from their national interests, participating in the fight against terrorists both in Idlib and in the eastern Euphrates. The actions of all three parties should be assessed as a struggle for common interests, and not against each other. In this regard, Turkey should oppose not only terrorists in the east of the Euphrates, but also actively engage in the elimination of terrorist cells in Idlib, helping Russia and Syria. Russia, in its turn, should actively participate in the fight against terrorists both in Idlib and in the eastern Euphrates, Perincek said. He noted that the terrorists in Idlib obey the orders of the United States and at the same time oppose Syria, Turkey and Russia. "All these terrorist cells are under US control. If ISIS, Al-Nusra Front (terrorist organizations banned in Russia) today pose a threat to the entire region, then Kurdish YPG terrorists controlled by the Americans can become a threat to entire Eurasia," Perincek said. The political scientist noted that the United States failed their agenda in the Middle East, having actually lost the war, and now they are looking for ways to push countries together. "The Astana process with the participation of Russia, Turkey and Iran has gained great success, the Sochi memorandum is a clear indicator of it. In this regard, the United States is trying to save its face by harming Turkeys relations with both Russia and Syria. By implementing provocations, they are playing Russia, Syria and Turkey off against one another. The only impediment to these provocations is direct communication between Ankara and Damascus. Turkey needs to establish direct ties with Syria. The absence of such ties is Ankaras biggest mistake, "Mehmet Perincek said. He also recalled the recent negotiations between the intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria in Moscow calling them a major event. "However, they should have been continued. And we could have avoided the tragedy with the Turkish soldiers in Idlib," Perincek said. The expert noted that today, terrorists in the eastern Euphrates are also a threat to Russia. "Russia should understand that the terrorists in the eastern Euphrates are its opponents because they are controlled by the United States. Turkey, Russia and Syria should unite their efforts in the fight against all terrorists in the region," the expert concluded. A joint investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other county and state agencies into the discovery of human remains has resulted in the arrest of two people, Kaleb Matthew Cox, 22, and Johnbeth Charisse Holland, 22. At the request of 12 District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, TBI special agents joined the Marion County Sheriffs Department, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture in investigating a vehicle fire on Game Preserve Road in the Prentice Cooper State Forest Thursday morning. Human remains were discovered inside the burnt vehicle. The identity of the deceased individual has not yet been confirmed, but during the course of the investigation, agents developed information that indicated that Cox, of Hixson, and Ms. Holland, of Huntsville, Tn., had involvement in the incident. They were arrested on Thursday. Cox is charged with one count of aggravated arson, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of abuse of a corpse, and one count of vandalism. Ms. Holland is charged with one count of accessory after the fact. Both were booked into the Marion County Jail, where they are currently being held without bond. In an affidavit, authorities said Cox had spent the day Wednesday with the person found dead the next day. He said while they were driving around the Suck Creek area that the person overdosed on drugs and died. Cox said he then called his girlfriend, Ms. Holland, to come and help him. He said he drove the car to the state forest while she followed in another vehicle. He said he lit pieces of paper to burn the inside of the car with the dead individual still inside. The couple then left in the other vehicle. US and Afghan troops came under "direct fire" in eastern Afghanistan late Saturday, a US military official said, in an incident local media described as an "insider" attack. "A combined US and Afghan force conducting an operation in Nangarhar Province was engaged by direct fire on February 8", US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett said in a statement. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the apparent "green-on-blue" attack -- where Afghan security forces target international soldiers with whom they are working. An Afghan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack happened in the Shirzad district military headquarters, and that foreign forces had cordoned off the area. "Several helicopters landed in and departed from the HQ compound taking out casualties. We dont know how many killed or wounded," the official told AFP. The latest incident comes even as US and Taliban negotiators are seeking reach a deal that would allow the United States to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan after more than 18 years of war. Last year was the deadliest for US forces in Afghanistan since combat operations officially finished at the end of 2014, highlighting the challenging security situation that persists. In December, Taliban infiltrators in the Afghan military killed nine Afghan soldiers in central Afghanistan. In July, an Afghan soldier killed two US troops as they were visiting an Afghan army base in Kandahar. US President Donald Trump has long questioned the wisdom of keeping troops overseas and has described the war in Afghanistan launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks as a drain on blood and treasure. But last year he cancelled a previously unannounced summit at the Camp David presidential retreat with the Taliban because of an attack that killed an American. He later allowed veteran US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad to resume the talks, which had taken place for months in Qatar. As talks have fluctuated, violent attacks in the country have raged, with the number of clashes jumping to record levels in the last quarter of 2019, according to a recent US government watchdog report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five Britons, including a nine-year-old child, who were staying in a chalet at a French ski resort have been diagnosed with coronavirus. They tested positive after sharing lodgings in Les Contamines-Montjoie with a man who is believed to have contracted the disease in Singapore, said France's health ministry. He is a fellow Briton who was in the Alpine village in late January and later confirmed to have the virus after returning to the UK. The man is now being treated at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, Sky News understands, and is the third confirmed case in Britain. All five new victims in France were part of a group of 11 Britons who were in the same chalet. They were taken to hospital overnight in the Savoie region and are not in a serious condition. The six other people who came into contact with the virus carrier were also taken to hospitals in Lyon, Saint-Etienne and Grenoble. :: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker There were three children in the group of 11. Among them was a nine-year-old child who recently spent time in a school in Les Contamines-Montjoie - a mountain village of which he was also a resident. French authorities will close two schools next week in the area near the ski resort. The British national who is thought to have infected the five in France was in Singapore on 20-23 January, then stayed in the area in eastern France for four days from 24 January, before returning to England on 28 January. The man is thought to have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Brighton, where it has emerged that a school student has been told to self-isolate for 14 days . In a message sent to parents, the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy said the pupil was staying at home and that the school would be notified should they start to present symptoms. In nearby Hove, meanwhile, several members of staff at a pub have been advised to "self-isolate" after it emerged the British man with coronavirus visited their premises about a week ago before becoming unwell. Story continues A spokesperson for the Grenadier pub told Sky News: "We are following the advice and working closely with Public Health England who have advised us that there is minimal ongoing risk of infection to either guests or staff, and as such the pub remains open for business as usual." Singapore authorities are looking into a business congress that took place in a hotel last month, which was attended by 94 foreigners. The British man who has tested positive for coronavirus had travelled to that meeting. A UK company called Servomex has said a number of its workers in different countries have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and are now being treated. Need a catch-up? Here's the latest on the coronavirus: Some 81 new fatalities have been recorded in Hubei province in China, where Wuhan - the sprawling city where the infection was first reported after Christmas - is located. There are three confirmed cases in the UK. They are a man believed to have caught the virus in Singapore and two people who were diagnosed in York and are now at a specialist hospital unit in Newcastle. Other British cases have been reported abroad, including a passenger, Alan Steele, 58, on the stranded Diamond Princess cruise ship which has been quarantined off the coast of Japan. About 3,700 passengers and crew are being kept at the port city of Yokohama, about 25 miles from Tokyo, with the operator Princess Cruises hoping the quarantine will end on 19 February barring "unforeseen developments". An evacuation flight out of Wuhan will land in the UK on Sunday carrying more than 200 passengers. The second and final flight to be chartered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office left Wuhan at 3.20am local time on Sunday, carrying Britons and other nationalities. The plane, with British government staff and military medics on board, is expected to arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at around 7.20am. South Central Ambulance Service said Kents Hill Park, a conference centre and hotel, will be used to house the returnees and they will remain there in isolation for 14 days. The ambulance service said the presence of the group in Milton Keynes does not present a risk to local people. Everyone boarding the plane in Wuhan will be assessed and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK. Anyone displaying symptoms would not have been permitted to board the plane. A Brazilian air force plane has evacuated an Indian from the novel coronavirus-hit Wuhan in China along with a group of Brazilian citizens, diplomatic sources said on Saturday. The Indian has disembarked from the plane in Poland, they said. Brazil has said that two of its military planes flew to Wuhan, epicentre of the outbreak, to rescue its citizens stuck in the city. No other detail is available so far about the evacuated Indian citizen. India has evacuated more than 640 of its citizens from Wuhan. The death toll in China from the deadly virus has jumped to 723 with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598. The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Friday, said that God told him that Nigeria havent seen anything yet with regards to fire outbreaks in the country this year. KanyiDaily recalls that Pastor Adeboye had said in his prophecies for 2020 on New Years Evening that Nigeria would experience a lot of fire outbreaks this year. In January 2020, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were no fewer than 20 major fire outbreaks in different parts of the country. Speaking at the February Holy Ghost Service of the church tagged Let there be Light II, Adenoye said that he is not a prophet but as a pastor, he hears from God once in a while, adding that if what God told him about Nigeria should come to pass, the country wont be able to cope. However, he prayed for the negative aspect of the prophecies to be cancelled, saying: If there is a prophecy that has a negative connotation, a good prophet ought to pray that such prophecy will not come to pass. If it is cancelled and nothing happens, at the end of the year, call me a false prophet, I would be happy. Im not a prophet anyway; Im a pastor. But if what God told me should come to pass, how will Nigeria cope? A prophet will be anxious that everything he says will come to pass. A pastor will care less. At the beginning of this year, you heard me say that the Lord said that on the international scene, there would be fire outbreaks, flood, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, that what we saw in the past was childs play. If you follow the news all over the world, you can see what is already happening. I told you at that time that Nigeria is part of the international scene; we are part of the world. If you look at what happened in January, just one month, the number of fire outbreaks, houses burnt, markets burnt, government houses burnt, fire outbreaks near this airport and that airport. If the Lord says we havent seen anything yet, then we need to pray. The 77-year-old cleric said at the programme that Nigeria needs prayer to avert the disasters before it this year, lamenting that the country does not have the technical wherewithal for disaster management. In Nigeria, we dont even have the means to cope with any serious fire outbreak. We dont have the equipment to deal with any major flood. We dont even have anything to handle a major storm. If all of a sudden, the ocean should come in, where will our people in Lagos go? Im going to ask you to join me in praying that this aspect of the prophecies be cancelled. Father, have mercy on Nigeria. No fire outbreaks, Lord. No storm, please Daddy. Have mercy oh Lord. Have mercy on us, he told his congregation. Just a few days ago, Pastor Enoch Adeboye led members of his church to protest against the spate of insecurity in Nigeria. In series of videos and photos shared online, the pastor is seen carrying a placard leading the members of the church in a peaceful protest tagged prayer walk. The inscription on his placard reads, All souls are precious to God. Actions speak louder than the best speeches View(s): My dear Gota maamey, I thought I must write to you because many issues have arisen since I wrote to you last, although it is not even three months yet since you took over the top job. We dont see you and hear you in public as much as we saw your predecessors- though I dont believe that would be a disadvantage for you. Many who saw you and heard you on Independence Day commended you. The ceremony was brief by our standards. You had your military medals pinned on your shirt, so you wanted to remind us that you were still a military man at heart and only the second such head of government after Sir John. As for the other guests at the ceremony, it was good to see you, Mahinda maama and Satellite at one event. Im sure you would have sent an invitation to Cheerio Sirisena but he chose to be a no show. Maybe he realised at last that if he kept your company, it would prove he was a pygmy among giants. Your speech was impressive. Even Mangala who doesnt see eye to eye with you on most issues these days, praised it. However, he also said that many of our leaders had made great speeches but most of them had failed to do even half of what they said they would do. That would be your challenge too. For instance, you said that you would allow the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary to function independently of each other. In other words, you are saying that you wouldnt interfere with the latter two. Gota maamey, I hope you can keep that promise because none of your predecessors did! Honestly, I am a bit baffled by that remark. If you wanted to allow these pillars of government to act independently, you should embrace and strengthen the 19th Amendment. However, havent we heard you saying more than once that you need a two-thirds majority at the next election to get rid of it? Didnt we all see Cheerio Sirisena, who promised to be the last Executive President and reduce the powers of the Presidency, suddenly lose his marbles and sack Ranil? It was only because of the 19th Amendment that the courts were able to contain him. If not for that, he would be the boss to this day! Still, it is early days yet in your term of office and most people are quite prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. In fact, there are quite a few issues that will come up in the near future which will tell us whether you will interfere with the other arms of government, like Mahinda maama did. For instance, we are waiting to see whether you will grant pardons to persons who have been convicted for murder, like Cheerio Sirisena did. In fact, some say that all this drama about Ranjans tapes are nothing but an exercise to get one man released and they are expecting a pardon from you! Then, just this week we heard how a boss of the Bird of Paradise and his wife were arrested for alleged bribery. This gentleman was flying high during Mahinda maamas time and was in his inner circle. Many are waiting to see whether the wheels of justice will turn at the same speed for him. Speaking of the Bird of Paradise, you earned praise for sending an aircraft to China to get our citizens exposed to the corona virus back to Paradise. Many said that, had the yahapaalanaya chaps been in office, they would have still been debating what to do and we would have an epidemic on our hands. Gota maamey, your big test comes when the pohottuwa chaps face the general election. You say that there is no room for corruption under your watch. Then, what you need to do is to get rid of the corrupt people who surrounded Mahinda maama who now surround you- but can you do that? You have every opportunity to do so. The Greens are weak and fighting over their leadership. So, even a polpiththa (coconut husk) fielded by the pohottuwa will win. So, the nation-even those didnt vote for you- is waiting to see whether you have the courage to get rid of the corrupt elements. The majority voted for you three months ago because they wanted a change. The change they wanted was not only from the yahapaalanaya they had suffered under. They also wanted a change from the Mahinda chinthanaya which they rejected five years ago. Please dont forget that, Gota maamey. Yours truly, Punchi Putha PS- You say you are the leader of all communities but we didnt hear the national anthem in Tamil on Independence Day. It was Colvin who said one language, two nations, two languages, one nation. Now, you have given Eelamists a chance to say, one anthem, two nations, two anthems, one nation. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids is honoring The Clash, a world-famous English punk rock band, by proclaiming Friday, Feb. 7 as International Clash Day. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss signed the proclamation signed last week. The punk ethos of The Clash goes hand in hand with the progressive spirit of Grand Rapids, Michigan, by supporting individual liberty, diversity and inclusion in the words of Joe Strummer, People can change anything they want to, and that means everything in the world, according to the proclamation Bliss signed on Jan. 30. Joe Strummer, who she cites, was the bands lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. The Clash are best known for their album London Calling and hits like Rock the Casbah, "Train in Vain, I Fought the Law and Should I Stay or Should I Go. The Clash formed in 1976 and broke up in 1986. In the proclamation, Bliss notes The Clash added to our local culture when they played a raucous show Aug. 14, 1984 in the city. The show actually occurred two years earlier. The proclamation names them a band intent upon channeling their generations angst and attitude into a socially conscious message and a call to action. Declaring Feb. 7 as International Clash Day traces back to a 2013 proclamation by a Seattle radio DJ, "engaging governments, radio stations, record stores and citizens around the world in a common cause of public service, according to the city. Since then, about a dozen cities have recognized the day, said Second Ward Grand Rapids City Commissioner Milinda Ysasi, who brought the request to the mayors office. The theme this year is "Clash For Climate, according to the radio station that bore the holiday. Leading up to and during International Clash Day, well be celebrating artists around the world who are confronting the climate crisis as well as highlighting activists, public servants, and organizations who are working toward solutions for our planets dire situation, officials from the station, KEXP, wrote on their website. Even as Earth feels the clampdown, the pathway to a new day isnt out of reach. The belief that Grand Rapids aligns with the punk ethos of The Clash is rooted in the citys focus on equity and renewable energy, according to Bliss proclamation. This belief is mirrored in the Citys strategies to create and support equitable programs and policies to reduce carbon emissions from the building and transportation sectors throughout the community, including the Citys commitment to powering its municipal operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.'' Bliss was unavailable for comment. Ysasi was made aware of the holiday by city resident Matthew Patulski, who was also unavailable for comment. Patulski shared with Ysasi that the holiday is more than just honoring the legendary punk rockers, she said. It was really about the values that The Clash and the lyrics were talking about, she said of the proclamation. The Clash wasnt just a band, it was really about raising awareness very early on about some of the social issues of the day, calling to action that people get involved in their community. Some of the past holidays have promoted anti-racism, inclusion and welcoming refugees, she said. Ysasi said she believes Grand Rapids is punk enough to honor the group. I do think we have the spirit of people in different communities and neighborhoods who have said we want to change something, we want to do something different in our city, and to me that is the punk spirit, she said. I dont think wed be the city we are today without people who have had a little punk in their lives. Read more on MLive: Its about time: Patients can get medical marijuana from facility in Grand Rapids Did GVSU discipline official who pressured student newspaper to drop coachs Hitler comments? Mysterious Lake Michigan plane crash to be featured on Discovery Channel show The million-mile man is all the rage right now. Unless you live under a rock, you wouldve read that a Chicago-based courier named Brian Murphy clocked over a million miles in his 2007 Nissan Frontier. Yes, a million miles! And the truck is still running well. Interestingly, this is the base-spec trim and a manual, too. Congratulations to Mr. Brian Murphy for making it to the elite club that has very few members all across the globe. The truck is still going strong, but will soon be given the rest it deserves LISTEN 05:53 The Nissan Frontier Is Built To Last Play The truck in question is the 2007 Nissan Frontier that Murphy bought brand-new at MLady Nissan in Crystal Lake. Murphy works as an independent delivery driver in Chicago. Hes been on this job for the last 45 years. He picked up the Nissan Frontier in 2007 in the base XE, King Cab version. It is powered by 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horses and 171 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The Frontiers odometer doesnt have a provision to keep rolling after the 999,999-mile mark. So, we perhaps wont know how much the truck will run before its put to rest. Periodic Maintenance Is The Key To The Longevity Brian Murphy chose the manual version thinking the transmission will last longer. He drives for 12 to 13 hours and travels anywhere between 300-350 miles every day. He has never used navigation EVER! Surprisingly, the truck still runs on the original engine. Seeing the condition of the truck, it looks like it was driven out of the lot today. The secret behind the vehicles longevity can definitely be credited to impeccable maintenance on the owners part. Murphy says he changes the engine oil every 10,000 miles on his own and gets the truck serviced at regular intervals at the same place where he purchased it from. The major changes include: Radiator and alternator that lasted about 450,000 miles Original clutch replacement at 801,000 miles Timing chain replacement at 700,000 miles, that too as a precaution Nice Gesture By The Japanese Giant Nissan decided to reward Murphy for this incredible feat by gifting him a brand new 2020 Nissan Frontier built as per his specifications. Nissan revealed it at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, but it still wears the same body design. I mean, a man who just clocked over a million miles on his 13-year old Frontier will basically be getting a new one that looks exactly like the one he has! However, the truck will come with a new engine under the hood, so Murphy will feel a huge difference in the way the truck drives. The 2020 Frontier comes equipped with an all-new 3.8-liter, V-6 engine that makes 310 horses and 281 pound-feet of torque. Power will be sent to the wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. What Brian Murphy Had To Say Speaking to The Drive, Murphy said, "Theyre not gonna start building the new one with the new engine until mid-April, they tell me, and at that time I can order what I want. Theyre also gonna fly me down to Mississippi and watch it be built." An automatic makes sense because Murphy doesnt plan on retiring for the next six or seven years, at least. He added, "Im tired of shifting, so Im gonna get an automatic, and Im gonna switch to the [new] V-6. They say it gets as good of mileage as the four-cylinder, so Im gonna go with that. I have to stay with the king cab because I need more space in back than in the cab, and the bed on the crew cab is a little shorter." Will Anyone Ever Beat The Three-Million Mile Volvo Record? This is not the first time someones crossed the coveted million-mile mark. Irv Gordon crossed three million miles on his Volvo P1800S. He has done cross-country trips in it as well. Unfortunately, he passed away last year at the age of 77. In 1998, Gordon made the Guinness World Record for the highest vehicle mileage at 1.69 million. This was not the end; not even close to what the car would go on to achieve. On May 1, 2014, Gordons Volvo P1800S hit the three-million-mile mark in the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The four-million-mile mark was laid to rest once Gordon started driving the Volvo XC-60R that was gifted to him by the automaker itself for the achievement. He never had the idea to create a world record, or intended to put Volvo through a test of sorts. But once he crossed the 250,000-mile mark without replacing a single component, Gordon realized hes onto something. I had never had a single repair on the car. Maintenance, yes, but I never had to have a water pump removed or anything like that, Gordon said. He knew the long-term benefits of precaution is better than cure, thanks to his experience with the two Corvairs previously. Gordon did go for two engine rebuilds, but the first one was not even necessary according to the dealer. Final Thoughts Murphy plans on getting the Pro-4X trim, but is still contemplating on it. The base trim that he owns has a basic radio and manual rolling windows. So, an upgrade will surely make his life much better. He will also move on from the red and maybe go for a dark blue body color. Good choice, Mr. Murphy. The old truck will make its way to Nissans corporate museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Contrary to Murphys truck without all the electronic shenanigans, do you think the new Frontier will also last this long if pushed hard? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. A Thai soldier gunned down at least 17 people in an attack which he shared on Facebook, emergency services said Saturday, in an ongoing mass shooting which focused on a town centre mall. The attack in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima began late in the afternoon at an army barracks, police told AFP. Three people were killed -- among them at least one soldier -- when Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma opened fire. "He stole an army vehicle and drove into the town centre," police Lieutenant-Colonel Mongkol Kuptasiri. Local media reported the gunman seized weapons from the army arsenal before embarking on a shooting spree in the centre of the town. In a fast-moving incident, authorities could not confirm local media reports the gunman had taken up to 16 hostages. There were "17 deaths, 14 wounded" late Saturday, said an unnamed spokesperson from Bangkok's Erawan Center -- the dispatch centre for emergency services across the country. Video and photos circulating online relayed panicked scenes on a main road in the city - which is better known as Korat. People fled while at least one fire roared as what appeared to be the sound of automatic gunfire filled the air. The gunman also posted photos of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page including "should I surrender" and "no one can escape death". In one Facebook video -- since deleted -- the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open jeep saying, "I'm tired... I can't pull my finger anymore" and making a trigger symbol with his hand. There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol. "The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead," spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen told AFP, adding that the standing toll was "more than 10." The defence ministry said forces have sealed off the Terminal 21 shopping centre but have yet to capture the suspect. Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world but mass shootings by soldiers targeting civilians are rare. Several shootings at courthouses late last year also renewed concern about gun violence in the Southeast Asia country. In one high-profile case, a two-year-old boy was among three people killed in Thailand when a masked gunman robbed a jewellery shop last month. Late last year two lawyers were shot dead by a clerk at a court in the east of the country during a hearing over a land dispute. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agustinus Hari (The Jakarta Post) Manado Sat, February 8, 2020 16:11 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063525b3 1 National coronavirus,manado,outbreak,Chinese,test,Wuhan-coronavirus Free The North Sulawesi Health Agency has announced that a 2-year-old Chinese toddler under observation in an isolation room for symptoms of the novel coronavirus at Manados Prof. Kandou General Hospital tested negative. Agency head Debie KR Kalalo said the office had received the result of the laboratory sample on the toddler, identified only as GY, from the Health Ministrys research and development center in Jakarta. The result is negative [for coronavirus], Debie said on Saturday. She went on to say that the babys parents, identified only by their initials WZ and LD, also tested negative for the coronavirus. Read also: Chinese toddlers condition improves after suspected Wuhan coronavirus infection in Manado The agency, however, was still waiting for the test result of a second sample from the patient before making any decision on discharging him from the hospital. The first sample came back negative, but we still cannot discharge the baby. We are still closely observing the baby in the isolation room until we received the result of the second sample, Prof. Kandou General Hospital medical services division head Hanry Takasenseran said. The family has been in Manado since Jan. 21. The had been experiencing fever and a cough for the past nine days. While the number of confirmed cases of the outbreak has been increasing around the globe, Indonesia has yet to have any confirmed case. However, an Indonesian domestic worker in Singapore tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. (hol) The writer is dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Our nation, once again, finds itself at the worst possible time to prepare for a public health threat: in the midst of a public health emergency of international concern. Worries about the novel coronavirus have the public, and public servants, asking the predictable questions. They inquire about the nature and prevention of the disease, about the existence of an ample supply of face masks and protective gear, and about the outlook for the development and deployment of a drug or vaccine. We have seen this before and recently. Many will remember the swine flu, or H1N1, that in 2009 sent more than a quarter-million Americans to the hospital and claimed more than 12,000 lives in the U.S. Regardless of whether the novel coronavirus will become a U.S. epidemic, the situation shines the light on barriers to preparedness across the country. This includes preparedness for outbreaks of the likes of this coronavirus as well as for a particularly dangerous new flu strain. It also includes preparedness for a heinous act of bioterrorism. When Titanic was being meticulously built, everyone thought it'll be 'unsinkable'. This blind faith was very similar to what Jack and Rose had. In 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet played Jack and Rose, the couple who thought their love would transcend the boundaries of their economic and social disparity. Reality and ice-berg hit sooner than they would have ever thought and we all know the end of it all. DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's on-screen romance was surreal and beautiful. The way they tried to decipher their deep-rooted insecurities made us believe that there is a kind of love that heals and makes everything possible. Years later, Kate and DiCaprio hopped on to a slightly more mature scenario where they took life heads-on as adults. Cut to, Revolutionary Road. Directed by Sam Mendes, Revolutionary road somehow looked like a journey that Kate and Leo would have taken as Jack and Rose, had they survived the catastrophe in Titanic. From lovers in Titanic to husband and wife in Revolutionary Road, Kate and Jack are seen being stuck in a bigger catastrophe where they are their own demons and with every fight, they make each other feel lonelier and more unloved. If we look back and see Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio's journey as lovers, we could take away a lot of lessons. Even though their journey in both films are different, their struggles as individuals are tad-bit similar and exhausting. As onscreen lovers and partners, Kate and Leonardo have always managed to showcase the fragility of relationships. In Titanic, Kate and Leo were judged and bounded by the shackles of the society and their economic disparities and in Revolutionary Road, they again face the brutal judgments of people, who mock their plans. While falling in love is easy and beautiful, Kate and Leonardo's on-screen chemistry as a distressed couple in Revolutionary Road teaches us that marriage is a lot more than what couples see with their rose-tinted glasses. As the honeymoon period vanishes, dates are replaced by mid-day arguments about life and jobs. From Jack and Rose to Frank and April Wheeler, Kate and Leonardo showcase the fragility of relationships as they pay the price of succumbing into monotony and killing their dreams. While April is seen folding laundry, making breakfast because of lack of opportunities as an actor, Frank too is seen making small talk with his co-workers and luring an attractive co-worker for a casual fling. The way Kate and Leonardo DiCaprio transform their magical off-screen camaraderie to portraying the reel-life couple who are caught the cobweb of disappointments is both convincing, and magical. There are several striking resemblances between Titanic and Revolutionary Road that will trick you into believing that you're a part of their heartbreaking stories as well. Here are some stills from both the films that say it all. #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aim to be financially independent. However, when an opportunity like the Oscars come, the Sussexes chose to decline it. According to HELLO! Magazine, the people behind Sunday's Oscars invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to present the award for the Best Picture category. Nonetheless, a source told the publication that while the two felt honored by the offer, they refused to attend the prestigious ceremony. It could have become a great opportunity for Meghan and Harry to be part of Hollywood and present themselves as the perfect ambassadors for different brands. After all, it could be considered as their biggest public appearance since they stepped back as senior members of the royal family. However, their recent engagement at a JP Morgan event in Miami gives some possible explanations why they chose not to be in front of cameras this time. Recently, the royal couple quietly attended a summit in Miami, serving as their first public appearance ever since they chose to live away from The Firm. Prince Harry reportedly served as a keynote speaker in the event. They Want Things Low-Key...And They Need Security! Recently, the royal couple quietly attended a summit in Miami, serving as their first public appearance ever since they chose to live away from The Firm. Prince Harry reportedly served as a keynote speaker in the event. The event at Miami was described as "very hush-hush, with a lot of security." With that said, it might be impossible for the Sussexes to achive such quiet appearance in one of the biggest events in Hollywood. Moreover, it would also require them to get a lot of security, perhaps double than when they attended that JP Morgan-sponsored event. Unlike when Kate Middleton and Prince William attended the BAFTAs, Prince Harry and Meghan are required to have extensive security most especially when they just went through a lot of media scrutiny over the past months. Their battle with the British tabloids is not even over yet, leading to the need for extra security. They Need to Spend Big For The Event Of course, a security team is never free. According to the computation published by Daily Mail, each protection officer who will serve the Duke and Duchess in Canada will have around 100,000 per year -- including flights, pension, and living expenses. With that said, homw much more would they need to pay for security officers in Hollywood? The Sussexes always need a group to provide them safety and security, so spending a lot now and doing something extravagant in a time that every move and penny they spend will be scrutinized is not ideal. Protecting The Royal Family's Image...And Theirs When they left without an early notice, they also left the royal family hanging and questioning where the monarchy went wrong. Attending the Oscars when they are still in the middle of transition will not help them get people's approval and will only make them look the villains even more. It is also worth noting that attending the Oscars will show that Meghan just missed being in Hollywood and her celebrity status, which will contradict their claim that they want a private life away from the limelight and all the media attention. It is ideal for them to do their work in baby steps and adjust to the new environment slowly so that, this time, they will finally be independently and happy without seeking so much support from the monarchy and the people. Singapore, Feb 8 (PTI) Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday urged the people of his country not to panic and remain united as the novel coronavirus outbreak which has claimed over 720 lives continues to wreak havoc in China and abroad. The death toll from the virus outbreak, which first surfaced in Wuhan city in the Central Hubei province of China, has risen to 723 with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598, including 33 from Singapore. "We have faced the 2019-nCoV situation for about 2 weeks now. People are understandably anxious & fearful, but there is no need to panic Singapore has ample supplies. Instead, let us remain united & resolute, stay calm & carry on with our lives," the prime minister said in a tweet. He advised the Singaporeans to "take courage" and "see through this stressful time together". Lee said the situation was still evolving, with each day bringing new developments, which Singapore has to respond to promptly and dynamically. While most of the coronavirus cases in Singapore have either been imported, or linked to imported cases, there have been some that cannot be traced to the source of infection, said Lee. "These worried us, because it showed that the virus is probably already circulating in our own population," he said. Singapore moved its disease outbreak response up a level to orange on Friday as the coronavirus spread further within the country, with three new cases announced of unknown origin. Under the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition, or Dorscon, code orange means the outbreak is deemed to have moderate to high public health impact. China and countries around the world are scrambling to contain the spread of coronavirus. Apart from China, two deaths have occurred in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Besides Germany, Britain and Italy, other European nations with cases of the virus include France, Russia, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Spain. Meanwhile, a number of exhibitors have withdrawn from next week's Singapore Airshow as of Saturday, with Canadian aerospace firms De Havilland Canada and Viking Air pulling out of the event, as the impact of the coronavirus widened, according to media reports. Longview Aviation, which manages its subsidiaries De Havilland Canada and Viking Air, said in a statement on Saturday that it will cancel the participation of its subsidiary companies, in light of the increased alert level announced by the Singapore government and the Ministry of Health. US heavyweight Lockheed Martin said on Friday it will not participate in next week's Singapore Airshow over coronavirus concerns. "Following the Singapore Ministry of Health's February 7 declaration of a Code Orange health alert, we consulted with the US government and our medical teams and decided not to participate in the Singapore Airshow," the company said in a statement. The stepped up precautionary measures following the outbreak, however, did little to dampen the mood of thousands of Hindu devotees, who turned out to seek blessings and fulfil their vows in this year's Thaipusam festival, an annual celebration in honour of Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Murugan). The presence of signs reminding people who are unwell not to enter temple premises, as well as thermal scanners and sanitisers were signs that this year's Thaipusam was slightly different from previous years, The Straits Times reported. But the religious procession went on as usual and drew some 11,500 devotees, the highest participation since 2013, in part helped by Thaipusam falling on a weekend. PTI GS MRJ MRJ After polling for 70 Assembly seats concluded in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is conducting a meeting on Saturday to review the preparedness for the security of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other AAP leaders Prashant Kishor, Sanjay Singh and Gopal Rai are present in the meeting. Meanwhile, BJP President JP Nadda has called a review meeting of party leaders on Saturday at 8:30 pm in view of the concluded Assembly elections.Prominent Delhi BJP leaders are scheduled to attend the meeting called by Nadda.The exit polls have predicted that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party will return to power with an impressive victory in the Delhi election.The BJP is expected to improve its numbers but is likely to finish a distant second, according to the exit polls.The exit polls predicted that AAP will win a two-thirds majority with some giving it a three-fourth majority in the 70-member assembly. They predicted that Congress will continue its dismal show in the capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The president had threatened to end the 1999 agreement after the US government cancelled the visa of a political ally. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to order the termination of the countrys visiting forces agreement with the United States, his spokesman said Friday. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was also scheduled to speak to US President Donald Trump at any time, but the agenda was not clear. I will instruct the executive secretary to tell the foreign secretary to send the notice of termination to the US government, Panelo quoted Duterte as saying. It was not clear when the notice would be sent. Last month, the president threatened to end the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) after the US government cancelled a tourist visa issued to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief and close political ally of Duterte. Im warning you if you wont do the correction on this, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. Ill end that son of a b****, the brash-speaking Duterte said in a January 23 speech. Dela Rosa implemented Dutertes crackdown against illegal drugs, which has left thousands of suspected drug users dead. The agreement provided a framework for the temporary entry of US troops to the Philippines for joint training exercises with Filipino forces. The pact can be terminated through written notice from either party, which would take effect in 180 days. Millions in US security assistance At the end of last year, Duterte had also ordered a ban on US senators from entering the Philippines. That was in response to the US doing the same against Filipino officials who played a role in the detention of opposition Senator Leila De Lima, a staunch critic of the presidents campaign against illegal drugs. The president has barred his cabinet officials from travelling to the US and turned down an invitation to join a special meeting with Trump and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations in March. A separate defence pact subsequently signed by the allies in 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, allowed the extended stay of US forces and authorised them to build and maintain barracks and warehouses and store defence equipment and weapons inside five designated Philippine military camps. But terminating the VFA would affect more than 300 joint trainings and other activities this year alone with US forces which the Philippine military and law enforcement agencies need to enhance their capabilities in countering threats to national security, according to Dutertes Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. The US provided more than $550m in security assistance to the Philippines from 2016 to 2019, Locsin said, adding that there may be a chilling effect on our economic relations if the Philippines draws down its security alliance with Washington. US forces have provided intelligence, training and aid that allowed the Philippines to deal with human trafficking, cyberattacks, illegal narcotics and terrorism, Locsin said, citing how US military assistance helped Filipino forces quell a disastrous siege by armed fighters aligned with the ISIL (ISIS) armed group in the southern city of Marawi in 2017. [Read our 2020 presidential election electoral college explainer.] WASHINGTON Buoyed by his impeachment acquittal and the muddled Democratic primary race, President Trump and his campaign are turning to address his re-election bids greatest weaknesses with an aggressive, well-funded but uncertain effort to win back suburban voters turned off by his policies and behavior. His campaign is aiming to regain these voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, after losing many of them to Democrats in the 2018 midterms. Advisers hope to expand the electoral map for November by winning moderate-leaning states like Minnesota and New Hampshire. And the White House is gearing up to help with policy issues directed at swing states, such as the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada and paid family leave for federal workers. Trump campaign officials are also stockpiling cash to help with these efforts, with $200 million in the bank now and fund-raising continuing at a brisk pace. They have put up television ads relatively early in the race, allocating $6 million for the final three months of 2019 to highlight a booming economy and the low unemployment numbers. Among the goals is trying to appeal to black voters and suburban and upper-income white voters with ads such as a spot focusing on criminal justice reform that first aired during the Super Bowl and is continuing on cable channels with large female audiences, like Bravo and Lifetime. The abduction of children and Sri Lankas crisis of justice View(s): One of the stranger if not outlandish manifestations of the upending of Sri Lankas legal order is the ongoing tussle between the Attorney General and the Presidential Commission inquiring into alleged incidents of political victimisation of public servants during the previous Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government. A truly extraordinary directive The source of this dispute is truly extraordinary. As such, it evokes more than a passing response. The controversy arose over a directive issued by the Presidential Commission recently ordering the Attorney General to halt investigations into prosecutions launched against former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and former Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake over the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth, until the Commission concludes its investigations. The directive was issued notwithstanding the fact that the Navy abduction case, (as commonly referred to), is easily one of Sri Lankas most egregious human rights violations, ranking high in an infamous list. The case has implicated several high ranking military officers and their subordinates in a ransom racket where children were allegedly abducted for money during the Rajapaksa (the First) Presidency between 2008-2009 and consequently disappeared. There were also allegations of a cover up which pointed fingers at senior state prosecutors at the time. After a decade of spluttering through the legal process, grieving mothers of the disappeared children had reason to hope late last year when the special Permanent High Court-at-Bar commenced hearing into the allegations. In that background, the Commissions directive to halt prosecutions is extraordinary at several levels. This is not a simple matter of public servants being implicated in a few thousands missing from the public coffers that is in issue. Further, it is the first time in Sri Lankas legal history that a Commission of Inquiry has issued an order to the Attorney General to halt prosecutions in an ongoing case in a court of law. The Attorney General stands his ground Some time ago, we had a perpetually grinning politician professing also to be a lawyer from the Pohottuwa camp who had the temerity to pronounce from his television pulpit that the Attorney General was more superior than a Magistrate. Now, I suppose, the thinking is that a Commission of Inquiry, appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry (1948) Act is more superior to the Attorney General (or perchance, a High Court) in that a criminal prosecution may be halted until a fact finding Commission of Inquiry comes to its findings. To his credit, the Attorney General has stood his ground and affirmed in a terse rejoinder to the Commissions directive, that the Commission has no legal or statutory authority to order the Attorney General to refrain from performing his functions. But the point is, of course, that he should never have been called upon to respond in this manner in the first instance. The very fact that he was compelled to do so, speaks to the topsy-turvy nonsense that passes for Sri Lankas legal process. In the meantime, the Navy abduction case continues. This week, the Court issued summons for the third time to the former Navy Commander who despite being featured at state events, has become like the proverbial Scarlet Pimpernel for the law enforcement officers looking for him; they seek him here, they seek him there, everywherethat demmed elusive Pimpernel. As mothers of the disappeared children witness this open flouting of the law, the wonder is if they have any faith left in the law at all? Commissions cannot conflict with courts In the broader context, Commissions of Inquiry must be limited to the ambit of the law under which they are established. It is a positive development that previous thinking of the newly elected regime to resort to the far more draconian Presidential Commission of Inquiry Law (1978) has been seemingly abandoned for the moment. That would have enabled the rejuvenation of a widely discredited statute. Even so, the use of its milder cousin, the 1948 Commissions of Inquiry Act must be kept within statutory confines. In Sri Lanka as well as globally, the mandates of such Commissions of Inquiry are specifically designed to prevent conflicts of jurisdiction with courts of law. Their primary aim is fact-finding. It is indeed, as a result of that limited function that these Commissions have historically been useless in bringing about legal responsibility for abuses, whether of civil rights or in relation to financial fraud. In fact, due to this repeated complaint of civil rights advocates that appointing Commissions were a waste of public funds, the parent Act (1948) was amended in 2008 to give the Attorney General the power to institute criminal proceedings in a court of law in respect of any offence based on material collected in the course of an investigation or inquiry. Here too, it is the Attorney General which is given the statutory discretion to decide whether to proceed or not with a prosecution based on the Commission findings. The Commission itself does not have the power to institute a prosecution directly in respect of its findings. Thus, a decision of a fact finding Commission appointed (ostensibly) to look into political victimisation cannot be superimposed over a criminal prosecution into grave human rights abuses. That much is quite clear. If a weaker Attorney General had bent to the Commission directive in the instant controversy, a parody of justice would have occurred, no doubt. Breaking of the karmic pattern of injustice Sri Lankas penal law and systems must not be deprived of all its sense and logic, more awfully by those who are (supposedly) trained in the law. That attempts are sought to bring about this result should not surprise us. This is precisely what happened at shameful points in our countrys history, when legal and judicial systems were purposely subverted and wrecked by diabolical legal minds with full intent. The damage was done by those trained in the art of the law, not political buffoons. And there is a larger issue at stake. Ironically as the call for international monitoring of Sri Lankas wartime abuses echoes in international fora, the subversion of the legal process in respect of abuses as horrendous as this, carried out moreover with obvious complicity of state officers, only helps in making that call stronger. Showing that the law works and that accountability can be ensured domestically will be to the nations good. This fact must surely be recognised if we are not to undergo the old and weary cycle of impunity and international scrutiny. For more than forty years of this countrys post-independence history, we have been condemned to repeat the twin sins of de jure impunity (laws that excuse violations if done in good faith and prevent courts from inquiring into the same) and de facto impunity (lack of political and prosecutorial will to initiate and pursue cases to an effective conclusion). This has ensured that perpetrators of abuses are protected, at all costs. That vicious karmic pattern must be broken. Eight people have been killed and some 40 injured in a brawl and a series of clashes in villages in Kazakhstans southern Zhambyl region. Asylkhan Mamashuly, a correspondent from RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, visited the village and shot these photos of the aftermath. Published in time for Earth Days 50th anniversary year, these childrens books showcase the natural world, provide guidance for paving a path to sustainable living, and profile people making a difference. Animal Kingdom Books showcase creatures on land, sea, and overhead: what they give us and what they need from us. Amphibian Acrobats Leslie Bulion, illus. by Robert Meganck. Peachtree, Mar. Ages 812. Verses offer facts about frogs, salamanders, and caecilians, highlighting the role they play in their ecosystems and the key threats facing amphibian populations. The Bat Book Charlotte Milner. DK, Feb. Ages 58. In this companion to The Bee Book and The Sea Book, Milner focuses on the importance of the worlds only flying mammal to our planet. Being Frog April Pulley Sayre. Beach Lane, out now. Ages 38. Poetic text and photos provide an up-close peek at frogs lives in the wild. (For a q&a with Sayre and author Sy Montgomery, see Observation and Conservation.") Curious About Birds Cathryn Sill, illus. by John Sill. Peachtree, Mar. Ages 26. Launching the Discovering Nature board book series, this title introduces early readers to the basic concepts and characteristics of birds. The Elephants New Shoe Laurel Neme and the Wildlife Alliance, illus. by Ariel Landy. Orchard, Aug. Ages 46. In this true story, an orphaned elephant with a severe foot injury is rescued by the Wildlife Allianceand becomes one of the first animals to receive a prosthetic limb. Fly, Firefly! Shana Keller, illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki. Sleeping Bear, Apr. Ages 57. Based on an event witnessed by nature writer Rachel Carson, this is the story of a firefly that plunges into the sea after mistaking bioluminescence for other fireflies. Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera Candace Fleming, illus. by Eric Rohmann. Holiday House/Porter, out now. Ages 69. The team behind the Sibert Honor book Giant Squid address the key role honeybees play in several ecosystems and the importance of conserving the species. Fleming uses lyrical language to describe just how jam-packed Apiss short life is, PWs starred review said, while Rohmanns realistic oil-on-paper illustrations artfully capture close-up details. Joey: A Baby Koala and His Mother Nic Bishop. Scholastic Press, Jul. Ages 48. Text and photos capture the interaction between a mother koala and her little one. My Stinky Summer by S. Bug Paul Meisel. Holiday House, Jun. Ages 48. Meisels detailed illustrations accompany this account about how stink bugs and other invasive species impact ecosystems, which must be kept in balance. Numenia and the Hurricane: Inspired by a True Migration Story Fiona Halliday. Page Street, Jan. Ages 48. Based on actual events, this book tells of a migrating bird that is separated from her family in a hurricane, including info about migration and the need to preserve birds breeding grounds. Obsessive About Octopuses Owen Davey. Flying Eye, Apr. Ages 59. Daveys illustrated guide to various kinds of octopuses features facts about where they live, what they eat, and how we can protect them. One Day on Our Blue Planet... in the Outback Ella Bailey. Flying Eye, May. Ages 37. Joining this nature-themed series, Baileys story about a curious young kangaroo introduces children to animal life in Australia, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Scientists in the Field: Condor Comeback Sy Montgomery, photos by Tianne Strombeck. HMH, July. Ages 1012. Photos illustrate Sibert medalist Montgomerys story of the scientists and citizens who have focused their efforts on returning endangered California condors to the wild. (For a q&a with Montgomery and author April Pulley Sayer, see Observation and Conservation.") Slide & Surprise in the Ocean Natalie Marshall. Scholastic/Cartwheel, Feb. Ages 35. In this interactive board book, kids uncover animals hidden underwater. The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca Amanda Abler, illus. by Levi Hastings. Little Bigfoot, Mar. Ages 710. When a killer whale calf was discovered swimming alone in Puget Sound in 2002, scientists worked to identify her and reunite her with her family off the coast of British Columbia. Weird, Wild, Amazing!: Exploring the Incredible World of Animals Tim Flannery, illus. by Sam Caldwell. Norton, Aug. Ages 812. Flannery, a science researcher who heads up Australias Climate Council, examines animals living in various habitats in this book integrating concepts of climate change, evolution, and conservation. Wildlives: 50 Extraordinary Animals That Made History Ben Lerwill, illus. by Sarah Walsh. S&S/Atheneum, Feb. Ages 8up. These collaborators present true stories of animals who displayed extraordinary bravery, aided in groundbreaking discoveries, and demonstrated true friendship. Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery Meeg Pincus, illus. by Yas Imamura. Sleeping Bear, Mar. Ages 710. In 1976, the destination of the monarch butterflies that annually pass from Canada to the United States to Mexico was discovered. (Spoiler alert: its an oyamel grove in Central Mexico.) Stormy Weather These titles for young readers explore the ramifications of climate change. Climate Change and You: How Climate Change Affects Your Life Emily Raij, Capstone, Jan. Ages 811. Readers learn how climate change impacts everyday life, how scientists study it and what their current research reveals, as well as what children can do to reverse its effects. Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy Tara Daimon, illus. by Archana Sreenivasan. Putnam, May. Ages 48. Extreme weather affects two childrens lives in very different ways in this picture book demonstrating how the power of nature can bring people together. DK Findout! Climate Change DK, Apr. Ages 79. This handbook outlines what kids can do in their everyday lives to prevent further damage to the climate. Journey Under the Arctic Fabien Cousteau and James O. Fraioli, illus. by Joe St. Pierre. S&S/McElderry, Mar. Ages 8up. The second volume in the Fabien Cousteau Expeditions series of graphic novels follows a deep-sea dive and reveals how climate change impacts the ocean and its inhabitants. My Little Golden Book About Weather Dennis R. Shealy, illus. by Xindi Yan. Random/Golden, May. Ages 25. Shealy covers such topics as the effects of the suns energy, the four seasons, how clouds are formed, and what a meteorologist is. Scientists in the Field: The Big One: The Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving Lives Elizabeth Rusch. HMH, Aug. Ages 1012. This account examines how scientists are studying to improve early natural-disaster warning predictions in the Pacific Northwest and how individuals and communities can prepare for them. World Champions Biographies spotlight explorers and defenders of the environment Darwins Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution Christiane Dorion, illus. by Harry Tennant. Candlewick Studio, Mar. Ages 1013. A profile of Wallace, Darwins friend and competitor, who simultaneously discovered the process of natural selection. The Elephant Doctor of India Janie Chodosh. Chicago Review Press, Aug. Ages 912. The author examines the work of Kushal Konwar Sarma, a modern conservationist working to save elephants in the Udalgari District of India. Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Alexandra Stewart, illus. by Joe Todd-Stanton. Bloomsbury, Feb. Ages 912. This book chronicles the lives and achievements of Hillary and Norgay, who in 1953 became the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest. The Forest Man: The True Story of Jadav Payeng Anne Matheson, illus. by Kay Widdowson. Flowerpot Press, Apr. Ages 58. To save the forest on his native island of Majuli in India from being washed away, Payeng has spent four decades re-growing it and planting more than 1,400 acres of new trees. Wangari Maathai: Get to Know the Woman Who Planted Trees to Bring Change Lisa A. Crayton. Capstone, out now. Ages 811. Crayton profiles a Kenyan woman who was a fierce protector of the environment, a courageous advocate for womens rights, and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Taking Action Books provide guidance for paving a path to sustainable living. A Dolphins Wish: How You Can Help Make a Difference and Save Our Oceans Trevor McCurdie, illus. by Cinzia Battistel. Sourcebooks Explore, Mar. Ages 48. A family of dolphins stars in this tale about the dangers of plastic pollution, which aims to inspire readers to do their part to help solve the problem. Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet Nanette Heffernan, illus. by Bao Luu. Charlesbridge, Jan. Ages 37. Pictures and words celebrate this annual endeavor, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, supporting energy conservation and advocating that nonessential lights be turned off for one hour. The Future of Energy: From Solar Cells to Flying Wind Farms M.M. Eboch. Capstone, Jan. Ages 811. The author explains how traditional fossil fuels are damaging the environment and how solar, water, wind, and geothermal power are clean and renewable alternate energy sources. How to Make a Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference Keilly Swift. DK, Mar. Ages 79. Readers will learn how they can become activists for the environment and combat climate change. Let's Get Gardening: 30 Easy Eco-Gardening Projects DK, Feb. Ages 58. This hands-on activity guide teaches kids about conservation, recycling, and sustainability. My Green Day: 10 Green Things I Can Do Today Melanie Walsh. Candlewick, Mar. Ages 37. Walsh outlines 10 simple ways that children can help the environment. One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey Henry Cole. Scholastic Press, Apr. Ages 4-8. This wordless tale follows the life cycle of a paper bag, sourced from a tree growing in the forest, as it becomes a beloved bag used and reused by multiple generations of a family. Plastic: Past, Present, and Future Eun-ju Kim, trans. by Joungmin Lee Comfort, illus. by Ji-won Lee. Scribe/Scribble, Apr. Ages 610. In a starred review of this digitally illustrated guide to the life cycle of plastic, PW said, The book objectively presents the petroleum-based substances contributions to the field of medicine and to the accessibility of manufactured goods alongside its increasingly harsh toll on the environment. The Plastic Problem Aubre Andrus. Lonely Planet, Apr. Ages 912. The author of 101 Small Ways to Change the World encourages readers to be responsible stewards of the environment through actions such as cutting down on plastic usage. Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation Candy J. Cooper and Marc Aronson. Bloomsbury, May. Ages 812. Based on Coopers reporting and featuring government documents and photos, this book chronicles the story of the Flint water crisis and the residents who demanded action. (For a q&a with Cooper and Aronson, see Troubled Water.) Recycle and Remake: Creative Projects for Eco Kids DK, Mar. Ages 69. This roundup of activities, information, and ideas provides kids with the know-how to help the environment. Taming Plastic: Stop the Pollution Albert Bates. Orca/7th Generation, Feb. Ages 912. Bates examines this environmental crisis; how we can help solve it by creating renewable, biodegradable options; and what kids can do to live more plastics-free lives. Nature Appreciation Lyrical picture books, memoirs, and more highlight the importance of cherishing and protecting our planets ecosystems. The Bug Girl: A True Story Sophia Spencer, with Margaret McNamara, illus. by Kerascoet. Random/Schwartz & Wade, Feb. Ages 48. Sophia, now in fourth grade, relates how she was bullied for loving insects until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. McNamara is the author of 2018s Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and many other childrens books. Creature Keeper John Wood. Booklife, July. Ages 57. Joining the Planet Protector series, this tale centers on one of four fictional environmentalist heroes on a quest to save Earth from the destructive humans who came before them. Dive In: Swim with Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size Roxie Munro. Holiday House, Apr. Ages 710. This examination of coral reefs around the world includes true-to-size illustrations of ocean animals and information about protecting this ecosystem. A Forest in the City Andrea Curtis, illus. by Pierre Pratt. Groundwood, May. Ages 812. Curtis traces the history of urban trees, underscoring their importance to cities and the need to create a healthy environment for them. If We Were Gone: Imagining the World Without People John Coy, illus. by Natalie Capannelli. Millbrook, Mar. Ages 510. This cautionary picture book theorizes what life on Earth would be like if humans vanished. I Am the Lorax: Based on Dr. Seusss The Lorax Courtney Carbone, illus. by Tom Brannon. Random House, Jan. Ages up to 3. These collaborators bring the environmental message of Seusss classic to board book readers. I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast Michael Holland, illus. by Phillip Giordano. Flying Eye, May. Ages 79. This illustrated overview of the role plants play in our lives (like providing the rubber in shoes and the grains in cereal) includes plant projects and activities. If You Take Away the Otter Susannah Buhrman-Deever, illus. by Matthew Trueman. Candlewick, May. Ages 58. In a story about the need to preserve habitats, the author recounts a time when people hunted sea otters almost to extinction, leading to the growth of sea urchins and the destruction of kelp forests. In My Garden Charlotte Zolotow, illus. by Philip C. Stead. Holiday House/Porter, Mar. Ages 36. Originally published in 1960 and featuring new illustrations by Stead, this tale pays homage to experiencing nature as a child and as an adult, celebrating, PWs review said, the companionable contentment derived from the simplest things, anchored in the natural world. Me and You and the Universe Bernardo Marcolla. Free Spirit, Mar. Ages 38. Brazilian author-illustrator Marcolla takes readers on a journey connecting Earths plants and creatures to the infinite universe. My Friend Earth Patricia MacLachlan, illus. by Francesca Sanna. Chronicle, Feb. Ages 35. With a lyrical voice and die-cut pages, Newbery Medalist MacLachlans ode to the Earth shows children all that the planet does for their benefit. Natural Play Melissa & Doug, Aug. 2019. Aimed at encouraging kids to discover the world around them, this interactive line includes four Book Towers (each containing 10 chunky books): Little Nursery Books, Little Vehicle Books, Little Animal Books, and Little Learning Books (ages 8 monthsup); Book Bundle: One Tree, Baby Animals and Animals Everywhere (ages 35); Book & Puzzle: Deep Blue Sea (ages 35); and Book & Game: Mamas and Babies (ages 35). The Ocean: Exploring Our Blue Planet Miranda Krestovnikoff, illus. by Jill Calder. Bloomsbury, Feb. Ages 69. This series addition examines the creatures and plants that populate the worlds oceans, and the individuals who have explored them. The Ocean in Your Bathtub Seth Fishman, illus. by Isabel Greenberg. Greenwillow, May. Ages 48. Words and pictures present the ocean ecosystem of Earth and how the planets five oceans affect peoples daily lives. One Earth Eileen Spinelli, illus. by Rogerio Coelho. WorthyKids, Mar. Ages 48. Counting up to 10 and back down again, this picture book outlines reasons to love our planet and provides practical ways to help take care of it. Our Environment Owlkids, Mar. Ages 912. This back-to-the-basics overview answers questions including What influences climate?; How does pollution affect soil?; and How do we protect our planet for the future? Our World Phaidon, May. Ages 25. When opened and folded back, this board book introduction to geography becomes a freestanding globe. Peter and the Tree Children Peter Wohlleben, illus. by Cale Atkinson, trans. from the German by Jane Billinghurst. Greystone Kids, Apr. Ages 48. The author of The Hidden Life of Trees for adults and Can You Hear the Trees Talking? for middle graders here teaches younger children about the forest through the story of a forester and a squirrel. Professor Astro Cats Deep-Sea Voyage Dominic Walliman, illus. by Ben Newman. Flying Eye, Apr. Ages 710. In this series installment, Professor Astro Cat showcases ocean ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate change and human exploitation. Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit Linda Elovitz Marshall, illus. by Ilaria Urbinati. Little Bee, Jan. Ages 48. Text and art reveal how Potters love of nature and dedication to preservation helped save the English countryside from developers in the 20th century. PWs review called this an attractive introduction to an iconic creator. Seeds Carme Lemniscates. Candlewick, Mar. Ages 25. Lemniscates, author-illustrator of Trees and Birds, here illuminates the literal and metaphorical potential of seeds. Seek & Find Biomes Jorrien Peterson. Gibbs Smith, Apr. Ages 410. This picture book reveals plants and animals native to the tundra, alpine, forest, rainforest, savanna, grassland, desert, freshwater, and marine biomes. This Raindrop Has a Billion Stories to Tell Linda Ragsdale, illus. by Srimalie Bassani. Flowerpot, Apr. Ages 58. A raindrops journey around Earth serves as an introduction to the water cycle and the importance of water conservation. Under Your Feet: Soil, Sand and Everything Underground Royal Horticultural Society, illus. by Wenjia Tang. DK, Apr. Ages 58. This compilation of environmental facts about soil explains how it affects our daily lives and climate change. Return to the main feature. Rajasthan Police have ruled out hate crime angle in the murder of a Kashmiri youth in Jaipur. Basit Khan, a 17-year-old boy from Kunan village of Kupwara, who was working in an event management companys catering wing in Jaipur was killed on the night of February 5 after an altercation with some co-workers. It began when the companys catering staff was leaving after a party in Harmada area of Jaipur. Khan was tired after the day's work wanted to sit on the front seat of the van, which resulted in an argument with one of his colleagues. This later escalated into a brawl and some of the other co-workers also joined in to attack Khan. After the brawl, Khan reached his rented room near Railways Station and started vomiting. When he was taken to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, the doctors admitted him for internal injuries. He reportedly died of blood clotting in his skull on late Thursday night. Based on the complaint by Khan's friend the police have registered an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and one person named Aditya has been arrested. At least three others who were also part of the group have been booked. According to reports, Khan has been doing a part-time job in Jaipur to support his family since last year, following the death of his father. Both the Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir Police have ruled out hate crime. It is clarified that the death of one individual identified as Basit Khan alias Ghulam Mohiudin of Kupwara happened after a scuffle with a coworker. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed. The reportage circulating around his death due to lynching during the group clashes is factually incorrect and is strongly rebutted, Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement. However, in the past, there have been several incidents in the state, especially after the Pulwama terror attacks last year, where Kashmiris have come under attack. In November 2019, four Kashmiri students were beaten up by students from Bihar at Mewar University in Rajasthans Chittorgarh who also called them terrorists. In September, there was a similar incident in Alwar, where a Kashmiri youth was beaten up by a mob after he was found dressed up like a woman. BCCL Many Kashmiri students who were studying in Rajasthan had also fled the state due to the fear of attacks on them after the terror strike in Pulwama. Ocado's stock remains 15% below its all-time high Where next for Ocado? That is the question that will be asked as it releases its full-year results on Tuesday. The technology and grocery group had a meteoric rise in 2018, with shares rising 500 per cent between late 2017 and early 2019. But the stock has gone sideways since, and remains 15 per cent below its all-time high. It is trying to shift its image from grocery delivery to an international technology business, and has signed deals with supermarket groups in America, Australia, France, Japan, Sweden and Canada. In the past few months there have been jitters after analysts raised concerns that rivals' technology could be catching up. The City will be looking to see consistent growth in sales, with expectations sitting at just below 1.8billion, which would represent more than 10 per cent growth compared with 2018. Growth in sales is important as, despite its 8.8billion valuation, Ocado is not expected to turn a profit until after 2022. Analysts believe the full-year loss will be 99million, down from 143million last year both a result of the high cost of setting up overseas licensing deals. In the UK, the joint venture with M&S will launch in the autumn, and bosses will update on preparations on Tuesday. They are warriors who have no borders They are warriors who show their presence wherever needed. Thats how Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the Qods Force, the special operations unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a Friday Prayer sermon in Tehran in January. Despite its name meaning Jerusalem in Arabic, the Qods (Quds) Force (and Irans security services more broadly), have not limited the scope of their networks and operations to the Arab world or the Middle East. As Washington thinks through escalation scenarios between the U.S. and Iran for the rest of 2020, Khameneis reference to the borderless nature of the Qods Force cannot be ignored. Its rare for Khamenei to address Iranians from the Friday Prayer pulpit; his previous sermon having taken place eight years ago in February 2012. Following a string of assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and escalating Western sanctions, Khamenei then claimed that Iran would respond to such threats with our own threats that when needed, God willing, will be applied. Days later came attempted bombings of Israeli diplomats in Georgia, India, which Israel blamed on Iran and in Thailand, as well as attacks in Bulgaria by Irans Lebanese proxy Hezbollah that killed six people. Its likely that in the aftermath of the killing of Qods Force chief Qassem Soleimani, Iran will revert to this tried and true terror playbook. Already, IRGC officials in Iran, as well as a constellation of Shiite militias in Iraq, promised to exact vengeance for their slain commander. But these sympathies are not limited to the Middle East and can be found even in places where Iran lacks significant sectarian affinity, like in the Balkans, for instance. This January in Kosovo, a women was briefly jailed for inciting violence online after the killing of Soleimani. Such individuals could hypothetically provide Iranian agents, who have shown a willingness over the past four decades to work with the diverse likes of Sunni terrorists, Mexican drug cartels, and even disaffected Americans, a vector to achieve their aims against the West. In fact, Tehrans preference for local actors in jurisdictions of weak central authority is consistent with its policy of using proxies, which in turn offers the regime a veneer of plausible deniability. To support this, Iran has marshaled its embassies as well as a series of cultural and religious institutions as fronts to finance and organize terror operations abroad as well as to carry favor with the local population. This is true for geographies like the Balkans and Latin America. While Kosovo may seem like a stretch for Iran, the revolutionary regime is no stranger to the Balkans. A recent hardliner Iranian news outlet cited Bosnia as the first post-Iran-Iraq War theater where Qods Force operations took place. For several years during the early phases of the Yugoslav Wars, the Qods Force helped funnel weapons and advisors to Bosniaks. One retired IRGC general recently bragged that when in Bosnia, he trained fighters while clad in the uniform of an aid worker specifically that of the Iranian Red Crescent. Moreover, several figures who went on to occupy key political and military positions in the Islamic Republic were present in Bosnia during the conflict in the early 1990s. These include the likes of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati who functioned as the Supreme Leaders representative to Bosnia, and Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi, who reportedly served as one of two Qods Force Field-Commanders in the country. Today Jannati leads two important Iranian political bodies, the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, whereas Naqdi is now a Deputy Coordinator for the IRGC after serving for almost a decade at the helm of the Basij, Irans all volunteer paramilitary force. According to a U.S. State Department Factsheet on the IRGC, Bosnia is listed among several other countries where Quds Force plots have been detected and/or thwarted. Irans embassy in Bosnia has predictably denied this allegation. But what is undeniable is Irans reversion to terrorism, and in particular assassination of dissidents, on the European continent. To date, the European Union has sanctioned Iran in response to these attacks, but Iran does not appear to have been deterred. Reports as late as October of last year indicate that an Iranian paramilitary network was planning to attack an Iranian opposition group in Albania, once again bringing the Balkans into the spotlight. Albania has increasingly faced Irans ire for taking-in the group, and has had to expel a steady string of diplomats for reportedly transgressing their diplomatic immunity. In 2018, Irans Ambassador to Tirana was expelled from the country. This January, Khamenei called Albania, a small and very treacherous European country. An astute observer of Iran-backed terror operations will note that be it the plot to kill the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, or to bomb an opposition rally in Paris, Iran failed in its objectives, and operational sloppiness aided local law enforcement and intelligence. That may be true, and for some that might dampen the lethality of the Islamic Republics terror apparatus. But the fact that the Islamic Republic persists in these operations signals the regimes intent to continue to make good on its threats. Iran can therefore be expected to poke and prod at allied defenses over time, hoping to exploit them with minimal cost while aiming for a maximum amount of damage. Whether future terror attacks will be against U.S. persons, assets, interests, or allies and partners remains unknown. But what Washington can make clear is that it will spare no cost in detecting, deterring, and disrupting any potential attack, as well as responding to them. After all, its entirely likely that Irans next significant move will not take place in the heartland of the Middle East, but on its periphery. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the views of Radio Farda In Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam young actor Grace Truman has come to expect an emotional response from viewers. "You can sometimes hear the audience sobbing by the end of the play," she says. The 15-year-old actor plays Emma, nicknamed Wol by her family, around whom the action centres in this stage adaptation of Peter Goldsworthy's discussion-provoking 1993 novella of the same name. When Emma is diagnosed with leukaemia, her close-knit family enter a moral grey area in deciding how to deal with the tragedy. "It's basically their trajectory as they grapple with that diagnosis and all that it entails," says Truman. Grace Truman stars in Belvoir's Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. Credit:Nick Moir Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam first premiered at Riverside for the National Theatre of Parramatta in 2018 and is now back for a return season at Belvoir (until March 8). Truman was particularly praised for her performance in the challenging role and was nominated as best newcomer at the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards. The Sydney Morning Herald singled her out for acclaim, noting her "heartbreaking conviction" as Emma. Truman drew on her own experience for the part having lost her father, screenwriter Jeff Truman, to a brain stem bleed when she was 10. For her, what rung most true is the story's depiction of grief. Asta Juskauskiene, 35, (L) hatched a plan with her 25-year-old lover Mantas Kvedaras (Picture: Met Police) A mum who organised her ex-husbands murder with her new lover has been jailed for 26 years. Asta Juskauskiene, 35, hatched a plan with Mantas Kvedaras, 25, to kill her former partner 42-year-old Giedrius Juskauskas. Kvedaras stabbed Mr Juskauskas to death in an alleyway in Newham, east London, on June 17, 2019. A post-mortem examination established the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had at least 35 separate stab wounds to his body, chest and neck. Some of his bones had been damaged which suggested severe force had been used. Giedrius Juskauskas, 42, was stabbed to death (Picture: Met Police) Appearing at the Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Mr Juskauskas ex-wife Juskauskiene, from south-west London, was sentenced to 24 years for murder, and two years for perverting the court of justice to run concurrently. Her younger lover, Mantas Kvedaras, 25, was also sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for murder. Mr Juskauskas, a Lithuanian national who had been living in London for around a decade, was continuing a physical relationship with Juskauskiene with whom he had a child - despite their divorce in December 2018. Kvedaras had come to the UK five days before the murder to stay with Juskauskiene after they began a relationship over social media. This was as he served a prison sentence in Lithuania for the sexual assault of a teenager. The couple were spotted on CCTV (Picture: Met Police) Police quickly determined that Mr Juskauskas murder was likely to be the result of a targeted attack. It later emerged Juskauskiene had been in contact with both her ex-husband and Kvedaras in the hours leading to the murder and was key to orchestrating the fatal meeting. In the days afterwards, Juskauskiene arranged the removal of personal documents of Kvedarass from her home, where he continued to stay before his arrest. Care worker Juskauskiene consistently lied to police during an interview and deleted potentially incriminating text messages from her phone. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Fly-tippers dump '1000' tyres at nature reserve in North Yorkshire Man admits hiding explosives inside 14 chocolate Kinder Eggs Story continues Ruthless gang who robbed sex workers at knife-point in their own homes are jailed The couple were both arrested on June 19 and charged with murder the following day. Kvedaras pleaded guilty to Mr Juskauskas murder on October 17. Juskauskiene was found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice on January 9 at Kingston Crown Court. In a statement read out to the court, Mr Juskauskas mother said: I cannot find the words, if there are any to explain, the heartbreaking and devastating concoction of feelings that conjured inside me when I registered that I was never going to see my son again Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith, added: This was a calculated, merciless attack and I cannot begin to imagine how frightened Giedrius must have been in his last moments. A mother of three was killed in a horror crash when an out-of-control sedan smashed into her miniwan. Mersina Axiom, 36, was driving alone along Serpentine Creek Road in Redland Bay, 40 minutes south east of Brisbane, when she was involved in a fatal crash at 11pm on Friday. On the other side of the road, a Subaru sedan bumped into the back of a ute and then veered into oncoming traffic, according to Queensland Police. Unable to avoid the oncoming sedan, Mrs Axiom, a tupperware sales manager, crashed into it and died. She leaves behind her husband Anthony Axiom and their three children. Shocking pictures from the crash show that Mrs Axiom's minivan was severely damaged and flipped on its side while the sedan was also torn apart. Mersina Axiom, 36, was driving alone along Serpentine Creek Road in Redland Bay, 40 minutes south east of Brisbane, when she was involved in a fatal crash at 11pm on Friday Mersina Axiom leaves behind and her husband Andrew and their three children On the other side of the road, a Subaru sedan (right) bumped into the back of a ute and then veered into oncoming traffic, according to Queensland Police Mrs Axiom's minivan was torn apart when it collided with the Subaru sedan. She died at the scene but the other people involved sustained non-life threatening injuries Mrs Axiom died at the scene but the other people involved sustained non-life threatening injuries. Mrs Axiom's sister Cat Michalakellis has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Axiom family to cover the funeral and the cost of living without their mother. 'It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of my beautiful, strong, passionate sister after a horrific car accident took her life late last night,' Ms Michalakellis wrote on the page. 'Mersina was a loving mother, a daughter, a sister, an Aunty, wife and to so many people she meant the world. 'Mersina was loved by many and she always did what she could to help those less fortunate than herself.' Mrs Axiom (centre, right) is picture with her sister Cat Michalakellis (centre, left) and other family members. Ms Michalakellis has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Axiom family to cover the funeral and the cost of living without their mother Mrs Axiom was a sales manager for a Brisbane tupperware company Mrs Axiom's friend Sienna Kinnear also wrote a tribute to her on Facebook after hearing the sad news. 'My heart is heavy tonight with the loss of an absolutely gorgeous soul taken far far too soon! Im still in utter shock,' she wrote. 'Things like this dont happen to people like Mersina - or shouldnt anyway! Mersina was simply a lovely, generous and bubbly lady lady who would give you the shirt off her back if needed.' The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating what caused the crash and is appealing for anyone travelling in the area at the time with dashcam footage to come forward. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his government to terminate a security accord that allows the United States military to train with his countrys soldiers, according to one of his advisers. The president said he is terminating the [Visiting Forces Agreement], Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was quoted as saying by local Filipino news media on Friday. I asked for clarification and he said he is not changing his decision. The decision deals another blow to relations between Washington and Manila, which have deteriorated in recent years over Dutertes controversial policies, particularly his extrajudicial killings of suspected drug users. Last month, the State Department revoked the visa of a Filipino senator, Ronald Dela Rosa, who served as Dutertes chief of police when the government launched its brutal anti-drug crackdown. The State Department barred Dela Rosa as part of its policy to deny entry into the United States to those implicated in human rights violations. A top government official in the Philippines says that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the termination of a security accord with the United States The Visiting Forces Agreement allows the US military to send troops for training missions alongside Filipino soldiers. The above file photo from 2002 shows American soldiers at a base in Zamboanga, Philippines Duterte reacted angrily last month to the State Departments decision, saying: I'm warning you ... if you won't do the correction on this, I will terminate the ... Visiting Forces Agreement. I'll end that son of a b****. Dela Rosa served as Duterte's first national police chief and enforcer of the president's deadly anti-drugs crackdown in 2016. Thousands of mostly poor suspects have been killed under the campaign, alarming the US and other Western governments and human rights watchdogs. Dela Rosa and later Duterte have said Dela Rosa's visa was canceled, but US officials have not addressed the matter. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr used a televised Senate hearing earlier this week to enumerate what he described as crucial security, trade and economic benefits the accord provides. The US is a longtime treaty ally, a major trading partner and the largest development aid provider to the Philippines. 'While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime, the continuance of the agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any predicates were it to be terminated,' Locsin said. The accord, known by its acronym VFA, took effect in 1999 to provide legal cover for the entry of American forces to the Philippines for joint training with Filipino troops. Duterte has also barred his Cabinet officials from traveling to the US and turned down an invitation by President Donald Trump (above) to join a special meeting the US leader will host for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in March in Las Vegas A separate defense pact subsequently signed by the allies in 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, allowed the extended stay of US forces and authorized them to build and maintain barracks and warehouses and store defense equipment and weapons inside five designated Philippine military camps. Terminating the VFA would affect more than 300 joint trainings and other activities this year with US forces 'which the Philippine military and law enforcement agencies need to enhance their capabilities in countering threats to national security,' Locsin said. The US provided more than $550million in security assistance to the Philippines from 2016 to 2019, Locsin said, adding that there may be a 'chilling effect on our economic relations' if the Philippines draws down its security alliance with Washington. American forces have provided intelligence, training and aid that allowed the Philippines to deal with human trafficking, cyberattacks, illegal narcotics and terrorism, Locsin said, citing how US military assistance helped Filipino forces quell a disastrous siege by Islamic State group-aligned militants in southern Marawi city in 2017. US military presence has also served as a deterrent to aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea, Locsin said. Last month, Duterte was outraged by State Department's revocation of a visa of Filipino Senator Ronald Dela Rosa. Dela Rosa (seen above in 2016) was Duterte's chief of police when he launched a brutal anti-drug crackdown that allegedly involved human rights violations China, the Philippines, Vietnam and three other governments have rival claims to the strategic waterway. Duterte first threatened to abrogate the VFA in late 2016 after a US aid agency put on hold funds for anti-poverty projects in the Philippines. The 74-year-old leader, who has been harshly critical of US policies while often praising China and Russia, has walked back on his public threats before. Aside from threatening to take down the VFA, Duterte has said would ban some US senators from entering the Philippines. He apparently was referring to American senators who sought to ban unspecified Philippine officials from entering the US for their role in the continued detention of Phillippines opposition Senator Leila de Lima, a vocal critic of Dutertes deadly campaign against illegal drugs. Duterte has publicly accused de Lima of receiving money from drug traffickers and called for her detention. De Lima has dismissed the allegations as fabricated charges designed to muzzle dissent under Duterte. Duterte has also barred his Cabinet officials from traveling to the US and turned down an invitation by President Donald Trump to join a special meeting the US leader will host for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in March in Las Vegas, according to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo. Seven firemen were injured during a firefighting operation after a major blaze broke out in a 21- storey residential building in Navi Mumbai on Saturday morning, officials said. The fire, which was triggered by an explosion of a gas cylinder, broke out in a duplex flat located on the top two floors of Sea Home Apartment in Seawoods near Palm Beach Road, the officials said. All the seven injured were admitted to the National Burns Centre (NBC) in Airoli, where three of them are in the intensive care unit (ICU), they added. "A cylinder blast in the duplex flat, spread over the top two floors, triggered the fire around 6.30 am," chief of the Navi Mumbai Disaster Control Room, Dadasaheb Chabukswar, said. According to Santosh Kadam, head of the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), six fire engines from Nerul, CBD Belapur and Vashi fire stations were sent to the site to control the fire. "At least seven firemen were injured during the firefighting operation. They were admitted to the NBC in Airoli. Three of them are in ICU as their injuries are serious," Chabukswar said. The fire has been doused and cooling operation is underway, he said. The injured were identified as station officer V D Koli (50), assistant station officer J P Gade (40) (both from Nerul Fire Station) and five firemen- J B Bhoye (40), D N Jawale (43), S L Joshi (43), M T Pawar (40) and B A Thakrey (39)- belonging to different fire stations, Chabukswar added. Investigation into the incident is on, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 40,000 new cancer cases or related tumours are diagnosed in Ireland every year, with the disease causing over 9,000 deaths annually. We know cancer is a corrupted version of our healthy cells. Variants in our DNA change our cells until eventually they grow and divide uncontrollably, becoming cancers. Imagine if we could identify how precisely these changes cause cancer, elucidating treatments that become focused on preventing the cancer in the first place. Or that by understanding the genetic code of a person's cancer, we could develop a treatment personalised to them - rather than offering a 'one-size-fits-all' chemotherapy or radiation regime, which works for some people and not for others. Thanks to genomic research we are now a step closer to that reality. The world greeted with excitement the landmark study into cancer published this week by more than 1,000 researchers and scientists from across 37 countries, members of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium. As a result of this genomic study, for more than 30 cancers being studied we now know what specific genetic changes are likely to happen, and when these are likely to take place. This means potentially finding cancers earlier, developing more targeted and precise therapies and delivering better outcomes for patients. Genomics is the key to unlocking the potential of precision medicine. At an inaugural Genomics Summit, co-hosted by Genomics Medicine Ireland (GMI) and University College Dublin in Dublin last month, Howard Jacob, head of genomic research at AbbVie, defined precision medicine as simply about "giving clinicians the ability to make a better diagnosis in the person at the right time and to try to do it [the diagnosis] prospectively, not retrospectively. To try to make sure that the drug will work for the patient." For example, 4pc of people living with cystic fibrosis are affected by a mutation known as G551D, and a new genomics-based drug, Ivacaftor, has been developed that is very effective in individuals with this mutation. Another drug developed as a result of genomics medicine is Keytruda, which is used to treat melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. By delivering better patient outcomes, genomics also has the potential to yield significant savings for the Irish health service. Faster diagnoses and earlier detection of disease will enable clinicians to intervene earlier and make better informed, targeted therapeutic decisions improving patient outcomes, reducing hospital stays and reducing the HSE's annual medicines bill. Modern medicine needs to be research led and Ireland's clinical and research communities are alive to this potential. GMI is partnering with Irish clinical and research partners to study diseases which have a high incidence in Irish people, such as multiple sclerosis, to help unlock answers. As Professor Mary King, from Temple Street Children's University Hospital, says "genome and exome sequencing has transformed the diagnostic odyssey for patients". Professor Owen Smith, of UCD and consultant at Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin, concurs saying that "we need to bring this revolution of genomics to the bedside quickly". The establishment of a National Genetics and Genomic Medicine Network is welcome and a sign of the Government's commitment to genomics within the Irish public healthcare system. But it is clear we need to go further. We need a national genomics strategy and investment in support services such as genetic counsellors. Developing a national genomics strategy must be government led. It should include all voices from the research community, those at the coalface working in the Irish public healthcare system, patients and the private sector. Public-private approaches to medical research are the norm across developed societies, as they enable faster, more cost-effective, The opportunity for genomics is upon us, the question is what do we do about it. Delhi goes to polls today (February 8, 2020) to elect a new 70-member Assembly and the contest is between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Polling opens at 8 am and will continue till 6 pm. Security arrangements have been tightened with around 2,50,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the polling booths in the city. There has been an increased presence of security this time in view of the several ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). As per the Election Commission of India, the total number of voters this year is 1, 47,86,382 out of which 66,80,277 are female and 81,05,236 are male. The number of senior citizens registered is 2,04,830. In the last Delhi Assembly election in 2015, AAP won 67 seats while BJP settled at 3 seats. The Congress was not able to open its account and remained at zero. The results of the Delhi Assembly election 2020 will be declared on February 11. You can watch the live streaming of the Delhi Assembly election 2020 polling here: A US Army officer who testified at the hearings in the House of Representatives which led to the impeachment of President Donald Trump was ousted from his White House job on Friday, his lawyer said. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he worked on the National Security Council, with his lawyer calling the move an act of revenge by the president. Hours earlier, Trump had said he wanted Vindman gone. Im not happy with him, Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate on Wednesday of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, told reporters. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Trump said. Im not. Vindman, who served as director of European affairs on the National Security Council, was on the July 25 phone call during which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden. Subpoenaed by Congress to testify at the House impeachment hearings, the Ukrainian-born Vindman, who received a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in Iraq, said Trumps actions were improper. It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent, Vindman said. Vindmans lawyer David Pressman said the army officer was escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President. There is no question in the mind of any American why this mans job is over, Pressman said in a statement. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. The truth has cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy, he said. He served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril. And for that, the most powerful man in the world -- buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit -- has decided to exact revenge, Pressman said. Pete Buttigieg pressured at New Hampshire debate over marijuana arrests of black people as mayor originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Pete Buttigieg faced intense questioning at the Democratic debate over his time as mayor in South Bend, Indiana, when arrests of black people for marijuana possession were four times higher than that of a white person. Buttigieg disputed the claim during Friday night's debate saying, "the reality is, on my watch drug arrests were lower than the national average and specifically to marijuana, lower than Indiana." He then spoke about the systematic racism that has "penetrated to every level of our system." MORE: ABC News Democratic debate live updates: Candidates head into spin room However, ABC News Live anchor Linsey Davis pressed on and said there was, in fact, an increase. Davis said when Buttigieg took office in 2012, the numbers had increased and were still up in 2018, the most recent year the number was recorded. The racial disparity in South Bend regarding marijuana arrests was higher than the rest of Indiana and higher than the rest of the nation, according to Davis. PHOTO: Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg participates in the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., February 7, 2020. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Buttigieg appeared to side-step the question. "Yeah. And one of the strategies that our community adopted was to target when there were cases where there was gun violence and gang violence, which was slaughtering so many in our community, burying teenagers, disproportionately black teenagers, we adopted a strategy that said that drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder," he said. MORE: Key takeaways from ABC News' Democratic debate "These things are all connected. But that's the point." Davis then asked Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, if the answer was substantial. "No," Warren swiftly replied to applause from the audience. "We need to rework our criminal justice system from the very front end on what we make illegal all the way through the system and how we help people come back into the community," she said. Elon Musk's Tesla had a week for the Wall Street record books, swinging hundreds of dollars in both directions as some investors rushed to buy shares and others rushed to cover their negative bets. The stock began the week just above $670 a share a record high after a strong end to last month following better-than-expected quarterly earnings results. But that was nothing compared with what was to come. Shares ripped higher in two consecutive days of trading after multiple optimistic forecasts for Tesla's future growth. It climbed nearly 20% on Monday and almost 14% on Tuesday, roaring to an intraday high of $968.99. But uber-bullish forecasts have been made before in the stock. Why such a big move now? That's still unclear. Animal spirits have seemed to take over. Or perhaps it's just a giant short squeeze? The stock's rapid move higher forced short sellers to buy back the equity at a higher price in order to cut their mounting losses. If enough short sellers buy in tandem, it can create higher demand and itself drive the stock's price even higher, a phenomenon known as a short squeeze. "In our experience, we've never seen a stock rise that much that fast with such little regard to past fundamentals or track record," Needham analyst Rajvindra Gill wrote in a note to investors titled "Irrational Exuberance Hits All Time High." But then Tesla backed off that record level. Fears of production and sales delays in China, along with fears that the stock had become a speculative bubble, sent the shares spiraling lower. The company closed stores temporarily due to the outbreak of coronavirus and shares fell 17.2% on Wednesday. Additionally, on the first three days of the week Tesla saw trading volume that shattered the company's previous record levels. Up to that point, Tesla's typical day saw about 18 million shares change hands. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday blew past that mark, with record daily trading volumes of 47 million shares, 60 million shares and 48 million shares, respectively. Our soldiers always strive to keep us safe as they guard the borders. Despite the torturous terrains, they always put the nation ahead of themselves. Every now and then, some inventions are made for the army jawans to ensure their protection and security and in yet another development, an Indian Army Major who had developed a bulletproof jacket for protection against sniper bullets, has now developed a helmet which is claimed to be first such in the world that can stop an AK-47 bullet round from a distance of 10 meters. "The ballistic helmet has been developed under project Abhedya by Major Anoop Mishra who has also developed a full-body protection bulletproof jacket which can withstand even sniper rifles," Army officials told ANI. The officer is part of the Indian Army's College of Military Engineering and had got into the development of bulletproof jackets after he had received gunshots on his vintage bulletproof jacket. twitter/ani Besides this, Indian Army's College of Military Engineering jointly with a private firm has developed India's first and world's cheapest gunshot locator. It can locate the exact location of the bullet from distance of 400 meters which will help to locate and neutralise terrorists faster. "During 2016-17, 50,000 bulletproof jackets had been procured for Indian Army through Revenue route. The Contract for procurement of 1,86,138 BPJs through Capital route, under Buy (Indian) category, has been concluded in April 2018. twitter/ani Further, a contract for procurement of 1,58,279 Ballistic Helmet through Capital route had been concluded in December 2016," the then Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre had informed Lok Sabha in a written reply in July 2018. The College of Military Engineering (CME) at Pune, a premier tactical & Technical training institution is the alma mater of the Corps of Engineers. CME is responsible for training of personnel of the Corps of Engineers besides imparting instructions in Combat Engineering, CBRN Protection, Works Services and GIS matters to the personnel of All Arms & Services. But when Benny the Bengal burst into the room on Jan. 29, offering cupcakes and high-fives, the lecture became a celebration. Thanks to the 30 students in Century teacher Erin Martins class, Idaho State Universitys Liberal Arts High program had officially reached 25,000 students. Its a very exciting milestone, said program coordinator Holly Kartchner. Our faculty has been able to reach so many students, in so many areas, in so many disciplines. The students enthusiasm is contagious. Liberal Arts High, created in 2016, brings College of Arts and Letters professors to Idaho high schools. Students learn about instructors areas of expertise and the opportunities awaiting them at ISU. In the past year alone, professors have given talks in more than 330 classrooms. The lectures give students access to topics they would not learn about otherwise, said history professor Sarah Robey, who presented at Century after the celebration. It's so rewarding for me, as a presenter, to see students engaging with things that they may never have considered to be topics of historical study, she said. I love being able to expand what students think history can be. In Kartchners experience, connecting with university instructors motivates students to enroll in dual enrollment courses and apply to college. In the midst of Idahos concerning go-on rate, engaged students express a desire to pursue further schooling and training. Liberal Arts High provides a glimpse into what that education looks like. The LAH program benefits my learners by connecting concepts we have studied in the classroom to higher order concepts taught at the university level, Martin said. Being exposed to deeper, engaging concepts allows my students to see that college is accessible to them. WHITE HALL A handful of North Greene High School students now have first-hand experience of working as a certified nursing assistant. The students were part of a new program at the school that recently wrapped up its first year. It is a partnership between the North Greene School District, the North Greene Education Foundation, Lewis & Clark Community College and Scott County Nursing Center. Lewis & Clark Community College funded student fees, supplies and classroom equipment through a Tracy Foundation Grant and donations from local businesses, individuals, churches and organizations. The North Greene Education Foundation will fund the second year, with fundraising for that expected to begin soon. The class included 10 seniors who split their time in the program between a classroom setting and working at Scott County Nursing Center. The students learned the basics of caring for patients during their class time and applied those lessons during the clinical portion. The students also earned college credits through the partnership with Lewis & Clark. The program helped some of the students get a sense of potential career interests. Before I started the CNA class, I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future, North Greene senior Abigail Palmer said. I didnt even know what a CNA was, honestly. Senior Lana Schutz initially was interested in pediatric nursing but now isnt sure nursing is her preferred career path. Still, she enjoyed working with the elderly and appreciated the hands-on parts of the job, she said. Even though Leah Sherwin always has wanted to be a nurse, she didnt expect to enjoy being a CNA as much as she did, she said. A lot of people trash on that job but it really is a good job and I love caring for the people that I work with, Sherwin said. Sherwin has family members who have been involved with nursing and have worked as CNAs; they gave her some sense of what the job entailed before she signed up for the program. When she decided to take the course, it was to see if she would be able to do the work, she said. With the program finished for this class, seven of the students intend to continue as CNAs while they finish their senior year. Several of the students also are planning to pursue a career in the medical field. Palmer is interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse, Sherwin wants to become a registered nurse after spending a few years as a CNA, and their classmates Samuel Newingham and Cecilia Nassar eventually want to become a radiologist and a veterinarian, respectively. Palmer said the class taught her some lessons on patience and even love. (The class) just makes you a better person, Palmer said. It teaches you how to love people more and how everybodys life is important. Many of the students were not close before the program but they bonded over the class and the clinical work, they said. They started to carpool together and provide support for one another. Officials from the organizations that put together the program said it benefited from dedicated instructors and students, supportive parents and family members, community financial support, and job panels that let interested students meet with CNAs and professionals who support CNAs to understand the job better before starting the program. Foreign M&A investors are expected to turn to new fields, with higher-calibre deals Photo: Shutterstock Deal-making momentum in the Asia-Pacific region may slow down in the coming years as trade uncertainties and fears of global recession remain. Despite the slowdown in global deal-making due to an unstable global economy, the Vietnamese M&A scene is expected to be more active in 2020 because of the countrys political and economic stability, with GDP growth reaching 7.02 per cent in 2019. Dang Thanh Son, partner at Baker McKenzies Hanoi office While the global economy is slowing down in reaction to a challenging environment impacted by volatile geopolitical events, in Vietnam, a number of high-value M&A transactions took place in 2019 in a number of sectors, such as food manufacturing, real estate, and retail. Most high-profile deals involved foreign investors from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. In addition to significant investments made by foreign investors, there were a number of domestic investors actively taking part in M&As. A number of high-value M&A deals took place in 2019. For example, SK Group purchased 6.15 per cent of Vingroup for $1 billion. KEB Hana Bank acquired a 15 per cent stake in BIDV for $882 million, and Sumitomo Life invested $173 million for a 5 per cent stake in Bao Viet Holdings. The market in 2019 also witnessed investments by local investors such as the deal between VinCommerce and Masan Consumer under Masan Group to establish a consumer-retail group. Vinamilk has also acquired a majority stake in Moc Chau Milk JSC. In terms of deal structuring, share acquisitions through public tender and asset acquisition are not popular in Vietnam. Recent M&A deals in Vietnam have taken the form of private equity investments, purchases of primary shares, or private put-through transactions via the Vietnam Securities Depository in a joint-stock company or charter capital purchases in a limited liability company. Over the last two years, despite a slowdown in global trade, Vietnam reported the second-highest value of M&A deals only after Thailand in the ASEAN. In 2020, M&A remains an attractive channel of investment in Vietnam and is set to remain a crucial mainstay of corporate strategies for growth and development. The US and China signed a phase-one trade deal which aims to relieve tension between the two largest economies. This can promote M&A activities and foreign investments at a global level, and Vietnam stands to benefit from these trends. In 2019, it was estimated that Vietnam only contributed to 3 per cent of the deals in Southeast Asia by deal value. This number will likely increase in 2020 when the government starts initiating the equitisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Under Decision No.26/2019/QD-TTg of the prime minister on SOE equitisation, 93 SOEs will be equitised by the end of 2020. This includes a number of large SOEs such as Agribank, Vinacomin, Vinafood 1, VICEM, MobiFone, and Urban Infrastructure Development Investment Corporation. The SOE equitisation and state capital divestment will provide plenty of opportunities for private investors to invest in some of Vietnams leading market players in industries such as banking, mining, telecommunication, and construction. Following Vietnams entry into the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the EU-Vietnam Investment Promotion Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Vietnamese government would like to increase foreign capital inflows and encourage foreign players to seek investment opportunities in Vietnam. In addition, changes to local legislation will improve the legal framework so that it will align closer with the expectations of foreign investors. With new legislation such as the new Law on Securities and the new Law on Competition, the government aims to improve the legal framework for the securities market by further aligning it with the overall development of the Vietnamese financial sector in the coming years. If the trend for M&A in 2019 was renewable energy, in 2020, it is expected to turn towards the banking, retail, logistics, and fintech industries. The project on restructuring banks in 2016-2020 will encourage the merger of small banks and credit institutions into larger entities, which will promote more M&A opportunities in the banking industry. Unlike in 2019 where foreign investors usually contributed small-scale deals with values ranging from $5 to $10 million. In 2020, M&A activities will likely involve medium-sized deals in logistics and retail with the value of $20-100 million, and even large deals in the banking and telecom industry with values over $1 billion. The value of M&A deals in Vietnam may reach $8 billion in 2020. Despite political stability and high GDP growth, M&A activities in Vietnam are still relatively small, with 70 per cent of transactions being small- and medium-sized deals. In order to maintain an attractive M&A market, not only are changes to legislation required, but changes to corporate governance practice in local companies are also crucial. Local target companies will need to have well-organised corporate documents and records. The local companys managing officers such as CEO and CFOs must be familiar with the due diligence process to ensure that the target company will provide sufficient support, which includes setting up the data room and the scheduling of contract negotiations. This is important because sophisticated strategic purchases usually follow an intensive and thorough investigation of the target company by the buyers strategy and advisory teams. To facilitate the deal and manage different expectations, the local company should also consider engaging both financial and legal advisors from the beginning. India on Saturday sought devolution of powers by the Sri Lankan government to the minority Tamils in the island nation and hoped that their aspirations for equality, justice and respect will be fulfilled as per provisions of the country's Constitution. After wide-ranging talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the issue was discussed with an "open mind" and hoped that the Tamil reconciliation process would be taken forward by Colombo. The two leaders also deliberated on a raft of key issues like bolstering anti-terror cooperation, expansion of trade and investment ties, implementation of joint projects in Sri Lanka and resolving the long-festering fishermen issue with a "humane approach". In his comments, Rajapaksa thanked Modi for his government's 'neighbourhood first policy' and the priority he attaches to ties with Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa's five-day visit to India assumes significance as his tenure as Sri Lanka's president from 2005 to 2016 saw expansion of China's footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. Noting that India has been a "trusted partner" in Sri Lanka's development, Modi said stability, security and prosperity in the island nation is important for India as well as for the entire Indian Ocean region. On the long-pending Tamil issue, Modi said it will be necessary to implement the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution. The 13th amendment provides for devolution of power to Tamil community in the neighbouring country. "We held a discussion with an open mind on issues relating to reconciliation in Sri Lanka. I am confident that the government of Sri Lanka will fulfil the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a United Sri Lanka," Modi said. "It will be necessary to implement the 13th amendment of (Sri Lankan) Constitution and take forward the reconciliation process at the same time," he said. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987 which envisaged devolution of powers to the Tamils. Calling terrorism a major threat facing the region, Modi mentioned about the 'Easter Day terror attacks' in Sri Lanka last year and asserted that both countries will expand cooperation to deal with the challenge. "We both countries have fought this problem firmly. There were painful and barbaric terrorist attacks on Easter Day in Sri Lanka in April last year. "These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. In our talks, we discussed furthering our anti-terror cooperation," Modi said. Rajapaksa said a part of the discussions centred around ensuring security for both the countries, and expressed gratitude to India for helping his country in countering terrorism. "India is our closest neighbour and long-standing friend. The close historical links have provided solid foundation to our ties," Rajapaksa said. Referring to the fishermen issue, Modi said both sides have decided to adopt a humanitarian approach in dealing with it. "We also discussed the fishermen issue. It directly affects the livelihood of the people of both countries. Therefore, we agreed to continue to adopt a constructive and humanitarian approach in dealing with the issue," he said. The prime minister said the history of Indo-Lanka relationship has been woven with countless threads like culture, religion, art and language. "Whether it is security or economy or social progress, our past and our future in every field are interlinked." India had announced a financial assistance of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, including USD 50 million to fight terrorism, during the visit of the country's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November. "We deliberated on joint economic projects in Sri Lanka as well as to enhance trade and investment relations. We also discussed ways to deepen people-to-people contact, promote tourism and improving connectivity," Modi said. Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. In the morning, the Sri Lankan prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan prime minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two US-based cruise lines are forbidding people with Chinese, Hong Kong or Macau passports from boarding their cruise ships, according to company statements released Friday. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International released statements as the coronavirus continues to spread. The companies say the new policies apply to anyone -- guest or crew member -- with these passports, regardless of residency or where they visited last. The policies also prohibit boarding from travelers or crew members who visited Hong Kong or Macau within the last 15 to 30 days. Norwegian Cruise Lines said passengers denied boarding will be issued a refund if they provide proof of travel. "The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority," Norwegian Cruise Lines said in a statement. Royal Caribbean said anyone who was on a ship with a modified itinerary would receive a two-day refund in the form of an onboard credit, along with other perks. "We take this very seriously and have a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy environment on board our ships, as well as in the ports we visit," Royal Caribbean said in a statement. The coronavirus emerged from China two months ago. It has killed 724 people, mostly in China, and paralyzed the world's second biggest economy. It has infected more than 31,000 in more than 25 countries and territories. The US has at least 12 confirmed cases, with hundreds more evacuees from China due back Friday. As the new policies were implemented, four passengers from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that docked Friday morning near New York were taken to the hospital for evaluation for coronavirus. None of the four passengers taken to a hospital showed "any clinical signs or symptoms of coronavirus" on board, Royal Caribbean said in a statement. One tested positive for the flu. They had not been in China since January 26. A 45-year-old Conroe man pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography charges in a Montgomery County court and was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison. Andrew David Nelson was sentenced to two seven-year sentences by a jury in the 435th District Court. The sentences were imposed consecutively by presiding Judge Patty Maginnis following two days in the punishment phase of Nelsons trial, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox A detective with the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office found Nelson had been accessing child pornography on his computer since 2012, as shown by prosecutors during the trial. Without detailing their techniques, authorities said high-tech methods were used to discover a computer was seeking out child pornography. The detective then tracked the activity to Nelsons home, obtained a search warrant and seized his desktop computer, according to the DAs Office. MAGNOLIA MURDER: Man charged after allegedly disposing of murdered 51-year-olds body An agent with Homeland Security Investigations found 45 images on Nelsons computer of children, some as young as infants, being sexually abused and exploited. The agent also found evidence the computer was being used to access child pornography since at least 2012. Nelson had been using a software program called Eraser to try and destroy the evidence and using another program to attempt data encryption and bar access without a password. Still, investigators were able to find substantial evidence of Nelsons child pornography consumption on his computer, according to the DAs Office. This defendant thought that he could use technology to hide his crimes by erasing and encrypting the evidence. We used technology to catch him, said prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Chris Seufert in a statement. The message is clear: if you access images of child exploitation, we will find you no matter how you try to hide. A psychological expert for the defense conceded in testimony that a six-year history of accessing child pornography indicates sexual interest in children is probable, and though it could be modified, it could not be changed, the District Attorneys Office explained. Prosecutors pointed to the nature of the images, the victims ages and the length of time Nelson accessed child pornography, according to the DAs Office. Also participating in the investigation into Nelson were the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a multi-agency effort against the online exploitation of children, the DAs Office stated. In Montgomery County, its all hands on deck to turn the tide against this unspeakable crime of child pornography, said District Attorney Brett Ligon. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has identified 272 people suspected of having the coronavirus who are being monitored twice a day by the state health department. Amita Upreti, director general of the health department, Uttarakhand said, "We are taking every precaution to detect any infection. However, till date not a single case has appeared. Those who returned from China have now been cleared after requisite tests." State health department employees check on these people every morning and evening, visiting their houses or making phone calls to ascertain if flu, cough or any other symptom point towards the lethal infection. Dehradun has the highest number of people being monitored with 123 followed by Udham Singh Nagar (57), Tehri (27), Haridwar (26), Nainital (14), Pauri (11), Almora (3), Bageshwar (2), Uttarkashi (2), Chamoli (2) and Pithoragarh (1). All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, is also maintaining a separate ward for those suspected of having the virus. Earlier, last week, the Uttarakhand health department after sounding an alert over the coronavirus cancelled all leaves of staff. The state health department has also been instructed to take into account the travel history of people with symptoms of the virus. No positive case has been found in Uttarakhand but the number of deaths in China has thrown people into a tizzy. ONE of the alarming issues facing the world and our country is the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first detected in Wuhan, China. Rapidly rising caseloads scare researchers, considering the epidemic has become a global outbreak due to the fast-moving nature of the virus. Most often, spread from person to person happens among close contact of about six feet. Person-to-person spread occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes and approximately 14 people can be infected by this virus, with which it is transmitted. Over the past three weeks, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases has risen from around 50 in China to more than 17,000 in at least 23 counties. Filipinos expressed their fears at the reluctance of the Philippine government to ban travel to and from mainland China. This, after the health department confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus. The Department of Health announced that a 38-year-old female Chinese national who traveled to the Philippines from Wuhan via Hong Kong tested positive for the virus as she arrived in the country on Jan. 21. When the story about the 2019-nCoV broke, countries saw it as a security health threat. Countries like the US, Singapore and Russia, one of Chinas long-standing allies, immediately banned flights or travelers coming from China. Contrary to those aforementioned countries, the Philippines only banned non-Filipino travelers from China last Feb. 2. With this, we cannot deny that Filipinos have become irritated on the governments delayed decision. Different opinions were shared on the internet, with some saying the Duterte administration could not just immediately ban foreign travelers coming from China, considering the latters contributions to the countrys infrastructure projects. On the other hand, we believe that in issues like these, the safety of the people should be considered first. The outrage of is not about because they feel entitled but because they fear for their safety. No one can afford to face a challenge like this. Getting sick in the Philippines is not easy. Medicines are getting expensive. The health care system is struggling. Advanced medical facilities are lacking unlike in other countries where they can easily respond to a case like a highly contagious virus. Story continues We have the right to be disappointed or to be dismayed. These feelings are valid. It is not about being against the government, but rather about calling on the government to act on what is expected, appropriate and proper. The people want an immediate response when it comes to this alarming issue. We cannot blame our countrymen for being critical of the government. We strongly believe the Duterte administrations lack of immediate response is reflective of how out of touch with the people our national and provincial leaders are. This only shows that political interest prevails over common good. Duterte is more afraid of damaging relations with China than protecting his countrymen. But what is the use of that relationship if the virus affects his own people and, as President, he should give more attention to the welfare of his people because our Constitution provides in Article 2 Section 15 that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill healthful consciousness among them. And as the head of the state, he should be the first one to protect the general welfare of his constituents. Despite this, we believe government should have acted faster when cases of the 2019-nCoV were not reported in the country because it is its responsibility to ensure the citizens security. As of now, we should all remain calm and yet be vigilant. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It is better to take appropriate measures before a problem can set in rather than after it has already developed. (Justine Kate Paquibot & Nelson Cabreros, USJ-R International Studies students) The Qantas plane that was due to take Australians fleeing the coronavirus epidemic in China is stuck in Hong Kong, waiting for approval from China to fly to Wuhan. The charter flight, eventually bound for a quarantine site outside of Darwin, did not get the official clearance it needed to land in China on Friday. There are already 276 coronavirus evacuees in quarantine on Christmas Island. Credit:AAP The Department of Foreign Affairs emailed about 200 passengers booked on the flight on Saturday, saying the flight was now scheduled to leave just after midnight, with check-in opening at 6pm local time. While it is still waiting approval from China, DFAT advised the passengers to "plan to proceed with the flight today [Saturday]". In a separate statement, DFAT said the plane was waiting in Hong Kong, about a two-hour trip away. In a bid to support the neighbouring countries battling against the deadly Coronavirus, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has offered to test samples of the virus (nCoV) for other Southeast Asian countries. "We are providing support to other countries in tackling the challenge posed by the coronavirus. The Indian Council of Medical Research has offered to test samples for other Southeast Asian countries," Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Besides this, Harsh Vardhan also informed the Upper House that the government has extended technical assistance to Bhutan in fighting the danger posed due to coronavirus outbreak. READ | Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Reviews Measures To Tackle Novel Coronavirus "Testing of samples from the Maldives has already been undertaken. Request from Afghanistan for sample testing has been agreed too. We've agreed to provide technical assistance to Bhutan in managing this infectious disease and screening of passengers," said Harsh Vardhan. India has confirmed three positive cases of coronavirus from Kerala while the virus has infected nearly 20,000 people globally. Coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city in December, last year, has since then killed over 636 people in China alone, while there have been confirmed cases of the epidemic in several countries across the world. READ | GoM Formed To Monitor Coronavirus, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Expands On Details Kerala lifts 'state disaster' status to Coronavirus Health Minister of Kerala KK Shailaja announced that on Friday, February 7, the government has withdrawn 'state disaster' status given to novel Coronavirus. She, however, informed that the statewide alert will continue, and health guidelines have to be followed. This decision was taken after 67 out of the 72 restress have tested negative for the disease. Speaking to the media KK Shailaja said, The state disaster status was declared after 72 returnees were in Kerala from Wuhan in China of which three tested positive. About 67 have tested negative. The test results show that the close contacts of all those three confirmed cases are negative. She further informed that the second case of n-coronavirus has been tested negative in the second round of tests, however, the National Institute of Virology in Pune has to confirm the report. READ | Maharashtra Intensifies Screening At Ports For Coronavirus, Restricts Entry From China READ | WHO: World Facing Chronic Shortage Of Protective Equipment Amid Coronavirus Dread (With ANI inputs) (Photo: PTI) USA: Calvin A. Shivers Named Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division Director Christopher Wray has named Calvin A. Shivers as the assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mr. Shivers most recently served as the deputy assistant director of the division. Mr. Shivers joined the FBI as a special agent in 1990 and was assigned to the Lafayette Resident Agency of the New Orleans Field Office. He investigated violent crime, transnational organized crime, gangs, white-collar crime, and public corruption. He was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Personnel Resources Unit at Headquarters in 1996 and managed the Bureaus national recruiting program. In 1999, he transferred to the Counterterrorism Division for two years before he moved to the Washington Field Office as the supervisor of a violent crime squad and a violent gang Safe Streets Task Force. He was promoted to unit chief of the FBIs Safe Streets and Gang Unit at Headquarters in 2006, where he managed the FBIs gang program and 140 Safe Streets Task Forces across the nation. Mr. Shivers was promoted to assistant section chief in 2008 in the Criminal Investigative Division, managing operational and intelligence programs that focused on violent crime, narcotics trafficking, and violent street gangs. In 2013, he was promoted to assistant special agent in charge in the San Antonio Field Office in Texas, overseeing criminal and crisis management matters. He returned to Headquarters in 2015 as the chief of the Violent Crimes Against Children Section, which oversees child abductions, child pornography, and child sex trafficking investigations. Mr. Shivers was appointed special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office in 2016 and was promoted to deputy assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division in 2018. He has twice deployed to Iraq and once to Turkey during his time in the Bureau. Mr. Shivers earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a law degree from the Catholic University of America. This story has been published on: 2020-02-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The man crawled to a fence, eventually flagging down someone who took him to Methodist Southlake Hospital in Merrillville. He was later transferred to the University of Chicago hospitals because he needed surgery after the bullet shattered his femur, pressing on an artery, records say. Beijing: The number of confirmed cases of the new virus has risen again in China while fatalities increased to 722 on Saturday, as the ruling Communist Party faced anger and recriminations from the public over the death of a doctor who was threatened by police after trying to sound the alarm about the disease over a month ago. The World Dream cruise ship sits moored at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong, China. Credit:Getty The government announced that another 3399 people had been diagnosed over the last 24 hours, reversing two days of declines, and raising the total accumulated number of cases on the mainland to 34,546. Cruise ship passengers faced more woe as Japan reported three more cases for a total of 64 on one quarantined vessel and turned away another. President Xi Jinping spoke with President Donald Trump on Friday and urged the US to "respond reasonably" to the outbreak, echoing complaints that some countries are overreacting by restricting Chinese travellers. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Contrary to the usual image of a village no street lights, non-functioning schools, and low network connectivity or no network at all eight villages under Doddajalla panchayat, have all the necessary amenities and are quite at par with cities. This is thanks to Gangaram, Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), of Doddajalla panchayat, who has brought RO water plants, solar streetlights, and CCTV cameras to the villages. Two villages Navaratnagrahara and Doddajalla even have free Wi-Fi. The remaining six will soon get it. Thats not it, each village has waste management processing units and magic soap pits where detergent water is purified and clean water is let to percolate underground. Gangaram and two other PDOs were honoured at the Institution of Engineers national conference on Agriculture and Smart Village for Sustainable Division. The other two PDOs are Rajesh H R of Rajankunte gram panchayat and Kumar of Bashehatti gram panchayat. Interestingly, all three started their careers in Bengaluru and were later transferred to villages as PDOs. There is a healthy competition between them to attain new heights. We received a lot of cooperation from gram panchayats and villagers, and now the villages have attained national recognition. The villagers are smarter than those living in cities as they know the importance of natural resources and their conservation, said Gangaram. Rajesh said that it is a wrong perception that gathering funds is challenging. It is not that difficult because funds come in the form of donations and are accumulated. They are utilised under various government schemes and even villages contribute to funds for new projects. It is good to see that villagers know the importance of money and how to utilise it, he added. B Nijalingappa, Director, Jalamrutha, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj said, while smart city is being implemented in urban areas, smart villages is a new definition. It is the mindset of using resources wisely and working towards contributing to it. Botswana has sold licences to shoot dead dozens of elephants for tens of thousands of pounds each, in what experts are warning could be a major global conservation disaster. The country auctioned off hunts for 60 of the huge mammals for a total of 25.7m Botswanan pula 1.8m, or more than 30,200 each. Conservationists have told the countrys leaders they risk hastening elephant extinction. And African organisations that wanted to bid at the auction and put the money towards local community projects instead of shooting animals were angry at being excluded from the bidding. The EMS Foundation tweeted afterwards: Shame on you, President Masisi we will not forget. Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Show all 15 1 /15 Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts It's estimated an elephant is killed every 20 or 25 minutes on average in Africa Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Broadcaster Nicky Campbell spoke passionately against trophy hunting and legal imports of animal parts Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Protesters at the fifth annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in London marched through central London Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Thousands of people joined the fifth annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in London Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Stanley Johnson, father of Boris Johnson, is a passionate supporter of the campaign to save elephants and rhinos from extinction Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Protesters at the fifth annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in London called for a UK ban on trophy imports Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Thousands of protesters at the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos marched to Downing Street Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Some protesters in London against trophy hunting dressed in wildlife costumes Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Campaigners fear elephants, rhinos and lions will become extinct if trophy hunting continues Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Protesters at the fifth annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in London against trophy hunting marched through central London Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Some protesters in London against trophy hunting dressed in wildlife costumes Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Protesters at the fifth annual Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in London called for a UK ban on trophy imports Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Protesters stopped traffic as they marched through London Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Campaigners fear elephants, rhinos and lions will become extinct if trophy hunting continues Paul Nicholls Protesters demand a UK ban on imports of 'trophy hunt' animal parts Lobbying for a ban on imports of hunted wildlife parts Palmerston the cat joined Denise Dresner, of Action for Elephants, John Stevenson, of Stop Ivory, actor Peter Egan, Cordelia Britton, of Four Paws, Mark Jones, of Born Free and Eduardo Goncalves, of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, as they delivered a letter to Downing Street Paul Nicholls Wildlife activists had lobbied against the decision last year by Mokgweetsi Masisi to end Botswanas five-year ban on big-game hunting. The government has issued a quota for the killing of 272 elephants during this years hunting season, from April to September. A seventh lot at Fridays auction to shoot 10 others - failed to meet the reserve price of 2 million pula (141,000). Africas elephant population has plummeted by more than two-thirds in 40 years: from 1.3million in 1979 to 415,000 in 2015, official figures show, and the species is listed as vulnerable to extinction by wildlife body the IUCN. Poaching is the leading cause of the decline. But Botswana has the worlds biggest population of elephants about 130,000 almost one-third of the continents total. Their numbers in the country have grown since the 1990s, and as humans have expanded farmland, elephants have increasingly taken crops, prompting officials to promote hunting to ease the human-elephant conflict. However, some environmentalists fear licensed hunting could fuel demand for body parts and so encourage even more illegal poaching, opening the path to extinction. Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, told The Independent that attrition from trophy-hunting and poaching was greater than the annual birth rate of elephants in Africa. Scientists have noticed that trophy hunting and poaching of African elephants is leading to elephants having shorter tusks and that there are now more adult elephants with no tusks, he said. Trophy hunting is artificial selection. By targeting the biggest and strongest animals, it leaves the weaker, smaller animals behind. This means the best genes are being lost, so the species will be less able to adapt to accelerating climate change, it will be more prone to disease, and the risk of extinction is greater. He said the move would be bad for some of Botswanas poorest communities, as it meant one-off trophy fees replacing income streams from nature tourism of $2m (1.5m) over an elephants lifetime. A letter from wildlife experts and celebrities, including explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, to President Masisi when he was reconsidering the ban said: Trophy-hunting of elephants often brings a slow, painful death. With its population dwindling and increasingly scattered, the impact of trophy-hunting could be disastrous and possibly contribute to the extinction of the species. This would be a major global conservation disaster potentially the worst in living memory and have tremendously damaging consequences for efforts to conserve endangered fauna and flora everywhere. The countrys government says the large sums of money from trophy-hunters benefit local communities. Recommended Hundreds of vultures die after eating poisoned elephants in Botswana But Leslie Olonyi, an environmental lawyer from Kenya, said: African youth are now, more than ever, alive to the truth that elephants are part of our pride and heritage to conserve and hold in trust for future generations. Shortsighted politicians, poachers, trophy-hunters and their silver bullets must never be allowed to endanger this heritage. Animal Defenders International appealed to people to protest outside the Botswanan embassy in their country. Rosemary Alles, co-founder and president of the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, said: Studies have shown that local communities do not reap the benefits that they are promised from the hunting industry. Killing 272 elephants in Botswana will not control elephant numbers, it will not reduce human-elephant conflict and will not create jobs in areas where opportunities are scarce. Appropriate land-use planning including dedicated migratory corridors will aid elephant dispersal and increase the probability of amicable human elephant coexistence. When the government last year decided to allow new culls, an environment ministry spokesperson said: Predators appear to have increased and were causing a lot of damage as they kill livestock in large numbers. There is a negative impact of the hunting suspension on livelihoods, particularly for community-based organisations that were previously benefiting from consumptive utilisation [of wildlife]. Tiro Segosebe, who lives in the capital, Gaborone, said: Elephants have killed a lot of people and destroyed livelihoods. I think government is doing the right thing in reducing their numbers. Last year, Botswana banned two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and tried to hide the evidence. Two US soldiers were killed and six wounded in a so-called insider attack in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province late Saturday when an Afghan dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire, the US military said. A member of the Nangarhar Provincial Council, Ajmal Omer, told The Associated Press the gunman was killed. There have been numerous attacks by Afghan national army soldiers on their allied partners over the 18 years of Afghanistan's protracted war. An Afghan defense ministry official, who was not identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the shooter was an Afghan soldier who had argued with the U.S. forces before opening fire. He was not a Taliban infiltrator, the official said. In a statement, the US military said 'an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined US and Afghan force with a machine gun. We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time.' A US flag is seen at a military post in Deh Bala district of Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan in this July 2018 file photo The attack happened in the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan on Saturday, February 8 Omer, who is a member of the provincial council, is from Nangarhar province's Sherzad district, where he said the incident took place. An Afghan soldier was wounded, Omer said. The US military said American and Afghan military personnel were fired on while conducting an operation in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province. The operation is to help the Afghan government clear the area of Taliban and insurgent forces. Last July, two US service members were killed by an Afghan soldier in the southern Kandahar province. The shooter was wounded and arrested. In September, three U.S. military personnel were wounded when an member of the Afghan Civil Order Police fired on a military convoy, also in Kandahar. The incident came as Washington has sought to find an end to the war in Afghanistan. Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been meeting with Taliban representatives in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar in recent weeks. He's seeking an agreement to reduce hostilities to get a peace deal signed that would start negotiations among Afghans on both sides of the conflict. In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump referenced the peace talks, saying U.S. soldiers were not meant to serve as 'law enforcement agencies' for other nations. 'In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our war fighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are now underway, ' he said. Earlier on Saturday, a tweet from 7th Special Forces group confirmed that soldiers were killed or injured in the incident and that the families of the deceased and wounded were being notified. US military spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett said in a statement that both Afghan and US personnel were 'engaged by direct firing' as Newsweek reports two US fatalities Early unverified claims by the Taliban indicated at least five dead US soldiers. A senior Afghan defense official told Reuters it was not clear whether the incident was a result of clashes between Afghan and foreign forces or whether hardline Islamist militants were responsible for the attack. 'We are not ruling any possibility out but we are not calling it an insider attack, Taliban attack, or 'green-on-blue' at this stage,' said the official who requested anonymity. Since the American invasion of Afghanistan, Taliban infiltrators have been a recurring problem in the Afghan Army. The Taliban and the Islamic State group affiliate both operate in eastern Nangarhar province were the attack took place. US soldier walks past burning trucks at the scene of a suicide attack at the Afghan-Pakistan border crossing in Nangarhar province, where two US soldiers may have died on Saturday (file photo) This past December, 23 Afghan soldiers were killed when a Taliban infiltrator opened fire on his colleagues at a base in Ghazni Province in eastern Afghanistan. The incident on Saturday comes as Washington seeks to find an end to Afghanistan's 18-year war, America's longest. Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been meeting with Taliban representatives in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar in recent weeks. He's seeking an agreement to reduce hostilities to get a peace deal signed that would start negotiations among Afghans on both sides of the conflict. In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump referenced the peace talks, saying US soldiers were not meant to serve as 'law enforcement agencies' for other nations. 'In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our war fighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are now underway,' he said. Iran's supreme leader said Saturday that the Islamic republic must become strong enough to ward off the "enemy's threats" and prevent a war. "We must become strong so that there will not be a war, become strong so that enemy's threats will end," Khamenei told a gathering of air force commanders and staff aired on state television. "We do not want to threaten anyone... this is to prevent threats, to maintain the country's security," he added. MADE IN HENDERSON COUNTY LAUNCHES 2ND YEAR Year Two of the Made in Henderson County Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program Launches This Spring for Graduating High School Seniors and Adults HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (Feb. 6, 2020) 2019 marked the first year of the Made in Henderson County Apprenticeship Program, where 21 Henderson County graduating seniors were accepted into the program. Through an ongoing partnership with Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS), Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC), the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development (HCPED), and local industry partners, year two will launch this spring with more participating employers and more apprenticeship spots available. A registered North Carolina Apprenticeship with the N.C. Department of Commerce, the program offers students a tuition-free Mechatronics Engineering Certificate, earned over the course of four semesters. Throughout the internship, students will spend one day in the classroom at Blue Ridge Community College, and the rest of the week working at one of the partner companies. This years cohort of companies includes the four returning from last year: Elkamet, WestRock, Meritor, and GF Linamar, and welcomes three new employers to the group: Raumedic, Byers Precision Fabricators, and Mountain Showcase Group. Students will earn a competitive salary throughout the process and are guaranteed a job offer upon completion of the program. Informational sessions will be held at each HCPS high school during the month of February for interested students and educators to learn more about the program. Parents and family of the students are encouraged to attend a kickoff event at Blue Ridge Community College on Thursday, February 20 at 5:30 p.m. to learn more about the apprenticeship program. The program is also open to adults, so there will be a second kickoff event held on Saturday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. where anyone interested in learning more is welcome to attend. Participating companies will be offering group or individual tours of their facilities in March. To apply or view a schedule of important dates for the Made in Henderson County Manufacturing Apprenticeship, you can visit the website at www.madeinhendersoncounty.com/apprenticeship. Applications will be accepted until April 9 at 5:00 p.m. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Brittany Brady, President of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development: The MIHC Apprenticeship program is a game changer for those looking for education and on the job application. We are fortunate to have great partnerships to launch such a dynamic program in Henderson County. Dr. Laura Leatherwood, President of Blue Ridge Community College: We are pleased to partner with Henderson County Public Schools, the Partnership for Economic Development, and local employers once again to provide this fantastic opportunity for local students. People attend Blue Ridge because they are seeking to better their lives with a career, and students who join the Apprenticeship program will be given a competitive edge for a great career in advanced manufacturing in Henderson County. Bo Caldwell, Superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools: "Henderson County Public Schools is honored to partner with Blue Ridge Community College and our local manufacturing companies in the MIHC Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program. It's the ideal career pathway for our students who see themselves in advanced manufacturing after high school it's a tremendous opportunity for a student to earn a tuition-free Mechatronics Engineering Certification while employed with a partner company. * * * For more information, contact: Chelsea Ward Director of Marketing Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. O: 828-692-6373 FB/Insta: @MadeInHendersonCounty Twitter: @HendersonCoEDC Molly McGowan Gorsuch Public Information Officer Henderson County Public Schools This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. O: 828-697-4512 C: 828-774-6352 FB/Twitter/Insta: @HCPSNC Lee Anna Haney Director, Marketing and Communications Blue Ridge Community College This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. O: 828.694.1885 C:828.243.1534 FB: @BlueRidgeCommunityCollege Insta: @BlueRidgeCommCollege Twitter: @BlueRidgeCC WASHINGTON - Jason Kenney opted to join Ontario counterpart Doug Ford in the Democratic doghouse Saturday as the Alberta premier vented his spleen about progressive presidential hopefuls who have vowed to block the controversial Keystone XL pipeline expansion. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney meets with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in Calgary, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. Kenney is the latest Canadian premier to take aim at U.S. Democrats, calling out presidential hopefuls who want to block the Keystone XL pipeline expansion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol WASHINGTON - Jason Kenney opted to join Ontario counterpart Doug Ford in the Democratic doghouse Saturday as the Alberta premier vented his spleen about progressive presidential hopefuls who have vowed to block the controversial Keystone XL pipeline expansion. With Ford seeking shelter from the blowback for having criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders the day before, Kenney chose to lean in, accusing certain Democratic presidential contenders he did not name names of betraying a close neighbour and ally and all but endorsing energy imports from "regressive regimes" in the Middle East. "Many of them, quite rightly, admire Canada as a progressive liberal democracy, as a close friend and ally of the United States," Kenney said, answering a question he hadn't been asked during a joint news conference in Washington with Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Quebec's Francois Legault and Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick. "Why then would they threaten to tear up an agreement that will be the basis of a multibillion-dollar Canadian investment in this country to become an even bigger and more reliable secure source of energy?" Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, has signed on to a pledge to block Keystone XL if he becomes president, as has his progressive rival, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Others, like Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former vice-president Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg the mayor of South Bend, Ind., and a presumptive front-runner along with Sanders following last week's snafu-plagued Iowa caucuses have been hedging their bets. Kenney likened opposing Keystone XL to endorsing ever more imports of Middle Eastern "OPEC dictatorship" oil, a tacit endorsement of "regressive regimes that have zero environmental transparency, lower environmental standards and no respect for human rights in many cases, regimes that spread violence, conflict and extremism around the world." "Why are they prepared to do great economic damage to their closest friend and ally, the most progressive and liberal source of energy on Earth, when they don't threaten to ban OPEC imports into the United States?" The premiers were in the U.S. capital to promote trade ties with state leaders and to celebrate and reinforce the importance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is expected to go into effect later this summer after it gets ratified in the House of Commons. Ford pulled focus from that mission Friday when he described the prospect of a Sanders presidency as "scary" and chastised Pelosi for ripping up her copy of Trump's remarks following Tuesday's state of the union speech on Capitol Hill. "Let me tell you why I'm here," Ford said when asked if he was standing by the sentiments. "I'm laser-focused on making sure we work with other governors and I don't care what political stripe they're from; they can be Democrats, they can be Republicans. I'm going to work with whomever gets elected ... to make sure we continue on job creation, economic development, building relationships." Kenney has already made it clear that getting the on-again, off-again Keystone XL project back in gear is high on his agenda this weekend, which may explain why he chose to draw fire away from Ford. "This friendship, this alliance, has to be a two-way street," he said. "One of the greatest things that Canada represents to this country is energy security and energy independence. As long as that energy is needed in this country, I think Americans would rather that it be developed in North America by North Americans, including Canadians, rather than shipped over here by Saudi Arabia and OPEC dictatorships." Ford would not acknowledge "rumours" that the White House is considering a withdrawal from the World Trade Organization's $1.7-trillion General Procurement Agreement, a long-standing compact aimed at protecting shared access to government contracts around the world from domestic protectionist policies. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday that she raised the matter with U.S. trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer, but would not elaborate. With similar procurement provisions that once covered Canada under NAFTA no longer in the USMCA, protectionist sentiment in the U.S. under so-called "Buy American" laws could become a new challenge for Canadian businesses and governments in an age of managed trade. "That is precisely why we are here building our relationships with our respective counterparts and anyone we can, quite frankly, within the U.S. administration," said Moe, who is leading the delegation as this year's chairman of the Council of the Federation. The USMCA notwithstanding, Canada and the U.S. still have no end of trade irritants to wrestle with, Moe said, including Keystone, the ever-present softwood lumber dispute, country-of-origin labelling rules that restrict Canadian imports and the ongoing prospect of Section 232, the U.S. trade provision that Trump the self-proclaimed "Tariff Man" used against Canadian steel and aluminum producers throughout 2018 and 2019. "That relationship is what is important when you come to these times when you have to rely on that relationship to discuss your way through this." The five premiers were all smiles later Saturday as they joined Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan onstage for a panel discussion about infrastructure at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, each one delivering a sales pitch to state leaders about the virtues of doing business with their respective provinces. Legault urged leaders planning transit upgrades to give him a call to talk about Montreal-based Bombardier, which he billed as the only major company on the continent in the business of building trains and streetcars, and to lobby against Buy American rules, which require 70 per cent U.S. content and would prevent a lucrative cross-border partnership from taking hold. "There's a great opportunity to work together to build a champion of these products in North America," he said. "The requirement of 70 per cent doesn't permit us to integrate our companies together." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle President Muhammadu Buhari has jetted out of the presidential villa to Addis Ababa where he is expected to attend the 33rd Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The development has since sparked reactions from Nigerians who have taken to social media to fume at his incessant travel. Reacting to this, some have described him as the most travel minister for tourism. Read Also: N33k Allowance: Corps Members Visit Buhari To Thank Him Also, some threw a more direct shade by stating that even the birds dont fly as much as the countrys number one man. What Nigerians are saying below: Boris Johnsons government is moving to clamp down on any independent scrutiny by the media, in moves that deliberately ape the administration of US President Donald Trump. On Monday, Johnsons chief spin doctor, senior communications adviser Lee Cain, excluded political reporters from the Daily Mirror, the Independent, the i, HuffPost, PoliticsHome, and others from an official government briefing at 10 Downing Street. In response, journalists from those outlets who were to be permitted to attend the briefingthe BBC, ITV, Sky News, Daily Mail, the Telegraph, the Sun, the Financial Times and the Guardianwalked out in protest. The events on Monday were more reminiscent of a tin pot dictatorship than that of an elected government. The government had issued an invitation to a small number of invite only journalists for a No10 technical background briefing on the UKs future relationship with the European Union. This was to be given by Johnsons Brexit adviser David Frost to update the media on the governments stance regarding the EU and its negotiating position. Frosts position as an adviser, according to a report on PoliticsHome, is supposed to be neutral, not political. Several journalists from other media organisations previously invited to such briefings also showed up. According to various reports, after entering Downing Street the invited journalists were told to line up in the foyer on one side of a rug. Those not being allowed in were asked to stand on the other side. The barred journalists were then told by Cain to leave. Daily Mirror political editor Pippa Crerar said, It was deeply uncomfortable being on one side of the room they were the group who were deemed acceptable by Number 10. It was sinister and sad. The government claimed later that all accredited journalists had attended a normal briefing after Johnsons speech on Brexit earlier that day and that the briefing with Frost was to be a smaller, selected briefing for specialist senior journalists. The Guardian cited a senior Number 10 source who said, a number of uninvited journalists barged into No 10 and demanded to be part of it, but were told they could not attend. This is a falsification. No one can barge into 10 Downing Street as it is guarded by gates from Whitehall and all entering must be strictly vetted and have security clearance. Describing the events, senior political reporter Paul Waugh from the Huffington Post wrote, The briefing was set to be conducted by the PMs lead Brexit negotiator David Frost in Downing Street itself. Paid for by the taxpayer, he is obliged to behave in a neutral manner. But when political editors from other newspapers and websites arrived with their colleagues, they were split up by a security guard into two groups in the foyer of No.10, directly behind its famous black door. When Cain was asked directly what grounds he had for selectively briefing to some political editors and not others, he replied, Were welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like. After he was challenged again to give reasons, Cain lost his temper as the entire group said that they were walking out as one and would not agree to a briefing on such divisive terms. Waugh noted that The incident was the second within a week when Cain had decided to hold a special briefing for selected political editors, while excluding key media such as the i newspaper, the Mirror, the Independent, PA Media, HuffPost UK and PoliticsHome. Last week, he organised a similar technical briefing with senior intelligence chiefs and FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] and DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] civil servants on the Huawei decision being made by the government. The Johnson government is no longer cooperating with a substantial section of the media. Ministers are banned from appearing on BBC Radio 4s Today programme and are also boycotting ITVs Good Morning Britain. Since the election ministers have refused to appear on the Channel 4 network. Instead, a select number of politically vetted journalists are to be welcomed on the proviso that they dutifully disseminate the governments propaganda. Among these are representatives of pro-Tory organisations such as Buzzfeed and Guido Fawkes. Buzzfeed reporter Alex Wickham wrote that it was common knowledge that there was an inner and outer lobby regarding government briefings. Wickham played a critical role in publishing claims, as Forbes reported, that ignited the Labour partys ongoing anti-Semitism crisis. As soon as Johnson won his landslide election victory, he and his chief adviser Dominic Cummings moved to clamp down on media scrutiny. Instead of press briefings being held twice daily in the House of Commons, they were moved to 9 Downing Street. Independent newspaper journalist of 21 years Andrew Grice noted, This makes it hard for media organisations with small staffs to attend and led to protests from the Society of Editors. As well as making it harder for the media to question the government, the move raised fears that No 10 would soon herd the journalists into sheep and goats, excluding those who do not toe the line from briefings on its home ground. Reports reveal that Cummings has even set up a network of spies around Westminster to find out whether government special advisers were discussing the media. The Johnson government is genuinely fearful of even the mildest critical reporting, at a time when it is intent on boasting of how it is getting Brexit done. There is, in addition, the political calculation on Johnsons part that an open attack on the left press plays very well politically in his right-wing support base, just as do his latest attacks on the UKs state broadcaster, the BBC, including threats to make paying the licence fee voluntary. It has the same character as Trumps set-piece fake news confrontations with sections of the US media. But it is also a measure of the rottenness of the media that even his designated enemies are so devoid of a genuinely oppositional approachthe Mirror was chosen as the only tabloid that backs Labour, the Independent and the i for being pro-Remain, for example. The Guardian, the toothless voice of English liberalism, was considered safe to include as proof of a lack of political bias on Johnsons part. As for those who were forced to protest the exclusion of their colleagues, those deemed fit to attend the technical briefing included the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg (a hate-figure for many due to her obvious Tory bias), ITVs Robert Peston and the pro-Brexit Daily Mail. Also invited were representatives from Sky, the Times and Sunowned by billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Having been forced to take a stand against Johnson on Monday, they all returned to their usual role of pliant mouthpieces for the ruling class as soon as they left Downing Street. It must be added that their outrage at the infringing of press freedoms by Johnson does not extend to any expression of outrage at the treatment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, imprisoned just an hour away in Belmarsh maximum security prison. Assange faces extradition to the United States on espionage charges carrying a life sentence and a possible death penalty. But unlike the indignity of being asked to stand on the wrong side of a rug, the brutal treatment of a heroic journalist and frontal assault on press freedoms with chilling implications for the worlds media have prompted no individual protest, let alone collective opposition, from those excluded by Johnson on Monday or their stalwart defenders. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A romantic wedding anniversary celebration turned into a tragedy after the couple, despite warnings from the police, stepped into the sea to exchange rings, at Palavakkam beach early on Friday. While the woman drowned, her husband managed to escape. Friday was the second wedding anniversary for Vignesh and Veni Shaila, natives of Vellore. The couple have a one-year-old son. While Veni was a nurse at the CMC in Vellore, Vignesh worked with a textile firm. They had come to Chennai to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They were staying at their friends house in Chennai. After going out for dinner on Thursday night, the couple along with their friends reached the beach at 11.30 pm. Two policemen on duty there noticed five cars approaching. About 30 people, including children, got out and headed towards the sea. The policemen warned the people not to enter the water, and the families moved away, said ACP Visweswarayya. They then cut a cake and celebrated on the shore. About 10 minutes to midnight, the couple told the police they wanted to exchange rings standing in the water while others film the event. However, they went deep into the sea, with hip-level water. Veni was suddenly dragged away by strong waves, while Vignesh managed to reach the shore. The constables tried to locate Shaila using boats from a fishermen colony, but in vain. Based on the information, the Neelankarai police registered a case. The body washed ashore at Kottivakkam beach around 2 am. It was sent to the Royapettah Government Hospital for post-mortem. Police said an inquiry by Revenue Divisional Officer was ordered. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise Public schools educate the vast majority of children in Southeast Texas and probably always will. But the growing number of private and charter schools in the region should be welcomed by parents and taxpayers. These nontraditional schools can complement the work being done by public school districts and even make them better through competition for students and resources. The latest addition to the areas roster of charter campuses will be the new Bob Hope High School in Port Arthur, the fourth campus for a startup that began as The Hughen Center to educate children with physical disabilities. The three campuses now serve 2,000 students. The groundbreaking ceremony for the high school was held this week and it is slated to open its door this August. The new two-story campus will be at 4545 Texas 73, the site of a former church. New Delhi: BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma on Saturday (February 8) alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party is arranging biryani for Shaheen Bagh protesters, and as a quid pro quo, they are voting for the AAP. The controversial BJP MP tweeted a video saying, "Delhiites, the media is saying the same thing which I was insisting upon so far. People from a certain community from Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur and Jamia Millia are standing in long queues to claim that they will vote for AAP. Why would they not? Aam Aadmi Party has been feeding them biryani for more than a month." Verma also called it as a mode of "repayment of loan" given by the AAP. Terming Delhiites as "Rashtravadi" and "Deshbhakt", the BJP MP said, "We won`t let Delhi breakaway," while ended his tweet video with "Jai Shri Ram". Verma released this video on the day of polling. The Election Commission is yet to react to this new video. Notably, People at Shaheen Bagh have been camping on Road no 13 A for more than 50 days now against the Citizenship Amendment Act and nationwide NRC. The protesters have also been on the streets in Jamia Millia and Seelampur area in Delhi. On February 5, the Election Commission banned BJP MP Parvesh Verma from campaigning for Delhi Assembly Election 2020 for 24 hours from 6 pm on Wednesday. Verma, who is the BJP MP from West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, was earlier banned by the EC for making controversial remarks at an election rally and was prohibited from campaigning for four days. The results for Delhi Assembly poll will be announced on February 11. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap By Do Je-hae U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address has always captured the Korean media's attention due to its usual reference to North Korea. But the North was missing Feb. 4, while President Trump mentioned other diplomatic issues such as Iran and Venezuela. The absence has led to questions about what it could possibly mean for the Korean Peninsula. "In front of the very Congress that has been consumed with the impeachment debate, Trump claimed U.S. economic and military strength are unmatched in the world," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Woman's University, said. "He said his policies have allies contributing more and have put America's enemies on the run. But Trump made no mention of North Korea. This will leave observers in Asia asking about the future of U.S. policy on denuclearization." Absence of outomes There is diverse speculation on why Trump left out North Korea. Some experts say it has to do with the absence of tangible outcomes on its denuclearization despite his two summits with Kim. "There was no way that he could claim the kind of successes that he once believed he had on North Korea and is confident he's had with Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Israel and Palestine," Donald Kirk, an analyst and author on Korean Peninsula issues, said. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do you have a question that youd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or contact him on Twitter at @hoynsie. Hey, Hoynsie: How many years does Terry Francona have left on his contract and do you think he will retire when it expires? Eric, University Heights. Hey, Eric: Last April the Indians extended Franconas contract through 2022. Francona, 60, begins his eighth season as manager on Tuesday when pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training. Franconas health problems have been well documented, but at Tribe Fest he said he was happy in Cleveland, enjoys working with executives Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff and is ready for the challenge of another season. He did say the older he gets, the tougher it is to recover from one season and get ready for the next. No one knows what the next two seasons hold, but if Francona continues to put winning teams on the field and the front office continues to give him a chance to do that, I think hell continue to manage the Tribe. Outfielder Joc Pederson swings away during the All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Progressive Field last year.cleveland.com Hey, Hoynsie: Did the Dodgers offer Joc Pederson to the Indians in their trade talks for Francisco Lindor and or Mike Clevinger? Ted, Sierra Madre, Calif. Hey, Ted: Lots of names surfaced when news broke that the Dodgers and Indians were talking trade. The fact that the Dodgers have all but traded Pederson to the Angels providing the Mookie Betts deal goes through, is a good indicator that Pederson may have been on the table when they talked to the Tribe. While Pederson may have been included, any trade involving Lindor/Clevinger would have required a lot more talent coming the Tribes way. Manny Ramirez.ASSOCIATED PRESS Hey, Hoynsie: It seems the Tribe does very well identifying young pitching talent. Why do you think its been more difficult for them to identify outfield talent as well? Chuck, Youngstown. Hey, Chuck: Its not like they arent trying. In a six-year period from 2012-17 the Indians used their top pick in the draft to select five outfielders Tyler Naquin, 2012, Clint Frazier, 2013, Bradley Zimmer, 2014, Will Benson, 2016 and Quentin Holmes, 2017. Naquin has shown flashes, but has had trouble staying on the field because of injuries. Frazier was traded to New York in the Andrew Miller deal where hes had limited success. Zimmer, an impressive athlete, hasnt played much in the last two seasons because of right shoulder surgery. Benson, drafted out of high school, has yet to play above Class A. The Indians didnt have a first-round pick in 2017, but drafted Holmes in the second round. He has the best speed in the organization, but hit .175 (72-for-412) at Class A Lake County last year. A case could be made that their last big homegrown outfielder was Manny Ramirez, whose final season in Cleveland was 2000. Some of it has been bad luck. Some of it has been bad picks. Some of it has been cyclical. Remember when the Indians drafted, signed and developed outfielders Richie Sexson and Brian Giles? They had so many talented outfielders in the big leagues that they couldnt find regular playing time for them and traded them. Even when they went out and spent big money in the free agent market they missed on Michael Bourn. Fortunately, theyve been better at acquiring outfielders through trades such as Michael Brantley, Shin-Soo Choo, Grady Sizemore and Kenny Lofton. But still, its an organizational sore spot. Francisco Lindor.AP Hey, Hoynsie: We know Frankie Lindor is a hot commodity and hes only gonna get hotter. If he gets off to a good start, I think this could reach fever pitch if the national media jumps in. With Boston dumping salary by trading Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers (trade still isnt official), do you see this as an attempt to create salary cap space for a possible sign & trade by Tribe to Boston? Just imagine the switch-hitting Lindor as No.3 hitter in the middle of that lineup for the next eight to 10 years. What do you think? Mike, Avon. Hey, Mike: You had me right up until the sign and trade suggestion. This isnt the NBA. There are no sign-and-trade deals in MLB. But if Im an Indians fan, Id rather see Lindor traded to the National League rather than the American League because you wouldnt have to face him that much. Cleveland Indians jerseys.Joe Noga, cleveland.com Hey, Hoynsie: Im a season ticket holder. I never complain, well, almost never. But the Indians red jerseys are the most boring and sad jerseys Ive ever seen. Ive seen more creativity on a middle school team. Mark Scott. Hey, Mark: I like the red jerseys, but it would have been nice to have a shoulder patch to replace last years All-Star Game logo and Chief Wahoo from the 2018 season. But it was the organizations decision not to go with a shoulder patch this year. Chief Wahoo certainly stirred debate, but it was an iconic symbol of the team. I would imagine the franchise wants to take its time creating a new one that will have staying power instead of being a short-term solution. Indians right-hander Aaron Civale.cleveland.com Hey, Hoynsie: Aaron Civale has 58 days of MLB service time from 2019. How does that affect the dreaded free agency clock? Is 172 days still the marker for a year and how does that work when broken up over more than one season? Joe Cepec, Powell. Hey, Joe: For a player to receive credit for a full year in the big leagues he must have 172 days of service time in a season that lasts 187 days. A player needs six full seasons to become a free agent. Civale earned 58 days of service time last year. If he stays on the Tribes 26-man roster or big-league injured list for 114 days this year, hell have a full season in the big leagues because service time accrues from year to year. Should Civale spend the next six years (2020-25) as a regular member of the Indians or any other big-league club, hed be eligible for free agency after the 2025 season with six years and 58 days of service time to his credit. Although it wasnt the case with Civale, who was promoted to the big leagues because of injuries, teams often hold back top prospects until a point in their rookie season where they cannot earn a full season of service time. Kris Bryant of the Cubs earned 171 days of service time as a rookie. He fell a day short of a full season, thus giving the Cubs a seventh or extra year of control over the third baseman. Bryant recently filed a grievance against this practice, but lost. The Indians werent as blatant as the Cubs, but they did the same thing with Lindor. Houston's Jose Altuve (right) and Justin Verlander.AP Hey, Hoynsie: Mr. John Adams hitting his drum in the outfield is fine, but I submit an added touch for when the Astros come to town this year. Have every fan bring a trash can lid. As the Cleveland pitcher gets the sign from the catcher, everyone start banging their lids. I know Astros supposedly only stole signs at their park, but maybe this would help them feel at home. -- George Amer, Gallatin, Tenn. Hey, George: Somehow I dont see Progressive Field security going along with your suggestion. How soon before one of those garbage can lids going flying onto the field? Maybe, as an alternative, Oscar The Grouch could throw out the first pitch. Hes got more experience with garbage cans than Alex Cora or Carlos Beltran combined. Jim Thome.AP Hey Hoynsie: Has the Tribe considered inviting Jim Thome to spring training? He could help Francisco Lindor improve his hitting with runners in scoring position and give him advice on his upcoming free agency. -- Steve Cornelius, Rocky River. Hey, Steve: You do know that Thome works for the White Sox, right? Thome, in case you were wondering, hit .282 (638-for-2,265) with runners in scoring position. Lindor is hitting .265, but hes just a baby with 163 hits in 614 at-bats compared to Thome. Lets give Lindor some time to grow into that part of his game. Get Tribe Insider texts in your phone from Paul Hoynes: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the award-winning Indians reporter, just like you would with your friends. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here. D onald Trump branded National Security Council aid who testified against the president as an impeachment witness "insubordinate" as he defended sacking him. Two officials were ousted from the White House just two days after his impeachment acquittal, Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. Both had provided damaging testimony about Mr Trump in the Democratic-led congressional hearings. As Lt Col Vindman, the White House's top Ukraine expert, was escorted out of the White House, his lawyer claimed he was fired in retribution for his testimony. Lt Col Alexander Vindman, director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, arrives to testify before a House Intelligence Committee hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump / REUTERS His lawyer David Pressman said in a statement that the move was retribution for Lt Col Vindman's testimony. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. Lt Col Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," Mr Pressman said. But Mr Trump has hit back against accusations that Lt Col Vindman was fired in retaliation for his testimony, saying he was an "insubordinate" and "horrendous" member of staff. National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, left, walks with his twin brother, Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, after testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill / AP He wrote: "Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about 'Lt. Col.' Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. "Actually, I dont know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I dont believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly," he added in reference to conversations with the president of Ukraine. Michael Volkov, who represented Mr Vindman when he testified in the impeachment inquiry, said Lt Col Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, was escorted off the White House grounds at the same time. Mr Sondland also issued a statement saying he would be removed from his post hours after Lt Col Vindman's lawyer announced that the military officer - - was being removed from his National Security Council job. The wealthy Oregon hotelier, was a Trump political donor before being named by the president to his ambassador post. In his statement, he said he was advised that Trump "intends to recall me effective immediately" from his job. "I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the US Mission to the European Union," he said, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is an 'incompetent' CM and the Karnataka Cabinet which has recently been expanded by him is 'imbalanced'. "Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has no freedom to form a Cabinet. The Cabinet is imbalanced and has neglected 13 districts. There will be discontent among them. Yediyurappa is an incompetent Chief Minister," said Siddaramaiah while speaking to reporters here. Speaking about the delay in the election of KPCC president, he said: "The KPCC president's selection has been delayed due to the Delhi elections. We have no differences with the President's appointment. We have informed the High Command and the appointment of the president is up to the High Command." Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and four-time legislator from Thirthahalli constituency, Araga Jnanendra expressed his displeasure over the Cabinet expansion. Speaking to ANI in Kannada he said, "There is no question of justice or injustice regarding the Cabinet expansion, it's a reality that we all should accept. I had stepped into with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in 1983, we both had contested in the same year from BJP, I worked from the grass-root level and built the party without expectations. I know the current situation but the CM must consider my request for a Cabinet berth. I agree that injustice has been done to senior BJP legislators in the expansion. I have requested the CM to induct me in the Cabinet and I hope it will be done in the coming days," he added. Earlier on Thursday, former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy said that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa-led government is not stable and it can fall at any moment. "Karnataka Government is not a stable one. With the developments taking place, it can fall at any moment," Kumaraswamy told reporters when asked to comment on the Karnataka Cabinet expansion. On Thursday, 10 MLAs including Ramesh Jarkiholi, Anand Singh, K Sudhakar and BA Basavaraja took oath as Cabinet Ministers at Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 1,000 mourners are expected to say their final goodbyes this weekend to Liberty County deputy sheriff Richard Whitten, who died in Houston during a physical therapy session at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research at Memorial Hermann on Monday. Doctors say Whitten suffered what they believe was a heart attack, which caught his fellow law enforcement family by surprise, said Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader. Its really a shock that this happened. We were not expecting this, he said at a press conference following the deputys passing on Monday. He was undergoing therapy at TIRR and making amazing improvements, according to the sheriff. Rader called the deputy earlier Monday to inform him he had been named the Officer of the Year by the 100 Club, but the call went to voicemail. Rader had just received a letter in the mail last Friday from the 100 Club announcing they would honor Whitten. He wont be present to receive that award, and that really hurts because he was a good man, the sheriff said. Final arrangements have been finalized and visitation will be held Friday from 5-9 p.m., Feb. 7 at Neal Funeral Home, 200 S. Washington Ave., in Cleveland. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at The Sanctuary Church, 100 E. Hanson St. in Cleveland. Burial will follow the service at the Cleveland Memorial Cemetery at FM 787 and Peach Avenue in Cleveland. For those interested in lining the procession route in support of the family and law enforcement, LCSO Cpl. James McQueen announced the procession will leave The Sanctuary Church at 100 E. Hanson St. and head north on Travis Street, then turn right on Houston Street (TX 321), and finally make a left onto Peach Street to the cemetery. At the request of Liberty County Judge Jay Knight, the governor has agreed to honor Whitten by ordering all flags in Liberty County to be lowered to half-staff, remembering the life and public service of the deputy. Flags are to remain at half-staff until the end of the day of his final interment and should return to full staff the following day. Other cities, counties, and political subdivisions may also lower flags during the same period of time, the order read. The First Lady and I extend our prayers of comfort to the Whitten family during their time of grief. I urge all Texans to remember and honor the public service of deputy Whitten to the State of Texas as a dedicated and brave peace officer, the governor said. Whitten had been a deputy in Cleveland for four years. He began his law enforcement career a little later in life after selling truck parts. He talked his wife into fulfilling his dream to be an officer and he came to Liberty County and was an awesome man and an asset, Rader said. Rader said Whitten kept dog and cat food in his car to feed pets and also often helped the homeless. The sheriff said he considered it a Line of Duty death considering the circumstances. Whitten was on his way to a class in Dayton from Cleveland when a call came on the radio that there was a shooting in Cleveland. The shooting took the lives of two Cleveland people. Whitten spotted the vehicle and he began to pursue the suspect. The defendant bailed out of his car and started shooting and hit Whitten in his neck and his spine and thats what caused his problems, Rader said. In a visit with U. S. Congressman Dr. Brian Babin last June, Whitten said if he was faced with the same situation again, he would do it all over. On Thursday night in the well of the U. S. House of Representatives, Babin spoke about Whitten. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank a real hero, Deputy Richard Whitten, for his faithful service. Earlier in the week, Rader thanked the public for their support. We have received many donations, flowers, condolences and prayers for the Whitten family. The outpouring of support is both appreciated and overwhelming. There is no way that neither the family nor I could possibly express our thanks to each and everyone. Please accept this post as our sincere appreciation for what you have done. dtaylor@hcnonline.com The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will on Feb. 12 released a document in response to a proposal to allow married men into the priesthood. According to the announcement on Friday, the proposal is strictly limited to the Amazon region. In October, a summit of bishops, known as a synod, had requested that married men be allowed to become priests, in order to deal with a serious shortage of clergy in the sparsely-populated South American rainforest region. An idea that has left traditionalists outraged and worried that it could lead to the complete abolition of the celibacy rule for priests, which is not part of church dogma but has been in place since the Middle Ages. Read Also: Catholic Nuns Return To Italy Pregnant After Missionary Trip To Africa In a so-called Apostolic Exhortation, the pope is expected to take a decision on the issue. The Vatican said the document will be called Querida Amazonia, (Dear Amazon). Pope Francis is also due to weigh on other issues discussed by the Amazon synod, including social justice and climate change, minority rights and the role of women in the church. Many African Americans made education a high priority after the Civil War. National Museum of African American History and Culture Ill never forget a students response when I asked during a middle school social studies class what they knew about black history: Martin Luther King freed the slaves. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, more than six decades after the time of enslavement. To me, this comment underscored how closely Americans associate black history with slavery. While shocked, I knew this mistaken belief reflected the lack of time, depth and breadth schools devote to black history. Most students get limited information and context about what African Americans have experienced since our ancestors arrived here four centuries ago. Without independent study, most adults arent up to speed either. For instance, what do you know about Reconstruction? Im excited about new resources for teaching children, and everyone else, more about the history of slavery through The New York Times 1619 Project. But based on my experience teaching social studies and my current work preparing social studies educators, I also consider understanding what happened during the Reconstruction essential for exploring black power, resilience and excellence. Reconstruction amendments As most students do learn, the U.S. gained three constitutional amendments that extended civil and political rights to newly freed African Americans following the Civil War. The 13th, ratified in 1865, banned slavery and involuntary servitude except for the punishment of a crime. The 14th, ratified three years later, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people born in the United States, as well as naturalized citizens including all previously enslaved individuals. Then, the 15th Amendment asserted that neither the federal government nor state governments could deny voting rights to any male citizen. The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment on Feb. 3, 1870. The anniversary is a good opportunity to learn about how the amendment was supposed to guarantee that the right to vote could not be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. African American politicians What few history and social studies classes explore is how these changes to the Constitution made it possible for African American men to use their newfound political power to gain representation. Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American senator, represented Mississippi in 1870 after the states Senate elected him. He was among the 16 black men from seven southern states who served in Congress during Reconstruction. Revels and his colleagues were only part of the story. All told, about 2,000 African Americans held public office at some level of government during Reconstruction. White supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan also formed following the Civil War. These terrorist groups engaged in violence and other racist tactics to intimidate African Americans, people of color, black voters and legislators. They thus made the accomplishments of African American politicians even more impressive as they served as public officials under the constant threat of racial violence. The first African American members of Congress were elected after the Civil War. Currier and Ives via the Library of Congress Black activist women African American women technically gained the right to vote in 1920, when the 19th Amendment passed. However, their constitutional right was limited in many states due to discriminatory laws. Mary Church Terrell, an educator, fought for the rights of women of color. National Archives Docs Teach collection Many black women were activists and womens suffrage movement leaders. Through public speaking, prolific writing and developing organizations dedicated to racial and and gender equality, they fought for equal rights and dignity for all. Among the black women who were activists during Reconstruction were the five Rollins sisters of South Carolina, who fought for female voting rights; Maria Stewart, an outspoken abolitionist before the Civil War and suffragist once it ended; and Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first black woman in North America to edit and publish a newspaper, one of the first black female lawyers in the country and an advocate for granting women the right to vote. Other women of color who played key roles in the suffrage movement included Ida B. Wells, the journalist and civil rights advocate who raised awareness of lynching, and Mary Church Terrell, founder of the National Association of Colored Women. Higher education Before the Civil War, many states made teaching enslaved individuals to read a crime. Education quickly became a top priority for black Americans once slavery ended. While northern, largely white philanthropists and missionary groups and the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, better known as the Freedmens Bureau, did help create new educational opportunities, the African American public schools established after the Civil War ended were largely built and staffed by the black community. Many new institutions of higher education, now called Historically Black Colleges and Universities or HBCUs, began to operate during Reconstruction. These schools trained black people to become teachers and ministers, doctors and nurses. They also prepared African Americans for careers in industrial and agricultural fields. Morehouse graduates from the class of 2013 celebrated in the rain when President Obama delivered their commencement address. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza Historical experiences Storytelling, multimedia experiences and trips to historic sites and creative museums help get people of any age interested in learning about history. Depending on where you live, you may want to embark on a family outing or school field trip. The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has a new permanent exhibit on the Civil War and Reconstruction. The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in Washington, D.C. in 2017, contains artifacts from the Reconstruction era. Its also making the records of the Freedmens Bureau, including the names of formerly enslaved individuals following the Civil War, available online. Another option is the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park in Beaufort County, South Carolina. In addition, the organization Teaching for Change curates a booklist on Reconstruction for middle and high school students. And the Zinn Education Project Teach Reconstruction Campaign offers a variety of resources including readings, primary sources and even lesson plans. Henry Louis Gates Jr.s documentary series delves into the history of what happened in America after the Civil War. An incomplete transition As the renowned black scholar W.E.B. DuBois observed, racist laws and violent tactics in many states actively limited black freedom. The slave went free; stood for a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery, he explained. This was by no means voluntary. Intimidated and threatened by black enfranchisement and excellence in the era of Reconstruction, white supremacists attempted to enforce subordination through violence, such as lynching; and in systemic ways through Jim Crow laws. African Americans continued to assert their civil and constitutional rights as activists, politicians, business owners, teachers and farmers in the midst of white supremacist backlash. With the latest voter suppression efforts restricting access to the ballot box for voters of color and the resurgence of racist violence and vitriol today, DuBois words sound eerily familiar. At the same time its reassuring to recall how quickly formerly enslaved African Americans made their way to schoolhouses and public offices. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Julie OHanlon, Kitty Kinsella and Eileen Byrne at the Gorey Active Retirement Association AGM in the Ashdown Park Hotel Castletown: GAA club news - Castletown Liam Mellows GAA Healthy Clubs would love for you to be part of our 'get up, get active and get involved' initiative for 2020. We have lots of classes and events happening over the coming months. Chair yoga continues every Monday morning 10.45 a.m. in the Golden Anchor. Yoga with Caroline every Monday night in the clubhouse 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday morning yoga class 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. in the clubhouse starting Thursday, January 23, for four weeks. All yoga classes are 6 per class and are open to both men and women. ART CLASS - Introduction to Acrylic Painting, six-week course 80 starting Wednesday, February 5, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the clubhouses Castletown. Course instructor: Margaret Condren. Course suitable for complete beginners; This six-week course will give students the basics of acrylic-painting, introducing them to materials, techniques and good painting-habits. Working from an image meaningful to them. Participants will learn by first observing and then by 'doing', ANYONE can attend, whether a beginner or a more experienced painter looking to 'brush up' on their art-making through the medium of painting. For more info and to book your place please contact Margaret after 5 p.m. at 086 1799541 or Liz 086 3879322. Men's Health Event happening shortly. Watch this space. Giant Poker Drive Giant Poker Drive in aid of Castletown Liam Mellows G.A.A. takes place on Friday February 7 in The Golden Anchor at 8p.m. Coolgreany Fun Variety Night Please join us for a fun filled variety night showcasing lots of local talent in St Mogue's Hall Inch Friday, February 7, at 8 p.m. The night will be packed with many of our very talented young performers from across the community. Comedy Sketches/Song/Dance/Recitation/Stand up/Drama. A fun filled night suitable for the whole family. Cost 10 adult/5 under-16. St Patrick's Day parade We are looking for people volunteer to help on the day either as marshal's, first aiders, helping in the May Byrne serving tea and sambos or making/baking something to give visitors on the day. The parade is planned for March 17. You have all been brilliant with your support thus far and we hope we can rely on it again this year. Contact Imelda at 087 1310555 or Jack 086 8517618 or any other member of the committee, we look forward to hearing from you. 45 Card Drive There will be a 45 card Drive in the Woodenbridge Hotel on Sunday, February 9, at 7.30 p.m. Raffle on the night. Golden Circle A trip to Shelbourne park has been arranged for Thursday, February 13, bus departs castle park car park at 5.30 cost is 50 all-inclusive of bus entry and dinner. March 26 we will go to the Riverside park in Enniscorthy to hear Mike Denver, Cost 15 bus only basis, tickets available on the door, bus departs castle park car park at 6.15. GAA Healthy Clubs Castletown Liam Mellows GAA Healthy Clubs would love for you to be part of our 'get up, get active and get involved' initiative for 2020. We have lots of classes and events happening over the coming months. Chair yoga continues every Monday morning 10.45 a.m. in the Golden Anchor. Yoga with Caroline every Monday night in the clubhouse 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday morning yoga class 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. in the clubhouse starting Thursday, January 23, for four weeks. All yoga classes are 6 per class and are open to both men and women. ART CLASS - Introduction to Acrylic Painting, six-week course 80 starting Wednesday, February 5, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the clubhouses Castletown. Course instructor: Margaret Condren. Course suitable for complete beginners; This six-week course will give students the basics of acrylic-painting, introducing them to materials, techniques and good painting-habits. Working from an image meaningful to them. Participants will learn by first observing and then by 'doing', ANYONE can attend, whether a beginner or a more experienced painter looking to 'brush up' on their art-making through the medium of painting. For more info and to book your place please contact Margaret after 5 p.m. at 086 1799541 or Liz 086 3879322. Men's Health Event happening shortly. Watch this space. Old Kilnenor Historical Society talk We are delighted to announce that our next talk will be from Dr Cliodhna Ni Lionain on 'The find of a lifetime'. The recently discovered burial chambers on the historic Bru na Boinne Heritage Site - Thursday, February 20, in Shamrock Hall, Kilanerin Y25 RC58 at 8 p.m. Admission 5. Local notes All contributors to our local notes, please be aware that all notes must be with me by 8 p.m. on Thursday evening at the very latest for publication in the newspapers for the following week. Phone 087 4605166. Courtown Art and Craft Workshops for children Children's Art and Craft classes for aged four to nine years are taking place in Ballygarrett GAA Complex for six weeks, starting Saturday, February 15, and continuing till March 21. Time: 10 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Classes will also commence for children aged 10 to 13 years and these are taking place in Ballygarrett GAA Complex for six weeks, starting Saturday, February 15, and continuing till March 21. Time: 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Places are Limited Contact Pidgey Pen on Facebook to secure your place or for more information 083 8358701. Blotto draw Realt Na Mara blotto draw - January 27 Winning Numbers 1, 14, 19, 28. No jackpot Winner 20 lucky-dip winners: Kieran Phipps; Padraig O'Toole; Rob Ireton; Eilish Brady; Paul Blackmore. Five Free Tickets Winner: Danny and Mary Cooper. Next Weeks draw February 3 in the 19th jackpot: 6,900. Riverchapel community centre Little Rascals - 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Please phone Brigid at 087 9048644 for further information. Ladies' Club - Mondays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please phone Monica at 086 3580122 should you wish to join and will give you further information about the club. Self Defence Classes - These classes are for boys and girls who need to protect themselves takes place every Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Should you wish to know about these classes please phone Dave at 087 6344710 who will give you further information about these vital classes. Line Dancing - These classes take place on Tuesdays evenings from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Should you wish to join please phone Geraldine at 086 3958667. Tae Kwon Do - These classes take place every Wednesday and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. also 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Should you wish to join these classes phone Tom at 086 3862020 who will give you further information. Whist drive - This takes place every Thursday evening in the community centre from 8.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Why not come along to learn how to play whist. Irish Dancing Classes - These classes are on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For further information, please phone Deirdre at 087 6487684 who will assist you about these classe. Riverchapel Response Unit - This takes place at the end of each month in the Riverchapel Community Centre. These classes are vital as you maybe the one who has saves somebody's life. For further information about these classes, please phone Niamh at 087 6025147. Mass times Vigil Mass Saturdays 6 p.m. Sundays 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. COI Service times The following are the service times for the Ardamine Group of Parishes: Sunday, February 9, Monamolin, 9 a.m., (Morning Prayer); Kiltennel, 10.15 a.m. (Morning Prayer); Kilnamanagh, 11.45 a.m. (Holy Communion). Sunday, February 16, Monamolin, 9 a.m., (Holy Communion); Ardamine, 10.15 a.m. (Morning Prayer); Kilnamanagh, 11.45 a.m. (Morning Prayer). Sunday, February 23, Monamolin, 9.00a.m. (Morning Prayer) Kilmuckridge, 10.15 a.m. (Holy Communion); Clonevan, 11.30 a.m. (Holy Communion). Kilanerin-Ballyfad Card Drive There is a 45 Card drive in Noel Murphys Kilanerin on Tuesday, February 11, at 8.30 p.m. All proceeds raised on the night to St Patrick's Special School Enniscorthy Your support for this worthy cause would be much appreciated. Raffle also on the night. Opportunity Knocks Still time to get your entry into Helen at 087 6429291 Opportunity Knocks starts on Friday the 07th at 7.45 p.m. So if you can sing, dance, recite poetry, act or play some music please come along and share your talent with the people of Kilanerin. GAA Club notes The lotto jackpot was almost won again. Ten match-three winners. The numbers were 3, 7, 17 and 24. The next draw takes place in the Gap on Monday the 10th. The jackpot is now 3,500. The boys had a good win in the Jim Byrne cup R1. The Qtr final v Shelmaliers was on Sunday, February 2, in Kilanerin. There was a big turnout at the Kilanerin Ladies AGM on the 27th. Pat and Ciaran were returned as Chair and Sec respectively. This is the clubs 21st year in existence and only Glynn-Barntown have a bigger membership in Wexford. 2019 was a very successful year and 2020 is potentially moreso. The big numbers of playing girls and ladies, from both clubs, can only be good for the community. Congratulations to Tara Rock club on the official opening of the complex by Micheal D'arcy. A great asset for the community. Kilanerin Church Morning Mass On Tuesday and Friday 9.30 a.m. Saturday 6.30 p.m. anniversary Mass for Annette Jones (nee Nash Borleigh) Sunday 11 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration. Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ballyfad Church Morning Mass Wednesday and Thursday 9.30 a.m. Saturday 7.30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. Anniversary Mass for Ellen Noctor Mullawn and Elizabeth O'Toole Ballythomas. Progressive 45 Progressive 45 Card Game will take place on Sunday, February 9, at 7.30 p.m. in the Woodenbridge Hotel. All proceeds go to Rathpierce Community Group. Raffle on the night. Ballyfad NS Ballyfad NS is now taking enrolments for September 2020.Enrolments forms are available either by collection from the school office, by email - ballyfadns@gmail.com or by phoning 0402 37799/087 2509152. Kilanerin NS Kilanerin NS Enrolment for junior infants is open from January 2020 till March 31. Parents/Guardians interested in enrolling their child for 2020 can receive an application for enrolment by emailing: kilanerinns@gmail.com, downloading from the school website: kilanerinns.ie, from the school office or by phoning 0402 37405/086 7767114. Completed applications may be returned to the school in person, by post or via email. Places will be awarded within 21 days of receipt of applications. Tara Hill Change of Mass times Please note change of Mass times in St Kevin's church. As and from Sunday, February 9, Mass will now be celebrated at 11 a.m. instead of 10.30 a.m. Apologies for any inconveniences this may cause. Condolences Condolences to the Keyes family, Tomnahealy, on the recent passing of their brother-in-law Peter Roberts, Bunclody. Thinking of all their families at this difficult time. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Date for your diary St Kevin's cemetery patron - Sunday, June 7, at 3 p.m. Your news Any notes for paper please contact ck0802@gmail.com or 087 9434090 by 7 p.m. on Thursday for inclusion in the following weeks paper. (Photo : Bigstock) Franchising is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to start a career, diversify their investments, and generate steady income. One of the top names in the industry is Executive Franchises. ExecutiveFranchises.com is one of the most trusted names in the franchising world and has connected countless business opportunities with potential franchisees. Their services have been featured in major news outlets including The New York Times, Fox Business, CNBC, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. As one of the leaders in the world of franchises for executives, Executive Franchises expects to have a record year in recruiting franchisees for franchise systems for a number of reasons. First, the country is currently in the midst of one of the longest, largest bull markets in history. This has been a boon for anyone who has assets in the stock market. The S&P 500 has been growing at a record pace, seemingly reaching record highs on a weekly basis. This has given countless people the opportunity to do something with the major returns they have received on their investments. One potential landing spot for these investments comes in the form of franchises. More people than ever appear to be interested in becoming a franchisee, which will create major opportunities in 2020. For those who are looking to invest in 2020 franchising opportunities, Executive Franchises has already identified some top contenders. Executive Franchises has already done the legwork, looking into these various opportunities and helping people by guiding them in the right direction. Balloon Kings is one of the top opportunities and has been one of the fastest-growing names in the industry. With $100,000 in liquid cash required, this is a popular option for those looking to enter the franchising industry. Signal88 is another popular option. This is a company that is already looking to expand its presence throughout the USA and Canada. As they are actively looking to take on partners, this company has gotten the attention of numerous investors and potential franchisees. Executive Franchises expects this to be a record year for recruiting because all the ingredients are present. First, there are more people than ever with enough liquid cash to take on the opportunities that franchising presents. Second, the economy has been growing so quickly that there are numerous businesses that are actively looking for additional franchisees who can help them grow their businesses. As a result, Executive Franchises has already seen an uptick in the relationships they are creating between businesses and franchisees. This has the potential to be a record year for recruiting in the franchising world. Executive Franchises has relationships with some of the biggest names in the world of franchising. As a result, they are one of the top options when it comes to bringing together franchisees and franchising opportunities. As the economy continues to grow and the market continues to roll, it will be exciting to see what happens this year in the world of franchising. This might end up being a year for the record books. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Bigstock) Handshake of business people with double exposure of their team working in office. Global digital network hologram. Concept of technology and international business. Toned image Businesses everywhere are racing to adapt to the digital age, and most of them are now in the process of discovering that they need a virtual office. A virtual office, or the ability to conduct business digitally without needing a physical real estate location to center your operations within, can help you cut back on the costs of doing business while also ensuring that customers view you as a tech-savvy, forward-thinking company of the future. Building a virtual office takes time, effort, and a commitment from the company's leader. When done appropriately, though, establishing a virtual office almost always pays off. Here's how to build your virtual office, and what mistakes to watch out for as you do so. Know the tech that you'll need The first step in building a virtual office is determining what your core business functions are before investing in technology that enables you to fulfill those core functions without the need of a physical, real-world office. If you provide legal advice to individuals, for instance, building a virtual office would consist of creating a blog or similar website where clients can solicit and receive your feedback digitally instead of heading to an actual building to do so in person. For a merchant, establishing a virtual office may mean creating or joining a website that allows vendors to market goods to consumers which are purchased online and shipped to them without the need to walk into a store. Nobody can tell you what kind of tech your virtual office will need - instead, you have to ask yourself what your purpose as a business is, and from there try to find those technologies which will help you fulfill that purpose in as effective and affordable a fashion as possible. Besides needing great technology to rely on, you'll also want skilled employees. Those business owners who don't pay enough attention to hiring an excellent team might as well give up now, because without stellar workers to rely upon your virtual office will seldom amount to much. That's why it's important to set some time aside to read up on building a productive team for a virtual office. Being able to recruit budding talent that will prove essential to the longevity of your virtual office is only the first step, however. You'll also need to be able to retain these workers, and every good business owner will need to learn how to facilitate communication between workers who are tasked with similar responsibilities but separated by vast geographic distances. This is one of the reasons so many virtual offices end up hiring "digital receptionists," or those individuals who answer your calls and emails while also directing employees to their orders when the boss is personally unavailable. Consider coworking arrangements The term virtual office is supposed to refer to an all-digital business that doesn't have a physical location, but these days many people use the term in a disparate fashion. Some argue that coworking arrangements can and should be considered virtual offices, for instance. A coworking arrangement is when a business rents out a major office to multiple other businesses are once, so that employees from a wide variety of companies all go to work in one centralized office location that's not under the direct purview of any of them. Under this definition of a virtual office, you need to select a virtual office that you'll share with other companies. While some entrepreneurs are turned off by this idea, others realize that it's an ideal way to save on the costs of doing business while also allowing your employees to creatively collaborate with a wide variety of professionals who work elsewhere. When relying on such a coworking arrangement, ensure that the physical location is up to your personal standards and work hard to ensure that your employees have access to robust IT infrastructure they can depend upon. Building your virtual office demands an involved business owner more than anything else. You'll have to make tough calls, like deciding which software to use or which website provider to rely upon, but with careful decision-making you'll eventually arrive at an ideal work arrangement. Before long, your virtual office will be the envy of your industry. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 16-year-old student who told the authorities that he was bullied because he was transgender pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree murder in a school shooting outside Denver last year that killed one student and injured eight. The student, Alec McKinney, also pleaded guilty in Douglas County District Court to 16 other counts in the attack, which prosecutors say he carried out with another student, Devon Erickson, 19, at the STEM School Highlands Ranch on May 7, 2019. The shooting, in an English class that was watching The Princess Bride three days before the last day of school, killed Kendrick Castillo, 18, a gentle teenager fascinated by cars and engineering who classmates said lunged to try to stop the attack. Mr. McKinney is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18. Under Colorado state law, the mandatory minimum sentence for a 16-year-old convicted of first-degree murder is life with the possibility of parole after 40 years minus earned time. If Mr. McKinney were to be accepted into a special program for prisoners under 18, he could be released within 20 or 25 years, said Vikki Migoya, a spokeswoman for the district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, which includes Douglas County. The political contradictions and optics are countless and sickening. Looking at the front page of leading dailies forget visitors from outer space even we, the citizens of India, are left bewildered and upset. In fact, we are feeling like aliens in our own land. Visitors to a destination called India that we can no longer recognise. We can collectively star in a movie titled, Aliens in Modiland, and show the rest of the world, whats going on its sci-fi meets horror, meets Comedy Central, meets melodrama. A macabre formula for a mega box-office experience, for those who are not a part of the script. I am looking at a perfectly framed photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the DefeExpo 2020 in Lucknow. He is shown pointing a lethal weapon, eyes screwed up as he takes careful aim (target, unknown). The report says India should target exporting billions of dollars worth of military gear in the next five years. Hurrah! In a small, left hand corner of the same newspaper, we have another megalomaniac, Donald Trump, scowling for the cameras, as Nancy Pelosi dramatically tears up his State of the Union speech. The news of his impeachment and acquittal is so blah, nobody thinks its worth more than a casual mention. Trumps bombast knows no limits. His boast, the Great American Comeback, mocked by critics but greeted with loud cheers from his supporters, is a precursor to his expected second term win. Well, our man has no such tension back home. He is comfortably ensconced and aint going anywhere! Deal with it, folks. The rest of the disturbing and depressing domestic news involves comical clips that would have raised a chuckle had they not been so bizarre. Tigers must be punished for eating cows, like humans, declared NCP MLA Churchill Alemao after a tigress and her three cubs were killed inside the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary. And no, he was not sacked by his bosses. His bosses happen to be educated, intelligent, seasoned netas but they let it go. Anywhere else in the world, this man would have been questioned and made to issue an apology/clarification. Not in India. He had raised the C-word (cow). And he got away with that outrageous comment. It appears Samsung has been working hard to make sure owners of some of its wide range of smartphones can start enjoying the Android 10-based One UI 2.0. Its not just the famous flagships of the South Korean manufacturer that are receiving the update though, as the Galaxy A7 (2018), Galaxy A10, Galaxy A10e, and Galaxy A20e should be running on Android 10 soon. 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 More Wi-Fi Alliance certificates have been spotted that should please owners of some of Samsungs entry-level and mid-range smartphones. While high-end devices such as the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus certainly havent been overlooked in regard to an Android 10 update, it seems that phones on the other end of the price scale havent been forgotten either. Samsungs One UI 2.0 software should be on its way to the Galaxy A7 (2018), Galaxy A10, Galaxy A10e, and Galaxy A20e in the coming weeks. All four of those above-mentioned smartphones have had Wi-Fi Alliance certificates published showing them operating on Android 10. The European variant of the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018), which we praised for its impressive OLED screen and decent camera setup, is the SKU that appears on the relevant certificate. The Samsung Galaxy 20e, which was also released in 2018, seems to have its global model listed with the unearthed Wi-Fi Alliance documents. The Samsung Galaxy A10 and A10e originally came with Android 9 Pie when they were released in 2019, so now they can expect a first OS update to Android 10. Owners of global models of the phones could expect to receive One UI 2.0 on their devices within a couple of months, bringing features such as enhanced Dark Mode, digital wellness checks, and an overall improved design for the user interface. Buy Galaxy A10 now on Amazon Buy Galaxy A10e now on Amazon Buy Galaxy A20e now on Amazon HOUSTON - The mother of a 5-year-old Guatemalan boy sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the medical care he has received in detention for a head injury suffered before the family was arrested. The lawsuit filed late Friday in California asks a judge to order the child to be taken to a pediatric neurologist or pediatric neurosurgeon. It also seeks to prevent ICE from trying to immediately deport the family. The boy fell out of a shopping cart in December, fractured his skull and suffered bleeding around his brain. About a month later, he and his family were detained by ICE during what they thought was a routine check-in. The boy, his 1-year-old brother and their mother were taken to ICEs family detention centre at Dilley, Texas, while their father was taken to a detention centre in California. The childs relatives and advocates allege that ICE is not properly treating symptoms caused by the accident that began before he was detained. The boy has severe headaches and is hypersensitive to normal levels of sound, according to his aunt and Dr. Amy Cohen, an advocate working with the family. He is also starting to wet himself, according to his aunt. They allege the boys mother has pleaded for medical care, but has been disregarded. ICE has defended the care the boy has received at Dilley. The agency says medical staff at the detention centre conducted multiple check-ups and found no lasting neurological issues. After The Associated Press first inquired about the case on Monday, ICE took the boy to the Childrens Hospital of San Antonio on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he was found to have a normal MRI and no signs of continued bleeding in his skull. The boy was not seen at the hospital by a pediatric neurologist, according to medical records obtained by his familys attorneys. According to the records, hospital doctors consulted the neurosurgery department and determined that no follow-up was necessary because the MRI was clear. Cohen said the boy had an appointment to see a neurologist before the family was detained by ICE. The symptoms his family reported began before their detention and could be caused by a head injury even if the initial bleeding is gone, meaning that an MRI would not be enough, she said. The San Antonio hospital also did not have the paperwork from the California hospital that first treated him, according to the latest records. Doctors at the first hospital determined that the boy needed a neurosurgery follow-up within four weeks. In a statement Thursday, ICE said it was determined that no issues were present that required the need to elevate the case to another neurological specialist. It declined to comment Saturday on the lawsuit. The Childrens Hospital of San Antonio declined to comment Friday on the case. The AP is withholding the names of the boy and his family because they fear imminent deportation to Guatemala, where the boys mother says she was threatened. A report published on Friday on 138 coronavirus patients in Wuhan has disturbing details about the illness and how it spreads. Many of the patients 41 percent were presumed to have been infected in a Wuhan hospital, including 17 people who were already hospitalized for other illnesses, and 40 health care workers. One patient is thought to have infected more than 10 health care workers in the hospitals surgical department, where the person was admitted because of abdominal symptoms, and the coronavirus was not initially suspected. The authors of the report, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, said their data suggested that rapid person-to-person spread of the virus had occurred among their cases. That was partly because of patients like the one admitted to the surgical department, who had symptoms that misled doctors into suspecting other illnesses and failing to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Another cause for concern is that some patients who appeared mildly or moderately ill at first took a turn for the worse several days or even a week into their illness. The median time from their first symptoms to when they became short of breath was five days; to hospitalization, seven days; and to severe breathing trouble, eight days. Experts say that pattern means patients must be carefully monitored, and it is not safe to assume that someone who seems to be doing well early on is out of the woods. Car factories are idling in China, raising global concerns. A 26- year-old farmer, Mensah Kpogo Gamali, has shot and killed his wife at Pieso near Aboso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality. He also allegedly shot himself after he succeeded in killing his 21-year-old wife, Comfort Ativor. Superintendent of Police Thomas Osei Ababio, Tarkwa District Police Commander who confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said at about 0830 hours on February 2, this year, police received information from Pieso that around 0630 hours on the same day, Mensah killed his wife and later shot himself. He said police proceeded to the crime scene and found the lifeless bodies lying with a single barrel shotgun beside Mensah. Mr Ababio said Mensah was wearing a pair of Jeans trousers over a red T-shirt, while Ativor was wearing a white straight dress, and both bodies were lying in a pool of blood. According to the District Police Commander, when the police examined both bodies, they found out that Mensah and Ativor sustained gunshot wounds on the chest and left eye respectively. He further added that spot investigation conducted by the police revealed that a misunderstanding ensued between the couple who had two children, which compelled Ativor to leave her matrimonial home to seek refuge in her father's cottage at Repairer Akura. On Saturday, February 1 Ativor went for a watch night service in the company of her 15-year-old brother and one of her children at Pieso, which ended around 0530 hours the following day, he said. Mr Ababio narrated that on their way home Ativor met Mensah wielding a single barrel gun, who questioned Ativor her mission that dawn, but before she could utter a word, he shot her in the left eye and also shot himself. He said both bodies are sent to the Apinto government hospital for preservation and autopsy. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Border trade has been seriously curtailed in recent days due to the uncertain nature of the coronavirus spreadPhoto: Le Toan After an emergency meeting of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on January 31, the MARD sent an official dispatch to key areas producing agricultural items. All localities now have to review the structure of fruit products according to specific details such as season and plant type. We have also asked leading processing enterprises to increase purchasing, preliminary processing, and storage, Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of the MARDs Agricultural Processing and Marketing Department told VIR. According to Toan, early next week, the ministry will work with supermarket systems to boost domestic consumption. We will also propose that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) work with the Vietnam Logistics Business Association to promote the warehouse systems of these businesses, especially cold storage, to share farmers difficulties, he said. As a unit keeping a close watch on the development of the coronavirus, the Agency of Foreign Trade under the MoIT has been asking local businesses to think of different kinds of shipments to utilise for agricultural exports to China. The agency informed that border gates in Pingxiang of Guangxi province, which borders the northern province of Lang Son in Vietnam, would close until February 8, except for the Friendship Pass which would open on February 3, to prevent the epidemic from spreading. Traffic as well as cross-border transportation of goods between Vietnam and China might be affected, said an agency representative. We will keep providing updates on the epidemic and its impacts on import-export activities. But enterprises must also regularly discuss with their partners in China to remain updated on any changes to the epidemic while continuously seeking for new markets. Over the last few days, dozens of farming households in Binh Tan district in the southern province of Vinh Long have been fidgety over the halt of border trade due to the coronavirus outbreak. Our partners from China have already stopped buying purple sweet potatoes because of the outbreak, and they cannot confirm when they will start trading again, said Son Van Luan, chairman of Ngoc Thanh Agricultural Service Co-operative in the districts Thanh Trung commune. Binh Tan district is the biggest area planting purple sweet potatoes, which are exported to China. Luan said that normally his co-operatives export dozens of tonnes of the products to China each day. This makes us worried because this product is not a favourite in the domestic market, he said. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Hong Thu, director of Chanh Thu Co., Ltd., specialising in the export and import of fruit, said that a lot of the products, especially dragon fruit, have been returned to Hanoi. We are suffering huge losses with a large inventory. We need the support of the government, and other businesses and partners to overcome our difficulties, she said. Vina T&T Group is also among the companies impacted by the epidemic. All trade activities of agricultural products like fruit and vegetables with short preservation time have been ceased. Moreover, their price has also dropped. Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T Group, said that the price of red dragon fruit has dropped from VND40,000 ($1.70) per kilogramme before Lunar New Year to VND4,000 (17 US cents) per kg now. Dragon fruit can only be preserved for a short duration, so we have to sell them as quickly as possible. Additionally, the price of mango, rambutan, durian, jackfruit, which can be preserved for less than 15 days, has also dropped sharply. Only fruits with a longer preservation time are not affected because they can be put into cold storage until the border gates open, said Tung. He also expressed worries that the plan for the border gates to re-open on February 9 could change because of the further spread of coronavirus. The disease is also impacting the European and North American markets because people from those areas stop travelling and shopping, thus affecting the consumption of numerous goods. Talking with VIR, Toan from the Agricultural Processing and Marketing Department said that state management agencies and the local agricultural departments have been asked to closely monitor the situation in each key district and locality. The spirit is not one of rescuing but of sharing to ensure the markets future and this is an opportunity for businesses to improve their capacity, focus on processing, and strengthen links between farmers and purchasing businesses, he added. A high-flying career as an official in the upper echelons of the Catholic Church has earned a Mitchelstown born priest an appointment as the new Papal Nuncio to the African state of Burkina Faso and the elevation to the rank of Archbishop. The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that Monsignor Michael Crotty, currently representing the Church as its second in command in Madrid, had been asked by Pope Francis to become his envoy in Burkina Faso and, also, his elevation to the rank of Archbishop in the titular See of Lindisfarne was announced. Monsignor Crotty has been working in the service of the Holy See since 2001 and has served in Kenya, the United Nations, Ottawa, Baghdad in Iraq and Amman in Jordan, in the Vatican itself. His latest posting was as First Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid. In a statement reflecting on his new appointment, Monsignor Crotty said he was deeply honoured by Pope Franciss decision to to appoint him as his representative in Burkina Faso. I accept this new mission, in a spirit of obedience and gratitude, trusting that the Lord Jesus Christ, who calls me now to be a Successor of the Apostles wil be my guide and light in bringing the Good News of the Gospel, to wherever the Holy Father, the Successor of St Peter, chooses to send me. He also paid tribute to his late parents, Mary and Timothy Crotty, and his family, the faith community of Mitchelstown Parish, the clergy, Christian Brothers, Presentation Sisters and particularly the teachers of Ballygiblin National School and Christian Brothers School who taught the Catholic faith not only by word but also by witness and example. During his time at the Holy See, Monsignor Crotty was appointed the Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in 2005 and was subsequently appointed as a Prelate of Honour after Pope Benedict retired. He has had a distinguished academic career and among his honours are a Doctorate in Ecclesiastical History from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome. The Popes decision to assign Monsignor Crotty the titular See of Lindisfarne is an indication of the Holy Fathers knowledge of the Irish monastic missionary tradition. It was on the isle of Lindisfarne off the coast of North East England that St Aidan, a monk of St Colmcilles monastery in Iona, founded his own monastery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who held wide ranging talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday said he hoped that the island nation will carry forward the process of reconciliation with Tamils. I am confident that Sri Lankan government will realise expectations of Tamil people for equality, justice, peace within united Sri Lanka I am confident the government will work towards reconciliation, Modi said with Rajapaksa standing by side as the two leaders addressed the media. Modi said both India and Sri Lanka have faced the scourge of terrorism. Watch | PM Modi, Mahinda Rajapaksa discuss terrorism, border security in joint address Terrorism is a major threat in our region. Both our countries have fought this problem vigorously. In April last year, there were barbaric terrorist attacks on Easter Day in Sri Lanka. These were attacks on the entire humanity, he said. He also addressed the issue of Indian fishermen who are often arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy or come under fire. We have decided to adopt humanitarian approach in dealing with issue of fishermen, Modi said. The talks between the two prime ministers covered the entire expanse of bilateral ties between the two countries including in areas of defence and security. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as Sri Lankas president from 2005-2015 to become one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. It was under his rule that the Sri Lankan army crushed the rebel group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a massive offensive that ended in 2009. That offensive ended a 30-year-old civil war but also put the Lankan government under scrutiny for alleged war crimes and human rights abuses against Tamils in the countrys north and northeast. The Sri Lankan government denies that its armed forces committed excesses during and after the offensive the obliterated the LTTE. Sri Lanka had refused to cooperate with a UN investigation into alleged war crimes during the final phase of the countrys civil war, saying it will not subject itself to the jurisdiction of the top rights body. He was the bad boy of the art world in the Victorian eras naughty 90s, whose striking illustrations for Oscar Wildes scandalous play Salome shocked and delighted the public and made him the most talked-about artist in London. But Aubrey Beardsleys notoriety was cut short he died tragically young from tuberculosis in 1898 when he was only 25. A young Picasso was among his admirers, and a show at Londons V&A museum in 1966 made him a cult figure again his face even appeared on the Beatles Sergeant Pepper album cover. Now Tate Britain is staging a major new exhibition featuring more than 200 works, including nearly 100 rarely seen pen-and-ink drawings. Aubrey Beardsley was the bad boy of the art world in the Victorian eras naughty 90s but notoriety was cut short he died from tuberculosis in 1898 when he was only 25. Now a new exhibition celebrates his work. Above, an illustration for Oscar Wildes controversial Salome We want people to be surprised, says Caroline Corbeau-Parsons, co-curator of the show. He was a great, great draughtsman, and he was subversive. He knew hed die young, so he probably thought he didnt have much to lose. Barry Humphries, creator of Dame Edna Everage, is a huge fan and collector of Beardsley and has lent several works to the show. I bought a book of his drawings early in my life in Melbourne and was enthralled by his originality, he says. He was impudent and outrageous and loved a kind of naughtiness. I felt an affinity with him. The work of Aubrey Beardsley, pictured, will be celebrated in a new exhibition 'Beardsley was all about decadence and decay. People talk about pheasant being gamey. Well, his art was gamey. This show will be thrilling for a new audience. In our new Puritan age, when we walk on eggshells and comedians have to be careful what they make jokes about, an exhibition like this is a wonderful antidote. Beardsley was born in Brighton in 1872. His mother Ellen was the daughter of an Army surgeon-major in India, but when she married, it turned out her husband, Vincent, had promised to marry another woman. The Beardsleys had to pay her compensation, leaving them forever short. Beardsley was a voracious reader, a skilled pianist and was encouraged to draw at school. But he was a sickly child, developing tuberculosis at the age of seven. He left school aged 16 to work in dead-end jobs in London as a clerk. Among Beardsley's fans is Barry Humphries, who owns this self-portrait of the artist But his illness was always lurking. He described himself as a young man as having a vile constitution, a sallow face and sunken eyes, long red hair, a shuffling gait and a stoop. Two strokes of luck prompted his swift rise to celebrity. First, hed heard the famous Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones kept an open studio in west London. In July 1891 he went along with his older sister Mabel. They were turned away, but Burne-Jones saw them from a window, called them back, and when Beardsley show-ed him his drawings he was showered with praise. War with Whistler Beardsley drew caricatures of Whistler and an unflattering work called The Fat Woman As well as falling out with Victorian polymath William Morris and Oscar Wilde, Beardsley had a feud with James McNeill Whistler, an artist he admired but whod snubbed him. In response, Beardsley drew caricatures of Whistler and an unflattering work called The Fat Woman (above), a loosely disguised portrait of Whistlers wife. When his publisher at art magazine The Yellow Book rejected it, Beardsley wrote that he would assuredly commit suicide if The Fat Woman does not appear. It was eventually published in another magazine in 1894. Their feud ended in 1896 when Whistler saw his drawings for The Rape Of The Lock and said, Aubrey, I have made a very great mistake, you are a very great artist. Beardsley burst into tears. Advertisement By coincidence Oscar Wilde was having tea with Burne-Jones that afternoon, and Beardsley was introduced to him. Their paths crossed many times after that and Oscar Wilde was to have a huge influence on Beardsleys life and his downfall. His other slice of luck came soon after. In his lunch hour, Beardsley would browse the bookshops near his office, keen to absorb ideas from other artists and writers. One shop owner, Frederick Evans, recognised Beardsleys talent. When a publisher friend, JM Dent, said he wanted an illustrator for a new edition of Thomas Malorys epic Le Morte dArthur, Evans suggested Beardsley. The plan was to use a cheaper printing technique than the woodcuts artist William Morris had used for his earlier edition. Beardsley seized his chance. Dent wrote of meeting Beardsley that it was evident he could not be long for this world. But Beardsley worked fast, with his curtains closed and by candlelight even during the day, setting his feverish imagination free to create over 400 designs for 250. They were generally well received, but William Morris was angry at the young mans cheek for daring to imitate him. His next major projects were to thrust him into the public eye, but also hasten his plummet back down to earth. Seeing a huge potential profit, the publisher John Lane commissioned Beardsley to illustrate Oscar Wildes controversial Salome, the tragedy in which Herods stepdaughter requests the head of John The Baptist on a platter for performing the dance of the seven veils. His drawings were elegant and erotically charged. But Beardsley was quickly bored and went off on his own tangent away from the story. He would also add sly jokes and caricatures of well-known figures, even of Oscar Wilde himself. The illustrations had a huge impact and Wilde wasnt pleased to have his thunder stolen. Oscar Wilde by Beardsley. Wilde had a huge influence on Beardsleys life and his downfall Their squabble continued when Beardsley became art editor of a new magazine, The Yellow Book. When he insisted Oscar Wilde should not contribute, Wilde called the publication dull and loathsome and said he had bought it but threw it out of the window. In revenge, Beardsley produced more caricatures of Wilde, depicting him as bloated and as a dissolute Bacchus figure. Salome and The Yellow Book in which he indulged himself with a darker take on Cinderella earned Beardsley enough money to finally buy a house in Pimlico. They also brought him fame, with Punch magazine calling him Daubaway Weirdsley and Awfully Weirdly. Then on 3 May 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested and escorted from the Cadogan Hotel in London by police, on charges of gross indecency. Under his arm was a book with a yellow cover. It was actually a French novel, but he and Beardsley were by now so associated in the public imagination that it was widely assumed he was carrying The Yellow Book. Forever in search of a warmer climate, Beardsley moved to a hotel in Menton in the south of France where he died on March 16, 1898. Pictured, Beardsleys depiction of Cinderella The backlash against Oscar Wilde soon took in Beardsley, and The Yellow Books publishers had stones thrown at their office windows. Beardsley was sacked, had to give up his house, and with his stability gone his health suffered. One publisher did dare take him on, the rather disreputable Leonard Smithers. He published erotica and commissioned Beardsley to illustrate Aristophanes bawdy comedy Lysistrata. Even in the new Tate exhibition therell be warnings that these lurid drawings may shock. But it was also through Smithers that Beardsley produced his stunning drawings for Alexander Popes satirical poem The Rape Of The Lock. Theyre beautifully intricate, says Caroline Corbeau-Parsons. For me theyre the peak of his talent. Forever in search of a warmer climate, Beardsley moved to a hotel in Menton in the south of France. He went there for his health and he died there, says Barry Humphries. We must always be very careful of going anywhere for our health! A few years ago I went to the cemetery, which has a spectacular view down the French Riviera. I found his gravestone and placed a few wilted gladioli on it. Beardsleys short and frantic life ended on 16 March 1898. His friend, the poet Arthur Symons, perhaps described him best. 'He had the fatal speed of those who are to die young, that absorption of a lifetime in an hour, which we find in those who hasten to have done their work, knowing that they will not see the evening. Aubrey Beardsley, Tate Britain, 4 March-25 May 2020, tate.org.uk. European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan returned to Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. counterpart Robert Lighthizer designed to improve transatlantic ties as the threat of auto tariffs looms. Hogan first visited the United States as EU trade chief three weeks ago, declaring at the time that the European Unions bid to reset EU-U.S. economic relations had got off to a good start. However, U.S. President Donald Trump said after meeting European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Davos a week later that he would impose tariffs on imports of cars from the European Union if no trade deal were struck. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox Business Network that reaching an agreement with the EU on agriculture and other issues was a priority for the Trump administration. He said Trumps policies had already led to increased European investment in the United States, another key priority. Weve already seen a tremendous amount of investment by the European automakers into the U.S. and building factories here, he said. Thats also part of the agenda and that is working. THE WIN-WIN RELATIONSHIP Hogan had been due to address a conference on the digital economy in Brussels on Thursday morning, but abruptly changed his plans. A European Commission spokesman said Hogan would hold talks in Washington with a number of U.S. administration officials, including Lighthizer. These meetings are part of the regular bilateral contacts being held at technical and political level in the framework of the discussions for a positive bilateral transatlantic trade agenda, launched by the European Union and the United States in July 2018, the spokesman said. In July 2018, Trump agreed to hold off on imposing car tariffs while Washington and Brussels discussed ways to improve economic ties. The EU has since agreed to boost imports of soybeans, liquefied natural gas and beef from the United States. EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis this week said there clearly tensions in U.S.-EU relations, but Brussels was focused on shoring up ties between the two large trading partners. We are very serious about having a discussion with the United States about building on the win-win relationship that we have already, he told a conference hosted by the Washington International Trade Association. We have to focus on the future. There are opportunity costs to just focusing on the irritants. Lambrinidis told Reuters he had no information on a possible visit to Washington by von der Leyen. The CEO of an Arizona company is no longer at the helm after using a racial slur during a disagreement with an Uber driver. The incident unfolded after Hans Berglund, then-CEO of Tempe fertilizer company Agroplasma, insisted on sitting in the front seat next to the driver when he was picked up January 31 at a Scottsdale home. Randy Clarke, an Arizona State University student who's been an Uber driver for four years, asks Berglund instead to sit in the back, video Clarke provided to CNN shows. Clarke, who has two video cameras in his car, hasn't let lone riders sit next to him since he was groped in 2018 by a drunken client, he said. Berglund asks again about sitting in front, then, after being rejected, tells Clarke to cancel the ride and says he'll order another one, according to the video. Clarke agrees, but Berglund curses, slams the door and gets in the back seat. "Are you f**king serious with me?" Berglund says, the video shows. The passenger tells Clarke he'll ride in the back and later file a complaint with Uber. Clarke then asks Berglund to get out of his car, the video shows. "Is this because I'm white? Berglund asks. "No, sir," Clarke says. Berglund responds, "You're a f**king n****r." You're f**king unbelievable." Clarke mentions his dashcams, then Berglund curses again at Clarke before getting out of the car, the video shows. As Berglund leaves, Clarke says, "Thank you so much. You got it on camera," the video shows. "Whoo-hoo, this is good. This is perfect." The video begins before Clarke stops to pick up Berglund and ends after the two part ways, as Clarke calls Uber to lodge a complaint about the rider. Berglund's attorney told CNN of the scene captured on video: "This is extremely out of character for him." Berglund "is extremely apologetic and embarrassed and wants to do everything he can to make this as right as he can," his lawyer, Scott Zwillinger, said. To Clarke, the episode "just came out of nowhere," he told CNN. "It was quite shocking. I didn't expect that." Uber officials told CNN that the passenger in the incident no longer has access to the Uber app. Activist wants potential civil rights violations probed Clarke had never experienced anything like that, he said, and he didn't immediately know much about his would-be passenger. He continued driving for the ride-share company that weekend, he said, because he wanted the business. "We had the big PGA tournament up in Phoenix," he said, "and I didn't want to miss that." But the exchange stayed on Clarke's mind, and he decided on Sunday to try to find out more about the rider. "This man probably does something big in society and employs people of color," Clarke recalled thinking. "There's just no way somebody with a business should be acting that way." He confirmed Berglund's identity and sent the video to local news media, which reported the story. Agroplasma is now investigating and has appointed an interim CEO, it said in a statement. "In light of the recent incident involving Hans Berglund, Agroplasma is conducting a thorough investigation of our company's anti-discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity practices, culture and policies," it reads. "We are a small business that prides itself on providing equal opportunities to all employees and candidates, and we firmly believe Mr. Berglund's actions are not reflective of who we are as a company or member of the community. "We are committed to performing a full and honest assessment of the situation and taking the appropriate steps based on the findings of our investigation." Berglund apologized earlier this week in a statement to CNN affiliate KNXV, saying, "I deeply regret and apologize for the hurtful and derogatory language I used during the altercation with Mr. Clarke. I firmly believe that there is no excuse for the use of racial slurs under any circumstance, so I will not offer any. It is my sincere hope that Mr. Clarke hears and accepts my apology and believes me when I say it is honest and heartfelt." Berglund later told KNXV that he was fired. "I'm taken away as CEO from the company. I don't have anything to do with the company anymore. I'm fired," he told the station. "I founded the company, but I'm gone. I'm history." KNXV talked to Berglund outside his home. "It's so blown out of proportion, and it's ruined my life. It's ruined my company. It ruins everything about my situation right now," said Berglund. Civil rights activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin and Clarke's attorney, David Dow, are asking the Arizona Attorney General's Office and the city of Tempe, where Agroplasma is based, to investigate possible civil and human rights violations, Maupin told CNN. Any complaint filed to the state's top legal department would be confidential, office spokeswoman Katie Conner said. CNN has reached out to Tempe officials. Maupin also hopes to arrange a meeting with Berglund and the company, he said. Iowas first-in-the-nation presidential precinct caucuses once again are under attack. Democrats inability to produce timely results after Monday nights caucuses once again has many across the country --- and here at home --- asking: Why Iowa? Occasionally you will hear critics suggest the caucuses have grown too big for their britches. A system that was designed for small neighborhood gatherings cannot contain the immense attention and participation that the caucuses now bring. But by all accounts, the caucuses themselves ran well Monday night. That would suggest they are quite capable of handling big crowds and high interest. What is becoming increasingly clear is the caucuses may not be well-equipped to handle reporting results when the race is close. This week is not the first example. In fact, three of the past four competitive Iowa caucuses have now featured significant issues in reporting results in close races. In 2012, Iowa Republicans announced the wrong winner on the night of the caucuses. Their initial count showed Mitt Romney with a narrow victory, but after a recount days later, they revealed that Rick Santorum had, in fact, won the caucuses. The Democrats did not have a competitive caucus that year with incumbent President Barack Obama. In 2016, Iowa Democrats were unable to produce official results until well into the next day as Hillary Clinton earned an historically narrow victory over Bernie Sanders, by a fraction of a percent. The Republican caucuses went off without a hitch, although runnerup and eventual President Donald Trump tried to convince the state party to disavow the results. The state party declined to delegitimize Ted Cruzs victory. And that brings us to 2020 and that already infamous app, which was designed to help precinct officials report the Democratic caucus results and failed spectacularly. The state party was not able to produce complete, official results until Thursday evening, 72 hours after the caucuses. And media outlets could not project a winner because as the results slowly trickled out, those results showed a remarkably close race between Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. (When all the results were finally produced, Buttigieg held an edge over Sanders that was even closer than the 2016 Clinton-Sanders race. But questions about the validity of some precincts results prevented media outlets from declaring a clear winner.) Thats three straight cycles of Iowas state parties struggling to produce timely and accurate results in races with razor-thin margins. Thats no longer an anomaly; its a pattern. There appeared to be minimal problems with the caucuses themselves. Democrats from across the state have reported that, for the most part, their precincts were run well and efficiently. Unlike four years ago, there were no complaints of long lines, inadequate facilities, or poorly-run caucuses. By and large, Democrats reported pleasing caucus experiences. Its when it came time to report the results that the ground disappeared from under Democrats feet. When the app failed, Democrats were unable to produce timely results. Backup systems took longer than expected, too, state party leaders said, leaving the world without official results for three days. But perhaps it was unfair to expect rapid results in the first place. On the Democratic side especially, because of the complex caucus system and even more complex caucus math that is used to measure the campaigns performances, it may be unrealistic to expect the caucuses to produce clear results the night of the caucuses. Its fair to wonder, especially given the events of these past few cycles, whether the system can handle that expectation. The question then becomes whether the expectation is fair. As the leadoff state in the nation, fair or not, the expectation is for fast results. People want to know who won, who outperformed their expectations, who has the momentum moving on to the other early-voting states. And the New Hampshire primary is only roughly a week away; theres no time to wait multiple days for results. But if you want accurate results from closely contested caucuses, you may have to wait, whether you like it or not. And with Iowas first-in-the-nation status once again being debated across the country, over the coming months and years we may just find out how many people like it and how many do not. Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Burundi's Central Bank Saturday ordered the closure by February 15 of "all exchange offices" for failing to meet the authorized profit margin, which has "harmful consequences" for the country's economy, BRB told PANA here At a time when Confederate monuments are being pulled down, it would make sense to think one of the military geniuses who defeated the real live Confederates might, conversely, be honored, right? Not in an age of idiocy. So the 200th birthday of General William T. Sherman, destroyer of Atlanta and much of the South across the Civil War, the master strategist who, alongside U.S. Grant, led the Union forces to victory, goes virtually unnoted. He's been called the first modern general, the general of total war, a man whose place in history is certainly worth some kind of notation. At a minimum, his total warfare is what finally got the slaves freed in the South, which, while some historians quibble about it, was pretty much what the Civil War was about. It shows that all the Confederate statue pull-downs weren't really about slavery or virtue-signaling. Total war isn't a popular thing, any more than victory is to this bunch, even if it means black people could finally be physically out of chains. That was the way black people were freed, though. Today's leftists are convinced that the only way to enact any change of that kind is through Gandhi-an nonviolent resistance which did work to end bad social constructs that followed the Civil War but were useless in freeing people in physical chains. Only true physical force (by Sherman and Grant) really worked in that circumstance. That might explain why the wokesters are not cheering Sherman's birthday, or appreciating anything Sherman achieved by force, which was rather consequential to the Confederates in the days when it mattered. Statues are so much easier. The wokester statue pulls were really just about just going Taliban, erasing history altogether, good, bad, complex, and replacing the entire history of the Civil War with Howard Zinnstyle identity-politics myths. The man who really did defeat slavery, on the military battlefront, in a deadly, disease-ridden, utterly brutal war of attrition, Sherman, gets quietly erased from memory too not by a statue pull-down, but by ignoring him. On a Google search, I found only a tiny recognition of the bicentennial in Sherman's hometown paper in Lancaster, Ohio. Two professors decided to act out a play demonstrating the conversations and correspondences between Grant and Sherman. If I were anywhere near that part of the country, I'd go see it. But this absence of recognition anywhere in the news or beyond is really pretty sad, calling to light that history has no meaning in the age of wokesters. As a little kid, I was obsessed with reading about the Civil War. Being little, I memorized everyone's birthdays, which is how I remember this date. Sherman, to me, was pretty much derived from seeing Gone With the Wind many times. My view of Sherman in those years was about what Scarlett O'Hara's in the ruins of Tara shooting the Yankee deserter was: Sherman was a monster. The guy was a human rightsviolator who burned through the region and indiscriminately left the people to starve to win the war, which is apparently true. Margaret Mitchell did base her book on accounts of Southerners who lived through it. It's pretty much forbidden under the laws of warfare today, which is why attention is not being paid. As Sherman himself said: war is hell. But later readings tended to put more dimension on what really happened. The North was determined to defeat the South to preserve the Union. The South was determined to get away and, incidentally, preserve an outrageous and unviable slave system. The South, dependent on that slave economy, and having all its rail and transport lines going north-south, was unusually vulnerable economically. The North, led by Sherman, hit them at their weak spot, driving through Atlanta to the sea, burning everything in its path to break the Southern economy, inflicting tremendous human suffering on non-combatants in what was total war. The North had tried a lot of things before Sherman (and Grant) came along, and this was what worked. Probably nothing else would have. It's a sad story, but there was no other path to victory after all the blood and treasure expended. Wokesters, though, don't like the idea of victory, any more than much of the Deep State or Pentagon brass or credentialed foreign policy establishment. So much for Sherman being "the first modern general." He was as archaic as history. Sherman himself though wasn't a monster at all. Several things stand out that make him sympathetic. Like Grant, he was kind of a sensitive soul, fond of painting, not something you expect in the modern age in a soldier. He was so disturbed by war early in the Civil War that he had a nervous breakdown and had to be shipped back to Ohio to recuperate. He came back, though, and fought with brilliance for the union, ruthlessly, against his own nature, because there was a higher cause at stake. When the Atlanta city council begged Sherman to not throw all the residents out of the city before he burned it down, you can see his many dimensioned intensity in his harsh yet kind response to them: You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war ... I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through union and war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect and early success. But, my dear sirs, when peace does come, you may call on me for anything. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from every quarter. But it's not as if Sherman didn't feel it himself. He continued to hate war -- after the destruction through the South, he actually lost his Catholic religious faith in the war, which sometimes happens to people under trauma they cannot process. I confess, without shame, I am sick and tired of fightingits glory is all moonshine; even success the most brilliant is over dead and mangled bodies, with the anguish and lamentations of distant families, appealing to me for sons, husbands and fathers ... tis only those who have never heard a shot, never heard the shriek and groans of the wounded and lacerated ... that cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more desolation. That doesn't sound fake, and in fact, apparently nothing he said ever was, which is why he's worth listening to. He also was known for his intense loyalty to Grant, reportedly retorting to a plot cooked up in the swamp (they had swampers then, too) to have him replace Grant: General Grant is a great general. I know him well. He stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk; and now, sir, we stand by each other always. Yet after the war, Sherman kept his word to the Atlanta city council - he enjoyed cordial post-war relations with his former Confederate battlefield enemies, an amazing thing to consider in today's woke-politics world. He was no frozen dinosaur on that front. Joseph E. Johnston, a Confederate general ranking just below Robert E. Lee, and well regarded in the South, served as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral, refusing to put on his hat in cold weather, because, he said, if Sherman were the pallbearer and he were the body, Sherman would refuse. Johnston actually caught pneumonia and died a month later for that act of respect. Sherman, and particularly Grant, also had warm post-war relations with Confederate general James Longstreet, the man Lee called his "war horse." Sherman also stayed out of politics, although he went on to serve as General of the Army under President Grant, he was famous for fiercely saying he'd refuse to run if nominated, and if elected, would refuse to serve. Again, something entirely foreign to hear today. Sherman's a character who deserves some intensive study, given his intriguing human dimensions and because he's so different from the kind of people we see today. But he's not. He's too complicated for an age of wokeness and identity politics. Yet the very truth of his intense existence exposes the left for all its jejeune ideas. America, though, is poorer for not remembering. CONCORD, N.H. - The Democratic Party's nomination campaign began with the biggest and most diverse field in history. More women and more candidates of color populated the field than ever before. Unless something changes quickly, the contest could devolve into a competition among only white men. Despite having two women and an Asian-American sharing the stage at Friday night's debate in New Hampshire, right now the Democratic race appears to be a contest among two white men in their late 70s, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former vice president Joe Biden, and another in his late 30s, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg. Another septuagenarian, former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, is waiting to pounce, depending on the results of the first four primaries and caucuses. The fact that this is a battle among white men represents an unexpected turn for a party whose success in the 2018 midterms depended heavily on an outpouring of support and activism by women and whose failure in 2016 was the result, in part at least, of a falloff in turnout among voters of color, especially African-Americans. The party's future depends on both those groups and, overlapping with them, the active support of younger people. The changing face of the Democratic Party is an oft-told story, celebrated by party leaders and by rank-and-file Democrats alike. It is a point of pride for Democrats that their party looks more like the changing American population than does the Republican Party, whose presidential candidates of late have gotten about nine of every 10 votes from whites. What has gotten less attention is the tension the diversification of the Democratic coalition has produced under the party's big tent. The rising parts of the population are the rising parts of the Democratic Party. They now want more than acknowledgment that their votes are important. They are not satisfied simply to cast their votes for a Democratic candidate. They want a bigger voice at the Democratic table. Much has been said about the ideological divisions within the party, highlighted again during Friday's debate at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire by questions about whether Sanders' brand of democratic socialism would sink him in a general election against President Donald Trump and take down other Democrats in Senate and House races or produce big turnout among a new coalition of voters. Debates over whether Medicare-for-all amounts to a budget-busting, complex, big-government idea or the obvious and essential health-care future for a country where many people have no insurance or are saddled with high deductibles and other costs. Conflicts like that are among the choices Democratic voters will be weighing in the primaries and caucuses. But there's another division that the party is struggling to resolve, which is who has power and who should have power. More than a year ago pollster Anna Greenberg, looking ahead to 2020 and beyond, played down the ideological divisions among Democrats, but she made another important observation. She described Democrats as "a party in flux" not over ideology but over that balance of power within the party's coalition. Greenberg said she saw the coming period as "the last gasp of older white men who have control in the party." The 2020 campaign was to be the moment when the rising coalition asserted and perhaps took power, but it has not worked out that way so far. There's no single reason that has turned out to be the case. Some people blame it on the fact that the first two states to vote, Iowa and New Hampshire, are predominantly white. Some blame it on the inability to candidates who have fallen to the sidelines to run better campaigns. Three candidates of color - entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick - remain as active but lagging candidates. Yang has his Yang Gang and has raised some money, but he does not have enough support to be a serious contender. Gabbard launched her campaign last February and Patrick jumped into the race late, but neither has yet to make a mark. But gone from the field are two black senators, Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and the Latino former housing secretary Julian Castro. All entered the race with serious expectations. Harris became one of the most talked about candidates in the early stages. But none of them, ultimately, was able to attract serious support or serious amounts of money. In addition to Gabbard, two other women remain - Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. While Gabbard has been a gadfly in the race, Warren and Klobuchar have played more significant roles. Gone among the female candidates are Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and author Marianne Williamson. Warren entered the campaign as one of the three best-known and best-regarded candidates, along with Biden and Sanders. She set the pace with a flurry of plans for attacking corruption in government and concentrated power in the private sector. She led the field in Iowa at one point, but last Monday she finished a weak third in Iowa and appears to be struggling in New Hampshire. Klobuchar has struggled from the start to break into the upper ranks, overshadowed by better-funded candidates and trying to make her mark as a moderate, results-oriented Democrat in a party that has been moving to the left. "If you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me," she said on Friday night. In Friday's debate, Warren was a quiet presence, staying out of the scrums for the most part and focusing on the message that has guided her candidacy while trying to present herself as someone who can unite the party. If that strategy doesn't give her a boost, she will have difficulty overtaking the leaders here. Klobuchar had what might be the best night of her campaign, witty and sharp-tongued at the same time. She questioned whether Sanders could effectively lead the party in a general election, and she accused Buttigieg of taking the easy path by highlighting his outsider status and implicitly criticizing people with Washington experience. "It's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer," she said to the 38-year-old mayor. "I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." But she's had good debate performances before, and they've never translated into growth in support. She has remained in single digits in national polls and ended up fifth in Iowa. She hopes for better in New Hampshire but has to rise quickly to become a force in the nomination contest. For many female voters and for many voters of color, this turn in the race has produced frustration and a feeling of being left out once again and a step down from when the campaign started a year ago. Kerala Social Justice Department has sanctioned the establishment of 28 fast-track special courts for speedy disposal of rape cases and other cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Social Justice and Women and Child Development Minister KK Shailaja said the state government has decided to set up POCSO courts to ensure that the culprits get the punishment they deserve. She said the decision has been taken in the wake of rising violence against women and children. "The Union Law Ministry has recently sanctioned the opening of 28 POCSO fast track special courts in Kerala at the request of the state government. The project will be implemented jointly by the High Court, Law and Home Departments under the leadership of the Department of Women and Child Development," the Minister said. The four courts are alloted in Thiruvananthapuram district, three in Thrissur and Malappuram districts, two each in Kollam, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The Minister informed that POCSO courts are jointly established by the central and state governments and according to the High Court data, 12,234 POCSO and rape cases are pending in the state. She added setting up of fast track court will help for speedy disposal of such cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When an image of the latest detective to join Death in Paradise was teased last year, Twitter went wild. Sitting on a beach hammock, gazing out to sea, the actor in question - only identifiable by the back of his head - had people guessing in their droves, eager to figure out who would be stepping into the coveted role. "Joe McFadden, maybe?" one suggested. "Richard Madden #thebodyguard would do nicely," said another fan of the BBC One hit crime drama. Those who guessed Ralf Little were right and The Royle Family star soon found his cover rumbled as the fourth actor to take the lead spot since the show began. "I'd only joined Instagram a week earlier and (co-star) Shyko Amos had said, 'You better follow me', so I said, 'Sure'," he explains. "Then a couple of people on Twitter went, 'It's definitely Ralf Little, he's only just joined Instagram, he only follows about five people, one of them is Shyko who plays Ruby in the show and his other half has been posting about how she's been in the Caribbean for the last two months'. "I was like, 'These people are detectives, they should be solving the murders, not me'. It was quite impressive and terrifying at the same time." The reaction has been nothing but positive since then, Little (39) says. "I've literally just come from Bruges," he says, having profusely apologised for running late for this interview. "I was in a chocolate shop and this lady came up and said, 'Excuse me, Mr Little, I'm so sorry to bother you'. I thought she was going to say, 'I loved you in The Royle Family'. And she said, 'Is it true that you're taking over in Death in Paradise? I'm so pleased - you're going to be great, it's my favourite show'. "That was the first person who's stopped me talk about that, as opposed to the stuff I've done previously. So, that was a lovely little moment for me. I hope people enjoy it half as much as I enjoyed making it." Little takes over the mantle from Ardal O'Hanlon towards the end of its ninth series. The actor will play DI Neville Parker, a British import from Manchester CID, who gets more than he bargained for when investigating the mysterious death of a young women at the unveiling of a luxury timeshare resort. Expand Close Aude Legastelois as Madeleine Dumas / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aude Legastelois as Madeleine Dumas But how does he measure up to his predecessors, who were played by O'Hanlon, Ben Miller and Kris Marshall? "His detective shtick is an eye for an otherwise insignificant detail," he says. "Whereas Kris was quite puppyish and excitable and would stumble into things and Ardal's character's thing was to be able to spin a yarn, almost storytelling to work his way into a case. "Neville's not an abrasive character, he finds life a bit tricky and that can be quite frustrating for those around him. "He's not a hypochondriac and he's not OCD either, but he's basically allergic to everything - particularly when he gets to Saint Marie," he teases of the show's fictional island, which is actually the French region Guadeloupe. Little adds: "He has asthma and eczema. The salt water in the sea aggravates his condition, the wildlife aggravates that condition. If there's an issue to be had, he'll have it and he'll get it. So, he manages a lot of these conditions by having a very specific way of getting through life, which gets wearing to the team." Little, on the other hand, took the process in his stride - even the scorching heat. It was like, 'Yes, of course I'm going to go and solve murders in the Caribbean. Why would I not want to go and do that?' "I think I slightly annoyed everyone on set because I was relentlessly positive," he says. "Admittedly, I was only out there for half a series, so I've not done the full five months yet, but every day I would come in going, 'Isn't this great? We're in the Caribbean'. Whereas everyone else was like, 'Look, I'm hot, I'm tired, I've been here four-and-a-half months and I need to go home and see my kids. Can you please stop coming in being so bouncy and bright?' But I just loved it." Of shooting the famous denouement scenes, he recalls: "They were challenging but great. "A denouement has this very large place in our cultural heart and yet very few actors - even the greats of history - will have ever got to do one. "You have to play a detective in a very specific type of show, so I am now one of a fraction of professional actors who's had the chance to do one. What a badge of honour that is." He adds: "I've been doing this job 23 years now and you develop a little bit of a cynical side about jobs and saying 'yes' to things but with this one, there was literally none of that. It was like, 'Yes, of course I'm going to go and solve murders in the Caribbean. Why would I not want to go and do that?' It was an absolute dream call to get." There are no qualms surrounding the show's popularity, as the serial hit continues to pull in anything in the region of eight to nine million viewers per episode. "It's lovely to be doing something where I don't have to worry about whether this is going to capture the public's imagination, because they already love it," says Little, who will fly back out to film the 10th series this year. "I said this to my mum and she went, 'Well, the only way is down now, you can only ruin it for people'. Thanks mum. That's her keeping me honest, same as always. She's still waiting for me to get a proper job, I'm sure." But playing the undisputed lead in a prime-time show is quite the achievement. Little says: "I didn't even realise. I've been so lucky to be in shows that have this large place in people's psyche and yet I've not legitimately led a show before. So, what a joy. "I've never cared about being number one before. I've no vanity as far as all that's concerned. But on my first day, I got the call sheet and it said 'number one - Ralf Little' and just for half-a-second I went, 'Ah, nice'. "It was just a moment to go, 'Ah, I turn 40 soon and here we are'. A half-beat of recognition and we move on." Death in Paradise, BBC One, Thursday, 9pm Your browser does not support the audio element. Police in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on Friday announced the details of a murder in which a Chinese man strangled a compatriot to death and butchered her body for disposal to evade a US$61,000 gambling debt. Xiao Qui Ping, 27, admitted killing Bao Dan Ping, 30, after the two Chinese nationals argued over gambling money, according to Tran Muu, deputy director of Da Nang police bureau. Xiao is a frequent gambler at a casino at the Crowne Plaza resort in Da Nangs Ngu Hanh Son District while the victim is a friend of his 27-year-old Chinese girlfriend. After learning that Xiao recently won big, Bao agreed to give the man money to gamble under the condition that any gain or loss would be split evenly between the two. Initially, Xiao gambled with Bao's money and won $34,000, which he did share with her as promised. Confident in Xiao's gambling skills, Bao gave him another $61,000, which the man soon gambled away. The 30-year-old woman then insisted Xiao owed her $61,000 instead of $30,500 as they had agreed beforehand, the man told the police. Xiao Qui Ping is investigated at the police in the central city of Da Nang on February 7, 2020, in this supplied photo Around 4:30 pm on Thursday, Bao arrived at 14 Truong Van Hien Street in Ngu Hanh Son District to meet Xiao to ask for the $61,000. As their conversation heated up, Xiao used a rope to strangle Bao to death. The man then used a knife to butcher Bao's body and placed a part of it in a suitcase and the remaining in a trash can in his room. On Thursday evening, Xiao rode a motorbike to carry the suitcase containing Bao's remains to Hoi An City in the neighboring province of Quang Nam, which is located some 42 kilometers from the center of Da Nang, with the intention of disposing of the suitcase there, but he failed. He then returned to Da Nang and threw the suitcase over Tran Thi Ly Bridge in Hai Chau District into the Han River. The suitcase was discovered by some local fishermen on Friday morning, while the other parts of the victim were also found on the same morning under a bench on the bank of the Han River in Ngu Hanh Son District. Xiao was arrested a few hours later. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Puneh Gorji and Arash Pourzarabi were married in Iran on January 1. A week later, the newlyweds were returning to Canada to resume their studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton when their plane was shot down over the Iranian capital, Tehran. All 176 people on board the Ukrainian airliner were killed. When I saw the name of my niece on the list of the victims, it was the worst experience of my life, Gorjis uncle, Ali Asghar Gorji, said via telephone from his house in Edmonton. The only thing that can comfort me now is justice. The January 8 plane disaster occurred amid fears of an all-out war between Iran and the United States. Just days earlier, Washington had assassinated top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting leaders in Tehran to pledge severe revenge. And hours before the plane crashed, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had fired more than a dozen short-range ballistic missiles at two bases hosting US troops in Iraq. For three days afterwards, Iran denied any involvement in the downing of the plane. Then on January 11, Iran announced an IRGC operator had unintentionally shot down Flight PS752 amid fears of a counterattack by the US. The admission triggered scattered protests at universities in Tehran and other cities, shattering the sense of unity in Iran following Soleimanis killing. Dozens of victims of the plane crash were graduates from Iranian universities who were visiting families in Iran while on holiday from fellowships, graduate schools and promising careers abroad. Irans President Hassan Rouhani, meanwhile, issued a statement calling the tragedy a disastrous mistake. He promised further investigations to prosecute perpetrators behind the incident and to inform families of the victims of the truth of what had happened. A spokesman for Irans judiciary on January 14 said several people accused of a role in the incident had been arrested, without elaborating further. But Gorji does not believe the Iranian government would deliver justice. We believe that they committed this crime intentionally, he said. They allowed commercial flights on the same night they attacked bases in Iraq. That is a declaration of war and they have to cancel all commercial flights. Officials inspect pieces of a Boeing 737 plane belonging to Ukrainian International Airlines which crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran [Fatemeh Bahrami/ Anadolu] The 48-year-old engineer said he believed Irans government had used Iranian passengers as human shields by keeping the countrys airspace open. Gorji said he and other families of victims have filed a class-action lawsuit against Iran for an act of terrorism in the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario. Some 57 of the victims were Canadian, most of them dual nationals holding Iranian citizenship. The lawsuit is aimed at proving in a court of law that they [Irans government] committed a crime. This would be an important message to the Iranian people and the world, Gorji said. If the case proved successful, the second step would be to lobby the Canadian government to sue Iran at the International Criminal Court, he said. I want justice for my niece I had to do something and I can do it here, he said. Gorji declined to comment further on the lawsuit, but in a Facebook post on January 25, he said families of the victims had launched a lawsuit against Irans Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and the IRGC. The case John Doe v Islamic Republic of Iran was filed on January 24 and seeks $1.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.1bn) in compensation from Tehran. Canadian courts do not typically have jurisdiction over foreign states, but a 2012 law lifted that immunity for countries Canada considers foreign state sponsors of terrorism. Iran and Syria are on that list. To find out details of what exactly happened on January 8, Iran has to decode the flights black boxes. Canada and Ukraine are pressuring Iran to release the data recorders, but Tehran which has rights under global aviation rules to lead the investigation has offered contradicting statements on its plans. An aviation official who initially said the black boxes would be sent to Ukraine backtracked on his comments a day later, saying Iranian authorities have asked US and French authorities to lend them the equipment needed to read the data. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, has said Ottawa will continue to pressure Tehran to send the black boxes to France. Meanwhile, some experts have expressed concern about Irans capability and willingness to handle the investigation beyond technical issues. They have a strong tradition of sweeping it under the rug rather than addressing it in a meaningful way, said Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East North Africa Programme at Chatham House. To take responsibility and accountability is not what they have succeeded in doing over the past decades. But Mohammad Marandi, the head of American Studies at the University of Tehran, said it was the US that bore ultimate responsibility for the downing of the plane. The real culprit here, the most responsible, and they cant hide it, is the US for acts of war against Iran and creating a situation where Iran had to be on high alert and was prepared for an attack, he said, dismissing allegations Tehran would hide the truth behind the plane crash. The notion of a cover-up is nonsense and the evidence is that from the beginning Iran invited international teams to come to Iran, he said, referring to Irans offer to foreign experts, including from Ukraine and the United Nations, to join the investigation. If there is a case to be filed, that should be against the US government and the US president. Whatever the court says, these [Iranian soldiers] are people who acted unintentionally The circumstance that the US have created, through sanctions, through the killing of senior officials, through acts of war, those are all intentional acts. Therefore the US bears the whole responsibility. Meanwhile, in Tehran, people who spoke to Al Jazeera described an increasing sense of distrust in the government they believed should be taking care of them Nima, a 28-year-old young man who gave only one name, used the words hopelessness, helplessness and despair to describe his anxiety about the future, while Sarah, a 36-year-old teacher, said the shooting down of the plane as well as a brutal government crackdown in November against people protesting against a hike in fuel prices show this regime doesnt want us. Bita, a 52-year-old nurse, said: I was asking myself, what else did they lie about? Babak Roshanaei Moghaddam, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst based in Tehran, said the shooting down of the plane was a traumatic event, not just for families of victims but for the whole country. The whole nation is grieving, each person in their own way, said the founder and director of the Tehran Center for Psychoanalytic Studies. Losing last bits of hope in relationship with a government whose basic trust had already been compromised for many other reasons, can be a very unsettling and anxiety-provoking position. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales touted a better funded and coordinated effort to combat violent crime and prevent the spread of dangerous gangs such as Tango Orejon, the Mexican Mafia, Bloods and Crips. His office started what it called the Violent Crime Prevention Initiative last year, a collaboration of local, state and federal agencies that aims to improve coordination and prosecution of high-level gang members. The team is housed at the Texas Anti-Gang Center in San Antonio, a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2018. Collaboration is key, Gonzales said Friday while flanked by dozens of law enforcement officials. With their help, weve been able to more efficiently prosecute our cases against gang members, especially when we believe they are a threat to our community. While other task forces have tackled violent crime, the district attorneys office is allocating more resources to this initiative Reporting gang crimes Submit a tip about gang activity online at stopsanantoniogangs.org. Officials say all submissions are confidential unless the person provides their contact information. See More Collapse Now, two prosecutors work on gang-related offenses, in addition to four investigators who research the cases. When the Texas Anti-Gang Center opened, it had just one prosecutor, officials said. Gonzales said the initiative also works on prevention and education. The task force includes law enforcement officers at several local school districts who will identify young gang members to try to steer them away from criminal activity. On ExpressNews.com: Newest juvenile judge readies launch of gang court in Bexar County The district attorneys office is also hosting training sessions for cadets at the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office on how to identify gang members and the importance of documenting the tattoos, hand signals, colors and symbols used to distinguish each group. Samantha DiMaio, a prosecutor assigned to the Texas Anti-Gang Center, said such documentation is crucial when prosecutors ask a judge to set a high bail. Without it, a judge could deny their request. It is also important when prosecutors are seeking tougher sentences for gang members. The initiative is the latest effort to target gang activity in Bexar County, where the Department of Public Safety has identified 6,000 documented gang members, though that number could be higher. The most prominent gangs in Central Texas include Tango Orejon also known as Puro Tango Blast the Mexican Mafia, and different subsets of the Bloods and Crips, according to a 2018 report by DPS. In 2016, local officials said they planned to build the Texas Anti-Gang Center in San Antonio, funded largely by a $2 million grant from the Governors Offices Criminal Justice Division. The facility would be modeled after one in Houston that has been heralded for collaboration and targeting of gangs. On ExpressNews.com: Multiple agencies join together to fight gang crime In 2017, after homicides in San Antonio skyrocketed to a 21-year high, Police Chief William McManus announced a Violent Crime Task Force to go after violent, repeat offenders not hot spots of crime, like the department had in the past. In two and a half years, the task force reported 22,805 arrests including 2,119 gang members and the seizure of 2,953 firearms and 1 million grams of drugs. In many ways, the Violent Crime Prevention Initiative which the district attorneys office launched last year but did not announce until this week is similar. It includes the same local, state and federal partners, and its mission is identical. Whats different, DiMaio said, is that the Texas Anti-Gang Center is up and running, allowing for increased coordination, and the district attorneys office has allocated more resources to it. For example, shortly after Gonzales took office last year, all felony prosecutors and investigators were retrained about gangs behaviors and characteristics. That infrastructure was lacking, DiMaio said. It takes time to get all set up. The officials are also gathering information in new ways. Sheriff Javier Salazar said detention deputies at the jail have begun building relationships with inmates who are known gang members in an effort to learn about major crime, including terrorism and human trafficking rings. We literally sit on a gold mine, Salazar said. Ive got at any given time 4,200 inmates that are a wealth of information. When I took office, we werent really set up to ask them any questions, not just about the crime they were involved in, but other crimes that they may have knowledge about. On ExpressNews.com: Jury returns capital murder verdict in San Antonio carjacking rampage Gonzales said the comprehensive approach has proved successful. He pointed to the recent prosecution of several high-level gang affiliates, including Manuel Garcia, a documented member of the Mexican Mafia, and Juan Almendarez, with Tango Orejon, both of whom are serving life sentences for murder. Several suspects have been arrested lately, including Omar Mata, 32, vice president of the local Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, and Xavier Johnson, 25, a documented Blood listed as one of the most wanted gang members in Bexar County. Officials encouraged residents to report any possible criminal activity to the Texas Anti-Gang Center even if the information seems insignificant, such as graffiti, which gangs use to mark their territory and disrespect rivals. The days of agencies hoarding information, not sharing information are long, long passed, McManus said. Theres a great deal of collaboration in working on these cases. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton President Joko Widodo agreed to the project. the Istiqlal mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, is undergoing renovation. Indonesias founder Sukarno wanted it to be front of the Church of the Assumption as a symbol of unity, religious harmony and tolerance. Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) Many people probably thought that digging tunnels is just as good a way to build bridges in interfaith dialogue after Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave the green light yesterday to the construction of an underpass to connect Jakartas Istiqlal Grand Mosque to St Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. The two buildings are located in Central Jakarta, in the heart of the capital, facing each other (picture 1). For Widodo, the underpass will encourage brotherhood between the two religious communities. Yesterday, during an inspection of the ongoing work, Widodo told reporters that "This will be a 'friendship' tunnel. Someone suggested building a link between the two places of worship. I agreed. People will no longer have to cross the street. Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno, Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono accompanied the president. The renovation works (picture 2) of the largest mosque in Southeast Asia began in May 2019. Widodo hopes that it will be completed before Ramadan 2020 (which will begin on 23 April). To that end, the government has earmarked 475 billion rupees (US million). For most Indonesians, the Grand Istiqlal Mosque (built between 1961 and 1978) has always been a symbol of interfaith dialogue since it was designed by a Christian architect, Frederich Silaban. Sukarno, Indonesias founder and first president, wanted the mosque to be built near the Assumption Cathedral and Immanuel Protestant Church as a show of national unity, religious harmony and tolerance. Every year, many interfaith and intercommunal initiatives are undertaken during the main Muslim and Catholic religious holidays as a token of friendship and outreach, going far beyond simple courtesy visits. For example, thanks to Card Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, archbishop of Jakarta, Masses at the cathedral are rescheduled on the day when the worlds most populous Islamic country stops to celebrate Eid al-Fitr to allow Muslims to use the churchs parking lot. At Christmas and Easter, members of the countrys two major moderate Islamic organisations (Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah) provide security to the church and Catholic faithful. The court of impeachment in the United States Senate was adjourned by Chief Justice John Roberts sine die without any future date being designated but the court of public opinion about whether President Donald Trump is fit to continue in office is still in session, and the verdict of the American people will be rendered in November. Donald Trump following his acquittal in the Senate this week. Credit:AP This impeachment of Trump by Democrats in the House of Representatives for the Ukraine affair was ultimately an imperative. After a whistleblower brought attention to a call between Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the US leader asked for Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, then his chief political rival for 2020, the House of Representatives established a case that reached to the heart of the founding principles of the country, so that even Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president only eight years ago, could conclude: What he did was not 'perfect' no, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security interests, and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of ones oath of office that I can imagine. Trump has never conceded a thing. It was always a perfect call. Yet even some Republican senators concluded that Trump committed a serious error but that this did not rise to a high crime worthy of impeachment, and with the election coming in November, the people should be the ultimate judges. Fifty CE Supervisors from across the south east protested at the entrance to the slip-road to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge during the opening ceremony on Wednesday (29th). The supervisors have balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pension rights, with phased days of industrial action due to take place over the coming weeks. The peaceful protest got underway at 2 p.m. as the supervisors gathered at the barrier along the curved road leading to the bridge. Waving placards with Respect the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), `11 years waiting for pension and Justice for CE Supervisors the protesters drew the attention of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, junior ministers Paul Kehoe, Michael DArcy Jnr and John Paul Phelan and TDs Brendan Howlin and Malcolm Byrne. There are approximately 1,250 CE workers employed part-time in the county in community hospitals, tourist destinations, nursing homes, in community care, tidy towns organisations etc. and if planned 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour work stoppages go ahead this spring there will be serious interruption across the county. The Labour party leader got out of his car and spoke with the protesters, as did Deputy Byrne and election candidate Verona Murphy, promising to highlight their cause seeking pension entitlements, over the coming days and weeks. Eleven of the supervisors previously made their case outside minister of state Paul Kehoes office in mid-January. One of the New Ross based supervisors said: We got a lot of support from the non governmental parties and from passersby who honked their horns. A further protest is being considered outside Mr DArcys office this week. Forsa Assistant General Secretary, Ian McDonnell, said: `There is considerable anger among CE supervisors concerning their treatment by the Government after more than a decade of waiting for the 2008 Labour Court recommendation regarding their pension rights to be implemented. Representatives of the workers received a commitment from the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, in May 2019 that the pension issue would be dealt with. This led them to suspend planned industrial action at that time. `Unfortunately, the minister failed to live up to her commitment due to the refusal of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide the funding necessary for the Government to implement the Labour Court recommendation. This situation has led many CE supervisors to believe they have been left with no option but to implement a major escalation of their long running campaign. Phillip Schofield has revealed he sought advice from a self-help book before coming out as gay on Friday morning. Taking to Twitter the following morning, he responded to advice from journalist Dan Wooton, who told him to read The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World by the American clinical psychologist Alan Downs. The TV host, 54, responded to Dan's message by penning: 'Thank you so much Dan, and Ive read the book already lol x'. Open and honest: Phillip Schofield has revealed he sought advice from a self-help book before coming out as gay on Friday morning On Friday morning, Phillip announced he is gay via an Instagram post before taking to the This Morning couch to discuss his sexuality and choice to come out. After 27 years of marriage to his wife Steph, he has revealed that he has suffered 'inner conflict' and is now ready to 'celebrate and be proud' of his sexuality, yet insists he is not thinking about a new relationship. In Dan's original piece, he reached out to Phillip writing: 'Theres an incredible book called The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World by the American clinical psychologist Alan Downs that I read recently. 'Its about how living in the closet creates many deep psychological issues for any gay man, including feeling overwhelmed by intense anger and shame.' Reveal: Taking to Twitter the following morning, he responded to advice from journalist Dan Wooton, who told him to read The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World by the American clinical psychologist Alan Downs Reaching out: The TV host, 54, responded to Dan's message by penning: 'Thank you so much Dan, and Ive read the book already lol x' Clearly touched by the outreach, Phillip sent his sweet response, in which he revealed he had already sought solace from the book. The blurb of the book reads: 'Whether he is flamboyantly fashionable with a body chiseled to perfection or chronically dissatisfied and without lasting relationships, the stereotypical extremes of male gay behavior are fueled by the same dark force: shame. 'The inevitable byproduct of growing up gay in a straight man's world, the experience of shame in childhood and adolescence sends a boy the message that he is other and that he is worthless... Thank you: Clearly touched by the outreach, Phillip sent his sweet response, in which he revealed he had already sought solace from the book 'To avoid feeling shameful later in life-and even after he is no longer explicitly shamed by his sexuality-a gay man will quietly rage against the memory of this message and strive to excel dramatically to prove it wrong... 'The stereotypical manifestation of this inner battle is a gay man's success in the arts, fashion and in his body image; as with all the other forms of beauty, creativity and success, he is hiding behind the facades he creates... 'Building on the collected psychological research and the author's own experience of the past twenty years, The Velvet Rage will help gay men profoundly understand their dichotomous extremes... 'Explaining the psychological underpinnings of the forces at play in their lives, it also offers helpful strategies to stop the insidious cycle of avoidance and rage. Empowering and validating, The Velvet Rage will influence the public discourse on gay culture and positively change the lives of gay men who read it.' Ready to reveal: After 27 years of marriage to Steph, he has revealed that he has suffered 'inner conflict' and is now ready to 'celebrate and be proud' of his sexuality, yet insists he is not thinking about a new relationship Before Phillip responded to Dan, his daughter Molly, 27, took to Instagram to throw her support behind her dad after he came out as gay. Sharing the post with her 44,500 followers, the talent manager penned: 'Love you always, so proud of you', while tagging her dad over a picture of the duo alongside her mum Steph and her sister Ruby, 24. Phillip spoke about his battles with keeping his secret and the relief of coming out. Phil met Stephanie when she was a BBC production Assistant and he was working for the BBC Children's television. Supportive: Before Phillip responded to Dan, his daughter Molly, 27, took to Instagram to throw her support behind her dad after he came out as gay Speaking about telling his daughters, he said: 'It wasn't easy [telling my daughters]. But they are so amazing in their love and support. They jumped up and gave me a hug, a big hug, a long hug... 'They hugged Steph and said, 'It's OK, this is fine.' We will always be a family. We'll always be that. My mum has been on the phone all morning, 'Hope you're OK.' I told her and she said, 'OK, I don't care.' And that's the same with everyone.' Speaking about how his mum Pat, 83, reacted: It was the same with my mum, my mum is watching this today... 'Shes been on the phone this morning hope youre OK. I went down to see her, shes down in Cornwall, and I went down to see her... And I told her and she said "oh, OK, well, I don't care" - and that's the same with everyone.' The Philadelphia Museum of Art as seen by drone, January 9, 2020. Read more The Philadelphia Museum of Art has selected a New York-based consulting firm, VallotKarp, to conduct an assessment of the museums workplace environment, according to an email sent to all staff members late Friday afternoon. Leslie Anne Miller, chair of the museums board of trustees, said in the email that the firm was selected based on its experience with issues of equity, access, diversity and inclusion; experience working with organizations facing challenges similar to our own; the ability to begin immediately and to pursue an accelerated schedule; and a lack of previous engagement with the museum or other potential conflicts of interest. VallotKarp will be assessing the Art Museum following a New York Times article last month that reported a former museum manager, Joshua Helmer, 31, entered into relationships with women at the museum who were subordinate to him in rank while dangling possibilities for professional advancement. Helmer left the museum in 2018 and subsequently was named director of the Erie Art Museum; he departed that museum following the report in the Times. Reached Friday evening, Helmers lawyer, Paul John Susko, said of his client: His separation from the PMA did not involve any sexual harassment in the workplace. Miller was not immediately available to comment on the selection, according to a museum spokesman. Calls to Angela Vallot, a principal in the management firm, were referred to the museum. Vallot and Mitchell Karp are scheduled to meet with the staff of the museum on the morning of Feb. 21. In her email, Miller said VallotKarp have been charged with prioritizing staff involvement and will be helping initially to form a staff advisory group. That group will hammer out just how the staff will be engaged in the assessment. It was unclear whether the assessment would examine what actually happened in the Helmer situation or whether it will gather information about unrelated past instances of possible discrimination or gender manipulation to provide a kind of baseline for future assessment. On its website, VallotKarp describes itself as a boutique management consulting firm that focuses on creating inclusive environments where people can work together more effectively. The website goes on to say that the firm provides a broad range of services to corporations, law firms and other organizations on issues relating to diversity and inclusion, cultural competence, mentoring/sponsorship, gender dynamics and conflict resolution. Miller said VallotKarp has conducted cultural assessments and led staff engagement at many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On its website, the firm touts its work with a wide variety of corporate entities, including media giant Viacom and legal titan Skadden. A precise timeline following the Feb. 21 all-staff meeting has not been established, but museum officials have said in the past that they want to move forward as quickly as possible. Staff writer Peter Dobrin contributed to this article. Britain has appointed Karen Pierce as the country's new ambassador to the United States, replacing a veteran diplomat whose unvarnished portrayal of the Trump administration led to an embarrassing trans-Atlantic spat. The appointment of Pierce, who is currently ambassador to the United Nations, comes as Britain embarks on critical efforts to strike a trade deal with the United States following its departure from the European Union. It also follows an embarrassing spat over leaked memos that derailed her predecessor. "It is a time of huge opportunity for the friendship between the U.K. and U.S. and I am delighted that Karen Pierce will take forward this exciting new chapter in our relationship," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Friday. Britain has appointed Karen Pierce, who is currently its ambassador to the United Nations, as the country's new ambassador to the United States. /Reuters In the leaked documents, he called the Trump administration's policy toward Iran "incoherent," said the president might be indebted to "dodgy Russians" and raised doubts about whether the White House "will ever look competent." "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept," one missive said. Trump was outraged, and responded by firing off a series of less than flattering tweets. "The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy," Trump wrote in one tweet. Though former Prime Minister Theresa May backed Darroch, Trump's public reaction made his job untenable. But it also underscored that the close relationship between the two countries has become increasingly lopsided, a severe problem as the U.K. prepares to set a new path beyond the EU. Pierce is the first woman to hold the job. Former ambassador Kim Darroch resigned in July. President Donald Trump expressed fury when Darroch's forthright, unfiltered views on the U.S. administration appeared in leaked diplomatic documents that were published in Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper.In the leaked documents, he called the Trump administration's policy toward Iran "incoherent," said the president might be indebted to "dodgy Russians" and raised doubts about whether the White House "will ever look competent.""We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept," one missive said.Trump was outraged, and responded by firing off a series of less than flattering tweets. "The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy," Trump wrote in one tweet.Though former Prime Minister Theresa May backed Darroch, Trump's public reaction made his job untenable. But it also underscored that the close relationship between the two countries has become increasingly lopsided, a severe problem as the U.K. prepares to set a new path beyond the EU.Pierce is the first woman to hold the job. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A suspect allegedly pushed a man off his wheelchair Wednesday night in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, leaving the victim on the ground immobile, police said. On Thursday around 7:45 a.m., officers responded to the corner of Fulton and Hyde streets, regarding a robbery. The 43-year-old victim told officers a suspect approached him from behind the previous night and pushed him off the wheelchair. The suspect then took the wheelchair, according to police. Unable to move, the victim was forced to stay on the ground all night before reporting the robbery, police said. The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Officers were unable to recover the wheelchair and the suspect has not been apprehended, according to police. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The health needs of a person differ from one location to another depending on various factors. Though many National Health Insurance Schemes are available, state health insurance programs play a significant role in addressing specific health issues. The state health insurance programs provide health care support to the below poverty line (BPL) population. Each state has its scheme or relief fund tailored to meet each states health and environmental demands. The following are the list of state health insurance programs available in India. Rajiv Aarogyasri, Andhra Pradesh Mukhyamantari Amrutam (MA), Gujarat The Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan's Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Rajasthan Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, Tamil Nadu This scheme was launched on 1st April 2007 to support the BPL population. It covers a sum Rs. 2 lakhs to treat serious ailments, which require a hospital stay and surgery inclusive of 938 treatments under Rajiv aarogyasri. The primary objective is to improve access to BPL families and also provide auditory verbal therapy for children under six years of age. Rajiv aarogysri provides coverage for systems like lung, liver, heart, pancreas, kidney and cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy ). High-end procedures like hip and knee replacement, bone marrow and diseases such as TB, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases covered by national programs are uncovered under this scheme. It is cashless and makes it easier for a BPL person to access medical services at any hospital. BPL families are identified with ration card photograph and civil supplies department database. Rajiv aarogysri is a family floater scheme with reimbursement of Rs. 1.50 lakhs to be availed individually or collectively with an additional buffer of Rs. 50,000/-. The trust reimburses a maximum of Rs. 6.50 lakhs per case for cochlear implant surgery inclusive of auditory verbal therapy. Families are forced to move towards the below poverty line due to high expenditure of their income on health care. MA was launched in Gujarat to address and control this issue. This scheme with healthcare providers targets to improve medical support to BPL families living in Gujarat. It also covers surgical and medical procedures. Surgeries covered under this system are: Cardiovascular Surgeries Neurosurgeries Burns Poly Trauma Cancer (Malignancies) Renal (Kidney) Neonatal (newborn) diseases This distress relief fund provides support to people affected by natural calamities such as flood, drought, and fire. It also provides treatment for cancer, cardiac surgery, kidney transplantation, brain tumor, liver, and multi-organ failure. The Kerala state governments focus is to provide immediate relief to affected people by collecting funds from the public. The donations are 100% exempted from tax under section 80G(2) (iii hf) of the Income-Tax Act, 1961. Contributions to this fund can be gifted as a cheque /draft in the name of principal secretary finance. The taluk office and collectorate will receive the money. The aim of this scheme is more similar to the scheme in Kerala which covers medical ailments and also focus on providing immediate relief to those affected in Madhya Pradesh (MP) due to natural calamities. The donations as a cause of humanity can be made through cheque/drafts and money order. The contributions made are 100% exempted from tax under section 80-G (2)(a)(v) of the Income Tax Rule-1961. The MP government has also introduced two new relief funds such as Farmers Relief Fund and Nepal earthquake tragedy. The Rajasthans chief minister relief fund delivers assistance to the victims of accident and severe diseases. This resource covers people affected by natural calamities from 13.12.2007. A premium of Rs. 50,000 to the deceased dependents, Rs. 10,000/- to severe injuries and Rs. 2,500/- to regular injuries will be provided. The sum is collected from the district collector office by filling an application form and attaching injury, postmortem and FIR report for evidence. People in Rajasthan suffering from a severe disease such as cancer, heart and kidney diseases are benefited with a super specialty hospital treatment. This condition only applies to people with annual income less than Rs.1 Lakh. The Chief Ministers comprehensive health insurance scheme is lofty and the Tamil Nadu state government launched this scheme through United India Insurance Company Ltd. People with annual income less than Rs. 72,000 per year can benefit with surgical and medical treatments from both government and private hospitals under the certification of Village Administrative Officers in Tamil Nadu. This scheme works on a floater basis and attempts to provide cashless facility cover up to Rs. 2,00,000/- per family for specific hospitalization procedures. The other benefits are follow-up treatment and additional diagnostic procedures. Free health camps are conducted on a yearly basis, with one camp each month to identify the people who require treatment. Network hospitals manage these fields as directions given by the Project Director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society. A unique feature of the chief ministers comprehensive health insurance scheme is that a 24-hour call center is set with toll-free helpline 1800 425 3993 with a competency to answer queries in Tamil. For more than 200 years, our republic has endured, not only because of the wisdom of our Founders and the brilliance of our Constitution, but because of the generations of patriotic Americans who have had the courage to risk their lives to defend it. But, tragically, the American people have watched President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress dismantle the Constitution that we cherish. The House impeachment managers, led by Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., presented to the Senate and the public an incontrovertible truth that the president himself has admitted: President Trump abused the power of his office to pressure a foreign power to help him cheat in an American election. And when he was caught, the president launched an unprecedented coverup to block Congress from holding him accountable. The president's actions undermined our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our elections and violated the Constitution. The Democrats in the Senate under the leadership of Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., patriotically voted unanimously to honor the oath to support and defend the Constitution. They, along with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, deserve our gratitude for their moral courage. The president's lawyers all but concede his misconduct. Their argument was only that Congress and the American people have no right to stop him from using his power to cheat in our elections. With their vote, Senate Republicans embraced this darkest vision of power: that if the president believes his reelection is good for the country, then he can use any means necessary to win, with no accountability or consequences. For weeks, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the Republican-controlled Senate have made themselves accomplices to the president's wrongdoing by suppressing additional evidence and rejecting the most basic elements of a fair judicial process. In declaring their loyalty to the president over our Constitution, Republicans have made a farce of the old boast that the U.S. Senate is the greatest deliberative body in the world. And they have joined the president in normalizing lawlessness and rejecting the checks and balances of our Constitution. The House of Representatives voted to impeach the president because our institution believes in the sanctity of our oath and the urgency of protecting our republic. One chamber of Congress held the president accountable. President Trump is impeached forever, disgraced in history for his abuse of power and contempt for our Constitution. He will go down in history as the first president to be impeached with the support of a majority of Americans, and the first to ever face a bipartisan vote to convict him in the Senate. Our Founders put safeguards in the Constitution to protect against a rogue president. They never imagined that they would at the same time have a rogue leader in the Senate who would cowardly abandon his duty to uphold the Constitution. Sadly, because of the Republican Senate's betrayal of the Constitution, the president remains an ongoing threat to American democracy. He continues to insist that he is above accountability and that he can corrupt the elections again, if he wants to. The People's House will continue to defend democracy for the American people. We will uphold and protect the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution, both in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion to preserve our republic "if we can keep it," to quote Benjamin Franklin. And we will always insist on this truth: that, in America, no one is above the law. - - - Pelosi, a Democrat from California, is speaker of the House of Representatives. Five British people including a child have been infected with the Wuhan coronavirus in the French Alps, after they were contaminated by a fellow Briton returning from Singapore. French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said the new cases, which bring the total number of people infected in France to 11, were not life-threatening and formed "a cluster grouping around one original case. "That original case was brought to our attention last night It is a British national who had returned from Singapore where he had stayed between January 20 and 23, arriving in France on January 24 for four days," Buzyn said. The four adults and one child were infected in the mountainous region of Savoie, in eastern France. Worldwide, the Wuhan coronavirus has killed more than 700 people since it first emerged in a Chinese market at the end of last year. Official Chinese figures show there are more than 34,500 people infected in the country. Outside mainland China, more than 340 infections have been reported in nearly 30 other places. 'Recovered' patients could be released France's Director-General of Health, Jerome Salomon, indicated Friday that several coronavirus patients who had showed signs of recovery could be released from hospital in the coming days. The patients would need to undergo "at least two tests", to be performed 24 hours apart, to ensure the patients were no longer contagious. Meanwhile 38 French nationals are on Sunday to be repatriated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, on a British flight. They will be placed in confinement for 14 days in Aix-en-Provence, joining 78 others who arrived earlier this month. There is still grave concern for the wellbeing of France's sickest Coronavirus patient, an 80-year-old Chinese man who has been in intensive care in a Paris hospital for the past 10 days. Washington, 7 February 2020 (SPS) - Saharawi Representative in Washington, Moloud Saeed, on Thursday attended the 68th Annual National Prayer Breakfast hosted by the US President Donald Trump in Washington, at the invitation of the US Congress. On the same day, Mr. Moloud Saeed attended a dinner Banquet at the US Senate, with the participation of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives and foreign delegations taking part in the Annual Breakfast. During the Banquet, the Sahrawi Representative was invited to speak on behalf of Africa, where he thanked the members of the two legislative chambers for their interest in what is going on in the African continent, seizing the opportunity to brief them on the conflict between the Sahrawi people and the Moroccan occupier. Then, Mr. James Inhofe, Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee, took the floor to confirm his support to the Sahrawi people and their struggle for their just cause, describing Morocco's presence in Western Sahara as illegal. The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., usually on the first Thursday in February. The eventwhich is actually a series of meetings, luncheons, and dinnershas taken place since 1953. (SPS) 062/SPS This should have been a good February for Zenni Optical. The Novato eyewear company aired its first Super Bowl ad, starring 49ers tight end George Kittle, this month. But some people who watched the ad and went online to order glasses got this message: Due to mandatory business closures in China, standard delivery will extend to 21-28 days. Express and priority shipping will not be available. We apologize for any inconvenience. Flights are canceled, travel is stalled and factories in parts of China have shut down as the coronavirus spreads. Bay Area companies with operations in China are feeling the sting. Factories and businesses traditionally shut down during the Lunar New Year holiday, but this year Chinese authorities are ordering them to remain closed after the holiday period in an effort to contain the disease. Palo Altos Tesla expects a delay of at least a week in Model 3 production at its Shanghai factory because of a government-required shutdown, and other car makers are also grappling with closures. Foxconn Technology, a major Apple supplier, has closed its factories for now. In the last 20 years, we saw major global supply chains disrupted after the 9/11 attacks, after the southeast Asia tsunami and after the Japan earthquake, said Andy Tsay, a professor at Santa Clara University who specializes in supply chain management. Coronavirus looks to be on this scale. Tens of thousands of people have been infected most of them in China and hundreds have died. The Chinese government has virtually locked down Wuhan, the city in central China where the coronavirus was first detected and where its impact has been most lethal, and the surrounding Hubei province. Wuhan is a manufacturing hub. It is home to high-tech industries like chipmaking and biomedicine and counts more than 1,600 high-tech enterprises, according to an October report by the Milken Institute. Imagine if not just Chicago, but the whole states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin were essentially taken off-line, said David Kaufman, director of global strategies at the law firm Nixon Peabody, referring to the lockdown. Goods traveling by air and ship have not been affected yet, local port and air freight officials said. China sends more goods to California than any other country, accounting for close to one-third of the states international imports. That amounted to $129 billion worth of goods in 2019, according to census data. California exported $15.9 billion worth of goods to China last year, 9% of all goods sent to other countries from the state, behind Mexico and Canada. Zenni has a factory in Danyang, almost 400 miles from Wuhan. The privately held company, founded in 2003, is known for affordable prescription eyeglasses. It has 100 employees in Novato and owns its 1 million-square-foot Danyang facility, where it employs 1,000 workers none of whom came to work this week under the governments orders. Were at the mercy of the manufacturing hold the country has put on all of its workers, and we understand the seriousness of the issue, said Sean Pate, a spokesman for Zenni Optical, who noted that many other optical companies also have factories in the area and would be affected. Were closed this week and are anxiously waiting to hear back on when we can open. The company expects to hear on Sunday whether its Danyang factory its only manufacturing plant can reopen Monday. Should the factory resume operations on Monday as hoped we will be able to catch up quickly and still deliver on pending orders as scheduled, Pate said by email. Pate declined to say how the prolonged shutdown might affect revenue, saying it is too soon to tell, but that delivery will be delayed for at least two to three weeks, if not more, depending on how long the closure lasts. The company sold 6 million pairs of eyeglasses in 2019, Pate said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The challenge, Kaufman said, is that operations are interconnected. A factory in Beijing could depend on a small component made in Wuhan, halting the entire process, he said. Car maker Hyundai, for example, recently said it would suspend production in South Korea because the virus had disrupted the supply of parts from China. Robert Wren, owner of Primrose Alloys, a San Mateo importer of steel and aluminum, said delays in his industry are already occurring. He imports tubes and pipes to sell to U.S. oil and gas, refinery, agricultural, and automotive clients; he also has aerospace and medical customers. Since hes not limited to China and also gets raw materials from Japan and South Korea, he has not experienced the full impact of the coronavirus on supply chains and business is actually on the rise, he said. More domestic mills have called asking about buying from his stockpile as their supplies from China slow down, Wren said. There is a low-level panic rising among manufacturers, said Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute in Los Gatos, a nonprofit organization that works with companies interested in bringing manufacturing back to America. Some of those companies are assessing whether to eventually bring some manufacturing back to the U.S., but some are considering other low-cost countries in Asia in light of the virus, she said. U.S.-China trade tensions already pushed some companies to rethink where they manufacture. Fred Perrotta, owner of Tortuga Backpacks, headquartered in the Bay Area, sought to reshuffle his once China-dependent manufacturing to other countries in Asia. Perrotta still produces the products in China and has challenges similar to Zenni, with a closed factory this week, but is expecting his first order to be shipped from Vietnam soon, he said. As for Zenni, the company said its backlog of orders for delivery wont be a problem, because the company is well-positioned to make lots of glasses quickly. But the uncertainty over conditions in China weighs on it and other businesses with trade and logistical ties that cross the Pacific. The ultimate impact of this current crisis will depend not only on the time needed for a public health solution, but also on how quickly workers, consumers, and investors can get back to feeling safe again, Tsay of Santa Clara University said. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Boris Johnson's threat to walk away from the EU without a trade deal will fail, a former No10 boss has warned. Lord Barwell, who served as Theresa May's Chief of Staff, said he does not believe the threat of a no trade deal is effective. The Prime Minister told Brussels this week that he would walk away if the EU demanded alignment with its rules. Lord Barwell, who served as Theresa May's chief of staff, said he does not believe the threat of a no trade deal is effective Mr Johnson insisted there is no need to tie the UK to Brussels regulations, or vice versa, as he condemned growing protectionism around the world. The senior Tory said: 'I think the EU believe the government might well decide not to do a deal, and they'll regret that,' on BBC Radio 4's Week in Westminster programme. He added how the primary interests of the EU were maintaining the single market and customs union and the 'integrity of their institutions', according to The Sun. 'We can't give you the kind of access you have at the moment without any of the obligations, because if we did that everyone would leave the club.' Mr Johnson insisted there is no need to tie the UK to Brussels regulations, or vice versa, as he condemned growing protectionism around the world The peer said how the EU meant there is a price to pay for Britain leaving the union. Lord Barwell encouraged Mr Johnson to find 'some kind of landing zone' between the PM's speech and the draft mandate seen by the commission. He predicted the Prime Minister will eventually compromise and these settlements would include fishing access to the UK's waters. And the ex-chief of staff who oversaw Theresa May's two-year-long negotiation said Mr Johnson would conclude with a 'fairly skinny trade deal' that would be added to over time. Setting out his vision for the country's post-relationship on Monday, the Prime Minister told EU leaders he wants a-style free trade agreement. Veteran actor Orson Bean has died after being struck by a car in Venice, Los Angeles on Friday night. The 91-year-old was crossing the busy Venice Boulevard in front of the Pacific Resident Theatre when he was clipped by a vehicle and fell. A second driver then struck him in what police say was the fatal collision. Both drivers remained on the scene. Bean was crossing the street to get to the theater, where his wife of 27 years Alley Mills was working, friends told ABC7. The Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed Bean's Friday night death, saying it was being investigated as a 'traffic-related' fatality. Veteran actor Orson Bean has died after being struck by a car in Venice, Los Angeles on Friday night. Seen here in 2009 Bean was walking in the Venice neighborhood when he was clipped by a vehicle and fell. The scene of the accident is pictured The veteran actor is survived by his wife and four children. Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Brian Wendling told ABC News, 'The car coming westbound did not see him and clipped him and he went down.' 'A second vehicle was coming up, was distracted by people trying to slow him down and then looked up and then a second traffic collision occurred and that one was fatal.' Bean enlivened such TV game shows as 'To Tell the Truth' and played a crotchety merchant on 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.' He appeared in a number of films - notably, 'Anatomy of a Murder' and 'Being John Malkovich' - and starred in several top Broadway productions, receiving a Tony nod for the 1962 Comden-Green musical 'Subways Are for Sleeping.' But fans remembered him most for his many TV appearances from the 1950s onward. 'Mr. Bean's face comes wrapped with a sly grin, somewhat like the expression of a child when sneaking his hand into the cookie jar,' The New York Times noted in a review of his 1954 variety show, 'The Blue Angel.' It said he showed 'a quality of being likable even when his jokes fall flat.' The veteran actor is survived by his wife of 27 years Alley Mills (pictured) and four children. The 91-year-old Being John Malkovich actor was 'allegedly jaywalking' in the beachside community 'when he was clipped by one vehicle and then struck by another' reported TMZ. Seen here in the 1999 film with co-star John Cusack Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1928 as Dallas Frederick Burrows, he never lost the Yankee accent that proved a perfect complement to the dry, laconic storytelling that established him as popular humorist. He had picked the stage name Orson Bean 'because it sounded funny.' His father, George, was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Bean recalled later that his 'house was filled with causes.' But he left home at 16 after his mother died by suicide. In a 1983 New York Times interview, he recalled his early career in small clubs where the show consisted of 'me - master of ceremonies, comedian and magician - maybe a dog act, and a stripper.' It was a piano player in one such club, he said, who suggested replacing Dallas Burrows with some funny name like 'Roger Duck' - or Orson Bean. Bean's quick wit and warm personality made him a favorite panelist for six years on 'To Tell the Truth.' The game required the panelists to quiz three contestants to figure out which one was a real notable and which two were impostors. The dramatic outcome inspired a national catchphrase as the host turned to the three and said: 'Will the real (notable's name) please stand up?' Bean's style appealed to both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, and he appeared on 'The Tonight Show' more than 200 times. But his early career was hobbled for a time when he found himself on the Hollywood blacklist in the early years of the Cold War. 'Basically I was blacklisted because I had a cute communist girlfriend,' he explained in a 2001 interview. 'I stopped working on TV for a year.' Bean began his career in TV in the 1950s, acting in shows like Goodyear Playhouse and Broadway Television Theater. Seen here in 1970 The blacklist didn't stop him in the theater. Bean starred on Broadway as a timid fan magazine writer in George Axelrod's 1955 Hollywood spoof 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?' alongside Jayne Mansfield and Walter Matthau. He also starred on Broadway with Maureen O'Sullivan in 'Never Too Late' and with Melina Mercouri in 'Illya Darling,' based on her hit film 'Never on Sunday.' Bean took a break from his career for a time in the 1970s when he dropped out and moved to Australia, where he lived a hippie lifestyle. But he returned to the U.S. and - after a period as a self-described 'house-husband' - resumed his career. 'I got sick of contemplating my navel and staring up at the sky and telling myself how wonderful it was not to be doing anything,' he explained in a 1983 interview with The New York Times. In the 1990s, he played the shopkeeper Loren Bray on the long-running drama 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.' He remained active on the screen in recent years with guest shots in such shows as 'Desperate Housewives,' 'How I Met Your Mother' and 'Modern Family.' Meanwhile, his politics turned more conservative . He became related to a leading right-wing commentator, Andrew Breitbart , when his daughter, Susannah, married him. Breitbart died in 2012 and Steve Bannon, later a top adviser to Donald Trump, took over Breitbarts eponymous website, for which Bean had penned occasional columns. Bean wrote a memoir called 'Too Much Is Not Enough' and a book about a non-traditiona l therapy called 'Me and the Orgone.' He had already shown his interest in non-traditional thinking in 1964 when he bought a building in Manhattan and opened up a school based on the philosophy of Summerhill, the progressive British school founded by A.S. Neill. 'I said to myself, we have to start with the children. Why not start a school?' he told The New York Times. That same year, he co-founded the Sons of the Desert, an organization dedicated to comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, with chapters around the world. More recently, income from 'Dr. Quinn' and other voice and acting work allowed Bean to finance the Pacific Resident Theater Ensemble in Venice, where he appeared with his third wife, actress Alley Mills. He had a daughter, Michele, from his first marriage to Jacqueline de Sibour, and sons Max and Ezekiel and daughter Susannah from his marriage to Carolyn Maxwell. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 10:43:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, urged here Friday that no stigma should be associated with the new coronavirus. "It is the responsibility of us all to ensure there is no stigma associated with the disease. They are unnecessary and unhelpful," said Ryan in a technical briefing on the novel coronavirus at WHO headquarters. He added that profiling of individuals is "awfully and completely unacceptable," and "it needs to stop." Ryan underlined that governments have the responsibility to educate their populations on the act of discrimination. "This is a very important responsibility, and something we do need to engage with," he reiterated. During the same event, Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, voiced similar concern. Van Kerkhove said that the WHO has provided an interim name for the disease, calling it the "2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease." "We thought it was very important that we provide an interim name, so no location was associated with the name," she said. "We want to ensure that there was no stigma associated with this virus." The WHO said the final name of the disease will be provided by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the final decision being made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elnur baghishov Trend: An agreement on increasing the production and development of Parsi and Paranj oil fields in southwestern Iran was signed between the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC), belonging to National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Mapna Group, Trend reports referring to the NIOCs website. The agreement was signed between NISOC Executive Director Ahmad Mohammadi and Executive Director of Mapna Group Abbas Aliabadi. The signing ceremony was also attended by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh. MAPNA Group is a group of Iranian companies involved in development and operation of thermal and renewable power plants, oil & gas, railway transportation and other industrial projects as well as manufacturing main equipment including gas and steam turbines, electrical generator, turbine blade and vane, HRSG and conventional boilers, electric and control systems, gas compressor, locomotive and other pertinent equipment. According to the report, a number of projects for the development and commissioning of oil fields are being implemented in Iran. Some 49 new wells will be drilled and 8 existing wells will be repaired under the agreement. Iran's Parsi oil field is located 125 kilometers from Ahvaz city, the capital of Khuzestan province, and 75km from the Behbahan city. The Parsi field contains of 10.9 billion barrels of oil and the Paranj field contains 1.6 billion barrels of oil. In March 2017, NISOC and Mapna signed an agreement for the development of Paranj and Parsi oil fields. As a result of these discussions, a 10-year agreement was signed Feb. 8. The agreement provides for the production of a maximum of 85,000 barrels of oil a day and a total of about 121 million barrels a day. Under the agreement, $876 million will be spent directly and $235 million will be spent on external work. At the same time, it is planned to spend $269 million for the development. A group of US Republican Senators urged Twitter to suspend the accounts of Iranian Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. The Senators wrote a letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Dorsey to comply with the sanctions announced by US President Donald Trump through his executive order on June 24, 2019. Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, Marsha Blackburn, and Marco Rubio in a joint letter said that the First Amendment protects the free speech rights of Americans but Khamenei enjoys zero protection from the United States Bill of Rights. The Senators said that Khameneis account follows less than 10 other accounts including his office's Twitter feeds in Urdu, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Persian, which are straightforward to identify and locate. Twitter continues to provide Internet-based communication services to Khamenei and Zarif. Twitter is aware of these accounts and their links to the Iranian regime, the letter read. Read: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Lashes Out At Germany, France, & UK 'Subject to US sanctions laws' Calling Khamenei as the leader of world's leading state sponsor terrorism, the Senator said that Irans Supreme Leader and any American companies providing him assistance are entirely subject to US sanctions laws. A Twitter account is a service. We therefore call on you to comply with those sanctions by ceasing the provision of services to Khamenei, Zarif, and any other designated Iranian entity, requested the Senators. Read: Twitter Accounts Of Facebook And Messenger Hacked, Multiple Posts Shared On February 7, an account related to Khamenei tweeted that his Spanish twitter account has been suspended for no legitimate reason. Khamenei has repeatedly accused the United States of causing wars and destruction in West Asia called for the end of its corrupt presence. The 80-year-old religious leader had said that elected governments wont accept the presence of the US which has been involved in the destruction and the demolition of infrastructures in the region. "They were slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough. The corruptive presence of the US in the West Asian region must be stopped," the Supreme Leader had said during a televised address after Iran attacked US bases in Iraq with dozens of ballistic missiles. Read: "Test," Posts Twitter After Going Down For 20 Minutes; Users Have A Field Day Read: At 40 Million, THIS Actor Becomes The Most Followed On Twitter After Prime Minister Modi (With Agency Inputs) Consider the following: (1) Pete Buttigieg is declared winner in Iowa; (2) Bernie Sanders wins in New Hampshire; and (3) Joe Biden wins in South Carolina. This is well within the bounds of possibility even probability. And what is the country and the Democratic Party left with? A muddle, with no clear front-runner and no idea of whom to coalesce behind to support in the primaries that follow. The only person who is going to come out of this mess looking smart is Mike Bloomberg, who will look brilliant because he decided not to play in these preseason games. This leads me to ask myself why any candidate with enough sense to preside over the country going forward would opt to participate in these meaningless early contests. And, above all, why Iowa? GETTY Canadas first Internet Code went into effect Friday, and industry experts say it will help consumers have more clarity and security when signing up for internet services. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced in July 2019 that the code will offer Canadians easy-to-understand contracts, documents, and policies around service calls, outages, security deposits, and disconnections. It will also help Canadians have a better understanding of prices, especially for bundles, promotions, and time-limited discounts. Internet service providers (ISPs) will have to offer bill-shock protection by providing notifications when customers approach and reach their data-usage limits, and will have to let customers cancel a contract within 45 days without paying early cancellation fees. This code applies only to large ISPs including Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Northwestel, Rogers Communications, Telus, SaskTel, Shaw Communications, Videotron, and Xplornet. Ben Klass, a telecom expert and PhD student at Carleton University, said in an interview with Yahoo Finance Canada that the new rules provide certainty across providers and make sure that for practices like signing people up for services, there are clear standards. In the heat of the moment, when youre signing up for a service, its often not really clear exactly what youre getting... and I wouldnt necessarily place the blame on the companies in all cases, and I also wouldnt place the blame on the consumer, Klass said. He said 45 days gives customers a buffer, allowing for their first bill to arrive and be reviewed before making any changes without incurring extra cancellation fees. When the code was announced, consumer advocacy group OpenMedia criticized the 45-day timeframe indicating that it was inherently punitive to the customers, who if theyve been given a different contract than they agreed to, are now forced to cancel and live without internet services on short notice. Story continues Klass said that this type of issue is something where its going to have to be a wait and see. If it becomes a real problem or we find out that there are a lot of people having problems with this, I would hope that the [CRTC] review it with an eye to revising it, he said. Customers who feel theyve been wronged will have to file complaints with the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS). Advocacy groups also criticized this, saying that it would require significant time and lots of documentation. Jacques Latour, chief technology officer of the Canadian Internet Registry Authority, said the only outlet customers had to complain is with their ISP, so it was important to have an outlet like the CCTS. Having a separate organization that will actually take the case on and works with the subscriber is a great thing. It should be part of the customer support, the ISP should be focusing on this to be more proactive, and if theyre not its a great job to have a mechanism that allows people to complain. Klass said the CCTS in this circumstance acts as a neutral third party to be able to resolve complaints. Klass main concern with the code is that it doesnt apply universally, but only the large players. Its a big question mark over my head as to why they would not just make it apply across the board, he said. Theres a reason for having these types of codes, it is to create certainty for people so that if you have a problem with your internet service, you have recourse. CRTC spokesperson Patricia Valladao said in an email that the CRTC excluded small business from the code because there are "significant differences between individual and small business contracts, such as the length of the contract, the required equipment, installations, and other associated costs." Valladao added that small business customers can still file complaints to the CCTS." Shes been dusted in Dior and gowned by Gucci, but for her fourth Oscars red carpet walk, Saoirse Ronan could go sustainable. Nominated in the best actress category tomorrow night, for her role as Jo March in Little Women, Saoirses sartorial style will draw as much attention as whether or not she takes home a golden statuette. While her designer and her look are under lock and key, according to Vogue magazine, Saoirses long-time stylist has given a major clue. The one thing Saoirse and I have really talked about is rewearing things, using vintage, and using independent labels that arent about contracts but a genuine respect and love for a brand, said her Hollywood stylist Elizabeth Saltzman, who also dresses the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman, and Jodie Comer. Saltzman has been dressing Saoirse for several years and was responsible for her other red carpet, looks including her structured pink Calvin Klein dress for the 2018 Oscars, where she was nominated for best actress in Lady Bird, and her emerald Calvin Klein dress in 2016, when she was again nominated for best actress, for her role in Brooklyn. The nod towards sustainability is something that has already played out on the Little Women press tour, with the stylist sourcing pieces from vintage fairs and Saoirses own wardrobe too. It was funny because it was literally clothes from the cupboard, said Saltzman, I love having custom clothes, but I really want to use the clothes that are out there, too. As a precursor, for last weekends Baftas, Saltzman styled Saoirse in a black Gucci dress that was simple and sustainable. We wanted to create a gown that didnt waste any resources or peoples time, the stylist told Vogue. Although Saoirse wore Alberta Ferretti for her first ever Oscars red carpet, when she was nominated for best supporting actress in Atonement in 2008, since then the Carlow star has regularly worn the same designers, moving between Calvin Klein, Celine and Gucci. Aside from being styled sustainably tomorrow night, Saoirse might go sensual too. For her Golden Globes look this year, her stylist dressed her in a champagne-coloured sequin dress by Celine. We talked about Saoirse being effortless, sensual, and cool and not trying too hard, she said. I wanted her to be really comfortable, I wanted sensuality to come out of it, added Saltzman. Mary and Eimear Noone at the the US-Ireland Alliances Oscar Wilde Awards as Eimear is set to become the first-ever woman to conduct the orchestra at the Academy Awards. Picture: Dean Machin However, Saoirse will not be the only Irish talent to watch out for tomorrow night, as Galway-born conductor Eimear Noone will take her place in history as the first-ever woman to conduct the orchestra at the Academy Awards. Hailed as the worlds leading composer of video game music, this will not be the first first for Noone. At 22, she became the first woman to conduct at the National Concert Hall. Noones job will be to conduct excerpts from the five nominated scores, which include work by John Williams for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Thomas Newman for 1917. Noone herself has enlisted the help of Irish designer Claire Garvey for her Oscars look. This is the second time Garvey has dressed someone for the Oscars. I dressed Nile Rodgers a few years ago for the Oscars, I did two outfits for him for that, said Garvey. Claire Garvey in her shop in Cows Lane, Temple Bar Fans of Dancing with the Stars might already be very familiar with the designers intricate work, as shes responsible for the creation of judge Julian Bensons dazzling jackets every weekend. Another Irish talent to watch out for this weekend is Sinead Kidao OSullivan, who was the assistant costume designer on Little Women, the costumes of which are nominated for an Oscar tomorrow too. The movie already won best costume at the Baftas, under the helm of Jacqueline Durran. Kildare-born, London-based Sinead is also founder of the Costume Directory A Guide to Ethical Sourcing for costumes for the movie industry. Style aside, the main story tomorrow night will be whether Saoirse Ronan takes home an Oscar as a four-time nominee at the age of just 25. Spring training camps will open next week as pitchers and catchers report to kick off the 2020 season for all MLB teams, including the New York Yankees and New York Mets. The Bronx Bombers are one of the favorites to win the 2020 World Series, while the Mets have been tabbed to contend for wild-card playoff berth. Thats why its important for Yankees and Mets fans to get their spring training fan gear for the two teams. Fanatics.com has a wide variety of spring training shirts, jerseys, caps and more for the two local clubs as well as the other MLB squads. The spring training gear, for kids and adults alike, is fresh and has a look that everyone in the family will love. The Yankees boast plenty of new gear, like the photo above, that can be purchased here. T-shirts, caps and jerseys, including that of ace hurler Gerrit Cole (No. 45 jersey), are available now. And dont fret Mets fans. Fanatics has plenty of Amazin fan gear right here for Mets fans of all ages and sizes, including girls and women. And while you are visiting Fanatics.com, dont forget to pick up the hot-selling Jacob deGrom jersey. de Grom won his second straight Cy Young Award last season. New Era caps and Majestic and Fanatics branded clothing are just some of the items available to purchase. But this limited edition fan gear wont last long so if you want to purchase any items, please punch up Fanatics.com. Photo: Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock Harvey Weinsteins defense team on Friday called a false-memory expert who has worked on the Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, Menendez brothers, and Ted Bundy cases in his Manhattan rape and sexual-assault trial to testify that media exposure can weaken memories. About 90 minutes into Professor Elizabeth Loftuss testimony, however, she said shes not an expert in brain regions when presented with a diagram of the brain. Loftus testified during questioning by Weinstein attorney Diana Fabi Samson that it doesnt take a Ph.D. to know a memory fades over time. As time is passing and the memory is getting weaker and weaker, she said, it becomes more vulnerable to post-event information. By exposing a witness to media these are all ways that post-event information can cause a contamination in memory. Weinsteins lawyers contend that his accusers are now misconstruing consensual sexual encounters as assault and rape especially in light of the negative media coverage surrounding him. So they were using Loftuss testimony to try to undermine his accusers allegations. About an hour into Loftuss testimony, Weinstein took off his jacket. He was wearing suspenders. After Samson questioned Loftus, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi had her chance. Now, um, you indicate that there is a great deal of studies on memory. Is that correct? Illuzzi asked some minutes into her cross-examination of Loftus. Yes, Loftus answered. But not all memory is wired and retained and retrieved equally. Is that right? Illuzzi asked. In fact, Doctor, I have a very small diagram. Judge, I am going to ask the doctor to look at it. I will object to this, Samson said. This is a biological cross-examination of a witness who is a psychologist. I mean, are we going to do gross anatomy? Justice James Burke, who is presiding over the case, said, Lets see where it goes. A small diagram of the human brain was projected onto a screen in the courtroom. And so it went. Doctor, you see the diagram there? Does that fall within your field of expertise? Burke asked. I would defer to the neuroscientists who study the brain. Doctor, listen to my question: Does that fall within your area of expertise? Burke pressed. Not particularly, no, she said. What do you mean, particularly? the judge asked. Well, I I am not an expert in brain regions. So let me just ask the same question a third time: Doctor, does that fall within your area of expertise? I know a little bit, but I am not an expert. Thats a more complete answer, she responded. Field of expertise? the judge asked once more. I will say, no. Prior to that, Illuzzi had asked Loftus how and when she was contacted to serve as an expert on Weinsteins case. At the time, were you merely asked to consult on the case at first? Illuzzi asked. I dont remember what I was asked, exactly. Was that due to post-event information, doctor? Illuzzi quipped, prompting chuckles throughout the courtroom. Illuzzi also pressed Loftus on whether her prior testimony that Valium can impact memory had been tailored to the case; Weinstein accuser Annabella Sciorra claimed in her testimony that Weinstein provided her with the sedative months before the alleged 1993 rape. And of all the prescription medications in all the world, why would you choose Valium as an example that you gave? Illuzzi asked, her tone incredulous. And isnt it true, in 1991, that the name of your book was Witness for the Defense? Illuzzi asked at another point. I one of my books is called Witness for the Defense, she answered. Do you have a book called Witness for the Prosecution?, Illuzzi asked, prompting low laughter in the courtroom gallery. No, Loftus said. After court ended for the day, another Weinstein lawyer, Arthur Aidala, told Burke: We do take umbrage to the way the court treated 75-year-old Dr. Loftus, who has the highest award in her field. I was assisting her, Burke said dryly. After court, Weinstein was asked, Hows your memory on consent? Weinstein smiled. A memory expert testified for #HarveyWeinstein's defense today. pic.twitter.com/oxuPsR9FYS Victoria Bekiempis (@vicbekiempis) February 7, 2020 Update, February 24: Harvey Weinsteins verdict has been announced. (CNN Philippines, February 8) The police official who reportedly seized a television journalists phone during the Black Nazarene procession in Manila early in January has been promoted. Southern Police District chief Brigadier General Nolasco Bathan was designated as Deputy Regional Director for Operation of the National Capital Region Police Office, according to a press statement Friday by the Philippine National Police. Bathan replaced Brigadier General Albert Ferro, who is now the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas. Bathan became controversial last January after he seized a television reporters cellphone, who was recording a video of a police tackling down a Nazarene devotee along Ayala Bridge. The police general apologized for the incident because he thought that the journalist was a threat and did not recognize he was part of the media. As China has been making great efforts to contain the novel coronavirus, Israeli dignitaries, including President Reuven Rivlin, together with people from various walks of life, have recorded a video to send their well-wishes to China and express their full support for the Chinese people in the battle against the epidemic. Israeli dignitaries, such as President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Ambassador to China Zvi Heifetz and other Israelis expressed their support for Wuhan and China in the video, hoping that China could soon win the battle against the novel coronavirus. The Israeli Embassy in China has also sent blessings to China, stressing that Israel values its relations with China and is willing to stand in solidarity with China and is willing to render assistance to people in need. According to the Embassy, the Israeli government and Israelis have been paying close attention to the situation in China. People from all walks of life have also raised funds and donated masks and various protective necessities for China. Just as our President has said, Though we are in Israel, our hearts are all with you, said the Embassy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) A Filipino in the United Arab Emirates has been infected with the novel coronavirus, according to government-run media in the Gulf state. The official Emirates News Agency on Saturday reported two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus or 2019-nCoV. The other one is a Chinese national. This brings the total number of nCoV cases in the country to seven. The patients are under observation and medical care compliant with health standards, the news agency said quoting the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. This is the second time that a Filipino tested positive for the nCoV. A Filipino seafarer was earlier confirmed to have contracted the virus while onboard a cruise ship in Japan. The Filipino was a crew member of the Diamond Princess where 537 other Filipinos were also quarantined. In the Philippines, there are now three cases of the novel coronavirus, all of them are Chinese visitors. One of them, a 44-year-old Chinese man died of acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on February 1. He is the first reported fatality outside China's mainland. People with a history of travel from Wuhan a Chinese city where the novel coronavirus originated and those who had contact with infected people are considered patients "under investigation" if they show flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and cold. At least 215 people were placed under this category in the Philippines. The new coronavirus has killed 724 people, mostly in China, the world's most populous country. It has also infected more than 34,400 people across 27 countries and territories, according to Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering that tracks coronavirus cases across the world. UAE, the second top destination of overseas Filipino workers next to Saudi Arabia, is the only Middle Eastern country with confirmed nCoV cases. READ: How protect yourself from coronavirus Special measures to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants affected by the novel coronavirus Ottawa, February 7, 2020Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put special measures in place to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants in China who have been affected by disruptions related to the novel coronavirus. These measures are being implemented following the temporary closure of the 11 visa application centres (VACs) in mainland China. Canadian visa offices in mainland China are currently operating with essential staff only, until further notice. They are processing only urgent applications on a case-by-case basis. For up-to-date information, including status of visa application centres and Canadian visa offices abroad, applicants are encouraged to visit the following Government of Canada website: Special measures to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is on his first visit to India since taking office. He spoke to Padma Rao Sundarji about Sri Lankas ship with Pakistan, which India accuses of being involved in cross-border terrorism; proposed changes to Tamil provincial councils instead of giving them greater autonomy under the constitutions 13th amendment; and the island nations strategic ties with China, which is its largest investor. Edited excerpts: One of the subjects you discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today was counterterrorism. Suicide attacks by Islamist bombers killed more than 200 people and injured hundreds in Colombo last year. But youve been discussing the same issue with Pakistan, which, for India, is the fountainhead of state-sponsored terror. Isnt that a contradiction? We are against terrorism, wherever it comes from. So we discuss the subject with both India and Pakistan, and will continue to do so. And by the way, both Pakistan and India helped us to end the 30-year-long civil war against another kind of terrorism: that of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Pakistan gave us weapons and planes. India too helped, but didnt want to publicise it at the time. Why, without Indias help, I dont think we would have won that war. ALSO WATCH | PM Modi, Mahinda Rajapaksa discuss terrorism, border security From western investigators to Indian intelligence, many have warned that Pakistan has for years used its diplomatic presence in Colombo to radicalise Sri Lankan Muslims and to encircle India with hostile Islamist groups in neighbouring countries. Given this backdrop, can India take discussions with Sri Lanka on counterterrorism seriously? We dont know about those charges, since we didnt receive that information. But now, of course, we can see whats going on and have to take action. Look, India and Pakistan -- you have your own problems. But that is your internal matter. Whether Islamist terrorism or another kind, we must have some form of cooperation with India. We must exchange views and information. Prior to the Easter suicide bomb attacks in Colombo last April, India shared warnings and intelligence, even on the morning of the attacks itself. But our previous government didnt take them seriously. That is why those heinous attacks happened. We have appointed a commission now to look into that tragic lapse. The inspector general of police and the defence secretary of the time were taken into custody and released earlier this week. The Pakistan Navy chief was in Colombo this month, the Pakistan Air Force chief is currently on a visit -- there is a constant stream of military visitors from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. Earlier this week, Sri Lankan media quoted its high commissioner as urging Sri Lanka to condemn India for lifting Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. Isnt this an interference in your bilateral relationship with India? Look, whatever the view of any country, we will not get involved in the internal matters of India. But remember this: I always say India is a relation. Others are friends. India wants Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment to your constitution, which led to the creation of Provincial Councils in the Tamil-dominated areas and urges maximum autonomy for them. But President Gotabaya Rajapaksa suggested recently that the councils may be redundant. Will they be abolished? No, on the contrary, we are going to strengthen the system of provincial councils. But then, those councils must use what we give them for the development of the North and East regions. Up to now, that didnt happen. We gave them money for development; instead of trying to help the people of those areas, they returned the money and we did all the development. Even the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which is well-represented in our parliament was never interested in development. All they were talking about was devolution and creating a separate state for Tamils. A Free Trade Agreement with India is stuck because Sri Lankans fear an onslaught of Indian goods on the small Sri Lankan markets. Did you discuss it with your counterparts? No. Right now, were working on specific projects that will build up to, and give everyone the confidence to finally ink an FTA. China is your largest investor. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi says China is Sri Lankas strategic partner. Your brother, too, notes the strategic nature of your port of Hambantota, which was built by the Chinese and on which they have a 99-year-lease and massive equity. Please define this strategic relationship? China helped us for the sake of development, that is all. Our war had shattered our country, we needed help to develop; they were ready, so why not? We took their money and developed that area. Hambantota is a valuable strategic asset because of its location, right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is sensitive geographical space. Unfortunately, the previous government literally gave it to China by swapping debt for equity and signing that lease. We would not have done the same and are trying to find a way out along with the Chinese now. But the Chinese foreign minister also said that China will not allow outside influences to interfere in Sri Lanka. That is open to interpretation. How will you assuage Indias apprehension on this front? Since India is not interfering in our domestic matters that statement is not meant for India. India has never interfered. In fact, even India has made similar statements, that you will always protect us. And I am absolutely sure you will. Look, that is Chinas view; ultimately, we Sri Lankans have to decide on what is interference and what is not. The United States is pushing you to sign and renew a Millennium Compact Account (MCA) and a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The reworked terms of the latter may enable the US to put boots on the ground in your country. Are you going to sign them? We have appointed a commission to look into both those agreements. Big power alliances are swarming all over the Indian Ocean. Theres the Quad on the one hand, and big powers such as China and Russia on the other. Will Sri Lanka join the Quad if asked? That has not yet come up for discussion but we would have to talk it out among ourselves first and if we want to do it, we would have to first go to our cabinet. Whatever we do, Sri Lanka will assert its own interests first. Sri Lanka is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. (BRI). But it is under fire from many countries around the world for its debt-trap development. Do you share those concerns? Sri Lanka has received a lot of benefits from being part of BRI. By the way, let me remind you - our external debt towards China is only 12% of our overall external debt, and we have not defaulted. We used whatever money we took from them to build infrastructure. You are going to visit Buddhist religious sites but are also going to Tirupati. You are a devout Buddhist but you never miss an opportunity to go there. Why? Ive been going there whenever I feel like. Yes I am a Buddhist. But I have a deep belief in Lord Vishnu too. Flash Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng held a phone conversation with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Friday over China's combat against the novel coronavirus outbreak. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that in the face of the outbreak, Chinese President Xi Jinping has commanded and deployed the battle against the epidemic, adding that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has put forward work requirements. He also said that the CPC and the Chinese government always put the safety of people's lives and health first, and are carrying out an intensive and orderly response. "We are confident and capable of winning the fight against the epidemic," Han said. Public health incidents are a common challenge facing the world, and China will continue to carry out international cooperation vigorously, he said. Noting that Singapore will provide China with funds, medicines and medical supplies such as testing kits, for which China is grateful, Han said that China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Singapore to jointly improve their capacity to fight epidemic. For his part, Heng expressed his appreciation of and support for China's resolute and decisive anti-epidemic measures, saying that he is fully confident that China would win the battle against the epidemic. Singapore is willing to stand with China through thick and thin, and provide the urgently needed medical supplies, Heng said. The two sides agreed to include joint response to public health emergencies into the agenda of their new round of bilateral cooperation mechanism meeting. During the State of the Union address Tuesday, President Donald Trump introduced America to Janiyah Davis. Trump introduced the fourth grader from Philadelphia right after he talked about the countless American children who are trapped in failing government schools. Trump said Janiyah was one of tens of thousands of students on waiting lists for scholarships and she would receive an opportunity scholarship to attend the school of her choice. It was supposed to be a moment to help make the point that school choice should be expanded. But it turns out, Janiyah doesnt go to a failing school. Not even kind of. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, she attends a competitive charter school that is incredibly difficult to get into. In September, Janiyah Davis entered Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III. The school, which is independently run but funded by taxpayers, is so popular that it received 6,500 applications for a mere 100 spots next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, why was Janiyah chosen for the scholarship paid for by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos? No one seems to really know. Her mother, Stephanie, said she was really surprised when her daughter was named in the State of the Union. I dont view MaST as a school you want to get out of at all. I view it as a great opportunity, Davis said. Before joining the charter school, Janiyah received a partial scholarship for Olney Christian and it was that schools principal who gave Janiyahs name when someone called asking about potential candidates for scholarships. The Inquirer asked the Department of Education why Janiyah would receive a scholarship if she was already attending a top school. Education freedom is about going to the best school for your child. Even the best school, as ranked by statistics and averages, isnt the best fit for every child, spokesperson Angela Morabito said. Each of the 50,000 kids waiting for a new opportunity in Pennsylvania has different needs and goals, let alone the millions of students across America stuck in a school that isnt right for them. A former South Korean spy chief received a seven-year jail sentence Friday for using taxpayer money for political meddling in favour of the then conservative government, among other charges. Won Sei-hoon, 69, who led the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from 2009-2013, paid civilians to post favourable online comments about the administration. Under Won's leadership the agency had "lost the trust of the citizens" and its role to protect national security had also been "seriously damaged", Seoul Central District Court said. He has lost his civil service status and privileges while behind bars, the court added. Won was convicted of nine charges from 2017 to 2018, including using NIS funds to bribe former conservative president Lee Myung-bak, and hiring civilians to produce online comments to sway public opinion in favour of Lee's administration. He was separately sentenced to four years in prison in 2018 for ordering NIS officials to mount an online smear campaign against now-ousted conservative president Park Geun-hye's key rival in the 2012 election. The closely-fought election saw Park defeat left-leaning Moon Jae-in, who was elected president in 2017 after Park's impeachment over the corruption scandal that also implicated the country's top business group, Samsung. The spy agency has often been accused of abusing its power to meddle in politics under Park and Lee, the two conservative, now-disgraced ex-presidents. Lee, who served from 2008 to 2013, was found guilty on charges including bribery and embezzlement and sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2018, but was granted bail last year. Lee's successor Park is currently serving 32 years in jail and fined millions of dollars for bribery and abuse of power. The NIS, which has changed titles over the years, had a particularly notorious reputation in the decades of authoritarian rule before South Korea embraced democracy in the 1980s. Mohali: A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carries out rescue and search operations after a three-storey building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali on Feb 8, 2020. The building, located on the Kharar-Landran road, came down when a JCB machi Image Source: IANS News Mohali: A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carries out rescue and search operations after a three-storey building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali on Feb 8, 2020. The building, located on the Kharar-Landran road, came down when a JCB machi Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Feb 8 : At least eight people are feared trapped as a three-storey building collapsed on the outskirts of the city in Punjab on Saturday, police said. Two persons were rescued. A JCB was digging earth for making a basement of a hotel, developed by Ambika Greens, when suddenly the building caved in on the Kharar-Landran road in Kharar. Two mobile towers installed nearby also collapsed. Subdivisional Magistrate Himanshu Jain told the media that at least seven to eight people are missing. Video PlayerClose Community workers use a speaker to publicize the information about prevention and control of the novel coronavirus at a street near the Yellow Crane Pavilion in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu] With red sleeves, loudspeakers and digital thermometers, the legions of community workers and volunteers are combing Wuhan's communities to ensure no confirmed or suspected patients of the novel coronavirus is left unattended. by Xinhua writers Yao Yuan, Yue Wenwan, Wu Zhi and Wang Zuokui WUHAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, is combing communities to ensure every confirmed or suspected patient is located and attended to as a senior official vowed to nail any official deserter "to history's pillar of shame." A conference on epidemic control on Thursday ordered the megacity with a population of over 10 million to make all-out efforts to locate patients confirmed or suspected to be infected with the virus, close contacts of confirmed cases, as well as patients with fever. Once identified, these people must be treated or placed in quarantine in a timely manner, the conference said, adding that "no family or individual shall be neglected." City officials said checkpoints are being set up outside every community and apartment building to measure residents' body temperatures, while community workers and volunteers are paying house-to-house visits to conduct checks. Fever patients found in the process will be escorted to community clinics, which will decide whether they should be quarantined at home or be sent to other isolation areas. Police will step in if a patient refuses to obey quarantine rules and all persuasion fails, officials said. The citywide mobilization echoed the call of Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who on Thursday stressed that the various prevention and control measures must be strictly implemented like in wartime. A community worker checks body temperature for a resident at a street near the Yellow Crane Pavilion in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu] While inspecting Jianghan District in Wuhan, Sun demanded officials at all levels prioritize the epidemic fight "as the most important and pressing task" and forego bureaucratism and practices of formalities for formalities' sake. Any deserter in the fight will be forever nailed to history's pillar of shame, she said. Over 20,000 residents are observing at-home quarantine in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, which has been sealed off since late January to contain the spread of the 2019-nCov, according to the city government. The city has since grabbed the nation's headlines with the heroism of its medical workers and the great sacrifice and resignation of local residents during the unprecedented lockdown. The latest community mobilization, joined by legions of community workers and volunteers, is expected to lighten the burden of Wuhan's hospitals, which are struggling to cope with the influx of patients and a lack of medical resources. By Thursday, the province of Hubei had 22,112 confirmed cases of the virus, including 11,618 in Wuhan. The country has sent 10,596 medical workers into Hubei to assist the epidemic control, while local authorities said another 2,250 medical practitioners are still needed. Community workers and volunteers prepare to paste notifications about epidemic prevention and control at a street near the Yellow Crane Pavilion in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu] 'Blanket Search' Community workers in Wuhan told Xinhua that in response to some residents' fears of close contact during home visits, they are also using telephones and instant messaging apps like WeChat to contact local families. "Our neighborhood committee held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening and demanded that we do a 'blanket search' to know about the condition of each and every family," said Zhu Xuan, a community worker in the Chang'er Community in Jianghan District. Tasked with more than 100 households, Zhu posted a questionnaire in a WeChat group, and residents continue to update their daily body temperatures. Meanwhile, she has been making phone calls since Friday morning to contact elderly residents who do not use the mobile app. "Residents have all responded to our work with great understanding and cooperation," Zhu said. A community worker calls senior citizens about their body temperature in Jiang'an District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Li He] On Friday afternoon, community worker Gao Bo was seen speaking to a residential building in Caidian District through a loudspeaker, asking two families to write their conditions and contact numbers on paper and drop it out of their windows. "Residents fear close contact, so we ask them to drop the notes and then keep in touch via phone," Gao said. Liu Jie, who lives in Wuhan's Dongxihu District, said he initially frowned upon inspectors' visits, as each such visit will cost the six-member family six disposable masks, which have been in tight supply in many Chinese cities since the virus outbreak. "Then they assured us that we could report via WeChat or telephone and that made us feel relieved," he said. A community worker checks the situation of novel coronavirus within a community via apps on a mobile phone in Jiang'an District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Li He] Liu has not left his community since Jan. 22, faithfully obeying the official instruction to stay at home to reduce infection risks. The community's property management company has offered to purchase vegetables and other daily necessities for the residents and deliver them to their doorsteps. "The furthest place I've been in the past weeks is the dust bin at the doorstep," Liu said. "We understand that it is imperative for the city to quarantine all confirmed and suspected patients. And we know it's important to fulfill our own duties, like daily reports of fever." (Jia Qilong contributed to the story.) (Source: Xinhua) By AFP SINGAPORE: Anxious Singapore shoppers formed long lines at grocery stores Saturday and cleared the shelves of essential items, after the city-state raised its alert level over China's coronavirus outbreak. Since emerging late last year, the virus has killed over 700 people and infected more than 34,000 in China, and spread to many other countries. Singapore, which has reported 33 cases, raised its alert level Friday to "orange" -- the same as during the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak, indicating the virus is severe and passes easily between people. The announcement triggered panic in the city-state of 5.7 million starting late Friday, with shoppers -- many wearing masks -- rushing to stock up on items including rice, noodles and toilet paper. ALSO READ: Coronavirus lockdown disrupts food supplies for birds, animals in Wuhan Zoo Pictures circulating on social media showed empty shelves in some stores, carts filled with goods and long lines at counters, which continued into Saturday. "I'm afraid that if they further raise the alert level, we will not be able to go out," a 50-year-old housewife, who did not want to be named, said after leaving a grocery store. The highest level on Singapore's four-point scale for dealing with disease outbreaks is "red", one above "orange". There were, however, ample stocks of other items such as fruit, meat, fish and alcohol. ALSO READ: Nepal gifts 100,000 masks to China to help overcome shortage The government urged calm, with Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing saying there was no need to rush out to buy crucial supplies. "There is no risk of us running a shortage of essential food or household items," he wrote on Facebook. Singapore raised its alert level amid a growing number of virus cases in citizens with no recent travel history to mainland China and no known links to previous infections. Hong Kong has also been hit by a wave of panic-buying in recent days as it seeks to battle the virus, with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of crucial goods. MOGADISHU Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) serving under African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and United Nation Guard Unit Six (UNGU VI) jointly celebrated the 39th Tarehe Sita Anniversary in Mogadishu, Somalia. The celebrations started with Civil-Military activities during the day at Marine Market and later, a dinner function in the evening at the embassy compound. The soldiers and embassy staff cleaned the marine market led by the Sector One Commander Brig Gen Richard Otto. A vast number of Somali locals from within and outside the market received free medical services which left many appreciating and requesting AMISOM to continue conducting such medical camps. At the Tarehe Sita dinner, his Excellency the Ugandan Ambassador to Somalia Prof Sam Turyamuhika said that the UPDF has always been known for its discipline and implored soldiers to uphold the same. Right from inception and throughout the five years of struggle in the bush, the hallmark of the NRA (National Resistance Army) was stringent discipline, especially in pursuit of excellence and success. This you must never lose sight of, now or in future. In his remarks, Gen Otto implored the soldiers to work closely with the Somali people and treat them well for a successful mission. Todays date reminds us of UPDF the word People and the population, that means if you are far from the population, you mistreat the people, the people themselves can even get arms and get you out. Gen Otto said. Meanwhile, the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officers and men serving under the United Nations Guard Unit Six (UNGU VI) in Somalia participated in the weeks activities of giving back to the community. The commanding officer of UNGU VI Lt Col Nathan Beinomugisha reminded the troops not to underestimate the cordial relationship between UPDF and the civilians both internationally and back home in Uganda. Its now 39 years of our marriage with the populace, so if the partnership must continue even more we must continue to respect them. he said. Tarehe Sita celebrations continued up to late in the evening of Thursday. Present at the dinner party were; Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia Hon Simon Mulongo, Deputy Ugandan Ambassador to Somalia Maj Gen Nathan Mugisha, Defence Advisor Brig-Gen Lucky Kidega, Commanders, Heads of department among others. Related By Trend This year, there are plans to increase the number of employed citizens by 30 percent and bring this indicator to 130,000 people, while the number of people involved in vocational training - by over 40 percent and bring it to 5,000, Azerbaijans Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev told Trend Feb. 7. The minister noted that along with these steps, it is also planned to expand the coverage of the self-employment program in 2020. To this end, cooperation with the World Bank will be established, Babayev said. The minister noted that the program will also be expanded to provide job seekers with paid public work. In general, this year, up to 12,000 families will be involved in the self-employment program, 64,000 people - in paid public work, Babayev added. Thus, the employment bodies of the ministry are aimed at providing support to over 200,000 people this year, the minister said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz In celebration of its 40th anniversary of doing business in New Mexico, Intel and the Intel Foundation are collaborating with the Rio Rancho Community Foundation to award 40 grants of up to $2,500 to 40 educators in the state. The grants are meant to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects and initiatives, according to an Intel news release. Companies like Intel have both the responsibility and opportunity to help shape the future of New Mexicos workforce by supporting educators in their efforts to equip young people across the state with the critical skills needed to be successful in the 21st century, said State Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales. Education is a major priority of my office and I applaud Intel for celebrating its anniversary by giving back to the community. The application process is open until April 17. The grant cycle is open to prekindergarten through 12th-grade teachers working in a New Mexico public school, public charter, Bureau of Indian Education school, or 501(c)(3) organization focused on STEM education. These grants will support and expand STEM education throughout New Mexico and may inspire students to consider a career in a related field. We are encouraging teachers and nonprofit leaders throughout the state of New Mexico to apply before April 17, said Jerry Schalow, executive director of the Rio Rancho Community Foundation. Intel Public Affairs Director Erika Edgerly said Intel is proud to operate in New Mexico and give back to the community. This investment in our communitys future will support our educators and strengthen STEM education across the state, helping to lay the groundwork for a more vibrant place for all of us to live and work, she said. Criteria, program examples, restrictions and the application are at rrrcc.org/foundation. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out. NASA | Joel Kowsky Now more than three years behind schedule, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is under heavy scrutiny from a National Aeronautics and Space Administration investigation. NASA is taking a closer look at problems found during the capsule's December test flight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, speaking at the beginning of a call with reporters on Friday, acknowledged that Boeing's "Orbital Flight Test" (OFT) two months ago has had a growing list of issues found by investigators. "It's true that we do think that the OFT flight had a lot of anomalies," Bridenstine said. "Clearly we are going to learn more in the weeks ahead. We'll have a lot more information to share at the end of the month." The aerospace giant planned to fly NASA astronauts on Starliner this year. In December, Boeing conducted what was supposed to be one of the spacecraft's last tests before the agency certified it to fly people. The goal of that mission was to fly Starliner without crew to the International Space Station, deliver cargo, and return safely to demonstrate its capabilities and safety. But the spacecraft did not dock with the space station after a software issue during the launch caused Starliner's autonomous flight-control system to misfire, putting Starliner in the wrong orbit. Additionally, NASA confirmed on Friday that Boeing's Starliner suffered not one but two major software defects during that test flight. The latter software problem could have caused "catastrophic spacecraft failure," a panel of NASA safety experts said on Thursday, if Boeing had not caught the issue during the mission. The second software issue was a piece of code that could have caused two pieces of Starliner its "crew module" and "service module" to collide in orbit before the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere. "We found the second software issue because we went looking," Boeing senior vice president Jim Chilton said. In all, NASA says its investigation of the mission has found "11 top-priority corrective actions" for Boeing. Additionally, the agency expects more will be identified when the investigation is complete. The software problems of Starliner comes as Boeing grapples with the fallout from two fatal crashes of its 737 Max commercial jetliner, arguably the largest scandal in the company's history. Those two crashes which killed 346 people have embroiled Boeing in a wide review of its engineering practices, with software flaws at the heart of regulatory reviews. Chilton addressed Starliner's programming issues broadly at the beginning of his remarks Friday, acknowledging the worse-than-expected performance. "What we wish we'd done better was software, so there's a lot of learning there," Chilton said on Friday. Both the agency and Boeing addressed the first software issue shortly after the launch. But neither organization disclosed the second defect until more than a month later. NASA's Doug Loverro said the reason it wasn't disclosed was because "we didn't end up having an anomaly." "We found an issue and then we fixed it," Loverro said. "It would have been very difficult ... to go ahead and even have the discussion we're having today without having the independent review team go back and look at this." Boeing schedule on hold until investigation completes During her stay in La Habana, the capital city of Cuba, Politburo member Truong Thi Mai, who is also President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA), met with Politburo members of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC): President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez; Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly (NA), Esteban Lazo Hernandez; and Second Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura. She also held an exchange with Teresa Maria Amarelle Boue, Politburo member and Secretary General of the Cuban Womens Federation (FMC). Speaking at the meetings, Politburo member Mai respectfully conveyed her best wishes and the cordial greetings of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong as well as other Party and State leaders to Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and other leaders. She also congratulated Cuban Party, State and people for their achievements regarding updating their socio-economic development models over the past years, while expressing her believe that under the wise leadership of the CPC, Cuban people will continue to gain plenty more successes in the cause of building prosperous and sustainable socialism. Second Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, hold talks with Politburo member Truong Thi Mai. (Photo: VNA) The Vietnamese Party official affirmed that Vietnamese Party, State and people will make more efforts to consolidate and further deepen the long-standing special friendship between the two Parties, two States and two peoples, which were founded by President Ho Chi Minh and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz. She emphasised Vietnams consistent stance in supporting the just revolution of Cuban people as well as their struggle to demand an immediate and unconditional termination of unjustified siege and economic, trade and financial sanctions against Cuba. Cuban Party, State and NA leaders expressed their appreciation of the official visit from the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, while noting that Cuba always attaches special importance to boosting the traditional relations and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States and two peoples. The delegation of Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association exchanges with Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association. (Photo: VNA) They also congratulated the results that Vietnam has gained in the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress as well as expressed their hope that Vietnam will successfully hold the 13th National Party Congress. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party high-ranking delegation also worked with leaders of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, Cuban Institute of Friendship with Ethnic Minorities (ICAP), and Cuba Vietnam Friendship Association. The Trump administration has dropped an antitrust investigation into four car companies that negotiated with California to raise the fuel economy of their new vehicles above national standards. Representatives of two of the companies, Ford and BMW of North America, confirmed Friday that the Justice Department had closed its investigation. The other two companies, Honda and Volkswagen, declined to comment on the status of the inquiry. The New York Times reported that the department ended its probe after determining that none of the automakers had violated federal law. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the deal with the car companies last summer, circumventing the federal governments efforts to roll back fuel-efficiency targets that had been set under former President Barack Obama. Californias battle with the federal government over car pollution is not over, however. In September, the Trump administration revoked the long-standing waiver that gave the state authority to set its own emissions standards for vehicles, an action that California and 22 other states are fighting in court. The Justice Department did not respond Friday to a request for comment about the status of its antitrust investigation. Newsom celebrated the end of the probe as a big loss for the president and his weaponization of federal agencies and a victory for anyone who cares about the rule of law and clean air. These trumped-up charges were always a sham a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to prevent more automakers from joining California and agreeing to stronger emissions standards, he said in a statement. As the automobile industry sought relief from increasing standards, President Trump moved in 2018 to block the Obama administrations fuel mileage targets for 2021 through 2025. Under Trumps proposal, fuel economy would continue to increase to roughly 37 miles per gallon in 2020, but it would stop there, well short of the currently planned 47 mpg in 2025. Administration officials contend that tougher emissions targets raise the price of manufacturing vehicles, keeping older, more dangerous cars and trucks on the road and leading to more traffic deaths. But California, and more than a dozen other states that follow its lead on reducing emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases, sued to stop the plan and vowed to stick by their own stricter standards for vehicles. That raised concerns in the industry that the national automobile market could be cleaved in two and brought some companies, seeking stability, to the negotiation table with California. Newsom and the California Air Resources Board announced an agreement in July with Ford, Honda, VW and BMW, which represent about 30% of U.S. car sales. The companies promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their vehicle fleets by almost 4% annually for five years, bringing their overall mileage to roughly 50 miles per gallon by model year 2026. The governor said at the time that raising fuel efficiency for vehicles, which are the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, was the most important step California could take to reach its ambitious goals to combat climate change. He later said two more companies, including Mercedes-Benz, were close to joining the compact, though that deal has not materialized. The Justice Department opened its antitrust probe into the automakers in September, the first of several steps it took to crack down on Californias climate agenda. In addition to revoking the emissions waiver, the Trump administration also sued the state over its cap-and-trade agreement with the Canadian province of Quebec and threatened to freeze federal highway funds over alleged violations of federal clean air standards. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has received a delegation led by Viktor Guminsky, the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) observation mission and the first deputy of the Executive Secretary of the CIS, Trend reports Feb. 7 referring to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry. At the meeting, Guminsky briefed about the observation of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 9 in Azerbaijan outlining that 252 members of the CIS Election Observer Mission will monitor the elections throughout the whole territory of Azerbaijan. The head of the mission noted the full readiness of polling stations for the elections and stressed that all necessary conditions are provided for holding free, democratic, fair and transparent elections. In his turn, Mammadyarov mentioned that the election process in Azerbaijan is held in free and democratic atmosphere, adding that all opportunities are created for local and foreign observers, including CIS Election Observer Mission, to conduct their activities. During the meeting, views were also exchanged on trade, economic, political, humanitarian and other areas of cooperation within the CIS and enhancement of mutually beneficial cooperation among CIS member states. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Pakistani Taliban has said that one of its key leaders and his close aide were killed in a clash with security forces in Afghanistan last month. Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, who is believed to be in mid-30s, was considered a top ranking leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and was killed along with his aide Qari Saifullah Peshawari on January 31 near Kabul, a statement by the SITE monitoring group said on Friday. The Taliban sources confirmed to various media outlets that Haqqani had been killed during a mission in Afghanistan. Neither the Afghan nor the Pakistani security forces have so far commented on the reported deaths. Haqqani was one of those seminary students who joined militancy after the Red Mosque operation in 2007 to dislodge the armed militants from the mosque. Haqqani was believed to be just 20 and a madrassa student when he moved to the tribal region of Pakistan in 2007 and joined TTP. He soon grew closer to the group's chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone attack in 2009. Haqqani was also close to the next TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud and remained with him until Mehsud was also killed in a US drone attack in 2013. Taliban sources said that Haqqani used to instruct the two TTP chiefs about Islamic jurisprudence. When Mullah Fazlullah was appointed as the third chief of TTP, he kept Haqqani close with him and first appointed him as his deputy. Later he was appointed as member of central council (shura) and remained on the post until death. It said that he supported TTP in its fight with Pakistani security forces but was not in favour of attacking hospitals, schools and other public places. Haqqani was not linked with the Haqqani group of Afghanistan and only shared the nom de guerre used by former students of Darul Uloom Haqqania of late Mualan Samiul Haq who was called as father of jihad and godfather of the Taliban. Haq was murdered in Rawalpindi in 2018 under mysterious circumstances but his seminary also known as university of jihad located at Akora Khattak area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is still functional. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CAIRO - Flights transporting Yemeni medical patients from rebel-held areas continued Saturday when a second plane carrying 24 patients took off from Sanaa bound for Jordans capital, the U.N. health agency said. The U.N. flights, which began Feb. 3, are seen as a humanitarian breakthrough in the more than 5-year-old conflict in the Arab worlds poorest country. The conflict began with the 2014 takeover of the capital Sanaa by the rebel Houthis, who control much of the countrys north. A Saudi-led military coalition allied with Yemens internationally recognized government has been fighting the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015. The U.S.-backed coalition closed the airspace and prevented any flights from leaving Sanaa, starting in August 2016. The Associated Press reported in November that Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are holding indirect, behind-the-scenes talks to end the war mediated by Oman, quoting officials from both sides. The talks are focused on interim agreements, such as re-opening Yemens main international airport in Sanaa, which was shut down by the Saudi-led coalition in 2016. There has been no announced explanation for the medical flights but they could be a result of talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The first such flight since the air blockade carrying eight patients and their families left Sanaa on Feb. 3. Saturdays flight was originally scheduled to depart Sanaa the previous day. However it did not take off for technical reasons, the World Health Organization said Friday, without giving details. Twenty-four patients and their family members have departed on the second flight today from Sanaa to Amman to receive the treatment, the WHO tweeted. Among those who left Sanaa on Saturday was 30-year-old cancer patient Entisar. WHO said the cancer had spread all over her body. The physical & psychological pain is unbearable; all I want is to feel better, she was quoted as saying by the U.N. agency. Her last name was not given. Welcoming the arrival of the second flight to Jordans capital, Amman, U.N. envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said the two flights transported patients to receive life-saving medical care currently unavailable in Yemen. The Houthi rebels criticized the U.N. for the delay of the second flight and for the small number of patients airlifted out of Sanaa. The rebel-run health ministry has said that 32,000 people are in need of urgent medical and surgical intervention, such as kidney transplants and heart surgeries. The grinding war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people and created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushing the country to the brink of famine. US Mint begins shipping quarters honoring Maya Angelou AP - Mon Jan 10, 6:14PM CST WASHINGTON (AP) The United States Mint said Monday it has begun shipping quarters featuring the image of poet Maya Angelou, the first coins in its American Women Quarters Program. $SPX : 4,670.29 (-0.14%) $DOWI : 36,068.87 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,614.43 (+0.14%) Cotton Closes Black on Monday Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Cotton futures were off their high at the closing bell on Monday, but were still 10 to 40 points in the black. New crop cotton also bounced on Monday, ending the session 40 to 76 points firmer. The Seam... CTH22 : 115.46 (+0.21%) CTK22 : 113.29 (+0.19%) CTZ21 : 111.55s (+0.25%) Wheat Markets Close Mixed Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Mondays wheat market ended with winter wheat gains to HRS weakness. Spring wheat futures ended the session a nickel to 9 cents in the red. March MPLS wheat has posted losses in 9 in the last 11 sessions... 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New Delhi: Major trouble erupted in the Lok Sabha on Friday when Union health minister Harsh Vardhan asked former Congress president Rahul Gandhi to apologise for a remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally earlier this week. Within minutes of Dr Harsh Vardhans demand, MPs from both the treasury benches and the Opposition were seen facing each other as if in a battlefield and almost came to blows. It all began when the moment the minister read out the apology demand to the House, Congress MP from Virudhnagar Manickam Tagore jumped into the Well and moved towards the minister, but was stopped by BJP MPs led by Kaiserganj MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. As both sides almost came to blows, Congress MP from Ernakulum Hibi Eden was seen playing peacemaker and leading Mr Tagore out of the melee. After the House was adjourned by the Speaker, MPs from both the ruling side and the Opposition were seen shouting slogans at each other. Many remained in the well. Shortly thereafter, both Rahul Gandhi and Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary met Speaker Om Birla and demanded that Dr Harsh Vardhan should apologise and Mr Gandhi should be given a chance to speak in the House. In a separate complaint to the Speaker, Mr Tagore alleged that he was manhandled and said the CCTV footage should be seen to take action. Later, speaking to the media outside Parliament, Mr Gandhi said he had attacked the Prime Minister for his tubelight comment against him in the House on Thursday, and said: Normally, a Prime Minister has a particular status, a Prime Minister has a particular way of behaving, a particular stature, our Prime Minister doesnt have these. He does not behave in a prime ministerial way. Mr Gandhi said: We are being stifled and we are not being allowed to speak in Parliament. They have suppressed our voices. The Congress also took offence to the fact that the minister chose to seek the apology while getting up to reply to a question by Mr Gandhi on the status of medical colleges in Wayanad. It is after a lot of patience and perseverance that one gets to ask a question in the Lok Sabha. The minister has trampled on the rights of the MP by his remarks, Mr Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said. The ruling side, meanwhile, was adamant that Mr Gandhi should apologise. Meetings were held in the chamber of parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi, who also later reiterated the demand in the House. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sat, February 8, 2020 13:07 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634d110 2 Entertainment Harvey-Weinstein,trial,united-states,film,MeToo,Sexual-assault,Jessica-Mann,Mimi-Haleyi,Annabella-Sciorra Free A psychologist called by Harvey Weinstein's defense team told his rape trial Friday that memories of an incident can become "contaminated" over time by new information. Elizabeth Loftus, a University of California, Irvine professor, said leading questioning about an event sometimes causes a "misinformation effect", where false details are incorporated into someone's memory. "If you are urged to remember more, in trying to produce more to satisfy that situation, you may produce something like a guess and then it starts to feel like a memory," she testified. Since testimony began on January 22, six women have taken the stand to say they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein. All of the allegations against the former Hollywood titan are at least six years old, while one of them dates back three decades. Weinstein, 67, faces life imprisonment if convicted of predatory sexual assault charges related to ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi. Mann says Weinstein raped her in March 2013 while Haleyi alleges he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006. The defense maintains that the incidents were consensual and that Weinstein was in relationships with the accusers. Mann admitted to the court that she had had "non-coerced" sexual contact with Weinstein, producer of Pulp Fiction and Sin City up to 2016. Sexual assault allegations against Weinstein made headlines worldwide in October 2017, igniting the #MeToo movement. Loftus -- who has given evidence in about 300 trials, mostly for the defense -- said media coverage can lead people to change their recollection of an incident. "If it is relabeled, it can be remembered as more upsetting and traumatic than it was at the time," she said. "It does not mean the person is lying but their memory could have been transformed," Loftus added. The psychologist said memory of an event can also be distorted from the start by alcohol or drugs, particularly Valium, a sedative. The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra testified that she was taking Valium around the time she says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s. Under cross-examination Loftus said that for traumatic events it is mostly "peripheral memories" that become distorted, "not the core of the event". The prosecution rested its case on Thursday. Closing arguments are expected next week. A Palestinian protester was shot dead in the West Bank on Friday as Palestinian and U.S. leaders blamed each other for violence that erupted after President Donald Trump unveiled a Middle East Peace plan that Palestinians rejected as one sided. As Reuters reports, Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces have repeatedly clashed since the peace proposals were unveiled by Trump, with Israels prime minister at his side. Fridays killing raised the Palestinian death toll to four. Israelis have been wounded. On Friday, mourners had gathered in the occupied West Bank for the funeral of a Palestinian police officer who was shot dead in the unrest a day earlier. Palestinian authorities said he was killed by Israeli gunfire. Israel has not commented. There were sporadic clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces near Azzun, where the funeral was held. Palestinians also clashed with Israeli troops in Jericho and burned tyres in the West Bank village of Bilin. Palestinian medics said one protester had been shot and killed near Tulkarm on Friday. The Israeli army said dozens of Palestinian rioters had hurled rocks and fire bombs at troops, and soldiers had identified a Palestinian who threw a firebomb and responded with fire in order to remove the threat. The Palestinian people will not allow the Deal of the Century to pass, said Mohammed Barakeh, waving a Palestinian flag in Bilin, referring to the U.S. peace deal. They are fighting for their national character and the independence of their country, said Barakeh, a former Israeli lawmaker and member of Israels 21% Arab minority, many of whom identify with Palestinian brethren in the West Bank and Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbass Palestinian Authority has rejected Trumps peace plan, which would give Israel most of what it has sought during decades of conflict, including the disputed holy city of Jerusalem and nearly all the occupied land on which it has built settlements. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Washington was to blame for the unrest since the plan was unveiled. Those who introduce plans for annexation and the legalizing of occupation and settlements are really responsible for deepening violence and counter-violence, he said. He said Abbas would go to the U.N. Security Council with a genuine peace plan. Trumps senior adviser Jared Kushner, the main architect of the U.S. plan, has denounced the Palestinian leadership, breaking from decades of diplomacy when Washington sought to appear neutral. On Thursday, he blamed Abbas for the violence. I think he does have responsibility, Kushner said after briefing U.N. Security Council ambassadors. He calls for days of rage in response, and he said that before he even saw the plan. Israeli police said security chiefs had met on Thursday and would increase security across the country, with emphasis on Jerusalem. Palestinians have long boycotted relations with the Trump administration, which they view as biased. Washington says its plan offers a path toward a Palestinian state, and blames the Palestinian leadership for chasing unrealistic goals. Date: Feb 11, 2020 8:00 PM PST Location: Pacific Design Center; 8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (map) Tickets: 30.00 Youll see host Joel Anderson perform an all-new Slow Burn story, one that illuminates the creative lives and tragic deaths of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Biggie Wallace. Anderson will also interview the nations two premier experts on the Tupac and Biggie murder investigations, Greg Kading and Randall Sullivan. This will be the first time Kading and Sullivan have met on stage to discuss their competing theories about who killed raps two biggest stars and why. Then Anderson and Slow Burn producer Christopher Johnson will be on the hot seat as co-host of Here & Now Tonya Mosley grills them about the making of this season of Slow Burn. Music by DJ Spinorita. Guest: DJ Spinorita, @Spinorita Host of the radio show Casual Play Greg Kading, @GregKading Former Los Angeles Police Department detective, member of the task force that investigated the Tupac and Biggie murders Randall Sullivan Author of LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. Tonya Mosley, @Tonyamosley Host of Truth Be Told and co-host of Here & Now Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the live show. If you are a Slate Plus member, you will receive 30 percent off your purchase. Use the discount code listed on the Slate Plus welcome page. If youd like to become a Slate Plus member click here. This show is in the Silverscreen Theater at the Pacific Design Center. In the Green Building, 2nd Floor. Guest Entrance: Melrose Avenue Entrance or via Parking Structure, then Elevators to the 2nd Floor. Russia's hybrid military forces violated the ceasefire regime in Donbas six times on February 7, with no casualties reported, according to the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). "On February 7, Russia-occupation armed groups violated the ceasefire regime six times. No casualties were reported among the servicemen of the Joint Forces Operation as a result of the enemy attacks," the JFO said on Facebook on Saturday morning. In the area of responsibility of the Skhid (East) task force, the enemy mounted two attacks: one near Novomykhailivka using tripod-mounted grenade launchers and heavy machine guns and one near Vasylivka using small arms. In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) task force, the enemy mounted four attacks: two near Orikhove using 122mm, 120mm and 82mm mortars and tripod-mounted grenade launchers, one near Krymske using anti-tank missile system and one near Hladosove using tripod-mounted anti-tank rocket launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Since the beginning of the day [February 8], Russia-occupation forces have mounted attacks on Ukraine's positions near Orikhove using 122mm and 120mm mortars, no casualties have been reported, the JFO said. Shen Yun, the popular, neon-tinted Chinese dance-and-music company, says its performances in Philadelphia and other cities will go on as scheduled, with no risk to the public from the coronavirus thats killed hundreds on the mainland. The troupe is based in New York, not China. Performers have not been to China in years, nor have they had recent contact with people from China, the company said in a news release. Shen Yun appears at the Merriam Theater on South Broad Street from Feb. 12 through March 1. The troupe was established in New York state in 2006 and has never been allowed to perform in China, the company said. Its dancers, musicians and technical crew all live and train in New York. Shen Yun is affiliated with Falun Gong, whose believers follow meditation exercises and religious texts in search of spiritual enlightenment. In the West, Falun Gong is generally regarded as odd but harmless. The Chinese government regards Falun Gong as a dangerous, anti-society cult that it claims leads followers to suicide and murder. Womin employs many computer science engineers and sociologists, said Qi, who graduated with a philosophy degree from Beijing Normal University. The company is also advised by prominent Princeton sociologist Yu Xie, who is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, as well as the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. In emails, Xie said he did not work on Womins latest report. He said he previously provided consultation but was never hired by the company. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 08:23 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20633d2f6 1 National Disney,weaving-craft,environmentalist,hero,award,conservation Free Walt Disney Co.'s Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has named Indonesian woman, Ida Saparida, a hero of the environment in its 2019 list, among other environmentalists from 50 other countries who have devoted their lives to fostering conservation efforts in their communities. Taught at a young age by her mother how to weave traditional mats from Pandanus leaves, Ida values the cultural importance of her handicraft skills, protecting forest resources and creating sustainable incomes for the local people in Indonesia, as written in The Walt Disney Company official website. Ida is the chief craftmaker of the Mata Pencaharian Berkelanjutan (Sustainable Livelihood) Program in a remote village in North Kayong regency, as reported by kompas.com. The village and the regency are located in the buffer zone of Gunung Palung National Park in the province. Her journey began in 2011, when she attended a sustainable livelihood workshop hosted by the Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program (GPOCP). She developed her skills as an artisan to build her career. Read also: Nine Indonesian women recognized for outstanding scientific contributions She understood that her community must actively preserve the forest to avoid deforestation. Following her mothers footsteps as a craftmaker, she felt the need to encourage her community of craftmakers to use natural resources sustainably in their work. Ida later used her network from a workshop she attended to help the community reach a wider market. She helped form cooperation between her community, private distributors and the government, allowing artisans to sell large quantities of their crafts. Such cooperation helps community members, especially those involved in mining and logging activities, to look for alternative and sustainable livelihoods. She [is] volunteering to teach traditional weaving techniques at local schools, mobilizing hundreds of people across communities to use wild plants for economic stability, and spearheading agroforestry efforts, the DCF wrote on its website. Idas success has inspired many people in other places across the country to advocate for forest conservation as well as a return to traditional crafts for economical and sustainable livelihood options. Since 1995, the DCF has been supporting nonprofit organizations with initiatives of community conservation to protect the planet and preserve wildlife. The fund has recognized more than 180 heroes around the world. (syk) Ayushmann Khurrana, who is held to be one of the most versatile actors in the Hindi film industry today, is all geared up for his next film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan in which he plays a gay character. Many consider the film as being significant because it is the first mainstream Bollywood romantic comedy on a homosexual couple. The film's trailer, and particularly Ayushmann's performance, has received an incredible response from audiences. In a recent interview, Ayushmann opened up about his lip-lock scene with his co-star Jitendra Kumar, and revealed that it wasn't his first time kissing a boy. "I have kissed a boy in the past. During MTV Roadies, we were playing truth and dare. I got the dare (to kiss a boy) and so I did it," said Ayushmann to IANS. He added, "If I can do it for a dare then why can't I do it for a film? This kind of film is happening in India in 2020. I feel a boy can fall in love with a boy, or a girl can fall in love with a girl. It doesn't matter because at end of the day. Love should be treated as love." Ayushmann also spoke about Jitendra's past experience kissing boy. "Before shooting the kissing scene, I asked Jitu if he had ever kissed a boy. He told me he had done it in the past. He told me that ragging takes place in engineering colleges, and he was given a task to kiss four boys. I feel this is ridiculous. I feel ragging should be banned and it is not right. It shouldn't happen. It wasn't banned back then, so Jitu had to do it. So, he has done method acting before this film," he said. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is a follow up to Ayushmann and Bhumi Pednekar's 2017 film Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, it also stars Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao. The film releases on February 21, 2020. ALSO READ: Ayushmann Khurrana Promises An Entertainer With A Social Message In Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan ALSO READ: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Trailer Starts Meme Fest: From Indian Aunties To Avengers' Morgan Stark Bengaluru, Feb 8 : The opposition Congress termed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka 'immoral' as it is formed with the support of turncoats whose disqualification was upheld by the Supreme Court, a senior party leader said on Saturday. "The induction of the 10 newly-elected BJP legislators in the 6-month-old Yediyurappa government on Thursday confirmed our charge that the ruling party rewarded the turncoats for bringing down our 14-month-old coalition government with the JD-S and allowing the saffron party return to power in July 2019," Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa told IANS in an interview here. Accusing the saffron party of using money and muscle power to force 17 rebels, including 14 from the Congress and 3 JD-S resign from assembly in July, Ugrappa said the BJP had no moral right to be in power as it did not get a clear mandate in the May 2018 assembly elections to form the government then. The 10 defectors made cabinet ministers on February 6 are Shivaram Hebbar, Shrimanth Patil, B.C. Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Narayana Gowda, K. Gopalaiah, S.T. Somashekar, Byrathi Basavaraj, K. Sudhakar and Anand Singh. "As the BJP won only 105 seats and fell 9 short-off the halfway mark (113) for a simple majority in the 225-member Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa resigned on May 19, 2018, three days after forming the government instead of facing the trail of strength in the House as directed by the Supreme Court," recalled Ugrappa. In a post-poll alliance, the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) formed a coalition government on May 23, 2018 to keep the BJP out of power and prevent President's rule in the southern state due to split verdict in the assembly elections, with the outgoing Congress winning 80 seats and JD-S 37. "As the BJP was desperate to return to power by any means, it attempted to topple our coalition government twice by engineering defections in 2018. When it failed miserably, it lured our rebels to resign from the assembly, promising them to make ministers with plum posts if it formed the government again. Unfortunately, our rebels fell for its bait," Ugrappa lamented. Though former Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar disqualified all the 17 rebels for defying their party whip and restrained them for re-contesting till the 5-year tenure of the present House lapsed in May 2023 under the Anti-Defection Act, 13 of them re-contested in the December 5 by-elections on a BJP ticket after the apex court in November allowed them to contest again. In the 15 Assembly by-elections, the BJP won 12, including 9 Congress defectors and 2 JD-S defectors, while one Congress turncoat (M.T.B. Nagaraj) and another JD-S turncoat (A.H. Vishwanath) lost to an Independent and a Congress candidate. Two Assembly seats -- Muski in the state's north Raichur district and RR Nagar in southwest Bengaluru are vacant, as by-elections to them are withheld due to litigation in the Karnataka High Court on the results of the May 2018 assembly elections. "Although the BJP claims to be a party with a difference and denies role in the rebels resigning from the Assembly, their absence in the House on July 23 in defiance of their party whip led to the defeat of the confidence motion former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy moved on July 18 to prove majority in the house and the collapse of our 14-month-old coalition government on the same night. "Resignations, staying away from the Assembly's crucial monsoon session and camping at star hotels in Mumbai for over three weeks in July were all stage-managed by the BJP and its top brass, including its then national president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah from New Delhi with the party's former government in Maharashtra playing the host," asserted Ugrappa. As the BJP resorted to similar tactics in the adjacent Goa state, Ugrappa said the Congress would seek an amendment to the Anti-Defection Act to ensure disqualified legislators are barred from re-contesting in by-elections till the assembly term ends. "Though the top court upheld the disqualification of the rebels, it allowed them to re-contest in the by-elections, negating the objective of the anti-defection law, which was to prevent switching parties, poaching or horse-trading. The turncoats took advantage of the loophole in the provision after the Election Commission too allowed disqualified MLAs of the ruling AIADMK to re-contest in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu state in 2018," Ugrappa pointed out. Breeze, the newest airline from JetBlue CEO David Neeleman, looks like its going to be a breath of fresh air for the airline industry. Neeleman made a statement on Friday announcing the name of his latest endeavor a U.S.-based budget airline called Breeze Airways. The new carrier, originally known by the codename Moxy, has officially submitted its application for operations with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation after many years of planning, Business Insider reported. The birth of a new airline is always exciting for both the leaders of these companies and potential travelers. Another budget airline could mean more access to certain destinations and more choice when it comes to spending money on airfare. Since the development of Breeze is still ongoing, heres what we know so far about the new airline: Breeze promises to provide routes to underserved markets. Neeleman said in a statement that Breeze will be flying to airports and destinations that bigger airlines overlook. Generally, these are places that dont have direct flights, especially from larger airports, are secondary airports for major cities, or require at least one (or more) stops or modes of transportation in order to get there. I would be very surprised if a single [Breeze] route had non-stop service competition. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of city pairs that are crying out for non-stop flights, Neeleman said. Routes have not yet announced, but according to The Points Guy, the first routes will most likely be easily accessed from Breezes hub in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its really just trying to find a cluster. You cant be popping all over the place. Were working on a couple of airports and well see who actually comes to the to the party, Neeleman said. We dont want to spread ourselves too thin. Its going to be the "worlds nicest airline." Niceness might be subjective, but considering that JetBlue usually ranks fairly high in customer satisfaction, we expect the same business practices will apply to Breeze as well. Story continues 20 years ago, we brought humanity back to the airline industry with JetBlue, Neeleman said in a statement. Today, we're excited to introduce plans for 'the World's Nicest Airline'. %image1 Breeze is Neelemans fifth airline. Sometimes, its unclear whether a fledgling airline will be able to survive in such a competitive market, but Neeleman is exceptionally experienced with launching regional, budget-friendly airlines. Beyond JetBlue and Breeze, Neeleman has launched three other airlines: Canadas WestJet, Brazils Azul, and another Utah-based carrier Morris Air (now operated by Southwest), CNN reported. Courtesy of Breeze Airways Its fleet will compete with the big guys. The carrier announced it has ordered 60 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, a slightly longer version of the Airbus A220-100, which is popular with some major airlines. Breeze also plans to lease about 30 Embraer E195 jets from Azul in Brazil. These jets are expected to be delivered in May of this year, while the Airbus jets are expected in April 2021. Breeze may start flying this year. According to The Points Guy, the actual start date is not yet announced, but may start as early as late 2020. Were certainly not putting out a definitive date because we have a FAA certification process and it wouldnt be fair to the FAA to say, Neeleman told The Points Guy. I have total confidence well get it done. I just cant give you the exact date. People in and around Salt Lake City should keep their eyes peeled for some travel options in the near future. (CNN) The death toll and number of people infected by the Wuhan coronavirus continues to grow, with no signs of slowing despite severe quarantine and population control methods put in place in central China. Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) has released its daily update of coronavirus cases. On Friday, 86 people died of the Wuhan coronavirus in mainland China, bringing the death toll there to 722. Another two have died in the Philippines and Hong Kong. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in mainland China as of the end of the day Friday stood at 34,546, an increase of 3,399 from Thursday, according to the NHC. Out of the more 34,000 confirmed cases, 6,101 are in critical condition, and 2,050 have been discharged from the hospital after recovery. This story was first published on CNN.com "Wuhan coronavirus deaths spike again as outbreak shows no signs of slowing" In his speech at a meeting held by the UNSC in New York on February 6th, Quy affirmed that Vietnam applauds the OSCEs humanitarian assistance, intermediation and mediation activities as well as its efforts to promote peace processes at hot spots in Europe. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN (Source: VNA) He emphasized that activities of regional organisations must comply with the UN Charter and supported the OSCE's role in monitoring and helping with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Quy also reiterated the principle of peacefully settling disputes in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Speaking at the meeting, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama, who is also Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, confirmed three priorities of the OSCE in 2020, including promoting field conflict settlement, especially the crises in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The OSCE will implement its commitments to enhance the role of women in the peace and security process, as well as in the fight against corruption, terrorism, smuggling and weapons proliferation, Rama said. It will also work to establish regional stability through dialogues between the OSCE and citizens and civil social organisations in order to ensure human rights and rights of ethnic minority groups, prevent human trafficking, discrimination and dissemination of hostile statements, Rama added. Representatives of the UNSCs member nations asserted their countries support for cooperation between the two organisations, and the role played by the OSCE in promoting dialogue and humanitarian assistance in areas with conflicts in Europe, especially in promoting the implementation of the Minsk agreements on the crisis in Ukraine. They stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in ensuring and promoting rights of women and children, human rights and compliance with laws; protecting civilians in conflict areas; and combating human trafficking and terrorism. Established in 1975, the OSCE groups 57 member countries in North America, Europe and South Asia, including four out of the five permanent members of the UNSC, namely the UK, the US, Russia and France./. CITY HALL -- Rep. Max Rose, three Democratic incumbents in the state legislature and a candidate vying for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis seat won the unanimous endorsement of the Staten Island Democratic Partys executive committee Thursday night. No other prospective candidates came forward to be interviewed by the committee, the party said. On the state legislature side, the party endorsed Assemblymen Charles Fall and Michael Cusick, the party chairman; state Sen. Diane Savino, and her deputy chief of staff, Brandon Patterson, who is running for Malliotakis Assembly seat. Last night, the Staten Island Democratic Partys executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Max Rose, Diane Savino, Michael Cusick, Charles Fall and Brandon Patterson in their respective campaigns for office," Cusick said. "Each brings an extensive record of accomplishments on the issues facing our borough. Whether its protecting our toll discounts, improving our commute, standing up for labor, or securing millions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic -- this is a team that has delivered for Staten Island and is more than ready to do so again. Three of the candidates -- Rose, Savino and Patterson -- are running in districts that also represent a slice of South Brooklyn. Brooklyn Democratic Party spokesman Bob Liff said Rose, Savino and Patterson were endorsed unanimously by that partys executive committee. However, he could not say if any other candidates had interviewed with the executive committee for those races before the endorsements were made. Currently, all five candidates do not have any known primary challengers. Last year, Democratic Socialist Richard-Olivier Marius, a former campaign volunteer for Rose, stepped up to primary the incumbent. Marius had said he was upset that the freshman congressman did not initially support an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and other progressive legislation. But by the beginning of the year, Marius said he had dropped out of the primary, declining to say why. Cusick ran unopposed in the last two elections, but attorney Anthony DeGuerre of Grymes Hill, a Republican, will run against the incumbent for the seat he has held for nearly two decades. Retired Detective Paul Ciurcina Jr., a Republican, has stepped up to challenge Fall. Meanwhile, Patterson has two Republican challengers -- former Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis and Marko Kepi, a former special assistant to ex-GOP state Sen. Marty Golden with close ties to former Rep. Michael Grimm. DeGuerre, Ciurcina and Tannousis were all unanimously endorsed by the Islands Republican Party executive committee. Malliotakis appears to be the favored candidate of the local and national Republican parties to run against Rose. While she has a primary opponent, Brooklyn prosecutor Joseph Caldarera, the five-term assemblywoman has the support of the state and local Conservative parties and was unanimously endorsed by the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican executive committees. Malliotakis also said she won the full support and endorsement of President Donald Trump during a recent visit to the White House. The deadline for prospective congressional and state candidates to file with the state Board of Elections to run is early April. The primary for state and congressional races are scheduled for June 23. Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the state primary race was scheduled for April 28, however, the primary for the state race also falls on June 23. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. A large-scale Garda manhunt remains in place this week following a terrifying incident last Wednesday morning where unarmed local gardai were shot at by a known criminal. Gardai say they are determined to bring the culprits to justice, and are particularly appealing to those who may recall seeing a blue BMW 318 with registration 06 W 1012 in the North Wexford area between January 12 and January 29. 'We are still appealing for witnesses to come forward and are continuing house to house inquiries. This is an active and well resourced investigation and we're very determined to bring it to a conclusion,' said Sgt Stephen Ennis of Gorey Garda Station. The extraordinary chain of events began at approximately 8.30 a.m. last Wednesday when gardai responded to reports of a blue BMW 318 acting in an unusual manner at Gorey Hill. When the two Gorey-based gardai arrived at the scene they were confronted and threatened by a man armed with a handgun. The suspect then fled the area in the blue BMW 318, with the two gardai in pursuit for around six kilometre, before the man met up with a waiting accomplice. Twice the suspect slowed down his car and fired a shot at the pursuing unarmed uniform gardai. The unarmed gardai were forced to back-off and by the time that armed back-up arrived, and in the meantime the BMW which had been used by the shooter, was discovered burnt out in Banntown, just outside Craanford village. It is believed the man who was confronted by gardai was in area to target a member of one of the country's most prolific burglary gangs. Gardai believe that the shocking incident had all the hallmarks of serious criminality. There were many eye witnesses to the high speed chase, such as parents dropping children to school at that time of the morning. Speaking outside Gorey Garda Station on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Gerard McGrath confirmed that the two shots were fired separately at a garda patrol car, and that both gardai involved were unharmed. 'Two uniformed members responded to the call and on arrival they encountered a male that was well disguised. He produced a hand gun to the members, before getting into a blue BMW reg 06 W 1012, which then moved off at high speed. 'The members pursued this vehicle on the Carnew road, and just a short distance up that road, the car was seen to jam on its brakes and discharge a shot in the vicinity of the garda members. 'Just a short distance up the road, a second shot was discharged at the garda car and the members then lost sight of the BMW. Shortly after this, we recovered the BMW in a burnt out state in Banntown, just outside Craanford village. 'This male, that we believe was driving the vehicle, was then seen getting into a second car, a dark grey black Skoda Fabia or a similar. There was a second person in that vehicle we believe, but we do not have a description or the direction the car was travelling.' All avenues are being explored in this investigation, but a garda spokesperson described the men in question as dangerous. The BMW is registered at an address in Dublin, but gardai believe that the address is false, and they do not at this time have registration details for the Skoda as it has not been located. The male driver of the BMW was described, as six foot tall of slim build, and he was wearing a long black jacket and hat, with a scarf over his face. 'The illegal discharge of firearms at any time is indeed a reckless act,' said Supt McGrath, 'and the illegal discharge of a firearm at unarmed members of An Garda Siochana is an outrageous act.' He thanked the public for coming forward with information so far. Local councillor in the Craanford area Donal Kenny agreed that the actions of last week were reckless. 'I've teenage daughters and you'd be worried about what's coming down the tracks. As parents, there's no point us putting our head in the sand as this criminality is at everybodies doorstep. We have to face it and tackle it as best as we can. 'There has been a garda presence here the last few days, they are doing it very professionally as you'd expect and we appreciate it. 'It's something that unfortunately is the kind of thing that has come to every little parish. Where and how we're going to get a handle on it, I don't know but it's not looking great. 'Those fellas obviously have no problem about taking a life, it's a different level and it's not easy for the guards. The fear seems to be gone out of them, they work beyond fear,' he said. Those who may have been in the area or witnessed any unusual activity in the Gorey, Craanford or Carnew areas on Wednesday last are asked to contact Gorey Garda Station at 053 9430690, the Garda Confidential Number 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. Gardai are especially appealing for any person driving or using the Gorey to Carnew Rd R725 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. who may have dashcam footage to make contact. The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM 99 Las Vegas), is hosting a Munchies 4 The Military event on Saturday, February 8 at Liberty High School to benefit the Douglas Green Memorial Foundation. The public is invited to help stuff and build care packages for troops that are deployed. Where: Liberty High School 3700 Liberty Heights Ave. Henderson, Nevada 89052 When: Saturday, Feb. 8 Time: 1:00p.m. 2:00p.m Donations, such as hygiene products and food, were collected at the following locations including CBRE Property Management, La Fiesta Apartment Homes and Villas at Painted Desert Apartments. For more information on the event, please contact, Sandra Rios at 702-624-2844 or email atsandra@kampamanagement.com. FILE PHOTO: Commissioner Roisman participates in a U.S Securities and Exchange Commission open meeting to propose changing its definition of an "accredited investor" in Washington By Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday defended an agency shareholder voting proposal amid "misconception" received from the SEC's public consultation process over new limits to vote on thorny issues like climate change disclosure and executive pay. SEC Commissioner Elad Roisman, the lead commissioner on the agency's long-awaited proxy proposal that seeks to change how investors hold companies accountable, said that he is "open to changing his mind" on the direction of the corporate governance measure, but after addressing what he sees as unhelpful comments. "I have seen many generalities, recycled comment letters...suggesting dissatisfaction based entirely on misinformation," Roisman, the Republican-appointed commissioner, told a law school audience in Washington. Some of the so-called misconceptions included the view that the SEC is "suppressing shareholder votes" and that the agency's rules may "compromise the independence of proxy firms," Roisman said. Roisman said it is a myth to say the agency's effort on proxy modernization agenda is driven by corporate interests. "No one commenter or group of market participants dictates the agency's agenda or approach to an issue. We receive input from and listened to the concerns of all market participants and the public," Roisman said. The SEC official's Thursday comments come after the agency voted in November 2019 to end shareholder proposals that appear on corporate ballots with diminishing levels of support. Democrat Commissioner Rob Jackson said on Thursday: "Our proposals in this area are just thatproposalsand Commissioner Roismans commitment to continued deep, thoughtful engagement on these difficult policy questions is in the best tradition of the SEC and shows how important the markets input will be to any final rules in this area." Story continues The proposal, which was subject to a period of public consultation, also required proxy adviser firms to give companies two chances to review their recommendations before they are sent to shareholders. Industry groups, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, praised the SEC's move to propose rules in this space. Earlier in August, the SEC issued a related but separate guidance that aimed to clarify how investors and firms that vote on their behalf should cast their ballots in corporate elections. Proxy adviser ISS said it worried that this related measure may diminish investors' voting rights and constrain shareholders' ability to hold corporations accountable. "I have aimed to dispel myths...and I remain hopeful that, as we progress through the comment period, we will receive feedback on the specifics of the proposals which will help us to determine how--not if--to move forward," Roisman said. (Reporting by Katanga Johnson; editing by Diane Craft) On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir High Court dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the release of the movie 'Shikara' which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. Shot primarily in the Valley, the movie is being promoted mainly as a journey of love between the lead couple. However, there have been back to back troubles for the film. Ever since the trailer of the film released, there were many who wanted to 'boycott' the film. Even today, one day after the release, #BoyCottShikara remains one of the top trends on micro-blogging site Twitter. On Friday, a woman belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community broke down and lashed out at director Vidhu Vinod Chopra after watching his film at a theatre here where he had come to get a firsthand public review of the film on Friday. YouTube The woman alleged that Chopra commercialized the entire issue of Kashmiri Pandit exodus of the 1990s and did not portray the actual suffering of the community including the genocide, mass rapes and mass murders committed by Islamic radicals groups in his film. "Ye aapka commercialism aapko mubarakh ho (Congratulations on your commercialism) As a Kashmiri Pandit, I disown your film, I disown it," said the visibly distraught viewer. She further alleged that Chopra polarised the sufferings faced by the community, to which Chopra replied that he will work on a sequel of the film for the woman. Trying to calm the situation down, the director also said that "truth has two faces" and people have different perspectives on the same issues. YouTube "Ab aapke liye Sequel two banaengey (Now I will make a sequel for you)," replied Chopra in a lighter vein. Reacting to the whole episode, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit took to Twitter and accused Vidhu Vinod Chopra of whitewashing communal crime with a coat of secular paint. AFP The filmmaker further accused the director of making a movie that looked like a massive attempt at whitewashing Islamic terrorism, to him. He asked Chopra to stop glorifying terrorism, something he claimed he also did with his film Mission Kashmir. In series of tweets, he wrote: #Shikara - based on the untold story of #KashmiriPandits thanks #FarooqAbdullah & #MuftiMohdSayyed in their credits, who are major conspirators of our genocide & ethnic cleansing. This proves how serious is the filmmaker @VVCFilms about making the film. Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 7, 2020 The insensitivity of @VVCFilms cn b seen when @ResearchBharat ws crying her heart out the director Chopra says talis bajao. Mr. Chopra pls dont mock a victim of genocide. Unlike ur crew who unfortunately r ur accomplice,Divya hasnt sold off hr dignity and pride fr few pennies. pic.twitter.com/2D4yd865a8 Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 7, 2020 The film which has hit the theatres on 7th January has been helmed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and narrates the story of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 that forced lakhs to flee their homeland almost overnight following a genocidal campaign by militants. New Delhi, Feb 8 : An inspiring story of an 8-year-old boy in Washington is doing the rounds on the Internet who sold key chains to paid off $4,015 (Rs 2.87 lakh) of his school district lunch debt after he was inspired by former Seattle Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman. The boy grew inspiration for his plan after hearing about how Richard Sherman paid off lunch debts for schools in Tacoma, Washington, and in California Keoni Ching, a 8-year-old boy decided to sell key chains for $5 to celebrate 'Kindness Week' at Franklin Elementary in Vancouver, where he is a student, the Daily Mail reported. Once this news came out in the public domain, social media has been abuzz with reactions. A user wrote, "This kid has more brains and compassion in his pinky than our glorious President." Another wrote, "This is a nice story about a nice kid doing a nice thing that wouldn't need to be a story if we didn't saddle hungry children with 'lunch debt'." "Why does this kid even have to pay off lunch debt? Let's do the math: public schools are nonprofits, so they're getting the 'food' (& I use that loosely) at a nonprofit discount from a wholesaler, say Costco. Most of the prep for the food is not intensive" asked a user. A post read, "This is a very neat gesture from this 8 year old...but he should not be doing what us adults should be doing...these issues shouldn't happen...feed the children first...." Imperial Valley News Center United States-Canada Statement on Joint Action Plan on Opioids Washington, DC - On January 31, 2020, officials of the governments of the United States and Canada convened in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to move forward with a bilateral initiative to find solutions to the opioid crisis affecting both nations. When President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met on June 20, 2019, the leaders emphasized their shared concern for the increase in opioid-related deaths on both sides of the border. The United States and Canada agreed they would work more closely together to find solutions to the opioid crisis by developing a joint action plan. The two countries will boost their collaboration to combat opioids trafficking, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, and address the health consequences of problematic opioid use through public health, law enforcement and border security cooperation, as well as share information and best practices. The United States and Canada have been working together to determine key areas of focus requiring additional cooperation. The two countries also cooperate on opioid-related work in the G7 and through the North American Drug Dialogue, which most recently met in December 2019. At the January 31, 2020 meeting, the steering committee of the Joint Action Plan on Opioids moved forward with a framework and established working groups aimed to enhance current bilateral exchanges and engagements and to find new solutions to several key law enforcement, border security, and health challenges facing both countries. Today at around 4:50 p.m. four Armenian contractual servicemen were stuck under an avalanche at the maintenance station of N military unit in Armenias Syunik Province, News.am reported citing the news service of the Ministry of Defense. The bodies of three servicemen were found after search and rescue efforts. The other serviceman was brought out of the snow, has injuries, and his health condition is satisfactory. Investigation is underway in order to clarify the circumstances behind the incident. The Ministry of Defense expresses deep condolences to the families, relatives and fellow servicemen of the deceased servicemen. A new international concert series hosted in Wicklow Parish Church called 'The Church Of The Vine' features five concerts, the first of which took place last October. The exciting initiative is in association with Wicklow Church of Ireland Parish and curated by musical director, Anthony Norton. The four remaining concerts will feature both local and international artists of significant calibre and prestige. The church has a splendid acoustic which is ideal for performances of chamber music and vocal ensembles and has in the past hosted international chamber orchestras, soloists and choirs on tour in Ireland. The first concert held in October was performed by 'Passion' featuring jazz violinist Pat Collins of the immensely successful Cafe Orchestra, Drazen Derek the superb Croatian jazz guitarist regularly featured with The Chieftains, and international tenor Anthony Norton who has performed with major opera houses throughout Europe. 'Passion's' performance included songs from film, stage and cabaret celebrating, Piaf, Brel, Gardel, Rota, and songs from Italy, France, Spain and Argentina as well as gypsy - jazz and standards from the American song book. On February 7, audience members will be taken on a journey through the beguiling and atmospheric music for guitar, lute and voice of the 16th and 17th centuries. One of Europe's leading exponents of the Baroque and early Classical guitar, Ashford resident, Eamonn Sweeney will partner one of Ireland's rising stars, the soprano Lorna Breen. Eamonn has toured globally performing as a soloist and with various early music ensembles, he will be joined by the prize-winning young vocal artist in performances of songs and arias by Vivaldi, Caccini, Handel, Purcell and many more composers from the Baroque and Classical eras. March 13 will feature the Dutch pianist and organist Klaas Jan de Vries accompanying the Irish lyric tenor Jack Kinkead in a recital of Art songs from the 19th and 20th century featuring the poetry of Thomas Hardy and the music of Gerald Finzi amongst others. This music charms with an ageless beauty the evocative texts of great Romantic poetry. On April 24, the Vine International Concert Series presents Prince Ibukun Tunde Olatunji, a chief from the Ekiti estates in Nigeria. Having grown up in the United Kingdom, estranged from his family of origin; Tunde became an actor, writer and poet producing work for theatre, dance and orchestral performances. Upon being introduced to his tribal home and family, Tunde was inspired to create a series of epic poems celebrating the land of his origin and its extraordinary pantheon of gods and mythology. Tunde will perform selections from his writing accompanied by the exceptional Japanese concert pianist and improviser, Izumi Kimura. The final performance of the series will be given by the internationally renowned Irish Mezzo-Soprano, Victoria Massey. Now based in Venice and a regular solo artist at La Fenice and on many operatic stages throughout Europe, Victoria Massey will give a rare opportunity for an Irish audience to here this wonderful artist. The Vine International Concert Series is delighted that Victoria Massey will be able to perform in its inaugural programme. All the performances in this series will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available in advance from www.gr8events.ie or on the door. Costs are 20, 15 for students, young people (16 or under) accompanied by an adult enter free of charge. Ticket holders for these concerts may avail of the pre-concert menu at La Locandina restaurant in Wicklow town between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. on the evening of the performances. Dr. Joyce Neighbors, one of Alabamas Hidden Figures who helped launch the American space program, died today in Huntsville. She was 89. Neighbors was the first woman to join Dr. Wernher von Brauns rocket team in a technical role in Huntsville in the 1950s. A mathematician and graduate of Auburn University, she led a team that calculated the trajectory or flight path of the rocket that launched Americas first satellite Explorer. It was a critical task that allowed von Brauns team to fire the rockets upper-stage engines at the highest point of the flight, and it wasnt easy to calculate, because no two early rocket engines were identical and no two fuel mixtures were exactly the same. Neighbors team succeeded, and she was asked to sign a now-historic mission chart alongside von Braun, Ernst Stuhlinger and other rocket pioneers. But Neighbors supervisor asked her to sign only her initials, because she was a woman. They didnt think it would be as authentic if I signed with a womans name, Neighbors said in a 2018 AL.com interview. Neighbors was born to a family living on a small farm in Randolph County, Ala. She entered Auburn University in 1950 and earned a degree in mathematics with a minor in physics. She later came to Huntsville with her husband, Bill Neighbors, who became a key figure in Americas Cold War struggle with Russia. Neighbors eventually worked on Skylab and the Saturn rockets that would lift astronauts into space. She held a prestigious management position for an aerospace company in Denver. And along the way, she repeatedly faced the sexism of a time when a working woman was thought either a quota hire or taking a job a man could use to feed a family. I was tolerated, she said. And sometimes I was not treated very well. Despite that sexism that even threatened her job at times, Neighbors persevered and had a successful career that included project budgeting, advising NASA center directors and working hands-on with space hardware.. I turned into a tiger, she said. I turned into my real self. I never covered who I am again. I was never pushy, I never stepped on anybody. But nobody was going to step on me. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an effort to provide technical assistance to the city corporation and district health authorities for mosquito eradication, the Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) is gearing up to deploy state-of-the-art Smart Mosquito Density System in the state capital for the first time. The Smart Mosquito Density System, which would operate autonomously, will help the authorities in identifying breeding grounds of mosquitoes. The SCTL is all set to tender the pilot project, which is being launched at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. An official said that each sensor, GSM (Global System for Mobile)-based unit would cost around Rs 2 lakh. Local bodies in Pune and Hyderabad have successfully deployed this system. It has smart portable units that could be hung at hotspots where mosquito density is more. The fully automatic unit will help identify mosquito breeding grounds and give alerts to the authorities immediately. This assistance would help the authorities do better fumigation, said the official. The official said that the tender would be floated within a week or two. Optical sensors in the system will capture mosquito density, species and alert the authorities. An Integrated Command and Control Centre at the corporations main office will be set up. The alert from the system will notify the centre. The authorities would be able to spray and fog the breeding grounds identified by the system, said the official. Parents of the children killed in the deadly Peshawar Army school terror attack in 2014 have filed a petition in a court here, seeking contempt of court proceedings against those responsible for the alleged escape of the mastermind of the brutal incident from the custody of security forces. Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former Pakistan Taliban spokesman who was responsible for the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in 2012 and carrying out the deadly Peshawar Army school terror attack, escaped the confinement of security agencies on January 11, according to a audio clip released by him. In the audio clip, which surfaced on social media on Thursday, Ehsan said that he escaped from the prison as the Pakistani forces failed to keep their promises made to him during his surrender in 2017. Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan said that he filed the petitioned in the Peshawar High Court seeking proceedings against the top officials. He said the Army chief, ISI chief as well as the Federal and Provincial secretaries were made respondents. The petitioner sought contempt of court action against the respondents for failing to follow an order by the Peshawar High Court of April 2018 in which it barred officials from releasing Ehsan. In the petition filed today, APS parents claim that the respondents had not taken any steps to bring Ehsan to justice even though he had confessed to the massacre at APS along with several other heinous crimes, the Dawn reported. Reports in Pakistani dailies, including Dawn and The Express Tribune, showed that Ehsan fled during one of the operations to capture and target terrorists. So far authorities had not commented on the reported escape of Ehsan, whose current whereabouts were not known. The Peshawar Army school attack is considered to be one of the most gruesome attacks on children anywhere in the world when 8-10 suicide attackers wearing paramilitary Frontier Corps uniforms on December 16, 2014 entered the school and went from classroom-to-classroom shooting indiscriminately, killing 149 people including 132 students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Phillip Schofield paid tribute to Eamonn Holmes for making him laugh after a very emotional moment when the 57-year-old announced he was gay. The ITV This Morning host, who has been married to his wife Steph for 27 years, made the announcement on yesterday mornings show. Prior to appearing he posted a message on his Instagram account in which he said he had been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay. He later appeared on the programme alongside his co-presenter and friend Holly Willoughby (38), and gave an emotional interview about his decision, telling her: Ive had to deal with this in my head for quite some time. Expand Close Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford Eamonn Holmes and wife Ruth Langsford (59), who present the Friday show together, were the first to offer support to the dad-of-two. Belfast-born veteran broadcaster Eamonn branded Schofields decision to make the public announcement fantastic and said that others would take strength from it. Nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality and it is fantastic that you have spoken out, he said. There will be so many people who will be strengthened by what you said and we, as Holly said, are all here by your side and we will be the first to stand beside you. Absolutely brilliant, mate. As long as Stephs happy, the girls are happy, everybody must be happy for you. He added: Lets hear it for Mr S. However, Eamonn came in for criticism on social media, after a light-hearted quip that he was disappointed in a couple of ways about the announcement. First of all I thought you were going to come in and announce you had resigned and I could have your job, but that wasnt to be, he joked. He later said: The second thing, there is this great imponderable in life that has always bothered me, I thought how come he can sit in a hot tub with Holly Willoughby and Steph doesnt have a problem and Dan (Willoughbys husband) doesnt have a problem. The comments received a mixed reaction on social media, with some praising Mr Holmes for his good humour, while others derided him for detracting from the serious nature of the announcement. Eamonn fired back at his critics on Twitter as he posted a picture of himself hugging Schofield and said: A picture paints a thousand words. This is a man who was in pain, who today confided in Ruth and I and who knows we stand in support of him, his family and his sexuality. Also unlike some, he appreciated a laugh to break the tension @Schofe hoping you find happiness. Later, Schofield himself posted his thanks for all the support he had received day and gave a special mention to Eamonn and Ruth. He said: Can I just say that Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were utterly magnificent with me today, privately downstairs just the three of us and upstairs in front of the world. I couldnt have hoped for a better, calming and loving set of hugs and support, I adore them both. And for the record, Eamonn Holmes made me laugh, he lightened a very emotional moment and Im very happy that he did. Among other famous faces who praised the announcement was veteran presenter Gloria Hunniford, who said it was a very courageous and brave thing to do and also emotional, in terms of his family. Thailand's health minister lashed out at 'Western' tourists on Friday for not wearing face masks and suggested they be expelled from the country for putting others at risk during the coronavirus outbreak. The outburst came as the kingdom faced steep losses over a drop in visitors from China. The death toll in China from the coronavirus has risen to 811. China's National Health Commission said total cases in the country from the virus had increased to to 37,198, up from 31,774 a day earlier. Tourism accounts for 18 per cent of the country's gross domestic product and Chinese holidaymakers make up a quarter of total arrivals. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (C) speaks to the media during a campaign event held to encourage the public to wear masks and wash their hands thoroughly as part of coronavirus prevention, at a skytrain station in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday Charnvirakul can be seen handing out protective supplies in Bangkok yesterday. The deputy prime minister said farangs, or white Europeans, should be thrown from the country because they don't care about protecting themselves, or others, from the coronavirus Thailand has detected 25 coronavirus cases and nine of those patients have recovered, while streets, public transport and shopping centres have filled with people wearing face masks. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was distributing masks at a busy Bangkok skytrain entrance when he complained that 'farang' tourists didn't take them and acted as if they 'don't care'. Farang is a commonly used Thai word to describe Westerners and is sometimes used dismissively. 'These kinds of people, we should kick them out of Thailand,' he told reporters, waving a handful of masks in the air. People walk with face masks outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on January 27, 2020 The Wuhan coronavirus had killed 722 in China and 724 worldwide as of Saturday, with one death in Hong Kong and another in the Philippines (pictured are cases around the world) Experts say the difficulty of containing the coronavirus is that so many patients have mild, cold-like symptoms and don't realise they have the infection but it can quickly turn deadly Anutin did not respond to additional requests for comment but posted an apology on his Facebook page for 'losing it' after 'some foreigners from Europe' were uncooperative in the mask campaign. More than 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand last year but the industry projects about two million fewer arrivals in 2020 because of the coronavirus, making US, European and other markets more vital. Debates over the efficacy of masks have bounced around the internet since the contagion first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan last month. People with face masks arrive at a BTS Sky train station in Bangkok on January 27, 2020 China has demanded four types of people in Wuhan to be put into mandatory isolation in quarantine stations: confirmed cases, suspected cases, people who have close contact with the former two, and those who have fever. Pictured, patients rest at a makeshift hospital Since then it has spread to more than two dozen countries and infected tens of thousands, mostly within mainland China. Health experts generally agree masks are useful if you have respiratory symptoms or are caring for patients. But the World Health Organization's own Thailand office tweeted a graphic on February 4 stating masks are 'not needed for general public who do not have respiratory symptoms'. The WHO has advised people to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their face. Maindipa Vongai maronga muchiti haana murume wani mukamudzosera kwaPurazeni. Muudze sekuru venyu vekwaPurazeni kuti ndoda kuvauraya nokuti ndovanenge vamakapa wamanga mati ndoenda naye South Africa. (You arranged to give me Vongai claiming she did not have a husband but went on to return her to Purazeni, so tell your uncle from Purazeni that I want to kill him because he is the one you handed over the wife that you had promised I would take to South Africa, the message added. 08.02.2020 LISTEN Tullow Oil Ghana is set to reduce its workforce by at least 25% due to Tullow Oil Plc's massive disappointments in operations Africa and South America. The planned restructuring process, Bloomberg notes, is likely to lead to nearly 40 percent loss of the workforce in its Kenya operations as well as the shut of offices in Dublin, Ireland and Cape Town, South Africa. Ghana, being one of the key markets for the Anglo-Irish oil company, is going to be hit hard by the restructuring process. A statement issued by the company said: Tullow confirms that is has begun a restructuring of its global business. The restructuring follows Tullow's announcement in December that its oil production and associated revenues in 2020 and beyond will be lower than forecast. Tullow estimates that the measure will deliver considerable savings and the Group's workforce will reduce by approximately a third globally with potential office closures in Cape Town and Dublin among a number of measures to reduce costs and overheads. Sources close to the company told Citi Business News that the ongoing global redundancy process will lead to the departure of 35 percent of Tullow Ghana's senior leadership as well as overall 25 percent job losses for staff made up of both Ghanaians and expatriates. The redundancy programme will be done in three batches with the first group of workers set to exit the company by March, the second batch to depart by June, and the last in December 2020. Tullow Ghana has faced production challenges in its Jubilee fields where it has been forced to reinject gas because there is no immediate means of offloading gas to buyers. The gas reinjection has reportedly led to nearly 30 percent cut in oil production in Jubilee. Also, the Tweneboah Enyerra Ntomme (TEN) oil fields has also faced its own challenges as one of the oil production wells suddenly had to be suspended due to what is described as a sudden increased 'water cut' a situation described as the ratio of water to oil in a production well. More water means less oil and loss of revenue. The challenges have led to a drop in the company's revenues and free cash flow by 30 percent. The restructuring will allow Tullow to match its cost base to its expenditures as well as a lower production forecast of 75,000 bopd in 2021 and beyond. Tullow's challenges bite Ghana Ghana's petroleum revenues for 2019 fell by more than four percent according to provisional data released by the Bank of Ghana. The central bank's data released earlier this week shows that the country recorded US$503.1 million from crude oil liftings, surface rentals and corporate taxes in the second half of 2019. The first half of the year also generated US$434 million bringing the total petroleum revenue received for last year to US$937.7 million. Last year's revenue is four percent lower than the US$977.1 million the country received from its petroleum resources. The drop in petroleum revenues comes at a time the lead partners of Jubilee Fields, Tullow Oil, had to undergo a restructuring process amidst production challenges at Jubilee Fields and one of the wells at the Tweneboah-Enyerra-Ntomme (TEN) Fields. The challenges at Jubilee relate to re-injection of gas into the wells which the company stated had led to a 30 percent cut in production. At the TEN fields, a production well at Enyerra had to be suspended leading to a cut in production figures at TEN. ---citinewsroom By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The budget presented by Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Friday has proved a profound disappointment for the state capital as it did not have any major projects or allocations for the districts development. And there was no mention of major tourism and major infrastructure projects, including the development of Trivandrum Airport, either. Isaac merely read out the progress of the ongoing IT projects which turned out to be a letdown for IT professionals also. The raw deal meted out to the state capital has kicked up a social media storm, with Facebook and WhatsApp being inundated by protest banners and memes from organisations championing the citys development. Even as the budget allocated a whopping Rs 6,000 crore for the development of Kochi, the capital did not get a deserving fund allocation. The capital city is completely ignored in the budget. No major fund allocations were announced and demands of citizens have been ignored. Be it airport development or road projects, the budget has not mentioned anything. The much-touted Outer Ring Road project and the next phase of airport development were ignored. The focus is only on Kochi- based projects. Being the state capital, the government should have accorded top priority to the development of the city. The `10 crore set apart for heritage development will not suffice. So it is a disappointing budget, said E M Najeeb, entrepreneur and former president, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce. The highest amount allocated for the capital is the Rs 350 crore earmarked for the ongoing Vizhinjam International Seaport project. The fund is allocated as part of the budgets full allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for major infra projects proposed in the state. For infrastructure, the budget has allocated Rs 25 crore for the beautification of roads in the city. Being the headquarters of the IT sector, the city has been neglected as Isaac mentioned only the completed and ongoing projects and he has not allocated a single penny for future development. According to S N Reghuchandran Nair, president, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce, the budget has disappointed the people here. 2020 is an important year for the city. We expect more projects to be completed this year, including the Vizhinjam Port. But the government should have allocated the state capital at least half of the amount earmarked for Kochi. The land acquisition for the next phase of the airport has been completed. The next step is allocation of funds for the project. But it has not happened. As far as Kochi is concerned, people there lobbied strongly for the development of the city. I hold the MLAs representing the constituencies in the capital district responsible for the failure. However, we intend to call on the finance minister soon to impress upon him the need to accord top priority to the capital city as well, Nair said. Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the budget has given due consideration for the development of Kazhakkoottam constituency by announcing a mini civil station and other civic projects. The former Navy secretary who was fired by the Trump administration over a plan that would have allowed disgraced Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher to retire without losing his SEAL status endorsed Democrat Michael Bloomberg for president on Friday. Richard V. Spencer made the endorsement saying the US needs a leader with integrity who would have 'a steady hand on the wheel'. His announcement came during a campaign event at a maritime center and museum in Norfolk, Virginia. Former US Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer (pictured) has endorsed billionaire Michael Bloomberg for president Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire financial news mogul and former mayor of New York City, is running as a Democrat in the 2020 US presidential election Spencer said he is a 'lifelong Republican' who says he's 'tremendously concerned' that democracies around the world, and international alliances, are under threat. 'I dont care if you're a Republican, youre a Democrat or independent, if we are to sustain this experiment we call democracy, America needs the best leader available,' Spencer said. 'I do believe Mike can get it done.' Spencer was pushed out of his position after he clashed with US President Donald Trump and military leaders over the fate of disgraced Navy Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who was accused of war crimes in Iraq. Spencer was fired in November by Defense Secretary Mark Esper for working a private deal with the White House to ensure that Gallagher be allowed to retire without losing his SEAL status. Spencer acknowledged in an opinion piece in the Washington Post the day after he handed in his resignation on Nov. 26, that he had made a mistake, but also asserted that Trumps actions were detrimental to the military. Spencer said Trump had involved himself in the Gallagher case 'almost from the start,' by telephoning Spencer even before the SEALs court martial, to ask that Gallagher be moved out of confinement at a Navy brig. Disgraced Navy Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL, was accused of war crimes in Iraq. Spencer said he resisted Trump because the presiding judge had decided that confinement was important. Nonetheless, Trump ordered Spencer to transfer Gallagher from the brig to the equivalent of an enlisted barracks. Spencer said he believes Trumps interest in the case stemmed partly from the way Gallaghers defense lawyers and others 'worked to keep it front and center in the media.' After Gallagher was acquitted of most charges but convicted of posing with the corpse of an Islamic State extremist in Iraq, he submitted his request to retire. In Spencers telling, that raised three questions for the Navy, including whether Gallagher should be allowed to retire at his current rank. The military jury had said he should be demoted. Trump, who had tweeted support for Gallagher and stated that his case had been 'handled very badly from the beginning,' short-circuited the Navys administrative review of Gallaghers status by ordering Spencer to restore Gallaghers rank. This was a shocking and unprecedented intervention in a low-level review,' Spencer wrote. 'It was also a reminder that the president has very little understanding of what it means to be in the military, to fight ethically or to be governed by a uniform set of rules and practices.' Spencer said Trump had involved himself in the Gallagher case 'almost from the start,' by telephoning Spencer even before the SEALs court martial, to ask that Gallagher be moved out of confinement at a Navy brig Spencer (pictured in 2018) said he is a 'lifelong Republican' who says he's 'tremendously concerned' that democracies around the world, and international alliances, are under threat Bloomberg, a financial news media mogul and former mayor of New York City, is skipping campaigning for the Democratic nomination in the four early states, has been focusing on states like Virginia that vote in the March 3 'Super Tuesday' contests, when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs. Speaking in Norfolk, home to one of the largest naval stations, he pledged to support the military, veterans and their families, and to work to rebuild international alliances. Bloomberg also said he is a leader who has built teams and who listens to staff and doesn't retaliate against people who disagree with him - a not-so-veiled reference to Trump and his decision to fire Spencer. 'When a president places more faith in what he is told by Vladimir Putin than by his own director of national intelligence thats a prescription for disaster,' he said. 'Surrounding yourself with a bunch of yes people is the surest way I know to fail.' Bloomberg is running as a moderate who can bring together Democrats, independents and disaffected Republicans to defeat Trump. He entered the race among concerns from establishment Democrats about whether former Vice President Joe Biden, who was seen as the leading moderate in the race, would be able to clinch the nomination over more liberal opponents like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and he has spent more than $300 million of his own fortune to air television ads. MEDFORD, Ore. A voting app recently adopted by Jackson County for residents living overseas received some extra scrutiny this week from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in the wake of increasing election security concerns, especially where technology is involved. Oregon was the first state in the country to adopt vote-by-mail, largely lauded as a convenient and relatively secure method of voting. Since 1998, its been the exclusive way to vote for Oregonians. However, vote-by-mail isnt always easy for people living abroad. "We have our military and overseas voters as well as absentee voters," Chris Walker, the Jackson County Clerk, told NewsWatch 12 on Friday. In the November 2019 election, those voters were able to try something new. Jackson County participated in a pilot program with the Voatz app, Walker said. Voters now had three options overseas mail in a ballot, fill out a ballot and fax it back to Walker, or try the new voting app. Only about 200 people were eligible for this type of voting. A little less than 30 of those successfully used the app to vote. Nonetheless, after an Iowa caucus plagued by confusion and delays due in large part to a newly-adopted app, the pilot program drew attention. In a letter addressed to Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno on Thursday, Sen. Wyden mentioned Jackson County by name as he outlined cybersecurity worries posed by online voting. "I write to express concern about insecure voting technology that could allow hackers, including foreign governments, to manipulate the votes of service members and other Oregonians living overseas," Wyden wrote. The senator cited election security experts who have warned against the use of online voting over hand-marked paper ballots. "Last year, voting officials in Jackson and Umatilla counties, concerned about the impact on overseas and military voters of President Trump's planned withdrawal from the Universal Postal Union, approached your officer for advice on whether they could use Voatz, a smartphone app that allows people to vote over the internet," Wyden continued. According to Wyden, Clarno's office signed off on the use of Voatz for overseas and military voters despite having little proof of its security. Clarno's Deputy Secretary cited West Virginia's use and recommendation of the app, the senator said. Wyden said that he looked forward to working with Clarno to propose federal legislation that would help overseas voters, however, "the security and integrity of Oregon's elections must always come first." "I appreciate the comments and the concerns of Senator Wyden, absolutely, but again we will work with all the stakeholders and make sure that we provide accessibility, but at the same time addressing concerns of security," said Walker. She says that this is why pilot programs are done to work out the kinks. "You have to go through a serious testing process. You should introduce major technological innovations on a voluntary experimental pilot project phase until it's been fully vetted," Senator Jeff Merkley told NewsWatch 12 earlier this week. Sen. Merkley echoed Walker, saying that new technology should be tried on a small scale first, or else it will fail. "We certainly got that lesson once again with the Iowa caucuses," said Senator Merkley. DMK President MK Stalin on Saturday held a signature campaign in Otteri, against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Population Register (NPR). Addressing a gathering in Otteri, Stalin said, "We are not against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but Muslims and Srilankan people were not included in the Act. It was not acceptable. DMK is strongly against it." "We planned to get 1 crore signatures but we have now crossed 2 crores, it shows people's anger against CAA. All the signatures will be submitted to the President," he further added. He further demanded that a resolution must be passed against the CAA in the state Assembly. "I demand that a resolution be passed against CAA like Kerala did but it is being considered. Protests erupted in various part of the country against the CAA after Parliament gave its nod to the Bill last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday expressed deep anguish over recent happenings in some legislatures and Parliament in which members resorted to acrimonious behaviour. Addressing the gathering after releasing a book titled, 'A Child of Destiny', an autobiography penned by Prof. K. Ramakrishna Rao, an educationist, here, Naidu said that he was perturbed by the "vitriolic language" used by members against their opponents and underscored that they were only political rivals and not enemies. According to an official release, he expressed concern over the growing display of animosity by people in public life. Noting that there were bound to be differences in a democracy, the Vice President cautioned that democracy would be the loser if there was no debate or discussion but only disruption. Observing that people were watching the conduct of the public representatives, he warned that there would be a loss of faith in the system if the trend continued unchecked. Naidu, who is Chairman of Rajya Sabha, asked political parties to respect the mandate of the people. He advised people to elect or choose their representatives based on their "character, calibre, capacity and conduct instead of cash, caste, community and criminality". Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act, Naidu asserted that it does not discriminate against Indian citizens but seeks to provide citizenship to those who were persecuted on religious grounds in neighbouring countries. Urging people to read and understand legislation like abrogation of Article 370 and CAA, he cautioned that vested interests were trying to create a negative opinion overseas about India. He asserted that no country has any business to interfere in India's internal affairs. Addressing the young students in the gathering, Naidu stressed the need to teach more about Indian history and make them aware of its heritage, culture and the contributions of freedom fighters. He said that the education they receive must be value-based. He suggested reorienting the curriculum in terms of incorporating emerging trends in higher education and improving methods of instruction to leverage the endless possibilities of Information Technology. He said Rao was a pre-eminent scholar, a dedicated academician, a celebrated author, an accomplished researcher, scientist and a steadfast Gandhian. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangkok, Feb 8 : At least 12 people have been shot dead and many injured by a Thai soldier in Nakhon Ratchasima city, also known as Korat, police said on Saturday. A defence ministry spokesman told BBC that Jakraphanth Thomma, a junior officer, had attacked his commanding officer before stealing a gun and ammunition from a military camp. He then opened fire at a Buddhist temple and at a shopping centre in the city, north-east of Bangkok. The suspect is still at large. Local media footage appears to show the suspect getting out of a car in front of the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the Muang district and firing shots as people flee, the BBC reported. Authorities have been sealing off the centre as they try to track down the suspect, who is reportedly inside the building. The suspect posted on his social media accounts during the attack, with one post on Facebook asking whether he should surrender. He had earlier posted an image of a pistol with three sets of bullets, along with the words: "It is time to get excited." Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed disappointment after his team failed to capitalise on the good partnerships on Day 1 of the first Test against Pakistan. The visitors were all out by Pakistan bowlers on 233 runs on Friday. "There was little bit of movement in the early few overs, but then later it turned into a good batting wicket. But I think we needed to be more patient. With early wickets there, we were under pressure but then the way Mominul batted it was good for us to go on," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Shanto as saying. "We needed to build on the partnership, have a stand of over 100 or something. Had we had a good partnership, it could have been different. I am disappointing that we didn't capitalise," he added. Bangladesh had managed to form three partnerships that crossed fifty but none went beyond 59 runs. Mominul Haque had formed the 59-run partnership along with Shanto. Shanto then praised Pakistan's bowlers for hitting the 'right line' and maintaining it. "To me, the wicket was good for batting with not much seam movement after the first five to six overs. But Pakistan's bowlers were patient kept on hitting the right line and maintained it. We, however, managed to get some runs on the board. We are still short of runs but if we get a few quick wickets then it will give us a chance," Shanto said. Pakistan will begin their first innings on Day 2 on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The banned JKLF on Saturday condemned the killing of a Kashmiri youth in Rajasthan, alleging that "Hindutva extremism" had become a threat to world peace. "Lynching of minority community, especially of Muslims, has become a normal phenomenon of these goons who got patronage from the current Government of India," JKLF spokesman Muhammad Rafiq Dar said in a statement. Terming "Hindu extremism" as an eminent threat to world peace, Dar appealed to the world community to immediately take notice of the "inhuman incidents so that the humanity in India is saved". A 17-year-old Kashmiri boy named Basit Ahmad, who worked at a catering firm in Rajasthan's Jaipur, died after allegedly being beaten by his colleague over a petty issue. Ahmad, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, was thrashed by the accused, Aditya (24), while they were returning home from a wedding in a pick-up van on Wednesday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser TROY, Mich., Feb. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC, the premier learn-to-swim franchise concept, is celebrating International Friendship Month with the launch of 'My Goldfish Swim Buddy' a campaign designed to promote the importance of childhood friendships and the role group swim lessons can play in building various social skills needed to grow and nurture such friendships. Goldfish Swim School understands how incredibly important social development is for every child. While it may seem that kids are just playing when they spend time with their peers, they are learning lessons like sharing, empathy, problem solving and patience. Group swim lessons can provide a tremendous opportunity for socialization, helping kids grow and learn in new ways. Many kids are observers and like to see others do something before they give it a try things can become clearer by seeing someone else, like their swim buddy, learning at the same level. Group lessons also provide an opportunity for kids to help each other offering tips and tricks to best master a skill or providing comfort and motivation to try a new technique. It is all about learning, picking up on social cues and getting through new situations together because that's what friends are for. "It's such a rewarding experience to watch the incredible friendships being built at our schools," said Goldfish Swim School Co-Founder Jenny McCuiston, who has a degree in Early Childhood Education. "Our entire swim lesson philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay, was created on the foundation of building important life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. These social skills - like teamwork, following instruction, sharing and interacting with peers - can play an important role in building ever-important childhood friendships. It's our goal to continue to find new ways to share these important messages and life skills, and make a positive impact in the lives of children and their families." Outside of its renowned proprietary curriculum, Goldfish Swim School helps to further spread this message through its Bubbles & Friends board book series. Understanding that children can learn so much through the narrative of a great story, Goldfish Swim School created "The Fish Who Wouldn't Swim" featuring brand mascot, Bubbles, and his helpful friends. Parents are encouraged to use the book as a teaching tool to model friendly behavior kindness, generosity, bravery, empathy while sharing stories on how Bubbles' friends are able to help him overcome his fears. The newest board book, "It's Time for Swim School," highlights each character's unique personality each carefully selected to align with common personalities seen within Goldfish schools to allow for inclusion and celebration of all swimmers: Puffer Fish : A swimmer who gets a little anxiety and jitters in new situations, but learns how to self-manage those feelings and lean on parents and friends for help. : A swimmer who gets a little anxiety and jitters in new situations, but learns how to self-manage those feelings and lean on parents and friends for help. Dolphin : The social butterfly who loves meeting new teachers and friends, but needs a little help focusing. : The social butterfly who loves meeting new teachers and friends, but needs a little help focusing. Octopus: The swimmer who needs repetition and understands the importance of doing something many times in order to master skills. The swimmer who needs repetition and understands the importance of doing something many times in order to master skills. Sea Turtle: The methodical swimmer who is focused and prefers to do small intervals of practice to build big skills over time. Throughout the month of February, Goldfish Swim School is celebrating all of the amazing friendships built at its 100+ schools across North America by featuring 'My Goldfish Swim Buddy' friendship photos in schools and on social media. Kickstarting the celebration is Brand Ambassador and World Champion Swimmer Ryan Murphy with his newest swim buddy, Bubbles. The activation aims to bring awareness to the benefits of group swim lessons in developing social skills that can help foster childhood and lifelong friendships. Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years, teaching more than 138,000 children each week how to be safer in and around the water. Each school offers year-round swim instruction in a family-friendly setting with highly trained instructors, small class sizes (max 4:1 student to teacher ratio), shiver-free 90-degree pools and a state-of-the-art water purification system. Families with kids of different ages and skill levels can conveniently have all their swimmers in the pool during the same half hour time slot and schedule makeup classes when necessary. Goldfish Swim School offers perpetual lessons, so families can enroll at any time. For more information on Goldfish Swim School and how to enroll, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/ . About Goldfish Swim School Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay. Goldfish currently teaches more than 138,000 students per week to swim and be safer in and around the water. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. Recently, the brand was recognized by Entrepreneur in its Franchise 500 ranking, Franchise Times' 2020 Fast & Serious List, and Inc. Magazine's 2019 Top 5000. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with 100 schools open, and an additional 100+ in development in more than 34 states and Canada. Media Contact: Kelly McNamara, Fishman PR, 847-945-1300, [email protected] SOURCE Goldfish Swim School Related Links https://www.goldfishswimschool.com Teachers are using body-worn cameras in an attempt to stamp out bad behaviour. One of three secondary schools trying the technology said cameras helped de-escalate confrontations with pupils. Larry Davis, deputy head of Southfields Academy in South West London, said: My aim is how best can we just focus on the teaching and learning rather than dealing with confrontations. Southfields Academy in South West London (pictured) has found the cameras have helped deal with confrontations Since we introduced [the cameras] we have very few issues in regards to that maybe once a month. Two other unnamed secondary schools are also trying out cameras, one of them to tackle anti-social behaviour by young people who are not pupils, according to education news website Schools Week. A small number of teachers at the schools taking part wear hi-vis jackets with the words body worn video on the back to show they may be recording their encounters with pupils. But Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said: Young people shouldnt see teachers as walking CCTV cameras or fear being filmed without their consent. Two other unnamed secondary schools are also trying out cameras, one of them to tackle anti-social behaviour by young people who are not pupils, according to education news website Schools Week (stock image of a body-worn camera) One of three secondary schools trying the technology said cameras helped de-escalate confrontations with pupils (stock image of a body-worn camera used by police) There is no evidence that recording children deals with the causes of behavioural issues but it can create oppressive environments and so we urge these schools to reconsider. It comes after the schools watchdog Ofsted announced it would be trialling the use of body-worn cameras by inspectors visiting unregistered schools that may be operating illegally. A spokesman said the move would improve the ability of our inspectors to carry out their job safely while also securing best evidence... and improving the ability of the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute people who conduct suspected unregistered schools. A small number of teachers at the schools taking part wear hi-vis jackets with the words body worn video on the back to show they may be recording their encounters with pupils (stock image) Tom Ellis, of the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth, has previously defended the use of cameras in school, saying: Where there is a perceived threat to a member of staff or pupil for example, they are used. Its not like a surveillance camera. Two schools provided cameras to teachers in 2017 in an attempt to stamp out low-level background disorder but the pilot scheme was abandoned. The Department for Education said yesterday it does not monitor the use of body cameras and it was up to individual schools to decide if they were necessary. Flash The genome sequences of five 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) strains on the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC) have been synchronized and shared with an American database, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Friday. The five strains were provided by the Institute of Pathogen Biology under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to the NGDC on Jan. 26. With a data-sharing mechanism, the strains were synchronized with the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the United States. The strains' sequence numbers on the NCBI are from MT019529 to MT019533. Since the release of the 2019-nCoV database on Jan. 22, the genome sequences of 82 virus strains worldwide have been collected and integrated. By using the database, researchers carried out the variation analysis of the genome of 2019-nCoV and obtained detailed information on variation degree, variation region and variation base between the 2019-nCoV strains, 2019-nCoV strains and SARS-CoV and between 2019-nCoV strains and SARS-like coronavirus bat strains, said Bao Yiming, director of NGDC. With over 300,000 sequence file downloads, the database has provided services for over 30,000 visitors from 106 countries and regions, said the CAS. Some voters have already cast their ballots in the election (Liam McBurney/PA) The Irish General Election was described by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as wide open as the first voters cast their ballots. Ballot boxes arrived in the countrys Atlantic islands off the coast of counties Donegal, Galway and Clare on Friday morning. Electoral officers were escorted by members of the Gardai as they delivered the boxes to some of the most remote locations in Ireland ahead of the opening of polling stations across the rest of the nation on Saturday. Back on the Irish mainland, the leaders of the three biggest parties were making their final moves of the campaign. Mr Varadkar was in Ennis, Co Clare, where he expressed confidence his party would be returned on top despite recent opinion polls which have indicated a surge in support for Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. People go to the polls a day ahead of the rest of the country on Gola Island (Liam McBurney) I think those predictions are going to be wrong, any opinion polls that have been taken were taken before the big debate on Tuesday night which I think I did quite well in and before some of the controversies in relation to Sinn Fein became major news, he said. Its a three-horse race, three parties all within shouting distance of each other, its going to be down to the public, he said. The public are going to vote on Saturday, theyll decide which party is the largest party on Sunday and I believe that will be Fine Gael. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is in Douglas court shopping centre in Cork for his last walkabout of the campaign. #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/8DgeRNDG8L Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) February 7, 2020 Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has been in Cork where he appealed to people who are undecided not to vote for Sinn Fein and said they have not cleansed themselves of their bloody past. It is interesting because this morning I was in another part of Cork and voters have been coming up to me and asking me to promise that I wont go into government with Sinn Fein, he said. I have given that promise right throughout the election. The issue of Paul Quinns murder and the degree to which Sinn Fein sullied his name for so long and his mother was so courageous in coming forward. It illustrates the problem with Sinn Fein. They have not cleansed themselves of their bloody past and they want to create a new narrative that the war was just for the last 40 years but so many people lost their lives. People are repulsed by that and the fact that it took the mother of Paul Quinn 13 years to get an apology. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, third right, during the last day of General Election campaigning (Brian Lawless/PA) The other issue is the incompatibility of Sinn Feins economic policies with ours as they are proposing an extra 4 billion euro in taxation that would choke enterprise here in Ireland. Were a small open economy and that kind of taxation would destroy the self employed and small to medium sized businesses. Meanwhile, canvassing in Dublin, Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald pledged to use whatever mandate her party receives wisely. The people were ahead of the curve in real terms in articulating the kind of profound change that they want, people were telling us we want change and by the way you are it, so get ready and serve us well, she said. Can confirm: Mary Lou McDonald not scared of dogs. #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/NWFprSSZLI aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) February 7, 2020 Im looking forward to the finishing line and Im hopeful people come out and vote in great numbers, but it wont end for us until the polls close, so well be out and about talking to people, and I suspect the song that our activists insist on playing around me Hello Mary Lou will get a blast, so Ive my parents to thank for that, she said. Its very important people realise your vote matters, because people have been left behind by the old politics. Every vote is equal tomorrow, the vote of the wealthiest person, the vote of the person who is really struggling by, you have an equal say, please realise that and please come out and vote for change. But before any vote is cast, just to say that whatever mandate we get, we will use wisely and we wont leave people behind. The province's chief public health officer said Friday there's still no sign of the coronavirus in Manitoba, and that the risk of getting it remains low. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The province's chief public health officer said Friday there's still no sign of the coronavirus in Manitoba, and that the risk of getting it remains low. Dr. Brent Roussin said that as of Wednesday, 10 tests have been completed for the novel coronavirus in Manitoba and there are no laboratory-confirmed cases here. He could not say if any of those tested in Manitoba had travelled to China or visited any high-risk places. "To date we have not had anyone that we would consider high risk but out of an abundance of caution our clinicians are testing all of them," he said at press conference Friday at the legislature. The lab test involves a nose swab with test results available in 24 hours and confirmed in 48 hours, he said. The virus can cause a range of mild to severe symptoms, similar to a cold or flu. "Many of the people we test are not significantly ill so they would be isolated at home," Roussin said. "We know that, in past situations, individuals take appropriate precautions and they protect the health of themselves and those around them. We know that harsh or coercive public health measures often don't work." Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. He said there are protocols to isolate anyone with symptoms who requires hospitalization and "contact and droplet precautions already in place" to prevent the spread to other patients and health care workers. As of Friday in Canada, five cases of the novel coronavirus had been confirmed. All are in Ontario and British Columbia. Suspected and confirmed cases of the coronavirus have to be reported to Manitobas chief provincial public health officer. Health officials in Manitoba are working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization to monitor the situation as it evolves, Roussin said, stressing that the risk of catching the coronavirus remains low. "If you look at the risk compared to influenza risk, certainly the influenza risk is much higher to Manitobans right now," said Roussin. "We see deaths (from influenza) every single year in Manitoba... and in Canada there are thousands of deaths," he said. "And we do have preventions for that, we have vaccines for that, and we try to get that message out." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca SAN LEANDRO (BCN) An 18-year-old man led police on a chase through the East Bay after allegedly stabbing his mother's boyfriend to death in San Leandro on Friday night. Ty Bothwellmitlitsk, of San Leandro, was eventually taken into custody in Castro Valley early Saturday, said San Leandro police Lt. Issac Benabou. Police were first called about 11:30 p.m. to a San Leandro home in the 500 block of Beverly Avenue, where they found a 62-year-old man with stab wounds. They gave him first aid until paramedics arrived. The victim, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital where he died, police said. A motive for the slaying has not been released. The suspect's mother told officers that her son fled in her car after the stabbing, and detectives learned that he was possibly in San Francisco. About 3:40 am, investigators spotted Bothwellmitlitsk driving his mother's car back across the Bay Bridge towards San Leandro, Benabou said. Police tried to stop him but he led officers on a 20-minute pursuit to Dublin before turning back towards the East Bay. The suspect continued to elude several police vehicles until Castro Valley, where he eventually stopped and was arrested, police said. "This was a violent and seemingly unprovoked incident by a dangerous individual who needed to be caught quickly," Benabou said. "The suspect may be in custody, but this is still an active investigation." The stabbing is San Leandro's first homicide this year. In 2019, San Leandro had no homicides and one in 2018. Bothwellmitlitsk was booked into Santa Rita Jail. 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. Story by Daniel Simmons-Ritchie Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/The Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG The Pennsylvania chapter of a national advocacy group known for its long-running campaign to improve lobbying transparency apologized Friday following a Spotlight PA report that it had violated the states lobbying law. Common Cause Pennsylvania was fined $19,900 in January by the state Ethics Commission for filing an expense report 112 days after the deadline last year. The group had also missed filing deadlines for four other reports since the beginning of 2018, state officials said. In a statement, Micah Sims, the executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, said he accepted full responsibility and apologized to the groups board chair, Brian Cullin, as well as the national organization as a whole. Sims promised the error would not happen again. We have put in place a proactive process to address the filing issues and ensure that reports are always filed on time, Sims said. As a good government group advocating for increased transparency in politics and government we have a responsibility to model the benefits of transparency. DONATE NOW and show your support for Spotlight PAs team of journalists fighting for accountability in the state capital. Scott Swenson, a spokesperson for Common Causes national office based in Washington, D.C., said that Common Cause remained confident in Sims leadership. Micah acknowledged his mistake and agreed with the board how to improve systems, so it doesnt happen again, Swenson said. People make mistakes. Acknowledging and correcting them is what matters. Lobbying reports are one of the few ways the public can see how advocacy groups, special interests, and businesses are attempting to influence elected officials. In Pennsylvania, groups must report who they hired as lobbyists, the subjects they lobbied on, and the total amount of money they spent on lobbying efforts. When first contacted by a Spotlight PA reporter following the Ethics Commissions fine, Sims said his group was late in filing its expense report due to technical problems with the Department of States website. Sims said his group intended to challenge the penalty in court. But the Department of State disputed Sims account and said it had no record of any communications from Common Cause Pennsylvania or any indication of a technical problem. On Friday, Common Cause affirmed it would not fight the fine in court. Common Cause will not challenge the fines in court and apologizes to the Ethics Commission for statements that suggested otherwise, the statement said. We intend to work with the commission to honor our responsibility and restore our reputation with that office. Spotlight PA receives funding from nonprofit institutions and readers like you who are committed to investigative journalism that gets results. Become a Founding Donor today at spotlightpa.org. Read more on PennLive: Update: The weather warning throughout the country has been upgraded to a status orange. There had been a yellow weather warning for wind in place throughout the country from 9am this morning but Met Eireann have since updated it. The orange warning will be in place from 5am until 12 noon tomorrow. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus is advising all guests travelling tonight and tomorrow to check the status of their flight before departing for the airport. They say there may be some flight delays and cancellations due to Storm Ciara. Earlier: Southerly winds will strengthen during Saturday reaching mean speeds of 50-65kmh with gusts reaching 90-110kmh, according to Met Eireann Storm Ciara will also produce strong winds throughout Sunday with the warning in place until midnight tomorrow. From this afternoon the warning will update to status orange in Donegal and Mayo from 12 noon and in Galway from 1pm. Strengthening southerly winds will feed in well sctd shwrs this morning Turning extremely wet across the western half of the country this aftn with spot flooding and some severe southwest gusts Heavy thundery rain will extend countrywide later bringing further localised flooding pic.twitter.com/mOX7MBRGLE Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 8, 2020 Gusts of up to 120 km/h are forecast in the west and north-west of the country. Donegal County Council has asked the public to be vigilant when it comes to falling trees and debris. Our Severe Weather Assessment Team has been meeting in response to #StormCiara & are continuing to monitor local conditions closely as the storm progresses. The public is being asked to be vigilant with regards to falling trees & debris Full statement https://t.co/QlSzHSnUme pic.twitter.com/VCOJTXEa1q Donegal County Council (@donegalcouncil) February 7, 2020 Also as a result of the current weather forecast combined with a period of high tides, Limerick City and County Council is taking precautionary measures. These include the mobilisation of extra flood defences in Limerick city, Foynes and Askeaton. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday fired a government official whose congratulating of a state governor elected with a far-right party's help angered Merkel's coalition partners. Christian Hirte, a member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union who was the government's commissioner for the formerly communist east and a deputy economy minister, tweeted that he resigned after Merkel told him he could no longer do the job. Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, confirmed his dismissal. Hirte's departure is the latest fallout from the shock election Wednesday of pro-business politician Thomas Kemmerich as governor of the eastern state of Thuringia. The far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, enabled it by supporting him in a vote in the state legislature as did the regional branch of Merkel's CDU, against the wishes of its national leadership. Kemmerich's acceptance of AfD's votes appalled left-leaning parties and many in his own center-right camp. Merkel called his election inexcusable. The politician from the small Free Democrats announced the day after he was elected that he planned to step down, though it isn't yet clear when that will happen or whether the state will hold a new election. Hirte, a deputy leader of the CDU's Thuringia branch who sits in the national parliament, had congratulated Kemmerich on his election as a candidate of the center, tweeting that it showed the state had voted out its previous left-wing government, and making no mention of AfD's role. The center-left Social Democrats, Merkel's junior partners in her often-tense national governing coalition, said Hirte couldn't stay in his job. Coalition leaders were meeting Saturday to discuss the Thuringia mess, which has prompted new criticism of the leadership of Merkel's successor as CDU chairwoman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Senior Tories have called for Boris Johnson to U-turn on its decision to allow Huawei into Britain's 5G network as Mike Pence warned that the move could put US-UK trade talks in jeopardy. A letter signed by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and four former cabinet ministers says there is cross-party concern over the issue, and calls for more ministers to come forward. It comes as Britain's new ambassador to Washington, Dame Karen Pierce, was plunged into deep water on day one of her job over the issue. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Brexit minister David Davis and former Secretary of State Damian Green called for the government to re-consider its decision on Huawei The letter sent by ministers calls on the government to use trusted vendors in the construction of its 5G network - and not to use Huawei Signatories included David Davis, Bob Seely and Damien Green (pictured) Former ministers Owen Paterson, former Brexit minister David Davis and former Secretary of State Damian Green all put their names to the letter that states some MPs were 'working to find a better solution' to the 5G issue. They also call for 'high-risk' vendors, which Huawei was designated by the UK, to be ruled out immediately or phased out over time. Sir Iain told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There is real concern across the floor of the House. I think there is a lot of disquiet over this. 'The truth is if they are not a trusted vendor, if, as the Foreign Secretary said at the despatch box, that China is considered to be an aggressor in these matters, they are constantly attacking our systems alongside Russia - they claim that Russia is an aggressor, but they won't have anything to do with Russian technology - then surely the same principle must apply to China. 'And, I think, therefore, we need to get the Government to look to get the involvement of Huawei, not to 35 per cent, but to zero. We are turning out to be the mugs in this game.' The Government has said Huawei would be limited to involvement in 35% of the network and kept away from sensitive areas. The Prime Minister has come under increasing pressure over his Huawei decision US Vice President Mike Pence warned last night that trade talks with the UK may be in jeopardy over the country's decision to allow Huawei a limited role in its 5G network Donald Trump is reported to have become apoplectic with Mr Johnson last week when the Prime Minister called to say the UK was defying US advice to ban Huawei altogether. Trailblazer who champions Special Relationship Karen Pierce has been a trailblazer for women throughout her career - and has a reputation as a strong advocate of the Special Relationship. Dame Karen, 60, has been at the Foreign Office for nearly 40 years. She has served in America before, as well as being posted to the Balkans, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Her most recent posting was as ambassador to the UN, where again she was the first female to hold the post. She was credited with helping marshal a tough international response to Russia's nerve agent atrocity in Salisbury, with the US joining in expulsions of Moscow diplomats. The mother-of-two is married to fellow senior civil servant Charles Roxburgh. Dame Karen has previously been praised for her 'vivid presence' and was once photographed wearing a feather boa in the UN Security Council. She also reportedly travels with an 'ambassadorial step' so she can get in and out of helicopters while wearing stiletto heels. Advertisement US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made conciliatory noises about the decision during a visit to London last week. But Mr Pence yesterday suggested the White House remained furious. Asked whether the UKs decision on Huawei could be a deal-breaker for the trade talks, Mr Pence responded: Well see. He told US broadcaster CNBC yesterday: 'The United States is very disappointed that the United Kingdom has decided to go forward with Huawei. 'We are profoundly disappointed because look, when I went at the president's direction in September, I met with Prime Minister Johnson and I told him the moment the UK was out of Brexit we were willing to begin to negotiate a free trade arrangement with the UK.' He also made clear that the White House was still trying to 'figure out' what Huawei's inclusion would mean, but said the US does not believe 'utilising the assets and technology of Huawei is consistent with the security or privacy interests of the UK, of the United States'. Dame Karen, whose appointment has to be confirmed by the US administration, was most recently the UKs ambassador to the United Nations. She cuts a colourful figure on the diplomatic circuit and is said to have impressed Mr Trump, who reportedly described her as fab following an encounter at the UN. She now faces the task of trying to calm US concerns about Huawei, which Washington said is a risk to the security of the UK and its intelligence partners. Dame Karen, who previously represented Britain at the UN, replaced Lord Darroch (right). He left his role after his private memos were leaked to The Mail on Sunday Dame Karen Pierce became Britain's first female ambassador to Washington yesterday Relations are also strained over the refusal of the US to allow the extradition of diplomats wife Anne Sacoolas, who is wanted in connection with the road death of Harry Dunn. Downing Street has defended the Huawei decision and insisted that intelligence-sharing with the US and other allies in the Five Eyes partnership Australia, Canada and New Zealand would continue. But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reportedly faced criticism over the decision when he met MPs on Thursday during his trip to Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was asked: How would you feel if the Russians laid down infrastructure in your own networks? Thats how we feel about Huawei. Christians sharing love of Jesus in coronavirus hot zone; death toll rises to over 800 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment UPDATE: 12 AM, FEB. 9: By Sunday morning, deaths from the coronavirus reached 811, surpassing SARS, and the number of confirmed infections rose to 37,198, most of them in Hubei province, according to Chinese officials. As the death toll from the coronavirus reaches 724 and the number of confirmed cases rises to 34,546, Christians in China where the illness originated are distributing masks and sharing the love of Christ on the streets in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. While fear and insecurity have gripped the 11 million residents of Wuhan, a city in Chinas Hubei province, Christians there have been out on the streets giving out masks and sharing the love of Jesus and the hope the Gospel brings, according to Christian Broadcasting Networks Asia correspondent Lucille Talusan. They're very courageous, she was quoted as saying. They give out masks and they say that they are Christians and they share the love of Christ and point to Jesus to bring hope to them and their families and the whole of China. ... This is really a break-through. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan about two months ago and can lead to respiratory illnesses which are fatal in some cases. While at least 724 people have died from the disease and 34,546 people have been confirmed to have the illness, the actual numbers are believed to be much higher, according to Bloomberg. Earlier during the week, a Chinese pastor living Wuhan, identified only as A Wuhan Pastor, wrote to the international faith community, urging them to pray and revealing that fellow pastors from around the world had been reaching out. It is readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith, the pastor wrote. The situation is so critical, yet [we are] trusting in the Lords promises, that his thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jeremiah. 29:11), and that he allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us. He continued, Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ. [When] disaster strikes us, it is but a form of Gods love. Spoken for today, Wuhans pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ; this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. The coronavirus, which causes a respiratory infection with mild to severe flu-like symptoms, has spread to at least two dozen countries, including the United States with about a dozen confirmed cases. Even as hospitals in the U.S. are gearing up to handle the potential spread of coronavirus, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the U.S. is ready to spend $100 million to help China and other affected countries. The U.S. this week also helped ship to China 17.8 tons of donated supplies, Pompeo added. What has compounded the situation in the U.S. is the ongoing flu season. Were talking about the possibility of a double flu pandemic, Dr. Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said, according to The New York Times. One reason for worry is that many of the vital medical supplies and medications are made in China, and some hospitals in the U.S. have said they are critically low on respirator masks, The Times reported, quoting a source from Premier Inc., which secures medical supplies and equipment on behalf of hospitals and health systems. China also supplies much of the raw ingredients needed for penicillin, ibuprofen and even aspirin. Last week, as the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency, persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern noted Chinas Christian communitys efforts to provide hope and refuge to those suffering. A video shared by Father Francis Liu from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness showed that encouraging sermons were being broadcast to their communities through speakers placed on balconies. According to ICC, a Christian rode his bike to a pharmacy where people gathered and played a sermon through a portable speaker. Another video circulated on social media showed Christians distributing face masks and Gospel pamphlets to passersby on the streets as a sermon plays in the background. Additionally, Christians from other provinces have offered their homes to host people fleeing from Hubei province who face housing discrimination. An Indianapolis hospital suffered a light malfunction that gave it quite the offensive name, considering the facilities were named after a prominent Jewish couple. Someone on Twitter managed to capture the sign at the the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital as it simply read: 'Nazi Hospital.' 'The lights on this hospital in my hometown have gone out in a majorly unfortunate way,' shared the user. The Eskenazis are prominent philanthropist in the Indiana area. Someone on Twitter managed to capture the sign at the the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital as it simply read: 'Nazi Hospital' According to the health center's website, the couple gifted the Eskenazi Health Foundation with $40million in 2011 to build the new hospital facilities in downtown Indianapolis. At the time, it was the largest donation ever received by the hospital and one of the largest gifts to a public hospital in the U.S. The Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC) recognized the gift by renaming the hospital after the Eskenazis. Sidney and Lois Eskenazis are prominent philanthropist in the Indiana area The Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health campus officially opened its doors on December 7, 2013. They had met at Indiana University as students, meeting at a restaurant through a mutual friend. Soon the couple got married, with Sidney establishing the Sandor Development Company in 1963. The company became a successful real estate development company. It would eventually own more than 70 properties under management in 23 states. As the company continued growing, Lois worked as a medical and lab technician. Sidney established a scholarship fund at Indiana University in 1970. The Eskenazi Hall in IU's Herron School of Art Design is also named in honor of the couple's contribution and support of the school. When a homeless couple in Oakland moved into a $4 million Piedmont home last year, they didnt know if theyd be staying for a few weeks or a few months. Its not every day a homeowner in one of the Bay Areas most exclusive cities opens up their home to the needy. But thats what Piedmont resident Terrence McGrath did for Greg Dunston and Marie Mckinzie. A year has passed, and the couple still lives in McGraths in-law unit. But its been, at times, a trying experience for both homeowner and guests. Tensions have flared over the couples joblessness and cleanliness. But McGrath remains committed to helping Dunston and Mckinzie. His invitation to the homeless couple after he read about their plight in The Chronicle immediately caught the attention of the neighborhood. Piedmont is mostly white and wealthy. The couple is black and poor. Calls to police were made about the couples presence again and again. But that was a year ago. The calls have stopped, according to Piedmont police Capt. Chris Monohan. Still, Dunston and Mckinzie remain anxious, afraid theyll lose that home. The flight instinct, honed from almost a decade living on the streets, is hard to extinguish. On the streets, Dunston and Mckinzie knew how to evade dangerous people and situations. Theyre friendly and mostly kept to themselves, never flashing cash or personal items. Theyd squirrel away money to get a hotel room on wet and cold winter nights. And when they didnt have money for food, they knew where to get a hot meal. They know how to take care of each other. They know how to survive. Inside the newsroom Like news articles The Chronicle publishes, our columns aim to be thoroughly reported, using interviews, research and data to back up the writer's observations. But unlike regular articles, columns allow writers to offer their own perspective, and tell readers what they think about an issue. Otis R. Taylor's column on issues affecting the East Bay is produced by talking to numerous sources, attending events across the area and interviewing a spectrum of people. He focuses on issues of social justice, and gets ideas for his column from sources, reader tips and observations gleaned from his life as an East Bay resident. See More Collapse When McGrath decided to provide housing to the couple, he wondered how it would change their lives. So did I. After a year, would they get housing on their own? No. They remain dependent on assistance. Theyre not able to do what society expects them to do: hold down a job and house themselves. In some ways, their story speaks to the root of homelessness. Its not just a housing problem. Not everyone has the capacity physical or mental to do what it takes to support themselves. Dunston, 61, is a former security guard who was injured on the job. Hes on permanent disability. Mckinzie, 54, a former cashier and certified nurse assistant, has scoliosis and blurry vision. In November, her disability claim was denied for the second time in two years. Their combined federal supplemental security income was $1,465 a month, but once they changed their mailing address to McGraths house it dropped to $924 because theyre not paying rent, Dunston said. Their food stamp allotment was also cut. Theyve bristled when McGrath has asked them howd they go about looking for jobs. They say they cant work, ticking off the reasons why. Getting a job would put them in a deeper hole than when they were homeless, Dunston says. If he starts a job, his disability payments his only safety net will be cut. Thats terrifying. If I cant keep up and dont work, then I lose that job, Dunston said. Then I have no income coming in. Thats a permanent income till the day you go in the ground. You might not last on the job, and then you got nothing. They spend some of their days riding buses, walking around Oakland. If its too cold or rainy, the couple just stay right here in the house. Stay warm, Dunston said. It took a while to get used to sleeping in the bed, Dunston said. He often slept on the floor, which was more like the concrete in the doorway of the Alameda County building where they slept on a pallet of sleeping bags and blankets. Dunston had to break the habit of waking up Mckinzie at 6 a.m. as if they had to pack and leave before the building opened. Living outside during soggy winters, theyd use garbage bags to cover their few belongings in the two utility carts they tediously pushed everywhere they went. Sometimes theyd spend the day riding BART before retiring to the Alameda County Probation Office on Broadway in Oakland. They were hesitant to move into McGraths house, fearing there would be rules that would restrict their independence. When I visited the couple in Piedmont one fall weekend afternoon, Dunston was sweeping leaves in the walkway behind the in-law unit. He took his shoes off when he went inside, making a point to tell me they started taking off their shoes before walking on the carpet. McGrath had it cleaned once not long after they moved in, but dirt and food spills stained the carpet again. McGrath talked to them about taking care of the place. They say they didnt realize the carpet was dirty. To Dunston and Mckinzie, it felt like McGrath was putting them down. Youre not going to just disrespect us, Dunston said. We will pack our stuff. And leave, Mckinzie added. McGrath told me, I know they know how to take care of carpet, but when youre in that place of a pure survival state, why would you care? They dont see much of McGrath, who travels often and works long hours. Dunston told me he thought he was avoiding them. McGrath, 61, told me he wanted to give them space where they could feel safe and at home. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A real estate developer and investor, McGrath is the founder of McGrath Properties, which focuses on the acquisition and development of properties in the East Bay. He believes homelessness is solvable, but the solution is unclear. I know less about this issue today than I thought I did 10 months ago, he said. Im convinced that, at the very minimum, its a public-private partnership, and that it actually may be a private responsibility. Because clearly, the agency services that have been provided to this population are failing. Oakland has 4,000 homeless people, a number thats almost doubled in just two years. Without subsidized housing and a support system after housing is provided people will continue to shelter in parks, on sidewalks and under overpasses. If the private side doesnt really start to bring the resources and manpower and money to this issue, then this is going to get forced on us, McGrath said. That movement began when two single mothers moved into a vacant house in West Oakland without permission in November. They were making a statement about Oaklands historically black neighborhoods becoming unaffordable places to live for longtime residents. Once bereft of resources and opportunities, the neighborhoods are being transformed by companies that buy and flip homes for profit. Mckinzie knows Dominique Walker, one of the leading voices for Moms 4 Housing, well. Walker is the oldest of her three daughters. Let that sink in. In Oakland, generations of black families are struggling to stay off the streets. Im proud of her, said Mckinzie of Walker, who is staying with one of Mckinzies other daughters in West Oakland. A lot of people need housing. Cities and counties should supply housing for the homeless, and the wealthy and powerful should contribute financially. In May, tech billionaire Marc Benioff donated $30 million to start a new research institute at UC San Francisco called the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Just think how many people could be housed with another $30 million. Providing housing will make our cities safer and cleaner for everyone, because helping the homeless is an investment in all of our futures. And its the right, humane thing to do. If I have to move them to a different place because I end up selling my house, Im going to do that, McGrath said. If I have to subsidize that, Im going to do that. And its because these are two human beings that deserve to be treated with love and respect. Thats as simple and pure as it gets. This much is clear: Life for many isnt about making plans or reaching expectations. On the street, its about survival, an existence thats physically and mentally draining. Homelessness breaks down minds, bodies and hearts. Recovering from that kind of trauma takes more than four walls. But those walls help, tremendously. McGrath is committed to continue to provide housing for Dunston and Mckinzie. The three have talked frankly about next steps, including one conversation over white wine. Theyre in this together. Ill never abandon them, McGrath told me. Im never going to not finish with them. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr Flash Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, urged Friday that no stigma should be associated with the new coronavirus. "It is the responsibility of us all to ensure there is no stigma associated with the disease. They are unnecessary and unhelpful," said Ryan in a technical briefing on the novel coronavirus at WHO headquarters. He added that profiling of individuals is "awfully and completely unacceptable," and "it needs to stop." Ryan underlined that governments have the responsibility to educate their populations on the act of discrimination. "This is a very important responsibility, and something we do need to engage with," he reiterated. During the same event, Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, voiced similar concern. Van Kerkhove said that the WHO has provided an interim name for the disease, calling it the "2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease." "We thought it was very important that we provide an interim name, so no location was associated with the name," she said. "We want to ensure that there was no stigma associated with this virus." The WHO said the final name of the disease will be provided by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the final decision being made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday disapproved of Union minister Babul Supriyos remarks against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, saying he has no right to scold any member of the House. The Speaker immediately expunged Supriyos remarks against Chowdhury, which also prompted strong protests by the Congress members. Mantri ji, aapko adhikaar nahi diya (gaya hai) daatne ka (minister, you have not been given right to scold), Birla told Supriyo. The Speaker also told the parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi to explain Parliamentary proceedings to Supriyo. Supriyo is the minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, was replying. The Speaker also cut short Supriyos reply to a supplementary related to air pollution during the Question Hour. Amid protests by Congress members, Supriyo said he has known Chowdhury for a long time and was withdrawing the remarks. Earlier, Chowdhury said the written reply related to national clean air programme was just a statement of intention and alleged that the government has failed in addressing the issues. In response, Supriyo said since Chowdhury is following Fit India regime, he might have been doing Yoga and did not get enough time to read the answer. Video footage has revealed the shocking moment a van plowed into a bus in Chicago, leaving 15 passengers hurt, including one who had critical injuries. The footage obtained by WBBM shows when a Honda minivan leaves a gas station and shoots across an intersection, striking the side of a passing Chicago Transit Authority bus in the city's Austin neighborhood. The collision happened about 7:40pm, said police who only had preliminary information to release. Breaking Now: Several people onboard a CTA bus taken to the hospital on the west side after a van slams into the bus. Exclusive video ahead at 10pm @cbschicago live report on the injuries. pic.twitter.com/ZLn7E89PRQ Jermont Terry (@JermontTerry) February 8, 2020 Video footage has revealed the shocking moment a Chicago Transit Authority bus was struck by a van in the city's Austin neighborhood Friday, injuring 15 passengers. In this image, the bus (far left) is seen as it approaches the intersection The video footage then shows the impact, just as another vehicle (far left) was about to enter the intersection The video reveals how the force of the impact causes the bus to turn to the right The van and CTA bus collided in the 5300 block of West Chicago Avenue, which is located at the intersection of West Chicago Avenue and North Lorel Avenue. Fifteen passengers were hurt with 'varying injuries', reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The injured, including one person in 'serious-to-critical' condition, were sent to area hospitals. Investigators examine a minivan after it struck a public bus from the side in Chicago on Friday, leaving 15 passengers injured, including one critically Investigators on the scene after a minivan struck a public bus from the side in Chicago on Friday, leaving 15 passengers injured, including one critically Firefighters and police at the intersection in Chicago where a minivan struck a public bus from the side on Friday, leaving 15 passengers injured, including one critically Another person was in 'fair-to-serious' condition, while the remaining 13 were in good-to-fair, the Sun-Times reports. The condition of the driver of the van was not clear. Neither was the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation, authorities said. Four Jacksonville-based organizations leading efforts to grow business, encourage travel and tourism, revitalize downtown and strengthen the economy have banded together to develop a video submission to a national television program that will make over an entire small town. The directors of Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jacksonville Main Street and Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp. learned about HGTVs upcoming program, Hometown Takeover two weeks ago. After researching the contest, the four created a script, hired a videographer and entered their submission by Fridays deadline. After I learned of the Hometown Takeover contest through a family member, I reached out to fellow colleagues with whom I partner as I strive to increase travel and tourism as well as encourage overnight stays in Jacksonville. They immediately agreed to join me on this project, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brittany Henry said. The town that is chosen as the winner of the competition will receive a facelift by Ben and Erin Napier, the husband-wife renovation team of the hit show Hometown. The couple will spend a few weeks in the community updating private residences and public spaces. To be eligible, communities must have a population of less than 40,000 people, have houses with historic architecture and a main street in need of renovation. Jacksonville Main Street Executive Director Judy Tighe said she was drawn to the contest because the Napiers are committed to preserving the historic integrity of their projects and they harbor an appreciation of the classic main street in small town America. Our recent major renovation of Jacksonvilles downtown has been very successful and the renaissance of our downtown square has transformed life in Jacksonville, Tighe comments in the video submission. She explains later in the piece that the city is planning upgrades on the east side of the square, but available funding will only go so far. Lisa Musch, president of Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, said entering the contest was an innovative way to introduce the historic town to a wider audience. In the opening minutes of the video submission, she explains Jacksonvilles rich history is steeped in education, agriculture and commerce. Kristin Jamison, president of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp., has been talking with members of the community about the value of placemaking and inclusive economic development as a means to attract new business to the region. Jamison recognizes that the current strength of the town includes beautiful, historic neighborhoods as well as national retailers, thriving small businesses and a strong manufacturing base. However, she acknowledges there is more work to be done. Hundreds of communities have submitted contest entries for Hometown Takeover, according to news reports. Growing up punk, you live by your own moral code. I was a vegetarian, I believed in anarcho-socialism, and I had strict rules about the businesses I supported. Then, in 2012, to pay my rent, I broke them: I worked as a copywriter for a tech startup run by Stanford bros in San Francisco. It was the type of company responsible for the displacement of artists and communities where I had grew up. My co-workers were the type of yes-men and bootlickers I despised. I felt like I had betrayed my community and myself. That same year, I came across Noah Levines memoir, Dharma Punx, which chronicles how Levine, a Santa Cruz native, went from punk-rock drug addict to punk-rock meditation teacher. In the back of the book was the address of the San Francisco chapter of Dharma Punx: a weekly meditation group for punks, people in recovery and anyone who wanted to commune in silence over a shared sense of what we werent and who we wanted to be. I went. In the small space in the Inner Richmond, I found people with tattoos and anti-authority attitudes people who reminded me of the kids I grew up with. That was also the first time I heard the meditation teacher Vinny Ferraro speak. His style was old-school punk, and tattoos peeked out of his long-sleeve plaid shirt. His subject that day was compassion and the Buddhist principle of loving kindness. He translated a lifetime of Buddhist scholarship into a 30-minute talk. I remember one line: No one has ever hated themselves into being a better fing person. Ferraro was saying exactly what I needed to hear, and I wasnt alone when he spoke, hundreds of people grew silent. Seven years later, Ferraro is part of a Dharma Punx community that has had its faith and compassion tested in more ways than one. In 2018, Noah Levine was accused of sexual misconduct by several women. What happens when a spiritual leader is accused of being morally bankrupt? Can you continue a spiritual practice without the very leader who taught you your precepts? Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle In September 2018, as news of the allegations became public, Levine initially wrote an open letter apologizing to the women who have come forward and expressed a sense of suffering because of interpersonal experiences with me. Since then, he has repeatedly denied all allegations. Following an investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department (in whose jurisdiction one alleged assault was said to have occurred) declined to bring charges against Levine. But for the followers of the movement he helped to spark, the fallout was far from over. The meditation centers that had grown out of Dharma Punx an international network of meetings and retreats that became known as Against The Stream conducted an internal investigation, and ended their affiliation with Levine within a year. Meanwhile, the Dharma Punx-inspired addiction and recovery support group Refuge Recovery has split into two factions: one that Levine still runs and one run by different facilitators who have distanced themselves from him. In 2019, Levine was stripped of his credentials by the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre. I was just devastated, says Leilani Clark, a writer and editor who was a member of a chapter of Refuge Recovery in Santa Rosa. She said that at first, all that was known was that Levine had slept with a student; slowly, a few murky allegations emerged. Eventually, four allegations were made public, which included rape and assault. Members of Clarks sangha, or meditation group, could no longer avoid dealing with the issue, especially since the group used the Dharma Punx-inspired workbook, Refuge Recovery, for those in recovery. Being in early sobriety, I just didnt have the stomach to sit through (readings of the workbook), Clark says. And the book is heavily used (in the practice); Refuge Recovery has Noahs name on it. I was like, is this a sexual predator who wrote these things? I dont know. One reason that the destruction of Against The Stream and Refuge Recovery was particularly painful for meditation practitioners was because so many of them already saw themselves as outside traditional Buddhism. Dharma Punx was a refuge for those who had lost their community and no longer knew whom to trust or where to practice. Worse, for some Refuge Recovery members, losing faith in Levine meant losing faith in the very methodology Levine had developed and therefore in the support group that kept them sober. People were scared and hurt and felt betrayed, and so much processing needed to happen, says Cassandra Millspaugh, a Bay Area teacher in recovery. Millspaugh was a member of Against The Stream since its inception. Its a thing with power dynamics. It happens a lot with men in positions of power this kind of stuff comes out. Many meditation teachers at Against The Stream felt a sense of personal responsibility in addressing the sexual misconduct allegations. But with the threat of lawsuits from Levine, those teachers legally could not make public comments. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle Vinny Ferraro not only co-founded Dharma Punx, he led meetings at Against The Stream for over 15 years. Trying to navigate the complexities of confidentiality, my role as the guiding teacher and a 28-year relationship (with Levine) was extraordinarily difficult, he says. As internal questions about loyalty arose, my work was to clearly know: What was I being loyal to my friend, our community, my own knowing? In the aftermath of the allegations, Ferraro reached out to the members of his community. I felt an immense amount of responsibility for the ways that I contributed to harm being caused, he says. When we started ATS we were so young and cocky we wanted to create a dharma community for people like us, folks that swear and are tattooed and hurting. (A place where) we could be ourselves without the formality of traditional meditation groups. But we really had no idea that along with the energy of rebellion, we were also bringing unexamined toxic masculinity. Since the demise of Against The Stream, Ferraro and many of its teachers and community members have gone on to form their own meditation groups. Ferraro runs a group called Big Heart City that meets on Fridays at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, near 15th and Valencia in the Mission. And 16 months ago, the SF Dharma Collective formed in the former Against The Stream space on 23rd and Folsom, with dharma talks every night of the week. I still practice what I learned in Dharma Punx. To this day, when I feel the beginning of an anxiety attack or I start to have self-hating, depressive thoughts, I remember a meditation Levine wrote: May you learn to care about suffering and confusion. 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. May you respond to pain with mercy and empathy. May you be filled with compassion. But in the wake of the allegations, I dont know if I should still use this prayer. I think of a time I felt deeply lost, of how many others have felt the same way, and what it means to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable. I also think about who is granted the luxury of redemptive narratives and who isnt. In a practice rooted in compassion and forgiveness, what does self-preservation look like? Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle Reflecting on these questions, I revisited the former Against The Stream space at the end of last year. I attended a class based on a text by the Dalai Lama, led by the teachers Lopon Chandra Easton and Eve Ekman of SF Dharma Collective. Easton and Ekman led their class differently from Dharma Punx. There was no swearing, less irreverent humor, and not as many punks in the crowd. Nevertheless, Easton and Ekman were engaging, asking the meditators questions and breaking down hierarchies between teachers and students. One of the conditions that permits sexual misconduct and abuses of power, says Kati Devaney, a member of SF Dharma Collective, is when one or a small group of people at the top of a hierarchy disconnect from feedback and accountability from folks at the bottom. With this in mind, the collective is run by 10 people who have a system of checks and balances to prevent abuses of power. The SF Dharma Collective is not the second coming of Dharma Punx, and it doesnt want to be. We aim to be a place where everyone can experience the benefits of meditation, Devaney says. The idea is that, whether youre just starting or youve been practicing for years, if you come here every day for a week, youre going to ... find something that really resonates with you. Ferraro, for his part, has found a new beginning since the decimation of Dharma Punx. After leading the S.F. group for 15 years, I questioned what continuing actually meant what should continue and what should be left behind, he says, about starting his group with members of the Against The Stream sangha. So I felt deeply inspired because I watched the folks that continued to show up. Sometimes when a community goes through some s together, theres a possibility of getting closer. In the reincarnation of Dharma Punx, there are no gurus. Removing an idol from the movement, as it turns out, may keep its spirit alive. As the zen koan states: If you meet the Buddha in the street, kill him. Michelle Villegas Threadgould is a Bay Area freelance writer. Email: culture@sfchronicle.com WASHINGTON - Democrats who say they are determined to keep voters focused on health care this year were hoping that the Supreme Court would hand them a ready-made campaign ad and a potential courtroom win. Instead, the court recently punted on a major decision over whether to kill the 2010 health care law that expanded coverage to more than 20 million Americans. Now, Democrats hope that by shifting their attention to high prescription drug prices they might still mobilize voters and help the party maintain its edge on health care, the public's top domestic concern, although Republicans also are focused on drug prices. But without a high-profile appeals hearing at the Supreme Court about the fate of the 2010 law, it could be harder for Democrats to drive interest in the lawsuit, Texas v. Azar, ahead of Election Day. "There's a lot of concern and apprehension in what (overturning the law) would mean, and yet it's been playing out for so long, it hardly feels like a new story and it's hard to maintain the same level of urgency," says Melinda Buntin, chair of the health policy department at Vanderbilt University. "Yet the extreme disruption that would be caused by the repeal of the (health care law) is just as real as it's always been." The lawsuit brought by Texas and other conservative state attorneys general to overturn the law came after Congress ended its penalty for those without insurance. The Trump administration backed the suit, calling for the entire law to fall. But several blue-state officials and the House defended it and requested a quick resolution. If the high court had expedited the case, Democrats could have pointed to it as an imminent threat. ADVERTISEMENT So far, the lawsuit hasn't appeared to register with voters in the same way congressional GOP efforts to roll back the law did in 2017, when the Obamacare repeal proposals dominated town hall meetings and led to protests on Capitol Hill. Democrats leveraged voters' fears that they would lose coverage, which helped flip the House to Democratic control in 2018. "People thought, women voters in particular thought, we've sent a clear message" on health care, says Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. "Then (President Donald) Trump went at it right away, again. That really energized voters because they thought, 'Wow, he really didn't hear us.'" Legal experts on both sides of the aisle are skeptical of the case's legal arguments, but the risk to the law remains. Whether voters are aware of that is an open question. But broad concerns over health care do remain top of mind for voters, polls show. Republicans hope to counter their rivals' message by taking advantage of divisions among Democrats over whether to undertake another ambitious overhaul of the health care system. Liberal presidential candidates, including independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, would move the nation toward a government-run system, while moderates including former Vice President Joe Biden say that idea is too costly. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the right-leaning American Action Network, said Republicans will have an easier time focusing on those proposals without a more immediate threat to the 2010 law. "It takes off the table having to talk about comprehensive reforms that would be in lieu of the ACA, and that I think is probably to their benefit," Holtz-Eakin says, using the law's acronym. "They can instead focus on some issues where they feel they will have some things to say." GOP candidates also note that Trump created a comprehensive plan designed to cut drug prices. While voters overwhelmingly agree that no one in Washington has done enough to lower drug costs, a November Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 22% of voters said Trump is "doing enough," while only 17% said congressional Democrats are. ADVERTISEMENT Still, Democratic strategists and pollsters say they are confident the party will keep its advantage on health care. Polls show that even as Democrats debate the future of health care within their party, voters are more likely to distrust Republicans on the issue. A January CNN poll found that 53% of voters disapprove of Trump's health care agenda, while 38% approve. Voters tell pollsters that lowering drug prices is also a top concern. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently launched a seven-figure ad campaign criticizing Republicans for not supporting the House's sweeping bill (HR 3) to lower drug prices. Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, which defends the health care law, says Democrats may need to work overtime to make voters aware of the lawsuit. Woodhouse says Democrats will keep the issue alive, highlighting it if Trump brings up health care in his Feb. 4 State of the Union address and on the 10-year anniversary of the signing of the health law in March. "Without a fight over repeal, it's going to require groups like us doing everything we can to break through every day," Woodhouse said. --- ADVERTISEMENT (c)2020 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved Visit CQ Roll Call at www.rollcall.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BENZIE COUNTY As the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II nears, a community in the Netherlands is preparing a celebration to honor fallen American soldiers, including two from the area. Buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the town of Margraten are 8,301 American soldiers who died liberating the Netherlands, and an additional 1,722 names are listed on the Walls of the Missing, according to the Faces of Margraten website. During the yearly Faces of Margraten tribute, which began in 2015, photos of those buried there are displayed by their graves, putting a face to the names of the soldiers buried there. Each year, the Fields of Honor Foundation, which started the tribute, reaches out, worldwide, to try and find more photos and information on the fallen buried in Margraten. This year, the foundation hopes to have 7,500 photos total for the tribute. Included in those photos will be those of Frankfort resident Joseph Nickson and John Janicki, of Manistee. The photos and information on Nickson and Janicki were collected by Susan Linton, a Central Lake resident who is helping the Fields of Honor Foundation search for 38 Michigan residents who are buried at Margraten. Nickson was a graduate of Frankfort High School in 1932, and salutatorian of his class. His photo was taken from his graduating yearbook, where his seemingly presentiment salutatorian speech was also printed. The seemingly hard struggle through school is only a preparation for greater and more difficult things, Nickson wrote. Janicki entered the service in 1941, and was a member of the Seventh Armored Division. He was first listed as missing in action in 1944, but was later declared officially dead, when his obituary ran in the Manistee News Advocate on Nov. 6, 1945, where his photo could be found. He was 27, and survived by three brothers and one sister. Linton recovered Janickis information with the help of Mark Fedder, executive director of the Manistee County Historical Museum. Nicksons information and photo came from the yearbook archives of the Benzie Shores District Library. Linton worked with Stacy Pasche, library director, to find the information. Sue contacted me around the start of the new year, Pasche said. She had contacted somebody through Ancestry.com and that person contacted me. I found the photo and sent it to them. Pasche said the library often gets requests for genealogical information, but often refers those requests to the Benzie Area Genealogical Society. However, Pasche said she knew she had the specific information Linton was looking for. It is kind of the little things libraries do every day that have greater impact than were aware of, Pasche said. We think about everything we do here as an institution. These small acts of information finding that have a larger impact. Im glad we could accommodate this. She also said enjoyed learning about the Faces of Margraten. Linton said she started searching for information on the Michigan Soldiers late in 2019, after a request from an organization she was part of The Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association. The Fields of Honor Foundation was reaching out to other memorial organizations to spread a wider search net for information on the soldiers buried at Margraten. They put a map of us online and they asked if we knew any of the people, Linton said. I downloaded all the people from Michigan. The list gave their names, serial number, date of death and county they enlisted from. Linton said shes found 20 of the 30 Michigan soldiers buried at Margraten, including Nickson and Janicki. I have found pictures through historical societies, libraries, legion halls and the VFW, she said. As for how Linton got involved with the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association and the Fields of Honor Association in the first place, she said her father was involved in the Second Schweinfurt Raid, and his plane was shot down. Her father survived and was eventually recovered by Allied forces. A man from Beek, also in the Netherlands, contacted Linton in 2016 and asked for information on her father for a memorial for her fathers plane and his crew members, which was shot down over the town. Linton used letters in a box of WWII items her father saved to help look up family members of the men on his airplane, and in 2017, there was a ceremony in Beek that involved 31 members of the crews family, 400 townspeople and representatives from NATO and the American Embassy in the Netherlands. It was far beyond what I imagined, said Linton. It was through her contacts in Beek that she learned of the Margraten cemetery. The Faces of Margraten celebration will be held from May 2 through 6 in Margraten. For more information on the Faces of Margraten, visit www.thefacesofmargraten.com. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will undertake a four-day state visit to India and hold talks on a number of key areas including trade, defence and maritime security cooperation Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will undertake a four-day state visit to India and hold talks on a number of key areas including trade, defence and maritime security cooperation, his office announced on Thursday. The visit, beginning 7 February, will be the Rajapaksa senior's first overseas visit since his brother Gotabaya was elected President in November. He will have meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "The scheduled meetings will build on the strong relationship that already exists between the two countries," Mahinda's office said in a statement. Mahinda hopes to finalise the implementation of the USD 450 million line of credit pledged by Prime Minister Modi to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to New Delhi in November, according to the statement. "With the aim of enhancing engagement in sub-regional maritime security cooperation, the two delegations are expected to discuss key areas under the defence and maritime security initiatives that include the Sri Lanka-India annual defence dialogue and the trilateral maritime security cooperation with India and the Maldives," it said. Rajapaksa also intends to visit the religious sites of Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodhgaya and Tirupathi, it said. Two Tamil ministers in the Rajapaksa government Douglas Devananda from the north and Arumugam Thondaman from the central tea plantation districts are expected to be in the 10-member delegation, the statement added. The halls of UTSAs McKinney Building were full Saturday not with college students, but with hundreds of French-speaking teenagers, Moroccan dance instructors and chefs making gourmet crepes. The event, the first of its kind in San Antonio, was held to promote culture from all French-speaking nations to local students, something teachers said they hope will invigorate interest in the language. The French language is spoken around the world, and its still a diplomatic language. It is spoken on every continent, and so its a language that is important, said Isabelle Hall, a lecturer in UTSAs modern languages and literature department who co-organized the event. We wanted to give students an opportunity to experience culture, to meet French speakers from different countries. The French Invasion was put on by UTSA and by Charles Matt, president of the local French cultural group Alliance Francais de San Antonio. Nearly 200 students buzzed through the McKinney Building, going from room to room to either compete in linguistic contests or participate in cultural demonstrations. Competitions featured students reciting French poetry, dictation comprehension and writing contests. The event also showed students the French game of Petanque, as well as the Congolese tradition of carrying water in a bucket atop your head not as easy as it looks, one student said. I dropped it, like, five times, said Jayden Johnson, a student at Harlan High School who said his French classes have made him want to visit the European nation. Hall, who was raised in southern France, said she had been organizing the event for nearly a year in a bid to expose young students to culture outside the United States. She emphasized the importance of presenting not just French culture, but how French culture has blended with other cultures around the world. RSVP respondez sil vous plait most of my students dont know that youve been speaking French the whole time, Hall said. Thats the impact of France on the world. There are around 280 million French-speaking people in the world, according to Ethnologue, a linguistics research publication. And the language is expanding throughout Africa, the fastest-developing region of the world. In 2014, 44 percent of the worlds French-speakers lived in sub-Saharan Africa. Teachers said they want students to learn the language to gain an advantage in the international job market of the future. Our goal is to prepare our students for jobs anywhere in North America, said Claire Platenga, a French and Spanish teacher at Harlan High School. If theyre working for a company thats working with Canada or a company thats working with Mexico, this allows them to be prepared for international opportunities. Hall said she hopes this will be the first annual French immersion event for students that will continue on for years. We would like this to be the first yearly event, and then from there on, hold it here every year, she said. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari put up a brave face even as exit polls predicted a sweep for the AAP in the assembly polls, voting for which concluded on Saturday evening, claiming his party will win "48 seats" and form a government in the city. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was expected to meet BJP's seven Lok Sabha MPs and other leaders late in the evening, a top party leader said. "Shah will meet the MPs and other leaders to get their feedback of the voting on the 70 Assembly seats," he said. Tiwari tweeted all the exit polls will "fail" and asked his detractors to save his tweet. "All these exit polls will fail. Save my tweet carefully. BJP will win 48 seats and form government in Delhi...please do not search excuses to blame the EVM," Tiwari asserted in his tweet in Hindi. Shah and BJP president JP Nadda during the whirlwind campaign for the polls had claimed that the party will win more than 45 seats in Delhi. Exit polls for the Delhi Assembly election on Saturday predicted a comfortable victory for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) despite a likely rise in tally for the BJP in the 70-member House. Times Now-Ipsos exit polls predicted that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will retain his chair with the AAP winning 44 seats against 26 for the BJP. Republic-Jan ki Baat survey gave the AAP 48-61 seats and the BJP 9-21 seats. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero predicted 54 seats for the AAP, 15 for the BJP and one for the Congress. The AAP had scored an overwhelming victory in the 2015 assembly polls, winning 67 seats and reducing the BJP to three. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gubernatorial candidates Tate Reeves and Jim Hood released a flurry of television attack ads, as well as online advertising on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. They also purchased more than a combined $1 million in ad time through Election Day. An ad paid for the gubernatorial election airs on a Jackson TV. But many of the ads included at least some false or misleading claims. Here's a Clarion Ledger fact check on four television spots: 'Liberal' ad misleads on tax hike claims A Reeves ad titled Local Liberal contrasts U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described Democratic Socialist, to Hood, claiming they both have expensive plans but Sanders is upfront about how much they will cost. The ad is broadly misleading and at times false. The ad uses snippets of Hood saying large dollar amounts $7 billion and $5 billion among them. Then, it lists several taxes on the screen, suggesting Hood has just called for massive tax increases. The clips of Hood saying the two billion dollar amounts come from a debate at the University of Southern Mississippi. Were talking about $5 billion, Hood says in the TV ad. The full quote: Were talking about $5 billion hes turned down from the federal government." Hood is referring to Reevess opposition to expanding Medicaid, which would have injected roughly $5 billion in federal funds to Mississippi since the Affordable Care Act was implemented. In the ad, Hood also is shown saying, $7 billion. The full quote from the debate was, Hes cost us $7 billion dollars, while pointing at Reeves. Again, Hood was not talking about $7 billion in taxes. Hood spokeswoman Margaret Ann Morgan said the figure comes from several decisions made by state leadership in addition to not expanding Medicaid, such as higher electricity rates from the failed Kemper County clean coal power plant, a state lawsuit with Entergy that was allowed to be dismissed and tuition increases at state universities. The ad also reads, Jim Hood will raise taxes, then several taxes are listed, such as a gasoline tax or a tax for healthcare. Hood hasn't explicitly endorsed a gas tax, saying hes open to the idea, but would leave it to the Legislature. Regarding health care, Hood says he would support a Medicaid expansion plan if its cost-neutral to state, meaning no new taxes. Story continues The ad ends with Hood saying, Thats where were gonna start to find the money, implying that Hood supports tax increases. The full quote? The fact is Im gonna drain the swamp (Reeves) created. Thats where were gonna start to find the money," referring to government waste. An ad paid for the gubernatorial election appearing on a Jackson TV. Hood won't specify Medicaid plan, but 'Nurse' ad suggests he's got one In a Hood ad titled Nurse, a narrator makes it seem like Hood is in lockstep with Republicans on a common-sense health care plan. But Hood has never specifically advocated this plan, only saying he wants to expand Medicaid without raising taxes. Leading Mississippi Republicans and Jim Hood share the same plan to save rural hospitals, cover 300,000 working folks, make healthcare more affordable without more taxes, the narrator says. The ad doesn't mention it, but it appears to refer to a Medicaid expansion plan proposed by the Mississippi Hospital Association. That Hospital Association plan calls for hospitals and patients to chip in funds so that Medicaid coverage could be expanded to more low-income working Mississippians without tax hikes. Prominent Republicans have endorsed the plan, including two Republicans who challenged Reeves in the primary. But Hood never endorsed it. In an August interview with the Clarion Ledger, Hood was ambiguous: "I've read that plan, but I haven't seen all the details," he said, waffling on whether he would push the Legislature to pass this plan, or a different one. 'Gun Rights' ad overstates, misleads on Hood's gun statements A Reeves ad titled Gun Rights falsely claims Hood opposes the castle doctrine, a contentious issue in the national debate on gun violence. It's a legal doctrine hundreds of years old. The idea is that your home is like your castle, and you should be allowed to protect yourself from an intruder using deadly force. The doctrine is similar to stand your ground laws. The National Rifle Association has pushed for state legislatures across the country to codify these ideas into law. They were scrutinized after a Florida man shot an unarmed black teenager in 2012. The TV ad shows Hood at a recent debate saying, Im not against the castle doctrine. Thats a lie, the narrator responds. The ad then plays a clip of Hood speaking in 2014 at the United Nations Committee on Human Rights, followed by a clip with former CBS News anchor Dan Rather. In both cases, Hood says he doesn't support a stand your ground law in Mississippi. But the ad lacks context. At the UN, Hood never said hes against the castle doctrine. He said he was against what he believed was an unnecessary law that could have unintended consequences. What happened is there was a national cookie-cutter model that some groups passed around to different states, Hood told the UN. They called them stand your ground laws or castle doctrine laws, and in Mississippi we didnt need it. We had good self-defense laws. We prosecutors, were concerned that those statues were going to make it more difficult to prosecute people who use excessive force. Similarly, Hood told Rather he supports gun rights and being able to defend yourself at home using deadly force. In Mississippi, you grow up with the right to carry a gun. I would never support anything that takes away your right to carry a firearm, period, Hood says. Everyone believes yes, you ought to be able to protect your home if somebody's breaking into your home and you're in fear they're gonna hurt you and your family, you should be able to defend yourself and kill 'em. The ad also exaggerates Hood's position on mandating background checks for all firearm sales in Mississippi. The ad uses a debate clip where Hood says: "I think we should." But his position is that sales at gun shows should have a background check requirement. As far as other checks, including for private sales, Hood has said he's "not sure." "That would be a more difficult step, but I'm just saying the first step should be to close the loophole allowing crooks going to these gun shows and buying and trading guns," Hood said. Central claim in 'Traveling' leaves out crucial context A Hood ad titled "Traveling" attacks Reeves for traveling too much, suggesting he's wasting taxpayer money via a "state limo, a state plane," and attending events such as a rock concert and Mardi Gras while on state business. (The state "limo" is in reality an SUV.) But the ad's central claim centers around a fishing boat: "Reeves even had a state trooper guard him on a Louisiana fishing boat, at taxpayer's expense," a narrator says. "Like someone is gonna come out of the Gulf and get him?" The ad then cuts to Hood, who suggests he could protect himself while out fishing. But viewers probably aren't aware that as lieutenant governor, Reeves along with Gov. Phil Bryant and House Speaker Philip Gunn often have a state security detail with them, according to state policy. Officers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol's Executive Protection Division perform this duty. The state policy on the matter states officers "will accompany these officials in all their political, public, and private travels and appearances, both in-state and out-of-state." Yet a separate statement from the Department of Public Safety suggests despite the policy's language that Reeves, Bryant and Gunn can opt out of the security detail when they want. So it appears Reeves could have declined to have a trooper join him on the fishing boat. Old election law: Here's how legislators, not voters, might pick Mississippi's next governor LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS Our journalists live, work and play in Mississippi. We are striving to make it a better place to live through the stories we tell. Please click here to support quality Mississippi journalism with a digital subscription. Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi governors race fact check: Whats true, whats not in ads The next generation of talented young musicians gathered in The Spirit Store recently for the Louth heats of the Irish Youth Music Awards (IYMAs) The IYMAs is an annual all island youth music project run by Youth Work Ireland aimed at creating teamwork and friendship at local level, while providing first contact work experience and education in a variety of subjects associated with the music and creative industries. Youth Work Ireland Louth hosted the county's live selection night on Thursday January 16, with Barry Lennon, the Irish Youth Music Awards National Director, explaining how the awards work. Barry outlined how each band/ soloist has to perform two songs, one an original and the other cover. The acts competing on the night were: Cian Savage,a soloist from Dundalk Youth Centre, who performed his original song Devil in Disguise and the cover '9 Crimes', the band 'Below Zero' also represented Dundalk Youth Centre, and performed their original song 'Strongest Part of M'e and the cover song 'The messenger'. Euphoria, another band from Dundalk Youth Centre, performed their original song 'Sober' and the cover 'Teenagers', and band Never Silent, also from Dundalk Youth Centre, performed their original song 'Quarter past 4' and the cover song ' Crush/Crush/Crush'.. Toberona Youth Club was represented by the duo Carmen and Mia who performed their original song 'If Only' and the cover song 'Thousand Years' As the voting took place to see who would represent Louth in the national finals in Croke Park later in the year, there were performances from Naoise Duffy, who was part of 2019 winning team and appears on the volume 12 Irish youth music awards album, and Bobby Bankole, wo was part of 2015 winning team and appears on 2015 album. The results of the voting saw Euphoria selected as Representing Act while 'Quarter past 4' by Never Silent was picked as Best Song. All the young people whi participated in the local live selections event now become part of the local support team. They will be assigned different jobs and various tasks including photography, social media, marketing and video production. Each group will be judged on the jobs they do as well as getting the opportunity to attend the National Final in Dublin in May 2020. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase a shooter hidden in a shopping mall after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand February 9, 2020. A Thai soldier angry over a land deal went on a shooting spree that killed at least 26 people, most of them in a shopping mall in the northeast that he fled to in a stolen Humvee after shooting his commanding officer, officials said. Thai security forces shot and killed the rogue soldier on Sunday morning after an overnight standoff at the Terminal 21 shopping center in the northeastern Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima. The soldier was armed with an assault weapon and ammunition stolen from the army base's arsenal, an official said. He initially posted written messages on Facebook during the attack before his account was shut down by the company. Hundreds of shoppers fled the mall in groups crouching low, and the police and army launched several rescues during the more than 12-hour standoff, with armed forces at one point emerging at a run carrying small children. "It was frightening because I could hear the occasional gunshot ... we waited a long time for the police to come and help us, many hours," said Suvanarat Jirattanasakul, 27, her voice trembling after she emerged. Another shopper who escaped told local Amarin TV that the shooter was "aiming for the heads" and said his colleague died on the scene. "I heard so many gunshots. He was shooting everywhere and his shots were very precise," said the man, identified as "Diaw." For most of Friday nights New Hampshire debate, the candidates who needed a chunk taken out of Pete Buttigiegpretty much all of the rest except for Bernie Sanders, who wouldnt mind having the former South Bend mayor endure as his chief moderate foilcouldnt get the job done. Amy Klobuchar, bless her, tried valiantly early in the debate, fighting back against Buttigiegs Washington-outsider message with an impassioned defense of practical policymaking experience that concluded with, We have a newcomer in the White House and look where it got us. The moment could have escalated into a pile-on, but Sanders followed up on Klobuchars assault with a reiteration of his vision for health care. Advertisement Buttigieg, for most of the debate, seemed comfortable dancing around the shots taken at him by pivoting to constructions of aspirational buzzwords. The provisional Iowa caucus winner was able to avoid the fate of an ascendant Marco Rubio on this same stage, at the same venue four years earlier, when Chris Christie effectively ended the Florida senators shot at the Republican presidential nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was one moment, though, that seemed to flummox the ex-mayor. ABC moderator Linsey Davis pressed Buttigieg about his record when he was in charge of South Bend, during which time the disparity in marijuana possession arrests between black and white people there increased. Buttigieg tried to gently dodge the question by moving to his broader thoughts about drug policy and criminal justice reform. Advertisement I want to go back to the original question, though, Davis followed up. I want you to explain the increase in black arrests in South Bend, under your leadership, for marijuana possession. And again, the overall rate was lower Buttigieg began. No, there was an increase, Davis pressed. The year before you were in office, it was lower. Once you became in office, in 2012, that number went up. In 2018, the last year we have records for, that number was still up. Buttigieg explained his strategy as mayor, saying it was connected to gang violence. Davis then asked Elizabeth Warren whether Buttigiegs answer was substantial enough. No, Warren said, to loud applause from the audience. Buttigieg is rising in New Hampshire on the strength of his Iowa performance, nearly catching the primarys front-runner, Bernie Sanders, in post-Iowa polling. But as long as he remains mired in the low single digitsor zeroamong black voters, his streak will end as the race moves to South Carolina and Super Tuesday. The central question of the early states, now, is whether a hobbled Joe Biden can maintain his strength among the older black voters currently lifting him in the South Carolina polls, and, if he cant, which candidate or candidates will be the beneficiaries. The stage on Friday night was as much a South Carolina debate as it was a New Hampshire debate. When you look at it like that, Joe Bidens disproportionate speaking time relative to his fourth-place finish in Iowa and his fourth-place polling in New Hampshire, makes a little more sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was particularly subtle about making their pitch for the Palmetto State. When Biden during the debate said that he had more support among the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus than any other candidate, Sanders took issue, counting his number of supporters in that caucus. The reason Biden was walking down that path in the first place, though, was because Tom Steyer had called on Biden to denounce a controversial comment by a prominent Biden surrogate, the publicity loving former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian. The tartan-tied billionaire Steyer, of all candidates, has had the most success so far in cutting into Bidens lead among black voters in South Carolina, catapulting him to second overall in recent polling of the state. With Biden beginning to crater in support in early contests, Steyer was the most aggressive in his play for whats left in Bidens base, and he used every opportunity in the debate to draw it back toward race. He repeatedly emphasized the need to pick a candidate who could build a coalition of white, black, Latino, and AAPI voters and said he would establish a commission on race when he became president. He said he was the only candidate who supported reparations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren, beyond taking the well-set-up slap of Buttigieg earlier in the debate, fused the discussion with race with her plans mantra. Year after year after year, election after election after election, Democrats go to people in the black community and say, Boy, we really care about these issues. Racism is terrible, we all want to do something, she said. And then somehow, the problem just seems to keep getting worse. Well, I think its time we have real concrete plans that are going to make a difference in peoples lives. Warren was among the five candidates this week to begin airing ads in Nevada and South Carolina featuring Barack Obama. Advertisement Biden, as usual, repeatedly referenced his dear friend and former boss during the debate. His most memorable line of the night, though, was his first. Advertisement Its a long race, Biden said. I took a hit in Iowa, and Ill probably take one here. Bernie won by 20 points last time. Usually its the neighboring senators that do well. By predicting his own loss four days ahead of the primary, Biden was trying to soften the blow enough to mitigate any further harm the loss does to his national standing. The other candidates, meanwhile, are hoping that another heavy loss in New Hampshire finally will break Bidens grip over South Carolina and beyond. The polls say the rough finish of candidates in New Hampshire will look a lot like it did in Iowa. Fridays debate was more about laying the groundwork for what comes next. As polling began across all Assembly segments in the capital today morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the voters to exercise their franchise. "Please go out and vote. Special appeal to all women - Just as you take up the responsibility of your homes, the responsibility towards the country and Delhi is also on your shoulders. All of you ladies must go and cast your votes and also take the men of your house along. Make sure to discuss it with them that voting is their right," Kejriwal tweeted. Polling for the 70 seats of Delhi Assembly began at 8 am in the capital amid tight security on Saturday. The voting will continue till 6 pm in the evening. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. Several political heavyweights are trying their luck from their old turfs. Chief Minister Kejriwal is contesting from New Delhi seat. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against him while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabbarwal from the seat. AAP's Dillip Pandey is contesting from Timarpur, Atishi from Kalkaji, Raghav Chadha from Rajender Nagar. BJP has fielded Vijender Gupta from Rohini. Former AAP leader Kapil Mishra is the BJP candidate from Model Town in this election. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga is a BJP candidate from Hari Nagar. Congress has fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar. Former AAP leader Alka Lamba is a Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk. Haroon Yusuf is contesting from Ballimaran. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election.Out of the total number of eligible voters -- 1,47,86,382 -- there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. To ensure peaceful and fair polling in all 70 constituencies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel will also be deployed. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted filmmaker Aparna Sen on Saturday said the fact that youths and students joined democratic protests against the new citizenship law was testimony of a "wonderful feature" of the country. Speaking during a discussion at the Kolkata Literature Festival, the 'Mr and Mrs Iyer' director said citizens of the country have become more vigilant and that is a "redeeming feature". Hinting at BJP's claim to have got the mandate of people to make amendments to the citizenship law, she asked how many people, of 130 crore Indians, had voted in favour of one party. "In Indian voting system, not all vote for one," Sen said. Sen also said while a sizeable section of people like her believe in secularism as the bedrock of Indian democracy, there are also some who at the back of their minds resent the fact that Muslims got a nation of their own, but Hindus did not. "If you scratch the surface, some people will resent the fact that Muslims got a nation of their own...," Sen said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) How is the ink applied on fingers before voting? How does an EVM look like? What is the atmosphere inside polling stations? These were the queries by teenagers and children who tagged along with their parents and grandparents in their visit to polling booths on voting day in the national capital. While many flocked the photo booths at some polling stations and joined their parents in selfies, many others wanted to see the voting process. "My eight-year-old son is very curious about the election process. I had even taken him to visit the poll museum at Chief Electoral Office a few months ago, but he was excited to see it live today," said Reema Bajaj, a private school teacher. Four-year-old twin brothers, Ridhan and Vidhan, accompanied their grandparents to a model polling booth in West Delhi's Kirti Nagar. "They are too young to understand the significance of voting but at least they will know it by the time they are eligible to vote that they should not miss. Today, for them it's a new experience to look around," said Ramesh Gulati, a businessman. The polling booths, decked up with balloons and banners of "festival of democracy", were a centre of attraction for the children. A polling booth in St Columbus school in New Delhi had a creche facility for kids where parents could leave them as they went to cast their vote inside the booth. While children were keen to know about the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), parents said they wanted them to understand the nuances of the electoral system and get a feel of how the democratic process functions. "I wanted to see the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to help me understand the nuances of the electoral system and get a feel of how the democratic process functions," said 13-year-old Shivam Tyagi at Hari Nagar polling booth. A few of the model polling stations also had separate kids' zones to entertain the kids as their parents went inside to cast their vote. Over 1.47 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that will decide the fate of 672 candidates in 70 assembly constituencies, which are seeing a triangular contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the opposition BJP and the Congress. The votes will be counted on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 72nd Independence Day, simple but significant ceremony By Kasun Warakapitiya Shorter march past with fewer military personnel and fewer armoured vehicles View(s): View(s): On the same square where Sri Lanka marked its first Independence Day, a brief ceremony was held to mark the 72nd Independence on February. This was President Gotabaya Rajapaksas first Independence Day. There were no school children or wounded soldiers at the event but it was elegant with different drills and march past by troops. A strong but brief presidential address, a shortened march past with a fewer number of military personnel and a fewer number of armoured vehicles were notable differences in the 72nd Independence Day ceremony. Apart from that the special drill included a segment where those who were involved in heroic deeds took part in the parade under the banner Weera Podujana Padanama (Foundation for Civilian Bravery, Sri Lanka). Even the arrival of the President was marked with fewer vehicles and there was no mounted police escort. The grand event which was held to commemorate the sovereignty achieved 72 years ago was attended by local and foreign dignitaries and religious leaders. The event began with the arrival of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife Ayoma. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his wife Shiranthi, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Attorney General Dappula de Livera, ministers, state ministers and MPs were among other guests. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who also attended the event was seen occasionally speaking with Prime Minister Rajapaksa drawing attention of media persons covering the event. Top military officials, including the newly appointed Air Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders of the three forces, Acting Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Civil Security Department, High Commissioners and Ambassadors too were present. Russias Land Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov also was present. However Former President Maitripala Sirisena, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who were invited for the event had informed the organisers that they would not be attending. The President dressed in simple shirt and trousers was wearing medals he won during the time he served the military. The President obtained the blessings of his brothers Mahinda and Chamal before he started the event by hoisting the national flag. Later a guard of honour was given to the President by the tri-forces. The 21 gun salute was given by the artillery regiment. The President in his message to the nation said maintaining balance of power between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary was important for democracy to function properly. There needs to be a clear consensus on the responsibilities of the central government and decentralised authorities in the devolution of power,he said. The President also said that in democracy, when a leader was elected through a legitimate process he became the president of all people in the country. Therefore during his term of office he would serve all Sri Lankan people. I have the vision that I must serve as the leader of the country looking after all citizens rather than serve as a political leader concerned only about a particular community, he said. He stressed he was committed to working towards fulfilling the needs of the people of the country. He said because of the way public administration had evolved, people were facing considerable harassment and inconvenience due to irregularities, corruption and various rules or regulations enacted without an adequate study. More than 5,000 military personnel took part in the march past, apart from that a display of more than 150 military vehicles showcased the military might of the security forces. Meanwhile the air force gave an air salute using 30 aircraft. The event concluded with a cultural pageant featuring dancing acts including Kandyan and Sabaragamuwa dances, raban dance, Govi natuma and a tea pluckers dance. They represented all communities of the country. Before the departure of the President he came to a special stage to wave towards the people who came to witness the event. This was the first time a president, after the conclusion of an independence day celebration came to say thank you to the crowds gathered to witness the event. Afterwards the Sri Lankan navy held its annual gun salute at the light house opposite the navy headquarters, and presented the navy salute at sea. There were five advanced off shore petrol vessels anchored at Galle face. Today feels different. Today feels lush with potential. Today feels like a hinge moment in our nation's history. "I dwell in Possibility -" writes the poet Emily Dickinson. Possibility is an optimistic, transformative space. Going to the polls today, we do so on the cusp of historic change. As a people, we are voting on Ireland's future direction. Nothing less is at stake. We aren't deciding on the nuts and bolts of policies - manifesto promises are meaningless and compromise is inevitable once government formation horse-trading begins. This is about which path we choose to take as a nation. It's unusual to feel that change is a genuine prospect, even on General Election day. Incoming governments tend to mean a personnel reshuffle rather than a new direction. But something seismic appears possible today. Come what may, the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail duopoly is being overturned. From a two-party State, we have become a three-party State - and the third bloc is part of the Stormont government, lending an all-island significance as never before in modern politics. There is a real sense Sinn Fein is en route to government formation in Dail Eireann for the first time since 1922, when its members sat in the Second Dail. And in topping recent opinion polls, there has been more than an echo of that first election fought by the party - the landslide 1918 ballot which led to the inaugural Dail Eireann's foundation. Those opinion polls show the party has broken with the past in a proportion of voters' minds. Furthermore, they reflect Sinn Fein's support among a young demographic for whom the Troubles are as remote as the trenches of WWI. Yes, something momentous may be in the frame here. "All changed, changed utterly," as Yeats has it. If the party enters into government it will be on the basis of advancing reunification, as the electorate is well aware. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael insist they won't strike a deal with Sinn Fein. There is irony implicit in this stance. No opportunity is missed for scolding the party over seats left unoccupied in Westminster - and in almost the same breath saying its members can't hope to enter government in Dail Eireann. So far and no further is the message. We are the gatekeepers and beyond here you cannot pass. But it is the people's vote which ought to decide such matters, not the presumption of party leaders. Who believes Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin when they say they won't cosy up to Sinn Fein? Not me. Everything we need to know about power can be expressed in one word. Addictive. Today, Mr Varadkar is fighting for his political life. Mary Lou McDonald is fighting for her party. And Mr Martin is fighting both for his political survival and his party - for its rehabilitation. Mr Varadkar needs Sinn Fein to do well because that is likeliest to reduce the Fianna Fail vote. It allows him to tell his party that the electorate wants him to agree a coalition with Sinn Fein. Otherwise, his future as Fine Gael leader is in jeopardy. Already, discussion about a successor has surfaced with Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe's names cited. Mr Martin needs Sinn Fein to perform badly because he is more resistant to going into government with Sinn Fein than Mr Varadkar. Palpable antipathy is evident to an extraordinary degree for a Fianna Fail leader, when he mentions Sinn Fein. He'd prefer to cobble together a rainbow alternative, however bockety. As for Ms McDonald, overall she has had a very good campaign, despite lingering questions about Paul Quinn's horrific murder by the IRA in 2007. This will give some people pause for thought at the polling stations. But by and large she has helped her party to win broader support - Sinn Fein has gone mainstream in the Republic. It will get out its core vote and mop up support from elsewhere, particularly young people, but cannot end up as the largest party because it's not running enough candidates. Both Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin may end up a-courting Ms McDonald. The matchmaking price will not be an imminent Border poll, but government resources and emphasis given to charting a pathway towards reunification. If Fianna Fail can form part of the next Dail, then the party is back - it has put the financial collapse behind it. But here's a question for voters: Did Fianna Fail support Fine Gael in a confidence-and-supply arrangement solely for the State's welfare because of Brexit? Or did Mr Martin know he had to restore people's trust in his party? Arguably, it was not a disinterested stance. Fianna Fail benefited when the party showed it could behave responsibly. So, a lot to bear in mind as we enter polling stations today. If we walk in feeling change is impossible and nothing we do is capable of delivering it, then that's what will happen. But if we arrive convinced our votes can effect change, then it will take place. What's driving this desire for change remarked on throughout the campaign? I believe it's a conviction the Irish can become a better version of ourselves. As a people, we reject the idea that those who struggle ought to be left alone to sink or swim as chance decrees. We want others housed with decency, not left to sleep rough or raise families in emergency accommodation. We want citizens to aspire to home ownership if they choose - not for it to be an impossible dream. We want a decent healthcare system. We want fairness and equality. Personally, too, I want an end to the inhumane direct provision system, which warehouses people, dehumanises them and denies their intrinsic worth. Those are the matters I'm turning over today as I head for the polling booth. Some people may feel they need to vote tactically, not for the party they'd like to have in government but to keep out another party. Others may take a chance on a party they have never voted for before. We can learn from the openness of young people voting for the first time today - they haven't lost their sense that change is possible. As though it was yesterday, I remember my first time to vote: the sense of agency and investment in the community it gave me. May it be like that for today's debut voters. "You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognise the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope." So said the American Trappist monk, theologian and writer Thomas Merton. Courage, faith and hope: a compelling combination to pocket along with your polling card. LOS ANGELES (AP) A 19-year-old French citizen who was gravely injured when flames tore through a high-rise apartment tower this week died Friday evening at a hospital, authorities said. The Fire Department announced the death but provided no details. The Los Angeles County coroner's office identified him as Jeremy Bru of France. But it had no other details, and there was no immediate word on the exact cause of his death. Bru was a foreign exchange student, KCBS-TV reported. Bru was among 11 people who were treated after Wednesdays fire, mostly for smoke inhalation. Seven of them, including a 3-month-old child and a man in critical condition, were sent to hospitals. There was no updated word on their conditions Friday. In addition, two firefighters received minor burns as they scrambled to reach the apartment where the blaze began using bottled oxygen, fire Capt. Erik Scott said. In some dramatic rescues, helicopter crews plucked 15 people from the roof and a ladder was used to save a man who clung to the outside of the building as flames raged in nearby apartments. The fire displaced 339 residents, and some wondered why the management company didn't install sprinklers after another destructive blaze seven years ago. City officials said after the 2013 fire that it shouldnt take another tragedy to get sprinklers into older buildings that are exempt from retrofitting rules, City Councilman Mike Bonin said Thursday. But it did. Bonin introduced a council motion Friday to seek an ordinance that would require sprinklers in residential buildings built more than 50 years ago, before regulations required fire-suppression systems in buildings taller than 75 feet (23 meters). Its an issue that officials in other U.S. cities have grappled with in recent years. Honolulu passed regulations requiring stricter safety rules for buildings with 10 floors or more after a fire raged through a 35-story condominium in 2017, killing four people. It was built in 1971, before the city required condos to have a sprinkler system. Story continues In Chicago, a 2015 law required residential high-rises that were built before 1975 to install fire sprinklers. In New York City, many older residential buildings lack sprinklers, a fact that made headlines in 2018 when a fire at Trump Tower killed a resident and injured firefighters. The Los Angeles City Council has considered expanding the sprinkler requirement for years, but they petered out in committee, Bonin said. Previously, the effort faced objections from building owners who said the fixes would be too expensive and would drive up rents. This time, council members are committed to getting the law passed, and they have the backing of building owners and tenants' groups, Bonin said. He said officials hope to find federal grants to cover the installation costs, but if not, he wants to see management companies pick up the tab. For the most part, they are corporations not mom-and-pop owners that can afford the costs. Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas recommended in 2017 that sprinklers be installed in all 55 high-rise buildings that still lacked them. At the time, the department estimated that the updates would cost about $6,000 per unit. Is someone really going to come to council chambers and argue that the life of a tenant isnt worth 6,000 bucks? Bonin asked. Greg Brown, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Apartment Association, said in a statement that apartment owners face complex and expensive challenges in retrofitting existing buildings. Existing apartment buildings already operate under fire codes, required evacuations and safety plans, and annual municipal inspections processes to ensure resident safety," he said. Mandating such retrofits would negatively impact an already inadequate affordable housing supply and discourage investment in older housing stock. Images of flames spewing from the seventh floor of the Barrington Plaza were eerily similar to those from the 2013 fire that caused injuries and gutted the 11th floor. Puja Oza and her roommate Dalia Kingsbury got calls and texts from friends about the fire before they heard smoke alarms. Still wearing pajamas, they ran with their golden retriever, Seymour, and their panicked neighbors down 16 flights. In a hotel the next day, Oza wondered whether a sprinkler system would have doused the flames before they got out of control. The fire destroyed three other apartments in the time it took for firefighters to get up there, she said. I just dont understand how its not already a law. Its really ridiculous. Tenants filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday accusing the building's owner, Douglas Emmett Inc., of negligence. In response to a request for comment on the lawsuit, the fire and the lack of sprinklers, the company said in statements Friday that its thoughts and prayers are with those who are injured" and its focus was on getting residents back into their homes. The company said floors 10 through 25 were cleared for residents to return to their units and residents of the lower floors were being accommodated in hotels until further notice. The statements did not address the lawsuit but said the building had passed its most recent Fire Department inspection and that the company was interested in learning the results of the investigation into the cause of the fire, which appears to have started inside one of the residential units." Landlords neglecting fire safety is an ongoing issue, said Jacob Woocher of the Los Angeles Tenants Union. Across the city, we see owners minimize spending on maintenance and upkeep in order to maximize profits, and cutting corners on fire safety is just one particularly egregious way their greed can endanger the lives of tenants, he said. The complex has 240 units that range in rent from $2,350 to $3,695 per month, according to Zillow. The building passed a fire inspection in June, Scott said. "We are flat out. It's an incredibly hectic time," said Greg Howell, owner and managing director of Vintessential. Privately owned Vintessential Laboratories at Dromana, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, was forced to reopen during the Christmas/New Year period due to a big rise in demand from Hunter Valley wine producers. In some cases producers are air-freighting grapes interstate for examination, with laboratories in Victoria and South Australia likely to test thousands of samples from this season's vintage. Wine producers are rushing to test whether their grapes have been affected by smoke from bushfires before making a potential multimillion-dollar decision on whether to harvest. "It's incredibly important. People use these results to make a decision about whether to harvest or not. You might have a multimillion-dollar crop and you get one chance a year to pick it, and if this testing shows that the grapes are no good then you can't harvest. If they harvested and then found out they're no good, they've spent more money throwing good money after bad," he said. Grape testing is typically done a couple of weeks before harvest. This gives winemakers enough time to conduct a "bench fermentation", and to taste the wine to check for signs of smoke. "If the winemaker can taste smoke and then gets results from a lab like ours, they can compare those two things and it's up to them to make a decision about whether they should harvest," Mr Howell said. One of the Hunter Valley's best-known wine producers Tyrrell's revealed last month it would not harvest most of its vineyards because of smoke taint. "We are estimating a total crop loss of 80 per cent," the company said, adding that the impact of smoke taint was not universal across the Hunter Valley. The intensity of a fire and heat play a role in smoke taint, as does the "age of the smoke". Taking the country for a ride View(s): Is SriLankan taking Sri Lanka for a jolly good ride, or something to that effect was the headline of an investigative article on the national carrier by a Sunday newspaper of yesteryear. Last weeks revelations that some Sri Lankans had taken the poor taxpayers of this country for a jolly good ride by pocketing kickbacks for the purchase of a fleet of Airbus aircraft should really come as no surprise. Aircraft manufacturers bribing influential persons to sell their wares is nothing new. Lockheed, a US company, was caught bribing even the Prince of the Netherlands in the 1970s and AirLanka went and purchased Lockheeds at the time. Boeing has long complained that Airbus was bribing at its expense. Sri Lankas national airline, for years, has been a very seductive establishment for varying reasons, and for numerous persons. For politicians and senior officials, it was a place for joyrides camouflaged as official business. For others, it was a place to make money, be it from bribes on the purchase of aircraft and parts thereof, or for lesser mortals from seat reservations to duty free rackets. All this was at the expense of the public purse. The airline from its inception, viz., Air Ceylon, Airlanka and now SriLankan has only changed names. The carnival has gone on. The way it has been (mis)managed, riddled with bribery and corruption, the inefficiency and the political meddling have continued irrespective of who was in Government. The end result is an accumulated loss of US Dollars One point two (1.2) billion (Rs. 180 billion). That is a lot of money the country can ill-afford. Today, no international airline or business group wants to touch the national carrier given the humongous outstanding debt to be settled and the inherent political interference that goes with the airline. In the past, there have been Commissions of Inquiry into Air Ceylon, Airlanka and more recently two recent reports viz., the Weliamuna Report and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne. While the Weliamuna Report was dismissed by the then Board of Directors of the airline as a half-baked worthless exercise that would not stand up in a court of law, no action was pursued whatsoever. The appointment of the Presidential Commission seems to have also had a political aim of the then President. It clearly had the twin objectives of embarrassing both, the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government from 2005-2015 and the Ranil Wickremesinghe Administration that ran the airline from 2015 onwards. By the time the independent Commission concluded its findings last July and made its recommendations, much of it against the Rajapaksa Government, the then Presidents political fortunes took, to use airline jargon, a nosedive. Having then wanted a seat back in the Rajapaksa airbus, the report was virtually thrown into the Presidential wastepaper basket. It was not even tabled in Parliament. The airlines partnership with Emirates, one of the worlds leading airlines, though created under a cloud during the Chandrika Kumaratunga tenure, turned out to be a profitable one. That was until a hot-tempered Presidential decree later put paid to the relationship and the local airline again started making losses. It is during this period that the Airbus scandal had taken place. In such a backdrop, President Gotabaya Rajapaksas response to last Sundays disclosures in the local newspapers about the Airbus bribery scandal from a UK Court, and that he will appoint a committee to go into the sordid deals will be met by the public with a sense of scepticism. Oh yeahhere we go again the public will say. Appointing committees and commissions has been a way out of situations for the incumbent Presidents predecessors. At least during the tenure of President J.R. Jayewardene, the entire Board of Directors was sacked after a Commission appointed by him presented its findings. In almost all other instances, by the time the Commissions make their findings known, the Boards have been reshuffled and the culprits have got away scot-free. At least in this instance, there is a suspect readily available and the Attorney General has a brief to work on. The local courts are replete with pending cases of bribery and corruption. Even attempts at accelerating prosecutions with fast-tracking special High Courts have not succeeded with defence lawyers playing for time with preliminary objections and appeals on points of law. These delaying tactics are not uncommon in Courts and almost every judge who is elevated to a higher bench laments about the laws delays at the ceremonial sitting. We see today, those who have had these bribery and corruption cases now once again holding high office of the State from Ministers to officials. All they have to do is drag the case till the next election hoping their political masters will be back in office, which is what has happened. Members in the current Opposition are now calling upon the Government and the Attorney General to act swiftly on the Airbus bribery allegations when they slept right through their term in office. A press release by the SriLankan Airlines Board when asked at the time why it was not acting on the Weliamuna Report gave a detailed response washing its hands of it, saying the CID, FCID, Bribery Commission, PRECIFAC and its own Board was going into the matter and the Ministers in charge of the airline were given the report. No doubt it took time to get the bank accounts of the current suspects from Singapore and the CID had at least got a court order late last year to confiscate the passports of the current suspects, and a last ditch attempt to lift that travel ban after the UK Court report was known, failed. Otherwise, it would be yet another case like the fugitives in the MiG and Central Bank scams who are in Dubai and Singapore avoiding the long arm of justice. Sri Lanka had to pay millions in dollars for cancelling the Airbus deal entered into by the Rajapaksa Government. It was a case of double whammy. Calls to either blacklist Airbus and/or get them to pay back the amounts by way of a fine for bribing our officials is very much in order. We need to retain foreign lawyers and set about this task probably in foreign courts. President Rajapaksas pledge to eliminate corruption is now under scrutiny. The country will wait to see if his Administration is the real difference he has promised his fellow citizens. For that he must see, intervening without interfering, that the Police and the AG do not crash the case after the initial brouhaha. There is reason for scepticism. This Airbus bribe suspect was nominated to chair the airline again in the 52-day Government of 2018. He has friends in high places, it seems. What stories will we tell, true and imaginary, during this momentous year? Yes, there are tales of immigration, social division, and political upheaval stories that, in essence, ask, Who are we, and who do we want to become? But there are also quests, real and imagined; love stories; shoot-em-ups and chases; Ponzi schemes and the Gold Rush. Meantime, the rainbow supernova of literary achievement keeps expanding across genders, orientations, ethnic backgrounds, time, and place. Fiction Spring overflows with exciting new books from established masters such as Zora Neale Hurston, Elena Ferrante, Hilary Mantel, Walter Mosley, Lee Goldberg, and James McBride. Note, too, the Philly- and Pennsy-linked writers, with sparkling entries by Liz Moore, McBride, and Tom Bouman. Cant wait to start turning pages. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston (Amistad, January). The Harlem Renaissance standout (Their Eyes Were Watching God) wrote these short stories while she was the only African American student at Barnard College. We get a taste of her early genius, and a snapshot of 1920s America. Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, January). A police procedural page-turner, but a cut above the rest. The first of a promised series about police rookie homicide detective Eve Ronin as she wheels her car through the gritty, glamorous Los Angeles streets. Long Bright River by Liz Moore (Riverhead, January). The Temple University prof and accomplished novelist takes to the streets of Philadelphia for this tale of the opioid crisis. One sister, an addict, goes missing; another, a cop, goes looking for her. Tough, but brimming with compassion. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (Pantheon, January). An actors fight against racial typecasting opens out into a witty, surprising tale of racial tension and bigotry. One of our fine younger authors. Trouble Is What I Do by Walter Mosley (Mulholland, February). Wily, much-traveled detective Leonid McGill delves into the upper-crust New York social world to solve a murder, protect a family, and keep some old, dark promises. Good to have you back, Leonid. Real Life by Brandon Taylor (Riverhead, February). A man from Alabama comes to live in a lakeside town and becomes involved with its people and life in intimate and troubling ways. On a lot of Most Anticipated lists. Taylor appears at 2 p.m., Feb. 29, at Peoples Books & Culture, in conversation with Fajr Muhammad. (bluestoop.org) The Lucky Star by William Vollmann (Viking, February). The National Book Award winner returns to the Tenderloin District of San Francisco for this novel, which tracks Neva, by turns a witch, a diva, a goddess (in some eyes and hearts), a member of an extended family of friends and acquaintances at the Y Bar, and one of many down-and-outers looking for love. The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel (Holt, March). The final installment of Mantels Thomas Cromwell trilogy, following Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Historically, we know how this whole thing ends; its the journey from power to the Tower that has Mantels fans mad with anticipation. The author visits Philly March 17 for a Free Library author talk at Penns Zellerbach Theatre. The Bramble and the Rose: A Henry Farrell Novel by Tom Bouman (Norton, March). Pennsylvanian Bouman, a master of rural noir, begins his tale with a headless body found in the woods near Wild Thyme, Pa. Folks think it must be the work of a bear but officer Farrell (this is the third in a series starring him) has his doubts. Deacon King Kong by James McBride (Riverhead, March). The National Book Award winner and Philly-area musician, composer, and novelist is back. This is a novel but also a piece of comic/dramatic historical fiction, as a shooting in 1960s Brooklyn involves a diverse group of onlookers whose lives turn out to overlap. McBride is at the Free Library at 7:30 on March 11. (215-567-4341, freelibrary.org) The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (Knopf, March). A lot of people have been waiting for this sprawling, powerful novel. A gigantic Ponzi scheme collapses, rocketing us from the shipping trade to poor camps to the oddities of love. One of this seasons towering titles. Mandel is at the Free Library at 7:30 on March 26. (215-567-4341, freelibrary.org) How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang (Riverhead, April). Two Asian American orphans struggle to stay alive in Gold Rush California. They survive not only a rough time and place, but also a family riven by dark secrets. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez (Algonquin, April). This ones on a lot of peoples Most Anticipated lists. Alvarez (In the Time of Butterflies) writes her first adult novel in 14 years, telling of Antonia, a retired woman whose family is rocked by loss and who discovers an undocumented woman on her doorstep, pregnant. A tart, lovely book about rising to the challenge of understanding and accepting others. The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante (Europa, June). The mysterious Italian master of the Neapolitan Quartet is back with a brand-new story and characters. This time, the focus falls on a teenager, Giovanna, growing up in the Naples Ferrante has made famous. Nonfiction From that rarest of all things, a real American coup, to a pop stars life story, from true crime to immigration and tales of great American lives, the books below tell the truth vividly, sometimes painfully, sometimes with joy, always with the human touch. The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia by Emma Copley Eisenberg (Hachette, January). In 1980, two hitchhikers were murdered in West Virginia en route to a music festival. On a lot of peoples Best Of lists already, this is true crime writing brought to the level of art. Eisenberg lives in Philly, where she helps direct the Blue Stoop. Wilmingtons Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino (Atlantic Monthly, January). A Pulitzer winner and a former Inquirer reporter, Zucchino tells of the violent overthrow of the elected government of Wilmington, N.C., by white men unhappy with the towns prosperous multiracial progress. Its one of the few such events in peacetime American history. True, all true. The Adventurers Son by Roman Dial (HarperCollins, February). Dial is an explorer, a scientist, and an essayist. In 2014, his son enters a faraway jungle and disappears. The father goes back to that very jungle, with a world, a lifetime, and a fatherhood of questions. American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson (Putnam, February). His name was Edward Oscar Heinrich, and if not a household name, maybe he will be after this book comes out. Hes the scientist who, during the Prohibition era, helped develop blood-spatter tests, lie detectors, and ballistics evidence. Race Man: Selected Works, 1960-2015 by Julian Bond (City Lights, February). This civil rights pioneer, activist, organizer (who helped create the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Poverty Law Center), writer, politician, and educator was present at many of the turning points of the late 20th and early 21st century. More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys (Flatiron, March). One of the most engaging personalities in contemporary music tells of her Harlem childhood and her frequently bumpy road to stardom. Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit (Viking, March). A lot of people will want to read this memoir by the feminist pioneer, political activist, and cultural critic. She tells a zigzag tale of urban poverty, personal awakening, and the thrill of working for a better society. Solnit is at the Free Library at 7:30 p.m. on March 12. Tickets: 32-$47; book included. (215-567-4341, freelibrary.org) Front Row at the Trump Show by Jonathan Karl (Dutton, March). This ABC White House correspondent has covered real estate magnate and pop culture figure Trump for 25 years, all the way to the White House. One of a ton of books on this subject this year, Karls promises to be among the best. Later: My Life at the Edge of the World by Paul Lisicky (Graywolf, March). A young man comes to an idyllic place Provincetown, Mass., in the early 1980s about to be harrowed by the AIDS crisis. Lisicky appears with Andrea Lawlor at Rutgers-Camden at 7 p.m. on March 25. (856-668-4980, writershouse.camden.rutgers.edu) Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami (Pantheon, May). This immigrant from Morocco narrates her quest to become an American citizen, uncovering the inequities and prejudices baked into the system. This Is What America Looks Like by Ilhan Omar (Dey Street, May). Born in Somalia, she came to Virginia and from there she began a life of political activism, culminating in her election to the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the first Muslim women to be so honored. The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again by Robert D. Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett (Simon and Schuster, June). Putnam, famous for Bowling Alone and other studies of American life, says that over the past century weve gone from individualism to community-mindedness and back to individualism. But he thinks we can regain the community spirit of a century ago. Poetry The Minor Virtues by Lynn Levin (Ragged Sky, March). Shes a translator, essayist, a teacher at Drexel, and a poet whose often quirky poems may start small like shopping for food from the discount counter but they always invite you to a journey worth taking. A LIMERICK charity has said they are honoured to have presented their film to Pope Francis this week. The film about Knock was directed and produced by Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) Ireland, who have their headquarters in Limerick, for broadcast worldwide. It was presented this week to Pope Francis in Rome. The historic presentation followed a screening of the film in the Vaticans private Filmoteca Cinema. The docudrama, Hope, documents the 1879 Apparition at Knock, Irelands national shrine. The film is the latest major television production by EWTN Ireland. We want to put Our Lady, our Blessed Mother, front of stage for the Irish people and the world as a beacon of hope. We want this film to be a message for people that there is hope. Aidan Gallagher, CEO of EWTN Ireland. The production, which was filmed entirely on location in Ireland, had its first screening on Monday, January 27. The film was written, produced and directed for the global Catholic network EWTN by Campbell Miller. Mr Gallagher added: When Mary appeared at Knock in 1879, she brought light and hope to the Irish people, and she did so at a time of great darkness. Campbell Miller said: It is an incredible honour for EWTN Ireland to have the opportunity to meet the Holy Father and present him with the film. Having visited Knock during his visit to Ireland, he has a particular affection for our national Shrine. In 2018 the directors last feature Bravery Under Fire, the Life of Fr Willie Doyle, was also screened in the Vatican, where Mr Miller also presented a copy of his film to His Holiness Pope Francis. A man who recently assaulted at least two women while they were jogging in Monmouth County was arrested earlier this month, the Little Silver Police Department announced Friday. Luis Flores, 18, of Red Bank, was arrested and charged with criminal sexual contact for the Little Silver incident as well as similar attacks that had occurred in Red Bank, authorities said. A woman was jogging on Seven Bridges Road in Little Silver on Feb. 2 when an unknown man assaulted her, according to a statement from the department. When officers arrived she was able to describe the attacker in detail and officers found Flores and then stopped him from fleeing the area in a car, police said. On Jan. 12, a jogger in her 20s, was knocked over by Flores around 8:45 a.m. near the corner of McLaren Street and Throckmorton Avenue in Red Bank, police said at the time. The actor, the accused, came up behind her when she was jogging and knocked her down to the ground purposely, Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell said. Then (he) ran off. The woman suffered a minor hand injury when she fell, McConnell said It was unclear Friday evening to exactly how many other incidents in which police suspect Flores. Flores was lodged at the Monmouth County Jail pending his detention hearing, according to the statement. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Prior to Feb. 2, 2013, Jewher Ilham was a freshman at college looking forward to spending time with her new friends in school. She never imagined that a one-month planned trip to the United States would turn her world upside down and lead her on a path to advocate for her father, an ethnic Uyghur who was sentenced to jail in China. Jewhers father, Ilham Tohti, was a Uyghur economics professor in Beijing who ran a website called Uighur Biz, which attempted to form a bridge between the Uyghurs in China and the Han Chinese. In 2013, he was invited to Indiana University as a visiting scholar; however, the Chinese authorities didnt allow him to pass through immigration on the day he and his daughter were due to board the plane at Beijing Airport. The Chinese communist regime later sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of inciting separatisma charge that Ilham said was unfounded. University professor, blogger, and member of the Muslim Uyghur minority, Ilham Tohti before a classroom lecture in Beijing on June 12, 2010. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) He had never mentioned a word about separating the country, Jewher told China Uncensored. Forced to Start Anew Prior to the occurrence of this incident, Ilham always thought her father was being paranoid, suspicious all the time that Chinese authorities could be monitoring him. The truth finally set in after her father told her at the airport to leave for the United States without him. Look around you. This country is treating you like this way. Do you still want to stay here? she recalled him telling her. At that moment, everything started making sense, Jewher further added. Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 8, 2014. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Jewher boarded the plane for the United States even though she didnt want to leave. However, coming to America alone wasnt easy, as a nervous Ilham was nearly sent back to Chinaher visa was tied to her father, and because she didnt know English, she couldnt explain to the immigration officers about her situation. After waiting for over 30 hours without food, water, and sleep, Ilham remembered she carried a name card of Elliot Sperling, the man who invited her father to the university. With Sperlings help, she managed to enter the country. Once in the United States, she tried to check on her fathers situation. She got in touch with him after three days and was told that he had been beaten and interrogated. During their conversation, he also made a decision for herone that Jewher still thinks is ridiculousto stay in the United States. No matter what I said in the future, no matter what I tell you, if I say come back, I dont mean it. Stay there. I would rather you sweep the street in the U.S. than you coming back here, he told her. Jewher couldnt believe what she was hearing. Before coming to the United States, she was enjoying her new college life in China and was suddenly told to start life from scratch. Despite this, she listened to her fathers advice and later attended school in the United States with the help of Sperling. Elliot helped me a lot and he took me under his wing, Jewher said. He took care of me, he treated me like his own daughter. Life Sentence and Xinjiangs Re-education Camps In 2014, Ilham was sentenced to life imprisonment. At that time, Jewher managed to write a letter to her father and send a picture of it via his lawyer. However, that was her last message to him. Three years later, in 2017, Jewhers family in China lost contact with Ilham and since then have no news of where he is. It was also the same year when the Chinese regime started the Xinjiang re-education camps. Unable to know the whereabouts of her dad makes Jewher worried. She hopes that the Chinese regime could provide some form of evidence to show that her dad is still alive. Jewher Ilham delivers a speech during the award ceremony for her fathers 2019 European Parliaments Sakharov human rights prize at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Dec. 18, 2019. (FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese regime has claimed that the camps, which were said to be detaining about a million people including Uyghurs and ethnic minorities, were to educate and transform those who were considered to be at risk of the three evil forces of extremism, separatism, and terrorism. According to media reports, Tashpolat Tiyip, the former president of Xinjiang University, was believed to have been convicted of separatism in 2017 after being forcibly disappeared, as per Amnesty International. He had been detained on charges of corruption and bribery and was secretly sentenced to death. However, the Chinese regime denied this. According to a report from BBC, friends said that the professor was going to Europe to attend a conference and form a co-operation with a German University in 2017 when all of a sudden he was stopped at Beijing Airport and sent back to Urumqi, Xinjiangs capital. After that, he never returned home. Former detainees have been stepping forward to inform of the human rights abuses happening in the re-education camps. A former detainee, Gulbakhar Jalilova, told The Epoch Times in 2018 that she had seen how Uyghur women passed out from being beaten so hard, and had nails put into their fingers to make blood pour out. Jewher told Family Research Council that Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, even human rights lawyers are being locked up. Two survivors told Radio Free Asia in 2019 that Han nationals and Falun Gong practitioners were also detained in the camps. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline introduced in China in 1992. It consists of moral teachings and five exercises, including meditation. The Chinese regime launched a brutal crackdown on the practice on July 20, 1999, after the number of people practicing it reached at least 70 million to 100 million, more than the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) membership. A woman practices the exercises of the Falun Gong practice near Battery Park in Manhattan during World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2015. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times) Since the persecution began, numerous Falun Gong practitioners were arrested, detained, and subjected to brutal torture. It has also been confirmed that more than 4,000 practitioners have died in the persecution. The Path to Seeking Freedom After Jewhers dad lost his freedom, she decided to embark on a journey to seek his release. In July 2019, she got the opportunity to meet President Donald Trump at the White House, together with other survivors of religious persecution. She was also invited to speak at the UN General Assembly in September. On Dec. 18, she accepted the 2019 Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament on her fathers behalf for the defense of human rights. European Parliament President David-Maria Sassoli (L) stands next to Jewher Ilham, who is holding a portrait of her father during the award ceremony for his 2019 European Parliaments Sakharov human rights prize. (FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images) I have been trying to do anything that could possibly help my father and my community. I dont know if its helping, I dont know if anything would help. I just dont want to regret, Ilham said. Jewher has also been working on a documentary film called Static & Noise that covers the persecution of Uyghurs and other groups such as Christians who have been suppressed by the Chinese regime. Despite all that she is doing, Jewher said shes not against her home country nor the Chinese people. A few of my best friends are actually Chinese but I do [sic] against the Chinese governments policy towards certain groups, like the Uyghurs, like the Christian minorities in China, the Han Chinese group, the people who are suppressed by the Chinese government, she said. And while others might connect her activities to politics, Jewher begs to differ. It is a humanitarian issue, and it is not about politics, not about religion, Jewher explained. It doesnt matter if Im Uyghur, if Im Chinese, if I am American, if Im from any other country, from any other ethnicity or any other religion [sic] group, this is not about one person anymore. This is about entire us, she added. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 11:16 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206346a78 1 Business Gas,exports,Singapore,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,Sei-Mangkei-KEK-railway,BPH-Migas Free The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has decided to stop gas shipments to Singapore in the next three years to cater to domestic demand. "Gas exports to Singapore will stop in 2023 and we will use the gas for the domestic market, Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) head Fanshurullah Asa said as quoted from the ministrys press release on Friday. The decision is in line with a statement made by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif during a hearing with House of Representatives lawmakers in November that he planned to stop supplying gas to the city-state. Fanshurullah expressed hope the decision would create added value for the nations natural gas and reduce its trade balance deficit, as the use of gas could shift to oil fuel. Indonesia's gas exports to Singapore come from the Corridor Block managed by ConocoPhillips, which has a supply of 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd). The gas supply will be channeled into the Dumai Duri transmission pipeline to be distributed to industrial estates in Sumatra, namely the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone in North Sumatra, among other destinations. The countrys oil and gas exports totaled US$167.5 billion last year, a 6.94 percent decline year-on-year (yoy), Statistics Indonesia data show. (eyc) It seems like every time I put down my brew, someone in the beer universe is doing some really cool thing. Well, this week I have two such instances. First up is a time-sensitive one, so Ill put it at the top. Im also putting it at the top (even though its not a craft brewery doing it) because its about dogs, which regular readers will know I like even more than beer: Coors is covering dog adoption fees across the country until Feb. 21. So, there are time, number and funding limits, and by the time you read this, they may have been reached. But either way, I figure Coors deserved a shout-out for this effort, which will cover a portion of adoption fees for 1,000 dogs through Feb. 21. Coors will cover $100,000 in total for fees. To apply for $100 off an adoption fee, your dog adoption needs to occur during the promotional period (Feb. 4-Feb. 21) and you must be 21 and live in a state that doesnt prohibit such ventures. (Massachusetts is OK for this, of course.) It seems like beer and dogs just go together for some reason as brewers and breweries continue to not just to name brews after dogs, but also to support efforts to help our furry friends. Next up but just as cool is how Doylestown Brewing Co. decided to honor a town native by brewing a beer in his honor and how the beer has been taking off nationally. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania, brewery has been brewing If Not Me, Then Who Blonde Ale in memory of hometown hero Travis Manion was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2007. The phrase "If not me, then who," was one that Manion lived by. The words have also caught on nationally, but one Doylestown local who was inspired by the phrase was owner Joe Modestine of Doylestown Brewing. So in 2012, he started brewing the beer by that name, mostly for events and fundraisers. But over time, Modestine started receiving requests for the beer from all over the country. For every case of beer the brewery sells, $5 goes to the Travis Manion Foundation, a national effort that hosts leadership expeditions for veterans and families of those killed in battle, helps with youth development via activity-based learning, and does community outreach. Although Doylestown Brewing cant possibly fill all the requests they have received, Modestine is planning a program that will allow breweries in other states to brew the beer with Doylestowns recipe and sell it to support the foundations efforts in that state. Cheers to that. NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand An airport-themed mall filled with colorful Lego sculptures, a merry-go-round and huge replicas of landmarks from around the world became a shooting gallery Saturday as a Thai soldier opened fire during the mid-afternoon rush. Officials say at least 20 were killed and 31 injured. Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanich said Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma was behind the attack at the Terminal 21 Korat mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, a hub for Thailands relatively poorer and rural northeastern region. Officials say he was angry over a land dispute. Shortly before midnight, police announced they had secured the entire mall, but were still searching for the shooter. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there were no more bodies left inside, but added, we dont know whether there are any additional injuries or deaths or not. It was the countrys second mass shooting in about a month. City and neighborhood police officers, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to release information, said the man took a gun from his base and drove to the Terminal 21 Korat mall, shooting as he went. Thai Rath television, which aired security camera footage showing a man with what appeared to be an assault rifle, said the incident began at about 3:30 p.m. Video taken outside the mall showed people diving for cover as shots rang out. Nattaya Nganiem and her family had just finished eating and were driving away when she heard gunfire. First I saw a woman run out from the mall hysterically, said Nattaya, who shot video of the scene on her phone. Then a motorcycle rider in front of her just ran and left his motorcycle there. Charnvirakul said that a doctor was shot while helping an injured person. A police officer contacted by phone in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima said the soldier initially killed another soldier and a woman, and wounded a third person, apparently over a land dispute. Nakhon Ratchasima is also known as Korat. The man believed to be the gunman appears to have posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage. No one can escape death, read one post. Another asked, Should I give up? In a later post, he wrote, I have stopped already. Jakrapanths profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. In a photo circulated on social media that appeared to be taken from his Facebook page, the suspect can be seen wearing a green camouflaged military helmet while a fireball and black smoke rage behind him. The Facebook page was made inaccessible after the shooting began. The gunman could scarcely have chosen a more target-rich environment in which to vent his rage. The multi-level glass and steel mall is designed to resemble an airport terminal, complete with a mock control tower and departure gates. A large model passenger jet dangles from wires beside one of the main escalators. Each of its seven retail floors is decorated to represent a different country. A giant replica of Paris Eiffel Tower soars to the ceiling, while a model of Londons Big Ben dominates another area, and a massive model of Californias Golden Gate Bridge spans an open courtyard. A two-story golden Oscar statue towers over a food court. Noppadol Sirijanya, a member of the Sawang Metta Tham Rescue Center in Nakhon Ratchasima, said a rescue team had successfully evacuated more than 100 people from the mall, where they had been trapped for hours. The center is a voluntary emergency aid organization that helps during accidents and disasters. Nakhon Ratchasima is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok. Many malls in Thailand, including Terminal 21s namesake in Bangkok, have metal detectors and security cameras at entrances manned by uniformed but unarmed security guards. Checks on those entering are often cursory at best. Nattaya did not know the full extent of the carnage until she arrived home. When she learned of the death toll, she fainted. I cant believe this is happening in my hometown, she said. I mean, this shopping mall, we go there almost every other day. Gun violence is not unheard of in Thailand. Firearms can be obtained legally, and many Thais own guns. Mass shootings are rare, though there are occasional gun battles in the far south of the country, where authorities have for years battled a long-running separatist insurgency. The incident in Korat comes just a month after another high-profile mall shooting, in the central Thai city of Lopburi. In that case, a masked gunman carrying a handgun with a silencer killed three people, including a 2-year-old boy, and wounded four others as he robbed a jewelry store. A suspect, a school director, was arrested less than two weeks later and reportedly confessed, saying he did not mean to shoot anyone. ___ Tassanee Vejpongsa reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalists Grant Peck, Preeyapa T. Khunsong and Adam Schreck contributed to this story. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her boyfriend offered advice on 'combating racism as a white person' in a series of Instagram stories on Friday night. While answering questions from curious social media followers, 30-year-old AOC brought boyfriend Riley Roberts, 30, in to answer questions in a rare appearance for the Washington D.C. couple. Roberts took the lead when asked to share tips on combating racism as a white person. Roberts said: 'I think its helpful and important to talk to other white people about racism, and I think a lot of people, they dont want to be racist.' 'They dont think that theyre racist, but they also dont know some of the things they believe or say are, and can be, racist.' Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and boyfriend Riley Roberts (right) shared a series of Instagram stories about 'combating racism as a white person' on Friday Roberts goes on to say that using the opportunity as a teaching moment, rather than full condemnation, can help people begin to understand their prejudices. 'One of the effective ways is just to talk and kind of help teach them about why some of the things they believe or say or think are wrong not necessarily racist but that theyre wrong,' he said. 'That will sort of chip away and contribute to some development in this area, but not necessarily take somebody from being a racist to not being a racist in one conversation,' he added. During the Instagram series, Roberts (pictured) said: 'One of the effective ways is just to talk and kind of help teach them about why some of the things they believe or say or think are wrong not necessarily racist but that theyre wrong' AOC then chimes in to add similar sentiments, saying: 'And it just always being open to learning about racist things we may have said or done without defensiveness.' In an separate subtitle, the pair explained how approaching conversations in a 'right or wrong' frame before trying 'racist vs non-racist' can help talk to people who are prone to defensiveness. During the other segments of her Instagram story, AOC discussed a variety of topics, including how people need to acknowledge that they have different 'starting lines' in life, that impostor syndrome is caused by feeling 'undeserving in certain spaces'. She also called the recent Iowa Caucus a 'hot mess' that 'no one is taking is taking responsibility over.' Roberts (left) and AOC (right) first met at Boston University and later moved to New York City together Views on Race in America 2019 Pew Research Center says that the general public has a negative view on racial progress, with more than half saying President Trump has made it worse. According to a April 2019 survey: 58 percent of white people think race relations in the U.S. are 'generally bad,' while 71 percent of black people think the same thing Just under half of white people say Trump made race relations worse, where blacks came in at 73 percent Compared to 56 percent of white people who believe their race provides advantages, blacks, Asians and Hispanics all surveyed over 60 percent that being white does provide advancements 65 percent of surveyors say it's become 'more common' for people to express 'racist and insensitive views' White Republicans surveyed at 77 percent that the biggest problem with racial discrimination is 'seeing discrimination where it does not exist' 78 percent of white Democrats said the problem is 'not seeing discrimination where it really does exist' Advertisement Earlier the week, the Democratic party fumbled the important Iowa Caucus when issues with precinct reporting overshadowed the event. The couple first met while at Boston University and Roberts was introduced to audiences in AOC's Netflix special Knock Down the House. For his part, Robert's has been a supportive - but mostly quiet - partner to AOC as she battled President Donald Trump and other critics since her upset win in 2018. Meanwhile, AOC has been very vocal as of later after revealing she planned to boycott Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. She explained in a tweet that attending Trump's event would be 'normalizing' the president's behavior. 'After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump's lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution,' she said. 'None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it. Consequently, I will not be attending the State of the Union.' She continued in a second tweet, saying: 'This is a deeply personal decision for each member to make, and a choice I did not take lightly.' Rep. Maxine Waters and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, two fellow targets for Trump, also did not attend the State of the Union. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib both attended, but maintained they did not condone Trump's actions. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced Tuesday afternoon she will not be attending the State of the Union address The progressive lawmaker, who is campaigning for Bernie Sanders in the 2020 primary, said attending would further 'normalize' his actions Two days later, she publicly slammed Trump for awarding 'virulent racist' Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom after the radio host announced he was battling stage four lung cancer. 'We're talking about putting someone on the same level as Rosa Parks, for example, in terms of their contributions to American progress,' she said. 'He wants to assert that Rush Limbaugh is somehow on the same level as Rosa Parks. And it's truly nauseating. And this is one of the many reasons that I did not go,' she added. She also mocked Limbaugh's seeming surprise and shock at being given the medal, despite there being media reports about it throughout the day. 'He had to pretend that this was some kind of Oprah moment', she added in an Instagram video posted yesterday. First Lady Melania Trump presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh as his wife Kathryn watches during the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday Several Democratic members of Congress who rose to their feet and shouted at the president during his address when he vowed to sign a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs. 'Working together, Congress can reduce drug prices substantially from current levels,' Trump asserted during his address Tuesday evening from the House Chamber. 'I have been speaking to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and others in Congress in order to get something on drug pricing done, and done quickly and properly. 'I'm calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices,' he continued, a jab at Democrats who have worked on a similar bill that the president is describing. 'Get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately,' the president vowed. This caused an uproar from Democrats, especially from female lawmakers, many of whom were dressed in all white to stand in solidarity with the women who fought in the 20th century suffrage movement. Trump's remarks during his speech angered Democrats, who say it was hyper-partisan and provocative Tlaib and Omar are two of the four members of the so-called 'squad' featuring House Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (second from right) and Ayanna Pressley (far right) The Democrats held up three fingers as they booed, groaned and chanted 'HR3!' Their chant was making reference to the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which was named after the late Democratic congressman who died at 68 from 'complications concerning longstanding health challenges.' Cummings and Trump sparred publicly, especially after the president took a hit at the district he represented, which includes Baltimore and the president slammed it for failing and being 'rat infested' due to the congressman's leadership there. The Democrats attempted to portray that this bill would meet what he said he is looking to achieve: singing a bill that would lower drug prices. The bill was passed in the Democrat-majority House in mid-December, and is awaiting a vote in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Trump's speech on Tuesday mirrored more of a campaign rally than a usual State of the Union address and caused Democrats to erupt at several points in boos and groans. La Prensa is one of the most storied newspapers in Latin America. In 1978, its editor, Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, was gunned down in Managua, sparking the revolution that brought the left-wing Sandinista guerrillas to power. The paper went on to become a prominent critic of the Sandinistas and their leader, Ortega, who led until 1990. He returned to the presidency in 2007 and has been reelected twice. Just hours after news broke that President Donald Trump ousted, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from his national security post in the White House, former Vice President Joe Biden asked a Democratic presidential debate audience to give the decorated soldier a standing ovation. Vindman testified during the House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry, and stated that the president held up military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure the Ukrainian government to announce an investigation into former Vice President Biden and his son Hunter. 08.02.2020 LISTEN A Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has condemned party executives for what he says is deliberately preventing members from picking nomination forms for the upcoming parliamentary primaries. The primaries are scheduled for April, but some aspirants seeking to pick nomination forms have complained that they have allegedly been prevented from doing so. In an interview with Citi News, Nana Obiri Boahen said such reports serious and unacceptable. I dont see how people should deny other aspirants the opportunity of getting the forms. I am being honestly blunt about this matter. I don't see how people should intentionally deny others from getting the forms. Mr. Obri Boahen noted that he had been overseeing the filing process in the Eastern Region and the Greater Accra Region, where he had been made aware of such complaints. As far as the Eastern Region is concerned, I don't think I have received any complaints. But, I have received complaints from some parts of the Greater Accra. I am not comfortable with the state of affairs at all, he said. Mr. Obri Boahen further reiterated words of caution from Former President John Kufuor on the matter. Former President Kufuor said that this conduct is alien to our tradition. I don't think we have a s ingle individual who is above the NPP. ---citinewsroom Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany organized their first Merck Foundation Health Media Training on 30th January 2020 in NDjamena, Chad in partnership with H.E. HINDA DEBY ITNO, The First Lady of Chad and Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother together with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Public Health to break the stigma around infertility, raise awareness about prevention and male infertility and empower infertile women in Chad and rest of Africa. Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother emphasized Today we underscore our long-term commitment to build healthcare capacity in Chad. Merck Foundation has already provided and will continue to provide specialty training to Chad doctors in the fields of Oncology, Fertility and Diabetes Care. Moreover, we conducted the first health media training in Chad to educate media how to break the stigma of infertility and raise awareness about male infertility and infertility prevention through their day to day work. The training program is a part of Merck More than a Mother community awareness Program and was organized for the first time in Chad for local media representatives and media students. H.E. HINDA DEBY ITNO, The First Lady of Chad and Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother emphasized, We are happy to conduct this important training in partnership with Merck Foundation in our country. Media can take the messages to the community and bring a change in the current scenario where women solely blamed for infertility. I urge our media partners to work together for this cause to make a difference. I am delighted to initiate this important training as I strongly believe that media is a critical partner that plays a significant role to influence our society to create a cultural shift. It has the capacity and ability to empower infertile women and couples in our communities Rasha Kelej added. The training was addressed by the stalwarts of media industry, including international faculty and infertility experts. Moreover, it provided a great opportunity for the journalists to meet the experts and also to network with each other and work as a unit to eradicate the stigma around infertility in Chad and rest of Africa. It was attended by journalists working for Print, TV, Radio and Online media and journalism students. The Merck Health Media Training program focused on the international standards and media ethics for reporting sensitive issues like infertility in Africa. It was designed to benefit the journalists in understanding the infertility issues in African communities and to learn the best media practices to cover such issues added Dr. Rasha Kelej. Merck Foundation also announced Call for Application for Merck More than a Mother Media Recognition Awards for Chad and rest of Africa. The Merck More than a Mother Media Recognition Awards were launched in 2017 with the aim to emphasize the role of media in enhancing the public engagement and understanding of infertility stigma and the need to change its social perception in African communities. The applications are invited by media professionals to showcase their work to raise awareness about infertility prevention and breaking infertility stigma in Chad and rest of Africa. Who can apply? Journalists from print, online, radio and multimedia platforms from Chad and rest of Africa. Last date of submission: Entries can be submitted till 15st June 2020. How to apply? Entries can be submitted via email to mystory@merckmorethanamother.com. Categories and prize money for winners: Category TV Radio Print Media Online Media Prize Money USD 1000 USD 500 USD 500 USD 500 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation. View multimedia content Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: bit.ly/2MmUl3p Twitter: bit.ly/2NDqHLR YouTube: bit.ly/318obQe Instagram: bit.ly/2MtCKsu Flicker: bit.ly/2P7AICN Website: Merck-Foundation.com About Merck More Than a Mother campaign; Merck More Than a Mother is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe and effective fertility care. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education & Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries. With Merck More than a mother, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility on all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. Its all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Pete Buttigieg has taken a slim lead over Senator Bernie Sanders in the latest poll in New Hampshire, just days before the state's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday. Buttigieg, at 38 the youngest candidate in the Democratic contest, overtook Sanders, at 78 the oldest, in a Suffolk University tracking poll of New Hampshire Democratic voters. Friday's poll results showed Buttigieg at 25% and Sanders at 24%, within the margin of error and a clear split between the moderate ex-mayor and the party's progressive standard-bearer from neighboring Vermont. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sanders' fellow liberal from next-door Massachusetts, was third with 14% and Joe Biden finished fourth with 11%, the poll showed. The other candidates were in single digits with 7% of voters undecided. Pete Buttigieg has taken a slim lead over Senator Bernie Sanders in the latest poll in New Hampshire, just days before the primary election there on Tuesday Expectations are particularly high for Sanders in New Hampshire, who won the state by more than 20 percentage points in 2016 over Hillary Clinton The two-day tracking poll of 500 likely Democratic primary voters had an error margin of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. Buttigieg has risen 14 points since the first tracking poll was published February 3. It comes after the disaster caucuses in Iowa ended in an effective tie between Sanders and Buttigieg, with both candidates declaring victory after days of delays in reporting results. The knives appeared to be out for Buttigieg ahead of the New Hampshire contest, with Biden releasing a harsh attack ad on Saturday targeting the former South Bend, Indiana mayor's lack of experience. At the presidential debate on Friday, Biden conceded that he likely would not win New Hampshire, prompting local media to ask afterward whether he was writing off the state. His campaign maintained that Biden would continue to campaign in the days leading up to the primary and expected to finish competitively. With the latest poll showing him in fourth place, Biden braved the northern New England wind and cold and spent part of the morning meeting volunteers and handing out food at a community food bank in Manchester. He did not make remarks. Joe Biden chats with a local resident as he volunteers at a food distribution event while campaigning in Manchester, New Hampshire on Saturday Biden, the longtime national front-runner, finished a distant fourth in Iowa. He's now facing a money crunch, a staff shakeup, and a looming challenge from billionaire Michael Bloomberg. The former New York City mayor isn't competing in the early states, but is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in later contests. Sandwiched in between is Warren, who finished third in Iowa and is struggling for a breakout moment. Some Democrats argue that shes been discounted prematurely, and suggest sexism is at play. Some party leaders privately view a Sanders as a risky nominee in swing states, and for House and Senate candidates in places such as Colorado and Arizona. Sanders is attuned to that concern and has made an appeal for party unity a central part of his pitch in recent weeks. Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at 'Our Rights, Our Courts' forum New Hampshire Technical Institute's Concord Community College on Saturday Buttigieg, the youngest candidate, has made a compelling case for generational change, but there are questions about his experience and his appeal to non-white voters who are the backbone of the Democratic Party. He struggled in the Friday's debate when challenged on the incarceration rates for black residents of South Bend, where he was mayor for eight years. It's the highest electoral office he's held. New Hampshire is the next chance for Sanders and Buttigieg to project strength. Expectations are particularly high for Sanders, who won the state by more than 20 percentage points in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, the eventual nominee. Delhi, Feb 8 : As polling for the 70-member Assembly seats in Delhi began on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah urged people, especially the youth, to come out and vote in record numbers. "Today is the polling day for the Delhi Legislative Assembly...Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers," Modi tweeted. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who campaigned extensively in the national capital for the Assembly polls, tweeted in Hindi: "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and house to every poor, Delhi will become the best capital of the world and that can be done only by a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intention. I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics." Polling here began at 8 a.m. A total of 14.79 million registered voters will decide the luck of 672 candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress. The results for the elections will be announced on February 11. S enior Tories have reportedly written to Conservative MPs to raise concerns over Boris Johnson's decision to allow Huawei a role in the UK's 5G network. The letter, from a group of Tories including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis, Damian Green and Bob Seely, said there were other options to the Chinese firm, according to the BBC. The group said they want "high-risk" vendors to be ruled out now or phased out over time, adding that they working to find a better solution" to the 5G issue. "We are seeking to identify a means by which we ensure that only trusted vendors are allowed as primary contractors into our critical national infrastructure," the letter states. Huawei has been granted permission to be involved in the 5G network across the UK / Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images "Trusted vendors would be companies from countries that have fair market competition, rule of law, respect human rights, data privacy and non-coercive government agencies." It comes after US president Mike Pence said the government's decision could threaten a post Brexit trade deal between the UK and America. US Vice President Mike Pence has weighed into the Huawei row. / AFP via Getty Images His comments follow Donald Trump reportedly blasting Mr Johnson with "apoplectic" rage during a heated phone call regarding the 5G move. Pressed on whether the Huawei decision could be a deal breaker in Brexit trade talks, Mr Pence told CNBC: "We'll see. We'll see if it is." Boris Johnson defied repeated warnings from Donald Trump to rule that Huawei could play a role in the UKs 5G network / REUTERS Referring to the UK move to allow Huawei limited participation in the 5G rollout, Mr Pence said: "We are profoundly disappointed because look, when I went at the president's direction in September I met with Prime Minister Johnson and I told him the moment the UK is out of Brexit we were willing to begin to negotiate a free trade arrangement with the UK. "But we just don't believe that utilising the assets, the technology of Huawei is consistent with the security or privacy interests of the UK, of the United States and it remains a real issue between our two countries." Boris Johnsons decision to let Huawei help build the UKs 5G network has been criticised by the US and Australia / AFP via Getty Images The US vice president added: "We're anxious to build our economic ties, but we have made it clear to Prime Minister Johnson and to officials in the UK, that as we expand opportunities to build out 5G across this country... we want to see our companies meet the needs in the United States and UK and among all our allies without the compromise of privacy and the compromise of security that necessarily comes with Huawei and control by the Chinese Communist Party." The Prime Minister defied repeated lobbying from the US to rule that the Chinese firm could play a limited role in the infrastructure. The States had warned the move would jeopardise intelligence sharing as it raised concerns over the telecommunications company's links to the Chinese state. Citing officials in London and Washington, the Financial Times reported that the US president had been livid with the PM in a phone call after the decision was announced last week. One person briefed on the contents of the call described the US president as being "apoplectic" with the PM, according to the newspaper. Downing Street did not deny the report and pointed towards a No 10 version of events after the call, saying the PM had updated Mr Trump on the decision. The move has been a particularly thorny one for Mr Johnson, with his Brexit plans relying heavily on striking an ambitious free trade deal with the US. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:37:15|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has conveyed her condolences to Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming for China's losses, as well as blessings for the Chinese people's efforts in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Chinese embassy in Britain said Friday. The Queen's message was conveyed by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, while he and his family attended a celebration for the Chinese New Year at the ambassador's official residence on Thursday. Prince Andrew said the Queen was very concerned about China's novel coronavirus epidemic and understood that the fight against it is now at a crucial stage. "At the critical time of fighting coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus," the Queen said in her message to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. The Queen also extended Chinese New Year greetings to Xi and the Chinese people, said the prince. Prince Andrew was introduced by Liu to the situation of China's efforts of prevention and control against the epidemic. Liu said that since the outbreak, the Chinese president has attached great importance to making the safety and health of those in China the first priority. The ambassador said that prevention and control work is being vigorously carried out and has achieved positive results. Noting the broad support of the international community, including the United Kingdom, Liu said he believed the battle against the outbreak would be successful. The Department of Defense is planning to increase funding for nuclear weapons systems such as intercontinental missiles and submarines while boosting tech research and the Space Force as part of next year's budget. The Pentagon's proposed budget for fiscal year 2021, which begins on October 1, calls for $705.4billion in spending, a slight drop-off compared to the $712.6billion that was approved for this fiscal year. The planned budget includes shifting resources away from the Air Force to some of President Trump's new priorities, including the recently created Space Force, Bloomberg News is reporting. The president is also seeking some military funds to help build his promised border wall along the US-Mexico frontier. President Trump (above) is set to unveil his budget proposal for defense spending in fiscal year 2021 The proposed budget seeks a total expenditure of $15.3billion for the newly created branch of the military - $10.3billion of which would be earmarked for research, development, and testing of systems. The Pentagon also wants $2.4billion for procurement to boost the Space Force as well as $2.6million for operations and maintenance. The Trump administration's plan for military spending reflects the president's desire to see more funds for 'space-related weapons systems and operations.' The president has often bragged about spending a total of $2.2trillion on defense since taking office in January 2017. The latest budget proposal also calls for $106.5billion in research and development into 'crucial emerging technologies.' The Pentagon wants to buy 79 F-35 fighter jet, the next generation combat plane manufactured by defense contractor Lockheed Martin The new budget also calls for $2.8billion in spending on the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is $100million less than what was spent on the aircraft this year. An artist rendering of the aircraft is seen above The budget also calls for $4.4billion toward building a new Columbia-class nuclear missile submarine - an increase from the $2.1billion currently being spent. An artist rendering of the submarine is seen above It also seeks $136.8billion in funds for 'procurement spending' on key weapons systems. That would be a $6.8billion drop compared to the current budget. The Pentagon wants to buy 79 F-35 fighter jet, the next generation combat planes manufactured by defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The department also has its eye on the new Boeing F-15EX fighter jet. The new budget calls for buying 12 units - up from eight as called for in this year's budget. The military also wants to modernize the country's nuclear weapons arsenal, seeking $17.7billion to that end. The budget also calls for $4.4billion toward building a new Columbia-class nuclear missile submarine - an increase from the $2.1billion currently being spent. The Pentagon also wants $4.2billion, or a $700million increase, in spending to improve the nuclear command and control system which 'provides assured and resilient connectivity between the president and nuclear forces.' The new budget also calls for $2.8billion in spending on the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is $100million less than what was spent on the aircraft this year. The Pentagon wants $1.5billion for a new 'ground-based strategic deterrent ICMB,' which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead at great distances. The budget proposal also seeks $500million for a long-range cruise missile as well as $110million to continue developing a 'dual capable' F-35 that can carry a nuclear weapon. The F-35 is scheduled to be nuclear-certified by 2024. Year 2021: Meet the CMs who Stepped Down, Returned to Power Ktaka new ministers portfolio allocation will be done on Monday: BSY India oi-Mousumi Dash Bengaluru, Feb 08: Amid growing pressure from newly inducted ministers for plum ministries, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said the portfolio allocation will be done on February 10. According to the PTI, Karnataka CM said, "Everything is ready but since today (Saturday) is a holiday, we will allot portfolios on Monday morning." On Thursday, BSY had announced that the portfolios will be allotted before Saturday, during rewarding with Cabinet berth 10 defectors who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and come to power. Karnataka Cabinet Expansion: All 10 ministers are 'rebels' from Cong, JD(S) Yediyurappa also ruled out going to Delhi to decide filling the remaining six vacant ministerial posts. According to report, it is said that Yediyurappa apparently has deferred the portfolio allocation allegedly due to pressure from Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi. Jarkiholi has been insisting upon water resource department since a long time. Whereas, the BJP leadership wants to give him public works department. According to PTI, till early hours on Saturday Jarkiholi had a detailed discussion at Yediyurappa's house and left the place displeased. The cabinet expansion on Thursday led to discontent among a section of "native" BJP leaders who were left out of the exercise as the party sought to contain dissidence in the face of intense lobbying for berths by several contenders. The expansion has taken the strength of the Cabinet to 28, with six vacancies now. In the first expansion last August, 17 ministers were inducted. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 17:11 [IST] D onald Trump has been accused a "fear of the truth" after sacking US government officials who testified against him during the recent impeachment hearings. The US president took the action against Alexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland just two days after his acquittal in the Senate. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats impeachment case, was escorted out of the White House complex after being axed. His lawyer branded this as being in retaliation for telling the truth. Alexander Vindman played a central role in the Democrats impeachment case / AFP via Getty Images The truth has cost Lt Col Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy, David Pressman said in a statement. Mr Vindmans twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, was also asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer on Friday, according to an Army statement. Both men were reassigned to other positions in the Army. Former US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland / AP Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, was also axed following those dismissals. I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union, Mr Sondland said in a statement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Alexander Vindmans sacking was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the Presidents fear of the truth" So, if a customer has a policy and wants to switch to another insurer after one year, he/she will be allowed to do so while retaining the benefit of carrying forward the awaiting period served. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), the apex regulator of the Insurance Industry released a circular giving guidelines on introduction of portability of Health Insurance / Mediclaim in India. From the 1st of October 2011, India has opened the doors to Health Insurance Portability. Like the name suggests, this allows switching mediclaim policies from one insurer to another, without losing out on coverage due to exclusion. This is another milestone in the general insurance industry in India. Health insurance portability which was to become applicable earlier in the year is now a reality! So why are we excited? Well, it gives us another opportunity to make our financial planning better by being with the insurer who we think is the best. Industry experts say this move will mean insurance companies improving their service levels, as they try to retain clients and entice clients from other insurers. The initiative to bring in a process and guideline to enable portability is a welcome step by IRDA. The circular released displays great intent on the part of the regulator to free the customer from being stuck with the same insurer, fearing loss of benefits of continuity, thus kick starting a competitive health insurance environment. The Past Before October 1st, if you needed to move to a new health insurance company, you would have to become a new customer for them and lose all the benefits that your existing health insurance policy might have accumulated. For example, the rules dictate that you need to stick around for 1 to 3 years with an insurer before pre existing illnesses can be covered. In case of switching to a new insurer, you would have lost this benefit completely. Pre-existing illnesses would get covered after the mandatory period is over with the new insurer. This has changed from October 1st. The Present Say, you have covered one year with your present insurance company, then you have to wait for only 2 more years with the new insurance company before pre-existing illnesses get covered, thanks to health insurance portability . While this is a great move forward for investors, make sure you do due diligence before changing your insurer. The premium amount you pay should not be the only reason for you to move. Keep in mind the following points when initiating a transfer. Only individual and family floater policies can be transferred over. Applicable only to health insurance policies that are issued by non-life insurance companies. The process to move to a new insurer needs to be initiated at least 45 days before the premium renewal date of current policy. Maximum time within which new insurer can ask for more details from you is 7 days. Maximum time within which existing insurer provides information to new insurer is 7 days. Maximum time for new insurer to let you know of its decision is 15 days. The Transfer At least 45 days before your current policys premium has to be paid, you can initiate a transfer. The new insurance company will take 15 days to either accept or reject your request. If you do not hear from them in these 15 days, they cannot reject your transfer request. In these 15 days, the new insurer can come and ask for more information either from you or from your exiting insurer. Remember both the sum assured and accumulated bonus can be transferred. But there is a catch when transferring a policy with bonus. Suppose the sum assured of your policy is 2 lacs and you were paying a premium of say Rs 5,000 for it and you accumulated a bonus of Rs 25,000 in the previous two years as there were no claims that you made. So the sum assured with your current insurer is actually Rs 2.25 lakhs . When you transfer this over to a new health insurer, you might have to pay a premium onr Rs 2.25 lakhs and not Rs 2 lakhs. So your premium will be more than Rs 5,000. In short, while you can carry over the no claim bonus, the new premium will be calculated on the new cover. Note that there is no guarantee that the transfer will necessarily happen for sure at the same premium and at the same sum assured. The new insurance company has the right to reject your request. Or accept it with an increased premium. If you have had many claims in the past, it is unlikely that new insurance company will accept you in its fold. When you transfer you will need to accept different plan from the new company. Not all health insurance policies are same and all of them offer something different, so make sure when you move, you read the policy wordings on your own to understand what you are signing up for. Since the new insurer will do its own underwriting, you could possibly end up with a higher premium as well. Remember that using health insurance portability just because your premium is steep or because your insurance company rejected your claims is not a wise idea. You need to move if the new policy is suitable for you. Health insurance portability is bound to make insurers compete with each other for delivery of better services and to retain existing clients. This could possibly lead to other advantages for investors. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 07, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 07, 2020 | 08:20 PM | PADUCAH A lawsuit has been filed against the McCracken County School District by lawyers representing a former student who reported a sexual assault. The suit was filed in McCracken Circuit Court Thursday by Donna Thornton-Green and Bard Brian, on behalf of the former student and her parents. In addition to the district and the board of education, the suit names seven other defendants: McCracken County High School Principal Michael Ceglinski, Assistant Principals Elaine Kaye and Molly Goodman, Teacher Stephanie Carter, Guidance Counselors Jeremy Watwood and Wendy Watts, District Director of Pupil Personnel Brian Bowland, and former Superintendent Brian Harper. The suit claims the defendants were negligent because they failed to train staff on how to report sexual abuse, supervise the safety of the minor student, follow their own policy, and make reports of the victim's abuse. The document also claims the defendants orchestrated events to conceal public knowledge of the sexual abuse, including bullying and threatening the girl to keep her quiet, which led to emotional trauma. Eighteen-year-old Princekumar Joshi, another former student, was charged last February with using electronics to record or possess sexual images of a minor, but plead guilty to lesser charges in June and was sentenced in September. The McCracken Sheriff's Department said he forced the girl to perform a sexual act and recorded it on his phone. The lawsuit states that the student told Carter she felt threatened by Joshi on February 12, 2019, and Carter told the girl she would have to report it. Three days later, she was called into an office with Watwood and Watts, where she was asked to recount the assault, which took place February 6. While she was writing a two-page statement, the counselors allegedly played a song they learned Joshi had played in the car after the assault. After reading the statement, Goodman asked if the sexual act was consensual, and the student said, "no." The lawsuit says the student saw Ceglinski go into an office with Watts and Watwood, and she was called to another meeting by Kaye later the same day. When Carter, who had been with the girl since the first meeting, tried to accompany her, Kaye said Carter wasn't needed in the office. Asked again if the act was consensual, the girl said, "no," but when told that police would be called, she changed her answer due to fear. That's when Kaye reportedly said the girl could be suspended from school for skipping classes because the sexual act took place at a residence. The student responded by falling to the floor, shaking and crying, asking how she could get in trouble for trusting them and initially telling them the truth. Carter had to help her leave the office in front of other students while crying. The suit also claims that the girl's parents were not notified according to school policy, and nobody from the school contacted law enforcement, which is mandated by state law. The Sheriff's Department began investigating two days later, after the girl told her parents and they called 911. Joshi, Ceglinski and Bowland were all charged with crimes on February 19, but charges against Ceglinski and Bowland were later dropped. The lawsuit says that after the men were charged, the student no longer felt safe or comfortable when talking to counselors or house principals at the school, and started having panic attacks. She also says she began getting negative comments from students and teachers, including one man who allegedly said he, "didn't want to end up on the news." The suit says the victim has subsequently undergone psychological counseling because of the abuse and events surrounding her report to adults at the school. The plaintiff's attorneys claim the defendants created an environment that led to the minor's shame in reporting her sexual abuse. The suit says the, "defendants did not express empathy or support for (her), publicly or otherwise, but rather focused solely on their individual predicament in having charges against them. Defendants even orchestrated a 'high five' cheer between Ceglinski and the student body upon Ceglinski's return to school following the dismissal of his charges." The lawsuit asks for a jury trial, compensatory damages for the harm the girl and her family suffered, and punitive damages for the accused misconduct. A specific amount was not demanded by the plaintiffs. It was a short, sharp campaign with no shortage of drama. Here are the 10 key moments as compiled by Cormac McQuinn. This is a premium article Premium articles will soon be available only to Independent.ie subscribers. 1. Come out ye Black and Tans The controversy over the planned commemoration for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) blew up in the first week of January before the election was even called. The Fianna Fail Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe sparked the furore and simultaneously did his own election chances no harm by saying he wouldnt attend the event in Dublin Castle. He branded it as an overstretch and historical revisionism gone too far. Others followed and it wasnt long before the Government was being forced to deny claims that the commemoration was a celebration of the notorious Black and Tans who backed the RIC during the War of Independence. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan who had spearheaded the commemoration made an embarrassing U-turn saying it would be deferred though its unlikely it will ever go ahead in its original form anyway. As the Wolfe Tones Come Out Ye Black and Tans song topped the charts, the fiasco did Fine Gael no favours in the days leading up to the calling of the election. Expand Close The Black and Tans preparing to leave a barracks Ireland,1922 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Black and Tans preparing to leave a barracks Ireland,1922 2. Varadkars day one gaffe On the first full day of the election campaign it emerged that a homeless man in Dublin was severely injured after industrial machinery was used to clear his tent while he was still in it. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expressed sympathy and promised an investigation but came under fire as he also said that the Fianna Fail Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe, should make a statement on the incident. It was an own goal by Mr Varadkar on the issue of housing and homelessness and he was put on the defensive as Fianna Fail were quick to pounce. Darragh OBrien Fianna Fails housing spokesman accused him of a pathetic bid to politicise the issue. It arose again in the TV debate last week as RTEs Miriam OCallaghan asked him about the homeless man lifted like a piece of rubbish. Mr Varadkar said: My one regret is that incident happened and that poor man got injured in the way he did. The housing crisis blighted Fine Gael on the election trail. Expand Close BLEAK: A homeless man with his tent on the banks of the Grand Canal outside the Hilton Hotel in Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp BLEAK: A homeless man with his tent on the banks of the Grand Canal outside the Hilton Hotel in Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron 3. Spate of violent crime The horrific murder and dismemberment of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods shocked the country in the opening week of the campaign. There were three separate shooting incidents as well as the stabbing to death of Cork student Cameron Blair that same week. Fine Gael came under pressure over its claim to be the party of law and order. Mr Varadkar said its the Governments job to get on top of the violence and insisted that was being done through the unprecedented resources for the Garda. Fianna Fail talked about the possibility that the evidence of a chief superintendent could be admissible in Special Criminal Court (SCC) cases against gang members. The partys justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan also criticised how Sinn Fein did not support the SCC. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was under pressure on the issue for most of the campaign with Mr Varadkar claiming last week that her party was soft on crime. Sinn Feins plan to review the SCC looked weak compared to others saying it should be used to crack down on gang thugs. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited Drogheda Garda Station following the murder (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited Drogheda Garda Station following the murder (Brian Lawless/PA) 4. Scramble to develop pension policies Sinn Fein and Labour outflanked the others with promises on the qualification age for the State pension. With the pension age due to go up to 67 next year Sinn Fein promised to bring it back to 65 while Labour said they would keep it at 66. This prompted panic in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael that theyd lose the grey vote. At one point Age Action Ireland claimed older people were being used as pawns as the parties scrambled to develop policies. In the end Fianna Fail settled on deferring next years planned rise in the qualification age to 67 pending the outcome of a review. It promised to pay a transition pension to 65 and 66-year-olds in the interim. Fine Gael promised a State transition payment for those who retire at 66 and a new State Pathway Pension for people retiring at 65. This would mean they dont have to sign on the dole. Both parties promised an extra 5-a-week on the State pension each year over the course of a government. Depending on who leads the government and who else is included in it the rise of the pension age to 67 looks set to be delayed at the very least. Expand Close Turn back the clock: Siptu launches its Stop 67 campaign calling for the Governments pension decision to be reversed. Photo: Mark Condren / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Turn back the clock: Siptu launches its Stop 67 campaign calling for the Governments pension decision to be reversed. Photo: Mark Condren 5. Fine Gaels bizarre social media strategy Fine Gael was subject to derision for its social media attack ads that probably did more damage to Mr Varadkars party than the main targets, Fianna Fail. The Taoiseach was forced to insist he wasnt embarrassed by a video purporting to show senior Fianna Fail TDs running around looking for policies as the Benny Hill tune played in the background. The video was removed by Fine Gael within 12 hours of being posted amid an online backlash. Another Fine Gael video showed senior ministers lining up to say they would never go into government with Sinn Fein. But the succession of nos and no ways to camera was hijacked by political opponents. The Labour Party posed the question Will Fine Gael stop wasting public money, build homes and fix health? and used the clips of ministers saying no as the answer in their own social media post. Incidentally the two largest parties have been spending tens of thousands of euro on social media advertising. Facebook figures show Fine Gael spent 46,422 in the week up to February 5 alone while Fianna Fail spent 31,924. It remains to be seen if it was money well spent. 6. Brexit and Climate Change - the election non-issues Fine Gael very much believed that they would get a Brexit bounce from the involvement of the Taoiseach, Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Europe Minister Helen McEntee in the tricky process that led to the deal with the UK. A crash-out was avoided for now but Brexit Day came and went on January 31 and Fine Gaels support continued to slide in the polls. The public shrugged at visits to Dublin by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Fianna Fail claimed Brexit wasnt coming up on the doors and theyre correct that voters cared more about housing, health and the cost of living. The party was stung by Fine Gaels rubbishing of the alternative Brexit team led by Micheal Martin. It led Mr Martin to claim in the closing days that Ms McEntees involvement had been over-hyped. She hit back saying the last thing Fianna Fail negotiated in Europe was the Troika bailout. Meanwhile, despite last years Green wave, teen campaigner Greta Thunberg, and the Australian wildfires, the threat of climate change barely got a look-in during the election debate. The Green Party still expects to do well. Its leader Eamon Ryan blamed issues like pensions and controversy surrounding Sinn Fein for the climate crisis not coming to the fore of the campaign. Expand Close Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie 7. Playing the man and not the ball It was an election of personalised attacks. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar even suffered one from his own side. Fine Gael candidate Catherine Noone was forced into a grovelling apology for remarks where she said Mr Varadkars a bit wooden and autistic like. He was also on the receiving end of controversial comments by Sinn Fein councillor Paddy Holohan. He referred to Mr Varadkar being gay and said he wanted a family man to run the country and also questioned Mr Varadkars passion for Ireland because of his Indian heritage. Mr Holohan apologised but was later suspended by Sinn Fein for separate derogatory comments about women. Tanaiste Simon Coveney meanwhile, attacked Fianna Fails Micheal Martin saying he knows him better than most and he is not the person I want leading Ireland into the second half of the Brexit challenge. Mr Martin hit out at Fine Gael claiming theyre from a more privileged background than Fianna Fail. And Fianna Fails Michael McGrath accused Mr Varadkar of taking a personalised, nasty approach to politics as he responded to the Taoiseachs claim that some in his party are backwoodsmen who oppose social progress. Needless to say there were a lot of accusations of playing the man, not the ball thrown around during the campaign. Expand Close Leo Varadkar and Catherine Noone (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar and Catherine Noone (PA) 8. The TV debates It should have been an easy question for the Taoiseach after all hed answered it before. But he froze when asked on the first Virgin Media debate if he had ever taken illegal drugs. While Micheal Martin was able to immediately answer no, Mr Varadkar referred to what he told Hot Press years ago and Mr Kenny had to follow up to get the answer that he had in fact dabbled. He smoked cannabis a bit in my college years was what he told the magazine in 2010. RTEs Claire Byrne was praised for her handling of the first debate involving seven party leaders. But the Virgin Media one was somewhat chaotic with one of the hosts, Ivan Yates, coming in for criticism for his hectoring style. The minnows struggled to make an impact in those debates but Labours Brendan Howlin performed well. Sinn Fein were livid when Mary Lou McDonald was excluded from head-to-head debates between Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin planned by both broadcasters. After Sinn Feins rise in the polls RTE did a U-turn and Ms McDonald got to take on the other two leaders in the last debate. However, it may have been a case of careful what you wish for as she floundered and repeatedly refused to give her personal view on the Special Criminal Court. And the moment of the night was when she was confronted over Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphys false claim that murdered 21-year-old Paul Quinn was involved in criminality. Expand Close (left to right) Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate Niall Carson/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (left to right) Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate Niall Carson/PA Wire 9. Sinn Fein dogged by legacy of IRA terror For 13 years the family of Paul Quinn courageously pushed for the apology for the remarks made by Conor Murphy. Mr Quinn was beaten to death by a gang associated with the Provisional IRA in 2007. It took the issue being raised during an election for Mr Murphy to finally apologise. Mr Quinns mother Breege is still asking that he explicitly says the words Paul Quinn was not a criminal. And the family also want him to give police the names of IRA men he claims he spoke to in 2007 who said the terror group were not involved. Sinn Fein has offered no commitment that he will do that. On the campaign trail in Dublin North West, Ms McDonald ignored a question on whether the local candidate Dessie Ellis was the kind of figure that puts people off Sinn Fein. Mr Ellis was an IRA member and explosives expert who was sentenced to a 10-year jail term in the 1980s. In one of her final interviews of the campaign Newstalks Pat Kenny confronted Ms McDonald with a litany of IRA atrocities from the Enniskillen bomb to the murder of Garda Jerry McCabe. He put it to her that you dont like it but it is important to remind those who dont have long memories what the violent history of your partys association with the Provisional IRA is. Ms McDonald said its absolutely essential that the conflict is remembered and not glossed over or glamorised because real people suffered. Sinn Feins apparent surge in support is particularly strong among younger voters, many of whom may not remember the dark days of the Troubles. 10. Coalitionology Throughout the election Fine Gael and Fianna Fail claimed that the other party would do a government deal with Sinn Fein despite both Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin ruling it out. Any hint given in recent years by their TDs that theyd be open to coalition with Sinn Fein was presented as evidence by the other party that they cant be trusted on the issue. Mr Varadkar offered the prospect of a grand coalition with Fianna Fail as a last resort and Mr Martin shot that down. He wants to do a deal with Labour, the Greens and others. At one point Fianna Fails Michael McGrath complained that too much of the campaign had been spent debating coalitionology. Expect much more of it as well as wheeling and dealing and political intrigue as numbers are crunched in the coming days, weeks and perhaps months. Election 2020s outcome is likely to make forming a government incredibly difficult. President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to criticize a photo that was altered to show him with an unflattering tan line around his face. 'More Fake News. This was photoshopped, obviously, but the wind was strong and the hair looks good? Anything to demean!' Trump tweeted on Saturday, responding to a man from Denmark who mocked the photo as showing him in 'orangeface'. The photo was taken on the White House South Lawn on Friday by mysterious photographer William Moon, and does appear to be edited significantly in comparison with other photos taken by the White House pool. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Moon admitted that he had altered the photo, saying: 'The picture was never photoshopped, but used the Apple smartphones photo app to adjust the color of the picture.' An unedited pool photo from the same moment on Friday shows Trump with a much less noticeable line around his face than the William Moon photo Little is known about Moon, a mysterious figure who is a favorite among QAnon devotees, who scour his photos and videos for clues that tie into their pedophile-cabal conspiracy theory. Moon is not employed by the White House, nor is he a member of the White House News Photographers Association. However, Moon does appear to have at least limited credentials for access to the White House, and regularly posts original photos and video from open press events there. Moon's Twitter account bio reads: 'White House Correspondent, Journalist, Photographer, Poet and Pesco Vegetarian.' @realDonaldTrump returns to the White House from Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by William Moon at the South Lawn of the White House on February 7, 2020 pic.twitter.com/n1a1Z93LrJ White House Photos (@photowhitehouse) February 7, 2020 Today, @realDonaldTrump was dancing with the sunset and strong winds when he walked to the Oval Office from the Marine One on the South Lawn.. Photo by William Moon in the White House on February 7, 2020 pic.twitter.com/GURvi4UeSO White House Photos (@photowhitehouse) February 8, 2020 Other photos from the same event show a faint tan line around Trump's face, but the contrast appears much higher in Moon's photos An associated Facebook page describes him, in Korean, as: 'A man who wants to make a community with people who don't eat meat.' News photography experts from DailyMail.com reviewed the photos of Trump that were posted to Moon's Twitter account on Friday, one in color and one in black and white. They concluded that both had been through several steps of software editing to alter the color balance and contrast, steps that are generally considered inappropriate for news photos. Trump himself has also previously joked about his skin tone, saying in September that energy-saving light bulbs make him 'always look orange.' A frequent visitor to the White House who goes by the name William Moon prepares to photograph Trump in the East Room of the White House on January 24 Moon posts photographs of White House events using the Twitter handle @photowhitehouse. On Saturday, President Trump tweeted that one of Moon's photos of him, taken the day before and appearing to show a severe tan line, was 'more fake news' The Washington Post responded with an in-depth article interviewing experts from numerous fields, who argued that lighting was not responsible for the president's skin tone. The investigation concluded that atypically heavy application of bronzer, or perhaps artificial tanner, was likely the cause of Trump's hue. The White House has previously said that the president's glow is due to 'good genes' as well as light powder application before TV appearances. Trump reportedly prefers to apply his own makeup, in private, and has refused the services of a taxpayer-funded White House makeup artist. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 06:20:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. media reported on Saturday that a firefight had taken place between Afghan and American soldiers in eastern Afghanistan earlier in the day, leading to fatalities on both sides. Citing two Afghan officials, The New York Times said that the shootout had caused the death of five or six American soldiers and six Afghan soldiers. Military Times also learned from an anonymous source that at least two members of the 7th Special Forces Group were killed and several others wounded. The firefight took place in Nangarhar Province, where both the Afghan Taliban and the Islamic State branch in Afghanistan have a presence. It was not clear whether the firefight resulted from Taliban infiltrators or an "insider attack." Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement that "we are assessing the situation and will provide further updates as they become available." U.S. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, which started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Earlier this week, Trump said in his State of the Union address that his administration is working to end the war in Afghanistan. Speaking to a joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives, Trump noted that the U.S. military is making progress in Afghanistan, and peace talks with the Taliban militant group are underway. Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began last year but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel in September and December. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) was the pilot of the doomed flight DID THE PILOT HIJACK HIS OWN PLANE? Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah planned mass murder because of personal problems, locking his co-pilot out of the cockpit, closing down all communications, depressurising the main cabin and then disabling the aircraft so that it continued flying on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel. That was the popular theory in the weeks after the plane's disappearance. His personal problems, rumours in Kuala Lumpur said, included a split with his wife Fizah Khan, and his fury that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing. But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems and other family members and his friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job. This theory was also the conclusion of the first independent study into the disaster by the New Zealand-based air accident investigator, Ewan Wilson. Wilson, the founder of Kiwi Airlines and a commercial pilot himself, arrived at the shocking conclusion after considering 'every conceivable alternative scenario'. However, he has not been able to provide any conclusive evidence to support his theory. The claims are made in the book 'Goodnight Malaysian 370', which Wilson co-wrote with the New Zealand broadsheet journalist, Geoff Taylor. It's also been rumoured that Zaharie used a flight simulator at his home to plot a path to a remote island. However, officials in Kuala Lumpur declared that Malaysian police and the FBI's technical experts had found nothing to suggest he was planning to hijack the flight after closely examining his flight simulator. And there are also theories that t he tragic disappearance may have been a heroic act of sacrifice by the pilot. Australian aviation enthusiast Michael Gilbert believes the doomed plane caught fire mid-flight, forcing the pilot to plot a course away from heavily populated areas. IF NOT THE PILOT, WAS THE CO-PILOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MYSTERY? Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, again for personal problems, was suspected by rumour-spreaders to have overpowered the pilot and disabled the aircraft, flying it to its doom with crew and passengers unable to get through the locked cockpit door. Theorists have put forward the suggestion that he was having relationship problems and this was his dramatic way of taking his own life. But he was engaged to be married to Captain Nadira Ramli, 26, a fellow pilot from another airline, and loved his job. There are no known reasons for him to have taken any fatal action. There have been a series of outlandish theories about the disappearance of the plane Others have suggested that because he was known to have occasionally invited young women into the cockpit during a flight, he had done so this time and something had gone wrong. Young Jonti Roos said in March that she spent an entire flight in 2011 in the cockpit being entertained by Hamid, who was smoking. Interest in the co-pilot was renewed when it was revealed he was the last person to communicate from the cockpit after the communication system was cut off. DID THE RUSSIANS STEAL MH370 AND FLY THE JET TO KAZAKHSTAN An expert has claimed the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was hijacked on the orders of Vladimir Putin and secretly landed in Kazakhstan. Jeff Wise, a U.S. science writer who spearheaded CNN's coverage of the Boeing 777-200E, has based his outlandish theory on pings that the plane gave off for seven hours after it went missing, that were recorded by British telecommunications company Inmarsat. Wise believes that hijackers 'spoofed' the plane's navigation data to make it seem like it went in another direction, but flew it to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased from Kazakhstan by Russia. However, Wise admits in New York Magazine that he does not know why Vladimir Putin would want to steal a plane full of people and that his idea is somewhat 'crazy'. Wise also noted there were three Russian men onboard the flight, two of them Ukrainian passport holders. Aviation disaster experts analysed satellite data and discovered - like the data recorded by Inmarsat - that the plane flew on for hours after losing contact. Careful examination of the evidence has revealed that MH370 made three turns after the last radio call, first a turn to the left, then two more, taking the plane west, then south towards Antarctica. MH370 WAS USED BY TERRORISTS FOR A SUICIDE ATTACK ON THE CHINESE NAVY This extraordinary claim came from 41-year-old British yachtsman Katherine Tee, from Liverpool, whose initial account of seeing what she thought was a burning plane in the night sky made headlines around the world. On arrival in Thailand's Phuket after sailing across the Indian Ocean from Cochin, southern India with her husband, she said: 'I could see the outline of the plane - it looked longer than planes usually do.There was what appeared to be black smoke streaming from behind.' Ms Tee's general description of the time and place was vague and she lost all credibility when she later stated on her blog that she believed MH370 was a kamikaze plane that was aimed at a flotilla of Chinese ships and it was shot down before it could smash into the vessels. Without solid proof of the satellite data, she wrote on her blog, Saucy Sailoress, the plane she saw was flying at low altitude towards the military convoy she and her husband had seen on recent nights. She added that internet research showed a Chinese flotilla was in the area at the time. While the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage and its crucial black box data recorders remains stubbornly elusive. THE JET LANDED ON THE WATER AND WAS SEEN FLOATING ON THE ANDAMAN SEA On a flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur that crossed over the Andaman Sea on March 8, Malaysian woman Raja Dalelah, 53, saw what she believed was a plane sitting on the water's surface. She didn't know about the search that had been started for MH370. She alerted a stewardess who told her to go back to sleep. 'I was shocked to see what looked like the tail and wing of an aircraft on the water,' she said. It was only when she told her friends on landing in Kuala Lumpur what she had seen that she learned of the missing jet. She had seen the object at about 2.30pm Malaysian time. She said she had been able to identify several ships and islands before noticing the silver object that she said was a plane. But her story was laughed off by pilots who said it would have been impossible to have seen part of an aircraft in the water from 35,000ft or seven miles. Ms Raja filed an official report with police the same day and has kept to her story. 'I know what I saw,' she said. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC SYSTEMS FAILURE AND CRASH-LANDED ON THE OCEAN A catastrophic event such as a fire disabling much of the equipment resulted in the pilots turning the plane back towards the Malaysian peninsula in the hope of landing at the nearest airport. Satellite data, believable or not, suggests the aircraft did make a turn and theorists say there would be no reason for the pilots to change course unless confronted with an emergency. A fire in a similar Boeing 777 jet parked at Cairo airport in 2011 was found to have been caused by a problem with the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. Stewarts Law, which has litigated in a series of recent air disasters, believes the plane crashed after a fire - similar to the blaze on the Cairo airport runway - broke out in the cockpit. After an investigation into the Cairo blaze, Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Central Directorate (EAAICD) released their final report which revealed that the fire originated near the first officer's oxygen mask supply tubing. The cause of the fire could not be conclusively determined, but investigators pinpointed a problem with the cockpit hose used to provide oxygen for the crew in the event of decompression. Following the 2011 fire, US aircraft owners were instructed to replace the system - it was estimated to cost $2,596 (1,573) per aircraft. It was not known whether Malaysia Airlines had carried out the change. If either pilot wanted to crash the plane, why turn it around? So the turn-around suggests they were trying to land as soon as possible because of an emergency. THE US SHOT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT FEARING A TERROR ATTACK ON DIEGO GARCIA The Boeing 777 was shot down by the Americans who feared the aircraft had been hijacked and was about to be used to attack the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia atoll in the Indian Ocean. So conspiracy theorists claim. And former French airline director Marc Dugain said he had been warned by British intelligence that he was taking risks by investigating this angle. There is no way of checking whether Dugain received such a warning or why he believes the Americans shot down the plane. But adding to the theory that the aircraft was flown to Diego Garcia, either by the pilot Zaharie or a hijacker, was the claim that on the pilot's home flight simulator was a 'practice' flight to the island. Professor Glees said: 'The Americans would have no interest in doing anything of the kind and not telling the world. 'In theory, they might wish to shoot down a plane they thought was attacking them but they wouldn't just fire missiles, they'd investigate it first with fighters and would quickly realise that even if it had to be shot down, the world would need to know.' A 60-year-old Amerian citizen has died from the new strain of coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan, officials at the US embassy in Beijing said on Saturday. The American died on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, the embassy said, as reported by the Voice of America. This is the first confirmed death of a foreigner from the virus in Wuhan. A Japanese citizen was earlier reported to have died in Wuhan of viral pneumonia, likely caused by the coronavirus, although that has not been confirmed. The virus, which originated in China in December, last year, has killed 722 people in that country alone, while cases have been registered in several nations around the world, including India. Meanwhile, the death of Chinese doctor Li Wenliang who tried to warn about the then-unidentified virus in December, last year, has sparked widespread public anger and grief in China. The Chinese Police had accused the doctor, who died Friday morning (local time) at Wuhan Central Hospital, of "spreading rumours online" and "severely disrupting social order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday said the states next budget will be balanced, but if voters dont approve a progressive income tax in November he will have to reduce state spending across the board in future years. The governor is preparing to deliver his budget address later this month. He said Friday that the progressive tax was needed to address income inequality and increase state spending on things like education. Voters will decide whether to change Illinois flat income tax to a structure with higher rates for higher earners at the ballot box in November. If voters approve a progressive income tax, it wouldnt go into effect until after the upcoming budget year, which begins in July. On Friday, Pritzker told Politico at a conference in Washington D.C. that we would present a balanced budget. However, if voters dont approve the progressive income tax this November, the governor said 15 percent cuts in state spending would be needed across the board. We have to pay interest on our debt and all the other things that are fixed and then you get to what people call discretionary spending and thats where youd have to make all these cuts, Pritzker said. And these are the things that affect peoples lives, particularly the middle-class and working families across the state. Illinois most recent budget called for spending about $40 billion dollars in state money. The state spends another $40 billion of federal tax money. The governor has said his progressive income tax would increase taxes by more than $3 billion and result in modest income tax reductions for more than 97 percent of taxpayers. However, business groups have said the progressive income tax will hurt small businesses, which they said could affect the economy and push more people to move out of Illinois. Pritzker is set to deliver his budget address on Feb. 19. He said he will propose a balanced budget to begin in July without relying on revenue from the proposed progressive income tax. So not only do we need to balance the budget, but we also need to pay down the backlog of bills and we need to deal with other challenges throughout the state like lowering property taxes, Pritzker said. The states backlog of bills stood at $6.7 billion, according to the most recent state estimates. Thats dwarfed by more than $200 billion in debt from the states worst-in-the-nation funded public employee pensions. Illinois also has among the highest property taxes of any state in the nation. Pritzker said Friday that the state needs more revenue to increase education funding to help reduce local property taxes. He said that could be done with a progressive income tax. We need a tax system that helps us pay the bills and helps us address the income inequality issue, Pritzker said. Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Maisch said going from flat tax where everyone pays the same income tax rate to a structure with higher rates for higher earners, including small businesses would eliminate what he called our current, true fair tax. Pritzker has called his proposed progressive income tax a fair tax. It is already having a chilling effect on employers willingness to invest in Illinois, Maisch said. He pointed to other mandates such as the states $15 minimum wage, which will be phased in over several years. The states minimum wage has already increased once this year and will increase again in July. A focus on our greatest job producers, small business, must be a priority in 2020 to balance the negative effects of 2019 policies, Maisch said. The Sokoto State Government says it would secure N65.7 billion loan to finance agricultural programmes, housing, water supply and enhance judicial administration in the state. The secretary to the state government, Saidu Umar, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the end of the state executive council meeting on Friday. He said the decision to secure the loan was taken by the council members in line with the state governments effort to seek better ways of improving the lot of the people of the state. The SSG said the decision to obtain the loan was aimed at improving the peoples lives and promoting economic development across the state. He explained that N550 million would be spent on procurement of 200 generators to provide safe drinking water in rural areas. He added that N140 million would be spent on the procurement of water resources implements. According to him, N4 billion would be accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for agricultural loan facility as a counterpart funding. The sum of N10 billion will be sourced to finance the payment of contractors that would execute contracts awarded under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The sum of N3 billion would be required for the procurement of fertilizer to be sold to farmers at subsidized rate while N5 billion is to be sourced for the provision of healthcare facilities within the state, Mr Umar said. He added that other developmental projects that would be executed with the loan include the state housing project at Gidan Salanke which needs N1.5 billion. Purchase of cars for judiciary staff at the cost of N320 million and the organizing and execution of the 2020 Hajj that would require N1 billion. The facility are to be sourced from commercial banks like Skye Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank with intent to fast track development in various sectors, he said. In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini-Galadanchi, said the loan would be serviced within 36 months pointing out that the facility would not be a liability for the next administration. (NAN) The article below by Caleb Slayton, director for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Africa course, unmasks the self feeding loop of US anti-China propaganda. The U.S. narrative misjudges the full scope of Chinas influence in Africa, according to the author. The narrative attacking Chinas relationship with African nations is blinding our elected officials, so called academics, and the general citizenry from understanding the contributions China is making to Africa. This false narrative, intense, widespread, and bi-partisan, has created a dangerous defect in US strategic policy toward China and Africa. As a result, President Trump only sees Africa as a pawn in a global game to stop Chinas influence on the continent. To the dismay of many Africans, the US, unlike China, lacks any serious policy that would assist African nations in pursuit of developing their nations. Excerpts: According to the U.S. strategic narrative on China in Africa, Beijing intends to steal Africas resources, secure corrupt business transactions, and pursue low-quality infrastructure projects. American officials argue that Chinas political and diplomatic maneuvers yield little good for Africa and ultimately intend to indebt the continent to Chinas bidding. This narrative is misleading. It has served to develop a crippling ignorance of the changing nature of information warfare, Chinas weapon of choice. The narrative has also masked the successful means by which China has become a partner of almost every country on the continent and garnered their support at the international level. Perhaps worst of all, the focus on China is inattentive to the needs and ambitions of African partners, the key stakeholders in U.S.-Africa partnerships As the director from 2012 to 2016 of the Africa Theater Course for Special Forces out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, I engaged with hundreds of military members, government employees, analysts, operators, and practitioners directly engaged on the African continent. Every sidebar conversation or most student interjections on the topic of China maintained a similar skewed perception of China in relation to Africa. Chinas development projects were all broken, the projects hired mostly Chinese laborers, its merchandise was low-grade, Chinas aim was to deplete Africa of its resources, the communications infrastructure was a tool of Chinese control, and all of Chinas aid was a debt liability. Any mention of potentially beneficial partnership with China was laced with a political, social, or economic spoiler. This consistent negative narrative aligns to many Department of Defense and Department of State talking points. African countries draw inspiration from Chinas rise. Beijings success is more profound than any criticism the United States levels against Chinas internal social, religious, and political oppression Africa Isnt Buying Washingtons Message on China In Africa, Beijing has demonstrated that it has a lot to offer. Washington, by contrast, appears to offer only criticism. The U.S. narrative against China-Africa activities misrepresents Chinas strategy, underestimates its influence, and downplays what a majority of Africas population really thinks about China partnerships and great-power competition. The current facts on the ground already give China impressive influence and access to political, economic, and communication sectors across Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 23:18:09|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for intensified international efforts to deal with a locust outbreak that has affected large parts of the African continent. "The UN has issued an urgent appeal for assistance. I ask the international community to respond with speed and generosity to ensure an effective response and control the infestation while we still have the chance," Guterres said on the sidelines of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday disclosed that the Horn of Africa (HoR) region is the worst desert locust affected area from the three hot-spots of threatening locust activity globally. According to the FAO, the increasing desert locust swarms in Ethiopia and Somalia have continued to migrate into Kenya, where they spread to 14 northern, central and southwest counties, reaching within 200 km of northeast Uganda and southeast South Sudan. Guterres said the locust swarms affecting many parts of Africa are unprecedented in size and scope, with climate change playing a big part in aggravating the locust crisis. "Today locust swarms are as big as major cities and it's getting worse by the day. There is also a link between climate change and the unprecedented locust crisis plaguing Ethiopia and East Africa. "Warmer seas mean more cyclones generating the perfect breeding ground for locusts," said the UN Secretary General. The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), which is considered as the most dangerous of the nearly one dozen species of locusts, is a major food security peril in desert areas across 20 countries, stretching from west Africa all the way to India, covering nearly 16 million square kilometers, according to the UN. Once better known as the worlds oldest continuously operating maternity hospital, Dublins Rotunda Hospital is now attracting attention for the overcrowding crisis in its neonatal unit. The unit admits some 1,400 babies every year, most of whom are born in the hospital. In December 2019, Professor Fergal Malone, Master of the Rotunda, pointed out that the hospitals overcrowding issue had contributed to the death of one premature baby and the infection of two others with meningitis. Speaking to this publication in mid-November 2019, Professor Malone pointed out that the incubators in the unit are currently positioned less than 1m apart, despite the fact that incubators should be at least 3m apart to prevent infection. As such, he said that it is only a matter of time before newborn babies are injured or die as a result of this issue. According to the Rotunda Hospital Strategic Plan 2017-2021, a plan is in place to relocate the Rotunda Hospital to the Connolly Hospital Campus in Blanchardstown. This initiative was announced in May 2015 by the then minister for health, Leo Varadkar, and according to the strategic plan, the Board of Governors is enthusiastic about the decision, as it recognises the need for a new facility fit for modern maternity services. Professor Malone has claimed that, although such a development would be welcomed with open arms, it could take up to 15 years to materialise. In the meantime, revised plans for a four-storey development at Parnell Square have been put in place. The average age of first-time mothers in Ireland has been rising continuously since the early 2000s, and it now stands at 32.5 years. As the age of new mothers has increased, complications during pregnancy and childbirth have become increasingly common. The need for substantial resources to address the issues of overcrowding and other problems with our health service is not a new development. Nonetheless, premature babies are too vulnerable to fight the plethora of infections they could be exposed to if there are lapses in their care. We accept that hospitals are doing the best that they can with the resources available to them, but the standard of care provided at this crucial time must be prioritised. Kellie Daniels Ely Place Dublin This readers' opinion was originally published in the letters page of the Irish Examiner print edition on 8 February 2020. Private sector lender Yes Bank has managed to get shareholder approval to hike authorised share cap to Rs 1,100 crore from Rs 800 crore. Shareholders have also approved raising up to Rs 10,000 crore via equity share issuance and/or convertible securities. Private sector lender Yes Bank has managed to get shareholder approval to hike authorised share cap to Rs 1,100 crore from Rs 800 crore. Shareholders have also approved raising up to Rs 10,000 crore via equity share issuance and/or convertible securities. The bank says that it is raising this capital to meet the growing requirements of its expanding business, to invest in technology, human capital and infrastructure, and because it also envisages significant lending opportunities. The decision, more importantly, is taken to meet the RBIs minimum capital requirement norm which for the bank has eroded significantly. Yes Bank appointed Anshu Jain-headed global investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and two domestic entities for its fundraising plans, sources said on Wednesday. Other merchant bankers appointed by the capital-starved lender include IDFC Securities and Ambit Capital, they said. On January 10, the bank's board had decided that Canadian investor Erwin Singh Braich's USD 1.2-billion offer will not be pursued further and also hinted that a USD 500-million offer from Citax Holdings and Citax Investment Group, which was being favourably considered, is facing headwinds. The scrip gained 7.58 percent to close at Rs 37.60 apiece on the BSE. FILE PHOTO: Three models of China's Xiaomi Mi phones are pictured during their launch in New Delhi, India By Sankalp Phartiyal NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The coronavirus outbreak in China could start to disrupt India's production of smartphones if it continues to spread in February, as it could delay component shipments, industry executives said. India is the world's biggest smartphone maker after China but is still largely dependent on China for supplies of parts such as cells, display panels, camera modules and printed circuit boards. Taiwan's Foxconn and Wistron make iPhones in India for Apple, and Foxconn produces phones there for China's Xiaomi as well. Other smartphone makers in India include South Korea's Samsung and China's OnePlus. So far smartphone makers in India have weathered the impact of the virus, which has already killed 170 people, partly because they had ramped up inventories of Chinese-made parts anyway to cover the Lunar New Year holiday period when China's factories close down. "Those disruptions were already planned but if it (the virus' spread) gets prolonged then for March and April production we will have serious trouble," said S.N. Rai, the co-founder of homegrown smartphone maker Lava. "We're definitely worried about it." Some components can be shipped in from markets such as South Korea, Vietnam or Taiwan, but smartphone makers will only make such purchases as a "last resort" as it would force companies to make changes including in design and software, Rai said. Samsung declined to comment, while Foxconn, Wistron, Apple and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment. China's OnePlus said its Indian operations could manage, in the short term at least. "We are well covered because we have the entire production in India, we already have enough stock, and even going forward many of the components will anyway be coming directly from other markets," said Vikas Agarwal, the India head of OnePlus. While Beijing has expressed confidence in defeating the "devil" virus, which is yet to be declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, major companies such as Alphabet Inc's Google and Sweden's IKEA have closed operations in China. Story continues India's Tata Motors, which counts China as a major market for its luxury Jaguar Land Rover cars, said on Thursday it was worried about the coronavirus and warned that the outbreak could hit profits. As several airlines suspend flights to China, the movement of technical staff from the country - such as on-site support executives, machine and automation specialists - will also be curtailed and that will hit India's smartphone sector, an executive at another foreign-owned smartphone maker, who did not wish to be named, said. For now, the industry just hopes the outbreak can be contained within the next two weeks. "If the problem persists beyond Feb. 10 then we have a real problem at hand," said Pankaj Mohindroo, head of the India Cellular & Electronics Association, an industry lobby group. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Euan Rocha and Susan Fenton) Disappointed at exit polls that have projected another term for Aam Aadmi Partys Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Manoj Tiwari tweeted his rejoinder on Saturday evening to insist that the BJP would form the next government in national capital Delhi with 48 seats. Tiwaris projection of 48 seats in the 70-member assembly is at least two seat less than what he had predicted after he voted early on Saturday. That is when he spoke about his sixth sense that told him that the BJP would edge out Kejriwal and form the government with at least 50 seats. But exit polls for the Delhi assembly election that were released as voting came to an end on Saturday evening, projected a clear win for Arvind Kejriwals AAP. An election exit poll, not always known to be correct, is a poll of voters taken immediately after they exit the polling stations. Saturdays exit poll projects, though, differed on the extent of AAPs win and varied from a minimum of 48 seats for AAP projected by Times Now-IPSOS to a maximum of 68 seats forecast by India Today-Axis. All these exit polls will fail. Save my tweet. BJP will form the government with 48 seats Now please dont start blaming EVM, Tiwari tweeted. Tiwari isnt the only leader in the BJP not to trust exit polls this time. Kapil Mishra, the BJP candidate from Model Town in north Delhi who had joined the party after a bitter and public falling out with Arvind Kejriwal, also dissed exit polls. All these exit polls are going to be proven wrong, Kapil Mishra said in an unusually short tweet. He did not elaborate. In a tweet with the hashtag that the BJPs symbol lotus will bloom in Delhi, the BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya said:Final result will come on 11 Feb. So indulge yourself with the exit polls but dont lose sleep over it. BJP lawmaker Parvesh Verma, who was twice rapped by the Election Commission for hate speeches during the election campaign, has projected 50 seats for the party. Exit Polls Forecast The Times Now-Ipsos exit polls have predicted that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will retain his chair with the AAP winning 44 seats against 26 for the BJP. The Republic-Jan ki Baat survey gave the AAP 48-61 seats and the BJP 9-21 seats. The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero predicted 54 seats for the AAP, 15 for the BJP and one for the Congress. The exit polls have not predicted any major improvement in the fortunes of the Congress which could not bag any seat in the 2015 polls. The AAP had delivered a stunning 67 seats, reducing the BJP to three. By Jeff Mason and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday removed Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from his position as the White House's top Ukraine expert after he provided damaging testimony about President Donald Trump during the impeachment process, Vindman's lawyer said. Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he had worked on the National Security Council (NSC), lawyer David Pressman said in a statement, adding that the move was retribution for Vindman's testimony. By Jeff Mason and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday removed Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from his position as the White House's top Ukraine expert after he provided damaging testimony about President Donald Trump during the impeachment process, Vindman's lawyer said. Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he had worked on the National Security Council (NSC), lawyer David Pressman said in a statement, adding that the move was retribution for Vindman's testimony. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," Pressman said. Vindman testified to the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry in November that Trump made an improper demand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July phone call that became the centerpiece of the probe of the Republican president. Vindman told a Democratic-run committee "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in the phone call. Trump asked Zelenskiy to launch investigations into both Democratic rival Joe Biden and a widely debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. During that appearance, Vindman downplayed concerns that he would suffer payback for speaking out. "I will be fine for telling the truth," he said. Michael Volkov, who represented Alexander Vindman when he testified in the impeachment inquiry, said Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, was escorted off the White House grounds at the same time. Yevgeny Vindman, also an Army lieutenant colonel, worked for the NSC as a lawyer. An Army spokesperson said both brothers had been reassigned to the Army, but declined to provide further information "out of respect for their privacy." A lawyer for Yevgeny Vindman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the security council declined to comment. Representative Eliot Engel, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the decision to remove Alexander Vindman was "shameful." "This president believes the only loyalty that matters is loyalty to him personally," Engel said in a written statement. Trump emerged victorious from his trial this week with a vote in the Senate, controlled by fellow Republicans who rejected abuse of power and obstruction of justice charges. Asked earlier on Friday about media reports that he might remove Vindman, Trump told reporters: "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him?...They're going to be making that decision." A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that Vindman - a Ukraine-born U.S. citizen and decorated Iraq war combat veteran - would be reassigned to the Defense Department. Vindman's two-year stint at the White House was due to end in July. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday that the Pentagon protects all service members from retribution. Trump, who became only the third U.S. president to be impeached, has said he is still bitter as he turns his attention to seeking a second four-year term in the Nov. 3 presidential election. MULVANEY REPORT Another senior white House aide who testified over impeachment, Jennifer Williams, left this week for a post at the U.S. military's Central Command, according to Bloomberg News. Trump has cast both Vindman and Williams as "Never Trumpers" who oppose him. Trump denied reports that he was weighing a permanent chief of staff to replace acting aide Mick Mulvaney, who was a central figure in the impeachment inquiry. "That was a false report. I have a great relationship with Mick," Trump said. Democrats say Trump pushed for the Ukraine investigations to undermine Biden, a candidate to win the Democratic nomination for November's election. Trump says he wanted to help Ukraine fight corruption. Biden's presidential campaign suffered a serious setback when he came in fourth place at the Democrats' first state nominating contest in Iowa this week. Senate Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father, Joe, was U.S. vice president. Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have asked for the younger Biden's travel records while under official Secret Service protection, among other official records. Democratic lawmakers say the Treasury Department has provided Congress with some financial records involving Hunter Biden. Trump had urged Ukraine to investigate both Bidens, though there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either one. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Lisa Lambert, David Morgan, Mark Hosenball, Karen Freifeld and Idrees Ali; Writing by Alistair Bell and Ted Hesson; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Nat'l Prayer Breakfast speaker tells audience including Trump, Pelosi: Jesus said love your enemies Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In an address delivered at the 68th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., conservative author Arthur Brooks encouraged biblical love amid a nationwide crisis of contempt and polarization, reminding attendees that Jesus ordered His followers to love and not just tolerate their enemies. Opening his speech, Brooks, a professor of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and senior fellow at the Harvard Business School, described himself as a follower of Jesus. [The same Jesus] who taught us to love God and taught us to love each other, he added. Today, Im here to talk to you about the biggest crisis facing our nation and many other nations today: Its the crisis of contempt and polarization thats tearing our societies apart. In this crisis resides the greatest opportunity we have ever had as people of faith to lift our nations up and to bring our people together, Brooks declared. When it comes to an old problem like contempt and polarization, Its important to think differently to achieve a new and effective solution, he said. The author of 11 books turned to the words of Jesus, societys greatest entrepreneur and thinker, from Matthew 5: You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Such words are as subversive and counterintuitive today as they were 2,000 years ago, Brooks said. But to apply these words to todays polarized society, we need to make the problem personal, he contended. The speaker revealed that his own parents, devout Christians, are politicly liberal, starkly contrasting his own politically conservative beliefs. I want it to be personal to you on this day, the Love Your Enemies author said. Let me ask you this: How many of you love somebody with whom you disagree politically? Are you comfortable hearing someone insult that person that you love? Make it personal, my friends. Moral courage, he said, isnt standing up to those with whom you disagree. Rather, its standing up to those with whom you agree on behalf of those with whom you disagree. When it comes to marriage, contempt kills, he pointed out, adding, Contempt is ripping our country apart. Were like a couple on the rocks in this country. Dont believe it? Turn on prime time TV ... its tearing our society apart. How do we break the habit of contempt? Some people say we need more civility and tolerance. I say, nonsense. Why? Because civility and tolerance are a low standard, he said. Jesus didnt say, tolerate your enemies. He said, love your enemies. Answer hatred with love. Brooks gave audiences three pieces of homework: First, ask God to give you the strength to do this hard thing, to go against your human nature, to follow Jesus teaching. You believe Jesus' teaching, act like it, he implored the audience. Ask God to take political contempt from your heart. Sometimes, when its just too hard, ask God to help you fake it. Second, Brooks encouraged attendees to make a commitment to somebody else to reject contempt. Of course youre going to disagree ... thats what makes America great, its the competition of ideas, he said. But do it without contempt. Ask somebody to hold you accountable. Finally, he advised his audience to go out looking for contempt. Its your opportunity for moral perfection, Brooks explained. Why? Because when people treat you with hatred and you answer with love, you change the country. Its like being a missionary. This is your opportunity to show people what leadership is all about. Run toward the darkness, bring your light. When you leave this National Prayer Breakfast today, youll be back in a world with a lot of contempt. See it as your opportunity, he added. Brooks advised listeners to imagine a sign above the door reading. You are Now Entering Mission Territory. If you see the world, if we see the world outside the room as mission territory, we might just mark this day as the point at which our national healing begins, he concluded. President Donald Trump also spoke at Thursdays event, which was also attended by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who led the Democratic House members' partisan impeachment charge against the Republican president. Ahead of Brooks speech, Gospel artist Cece Winans sang Peace from God. She quoted Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The government was forced to withdraw the FRDI Bill from the House after Opposition members objected to it. Mumbai: Within days of hiking the deposit insurance five-folds to Rs 5 lakh per account, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said her ministry is working on the controversial Financial Resolution & Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, but added she is not sure when it will be tabled in the House. The government was forced to withdraw the FRDI Bill from the House after Opposition members objected to it, especially the bail-in clause to banks, which many fear is detrimental to depositors. Late finance minister Arun Jaitley in August 2017 introduced the FRDI Bill in the Lok Sabha, which had proposed a comprehensive resolution framework for revival/closure of financial institutions, including banks, insurers, NBFCs, and cooperative banks. But could not go ahead with the same. A year later in August 2018, the then finance minister Piyush Goyal was forced to withdraw the Bill, following concerns raised by the public on the 'bail-in' clause and also due to conflict of opinions with various regulators, including the Reserve Bank. The government then proposed to set up an independent resolution corporation to carry out a speedy and efficient resolution of financial firms in distress. The Bill was then referred to a joint House committee. According to the bail-in clause, proposed for the first time in the country, customers of a failing financial institution would bear a part of the cost of resolution by reducing their claims. Despite government clarifying that the bail-in clause will be sparingly used, concerns persisted among the public, and the government believed that it was one the main reasons for the spurt in cash withdrawals seen that year. The finance minister's comments assume importance given the massive five-fold hike in deposit insurance and the recent changes in the insolvency laws to include insolvency provisions for financial institutions, following which leading mortgage player DHLF was sent to NCLT last November. "We are working on the FRDI Bill; but not sure when it can get through the House," the minister told reporters here without elaborating. The minister's comment also comes a day after the Reserve Bank had clarified that the spike in deposit insurance will not hit the balance-sheets of banks as the insurance premium will go up by just 2 paise from 10 paise now. The move also comes at a time when many financial institutions, especially NBFCs and cooperative banks, are showing signs of deep stress. The bankruptcy code takes care of resolution for ailing non-financial firms, but doesn't cover deposit-taking financial companies. While DHFL became the first NBFC to be sent to NCLT last November, IL&FS, much larger than the former was been taken over by the government in October 2018. There were string failures among the cooperative banks with the largest being the bankruptcy of PMC Bank with over Rs 11,800 crore of public deposits. That apart more than two dozen cooperative bank managements were superseded by the RBI in 2019 from Maharashtra alone. Many analysts argue that financial sector companies need a special resolution regime as the main purpose is to safeguard the interests of depositors and prevent prudential risks from spilling over into a systematic concern. Commenting on the impact of the deposit insurance hike on banks' bottomline, Reserve Bank deputy governor B P Kanungo on Thursday said the five-fold hike would not have much impact on bank balance-sheets. The budget had permitted the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) to raise deposit insurance coverage to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh. The DICGC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, provides insurance cover on bank deposits. At present, the DICGC provides Rs 1 lakh insurance to a depositor regardless of the deposit amount, in case the lender fails or gets liquidated. "The premium is something, which we consider, will increase from 10 paise to 12 paise per Rs 100 for the time being. So, the impact on bank balance sheets is not likely to be much," Kanungo told reporters. According to analysts, the premium burden on banks following the insurance cover hike will go up by 20 per cent. Richa Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: As the Coronavirus scare continues, the Union Environment Ministry for the first time has come up with a detailed plan to check the spread of the infectious disease from birds/wild animals to humans with a proposal to establish National Centre for Avian Disease. The centre will identify, monitor and observe zoonotic (spread between animals and human) diseases in wild birds at select locations in the country. The ministry has also recommended developing Standard Operating Procedures for mitigating disease outbreaks in birds and identifying areas vulnerable to disease outbreaks in bird populations for future monitoring. The ministrys draft plan titled Visionary perspective plan on Conservation of Avian Biodiversity, their Ecosystems, Habitats and Landscapes in the Country aims to develop a national centre to study and monitor diseases in wild bird populations in the country. In 2016, WHO highlighted that 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases were caused by pathogens originating from animals or products of animal origin. Considering this, surveillance and management of zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases in wild birds should be prioritised in India, it noted. It highlights that recently, India has witnessed a catastrophic incidence of bird deaths (17,000) in Rajasthan. Incidences of diseases in wild animals have increased globally in the recent past. These include new, previously undefined diseases as well as existing diseases with new features. These new features may include the introduction of a disease to a new location or a new population. Developing countries such as India suffer disproportionately from the burden of infectious diseases, said the draft. The draft further said that newly emerging diseases and new zoonotic forms of known diseases of human and wild animals have led to the formulation of the One Health programme. Coronavirus Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Swine Flu Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is a relatively new strain of an influenza virus that causes symptoms similar to the regular flu. It originated in pigs but is spread primarily from person to person. SARS SARS-CoV is thought to be an animal virus from an as-yet-uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats, that spread to other animals (civet cats) and first infected humans in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002. Middle East respiratory syndrome The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Mers appears to be less easily passed from human to human, but has greater lethality, killing 35% of about 2,500 people who have been infected. Avian Flu H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza (or bird flu). When people do become infected. Ebola Formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. Agartala: The two-day first Hornbill Festival of Tripura began on Saturday with the aim to conserve the striking forest bird "Hornbill" and to boost the livelihood of the people through tourism. Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the state`s first-ever Hornbill Festival at the famous Barmura hill (in western Tripura), one of the biggest hill ranges of Tripura which was last month renamed as "Hathai Kotor", or "big hill" in the tribal language "Kokborok". The "Hornbill" festival, named after the Indian Hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the tribals in north-east India, usually takes place in the first week of December every year since 2000 at Naga Heritage village Kisama, about 12 km from Nagaland capital Kohima. Deb said, "With the conservation of the Hornbill bird, eco-tourism would flourish enhancing the livelihood of the local tribals, inhabitants of the Barmura hill." "A large number of foreign and domestic tourists, as well as environmentalists and nature lovers, would gather in the vicinity ensuring the all-round development of the mountainous areas. Under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, all kinds of forest and environmental resources would be developed," he added. According to the Chief Minister, the traditional life, culture, and customs of the indigenous tribals would also be developed through the protection of the "Hornbill" bird. Tripura`s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dvijendra Kumar Sharma said the two-day festival includes technical sessions on the conservation of biodiversity in the state, a fair, folk dances, skits, dramas on nature conservation besides academic discussions. Democratic presidential candidates entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and businessman Tom Steyer before the start of a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Friday night. Read more MANCHESTER, N.H. Democratic presidential front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg beat back a barrage of attacks during a debate as rivals raised persistent questions about their ideology and experience, hoping to sow doubts about their ability to defeat President Donald Trump. Reeling from a weak finish in this weeks Iowa caucuses, former Vice President Joe Biden was a chief aggressor throughout Friday night. He questioned Sanders status as a democratic socialist and said Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, doesnt have the background to lead in a complicated world. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who is struggling to break into the top tier, voiced similar criticisms. But Sanders and Buttigieg, who are essentially tied in Iowa, largely brushed off the broadsides. Donald Trump lies all the time," Sanders said in response to suggestions that Trump would use his self-described identity as a democratic socialist to brand him and all Democrats as radical. Buttigieg sought to turn skepticism of his resume into a positive, portraying himself as a fresh face from outside Washington with experience in dealing with real-life problems and ready to lead a weary nation in a new direction. I'm interested in the style of the politics we need to put forward to actually finally turn the page," Buttigieg said. He added a jab at Biden: I freely admit that if you're looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, you've got your candidate, and of course it's not me. Friday marked the eighth and perhaps most consequential debate in the Democratic Partys yearlong quest for a presidential nominee. The prime-time affair came just four days after Iowas chaotic caucuses -- and four days before New Hampshires primary -- with several candidates facing pointed questions about their political survival. While several candidates had strong moments, it was unclear the event would change the trajectory of the campaign. Biden was especially explicit about the state of his candidacy during the opening moments, predicting he would take a hit in New Hampshire next week before the contest moves into more diverse states where he hopes to perform better. He faced criticism on stage as someone too steeped in the ways of Washington to represent the change many Democratic voters say they are seeking. He responded by once again aligning himself with former President Barack Obama. The politics of the past I think were not all that bad, Biden said. I dont know what about the past about Barack Obama and Joe Biden was so bad. But Biden had to defend his long record as the candidates sparred over the decision nearly two decades ago to send U.S. troops to Iraq. Biden acknowledged anew that his vote in favor of the war authorization as a senator was a mistake, while Sanders said his Senate vote against deploying troops was proof of his judgment on national security issues. Buttigieg, who was in college at the time and later served in Afghanistan, said he would have opposed the war, too. While the debate was heated at times, there were moments of unity with candidates aware that Democratic primary voters have little desire to see an all-out intraparty brawl. When a moderator asked Klobuchar to respond to Hillary Clinton's comments that no one likes Sanders, Biden walked over and gave him a hug. Klobuchar, meanwhile, joked that Sanders is "just fine" and noted times when they had worked together on policy. A somber Biden was appreciative when Buttigieg defended him and his son, Hunter Biden, against attacks from Trump in the impeachment inquiry. And while Biden challenged Sanders' embrace of a version of socialism, most of his rivals seemed willing to overlook that political identity. When the moderator asked whether any of the candidates would have a problem with a democratic socialist as their party's presidential nominee, only Klobuchar raised her hand. Warren avoided any direct criticism of her rivals and repeatedly pivoted to her core anti-corruption message. As Biden, Sanders and Klobuchar fought about the best way forward on health care, Warren did not engage, instead speaking broadly about the need to lower prescription drug costs. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer and New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang, meanwhile, were fighting to prove they belong in the conversation. Traditionally, the knives come out during this phase in the presidential primary process. It was the pre-New Hampshire debate four years ago on the Republican side when then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie devastated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's presidential ambitions with a well-timed take-down. Rubio never recovered, making it easier for Donald Trump to emerge as his party's presidential nominee. The stakes were particularly high for Biden, who has played front-runner in virtually every one of the previous seven debates but left Iowa in a distant fourth place. While reporting problems have blunted the impact of the Iowa contest, Biden's weakness rattled supporters who encouraged him to take an aggressive tack Friday night. Klobuchar made a passionate pitch to moderate-minded voters unhappy with Biden and Buttigieg. Im not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people, she said. I know you and Ill fight for you. The seven-person field highlighted the evolution of the Democrats' 2020 nomination fight, which began with more than two dozen candidates and has been effectively whittled down to a handful of top-tier contenders. There are clear dividing lines based on ideology, age and gender. But just one of the candidates on stage, Yang, was an ethnic minority. Campaigning in one of the whitest states in the nation, Steyer repeatedly highlighted his support for reparations for African-Americans to make up for the impacts of slavery. His steady focus on race Friday was a reminder that he's invested heavily in South Carolina, where black voters are expected to play a deciding role and are central to Biden's strategy for success in later states. Mike Bloomberg was not onstage Friday night, but the New York billionaire was referenced repeatedly as the candidates took turns bashing the the rich. The former New York City mayor is bypassing New Hampshire, among the four states that vote this month, in favor of the delegate-rich states that hold primary contests in March and beyond. While no one has ever won the nomination with such a strategy, Bloomberg has caught the attention of establishment-minded Democrats concerned about Bidens viability and Buttigiegs thin resume. Bloomberg is also poised to spend $1 billion on his presidential ambitions. I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into the nomination or be president of the United States," Warren said in one of her few aggressive moments. I dont think any billionaire ought to be able to do it and I don't think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it. Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. It was a case of family, friends, locals, and indeed some visitors from a little further afield coming out in support on Saturday night of Chloe Jenkins, a two-year-old girl battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer. A fund-raising dance on behalf of 'Chloe's Journey' took place in Killorglin's Manor Inn - in the hometown of Chloe's mother, Deborah - and a huge help it will be to Chloe in her fight against Neuroblastoma. While a final figure is not yet known, Chloe's uncle-in-law, Brendan Reidy, said the total has passed 7,000 and has thanked everyone who supported the event. "It was a great crowd, somewhere between 150 and 200 people," Brendan explained, praising locals and non-locals alike for rowing in. "It was organised by family, and I suppose the main brains behind it were Chloe's grandparents - Doreen and Francie O'Connor - and a friend of the family, Joanna O'Sullivan." Brendan explained that the night was accompanied by 'The Singing Jarvey' Ger Healy's music, and also featured the raffling off of a signed Irish rugby jersey and prizes kindly donated by local businesses. Brendan also extended his thanks to the Manor Inn and to Mike and Kathleen O'Shea. He added that Chloe is doing well in her brave battle and that everyone around her is hopeful. It was the latest in a series of fundraisers for Chloe, who lives in Cork with her parents, Deborah and Gareth. Just recently, for example, the local panto group raised some 2,000 for the little girl. 'Chloe's Journey' will also be a beneficiary of the Red Fox Tractor Run at the end of the month. If you'd like to donate to the cause, you can visit the dedicated gofundeme.com page, which is titled 'Chloe's Journey'. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 19:57:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed Friday urged all African Americans to register and vote so that their voices can be heard in U.S. politics, vowing to fight for their rights and their better future. Addressing the kick-off celebrations of Black History Month, which began on Feb. 1, at City Hall in downtown San Francisco, Breed lashed out at the current political system in the United States, where "discrimination still exists" and African Americans are fired from their jobs more than anyone else. She said San Francisco has a less than 6 percent population of African Americans, but among the people who are homeless on the street, 37 percent are African Americans. Breed told the audience that many African American children are dropping out of high school, and many challenges including crime, homelessness and poverty among the blacks "continue to plague our community more than any other community, even in liberal San Francisco." Citing local elections in November last year, when Breed was re-elected as the first African American woman mayor of San Francisco, she said, "it breaks my heart that in a city with less than 6 percent of an African American population ... less than about 7,000 African Americans turned out to vote." By the end of 2017, San Francisco had a total population of 8.85 million, according to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau more than two years ago. Breed said it's not enough to have an African American woman to serve the city as mayor. "We deserve better, and I will continue every single day as your mayor to fight for better." She urged African Americans to come out and vote for their representation in political life, especially registering in the upcoming 2020 census so that they can be counted and represented. The annual observance of "Black History Month" was first proposed by U.S. historian Carter Woodson in 1926 to fight for equality and freedom for African Americans. Friday's celebrations at City Hall were organized by the San Francisco African-American Historical and Cultural Society. The plans of thousands of Via Rail Canada customers travelling between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa were scuttled again Saturday as demonstrations near Belleville against a British Columbia pipeline project wreaked havoc with the popular train routes. In Toronto, more than 100 protesters also blocked a Toronto rail line in frigid weather as a form of solidarity with members of the Wetsuweten Nation who are opposed to the construction of a pipeline on their territory in northwestern B.C. The protests, drawing attention to the treatment of the Wetsuweten people, were among several organized demonstrations taking place across Canada on Saturday. Similar disruptions occurred in B.C. where road traffic was stopped during protests in Vancouver. Access to the port of Vancouver was also blocked for a third day. So far, 68 trains in both directions between Toronto and Montreal as well as Toronto and Ottawa have been cancelled, affecting more than 14,000 customers. Saturday evening, Via said 10 of its trains will not be operating on Sunday. A notice on Via Rails website stated the trains were halted due to protesters currently blocking tracks near Belleville. None of the trains on these two routes will operate until the issue is resolved, said the notice. That protest, between the towns of Shannonville and Deseronto, was organized by members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Canadian Nationals main line has been shut down since approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday and the company has obtained a court injunction to end the demonstration. The Toronto group, a coalition of organizations, marched from Dovercourt Park to the rail line between Dupont Street and Geary Avenue, near Dufferin Street. Holding signs one read Water Is Life the protesters chanted, No justice, no peace, no racist police as curious residents came out of their homes to watch, some applauding. We want to call on the public to really think critically about what it means to ignore Indigenous calls to action, said Maya Menezes, with No One Is IllegalToronto, which advocates for migrant justice. We understand that Indigenous self-determination is critically important to not only climate action but to challenging the colonial state in Canada and the act of decolonization, Menezes said. Were against any type of violent invasion that tramples over Indigenous rights. The protest, watched by uniformed police officers, began shortly after 11 a.m., blocking Canadian Pacific rail freight traffic. Travel was also suspended for several hours on the Barrie GO line between Union Station and Downsview. In a release, organizers said the action was because the RCMP has sent militarized police to evict Wetsuweten people from their unceded territory, to support a dangerous and disruptive pipeline project. That Toronto protest broke up around 5 p.m. The dispute in B.C. centres on the construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline through the First Nations traditional territory in the northwestern part of the province. Fourteen people were arrested last year when RCMP enforced a court injunction that allowed pre-construction across Wetsuweten territory of the $6.6-billion pipeline, a key part of the provincially approved $40-billion LNG Canada development. The pipeline runs from Dawson Creek to Kitimat on the northwest coast. Talks between the British Columbia government and Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, who are opposed to the pipelines construction as they say it poses a risk to the land and water, failed this week to reach an agreement on a peaceful resolution over the enforcement of the injunction. On Saturday, RCMP officers arrested 11 people who allegedly barricaded themselves in a warming centre in a forested area near the work site in northwest British Columbia. Theyre accused of breaching a court injunction. Four others were arrested on Friday. An Indigenous youth spokesman told about 300 people gathered at the B.C. legislature Saturday that RCMP presence in the Wetsuweten territories represents an armed invasion. This is the third day of an invasion, said Kolin Sutherland-Wilson. What Canada is willing to do to the Wetsuweten people they are willing to do to any of us. We will not stand down because our ancestors never stood down. Sutherland-Wilson said the fire burning in a steel fire pit on the front steps of the building is sacred and will continue to burn during the protests. He said the presence of a large pile of chopped firewood indicates people could be planning an extended stay. Earlier Saturday, dozens of youths who slept near the legislatures ceremonial entrance gates, huddled around the fire wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags. Were definitely occupying this space while the invasion takes place because its highly symbolic, said Sutherland-Wilson. Were here at the gates, the royal gates that only the royalty and the lieutenant governor general can use. Were making it clear that the Canadian rule of law has never been just to Indigenous peoples. The Monarch is a large butterfly sporting bold orange and black colours. While it is native to North America and southern Canada, the species turns up in Ireland on rare occasions raising the question: How does it get here? The idea of a butterfly flying across the 6,650km width of the North Atlantic Ocean beggars belief. If it takes a trans-atlantic commercial jet flying at an average speed of say 900km/h about seven hours to complete the journey, how long would it take a fluttering butterfly? And then factor in that the adventurous insect would have nowhere to land, nowhere to feed or to rest, and would have to fly non-stop through several nights in all sorts of weather. The idea of it ever happening appears impossible; and yet Monarchs do turn up here now and again. The most likely explanation is that the North American butterflies get blown across the ocean by storms or the jet stream. The jet stream is a current of high-speed wind blowing eastwards at high altitude from America to Ireland. If a butterfly gets swept up into the path of a strong wind it is believed that it may make the trans-atlantic journey in as little as a few days. Each year Monarchs migrate south from North America to overwinter in Mexico. Peak migration time is September and October. By two coincidences the hurricane season peaks in September and records show that most of the sightings of Monarchs in Ireland occur in September and October. Monarchs can't survive our winters so those who beat the not insignificant odds and make it here alive are unfortunately doomed to perish. In America, some people release butterflies at weddings, funerals, significant birthdays and other family events. Companies meet the demand by supplying boxes of live butterflies or kits to rear your own from tubs of live caterpillars. There is evidence of the practice becoming popular on this side of the Atlantic. While Monarchs are the species of choice in America, Painted Ladies are the species most often used as 'live confetti' at weddings in Britain. The position in Ireland is less clear. The practice is unacceptable on two grounds: health and animal welfare. Butterflies reared in captivity are more likely to be diseased, and many brides are not content with commonplace local species on their special day and look towards more exotic and more colourful species that, though pretty, have no chance of survival here. WASHINGTON Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged Saturday he had "many more steps to take'' to make sure that he would never again be accused of having a hostile workplace. Im proud of a lot of the steps we have taken, but its quite clear we have many more steps to take, Murphy told NJ Advance Media in Washington, where he is attending the National Governors Associations winter conference. Murphys comments were his first since two political allies, Liz Gilbert and Adam Alonso, were ousted from leading the 2020 Democratic National Conventions host committee amid anonymous charges of a toxic and unstable working environment." Their firings came just weeks after another former top adviser, Julie Roginsky, said Murphys 2017 campaign for governor was marred by misogyny and a toxic workplace environment." This has been a period of great reflection for me, personally having a lot of conversations," Murphy said. He said those conversations focused on setting standards with real meat on the bones for "workplace conditions in everything from government to campaigns to the way our state parties are run to our society more broadly. The episodes came as Murphy this weekend cut a national figure as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. No one is accusing Phil Murphy of misconduct, but the question becomes, Do you foster an environment that allowed this misconduct? said Democratic consultant Glenn Totten, who has worked on New Jersey legislative races. Its especially potent in the #MeToo era, when several prominent men have seen their careers end after assaulting women. In December, NJ Advance Media reported that 20 female campaign staffers, lobbyists, political operatives and lawmakers said they were groped, sexually propositioned, harassed or marginalized while trying to build careers in state and local politics. Murphy, as DGA chairman, will help lead the political fight against President Donald Trump, a Republican who has been accused numerous times of sexual harassment. If the DGA expects him to be the spokesman for this organization and he, too, has this pall over his house, thats a problem," Totten said. Murphy acknowledged that the larger issue needed to be addressed, and he was doing so. I dont spend a lot of time on the reflects badly part, Murphy said. I want to have the best in substance workplace conditions anywhere in the country. Weve made significant progress, but its quite clear to me we have a ways to go. I want to make sure that we set a bar that is beyond any other place in America, and that includes campaigns. Murphy critics especially Republicans said the incidents were the latest example of the governor having personnel issues that cast doubt on his leadership abilities. Perhaps being in the national spotlight for the wrong reasons will provide Governor Murphy the incentive he needs to start addressing the misogynistic culture that he and his administration have helped perpetuate, said state Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Passaic. The controversies changed the narrative from the one Murphy wanted to display, said Ben Dworkin, director of Rowan Universitys Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship. It hasnt been the best couple weeks for the governor, Dworkin said. Phil Murphy would much rather be talking about his successes rather than toxic work environments. Anybody would. The Milwaukee controversy unfolded early this past week after senior women on the host committee for the July convention sent an anonymous letter to its board saying Alonso "bullied and intimidated them and that Gilbert enabled his behavior. Gilbert, who previously served as national finance director of Murphys 2017 campaign, was executive director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee before landing the Milwaukee job in May. Her lawyer, Peg Schaffer, said she was outraged the committees board would fire somebody based on unsubstantiated allegations." Alonso has not returned multiple messages seeking comment. But he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he was proud of his team in Milwaukee. Murphy said he didnt know Gilbert or Alonso were hired until they told him. He said he was never asked for letters of recommendation. He said he has cut ties with both people. Alonso worked on his campaign, briefly served as his deputy chief of staff and has remained a top adviser. If after they do their investigations those allegations turn out to be true, thats completely unacceptable workplace behavior and conditions, Murphy said. Meanwhile, Murphy has faced allegations that his 2017 campaign was also a toxic place to work. In one instance, Joe Kelley, the campaigns finance director, was accused of angrily throwing a chair in the presence of a female staff member. The campaign cleared Kelley after an investigation, and he continues to hold a top position in Murphys administration. Katie Brennan, a former campaign volunteer who now works in Murphys administration, is suing the state and Murphys campaign over how the governors inner circle responded to allegations that a campaign official raped her. And last month, Roginsky told Star-Ledger columnist Tom Moran that the campaign was the most toxic workplace environment I have ever seen in 25 years of working on political campaigns. Murphy earlier downplayed Roginskys claims, saying she was involved in a dispute with senior staffers and that her comments did not reflect a larger workplace issue. While Murphy is not up for re-election until next year and theres time for him to bounce back, Dworkin said the controversies could have a lasting impact if Murphy wants a higher position perhaps a cabinet post in the future. Its not insurmountable, but its gonna come up, Dworkin said. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Lanka PM Rajapaksa omits any mention of this in his statement. New Delhi: During frank discussions with visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Hyderabad House in Delhi on Saturday on issues related to reconciliation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed that New Delhi expected Colombo to realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a united Sri Lanka. Curiously, the Sri Lankan PM omitted any mention of this in his statement before the media in New Delhi. But PM Modi, in his statement to the media after open discussions on the matter, pitched for the reconciliation process in the island nation between the majority Sinhalas and the minority Tamils and the implementation of the 13th amendment in Sri Lanka that stands for devolution of power to the provinces. But any reference to this too was omitted by the Sri Lankan PM who was the President in 2009 when the Sri Lankan Army won a bitterly-fought war against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). While the Sri Lankan PM continues to be seen as a hardliner by the island nations Tamils, Indian government sources claimed that nothing much should be read into the omission as the Sri Lankan government had categorically asserted earlier that it stands for all Sri Lankans, irrespective of ethnicity. Mr Rajapaksa is on a four-day visit to India from February 7 to 11 during which he will also visit Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and the temple town of Tirupati. On the issue of Indian fishermen caught fishing while straying into Sri Lankan waters, PM Modi said both he and the Sri Lankan PM agreed to continue a constructive and humanitarian approach on this issue as it directly affects livelihoods. While India has built thousands of houses in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka that have a huge Tamil population, Mr Rajapaksa interestingly also pitched for these housing facilities in other parts of Sri Lanka. Both nations also discussed economic cooperation as well as ways to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation. But it was the reference to the reconciliation issue by PM Modi that was significant. Mr Rajapaksa, during his tenure as Sri Pankan President from 2005-15, was seen as a hardliner. The final months of the Lankan Armys military campaign to crush the LTTE in 2009 earned both widespread praise and bitter criticism for Mr Rajapaksa who became Prime Minister late last year after his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidential polls. Both the Rajapaksa brothers were also earlier seen as pro-China but now want to appear to be even-handed without antagonising either India or China. In his statement after talks with Mr Rajapaksa, PM Modi said, We spoke openly on issues related to reconciliation. I am confident that the government of Sri Lanka will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace and respect within a united Sri Lanka. For this, it will be necessary to carry forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Hailing India as Sri Lankas long-standing friend, Sri Lankan PM Rajapaksa thanked PM Modi for Indias neighbourhood first policy and said that he looked forward to Indian support in counter-terrorism measures. Appreciating the Lines of Credit (LoCs) announced by India last year for the island nation, the Sri Lankan PM requested PM Modi to consider further assistance to expand the housing projects to all parts of the island to provide benefits to many Sri Lankans living in rural parts of the country. PM Modi later said, Today Prime Minister Rajapaksa and I discussed in detail all aspects of our bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interest. Terrorism is a major danger in our region both countries have fought this problem firmly. There were painful and barbaric terrorist attacks on Easter Day in Sri Lanka in April last year. These attacks were not only a blow to Sri Lanka, but also to humanity. And so, in our conversation today, we discussed furthering our cooperation against terrorism. I am happy that Sri Lankan police officers have started participating in anti-terrorism courses in Indias premier training institutes. On other issues, PM Modi said, India has been a trusted partner in Sri Lankas development efforts. The new Lines of Credit announced last year will give more strength to our development cooperation. We are happy that the Indian Housing Project for the construction of more than 48,000 houses for internally displaced people in the northern and eastern region of Sri Lanka has been completed. Apart from this, the construction of several thousand houses for Tamil people of Indian origin is also progressing in the up-country region. Prime Minister Rajapaksa and I also discussed the humanitarian issue of fishermen. This theme directly affects the livelihood of people of both countries. And, therefore, we agree to continue constructive and humanitarian approach on this issue. The recent direct flight between Chennai and Jaffna is part of our efforts in this direction. This direct flight will increase connectivity options for the Tamil population of the northern region of Sri Lanka. And it will also be beneficial for the economic and social development of the region. The good response received to this flight is a matter of happiness for both of us, PM Modi said. In todays conversation we discussed joint economic projects in Sri Lanka, and also on enhancing economic, business, and investment relations. We also discussed increasing people-to-people connectivity, promoting tourism, and improving connectivity, he added. Haiti - FLASH : Professional Studies Scholarship Dessalines & Capois 2020, call for candidates The Association of Haitians-Professionals (AHP) announces the update of its Dessalines & Capois Professional Studies Scholarship program for 2020. This AHP professional scholarship program is open to new and former Haitian scholarship recipients and to people of Haitian origin enrolled in a professional training diploma program in the United States or in Haiti in an accredited college and/or university, or in a technical school. The scholarships are intended to help the recipients to cover the school expenses (tuition fees, books, etc...). As part of this program, 3 students in the United States and 3 students in Haiti will be rewarded based on their academic achievements and the pursuit of their current professional goals. The involvement and commitment to make a significant or positive impact in their communities are also factors in the selection of students. Eligibility : Be Haitian by birth or of Haitian origin (at least one parent must be Haitian); Reside in the United States or Haiti; Be currently enrolled or have been accepted into a degree program in: A university or a technical school accredited for two or four years in the United States or in a higher education institution and / or technical school recognized by the Ministry of Education and Professional Training (MENFP) in Haiti. Download the registration form, the criteria and the reqired requirements (PDF) : https://mcusercontent.com/9f38e0000935bb81218b8cd60/files/330f2a64-6158-4ab8-8da9-199704eb061d/AHP_Scholarship_Program_2020_Announcement_ApplicationForm_Guidelines_v1_updated_francais_.pdf Return the completed registration form with all requested documents by email to : AHPscholarship@haitianprofessionals.org. Submission deadline: March 1, 2020 at 11:59 am EST. The laureates will be informed by 6 March 2020 at the latest. HL/ HaitiLibre One quote from a more vocal minister from the same story would suffice. There is no end to the twists in this family saga made up of jails, hospitals, vast sprawling estates and foreign dreams, with all kinds of characters and frills thrown in for effect. Mian Shahbaz Sharif has taken the story to the latest dizzying stage with a revelation about the hurdles in the long-awaited and urgently required treatment for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Here is a serious patient needing urgent medical intervention and his learned attendants are risking a delay for whatever reason. There are serious issues with this explanation (to begin with) that could spark an unending debate about roles and responsibilities and blame. But trust the good old younger brother for trying to be as convincing in his plea as he has ever been. Mr Shahbaz Sharif goes about building his case with typical emphasis on certain words. He wants everyone to believe that he is speaking on behalf of a man whose condition is seriously unstable. Mian Sahib was investigated comprehensively at Royal Brompton Hospital, London, for the present cardiac status and to determine the need for intervention, reads a story in this paper by Amir Wasim which cites a statement by the PML-N. The investigations revealed significant ischemic burden affecting major areas of heart and impaired function as well. And then there is the real purpose of these technical details that another patient wanting some privacy would rather keep under wraps: In view of the unstable state of health of Mian Sahib, Maryam Nawaz should be allowed to join her father. The more time is passing, the less is the space for intervention. Desperation begets desperation. Some of the reaction that this rather desperate-looking attempt at masterminding a long-distance flight for Ms Maryam Nawaz is reflective of the disastrous mindset in the PTI camp right now. One quote from a more vocal minister from the same story would suffice. The worthy minister says that allowing Ms Maryam to leave at this stage would be like striking the last nail in the PTIs accountability pledge. It couldnt have been more damning than this. It would seem that a large number of people had long got the drift. In various commentaries, it has been discussed how the government would be far better off dispatching the whole Sharif clan across the fence. The absence, it is submitted with a lot of reliance on common sense, would help the government claim there was a deal behind this escape by the former ruling family. The removal of as many Sharifs as possible, the point goes, would free the Imran Khan government to concentrate on development. The government cannot be forever bogged down in the romantic ideal of holding everyone accountable for past deeds. Frankly, this is not at all a new angle. The original advice to the PTI government had warned the party against having too deep an obsession with punishing rulers of the past. It is the prime minister who has, against counsel, steadfastly opposed all suggestions that might have found him extending favours to those facing corruption charges. However, a situation where it seems that Mr Imran Khan has been forced to grant a reprieve has its own demerits. It has an element of surrender to it as opposed to a leader magnanimously, or simply proudly, agreeing to the departure of politicians under trial by invoking the old doctrine of good riddance. The intended alarm in the latest statement by Mian Shahbaz Sharif signifies the beginning of another, stronger push by the PML-N to carry Ms Maryam Nawaz across the line. In the hours and days to come, the thrust is likely to intensify. More reports of a long silent Mian Sahib stubbornly shaking his head in rejection to all trying to persuade him to undergo a cardiac procedure we are told he ought to have undergone a long time ago, could increase pressure on the accountability-obsessed government. Indeed the government may be too single-minded. This could spark some very tense moments in the emotionally charged Pakistani politics. If the past is any guide, a growing number of commentators may be swayed by the human side of it to call upon Prime Minister Imran Khan to make this departure. Meanwhile, the discussion about whatever the PML-N needs right now leadership, to start with can wait. What can be guessed is that the task of repairing the party from abroad would be far more onerous this time round than it was two decades ago after the Sharifs were toppled and sent out by Gen Musharraf. It would require some special intervention, the kind of magic spun by Begum Kulsoom Nawaz back then. We all know the privileged scribes amongst us live in a neighbourhood of their own. Among the other facilities that they enjoy, they have this luxury of falling back on their sources in the world beyond. These scribes get heavenly letters that can neither be denied nor questioned. Unfortunately, the facility is unavailable to the meek and timid, but something we cannot do without, suppose we were to today receive that elusive envelope in the mail? What would the contents of that letter be? And even more importantly, who would be its sender that someone important on the other side sufficiently moved by an event to write the long-awaited note? Like Dear scribe. This is Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif. I hope you are doing well and still have enough motivation to occasionally report on voices that are closer to the more obscure versions of truth. I need your help to convey this message to Mian Shahbaz Sahib ... Next time could he please not mention my illness as he goes about appealing for Maryams presence by Mian Sahibs side in a London hospital. Illness. Hospital. London. As an elder it is my duty to ensure that there are no unwanted comparisons between family members who have undergone or are undergoing medical treatment. By arrangement with Dawn Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff General Aziz Ahmed visited the Nepal Army's Western Regional Office in Pokhara on Saturday, as part of his five-day official trip to the Himalayan nation. General Ahmed met senior Army officials at the regional office. The Bangladesh Army Chief arrived in Kathmandu on Friday at the invitation of Nepal Army chief General Purnachandra Thapa. The high-level visit will boost ties between the two armies, a press release by the Nepal Army headquarters said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Midland man charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony charge, is being held on a $100,00 bond. Brian David Rubin, 46, was arrested in connection with an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Thursday morning. Midland police were dispatched at about 12:08 a.m. Thursday to the 3000 block of West Illinois Avenue in reference to a man with a gun. MPD officers located a manlater identified as Rubinwalking in the courtyard of the apartment complex, according to an arrest affidavit. The officer identified himself as police while telling Rubin to stop. As the officer tried to grab Rubin, he grabbed a Colt single-action revolver from his waist and threw it on the ground, according to an arrest affidavit. The revolver discharged and the projectile struck the officer on the upper left thigh, according to the arrest affidavit. The officer was treated and released from Midland Memorial Hospital early that morning, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report. Rubin told the Texas Rangers, who are investigating the incident, that he had attempted to commit suicide before the MPD officer arrived but was unable to follow through, according to the affidavit. MicroStockHub/iStock(MILWAUKEE) -- A 4-year-old boy was killed early Saturday morning when shots rang out inside a Milwaukee apartment, police said. Police responded to a call in the Mayfair Apartments of the 5300 block of N. Lovers Lane Road around 1:17 a.m., where the child suffered a "serious gunshot wound," police said. Officials from the Milwaukee Police and Wauwautosa Fire Departments immediately tended to the child with CPR and other life-saving maneuvers, police said. The child, whose name has not been released, died. Two people were taken into custody, but have not been charged. The investigation is still ongoing. Police are still looking into who fired the gun and ask anyone with information to call the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or contact the Milwaukee Crime Stoppers. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Afzal Miah tormented his targets by bombarding them with intimidating voicemails and emails which included death threats (Picture: PA) A stalker who bombarded victims including a barrister, headteacher and NHS staff with threatening voicemails and emails has been jailed for six years. Afzal Miah even sent threatening messages to his targets during his trial, which saw him convicted of seven counts of stalking, and one count of breaching a criminal behaviour order (CBO) and a restraining order. The Met Police said the cunning and sinister 33-year-old frequently diverted police away from actual crimes by making fake reports about his bullies, trying to get them sacked and arrested. Some of his victims were known to him and had helped him in the past, while others had no affiliation with him, police said. Scotland Yard said Miah was "cunning and sinister" (Picture: PA) Miah was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Thursday where he was also handed a 10-year restraining order, the Metropolitan Police said. Police said he had fled to Belfast to escape the jurisdiction of his CBO but was tracked down and extradited. READ MORE Brit honeymooner on board quarantined cruise ship confirmed as having coronavirus Teen who pushed boy from Tate Modern told carers he planned to kill someone a year earlier Investigating officer Sergeant Jonathan Brandman said: Afzal Miah is an incredibly cunning and sinister individual who has taken great pleasure in making his victims feel vulnerable and frightened. The fact that he fled to Northern Ireland to escape his CBO, and knew that there is no such offence, shows how dangerous this individual is. Miah was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court (Picture: PA) Detective Constable David Tate, from Scotland Yards stalking threat assessment centre, said: Miah is what we would call a resentful stalker someone who feels as though they have been mistreated or that they are the victim of some form of injustice or humiliation and they want to exact revenge or even the score. In Miahs own head, he believed that the systems had failed him and he became fixated on the disservice he thinks that he received from some of his victims. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Advertisement Around 1,500 people have protested at the British Museum over energy company BP's sponsorship of a Troy exhibition. Climate activists BP Or Not BP? wheeled a 13ft-high Trojan horse into the grounds of the museum on Friday in response to the sponsorship deal. The horse, which had space for 10 activists inside, had speakers that played sounds of drilling and horses neighing. As part of Saturday's mass protest, the British Museum allowed the pressure group to host talks and group singing activities inside some of its exhibition rooms. In front of the main gates, activists dressed as Greek gods and Trojan soldiers handed leaflets to supporters and museum visitors. Climate activists BP Or Not BP?, around 1500 of them, wheeled a 13ft-high Trojan horse into the grounds of the British Museum on Friday in response to the sponsorship deal with energy giants British Petroleum. 'Black Brigade' pictured The horse, which had space for 10 activists inside, had speakers that played sounds of drilling and horses neighing Crowds of supporters could be heard cheering and clapping as the activists gave speeches about climate change. At 3.45pm they staged a 'sit-in' inside the Great Hall for 15 minutes, singing and chanting 'BP must fall'. The campaigners also organised speeches from people of different heritages who condemned colonialism. Primary school teacher Lydia Somerville, 56, travelled to London from her Hertfordshire home with her daughter Scarlett, 14, to take part. They told the PA news agency they had previously participated in a 'die-in' protest at the National Portrait Gallery over its BP sponsorship deal. As part of Saturday's mass protest, the British Museum allowed the pressure group to host talks and group singing activities inside some of its exhibition rooms. Some activists wearing shirts saying 'BP MUST FALL' pictured on the steps of the museum A Climate change activist dressed as Greek warriors stands next to the wooden Trojan horse. Crowds of supporters could be heard cheering and clapping as the activists gave speeches about climate change A view of the inside of a Trojan horse, which was designed by BP or Not BP activist Phil Ball, outside the British Museum Mrs Somerville, one of the protesters, said: 'The protest is good fun. It's really organised - we've joined in the singing. It's really powerful and there's a good mix of ages. The Trojan horse too is a great message' Mrs Somerville said: 'The protest is good fun. It's really organised - we've joined in the singing. It's really powerful and there's a good mix of ages. The Trojan horse too is a great message.' Scarlett said: 'Accepting the sponsorship essentially accepts what they're doing is right. They're one of the biggest oil companies in the world.' Former education professor Stephen Bolton, 72, and his wife Gillie, 68, a former senior medicine researcher, who are retired and live in London, said they championed BP Or Not BP's cause as they are 'respectful' and 'pacifists'. Former education professor Stephen Bolton, 72, and his wife Gillie, 68, a former senior medicine researcher, who are retired and live in London, said they championed BP Or Not BP's cause as they are 'respectful' and 'pacifists'. 'Black Brigade' shown At 3.45pm the large group of protesters staged a 'sit-in' inside the Great Hall for 15 minutes, singing and chanting 'BP must fall' Mrs Bolton, a protester, said: 'We've resigned our friendship (with the museum) over the BP sponsorship because we think the world is hurtling towards disaster and BP isn't helping at all - it's hindering' Mrs Bolton said: 'We've resigned our friendship (with the museum) over the BP sponsorship because we think the world is hurtling towards disaster and BP isn't helping at all - it's hindering. 'BP is a danger to the world and to our children and grandchildren. We strongly object to the British Museum accepting sponsorship from BP and we want them to follow steps from other museums in giving up the sponsorship.' Mr Bolton said: 'We think the Trojan horse is brilliant, we helped crowdfund it because it's an amazingly good cause.' Jess Worth, co-founder of BP Or Not BP?, said: 'We brought in the Trojan horse early in the morning through a side gate and took one of the wheels off so it couldn't be moved' The wooden horse, which is 4 metres tall and can seat 10 people inside, was pulled in by a group of supporters with flags reading 'BP Must Fall' Jess Worth, co-founder of BP Or Not BP?, said: 'We brought in the Trojan horse early in the morning through a side gate and took one of the wheels off so it couldn't be moved. 'We negotiated with the British Museum and told them what we were planning to do. The negotiation went really well and they allowed two of us to stay overnight last night. There has been a lot of good-natured, mutual respect from the British Museum. 'It's brilliant to have so much support. People really, really care when they see the British Museum partnering with organisations like BP. They feel personally upset and motivated to protest about it.' 'BP is a danger to the world and to our children and grandchildren. We strongly object to the British Museum accepting sponsorship from BP and we want them to follow steps from other museums in giving up the sponsorship,' Mrs Bolton added Greenpeace protestors inside the British Museum, London in protest against BP, who are sponsoring the Troy exhibition at the museum A spokesman for BP said: 'Our new CEO, Bernard Looney, will set out his low-carbon ambition for BP next week. He understands the frustration and anger and shares protesters' deep concern about climate change. 'He hopes that what he has to say then will give people a sense that we get it and are very serious about working to address the problem.' The British Museum has been contacted for comment. A spokesman for BP said: 'Our new CEO, Bernard Looney, will set out his low-carbon ambition for BP next week. He understands the frustration and anger and shares protesters' deep concern about climate change.' A speech is given inside Climate change activists demonstrate against BP (British Petroleum) gas company in the British Museum as customers enjoy some food and drinks, bemused by the 'Black Brigade' protesters Phil Ball, 48, and fellow campaigner Chad Nickson, 17, camped inside the 13ft horse at the museum in London on Friday. Mr Ball, who worked as a cameraman before turning to activism full time, is a member of the group BP or Not BP? who wheeled the horse into the grounds of the museum yesterday morning. Mr Ball designed the horse and said 30 or 40 members and supporters of the group built it. It took around a month to complete and was finished on Thursday, the night before they moved it into the museum grounds. It cost around 9,000 and the money was raised by a crowdfunding campaign. Inside there was a PA system which played a loop of horse noises as well as drilling. Mr Ball said while the duo faced the cold and rain during the evening, the experience was worth it. Phil Ball, 48, and fellow campaigner Chad Nickson, 17, camped inside the 13ft horse at the museum in London on Friday. Climate change activist is pictured inside the museum the day after He told PA news agency: 'It was lovely, it was really genuinely lovely. There was a wonderful atmosphere when people left the museum last night. 'They came and marvelled at the horse and then we'd encourage them to interact with it by playing the horse sounds. 'It was lovely looking at the twinkly lights of the city too. It's the best place to camp in London to be honest.' He added: 'I'm riding on a crest of a wave of adrenaline at the moment. The cheekiness of what we have done hasn't quite sunk in.' Mr Ball, who worked as a cameraman before turning to activism full time, is a member of the group BP or Not BP? who wheeled the horse into the grounds of the museum yesterday morning The duo filled the horse with camping mats, sleeping bags and pillows for comfort. Tarpaulin was also placed inside to protect the electronics from bad weather. Mr Ball added: 'We had a hot meal and then settled down for the night. We got woken up at 4am because there was some rain. Some of it came in so we repositioned things so we could keep all the electrics dry. It was fine actually. 'There was an early morning wake-up call when one of the museum staff banged on the back of the horse to check if we were OK.' Mr Ball added: 'We don't know what we're going to do with it now. It's a such a brilliant piece of work. It's epic. 'I'd like to take it to Glastonbury. We could turn it into a little pub, get some music going, it would be brilliant. Like a little Hobbit hole.' SANTA FE New Mexico appears on track to become the nations 18th state with a red-flag gun law, after a divided Senate voted 22-20 on Friday to approve a bill that would allow firearms to be temporarily seized from those deemed dangerous to themselves or others. The narrow vote to approve the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Law sent the bill on to the House with just over two weeks left in the 30-day legislative session. It also prompted at least one county sheriff to suggest the proposed law would be challenged in court if signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. However, the Democratic governor and other supporters expressed confidence in the bills constitutionality, saying it was based on similar laws passed in other states. We have an obligation to every single New Mexican, every single family, every single child that we do everything in our power that can provide just that additional layer of safety and public support, Lujan Grisham said during a news conference after Fridays vote. This years red flag gun bill, Senate Bill 5, has divided New Mexicos law enforcement ranks. Thirty of the states 33 county sheriffs oppose the measure, while State Police Chief Tim Johnson and top Albuquerque Police Department officials support it. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the bills sponsor, evoked the mass shooting in El Paso last year in which a gunmen killed 22 people and allegedly targeted those of Mexican descent in making his case for the legislation on the Senate floor. Too many of these mass killings, and suicides, people are telling friends, principals and schoolmates about their plans, said Cervantes, who described himself as a gun owner and concerned father. And yet despite that knowledge, nothing is done. However, critics said the measure would violate New Mexicans constitutional rights and questioned whether it would prevent future tragedies. How can you have probable cause with no offense? asked Sen. Greg Baca, R-Los Lunas. You dont have a chance to defend yourself on that. Under the bill, which was revised as it moved through the Senate, only law enforcement officers, not family members or coworkers, would be able to file a petition in state court for an order to prohibit someone from possessing firearms. However, law enforcement officials would have to explain their decision in writing if they opted not to seek a judges order after receiving a report. If a judge found sufficient evidence that an individual posed a threat to themselves or others, an emergency 10-day order requiring them to relinquish their firearms would be issued. A one-year order could then be imposed after a court hearing. Similar laws have been enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Although the laws differ, many states enacted them in response to mass shootings, such as the February 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead. Four Democratic senators joined Republicans in casting no votes on the bill Sens. Gabriel Ramos of Silver City, John Arthur Smith of Deming, Richard Martinez of Ojo Caliente, and Clemente Sanchez of Grants. If one more Democrat had voted against the measure, the tie would have been broken in favor of the legislation by Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who presides over the Senate. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to all, especially women to vote. The CM, who is contesting from New Delhi constituency said, " I hope I am hopeful that people of Delhi will vote on the basis of the work done". Kejriwal-led Delhi government's rolled out a free travel scheme for women passengers in over 5,500 state-run buses. Kejriwal also added that he was hopeful that his Aam Admi Party (AAP) would be re-elected. Kejriwal is contesting against Congress' Romesh Sabharwal and Bharatiya Janata Party's Sunil Yadav from New Delhi seat. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: I appeal to all, specially to the women, to cast their votes today. I am hopeful that people of Delhi will vote on the basis of the work done. I am hopeful that Aam Aadmi Party will come back to power for the third time. #DelhiElections2020 https://t.co/5MfBUVng91 pic.twitter.com/zPSZdgHpsm ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 On Saturday, the voting for Delhi Assembly election 2020 has started at 8 am for 70-member seats. Kejriwal was seen casting his vote at a polling booth in Civil Lines, Delhi, along with his family members. Also read: Delhi Election 2020 Voting Live: CM Kejriwal, family cast vote in Civil Lines Meanwhile, AAP's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, "Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children". Sisodia is contesting from Patparganj seat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed Delhi voters to vote today. The PM stated, " My appeal to all voters is that they participate in this festival of democracy in maximum number and create a new voting record. Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers". Meanwhile, prominent leaders who have cast their votes are Harsh Vardhan Singh, Raghav Chadha, Meenakshi Lekhi, Alka Lamba, Hamid Ansari, Ram Lal, Anil Baijal, Parbvesh Verma and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Also read: Delhi Election 2020: Voting date, Exit poll result, election FAQs, full schedule, seats Also read: Delhi Election 2020: Polling in national capital today; here's all you need to know James Anderson, the feted boss of Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, is a big fan of Elon Musk's Tesla. His fund, the UK's biggest investment trust, is one of the electric car maker's top shareholders. And there is a large and growing possibility, he has claimed, that Tesla will one day become 'the most valuable company in the world'. That will be music to the ears of anyone who has piled into the stock in recent months as its shares roar higher. Tesla shares have risen 447% since June last year Since June, when they skidded to lows of $177, they revved up to peaks of almost $969 and then back down to below $800 again. From trough to peak, it amounts to an astonishing 447 per cent increase in a little over seven months. So what is fuelling the rise? And is Anderson a genius or just badly mistaken? There are various theories about what is causing Tesla's surge, but no certain answers. From the 'short squeeze' shares getting a lift as investors who bet against Tesla unwind their positions to the rush of retail investors wanting a slice of the action, there are several market forces that have helped push the stock higher. But there is also the growing sense of optimism exuding from the company, which has posted two quarterly profits in a row, hit record production numbers, opened a factory in China and stands to benefit hugely from the coming electric car revolution. And although much has been made about 'Tesla killer' electric cars being made by traditional car manufacturers, some analysts say none of these can match the range or capabilities of Musk's machines. Or, as Anderson has put it: 'These companies cannot compete with what Tesla is doing.' But before you jump on the bandwagon, it is worth remembering that a company's fortunes especially one so closely linked to its boss can change quickly. Still, anyone wowed by the success of tech giants Amazon, Google, Facebook and Netflix in the past two decades, as most investors surely are, could be forgiven for feeling the fear of missing out. Tesla's supporters claim it still has a lot of growth ahead of it. So what should you do when a stock like this pops? Russ Mould, investment director of AJ Bell, says Tesla's shares are 'either going to keep going up like a rocket or come down like the stick'. He points to similar astonishing rises that were followed by meltdowns, from the dotcom bubble in the early 2000s to the rise and fall of Bitcoin from 2017 to 2019. It's worth noting at the moment that Tesla, which produced about 370,000 cars last year, is worth almost three times more than General Motors, which makes around 10m cars each year. Much has been made about electric cars being made by traditional car manufacturers, but some analysts say none of these can match the range or capabilities of Elon Musk's machines Mould adds: 'Investors have two choices: let the trend be their friend, in which case they will just let the shares ride, or take the view that even a good stock with a strong narrative and entrepreneurial management has its price and that, on a short-term basis at least, Tesla's valuation looks very, very rich.' He recommends asking some back-to-basics questions from the checklist devised by Warren Buffett's business partner Charlie Munger: Do you understand the business? Does the business have a durable competitive advantage? Does management have integrity? Does the stock come at a sensible price? Weighing up the answers truthfully is key to your decision. Investors wanting a less risky way into fast-growing tech equities can turn to trusts such as Anderson's Scottish Mortgage, whose top holdings, as well as Tesla, include Amazon, Illumina, Tencent and Alibaba. And notable others include rival funds Axa Framlington Global Technology, Polar Capital Technology Trust and iShares Automation & Robotics ETF. But you should also take note of Anderson's investment strategy. His fund aims to invest early in the most disruptive tech companies and is prepared to stick with them for the long haul. 'Our view,' he told Citywire in 2018, 'is that the point of equity capital markets is to provide serious amounts of capital for the long term, for projects that are for the good and that are driving forward our societies and economies. That is what Tesla is doing.' But he adds: 'One of the great difficulties in financial markets is the outrageous level of certainty that people have in their views. 'Our position on Tesla is we don't know if the company will be successful. We do not know where the share price goes. 'We certainly believe there is a good possibility that Tesla will prove entirely and highly successful and the returns we make to that would outweigh the downside. But one should always try to phrase things in terms of probabilities and payoffs, rather than certainty.' So don't bet the farm on runaway stocks such as Tesla but don't write them off either. 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The conventional media wisdom was that Democrats would go after each other in New Hampshire, but instead, they had a great debate and focused on beating Trump. One of the things that was obvious about the debate was that the Democrats are focused on beating Trump. The tone was set when Pete Buttigieg defended Joe Biden: Buttigieg defends Biden, " To be the kind of president, to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son, who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father, is an unbelievably dishonorable thing." pic.twitter.com/gqf5fDI3nz Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 8, 2020 There was a lack of ugliness in this debate. On numerous occasions, the candidates agreed with each other on the issues. The focus was on beating Trump. The reality is that there isnt much daylight on the issues between the candidates. Even on healthcare, the difference between the candidates is how they get to universal coverage, not if there should be universal coverage. Biden led the audience in a standing ovation for Col. Vindman: Biden says Vindman should be getting a medal, not Rush Limbaugh, and leads the crowd in a standing ovation for Col. Vindman. #Demdebate #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/EWtZ4rKPTH Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 8, 2020 Bernie Sanders called out the Senate Republican cowards who knew Trump was guilty but wouldnt convict him: Sanders calls out Senate Republicans for knowing that Trump is guilty, but not having the guts to convict him. pic.twitter.com/OpD3THJr6k Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 8, 2020 Elizabeth Warren called for a national right to choose law: Elizabeth Warren calls for a national law to protect the right to choose. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Vk59g4YqPQ Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 8, 2020 The Democratic candidates seem to have committed themselves to not holding an ugly primary. As the pressure of the campaign builds, in what is going to be a close contest where no candidate may get the needed delegates to clinch the nomination before the convention, it will be interesting to see if the spirit of unity holds. The corporate media likes drama and debates that create moments of tension between the candidates. In New Hampshire, ABC deserves credit for staying mostly focused on the issues. The debate likely didnt move the needle for any candidate, but it did show that Democrats are united in a common mission to defeat Donald Trump. Democrats know that a bruising primary only helps the president, and the biggest loser in the New Hampshire Democratic Debate was Donald Trump and his campaign to divide the Democratic Party. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Weibo doctor li wenliang coronavirus Associated Press The death of Li Wenliang, a doctor who was censored for trying to alert citizens about the dangers of the Wuhan coronavirus, has outraged Chinese citizens. Chinese citizens expressed their anger and grief at his passing and the conflicting reports from state media outlets on social media. Three viral hashtags "The Wuhan government owes Li Wenliang an apology," "I want freedom of speech," and "We want freedom of speech" were seen by millions before they were censored. In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese authorities have been trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Following the death of a doctor Li Wenliang, a whistleblower who was censored for raising alarms about the Wuhan coronavirus in its early stages, Chinese citizens took to social media to express their grief and demand for an apology and more free speech from the Chinese government. The announcement of Li's death also came amid conflicting statements in which state media reported that he had died, then that he was still alive on life support, and then again that he had died. The inconsistent reporting related to his death ignited outrage among citizens, who expressed frustration about the credibility of information from state media outlets. In the wake of his Li's death, Chinese citizens have accused authorities of trying to control public opinion online by censoring social media posts critical of the Chinese government and how they've handled the coronavirus. "We are not allowed to mourn for Dr. Li Wenliang. We are not allowed to ask for liberty of speech. Our words has been deleted. And our mouths has been silenced," a Chinese user tweeted. The Chinese government has censored protests in the wake of Li's death As rumors spread of Li's death throughout Thursday evening and Friday morning, three hashtags went viral online seeking justice for the whistleblower doctor: "The Wuhan government owes Li Wenliang an apology," "I want freedom of speech," and "We want freedom of speech." The hashtags were seen by millions of users on a Chinese social media platform called Weibo before they disappeared without a trace, the South China Morning Post reported. Story continues According to Nectar Gan, a reporter for CNN International, the hashtag "I want freedom of speech" had 1.8 million views around 5 a.m. before the entire phrase was censored from Chinese social media platforms. BBC also reported that "hundreds of thousands" of comments related to Li's death have been completely wiped, complying with government demands to censor politically sensitive content. Chinese authorities have replaced messages of dissent about Li's passing with posts from Weibo accounts with a blue "V," which are verified accounts for official government figures, agencies, media outlets and more. The posts trending about Li's death now report that he died from a "work injury." Weibo Li Wenliang Weibo According to Manya Koetse, the editor in chief of a Chinese social media watchdog blog called "What's on Weibo, "a post acknowledging the Chinese governments' dishonesty with the public began trending under a "Li Wenliang" hashtag also became popular among Weibo users. Other citizens accused the Chinese government of trying to manipulate public opinion about Li's death and the coronavirus through censorship. On WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging platform, the hashtag "Can You Manage, Do You Understand?" referencing the letter Li was forced to sign by Chinese authorities for "making false statements" also began to surface on the platform. The phrase has become a rallying cry for those wanting more free speech, according to Koetse. In the country where political dissent is often stifled and punished, the clamorous calls from citizens demanding accountability and change from the Chinese government amounts to an online revolt. One Chinese citizen compared the online dissent to the demonstrations made by Chinese students in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Gan reported. "The last time so many people had been awakened was 1989. I want freedom of speech," a user wrote in a now-deleted post under the censored "I want freedom of speech" hashtag. Despite attempts by authorities to quiet the political dissent, other Chinese citizens are encouraging each other to continue speaking up online. The Chinese government has been accused of covering up the virus The Chinese government has been criticized for their reticence about the coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak. Chinese officials have been cracking down on citizens speaking out about the pandemic, arresting citizens accused of spreading rumors online and detaining journalists covering the virus. Li was one of few to raise alarms about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak. On December 30, Dr. Li Wenliang warned some of his medical-school colleagues about the virus before the Chinese government had officially announced the outbreak on WeChat. Soon, screenshots of his message about the potential risks of the illness went viral. He was later reprimanded and silenced by the police in Wuhan, made to sign a letter for "disturbing public order." Lil is now being hailed a hero in China for raising the alarm about the coronavirus and continuing to share information about the virus as he worked to treat patients at Wuhan Central Hospital. He contracted the coronavirus while treating patients and died from the virus at about 4 a.m. local time on Friday, state media outlets reported. He leaves behind his son, his pregnant wife, and his mother, who claimed she didn't even get to say goodbye. Chinese citizens are honoring Li's death by blowing whistles and shining flashlights out windows across Wuhan, Hubei, the center of the coronavirus outbreak. However, even attempts to coordinate the commemoration to Li have been censored by authorities, according to Gan. Have you been personally impacted by the coronavirus epidemic? Is your city or community on the front lines of this disease? Have you or someone you know been tested or diagnosed? We want to hear your story. Please email pcachero@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider 08.02.2020 LISTEN The African have been able to create a spirit version of their nations in which many of them live and operate. The spirit world is a world on its own, and only those who are authorised to have access to it can see the good things it presents. The following are some worrying trends, beliefs and practices of the Ghanaian spirit world which need urgent attention before things turn upside down. Spiritual medical supplies have become popular in recent years in Ghana. Many pastors have become spiritual medical doctors, certified and approved in the spiritual world. They have been able to successfully create their own nations called the spirit world, where only they are able to operate. To perfect this, they have been able to convince every other person, even the most educated that they are part of that spiritual world although they are unaware of their citizenship. Apart from the monthly taxes that are received as requirements for being a citizen of this invisible spiritual world, there are lofty promises of eternal health, which far exceeds any human medical invention. Of course, this spiritual medical treatment isnt free. One needs physical human-created money to access such high delivered spiritual medical treatments. Medical supplies such as highly scented, brightly coloured oils, spiritual bottled water, stickers, pens, books, fans and more recently pants have all been added to the repertoire of spiritual supplies. Most of these items are ingested into the human body with hopes of receiving quick spiritual healing. But it is none of our business if these items have been approved for human consumption. Unfortunately, they are not. of Course, since these items were procured from the spiritual world, it follows that the food and drugs authority of the spirit world approved such items. Hence, it is no surprise that the food and drugs authority of the republic of Ghana sits and watches helplessly as these items are prescribed and administered to helpless and unsuspecting citizens who are desperate for quick solutions. If this pattern is allowed to continue, it will not be a surprise if the food and drugs authority and all medical facilities are shut down and replaced with spiritual centres of diagnosis and treatment. For it makes no sense to have a body in charge of making sure that items for human consumption pass tests of wholesomeness before being allowed to be given to any human, sit and watch as theories of spiritism are used to outwit the system. If these theories are true, seeing how highly advanced the spiritual systems seem, why dont we replace every system with this antidote to solve our problems once and for all. If the food and drugs authority will continue to sit and watch as self-acclaimed men of god continue to sell supplements, drugs and other food items to unsuspecting members of society, then they should as well close their offices down so that Ghanaians know that the spirits have replaced the operations of approving consumables. And may the national health insurance system be cancelled to make way for the elaborate spiritual medical era. DEATH THREATS Death prophecies have become a normal phenomenon in Ghana and many who receive such messages from their creator through self-acclaimed prophets of God see nothing wrong with such messages. Rather, because of the overzealous religiosity of our current society, people who receive death threats in the form of prophesies become slaves to the subjects who offer such threats. Death prophesies are death threats and nothing less and they must be handled by the laws of the land. This must not be allowed to continue. Elsewhere, people who issue death threats will have to face the law and answer questions. They must be ready to defend their prophesy and if anything is found to happen to the person the death prophecy was announced to, the prophet will be held liable. That is how every serious society is governed. Death prophecies are not to be made public-for if one receives a message from god on the life of another, what is the essence of blowing such information in speakers for the whole world to hear? Even the trauma alone and the idea that ones days have been closely numbered is enough to kill the person. Recent studies show that peoples knowledge about a misfortune such as death, kills them faster than the real causes of the death. For example, a study was conducted by a group of scientists to find out this: which kills faster, HIV or peoples knowledge of having HIV?. Their assumption was that ones knowledge of having the disease is likely to kill the person faster than the virus itself. To confirm their hypothesis, a series of tests were run on many people to test for HIV.Two men were sampled for the study. One was HIV positive whilst the other was negative. However, before giving them their results, it was changed. The one who was HIV positive was given the negative result whilst the one who was HIV negative was told he had the virus. After a few months, the person who was told that he had the HIV virus (although he was negative) showed all symptoms of HIV whilst the who had the virus showed no sign at all. The conclusion of that study was that knowledge rather than HIV kills faster. This study is relevant to the discussion because death threats, no matter who it is coming from has the tendency of causing premature death. Thus, those who issue death prophesies must be picked up by the law enforcement agencies in order to safeguard citizens from unnecessary panic and premature loss of lives. If we live in a country where god only cares about telling people when they are about to die but refuses to give us solutions to our numerous problems, then we need to seriously reconsider if the African has a god (Nnamdi Azikiwe, African Morning Post). TOWARDS A SPIRITUAL ECONOMY It is common to see many men of god these days. Most of them are clearly frustrated individuals who have given up on life, having failed many times trying to make it in life. But before they give up, they realise this great opportunity. Many Ghanaians live in the spiritual world successfully created by some powerful people. As I mentioned, this spiritual world is a perfect place, full of every good thing one can think of. Immediately this reality becomes the source of breakthrough for these frustrated individuals who nearly gave up in life. Grabbing an old bible and a speaker, with a daily memorisation of a few words in the bible, these individuals set out to preach about the goodies of this great spirit world. In exchange for their great services of informing you about this great place, amid promises of being able to invoke the powers of this world to your advantage, you need to pay them physical money. So, many people long for this perfect spiritual world, so much that they are ready to forgo their hard-earned fortunes in exchange for this great place. While doing this, the messengers of this perfect spirit world become so rich and powerful that it suggests they have no plans of going to this great place anytime soon. The ordinary person quickly interprets this sudden riche of the man of God as blessings from the spirits-a reward for his diligent work in informing others about this great world. It seems the brains of the common man has been successfully replaced with a spirit brain with which he thinks and analyses things. To him, everything has a spiritual undertone. He believes that hard work is useless and only those who use their newly-acquired spiritual brains are qualified to make it both in this life and in the life hereafter. Everything is vanity to him, so he will rather give them all up to the man of God, who stores them up for himself and his family and future generations to come. This spiritual brain seems perfect, and it is because it comes from the inner chambers of the spirit world. And so, laziness is justified and normalised and there is no point in working too hard. What are you even working for? All is vanity. We will rather shout day and night and call for the spirits to touch the heart of a hardworking innocent rich person to come to our aid. Or better still, for a hardworking rich person to walk up to us and dash us all his riches, or better still, may the spirits cause a successful man to lose his wallet containing millions of cash for us to find. Until then, we will keep calling on them for help, while our compatriots in other parts of the world work day and night to build their nations. And may they continue to work hard because we will soon be blessed and we will have enough money to visit their nations, to admire their creativity, innovation and handwork. We will also praise their elaborate and nearly perfect systems. But back home we will pray to our secretly found antidote who is able to transform our nation to even surpass theirs. The African god can do it. Are they looking for us? asked a jittery Peter Milton, 49, as his eyes darted to scan for the police patrol vehicle that passed by. He feared the men in khaki might have sensed that this correspondent had come to the fishing hamlet to record their sufferings. Milton has more than two dozen sedition cases against him since 2012 for participating in the protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP). Also Read: Sedition Cases slapped on celebrities withdrawn as fast as they were lodged If they find out that you have come to write about us, they will make my life hell. They will ensure I dont even get kerosene the next time I go out to the sea, Milton told DH. Miltons words surmise the fear in and around Kudankulam and Idinthakarai, where the countrys single largest nuclear power station is housed. As many as 8,856 people from Idinthakarai, Kudankulam, Perumanal, Vairavaikinaru, Koothankuli and Uvari face dozens of cases booked under Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code that deals with sedition, and other sections including Section 121. Also Read: 'Sedition is a necessary legal provision' No one really knows how many cases have been dropped or added. We have lost count of it. These cases were slapped only to instil fear among the protestors, S P Udayakumar, convenor of Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy that led the protests, told DH. Only a few were arrested, but most including S P Udayakumar, a former professor, were not taken into custody. However, their mobility and livelihoods were affected. People facing sedition charges cant apply for a passport. Those who possess one cannot leave the country. They also cant apply for government jobs and are under the constant watch of the police. Also Read: Fear and loathing in sedition land Milton, a former bosun in a vessel, has had a roller-coaster ride from the last nine years. Today, he doesnt make even a fraction of what he brought home in 2011. I couldnt get back to my job due to the cases. My wife runs a saree shop in our house to run the household and fund my 12-year-old daughters education, he said. Constant intimidation Ganesan, who spent 215 days in jail, said that the police have been cultivating fear psychosis among people through sedition cases. Today, I cant even distribute a pamphlet against KNPP in the district as the police will rush to our doorsteps. They have planted informers everywhere, he said. When Ganesan applied for a passport to travel to Kuwait, his application was denied and he was put in jail. I knew about the sedition case against me, but several people came to know about such cases slapped on them only during such checks, Ganesan told DH. Notwithstanding the sufferings the cases have brought to them, most of the villagers whom DH spoke to a majority didnt want to be quoted said they were resolute in their opposition to KNPP. Why should we sleep in fear every single day with a bomb by our side? Sundari, who spent 98 days in jail, told DH. Then a peaceful protest in Kudankulam was seen as a threat to the government; now even a rangoli can keep the administrators on their toes, she said. The womenfolk proved to be the bravest during the three-year-long anti-nuclear protest. Mildred, 47, who was at the forefront of the protests, still sleeps outside a statue of Mother Mary at St Lourdes Church in this coastal village every night as a mark of protest against KNPP. In 2012, Mildred made a daring escape and evaded jail time by jumping into the sea and swimming back to the shore after being saved by fishermen. She is now an activist in her own right. We women are not scared. Men fear for their safety as they go out to the seas. Several men have been harassed by the police for no reason. But that hasnt changed our mind on the nuclear plants, she said. Udayakumar, who quit a well-paying job in the US and returned to India in the 2000s, seeks the reason behind the slow process of cases against the protesters.There is no forward movement on cases against me, but my accounts are still frozen, Udayakumar said. He said he struggled to get a decent education for his two sons due to the freezing of his bank accounts. Antony Kebiston, whose shop was burnt during the protest, says, Though police are not physically present in the village, they monitor us constantly. Even if there is a semblance of dissent, all these cases will get a new lease of life. Police have spoiled the lives of the youth. Four senators, including Ted Cruz (R-TX), have asserted that, as a consequence of sanctions placed on Iran, Twitter must cease providing its services to Ayatollah Khamenei and other leaders in the country. "The Ayatollah enjoys zero protection from the United States Bill of Rights," he wrote in a letter to the company. Although the move comes as relations between Iran and the U.S. grow ever more strained following a series of violent incidents connected with the country, it is also an attempt to exert executive power over tech companies that have resisted the yoke of federal regulation. In a letter (PDF) sent to Twitter, the U.S. Attorney for Northern California and others, the senators explained the rationale for their demand. The Obama administration created rules in 2014 that specifically made an exception to export rules allowing free messaging and social media-type services to be offered to Iranians. The idea being that, though Twitter and many other such apps are mostly banned in Iran, it could not hurt to offer tools for free expression and communication to its citizens. But there are exceptions even to exceptions, and this is what Cruz et al. claim now apply to Twitter. Specifically, they say that following Trump's executive order in June imposing additional sanctions on Iran, the Khamenei and foreign minister Javad Zarif have lost the protection the law previously offered. "All Americans including you and Twitter are prohibited from 'the making of any contribution of provision of...goods or services' to them," the letter reads. "While the First Amendment protects the free speech rights of Americans... the Ayatollah and any American companies providing him assistance are entirely subject to U.S. sanctions laws." Not being an expert in import/export law myself, I can't judge the merits of this argument, though on its face it seems sound. But it may not be a question of whether Twitter can or can't "offer services" to persons blacklisted by the federal government. Story continues There is the argument that Twitter choosing to offer the use of its platform to others is itself a protected act of free speech. After all, the White House could just as easily have issued an E.O. blacklisting the leaders of the countries subject to the travel ban. Should that be a possibility? Is it the right of a U.S. company to extend its platform for free speech to anyone in the world, regardless of their legal status in the eyes of the government? Sens. Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Marco Rubio (R-NJ) think otherwise. Twitter declined to comment. Srinagar, Feb 8 : Demanding an end to their detention, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) minister Altaf Bukhari said on Saturday that the slapping of the Public Safety Act (PSA) on former chief ministers - Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, is "undemocratic". "There is no place for detaining political representatives under PSA in a democracy," Bukhari told IANS. Bukhari said the detained leaders must be released and allowed to do political activities. Three former chief ministers of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir have been detained since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Bukhari was the first Kashmiri leader to publicly say that it was time to move beyond Article 370 and work for getting achievable political objectives. Last month a group of politicians led by Bukhari met with Lt Governor G.C. Murmu and presented a memorandum listing measures for the revival of political activities in the union territory. They demanded restoration of statehood and domicile rights for the residents. The group stressed on the release of all the detainees following the abrogation of Article 370 including three former chief ministers. Bukhari also led a group of former legislators for a meeting with a 16-member delegation of foreign envoys and ambassadors. The move triggered a strong response by the PDP which expelled nine of its members for taking part in the meeting and siding with Bukhari. The Bukhari-led group plans to launch a new political party which will take shape over the next few weeks and is likely to play a key role in the revival of political activity in Jammu and Kashmir. But for all of the focus on the critical importance of the courts, the candidates recognized the limits of what even a Democratic president could do, if Republicans and Mr. McConnell remained in control of the Senate. The best solution to the Senate is to make sure that in 2021, Mitch McConnell is no longer in the majority, or preferably not in the Senate at all, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., told the gathering on Saturday. He added, This is our chance, this is our only chance. Why the stakes are high We are going to be, I think, just about No. 1 by the time we finish No. 1 of any president, any administration, Mr. Trump bragged in November, releasing a fact sheet about his success in confirming judicial nominees. As a result, Democrats fear reversals on a wide array of labor law, civil rights and environmental cases as the courts move steadily to the right. Perhaps no issue has garnered more attention than reproductive rights, in which Democrats fear a conservative-leaning Supreme Court can significantly restrict or even remove the constitutional right to abortion. EDMONTONThe cost of expanding the federally owned Trans Mountain pipeline has gone up by 70 per cent, reaching $12.6 billion but despite criticism from across the political spectrum, Justin Trudeaus government is betting the project will be worth it, a political observer says. Three years ago, the estimated price for the expansion had been $7.4 billion. The new, significantly higher cost was revealed Friday. Ian Anderson, president and CEO of Trans Mountain Corp., said during a conference call the federally owned projects new completion date is expected to be December 2022. Its really important to know that the project that were all working on and building today is not the project that we originally envisioned and introduced early in 2012, Anderson said. Nor is it the one we last provided a cost estimate for in early 2017. It isnt even the one we envisioned as early as 2018, when our ownership changed. Its much, much more today. The new cost doesnt include the $4.5 billion spent by federal Liberals to purchase the project from its previous owner, Kinder Morgan Inc., in 2018. Anderson cited delays for the cost. Just this week, the project survived a court challenge as the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed challenges from several First Nations. Activists in British Columbia have pledged to continue fiercely opposing the project, even though construction has already begun in Alberta. The four First Nations who lost the court challenge Tuesday have 60 days to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Another chunk of the cost has been due to better leak-detection measures being added and thicker pipe in some spots, Anderson said. The biggest single factor in the increase, however, was an extra $1 billion in the cost of financial borrowing, he said. Anderson noted said the estimate includes a $500-million contingency fund for unexpected delays that include potential disruption from protesters. The corporation has spent $2.5 billion on the project so far. Lori Williams, a policy studies professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, called it a tricky file for Finance Minister Bill Morneau to manage even as hes appeared confident that the project will be a net benefit for Canada. The minister will get criticism from the Conservatives, but ultimately theyre likely to support him on any vote in Parliament on the project. The NDP and Greens in opposition will hammer him on the file, she said, and criticism could come from within his own caucus as well. Its definitely going to be challenging, Williams said. I dont think its going to be front-page news I think were probably going to come back and look at this when the pipeline is built, when we see some of the economic benefits ... and were not going to see that, in all likelihood, before the next election. Expanding the existing pipeline, which extends from just outside Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., would increase the capacity output by 300,000 barrels to 890,000 per day. The project, when completed, could mean new business opportunities in Asia for Canadas energy industry. Its long been lauded in Alberta as a crucial project for the struggling oil and gas industry in the province thats home to the worlds third largest oil reserves. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and his NDP predecessor, Rachel Notley, have consistently taken the Trudeau government to task with demands that it finish the job after years of delays. Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews spoke to his federal counterpart, Morneau, on Friday and was assured that Alberta didnt have to provide funds toward the project, said spokesperson Jerrica Goodwin in an emailed statement to the Star. Meanwhile, on Parliament Hill, opposition MPs seized on the ballooning construction cost to criticize the Liberal government. NDP MP Peter Julian called the expansion project and government nationalization of the existing pipeline the largest fossil fuel subsidy in Canadian history. Julian said the government should cancel the project which is already under construction with 3,000 workers on the job, according to the finance minister and keep the existing pipeline as it is. Were saying dont throw good money after bad, Julian told reporters outside the House of Commons. Were in a climate emergency. The federal government isnt making the investments that need to be made to transition us to a clean energy economy. Shannon Stubbs, a Conservative MP from Alberta, argued the government created a situation that discouraged the pipelines original owner Texas-based oil giant Kinder Morgan from investing in Canada. That forced Ottawa to step in and spend taxpayer funds to buy the pipeline unnecessarily. The Conservatives strongly support pipeline construction, and Stubbs called on the government to immediately sell Trans Mountain to the private sector to avoid dumping more public money into its construction. Now the Liberals have overpaid, bought this pipeline that will cost more than they originally predicted which we have always warned against so now they have to figure that out, fix their own mess and tell Canadians exactly how theyre going to get it done, Stubbs said. With files from The Canadian Press. Read more about: The ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party led by Prime Minister has suspended the general secretary of its Lahore chapter over posters that featured an insulting slogan targeting the minority Hindus after public backlash, a media report said on Saturday. Mian Akram Usman put up the poster in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed across the country on February 5, with the slogan "Hindu baat se nahi, laat se maanta hai" (Hindus cannot be reasoned with using words but by force). Usman, who came under fire from netizens and his party, apologised for the posters that were put up in public spaces in Lahore. The Tehreek-e-Insaf party has suspended the general secretary of its Lahore chapter over a poster that had featured an insulting remark targeting Hindus, Geo News reported. In the show-cause notice to Usman after his suspension, the party noted that the words that appeared on the posters violated the party's policy, it said, adding that the notice was issued by party's Lahore president Zuhair Abbas Khokhar. The matter has been referred to a special committee, it said. Usman had blamed printer for the derogatory posters, saying he had wanted to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the printer "mistakenly" substituted Modi's name with the word "Hindu". "I apologise [to] all peaceful Hindus living on both sides of the border. All posters [were] removed immediately when they came [to] my notice. I'm not the one who [is] stuck on mistakes," he tweeted. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari in a tweet on Thursday said Usman had been "reprimanded and posters were taken off immediately". She termed it "a shameful and ignorant approach by the individual". In March last year, another member of the ruling party Fayyazul Hassan Chohan was removed as the Punjab information and culture minister amid intense criticism over his derogatory remarks against the Hindu community. Washington President Donald Trump and his aides wasted little time opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing on Friday two of the most prominent witnesses in the inquiry against him barely 48 hours after the Senate acquitted the president. Emboldened by his victory and determined to strike back, Trump fired Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, within hours of the White House dismissing Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran who was a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council. Both officials testified to a House committee about the president's efforts to pressure Ukraine to help him against his domestic political rivals. "I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union," Sondland said in a statement just hours after Vindman's dismissal. Vindman was escorted out of the White House by security officers Friday afternoon and told that his services were no longer needed. His twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who also worked on the NSC staff, was fired too and escorted out at the same time. Both will be sent back to the Defense Department. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House," David Pressman, Alexander Vindman's lawyer, said in a statement. "Lt. Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful." Vindman spoke publicly only once, when ordered to under subpoena, Pressman added. "And for that, the most powerful man in the world buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit has decided to exact revenge." Trump signaled Vindman's fate hours ahead of time when he told reporters that a decision would be coming soon. "Well, I'm not happy with him," the president said. "You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not." The ouster of the Vindman brothers and Sondland may only presage a broader effort to even accounts with the president's perceived enemies. In the two days since his acquittal in the Senate, Trump has railed about those who stood against him like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. The president's critics had warned that he would feel unbound if acquitted, no longer restrained by the threat of congressional action, and some said the dismissal of the Vindman brothers proved their point. Both Vindman brothers will retain their Army ranks and return to military service. Going to school in the 80s and early 90s is a very big project just like someone preparing for a house building. Just like how less privileged individuals saved for many years for a building project that is a good illustration to depict how less-privileged parents prepare ahead of their Wards admission year in the past. The working class parent whose monthly salary payment is not enough to take care of their childrens school fees would go extra length to obtain short-term loans from banks for the admission process of their children. The children of these parents are not left out too as many would have to undertake in menial jobs to raise little fund to support whatever their parents gathered ahead of their admission year. The children whose parent show no seriousness or financially buoyant would stay at home for years before they finally gain admission into secondary schools or any higher institutions of learning. Whether Parent is a working class individual or not, education for their children is not an easy task as they solely take care of their responsibility without the help from any quarter. Even when the children finally gained admission into school, it is still a great challenge as the parent hustle for more fund to cater for their yearly or quarterly purchase of school textbook and other educational materials. Parents who lack fund to do all these a time opt for motor mechanics, carpentry, tailoring and others for their children. The young girls among the less-privileged home are always advised to marry early in life to avoid further parental responsibility on them. Due to the indecision of these parents, brilliant young boys and girls who would have become our intellectual today have had their education wasted. Those who were not wise enough to enrol their Wards vocational work, such children later in life took to crime and the aftermath is the social menace as we experienced in our society today. In those days, scholarship from private individuals and corporate organizations are very rare as it comes one in tens of brilliant students. But today, this is not the case as an average and brilliant students can gain admission and even advance their education with ease without good financial backing from their parents. Today, What the Students need is to show serious commitment to their studies as many of them would have their school fees paid by politicians. Today, paying school fees for Students has become a sort of competition by political officer holders and the aspiring politicians. People who have political aspiration undertake this measure as a mean to sell themselves very well to the public ahead of any election contest. These generational Youths are very lucky. Aside their quarterly school fees being paid for, the final year students have their WAEC registration fees paid by the State Government and in some case by private individuals too. Juxtaposing this to what was obtainable in the past, the present Youths are very lucky. In our time, every individual parent would have to source for fund to pay for their respective wards School fees. Inability to pay could cause Students withdrawal from the schools. These generational youths are so lucky. Today, they did not only enjoy WAEC registration being paid by the State government or private individual, some even get their JAMB form registration paid by serving and aspiring politicians too. Even when they finally gained admission into any institution of higher learning, State Government and Politicians still offer them educational scholarship. Many present Students in University, Polytechnic and College of Education are enjoying scholarship of different sorts. In the past where students dropped out of school due to lack of fund to pay school fees and this is the case as of today. Today, what generational Youths need is to show serious commitment to their studies as they can it make through without good financially backing from their parent. What a lucky generation! Shaibu Stephen is a public affairs commentator and Journalist writes from Abuja. He is on Facebook and WhatsApp platform and reachable via phone number 09075716236. Kindly search and like his Facebook page to subscribe for his daily article. The CEOs of Ericsson and Nokia will meet German chancellor Angela Merkel next week, two government sources said yesterday, amid debate in Berlin over how best to regulate foreign providers of telecoms equipment. No further details were immediately available on the talks, which come amid calls from some lawmakers to ban China's Huawei, the global leader in telecoms networks, on national security grounds. Nokia of Finland is the second largest telecoms equipment supplier, followed by Ericsson of Sweden. The move comes after US attorney general William Barr on Thursday stressed the threat posed by Huawei Technologies and said the United States and its allies should consider investing in Nokia and Ericsson to counter the Chinese company's dominance in next-generation 5G telecoms technology. Mr Barr said there had been some proposals that concerns about Huawei "could be met by the United States aligning itself with Nokia and/or Ericsson, through American ownership of a controlling stake, either directly or through a consortium of private American and allied companies". "Putting our large market and financial muscle behind one or both of these firms would make it a far more formidable competitor and eliminate concerns over its staying power, or their staying power," Mr Barr said in a speech in Washington. "We and our closest allies certainly need to be actively considering this approach." 5G networks are at the centre of a dispute over technology between the US and China as they are expected to host a range of critical functions, from driverless vehicles to smart electric grids and military communications, underscoring their importance to national security. The US has blacklisted Huawei and is in the midst of a worldwide campaign to convince allies to ban the Chinese giant from their 5G networks, alleging its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying - which Huawei denies. Sweden's minister for energy and digital development Anders Ygeman said potential US interest in Ericsson made sense, given that no US company offers a full suite of 5G products, but he stressed the firm's importance for Swedish business. "Clearly, there is both a strong Swedish and European interest in being able to continue to lead technological development. Ericsson is important both for jobs and business in Sweden but also as a technology leader," he said. US government investments in public companies are rare except in bailouts to save ailing firms and jobs, and even more so concerning foreign companies. Reuters Chairing an enlarged government meeting on the results of 2019, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on the establishment of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of Turkmenistan. The document orders the abolition of the Ministry of Industry and Communications of Turkmenistan and its agency Turkmen Industry and the establishment in their stead of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of Turkmenistan. The new ministry is the successor of the abolished ministry and its agency. In addition, the presidential decree orders that supervision of the agencies under the abolished ministry, such as Turkmen Railways, Turkmen Communications, Turkmen Airlines and Turkmen Sea and River Shipping Company should be assigned to the government of the country. The President of Turkmenistan also appointed Serdar Berdimuhamedov Minister of Industry and Construction of Turkmenistan and relieved him of the post of Khyakim (governor) of Akhal province. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Had he wanted the job, Kevin Lembo might be governor today. He briefly ran for the position but dropped out in 2017 even as he was among the early frontrunners. He wasnt sick or unable to serve. He simply decided he preferred his current position as state comptroller, ensconced in the numbers pertaining to pension plans and health care. But there are limits to how far that role can take you. Lembo went into his current term likely expecting hed be working with a governor who shared similar goals. Ned Lamont spent most of 2019 ostensibly on board with Lembos plan to create a public health insurance option, a state-run plan that would compete with private providers to drive down costs and improve coverage. On the surface, all remains well, and Lamont gave the comptroller a mention in his State of the State speech on Wednesday: A special shout out to Comptroller Kevin Lembo. Hes saving money in health care in innovative ways by getting better care for our state employees at less cost to the taxpayer. Beneath the geniality is a new divergence on what has emerged as Lembos signature policy. Lamont now says hes against a public option. This was revealed during a Connecticut Mirror podcast interview with longtime WNPR host John Dankosky. A public health care option means the existing stakeholders are bad actors, that the insurance guys are just trying to rip you off, Lamont said in the interview. And it doesnt deal with the underlying costs of health care. Lembo said he learned of Lamonts new position along with everyone else in the state by listening to that interview. And it wasnt just Lamonts stance that caught him off guard. It was stunning to me that the governor was willing to absolutely repeat industry talking points, Lembo told Hearst Connecticut Medias editorial board last week. Its almost the greatest gift that the industry could get to have a governor, a Democratic governor, almost parroting their talking points. Using language about as harsh as the soft-spoken Lembo is willing to get, the comptroller said, That was bothersome. Like most people who talk about Lamont, Lembo has high personal praise for him. Hes been good to work with; hes an affable guy, Lembo said, adding later, Its hard to be angry with him even when you should be angry with him. But he drew an unfavorable comparison between the current governor and his famously stubborn predecessor, Dannel Malloy. Theres a lot of tacking from issue to issue and position to position within an issue, and thats really hard, and different, Lembo said. He was referring to health care but could just as easily have been talking about tolls. Lembo further implied, in his understated manner, that Lamont might not have any idea what hes talking about. The governor surrounds himself with the people that advise him. Any elected official, myself included, has people in their ear. You either have to have the base of knowledge to understand whats real and whats spin, or have people around you who understand it, Lembo said. This is not about a squabble between two elected officials of the same party. This is about an issue, health care, that consistently comes out on the top of lists of voters concerns. Democrats fought for and have sought to preserve the gains of Obamacare, which dramatically increased the number of people who have insurance and introduced vital safeguards, like protection for people with pre-existing conditions (a protection that, despite his protests to the contrary, the president is actively seeking to undermine). But Democrats also know Obamacare wasnt enough. People may have coverage, but insurance with a $6,000 deductible is almost the same as having no insurance at all. Thats why the Democratic presidential campaign has been dominated by competing health care proposals, from Medicare for all to measures that are smaller but would still bring a demonstrable benefit for large numbers of people. This is where Lembos public option fits in. Its not free health care. Its a step toward better insurance and improved outcomes, and the benefits could go far beyond Connecticut. Lamont had once shown interest in this fight, but has now backed off. Lembo insists the struggle goes on without him, and that he will work to build a legislative coalition that could, if necessary, overcome the governors veto. In a short session, thats a huge hill to climb. Lembo dropped out of the governors race because he wants to be in the trenches on his policy issues, doing the hard work to save a few dollars and create better outcomes. Delivering a rah-rah up-with-Connecticut speech to open the legislative session was never in the cards. But with an unpredictable governor in power, the limits of his current position are clear. Designing a winning policy and assembling a coalition only goes so far. To effect lasting, systemic change, you might just need to be governor. Hugh Bailey is editorial page editor of the Connecticut Post and New Haven Register. He can be reached at hbailey@hearstmediact.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 10:19:55|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. health official said Friday that the development of vaccine against the coronavirus is going well, with "no glitches." Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at a news briefing at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that work is underway with biotech company Moderna to develop the vaccine. Fauci said one of the first steps that the vaccine development had to go through proved successful after the researchers successfully inserted the virus gene, published by their Chinese counterparts in a database, into the Moderna's messenger RNA platform, allowing it to express proteins. The next step is to put those proteins into a mouse model to induce immunogenicity, according to Fauci. If successful, initial clinical trials will start within 2.5 months to test the vaccine's safety in a small group of humans. Anahita Mukherji By In a world where consumer data is freely shared, bought, sold and analysed without consent, January 2020 was a month that put the spotlight on data privacy, thanks to two disparate events that occurred in two different parts of the world. The month began with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) coming into effect, a sweeping law that allows consumers to know what personal data is being collected about them and how its being used. Consumers can opt out of having their data sold and have the right to ask businesses to delete their personal data. Firms can be fined for not complying with the law, which will be enforced by July 2020. CCPA applies to companies that either have annual revenues over $25 million, collect the personal information of 50,000 people or more each year, or those that derive 50% or more of their revenue from selling consumers personal information. The law covers all California residents as well as all companies that do business in California. It is the first data protection law enacted in the US, and though only applicable to California, promises to have a far-reaching impact. The law is being likened to the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which, however, is broader in its scope. The very same month the law came into effect, a report detailing data leaks highlighted the need for data protection legislation. The report, titled Out of Control, was published by the Norwegian Consumer Council in mid-January, and detailed how consumers are exploited by the online advertising industry. The report highlighted massive consumer data leaks by companies including those headquartered in California, like the dating app Tinder as well as Grindr, a networking and dating app for the LGBTQ community. After the report was published, the Norwegian Consumer Council filed complaints of GDPR breaches against Grindr, MoPub and four other adtech companies. A coalition of American consumer groups wrote to the US Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of California, Texas and Oregon to carry out an investigation based on the Norwegian Consumer Council report. Out of Control tracked 10 apps transmitting user data to at least 135 different third parties involved in advertising and/or behavioural profiling. According to the report, the dating app OkCupid (owned by the same company that owns Tinder) shared very personal data about sexuality, drug use, political views and more with Braze, an analytics company. Over 70 third parties received personal data from users of the makeup app Perfect365. Menstrual cycle tracker MyDays shared the GPS location of users with third parties in the field of behavioural tracking and advertising. Data including gender, age and location of people using LGBTQ dating app Grindr were shared with third parties involved in profiling and advertising. The report noted that MoPub, a subsidiary of Twitter involved in adtech, was used as a mediator for Grindrs data sharing. After the release of the report, Twitter suspended Grindr from its ad network. The report showed that, 20 months after the EU data law came into effect, data sharing by the adtech industry remained out of control. Adtech, a term thats short for advertising and technology, refers to the range of digital tools used for advertising. It encapsulates the complicated processes used to direct ads to consumers. Interestingly, in the run-up to Californias data privacy law coming into effect, tech companies lobbied hard for a dilution of the law including exemptions for adtech. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit defending civil liberties in the digital world, wrote of how the new law had fended off a year of targeted efforts by technology giants who wanted to gut the bill. Tech companies backed bills that would have weakened the act. The Washington Post carried a detailed report in September 2019 on how residents in and around Sacramento, Californias capital city, were inundated with social media ads warning of how new government legislation would destroy the internet and force consumers to pay for websites that were otherwise free. The ads were found to have been run by a trade group that represents big tech companies. The group claims that surveillance-based advertising technology, which slurps up and broadly spreads consumers personal data without their knowledge, should be exempted from the CCPA. In truth, surveillance-based adtech is one of the worst privacy hazards that the law was designed to stop. It also provides little benefit to online publishers, and erodes trust between companies and their consumers, says a piece by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. CCPA has come into effect without the major revisions sought by tech companies. For residents in California, it has meant that virtually every time they visit a new site on the internet, theyre met with pop-up messages informing them about their right to privacy and opting out of having their data collected. An online search for CCPA throws up ads offering to help businesses comply with CCPA. While CCPA applies only to California, there is hope that companies will apply the principles of CCPA across the US. Microsoft has already promised to do so. The Wall Street Journal, in a piece on how companies are scrambling to comply with the new law, points to the difficulty involved in maintaining a separate protocol for Californias 39.6 million residents adding that many businesses were choosing to apply the changes they make for California to the rest of the US, making the California law a sort of de facto national standard. While consumer bodies and privacy activists have sought to further strengthen the provisions in the CCPA, there is no doubt that the bill is an important step in the road to data privacy, and is forcing companies to take a long, hard look at their privacy policies. For residents in California, it has meant that virtually every time they visit a new site on the internet, theyre met with pop-up messages informing them about their right to privacy ... Due to the difficulties involved in maintaining a separate protocol for Californias 39.6 million residents, many businesses are choosing to apply the changes they make for California to the rest of the US Anahita Mukherji An independent journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area Tweets @newspaperwalli Burkina Faso will be the next state to open a diplomatic representation in the Moroccan Sahara region, as part of an African push to show support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over the southern territory. Burkina Faso will thus be the seventh state to open a consulate in the Sahara after Comoros, Gambia, Gabon, Central African Republic, Sao Tome and Cote dIvoire. The decision was approved by Burkina Fasos government at a ministerial council on Wednesday and a decree was issued for that purpose. Other African countries will follow suit as Morocco continues to strengthen its foothold through win-win partnerships in the African continent notably following its return to the African Union. The growing support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara territory has irked the Polisario separatists and their mentor Algeria who went as far as insulting the sovereign states that opened their consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla as small states. Opening consulates by African states in southern Morocco is also reflective of waning interest in the Algerian-funded Polisario within Africa. It is true that Algerian oil-money earned the Polisario self-proclaimed republic a recognition in 1984, but the sands have shifted violently in favor of Morocco whose return to the African Union in late 2017 was preceded by a motion signed by 28 African states calling for a freeze of the separatist entitys membership. Moroccos return to the African Union was a bulwark against attempts to use the African organization to serve separatist aims. Morocco and its friends on the continent managed to secure the African Unions neutrality. Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda and other English speaking states in Africa have all refrained from backing the Polisario claims while supporting the UN efforts and UN Security Resolutions, which all stress primacy of Moroccos autonomy initiative as a credible solution to the over-three decade conflict. Thirty-seven countries from across Africa, making up two-third of the African Union members, do not recognize Polisarios statehood. Many African states deplore the membership of Polisario in the African Union as it represents an aberration that prejudged the outcome of negotiations in total disregard for the UN process and for Moroccos historical rights as a country that was divided by two colonial powers. Since Morocco regained its membership, the AU has remedied its past biases towards Morocco through decision 693, which states clearly that the Sahara should be tackled only within the UN framework barring the road to adversaries of Moroccos territorial integrity within the African Union who sought to create a parallel mechanism. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The much-awaited Corridor II Green Line of the Hyderabad Metro, which connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, was inaugurated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday. The Hyderabad Metro Rail, which now covers 69.2 km, became the second largest operational metro network in the country. The Metro services on the 11 km stretch of Corridor II, starting with Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) Metro Station, situated in front of Parade Ground, will have nine stations and cover some of the iconic locations, including the Secunderabad Station, Gandhi Hospital and Medical College, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Chikkadpally, RTC X Roads and Osmania Medical College and culminate at MGBS Metro Station. The Green Line will reduce travel time to just 16 minutes end-to-end as against 45 minutes it requires if one travels by road. JBS Parade Ground Metro Station is in a secured area next to Hyderabads second largest bus terminus and is one of the tallest in the project with five levels.A skywalk connects it to the Parade Grounds Station (Interchange) of Corridor III. Spread over three lakh square feet, the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) Interchange Metro Station is one of the largest in the country. It houses the interchange between Corridors I and II with three levels each, which are split into two, as one corridor passes over the other. After flagging off the first service, the chief minister along with other dignitaries including, MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao, Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy and HMRL MD NVS Reddy, travelled by the train that was adorned with images of Telangana women, the Bathukamma festival and silver filigree art. The Green Line also provides a beautiful and panoramic view of the southern part of the citys skyline. The chief minister then alighted at Chikadapally Metro Station and waved at a large number of people who gathered there to catch a glimpse of him. During his trip, Rao also went into the drivers cabin and congratulated the staff for their contribution. Interestingly, no speeches were made during the inauguration and no mention was made with regard to the Metro connecting the city with the Airport or the initiation of Metro works between MGBS and Falaknuma. Revanths dig MP Revanth Reddy, taking a dig at the State government, tweeted: I have always pointed out how ignorant the TRS govt is when it comes to the development of south Hyderabad. Im glad that this question has been finally raised by a government loyalist. Hoping at least now that there would be unbiased development (sic). Reddy also tagged MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had earlier questioned the government over the Falaknuma-MGBS line. Russian military police continued on Friday to patrol the Syrian side of the border with Turkey in the northwest, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's reconciliation centre said, Trend reports citing Sputnik. "Russian military police units continued the patrols", Major General Yuri Borenkov told reporters at a daily briefing. Borenkov added that Russian combat aircraft flew patrol missions from the airport of Qamishli in Syrias northeast. No incidents took place during the patrols. The patrols are part of a Russia-Turkey deal on creating a buffer zone in northern Syria. Following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Russian-Turkish memorandum was signed on 22 October in Russia's Sochi, which stipulates conditions for the peaceful withdrawal of Kurdish militia, designated by Ankara as terrorists, in Syria to a distance of 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the border with Turkey. By Feb. 07, 2020 Kids and families can attend the free event at any time during that three-hour time period, and snacks and gift bags will be given away while supplies last. "I Heart Presidents Day" is hosted by Paducah Parks & Recreation, the Paducah Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Captain Virgil McCracken Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. Recreation Specialist Taylor Morsching says, I Heart Presidents Day is an educational event that reminds us of our great American culture. The presidential-themed activities are fun for the entire family. This years event will have a variety of activities and crafts that will spark interesting conversations of our nations past and present. Kids of all ages will have the opportunity to make crafts while learning about different presidents and early American culture. Specific activities include writing a letter to the President, taking a presidential portrait in costume, crafting a tricorn or mob cap, story time with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, making an Abe Lincoln log cabin, presidential ornaments, and coloring. Presidents Day, also called Washingtons Birthday, is officially celebrated the third Monday of February. For more information about I Heart Presidents Day and other Paducah Parks & Recreation activities, visit www.paducahky.gov/parks-recreation-department, call 270-444-8508, or visit the Parks & Recreation office located at 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive. The city of Paducah's fifth annual "I Heart Presidents Day" is Saturday, February 8 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Robert Cherry Civic Center. Rolake Bamgbose and Justice Whitaker, filmmakers from the West Coast, sat across from each other at a coffee shop in Brooklyn, engrossed in conversation. His eyes were very kind, and he spoke so openly, said Ms. Bamgbose, 37. He was genuine and spoke to me in a way that made it feel as if we were the only two people in the coffee shop. On that March day in 2018, they had only eyes for each other. Ms. Bamgbose, a producer and director of documentaries and short films, including Bill Moyerss Rikers: An American Jail, which premiered in 2016 at New Yorks annual film festival, DOC NYC, had met Mr. Whitaker several days earlier on a dating app, and they soon realized they had both grown up in California, she in Los Angeles and he in Arroyo Grande, Calif. At the time, they were both living in Brooklyn, though Mr. Whitaker was there only temporarily on a work project, which was winding down. He was preparing for a return to his life in Santa Fe, N.M., when they clicked into each others lives. Islamabad: It is not happening for the first time this is not going to be isolated on the issue of Pakistan and Kashmir. This time it has been special that the Organization of Islamic countries, OIC, also left him alone on this issue. Even after a lot of effort, Imran Khan is badly shocked by the decision not to debate the issue of Kashmir on a platform like OIC. It is an organization of 57 Islamic countries. After the United Nations, most countries are members of this organization. Any statement from this organization is of great importance to the whole world. Child Abusers will be hanged publicly, bill passed in Pakistan's National Assembly The population of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, then according to 2018, is about 190 crores. The GDP of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, then it is about 27,949 billion dollars. It includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as the richest countries of the organization. This organization employs more than 43 lakh people. Delhi Assembly Elections: Kejriwal, Manoj Tiwari also reached the temple before voting The story of the formation of the organization itself is very interesting. On August 21, 1969, the 800-year-old Al-Aqs Mosque in Jerusalem was destroyed after being engulfed by a fierce fire. At that time, Mufti Amin al-Hussaini of Jerusalem had accused Israel of this. Where he appealed to all Muslim countries to join a conference. This conference was called for the purpose of reviving Israel and the al-Aqs Mosque. 24 Muslim countries participated in this conference held on 25 September 1969. The conference was held in the city of Rabat, Morocco. Terrible accident at this airport, painful death of driver PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Mia Pricketts ancestor was a leader of the Cascade Indians along the Columbia River and was one of the chiefs who signed an 1855 treaty that helped establish the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde in Oregon. But the Grand Ronde now wants to disenroll Prickett and 79 relatives, and possibly hundreds of other tribal members, because they no longer satisfy new enrollment requirements. Pricketts family is fighting the effort, part of what some experts have dubbed the disenrollment epidemic a rising number of dramatic clashes over tribal belonging that are sweeping through more than a dozen states, from California to Michigan. In my entire life, I have always known I was an Indian. I have always known my familys history, and I am so proud of that, Prickett said. She said her ancestor chief Tumulth was unjustly accused of participating in a revolt and was executed by the U.S. Army and hence didnt make it onto the tribes roll, which is now a membership requirement. Advertisement The prospect of losing her membership is gut-wrenching, Prickett said. Its like coming home one day and having the keys taken from you, she said. Youre culturally homeless. The enrollment battles come at a time when many tribes long poverty-stricken and oppressed by government policies are finally coming into their own, gaining wealth and building infrastructure with revenues from Indian casinos. Critics of disenrollment say the rising tide of tribal expulsions is due to greed over increased gambling profits, along with political in-fighting and old family and personal feuds. But at the core of the problem, tribes and experts agree, is a debate over identity over who is Indian enough to be a tribal member. It ultimately comes down to the question of how we define what it means to be Native today, said David Wilkins, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota and a member of North Carolinas Lumbee Tribe. As tribes who suffered genocidal policies, boarding school laws and now out-marriage try to recover their identity in the 20th century, some are more fractured, and they appear to lack the kind of common elements that lead to true cohesion. Wilkins, who has tracked the recent increase in disenrollment across the nation, says tribes have kicked out thousands of people. Historically, ceremonies and prayers not disenrollment were used to resolve conflicts because tribes essentially are family-based, and you dont cast out your relatives, Wilkins said. Banishment was used in rare, egregious situations to cast out tribal members who committed crimes such as murder or incest. Most tribes have based their membership criteria on blood quantum or on descent from someone named on a tribes census rolls or treaty records old documents that can be flawed. There are 566 federally recognized tribes and determining membership has long been considered a hallmark of tribal sovereignty. A 1978 U.S. Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed that policy when it said the federal government should stay out of most tribal membership disputes. Mass disenrollment battles started in the 1990s, just as Indian casinos were establishing a foothold. Since then, Indian gambling revenues have skyrocketed from $5.4 billion in 1995 to a record $27.9 billion in 2012, according to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Tribes have used the money to build housing, schools and roads, and to fund tribal health care and scholarships. They also have distributed casino profits to individual tribal members. Of the nearly 240 tribes that run more than 420 gambling establishments across 28 states, half distribute a regular per-capita payout to their members. The payout amounts vary from tribe to tribe. And membership reductions lead to increases in the payments though tribes deny money is a factor in disenrollment and say theyre simply trying to strengthen the integrity of their membership. Disputes over money come on top of other issues for tribes. American Indians have one of the highest rates of interracial marriage in the U.S. leading some tribes in recent years to eliminate or reduce their blood quantum requirements. Also, many Native Americans dont live on reservations, speak Native languages or look Indian, making others question their bloodline claims. Across the nation, disenrollment has played out in dramatic, emotional ways that left communities reeling and cast-out members stripped of their payouts, health benefits, fishing rights, pensions and scholarships. In Central California, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians has disenrolled hundreds. Last year, the dispute over banishments became so heated that sheriffs deputies were called to break up a violent skirmish between two tribal factions that left several people injured. In Washington, after the Nooksack Tribal Council voted to disenroll 306 members citing documentation errors, those affected sued in tribal and federal courts. They say the tribe, which has two casinos but gives no member payouts, was racially motivated because the families being cast out are part Filipino. This week, the Nooksack Court of Appeals declined to stop the disenrollments. And in Michigan, where Saginaw Chippewa membership grew once the tribe started giving out yearly per-capita casino payments that peaked at $100,000, a recent decline in gambling profits led to disenrollment battles targeting hundreds. The Grand Ronde, which runs Oregons most profitable Indian gambling operation, also saw a membership boost after the casino was built in 1995, from about 3,400 members to more than 5,000 today. The tribe has since tightened membership requirements twice, and annual per-capita payments decreased from about $5,000 to just over $3,000. Some members recently were cast out for being enrolled in two tribes, officials said, which is prohibited. But for Pricketts relatives, who were tribal members before the casino was built, the reasons were unclear. Prickett and most of her relatives do not live on the reservation. In fact, only about 10 percent of Grand Ronde members do. Rather, they live on ancestral lands. The tribe has even used the familys ties to the river to fight another tribes casino there. Grand Ronde spokeswoman Siobhan Taylor said the tribes membership pushed for an enrollment audit, with the goal of strengthening its family tree. She declined to say how many people were tabbed for disenrollment. But Pricketts family says it has been told that up to 1,000 could be cast out, and has filed an ethics complaint before the tribal court. They say the process has been devastating for a family active in tribal arts and events, and in teaching the language Chinuk Wawa. I have made a commitment to both our language and our tribe, said Eric Bernardo, one of only seven Chinuk Wawa teachers who also faces disenrollment. And no matter what some people in the tribe decide, I will continue to honor that commitment. President Trump has branded New York 'stupid' after governor Andrew Cuomo cancelled a meeting with him. The swipe is the latest in a fight over immigration policy between Trump and Democratic leaders in his former home state over immigration policy. The president tweeted that Cuomo had cancelled on him at the last minute. He went on to say that New York was 'very hard to work work with'. 'So stupid. All they do is sue me all the time!' he wrote. New York lawmakers are planning to sue the Department of Homeland Security over a ban on state residents applying to or renewing trusted traveler programs including Global Entry in response to a new law that could give illegal immigrants driving licenses. he president tweeted that the New York governor had cancelled on him at the last minute The ban will affect at least 175,000 residents enrolled in the programs and about 30,000 commercial truck drivers who make crossings into the US from Canada. Trump was responding to a tweet by Rep. Elise Stefanik, who criticized the Green Light Law a sanctuary policy that allows undocumented migrants to apply for a license using a passport from their home country rather than a US document. Stefanik said: 'Once again, Governor Cuomo's reckless Green Light Law is hindering our federal and state law enforcement and other agencies from doing their jobs, and is now preventing law abiding citizens from receiving access to important travel programs.' In 2019 the new law came into effect allowing New Yorkers to apply for driver's licenses without having to prove they are in the US legally. It also bars the DMV from sharing the information with ICE and Border Protection, meaning that illegal immigrants are safeguarded from deportation even if they have a criminal record. The swipe is the latest in a row that has broken out over immigration policy between Trump and Democratic leaders in his home state over immigration policy New York governor Andrew Cuomo has criticized the ban on trusted traveler programs. 'It's an abuse of power. It's extortion,' he said Stefanik said; 'I warned Governor Cuomo that this irresponsible policy would inhibit our CBP officers at the Northern Border from doing their jobs.' The guidelines mean that if you currently have access to one of the programs, you will not be able to reapply. The ban is being enforced on the grounds that authorities can no longer properly vet state residents who apply for programs that expedite entry into the United States from abroad. The trusted traveler programs include Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST. On Friday Cuomo strongly criticized the ban, saying: 'It's an abuse of power. It's extortion.' 'It is hurting New Yorkers to advance their political agenda. And we're going to fight back.' When the Green Light law was signed, immigrants were seen lining up at DMVs around New York to get their hands on licenses. Immigrants seen lining up at DMVs around New York to get their hands on licenses Trump attacked so-called sanctuary cities in his State of the Union address, singling out New York for particular criticism. Trump highlighted the case of Reeaz Khan, 21, an illegal migrant from Guyana accused of raping and murdering 92-year-old Maria Fuertes in Queens. ICE has accused New York authorities of denying a detainment request they placed on Khan because of his immigration status after he was arrested six weeks earlier for assaulting his father with a broken coffee mug. ICE argued the state's sanctuary policies were to blame for the release. ELKO Sixteen months after people lined up with shovels for a groundbreaking, Komatsu Equipment Co. celebrated the completion of its giant new service center in west Elko with a grand opening on Friday. Lots of people from the City of Elko, Elko County and the mining industry went to the service center for a tour of the brand new buildings and the big equipment at the impressive facility. The new $47 million, 150,000 square foot facility is Komatsus largest service center in North America. The service center is very, very important to the company, Komatsu Equipment Co. President John Pfisterer told the Elko City Council in late October 2018, one week after the groundbreaking. When the project was announced, the completion was scheduled for early 2020. Were right on track, Komatsu Director of Operations Danny Murtagh said Thursday afternoon as he finished getting everything ready for Fridays grand opening. Right on schedule, right on budget. The service center has about 150 employees. In April 2017 Komatsu completed a $3.7 billion acquisition of Joy Global, and Joy Global was renamed Komatsu Mining Corp. The new service center in Elko combines and expands the operations of the three Joy Global and Komatsu facilities that had been in Elko. Murtagh said in central Elko there was a construction equipment shop that focused primarily on light duty construction repairs, along with mining repairs in the field, with focus on Komatsu shovels and trucks. On the east side of town there was a Joy Global heavy machine shop. Those two building were leased, and Komatsu is no longer leasing them. On the west end of town there was a Joy Global shop, and that building has been repurposed as a 60,000 square foot warehouse which is part of the new service center. Komatsu purchased additional land for the service center, so the site now totals 30 acres. Komatsu plans to build an additional 45,000 square foot warehouse within the next few years, Murtagh said. This will bring the service center to a total of nearly 200,000 square feet. Murtagh provided an overview of the new service center. Its a combined service center that services the construction and mining industries in the repair of mining and construction equipment, Murtagh said. We dispatch technicians out of this facility for field service repairs of construction equipment. We have a large six-bay construction equipment repair shop as well, where our customers can deliver their equipment for major repairs or things of that nature. And we can handle those in the shop in a controlled, clean environment. We also have a heavy fabrication structural shop where we do a lot of heavy structural repair of major mining components. For instance, the big dippers on the shovels and large buckets on mining excavators. In that facility, not only do we do repairs, we also do some manufacturing for our OE (original equipment) products. So our global supply chain relies on this facility for manufacturing large dippers for shovels and also large truck bodies, the big dump bodies on the electric haul trucks. In addition, we do some other manufacturing of smaller structures for our global supply chain, specifically in the P&H equipment line. We also have an on-site mechanical repair shop. It focuses on large mining gear boxes, and planetary transmissions and brakes and all of those types of things for our equipment and other manufacturers equipment. And we have a large administrative office, about a 23,000 square foot office that houses all of our sales and general administrative folks. The facility also has a construction equipment and rental-machine yard. The combined service center will be doing a lot of work for the northern Nevada market, and will also be doing work for all of western North America. We do a lot of work for our Canadian subsidiaries and customers as well as other U.S.-based service centers, Murtagh said. For the past few years the Elko City Council and the Elko Planning Commission have taken a variety of steps to help make the Komatsu facility possible, including helping to facilitate annexations and right-of-ways. When the project was getting started Reece Keener, who was a council member at the time and is now the mayor, said Newmont Mining Corp. and Barrick Gold Corp. had each donated $200,000 toward the water line extension to the site. They understood the importance of developing that area at exit 298 off Interstate 80, Keener said. Elko City Manager Curtis Calder said design work had begun on a new sewer lift station at the exit, and that infrastructure project will begin when there is some additional development in the area. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 US joins public and private sectors to launch Career Bus View(s): The Career Bus funded by the US embarked on Friday on its maiden voyage. Travelling throughout Sri Lanka, it will bring professional employment advising services to rural youth with limited access to career guidance professionals. Developed in partnership with the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and the private sector, the bus started from Dondra and will stop at more than 30 towns and villages in the Eastern, Southern, Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and North Central Provinces. It will end its journey in Point Pedro on May 1, 2020, the US embassy said in a media release. Public and private entities are joining forces to expand job options for young Sri Lankans, said USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Javier Piedra at the launch. Together, were helping Sri Lankan youth tap into new opportunities and gain the skills they need to be competitive in the job market. The Career Bus is supported by USAID and its Youth skills development and entrepreneurship programme (YouLead). It is also sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce, Maga Engineering, CareerMe, Pizza Hut, Save the Children, and Headstart. We are grateful for the support of the USAID in making this bus a reality, said Damitha Wickramasinghe, VTA Chairman. Im proud that VTA is joined by members of the private sector who see the vital importance of this venture for Sri Lankas youth. When the Career Bus arrives at a destination, youth will be invited to board the bus, where tables will be set up for one-on-one career counseling. An audio-visual tent will offer information on career choices and entrepreneurship. Inside the bus, youth can access electronic tablets to take a career test and have their career personality profile printed out on the spot. Trained Career Guidance Officers are available to help them interpret the results. At some stops, local private companies will also be on hand to tell youth about available job opportunities and accept applications. The Career Bus will continue to make regular journeys to rural destinations across Sri Lanka after it concludes its first trip, the embassy said. The Peoples Committee of Hanoi has decided to give students in the Vietnamese capital city another week off by extending their school break through February 16 in a bid to prevent the possible spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The citys K-12 students will return school on February 17. All kindergarteners and school students in Hanoi got back to school after the long Lunar New Year holiday on January 30. But they were asked to stay home for one week from February 3 and resume school on February 10. All but two out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam have allowed K-12 students to take a similar week off from February 3 to 10. The north-central province of Nghe An and the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre were the only two localities in Vietnam where students still went to school from February 3. However, the People's Committee of Nghe An on Thursday sent an official dispatch to departments, agencies, and local authorities asking them to allow students at all levels to be off from schools starting Friday until an undecided date. After Hanoi, over 50 other provinces and cities also extended school closure through February 16, as of Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Ben Tre Province has not allowed K-12 students to stay home despite recording high numbers of students leaves. More than 100 universities and colleges nationwide have granted their students at least a week off after the Lunar New Year holiday. The novel coronavirus, which first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has killed 724 people and infected nearly 34,900 globally as of Saturday, according to the South China Morning Post. It has since spread across mainland China and to 27 other countries and regions, according to a Reuters report. Vietnam has so far confirmed 13 cases of the virus, including ten Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, one Chinese and two Vietnamese had fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital as of Thursday. They were all treated for free. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! LANSING, MI --Michigans Marijuana Regulatory Agency issued updated rules regarding vaping products Thursday, Feb. 6. The agency is requiring any vaping product that contain ingredients originating outside the regulated market to be tested for potentially deadly vitamin E acetate. All inactive ingredients, required to be Food and Drug Administration-approved for inhalation, must also be listed on product labels. THC distillate oil used to fill interchangeable cartridges inhaled using electronic vaporizers, sometimes referred to as vape pens, became a focus of the Marijuana Regulatory Agency following a national outbreak of deadly lung illnesses earlier this year. The Centers for Disease Control strongly linked THC vaping products containing vitamin E acetate to illnesses that resulted in 60 deaths, including three in Michigan, and more than 2,700 hospitalizations. While vitamin E acetate is safely used in topical products and in food, it may interfere with normal lung functioning when inhaled, the CDC said. Vaping cartridge manufacturers added vitamin E acetate as a less-expensive, inconspicuous filler to dilute THC oil, increase product volume and thereby profits. While the vaping outbreak peaked in September, and Michigan recorded its first death Oct. 2, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency remained mostly silent on the issue until Nov. 22, when it banned sale of any existing vaping cartridges until they had been tested for the presence of vitamin E acetate. Following the ban, the agency began requiring licensed processors to submit signed statements attesting to any ingredients in newly manufactured vaping cartridges. Further, any new vaping products purchased by licensed businesses from medical marijuana caregivers were required to be tested before distribution to recreational marijuana stores or medical marijuana provisioning centers. Beginning March 1, caregivers will no longer be allowed to sell THC oil or finished vaping cartridges into the licensed market. Theyll be limited to marijuana flower sales only. While the CDC and Marijuana Regulatory Agency focused their vitamin E acetate concern on black-market products, contaminated products were discovered in Michigans regulated market once testing began. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency recalled 65,000 vaping cartridges suspected of containing vitamin E acetate in December and 9,380 more on Jan. 22. Based on policies that bar the Marijuana Regulatory Agency from tracking registered medical marijuana caregiver transfers and sales, the agency didnt reveal the origin or maker of the recalled vaping products. The cartridge manufacturing process involves using an extraction technique to remove potent THC from the marijuana plant. The oil may then be mixed with terpenes, non-THC plant extracts that give the vaping oil flavor and aroma. Previously, terpenes were required to be derived from marijuana. New rules allow the addition of any botanical terpenes. Cartridges are usually sold with 65% or more pure THC, Lev Spivak-Birndorf, the chief science officer and co-founder of Ann Arbors PSI Labs, previously told MLive. The Marijuana Regulatory Agencys updated rules clarify that, even if the oil is produces within the licensed market, if it is mixed with terpenes that come from a caregiver or vendor, the finished product must be tested for vitamin E acetate. Vaping rivals traditional marijuana flower as one of the most popular products sold at retail stores and dispensaries in Michigan. While the figures were likely hampered by the Nov. 22 ban that halted vaping sales for weeks at many stores, more than 20 percent of all marijuana purchases, medical and recreational, in December were for vaping cartridges, according to the Marijuana Regulatory Agencys December report. -- Gus Burns is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact him with questions, tips or comments at fburns@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, @GusBurns. Read more from MLive about medical and recreational marijuana. More on MLive: Michigan cant tell who brought contaminated cartridges to licensed market Michigan recalls Savage Sticks vaping products Michigan recalls nearly 65,000 vape cartridges Michigan bans vitamin E acetate in vaping products Michigan marijuana industry supports vitamin E acetate ban Michigan issued first recreational licenses What to make of the digital instagram poetry craze? Instapoetry reflects the times, perhaps even part of the zeitgeist of the age. Instagram poems are conversational, which certainly makes them appealing and relatable. The work is undoubtedly instapoetry and infotainment. It is quick, clear, easy to access, facile, trendy, void of abstracts or obscure references while providing catchy conflict resolutions when necessary. It gives the audience a sort of pablum or pill to deal with issues on their minds much like sitcoms and many films presented daily. People have become acclimated to quick fixes. Everything literally at a hands breadth. Instapoets such as Cleo Wade, Atticus (who literally masks his identity) and Rupi Kaur write on themes that poets of every generation have written about, and they do it in their own manner, using the tools and media of their time. The great Argentine poet and writer Jorge Luis Borges said poets write the same poem over and over throughout time. We are rewriting the same poem in our own time. Attempts to classify instapoetry as good or not good are exploding across the net, but what matters at the moment is what readers believe. It satisfies their tastes and appeals to their needs. But only time and history can make that qualifying distinction. The next generation of writers thats going to be how they write, says New Republic critic Rumaan Alam in Januarys issue, in which Kaur is named writer of the decade. Alams observation sums up the current poetic mode and model outside the realm of conventional poetry. However, one cannot and should not dismiss certain historical characteristics that one has come to expect of poetry. The impressive poem should offer more than what the reader sees on the page. There are issues of craft and experiential dues to pay a work of a lifetime, and an entire discussion in and of itself. Poetry should appeal to the reader on several levels. Poetry should balance its lyrical, narrative and meditative values. Poetry should aim at depth of thought and control of language. Poetry cannot be manufactured on demand. Poetry should give pleasure. Poetry should avoid unintentional abstractions. Poetry should evoke emotion but steer clear of feeble emotional expressions. Nevertheless, theres no denying that modern pop-poets have made a positive impact on the world of poetry. Poets in the traditional camp the academics and their adherents are trained to write in a certain fashion that affirms the schools they are representing. At times it seems academic poets are writing for a very elite group to maintain certain MFA standards. Financial awards and literary grants are typically doled out to academics who are published and receive wide critical acclaim. But even that can be misleading. I read several books recently by two highly touted academic poets and didnt understand what they were saying their words gave me no pleasure. Their poems seemed to be some type of intellectual-literary undertaking or code that only the rank and file could understand. It seems you can educate the poetry right out of a poem. It is no wonder that the laity flock to poets such Kaur, Wade and Atticus. There have been other trendy poets in the past. I am reminded of the impact and popularity in the 70s of Rod McKuen and Richard Brautigan (whom I enjoyed reading as a teenager,) but I wonder who now remembers much of what they wrote. But there are wonderful poets from all camps. And there has never been a greater time for poetry. Poetry is flourishing across this city even though there are few local venues for publication. Groups keep meeting and sharing their work. Readings take place every week in different sectors, reaching out to the greater community at large. It no longer is the domain of universities and college campuses. Poetry is still greater than the sum of all its poets, and I suspect it will continue to grow and develop in ways we havent anticipated yet. It will never be contained in any one particular camp. The unconventional alongside the conventional certainly belong together after all, no one has a monopoly on poetry. Meme poetry anyone? Fernando Esteban Flores is a former Texas educator, poet and the author of Ragged Borders, Red Accordion Blues, and BloodSongs (Hijo de Sol Publishing). "(The pope) does everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world," Zelenskiy said in a Tweet afterwards. "I asked for help with the release Ukrainians captured in Donbass, Crimea and Russia," he said. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Vatican has diplomatic relations with both Ukraine and Russia. The man accused of killing 22 people and wounding two dozen more in a shooting that targeted Mexicans in the United States border city of El Paso, Texas, has been charged with federal hate crimes. Patrick Crusius, 21, has been charged with 90 counts under federal hate crime and firearms laws for his role in the August 3 shooting, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday. Federal prosecutors announced the charges against Crusius, of Allen, Texas, at a Thursday news conference in El Paso. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) will consult with the defence and victims families before deciding if they will pursue a death penalty. Ultimately, the decision is up to Attorney General William Barr. The DOJ will prosecute on a parallel track with state officials. Crusius faces the death penalty on a state capital murder charge to which he pleaded not guilty last year. Hate crime charges show members of targeted communities that they are valued, that their protection matters, and then we will protect them and their rights, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJ Civil Rights Division. People in our nation have the right to go to a store on a Saturday morning without fear that they will be shot and killed because of who they are, or where theyre from, Dreiband said. A makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting that left a total of 22 people dead decorates the Cielo Vista Mall Walmart in El Paso, Texas [Mark Ralston/AFP] President Donald Trump has made cracking down on immigration a hallmark of his administration, and the polarising topic makes headlines around the world. Eight Mexican nationals were among the victims, and the indictment accuses Crusius of targeting people because of their actual and perceived national origin. The Walmart store is popular with shoppers from nearby Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just on the other side of the Rio Grande River from El Paso. David Lane, a Colorado-based lawyer representing Crusius in the federal case, said Thursday morning that he had not yet seen the indictment but hopes federal prosecutors do not seek his clients execution. Part of the evolution of our society involves understanding that justice is not synonymous with vengeance, because vengeance disregards the essential humanity in all of us and brutalises us all, Lane said. Part of my job here is to hopefully convince the Department of Justice that they are not the department of vengeance. In a statement issued Thursday evening, Crusiuss family said it was aware of the indictment and has been and continues to be mindful of the immense pain and suffering of all those affected and touched by this tragedy. Beyond that, the family said it would make no further comment. A symptom of a much larger problem El Paso City Council member Cassandra Hernandez, whose district includes the Walmart, said the announcement was part of the healing process for El Pasoans and the victims. The mass shooting our community endured is clearly a symptom of a much larger problem that the United States has to face fully. Execution or life imprisonment for a white supremacist will not stop ethnic cleansing in other Hispanic communities like El Paso. This heinous hate crime on the US-Mexico border is the definition of domestic terrorism invoked by white nationalism, Hernandez said. Judd Owens, a property manager, stopped Thursday at the Walmart while driving through en route to his home in Tennessee. Owens, 45, said he wanted to see the Walmart where the shooting took place, and witness what kind of memorial it had. He took a picture of the 30-foot metallic cylinder in the parking lot that is visible from Interstate 10. He said he feared mass shootings across the country. I had cold chills from the time I got out of the van, he said. Where Im from, weve had a few incidents, not that bad, but close. And I worry it might happen closer to home and to people I care about. Substantial premeditation The federal grand jury that indicted Crusius found his alleged crimes came after substantial planning and premeditation. He bought a Romanian-made AK-47-style rifle and 1,000 rounds of hollow-point ammunition online more than six weeks before he drove 10 hours overnight from his grandparents house in a Dallas suburb to El Paso to carry out the attack, according to the indictment. The federal indictment comes as El Paso marks the six-month anniversary of the shooting. Last weekend, the commuter town of San Elizario planted 22 oak trees in honor of the victims. Local news outlets aired remembrances. The federal charge follows Crusiuss state indictment last fall on a capital murder charge, which could also bring a death sentence. He has been held without bond since the shooting and kept isolated from other prisoners, on suicide watch for at least two months after the shooting. Crusius surrendered to police after the attack, saying, Im the shooter. He said that he was targeting Mexicans, according to an arrest warrant. In front of the White House in Washington, DC, a woman holds a sign during a rally against guns and white supremacy in the wake of mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] In court documents, prosecutors said Crusius published a screed online shortly before the shooting that said it was in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. It cited, as inspiration, a March 2019 mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed dozens of Muslim residents of that country. The document parroted some of Trumps immigration policy rhetoric, including his repeated use of the word invasion. El Paso residents such as former US Congressional Representative Beto ORourke, who was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination this year, accused Trump of promoting harmful stereotypes and fuelling the idea that the increase in migrant crossings was a coordinated invasion by Latinos. The president has denied inciting violence. The charges being announced Thursday are the latest by federal prosecutors following high-profile violent incidents. The DOJ has brought federal hate crimes charges against a man suspected in a Hanukkah machete attack in New York City in December that wounded five people; a man who opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh last year; and a man who killed a woman when he drove into a crowd of protesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The United States and the European Union could team up to counter the dominance of China's Huawei Technologies in next-generation 5G telecoms technology, but not if Washington continues to threaten tariffs against Brussels, a senior German conservative lawmaker said late on Friday. Norbert Roettgen, a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, said he told U.S. officials during a visit to Washington that he saw opportunities for greater transatlantic cooperation on 5G that would benefit both sides. "But ... it must be clear that cannot happen if there is simultaneously the threat of trade war on the table," said Roettgen, who heads the foreign affairs committee of Germany's lower house of parliament, speaking after meetings with State Department and White House officials. After reaching a Phase 1 trade deal with China, and securing the passage of a new North American trade pact in Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump has set his sights on Europe and what he views as its unfair barriers for U.S. companies. Trump has threatened to slap 25% tariffs on European car imports, a move Brussels says it would counter with tariffs of its own. The two blocs are also at odds over digital services taxes, aircraft subsidies, and Huawei. The United States says gear provided by Huawei, the leading telecoms equipment vendor with a global market share of 28%, contains "back doors" that would enable China to spy on other countries, a claim Huawei vigorously denies. Roettgen told reporters he did not expect Trump to follow through on the car tariff threat until after the November presidential election, but said the situation was unpredictable. He said Trump's rhetoric had become increasingly polarizing, but the historic allies shared security concerns about China and could work together to expand Europe's alternatives to Huawei's dominance of the 5G market. Story continues U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday suggested the United States consider taking a "controlling stake" in two major foreign rivals of Huawei, Finland's Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson, but the White House dismissed that proposal on Friday. The EU last week said members should decide for themselves what part Huawei can play in their 5G networks, resisting pressure from Washington for an outright ban. Merkel favors strict security requirements for Germany's 5G network, but opposes excluding individual companies. Roettgen sees growing support for taking a tougher line by requiring firms that roll out a 5G network to be free of political influence in their home country, a move clearly aimed at Huawei. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez attended the Tom Ford fashion show in Los Angeles - rubbing shoulders with fashion royalty including Anna Wintour. The Amazon boss, 56, sat on the front row with his rumoured fiance, 50, at the high- profile event held at Milk Studios in Hollywood. The couple - who held hands during the evening - chatted to Vogue's British-American Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour during the Fall/Winter 2020 show. The billionaire looked in high spirits despite recent controversy as he enjoyed the event which was also attended by Jennifer Lopez, Renee Zellweger, Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore. Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez attend the Tom Ford fashion show in Los Angeles The couple - who held hands during the event - chatted to Vogue's British-American Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour during the Fall/Winter 2020 show It come after claims Bezos' phone was hacked in 2018 after he received a malicious WhatsApp message from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, months before the National Enquirer exposed his affair. The entrepreneur received a video file containing malicious code from Mohammed Bin Salman's personal phone number, The Guardian reported last month. According to forensic examination of the phone afterwards, the message was sent on May 1, 2018. Within hours, a large amount of data from Bezos' phone was extracted. There is no detail of what kind of data was taken. Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer attend the Tom Ford: Autumn/Winter 2020 Runway Show at Milk Studios The billionaire looked in high spirits despite recent controversy as he enjoyed the event which was also attended by Jennifer Lopez, Renee Zellweger, Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore Eight months later, the National Enquirer exposed Bezos' affair with Lauren Sanchez, and Bezos accused the tabloid of 'extortion and blackmail' for threatening to publish nude photos of himself and Sanchez that the tabloid had 'obtained'. In a blog post at the time, Bezos pointed to the Enquirer's alleged financial ties to Saudi Arabia, and hinted that the kingdom was furious with him for coverage in the Washington Post, which Bezos owns, about columnist Jamal Khashoggi's death at the hands of a Saudi hit squad. David Pecker, the publisher of AMI which owns the National Enquirer met the crown prince in September 2017. Both have strenuously denied working together in the past to attack Bezos. The Amazon boss, 56, sat on the front row with his rumoured fiance, 50, at the event - held at Milk Studios in Hollywood The Hollywood fashion event was also attended by Jennifer Lopez, Renee Zellweger, Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore. The couple are pictured with Anna Wintour on the front row It emerged yesterday that Lauren Sanchez's brother has claimed in a lawsuit that the pair are engaged. (L-R: Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, and Anna Wintour) It emerged yesterday that Lauren Sanchez's brother has claimed in a lawsuit that the pair are engaged. Michael Sanchez referred to Bezos as his sister's 'current fiance', according to the defamation lawsuit he filed in Los Angeles. The Hollywood talent manager is currently suing Bezos and his security consultant Gavin de Becker for defamation. Sanchez alleges that the Amazon founder and his team falsely told reporters that he was the one who provided nude photos of Bezos to The National Enquirer. Bezos' phone was examined as part of his team's investigation into how his affair with Lauren Sanchez (shown with him in India last month) was revealed by The National Enquirer The Guardian reported last month that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos received a message from Mohammed Bin Salman's personal phone number which contained a malicious file The lawsuit contains several allegations about Bezos and his girlfriend, including that their relationship started before previously implied and that Lauren had a role in leaking the couple's texts and photos. In one part of the lawsuit, Sanchez describes his sister as Bezos' fiance. The couple have not publicly said they are engaged. Lauren was spotted last month wearing a large ring on her right hand while they were vacationing in St Barth. They have not responded to Sanchez's claim they are engaged. BEIRUT Turkish armored vehicles and tanks entered rebel-controlled northwestern Syria early Friday, the latest reinforcements sent in by Ankara amid a Syrian government offensive that this week brought the two countries troops into a rare direct confrontation. The Syrian government, backed by its ally Russia, has kept up a military offensive in Idlib province, aimed at securing a strategic highway that runs along rebel-controlled territory. President Bashar Assads forces have seized dozens of rebel-held towns in the past two months. Turkey, which backs the Syrian opposition and has been monitoring a cease-fire in the rebel enclave, protested the government offensive, calling it a violation of the truce it negotiated with Russia. In recent weeks, Ankara sent in troops and equipment to reinforce monitoring points it set up to observe a previous cease-fire, which has since crumbled, but also deployed around towns threatened by the Syrian military advances. The deployment and the new defensive role brought Turkish troops into a direct and rare confrontation with Syria troops that killed at least eight Turkish military and civilian personnel and 13 Syrian soldiers on Monday. An Associated Press video shows a long line of armored vehicles and trucks filing into rebel-controlled rural areas of Idlib province on Friday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said the new troops deployed west of the town of Saraqeb. It was the fifth known deployment of new troops into Syria over the past week, according to the observatory and other opposition news outlets. Syrian government troops took control of the former rebel town of Saraqeb this week. The town is strategic because it sits on the intersection of two major highways, one linking the capital, Damascus, to the north, and another connecting the countrys west and east. The Syrian offensive has displaced over half a million people, many of them arriving in shelters near the border with Turkey. Idlib and nearby rural Aleppo province are the last rebel-held areas in Syria. Sarah El Deeb and Suzan Fraser are Associated Press writers. New Delhi: The 70 assembly member seats of Delhi voted on Saturday (February 8) to elect a new government on the backdrop of Aam Aadmi Party's looking forward to bag the second term and Bharatiya Janata Party aiming to end its 22-year exile in the national capital. The voting in Delhi began at 8 am today and ended at 6 pm. The early hours saw low polling as very few voters chose to brave the early morning chill to cast their franchise. The polling was mainly peaceful with no major untoward incident reported. Polling officer, Udham Singh, posted at Babarpur Assembly constituency in east Delhi, died due to cardiac arrest. A total of 81,05,236 male voters, 66,80,277 female voters and 869 third gender voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 13,570 polling booths across 2,689 areas. There are 672 candidates in the fray to elect a new government. In the meantime, the Exit Polls for the Delhi assembly elections will be released post voting on Saturday, i.e. after 6 pm today. Watch the live streaming of Delhi Exit Polls on Delhi assembly election below: Delhi Assembly election 2020, Delhi Assembly poll 2020, Delhi election 2020, Delhi poll 2020, assembly election President Ram Nath Kovind, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan and S. Jaishankar and controversial BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who cast their votes early morning along with their families. Kejriwal, who is seeking another term from the New Delhi constituency, cast his vote along with his father, mother and wife at a polling booth in Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area. Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party President Rahul Gandhi turned up at the polling stations early in the day. In the last elections, the AAP had registered a landslide victory by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP had got three seats and the Congress drew a blank. The AAP is contesting on all the 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies - two for Janata Dal-United and one for Lok Janshakti Party. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). For decades, American politicians put their special interests ahead of the interest of the country, US President said Friday, asserting that he has done away with some of the "disastrous" trade deals of the past. Launching a new nationwide campaign in North Carolina to revitalise underserved cities and towns all across America, Trump said the US is in the midst of the single greatest comeback that it has ever had. This is a comeback. We were doing poorly, he said. For decades, Washington politicians put special interests ahead of American interests. They enacted disastrous trade policies. Like, it's unimaginable, frankly. I looked at some of these deals; I said, 'Who the hell would have done this? Who would have done this? A child wouldn't have agreed to this stuff.' Unbelievable, Trump said in his address at a business meeting. "For years, I heard that China will take over as the largest economy in the world in 2019. I kept hearing that. I hated it because I said, 'If I run, 2019 is not so far away.' We are so far ahead. We are so far ahead now. We became a rocket ship, taking in billions and billions and billions in tariffs, giving a lot of it to our farmers and different people that were targeted, he said. Now, we have a deal with China. I just spoke to (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) last night, and we're working on problem, the virus. It's a very tough situation. But I think he's going to handle it. I think he's handled it really well. We're helping wherever we can, he said. His administration, Trump said, has signed the Mexico deal and Canada deal: USMCA and has signed trade deals with Japan and South Korea. Our economy is now the envy of the entire world. You have to see when leaders come to my office -- this beautiful Oval Office. I've had people walk into the office -- it's beautiful -- but they have more beautiful, in many cases, I guess. But it's what it represents, he added. After years of building up other countries, we are finally building our country, Trump said. London, Feb 8 : The UK's Prince Harry was reportedly getting therapy to overcome the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a tragic accident in 1997, a media report said on Saturday. The Duke of Sussex made comments about his mental health during a speech at a JP Morgan-sponsored event in Miami, the Metro newspaper said in the report citing the New York Post as saying. It was his first public appearance since he and wife Meghan decided to step down as royals and move to Canada. "Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother," the Metro newspaper quoted a source as saying in the report. "He talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional." This is not the first time Prince Harry spoke about the death of his mother. In 2017, he opened up about seeking counselling after two years of "total chaos" brought on by spending two decades "not thinking" about Diana's death. L (Newser) A mass shooting at various sites in Thailand has left at least 20 dead and 31 injured, with the gunman still on the loose, police say. The New York Times reports the shootings took place in Korat, located to the northeast of Bangkok in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. The gunman, said to be a soldier who reportedly used military-style firearms, appeared to livestream the attacks on Facebook, though his page has since been shut down. The shooter has been identified by officials as Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma. He was apparently upset over a financial dispute, per the AP. story continues below The Bangkok Post reports Thomma, 32, allegedly started his shooting spree by stealing some weapons at the Surathampithak army camp, then shooting and killing his commander and two others. From there, the gunman allegedly stole a Humvee and drove to the Terminal 21 shopping center, firing at people along the way. Once inside the mall, the shooter is said to have fired at a cooking gas container, which exploded. Police believe the gunman is still inside the mall; per the Post, the attacker is holding a group of hostages on the fourth floor, though the BBC notes a hostage situation hasn't been confirmed. There are also unconfirmed reports the attacker may have hand grenades. (Read more Thailand stories.) RTHK: British family holidaying in Alps get coronavirus Five people from Britain, including one child, are hospitalised in France with the new coronavirus after contracting it during a holiday in the Alps. Saturday's announcement by the French health minister is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus, which originated in Chinese city of Wuhan can spread across multiple borders. The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine resort of Contamines-Montjoie, and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore, travelled to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters on Saturday. That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11. Britain has three confirmed cases. The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700, nearly all of them in China, since the first illnesses were detected in December. The five new British citizens with the virus are being held in Lyon hospitals, along with six other Britons who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored, the French health ministry said. France's prime minister convened a special government meeting on Saturday to discuss next steps in fighting the virus. The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there from January 20-22, Buzyn said. There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time, including people from Hubei, according to the French minister. The British citizen then spent January 24-28 in the French Alps, and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week. In Germany, the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Congressman Will Hurd assured San Antonians on Saturday that none of the 91 people who are being quarantined at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has any symptom of novel coronavirus. If anyone gets over a 100-degree fever, they are taken for further medical evaluation, and that has not happened, said Hurd, who visited the Air Force base Saturday afternoon to review the facilities. The evacuees, who arrived Friday, will be quarantined for 14 days. Thats believed to be the incubation period of the virus. They are being housed at a hotel at Lackland. Families are allowed to stay in rooms together and have access to medical staff 24 hours a day. UPDATE: CDC: Patient under quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has coronavirus None of those individuals have shown signs of the coronavirus before they came here, and they are being checked multiple times a day, Hurd said. Lackland is one of four bases housing 1,000 people who have been evacuated from China, the center of the epidemic. Coronavirus has infected more than 34,000 people globally. While the worldwide death toll has surpassed 800, no one in the U.S. has died. The evacuees came from Wuhan, where coronavirus continues to spread. They were first flown to Travis AFB in California, where they were screened for signs of the illness. Jason McDonald, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said four of the 201 passengers who landed at Travis early Friday were being held in isolation in hospitals after showing possible symptoms. Most of the passengers flew on to Lackland, with 53 remaining at Travis, he said. The 91 evacuees arrived in San Antonio on Friday. Children and adults exited the plane wearing surgical masks. They were met by federal workers in protective gear. The evacuees at Lackland are guarded by federal marshals, who patrol the fenced perimeter of the Gateway Inn on base. The evacuees have been issued a federal quarantine order, a legal document that prevents them from leaving until they are medically cleared. The last time the U.S. issued such a quarantine was six decades ago, in response to a smallpox outbreak. This quarantine is an unprecedented step, Hurd said. This is an extraordinary measure taken in order to protect public safety. Trained contractors, who are outfitted in protective gear gowns, gloves, masks and respirators are handling the evacuees food, housekeeping and laundry needs. Federal officials have said no employees on the base will have contact with the evacuees. The evacuees undergo temperature screens twice daily. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees or above, or other signs of the illness, such as coughing, sneezing or shortness of breath, will be immediately evaluated. People suspected of having coronavirus will be taken to a hospital by emergency medical service providers. The reason they were brought to Lackland, here in San Antonio, is the medical system of San Antonio, Hurd said in praise of the citys reputation as a medical center. In China, the coronavirus has ballooned into a public health crisis with a rising number of infected people and deaths. Also, there is a growing number of cases in nearly 30 other countries. A dozen cases have been reported in the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington and Wisconsin. Two cases were instances of local transmission, while the others involved the victims contracting the virus overseas. If you have been to China in the last 14 days and you show any signs of the flu or you have an elevated temperature, go see a doctor, Hurd said. And dont go to China until the Chinese government sorts out this epidemic, the congressman added. sara.cline@express-news.net Watertown, NY (13601) Today Partly cloudy. High 8F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 5F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. President Trump paid tribute to supporters including Rep. Devin Nunes at his post-acquittal event in the East Room of the White House this past Thursday. We have written about Rep. Nuness role in the unraveling the Russia hoax many times, most recently in several posts on Lee Smiths book The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in U.S. History. Among my several book-related posts is my own review. Noting President Trumps tribute to Nunes on Twitter, Mollie Hemingway comments: Devin Nunes is an *actual* profile in courage. This man took on nearly everyone in DC, including many powerful people in his own party, to fight to bring Americans the truth about the Russia collusion hoax and FISA abuse. Completely vindicated and our media LOATHE him for it. Quotable quote (President Trump): He knew something was wrong. They were once referred to as the Fab Four or the Core Four but Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs decision to step away from royal life has left a void Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge would like to fill. However, the couple who might be joining them as the new Fab Four has definitely raised some eyebrows. Read on to find out who that is and why the choice could backfire. (L-R) Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and Prince William | Chris Jackson WPA Pool/Getty Images Meghan and Harry are done with royal duties We know we wont be seeing the Cambridges and Sussexes attending any royal engagements together in the future after Harry and Meghan announced on Jan. 8, 2020 that they were stepping down as senior royals. A few days after their bombshell social media post and a royal summit at Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth II released a statement that she supported the prince and former actress decision to forge new paths in their lives. However, there is still work to be done on behalf of the crown and to ensure everything continues to run smoothly Prince William and Kate are going to need some help picking up all the duties Harry and Meghan had. Now, another couple is likely to step in and share the load. The couple that could join forces with William and Kate The senior royals who could join them to form the next Core Four is Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The two future kings and their wives dont attend many royal engagements together but that is changing and could be deliberate to ease the public into the new Core Four. The Express noted that the foursome already have a joint engagement on tap for Feb. 11 when they visit the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall in Loughborough. According to the Clarence House website, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, together with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall and meet patients and staff. Stanford on Soar, Loughborough LE12 5QW. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles | Paul Ellis WPA Pool/Getty Images That choice might not be a popular move Part of the reason William, Kate, Meghan, and Harry got the Fab Four nickname is because of how popular they each were and had the public so excited about the direction the young group wanted to take their initiatives. Charles and Camilla dont have anywhere near that popularity, especially not with the younger generation of Sussex and Cambridge fans. Then there are others who look at Camilla and still cant forgive and forget even all these years after Princess Dianas death. Therefore, it will be interesting to see if another couple like Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex emerge in the future and begin to take on more royal duties with William and Kate. Stay tuned. Read more: The Sad Reason Prince Harry Didnt Tell Prince Charles That He Was Stepping Down As a Senior Royal With all Democrats hopeful that support from communities of color can give them an edge over President Donald Trump, Sen. Elizabeth Warren at Friday nights debate pressed for race-conscious laws on a range of issues including criminal justice reform, housing and education. Sparked by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg trying to explain why marijuana arrests of African Americans rose under his watch, Warren said race has permeated our criminal justice system. For the same crime, she said, African Americans were far more likely to be detained, arrested, tried, wrongfully convicted and receive harsher sentences. She also noted that the country discriminated against African Americans by blocking them from buying homes in certain neighborhoods until 1965, and you cant just repeal that and say everything is even. Its not. She called for adjustments in legislation and investments that could boost education, employment and entrepreneurship in communities of color. Warren was challenged by businessman Andrew Yang, who said you cant legislate away racism. Yang and billionaire Tom Steyer called for reparations programs, with Yang specifically pushing for a guaranteed minimum income of $1,000 per month that would help reshape our communities of color. We cant regulate (racism) away through any other means except by" giving black and Latino people buying power. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has led recent New Hampshire polls and is neck-and-neck with Buttigieg with Iowa results still contested, said he agreed with Warren. Sanders described a system that is broken and racist and called for investments in health care, young people, jobs and education, not more jails and incarceration. We need to end the war on drugs which disproportionally impacted African Americans and Latinos, he said, adding that he called for an end to private prisons. Theres no excuse that white families have 10 times more wealth than black families, Sanders said. No excuse for black women dying in child birth at three times the rate that white women do. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who has led in national polls and has strong support among African American voters, said Weve got to stop taking the black community for granted. Biden pushed for investments in rehabilitation centers, not prisons, and mandatory treatment instead of mandatory prison time. We should be investing our money in communities that havent gotten help for a long time, Biden said. First, there was the singling out of protesters who exercised the democratic right to protest against CAA-NPR-NRC as part of Bombay Pride. If you still had any doubts that the queer movement in India is a right-wing, neoliberal, hellish agglomeration, the events of the last few days should have settled them. First, there was the singling out of protesters who exercised the democratic right to protest against CAA-NPR-NRC as part of Bombay Pride. And they were singled out and reported by members of the queer community. Ashok Row Kavi, well-known, rabid, right-wing amma of the LGBTs, reduced them to Left-Islamist nonsense and claimed that their colleges were easy to comb and search. Several queers took to the social media to condemn the protesters and claim queer space and Pride March space as apolitical. The organising body of the march distanced themselves from the protesters, condemning pro-Sharjeel slogans as harming the integrity of India, even as they claimed allegiance to the Constitution and law, both of which they clearly know nothing about. Kris Chudawala, a trans student from TISS who exercised a democratic right is in jail under sedition charges and was denied anticipatory bail (along with 50 others). This for raising a slogan in a protest march and reading the Preamble of the Constitution. The queer community is delighted with this arrest. They had written to the Mumbai police asking for the arrests. Then, Pune Pride followed with an equally repulsive statement claiming both distance from those supporting anti-nationals and people who bring political flags (what on earth is a non-political flag?) and pollute Pride, which is only about raising awareness. Clearly, these folk have no awareness of the origins and history of Pride. But national integrity and security cannot be compromised. Heil Hitler! Then, Delhi had an event against the Budget and all sorts of minority organisations participated, but queer groups were conspicuous by their absence. The one trans activist present, Meera Sanghamitra, who, by her own public admission, had not intended to speak at all, eventually spoke but did not feel the need to even mention Chudavala and Bombay or Pune Pride. She settled for bland solidarities and a banal rewriting of the national anthem. Fourth, no queer group has come out with a statement condemning the CAA-NRC-NPR, let alone the arrest of members of their community. Fifth, as an experiment, I changed my handle on all the gay dating and hookup apps I am on to No to CAA-NPR-NRC. The barrage of abuse I got from people calling me Muslim (as a form of abuse), wanting to rape my mother, my wife (yes, most Indian gay men have wives or are going to get them, so they presume all gay men do) was predictable. Jasbir Puar, a US South Asian academic, in her book Terrorist Assemblages over a decade ago, had come up with the idea of homonationalism by which she meant countries like the US and Israel using gay politics/positions to justify imperialism, claiming the gay for the nation to other the figure of the terrorist, demonising the Muslim and the Muslim country. The nation here has done no such thing (the Indian State is robustly heterosexual and masculinist and does not want to claim queers at all), but queers are clamouring to be included in the nation. They are each more hysterical than the other in their claim to the nationalist. Moreover, the terrorist is anyone who criticises the State (the duty of a citizen in a democracy) and they dont mind demonising their own community members. This is not a nationalism against an Other outside the nation (the Pakistani) but within the nation. This is a Hindu nationalism, and while Muslims might be the primary enemy, Christians, dalits, adivasis, women and anyone who is critical of the state is the enemy. This is not a minority as we understand it at all. A minority is a group underrepresented by the state, demanding rights, offering a critique of the state. The Pride march has its origins in transgenders in New York finally losing it with police tyranny, whereas these folk are tweeting the police asking them to come arrest members of the community. Queer has its origins in demanding healthcare from the state at the height of the AIDS crisis when the US had left gay men to die. These queers embrace the state and are bending over backward to kick their own to the kerb. These Pride arches are about apolitical frolic and parties at five-star hotels later. If queer lost its political edge long ago in the US (once it was co-opted by US academia), its circulation across the world through the globalspeak of NGOised sexual governance had little more than an assimilationist and inclusivist rhetoric going for it. But even that is gone from the new (or were they always that, but it is only now that their fangs are bared?), right-wing Hindu-fundamentalist queers who are now deciding which queers get to be Indian and which dont. The Left anti-Budget meeting had the usual suspects invoking the usual laundry list of minorities: farmer, worker, dalits, adivasi, woman. The queer was missing. While that usually incenses me, this time it was reassuring. Queers are the enemy. It is time for the real sexual minorities to stand up, please. At least three people, including two children, were killed due to lightning strikes in Dang district of Western Nepal on Saturday, officials said. Laxmi Chaudhary (54) and her daughter Shristi (7) were killed when lightning hit their house in Tulasipur Municipality, police said. The house was also badly damaged by the lightening. In another incident, an 11-year-old boy was killed in Ghorahi Municipality of the same district. The lightning struck him while he was playing outside his home, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday said it was "unacceptable" South Sudan's warring parties had yet to make peace as a deadline approaches for the rivals to join forces in government. President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have failed to break a deadlock over key terms of a power-sharing agreement with just two weeks until they are to form a unity government. The pair have already missed two previous deadlines to settle their differences and enshrine a lasting peace to put an end to six years of bloody civil war that has left 380,000 people dead and millions more in dire poverty. "Think about your people, respect your people, you have not the right to continue the confrontation when your people are suffering so much," Guterres told reporters in Addis Ababa ahead of an African Union summit. "It is your moral and political responsibility to put an end to this and to find the agreements that are necessary to make South Sudan enter into a normal life." Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal in September 2018, pausing the bloodshed that erupted in 2013 when the president accused his former deputy of plotting a coup. They agreed to come together in a coalition in May the following year, however disputes over territory and security arrangements dogged negotiations and the deadline was missed, followed by another six months later. In November, the pair were given 100 more days to resolve these sticking points as fears grew that the tenuous ceasefire could be derailed if a breakthrough was not achieved. But progress has been piecemeal as the new February 22 looms nearer. "It is for me totally unacceptable that we are again closing to a deadline ... and there is no agreement on a number of issues," Guterres said. "It is time for the South Sudanese leaders to agree to cooperate, and to deserve the wonderful people they have." A UN rights commission on South Sudan warned Friday that violence was on the rise in parts of the country, and that efforts to unify armed factions under the terms of the peace agreement were faltering. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:38:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Senegalese Foreign Minister Amadou Ba held a phone conversation on Saturday on the fight against the epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). During the call, Ba said that Senegalese President Macky Sall highly appreciates China's effective measures to combat the epidemic and believes that the Chinese people will overcome the difficulties. Noting that Senegal received strong support from China during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, Ba said that at this difficult time, President Sall as well as the Senegalese government and people are ready to stand firmly with China and believe that the Chinese people are resilient enough to face the pressure and overcome the epidemic at an early date. Briefing Ba on the latest progress in the fight against the epidemic, Wang stressed that the Chinese people are united and will spare no effort to secure an early victory against the epidemic, adding that after the victory, China will become stronger and its development more sustainable. China will guarantee the health and safety of Senegalese nationals in China and address their reasonable concerns, Wang added. Noting that China and Senegal are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners, Wang said that the two countries have always stood together in times of need. In his review of how Chinese personnel feared no risks and took the lead in helping combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Wang noted that when Western countries withdrew their staff one after another, Chinese diplomats and medical experts chose to stay. At this critical moment of combating the NCP epidemic, China has gained strong support from African countries, including Senegal, which China will always remember, Wang said. Expressing the belief that the upcoming African Union Heads of State and Government Summit will also form a consensus on supporting China, Wang called on China and Senegal, co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the FOCAC as an opportunity to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcome of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and push forward China-Africa cooperation to a new level. By Brenda Goh and Makini Brice SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States ramped up its response to the coronavirus epidemic on Friday, declaring a public health emergency and saying it would halt entry to foreign nationals who had been to China within the 14-day incubation period. That measure followed on from an earlier travel advisory that warned Americans not to travel to China and angered Beijing. Originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the flu-like virus first identified earlier in January has resulted in 213 deaths in China, according to local health authorities. Wuhan and the surrounding region of Hubei are in virtual quarantine. More than 9,800 people have been infected in China and more than 130 cases reported in at least 25 other countries and regions, with Russia, Britain, Sweden and Italy all reporting their first cases on Thursday or Friday. The World Health Organization said on Thursday that the epidemic constituted a public health emergency of international concern, a designation that triggers tighter global containment measures and coordination. "Following the World Health Organization's decision... I have today declared that the coronavirus presents a public health emergency in the United States," U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar said at a public briefing on Friday afternoon. As of Sunday, U.S. citizens who had been in Hubei would be subject to compulsory quarantine, he said. Foreign nationals - aside from the immediate family of citizens and residents - who had traveled in China in the last 14 days would be denied entry, said Azar. "The risk is low in the United States... but our job is to keep that risk low as much as we can," he said. The move will likely anger Beijing, which has only just started to mend tattered trade ties with Washington. Earlier on Friday, it criticized the U.S. travel warning. "The World Health Organization urged countries to avoid travel restrictions, but very soon after that, the United States did the opposite," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. "It's truly mean." Story continues Other countries have also advised citizens to put off non-urgent travel to China or restricted flights. After reporting its first two cases of the illness, Russia on Friday restricted direct flights to China, its biggest trade partner. Singapore, a major travel hub in Asia, stopped entry of passengers with a recent history of travel to China and also suspended visas for Chinese passport holders. Many airlines have chosen to cancel or reduce flights, with airline crews pressuring carriers to act. Governments around the world are evacuating citizens from Hubei. A plane with 83 British and 27 foreign nationals landed in Britain on Friday, while Japan, with 14 confirmed cases, has sent three flights to bring citizens home. The United States said it would channel all flights from China through seven airports. It has put 195 Americans evacuated to California this week in quarantine. The virus has an incubation of between one and 14 days, and there are some limited signs it may also be able to spread before any symptoms show. For a full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, click: https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH/0100B59Y39P/index.html GLOBAL REVERBERATIONS With major fallout inevitable for China's economy, which is the world's second largest, global shares posted their biggest weekly and monthly losses since August on Friday. The outbreak could "reverberate globally," Moody's said. In the latest impact to big name corporations, South Korea's Hyundai Motor <005380.KS> said it planned to halt production of a sport utility vehicle this weekend due to a supply disruption caused by the outbreak. Home appliance maker Electrolux issued a similar warning, French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen said its three plants in Wuhan will remain closed until mid-February, and tractor maker Deere & Co said it was temporarily shutting its facilities in China. WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said the WHO did not support travel or trade curbs. Tedros reiterated in a series of tweets on Friday that his organization had confidence in China's capacity to control the 2019-nCoV virus. "Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing and medical supply chains and harming economies. We urge countries and companies to make evidence-based, consistent decisions." Graphic: Tracking the novel coronavirus - https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-MAP/0100B59S39E/index.html VIRUS EPICENTER The roughly 60 million residents of Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital, have had movements curbed to try and slow the spread of the disease. But some people were leaving and entering the area by foot on a bridge over the Yangtze river, a Reuters witness said, and infections have jumped in two cities flanking Wuhan. China's statistics show just over 2% of infected people have died, suggesting the virus is less deadly than the 2002-2003 outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). But economists say its financial impact could be bigger than SARS, which killed about 800 people at an estimated cost of $33 billion to the global economy, since China's share of the world economy is now far greater. Like other respiratory infections, the coronavirus spreads between people in droplets from coughs and sneezes. No deaths have been reported outside China, but it is still too early to know what its death rate will be. "The issue now with this is that there's a lot of unknowns," said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Robert Redfield. The WHO has reported at least eight cases of human-to-human transmission - as opposed to people coming infected from China - in four countries: the United States, Germany, Japan and Vietnam. Thailand said it too had such a case. (Reporting by Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Muyu Xu, Ryan Woo and Cate Cadell in Beijing; Martin Pollard in Jiujiang, Felix Tam and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; John Geddie and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Michelle Nichols at the U.N.; Gilles Guillaume in Paris; Dylan Martinez in Brize Norton; Maria Tsvetkova in Moscow; Makini Brice and David Shepardson in Washington; Writing by Nick Macfie and Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Andrew Cawthorne and Jonathan Oatis) Washington, Feb 8 : Facebook, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube have refused to pull down an edited video posted by US President Donald Trump that showed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripping up a copy of the former's State of the Union address. The five-minute video, posted on Trump's social media accounts, shows Pelosi tearing up the speech after Trump honoured several Americans and saluted a Tuskegee airman in the audience. The fact of the matter is that Pelosi ripped up the speech after Trump concluded his address on Tuesday night. "The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders' interests than the public's interests," Drew Hammill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, tweeted on Friday. Hammill and several Democratic lawmakers called on social media networks to pull down the video but to no avail. Twitter and Facebook said it didn't violate their policies. The video was seen by nearly 4 million people on Twitter, more than 2 million on Facebook and more than 4 million on Facebook-owned Instagram, reports CNET. Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesman, replied to Hammill on Twitter: "Sorry, are you suggesting the President didn't make those remarks and the Speaker didnaAt rip the speech?" Hammill said: "What planet are you living on? This is deceptively altered. Take it down." Congresswoman Veronica Escobar tweeted at Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey: "This video is clearly another deceptive effort by @realDonaldTrump to mislead and manipulate the American people. Hey @jack, show your commitment to cut down on the misinformation corroding our nation and take down this fake video." Facebook and Twitter had refused to remove an earlier 'deepfake' video of Pelosi that was edited to give the impression she is slurring her words. Kiff Saunders was floating with Chinese tourists above the green hills of the Yarra Valley, his hot air balloon drifting through the early morning air, when Beijing decreed that to help contain the coronavirus, all group trips from China would cease. By the time his balloon touched down one of 10 that Saunders runs as the owner of Global Ballooning Australia, a poster-child business for Australias engagement with the fast-growing Chinese tourist market hed lost $100,000 worth of bookings. Wei Chen and Zhu Yi Qi, with their son Zhu Si Yun, were among the last Chinese tourists at Global Ballooning Australia this week as the travel ban kicked in. Credit:Joe Armao In the days that followed, with the Morrison Government imposing a blanket ban on all tourists who have visited mainland China in the previous two weeks, a business that had taken the best part of 10 years to build was all-but grounded. To be honest, we are in a catatonic state, Saunders told The Sunday Age after guiding the last of his Chinese customers on a flight over Melbourne. We are just waiting to see the financial impact of this. The Founder and leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo, says former President John Mahama must be jailed regarding the Airbus bribery scandal which occurred under his administration. He fingered former President John Dramani Mahama as the Government Official 1 mentioned in a bribery scandal. "Former President John Dramani Mahama and NDC has disgraced Ghanaians, corruption and embezzlement of fund is in the DNA of Mahama and NDC,'' Percival Kofi Akpaloo told Adu Gyamfi Marfo on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7. He continued, ''Why must you take bribes before they do deals? It is not fair to Ghana and it has disgraced the name as well. That is why it is important for all of us to be concerned and we need to have disclosure so that we can go through the process of having these persons also defend themselves. Kofi Akpaloo has called on former President John Dramani Mahama to apologize to Ghanaians for his alleged involvement in the bribery scandal. He further chides NDC's Sammy Gyamfi to desist from defending the defenseless, the scandal that occurred under the Mills-Mahama administration. The controversial politician said cases like Mahama Ford Expedition deal, SADA, SUBA, Bus branding and Woyome judgment debt scandal among others indicate that corruption has taken roots in former President Mahama and his cronies. NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, on radio yesterday, declined to comment on the Airbus SE bribery scandal and instead preferred to talk about the NDCs demonstration against the compilation of the new voters register. He said the Airbus issue had been referred to the Special Prosecutor by the President and, therefore, Ghanaians should allow Mr. Amidu to investigate the matter. Oregon lawmakers are heading into the second week of the short session with tensions between the two parties running high over the undercurrent of a possible Republican walkout. As semis and log trucks circled the Capitol as part of a rally Thursday morning, that stress erupted in a meeting of the Senate Committee On Housing and Development. By the end of the exchange, both Republican members had stormed out of the meeting, leaving the three Democrats to hear public testimony. The housing committee typically meets at 8 a.m. but did not assemble until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Committee Chair Sen. Shemia Fagan, D-Portland, opened the meeting by blaming the delay on traffic from a rally by the rural advocacy group Timber Unity, which formed last year to oppose Democrats climate change bill. Given the chaos happening at the Capitol this morning and the ability to not start on time today, were gonna each give your testimony three minutes, Fagan said, as trucks sounded their horns in the background. Most seats in the hearing room were empty and just two people were there to testify in support of the bill to make it easier for religious officials to build homes near their places of worship. But Fagan pressed on. So please keep your testimony to three minutes so we can actually get through everyone, Fagan said. And so sorry. Its frustrating when people try to shut down the Capitol. It makes it where folks like you who came to be heard dont get to be heard all the time. So on behalf of Oregon state Capitol, apologize for the chaos this morning. Watch the hearing video here. At that point, one of the two Republicans on the committee, Sen. Denyc Boles of Salem, stood up, said something that is inaudible in the video of the hearing, and walked out of the meeting. Fagan asked Rep. Dallas Heard, R-Roseburg, also a member of the committee, if he was going to begin testifying on his bill. Wow, Heard said. He sat silently at the table reserved for people testifying, then shook his head. Fagan told Heard the clock was running on his three minutes of testimony and again asked if he wanted to testify. Theres no respect in this building, Heard finally said. That does not apply to you or you, he said, pointing to the two other Democratic senators on the committee, Sen. Jeff Golden of Ashland and Sen. Rob Wagner of Lake Oswego. So I guess there are no proponents for the bill, Fagan said, before inviting opponents to begin their testimony. Heard went to his seat on the committee dais and gathered his things. Apparently the First Amendment only applies to one party, Heard said, before heading out the door. Fagan fired back, You are the government Sen. Heard. She urged the next witness to speak up just so we could hear you over the (truck) honking. Democrats are hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2019, when Senate Republicans twice fled the Capitol to deny the chamber a quorum to vote, first on a big business tax hike, then on a climate bill. The latter bill, a Democrat-backed package to cap greenhouse gas emissions and force fuel suppliers and other large polluters to buy allowances, died after the walkout and is back as Democrats top priority in this 35-day session. Fagan declined to be interviewed Friday evening so it was unclear why the traffic from the Timber Unity rally was unusually difficult for lawmakers to navigate on their commute to the Capitol. There are regularly large rallies at the Capitol that can limit parking in the area for members of the public, but at least one senator noted that the trucks and other vehicles participating in the Timber Unity rally made it difficult for lawmakers to access their parking garage under the Capitol Mall. In an emailed statement, Fagan said she has attempted to smooth over the incident. After the committee ended, I immediately reached out to Senators Heard and Boyles and extended olive branches, Fagan wrote. Senators Heard and Boyles are passionate, smart, and thorough members of the Housing Committee. I look forward to working with them in the coming weeks to address Oregons housing crisis. Boles could not be reached to discuss the exchange Friday evening. Heard said he was not yet ready to comment on what happened. Im still just trying to digest what happened, he said. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Following his controversial visit to Ukraine, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reached out to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Feb. 4 to sort out differences on Syria and show that their partnership and cooperation endures. For those aware of the nature and structure of the Turkish-Russian relationship, the move was predictable. Whatever the conflicting interests and visions of the two main players in Eurasian geopolitics, Erdogan cannot afford to alienate and confront Putin at this juncture. Erdogans Feb. 3 visit to Ukraine was marked by symbolism and statements that drew Russias ire. His assertion of the illegitimacy of Russias annexation of Crimea, though not his first, was significant at a time when Russian-backed Syrian forces were gaining ground in Idlib, inflicting casualties on Turkish military personnel in the region. Erdogan also saluted the Ukrainian honor guard by saying Slava Ukraine (Glory to Ukraine), a slogan used by pro-Nazi Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. The current usage has anti-Russian connotations of Ukrainian nationalism for Moscow. Turkeys commitment of some $34 million in military aid to Kyiv was another manifestation of the widening cracks between Turkey and Russia revealed recently by developments in Idlib. The Turkish gestures to Kyiv crossed Russian red lines and, in turn, Turkey hit a Russian wall in Idlib. So Erdogan picked up the phone as soon as he was back to Ankara to reassure Putin of his faith in Turkey's partnership with Russia. He knew it was Russia that spearheaded the latest military offensive in Idlib that put Turkeys military presence in jeopardy, but pretended that it was the Syrian government forces violating the principles agreed between Turkey and Russia in Sochi in September 2018. Speaking on the morning of Feb. 5, Erdogan warned that Turkey would take military action against the Syrian regime unless it withdraws its forces behind Turkish observation posts by the end of February. He was careful to disassociate President Bashar al-Assads regime from its Russian backer. Even before his speech in Ankara, Erdogan had unequivocally highlighted the importance of Turkeys multifaceted relationship with Russia in remarks to a selected entourage of journalists on his way back from Kyiv. He emphasized Turkeys energy dependence on Russia as well as the geopolitical value of their exclusive relationship. Whoever gets up in rage sits down with a loss, he said, using a Turkish proverb to signal that Turkey cannot afford a falling out with Russia. However, amid high tensions over Syria, where eight Turkish military personnel were killed, the Russo-Turkish relationship is far from straightforward. My good friend and colleague David Gardner, the foreign policy editor of the Financial Times who has been watching the Middle East from Beirut for two decades, wrote in a Feb. 4 op-ed, The twisted geopolitics of the Middle East may be taking another turn. Turkey has collided with Russia, its regional ally of convenience, in the Syrian cockpit that has previously helped Moscow bounce back as a subprime superpower and allowed Ankara to indulge its neo-Ottoman nostalgia. This story has long been triggering tremors, the epicentre of which is Idlib in north-west Syria. Nonetheless, Turkeys collusion with Russia in Idlib does not mean that Turkeys Syrian saga with Russia is over, nor Russias with Turkey. Although the Turkish-Russian partnership in Syria, a geopolitical alignment rather than an alliance, has limits, as evidenced by the recent developments in Idlib, it is far from expired. Moreover, the informal geopolitical alignment with Russia in Syria has proved to be more functional and preferable to Turkey over its formal alliance with the United States. Therefore, a much-referenced op-ed by Burhanettin Duran in the Erdoganist mouthpiece Daily Sabah is more an aberration than an indication of a Turkish policy shift toward the West. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unhappy with repeated Russian violations of the cease-fire, made his disappointment public after Maaret al-Nouman fell to the Assad regime, he wrote. The article reflects the frustration of the Erdoganist camp and the apparent disarray in Turkish foreign policy-making. The constant bashing of the United States and the West by the same hard-liner camp while praising the relationship with Russia until very recently is not lost in the memory of Turkey observers. Neither Erdogan nor Putin can afford to end the geopolitical alignment, and neither has any interest in doing so. Its hard for Putin to work with Erdogan, who strongly irritates him, but he hasnt got any choice. Russia cannot operate in the Middle East if its in conflict with Turkey, otherwise itll face major problems, former Kremlin adviser Gleb Pavlovsky was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. On Feb. 6, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on the situation in Idlib, stressing Russias commitment to cooperation with Turkey. We reaffirm our commitment to the agreements and mutual understandings reached within the Astana format, providing for the need to fight terrorist groups in Syria with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, it read. The same statement, however, clearly endorses the Syrian government forces offensive in Idlib, which is proceeding to the detriment of Turkeys military presence, with tacit criticism of the Turkish posture in Idlib. The transfer of part of the armed formations from the de-escalation zone, first to the northeast of Syria and then to Libya, brought the concentration of radicals to a critical limit, it said. Under these conditions, government forces were forced to respond in order to protect hundreds and thousands of Syrians from terrorist outrage. If Putin is biting his tongue in dealing with Erdogan, Russia seems to be compelling Erdogan to swallow his threats regarding the military situation in Idlib. In his Feb. 5 speech, Erdogan said, At the moment, two of our 12 observation posts are behind the regimes lines. We hope the regime will withdraw from our observation posts by the end of February. If the regime does not pull back, Turkey will be obliged to take matters into its own hands. As a matter of fact, after the government forces capture of Maaret al-Numan put the town of Saraqib on the line, Ankara had sent five military convoys, including 320 armored vehicles and heavy artillery, into Idlib. Saraqib, on the southern outskirts of Aleppo, lies on the junction of two strategic highways, M5 and M4, which connect Aleppo to the capital Damascus and Latakia, respectively. If Erdogan remains true to his Feb. 5 warning, the siege and ultimately the capture of Saraqib is supposed to trigger a war between Russia-courted Turkey and Russia-backed Syria. Yet closer scrutiny of Erdogans statement might offer some relief. He expressed hope for the withdrawal of regime forces instead of issuing a specific threat, saying, if the regime does not withdraw. He also said that Turkey will be obliged to take matters into its own hands without elaborating, thus leaving Turkey's reaction ambiguous. The Syrian regime's activity on the battleground may confirm assessments that it is interested in a speedy military solution to the Idlib issue to prevent a new Turkish-Russian deal on the region. The military situation in Idlib is turning into a frantic race against time. It has become a testing ground for the limits of not only Turkeys or Erdogans Syria policy, but also Putins role as the new power broker in Syria. A Chinese citizen journalist who has told the world about the desperate situation on the streets of virus-epicentre Wuhan has disappeared as a whistleblower doctor was announced to have died. Chen Qiushi has not been heard from since 7pm local time Thursday, with calls to his mobile phone going unanswered. His reports have detailed horrific scenes including a woman frantically calling family on her phone as she sits next to a relative lying dead in a wheelchair and the helpless situation of patients in the overstretched hospitals. Mr Qiushi's disappearance came as heroic 34-year-old Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm on coronavirus, was announced to have died after allegedly contracting the disease while treating patients at Wuhan's Central Hospital. Fellow Chinese citizen journalist Fang Bin, who has published videos of bodies loaded into a bus, was also arrested by authorities last week. He has since been released. Scroll down for video Chen Qiushi has been missing since 7pm local time Thursday when he said he was going to visit the Fang Cang shelter hospital It comes as Wuhan residents have been filmed being removed from their homes and dragged to the city's hospitals by officials The city has been on lock down since an outbreak was declared. Pictured above is one of the main highways yesterday Mr Quishi visited major hospitals, funeral homes and residential areas in Wuhan and talked to patients and families to find out about the epidemic. His videos were uploaded to Twitter and YouTube, which are banned in China but can be accessed with software that avoids the firewall. He had been planning to visit Fang Cang shelter hospital before he disappeared. A post on his Twitter account, by a friend authorised to speak on his behalf, said: 'When Chen Qiushi was taken away, he was in good health and normal temperature. We look forward to his return in peace and health. He has yet to get in touch with his family.' His mother has posted a video calling for his safe return. A friend also told CNN: 'We're worried for his physical safety but also worried that while he's missing he might get infected by the virus.' Pictures posted by Chen Qiushi on Twitter show soup cooked with a bat. The mammals are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a series of illness, including coughing He posted a video about bat soup asking whether Chinese people will be able to give up eating wild animals. It is thought that coronavirus made the jump from this dish Mr Qiushi's mother has also posted a video on social media (pictured) There are almost 35,000 cases of coronavirus reported worldwide (mapped above) Mr Qiushi heroically visited hospitals under construction to reveal their condition and bravely questioned some of the decisions being made in Wuhan. One post on his account before his arrest read: 'It's easy to put 1,000 beds in the stadium, but how do 1,000 people eat together? How to bathe, How to go to the toilet? 'Do they need to wear a mask 24 hours? Is there enough oxygen, a ventilator, and when will the specific medicine be available? 'This problem has troubled me for several days! Other patients are frail and need family care. ~ Every step is very difficult right now.' He posted a video on February 5 from the son of a coronavirus victim who 'wanted to say how his father went from the illness to his death, in honour of his father'. Supplies pictured stacked inside the Wuhan square cabin hospital. They were filmed by Mr Qiushi before his arrest He also filmed rows of beds stacked next to each other for patients. Some had also been converted into bunk beds (pictured) He has also published a video showing rows of beds and stacked supplies inside the Wuhan square cabin hospital this month. 'Visiting this under construction,' he tweeted. 'Local doctors said that it was more like a battlefield hospital or a temporary shelter. 'Patients with infectious diseases suspected to live in concentrated areas. How to avoid cross infection is a problem that must be taken seriously!' Make-shift hospital beds were shown to have three blankets on them. Mr Qiushi also filmed this video in the outpatient hall of a Wuhan hospital to demonstrate how easy it is to walk in and out of the medical centre Another video posted on his social media account showed him easily entering the outpatient hall of a Wuhan hospital, to highlight how easy it is to walk in and out of the medical centre. 'The hospital outpatient hall and the inpatient department are places to enter casually,' he said. 'Chaotic scenes, now they do not care about a stranger wearing a mask. That's how I did it.' Another video posted online - after it emerged that eating bats may have caused the outbreak - shows a cooked bat in a large bowl with the caption: 'After experiencing this matter, can Chinese people give up eating wildlife?' Li Wenliang, 34, succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of Friday morning local time, despite attempts to resuscitate him The ophthalmologist caught the public's attention after he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading 'fake news' for warning on social media of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market' The disappearance came a day before Mr Wenliang died in the early hours of Friday after, according to an official statement, attempts to resuscitate him failed. The ophthalmologist first caught the public's attention when he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading fake news for warning on social media of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market' on December 30. Li's post came two weeks before the coronavirus outbreak was declared and Wuhan, at the epicentre, was put into lock down. His family have since been paid 90,000 after Beijing ruled his death was a 'work injury' following outpourings of grief and fury on social media. Fang Bin was arrested by Chinese authorities after uploading a video showing bodies loaded into a bus outside Wuhan's Number Three hospital The bodies are pictured in the back of the bus. He was later released by the authorities Fang Bin, who was released following outcry online, was quiet for most of Friday before posting a video update in the evening. One clip from him said showed sick patients lying on hospital beds and bodies stacked inside a bus at the exit of Wuhan's hospital Number Three. China has stepped up its efforts to police internal platforms including Weibo, Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's Douyin, reports Bloomberg Quint, but has been unable to touch US-based Twitter and YouTube. A raft of social media accounts have also been suspended and outrage over the death of the doctor that first raised the flag about the diseas has been scrubbed from social media. When Keanu Reeves arrived at the 2019 LACMA Art + Film Gala red carpet with a lovely-looking lady, the internet went into a frenzy. Fans later found out that the lady was Los Angeles-based artist Alexandra Grant. The red carpet last November was the first time they have been seen together, but recently, it was revealed that the two have already been dating for years. Grant's actress friend Jennifer Tilly spoke to Page Six about the couple while supporting the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection. The "Child's Play" star told the publication, "I remember a couple of years ago, about a year and a half ago, Alexandra said, 'Keanu Reeves is my boyfriend.' And I'm like, 'Wait, what? What? What?" The 61-year-old revealed that it was astonishing because at first, she thought that Grant was a lesbian. "And then all of a sudden, she goes to an event with him, and everybody goes insane, like, 'it's his new girlfriend,' because she had gone to a lot of events with him," she continued, "It's just suddenly surfaced that he's been dating her for several years." The actress also explained that the "Matrix" star's relationship with the 47-year-old artist works because they are a perfect match, and both are super-creative and "don't buy into the Hollywood hype." Tilly confessed that she saw Reeves last time at Grant's latest exhibit opening, and he's not "wanting the spotlight because he's a really low-key guy too." She thinks that the reason why everybody went crazy was that they're "sort of the perfect couple." "I think everybody wishes they had something like that. It's not a razzle, dazzles Hollywood romance," Tilly added. The actress said she was not sure, however, if the couple would ever tie the knot, saying that marriage does not seem "hip and bohemian" for the duo. She then called the two as "artists" who are "just going to do what they do." Last November, 55-year-old Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves and 46-year-old artist Alexandra Grant first appeared as a couple. In the same month, the media announced their engagement. Such a rapid development of events surprised fans of the actor pic.twitter.com/wRSpijLu2B all about the stars! (@Sergey2214) February 7, 2020 According to Radar Online, Reeves and Grant met in 2009 at an LA dinner party. The two bonded over their similarities, including poetry, books and art. After that, Grant was able to read some of the actor's poetry and was "moved by it," so the pair released a book of poetry and illustration in 2011 entitled "Ode to Happiness." In 2016, they collaborated again to publish a book about grief called "Shadows." The book was a combination of Reeves' poetry and Grant's photographs of her boyfriend's silhouette. Both are clearly fans of each other's work that a year later, they co-founded X Artists' Books. It is an art-book publishing house that aims to produce "thoughtful, high-quality, artist-centered books." Alexandra Grant is a famous visual artist known for incorporating her work with written words through various media, including sculpture, drawing, painting, photography and film. She spent most of her childhood living abroad like Spain, France and Mexico, which fueled her love for words and languages. The creative artist has exhibited her work in different galleries and institutions worldwide. Aside from being an artist and a publishing mogul, Grant is also an ordained minister. In one of her Instagram photos, she officiated a wedding in Brooklyn where she was seen wearing a clergy badge. Srinagar: A six-page dossier listing the grounds for the detention of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti says she was working with separatists, according to sources. The dossier mentions Mufti`s tweets prior to the revocation of Article 370, on lynching and highway blockade, among others. According to sources, it also talks about the Peoples Democratic Party`s (PDP) flag and symbol of inkpot and pen -- a replica of the sign used by the Muslim United Front (MUF) during the 1987 J&K elections. Around 50 politicians of Kashmir were detained a few days before the abrogation of article 370 on August 5. Six leaders, including three former Chief Ministers, have been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after their arrest. Senior PRD leaders Naeem Akhtar and Sartaj Madani, uncle of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and National Conference General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar have been detained under the PSA. The grounds of Sagar`s detention read that he was very vocal against the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. "He was involved in instigating youth, especially party workers, against the central government`s decisions. His ability to disturb the public order can be gauged from that he succeeded in mobilising voters in the peak of militancy and poll boycotts," the dossier reads. The PSA dossier of Sartaj Madani says he played a "pivotal role" during Asiya and Nelofar`s alleged rape and murder case in 2009. "He played a vital role in mobilising anti-social elements. He was also involved in provoking people to come on to the streets and support separatists and propagate secession of J&K from India, especially after Afzal Guru`s hanging," it said. While Mehbooba Mufti has been detained at a government building on M.A. Road, Omar Abdullah has been detained at Hari Niwas in Srinagar. Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is detained at his residence, which has been designated as a sub-jail. Under the PSA a person can be detained for up to two years without trial. One of the fiercely fought elections in recent times, Delhi Assembly election 2020 marked a new low in Indian electoral politics. The campaign saw covert incitement for violence, repeated use of religious imagery and barrage of personal attacks to gain power of a state, which ironically has barely any power. Well, it isnt even a state. The high-octane campaign between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the main challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gradually morphed into how parties reacted to the Shaheen Bagh stand-off. The women, men and the children of Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. This law fast-tracks citizenship to six religious minorities who entered the country illegally from Indias three Muslim-majority neighbours, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Protests erupted in the country soon after the law was enacted in December over apprehensions that the government would next go for an Assam-like pan Indian National Register of Citizens. The underlying concern, echoed by many critics of CAA, has been that Muslims who may not have the documents to prove their citizenship could be treated as undocumented immigrants, and as top government leaders had repeatedly promised, be thrown out. In the protests that followed in Delhi, Shaheen Bagh - that is often seen as a Muslim ghetto - came to symbolise the agitation against the law and soon became its epicentre. As the women at Shaheen Bagh stayed put through much of the biting December cold - it was the coldest December in years - people from other communities also joined them to express solidarity. But the women of Shaheen Bagh remained the face of the protest. As elections approached, the political cauldron started to boil over this protest that blocked a major arterial road in South Delhi. For some of them, it remained a symbol of resistance but there were others who saw a deeply sinister conspiracy in scores of women spending day and night at the protest site. Soon, Shaheen Bagh came to dominate the narrative with top BJP leaders including the Prime Minister calling it an experiment. Given how the BJP wove its political campaign in Delhi where it had little else to show for, it was clear that the campaign was aimed at polarising the election to counter AAPs development plank. Towards the tail end of the campaign, the firing incidents at the epicentre of the anti-CAA protest, Shaheen Bagh, at one point appeared to have made other issues irrelevant in the electoral debate. During the entire campaign, AAP kept on trying to avoid prickly topics like Shaheen Bhagh, CAA and Sharjeel Imam, whose speech had triggered a huge row. When it was pushed to a corner by the BJP over Sharjeel Imam, Arvind Kejriwal challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to arrest the student activist over his alleged seditious remarks on Assam. The BJPs efforts continued nevertheless. From BJP leader Anurag Thakurs goli maro slogan at an election rally and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths rhetoric that Arvind Kejriwal was feeding biryani to the people of Shaheen Bagh to New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhis retweet on Saturday that asked people to vote right. It was barely concealed dog whistling. Be wise and do come out to vote right pic.twitter.com/jcLEa2DX6u Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) February 7, 2020 Lekhis tweet summed up BJPs plank as the New Delhi MP sought a mandate against the voting sentiments of the Shaheen Bagh people, essentially against choice of the Muslims. Along the way, pollsters who tracked the public mood improved the tally for the BJP as its campaign gained momentum after putting the spotlight on Shaheen Bagh. Even if BJP fails to win Delhi, a dent in AAPs tally or vote share would largely be seen as success of BJPs poll strategy. (The views expressed are personal) New Delhi, Feb 8 : After a Kashmiri Pandit woman lashed out at Vidhu Vinod Chopra at the screening of his latest release "Shikara", the filmmaker has reacted over the incident. Chopra told IANS that his film is not a documentary but an epic tale of a Kashmiri Pandit couple, and their tribulations, set against the backdrop of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus from the Kashmir Valley in 1990. "We respect everyone's view. Let me also place on record that we have done several screenings and in every screening we have received a warm response and standing ovations. Several Kashmiri Hindus have told us that it accurately portrays their story. Our film is not a documentary but an epic tale of a Kashmiri pandit couple and their trails and tribulations in the backdrop of Kashmiri pandit exodus," Chopra said. He added: "It is primarily based on Rahul Pandita's book "Our Moon has blood cloths", several years of research and my own life as a Kashmiri hindu. It has taken me 11 years to make this film, I would urge people to watch the film and then decide for themselves." On Friday, a Kashmiri Pandit woman had lashed out at Chopra during a screening of "Shikara". The director had turned out at the screening to get a firsthand public review of his film. A video that has gone viral shows the woman screaming at Chopra, accusing him of "commercialising" the entire issue of Kashmiri Pandit exodus, adding that he did not portray the true suffering of the community -- including genocide, mass rapes and murders committed by Islamic radical groups -- in his film. She said: "Ye aapka commercialism aapko mubarakh ho (congratulations to you for your commercialism). As a Kashmiri Pandit, I disown your film. I disown it." Chopra was heard saying to the audience: "Har sachai ke do pehlu hote hain (every truth has two sides)." The film is set against the backdrop of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus from the Kashmir Valley in late 1989 and early 1990, in the wake of violent Islamist insurgency. "Shikara" opened on February 7. (Newser) Syrian government forces captured new areas from insurgents in their efforts to control a key highway in the northwest Saturday, as Turkey sent more reinforcements into the war-torn country, state media and opposition activists said, per the AP. The weekslong government offensive has created a humanitarian crisis with about 600,000 people fleeing their homes in Syria's last rebel stronghold since the beginning of December, according to the United Nations. Rebels control much of Idlib province and parts of the neighboring Aleppo region that is home to some 3 million peoplemany of them displaced from other parts of Syria. The Syrian offensive appears aimed for now at securing a strategic highway in rebel-controlled territory, as opposed to an all-out campaign to retake the entire province. story continues below "Our aim is to clear the highway and evict terrorists from it," a Syrian commander on the ground told state TV. He was referring to the M5 highway, which links the capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said government forces still have 18 miles of the highway to clear before it comes under full control of the army for the first time since 2012. Syrian state TV reported Saturday that government forces captured four villages in Aleppo province near the highway. It added that Syrian troops and demining experts have cleared explosives and mines from the recently captured town of Saraqeb that sits on an intersection of two highways, linking Syria's coast with the country's east. (Read more Syria stories.) Dark Mode is really becoming a thing these days as evident from the dark theme release from a lot of social media and tech giants.Google Translator, as we all know, is one of the major product by Google, which is also on the line to release their dark mode for both the platforms. The version 6.5 of Google Translator comes with a dark mode that will be available on both Android and Apple devices.We have seen the dark mode coming on Android for a long time and now it is in the news. Although the dark mode is not as expected by the users, it is not the worst. According to 9to5Google the dark theme is not like Googles other dark themes and the text color is also not aesthetically amazing, but we are expecting it to be better in the future.This new version of Google Translator is also available for iOS 13 users, which is no doubt a more polished version.The dark mode has not rolled out to general users yet, but it will soon be available on all devices.Read next: Google-owned Jigsaw comes up with a tool to spot fake and tampered images A man arrested by Easton police Thursday for selling crystal methamphetamine told investigators he made a mistake and was only trying to make extra money, according to court records. Tasaan M. Hooker, 36, of the 100 block of North Seventh Street in Easton, was arrested after police say they supervised numerous purchases of meth from him. Police serving a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of South Ninth Street found Hooker there, along with about an ounce of crystal meth in a safe that also contained Hookers New Jersey identification card, according to court records. The safe contained drug packaging paraphernalia, and police found additional meth and paperwork belonging to Hooker in the room, the records say. Investigators also found in the room the cellphone police say he used during the drug buys they supervised, according to court records. After being read his Miranda rights, Hooker "was cooperative and explained that he made a mistake and understands the consequences," and that he "only sold crystal methamphetamine to make extra money," court records say. He was arraigned Thursday on a felony count of drug possession with intent to deliver in addition to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Hooker was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail and faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Feb. 19 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial in county court. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. South Korean President Moon Jae-in (C), Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Korea Xing Haiming (L) and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha pose for photos at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2020. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday that as a close neighboring country of China, South Korea stands ready to continue to actively support China in its effort to fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. (South Korea Presidential Blue House/Handout via Xinhua) SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday that as a close neighboring country of China, South Korea stands ready to continue to actively support China in its effort to fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. Moon made such remarks as he accepted the credentials from newly appointed Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Korea Xing Haiming at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. Moon expressed his sympathy to the Chinese people who are suffering from the epidemic, conveyed condolences to the deceased and wished all patients a speedy recovery. South Korea and China are close neighbors, and helping one's neighbor is helping itself, Moon said. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people will be able to overcome the difficulties as soon as possible and achieve greater development, and exchanges and cooperation in all areas between South Korea and China will become all the more active, he said. For his part, Xing said that China is willing to work hand in hand with the Republic of Korea to continuously enrich the connotation of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and promote greater development of bilateral relations. China will continue to support the improvement of inter-Korean relations and strive to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, and contribute to the prosperity and development in the region, Xing said. Xing stressed that as the prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia is now at a critical stage, China has taken the most comprehensive and strict measures and so far achieved remarkable results. He also thanked the South Korean government and people for their support for China's efforts to contain the epidemic. SMTA Certifies Process Engineers in Thailand and Malaysia Published: 07 February 2020 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale CHONBURI, Thailand -- SMTA held certification programs for SMT Processes in Chonburi, Thailand, on January 14-16, 2020 and in Penang, Malaysia, on January 21-23, 2020. Over 75% of the engineers successfully passed the exams, establishing competitive credentials as "Certified" by the SMTA in SMT Processes. The title earned by Certified SMT Process Engineers is CSMTPE. These initials, which can be added after the names of those who have passed the course, are well recognized within the industry as identifying a high level of process engineering knowledge and expertise. The three-day program includes a day and a half of training with homework assignments, a closed book two-hour exam and an open book final exam lasting up to 6 hours. A score of 70% or greater over both exams is required to attain certification. The SMTA certification program is unique, as it recognizes and certifies the entire SMT assembly process at an engineering level. Jim Hall, SMTA senior instructor said, this was a great group, they were very focused and asked some extremely good questions. The certification is valid for five years at which point engineers have an option to be re-certified. A list of all SMTA-certified engineers is published online here: https://www.smta.org/certification/certified_engineers.cfm For more information, please visit https://www.smta.org/certification/ or email certification@smta.org SMTA - A Global Association Working at a Local Level The SMTA membership is an international network of professionals who build skills, share practical experience and develop solutions in electronic assembly technologies, including microsystems, emerging technologies, and related business operations. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico appears to be on track to become the nations 18th state with a red flag gun law, after a divided Senate voted 22-20 on Friday to approve a bill that would allow firearms to be temporarily seized from those deemed dangerous to themselves or others. The narrow vote to approve the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act sent the bill on to the House, which approved a similar measure last year, with just over two weeks left in the 30-day legislative session. It also prompted at least one county sheriff to suggest the measure would be challenged in court if signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. However, the Democratic governor and other backers expressed confidence in the bills constitutionality, saying it was more narrowly targeted than laws enacted in other states. We have an obligation to every single New Mexican, every single family, every single child that we do everything in our power that can provide just that additional layer of safety and public support, Lujan Grisham told a news conference after Fridays vote. This years red flag gun bill, Senate Bill 5, has divided New Mexicos law enforcement ranks. Thirty of the states 33 sheriffs oppose the measure, while State Police Chief Tim Johnson and top Albuquerque Police Department officials support it. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the bills sponsor, evoked the mass shooting in El Paso last year in which a gunman killed 22 people and allegedly targeted those of Mexican descent in making his case for the legislation on the Senate floor. I cant know that this bill will prevent a school shooting, said Cervantes, who described himself as a gun owner and concerned father. What I do know is that if we do nothing but offer thoughts and prayers every time theres a shooting, I wont be able to look at myself in the mirror. But critics said the measure would violate New Mexicans constitutional rights and questioned whether it would prevent tragedies. A National Rifle Association spokeswoman described the bill as a dangerous gun confiscation scheme, while GOP senators argued it would be a scarlet letter of sorts for those falsely accused. How can you have probable cause with no offense? asked Sen. Greg Baca, R-Belen. You dont have a chance to defend yourself on that. Amended on floor Under the bill, which was revised as it moved through the Senate and amended six times on the chamber floor, only law enforcement officers, not family members or co-workers, would be able to file a petition in state court for an order to prohibit someone from possessing firearms. However, law enforcement officials would have to explain their decision in writing if they opted not to seek a court order. Family members, school principals and co-workers would all be able to file reports with law enforcement seeking to have someones guns removed. If a judge found sufficient evidence that an individual posed a threat to themselves or others, an emergency 10-day order requiring them to relinquish their firearms would be issued. A one-year order could then be imposed after a court hearing. Similar laws have been enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Although the laws differ, many states enacted them in response to mass shootings, such as the February 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead. Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace, president of the New Mexico Sheriffs Association, said a court challenge probably will be launched if the bill is ultimately signed into law by the governor. At the end of the day, our elected officials stepped on our constitutional rights, Mace told reporters after Fridays vote. He also acknowledged that the bill would be the law of the land if enacted but said law enforcement officers would retain discretion about how and when to apply it. 4 Democrats vote no In Fridays vote, four Democratic senators joined Republicans in casting no votes on the bill Sens. Gabriel Ramos of Silver City, John Arthur Smith of Deming, Richard Martinez of Ojo Caliente, and Clemente Sanchez of Grants. If one more Democrat had voted against the proposal, it would have been up to Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who supports the bill, to cast the tiebreaking vote. New Mexico had the nations 10th-highest rate of firearm deaths in 2017, when 384 people died due to firearms, according to state Health Department data. Firearms were also used in the majority of suicides and homicides around the state during a recent-four year period. Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, a co-sponsor of the bill, suggested the House would not make changes to the Senate-approved legislation. The plan right now is not to make any amendments in the House, Ely told reporters. The push is going to be to get this through as is. Any changes made by the House would have to be agreed upon by the full Senate before the session ends Feb. 20 for the bill to go to Lujan Grishams desk for final approval. Geneva: The head of a World Health Organization-led international team investigating the coronavirus outbreak will leave for China on Monday (February 10) or Tuesday (February 11), WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Tedros asked whether the team would include experts from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), told a press conference on Saturday: "We hope so." The death toll in mainland China rose to 723 on Saturday, the WHO said, looking likely to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Across mainland China, the number of cases stood at 34,598, the WHO said. Dr Mike Ryan, WHO`s top emergency expert, said there had been a stabilisation in the number of new cases reported from Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus, over the past four days. "That`s good news, and may reflect the impact of the control measures put in place. But remember there are also lots of suspected cases still to be tested." Ryan, speaking later to Reuters, said: "The daily number of new cases has been stable over a four-day period. The same number each day, around." He added, "It`s not a decline. That can just mean four days of relative calm before it accelerates." Australian actor Liam Hemsworth is one of world's biggest stars. And the 30-year-old certainly looked every inch the Hollywood heartthrob on Friday, when he attended the WME Pre-Oscars Party in Los Angeles. The Hunger Games star showed off his famously muscular physique in a tight black T-shirt along with a pair of matching slim-fit jeans. A-list: Liam Hemsworth, 30, (pictured) was every inch the Hollywood heartthrob in an all black ensemble at the at WME Pre-Oscars party in Los Angeles on Friday night Liam showcased his obvious good looks in the ensemble, which clung tight to his gym-honed body. The Isn't It Romantic star topped off the outfit with a fitted black coat, which he left stylishly unbuttoned. The actor gave the outfit a pop of colour with a pair of blue suede boots. Black to basics: The Hunger Games star Liam showcased his natural good looks in the outfit, which clung tight to his muscular frame Liam kept his trademark trimmed beard for the event, while leaving his cropped brown hair lightly gelled. The actor mixed with a number of Hollywood heavyweights at the party, including Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron and Quentin Tarantino. The event is hosted by the William Morris Agency at a beautiful private residence in Beverly Hills. Rugged: Liam kept his trademark trimmed beard for the A-list event Stylish: Liam topped-off the outfit with a tight black coat, which he left stylishly unbuttoned Liam recently struck up a romance with glamorous Australian model Gabriella Brooks. The duo have been spending a lot of time together, after confirming their romance back in January with a PDA-filled trip to the beach. The pair had previously been spotted having lunch with Liam's parents, Craig and Leonie, in mid-December in Byron Bay. Man of style: The actor added a pop of colour to the outfit, wearing a pair of blue suede boots Home time! Later, Liam was seen looked tired while leaving the Hollywood party A source recently told US Weekly that Gabriella, who hails from Sydney's Northern Beaches, is popular with the Hemsworths. 'Liam feels comfortable with Gabriella. His family approves of her and really likes her, which is very important to him,' the insider claimed. After getting his parent's approval, their relationship has reportedly gotten more 'serious.' '[They] have spent a lot of time in Australia together,' an insider told People. 'She has met his siblings and parents [and] Liam has been in a great mood.' Flame: Lately, Liam has been spending time with Australian model Gabriella Brooks (pictured) It's not Gabriella's first famous boyfriend, as she previously dated The 1975 frontman Matthew Healy for four years. Meanwhile, Liam finalised his divorce from Miley Cyrus on January 28. She has since been dating Cody Simpson, 23, with the pair recently spending Christmas together. A health expert has faulted an advisory given by the Lagos State commissioner for health which urged Nigerians with symptoms of coronavirus to walk into the state hospitals for treatment saying it would only expose the country to harm. The U.S.-based expert, Olubayo Okelana, reacting to the advisory video done by the commissioner, Akin Abayomi, said one of the measures stated for prevention of the disease is faulty as it would only expose more people to risk of contracting the disease. Nigeria in preparation against the importation and spread of 2019-nCoV had released an advisory educating Nigerians on the disease and symptoms to look out for. Mr Abayomi, in the advisory video had listed out the symptoms of the 2019-nCoV and told Lagosians that if you feel that you are experiencing any of the symptoms or have had a contact either by virtue of travel to South-east Asia or you have come in contact with people that have come in from South East Asia, we will like you to present yourself at one of our general hospitals. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had also stated in one of its releases on the disease that unwell people who are immunocompromised and have recently travelled to China should be examined promptly by their physician, regardless of the type of illness they have. Caution However, Mr Okelana cautioned against free movement of such people saying it would only lead to devastating epidemic outcomes in and around Nigeria. Mr Okelana, while appreciating the commissioner for his hard work and presentation, said he was a little alarmed at his request that suspected patients should show up at the hospitals. He said his concern is multi folded. The hospitals will be overwhelmed by non-nCoV 2019 mild illnesses and resources will be overloaded. Other patients with different illnesses will suffer if there happens to be a positive case amongst the multitude that show up for testing. READ MORE: This will lead to a scenario for widespread contagion and will invariably contribute to a pandemic, he said. Mr Okelana further said the instruction is contrary to recommendations from the WHO and CDC. I am sure Mr Abayomi misspoke when he invited patients to show up at the hospital but I think he will have to clarify and recommend home quarantine and infectious disease protocols instead. Mr Okelana said coronavirus is a self limited illness and there is currently no known cure and that the only management is supportive. He said most infected patients will be okay at home as long as they get some supportive care. He, however, said that the seriously ill patients are those who need to be transported using infection control methods to designated hospitals. Nigeria is being set up for a mass explosion of the illness and perhaps the U.S. government should expand the new Nigerian immigration ban to all travelers, be they visitors, tourists or green card holders from Nigeria because of our lack of understanding and preparedness. We should remember the incredible Stella Adadevoh and build on her heroic excellence. She understood management of contagious diseases and quarantined the pivotal patient, Patrick Sawyer. She shut down any contact beyond those already exposed to him and defied the U.S. embassy when asked to release him. She insisted he could only be let go under strict infectious disease control guidelines including the use of Personal Exposure Protection and a fumigation equipped ambulance. She gave up her life for her country, he said. Scourge The world has been battling a new coronavirus which has claimed the lives of 564 people since it was first detected in Wuhan, five weeks ago. The SARs like disease was declared a public health emergency of international concern in the last week of January by WHO. This was due to the continual spread of the disease across countries and the lack of understanding by on its patterns of transmission. Based on these facts, all countries were advised to heighten health security measures in preparation for any eventuality as cases could be imported into any country. Nigeria, as part of its preparatory efforts, had issued an advisory through NCDC. Based on the advisory notes, the one of the advice similar to what Mr Abayomi had said, was that Nigerians should avoid self-education and report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the symptoms. Advertisements Symptoms Meanwhile, symptoms include respiratory illnessesuchs as coughing and sneezing. NCDC advised people who have travelled from Wuhan or any other province in China to Nigeria to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people for 14 days. Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus, it said. Travellers from China who show no symptoms on arrival, but who have a fever and cough within 14 days of arrival in Nigeria, are to contact NCDC on 0800-970000-10 It also advised that any person that has returned from China within the last 14 days and has symptoms and those who have visited a healthcare facility where hospital-associated 2019-nCoV infections have been reported, should also call the designated numbers. Meanwhile, NCDC said it is preparing treatment and isolation facilities in the Federal Capital Territory and seven other priority states in Nigeria. They are: Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, Delta, Cross River, and Kano states. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 15:48:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CHICAGO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chicago Auto Show, the largest of its kind in the United States, will open to the public at McCormick Place downtown here on Saturday. According to media previews on Thursday and Friday, manufacturers across the globe are displaying nearly 1,000 vehicles, including 38 that made their debuts and a new concept pickup truck. The 2020 Auto Show is set to offer four indoor test tracks, three outdoor ride-and-drive experiences, engaging displays, and interactive activities for people of all ages. "We call Chicago Auto Show our 'Super Bowl,'" said Benny Munguia, a truck manager with U.S. brand Ram Trucks. Saul Ibarra, a product specialist at Toyota, believed the Chicago Auto Show is more consumer-oriented. "More than 2 million people attend it each year," he said. Among the eight 2021 debut vehicles introduced by Toyota, Ibarra introduced to Xinhua the 2021 RAV4 Prime model on display, saying that the all-new model is a hybrid crossover with a plug-in, and the battery can sustain 39 miles (about 63 km) alone. Ibarra said the RAV4 Prime is expected to be introduced to the market in the spring. At the show, Volkswagen showcased a face-lifted version of Atlas. William Gock, a specialist at product communications for Volkswagen, said the car maker plans to bring out a brand new smaller SUV later this year. Absent from this year's auto show are the manufacturers from Germany including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, a luxury vehicle brand from Sweden and a subsidiary of the Chinese automotive company Geely. Starting in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show has been held annually at McCormick Place. The 2020 Chicago Auto Show will run through Feb. 17. If youre into wildlife documentaries, chances are you've seen a lot of thrilling chases in the natural world - lions and gazelles, snakes and lizards, you name it. We guarantee that none of those can possibly top this heated showdown involving a man, a monkey and a bear suit. Manoj Gangal, Airport Director says: Langoors are scared of bears and so we made a costume. When our staff member wore it and tired to scare the langoors, they started running away. So this is a good&successful experiment. We have been doing this from the past one week. #Gujarat https://t.co/8FjDBdyPgS pic.twitter.com/YGykqI9QJJ ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2020 In a bizarre, somewhat jugaadu solution to the problem of monkey menace on the runway, Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport staff put their heads together to come up with a plan to get rid of a population of langurs. The result is truly spectacular - a hairy, probably terrifying suit designed to make staff members look like black bears - a natural predator of the species. Bear12.jpg (Wikimedia) Caption: A fragile co-existence between bears and humans at Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Dahod district, Gujarat, India. A common species of bear in Gujarat, the Sloth Bear, also happens to thrive in state wildlife sanctuaries - so were sure that those langurs were well aware of the apparent threat, and hopefully wont be found strolling by the runway anytime soon. Despite the somewhat low-tech, high-jugaad solution, several social media users have found the approach fascinating, and ripe material for jokes. Can they try a similar experiment inside the parliament??? B.Paul (@bjpaulshere) February 7, 2020 Mom, I got a job at the airport Oh wow, what do you get to do Well I wear a costume and chase monkeys Umm ok Shiva (@shiva2607) February 7, 2020 While one user highlighted how the costume managed to scare off the langurs without harming them. Good approach without harming those langoors. Gaurav Jain (@GauravJaindian) February 7, 2020 Langurs are quite a common sight across the subcontinent, with eight diverse species found everywhere from the Himalayas to the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. Despite being an occasional nuisance - stealing food and breaking into residences in several hillside towns, theyre commonly worshipped in Hinduism as representations of the deity, Hanuman. Wikimedia; A grey langur family looks out over the edge of a hillside fort. Able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats, theyre particularly good at making a living in human settlements - the Rajasthani city of Jodhpur, for example, is home to a population of up to one million langurs. In response to the incident, Airport Director Manoj Gangal spoke to ANI. Langurs are scared of bears and so we made a costume. When our staff member wore it and tried to scare the langurs, they started running away. So this is a good and successful experiment. We have been doing this from the past one week." A week, it seems. Lets see how much longer the bear-chase can keep going. New pictures showing the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13 year-old daughter Gianna and seven others have been released. The photos are part of a report the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released further detailing its investigators findings into the 26 January crash that led to Mr Bryants death. New details on the location and state of the wreckage following impact and on the helicopters engine status just before impact were included in the report. The report revealed that investigators found a branch at the site that appeared to have been cut by a helicopter blade, suggesting the crafts engine was still intact when it hit the ground. Smoke and flames rise up from the spot where Kobe Bryant's helicopter crashed: National Transportation Safety Board The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna can be seen in the red circle in this photo (National Transportation Safety Board) Image from an NTSB report outlining the resting place of the wreckage from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant (National Transportation Safety Board) The flight path of the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant on 26 January (National Transportation Safety Board) An image detailing the final descent and impact site of the helicopter (National Transportation Safety Board) It was previously theorized that the helicopters engine stalled while it was attempting to climb to a higher elevation to escape fog, prompting the rapid loss of altitude that preceded its crash. The new findings suggest that the engine was still operational when the helicopter descended. In addition, radar data collected by the NTSB showed that while the pilot had intended to climb 4,000 feet to clear a patch of dense fog, he only climbed 2,300 feet before the rapid descent. The impact of the helicopter into the hillside outside Calabasas, California left a 24 feet by 15 feet diameter impact crater that was two feet deep, according to the report. Wreckage from the crash was spread across the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains in a mountain bike park and had travelled 127 feet from the impact site. Instruments from the helicopters main panel were destroyed in the impact, and the aircraft lacked a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder as well as a terrain awareness and warning system, used by pilots to help detect potential surface impacts. The company that manufactures the helicopter, Sikorsky, is urging customers to install the system on the aircraft. The NTSB report does not speculate as to the cause of the crash. It will continue its investigation and plans to release a full report, including what it believes caused the crash, in 12 to 18 months. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Take responsibility of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal appeals to women to cast vote As voting in Delhi Assembly elections began on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the people of Delhi especially women to exercise their franchise. Read more Ahmedabad, Delhi, Agra may be stops on Donald Trumps India trip US President Donald Trump is expected to start a three-day visit to India with a February 23 event in Ahmedabad, an Indian version of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Howdy Modi show in Houston that will be substantially bigger, before going on to Delhi and Agra. Read more Fire breaks out at high rise in Maharashtras Navi Mumbai A major fire broke out at a high-rise in Seawoods-Darave in Maharashtras Navi Mumbai on Saturday morning. No casualties have been reported. At least five fire tankers are at the spot. Read more After Birds of Prey, a definitive ranking of the DC Extended Universe films It is unclear what is more dramatic: the tragic derailment of the DCEU, or the manner in which Warner Bros has attempted to bring the superhero franchise back on track. What began as a hungry move to replicate the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned into a textbook example of crisis resolution in the film industry. Read more Dont know why hes not playing, Harbhajan Singh questions Indias selection in 2nd ODI at Auckland Indias decision to rest pacer Mohammed Shami in the must-win second ODI against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland has left off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bamboozled. Read more How Kejriwal avoided the trap laid by the BJP in this election, writes Barkha Dutt Arvind Kejriwal, tipped to have the advantage in the Delhi elections, has framed his campaign as being about kaam ki rajneeti (politics based on work) , writes Barkha Dutt. Read more Astrological prediction for Feb 8, whats in store for Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius and other zodiac signs The positions of the sun, moon and planets determine our daily horoscope. Each sign has its own characteristics and traits which tell us a lot about a persons personality. Find out more (CNN) The UK's Parliament witnessed a scene of even more cunning than usual after a fox rode an escalator and sneaked into the building. The wily creature evaded capture by police and caused havoc as it padded along the corridors over four stories of Parliament's Portcullis House building on Thursday night. Julia Lopez, a lawmaker from the governing Conservative party, tweeted: "Team Lopez: just leaving Westminster office for the night & see a fox climbing escalator into Portcullis House! "We have seen some strange things in Parliament since 2017, but this tops it!" The fox had no qualms about showing lawmakers what it thought of them. Kerry McCarthy, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the opposition Labour party, revealed that the interloper appeared to have defecated outside her office on the second floor. "So apparently there was a fox running around in Portcullis House atrium about half an hour ago, and now I've just found this outside my office (2 floors up!) #Foxontherun," she tweeted. Kate Ferguson, Westminster correspondent for The Sun newspaper, live tweeted the mayhem, reporting that police were in pursuit and trying to "shoo" the fox out of the building with "big gloves" as it "scarpered up to the third floor." She added: "Fox News - the fox is now on the fourth floor...cops still on the case. But how do you catch a fox in a giant palace...?" Social media users found much amusement in the spectacle of a different kind of pest on the loose at the heart of British politics. Jo Johnson, who works in the Treasury, tweeted: "Some light relief from viruses, the Budget, US primaries etc ... as if there weren't enough fauna in Whitehall buildings already, apparently a fox got into Portcullis House." Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Alison Thewliss agreed, tweeting: "If the fox is willing to eat the mice and rats in Parliament that might actually be a useful development." The Houses of Parliament have been facing an ongoing problem with infestations of mice and other vermin. The fox was eventually caught and removed from the building in a crate. Anjali Dayal, an assistant professor at Fordham University in New York, suggested on Twitter that the ritual removal of a fox from Parliament could be "one of those zanily arcane parliamentary procedures, like ritually slamming a door in some liveried person's face to open their session." Some joked about the popularity of fox-hunting with some MPs, after former Prime Minister Theresa May's scrapped attempt to lift the UK ban. "All those MPs who think that fox hunting is a sport, and not a single one of them tried to take the fox on one on one," one user tweeted. It is not the first time an animal has run amok in the UK's Parliament. In 2018, SNP MP Kirsty Blackman spotted a robin flying around the House of Commons. This story was first published on CNN.com "A fox sneaked into the British Parliament and caused mayhem" Annem Jyothi, from Bheemunipadu in Koilakuntla mandal of Kurnool district, pleaded that she could be kept in isolation wards in India along with other returnees from Wuhan. This is her second video appeal in less than a week. Ms Jyothi is one of the 58 staffers of TSL Company for training in Wuhan. KURNOOL: The Kurnool girl stranded at coronavirus-hit Wuhan put out a recorded video message on Friday appealing to the Indian government to evacuate her to a safer city or allow her to return home, even as prospects brightened for a resolution to her problem. Annem Jyothi, from Bheemunipadu in Koilakuntla mandal of Kurnool district, pleaded that she could be kept in isolation wards in India along with other returnees from Wuhan. This is her second video appeal in less than a week. Ms Jyothi is one of the 58 staffers of TSL Company for training in Wuhan. Meanwhile, Nandyal MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy met Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar in New Dehi and appealed for Ms Jyothi to be evacuated from Wuhan. Ms Jyothi had been left behind at Wuhan when about 670 others were flown back to India as she was running a fever. Bramhanada Reddy said that Jyothi was hale and healthy and she was not running a fever nor was coughing. Jaishankar spoke to Jyothi and assured her that she would be air-lifted soon. Her mother Prameela hoped that Jyothi would in time for her marriage on March 15. Ms Prameela has been offering prayers at the Mahanandi temple for the past 10 days for Ms Jyothis safe return. Ms Jyothi is engaged to marry Mr Amaranath Reddy, a chartered accountant working in Bengaluru. In her plea, Ms Jyothi said: Today is the seventh day since I was rejected as I was suspected of having the coronavirus. Till now I have not had symptoms. I am fine and in good health. Fine Gael have denied their election campaign is in meltdown and insisted a last-minute swing back in support will help win them over 50 seats. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe predicted a late recovery would give Fine Gael enough votes to be the biggest party. But his party leader, after a tough campaign for Fine Gael, said that if the polls were correct the country was going to have real difficulty forming a government. The final few hours of campaigning were also marked by last-minute internal voting pact splits by some parties, as well as surprise endorsements. And after the three-and-a-half week winter campaign, voters today will go to the polls in 39 constituencies and elect the 160 members of the 33rd Dail. Amid internal Fine Gael fears that the party could lose at least a dozen seats as well as see a number of ministers not returned to Leinster House, Mr Donohoe came out fighting as he attended a final campaign event at a care centre in his Dublin Central constituency. I believe further change and how people are going to vote in the last 48 hours of this election is very, very likely, he said. I think there is a real prospect Fine Gael will be the biggest party in the next Dail. The Fine Gael director of elections also said it was possible Fine Gael could win more than 50 seats its 2016 figure this time. But he also said: I have, to date, avoided putting a figure or tally out there. Canvassing in Clare, party leader Leo Varadkar also predicted a dilemma ahead, once votes were counted. If the polls are correct, then I think we are going to have real difficulty forming a government, he said. No election is easy. It has turned into a three-horse race Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and Sinn Fein which I think nobody would have anticipated at the start of this campaign, that it would be a three-horse race, but it is. Mr Varadkar also revealed that he would fight to retain leadership of Fine Gael in the event of his party losing the general election. Under party rules, he would have to submit himself to a confidence vote. If that were to happen, I would ask to stay on as party leader and lead the opposition, and be ready to pick up the pieces in five years time after Fianna Fail do to the country what they usually do, he said. But Fianna Fail counterpart Micheal Martin, while acknowledging that people would not forget the impact of the crash, said Fianna Fail had been constructive during nine long years in opposition. The bottom line, he said, is that people wanted a change of government and that he would look to the Greens, Labour, and other centre-ground politicians to form one. Canvassing in Dublin, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said people needed to realise that their vote matters. Every vote is equal tomorrow, said Ms McDonald. The vote of the wealthiest person, the vote of the person who is really struggling, you have an equal say, please realise that and please come out and vote for change. 07.02.2020 LISTEN The "Artful Dodger' in my write-up: "The Missing Excavators....", may have found trouble for himself. But woe unto those that are yet to taste it or feel it, per their alleged involvement in this illegal mining operation. With some big names already dropping like meteors from within the echelon of the ruling-NPP(a party that's vowed to fight against small-scale illegal mining operation), the upshot wouldn't be pleasant, if the allegation is proven to be true. In his exhilarating book, "Bible Code II The Countdown," Michael Alan Drosnin, an American journalist/author sets a seemingly grim scene for us. It's about the ancient code encrypted in the Bible. Mr Drosnin writes: "And only a computer could find the complexity interwoven information in the Bible code. Time after time related words, names, dates and places are, against all odds, encoded together. The words form a crossword puzzle. Each time a new word or phrase is discovered, a new crossword puzzle is created." Doesn't that sound familiar? Anytime a scandal erupts in Ghana, before we could say Jack or wrap our heads around it-- another pops up like mushrooms. Indeed, the rot in Ghana never dies. It rather metastasizes.Every page one turns to, every chapter-- has a dry rot image. As page after page reveals massive rot. The paradox is, everyone talks about it as though they're 'Saints' and are 'sinless' or incorrigible. The nurse, the teacher, the journalist, the lawyer, the banker, the academia all of them talk about corruption as if it never happens at their respective domain. How could I, how could I not mention the guys that made President John Mills weep before twilight. These guys at the nation's ports and harbours----custom & immigration officers. The clergy, traditional rulers, artisans and traders, farmers and Fisher-folks all talk about this rot as though they're also holy. So, who can crack open this coded rot? It amazes me the way we've allowed this rot to infect almost everyone. How could over 100 excavators disappear into thin air? Not long ago we witnessed the Guinea Fowls made pilgrimage to Mecca. Or was it Burkina Faso? Rats are setting our banks and markets on fire.And as someone sarcastically remarked lately, we'll wake up one morning to see Jubilee House-- the seat of gov't gone! It hurts me to say, corruption has been haunting this country since the birth of the Fourth Republic. Actually, it predates this political epoch. In fact, Prime Minister Dr. K.A Busia in the early 1970s felt overwhelmed by the rot that had engulfed the nation. His description about corruption was so telling. It's a disease that has grown over the years and it's become pandemic. May I humbly ask again: Is there one out there-- someone who's the magic wand? Reactions Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin North constituency in the central region has weighed into the controversial issue. Besides, the tough-talking politician has made a reverting statement, as he dared the leadership of his party--the New Patriotic Party (NPP). "You see what's happened. It's not Ekow Ewusi alone.Many of the big wigs are involved. They should bow their heads in shame.I dare NPP leadership they should stay away. I'm telling you, Madam, I fear nobody. Presently, with the fight against Galamsey Akufo-Addo is like a tree without roots....because all the roots have rotten away. Now how can you talk about Mahama, it's sickening, " he quipped. Indeed, like the Bible code, one crossword puzzle leads to another. And we've had a great number of them: From Wayomegate, to BOST Oil Scandal, from 400 missing tricyles to Airbus bribery collusion and to the recent mysterious disappearance of the excavators, just to name a few. But must we continue with this mindset? The mindset of robbing and looting our nation of its limited resources. Somehow, this rot has been legitimised not only by our rulers but also by ourselves. The people! We the people , despite all our woes--- bad roads, bad bridges, bad sewage systems, dilapidated school buildings, inadequate healthcare facilities, housing deficits, refuse plateaus, and many more.: We still seem to go with the flow.We've become their pawns, somehow. Reacting to the said aritice which was carried both by Modernghana.com and Ghanaweb, Dr. Edward Osei., one of my cherished readers, couldn't mask his frustration and aversion to the cultural rot that has taken our people and nation hostage. The outright greed and the seemingly helplessness on the part of our leadership to fight corruption in the system. Here's Dr Osei's take: "The greed of men will bring them eventual disgrace. When the masses are suffering, some Ghanaians are treating all of us as fools. They steal with impunity. People in responsible positions are greedy for gain, without reflecting on the impact of their actions. Look at our health service,children going to schools under trees,pregnant mothers dying for lack of basic facilities.To put it bluntly, these corrupt men and women are MURDERERS. When your action deprive another of life,you cannot be described in any other way than a MURDERER." His words of condemnation about the greed in society were so palpable. Read again Dr. Osei's comments: "The judgment of the Almighty awaits you. Ghana has enough resources to allow our people to live in dignity. The corrupt people are consigning their PROGENY to CURSES that will perpetuate forever.Look at the state of our water bodies.The water companies are struggling to provide descent water for the people because of the massive pollution by the Galamsey. Greed and selfishness will finally truncate the lives of these men for their indirect destruction of innocent lives.I want to end by saying, these greedy people are just EVIL.That NPP Cape Coast Vice Chair must be prosecuted with speed and confined to the dungeon. I support the aspirations of the NPP but time has come for its leadership to do serious introspection.Please speak out and condemn these acts. This is the more reason why I support Ken. Agyepong for some of his outbursts.WE MUST BE SERIOUS.Yes, the law must be allowed to take its course but some of these legal processes must be expedited." By Gordon Offin-Amaniampong What does environmentalism look like now, compared to that of the 60s granola types? asks Overcup v-p Rachel Bell. Shes describing Ground Truth (Apr.), a book of essays by Ruby McConnell that tracks the rise of environmental awareness in the Pacific Northwest and heralds a postmillennial environmentalism. Its one among several forthcoming books that together examine environmentalism and conservation in the U.S. from the 19th century to the present. Decades before a full-fledged environmental movement arose in the 1970s, Pulitzer Prizewinning novelist Louis Bromfield advocated for the now widely discussed practice of sustainable agriculture. A new biography, The Planter of Modern Life by Stephen Heyman (Norton, Apr.), describes Bromfields fight against industrial farming beginning in the 1930s and his success with the experimental Malabar Farm in Ohio, where he lived until his death in 1956. Bromfield is such a beguiling character, says Norton v-p and executive editor Alane Mason. Theres a lot of gloom and doom out there, and Bromfield found a way to live a life that was full of pleasure through a sense of mission and taking care of the Earth. Theres something very appealing about that. Where Bromfield spread awareness about the issues he cared about through his farm, conservationist George Grinnell (18491938) advocated for wildlife preservation as editor of Forest & Stream magazine (now Field & Stream), and helped establish Glacier National Park. A Grinnel biography, The Father of American Conservation by Thom Hatch, is due from Turner in February. We thought a book about someone who was dedicated to protecting the environment so early on would be a nice way to ground the Earth Day conversation in history, says Heather Howell, managing editor at Turner, adding that Hatch takes an apolitical approach. He prompts readers to keep an open mind, to question the things we hear now and to think about them from Grinnells perspectiveto go beyond thinking about the politicized climate change [discussion] to show how conservation has shaped the American West. Geography lessons Other books focus on a particular landscape with an eye toward understanding peoples relationship to their environment and what Earths history has to say about its future. In Magdalena (Knopf, Apr.), anthropologist Wade Davis travels through farm towns and fishing communities dependent on Colombias Rio Magdalena and observes devastating damage along the way. PWs starred review called the result a rich, fascinating study of how nature and a people shape each other. Daviss book is an eco-conscious travelogue. In contrast, Bjrn Vassness Kingdom of Frost (Greystone, Mar.) introduces readers to the charms and wonder of the forbidding Arctic climate that he once called home. Its important to the author to share the fascinating science of the cryosphere, says Greystone marketing manager Megan Jones, using a term that refers to all of the planets frozen water. Vassnes, who grew up in a remote part of northern Norway, shows why the cryosphere is so important to all life on Earth, even if you live thousands of miles away from it, Jones says. This book offers amazing scientific reporting, such as on what people are doing to protect the cryosphere in Siberia, and ends on a message of hope. He invites us in, rather than making us afraid of the potential outcome. Ben Ehrenreichs Desert Notebooks (Counterpoint, July) leads readers through the beauty of another harsh climate, with a mix of science, anthropology, and memoir drawing on time he spent in Joshua Tree, Calif., and around Las Vegas. His writing conveys a visceral experience of being in the desert, says Counterpoint v-p and editor-in-chief Dan Smetanka. The book braids nature writing with a cultural history of how other people and cultures have dealt with this idea of the end of time, such as Native American legends and other histories of societies on the brink. Another region that has dealt with its share of apocalyptic reckoning is the Pacific Northwest, following the 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helens. In Ground Truth, McConnell explores the rise of environmentalism in the region following the eruption and frames environmental movements as a generational conversation. It was really around that time that people noticed the massive logging happening, and several Superfund sites were designated due to water pollution, Bell says. McConnell writes about the boomers contaminating because they didnt know better, and how we moved from that era to millennials, where were starting to recognize that every piece of land is essential. Internal affairs With The Inner Coast (Norton, June), Donovan Hohn captures what Norton v-p and senior editor Matt Weiland calls a 19th-century American sensibility toward nature. Weiland was eager to work with Hohn after reading 2011s Moby-Duck, which PWs starred review said was packed with seafaring lore and astute reporting. In the new book, Hohn explores his relationship to the environment through essays whose subjects include his passion for collecting old tools, a meditation on water as a natural resource, and his California upbringing. Novelist John Rember, in A Hundred Little Pieces on the End of the World (Univ. of New Mexico, Mar.), finds relief from facing the climate crisis through short reflections on literature. Fiction has the power to keep us alive, which is why we all practice creating it, he writes. The short essays are organized into sections covering dark humor (Is Civilization Too Dumb to Live?), philosophy (Eating with Peter Singer), and hopeful speculations about a postapocalyptic future. PWs review said, Rembers sometimes dark, sometimes humorous book of reflections dispenses hard-earned wisdom on a world in crisis. Return to the main feature. Dozens of Marines have been hit with less-than-honorable discharges -- and one was sent to prison -- in the months since federal agents swarmed their infantry battalion last summer on suspicion of human-smuggling operations. Twenty-four members of the California-based 1st Marine Division have faced judicial or administrative action over human-smuggling or drug-related offenses associated with arrests made during a July battalion formation, Maj. Kendra Motz, a spokeswoman for the unit, told Military.com. One of those Marines has been confined to the brig for 18 months, she said. Nine of the most serious cases were sent to courts-martial. Eight of the Marines facing trial pleaded guilty, Motz said, and have since been dismissed from the military under less-than-honorable conditions, including two bad-conduct discharges. One case is still pending. That Marine will face a general court-martial, considered the most serious level of military trials. "All cases were handled at the appropriate level and with respect to the rule of law," Motz said. Fifteen other Marines charged with lesser offenses faced administrative punishment at the unit level. Those Marines were also dismissed under less-than-honorable conditions, Motz said. The arrests started last year when Lance Cpls. Byron Darnell Law II and David Javier Salazar-Quintero were picked up after being pulled over about seven miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal border agents found the two riflemen with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, were transporting three unauthorized immigrants, according to court documents. The Marines said they'd been recruited by Francisco Saul Rojas-Hernandez to drive people who'd crossed the border. Police arrested Rojas-Hernandez in San Diego County last month after several people told investigators he had orchestrated smuggling operations and paid them to transport people. Related: Man Charged After Marines Allege He Recruited Them for Smuggling Operations The arrests of Law and Salazar-Quintero prompted a wider investigation that led to information about other Marines being involved in similar crimes, officials said at the time. That led to the battalion formation arrests, but a military judge later determined the highly visible apprehensions violated the Marines' rights. Motz said the Marine Corps has a duty to the American people "to be the most ready when the nation is least ready." "And we will continue to enforce the standards of honor, courage and commitment that serve as the great hallmarks of our Corps," she said. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read More: Ousted SEAL's Wife Says Navy Put Her Family at Risk with Public Firing Last updated on: February 08, 2020 22:13 IST Voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly was held on Saturday. As people queued up to cast their vote, there were some famous faces in the lines at different polling stations. Have a look. IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind and first lady Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, Presidents Estate. Photograph: @rashtrapatibhvn/Twitter IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shows his inked finger after casting vote at Civil Line polling station. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo IMAGE: Kejriwal with his family after casting their votes. Photograph: ANI IMAGE: Former vice-president Hamid Ansari after casting vote at Nirman Bhawan polling station. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo IMAGE: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at Nirman Bhavan polling station, in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo IMAGE: Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Nirman Bhawan polling station to cast her vote during the Delhi assembly elections. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with her husband Robert Vadra and son Raihan Vadra, who voted for the first time, show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at a polling station in Lodhi Estate area of New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo IMAGE: Actor Taapsee Pannu and her family show their inked fingers . Photograph: @taapsee/Twitter IMAGE: Actor Swara Bhaskar shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote during the Delhi assembly elections. Photograph: @ReallySwara/Twitter IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves after casting his vote at Aurangzeb lane polling station in New Delhi. Photograph: @INCIndia/Twitter IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora shows his inked finger outside the Nirman Bhawan polling station after casting his vote. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar poses for a photograph after casting his vote at the polling station set up at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: ANI IMAGE: Wrestler Sushil Kumar after casting his vote at a polling booth in Baprola village. Photograph: ANI IMAGE: Delhi Deputy CM and AAP candidate from Patparganj constituency Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia Singh show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at Pandav Nagar polling station in East Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: BJP MP Gautam Gambhir along with his wife Natasha Jain and family members show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at Old Rajinder Nagar polling station. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo IMAGE: Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal shows her inked finger after casting her vote. Photograph: PTI Photo After live-streaming part of the shooting on Facebook, the gunman holed up in the mall with several hostages, as police secured the area in the early-morning darkness. The sound of gunfire emanated from the building before 3 a.m., and ambulances rushed in and out of the mall compound, according to live broadcasts from the scene. Mall workers and shoppers crawled out from fire exits and glass entrances, staying low to avoid bullets, escaping in small groups throughout the morning. US aviation investigators have arrived at the site of a fatal plane crash in Istanbul, Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency reported Saturday. A team from aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the US civil aviation authority inspected the wreckage of the Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737 that skidded off a runway at Sabiha Gokcen airport on Wednesday evening, killing three people. The aircraft, which split into three pieces in the accident, will later be dismantled and removed by crane, Anadolu said. The crash happened as the 11-year-old aircraft landed in strong winds and heavy rain. The US team is looking to see if there were any technical factors that could have contributed to the accident, Anadolu reported. Investigators are examining many possible causes, including the plane's speed and the weather at the time of the crash. On Thursday, Pegasus Airlines CEO Mehmet T Nane said the plane's black boxes had been recovered and the data from them was being deciphered. A report on the crash, in which 180 passengers and crew members were injured, is expected in a month's time, Anadolu reported. Prosecutors have taken statements from air traffic control staff, airport employees and the pilots of two other planes that aborted landings shortly before the Pegasus flight landed. Pegasus has had several recent instances of overshooting runways. Another Pegasus Airlines plane skidded off the runway at the same airport on January 7, causing the temporary closure of the airport. There were no injuries. In January 2018, another Boeing 737 in the Pegasus fleet slid off a runway at Trabzon Airport in northeastern Turkey. The plane came to rest in the dirt above the Black Sea with its nose pointed toward the water. No one was injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activist Laxmikant Mohanlal Khabiya, lodged a complaint at the Punes Shivajinagar police station on Saturday alleging a plot to kill party president Sharad Pawar. Khabiya cited anti-Pawar posts on two YouTube channels and named two YouTubers in his complaint and submitted 19 documents including screenshots of comments on these posts. NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said, The party will seek detailed information on these developments. If there is anything valid in this complaint, the police should take the necessary action and bring the truth in front of the people. Khabiya, who runs a social organisation called Sharad Krida Sanskrutik Pratishthan, said a first information report (FIR) should be registered in this matter. Police inspector Jayram Paygude of the cyber police station at Shivajinagar confirmed receiving the complaint and said the matter would be looked into. France, the European Union's sole nuclear power since Britain's exit from the bloc, will unveil Friday how it intends to use its atomic arsenal as a deterrent in an increasingly unstable world. President Emmanuel Macron, in an address to military officers graduating in Paris, is expected to recommit to upgrading France's capacity, at a time when NATO allies, who would ordinarily look to the United States in a nuclear standoff, worry about Washington's retreat from the multilateral stage. On Monday, Macron said his speech, eagerly anticipated in military circles, would address the interests of other European countries. "I will focus on the doctrine (of French deterrence), but also on the procedures and modalities that I wish to propose on this topic to our partners in the coming months," he said on a visit to Warsaw. Deterrence theory postulates that countries with nuclear weapons are less likely to attack each other for fear of mutual destruction, meaning the arms serve as guarantors of peace. France considers nuclear deterrence a keystone of its defence strategy and the ultimate guarantee of its most vital interests. Macron has already agreed to a costly modernisation of France's atomic arsenal, arguing in January 2018 that "deterrence is part of our history, part of our defence strategy, and will remain so." An act of parliament provides for about 37 billion euros ($41 billion) to be spent on the maintenance and modernisation of the French nuclear arsenal from 2019 to 2025 -- some 12.5 percent of the total defence budget for these seven years. Macron's address Friday comes at a time of high global anxiety, marked by rising tension between military powers, a proliferation of regional security crises and the breakdown of international arms control. Russia and the US last year withdrew from the Soviet-era Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, and blamed one another for its demise. That deal was seen as a cornerstone of global security and its end sparked fears of a new arms race. - 'Sympathetic ears' - Macron last December said the treaty's end meant that "France, Germany, and other European countries are now threatened by new Russian missiles." Washington has also since threatened not to renew the New START treaty with Russia, the last key nuclear deal between the former Cold War foes. The treaty, which expires this month, obliged both sides to halve their number of strategic nuclear missile launchers and establish a new verification regime. Corentin Brustlein, research director at the Paris-based IFRI institute for international relations, said Europe has always been a strong focus of France's nuclear vision. There had been several French attempts at dialogue with European partners on the topic, he said, "that have never succeeded". However, "the balance is shifting, including in countries such as Germany" where public opinion is deeply anti-nuclear and the subject remains largely taboo, but "where we see emerging positions on the level of European strategic ambition that must grow," Brustlein said. Just Monday, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party pleaded for the EU to create its own nuclear deterrence capability. Germany should "consider cooperation with France regarding nuclear weapons," Johann Wadephul said in an interview with the Tagesspiegel daily, and "should be prepared to participate in the nuclear deterrent force with its own capabilities and means." For analyst Bruno Tertrais of the FRS research institute, writing in The Washington Quarterly, while the discussions were unlikely to lead to a "European Bomb" in the near future, "a persistent feeling of insecurity and uncertainty vis-a-vis the future of the US security guarantee is likely to foster a new debate among interested European countries on nuclear deterrence." "Ballot over bullets" and "jobs over freebies" were among the priorities for many of the first-time voters who queued up at polling booths, excited to exercise their franchise. Also among the first-time voters were Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's son Pulkit Kejriwal and Congress leader Ajay Maken's son Aujaswi Maken. "I kept those at the lowest strata who are just able to make their ends meet in mind before I pressed the (EVM) button. The new-generation electorate would vote for equality, development, healthcare, education and clean air," said 21-year-old Akshay Singh. Praveen Punj, a first-time voter at Tilak Nagar polling booth said, "We can't fight these forces with bullets. Even if they fire, we should not. They can only be fought with ballot. Happy to have made my contribution for the first time." He also posted a selfie on social media showing his inked finger with a caption "ballot over bullets #firsttime". "Employment should be the topmost agenda for any voter to decide. Rest everything is secondary. Light, water... whatever amenities, even if they are expensive they can be availed if there is income. So my vote is for jobs rather than freebies," said Prahalad Kumar, a first-time voter in Nangloi said. Standing in a queue outside a polling booth in Chandi Chowk constituency Rahul and his friend Karan, both first-time voters, said they were going to vote for development. "The present government has done good things like waiving charges for water and power supply," Rahul, a houskeeping worker at a hospital, said. Sonkashi Ranjan, who exercised her franchise at a polling booth in Ashoka Road area, said, "Voters should not idolise any party or candidate. Work and development should be the primary factor. I would on any day chose development over nationalism." Sadaf Mehboob (18), a student of Jamia Millia University, who cast her vote from a polling station in Shaheen Bagh, said, "My vote has gone for a party that has worked for development in the last five years.""My vote has gone for better education, health, and jobs for the youth, as I am one. It was heartening to see so many youth coming out to vote in Shaheen Bagh area that has become the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in Delhi," she added. Kejriwal's son Pulkit said he felt good after voting for the first time. When asked if his father will be the chief minister again, he said whoever people choose will become the CM. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan said public transport should be more affordable for students. Polling for the 70 seats of Delhi assembly began at 8 am on Saturday amid tight security . The votes will be counted on February 11. A day after the Kerala government decided to withdraw the 'state disaster' status given to the feared epidemic of coronavirus, officials from the department said that strict vigilance will still continue. While the government took a sigh of relief when the repeat test of a coronavirus patient, who had earlier tested positive and was undergoing treatment at Alappuzha Medical College, came out as negative, the officials maintained that the surveillance will continue. Dr Indu PS, Head of Community Medicine and State Coordinator of Prevention of Epidemics and Infectious Diseases Cell, said, "Though the Kerala government has withdrawn the 'state disaster' status, the vigilance will continue. As of now, about 3,000 people are under surveillance." The people currently under surveillance include the 72 people who returned from Wuhan in China and their family members. Among all the Wuhan returnees, only two persons' results are still awaited. Dr Indu also said that caution is being maintained on high-risk contacts of the coronavirus patients. V Meenakshi, Additional Director, Public Health, said, "The condition of all the positive patients is satisfactory. Their family members have tested negative." Meanwhile, Amar Fettle, state nodal officer for corona and H1N1, thanked the people of Kerala, especially those under home isolation, for their cooperation. Amar said, "We are maintaining a strict surveillance system and it will continue. We have issued advisories to some special sectors like schools and tourism. We had called a meeting in Trivandrum today where managers of the tourism sector were briefed about the advisory." "Even as the 'state disaster' tag has been withdrawn, we want voluntary cooperation of people to tell us if new people arrive in the state with any coronavirus-like symptoms," he added. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Friday said that the state government had decided to withdraw 'state disaster' status given to n-coronavirus. However, she said that the alert will continue and health guidelines have to be followed. The state disaster status was declared after 72 persons in Kerala arrived from Wuhan in China of which three tested positive. Of them, 67 have tested negative. The test results show that the close contacts of all the three confirmed patients are negative, Shailaja said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 19:53:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the coronavirus outbreak, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping said on Friday, urging the international community to give more understanding and support to China's efforts to prevent and control the epidemic. "Chinese medical workers and all those who are fighting on the frontline in China against the novel coronavirus epidemic are making tremendous efforts in protecting people's life and health," Zhang said at a media conference at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, noting that nothing is more important than people's life and health. The Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and strict prevention and control measures, many of which have far exceeded what the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Health Regulations required, Zhang said. "Since the outbreak, we have adopted an open, transparent and responsible approach and have notified the WHO and other countries of the epidemic, and shared the genome sequence of the coronavirus in a timely manner. We have maintained close communication and cooperation with relevant countries, including the United States," he added. "Infectious diseases are common challenges facing the international community, no country can stay immune on its own," Zhang noted. "In face of various public health challenges, only with the concerted efforts of the international community can we defeat the virus and safeguard the health of human beings." Zhang appreciated the empathy and support for the Chinese people from friends of all walks of life in his consular district. "The Chinese community, companies and even students have made generous donations to support China's fight against the epidemic," he continued. "We understand the reasonable and necessary quarantine measures taken by some countries in response to the epidemic. On the other hand, we also believe that it is necessary to follow the WHO's recommendations and make rational and science-based responses to the current situation, not to overreact," he said. The Chinese diplomat also stressed the need to guard against the spread of xenophobia and racial profiling of Chinese people or Asians amid the epidemic. "Reports on the recent occurrence of some of these actions and rhetoric and those ill-intended attacks on China's social system and groundless accusations against the Chinese government are disturbing," he said. "At present, epidemic prevention and control has come to a crucial stage. As the WHO director-general put it, this is the time for facts, not fear; this is the time for science, not rumors; this is the time for solidarity, not stigma," he said. A Pakistani high court has ruled that any underage girl with an active menstrual cycle is ready for marriage as long as she had seen her first period; this is in accordance to the sharia law. The Sindh High Court in Karachi passed down the ruling on February 3, 2020, during the hearing on alleged abduction, forced conversion and marriage of Huma Younus, a 14-year-old Catholic girl taken from her home on 10th October 2019. 14-year-old Huma was abducted and forced to marry her abductor, Abdul Jabbar, after being converted to Islam, according to her parents Younis and Nagheena Masih. Her parents believe her marriage is invalid in line with the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act which forbids marriage under the age of 18. Humas parents produced evidence including a baptismal certificate and testimony from her school purporting to show she is 14 years old, born on 22nd May 2005. During the hearing on Monday, the judges, Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali Shah, ruled that even if Huma was a minor, the marriage between her and her alleged abductor, Abdul Jabbar, would be valid as she had already had her first menstrual cycle. Judges Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali pronounced their judgment under the Sharia law. After the judgement, Humas mother, Nagheena Younus, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Christians are not treated as equal citizens in Pakistan. She said: Once again, justice has been defeated and, once again, our state has shown itself unable to treat Christians as Pakistani citizens. The girls mother has appealed to the international community to support them. Underage #Catholic girl Huma Younus & other girls can be married as long as they have had their first menstrual cycle, High Court in #Pakistan ruled. This is so wrong and disgusting! I urge the @EU_Commission and the international community to stop all relationship with Pakistan. https://t.co/oQl1INCGY0 Marijana Petir (@marijana_petir) February 5, 2020 ALSO READ: Gambia and Tanzania outlaw child marriage. 20 Years In Prison For Anyone Who Marries A Child Below 18 Individuals could pay more than three times more for virtually identical Medicare Supplement insurance coverage according to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI). According to the Association's 2020 Turning 65 Price Comparison, a woman in Dallas could pay as little as $99-a-month for Medicare Plan G coverage or as much as $381-per-month. "In every city we looked at, there is a significant difference between the lowest available price and the highest," shares Jesse Slome, AAMSI's director. The organization compared pricing for Medigap Plan G in the 10-largest metro markets. "Those turning 65 this year no longer have Plan F available, which was the most popular option," Slome explains. "We expect Plan G will now be the most popular option and the one we compared for this study." Insurers each set pricing for their plans with some 13 different companies offering either the lowest or the highest price for the 10 cities studied. "No single Medicare insurance company was consistently the lowest and neither was any one company regularly the most costly," Slome notes. The lowest cost for a male age 65 was $109-per-month available in Dallas. The highest cost was $509-per-month in Philadelphia. "The 11,000 Americans turning 65 every day are inundated with solicitations from Medicare insurance companies and marketing organizations," Slome admits. "Each touts the virtues of their particular plan and it can be overwhelming and confusing. But what the 2020 study makes clear is the importance of comparing costs before making this important decision." The Association makes available the only national online directory where consumers can find local Medicare insurance agents. "There are roughly 1,000 Medicare insurance agents listed on the directory that is free and completely private to use," Slome acknowledges. "There is no sign-in or personal information gathered." To see summarized results from the 2020 Medicare Cost Comparison, go to www.medicaresupp.org/medigap-plan-g-costs-2020/. The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance is an advocacy and informational organization that supports the industry and insurance professionals who market Medicare insurance options. To access the free, private online directory of Medicare insurance agents go to www.medicaresupp.org/find-local-agent/. Rubix LS engineered and deployed rapid diagnostic and elemental detection tools while actively working on studies of Ebola and Leishmaniasis, in both India and West Africa, which successfully resulted in the ability to rapidly identify and target affected patient population, as well as predictive patient diagnosis to aid in therapeutic intervention. According to Rubix LS CEO Reginald Swift, Our technology is now currently being adapted specifically for 2019-nCoV by targeting amino acid isolates and mutative protein binding changes from bronchoalveolar fluid through the breath of individuals. Our technology transformation will be completed within the days to come as the first case of the coronavirus was just reported in Massachusetts. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus (2019-nCoV) a global health emergency. The rapid scale in which China, U.S, U.K and now India have produced exposure symptoms to coronavirus, has according to reports, caused more than 100 deaths, 7,700 cases in China, and 8 cases now reported in Massachusetts, which is the state as Rubix LS is headquartered. The CDC Newsroom telebriefing of January 30, 2020, states the incubation period for coronavirus could be up to 14 days. When asked if it is possible to detect this virus before somebody is symptomatic, Dr. Nancy Messonnier from CDC responded, We dont know yet, and were looking closely to see if we can. This is where the technology of Rubix LS can aid and assist. There are two distinct ways. One part is actively sampling the individuals around these cases and taking samples from to record and learn more about how the virus is transmitted. There also are serological tests developed in the United States and elsewhere that could potentially help us learn more about a population level how exposure is taking place. The CDC also confirmed in a separate release that the virus has spread between two people in the United States, representing the first instance of person-to-person spread in the country. According to the CDC, MERS, and SARS, the other two coronaviruses that have emerged to cause serious illness in people exposed. Rubix LS uses Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) within its platform to specifically isolate protein binding receptor modifying behaviors that are able to target the prediction and precursor of the disease evolution and potential patient diagnosis. Our team has been working around the clock to refine the models for addressing these new epidemiological targets, and to build high-level accuracy in the findings, states Swift. In addition to Artificial Intelligence, our platform utilizes several skin-based sensor technologies, that are configured with communication tools, and can detect and provide a rapid spectral analysis of key proteins in real-time. The resulting databank of biological profiles can then be cross referenced and indexed by major health agencies, and research institutions worldwide, to fight the problem." Rubix LS has optimized its AI/ML platform to rapidly characterizing the spike protein changes that identify key differences from what is observed through 2019-nCOV, SARS & MERS, within minutes of running its model. Leveraging the power and datastore of their platform, Rubix LS will compliment and augment epidemiological datasets gathered by other companies and organizations, to accurately target key configurations of mutation properties that represent a critical understanding in developing a vaccine. Rubix LS is presently in contact with the CDC to immediately initiate a development program to deploy pilot study, and aggregate known and collected data, to disseminate to the greater scientific community and WHO authorities. and deploy robust countermeasure activities worldwide, concludes Swift. For questions regarding Rubix LS, contact the company at 617-903-0311, info@rubixls.com For any questions regarding updates to 2019-nCOV please visit the cdc.gov website. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the south and northeast of India will become "irrelevant" in comparison to the north, as the national narrative is increasingly becoming a Hindi-speaking one. Tharoor, speaking at the Kolkata Literature Festival, said the idiom of the Indian narrative has "overwhemingly" moved to the north, "the so-called BIMARU states such as Bihar, MP, UP, moving from places like Bengal or Kerala". "The south and northeast will become irrelevant as compared to the north," he said. Referring to a "trivial fact," Tharoor said in Parliament, BJP ministers reply in Hindi to questions asked in English, as "this is their audience". "To create a primordially Hindu rashtra is a fundamental assault on the very basis of nationhood..." the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said during a session on 'Disorder, Darkness and the Tharoor way'. Tharoor said the old idiom that when Bengal catches cold India sneezes, is no more true. "Instead, now if northern India catches the cold, Bengal, Kerala sneezes. It is their cold affecting us." He said one magical thing about the country is that one can be a good Bengali, a good Muslim, but also a good Indian. "You are secure of your different identities because you are secure of your Indian identity guaranteed by the Constitution," the three-time Congress MP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elnur Bagishov Trend: Launching of Irans Zafar satellite into space has been postponed, Murtaza Barari, Chairman of Iranian Space Agency (ISA) said in an interview to Irans Fars News Agency, Trend reports. The reason of postponing is the proceeding with caution and avoiding any undue haste. There is no any problem for positioning of Zafar satellite at an orbital distance of 530 kilometers, Barari said. Zafar satellite has been tested by Iranian experts over the past 4 months. On February 3, Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, announced that the Zafar satellite will be sent to space this week. In addition, less than 2 million euro was spent on the manufacturing of Zafar 1 and Zafar 2 satellites. The cost of the satellite is more than 10 million euro. The average life of the satellite is 2.5 years. The weight of the Iranian Zafar satellite is 113 kilogram. The launching of satellite into space is aimed at updating maps, as there are changes at Iran's oil reserves, agriculture, forests and lakes. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:37:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The recent rare direct confrontation between the Syrian army and Turkish forces in the northwestern province of Idlib is not expected to escalate, according to analysts. The confrontation, which led to the killing of eight Turkish soldiers and around 13 Syrian soldiers, is the result of the volatile situation in Idlib. The equation is simple: the Syrian army wants to capture Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in the country, after Turkey failed to live up to its promises in a 2018 agreement with Russia to disarm the ultra-radical rebels in the province. For Russia and the Syrian army, the ultra-radical rebel groups in Idlib are an obstacle that needs to be dealt with. For Turkey, a wide-scale offensive in Idlib, which is home to as many as 3 million people, will create a massive wave of displacement, mainly toward the Turkish border. Observers believe that the Syrian army's main goal behind the two-month-long offensive in Idlib is to capture the stretch of a highway linking Damascus in the south and Aleppo in the north through Idlib. "Of course, the Syrian government wants to recapture all of Idlib, but in any war there are priorities, and I think the priority of the Syrian army at this time is to secure the Damascus-Aleppo highway," Maher Ihsan, a political expert, told Xinhua. Ihsan, meanwhile, shunned the possibility of an escalated confrontation between the Syrian army and the Turkish forces, citing Russia as the balacing power. "Russia is brokering agreements between Turkey and Syria as the relations between the two neighbors have hit the bottom during the Syrian war," he said. Ahmad al-Ashqar, a journalist and political expert, agreed that Russia will not allow further escalation between Turkey and Syria. "In any agreement, we can see some setbacks and some negative signals, but it is normal ... and will not collapse," he told Xinhua. In September 2018, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement under which Turkey assumed responsibility for disarming the ultra-radical rebel groups, mainly those linked with the al-Qaida. However, Turkey has failed to do so as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front seemed out of control, which was the main reason why Russia and the Syrian army decided to launch the current operation in Idlib. It is worth noting that most of an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 rebel fighters concentrated in Idlib belong to radical groups which also have foreign fighters, mainly from the Caucasus. These rebel fighters have no other place to go to as Idlib and nearby rural Aleppo are the last rebel-held areas in Syria. The new deployment of Turkish forces in Idlib aims to "prevent the progress of the Syrian army," Haitham Hassoun, a retired brigadier, told Xinhua. Delhi's voters came out to cast their vote on Saturday after a particularly polarised and blistering election campaign in the backdrop of the massive protests against the CAA and NRC. However, while the polling was relatively peaceful, a tweet by Bharatiya Janata Party's Karnataka unit was widely criticised on social media for its communal undertones. BJP Karnataka shared a video of Muslim women voters in burqas standing in a polling booth queue to cast their vote in Delhi. The sarcastic caption to the video read,""Kaagaz Nahi Dikayenge Hum"!!! Keep the documents safe, you will need to show them again during #NPR exercise. #DelhiPolls2020". "Kaagaz Nahi Dikayenge Hum" ! ! ! Keep the documents safe, you will need to show them again during #NPR exercise.#DelhiPolls2020 pic.twitter.com/bEojjeKlwI BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) February 8, 2020 The caption is a reference to the 'Kagaz Nahin Dikhaenge' slogan popularly raised by protesters, artists and activist opposed to the the recently passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 as well as the implementation of nation-wide National Register of Citizens. The CAA fast-tracks Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities for people of six faiths in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but does not include Muslims. The NRC is a register of legal Indian citizens, meant to identify illegal migrants. Critics fear that if the new citizenship law were combined with a citizenship test under NRC, Muslims could be disenfranchised, stripped of their nationality or their right to vote. The National Population Register exercise is to be conducted from April to identify all "usual residents", but critics have called it the first step towards a pan-India NRC after questions related to place of birth of parents were added to the form. The slogan 'Kagaz Nahin Dikhaenge' literally translates to "We will not show our papers". Essentially, it means protesters and detractors of CAA, NRC and NPR will not show relevant documents to officials in order to prove they are citizens of India as a mark of civil disobedience. The government has officially denied the plan to implement nationwide NRC, despite several statements made in the past by leaders of the ruling BJP, including home minister Amit Shah. The government recently told members of the Parliament during the Budget Session that the government had no plans to implement nationwide NRC, at least for now. It also said that the information in NPR will not be used for NRC and that information shared for the National Population Register (NPR) will be voluntary. BJP Karnataka, however, seems to be acknowledging the possibility of an NRC taking place by asking the Muslim voters to keep their identity documents safe for when they need it for NRC. The video was instantly picked up by communal trolls. One Twitter user wrote, "Who are these Muslims with no conscience? Till yesterday, they were saying 'we will not show papers'. Today, they stand in line with their identity papers in hand." By sharing a video of just Muslim women holding up their voter ID cards, the tweet also appears to create polarisation among Muslims, many of whom have been protesting in the national capital for days against CAA, NRC and NPR. The ongoing protests at Shaheen Bagh have been used as a divisive poll plank by the BJP whose leaders have repeatedly called it a threat to public safety and democracy. BJP Karnataka's tweet confused many on Twitter who wondered why the BJP was taking such disparate stance on the issue. A journalist as well as others pointed out the same in a tweet. Either these guys are misleading the public. Or the Government is misleading the Parliament. Which one is it? Meghnad (@Memeghnad) February 8, 2020 Either BJP Karnataka knows something that Amit Shah and his ministry doesnt or are they completely stupid? @PIBHomeAffairs, please clarify. pic.twitter.com/DR7SAmDXYB SamSays (@samjawed65) February 8, 2020 Others also slammed the tone-deaf and 'threatening' tweet against Muslim women. BJP Karnataka threatening muslim women. https://t.co/XBn1YZVjdR Arun PS (@policychettan) February 8, 2020 @Tejasvi_Surya what an utterly crude handle you operate. The language of thugs and goons from the state of Karnataka known for its literary excellence. Disgraceful. Madhumita Mazumdar (@mmazumdar2014) February 8, 2020 Not done! Adds to the fear factor! Derails PM Modis pitch. Please be sensible. Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) February 8, 2020 . @BSYBJP has become. More wafadar than the Hindi masters.. This handle from Karnataka Bjp is full of filth.. I'm ashamed as a Kannadiga.. #aakthu.. https://t.co/vti2YssK7c Talha Gulbargavi #Shaheen #Kashmiri (@TalhaGulbargavi) February 8, 2020 This is not the first time that BJP Karnataka's Twitter handle has come under fire for a contentious tweet. The handle had previously tweeted about an Amazon delivery receipt for razors that the unit allegedly sent to Omar Abdullah after images of his unshaven face under Kashmir lockdown went viral. The tweet was later deleted. The handle again came under fire after it posted a contentious tweet regarding Sharjeel Imam and the shooting at protest outside Jamia Millia Islamia that injured a Kashmiri student. February 08 : The Queen of Dance, Nora Fatehi is a wow statement whenever she is out to groove. This Moroccan beauty is always out to stun with her stunning dance performances in various Bollywood films. Though she is a newcomer, she has been able to make some serious amount of fan base, who keep asking her for more adrenaline-packed groove moods. Just recently, the Pepeta girl announced her latest project on social media. She mentioned, Calling all bollywood and arabic music lovers! My First ever show in PARIS FEBRUARY 20TH in OLYMPIA!!To book tickets link is in bio !! Catch my full exclusive show to all my hit songs including a live performance on pepeta ft @rayvanny and enjoy @fnaire_official performance on all their hit tracks! This is going to be an epic show! Book your tickets now #exclusive . For those who are dance freaks and travel zombies, this announcement is surely a great one. You get to see this damsel in action and also get a fantastic tour in France. She will be dancing to her famous numbers like Pepeta, O Saki, O Saki, Dilbar, and many more. The actress was last seen in Street Dancer 3D along with Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor. Also Watch: Nora Fatehi shows how to style a crop top and look your stylish best Stacker compiled a list of famous speeches from every U.S. president. Read on to understand what these speeches were about and how they relate to particular moments in U.S. history. This article was first published on theStacker.com Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday said it has arrested two alleged OGWs (Overground Workers) of militants in Bandipora's Hajin area. The two arrested OGWs have been identified as -- Irfan Aziz Bhat (LLB Student) and Mohd Asif Paray. "On February 7, at about 13:00 hrs p.s received information from reliable sources that posters of banned terrorist organization LeT have surfaced at various spots in Hajin inciting common masses against the police department and the state of India," a statement read. An FIR was lodged on Friday in this regard in Hajin Police Station and Police busted an OGW module behind it and recovered incriminating material from them. The case is further being investigated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a sit-in for over a month against the Citizenship Amendment Act, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh voted in batches on Saturday so that the agitation remains unaffected. IMAGE: A protester, holding a tricolour, shows her ink-marked finger after casting vote for the Delhi assembly elections, at the site of their peaceful agitation against the Citizenship Act in Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo While some of the women voted in the morning, others chose to get their fingers inked in the afternoon and the remaining in the evening. Mehzabeen Qureshi, who returned to the protest site after voting said, "I stayed at home to let other women in the house go out and vote. Now I have joined them here at Shaheen Bagh after voting. I voted today to secure democracy". Zaheeda Khan, another resident of Shaheen Bagh, said they decided to vote in batches. "The women here had decided a day before voting that some of them would go out for voting in the morning, while others will stay back for chores. The others will go in the afternoon and then come back to the protest site. "By the evening, we will be a full house again, all geared up to continue our protest," she said. Zahra Sheikh said they are determined to exercise their right to vote as it is crucial for a democracy. "We started our day knowing that it will be of double importance for us. We want to ensure that democracy survives hence, every citizen of Shaheen Bagh is voting," she said. IMAGE: Voters stand in a queue to cast votes during the Delhi Assembly election at a polling station in Shaheen Bagh. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo In the meantime, the menfolk from Shaheen Bagh filled in at the protest site when the women protestors were away completing domestic chores. Taking a jibe at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's "biriyani" remark, Mohammad Ayub, a resident, said they were voting to prove a point that they were not being served any "biryani". Adityanath was served a notice by the Election Commission for his "Kejriwal is feeding biryani in Shaheen Bagh" comments. The Shaheen Bagh protest site had become a focal point in the BJP's poll campaign. "Many people have alleged that we were protesting for Delhi elections and that some political parties were funding us and serving 'biryani'. They should know that we are still protesting as Delhi votes and will continue the agitation after the polling," Ayub said. "No party serves us 'biryani'. The women cook and bring food to feed the protestors," he added. Controversial male Barbie, Idris Okuneye simply known and addressed as Bobrisky has stated that she does not like February 14th- Valentines day because it gives people with multiple boyfriends away. She made this known via her official Instagram page on Saturday, 8th February. Read Also: How Bobrisky Opened Up About His Lifestlye At LIRS Office During His Arrest; Instagram Blogger The comment is coming only a few hours after she declared herself as Nigerias number 1 barbie. See what she posted below: I really dont like FEB 14 because that day is called casting day for those of us with plenty boyfriends Its shaping up to a be a drier latter half of the weekend for central Pennsylvania, but more rain and snow could fall into the new week. The best chance for the rain and snow will come on Sunday night, according to National Weather Service in State College. The precipitation will start as a mix of rain and snow before 1 a.m. before changing over to rain. Up to a quarter of an inch of precipitation is possible. The chance for rain will persist through the beginning of next week. High temperatures will generally stay in the mid to upper 40s. Heres a look at the forecast for Harrisburg: Saturday Partly sunny skies. High: 39 Saturday Night Mostly cloudy skies, a slight chance of snow before midnight and 2 a.m. Low: 28 Sunday Mostly sunny skies. High: 45 Sunday Night Mostly cloudy skies, a chance of rain and snow before 1 a.m., followed by rain. Up to a quarter of an inch of precipitation possible. Low: 36 Monday Showers likely before 1 p.m. High: 48 Monday Night Cloudy skies, a chance of showers Low: 37 Tuesday Cloudy skies, a chance of showers. High: 46 Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy skies. Low: 31 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. Von Recklinghausen's disease , commonly known as Neurofibromatosis (NF), is an inheritable genetic disorder. It is caused by mutations in NF1 or NF2 gene. There are three forms of Von Recklinghausens Disease: Neurofibromatosis type-1 or NF1, neurofibromatosis type-2 (NF2) and Schwannomatosis, classified as a variant of NF2. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is autosomal dominant genetic disease, wherein you need to inherit an abnormal / diseased gene from only one parent to get the disease. The disease derives its name from the German pathologist Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen who first described the condition in 1882. Patients with Neurofibromatosis develop multiple soft nerve-tumors (neurofibromas) and very often skin spots (cafe au lait spots). The disease can cause bones deformities and also affect the skin. Although an autosomal dominant disease, approximately 50% of the cases reported are clinically sporadic. Thus a large number of cases of Neurofibromatosis(NF) are due to a spontaneous mutation, i.e. a change in a person's gene rather than a mutation inherited from a parent. NF has a prevalence of 1 in 3000 births. Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images From Harper's BAZAAR Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly turned down an invitation to attend and present at the Academy Awards on Sunday. The couple have already made their first appearance since stepping down as senior royals yesterday, when they quietly attended a summit in Miami. Now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer tied to their royal duties, what does the next chapter of their life look like? There's not much to see yet, as the couple and their son, Archie, enjoy quiet time in Canada, but after attending a private JPMorgan Summit in Miami last night, it seems the duo won't stay far from an exclusive and untouchable lifestyle. So, where will this new stage of their lives take them next? Will it be among world leaders at Davos, double-dates with power couples like the Obamas, or perhaps on red carpets with Hollywood royalty? The third possibility could've become a reality if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were to attend the Oscars on Sunday night. Apparently, they were invited to attend and present the Best Picture award, but they turned it down, royal correspondent Emily Nash reports for Hello!. The duo was "were honored by the request, but declined the invitation," a source reportedly told Nash. An Academy Awards appearance would've made perfect sense for Meghan and Harry in their post-royals chapter; it's (usually) high-brow, exclusive, and would've showcased them in the public eye among A-listers like Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt. And if the Duke of Duchess of Cambridge are annual staples at the BAFTAswhere Prince William is presidentthen why not let the Sussexes hit up the Oscars? Photo credit: Jeff Spicer/BFC - Getty Images The event also aligns with Meghan's acting background, and the couple are no strangers to the red carpet scene. They attended the Lion King premiere and met Beyonce and Jay-Z last summer. Meghan even made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards in 2018 to honor Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller as designer of the year. Story continues And think of the fashion! During her fashion awards cameo, the Duchess of Sussex looked glam in an asymmetrical black column dress, sparing gold jewelry, and a sleek low buna sultry yet elegant deviation from her usual trousers, coats, and boatneck dresses. We can only imagine what she would've worn at the Oscars, without the pressure of being a senior royal. In a painfully predictable award season, a cameo from the duo that just shook up the British monarchy would've been welcomed at the Oscars. But it looks like we'll have to wait until next year's ceremony. You Might Also Like In a letter to the Secretary of Iranian election watchdog on Saturday Mahmoud Sadeqi who first blew the whistle on middlemen brokering approval of candidates, said corruption in the qualification process has precedents in previous elections. In his letter to Ahmad Jannati, the hardliner Secretary of the Guardian Council, Sadeqi (Sadeghi) said some of the candidates in previous elections had also been qualified to run by paying money to middlemen to secure the Council's approval. Sadeqi says he has submitted evidence for his claim to the election watchdog's Intelligence Organization and has evidence including voice recordings which prove they had access to the Council's files on would-be candidates. The 12-member GC, which is empowered to vet legislation and oversee elections, is made up of religious jurists and lawyers and, in many ways, acts as an upper legislative body in the Islamic Republic establishment. In a tweet on January 27, Sadeqi said brokers who claimed having influence with the Guardian Council demanded up to 40 billion rials (about $300,000) from would-be candidates in parliamentary elections to ensure they were approved to run. Sadeqi also wrote to the Chief Justice Ebrahim Raeesi (Raisi) on February 4 about corruption in the process of vetting candidates and called on him to ensure those responsible, both inside and outside the Guardian Council, were brought to justice. On February 4 the Office of the Prosecutor of Tehran said twelve individual "who claimed they had influence in the Guardian Council" had been arrested . The Prosecutor's Office, however, said they had no connections with the Council and were identified and arrested as a result of the "thorough surveillance of the supervisory bodies of the Guardian Council". Akbar Alami, a former lawmaker, has supported Sadeqi's claims. In a Telegram post on February 4, Alami confirmed the arrest of a number of middlemen in the bribery case and promised to publish the names and phone numbers of these middlemen and explain their methods of work. The Election Supervisory Boards of the Guardian Council that are in charge of vetting candidates have disqualified thousands of would-be candidates, including sitting representatives such as Sadeqi himself, from running in the parliamentary elections on February 21. Reformists allege that the Council has eliminated their chances of winning in 230 out of the 290 districts in the upcoming elections by disqualifying their candidates. The plaque was hard to miss: It was four feet high and three feet wide, made of marble quarried from what was then known as the Isle of the Pines, the smaller island that sits under the crook of western Cuba and is today called La Isla de la Juventud. It was adorned with a bronze medallion designed by an 18-year-old Cuban sculptor named Manuel Garzon Molina. The bronze was said to come from a cannon used by Garcia during Cubas fight for independence. Storyful Birds swarmed over a Texas parking lot on January 8, perching on the cars in a scene worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.The unnerving sight was captured by Kenna Mitchell outside the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco.The footage shows birds perched atop parked cars, while others circle above in the foggy evening sky.We went to Stonebriar Mall just after dusk and the entrance by the Cheesecake Factory was overrun with thousands of birds, she told Storyful.These grackles were perched on cars, in the trees, and swarms were everywhere you looked. Other people in the lot were just amazed at the sheer number of birds, Mitchell said.Very loud and very gross, but still quite a site to see! Definitely in need of a car wash now! she added. Credit: Kenna Mitchell via Storyful Federal authorities have accused Michael Rohana, 25, of Bear, Del., of allegedly snapping off and stealing the thumb of a more than 2,000-year-old terracotta warrior on loan to the Franklin Institute in 2017. Read more The retrial of a Delaware man who confessed to drunkenly snapping the finger off an ancient Chinese terra-cotta warrior statue at the Franklin Institute in 2017 has been indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in the relics native country and U.S. efforts to stop the illness from spreading here. In a court filing Wednesday, federal prosecutors said several Chinese witnesses essential to their case against Michael Rohana, 26, would be unable to travel to Philadelphia for the retrial that had been scheduled to start Feb. 18. Their arrival has been barred under the travel ban the Trump administration instituted on all foreign nationals who have visited China in the last two weeks. U.S. officials have not indicated when it might be lifted. At Rohanas first trial in April, several officials from Chinas Shaanxi province testified about the history and value of the more than 2,000-year-old statue, one of hundreds discovered during excavations of the tomb of Chinas first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, that began in the 1970s. The Chinese government strictly regulates research and restoration of the statues, considered national treasures. It has prohibited their purchase or sale. The Franklin Institute was one of two U.S. museums Chinese officials allowed to host a traveling exhibit of relics in 2017. Rohana never disputed he broke the thumb off the statue during an after-hours ugly sweater Christmas party the institute hosted that year. But his trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial after defense lawyers questioned whether hed been appropriately charged under a law typically used to prosecute art thieves. WATERLOO One man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries following a Wednesday afternoon crash. Casey Sanderson, 45, of La Porte City, was pinned inside the Ford F250 pickup he was driving, and firefighters had to cut through part of the vehicle to rescue him. He was taken to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital for leg injuries, according to the accident report. A 7-year-old child in the vehicle had minor injuries. The crash happened at about 4:35 p.m. Wednesday as the vehicle was heading south on Highway 218 near West Sixth Street when it began having mechanical issues with the steering system, according to the report. The vehicle hit a concrete barrier and then left the roadway and collided with a tree in the median. Arrest made in chase, crash WATERLOO Police arrested a Waterloo man following a brief chase early Thursday. Dyvion Joaquin Caballero, 19, of 1420 Franklin St., was arrested for eluding and driving while suspended. According to police, officers received a report that a Chevrolet Cobalt with Texas license plates was stolen from the Hope Avenue area around 4 a.m. Officers spotted the vehicle heading south over the Mullan Avenue bridge a short time later. The Cobalt didnt stop for police, and the chase reached speeds of up to 83 mph in a 45 mph zone as it headed south on Highway 218, according to the police report. The vehicle lost control while trying to exit onto LaPorte Road and Caballero was arrested after exiting the vehicle, police said. Man arrested on sex abuse charges WEST UNION A Dubuque man has been arrested for allegedly molesting a girl in 2009. Scott Allan Marcov, 25, was arrested on a Fayette County warrant for second-degree sexual abuse. Bond was set at $15,000. Court records allege that in July 2009, Marcov put his hands down the pants of a 6-year-old girl while they were under a bridge in Clermont. He then told her he would kill her parents if she told anyone. Fayette County sheriffs deputies investigated the allegations and obtained an arrest warrant in July 2019, and Dubuque County deputies arrested him on Tuesday. Independence man arrested for assault WEST UNION An Independence man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman at a Maynard home on Monday. Johnny Junior Monigold, 36, was arrested Wednesday for misdemeanor assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Fayette County sheriffs deputies received a report about the incident on Tuesday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Britain's biggest bank is issuing hand sanitiser gel to thousands of its staff to combat the spread of coronavirus. Lloyds Bank will hand a bottle of gel to every member of staff in all of its 1,625 branches. It will also mount boxes of the gel on the walls of administrative buildings and in call centres. Lloyds Bank will hand a bottle of gel to every member of staff in all of its 1,625 branches in the UK Medical workers in protective suits are seen talking while at the Wuhan Parlor Convention Center on Friday. Wuhan has around 14 million residents, but it remains unknown how many people would be quarantined or where they will be kept Lloyds staff union told bank executives that they must take action to protect workers from infection after the launch of the Governments public health campaign. The union said the individual hand gels would enable staff to disinfect their hands as often as they needed to after coming into contact with customers. The NHS has said it is not yet known exactly how coronavirus is spread, but that similar viruses are passed on through the droplets released when someone coughs or sneezes. The Government is advising people to cough into tissues, which should be binned immediately. Experts say the difficulty of containing the coronavirus is that so many patients have mild, cold-like symptoms and don't realise they have the infection but it can quickly turn deadly The Government has urged people to kill germs with sanitiser gel or by washing their hands with warm water and soap China has demanded four types of people in Wuhan to be put into mandatory isolation in quarantine stations: confirmed cases, suspected cases, people who have close contact with the former two, and those who have fever. Pictured, patients rest at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan It has also urged people to kill germs with sanitiser gel or by washing their hands with warm water and soap. Health experts have said it is best to cough or sneeze into an elbow rather than a hand to prevent the spread of germs. Accord, the trade union representing Lloyds staff, said: Were pleased that the bank has responded to our representations by posting advice to colleagues. Reporters for the World Socialist Web Site recently visited Balmoral, southwest of Sydney, to speak with Brendon OConnor, the captain of the local Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade. The New South Wales Southern Highlands village was ravaged by fire in December, resulting in the destruction of 22 houses and other long-term damage. OConnor said that reliance on flawed computer modelling, to the exclusion of local knowledge, was largely to blame for the devastation at Balmoral. Outside people were brought in to do the burn plans, put them together with computer modelling, without even using the right statistics or information first. Brendon When they did the modelling, they looked at a fire that started in 2013 just down the road in Hall Road, where a branch fell on powerlines virtually in the middle of the village. This started a fire that raced through on an 80-kilometre per hour wind day and was gone to the middle of nowhere in no time. It caused virtually no damage but thats what they modelled off, not a wildfire coming in on a broad front. The modelling told them it wouldnt affect us. They believed that the Centre Ridge hazard reduction that was done in April last year would be enough to not allow the fire to come through, or, if it did, it would be very mild. The problem is, [the 4-kilometre stretch] from where the hazard reduction was done to the village was unburnt for 18 years. At first they said Yes, well do the back-burning, and then for some reason they changed their mind and decided we didnt need it. In 2001 [when firefighters successfully defended Balmoral] a lot of the hazard reduction was done under the radar. We started a lot of it at night-time, because it wasnt official at that point but it had to be done to protect the village. Our Fire Control Officer made that decision and it saved our village. This time, they completely disregarded this plan that had worked. I argued for nearly two weeks in late November, early December that this would be the outcome. Local captains havent been engaged anywhere Ive gone. Weve been following the fires since the beginning of September, and its been a common occurrence. For the majority of people I speak with, theres respect for the commissioner, but it also appears to most of the volunteers that its all about [senior management] building their empire with the biggest and best of everything and the brigades only getting the crumbs. Fire fighters trying to save homes outside the Balmoral Rural Fire Service Station (Source: local resident) The money that we get in our shire is a pittance considering the amount of brigades we cover. Weve got 41 brigades, 40-odd tankers. Most brigades should have three appliances to really be effective at any incident. We have the membership, but we dont have the trucks to take our members. On those three days here, we left well over half our brigade at the station. While the 400-plus members of the Balmoral community are eager to begin rebuilding, they are becoming frustrated by the lack of promised government assistance for the urgent tasks of clearing dangerous trees and providing clean water. When our reporters spoke to OConnor, more than a month after the fire, the official clean-up effort had been stalled for two weeks due to questions over which level of government would foot the bill. OConnor said: From what we were told our shire was getting $150,000 [from the federal governments $2 billion relief fund]. That was for cleaning up the debris, the dangerous trees, cleaning up the streets, damaged signage, everything relating to that in public areas. That wont even clear the dangerous trees on Railway Parade. It probably wouldnt even do a quarter of that road. Youre looking at around $3,000 to $4,000 per tree minimum. Big trees go up to $5,000 or $6,000 per tree because of the machinery needed. Balmoral is not connected to the state water supply, and the fire left residents rainwater tanks contaminated with asbestos fibres and ash. Were still putting bottled water out through our fire station to all of the residents, theyre regularly coming up and getting the bottled drinking water, OConnor said. For showering we dont have much choice, theres nowhere in the village that wont have [asbestos particles] in its tank. Theres not a lot of cleaners, so the guys who are doing it are being kept pretty busy. Remains of a Balmoral home OConnor told the WSWS that some of those who lost their homes were not insured, and more than half discovered after the fire that their insurance would not cover the full replacement value of their home and contents. What people dont realise is if they dont have receipts, serial numbers, and photographic proof of whats in your whole property, insurance companies can deny payment. Any receipts or other documentation people had, most of that was lost in the house. A lot of people will get left out with the recovery. People are very disappointed and angry. You rely on the insurance companies to give you that information, theyre the specialists in their field. People are not being offered the right cover. I guess most people, if they get the right advice, will go along with it. Some residents were fortunate to have photographed their possessions just days before the fire, after an RFS member raised the need for detailed documentation at a village meeting organised by OConnor. In Balmoral, and other bushfire-affected areas, residents have mostly been left to fend for themselves in the absence of any meaningful help from government. OConnor said: Whether its local, state, or federal government, every response has been too slow. For us to get any government assistance was nearly two and a half weeks after the fire. Even now, little agencies are coming in, but theyre not telling anyone. Theyre turning up at the hall and Im getting a message from someone asking Why isnt anybody here? Ive been asking for counselling for our members since the day after the fire happened, and yes, weve had private people, that Ive been able to source, come and do that. Everything that weve had so far has been what weve organised. It really is a national disgrace. We were up in Tenterfield and the far north months ago and theyve still had no recovery done whatsoever. Theyre hoping the communities will fix everything. OConnor recognised that the bushfire catastrophe was just a sharp manifestation of the broader social crisis confronting workers in Australia and around the world. He said: Everything will always affect the working class. Were the cannon fodder. Most people struggle now just to existto pay basic bills and feed their families. They talk about healthy eating, but the cheapest food people can get is junk food. Why is that? The same with health care. The elite can get it a lot easier and faster, but the average person is waiting years for basic surgery, and then theyre still out of pocket. Why are we dumbing down our education? I dont know whether its a suppression of the people to dumb us down, because we are a thinking nation. [The major parties] are all involved in it unfortunately. The Labor Party is definitely against the working class and people wanting to better themselves and better the country. They just dont seem to be aligned to the country at all. I think a working-class party that can actually have some real say around the world would be a great start. Its the only way I think were going to get some form of power back to the people. Weve been controlled from above by the elite for too long and look where its got us. While OConnor believed some form of investigation into the nationwide bushfire catastrophe is necessary, he was sceptical about the worth of yet another royal commission. He said: We saw after Victoria, the Black Saturday fire, $40 million was spent, and what did we get out of it? Nothing changed. It shows that the working class arent cared about. Were just here to fund the government, to raise the money, do the work and support the profit system. I remember reading the findings after the commission myself. Having been there, I was quite interested to know where that was going to go. We went down there six or seven years later to another fire and nothing had changed. I think a workers inquiry would be a great idea, because that would probably be the only way were going to get a fair hearing and decision. We know what things are out there that weas a broader community, as the working classcould change. The technologys there, but, of course, for the bigger businesses and for the governments to keep making their money, they wont allow changes to happen, whether its in health, education, world issues, or the environment. Its all done for a reason to keep us where we are and not allow the people this power. Thats what would make this a beautiful world, the people having a say, the common good for the people, not a minority that want to manipulate the world for their own benefits. Could you imagine what this world could be if the working class banded together and built as one? How incredible! The parents of a 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl, who was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to her abductor, will approach the Supreme Court after a lower court ruled that marriage with an underage girl is valid as per the Sharia law if she has had her first menstrual cycle. Huma was 14 when she was abducted in October last year and forced to marry her abductor Abdul Jabbar after being converted to Islam, according to her parents Younis and Nagheena Masih. Their counsel Tabassum Yousuf on Friday said they would seek justice from the Supreme Court after the Sindh High Court, as per the Sharia law, said earlier this week that even if the girl, Huma, was found to be underage, the marriage between her and her alleged abductor, Jabbar, would be valid as she has already had her first menstrual cycle. After they approached the Sindh High Court to see their daughter, the court, in a hearing on February 3, ordered the police to oversee the tests to confirm her age. However, Judges Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali observed that under the Sharia law, the marriage would be valid even if Huma was underage. Tabbasum said that the ruling was not in accordance with the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act passed in 2014 which outlawed marriages of girls under 18 years, in a bid to stop forced marriages of minors in the province, primarily of Hindu and Christian community. "The girl's parents were convinced that the police investigating officer was supporting Abdul Jabbar and his family. They also fear that the test results of Huma's age could be falsified and she might be sent with her husband," the lawyer said. The parents had requested to keep Huma at a women's shelter away from her alleged husband until her age was determined. Tabassum said the parents produced documents including church, school documents confirming Huma's age to be 14. On the website of the Independent Catholic News, the girl's mother has appealed to the international community to support them. The latest case has emerged amidst an increasing number of forcible conversions of girls belonging to the minority communities in Muslim-majority Pakistan. In the last one month, at least two cases of forced conversion and marriage of Hindu girls after abduction have emerged in the province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Democratic campaign entered a more combustible phase Friday as the party's candidates attacked each other on a debate stage with blistering policy critiques and arguments over who was best positioned to beat President Donald Trump in November. With no clear front-runner and four days to go before the New Hampshire primary, seven of the party's leading candidates abandoned the wonky policy contrasts and opaque tonal critiques that had filled the race before Monday's caucuses in Iowa. The debate stage became a free-fire zone instead, the candidates seizing the moment to call each other out. They harped on age and political records, flashed anger and indignation, and warned their rivals' policy prescriptions would fail. Multiple candidates warned that the polling leader, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., would not be electable given his identification as a democratic socialist. In a sign of the reordering of the Democratic primary race, it was Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg who often took control of the stage, engaging in impassioned monologues - and seeing their records scrutinized - while rivals raised their hands in the hopes of being called on next. Former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., entered the evening looking to break out of their sudden second-tier status, as billionaire former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, while not on the ballot or on the debate stage here, continues to increase his campaign spending in the hopes of upsetting the race next month. In one of the most pointed parries, Buttigieg, 38, attacked Biden's longevity in politics, suggesting the party should not "fall back on the familiar" and urging voters to "finally allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past." "The politics of the past were not all that bad!" Biden interjected, pointing toward measures on violence against women, arms control and other legislation he shepherded through over the course of more than four decades as a U.S. senator and vice president. "I don't know what about the past of Barack Obama and Joe Biden that were so bad," he said. Buttigieg also turned toward Sanders, saying a nominee can't be someone "dividing people with a politics that says if you don't go all the way to the edge, it doesn't count. A politics that says it's my way or the highway." "Politics should be one of addition and inclusion and belonging," he said, "not one that beats people over the head and says they shouldn't even be on our side. If we don't agree 100 percent of that." Asked if he was referring to Sanders, Buttigieg said yes. "I've never said that," Sanders responded. "But let me tell you what I do say. The way you bring people together is by presenting an agenda that works for the working people of this country, not for the billionaire class." Bloomberg came under unified condemnation from the stage. "It's a funny thing," Sanders said. "There are millions of people who can desire to run for office. But I guess if you're worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred million dollars on commercials, you have a slight advantage. That is nonsense." Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., agreed: "I don't think people look at the guy in the White House and say 'We need someone richer.' " Biden appeared to struggle at times getting his message out, as he has in prior debates, while Warren kept her answers focused on the campaign messages she has been delivering for months. Klobuchar had her strongest showing of the debates so far, making a direct appeal to a New Hampshire electorate filled with moderates. Klobuchar went up against both Sanders and - in another chapter in what has been an ongoing dispute - Buttigieg. She reminded Buttigieg of a line he used regularly in Iowa during the impeachment trial in which he called the proceedings "exhausting" enough to make him want to change the channel and watch cartoons instead. After a lively and rambunctious start, however, the candidates also tried to show some form of unity. Buttigieg defended Biden, saying that Democrats should not worry about Republican threats to investigate Biden and his son Hunter. "We're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or vice president Biden or any Biden," he said. "This is about abuse of power by the president. The vice president and all of us are competing, but we've got to draw the line somewhere." Biden also went over to hug Sanders at one point, both of them displaying wide grins. Warren tried to cast herself as a unifying candidate, as she has in recent weeks, and generally refrained from some of the intraparty squabbling. "Bernie and I've been friends for a long time," she said. "We have a lot of things in common. We have a lot of things that we differ on. But, you know, this fundamental question about how we bring our party together, we have to think about it in new ways." The sudden shift of dynamics after Monday's Iowa caucuses has raised concern among party leaders that there will be no quick conclusion to the nominating process, potentially forcing a drawn-out contest that deepens party divisions and leads to a weakened nominee. "I don't think there's any question, after this week, that Donald Trump can get reelected," business executive Tom Steyer said, repeatedly returning the anxiety coursing through the party. "We have got to win or we are in deep trouble." Even Sanders, who won more popular votes in the Iowa caucuses than any other candidate, admitted that the turnout in the state did not reach the levels of the 2008 election. "That's a disappointment," Sanders said. "And I think all of us probably could have done a better job turning out our supporters." Parts of the party are worried about Buttigieg's limited experience and Sanders' self-identification as a democratic socialist. At the same time, Biden's claim on electability was undercut by his fourth-place finish in Iowa, and Warren, overshadowed with her third-place finish, was trying to avoid an embarrassing result Tuesday next door to her home state of Massachusetts. Biden, 77, took critical time away from the campaign trail to spend two days without events at home in Wilmington, Delaware, this week, as he prepared for the debate, met with advisers and restructured his campaign. In an effort to calm skittish donors and supporters, his campaign confirmed Friday that it was giving greater responsibility to adviser Anita Dunn. "I took a hit in Iowa and I will probably take a hit here," Biden said in his first answer of the evening. In the weeks since Buttigieg last took a debate stage, his stature in the race has changed dramatically. His surprisingly strong Iowa finish lifted him into a collision course with Sanders here, though by and large, they appeal to different groups within the party. Buttigieg challenged Biden's assertion that the party needs to nominate a safe bet - which Biden defines as himself - arguing that the bigger risk would be to nominate someone who represents the old ways of doing things. "The perspective I'm bringing is from somebody whose life has been shaped by the decisions made in those big white buildings," Buttigieg said. "We need a perspective . . . that will allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past." His opponents cast him as naive. "We have a newcomer in the White House right now and look where it got us," Klobuchar said. "I think having some experience is a good thing." Steyer piled on. "You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy on the debate stage and take him down or we're going to lose," he said. Business executive Andrew Yang, who has run a cheerful campaign and drawn outsized crowds to his economy-infused message, has limited time left to make an impact. "Let me say America it's great to be back on the debate stage," Yang said, after missing the qualifications for the previous debate. "I'm so excited. I want to give every American $1,000 a month." More than they have in past debates, the candidates took issue with each other's records. Biden said Sanders should be held accountable for his votes against gun-control legislation - and that it's not enough for him to claim that he was just representing constituents in a hunting-friendly state. "Bernie, while you were representing your constituency, an awful lot of people . . . in California, New York, Pennsylvania, they're getting killed by the thousands during the same period," Biden said. Sanders said he has evolved on the issue. "The world has changed and my views have changed," he said. The group of mostly white candidates had one of its most extended discussions on race and criminal justice issues. The candidates squabbled over their past records, and comments from surrogates, with a focus on South Carolina's black electorate. Steyer asked Biden to apologize for what he and some supporters considered to be racist comments made by one of Biden's top supporters in South Carolina (Biden said the supporter, state senator Dick Harpootlian, was sorry). Biden asked Sanders to own up for comments made in a South Carolina newspaper by one of his supporters made about his history on matters of race. ("Joe Biden is a friend of mine and I'm not here to attack him," Sanders said). Buttigieg, who has struggled to build support among minority voters, was asked about racial disparities in the criminal justice system in South Bend during his tenure - in particular, the increase in arrests of black citizens for marijuana possession. "We adopted a strategy that said drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder. These things are all connected, but that's the point," he said. "So are all of the things that need to change in order to prevent violence and remove the effects of systemic racism, not just from criminal justice but from our economy from health from housing and from our democracy itself." Warren was then asked whether Buttigieg's answer was substantial enough. "No," she said. "You have to own up to the facts." Twitter of Volodymyr Zelensky Volodymyr Zelensky during an audience with Pope Francis invited the pontiff to Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the Presidents Office. Zelensky noted that people expect to see Pope in Ukraine. I invited him to Ukraine. Im sure that he will visit Ukraine - not only the capital. I said that in order to fully understand what is happening in our east, we need to go to the east, summed up Volodymyr Zelensky. The President also noted the important role that the Holy See could play in bringing peace to Ukrainian soil. "The main thing we talked about is peace. He even called me the "president of peace" - this is my image in Europe now," Zelensky said after the audience. Related: Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with Pope Francis in Vatican Earlier Zelensky turned to Pope Francis with a request to help with the release of Ukrainians who were captured in the Donbas, in the Crimea and Russia. Zelensky's Twitter page stated this information in a message. "The Pope is doing everything possible to achieve peace and harmony throughout the world. 2 months after the Normandy in Paris, I asked for help with the release of Ukrainians captured in the Donbas, the Crimea and Russia. Inspired by our conversation about peace in Ukraine," - the president wrote. The American woman accused of killing Harry Dunn was a CIA agent, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Fugitive mother-of-three Anne Sacoolas, who fled Britain after crashing into the teenagers motorbike outside an air base last August, is understood to have served as a senior spy. British Ministers and officials are aware of Mrs Sacoolass career in espionage, but she was not declared as an agent when she came to the UK alongside her intelligence officer husband Jonathan. Fugitive mother-of-three Anne Sacoolas - who is accused of killing Harry Dunn - was a CIA agent, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Pictured: Mrs Sacoolas back home in Virginia last week, where she was pictured filling up her car Harrys mother Charlotte Charles said that, following our revelation, things are now beginning to fall into place as to why the US government was blocking her extradition to face justice. Mrs Sacoolass right-hand drive Volvo is alleged to have been on the wrong side of the road when it collided with Mr Dunn last summer. Mystery still surrounds the exact circumstances of how the Sacoolas family were able to flee in the days after the crash, but the US government claim they notified the Foreign Office that they were leaving. Mrs Sacoolas has been charged over the fatal accident outside RAF Croughton and has apologised for 19-year-old Harrys death, but is refusing to return to Britain. Mrs Sacoolas has been charged over the fatal accident outside RAF Croughton and has apologised for 19-year-old Harrys death, but is refusing to return to Britain. Pictured: Harry Dunn However Harrys family claimed there had been a cover up and have vowed to keep fighting to bring her back to Britain. Multiple sources in both Washington and London have confirmed Mrs Sacoolass CIA background, but the American government insist she was not spying on Britain. Harrys mother Charlotte Charles (pictured) said that, following our revelation, things are now beginning to fall into place as to why the US government was blocking her extradition to face justice US government sources said Mrs Sacoolas was not active in the UK, although a security source said: You never really leave the CIA. One government source even claimed Mrs Sacoolas had been more senior than her husband in the US intelligence community. Ms Charles told The Mail on Sunday last night: Things are now beginning to fall into place. In our deepest, darkest hour, we could not understand how anybody could just get on a plane after such a catastrophic crash and leave a devastated family behind. We have also found it impossible to figure out why the US administration has behaved in the lawless way it has in harbouring Anne Sacoolas. But no one is above the law. Whether or not you are a CIA officer, a diplomat or anyone else, the Vienna Convention states that you must abide by and respect the rules and regulations of the host country. Her leaving, and the US government protecting her and refusing the extradition request, is nothing short of a disgrace and we will not stand for it. Whether she is CIA or not, she must come back and I will not rest until she does. Mrs Sacoolass right-hand drive Volvo is alleged to have been on the wrong side of the road when it collided with Mr Dunn last summer. Pictured: Mrs Sacoolas Our revelation comes at a time of strained diplomatic relations between the UK and America over Boris Johnsons refusal to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from building part of Britains 5G phone network, as well as the US refusal to extradite Mrs Sacoolas. In contrast, Home Secretary Priti Patel last week gave the green light to extradite Mike Lynch, one of Britains most successful businessmen, to face a US fraud case. Her decision opened up Tory divisions, with former Cabinet Minister David Davis using an article in The Mail on Sunday on the facing page to brand the US-UK extradition arrangements a bad treaty. The UK and US governments insist that, at the time of the accident, Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity while her husband was working as technical staffer at the Northamptonshire air base. The Foreign Office confirmed that Mrs Sacoolas was notified to us as a spouse with no official role but senior Whitehall figures have confirmed they knew of her CIA history. Harrys family claimed there had been a cover up and have vowed to keep fighting to bring Mrs Sacoolas back to Britain. Pictured left to right: Tim Dunn (Harry's father), Charlotte Charles (Harry's mother), Tracey Dunn and Bruce Charles The US State Department declined to comment on our revelations yesterday, saying only: The driver was the spouse of an accredited diplomat to the United Kingdom. In December the Crown Prosecution Service announced it was charging Mrs Sacoolas over Harrys death, but her lawyers said the prospect of 14 years in prison was not proportionate for what was a terrible but unintentional accident. And last month the US government turned down an extradition request, to the devastation of Harrys family. Last month the US government turned down an extradition request, to the devastation of Harrys family. Pictured: Harry However Ms Patels approval of the extradition of Mr Lynch has exposed an imbalance in the US-UK extradition arrangements. Former Brexit Secretary Mr Davis is furious that Ms Patel allowed the billionaire to be extradited to face criminal charges in the US before a separate civil fraud case against him in Londons High Court reaches its conclusion. Mr Lynch, who built his software company Autonomy into a FTSE 100 heavyweight before it was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for 8.3 billion, handed himself over to police last week and was released on 10 million bail. He is accused of fraudulently inflating the value of Autonomy before it was sold to HP, making him a fortune. He denies the allegations and claims the American firm botched the takeover. His lawyers have argued that the case should be heard in British courts, not in America, because Mr Lynch is a British citizen who ran a British company listed on the London Stock Exchange which was governed by English law and UK accounting standards. Mr Lynchs local MP, Greg Hands, went with Mr Davis to meet Ms Patel at the end of last month and pleaded with her to wait until the conclusion of the High Court trial. Writing in todays Mail on Sunday, Mr Davis accuses Ms Patel of spiriting Mr Lynch away to America before the verdict and says the decision shows how the extradition treaty is skewed too heavily in favour of America, while doing little to protect Britons. When the US Department of Justice requests the extradition of a UK citizen, we effectively have no choice but to cough them up, he writes. But when UK authorities want to extradite an American the US Secretary of State may process the request. What the US may choose to do was made crystal clear in the recent case of Anne Sacoolas and the death of Harry Dunn. Mrs Sacoolass lawyers did not respond to requests for comment last night. DAVID DAVIS: Thanks to Tony Blair's deeply unjust treaty, it's one rule for Americans and another for Britons By David Davies for the Mail On Sunday It has been just over a week since we re-established our status as an independent, sovereign nation, pursuing our own way in the world. And yet, in Westminster Magistrates Court last week, we saw a vivid example of Britain already surrendering its sovereignty, this time over its justice system, with the formal arrest of Dr Mike Lynch for potential extradition to America. Dr Lynch is one of this countrys most successful entrepreneurs. He founded an innovative British company, Autonomy, which in 2011 was bought by Hewlett-Packard. Now American prosecutors are claiming that he should be tried in America on charges about the way he ran that company, and how it was sold to HP, which has accused him of fraud. But British justice is in motion. The Serious Fraud Office investigated the allegations against him and decided that there was no case for prosecution in 2015. In Westminster Magistrates Court last week, we saw a vivid example of Britain already surrendering its sovereignty, this time over its justice system, with the formal arrest of Dr Mike Lynch (pictured) for potential extradition to America, writes DAVID DAVIES HP also brought a civil case against Dr Lynch in the English High Court. It has just concluded after ten months of exhaustive testimony and the judge will rule in due course. That case reviewed millions of documents and heard dozens of witnesses in open court. Dr Lynch himself was on the witness stand for more than a month, one of the longest cross-examinations on record. There can be no doubt that Dr Lynch has faced justice in the UK, and that whatever the outcome, our system is working. Yet before the judge can deliver a verdict, the Home Secretary has certified that Dr Lynch should be spirited away to America. The fact that he was arrested at all brings into sharp relief the problems with our relationship with the United States. When the US Department of Justice requests the extradition of a UK citizen, we effectively have no choice but to cough them up. The UK-US extradition treaty of 2003 says that the Home Secretary must process the request. For the UK to extradite from the US, we have to clear a higher burden of demonstrating probable cause, which unlike in the UK can be challenged in the courts. After that, the US Secretary of State may process the request. What the US may choose to do was made crystal clear in the recent case of Anne Sacoolas and the death of Harry Dunn (pictured), writes DAVID DAVIES The US prosecutors have no requirement to prove their case beyond stating reasonable suspicion, and there is no prima facie consideration of the charges in the UK. Conversely, for the UK to extradite from the US, we have to clear a higher burden of demonstrating probable cause, which unlike in the UK can be challenged in the courts. After that, the US Secretary of State may process the request. What the US may choose to do was made crystal clear in the recent case of Anne Sacoolas and the death of Harry Dunn. The US-UK extradition treaty is a bad treaty. It was negotiated in secret by Tony Blairs Labour Government, debated in haste and enacted unilaterally by Blair over strenuous objections from all sides of the Houses of Parliament. Its rapid passage was intended to enable the fast-track processing of potential terrorists after 9/11, yet that is not how it has been used. The US-UK extradition treaty is a bad treaty. It was negotiated in secret by Tony Blairs Labour Government, writes DAVID DAVIES. Pictured: Blair earlier this week The proof of the imbalance is in the numbers. Since 2007, the UK has surrendered 135 UK nationals to the US, 99 of which were for non-violent crimes. During the same period the US has surrendered only 11 to Britain. This cannot be the outcome of a fair system being properly applied. Dr Lynch now faces the prospect of adding to these grim statistics. In his case, the alleged conduct all took place in the UK, under UK law. We are now looking at the bizarre prospect that a UK citizen could be tried and potentially acquitted by an English judge, where the burden of proof against him is lower, but find himself in a US prison facing a charge where the burden is higher, before the UK case has even been decided. Why would we give the US justice system priority over our own? Should Dr Lynch be extradited and denied bail, as most foreign suspects are, he will face appalling conditions that are much worse than anything found in the UK. He will likely find himself in a high-security prison in a cramped cell with gang members, drug dealers and murderers. And by potentially selling him down that river, we will be sending him to a place where 97 per cent of cases are settled by plea bargains. People who have previously been extradited to the US have been told that if they pleaded not guilty, they would be denied bail and get 35 years in a high-security US prison, but if they pleaded guilty, they would get only three years, possibly serving some of it in a British jail. Prosecutors will use this practice to try to convince Dr Lynch to admit guilt to a lesser charge. If he refuses, he will face the prospect of a deliberately intimidating lengthy sentence, and the costs of the trial could run into millions. Dr Lynch is right to resist extradition. He is standing up for all of us against this unfair system. It will send a chill wind through global Britain if all UK businesses are effectively forced to comply with US laws and standards, and subject to US prosecution if they do not. It would cripple the City and Britains ability to determine its own future. That is why we need to look again at our extradition arrangements. They affect our ability to set and enforce our own laws. We need to ensure our arrangements are fair, balanced and based on reciprocity. We need to give British citizens, including our businessmen and entrepreneurs, the protection, certainty and justice that they deserve. One of the two Marine Corps lance corporals charged in a human smuggling case in 2019 claimed he agreed to pick up an undocumented migrant for $1,000. When he was not paid after the operation, he went back for another smuggling operation the next morning with the promise that he would be paid. The lance corporal and a Marine colleague were arrested during that second operation. Two of the undocumented migrants said they were paying $8,000 to be smuggled into New Jersey and Los Angeles. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. US Marine Cpl. Chelsea Flowers Anderson/U.S. Marine Corps One of the two Marine Corps lance corporals charged in a human smuggling case claimed he agreed to pick up an undocumented migrant for $1,000, and when he was not paid for his services, went back for another smuggling operation the next day with the promise that he would be paid. Lance Cpl. Byron Law II from the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was arrested during that second human smuggling operation at about seven miles from the US-Mexico border on July 3, 2019, according to previous court filings from the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Law was driving a black vehicle with three undocumented migrants in the back passenger seats. Two of the migrants said they were paying $8,000 to be smuggled into New Jersey and Los Angeles. Lance Cpl. David Salazar-Quintero, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, was also arrested. Salazar-Quintero alleged it was Law who introduced him to human smuggling, after Law made the initial introductions with a "recruiter," according to court documents filed in the case. Both Marines agreed to answer questions from US Border Patrol agents without an attorney present. Attorneys for both Marines did not respond to requests for comment by Friday and it was unclear if they intend to fight the charges or enter a guilty plea. Screen Shot 2020 02 07 at 12.05.22 PM Google Maps Law told authorities that Salazar-Quintero, who was fluent in Spanish, had orchestrated the operation, according to court documents. He alleged that the night before his arrest, Salazar-Quintero had called him to see if he would agree to smuggling a migrant for $1,000. Story continues The two Marines set out to the resort community of Jacumba Hot Springs that same night, receiving instructions from a "spotter" with a phone number based in Mexico. Law and Salazar-Quintero smuggled one male migrant and transported him to a McDonald's parking lot in Del Mar, about an hour and a half away. Law claimed the two were never paid and returned back to their military base, according to court records. The next morning, Law alleged his colleague "called him for another job, this time guaranteeing they would get paid for today's and last night's event in cash," court filings said. The two Marines were arrested during that second smuggling operation. Law and Salazar-Quintero faces up to five years in prison for each undocumented migrant they attempted to smuggle. It was during the initial investigation into Law and Salazar-Quintero when the Naval Criminal Investigative Service suspected other Marines may have been involved in human smuggling operations. During a mass formation of roughly 800 US Marines at Camp Pendleton on July 25, 2019, NCIS agents arrested nearly two dozen service members from the 1st Marine Division in connection with human trafficking, drug distribution, and weapons charges. Thirteen Marines made pre-trial agreements to leave the military instead of taking their case to court. In November, a judge ruled that the mass arrest was an example of unlawful command influence, which refers to military leaders abusing their position to influence legal proceedings. Service members who were part of that formation in late July testified that officers described the arrested Marines as a "cancer," according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. On January 22, Francisco Saul Rojas-Hernandez was arrested on charges of conspiracy to smuggle people for money. Law and Salazar-Quintero alleged Rojas-Hernandez recruited them for the operations, and his name was also mentioned by other US citizens who were arrested in separate human smuggling cases. Read the original article on Business Insider TransDigm Group (NYSE:TDG) has long been one of the most reliable performers among aerospace stocks, but over the past year it has had to fly into a number of headwinds that risked slowing the momentum. TransDigm is a rollup specialist that attempts to provide shareholders with private equity-like returns from a publicly traded entity, doing a lot of deals, taking on a lot of debt, and offering a range of products to a number of different defense and commercial customers. The model, and the company's aggressive pricing policies, at times lead to questions about sustainability, and a high-profile commercial aircraft grounding threatened to eat into demand for new parts. But in its most recent earnings report, TransDigm did a good job reassuring holders they have nothing to worry about. A beat over raised expectations On Feb. 4, TransDigm reported fiscal first quarter adjusted earnings of $4.93 per share on revenue of $1.465 billion, topping expectations for $4.65 per share in earnings on sales of $1.45 billion. Sales were up 47.5% year over year, but much of that was attributable to the company's acquisition of Esterline Technologies. Organic sales growth was 8.7%. The beat was even more impressive than it appears at first glance. TransDigm preannounced some of its quarterly numbers on Jan. 23 in connection with a planned refinancing of some debt. The analyst consensus number prior to the preannouncement was $4.47 per share, so TransDigm beat what was expected just a few weeks ago by more than 10%. Gross margins dropped 210 basis points year over year, but still registered at a software-like 54%. The fear heading into 2019 was that the acquisition of Esterline -- seen as a "fixer-upper" business -- would saddle TransDigm with debt and destroy its industry-best margins, but the results to date have exceeded expectations. TransDigm has recouped more than 25% of the purchase price by divesting parts of Esterline it wasn't interested in. And CEO Kevin Stein, on a post-earnings call with investors, said once they got to dive into the company post-deal they were pleasantly surprised with the quality of what they found: As we've talked about, you get limited due diligence upfront. So we went in, not sure all that we would find. I think in general, we've found that things have been better than we assumed upfront and there hasn't really been yet anything that is bad news, anything that we didn't anticipate or expect. It certainly emboldens us for the future to continue to look at acquisitions like this. The MAX effect is minor But perhaps the most important part of TransDigm's earnings release and discussion is what management didn't say. In a quarter dominated by discussion about how the grounding and recent production halt of Boeing's 737 MAX would affect the aerospace supply chain, TransDigm kept its full-year commercial guidance intact. Commercial aerospace is pivotal to TransDigm, accounting for 70% of its revenue, and if Boeing was manufacturing 737 MAX planes at the rates it had envisioned, that business alone could account for as much as 3% to 4% of TransDigm sales. Management said the range they previously provided in their guidance should account for any 737 MAX variances, although the company is looking at reducing its workforce due to the rate cut. "We believe any currently anticipated impact from the MAX issues should not have a material impact on our EBITDA for the full fiscal year," Stein said. "We are very diversified across all platforms worldwide so the impact to the 737 MAX or any single program should not be material to TransDigm in the aggregate." TransDigm is heavily exposed to aftermarket, or spare parts, sales, and actually could see a benefit from the MAX grounding if airlines extend the lives of older airplanes to make up for the lost MAX capacity. The cash won't sit on the balance sheet TransDigm has been built through the years based on acquisitions, and as Stein noted in discussing Esterline, the company is coming out of its largest acquisition to date emboldened to seek out new targets. The company expects to have more than $3 billion in cash on hand by the end of its current fiscal year, and perhaps at least $1.5 billion in additional borrowing power, and if history is a guide it will either do a deal or distribute the money to shareholders. The company does not pay a regular dividend, but routinely declares one-time payouts based on business conditions. TransDigm recent dividend history Date paid Amount per share 1/7/20 $32.50 8/23/19 $30.00 9/12/17 $22.00 11/1/16 $24.00 6/26/14 $25.00 Management described the current M&A pipeline as "steady," but mostly small to mid-range bolt-on deals that would add the sort of proprietary and hard-to-manufacture components that are hard to commoditize. The company is monitoring the commercial market for assets on sale due to the MAX situation, but on the call co-founder and executive chairman Nicholas Howley said "it would surprise me if it had much impact" on the sort of companies TransDigm would consider: As you know we buy proprietary aerospace stuff with a decent aftermarket. In other words, we buy good businesses. People usually don't sell good businesses in times of temporary down cycle. Now if you told me this was going to drop down like a rock and go on for a long period of time, I'd say that might stress some people. But given the situation that exists today, I'd be surprised if it changes anyone's view. I expect TransDigm to deploy at least some of its cash firepower on deals, but to also announce a dividend within range of its last payout, if not higher, by late summer. Steady as she goes TransDigm has been one of the top performers in the aerospace market over the past decade, and over the past year it has brushed aside concerns, first about the effect of the Esterline deal and more recently about the 737 MAX. There are still issues for investors to monitor. Defense bookings were down marginally in the quarter, which management attributed to the "lumpy" nature of government sales. But given the ongoing government probe into TransDigm's Pentagon billing practices, it's worth watching in the quarters to come to see if bookings recover the way management expects. And while TransDigm has done well with the Esterline deal and says it is focused on smaller targets for now, the market would likely not react positively should the company decide to take on another large acquisition in the quarters to come. TransDigm is currently forecasting full fiscal year sales and earnings growth in excess of 18%, and has a clear path to future growth as it continues to bring the Esterline businesses under its operating system and pursues future additions to the portfolio. For a while now, TransDigm has been the first stock I'd recommend to an investor seeking exposure to the commercial aerospace market, and nothing in the company's recent report would make me question that recommendation. Last week, charter fishing boat captain David Stokes was fishing off the Daytona Beach coast when he reeled in a capsule door and two parachutes that were part of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. On January 19, SpaceX conducted a successful in-flight abort test of their Crew Dragon that involved exploding the Falcon 9 rocket and releasing the capsule to carry the crew to safety. From UPI: Stokes said he has attempted to contact SpaceX and tagged Elon Musk in a tweet about the discovery in the hopes of bringing it to their attention. "I'd like for SpaceX to come check it out to see what they think about it any damage to it," Stokes told WKMG-TV. "It would also be awesome to have Elon Musk autograph it." United Nations, Feb 8 : A top UN official has said the Islamic State (IS) remains at the centre of the transnational terrorism threat, despite its defeat in Syria and the death of its longtime leader last year. On Friday, Undersecretary-General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov told the Security Council that the IS has continued to seek resurgence and global relevance online and offline, aspiring to re-establish its capacity for complex international operations, reports Xinhua news agency. He said that the terror group's regional affiliates continue to pursue a strategy of entrenchment in conflict zones by exploiting local grievances. Foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) who travelled to Iraq and Syria were expected to continue to pose an acute short, medium and long-term threat due to their high number, with estimates of those alive ranging from 20,000 to almost 27,000, he added. Voronkov noted that the IS's re-constitution as a covert network in Syria follows a similar pattern as in Iraq since 2017. Northeast Syria has seen a spike in attacks targeting the international counter-IS coalition as well as local non-state armed groups. In addition, the situation of IS fighters and associated family members in detention and displacement facilities in Iraq and Syria has been worsening, he said, adding that their fate remains a major challenge to the international community. While the IS has become increasingly focused on freeing these detainees, most UN member states have not yet assumed responsibility for the repatriation of their nationals among them, he said. In this light, he urged UN member states to regain their primary responsibility for their nationals in terms of protection, repatriation, gender-sensitive and age-appropriate prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. To deal with the issue of FTFs, Voronkov said that next week, his office will convene a joint conference with the government of Switzerland and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna, under the theme "Foreign Terrorist Fighters -- Addressing Current Challenges". He also added rgar preparations were underway for the second Counter-Terrorism Week at the UN from June 29 to July 2, including the 7th biennial review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Counter-Terrorism Week, which will contribute to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN, will focus on building social and institutional resilience to terrorism, he said. During the week, "we will also hold the first-ever Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism and the Second UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States", he said. A psychologist called by Harvey Weinstein's defense team said memories of an incident can become "contaminated" over time by new information, as testimony in his rape trial entered its closing stages on Friday. Elizabeth Loftus, a University of California, Irvine professor, said leading questioning about an event sometimes causes a "misinformation effect," where false details are incorporated into someone's memory. "If you are urged to remember more, in trying to produce more to satisfy that situation, you may produce something like a guess and then it starts to feel like a memory," she testified. Since testimony began on January 22, six women have taken the stand to say they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein. All of the allegations against the former Hollywood titan are at least six years old, while one of them dates back three decades. Weinstein, 67, faces life imprisonment if convicted of predatory sexual assault charges related to ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi. Mann says Weinstein raped her in March 2013 while Haleyi alleges he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006. The defense says the women willingly had sex to advance their own careers and that Weinstein was in relationships with them. Mann admitted to the court that she had had "non-coerced" sexual contact with Weinstein, producer of "Pulp Fiction" and "Sin City," up to 2016. Sexual assault allegations against Weinstein made headlines worldwide in October 2017, igniting the #MeToo movement. Loftus -- who testified in about 300 trials, mostly for the defense -- said media coverage can lead people to change their recollection of an incident. "If it is relabeled, it can be remembered as more upsetting and traumatic than it was at the time," she said. "It does not mean the person is lying but their memory could have been transformed," Loftus added. The psychologist said memory can also be distorted from the start by alcohol or drugs, particularly Valium, a sedative. "The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra testified that she was taking Valium around the time she says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s. Under cross-examination Loftus said that for traumatic events it is mostly "peripheral memories" that become distorted, "not the core of the event." The prosecution rested its case on Thursday and closing arguments are expected next week, well ahead of schedule. The trial has raised complicated issues surrounding consent for the jury of 12 to grapple with. "It was much more clear-cut in the Bill Cosby case. He drugged the victim," said Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman, referring to the US comedian convicted of sexual assault in 2018. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict. If it can't then the judge may be forced to declare a mistrial. "It takes just one juror to say, 'I don't buy it,'" said criminal defense lawyer Julie Rendalman. "I think it's going to be difficult to reach a verdict," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As she walked into a medical school retreat in Bandera, one of Brianna Bals first thoughts was that she didnt really look like everybody else. Many of the UT Health San Antonio students were white, and she learned during the orientation that many were following in their parents footsteps by going into medicine. Not Bal. She was the first in her family to graduate from college the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her mother is Mexican American, her father is from Turkey, and she grew up on the citys West Side. Chatting with her future classmates, she was hit by self-doubt. She recognizes it now as what is sometimes called impostor syndrome a phenomenon in which a person has feelings of inadequacy or failure despite experiencing success. Yet the Spanish she learned as a child, she believes, has made her a better doctor. Her understanding of the language, she said, gives her an advantage in a physician workforce that is still mostly white and non-Spanish-speaking. The third-year medical student said she has treated Spanish-speaking patients throughout her early training. Speaking the language goes a long way toward establishing trust and, many times, led them to share a more complete medical history, which can result in better treatments. A shrinking force Cultural connections between doctors and patients matter. African Americans and other minority groups in the U.S. experience more illness, worse outcomes and premature death compared with white patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of physicians practicing in the U.S. 56.2 percent are white, and 17 percent are Asian, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Currently, less than 6 percent of U.S. doctors identify as Hispanic or Latino, 5 percent are African American and one-third of 1 percent are Native American. Minorities have historically been underrepresented in medicine, but the shortage is less dire in the San Antonio area. In Bexar County, 66.2 percent of doctors are white, 22.5 percent Hispanic, 6.1 percent Asian and 3.1 percent black, according to the Bexar County Medical Society. Nearly 64 percent of the countys residents are Hispanic. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2044, more than half of Americans will belong to a minority group, which would make non-Hispanic whites the minority. In the next 40 years, the Hispanic population will grow from 18 percent to nearly one-third of the U.S. population. David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the University of California, Los Angeles, found the number of Latino physicians as a percentage of the population has declined. Hayes-Bautista and his colleagues reviewed census data since 1980 and published a study in 2015 on the shrinking Latino physician workforce. On ExpressNews.com: New head of S.A. Hispanic Chamber says focus on diversity, data is good for bottom line In 1980, there were 9.2 Latino medical residents per 100,000 Latinos in Texas. In 2017, the rate dipped to 8.2. California has a worse shortage. Its medical schools admit and graduate so few Latinos that researchers say it would take 500 years to train enough Latino physicians to meet the needs of Latino patients. Hayes-Bautista blamed policy decisions in the 1980s and 1990s that reduced the number of residency slots because of a once-predicted physician surplus. The result was that California essentially squeezed out international medical school graduates from its physician workforce, he said. Were living now in the aftermath of that disastrous decision, Hayes-Bautista said. Every state has its own story. In Texas, he said, the Latino physician shortage isnt as bad partly because segregation was more overt and the thinking decades ago was that Mexican Americans need their own doctors. There was more of an investment in training Latino physicians and pharmacists, he said. Despite that history, Dr. Laura Dominguez, an otolaryngology professor at UT Health San Antonio, can easily count the number of Hispanic faculty members in her department. Three of 24 faculty members identify as Latinas. Half of her department colleagues are women, but she said thats unusual for the subspecialty of surgeons who treat ear, neck and throat conditions. She is one of few Latinas in this highly competitive medical field, one that requires a minimum five years of residency training after four years of medical school. On ExpressNews.com: National science group calls for diversity in STEM industry at San Antonio conference Disconnects and disparity During a rotation at University Hospital, Bal recalled trying to explain a cultural nuance to her classmates. The students were treating a pregnant patient, but they were confused about why her mother and grandmother were in the exam room, making it crowded. Bal explained its not unusual in Latino communities for multiple generations of a family to take part in raising a child. Thats what she saw growing up in a close-knit family. She doesnt mind helping her classmates, she said, but sometimes she feels sapped. Other medical students often try to pass Spanish-speaking patients to her, as she is one of the few students who speaks fluent Spanish. They want to avoid using a translator service, which can give way to miscommunication. Its not that they dont want to take the patient or that theyre lazy, she said. They just know that the patient will probably have a better experience. If physicians are unable to speak a patients primary language or navigate through cultural and social nuances, Hayes-Bautista said, they wont be able to communicate effectively with patients. He believes the shortage of Latino physicians will have dire consequences for the overall health of Latinos. His research shows that white doctors are also less likely to practice in areas where the need is the greatest. Unconscious bias also affects the way doctors treat patients, according to a 2016 study by University of Virginia researchers. They found that among white medical trainees, half believed in myths, such as that black people have thicker skin or can tolerate more pain than white people. These misconceptions resulted in worse care for black patients. Look at the soaring maternal mortality rate in the U.S., where, according to the CDC, the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for black women is three to four times higher than that of white women. Or consider that U.S. Latinos face a staggering 142 percent projected rise in cancer cases by 2030, according to a new book, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos, published in conjunction with an international conference held in San Antonio. The researchers say this disparity stems from cultural barriers to care, low screening rates, underrepresentation in clinical studies and data that fail to reflect the populations diversity. Moving mountains A breakdown of applicants to medical schools nationally in 2018 shows that 49.8 percent were white, 22.5 percent Asian, 7.3 percent black and 6.5 percent Hispanic, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Chiquita A. Collins, UT Health San Antonios chief diversity officer, said the reasons for the lack of diversity in medicine are complex, requiring the students who make it to medical school to be resilient. Academic institutions should strive to make every student feel valued on campus, she said. The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio is actually doing well. Hispanic students here make up 20.4 percent of the enrollment. In Austin, at the new Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, enrollment data show 11 percent identify as Hispanic and 6 percent as black. At the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine, 18 percent of students are Hispanic. That number is 14.9 percent at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The Long School of Medicines student body also differs significantly from other medical schools in the country, including Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, where only 8 percent of medical students are Hispanic. Collins said medical schools need to put in the work to attract more diverse applicants. We cant move mountains in a day I know that, she said. She believes early exposure to science, technology, engineering and math will lead to more minority applicants to medical school. The academic institution recently partnered with San Antonio ISD to open CAST Med High School, a charter school. It helps students from lower-income families and minority communities get an early start in the medical, biomedical research or public health fields. We need to expose kids to these kind of paths earlier. Third grade is really the tipping point, Collins said. Collins recalled being one of only two black students in the sociology graduate program at the University of Michigan. Before she found a mentor, she nearly quit to pursue a career as a flight attendant. Adversity doesnt have to stop you. Sometimes it makes you stronger, she said. Theres truth to that. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The right place Bal was in the first class of an accelerated bachelors degree/medical doctorate program offered jointly by UTSA and UT Health San Antonio. The pilot program aimed to reduce training from eight to seven years in an effort to increase the number of physicians in South Texas. But the program is under review and could be discontinued. It was a good opportunity for Bal, who spent her summers during high school in the lab. She was one of hundreds of students who participated in UT Healths college prep program, called Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy. She discovered during those summers that shed rather work directly with patients than in a lab. After UTSA, Bal started to get hands-on experience as a medical student working with patients. But she soon developed a serious illness, losing 30 pounds and vomiting as many as 15 times a day. She started to have difficulty walking. The sudden sickness forced her to move back in with her parents and derailed her progress in school. She was devastated. She was also lucky. For six weeks, she was told her symptoms stemmed from stress. Finally, her primary care doctor did a spinal tap and found she had viral meningitis, a rare infection among healthy adults. By that point, her brain was swelling. She recovered, but her vision, hearing and memory were damaged. But for an aspiring physician, she also had the valuable experience of being a patient facing a life-threatening condition. She returned to medical school, and one of her first patients was diagnosed with meningitis. I thought, Im in the right place. Bal, 24, is now working a rotation at University Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit and will graduate in spring 2021, a year after she initially planned. She learned her mother had turned down a full scholarship to a Northern college after receiving a letter saying she would be one of the few Hispanic students on campus. This was meant to encourage her. Instead, her mother stayed in San Antonio and went to community college. My parents always wanted me to have success, Bal said. My mother tells everybody, because shes so proud, that Im going to be a doctor. These are the things that keep me going when Im up at 3 a.m. and it feels like everythings working against me. Phillip Acosta, a second-year medical student from San Antonio, said joining the Latino Medical Association chapter on campus helped him find support. We try to help the first-year students balance their time so they dont make the same mistakes we made, he said. A pile of debt The affiliation has also saved him money. Medical students in the group study together and share academic resources, such as subscription access to medical journals that can cost up to $200 each. The average debt incurred over four years of medical school is nearly $200,000, although tuition at UT Health San Antonio is considered affordable compared with most U.S. medical schools. After they cross the stage, new physicians typically apply for a spot in a residency program, which is the next step toward working in the field and which takes three to five years, depending on the specialty Collins said pursuing medicine is an investment that few can afford without going into debt. Being a medical student is a full-time job, so the cost of living is largely paid by loans, she said. A recent article in the New York Times highlighted that while preparing for a career in medicine is expensive for all students, hidden costs can be prohibitive for low-income students. Its conclusion: While U.S. medical schools are the training grounds for a white-collar, high-income industry, they select students from predominantly high-income, and typically white, households. A recent study found that three-quarters of U.S. medical students come from an affluent households, a rate that hasnt budged since 1988. Theres a lot of pressure not to fail, said Jaime Cruz, a second-year medical student from Dallas and a member of the Latino Medical Association at UT Healths medical school. My familys counting on me, he said. You dont want to be seen as struggling. Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura Napas River Park Manor complex has changed its ownership structure, but efforts to renovate the low income housing complex remain on track and in progress. On Jan. 24, buyer Reliant River Park LP paid $16.52 million for the property. The seller was River Park Manor Investors LP, which is affiliated with Reliant Group Management. River Park Manor is located at 695 S. Jefferson St., near the River Park Shopping Center. It has 105 units. Before this transaction, the complex was sold in March 2019 as part of a $116 million portfolio sale of seven apartment communities in six Bay Area cities. According to Jason Snyder of Reliant Group in San Francisco, Were excited to preserve 105 units of low income housing for residents of Napa. Snyder said the group will invest an estimated $5.6 million project for the renovations, or about $53,000 per unit. The housing has not been significantly improved since the 1960s, he said. Its going to be a brand new community, said Snyder. The exterior and interior will be completely different and the clubhouse will look phenomenal. Construction has begun and could wrap up by year end if everything goes as planned. Reliant sets aside all units for tenants making less than 60 percent of Napas median income currently about $55,000 a year for a family of four, said the company. Ten percent of the apartments will house families making less than half the local median, and the income restrictions will be in force for 55 years, keeping in place a source of less expensive housing in an increasingly costly and constrained market. In May, the City Council approved a $26 million bond issue for the project. I feel like we hit the lottery, Mayor Jill Techel said before the councils unanimous vote in favor of the renovation bond, which will be issued by the California Public Finance Authority. This is a great project; this is something we need more of, added Councilmember Liz Alessio. Each apartment will be fitted with new flooring, appliances, cabinets and countertops, along with energy-efficient double-pane glass for windows and patio doors. Buildings will be repainted and the stucco and wood siding repaired, along with parking-lot pavement. During construction, five to eight units will be renovated at a time, and their occupants allowed to stay in already refurbished units during the day while also receiving food stipends from the owner, Snyder added. Each cluster of apartments is expected to require about a week of interior remodeling. In approving the River Park Manor funding, Napa also agreed to join the states public finance authority, which will issue Reliant the tax-exempt bonds as well a 4 percent tax credit. Repayment will be the responsibility of Reliant and be secured by its property, with no liability for the city. Does Reliant Group have any other Napa projects in the works? Not at the moment but wed love to be able to create more affordable housing in Napa and the greater Bay Area, said Snyder. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Burleigh County Sheriff's Department is retiring a K-9 who spent three years mostly helping officers detect drugs during traffic stops. His career has been cut short by a knee injury, likely a result of rapidly jumping from vehicles. Dexter's handler, Sgt. Elliot Carvell, 30, offered to legally take the 5-year-old Dutch shepherd in as a family pet. "He's done a few hundred narcotics sniffs that have located narcotics. And then he's had a couple dozen tracks," Carvell said, referring to the dog's work finding suspects. "And then many instances of actual compliance ... just the presence of him and his barks makes a lot of people to surrender, to not flee and to not fight." Dexter joined the sheriff's department in 2016. Carvell remembers when the dog came to his aid the first year when a suspect he was arresting began fighting him. He deployed Dexter from a vehicle using a remote, and the dog pursued and took down the suspect with a bite. That would be Dexter's only violent encounter during his career. His "physical presence" was enough to persuade suspects to comply with an arrest. Carvell, previously a deputy investigator, became a first-time K-9 handler in 2016. He also was the first K-9 handler in the department. The two-week course he took to train Dexter was "exhilarating," he said. The department had purchased Dexter from a vendor in Kansas, where most of the initial training was already complete. Carvell's job was to make sure the training was "maintained," he said. "The training isn't me training the dog; the training is to make sure the handler doesn't mess up the dog," Carvell said. He maintained Dexter's training by spending each shift testing Dexter's drug detection skills by hiding drugs sent from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The training sessions also involved dressing deputies in "bite suit" protective gear to train Dexter to apprehend a suspect. Carvell followed federal guidelines that recommended dedicating 16 hours a month to the training. The goal in his training sessions with Dexter was to "not influence the dog," he said. That involved putting aside his own biases on the dog's capabilities to "let the dog work," he said. Carvell said he saw results when he would maintain that approach in the field. "We have had those hundreds of narcotics sniffs. So it's been hundreds of times where he's indicated the presence of an illegal odor," Carvell said. The most "fulfilling and rewarding" moments of Carvell's work with Dexter included when he would bring the dog to area schools. Dexter would mingle with children during presentations. Law enforcement K-9 dogs sometimes aren't able to open up to people who aren't dressed as law enforcement, according to Carvell. "He has a great temperament; we are very fortunate with the dog," Carvell said. "But, at the same time, if he is given the command to bark, or to apprehend, or bite on command, you see a complete switch." Dexter will have to transition to becoming a full-time house pet, though, when he retires in March. The dog has lived with Carvell's family in rural Burleigh County since his deployment, but his handler made sure the focus was work, not home. That meant no toys at home, no playing fetch. Dexter would be rewarded with a ball on a rope when he would find narcotics. "The whole intention is that work has to be more exciting than home life in order to maintain that drive at work," Carvell said. "So when he retires, I will be more lax on his discipline and give him more freedom, because that's going to be his only environment." Meanwhile, Carvell will focus on his supervising role as a sergeant -- a promotion he received in March 2019. On Monday, the Burleigh County Commission approved an agreement for Dexter to transfer to Carvell's care. Dexter's replacement K-9 has already been arranged. Carvell also is scheduled to be replaced in his K-9 handling duties, with a new K-9 handler scheduled for training in Florida. Carvell said he will miss his partner in fighting crime. "It's probably just that partnership. The bond with the dog. To know that every time you stop a car, you know that dog is there and has your back," he said. "He often has his head on my shoulder in the squad car during patrol, and to lose companionship at work will be tough." Reach Andy Tsubasa Field at 701-250-8264 or andy.field@bismarcktribune.com. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In a world that has been reshaped by Twitter, 24-hour news networks and an endless war between media outlets for your attention and the ad dollars that come with it, its not surprising that news in the modern era errs toward sensationalism. This sensationalism can have a tangible effect on how we as societies react and, as any oil trader knows, sentiment is frequently more powerful than fundamentals when it comes to moving markets. With that in mind, market observers should be particularly wary of the outsized impact that the Coronavirus has had on markets this year. While there has been tangible demand destruction from Chinas countermeasures, the mass global hysteria that has been created by the spreading of multiple myths by different media outlets has, more likely than not, created unjustified bearish sentiment in markets. Now, at this point, it is important to note that the aim of this article is not to downplay the seriousness of the epidemic or the deaths associated to it, but rather to put into perspective just how big a threat it is based on current information and to judge whether oil markets are overreacting as WTI prices fall back towards the $50 mark. While it may be a crude comparison, its worthwhile remembering that there have been 10,000 deaths in the U.S. from the flu this winter compared to only 638 confirmed deaths from the Coronavirus globally. The potential threat of the Coronavirus is undeniably worrying, but its current mortality rate is closer to influenza than SARS and it is yet to be declared a pandemic. Chinas severe reaction and the demand destruction it has caused is entirely justifiable and likely the key reason that the epidemic has been kept within its borders. Experts such as Peter Piot warn against complacency and believe intensified international collaboration and more resources will be needed to stop this outbreak. But there is a vital difference between the duty and actions of governments and medical institutions (which should always tend towards worst case scenarios) and the public sentiment driven by sensationalist articles and anecdotal evidence. From quarantining cities to canceling flights, Chinas reaction to this epidemic has been unprecedented and, if we ignore the ethical dilemmas associated to it, has given the country the best possible chance to contain the disease. The resultant impact on oil demand due to the shutdown of factories and the drastic reduction of flights can certainly justify a significant drop in oil prices. But how low and for how long should oil prices fall? The big question for energy market observers is whether the hysteria surrounding the Coronavirus has seeped over into oil demand forecasts and market sentiment. If Chinas reaction has been effective and the epidemic dies out sooner than forecast, then it would not be unreasonable to expect Chinese oil demand to have fully recovered by the end of the year. That would make demand forecasts of a reduction of 0.5 percent in global oil demand throughout 2020 very bearish. Related: Oil Demand Under Siege As Airlines Cancel Over 50,000 Flights Two major factors to be considered at the moment that most forecasts seem not to take into account is that 1) warmer weather will likely play its part in helping to kill off this virus and 2) the Coronavirus is not yet a pandemic and so the possibility remains that the worst of this epidemic will be contained within China. The most important point here, however, is that forecasts and media reports are still based on data sets that are far from complete. Extrapolating data from early on in epidemics can lead to conclusions that are both problematic and inaccurate, and when combined with our current tendency towards sensationalism, can lead to mass hysteria. This extrapolation issue can be seen in the changing mortality figures that have been coming out of China since the disease was first reported. The first mortality rate to come out of Wuhan was 11 percent, a rate that has since dropped to 4.9 percent and one that, within China but outside of Hubei province is now 0.16 percent. The overall crude mortality rate of the disease according to WHO is currently 2 percent, a rate that could be lower due to unreported cases (or higher due to unreported deaths). At current rates, this disease appears to be much closer to Influenza than SARS, and with the Chinese governments reaction having been far quicker and more effective this time around, there is reason to believe it has had an oversized impact on markets. The worst-case scenario is still very much a possibility, but if the Coronavirus is indeed contained and begins to regress, the change in tone from governments and medical institutions will likely cause a significant swing in sentiment. By Josh Owens of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: RichiLo wrote: Good evening all, I am an Italian ex-student, graduated in December 2018 at the Top Italian B-School Bocconi (Top 10 in Europe). I am planning on applying to European B-Schools for a MiM or a Master in Business Analytics. Target schools ESCP Europe, Esade, IE, HEC Lausanne, Essec. Profile Demographics: Italian Male, 23 years old. Education and grades: BSc in Economics and Finance at Bocconi University(GPA low - 23.15/30). Exchange program at Charles University in Prague. Work: Full time Finance and Controlling Intern at an Italian chocolate company (70m revenues - 5 months, from april to august 2019). Extra-curriculars: Volunteering at a Non profit organization for the fight against cancer. Founded student association for blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Last year I participated at CEO for One Month from The Adecco Group and was in the top 20. Professional targets: Consulting or Tech Startup. GMAT: GMAT 1: 630 (Q45 V31) Next attempt: 23rd January 2020 I'm planning to improve my GMAT Score next week and at least get 700. What do you think about my profile to be taken for a Master in Management? I know I had a low GPA, how can I overcome my low gpa maybe at the interview? Thanks a lot for reading! GyanOne [www.gyanone.com] | Premium MBA and MiM Admissions Consulting Rated top MBA Admissions Consultants globally by P&Q Awesome Work | Honest Advice | Outstanding Results Reach Out, Let's chat! Email: info at gyanone dot com | +91 98998 31738 | Skype: gyanone.services Awesome Work | Honest Advice | Outstanding ResultsEmail: info at gyanone dot com | +91 98998 31738 | Skype: gyanone.services Signature Read More After Delhi exit polls, Amit Shah set to meet party MPs India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: Union Home Minister and BJP leader, Amit Shah has called for a meeting of the party's MPs. The meeting comes in the wake of the exit polls predicting an Aam Admi Party sweep. BJP sources tell OneIndia that it is a review meeting to take stock of the situation. Shah would discuss with the MPs, the Delhi elections and possibly also the Delhi election exit polls. In 2015, the Aam Admi Party and swept the elections by winning 67 of the 70 seats. Delhi Exit Poll 2020: Newsx-POLSTRAT predicts clean sweep for AAP The majority mark is 36. The poll of polls suggest that the BJP would end up with 18 seats, the Congress 1 and the AAP, 50 plus. The Net-NewsX exit poll has predicted a huge victory for the AAP. The AAP would win 53-57 seats, while the BJP will win. 11 to 17 the exit poll says. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats the poll also says. According to the Times Now IPSOS poll, the Aam Admi Party would win 47 seats and the BJP will end up with 26. The Republic Jan ki Baat poll says that the AAP will win 48-61 seats and the BJP will end up with 9 to 21. The India Today Axis My India exit poll gives the AAP 9-10 in West Delhi and the BJP 0 to 1. The BJP will bag 35 per cent of the vote share while the AAP will end up with 57 per cent, the exit polls says. The poll also says that in West Delhi, the AAP would win 9 to 10 seats. The BJP on the other hand may win draw a blank or end up with just one seat in this segment, the exit poll says. The Delhi Exit polls at a glance Sudarshan News gives the AAP 40 to 45 and the BJP 24 to 28. The Congress on the other hand will get 2 to 3 the poll says. India TV on the other hand gives the AAP, 44 and the BJP 26. The Congress will not open its account the poll says. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero gives the AAP, 54 and the BJP 15. It gives the Congress just one seat. India New Neta on the other hand gives the AAP 53-57 and the BJP 11 to 17. The Congress may not open its account or end up with 2 seats, the poll says. Delhi Exit polls 2020: AAP to sweep with 50 seats, BJP gets 18, Cong, 1 The ABP C-Voter poll says that the AAP will end up with 49 to 63 while the BJP could end up 5 to 19 seats. The Congress is unlikely to open its account or end up with 4 seats, the poll also predicts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 19:51 [IST] Minor clashes broke out between the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters at the 44th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF), which is being held at Salt Lake, a satellite township of Kolkata, on Saturday. When police detained more than a dozen protesters, the latter also engaged in a scuffle with the police personnel. There was an incident at the book fair. We have detained some people. The situation is under control, said Surya Pratap Yadav, deputy commissioner (headquarters) of Bidhannagar city police. The IKBF is the largest book fair in the world in terms of footfall. More than two million people visit the fair held during this time every year. Russia is the theme country of the book fair this year. On Saturday afternoon some Left-wing students and human rights organisations were protesting against the CAA, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register. The situation, however, turned ugly when BJPs national secretary Rahul Sinha visited the stall of Janabarta, the BJPs mouthpiece. The protesters started shouting anti-CAA slogans. A heated altercation broke out between the BJP supporters and the protesters, which led to a clash. Our main fight is with the Trinamool Congress. These people are trying to seek attention as they have been dumped by the people of Bengal. But we wont allow them to do so by fighting with them, said Sinha. Police were seen announcing on loudspeakers trying to placate the protesters and bring the situation under control. But when the clash broke out some protesters had to be detained. The protesters also engaged in a scuffle with the policemen when they were being detained. We were protesting against the CAA in a peaceful manner. Suddenly, we saw police and some supporters of a political party assaulting some of the protesters. This has never happened in the history of the Kolkata Book Fair, said Ranjit Sur, one of the protesters and vice president of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights. A minor scuffle also broke out on Friday at the IKBF when anti-CAA protesters raised slogans in front of Janabarta stall of the BJP. Punjab: A three-storey building collapsed in Mohali on Saturday living several people trapped under debris. The building was located near Kharar-Landran road and came down when a JCB machine was digging its basement, said the police. The rescue operation team rushed to the spot and is carrying out the rescue operation. Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Mohali, Himanshu Jain, informed that two persons have been rescued and six to seven persons are still feared to be trapped under the debris. Jain said, '' The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and other support staff is carrying out search and rescue operation.'' Mohali district administration officials and fire brigade team is also present at the spot. (Further information awaited) Arvind Kejriwal puts out early tweet urging women to nudge their men to make the right choice New Delhi: Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly got underway on Saturday morning after a bitter campaign.Over 1.47 crore people are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 672 candidates. Polling began at 8 am and will end at 6 pm. Police and paramilitary personnel are keeping an "extra vigil" in sensitive areas like Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Nagar and Seelampuri. Ahead of the voting, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - As you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." "All of you women do cast your vote and take along men with you. Do discuss with men about voting for whom will be right," the chief minister added. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to repeat its stellar performance of the last assembly polls when it won 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP, which bagged all the seven seats in Delhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, is aiming to dislodge the AAP, while the Congress is seeking to better its performance than last time when it drew a blank in the assembly polls. The AAP had got 54.3 per cent votes in the 2015 polls, while the BJP secured 32 per cent and the Congress bagged just 9.6 per cent. If surveys are to be believed, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to return to power in the national capital where polls to all 70 Assembly seats will be held on Saturday. But if one goes by grandstanding, then the BJP appears set to usher in a new chapter in Delhi and forming the city-states government on its own after 22 years. Two surveys, one released on Wednesday and another earlier on Monday, clearly suggest that the AAP will not be able to retain all the 67 seats it won in the 2015 elections, but will be able to form a government on its own. They give 10-14 seats to the BJP. But home minister Amit Shah has claimed his party will win more than 45 seats. The saffron party won in just three constituencies in 2015; the Congress drew a blank. According to the ABP News-CVoter survey, Arvind Kejriwals AAP is predicted to win 42-56 seats. The IPSOS-Times Now survey says the AAP is likely to get anything between 54 and 60 seats, the BJP 10-14 seats, while the Congress may draw a blank or win, at best, two seats. Tight security measures have been put in place across the city, especially sensitive areas like Shaheen Bagh, for peaceful polling in which Delhis 1.47 crore voters will decide whether Kejriwal gets another term as chief minister for the development work done and promised, or the BJP, which campaigned aggressively on the anti-Shaheen Bagh nationalism pitch, will get a he last two weeks of campaigning for the countrys most prestigious electoral battle since the Lok Sabha polls in April-May 2019 saw the BJP roping in almost all Union ministers, 11 chief ministers and 200-odd MPs to hardsell its nationalistic narrative to garner the support of voters to unseat Kejriwal. Many BJP leaders even tried to polarise voters along communal lines. To address the Hindu vote bank, the chief minister even recited the Hanuman Chalisa at a recent show organized by a news channel where he declared himself to be a diehard follower of Hanuman. On Friday, he along with his family offered prayers at the famous Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. After his visit to the temple, he tweeted: Sought blessings of Hanumanji at famous Hanuman temple at CP. Bhagwanji said You are doing good work. Continue serving people like this. Leave the outcome to me, all will be fine. The Delhi polls are significant as they will also set the stage for elections in six states in the next 18 months Bihar in the second half of this year, and Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam in 2021. These polls are an acid test for the BJP which in the recent past lost elections in Jharkhand and was unable to form the government in Maharashtra after its ally Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and NCP. In Haryana, the party could form government only after taking the support of Dushyant Chautalas JJP. For Kejriwal, these polls are not only a test of his credentials as the head of a city government, but also important for the political future of the AAP, whose voteshare dropped from 54 per cent in 2015 Assembly polls to just 18 per cent in last years Lok Sabha polls. The AAP, which swept the 2015 Assembly polls, lost all three municipal bodies in the city to the BJP in 2017, in which it got just 26 per cent votes, about 10 per cent less than the saffron party. This time, the AAP is again facing a tough contest from the BJP in 10 seats which it had won by a margin of less than 10 per cent votes in the earlier polls. Of these seats, the victory margin of the AAP was even less than five per cent in Shakurbasti, Najafgarh, Lakshmi Nagar and Krishna Nagar. The party, however, seems to be having a clear edge over the BJP in all the 12 reserved seats it had won in the previous polls. The 2020 election also poses a big challenge for the Congress, which could not win even a single seat in the last Assembly elections. The party came second only in Badli, Mangolpuri, Matia Mahal and Mustafabad. But the grand old party surprised one and all by securing four per cent votes more than the AAP across the seven seats in the last Lok Sabha elections. Both the AAP and the BJP had been trying hard to seek support of Purvanchali voters migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand who comprise about 30 per cent of the total electorate. The AAP has even gone to the extent of promising to get Bhojpuri included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The BJP, which has kept its 32-plus per cent vote share since 1993, has been focusing more on its traditional voters from upper caste Hindus, who account for 40 per cent of the electorate 12 per cent Brahmins, seven per cent of Punjabi Khatris and Rajputs, six per cent each of Jains and Baniyas and eight per cent of the rest. Punjabi voters, who make up around 25 per cent of the electorate, can influence the election outcome in 20-odd seats. NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (Spirit AeroSystems or the Company) (NYSE: SPR). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Spirit AeroSystems and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] In December 2019, Spirit AeroSystems commenced a review of its accounting process compliance and determined that it did not comply with established accounting processes related to certain potential contingent liabilities. Then, on January 30, 2019, Spirit AeroSystems announced the resignations of both its Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer for failure to comply with accounting rules on contingencies. On this news, Spirits stock price fell $2.62 per share, or 3.87%, to close at $65.02 per share on January 30, 2020. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com Thu Thiem new urban area in District 2's Thu Thiem Peninsula, just across the Saigon River from the central business district, HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Real estate developer Novaland has asked the Ministry of Construction for help in resuming work on a stalled 32-hectare project in Saigon. In the firm's petition, Bui Thanh Nhon, chairman of Novaland Group, said several issues at Novaland's 32.224-hectare (79.6-acre) project in HCMC's Binh Khanh Ward, District 2 have created undue delay and difficulties for the group. The Binh Khanh Residential Area project is being developed by the 21st Century International Development Co. Ltd., a Novaland affiliate. It is one of those projects in the Thu Thiem new urban area that have suffered long delays caused by HCMC's lengthy review process, resulting in increased construction and investment costs. Nhon has requested that the ministry allows Novaland to resume implementing the project as it has already been two years since it was suspended due to procedural issues. Currently, work on the first phase of the project has been finished with the completion of over 506 resettlement apartments and technical infrastructure for the whole area. The project is part of a deal between the developer and Thu Thiem authorities for the latter to buy the resettlement apartments. However, due to the city's budgetary constraints, it was agreed that only the first phase of the project would be completed, and that the land resource for the second phase would instead be used as payment for the first phase. Compensation payment and site clearance for the project's entire area have been completed, and HCMC authorities have agreed to let Novaland implement the second phase as commercial apartments. According to Novaland, the group and its foreign partners have invested about VND6 trillion ($258 million) in this project. Nhon said in the letter that Novaland would comply with all of the government's decisions. Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Van Sinh told VnExpress that his ministry had received Novaland's letter and forwarded it to the ministry's Real Estate Market and Housing Management Agency. For its part, agency director Nguyen Trong Ninh said the letter only includes Novaland's side of the story, so they would have to consult with local authorities before taking steps to resolve the issue. Ninh also said that this was one of many issues that the agency has to deal with each day, and as of now, it cannot be prioritized or considered an exception. A general paralysis Novalands case is just one of hundreds of real estate projects in HCMC that have been beset by legal issues. The Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA) recently sent a petition to the Party Central Committees Economic Commission, asking for a fair, transparent and competitive business environment for property developers and investors. The association said that between October 2015 and the end of 2018, 126 projects using mixed-land funds (including residential, agricultural land and public land, for instance) were stuck in construction investment procedures. Additionally, 158 housing projects involving public were put on hold pending scrutiny or investigations. In 2019, 124 out of the 158 projects were allowed to resume, but uncertainties over several issues have prevented resumption, the petition said. "Scrutiny is necessary for a more transparent and sustainable market. But the citys housing supply has been dropping sharply and at an alarming level," it noted. According to the association, just one commercial housing project with confirmed land use rights received in-principle investment approval in HCMC last year, down 92 percent year-on-year. "2019 is the second consecutive year when the real estate market and enterprises wrestled with many difficulties and challenges." While projects using mixed-land funds are proceeding smoothly in other provinces, their peers in HCMC are struggling with legal issues. In HCMC, some projects are approved but others with similar features are not, for unclear reasons, causing concerns over fairness, HoREA wrote. Housing prices rose 15-20 percent in 2019 against the previous year, with that of one District 9 project going up by as much as 39 percent. With the supply side "frozen", almost all real estate companies saw their revenue and profit plunge and some incurred losses and faced bankruptcy risks, the association added. HoREA chairman Le Hoang Chau said HCMC authorities have said they would meet with the association and real estate companies next week to find solutions to existing barriers. Run, dont walk, to see an El Greco show. Domenikos Theotokopoulos, known as El Greco (15411614), is uniquely sublime and rarely had a bad day, so an exhibition of his work is certain to inspire. It doesnt matter if the shows intellectually dodgy or awkwardly arranged or blandly interpreted. It doesnt matter if its in Timbuktu. Run, dont walk. Hes that good. Paris is far nicer than Timbuktu. The new show at the Grand Palais is called Greco. That warned me. El Greco now has a brand. The name says it all. Slap Greco on a billboard or banner, and youve grabbed an audience, much as a high-end logo does. Its by no means a bad show. The art is gorgeous. Id seen most of the paintings before, but some were fresh to me. The old favorites continued to dazzle. As much as I enjoyed seeing so many great things in the El Greco show, I found myself conjuring my inner 1980s. Wheres the beef? This story isnt an overview of El Greco. Its more about how more and more museums present blockbuster shows these days. I think the exhibition espouses to be a retrospective, but its not. A retrospective is a whopper of a show assembling not only an artists biggest hits but a deep representation of most if not all his themes. A retrospective is rare and generally happens on a milestone anniversary the Pieter Bruegel show in Vienna I reviewed last year observed the 450th anniversary of his death or it marks the accumulation of new discoveries and scholarship since the last retrospective. A real retrospective generally happens once a generation, if that soon. The Paris show isnt comprehensive. Its scholarship is good but narrowly focused, even episodic. It starts as a linear enterprise, moving from Crete, where El Greco was born, to Venice, where he was part of the circle of Tintoretto, to Rome, where he struggled to compete with the big artist enchiladas, and, finally, to his arrival in Toledo in 1577. A grand Crucifixion scene from 1595 gives us El Grecos signature figure style: the elongated figure, in this case a poised, even slinky Jesus. Hes just been tortured to death but looks like a runway model. The show at this point seems most promising. Story continues Assumption of the Virgin, 1577-1579, by El Greco. Oil on canvas. There, the shows star rises 16 splendid feet. Its the fabulous Assumption of the Virgin, from 157779, owned by the Art Institute of Chicago, which is co-organizing the show. Its part of the big Toledo tomb commission in the church of Santo Domingo el Antigua that attracted El Greco from Rome to Spain. The patron hired El Greco long-distance. I dont think he wanted to pay big pesetas for a name artist but definitely did want paintings done in what he called the latest Roman style. Its monumental and I think its been cleaned for the show. This section concerns his early years in Toledo. At that point, the fireworks fizzle. Theres a big section on architecture and a section on El Greco replicas not studio copies but different versions he made of the same subject. It then awkwardly goes in reverse, back through the architecture section, through the section on Toledo, to a smashing finale. Entire swaths of El Grecos career are missing, especially his late, wildly distorted, fiercely vertical altarpieces from after 1600. A midsize version of The Disrobing of Christ is there, the big version in the sacristy of the cathedral in Toledo. The Burial of the Count Orgaz, El Grecos chef doeuvre isnt there, which is understandable, but its unacknowledged. The Martyrdom of St. Maurice, from 1577, isnt there. Commissioned by Philip II, it might have been El Grecos golden ring to a career at the royal court had the king not hated it. What to say? The very good catalogue, in Spanish but about to be published in English, has an informative, deeply researched essay on where El Greco fit in Toledos art market. Its written by Richard Kagan, a renowned El Greco specialist. It would make an exhibition in itself. Im fascinated by art markets, and Toledos was a hefty one. It was the largest and richest archdiocese in Spain and the seat of its cardinals. There were almost a thousand parish churches, 264 monasteries and convents, 229 shrines, and lots of hospitals, colleges, and chichi clubs, all with decoration needs. El Greco got some great commissions over the years but missed many others, had a small workshop, and was chronically broke. Why? Who were the buyers, what were the relationships, how did El Greco pitch his work, what was his niche? We have to buy the catalogue to learn these things. Christ on the Cross Adored by Two Donors, 1595, by El Greco. Oil on canvas. Among his niches were very beautiful devotional pictures, mostly for home use. El Greco often painted many versions of the same subject, varying poses and gestures, or adding and subtracting landscapes or bits of iconography. There are too many sets of versions in the show when one or two of the greatest would establish that El Greco, like Murillo and Ribera and most busy Italian artists, pushed out the Virgins, the saints, and the Baby Jesuses in multiples. A group of St. Francis pictures, al El Greco favorite, would have been enough. El Grecos spooky scenes of a boy lighting a candle with a monkey and a jester by his side are in this section on versions. Ive read a dozen interpretations of these three fable pictures over the years. Whats the latest take? Theyre one-offs for El Greco since he didnt paint scenes of everyday life or fable pictures, but why stick them in a section on how he tweaked subjects? One of the pairings is magical but has more to do with evolution of style over years than how a busy business developed a tier of, say, pictures of St. Peter, some big and complex, some small and simple, depending on the buyers price point. The Penitent Mary Magdalene, from around 1577, is in the show. Its in a Budapest museum, and I dont believe Id seen it. Its palette of blues and lilacs is enchanting. The form of the saint is sculptural and normally proportioned. Then, El Greco hadnt started seriously stretching his figures. The Penitent Mary Magdaline, 1576-1577, by El Greco. Oil on canvas. The Nelson-Atkins version from 1580 is more cropped, with a turbulent sky. The saints neck is attenuated, her heavenward eyes like saucers, her long blond hair snaking to her waist, and her blouse conveyed in zigzags heading to heaven. Shes gorgeous but less of-this-world, as if shes already got her ticket to paradise and is waiting to be beamed up. Yes, theyre the same subject, but El Greco shows a genius for using subtle variations in pose, setting, and palette to give the subject a new dimension. Theres a big section on El Grecos flirtation with architecture. It takes a lot of space and really isnt an important part of his career since El Greco never designed a building. This section considers El Greco as a sculptor, too. Thats all well and good, but theres only one sculpture we know he did. Why give these two minor sidelines so much room? Portrait of Fray Hortensio Felix Paravacino, 1609-1611, by El Greco. Oil on canvas. I liked the fine section on El Grecos portraits. The portrait of Fray Hortensio Felix Paravicino from 1609, owned by Bostons Museum of Fine Arts, is worth walking barefoot on molten glass to see. Thats in the show. Paravicino looks ascetic enough, with his pale, thin face and basic black and white Trinitarian habit, but he carries it all off snappily. He came from a rich family and served as Philip IIIs private preacher, hence the elan, but its elan with nerves. Hes poised but cant seem to wait before jumping out of his seat and turning Billy Graham. It was good to learn that El Greco, as frustrated and disappointed as he was in Rome, did manage to develop a good portrait business. He saw it as hack work, though, and wanted to paint grand religious scenes. As a measure of his knack for irritating people, he told everyone who would listen to him in Rome that he thought Michelangelos Sistine Chapel work was tacky and flashy. Hed happily paint it over, he said, and do something better. Get Dale Carnegie on speed dial. The show ends on a high note: four of El Grecos six renditions of Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple, displayed together. They date from 1568, 1570, 1600, and between 1610 and 1614. Its a joy to see them. Each is a fine picture, and theyre the best way to see his evolution from his days in Venice to his career in Rome to his late work. Its here that the exhibition finally lands on a theme. The Gospel story of Jesus tossing merchants money grubbing, moneylending, trade -0 from the Temple was a Counter-Reformation favorite. With vigor, El Greco proclaims, Toss the bums out or A new broom sweeps clean or Theres a new sheriff in town. Keeping Gods house unsullied is a universal must. Reforming bad practices was a must after the bad old days of indulgences, randy cardinals, and flaccid, rotely mumbled liturgy. Theres a personal message, too. The exhibition speculates at the end that El Greco fundamentally, all his life, saw himself as an outsider and renegade. He was a Cretan prodigy, then an Italian interloper, and then a big-fish-in-a-middling-sea Spaniard, expelled from the royal court. His style was flamboyant, mystical, other-worldly, and, above all, unique. Others might have seen him as disputatious and rude, but he saw himself as one man against the world. He knew he was right. Visitor have to backtrack through the show to get there. Sometimes space and gallery dimensions leave no choice, but its not ideal. Its like reading a book through many chapters but then having to reread the middle of the book before getting to el fin. This returns me to the problems in the show. First, El Greco the Lone Ranger is a good theme. Carried from beginning to end, much could have been done with it. The shows not a retrospective and should have focused on one or two themes. Since he was indeed the eternal rebel, how that unfolded in his art would have made a riveting story. Thats what I understand the Art Institute of Chicago is going to present when it hosts its version of the show next month. Second, the show is jointly organized by the Grand Palais and the Art Institute. so its essentially two different shows with considerable overlap but a different impetus, not a conflicting one but intellectually divergent. I peeked at the objects list for the Chicago leg, and it looks stronger. The Opening of the Fifth Seal, 1610-14, by El Greoc. Oil on canvas. Theres wiggle room for variation when a show goes to multiple venues. Lenders might send their art to one but not all venues. Audiences differ, so labels might have to be tailored. Spaces differ, and that dictates how to develop the storyline. These variations, ideally, should be small enough so the opus feels the same wherever it goes. The Delacroix retrospective, which I reviewed two years ago, was grand, thorough, and satisfying when I saw it at the Louvre. At the Met, the show was not only truncated. Id venture to call it residue. Third, the Paris El Greco show was a high-traffic one and mobbed when I was there. The Crete gallery and the gallery of El Grecos early Venetian pictures were small. The paintings, many very instructive, were small. At 63, I can see over the heads of most people, but packing lots of people and little things in cases in a small gallery is a recipe for claustrophobia, to be sure, and basically for just not being able to see anything. These early sections needed lebensraum. Fourth, the Grand Palaiss gallery interpretation, specifically its wall texts for individual objects, were terse and simplistic. I like short labels, but the wall text needs to reflect in condensed form the intellectual points raised in the catalogue. The French-language catalogue, for instance, had great essays on El Grecos Rome patron, Guilio Clovio, and on the art market in Toledo. The labels are minimalist and disconnected to the point of blandness. Whats missing is the scholarship in the book. Over the last few years, Ive seen this in many shows of the work of complex, big-name artists. Im not sure whether its a people-moving device dont give them too much to read and ponder or theyll never leave or a deep stoop to reach the lowest common denominator. Neither becomes a legend. And white walls for an Old Master show? Mon Dieu! Overall, I enjoyed the exhibition. El Greco can overcome indeed, overwhelm a legion of faux pas. More from National Review Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 8, 2020 11:40 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206348e57 1 Activities cap-go-meh,Chinese-New-Year,Diversity,anies-baswedan,Jakarta-administration Free The Jakarta administration has organized Cap Go Meh celebrations that will last until Sunday. Also known as the "happy day", Cap Go Meh, which translates to the fifteenth night, is what closes 15 days of Chinese New Year festivities. This year, Cap Go Meh falls on Saturday. The festivities began Thursday and celebrations are currently being held in five areas: in front of the Grand Hyatt hotel, Dukuh Atas, the Kendal Tunnel, in front of the FX Sudirman shopping mall and the Thamrin City shopping mall. Festivities last from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. before continuing again at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors can expect to enjoy various forms of art and performances at the celebrations, including ondel-ondel (giant Betawi effigies), wushu, Chinese lute and film screenings. On Saturday, a festival will be held at the Thamrin 10 culinary center and the Chinatown of Glodok Market in West Jakarta. Read also: Mental health issues to cloud the Year of the Rat: Expert Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is scheduled to attend the peak of Cap Go Meh at Glodok Market on Saturday. On Sunday, the festival will continue in the Car Free Day area with lion dance performances. To mark the festivities, there will be a film screening at Thamrin 10. Hendra Hidayat, head of mental and spiritual education of the Jakarta administration, said the festival aimed to preserve the diversity of Jakarta. Jakarta belongs to everyone. We want to always take care of and preserve equality, togetherness, brotherhood and unity for all people in Jakarta, Hendra said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday. (gis/wng) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 15:54:24|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Liverpool's city and university leaders issued a joint statement on Friday supporting the region's Chinese population amid verbal attacks on the community in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The statement, released following reports of verbal abuse, was signed by Liverpool's city and regional mayors, as well as vice-chancellors of Liverpool's three universities. The leaders said in the statement that they were "shocked and saddened" to have received reports of verbal abuse toward members of the Chinese community. "Whilst these reports remain isolated, we are absolutely clear that one incident is one too many. Racism, discrimination and intolerance have absolutely no place in our region or our universities," the statement said. "Liverpool's Chinese community is one of the largest and oldest in Europe and our Chinese residents and students are an integral part of our communities. Together, we are neighbors, colleagues and friends," it said. Noting that the vast majority of residents, staff and students are already standing together in solidarity with the Chinese community, the leaders called on others to do the same. "We know that this is a worrying time for us all but, when many are concerned for the health of family, friends and loved ones in China, our support is more important than ever before," it said. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke over phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday morning. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Chinese government and people have been making all-out efforts to battle the disease, Xi said. China, he added, has carried out national mobilization, across-the-board deployment and swift responses, adopted the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures, and launched a people's war against the epidemic. Noting that China's efforts are gradually yielding positive results, Xi stressed that China has full confidence and capability to prevail over the epidemic and that the trend of the Chinese economy maintaining long-term growth will not change. Xi pointed out that China is dedicated to safeguarding the lives and health of not only its own people but also people all over the world. With an open, transparent and responsible attitude, China has kept the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as relevant countries and regions, including the United States, posted on the epidemic, and invited WHO and other experts to conduct field visits in Wuhan, the central Chinese city that is the epicenter of the outbreak, he said. He added that China is the first line of prevention and control against this epidemic, and its timely, decisive and effective response measures have been highly appreciated by the WHO and many countries. Noting that China and the United States have maintained communication over the prevention and control of the epidemic, Xi said he appreciates Trump's positive comments on China's efforts on multiple occasions, and is grateful for the supplies donated by various sections of U.S. society. He stressed that countries around the world need to pool their efforts to fight epidemics, and that the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak is currently at a crucial stage. Reiterating the call the WHO has repeatedly made from a professional perspective for all countries to avoid overreaction, Xi said China hopes that the United States will assess the epidemic in a calm manner, and adopt and adjust its response measures in a reasonable way. The two sides, he added, can maintain communication, strengthen coordination and work together to contain the epidemic. For his part, Trump said the United States fully supports China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic and is willing to send experts to China and offer assistance in various other forms. He said the fact that China completed building special hospitals for novel coronavirus patients in an incredibly short time is impressive, and shows China's outstanding organizational and response capabilities. The U.S. president said he is confident that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people will undoubtedly win the battle against the outbreak. The United States has confidence in China's economic growth, he said, adding that Washington will calmly look at and respond to the epidemic, and is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with China through bilateral and WHO channels. Recalling that China and the United States signed the phase-one economic and trade agreement not long ago, Xi stressed that it is good for China, for the United States and for world peace and prosperity that the two countries reached such a deal. The progress, he said, fully demonstrates that despite their differences, the two countries can always find solutions acceptable to both through dialogue and consultation as long as they uphold the spirit of equality and mutual respect. Xi expressed the hope that the United States will work with China to move towards each other, seriously implement the consensuses reached by the two heads of state, adhere to the basic principle of coordination, cooperation and stability, and advance bilateral ties on the right track in the new year. Trump said the United States is willing to work with China to carry out the agreement and push forward bilateral relations. The two heads of state also agreed to keep close contact through various ways. Leopard population has declined 75-90 percent in India, according to a study which has suggested that the carnivore demand similar conservation attention like tigers in the country. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS India) and the Wildlife Institute of India. The scientists have used genetic data from leopards sampled across the Indian subcontinent to investigate population structure and patterns of demographic decline, a CWS India press release said. They investigated the demographic history of each identified subpopulations and compared genetic decline analyses with countrywide local extinction probabilities. The study was conducted by Supriya Bhatt, Suvankar Biswas, Dr. Bivash Pandav, Dr. Samrat Mondol (all from Wildlife Institute of India) and Dr. Krithi K Karanth (Centre for Wildlife Studies). They collected faecal samples and identified 56 unique individuals using a panel of 13 microsatellite markers, and merged this data with already available 143 leopard individuals. The study revealed population structure and a recent decline in leopards. "Coalescent simulations with microsatellite loci revealed, across India, a possibly human-induced 7590 percent population decline between approximately 120200 years ago," it said. The population-specific estimates of genetic decline are in concordance with ecological estimates of local extinction probabilities in these subpopulations, it was stated. "Our results are both interesting and alarming- using two different methodological approaches we have established that even one most adaptable big cats in India has experienced decline in population structure and distribution," Krithi K Karanth, Chief Conservation Scientist at Bengaluru-based CWS, said. The study suggested that leopards demand similar conservation attention like tigers in India. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed over 18 million international tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 16.2%. A remarkable result given the slow increase of the worlds economy last year. According to the latest UNWTOs statistics, the number of global international tourists reached 1.5 billion in 2019, up 3.8% over the previous year. The growth of Vietnamese tourism also contributed to the overall growth of the Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific regions. The number of international arrivals to the Asia-Pacific rose by 4.6% last year, the second highest in the world, following the Middle East. In addition to Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines were also Southeast Asian countries among the list of nations with the highest growth of international arrivals. Accordingly, Myanmar stood at the top while the Philippines ranked eighth. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday described DefExpo 2020 as an unprecedented success which not only witnessed participation of a large number of exhibitors but also forged new partnerships and attracted more than 12 lakh visitors. A Defence Ministry statement quoted Singh while speaking at the valedictory ceremony on the fourth day of DefExpo 2020 at Lucknow, as saying that UP stands for Unlimited Potential and DefExpo has succeeded in projecting a new identity of the state in defence sector and the Defence corridor received a huge boost for attracting new investments with the signing of 23 MoUs. "He said DefExpo would also establish India as a Defence manufacturing hub of the world and exporter. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating the DefExpo and adopting policies that improved image of India on the world stage," the statement read. Lucknow Declaration adopted by the first-ever India-Africa Defence Ministers conclave is another landmark achievement of this DefExpo, Singh said. He expressed gratitude to Uttar Pradesh Government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the successful organisation of the event. Adityanath said his government had organised many international events during the last few years such as Prayagraj Kumbhmela, UP Investors' summit and Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas and the successful organisation of DefExpo enhanced the image and prestige of Uttar Pradesh. Describing DefExpo as "Defence Kumbh", he said the event witnessed presence of more than 3,000 foreign delegates, 10,000 Indian delegates and 12 lakh visitors and laid a strong foundation for the development of UP Defence corridor. The DefExpo was inaugurated by PM Modi on February 5 where he had set a target of USD$5 Billion for defence exports to be achieved in the next few years. Bandhan ceremony on February 7th witnessed the launch of 13 products including Light Utility Helicopter by HAL, Sharang 155 mm Arty gun by OFB among others. More than 120 MoUs between DPSUs, private and global defence manufacturing companies were signed (71 MoUs were signed on Feb 6th), making it the most successful such event to be held in India. A major announcement during DefExpo 2020 was the issuing of Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) certificate of Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was issued to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-Ton class incorporating the state-of-the-art technology features which will meet the emerging needs in this class of helicopters in the coming decades. Also, OFB launched "Sharang" the 155mm artillery gun with 36 km range and handed over a model to Chief of Army Staff Gen M M Naravane. BDL launched Amogha-3 the anti-Tank Guided Missile. It is a man-portable, fire and forget missile. BDL also launched Varunastra - the anti-submarine torpedo, manufactured under the technological guidance of DRDO. The DefExpo 2020 shall remain open to public on 9th Feb 2020, the statement read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Mexicos ever-present urban-rural divide is increasingly visible in the states health outcomes. Earlier this week, the New Mexico Department of Health published its Health Status of New Mexico report for 2019, which summarizes recent health trends in various parts of New Mexico. The statewide numbers revealed improvement over the past several years in various important indicators, including infant mortality and deaths tied to chronic diseases. However, the report notes that those boosts were driven largely by improvements in the states four metropolitan statistical areas, particularly Albuquerque. In the states more rural communities, several of those indicators, including infant mortality, were trending in the wrong direction according to the report. Dr. Michael Landen, state epidemiologist with the Health Department, described rural health as a persistent problem for New Mexico. Their health status is clearly worse than the rest of the state, Landen said. The annual state report divides the state into metro counties Albuquerque and its surrounding communities small metro counties, rural counties and counties that are a mix of small urban and rural communities. In metrics such as life expectancy and total death rate, rural and urban-rural counties lag behind more urban parts of the state. For example, life expectancy at birth in rural Albuquerque counties is 77.1 years, compared to 79.9 years in small metro areas in the state. While the Health Department noted that New Mexico has made great strides in combating infant mortality in recent years, infant mortality rose in rural and urban-rural areas compared to data released the previous year. The 2019 report, which used data from 2016 through 2018, showed 6.5 infant deaths per 100,000 births, compared with 4.9 from the report released last year. Landen pointed to widespread poverty and lack of access to health care services as challenges in rural New Mexico. Due to fewer primary care providers in rural counties, more patients visited hospitals for preventable conditions such as hypertension and urinary tract infections, Landen said. If you dont have as many primary care providers in your area, your primary health might not be as good, he said. In particular, Landen pointed to suicides, and drug and alcohol overdoses so-called deaths of despair as significant challenges in New Mexico. The report noted New Mexico recorded 65.6 alcohol-related deaths and 24.6 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people, significantly more than the national rate. Within New Mexico, the highest rates were posted in rural and urban-rural counties. I have a hard time getting away from the deaths of despair, Landen said. Dr. Michael Landen Analysis banner Business Insider From left, Democratic presidential candidates former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., stand on stage Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, before the start of a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News, Apple News, and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. AP Photo/Elise Amendola Seven Democratic presidential candidates took the stage at St. Anselm's College in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Friday night at the end of a momentous, chaotic week in American politics. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who came in fifth in the Iowa caucuses, capitalized on the opportunity to promote her record of bipartisanship and a message of unity, while sustaining few attacks from her competitors. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who led the Iowa caucuses, was a popular target for his competitors and struggled to answer a question about South Bend's record of racial bias in policing. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Seven Democratic presidential candidates took the stage at St. Anselm's College in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Friday night at the end of a momentous, chaotic week in American politics. The stage was crowded and the debate, which touched on a range of substantive issues including health care, abortion, gun control, and war in the Middle East was spirited. On Tuesday, New Hampshire voters will make their feelings known, but for now, here's who we deemed the winner and loser of Friday's debate. The winner Sen. Amy Klobuchar clocked in at about 16 minutes of speaking time solidly in the middle of the pack but managed to stay on offense for virtually the entire debate, while promoting her own record and talking points. Klobuchar repeatedly made the case for her more moderate brand of politics, mentioning bipartisan legislation she's pushed through on Capitol Hill and Republican congressional districts she's won over at home in Minnesota. Related Video: How Networks Treat Debates Like Reality TV She also went on the attack against Sen. Bernie Sanders and, most notably, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg. While she criticized Sanders's Medicare-for-all plan and insisted all her policy proposals will be paid for, she attacked Buttigieg as an inexperienced "newcomer" without the experience and savvy to get things done in Washington. Story continues Klobuchar's communications director announced during the event that the senator raised more money during Friday's debate than any previous debate. The losers Because Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg led Monday's Iowa caucuses in a near-tie, they were set up as the targets of Friday night's Democratic presidential debate. Biden started the debate out on a weak note, conceding that he would "probably take a hit" in the New Hampshire primary, much as he did in Monday's Iowa caucuses. "Bernie won by 20 points last time and usually it's the neighboring senators that do well," Biden said, referring to Sanders' sweeping victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 New Hampshire primary. But Buttigieg took the most hits on Friday night and he, in particular, struggled to answer a tough question about South Bend's policing record and weathered attacks from several of his competitors, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren. Klobuchar prominently attacked Buttigieg at multiple points throughout the night. In one instance, she compared the mayor to the president. In another, she accused him of being a "cool newcomer" and attacked his comparative lack of government experience. "It is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do," she said. "It is much harder to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions, because I think going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer, I don't think that's what people want right now." About halfway through the debate, Buttigieg was asked about South Bend's record of racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests under his administration. The moderator noted that racial disparities increased in the city during his eight years as mayor. pete buttigieg bernie sanders billionaires REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Buttigieg didn't answer the question head-on and instead pivoted to the nation's broader issues with racial injustice. "There's no question that systemic racism has penetrated to every level of our system, and my city was not immune," Buttigieg replied. He added that black South Bend residents were less likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, under his mayoralty, than they were across the rest of Indiana. The moderator than turned to Warren to ask whether Buttigieg's answer was "substantial." She responded succinctly: "No." "You have to own up to the facts," Warren said. Business Insider Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Theres a "very real danger" of running into polar bears in Svalbard, warns the official website for the Arctic tourist destination. Of course, the opportunity to spot a bear from a safe distance is one of the main reasons why travellers fly or sail to the archipelago halfway between Norway and the North Pole. But adventurers not accompanied by guides are urged to pack flare guns, thunder flashes and a .308 Win calibre rifle with their hot drinks and GPS devices strictly for self-defence in the event that a bear encounter turns ugly. That guns are one of lifes necessities on Svalbard is just one idiosyncratic feature of one of the worlds northernmost human settlements. (The guns are not allowed inside buildings and must be visibly unloaded in town; this is Norway, not the Wild West.) Other tourist drawcards to Svalbard include the midnight sun and polar nights there is no daylight from November to February. There is the Global Seed Vault, where millions of plant seeds, including from Australia, are kept chilled in a bunker carved into a mountain. And Svalbard boasts the worlds northernmost statue of Vladimir Lenin, in the ghost town of Pyramiden. And for visitors who want Arctic nosh, Svalbard's main settlement, Longyearbyen, offers a Michelin-star restaurant where diners graze on roe and elderflower and reindeer carpaccio while quaffing wines from a 20,000-bottle cellar. Other facts about Svalbard are more prosaic. If you need to give birth, you must fly elsewhere. If you die, your body must be flown out. (The cemeteries were closed for burials decades ago because nothing decomposed in the frozen ground.) Advertisement Even the way Svalbard has been run, since Count Wedel Jarlsberg of Norway and others signed a treaty on February 9, 1920, is unusual. Australia is actually a party to the Spitsbergen (or Svalbard) Treaty, which covers some 62,000 square kilometres of glacial islands and fjords dotted with walruses and snow geese. Far from being a relic of a post-World War I era, the treaty is still the subject of debate while also providing inspiration for resolving gnarly international tensions in 2020. How is this so? How do things run in Svalbard? And what could its treaty possibly have to do with Australia, the South China Sea and outer space? How did Australia get to be involved in an Arctic treaty? Before the treaty, the islands of Svalbard (known as Spitsbergen until 1925) were in legal limbo. No one nation was running the show. Life had centred on activities such as whaling, seal hunting and Arctic exploration, including an ill-fated attempt by Swedish engineer Salomon August Andree to fly a hydrogen balloon to the North Pole in 1897. By 1920, it was coal mining that was shaping settlement on Svalbard. The Paris Peace Conference in Versailles was a timely opportunity to find a solution to what then US Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, called "a unique international problem". Count Wedel Jarlsberg signs the Svalbard Treaty on behalf of Norway on February 9, 1920. Credit:The University Centre in Svalbard Advertisement With revolutionary Russia absent from the table, it was agreed that sovereignty of the "lawless" islands would go to neutral Norway and they would never be used for "warlike purposes" and any party to the treaty could do business in Svalbard. Russia has since acceded to the treaty, which has 46 members. Australia was on board right from the start simply because it was part of the dominion of Great Britain, its involvement a "historical quirk", says Professor Don Rothwell of the ANUs College of Law, who points out that Antarctica is, rightly, the focus for Australia in polar affairs. "I don't think it really reflects any Australian interests in Spitsbergen at the time," he says "and, certainly to my knowledge, since then Australia has not really expressed great interest in Svalbard." A polar bear in Svalbard. Hunting bears has been banned since 1973. Credit:John Rodsted Why should we be interested in how Svalbard is run then? "Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Svalbard Treaty is that it creates the worlds most open migration zone, apart from possibly Antarctica," says Andrew Simon-Butler from the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne. "This completely visa-free regime, which Norway voluntarily extends beyond treaty parties to all people, is coupled with a thriving international community, particularly in the capital of Longyearbyen." Svalbard has roughly 2600 residents. Two-thirds are Norwegian but the rest are from 49 other countries, including Australia and New Zealand, according to the office of Svalbards governor, the Sysselmann. "People living in Svalbard tend to be highly motivated, educated, interested, curious and social," says Rupert Krapp, a research engineer with the Norwegian Polar Institute in Svalbard. "There is no native or indigenous population so every single one of us has made a conscious choice to come and stay. Those who do not thrive here tend to figure this out fairly quickly after arrival and depart again. Those who really like it tend to stay for as long as they can, typically for a few years or even up to 10 or more years." Advertisement Of course, there are caveats on the treatys "non-discrimination" approach. You must be able to show you can support yourself. Norway's Social Welfare Act does not apply. There is no financial assistance for special needs because of illness, disability or age. Criminality is a no-no. A Russian man who had just arrived in Longyearbyen was sentenced to 14 months in prison last year for committing Svalbards first bank robbery. Anyone can live in Longyearbyen with caveats. Credit:Getty Images The extreme conditions are their own disincentive too. On February 9, the temperature is forecast to peak at minus 10 degrees in Longyearbyen. The sun won't come up. And there are dangers other than bears. In 2015, an avalanche descended on homes in Longyearbyen, killing a man and a little girl and forcing townsfolk to scrabble to unbury trapped families. Russia, which has a longstanding interest in Svalbard and a presence there that includes the coal-mining settlement at Barentsburg tested the open-access regime in 2015 with the unannounced visit of then deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin at Longyearbyen Airport while he was subject to travel sanctions following Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea. Rogozin, pictured above, tweeted photos to mark his visit. "In response, Norway added being subject to international travel sanctions as an additional ground for exclusion," says Simon-Butler. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry protested at the "unfriendly step", saying it did "not meet the spirit of the international cooperation on Svalbard on the basis of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty". Sailing north of Svalbard among the melting sea ice. Credit:Getty Images Advertisement What might Svalbard have to do with the South China Sea? The connection between Svalbard and the South China Sea is not, at first, obvious. But, for Professor Rothwell and other international law experts, the Svalbard Treaty offers a useful precedent for sorting out territorial disputes. "Svalbard has attracted more attention in the last 10 or 15 years because its been seen as a possible way of cutting through issues in the South China Sea," says Professor Rothwell. Islands and reefs (and fishing rights that flow from the ownership of these) in the South China Sea are the subject of intense sometimes violent dispute among China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam as well as the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei. "The way in which Svalbard has been managed is actually a good international example of how states were able to set aside conflicts and some differences to peacefully manage a set of very remote islands," says Professor Rothwell. It may have worked well "because Svalbard is quite isolated and the treaty was negotiated post-WWI, when there was obviously a lot of momentum behind trying to ensure that territorial disputes became neutralised" but it still offers helpful concepts. The arrangement on Svalbard is known as a "condominium" in international law. "It's designed to reflect shared ownership of territory. Svalbard is the largest territory that has been subject to a condominium arrangement. Theres nothing equivalent. "Could you apply a Svalbard condominium-type solution in the South China Sea?" he asks. "It could be that Island X is Chinese but other states have an interest; Island Y is Filipino but other states have an interest; Island Z is Vietnamese but other states have an interest. Or you could say, Islands X, Y and Z are Chinese but other states also have legitimate interests in those islands." Professor Rothwell concedes that this idea has never been actively advanced by any of the countries with interests in the South China Sea. Advertisement Drew Herrington, left, and his wife, Kate, with their 22-month-old twin daughters, Claire, right, and Liv, at their home in Voorhees, N.J., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Herrington suffered a stroke in 2012. Read more Sometimes, even when life throws the biggest curveballs, things have a way of going as planned anyway especially when love is in the mix. Back in 2008, Kate Porreca started to notice that Drew Herrington, one of her coworkers at Ryan Homes in Swedesboro, was becoming a bit of a regular at the fax machine near her desk. He was a someone who was easy to talk to, she said. The two became office friends and each secretly developed a crush on the other. (Some of those faxes Drew sent were blank; he just needed an excuse to visit, he later admitted.) When Kate, then 27, finally built up the nerve to tell Drew, then 29, that she liked him, he was shocked. The feeling was mutual, he told her. After a first date at Bridget Foys in Philadelphia, there was no looking back, and they were soon spending their weekends, holidays, and vacations together. A year later, when the couple traveled to Niagara Falls, Canada, to meet Drews grandparents, they each said, I love you. Drew rented his Somerdale home and moved into Kates East Greenwich townhouse with his cat, Leon. We talked about getting engaged, Kate said. About a year later, on April 9, 2012, Kate was on the phone with Drew when he began slurring his speech and abruptly ended the call. I knew something was wrong, Kate said. She frantically called and texted, but he didnt pick up. Drew had sensed he was in trouble and pulled into a parking lot before collapsing behind the wheel. A passerby called police. Drew was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was diagnosed as having had a stroke. READ MORE: Medical Mystery: A doctor had stroke symptoms, but then he listened to his heart and discovered a different diagnosis His right side was paralyzed and he couldnt talk, said Kate. He was transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he underwent surgery to alleviate the swelling in his brain. Afterward, he was transferred to the intensive care unit, with an uncertain prognosis. As his girlfriend, Kate had no legal say in Drews care his parents called the shots. But every step of the way, they treated her like family and involved her in all decisions, she said. Post-op, Drew gave them "little assurances he was still there, said Kate. He quickly mastered the thumbs-up and thumbs-down response to questions. After 10 days, he was transferred to McGee Rehabilitation Hospital in Center City to begin physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The gravity of what had happened didnt hit Kate until she saw Drew in a wheelchair, wearing a protective helmet. 'This is going to be our life,' she remembered thinking. We didnt know what the future held. Kates resolve and love for Drew never wavered. When acquaintances would ask if she was still serious about a future with him, she would set them straight: Drew was her person. She knew nothing would be the same, but she had hope. I always felt like he was going to get better," Kate said. I just kept going." And, so did Drew. He endured five months of inpatient therapy, with Kate visiting every day. When he was released to a day program, he had to move into his grandparents and parents ranch house in Somerdale for a while, because he couldnt handle the stairs of the East Greenwich townhouse he shared with Kate. He was eventually transferred to a rehabilitation program in Cherry Hill, which was closer to home. There were some dark days, said Drew. But he would take a breath, accept what happened, and persevere. He was eventually able to walk with a cane. And although the stroke had left him with limited ability to speak, he was able to speak clearly if he stuck with short sentences. It took some time, but he was finally able to move back into the townhouse with Kate and then, with the use of an adapted car and many lessons, he resumed driving. His first solo trip? Probably Wawa, said Kate. No, Dunkin Donuts, said Drew with a laugh. On Dec. 7, 2013, the couple planned a date night to celebrate Drews birthday, but what Kate didnt know was that for weeks he had been practicing four special words: Will. You. Marry. Me?" Kate knew they would eventually marry, but the proposal at her townhouse complemented by the roses and Champagne Drew had stashed in a duffel was still a surprise. Then we planned a wedding, she said. There were about 100 guests when the couple tied the knot at Braddocks Tavern in Medfordon Oct. 10, 2014, followed by a honeymoon in Palm Beach, Fla. Once back home, Drew focused on growing his house-flipping business, Herrington Homes, and Kate, now a sales manager at Ryan Homes, threw herself back into her job. They spent the next year building a ranch house to accommodate Drews lingering mobility issues. When it was finished, Drew a big animal fan brought home a fluffy cat named Sweetie. Leon, by then, had died. As the couple began settling in to their new normal, the subject of having a baby came up. Theyd always talked about having two children. Now, they wondered if one child was something they could they handle, given that Drew has limited use of his right arm and leg. By now, Kate was 35, so they just decided to try. A few months later, she was pregnant. Kate was having an ultrasound at an early OB appointment when the technician enlisted the opinion of another tech. Kates heart sunk when they asked for Drew, who was in the waiting room, to come into the exam area. Is this bad news? Kate wondered at the time. When the technician turned the screen so the couple could see the results, the emotions flowed. There were two sacks: Baby A and Baby B. Joy. Joy, Drew said. He remembers laughing at the news. Fear. Shock, said Kate, adding that she broke into tears. This news was completely unexpected. Twins do not run in their families. At almost two years of age, Liv and Claire are now the center of their parents universe. Elmo and Big Bird are huge, colors are the new words, and Sweetie the cat is a big source of amusement. A foam balance beam and gym mat take up the floor space not covered by plastic toys and dolls, and there are endless shrieks and giggles during afternoon playtime. This is the joy on the other side of the stroke, said Kate. This is our family. This is us. Were good," said Drew. In spite of all they have been through, life for the Herringtons continues as they always planned with two rambunctious toddlers and a fluffy cat in a house filled with love. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Airbus is pictured at the aircraft builder's headquarters of Airbus in Colomiers near Toulouse CAIRO (Reuters) - Kuwait's anti-corruption authority (NAZAHA) said on Thursday it was open to receiving any information about alleged bribes paid to secure Airbus plane orders involving Kuwaiti parties, according to the state news agency. NAZAHA's investigations spokesman, Mohammad Bo-Zober, was quoted as saying the authority had started reaching out to local newspapers and media outlets that had covered the scandal to collect all possible evidence. Airbus bribed public officials and hid payments as part of a pattern of worldwide corruption, prosecutors said on Jan. 31 as the European planemaker agreed a record $4 billion settlement with France, Britain and the United States. [nL8N2A3663] French prosecutors said their corruption probe involved transactions in a number of countries, including Kuwait. [nP6N29R00X]. The NAZAHA spokesman said the authority could summons people to provide statements, and confirmed Kuwait would cooperate with British prosecutors to collect evidence. (Reporting by Alaa Swilam; Editing by Mark Potter) The installation of a battery storage plant on an elevated hillside above the historic Ceim an Fhia Pass near Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh would transform the countryside view to an industrial site and would run counter to conditions for development previously imposed on the site by An Bord Pleanala. These are among the objections being raised by a farmer to the proposed battery storage facility in Curraglass which is now the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala after an initial planning application for retention of an existing substation and an extension to include four battery storage units was rejected by Cork County Council. The appeal by Redfaze Ltd is the latest twist in a long running saga by the company, one of 113 different companies which include electrical contractors Michael and David Murnane as directors, to locate a battery storage facility at the site which was the location for 10 windmill turbines until they were decommissioned in 2018. That windfarm owned by Gaoithe Glas Ltd was itself the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala when it was being built and among the conditions of permission was a stipulation that the hillside be restored to its full state of natural wildness within twenty years as a structure of this type is not acceptable in this location on a permanent basis. When the turbines were decommissioned because they were no longer economical, the electricity substation at the site which transmitted power from the turbines remained in place. According to Nigel de Haas from Inchincurka near Dunmanway, the appeal for a retention would flout these original conditions by An Bord Pleanala and set a precedent for future similar developments. The siting of four battery storage units coupled with the electricity substation that is required to be decommissioned, would lead to inappropriate development and over a further 30 year longer term lead to the semi industrialisation of an otherwise unspoilt mountain, he writes in an observation about the pending appeal to An Bord Pleanala. No new sustainable electricity would be generated and this would provide for the retention and exacerbation of a visually intrusive form of development on what would otherwise be an unspoilt mountainside where no wind farm is operating, acting as it would as a catalyst for other similar unjustified inappropriate developmentelsewhere. Mr de Haas is not against battery storage units in and of themselves but hes concerned that what looks like an industrial type development isnt located in an inappropriate scenic location like Curraglass but in a properly bounded site near a harbour or other industrial type location. He also has safety concerns about such developments as what battery storage units do is store energy and that carries risks which need to be guarded against. While promoters of battery storage units present their proposals as a way of storing wind turbine energy which would otherwise be lost, there is a significant profit motive involved which doesnt get the same prominence. If the wind turbines are connected to that national grid, the power generated attracts an income based on a widely fluctuating wholesale price and a battery storage facility would allow wind turbine owners store energy in order to sell power to that national grid when the rate was more favourable. The decision on the appeal is due from An Bord Pleanala by May 5. Open source In connection with the shooting in Mukachevo on February 7, Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov ordered the special forces of the National Police and the National Guard to be sent to the city. The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports this information on Facebook. Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov shares the concern of the local authorities about the criminal situation in the region and gave the order to strengthen security measures. In particular, operational officers, as well as Special Forces of the police and the National Guard of Ukraine, were involved in operational preventive testing in the city, - the statement said. Police find out the circumstances of the shooting in Mukachevo, a special operation is being conducted. An investigation and operational group is working at the scene. The search for firing culprits continues. There was a shootout of two men on the off-road vehicles in Mukachevo, Zakarpattya region, at about 10 a.m. February 7. Two people were injured. As we reported, workers of Ukraine's State Border Guard detained a group of illegal migrants in Zakarpattya region, westernmost Ukraine. The incident occurred in Goronglab in Berehove district. The charge sheet has been filed by the police before the special POCSO court here against absconding RJD MLA Arun Yadav, who is accused of raping a minor girl at his residence in Patna. Special public prosecutor Saroj Kumari said the charge sheet has been filed against Yadav, who represents Sandesh assembly seat, under IPC sections relating to human trafficking and sexual assault besides those of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. Special POCSO judge R K Singh has posted the matter for further hearing on February 10 and issued notices to the Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and the secretary of the state assembly to ensure that the legislator appears on that date, she said. Deposing before the court, the police said that movable and immovable property belonging to Yadav was being attached. The RJD MLA has been on the run ever since his name cropped up in a sex racket which was busted in September last year. Poor girls from the districts were lured by some locals, including a woman, with the promise of getting them a job and pushed into flesh trade. The matter had come to light after a girl, who was rescued from the clutches of her captors in Patna by her family, gave a statement before the police that she was sent among other places to the Patna residence of the MLA where she was raped. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Polling for the 70 seats of Delhi Assembly began at 8 am in the capital amid tight security on Saturday. The voting will continue till 6 pm in the evening. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. Several political heavyweights are trying their luck from their old turfs. Chief Minister Kejriwal is contesting from New Delhi seat. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against him while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabbarwal from the seat. AAP's Dillip Pandey is contesting from Timarpur, Atishi from Kalkaji, Raghav Chadha from Rajender Nagar. BJP has fielded Vijender Gupta from Rohini. Former AAP leader Kapil Mishra is the BJP candidate from Model Town in this election. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga is a BJP candidate from Hari Nagar. Congress has fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar. Former AAP leader Alka Lamba is a Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk. Haroon Yusuf is contesting from Ballimaran. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election. Out of the total number of eligible voters -- 1,47,86,382 -- there are 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. Besides this, there are 869 third gender voters. As many as 13,571 polling stations are there at 2,688 locations. Out of these, 3,141 are critical polling stations and 144 are vulnerable polling stations. 2,04,830 voters are above the age of 80, while 147 voters are above the age of 100. The oldest voter is 110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, resident of Greater Kailash. To ensure peaceful and fair polling in all 70 constituencies, as many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. Besides this, 19,000 Home Guards and 42,000 Delhi Police personnel will also be deployed. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite testing negative for the virus, Gaurav Bandera has been detained aboard a ship off Hong Kong The cruise ship World Dream lies docked at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong, Saturday, February 8, 2020. The World Dream with approximately 1,800 passengers remained quarantined in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on Saturday. Several passengers from mainland China on a previous World Dream cruise were found to have the new coronavirus on returning home. (AP) Mangaluru/Karwar: The coronavirus has not only claimed hundreds of lives in China, it has upset the wedding plans of Gaurav Bandera of Kumapala village near Mangaluru. The employee of Star Cruises, which operates cruiseliners, is presently aboard a ship World Dream anchored off Hong Kong while the authorities are performing repeated coronavirus screenings of everyone on board. The wedding was fixed for Monday, February 10, but with no hope of the groom reaching the venue on time, it has had to be postponed. Dozens of guests whod already arrived for the festivities are put off. The marriage was fixed about eight months ago when Gaurav came to Mangaluru for a holiday. He was supposed to arrive here on January 26 to prepare for the wedding, but the ship was held up at Hong Kong due to the coronavirus scare, said Sabitha Raj, a relative. "The authorities promised to let those on board go if they tested negative. Gaurav has tested negative 3-4 times. But it looks like they are taking extra precautions and are not sending anyone out," she added. Meanwhile in Mangaluru, several of Gauravs relatives arrived for the wedding from distant places as they could not cancel their tickets at the last moment. "We had sent a message to all our relatives and friends that the wedding has been postponed, but some who could not cancel the tickets have arrived. We had hopes (of his arrival) till yesterday, but we cannot go ahead with the wedding now, she added. The family has sought the help of three layers of the administrationdistrict, state and Union government--to secure Gauravs release. Would-be groom Gaurav Bandera is not the only person from Uttara Kannada district to be stranded on a ship due to the coronavirus scare. Twenty-six-year-old Abhishek Magar, who works for Bermuda-based Princess Cruise Lines, is on the cruiseliner Diamond Princess which has been moored off Yokohama midway through its voyage to Japan from China. The young mans father, Balakrishna B Magar, a resident of Nandagadda in Karwar, has written to deputy commissioner Harish Kumar urging him to approach the Ministry of External Affairs for help. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Three days after his State of the Union address, President Trump traveled on Friday to North Carolina to drive home one of the speechs major themes. This is a blue-collar boom, Mr. Trump said, repeating what he told Congress was responsible for the great American comeback. He added, Boom! The presidents visit to a Charlotte community college gave him a chance to celebrate a 3.6 percent unemployment rate, the latest jobs numbers, which showed that employers added 255,000 jobs in January, and the 2017 tax bill. All of those issues are key components of what is expected to be the centerpiece of his re-election campaign: the economy. He boasted about his poll numbers, the 2016 election, his relationship with China, soldiers coming home and criminal justice overhaul. He derided Democrats over their trade policies and the chaos during the Iowa caucuses on Monday, and he dismissed the failed impeachment hoax. New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa "joint economic projects" in the island nation and enhancing two-way trade and investment. In the conversation that covered international issues of mutual concern, both sides discussed ways to expand bilateral ties. "We also discussed increasing our people-to-people relation, encourage tourism, and improving connectivity," Modi said. The two prime ministers discussed cooperation in combating terrorism and maritime security. Modi hoped that Sri Lanka will carry forward the process of reconciliation with Tamils. I am confident that Sri Lankan government will realise expectations of Tamil people for equality, justice, peace within united Sri Lanka I am confident the government will work towards reconciliation, Modi said with Rajapaksa standing by side. He also addressed the issue of Indian fishermen who are often arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy or come under fire. We have decided to adopt humanitarian approach in dealing with issue of fishermen, Modi said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier called on him and termed Sri Lanka as a partner in development, progress, and security. "The broad ranging discussions focused on expediting ongoing projects and cooperation in a number of sectors such as tourism," Rajapaksa said in a tweet. Rajapaksa, who arrived here last evening, was given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning. Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day. This is the first overseas visit of Rajapaksa since he assumed office. Earlier President Gaotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited New Delhi in November and January this year, respectively. UNI SRJ KOHLER, Wis. (AP) Kohler Co. has agreed to pay a $20 million civil penalty to resolve allegations that emissions from its small spark-ignition engines violated the Clean Air Act and California law. The Wisconsin-based company reached the agreement Thursday with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. Regulators say the alleged violations involved Kohler's manufacture and sale of millions of small, non-road, non-handheld spark-ignition engines that did not conform to certification applications Kohler was required to submit to the EPA and the California Air Resources Board. Regulators also allege that more than 144,000 of the engines also were equipped with a fueling strategy known as a defeat device designed to cheat emissions testing standards. Small, spark-ignition engines are used in lawn mowers, ride-on mowers, commercial landscaping equipment and generators. The engines in question were sold from 2010 to 2015. Today's settlement holds Kohler accountable for flouting federal law, and evens the playing field for others in the regulated community who invest in compliance programs designed to prevent illegal and harmful emissions to the air, said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. Kohler says the company voluntarily and promptly reported the issues when the company became aware of them in late 2015. The company says it took steps to swiftly correct the issues, and does not admit any liability in the settlement. It has always been Kohler's intent to comply with relevant regulations, the company said in a statement Thursday. Kohler Engines is committed to designing and manufacturing quality, compliant products. Under the settlement, Kohler will retire what regulators allege were unlawfully generated emission credits, reducing air pollution by about 3,600 tons. In a separate agreement resolving California-only claims, Kohler will pay an additional $200,000 civil penalty and fund a program that will supply $1.8 million worth of solar-battery generators to low-income residents of California who live in areas where power is shut off to lessen wildfire risk. Kohler, a privately owned company based in Kohler, Wisconsin, said it already has taken steps to improve its emissions certification and testing procedures, introduce new management structure and oversight processes, and further strengthen its training programs. The company says all of Kohler's products sold since 2016 are in compliance with regulations. San Francisco, Feb 8 : After South Korean company LG electronics and the Swedish telecommunication giant Ericsson, now graphics giant Nvidia has announced that it is not sending its employees to the Mobile World Congress 2020 in Barcelona due to the public health risks around the coronavirus. Nvidia was a major sponsor of the conference, and had partnered with the GSMA conference organising body to host an entire track of 10 sessions and roundtables around artificial intelligence, The Verge reported on Friday. "Given public health risks around the coronavirus, ensuring the safety of our colleagues, partners and customers are our highest concern. We have been looking forward to sharing our work in AI, 5G and vRAN with the industry, we regret not attending, but believe this is the right decision." the company said. With the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus showing no signs of slowing down, the industry watchers has also warned that others may soon follow suit. According to Ericsson, the company has already taken a number of precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of its employees and to minimise the impact on the company's operations. "After an extensive internal risk assessment, Ericsson has decided to take further precautionary measures by withdrawing from the MWC Barcelona 2020, the largest event in the telecom industry," it said in a statement. Ericsson said as one of the largest exhibitors, it has thousands of visitors in its hall each day and even if the risk is low, the company cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees and visitors. To showcase the company's portfolio and innovations, Ericsson will take the demos and content created for the MWC Barcelona to customers in their home markets with local events called "Ericsson Unboxed". Earlier, LG Electronics said in a statement that with the safety of its employees, partners and customers foremost in mind, "LG has decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating in MWC 2020 later this month in Barcelona, Spain". The MWC organiser GSMA said that it is monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the coronavirus on its events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles and as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. After report of ZTE cancelling a press conference at the MWC 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak surfaced, the Chinese tech major clarified that it will still have booth space at the show and that its participation in the event will go "as planned". Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The trial of a man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe this week heard from the late officer's colleagues and credit union workers who were at the scene the night he was shot dead. One witness told the court she feared being killed having "seen too much", while his partner recalled thinking he would prefer being shot with a handgun rather than a shotgun because it would give him a better chance of survival. The evidence was given at the trial of Aaron Brady (28), who has denied the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to the robbery of around 7,000 from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. On Tuesday, Det Gda Joe Ryan, a former garda member who had been a detective since 1998, gave evidence he was on patrol with Det Gda Donohoe that night as part of an armed escort. He described the night as "dark, wet and quite miserable", arriving at Omeath's credit union at 8.25pm. They escorted a credit union worker to the Lordship branch, where they waited in the car park for a number of minutes before preparing to leave, Det Gda Ryan said. The witness recalled a vehicle approached the credit union exit and blocked the black Nissan Qashqai at the front of the escort. Det Gda Ryan said the next thing he heard was 'banging noises' behind him and when he looked to his side he saw two men approach the vehicle on the right. The first man, he told the court, was holding a long single-barrel shotgun in his hand. Det Gda Ryan said he heard a loud bang and saw a flash from the front of the shotgun. He said at this stage he could not see Det Gda Donohoe, who had left the vehicle, and believed it was a warning shot. He told the court the person armed with the shotgun then threatened him and said: "I'm going to f***ing kill you, I'm going to shoot you. Give us the money." The witness told prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan SC there was a second individual armed with a handgun which he described looking like a Sig or Glock firearm. He also said he was thinking during the incident he would prefer to be shot with the "9mm" handgun rather than the shotgun because there would have been a "better chance of survival" with the smaller firearm. He then noticed the two armed men run towards the exit of the car park, while a third raider jumped over a wall towards the vehicle that was blocking the exit, which drove off in the direction of Dundalk. Det Gda Ryan left the car and a short time later noticed Det Gda Donohoe lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and realised he was deceased. Audio recordings of a radio call for "urgent assistance" made by Det Gda Ryan were also played in court in which he says: "Adrian, I think he's fatally shot." Gardai on patrol that night recalled the transmissions coming through on their Tetra radios. Garda Alan Lynch said the voice of Det Gda Ryan was "highly distressed" while Garda Finbarr Gurrihy described the detective as having "panic" in his voice. Credit union workers in the car park at the time also gave evidence, with one employee saying she feared being killed by a man running towards her because she had "seen too much". Bernadette McShane, a volunteer at Lordship Credit Union for 25 years, broke down as she recalled the night. She described hearing two loud bangs and then saw Det Gda Donohoe falling to the ground and not moving. After this, she said, an individual ran towards her. Ms McShane wiped away tears before telling the court she thought he was coming "to kill me because I'd seen too much". This individual smashed her driver side window and told her to give him "the f***ing money" before fleeing with her handbag. Another employee, Pat Bellew, was leaving the car park to join the escort having credit union takings totalling around 7,000 with him, the court heard. He said he reversed his Mazda car to leave when he noticed a number of people jumping over the back wall of the credit union. One of the men, he said, smashed the driver side window of the car before making his way around to the passenger. Footage was also played to the court from a dashcamera in Mr Bellew's car which captured some of the incident, in which the witness agreed screaming and shouting can be heard. Mary Hanlon, a credit union worker at the Cooley office, was sitting in her Nissan Qashqai at the exit of the car park at the time. A vehicle approached and blocked the exit, she told the court, before hearing two bangs. Ms Hanlon then noticed two men run past her vehicle with one of them holding a "long gun down his side". Both got into the car blocking the exit with the man holding the weapon down his side, who was described as "very fit and very fast". The witness told the court her gut instinct was that the driver of this car, who she saw from a side profile, was a female with blonde hair, wearing a beanie hat aged in her 20s or 30s. Garda Rachel Copperthwaite gave evidence she was on patrol that night and arrived at the car park of Lordship Credit Union at around 9.35pm. The witness said she saw Det Gda Donohoe lying beside the Toyota with a serious injury to the right-hand side of his face and "knew immediately he was deceased". Gda Copperthwaite told the court she began taking details from witnesses at the scene. She recalled observing a bag near the credit union wall which she covered with a plastic bag. A short time later the garda noticed a set of Nissan keys on the opposite side of the road which she covered with an evidence bag. The 15-person jury also heard the wife of Det Gda Donohoe visited the scene 90 minutes after his killing to identify her husband's body. Inspector Darren Kirwan, a friend and colleague of the late detective for 17 years, said he attended the Donohoe home where his wife Caroline indicated she wished to go to the scene. The post-mortem report of pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber was also read out in court in which Det Gda Donohoe's cause of death was given as a penetrating gunshot wound to the face. He also recorded a number of personal effects that were on Det Gda Donohoe, including a wedding band on his left ring finger, a notebook and a dark leather holder with ammunition cartridge and magazine clip inside. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White on Monday morning. By Joel Slattery and Eoin English Gardai in Cork have launched an investigation after a window in the constituency office of the leader of the Seanad and Fine Gael election candidate was smashed. Senator Jerry Buttimers office in Douglas was attacked overnight by vandals who apparently threw a brick through the front window ahead of polling day. The Fine Gael candidate posted the video just after 9.30am today of the smashed window in his Douglas office. "Not a pleasant sight on polling day, broken window in my Constituency office," he said. "Our right to vote is precious but acts of vandalism on a public representative office is unacceptable." Not a pleasant sight on polling day, broken window in my Constituency office. Our right to vote is precious but acts of vandalism on a public representative office is unacceptable pic.twitter.com/gbeNKlglrB Senator Jerry Buttimer (@jerrybuttimer) February 8, 2020 It is the second such attack on the office of a Fine Gael Senator and election candidate in Cork during the election campaign. Last month vandals threw a brick through the window of the Blackpool constituency office of Fine Gael Senator and Cork North Central candidate Colm Burke. He vowed at the time not to be deterred. Mr Buttimer is in the hotly contested four-seat Cork South-Central constituency that has as incumbents Fianna Fail duo Michael McGrath and party leader Micheal Martin, as well as Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O Laoghaire and Mr Buttimer's party colleague Tanaiste Simon Coveney. By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lawsuit brought by Democratic lawmakers that accused Donald Trump of violating anti-corruption provisions in the U.S. By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lawsuit brought by Democratic lawmakers that accused Donald Trump of violating anti-corruption provisions in the U.S. Constitution with his business dealings, capping a week of political victories for the Republican president. A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the more than 210 House of Representatives and Senate Democrats lacked the required legal standing to bring the case, reversing a lower court judge's decision that had allowed the case to proceed. Two days after being acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial, Trump hailed the ruling as a "total win," telling reporters that "it was another phony case." Elizabeth Wydra, a lawyer for the lawmakers, said they were disappointed in the decision and were weighing their next steps. Trump still faces two similar lawsuits pending in other courts that also accuse him of violating the Constitution's rarely tested "emoluments" clauses that bar presidents from taking gifts or payments from foreign and state governments. The lawsuits all have focused on his ownership of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, just blocks from the White House. The hotel, opened by Trump shortly before he was elected in 2016, has become a favoured lodging and event space for some foreign and state officials visiting Washington. The ruling came during a week of positives for Trump as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3. He previewed election themes in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, benefited from the chaotic aftermath of Monday's Democratic presidential nomination contest in Iowa, and was given a lift by Friday's strong jobs report. Reuters/Ipsos polling shows that Trump's approval rating has been largely unchanged by impeachment, with 42 percent of Americans approving of his performance as president. Unlike past presidents, Trump - a wealthy real estate developer-turned politician, has retained ownership of his business interests while serving in the White House. The emoluments lawsuits have accused him of making himself vulnerable to bribery by foreign governments. In the case dismissed on Friday, the appeals court decided that it was bound by Supreme Court rulings that have limited the ability of individual members of Congress to litigate questions that affect the legislative branch as a whole. The Democratic lawmakers "can, and likely will, continue to use their weighty voices to make their case to the American people, their colleagues in the Congress and the President himself," the three-judge panel wrote. "But we will not - indeed we cannot - participate in this debate." One of the two other emoluments lawsuits against Trump, brought by the Democratic attorneys general for the District of Columbia and Maryland, is awaiting a ruling by the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year revived the other emoluments lawsuit, which was brought by a public interest advocacy group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. At least one of those cases could end up being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to legal experts. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Additional reporting by Chris Kahn and Jeff Mason; Editing by Will Dunham and Andy Sullivan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. More than 100 child protection organizations, including some from India, have urged Facebook to halt plans for strong encryption of all its platforms, saying the move will deal a blow to attempts to check the spread of child pornography. The social network is working to extend end-to-end encryption across its social media messaging applications Facebook Messenger and Instagram. The encryption, the activists have said, will make it almost impossible for law enforcement agencies to access evidence or detect potential abuse. The letter was sent on February 6 and was initiated by UK-based National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and has been signed by more than 100 organisations. ECPAT International, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), SafeNet, and Child USA are some of the signatories. In India, the Chennai-based Tulir - Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (CPHCSA) and Mumbai NGO Arpan have signed the letter. Activists argued that while there was a legitimate interest among users to keep their data safe, Facebook has a responsibility to work with law enforcement agencies to prevent the use of its platform for grooming, sharing of child sex abuse imagery and the coercion of children for producing these imagery. As child protection experts, we cannot overstate the strength of our concerns If Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct are both seamlessly integrated into large open platforms, abusers will be able to exploit existing design aspects to make easy and frictionless contact with large numbers of children, and then rapidly progress to make end-to-end encrypted messages, the letter reads. The activists have called upon Facebook to halt the roll-out of the encryption process unless these concerns are addressed. They have also asked Facebook to invest in safety measures to scan for child abuse images, help government agencies with necessary data and consult child protection experts before making design changes on the platform. As per NCMEC data, in 2018 alone, Facebook registered 16.8 million reports with it about child abuse imagery. In the UK, these reports led to 2,500 arrests. As per NCMEC estimates, if encryption is enforced, it will affect 70% of Facebooks reports, or about 12 million reports. Strong encryption is critically important to keep everyone safe from hackers and criminals, said David Miles, Facebooks head of safety for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to news agency AFP. The rollout of end-to-end encryption is a long-term project, protecting children online is critically important to this effort and we are committed to building strong safety measures into our plans. Miles said Facebook was already working with law enforcement, government and technology companies to keep children safe online. When I heard the news about New York City regulators suddenly banning brokers from charging a fee to renters, I was shocked, and not in a good way. I scrolled through Twitter, reading the comments from some of the citys most prominent voices celebrating this as a victory over awful, unscrupulous middlemen, and my heart sank. To be clear, fees are the primary means through which the citys 25,000 licensed real estate brokers make money. And while they will still be able to collect fees from landlords (and renters who hire a broker themselves), those in the industry widely expect the compensation to be much smaller if this regulation stands. A lot of people think that all brokers are fat cats. And there are certainly some superstar agents who rake in much more than the average. But many New York rental agents actually make between $45,000 to $60,000 a year. Thats decidedly middle-class, especially in this city. I personally know many people who have had bad experiences with dishonest brokers. But there are few professions that are so widely viewed as malicious in everything from TV commercials to my kids cartoons. But you can find bad apples in any profession. Not all brokers are shady, and we shouldnt be celebrating a change in policy that could ruin their livelihoods. I should know; Im married to one of them. A large number of police personnel will be deployed along the route of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's morcha on Sunday in Mumbai, an official said on Saturday. The Raj Thackeray-led party has organised the march demanding eviction of illegal (Muslim) immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh staying in India. Thousands of MNS activists are expected to participate in the 'Mahamorcha', set to begin around 12 noon from Hindu Gymkhana along Marine Drive to the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Thackeray is scheduled to address the gathering at the Maidan. "Apart from local police, personnel of the State Reserve Police Force (DRPF), Riot Control Police, Quick Response Teams (QRTs), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS), and additional 600 policemen will be deployed on the morcha route," the Mumbai Police spokesperson said. He also said that police personnel in civvies will mingle with the crowd to keep an eye on anti-social elements. "Besides, CCTVs and drones will be used for monitoring the crowd," he said. Some roads will remain closed for vehicular movement while traffic on other roads will be diverted on Sunday in view of the march, another official said. In the moves viewed as his party's endeavour to jump onto the Hindutva bandwagon, the MNS chief had last month launched a new saffron flag bearing the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji. According to political observers, the MNS, which was relegated to the margins in Maharashtra after successive electoral drubbings in the last ten years, is trying to fill the Hindutva vacuum believed to have been created after the Shiv Sena joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a government in November last year. In his recent interview to party mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had denied that his party had abandoned the agenda of Hindutva. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You are the man! Nathan the prophet is best remembered for his dramatic speech to King David, confronting him about his adultery with Bathsheba. However, Nathan did far more in the service of God and King David than what is portrayed in this single incident. So who was Nathan, the man who had the audacity to appear before a king and convict him of sin? It turns out, Nathan and King David had a history together, and a relationship that would continue for years to come. Though Nathan may not possess a book in the Bible named after him, he was a significant biblical figure who played a major role in the building of the Temple and the delivery of the Messianic promise. Who Is Nathan? Nathan was a prophet during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Little is known about Nathans early life, though some Jewish sources, like Avrohom Bergstein in this article, indicate he may have studied either directly or indirectly under Samuel. He was a court prophet, providing counsel to the kings. Nathan appears in the Bible on at least four occasions. Where Is Nathan Introduced in the Bible? The first time Nathan is mentioned in the Bible is in 2 Samuel 7:1-2: After the king [David] was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent. David was addressing the fact that the Tabernacle, the center of worship and the house of the Ark of the Covenant, was a tent, whereas his palace was luxurious (cedar was considered a sign of wealth). Nathan replied, Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you (2 Samuel 7:3). However, that night God spoke to Nathan and told him otherwise; it was not His plan for David to build Him a house. Instead, God promised David the He would build him a house: The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever (2 Samuel 7:11-14, 16). This passage points forward to Jesus. God promised that someone from the line of David would sit on the throne forever; this is known as the Davidic Covenant. Since Jesus came from the line of David, this came true, and Jesus throne is established forever. Though it is not mentioned in this passage, 1 Chronicles 22:8 and 28:3 indicate that David was not chosen to construct the Temple because he was a man of war and had shed much blood, whereas God wanted the Temple to be established in peace. David was overjoyed to hear this news from Nathan. However, the next time the Bible records Nathan delivering David a message from God, it isnt nearly as joyful. Photo credit: Pixabay/stocksnap Nathan Rebukes David David lusted after a married woman named Bathsheba. When she became pregnant with his child, he had her husband killed and married her to cover up his sin. However, this sin wasnt hidden from God. Thus, the Lord sent Nathan to David with a message. Nathan told David a story of two men, a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had a large number of sheep, while the poor man only had one little lamb that he loved dearly and treated like his own child. When a traveler came to the rich man, instead of slaughtering one of his own sheep, the rich man took the poor mans lamb and prepared it for the traveler to eat. David responded with great anger. As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity (2 Samuel 12:5-6). Nathan replied, You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7). David had everything, but still took another mans wife. David repented of this wrongdoing (which he writes of in Psalm 51), and Nathan passed along Gods message of forgiveness. However, because of this sin, Davids son with Bathsheba died. Does Nathan Appear Elsewhere in the Bible? Nathan brings another message to David after the birth of Bathshebas second son, Solomon, telling of Gods love for the child (2 Samuel 12:24-25). Nathan appears in the Bible again in 1 Kings 1 in Davids old age when Davids son Adonijah conspires to take the kingship. Nathan and Bathsheba confront David about the issue, and David declares that Solomon should be made king, as promised. Nathan is instrumental in securing Solomons kingship, after which Adonijahs cronies disperse. The fourth son (third to live) of Bathsheba was named Nathan. This Nathan is mentioned in Lukes genealogy as an ancestor of Jesus in Luke 3:31. It can only be imagined that this son was named after the faithful court prophet. What Is a Prophet? Nathan is called Nathan the prophet, or, in the Hebrew, Nathan the nabi. A prophet proclaimed a message given to him. Prophets spoke Gods truth to others, often delivering direct messages from God. During Nathans time, schools or orders had arisen for the proper training of prophets. Often, the messages of prophets concerned both the present and the future, for example when Nathan confronted David about his current sin of adultery while also warning that Davids son would die. In Israel, when prophets werent being killed by people who didnt like what they were saying, they were often greatly respected. What Is a Court Prophet? Prophets in the time of the kings might serve in the temple or places of worship, live alone, or even serve in the court of the king himself. Those of the last category are called court prophets. They were in the service of the ruler and were consulted about important decisions. Though corrupt court prophets would eventually become a major problem for the kings of Israel and Judah, Nathan was a godly and reliable court prophet. What Happened to Nathan? Nathan had a lasting influence even after his death. A book of Nathan the prophet is mentioned in both first and second Chronicles. Although this work has since been lost, there is some speculation that parts or all of it might have been integrated into the books of Samuel or Kings. Three centuries later, King Hezekiah followed instructions left by Nathan concerning Levite musicians in the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:25). Nothing is known for sure about Nathans late life or death, but apocryphal sources claim that he lived to an old age and was buried in his own land. A midrash of the Jewish Talmud teaches that two honorary seats flanked the throne of Solomon, one for Gad the seer and one for Nathan the prophet. However Nathan died or spent his last years, he had a lasting influence even after his death. The story of Nathan and David is recounted numberless times in churches and Sunday schools all over the world, reminding believers about the consequences of sin, the beauty of repentance, and the greatness of Gods forgiveness. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Public Domain Images/Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld Alyssa Roat studied writing, theology, and the Bible at Taylor University. She is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E., the publicity manager at Mountain Brook Ink, and a freelance editor with Sherpa Editing Services. She is the co-author of Dear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging from The Christian Communicator to Keys for Kids. Find out more about her here and on social media @alyssawrote. Longtime CTV Winnipeg news anchor Gord Leclerc has landed a new job with the Province of Manitoba after he was abruptly let go by the station in November after nearly 25 years. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Longtime CTV Winnipeg news anchor Gord Leclerc has landed a new job with the Province of Manitoba after he was abruptly let go by the station in November after nearly 25 years. Beginning Monday, Leclerc will serve as press secretary to Health Minister Cameron Friesen. Gord Leclerc joined CTV in 1995 and had been the local station's senior news anchor since 2002. Leclerc told the Free Press in a brief interview Friday evening that he was grateful for the opportunity and excited to begin a new chapter in his career. He started working at CTV Winnipeg in 1995 as a reporter and weekend anchor, before being promoted to anchor of the weekday 6 p.m. flagship news show. He co-hosted the 6 p.m. newscast with Maralee Caruso. From 2002 to his dismissal last November, he served as the stations senior anchor. Shortly after he was let go from the position, Patricia Garcia, Bell Medias communications manager in Toronto, said in a written statement that the move was brought about by "rapid industry change." "Were feeling the effects of rapid industry change in many parts of our business, including local TV... To ensure we remain competitive, were managing the impact on our bottom line while also investing in content and platforms," Garcia said. "We thank Gord for his contribution to CTV and wish him the best." Leclerc wasnt the only CTV staffer dismissed in November 2019. At the time, Paul McKie, an area director for Unifor the union representing CTV staff said the company fired unionized and non-unionized workers at stations across Canada. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Job loss in local broadcasting continues to be of great concern to Unifor and its continued impact on local news," McKie said. Many Winnipeggers and former colleagues expressed shock at Leclercs dismissal after the news broke. Leclerc replaces another former journalist, Kevin Engstrom, as Friesens press secretary. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood It's a beautiful day for everyone thanks to director Marielle Heller and her heartfelt love letter to self-acceptance, inspired by Tom Junod's magazine article Can You Say. Hero? A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood dramatises the meeting of an emotionally bruised journalist and softly spoken children's TV host Fred Rogers, who preached understanding and compassion for more than 30 years on his half-hour educational series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Regular forays into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe in the company of hand puppets allowed Rogers to directly address his audience and shepherd pre-schoolers through tricky rites of passage. Scriptwriters Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster bookmark the cynical reporter's journey of self-discovery with miniature models of New York and Pittsburgh that perfectly reflect the opening sequence of Rogers' show and the playful, simple and childlike qualities of the host. Two-times Oscar winner Tom Hanks is mercurial as Rogers, perfectly capturing his melodic vocal delivery and boundless bonhomie, which continues when cameras stop rolling. Matthew Rhys is a pleasing counterpoint as the embittered writer, who wrongly considers himself broken. Together, they make the dialogue sing and guide us unscathed through potentially saccharine and sappy moments of renewal and redemption. Investigative reporter Lloyd Vogel (Rhys) accepts a feature-writing prize at the black-tie National Magazine Awards with a speech about socially responsible journalism. 'Sometimes, we get to change a broken world with our words,' he tells his peers. Soon afterwards, long-time editor Ellen (Christine Lahti) commissions him to write an article on beloved children's host Fred Rogers (Hanks) for a forthcoming issue on inspirational people. 'He was the only person on our list willing to be interviewed by you,' she explains. '400 words. Play nice.'. Lloyd's wife Andrea (Susan Kelechi Watson), who gave birth to their son Gavin four months ago, is painfully aware of her husband's reputation. 'Oh god, Lloyd. Please don't ruin my childhood,' she pleads. Wearing his trademark cynicism as a badge of honour, Lloyd sits down to interview Fred, tossing out benign questions ('Are you a vegetarian?') in the hope of eliciting an interesting response ('I just can't imagine eating anything with a mother.') Fred's benevolent facade refuses to crack and, as Lloyd spends more time with his subject, the writer is compelled to address deep fissures in the relationship with his father (Chris Cooper). A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood is an impeccably acted testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, which embraces us like a warm hug. Heller's faith in her actors is richly rewarded as she meticulously recreates TV studio sets that became a place of comfort to generations of American children. By the time Fred launches into his closing theme song, It's Such A Good Feeling, we're in rhapsodic agreement. Wayland alumnus Emily Smith, a researcher with the Duke Global Institute of Health and Baylor University, and a participant at the United Nations, will be the keynote speaker for the two-day Willson Lectures series at Wayland Baptist University on March 3-4. The Lectures will begin with dinner and a lecture on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Smith will speak on Global Missions Through Research: The Intersection of Faith, Epidemiology, Economics and Policy in the McClung University Center. On Wednesday Smith will speak on Redefining Success: What Does Having it All Really Mean? at 11 a.m. in Harral Memorial Auditorium, touching on both her research career and faith. Following chapel, students and guests are invited to bring their lunch to the McClung Center banquet room and enjoy an informal question-and-answer time with Smith. Smith is a 2003 graduate of Wayland, earning her degree in biology and recognized as the Citizenship Award winner as a senior. She earned a Master of Science in Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina in epidemiology in 2006 and a doctorate in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina in 2016. She became a research scholar at the Duke Global Health Institute in 2015 where she remains an adjunct assistant professor. She joined the faculty at Baylor University in fall 2017 as assistant professor of epidemiology. Smith enjoys research on global pediatric surgery, health economics and policy and health system strengthening. She has published numerous articles and given many presentations on related topics. Her research has been concentrated in Somaliland, one of the worlds poorest countries, but she has also studied trends in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Latin America and the Congo. She has new work developing in other low-income countries as well. Most notably, Smith is a researcher for an NGO called the Global Initiative for Childrens Surgery, which brings together 200-plus medical doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists from more than 50 countries. Her research data helps advocate for the needs of children worldwide, and she presented at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for universal health coverage. It is always exciting to hear from experts in their fields at the annual Willson Lectures on our campus, and its especially fun when we can feature one of our Wayland alumni, said Teresa Young, director of alumni relations and the Willson committee chair. Dr. Emily Smith is one of our shining stars and is making such an impact globally with her research. Her faith is just as vibrant as her intellect, and I believe students and other guests will enjoy hearing her share. Aside from her busy work schedule, Smith is married to her Wayland sweetheart and fellow Citizenship Award winner, Mike, who serves as discipleship pastor at First Baptist Church in Woodway. The couple has two children, Bella and Jonathan. The Tuesday dinner will be held in banquet room 211 in the McClung Center on the Wayland campus in Plainview. The event is free and open to the public with RSVPs required by Feb. 25. Chapel and the lunch are free as well, with no RSVPs required. For more information or to RSVP, contact Young at (806) 291-3600 or by email to teresa.young@wbu.edu. The Maldives is very grateful to India for evacuating seven Maldivians from coronavirus-hit Wuhan province in China, Defense Minister Mariya Didi said on Friday. "We are very grateful to India. India has come to our needs in every situation. We sort your help and you were very forthcoming for keeping these seven individuals in quarantine including a very small child who was there at the camp. I have learned that they are well and all have tested negative of coronavirus," Didi said during a press briefing. Earlier this month, India airlifted more than 600 individuals including seven Maldivians from China`s Wuhan, the epicenter of deadly coronavirus. Indian and Maldives nationals were stranded in China after the country imposed quarantine to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 600 people. The evacuees, on their arrival in New Delhi, were to quarantine centers set up by the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Manesar and Chhawla. They were later declared coronavirus-free. Didi, who was in Lucknow to participate in the Defence India Expo, held "productive" meetings with Indian officials including her Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and Cheif of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat."I was here for Defence Expo and to look at the exhibition. I have seen many wonderful equipments there which I think would take India to another sphere where defence exports are concerned. I have a very productive meeting with Rajantha Singh and your CDS," Didi said. The four-day event--DefenceExpo 2020-- commenced on February 5 in Lucknow city of Uttar Pradesh. Anupam Guha, assistant professor, Centre for Policy Studies IIT-B, explains socialism, in part 2 of IIT Bombay for Justice's #PreambleLectures series Editor's Note: The following was originally published on 8 February. It is being republished on the occasion of India's Constitution Day the day in 1949 on which the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India. The words of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, like the National Anthem, come easily to our lips. We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all Fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; In our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution. And yet, glibly though we pronounce these words, few among us have dwelt on and fully understood their meaning. A lecture series organised by the IIT-Bombay for Justice group between 16-26 January 2020 attempts to address just this gap. Even as the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India has shown up the fault lines amid the people of this country, IIT-Bombay for Justices Preamble lecture series endeavours to go back to the basics; to examine what it means to be a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, to reaffirm the ideals enshrined in the Constitution justice, liberty, equality, fraternity that Indians must hold on to, more than ever in these fractured times. More from the series, here. *** In lecture 2, Anupam Guha, assistant professor, Centre for Policy Studies IIT Bombay, explains socialism. Watch it here: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 17:21:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with his visiting Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Saturday, foreign ministry officials said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa held comprehensive and intensive talks reviewing the wide canvas of relations. Our shared key priorities of security, connectivity and welfare of both our people topped the agenda," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a brief note on social media said. Rajapaksa arrived in New Delhi on Friday on a four-day visit. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation which includes ministers, lawmakers and top officials of Sri Lanka. This is the first visit of Rajapaksa abroad after he took over as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in November last year. Indian officials said there has been a series of high-level visits between the two countries. Last year Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose India as the first destination to visit after he assumed office following his victory in elections. Over 54 per cent of voters in Delhi had cast their ballot by 6 pm on Saturday with voting picking up pace in the last three hours. The voting percentage was 54.65 per cent till 6 pm and gone up by over 10 per cent in the last one hour. It was 44.52 per cent at 5 pm, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app. The voting for 70-members Delhi assembly concluded at 6 pm and voters who had entered the polling station before the stipulated time will be allowed to cast their vote. Polling in most assembly constituencies was between 50 and 60 per cent according to the poll panel data and is expected to improve. Prominent among those who cast their votes were President Ram Nath Kovind, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, and Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and S Jaishankar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also cast their votes. Over 1.4 crore people are eligible to cast their votes including 81,05,236 male voters and 66,80,277 female voters. There are 869 third gender voters. Ballimaran is the smallest constituency in the capital with an area of 2.50 square kilometres. Narela is the biggest with an area of 143.42 sq km. The voting is being held at 13,571 polling stations of which 3,141 are critical and 144 vulnerable polling stations. The contest is largely triangular between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress. Both BJP and Congress have given a few seats to their allies. AAP had secured a landslide victory in the last polls winning 67 seats. The results will be declared on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 16:46:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Zhang Jun on Friday expressed his appreciation for UN support in China's fight against novel coronavirus. Zhang made the remarks during a meeting with Mourad Wahba, acting associate administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Wahba transmitted a letter from UNDP administrator Achim Steiner to Chinese leaders on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus, expressing UNDP's confidence in China, solidarity with the Chinese people, and commitment to provide all possible assistance. Zhang introduced China's efforts to fight the outbreak. He said that under the deployment and command of President Xi Jinping, China has managed a nationwide mobilization and deployment, quickly responding to the outbreak. The fullest and strictest control measures have been put in place, he said, adding the efforts are achieving results and that China is fully confident and capable of defeating the epidemic. He went on to say that the Chinese government is engaged in international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner, sharing information and effectively protecting the health of foreign nationals in China. "China's efforts are highly commended by the international community," he said. The UN has been standing in solidarity with China since the outbreak, Zhang noted. More specifically, he said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed in various ways his full support for and confidence in China's prevention and control efforts. President of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande called on the international community to maintain solidarity, respect science, and avoid panic and stigma. UNICEF has responded quickly and provided emergency medical supplies to China. UNDP Administrator Steiner, several senior officials of the UN, as well as the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, UN Women, UN Population Fund, UN Office for South-South Cooperation and UN Alliance of Civilizations have expressed support for China in different ways. "For this, China is deeply grateful," he said. Zhang recalled that the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly called on countries not to overreact. "China understands and respects the measures that some countries have adopted to strengthen quarantine and control. At the same time, some countries have applied comprehensive suspension of flights and restrictions on the entry of Chinese citizens, which are contrary to the professional recommendations of the WHO," he said. Instead of helping prevent and control the epidemic, he said, these measures interfere with normal exchange of personnel and have negative effects. "Countries that politicize the campaign against the outbreak and those who make racist comments and take a discriminatory attitude violate human conscience and should be severely condemned," he said. The Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital, one of the emergency hospitals in Wuhan built in response to the novel coronavirus, was completed in 10 days and began to receive patients on Feb. 3. Sun Yanfang (Photo/People's Daily Online) The reason behind the projects success, apart from the countrys infrastructure construction ability, is a special group of female workers. Sun Yanfang, head of the epidemic prevention and control group of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. (CCTEB), is one of them. During the construction period, she could only rest for about 5 hours per day. As there were a large number of workers at the construction site, epidemic prevention and control was a top priority, Sun said. She and seven other group members reminded construction workers to change masks every four hours. 25,000 masks were used at the construction site every day, according to Sun. In addition, her team had to disinfect the construction site, the offices and living quarters three times a day, take construction workers temperatures three times a day and remind them to wash hands before meals. Wang Xiaohong (Photo/People's Daily Online) 53-year-old Wang Xiaohong, an expert on steel structure at CCTEB, was the backbone of steel structure work at the hospital. She was responsible for coordination of drawings, technology, materials and the construction site. She has participated in more than 100 key engineering projects across the entire country in the past 30-plus years. Feng Xin (Photo/People's Daily Online) Feng Xin, a member of staff at the General Construction Company of CCTEB Group Co., Ltd., was responsible for coordination of personnel and canteens, as well as food purchases, to guarantee food supply for over 40,000 workers on site. According to the General Construction Company of CCTEB Group Co., Ltd., 18 female workers contributed to the construction of the Huoshenshan Hospital. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday suggested the name of senior counsel and former additional solicitor general Maninder Singh to take over as special public prosecutor (SPP) in the trial of cases over alleged irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, proposed Singhs name. A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde and justice Deepak Gupta said it was inclined towards appointing a trial lawyer to take up the role. The bench also expressed that it was favourably disposed to one of the two names suggested by senior advocate and outgoing SPP RS Cheema. We need a trial lawyer. What about the second person in the list (submitted by Cheema), CJI Bobde asked Mehta. Mehta then sought some time to discuss the issue and take instructions from the ED. Advocate Prashant Bhushan. appearing for the petitioner, non-government organisation Common Cause, told the court that the appointment of the SPP in a Supreme Court-monitored trial, should be decided on by the apex court and not the ED. The court, however, acceded to Tushar Mehtas request to grant more time and adjourned the case. It will now be taken up on February 10 when the court is likely to finalise the new SPP. RS Cheema had in September 2019 sought the permission of the court to be relieved from the role of SPP in ED cases. The court, after taking on record the request by Cheema, had in January asked Cheema and solicitor general Mehta to suggest names of lawyers who could take over from Cheema. Cheema had then suggested two names in a sealed cover. The court, on January 20, had nearly appointed advocate DP Singh, whose name was suggested by Cheema, as the SPP. The ED sought more time to discuss the names, which was allowed by the court. Cheema will continue as SPP in coal scam cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Cheema was appointed in July 2014 by the Supreme Court as SPP to prosecute the trial of cases related to the irregularities allegedly committed in the allocation of captive coal blocks.A special court to try the cases was also set up by the top court the same year. David Barnard from Bolton, a highways worker and musician, is the unlikely star of a new advert in which he gets to meet Boris Johnson. In the ad, Barnard explains why he broke the habit of a lifetime and switched his vote from Labour to Conservative. It's a simple message: he wants his own business one day, wants to work hard and be rewarded and felt 'the Conservative Party was really speaking to what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be in the next five to ten years'. Tough task ahead: Boris is brilliant at popping out from behind screens to woo voters It's a clever ad, and the message is one echoed by first-time Tory voters around the country, from Bolton in the North West to Newcastle in the North East. Before Barnard finds out that Boris has been hiding behind the screen while he was being filmed, he adds that he looks forward to seeing how Boris 'takes the chance' to help people like him. Barnard from Bolton has hit the nail on the head. The challenge facing Boris and Chancellor Sajid Javid is whether they get what Barnard and his fellow switchers are saying. And will they remember why voters switched? The signs so far are not good. Sure, there are plenty of grand projects in the pipeline for roads, rail and the NHS, which are important. But where are the pro-enterprise reforms promised as part of the election pledges? Like most voters around the country, Red-Wall voters rejected socialist Corbynism because they want fair but lower and simpler taxes, and an environment that encourages them to be aspirational and create wealth. Yet to date, the only two tax changes being mooted suggest the Treasury has lost the plot. The first plan is to abolish entrepreneurs' relief, an incentive seen as a relief for the already rich and one that serves no purpose. This is nonsense. Entrepreneurs' relief allows business owners to pay a lower rate of capital gains tax 10 per cent rather than 20 per cent on the first 10million when they sell their business, so long as they own at least 5 per cent of the company when they sell. Abolishing the relief would raise around 2billion, peanuts in the scheme of things. Critics argue it does nothing to foster start-ups. It's true that most entrepreneurs do not start businesses because of the relief that's not in the nature of their psyche. But what critics forget is that most entrepreneurs are of the serial type. They are typically the angels and founders who invest in the next generation of new businesses, providing more jobs and wealth. And they are hopping mad about the Treasury's plans, as is most of the City, disappointed that a supposedly free-market government doesn't understand what drives growth. You have only to look at how so many dynamic companies, created in cities such as Cambridge and Oxford, have been financed by the same serial businessmen and women to see how the money roundabout works. There's another important element to entrepreneurs' relief which has been missed. This is the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme, which allows start-ups with fewer than 250 staff and 30million in assets to use the scheme to offer workers share options. Raising money for start-ups is famously tough, so having a share scheme to attract bright brains and stop them being lured by the likes of Google is vital. The second tax reform is the controversial IR35 rule, which is being introduced in April. This is designed to limit tax avoidance through what's called 'disguised employment'. The aim is to make companies which have off-payroll workers, but who work mainly for one company, taxed at the same rate as employees. 'The only two tax changes being mooted suggest the Treasury has lost the plot', says Pagano Until now, contractors have had to sort out their own tax affairs. But from April, the law changes so the onus falls on companies to assess the status of their workers. This is no small beer. Around 60,000 companies in the UK use up to 200,000 self-employed workers, which include freelancers, contractors and consultants. Many companies will want to turn them into staff, others will not. Not surprisingly, the change is causing an outcry among freelancers, worried it will lead to reduced earnings as tax and NI are taken at source. The trade body, IPSE, says freelancer confidence is at a six-year low and wants the changes stopped until the Treasury holds a proper review. Boris might be brilliant at popping out from behind screens to woo voters. And the Chancellor may have worked as a City banker. But that does not mean that either of them understand enterprise, or the animal spirits of people such as Barnard. They would be foolish to ignore why so many new and old voters lent them their support in the election. "Everybody goes to shows all the time, everybody sees clothes all the time. It's nice to incorporate something that's new." Christian Siriano has never been one to wait for the fashion industry to come around on an idea be it dressing a diverse range of people and bodies or making mass collaborations a core part of the business for him to start embracing it. In the past, he's weaved partnerships with brands like Payless (on shoes and handbags) and e.l.f. cosmetics (on makeup) into his biannual shows at New York Fashion Week. That continues this season, where he's introducing a somewhat unexpected sponsor for a runway show: a big-budget movie. As first teased by WWD, Christian Siriano's Fall 2020 New York Fashion Week runway was presented in partnership with "Birds of Prey," the latest DC Comics film that sees Margot Robbie reprising the role of Harley Quinn. According to Siriano, the conversations between him and Warner Bros., which is distributing the film, first started a few months ago, when he and Ashley Longshore filmed a commercial for "Birds of Prey" to run during "Project Runway." Afterwards, the Warner Bros. team floated the idea of collaborating on his upcoming New York Fashion Week show. Sketches of the 'Birds of Prey'-inspired looks in Christian Siriano's Fall 2020 collection. "I always try something new and different," Siriano says about runway sponsorships. "I don't like doing the same thing all the time it's just not as inspiring. I like to look for partnerships that are different and interesting. Everybody goes to shows all the time, everybody sees clothes all the time. It's nice to incorporate something that's new." At the Fall 2020 show, the "Birds of Prey" integration manifested in a few different ways. There were a handful of looks inspired by the film featured on the runway, accompanied by Harley Quinn-esque hair and makeup. Actual pieces from the set were flown in to decorate the venue. Songs from the "Birds of Prey" soundtrack were played. Cathy Yan, the director, and Erin Benach, the costume designer, sat in the front row something that, Siriano says, is "very different for me." Story continues "Fashion and film, they go together. People love a movie because sometimes the character comes to life with the clothes," he explains. Sponsorships are "very important" to staging a runway production, Siriano says: "Listen, fashion is in a really rough time. It's really expensive. No one's shopping the same way. Stores are going out of business every single day. To survive, designers really are looking for something to help us do what we need to do." "For me, I like to make fancy clothes that are emotional, and yes, not everyone's going to wear them," he continues. "I need to fund that in some way. I'm a huge red carpet designer that's very expensive. So I look for partnerships to help offset that cost. And I always have." In a time where fashion week can feel like the same old routine season after season, having a Hollywood blockbuster sponsoring a fashion show adds a new element to the conversation. To Siriano, this kind of partnership makes a lot of sense: "Fashion week is a huge stage where every press outlet and VIP is in one room, so a film can get its work out there just as much as I can. It's great marketing, for everyone involved." For his Fall 2020 collection, Siriano explains he was going for a "dark, mysterious evening" vibe, harking back to "a really cool, dark, old fun house." See every single look from his show in the gallery, below: View the 68 images of this gallery on the original article Want more Fashionista? Sign up for our daily newsletter and get us directly in your inbox. (Newser) Travel much? You may already know not to fire up your devices on free USB public charging stations, but if not, here's the warning: "Depending on the vulnerability they exploit, they would have access to everything you would have access to on your phone," cybersecurity pro Jim Stickley tells NBC News. According to Stickley, hackers can implant malware in a charging station that "jacks" information from your device (think passwords, phone numbers) in a practice called "juice jacking." And Stickley's not alone: "You might have seen a public USB charging station at an airport or shopping center," LA County Deputy DA Luke Sisak said back in November. "But be warned, a free charge could end up draining your bank account." story continues below Stickley showed NBC News how it works by installing hardware in a charging station at the Port of San Diego in Southern California. When travelers plugged into the station, he could see their phone activities on his own small deviceincluding an entered credit card number and access to private email, which can then be used for password resets. "Having access to your email has become very valuable, because, if you think about it, every account you have requires access to your email," he said. "Everybody's login is your email, and that's the problem." Last year, the New York Times gave travelers this advice: Only charge with portable batteries or straight from an electrical outlet. Or, as ZDNet explains, buy a "USB condom" to protect devices when using a USB charger. (Read more hacking stories.) A soldier has shot dead at least 20 people and injured several more in a gun rampage in north-eastern Thailand, Manchester Evening News reports. MPolice and army officers have since put a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima on lockdown - where it is believed suspect Sergeant Jakrapanth Thomma is still in hiding. The junior officer posted images of his attack on social media. Defence military spokesperson, Kongcheep Tantrawanit, said: "Police officers and soldiers are joining forces and have helped evacuate hundreds of people from inside the mall. It's not known how many are still inside." Local media reported that the killer had taken hostages, but this is yet to be officially confirmed. The attack unfolded late in the afternoon on Saturday at the Suatham Phithak military camp, where the suspect killed his commanding officer before stealing weaponry from the camp. City and neighbourhood police officers said he then drove to the Terminal 21 Korat mall, shooting along the way. Several Thai media sources reported that he travelled in a military vehicle. CCTV from the mall shows him walking inside with a raised rifle. According to Manchester Evening News, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that 16 people had died at the scene of the shootings, with another four dying later in hospital. A total of 31 people have been injured, with 10 of them in a critical condition. The man believed to be the gunman posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage, with statements including: "No one can escape death" and "Should I give up?". In a later post he wrote: "I have stopped already." The gunman's Facebook profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. Facebook has now taken the page down. Other videos circulated on social media of the attack, including footage from inside a car on a nearby street showing a man driving while a woman shouts: "What's happening? Why are they running?" Nakhon Ratchasima is about 150 miles north east of the capital Bangkok. It is a hub for Thailand's relatively poorer and rural north-eastern region. The size of the mall could pose a challenge for security forces as they try to capture the gunman. It consists of seven main retail floors, including one below ground level, and scores of shops and restaurants. It also houses a cinema on the top floor, Manchester Evening News informs. There are no Russians among the victims of the shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Vladimir Pronin, the head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Thailand, informed. Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy; Abington school board member Tamar Klaiman and the Rev. Marshall Mitchell met on Feb. 2 at Salem Baptist Church to discuss recent racial tensions that erupted after Klaiman made controversial remarks about school resource officers carrying guns. They called their meeting the "We Got this Summit." Read more Various concerned Abington residents started calling the Rev. Marshall Mitchells office at Salem Baptist Church last week. Had he heard what was going on? Mitchell hadnt. And what was he going to do about it? The it callers were referring to was a racial firestorm that had been stoked at a recent meeting of the Abington school board after a new member made a polarizing remark about school resource officers carrying guns. READ MORE: Debate over police in schools causes uproar in Abington Theres a lot of evidence that anyone carrying a firearm in a district building puts kids at risk, particularly students of color, board member Tamar Klaiman said during the Jan. 21 meeting. Black and brown students are more likely to be shot by police officers, especially school resource officers, than other students. To be clear, Abingtons school resource officers have never shot any students. (Theyre cops who have been assigned to schools in the district.) But numerous studies nationwide have shown that black students are often more harshly disciplined than white ones for the same offenses. Many white residents in Abington, located in eastern Montgomery County, took great offense at what she said and rushed to defend local law enforcement. A national police group weighed in on Facebook, condemning her statement as inappropriate and inflammatory. Klaiman, a parent and a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, received vile personal attacks. She apologized for her remarks, but the animosity has continued with hurt feelings on both sides. Parent Andrea Adams, 39, went into Tuesdays school board meeting, where tensions flared especially high, anticipating that she would be surrounded by racists. But after listening intently to what fellow attendees said, she found that theres a whole lot of misunderstanding about what its like for African Americans in Abington. I dont think they realize that just because their reality is that it is perfect, that their neighbors have a different reality, she said. Hearing longtime Abington residents talk brings back old memories of being in school and watching my black classmates be punished more harshly than white ones for similar offenses. It also brings to mind numerous conversations Ive had with white people who deny my experiences because they cant relate. Thats why I have to hand it to Mitchell, who got personally involved. He invited both Klaiman and Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy to a meeting at Salem Baptist at 7:30 a.m. last Sunday. Mitchell coined what took place the We Got This Summit. It lasted just 40 minutes but it was long enough for Klaiman and Molloy to talk. The early stages of mature, adult, godly reconciliation happened, Mitchell said. "We realized in that moment that we have so much in common. In other words, they all want whats best for Abington students. After their meeting, they posed for pictures and issued a joint statement that reads in part: We feel the conversation was extremely productive. Dr. Klaiman reiterated her regret for her divisive and offensive comments made regarding law enforcement. Chief Molloy accepted her apology and looks forward to addressing the communitys concerns through productive conversations. "Dr. Klaiman is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Abington Township Police Departments community policing initiatives. We look forward to continuing these fruitful conversations and working together for the best interests of all Abington students and citizens." Mitchell has offered up Salem Baptists new 11-acre campus for future community meetings where disparate groups can share a meal and get to know each other. In our community, there shouldnt be this breakdown, he said. This will be an open zone of reconciliation and of love. And judging from the church functions Ive attended, there will be a whole lot of good eating, too. Thats part of Mitchells strategy. He knows its easier to break down barriers and get to know strangers when youre sitting at a table and sharing a meal. Can I get an amen to that? With all of the confusion after the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses and creeping nastiness seeming to shape the partys New Hampshire primary, look for South Carolina to come to the rescue to former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign. Biden, long at the top of national polls, came up short in Iowa, but thats not surprising. He got a late start there and had not spent as much time as in other places. Plus, it was a caucus, meaning most people didnt participate, leaving the results or whatever you call the Iowa mess to tilt toward activists. New Hampshire, which heavily skews white like Iowa, is less of a bellwether this time around as two major candidates on the left, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren, will duke it out to be hometown favorite. Then theres Nevada and South Carolina. Nevada looks more like the rest of America but is a caucus state, too, meaning it will provide an incomplete snapshot of Democratic sentiment. But South Carolina, where more than one-third of voters overall are minorities, will be home to the first real contest with a truly representative cross-section of Democrats to evaluate presidential contenders at the polls. Government formation after the general election looks set to be thrown into chaos as an exit poll tonight predicted that the three big parties are tied. The shock IPSOS MRBI poll makes it extraordinarily difficult to predict which of the three parties-Fine Gael, Fianna Fail or Sinn Fein, could be in a position to lead the next government. The exit poll figures released tonight predict that 22.4% of voters backed Fine Gael, while Sinn Fein looks set to get 22.3% and Fianna Fail could get 22.2% support. The dead heat between the three big parties does reveal that Sinn Fein has managed to get voters out, after the later stages of the campaign showed a surge in support for the party. In previous elections, polls were high for Sinn Fen ahead of voting, but the numbers never materialised at the ballot box. The results of the poll-carried out by the Irish Times, RTE, TG4 and UCD, were announced at 10pm tonight, just as polling stations closed across the country. Other figures released for the poll show that the Green Party looks set to receive 7.9% while Labour would get 4.6%. and the Social Democrats 3.4%. Solidarity-People Before Profit look on course to get 2.8% support while Independents, according to the exit poll could get 11.2% and Aontu could get 1.8% from voters. FF, FG, SF tied at 22% support each in Election 2020 exit poll with margin of error of +/- 1.3% #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/MSpybHsUKN RTE News (@rtenews) February 8, 2020 More detail is also emerging about the age profile of voters who backed the different parties. For those aged 18 to 24 years of age, Fianna Fail got 15.5% of their votes while 31.8% went for Sinn Fein and 13.6% of that same age group backed Fianna Fail. Some 14.4% of that age cohort backed the Greens. The initial results of the exit poll will mean that much more focus will be given over to the actual election counts and how seats are won or lost, when ballot boxes are opened in the morning The results of the poll were announced at 10pm tonight, just as polling stations closed across the country. Exit polls in the 2016 general election predicted results with a high degree of accuracy. The poll, even before the ballot boxes are opened and counting starts, will trigger conversation and debate tonight about the campaign and why party strategies failed or succeeded. In the 2016 election Fine Gael won 25.5% of votes, winning 50 Dail seats, while 24.3% of voters backed Fianna Fail, giving them 44 seats. The same election saw Sinn Fein win just 23 seats with 13.8% of the vote while Independents clinched a huge vote with 20%, resulting in 23 seats. This general election campaign saw debates, polls and campaign launches all feed into shifting support for the larger parties. Initial stages showed growing support for Fianna Fail with Fine Gael in second place, but the latter part of the campaign saw a surge in support for Sinn Fein, who moved into first place in the opinion polls, while Fianna Fail were in second followed by Fine Gael. Turnout tonight was expected to exceed previous levels in some places, compared to 2016. In Dublin, overall turnout in 2016 was 60% but areas of the city and county had already surpassed that by 9pm tonight. In Ulster and Connacht, levels were mixed and reached between 50% and 70% generally in areas. However, voting trends late tonight looked set to be lower compared to 2016 for Leinster generally as well as for Munster. Some 516 candidates ran in election 2020, for 159 open seats for the 33rd Dail. There will be 160 members but the outgoing Ceann Comhairle Sean O'Fearghail is automatically elected. One day after warning of retribution against his political foes, President Donald Trump fired Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. The Portland developer became a key witness during House-led proceedings to impeach Trump. Sondland was ousted Friday within hours of another prominent witness, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Both delivered critical testimony about the presidents dealings with Ukraine. Although the House voted to impeach Trump -- driven in part by Sondlands testimony -- the Republican-held Senate ended the proceedings Wednesday by voting to acquit. Trump signaled his plans for retribution during a prayer breakfast on Thursday where he called the impeachment inquiry evil and corrupt, and launched into a lengthy diatribe against various lawmakers, political opponents and former FBI officials. Sondland confirmed his firing in a public statement Friday afternoon. His emergence as a key witness for Democrats stood counter to his decades of donating to Republican causes and candidates, starting with George H.W. Bush. He donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration in 2017 and was appointed to the Brussels post the next year. I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union, Sondland said. Only hours earlier, Vindman had been escorted from the White House by security officers after he was fired, according to several news sources. Members of Oregons Congressional delegation condemned Trumps move. Firing Ambassador Sondland and a hero like Lt. Vindman for telling the truth is yet more abuse of power by the president, said Sen. Ron Wyden, who testified in support of Sondlands nomination to the ambassadorship in June 2018. These self-serving acts wont stop until Donald Trump is out of office, or Republicans finally decide to stand up against this petty retaliation. House lawmakers first subpoenaed Sondland to testify during the impeachment proceedings in September. He appeared in a closed-door session Oct. 8, days after he defied the administrations order not to appear. He returned to Capitol Hill in November during televised hearings and delivered damning testimony that would be repeated often by Democratic lawmakers. Sondland said he was aware of a quid pro quo deal between the U.S. and Ukraine. Was there a quid pro quo? As I testified previously with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes, Sondland said during the Nov. 20 hearing. Sondland testified that some of the nations highest-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and National Security Advisor John Bolton, knew Trump wanted Ukraines president to commit to an investigation that would target Joe Biden, Trumps potential political rival. In exchange, the U.S. would deliver $391 million in promised military assistance. Sondland also attempted to shield Trump during his testimony. He said Trump repeatedly insisted on no quid pro quo. Trump wrote down the phrase on paper and showed the message reporters as evidence of his innocence. Vindman was a member of the National Security Council and one of the first White House officials to break with Trump. Like Sondland, Vindman was subpoenaed to appear before Congress. "In Spring of 2019, I became aware of outside influencers promoting a false and alternative narrative of Ukraine inconsistent with the consensus views of the interagency," he said in his opening statement. Trump supporters complained that members of the Deep State were conspiring to hurt Trump. Sondland may have known his days as an ambassador were numbered, particularly after the Senate took over the impeachment process in January. Sondland continued to represent the U.S. in foreign policy talks and hosted Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Brussels. But his official Twitter account has been silent for nine days, ever since Sondland came out in support of Trumps plan to promote peace between Israel and Palestine. Sondland built a reputation in Portland as a shrewd investor. Hotel and real estate deals made him a multimillionaire who earns millions more each year. He gave a fraction of that money to local politicians and state campaigns, but overwhelmingly funneled his political donations to Washington D.C., eyeing a national post. Its unclear what kind of reception awaits him when he returns to Portland, where his hotel chain is based downtown near two of the properties it operates. After Sondland became a key figure in the impeachment proceedings, U.S. Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer called for a boycott of Sondlands hotels. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler also donated the campaign contributions Sondland gave him during his political races to other nonprofits. Portland Monthly reported in December that three women alleged Sondland made unwanted sexual contact with them before he became ambassador. He denied all of the allegations. This story has been updated to provide additional context. -- Molly Young myoung@oregonian.com -- Jeff Manning jmanning@oregonian.com Read more: She was the first woman to run for president, the first to address a congressional committee, and the first to own a brokerage on Wall Street. She was also a con artist, a gold digger, and a scandal magnet. When she ran for president in 1872, she sat out Election Day in a Manhattan jail, arrested on charges of obscenity. Victoria Woodhull was unquestionably a pioneer in womens rights, yet her legacy is so messy and complicated that she remains an outlier in feminist history. She was born Victoria Claflin in 1838, into a squalidly poor family in Homer, Ohio, a tiny frontier hamlet. Her sister Tennessee (called Tennie C or just Tennie) came along seven years later, and a third sister, Utica, after her. In all there were ten Claflin kids, seven of whom survived into adulthood. Their father, Buck Claflin, was a con man who sold patent medicine as the King of Cancers. Their mother, Roxana, was an Evangelical Christian who spoke in tongues and ranted fire and brimstone at the neighbors. Victoria and Tennessee were still children when Buck had them out performing as spirit mediums and faith healers. Victoria was a dark, ethereal beauty, and almost spookily serious. She would claim to have visions of Jesus and Satan, and to receive advice from spirit guides who included Demosthenes, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Juliet. Utica and Tennie were simpler types. Utica became an alcoholic and drug addict. Tennie was blonde, bubbly, and carnal. All three would use sex to get what they needed from men. But with Victoria everything had to be taken to a higher level. She didnt just want men to desire her and give her money; she wanted them to admire, respect, and even adore her. Shed say or do almost anything to get that from them, and she was good at it. Men didnt just fall in love with her, they fell in worship of her. The neighbors in Homer took up a collection to pay the Claflins to go away. That was the start of a long period during which the family roamed the frontier like a tribe of gypsies, selling snake oil, staging seances, telling fortunes, and effecting miracle cures. At 15, Victoria eloped with Canning Woodhull, a drunk twice her age who sold his own elixir of life. After having two children with him, she divorced Woodhull but kept his name and could not shake him, even when she married the dashing Colonel James Harvey Blood, a Civil War hero, believer in spiritualism, and devout progressive. Story continues In 1868 Demosthenes advised Victoria to move to New York. He even gave her an exact address, 17 Great Jones Street, near the Bowery. Apparently the ancient Greek orator knew that New York in 1868 was stuffed with cash and war-profiteer millionaires looking for ways to spend it. Soon Buck and Tennie and the whole clan piled into the house with Victoria. Buck sent his daughters to bewitch Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as the Commodore for his vast empire of steamships and railroads. They easily charmed him. Victoria gave him market forecasts that proved to be uncannily accurate. Thats because many of her tips came from a network of female friends she and Tennie cultivated in the citys brothels favored by men of finance. Tennie C cheered up the old goat, as she called him, in other ways. Marriage to a useless drunk had gotten Victoria interested in womens liberation. But she had no patience for the womens movement of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, which had been around for a quarter of a century and accomplished little except to fall into two camps: a liberal group based in New York, and a conservative, Boston-based one. Following custom, each group had chosen a male figurehead. Reverend Henry Ward Beecher, the famous pastor of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, represented the Boston group. Theodore Tilton, a Plymouth Church member, fronted the New York group. Tilton was completely smitten with Victoria, as her men usually were, and despite having a wife in Brooklyn Heights, became her lover. Victoria decided that women needed not only the right to vote, but complete personal and financial emancipation. To that end with the Commodores generous backing she, Tennie, and Colonel Blood opened Woodhull, Claflin & Co., the first woman-run brokerage firm in Wall Street history. It was a gigantic sensation. Men thronged to the opulent offices on Broad Street, most just to gawk, while a separate entrance admitted women investors. That year Victoria announced that she intended to run for president against the incumbent, Ulysses S. Grant, in 1872. Women wouldnt even have the vote for almost 50 years. When the citys newspapers treated her candidacy as an amusing novelty, she, Tennie, and Blood started their own newspaper, Woodhull & Claflins Weekly. Under the motto Progress! Free Thought! Untrammeled Lives! it mixed financial news with a hodgepodge of radical politics and fringe social theorizing. In 1871, she addressed the House Judiciary Committee, speaking out for womens right to the vote. The platform of Victorias Cosmo-Political Party included anarchism, Communism, spiritualism, and, most controversially, free love, one of the hottest issues of the Victorian era. When many heard free love they thought it just meant free lust. Mainstream feminists said it meant that a woman should be free to choose whom she loved, and not be shackled in loveless and indissoluble marriage to a man simply for financial support. For her part, Victoria seems to have taken to free love because it was a respectable-sounding rationale for the way she and her sisters had always lived anyway. It was her undoing. Victorias public speaking engagements now became free-for-alls, mobbed to the rafters with raucous crowds that mixed her enraptured fans with her booing, hooting enemies. As her fame and infamy soared, gossip alleging Victoria and Tennies freely lustful ways spread. Victoria didnt help her case when she let a heckler at one of her speeches goad her into crying out in exasperation, Yes, I am a free lover! I have an inalienable, constitutional, and natural right to love whom I may, to love as long or as short a period as I can, to change that love every day if I please, and with that right neither you nor any law you can frame have any right to interfere. The heckler was her sister Utica, who was drunk and apparently jealous of her famous sibling. Victoria was attacked from all sides as an adulteress, bigamist, heathen, whore. In Harpers, the cartoonist Thomas Nast drew her as Mrs. Satan. On the Bowery, George B. Bunnells New American Museum put her effigy in its Dantes Inferno display. Investors left the brokerage. Advertisers fled the newspaper. The Commodore withdrew his support. Battered and going broke, in May 1872 Victoria accepted the presidential nomination of the Equal Rights Party, a loose coalition of feminists, spiritualists, and Communists. The party nominated Frederick Douglass as her running mate. He never publicly acknowledged the honor, and she barely had time to enjoy hers. By June her landlords had turned her family out of their home and her brokerage out of its office. She asked Henry Ward Beecher to speak out for her. A word from the great man might still have saved her, but he refused. That was too much. She thought she knew something about Reverend Beecher that few outside the Plymouth Church leadership did: He had allegedly been doing some free loving of his own with some of his adoring female parishioners. One of them, Theodore Tiltons wife, Elizabeth, had become mysteriously pregnant while her husband was lying near death from a prolonged illness. Then she miscarried a child, and she confessed. Tilton had been having his own affairs, not just with Victoria, so he couldnt play the aggrieved husband well. Plymouth church elders convinced all parties to keep the story a secret for the sake of the ministry. Victoria kept her powder dry until a few days before the election. Then, in the November 2 issue of Woodhull & Claflins Weekly, she told what she had heard about Reverend Beecher in great detail and ignited the biggest sex scandal of the century. Buyers clamoring for the news drove the price of a single copy from ten cents to $40 by the end of the first day. Anthony Comstock, who was just starting his career as New Yorks moral watchdog, had Victoria and Tennie arrested on obscenity charges. They were still in the Ludlow Street Jail on Election Day. Victoria was only on the ballot in a handful of states, and evidently got too few votes to be listed in the official count. They were finally released at the end of November and were eventually acquitted. Meanwhile a committee of Plymouth elders investigated Victorias charges against Beecher and found the reverend blameless. They expelled Tilton from the church. Tilton filed a suit against Beecher for alienation of affection. The trial, held in the Brooklyn City Courthouse from January into July 1875, was a giant media circus. Neither side dared to put Woodhull on the stand, but it was universally understood that she was the provocateur whod dragged the whole unfortunate business before the public. For all the hoopla, the trial ended in a hung jury. Beechers reputation was permanently but not seriously dented. Tiltons life and reputation, however, were in ruins. He fled the country for Paris, where he died in 1907. It all made Victoria so ill from exhaustion and stress that at one point her death was publicly announced. She was nothing, though, if not a survivor. She rose and dragged herself to speaking engagements around the country in 1875 and 76. But the Victoria Woodhull who emerged like the phoenix from the ashes of her demolished life was a new and chastened person. She claimed, outrageously, that she had never advocated free love, which she now damned as abominable lust, and spoke out for the sanctity and purity of marriage. In 1876 she divorced Colonel Blood. The following year she and Tennessee moved to London. She did more speaking and writing there, always the new message about the sanctity of marriage and motherhood. London society never warmed to her. The more she denied her past, the more the newspapers kept digging it all up again. But a London banker named John Biddolph Martin attended one of her talks and, like so many men before him, was helplessly enraptured. Martin was everything Victoria wanted in a man now: steady, respectable, wealthy, and worshipful. Because his family strongly objected to the romance, it took him six years to marry her. When he died in 1893 he left her a handsome country manor in Worchestershire. Here she finally seems to have found the security she needed and a measure of the respect she always craved. She played the stereotyped English country lady for the rest of her life, involving herself in local flower shows and charities. She lived on past the turn of the century and through the Great War, by which time her scandalous past had finally faded from memory. Tennessee died before her, in 1923. Victoria died at the age of 88 in June 1927. It was two weeks after Charles Lindbergh made his transatlantic flight, and seven years after American women finally won the right to vote. More from National Review Killeen, TX (76540) Today Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable. A Winnipeg family says their son's daycare teacher suggested the five-year-old be quarantined after his father returned from a trip to China. The five-year-old caught the flu while in Florida. His father said he believed the situation would have been handled differently if the family weren't Chinese. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg family says their son's daycare teacher suggested the five-year-old be quarantined after his father returned from a trip to China. The five-year-old caught the flu while in Florida. His father said he believed the situation would have been handled differently if the family weren't Chinese. To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here. The Winnipeg Free Press and CBC Manitoba recognize each other as trusted news sources. This content is made available to our readers as part of an agreement to collaborate to better serve our community. Any questions about CBC content should be directed to: talkback@cbc.ca. BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday urged the citizens of Delhi to cast their votes in large numbers and participate in the biggest festival of democracy. Taking to Twitter Nadda wrote in Hindi that voting is essential for the unity and integrity of the capital. "I appeal to all the voters of Delhi to vote in maximum number and participate in the great cause of democracy. Your one vote is important for the unity, integrity and overall development of Delhi. Your vote will write the golden future of your Delhi," Nadda tweeted. The polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi has started today from 8 am. Meanwhile, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar expressed his confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win the Assembly Polls. "Since morning, people of Delhi are going out to vote. I am confident that Delhi will bring a change in the State government and make BJP win because there is a need to bring sustainable development in Delhi just like PM Modi has brought across the country," said Javadekar. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. The Congress didn't open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lina Ben Mhenni I will remember is perched over a laptop in a hip, smoky Tunis cafe, or under an umbrella along tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba, sending out her latest dispatches after documenting the violent front lines of a revolution very much in progress. It is where I met her, shortly after the uprisings that began in 2010 and led to the ouster of a Tunisian dictator in 2011 and set in motion what became known in other countries as the Arab Spring. Ben Mhenni, 36 teacher, heroic figure in Tunisia and considered at one point a Nobel Peace Prize favourite died last week after suffering a stroke. She had long been dealing with an autoimmune disease, which she wrote about in her blog. I have accomplished a lot in my life but there has always been a very expensive price to pay. Behind every smile, there are excruciating tears and pain, needles, dozens and dozens of pills and days and days in hospitals, Ben Mhenni wrote, in French, in a Jan. 8 post. Her blog which she simply called A Tunisian Girl was a must-read and has been since late 2010. On Twitter, she had 350,000 followers. In the beginning, she travelled the country, documenting violent government clashes with protesters. It was journalism, with great risk. The regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali rounded up bloggers it did not like. She reported on Mohamed Bouazizi, an educated, under-employed young man living in Sidi Bouzid, a depressed farming town. Bouazizi left his fruit stand, which a municipal bylaw official had deemed illegal, bought paint solvent and lit himself on fire. His death sparked the revolution. When Ben Ali fled, Ben Mhenni, ever critical of human rights infringements, continued her work and became an even more prominent voice of a new Tunisia, which history may prove is the only success story to come of the Arab Spring. I remember strolling the streets of Tunis before meeting Ben Mhenni for the first time, in early February, 2011, and seeing a spray-painted message on construction hoarding thanking Facebook. Social media indeed played a large role in the uprisings; but more so, Ben Mhenni and other brave bloggers, who brought down an autocratic regime. When I met her, Ben Mhenni was 27, a teacher in the faculty of human and social sciences at the University of Tunis. She started writing things unpopular with the regime a couple of years before the uprising and found that both her blog and Facebook page were being censored. She wrote about censorship and human rights issues in Tunisia. She visited the homes where young people had been killed during the uprising, their corpses still laid out. At the insistence of their families, she photographed the dead and posted the photos for all to see. And the world did. Even after the uprising, she was targeted. In 2012, she was beaten by police at one protest, and had equipment seized. She was one of the first people I had lined up to meet and interview, and when I pointed out that what she was doing was journalism, in English she also spoke Arabic and French she proceeded to vivisect the Tunisian press. Ive been following the newspapers, she said. They are not improving. The same journalists who were praising Ben Ali and insulting the dissidents are now insulting Ben Ali and praising the dissidents, talking about their fight and everything. But they are not writing analysis of what is going on. So they are working in the old manner and they are not trying to improve themselves. RELATED STORIES Tunisia: Trying to build a government from scratch I saw her again in the fall of 2011, freshly after Moammar Gadhafi had been killed in neighbouring Libya and following Tunisias first election after the toppling of the regime. Ben Mhenni was by then making unofficial short lists for the Nobel, which she would not win. I met her in Tunis on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, under the trees, at a cafe. She was dressed in black, and wore her usual studs in her nose and right eyebrow. Her laptop was open. After everything, she told me she decided not to vote, saying too many members of the old regime were still around and playing politics. Ennahda, a once-banned moderate Islamic party, had come out ahead in the successful election, and Ben Mhenni said she feared for the hard-won rights of women. After her death on Jan. 27, her coffin draped in the Tunisian flag was carried in a procession on the shoulders of women. Tunisian women, lifting up a Tunisian girl. The Delhi Assembly Polls were held today and people casted their votes to select the next government. While the voting was underway, Aam Admi Party (AAP) decided to dish out a witty reply to a tweet by Netflix - for Delhis people. Contesting as one the parties in the Delhi Election 2020, AAP decided to reach out to citizens with one last request before the voting concluded. Its Saturday which means naps while my favourite show plays in the background tweeted Netflix.Replying to the tweet AAP encouraged people to first go out and vote for the countrys future. No! First go out and Vote! they tweeted. No!!! First go out and VOTE! https://t.co/N87Jggt4Co AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 8, 2020 Shared just a few hours back, the tweet has gathered more than 1,400 likes. Netizens voiced the same thing, they encouraged others to go and cast their votes. There will be another Saturday, there might not be another chance to vote for development Delhi. Jaago! comments a Twitter user. Yes. Go out and vote, writes the second. The voting began today morning at 8 am and concluded at the scheduled time 6 pm. Ever since the deadly Coronavirus outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China, scientists have been frantically looking for the source animal from which the virus get transmitted to humans. Even though initially it was believed that the virus was spread from bats, researchers had pointed out that the chances of the virus getting transmitted from bats to humans were unlikely. Now a group of Chinese scientists has claimed that they have identified the 'missing link' the puzzle. They believe that pangolin, a critically endangered animal that is a much sought after commodity in the Chinese illegal wildlife trade markets could have spread the virus to humans. Researchers at the South China Agricultural University have identified the scaly mammal as a "potential intermediate host," the university said in a statement, without providing further details. The new virus is believed to have originated in bats, but researchers have suggested there could have been an "intermediate host" in the transmission to humans. After testing more than 1,000 samples from wild animals, scientists from the university found the genome sequences of viruses found on pangolins to be 99 percent identical to those on coronavirus patients, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Virus experts think it may have originated in bats and then passed to humans, possibly via another species. It said the research had found pangolins - the world's only scaly mammals - to be "the most likely intermediate host." AFP The pangolin is considered the most trafficked animal on the planet and more than one million have been snatched from Asian and African forests in the past decade, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are destined for markets in China and Vietnam, where their scales are used in traditional medicine despite having no medical benefits and their meat is bought on the black market. Pangolin is said to be the ideal candidate as researchers have long suspected that the virus was passed from an animal to a human at a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Wuhan has a huge market that sells all kinds of animals or animal-based products including live foxes, crocodiles, wolf puppies, giant salamanders, snakes, rats, peacocks, porcupines, camel meat, etc. including many those are banned. The country has long been accused by conservationists of tolerating a shadowy trade in endangered animals for food or as ingredients in traditional medicines. However, scientists outside China are less convinced and called for Chinese scientists to release more data from their research. Simply reporting the similarity between the genome sequences of viruses is "not sufficient," said James Wood, a veterinary medicine professor at the University of Cambridge. Wood said the results could have been caused by "contamination from a highly infected environment." "We would need to see all of the genetic data to get a feel for how related the human and pangolin viruses are," Jonathan Bell, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said. Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary medicine at Hong Kong's City University, also said the research was a long way from establishing a link between pangolins and the new coronavirus outbreak in humans. "You can only draw more definitive conclusions if you compare prevalence (of the coronavirus) between different species based on representative samples, which these almost certainly are not," he said. Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Chickenrecipebox.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 11 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the chickenrecipebox homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the chickenrecipebox homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the chickenrecipebox homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the chickenrecipebox homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if chickenrecipebox has a Facebook fan page). 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GADRA Matric School is a second chance school for learners who seek to improve their marks in selected National Senior Certificate subjects with the goal of acquiring the required points to gain access to universities. It is the biggest feeder to Rhodes University and this year 70 learners from the school were accepted into the University. The Nine-Tenths is a mentoring programme geared towards equipping matric students in selected local schools to cope with their final year of school and to pass to their full potential. Pupils are given one-on-one attention from a Rhodes University student through guided and structured contact sessions. I am beside myself with joy and excitement in seeing so many young people from our local schools gaining admission at Rhodes University. This is a realisation of my long-held and deeply cherished dream to create pathways to a better and brighter future for the youth of our city. This initiative is intended to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the schools around the Makhanda area. When I look at students coming from the local schools, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this intervention is working and it feels good that we are making a difference, Dr Mabizela explained. The Vice-Chancellor urged the new students to take full advantage of the opportunity of studying at a prestigious institution such as Rhodes University. He cautioned that the transition from high school to university would not be easy and success is dependent on discipline, dedication and hard work. Failure at university does not just suddenly happen in June or in November [exams], but from day one when you neglect your work and skip lectures. Before you know it, you have a mountain of work before you, and it accumulates very fast, he added. He assured the students that the University did not do them any favours when they were admitted, as each one successfully met the stringent requirements for admission at the institution. However, I should warn you that even if you had five distinctions in your matric, you must put that behind you because you need to work hard here, he cautioned. The VC also used the opportunity to alert the first years about the dangers of reckless behaviour, sexual harassment and rape. He firmly told them: Do not be pressured into being sexually active, because you may end up with an unplanned pregnancy or get HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Young men, you have no right to interfere with the bodily integrity of another person. If you commit an offence of rape or sexual harassment, we will apprehend you, prosecute you and permanently exclude you from Rhodes University. Sexual and gender-based violence has no place at Rhodes University. We are working with other universities to ensure that a student who is excluded from one university for sexual harassment or gender-based violence is not accepted at any university in the country. If you fall victim to such an offense, report it so we can act very firmly and decisively. The Vice-Chancellor told the students that mental health challenges, depression and anxiety had become prevalent in institutions of higher learning in South Africa and elsewhere. He said that it was important that we destigmatised mental health challenges. He assured the students that the University had support services to assist those who were experiencing mental health challenges. Do not suffer in silence. We are here to support you, he told them. He reminded then that being at University afforded them much more freedom than they had had before. He told them that, among other things, they will be free to make choices and decisions for themselves. Every decision and every choice has a consequence, he told them. He warned them that much as they were free to make their own decisions and choices, they were not free from the consequences of those choices and decisions. A 2019 Gadra matric pupil, 22-year-old Vuyisa Sigonyela has enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, English and Linguistics at Rhodes University. He said his journey has not been easy since passing his matric in 2014 at David Mama High School in Mdantsane. Due to his low marks, he could not apply at Rhodes University and he decided to go work as a Missionary in West Africa countries. After being admitted at Rhodes University, he says he has been feeling excited, satisfied and ready. The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged all those who have played a role in ensuring that the quality of teaching and learning in our local schools improved. He will be having a welcome dinner with these hard-working new students and all those who are involved in the Universitys Schools Initiative next week to further celebrate them. Source: Communications Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate Aside from other unstated allowances that Nigerian federal lawmakers have allocated to themselves, a total of 268 billion has been earmarked for the National Assembly in this years budget. This figure covers the legislatures 128 billion recurrent expenditure; 100 billion Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects; 1 billion for constitution review; 37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex; and N2billion for the construction of National Assembly Library. An analysis of the budget shows that approximately half of all that Nigeria plans to spend on health this year (463.7 billion) will go to the National Assembly. This means that for every 2 spent on Nigerians healthcare, 1 goes to the National Assembly. It also means that the National Assembly gets about one-third of the total budget of the Ministry of Education (706.8 billion). This is the same for the ministry of works and housing which has a 343.5 billion budget. But the legislators budget is about twice the money budgetted for each of the ministries of agriculture (183.1 billion), power (134.9 billion) and transport (134 billion) will go to the legislature. National Assembly against health Analysis of the 2020 budget by BudgIT shows that a total of 463.7 billion (4.37 per cent of this years budget) is meant for health. It means about 2,300 (or 6 per day) is all that has been budgeted for each of the 200 million Nigerians for everything medical in 2020. Statutorily, the health sector should get more. Nigeria is a signatory to the 2001 Abuja Declaration, an agreement made by Nigeria and 19 other African countries in Abuja, Nigerias capital, to commit 15 per cent of federal budgets to healthcare. While Botswana, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Togo and Zambia have all met the Abuja target, the closest Nigeria has come was the 5.95 per cent of 2012. Nonetheless, further examination of this years allocation to health shows that 73 per cent of the 336.6 billion is for recurrent expenditure as against the 59.9 billion for capital projects. And while these amounts are subject to the finance ministrys discretionary releases, only the Basic Health Care Funds, BHCF (44.5 billion), and the 22.7 billion for GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations), both statutory payments, have certainty of being released. National Assembly against education The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Education for All Global Monitoring Report recommended in 2015 that between 15 and 20 per cent of government spending through national budgets should be for education in developing countries. But the countrys 706.8 billion which is almost about thrice the NASS budget allocation to the sector is a paltry 6.6 per cent of this years budget. With the recommended target not met, 69 per cent (490.3 billion) of the amount earmarked to the sector is for settling bills, paying of salaries and so on. READ ALSO: That aside, a significant cut of the capital spending of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which stands at 84.7 billion, is for a flurry of controversial projects that have the stamps of lawmakers on them. The ministry of education will get statutory transfer of 131.7 billion. This is split between the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Commission Funds (N111.7billion) and University Fund pegged at 20 billion. That total is just N3.7billion more than the N128billion statutory allocation to the National Assembly. National Assembly against agriculture The National Assemblys budget is also double that of the ministry of agriculture and rural development. Agriculture gets 183.1 billion, no fraction of which contains statutory funds. By earmarking this, which is 1.7 per cent of a total budget 10.6 trillion, Nigeria again flouted the Maputo Declaration it signed in Mozambique in 2003 that it should give 10 per cent of its budget to agriculture. Were the 10 per cent agreement fulfilled, 1 trillion would be for agriculture this year. Nigeria has never complied with the terms of the declaration, two decades on. Although unlike education and health, recurrent expenditure takes only 32 per cent (58.7 billion) of agricultures budget. The ministrys 124.4 billion capital allocation has a slew of projects, some of which are for capacity-building programmes that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has said are impossible to track and always ended in the pockets of federal lawmakers. For instance, the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), rather than see to the mitigation of post-harvest loss of crops in Nigeria, would construct ICT centres and provide equipment in selected secondary schools in Lagos, under the guise of constituency projects. It would repeat this same project three times this year, all at a total cost of 768 billion first for 255 million, then 256 million and 257 million. National Assembly against works and housing Like agriculture, this ministry will spend 92 per cent of its budget on capital projects (315.6 billion), as against 28 billion for recurrent expenditure. With its total allocation pegged at 343.5 billion, PREMIUM TIMES has found that FERMA, an agency under the works ministry, will get less to maintain federal roads when compared with the 37 billion to be used to renovate the National Assembly complex. Both Godiya Akwashiki and Benjamin Kalu, respective spokespersons of both the Upper and Lower Chambers, on multiple occasions, declined to comment on this. But Bamidele Salam, a member of the House Committee on Works, said in an interview: I feel this is unjustifiable in any way. Also, due to shortage of funds accruing to the ministry, it plans to build only 2383 homes, although the country needs to build 700,000 homes per year to bridge its 17 million housing deficit, as estimated by the World Bank. Advertisements National Assembly against transport The transport ministry has a total budget of 134 billion, a large chunk 121.4 billion of which goes to capital projects. Only 12.6 billion (9 per cent) is for its recurrent expenditure. Scaling this with NASS budget shows that not only will the ministry get exactly half of what the National Assembly will get, it has no allocation for statutory payments. National Assembly against power In the face of incessant collapse of the national grid, and various administrations failed promises to bring stable electricity to the country, 134.9 billion is what the government intends to use to try and solve the challenges of power in the country this year. Of this, 129.1 billion (96 per cent) is for capital spending. As it is for transport, apart from its budget being almost half of that of the NASS, the power ministry too has no statutory funds to its name. Los Angeles, Feb 8 : Hollywood star Chris Pratt has lashed out at a grassroots political organisation named Indivisible on social media, announcing that his new production company is called "Indivisible Productions". Pratt announced his new venture earlier this week. The intent of the company, he said, was to offer "help to bridge the growing divide in our country and world" and to "make the world a better place", reports aceshowbiz.com. "So grateful for each step of this wonderful journey. I've started a company. Indivisible Productions. One nation. Under God Indivisible. Our mission statement is to create entertaining content, focusing on themes which will help to bridge the growing divide in our country and world. You know, make the world a better place. No biggie, you're welcome, but it's whatever," he had written on Instagram. Taking to Twitter, Pratt added: "Hearing the pledge of allegiance at my kid's cub scout meeting the name hit me. INDIVISIBLE. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It's the perfect name for a company intent on creating content which aims to sew the growing divide in this country." However, in response to the post, the political organisation, which aims "to cultivate a grassroots movement of literally thousands of local Indivisible groups to elect progressive leaders, realise bold progressive policies, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda," wrote: "Chris, I don't think we've been properly introduced." Unfazed by the group, Pratt wrote: "Nice to meet you. I own the trademark on Indivisible Productions. You seem smart. Good luck with your political ambitions. I'll focus on offering people reprieve from the crushing weight of the falling sky. See movie, stow phone, laugh beside somebody you've been told you hate." After a winter storm pushed through the state Friday, Colorado Springs is expected to get a warmer start to the weekend before seeing snow again, the National Weather Service in Pueblo forecast. Saturday weather in Colorado Springs is expected to stay mostly sunny with a high near 47 degrees, the National Weather Service said. Temperatures could drop to 18 degrees overnight. City officials said they expected widespread dense fog to cover the city Saturday morning. The Weather Service predicted snow to return to the city Sunday, with a 60% chance of precipitation and about half an inch of snow accumulation possible, the forecast read. The snow could continue into Monday, the forecast showed, with a 30% of snow showers after noon and a 40% chance of snow Monday night. Tuesday is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 33 degrees. Wednesday, there's a 20% chance of snow showers after noon but a high expected near 41 degrees. Parts of northwestern Colorado were still issued an avalanche warning by the Weather Center Saturday morning: Park Range, Elk Head Mountains, Flat Top Mountains, Medicine Bow Mountains, Williams Fork Mountains, Ten Mile Range, Gore Mountains, Elk Mountains, Hardscrabble Mountains, Red Table, Ruby Range, West Elk Mountains, Mosquito Range and the Sawatch Range. Avalanche danger in those areas was considered high, the warning read. "Avalanches large enough to bury and kill a person are likely through Sunday morning," the warning said. "Many avalanches will run naturally. You can trigger avalanches from the bottom of slopes or from a distance. If you trigger an avalanche it will be large and very dangerous." Friday's storm left mountain motorists stranded along parts of Interstate 70, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. Avalanches were triggered to reduce the danger of one starting on its own, closing westbound lanes of I-70 at exit 218. Hours later, westbound lanes of the interstate were closed from Golden to the Eisenhower Tunnel, CDOT said. Friday night, the state department warned travelers to stay off the roads. "The Colorado Department of Transportation advises motorists wanting to travel to or from the high country to stay where they are currently located through this weekend," a statement said. "Adverse winter weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, high winds, and low visibility continue to impact various areas of the state. As we head into this weekend, please be advised of forecasted weather and road conditions and adjust your travel plans accordingly." Treacherous travel did have a silver lining, though, for the state's water supply. The snowpack in the upper Colorado headwaters area, comprised of Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs and Aspen, was at 114% Friday. Snowpack in southeastern Colorado, including Colorado Springs and Pueblo, was at 115%, according to data from the National Water and Climate Center. Click here for the National Weather Service's Colorado Springs forecast. This is the shocking moment four men tricked sex workers into letting them into their homes before tying them up and robbing them at knife-point. Terrifying CCTV footage released by the Metropolitan Police sees the men ransacking a woman's flat in London while she is left defenceless against her armed attackers. The clip shows the men storm in before one attacker kicks down a door in the flat while holding a knife. Terrifying CCTV footage released by the Metropolitan Police sees the men ransacking a woman's flat in London The clip shows the men storm in before one attacker kicks down a door in the flat while holding a knife Another is then seen emptying the contents of the woman's handbag before the group leaves the premises. The woman later emerges from a room and despairs as her belongings are strewn across the hallway. All four men were found guilty of a series of seven robberies against nine female victims carried out across the city over a seven-month period. The men crowd around the woman in the flat. The sex workers were often threatened with knives before their cards, money, phones and other personal possessions were stolen The woman later emerges from a room and despairs as her belongings are strewn across the hallway Erlandos Vyte, 24, on all but one occasion would call up to book an appointment. When the escort opened the door, the other men Robertas Zilionas, Jospin Ble and Joshua Coke would force their way in and rob the victim. The women were tied up with items them men brought with them or found at the homes. The sex workers were often threatened with knives before their cards, money, phones and other personal possessions were stolen. Police say the attacks left many of the victims with 'lasting psychologically damaging effects'. Joshua Coke (left), 21, was found guilty of one count and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Robertas Zilionas (right), 21, was found guilty of five counts and jailed for 14 years One of the women said she recalled shaking violently during the robbery, suffering a panic attack as the robbers ransacked the flat. She said: 'Before this happened I was happy with the work I was doing, but now every time, I am aware of the risk and worry both of us have changed drastically the way we work. 'Neither of us will now take any clients in the night time, which before wouldn't have been a problem; if they ask any details about the building it makes me scared and I will not take the appointment. Erlandos Vyte (left) pleaded guilty to nine counts of robbery and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in jail. Jospin Ble (right) 23, was also found guilty of five counts of robbery and sentenced to 12 years 'I used to sometimes travel around the country and work on my own and haven't been able to do this. 'All of this has obviously had an effect on the amount of money we are able to earn.' She added that even hearing the same foreign accent in a bar of the men who attacked them triggers such fear it can cause them to have to leave the vicinity. The men targeted seven locations, starting in June 2018 in Westminster, followed by three robberies on the Isle of Dogs and Hackney in October 2018. In December 2018, they moved onto Kensington, while the final two robberies were carried out in Tower Hamlets. Detectives managed to track down the robbers from just one lead, a fragment of a latex glove left by Ble. This led to managing to track and analyse 327,000 separate lines of phone data as well as many hours of CCTV footage. The four men were arrested from January to May 2019 and charged. Detective Sergeant Patrick Allen, said: 'These crimes were committed by a ruthless group of men armed with knives who targeted lone vulnerable women [working] in their own homes. 'They attacked these women believing they would not report the incidents to police due to fear, embarrassment or the belief that the women would just see this as an occupational hazard. 'They were wrong, and I'd like to praise those women that did come forward. I would like to assure those women and men involved in the escort trade that no matter what work you do if you make an allegation of crime it will be taken seriously and robustly investigated by the Met. 'We will continue to pursue other suspects we have reason to believe were involved and would urge any other victims out there to contact us.' Detective Superintendent Guy Collings, who leads the Met's response to sex worker-related issues, said: 'No one, regardless of their profession, should be the victim of any form of violence or abuse, and we will continue to support ending violence against those working in the sex trade. 'We know this group historically mistrust the police and fear they'll be criminalised if they come forward. 'I hope the sentencing conveys the message that the Met is dedicated to pursuing justice for them.' Vyte pleaded guilty to nine counts of robbery, while his three co-defendants were all found guilty by the jury on December 6 following the conclusion of the six week trial. He was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in jail. Zilionas, 21, was found guilty of five counts and jailed for 14 years. Ble, 23, was also found guilty of five counts, and sentenced to 12 years. Coke, 21, was guilty of one count and sentenced to 10 years in jail. The death toll in the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China has risen to 722, while new cases jumped to 34,546. Chinas ruling Communist Party faced public anger and recrimination over the death of a doctor who was threatened by the authorities after trying to sound the alarm about the new coronavirus in December. President Xi Jinping spoke with President Donald Trump and urged the US to respond reasonably to the outbreak, echoing complaints that some countries are overreacting by restricting Chinese travellers. Meanwhile, cruise ship passengers faced more difficulties as Japan reported 41 new cases, including one Briton, on one quarantined vessel and turned away another. The cruise ship Diamond Princess is docked at Yokohama Port (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News via AP) About 3,700 people have been confined aboard the Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port. The British passenger is Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, who posted on social media that he had been diagnosed with the virus. Mr Steele, who is believed to be on his honeymoon, posted on Facebook that he was not showing any symptoms but was being taken to a hospital. He added: Just to let you all know I have been diagnosed as having the virus and am being shipped to hospital. Would also like to say that at the moment I am not showing any symptoms so just possible a carrier. Will let you know how I am going on when possible. NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (AP) A soldier who holed up in a popular shopping mall in northeastern Thailand shot multiple people on Saturday, killing at least 20 and injuring 31 others, officials said. Police said they have secured the mall, and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there were no more bodies left inside. But he added, we dont know whether there are any additional injuries or deaths or not. He did not say whether the shooter had been found. Anutin said a doctor was shot while helping an injured person. The gunman, described by police as a soldier angry over a land dispute, appeared to be armed with an assault rifle, based on security camera video aired on Thai Rath television. Thai Rath said the incident began at about 3:30 p.m. Shortly before midnight, police announced they had secured the entire mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. They released photos of officers escorting people to the exits, but they gave no information about the gunmans whereabouts. A police officer contacted by phone said the soldier initially shot dead another soldier and a woman and wounded a third person, apparently over a land dispute. City and neighborhood police officers, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to release information, said the man took a gun from his base and drove to the Terminal 21 Korat mall, shooting along the way. Several Thai media reported that he traveled in a military vehicle. Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanich identified the suspect as Sgt. Jakrapanth Thomma. The suspect posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage with statements including No one can escape death and Should I give up?" In a later post he wrote, I have stopped already. In this photo made available by the Crime Suppression Division, people are seen heading to an exit of the Terminal 21 Korat mall guarded by armed police in Korat, Thailand, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. A soldier shot multiple people in northeastern Thailand on Saturday, killing at least 16, and was holed up in a popular shopping mall, an emergency worker said. (Crime Suppression Division of The Royal Thai Police via AP)AP His profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. In a photo circulated on social media that appeared to be taken from his Facebook page, the suspect can be seen wearing a green camouflaged military helmet while a fireball and black smoke rage behind him. The Facebook page was made inaccessible after the shooting began. Video taken outside the mall and shared on social media showed people taking cover in a parking lot as gunshots were fired. The mall was shut down and the street outside was closed while the authorities tried to find the gunman and rescue shoppers inside. The government asked broadcasters not to go live from the scene. In the initial stages, people were unsure what was happening. Nattaya Nganiem, who shot a video from outside the mall in which gunshots were heard, recounted what she experienced. This is a photo of a wanted poster released by Crime Suppression Division of The Royal Thai Police on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 showing the suspect in a mass shooting in Northeastern Thailand. A soldier shot multiple people in northeastern Thailand on Saturday, killing at least 16, and was holed up in a popular shopping mall, an emergency worker said. (Crime Suppression Division of The Royal Thai Police via AP) AP "We just left the mall after we had our meal. While we were in our car on the opposite side, we heard a loud sound and then we could see people starting to run out. First I saw a woman run out from the mall hysterically. Then a motorcycle rider in front of her just ran and left his motorcycle there. I thought, whats happening? Then we heard several gunshots. The motorcycle guy probably had seen the gunman from where he was. We couldnt see the gunman but we could hear the sound of the gun. It was terrifying. We were just inside having dinner and my child was getting unusually restless, thats why we left, otherwise, we would have been stuck inside there. I cant believe this is happening in my hometown. I mean, this shopping mall, we go there almost every other day. Once she got home and learned what had happened, she fainted, she said. Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok. It is a hub for Thailands relatively poorer and rural northeastern region. The size of the mall posed a challenge for security forces as they tried to capture the gunman. It consists of seven main retail floors, including one below ground level, and scores of shops and restaurants. It also houses a movie theater on the top floor. Many malls in Thailand, including Terminal 21s namesake in Bangkok, have metal detectors and security cameras at entrances manned by uniformed but unarmed security guards. Checks on those entering are often cursory at best. Gun violence is not unheard of in Thailand. Firearms can be obtained legally, and many Thais own guns. Mass shootings are rare, though there are occasional gun battles in the far south of the country, where authorities have for years battled a long-running separatist insurgency. The incident came just a month after another high-profile mall shooting, in the central Thai city of Lopburi. In that case, a masked gunman carrying a handgun with a silencer killed three people, including a 2-year-old boy, and wounded four others as he robbed a jewelry store. A suspect, a school director, was arrested less than two weeks later and reportedly confessed, saying he did not mean to shoot anyone. WHEN there is violence in a marriage, you can expect conflicting narratives from the couple involved. Untrue, the psychological-drama-thriller from Kita Kita writer/director Sigrid Bernardo, will show that theres a lie in every story, and its going to be a dark, intriguing ride. Cristine Reyes and Xian Lim play Mara and Joaquim, two lonely Filipino migrants in the country of Georgia who find solace and companionship in each other. They hastily get married, without even getting to know each other very well. When their fiery romance turns into heated arguments and physical abuse, Mara goes straight to the Georgian police. Following her narration of how she married a mad man, Joachim defends himself with his own version of the events, pointing to his wife as the real lunatic. In this he-said/she-said film, a strange apparition of a woman adds to the suspense. As Mara and Joaquim fight to discredit each other, truth, lies, and a dark past are brought to the surface. The movie was mostly shot in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, where the cast and crew endured freezing weather. Georgia was chosen as the films setting because the story called for a place that isnt filled with Filipinos. Untrue was featured at the prestigious Tokyo International Film Festival last October, along with seven other notable Filipino films. From Viva Films, in cooperation with The IdeaFirst Company, Untrue opens in cinemas nationwide on Feb. 19. (PR) To Sir with love By Yomal Senerath-Yapa Remembering Vinodh Senadeera in song, verse and theatre View(s): View(s): Vinodh Senadeera was a legend in the wings. A dramatist who loved- better than the spotlight- the afternoons of rehearsals in a half-empty hall; the last minute skittishness and wishes to break a leg; and the final exultation of seeing his cast pack a punch on stage. Vinodh was drama and choral director for his school S. Thomas College Mount Lavinia, while performing the services of precentor at the school chapel. He did, however, have a busy life away from the Anglican fastness- for he was also involved- among other things- with the Colombo International School and Visakha Vidyalaya. Two days shy of his first death anniversary last month, the choirs and thespians inspired by the charismatic guru came together to pay tribute- and called the evening The Show Must Go On. It was designed to reflect the spirit of Vinodh- his favourite songs and plays and books collaged to give a soulprint of the man. The choirs for the night were the S. Thomas Canto Perpetua, Visakha Vidyalaya choir, the CIS choir, Nuovo Vita and the De Lanerolle Brothers. The STC choir began with Thank You for the Music. The numbers ranged from the timeless Ubi caritas to Katy Perry- passing through the haunting dusky African savanna beats of Shosholoza/Siyahamba and Lion Kings He lives in you. While the musical element triggered nostalgia, the selected literary pieces conjured a picture of Vinodh as a humanist with an aesthetic sensibility. There was a dramatic reading of The Kite Runner and a scene from Taming of the Shrew- this last by the Thomian cast who under Vinodh won the Inter School Shakespeare Drama Competition in 2011. Hans Billimoria read the preface written by Oscar Wilde to his The Picture of Dorian Grey. Billimoria dressed in pink sarong and blue shirt read the preface on beauty- stating that art- which deals with beauty- should be for arts own sake (and so the final conclusion- all art is useless). Vinodh, it seems, was an aesthete and felt that art need not be a pretty stocking to stuff in socio-political themes. Michelle Herft- fellow guru- read the famous As You Like It soliloquy- All the worlds a stage- with its brilliant cameos of a mans life in seven stages while Danu Innasithamby read a passage from author Helen Kellers autobiography, The Story of My Life, the moving section where the blind young Helen first meets her teacher- where she compares herself to a ship in a dense fog wishing for light, finally being illuminated with the brilliance of love. Vinodh- apparently- had enjoyed disappearing into Narnia when hard times came, and so the Thomians revived the 2006 production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, starting with the scene where young Lucy Pevensie first steps out from the wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia and meets the faun Tumnus. They also did two climactic scenes where the White Witch kills Aslan the Lion at the Stone Table and the war in Narnia between the good and the bad. They were however impromptu and one was left wishing for at least a lamp post in lieu of actors in school tshirts sitting around. The last theatrical skit for the evening- an uproarious rendition of Chekhovs Death of a Government Clerk did the trick. The ludicrous but all too human tale of a clerk worrying literally to death over a sneeze at a theatre was a chance to unwind and laugh at our own obsequiousness and pomposities. The evening ended with all the choirs together reminding us the musics always there with you. When they stood to resounding applause, one imagined Vinodh there among them- taking his last, posthumous bow. A British woman who travelled to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State on Friday lost the first round of her legal challenge against a decision to revoke her citizenship. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled that the government decision to strip 20-year-old Shamima Begum of her citizenship did not make her stateless as she was a citizen of Bangladesh by descent. The appellant (Begum) was in that situation as a result of her own choices, and of the actions of others, but not because of anything the Secretary of State had done, said judge Doron Blum referring to then-interior minister Sajid Javid. The judgment was made despite SIAC finding that Begum could not have a fair and effective appeal against the decision as she is currently in a Syrian refugee camp. Begums lawyer Daniel Furner said she would immediately initiate an appeal against the decision. The logic of the decision will appear baffling, accepting as it does the key underlying factual assessments of extreme danger and extreme unfairness and yet declining to provide any legal remedy, he said. Begum, then 15, was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green in east London who left home to join the jihadist group on February 17, 2015. She claims she married a Dutch convert soon after arriving in IS-held territory. She was discovered, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year. Her newborn baby died soon after she gave birth. Two of her other children also died under IS rule. Javid removed her British citizenship soon after amid an outcry led by right-wing media. He has said more than 100 people had been deprived of their British citizenship. Begum took legal action against the Home Office last year. Her lawyer, Tom Hickman, argued his client is not considered a national of Bangladesh and was therefore rendered stateless by the Home Office. The decision was unlawful as it breached the Home Offices extraterritorial human rights policy by exposing Begum to a real risk of death or inhuman or degrading treatment, he argued. In the next stage of the process, the court will have to decide if the government had legitimate national security grounds to prevent her from returning to the UK. Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of the emirates commercial and community ports, has announced plans to design and construct a new cruise jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The new jetty project, being built at an investment of Dh100 million ($27.2 million) will be completed in Q4 2020, in time for the launch of the 2021 cruise season. Located in Abu Dhabis Al Dhafra Region, Sir Bani Yas Island is the Gulfs first and only dedicated cruise beach stopover destination and is the gateway to some of the most spectacular wildlife and historical treasures in the region. The Abu Dhabi group had roped in BAM International, the operating name for the Dutch construction company Royal BAM Group, outside of Europe, for the project. The expansion will allow two vessels to dock at any given time and provide up to 5,000 passengers with direct access to embark and disembark at an accelerated rate on the southeast beach of Sir Bani Yas Island, said the statement from Abu Dhabi Ports. Presently, cruise ships set anchor about one kilometre offshore from the island and visitors are ferried to and from the Cruise Beach via tender craft. Abu Dhabi Ports said the cruise jetty comprises an open-access trestle (350 m length x 6 metres width) extending to a piled berth platform (105 m length x 15 metres width), together with eight mooring dolphins, firefighting equipment, solar lighting, as well as a hand railing, with an option to construct ten beach-control structures (groynes). Cruise Terminal Director Noura Rashed Al Dhaheri said: "Todays announcement heralds an exciting new phase in the spectacular success of Abu Dhabis cruise business at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach." "Our commitment to its ongoing development will help us significantly increase the total number of visitors to the island, and reduce the time it takes to move them to and from a vessel," he stated. BAM International Chairman Eric van Zuthem said: "The awarding of this contract to the group is a testament to our unparalleled performance in delivering the highest quality marine construction." "The new cruise jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach is our first project with Abu Dhabi Ports, and we look forward to commencing a long and successful relationship between our organisations," he added. A fraudulent website has been impersonating realme and the smartphone powerhouse is taking a stand against it. Shortly after the debut of the realme C3, the smartphone giant has issued a warning for its millions of users about a fake website. As per an official statement, realme says, It has come to our notice that someone has created a website www.realmepartner.in asking for franchisee partnerships. We want to officially clarify that this is not owned and operated by realme and we do not take any responsibility of people doing business through this website. In the meantime, we are taking necessary legal action against the owners of the portal. Please note that we only have one official website, www.realme.com. All our product information and business partnerships are available on our official website. So fans of the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the world should be warned about this fraudulent website www.realmepartner.in and stick to the official channel: www.realme.com. The Michigan lawmaker accused of trying to sell his vote hasnt ruled out running for future office. State Rep. Larry Inman, R-Williamsburg, is currently serving his final eligible term in the House under term limits. A group in his district who launched a recall effort against him missed the mark by 208 signatures, so unless the House decides to expel him, hell remain at his post through the end of the year. Hes still facing federal charges of attempted extortion and solicitation of a bribe after his initial trial ended in a partial acquittal and mistrial - prosecutors have called for a retrial in the case, which would likely begin in July or August if it proceeds. The federal judge overseeing the case questioned in a recent order whether a second jury would be able to reach a different verdict. Despite the ongoing legal issues, Inman, 65, left open the option of seeking future office in a recent interview with MLive, noting theres an opportunity for me when current U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, retires or when current state Sen. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, is term-limited out of office in 2022. Im in the largest county in those districts, so that is a possibility," he said. "But Id have to really think about it. Ive been an elected official for 30 years, between the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners and being on the Michigan House of Representatives. Id have to weigh out: Do I want to go back to more of a private life and let somebody else do the duking? Inman said many people in his district have given him the benefit of the doubt: I havent had one person say, Get out of here. So my district is pretty sympathetic because of everything Ive been through. "Im hoping that this clears up, and I can go back to what I was doing, he continued. Inman was accused of soliciting a bribe, extortion and lying to investigators stemming from a request for campaign contributions in the lead-up to a close vote last legislative session on repealing Michigans prevailing wage law. A jury found Inman not guilty of making a false statement to an FBI agent, but could not decide on whether or not to find him guilty for the bribery and extortion charges, resulting in a mistrial. An effort to recall Inman from office was submitted, but fell 208 signatures short of qualifying for the ballot. Texts obtained by the government show Inman told labor union lobbyists three days before the vote on June 6, 2018, that he and other Republicans needed campaign funds to vote against the repeal. Inman texted that 12 lawmakers expected to each receive $30,000 in campaign donations for a repeal vote, but the indictment did not implicate any other legislators. Inman has claimed he doesnt remember writing the text messages in question because he was suffering an opioid addiction at the time. Inman is still a sitting member of the House of Representatives and continues to vote, although hes been stripped of his House office, staff and committees and is no longer a member of the House Republican Caucus. House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, recently said Inmans status in the House hasnt changed, adding that he will continue to monitor developments in Inmans case. MLive reporter Julie Mack contributed to this report. Related: Rep. Larry Inmans attorney expects re-trial, prosecutors told to reveal intentions Nothings changed in Michigan House for lawmaker whose bribery, extortion charges resulted in mistrial Mistrial declared on bribery, extortion charges against Michigan lawmaker Larry Inman recall committee short by 208 signatures, state says Prosecutors want to retry Rep. Larry Inman after mistrial No state recall has gotten on Michigans ballot since the law changed in 2012 Michigan lawmakers extortion charges tied to texts seeking donations for 12, indictment says Michigan lawmaker accused of selling his vote over text says he should have called instead Officials said clashes and group fights between residents took place in the Kordai district of Jambyl region. A brawl and a series of clashes in several villages in Kazakhstans southern Zhambyl province have left ten people dead, officials said. Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev said on Saturday several dozen people were injured in the clashes on Friday in the Jambyl region, about three hours drive from Kazakhstans largest city Almaty and close to the border with Kyrgyzstan. The crowd clashed with police, wounding two officers with gunshots, and torched dozens of buildings and cars. Police have detained 47 people and confiscated two shotguns. Police and the National Guard now have the situation under control, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in a statement, ordering the government to take steps to maintain calm in the villages. Tokayev said the fighting occurred in a number of settlements in the Kordai district of Jambyl region. 191230193900576 Footage posted to social media late on Friday night showed scenes of young men, some armed with clubs, marching along a village road with buildings ablaze either side. Kazakhstans authorities have not commented on the origins of the fight. The area where the clashes took place is home to many members of the Dungan minority group, Muslims of Chinese ethnic origin. A driver who works taking passengers from Kazakhstans border with Kyrgyzstan to the city of Almaty said that Masanchi village, which was at the centre of the conflict, had been sealed off. It is calm. But you cant get there now. The police and the army are there, the driver, Bakytjan, told AFP news agency by telephone. He said the conflict had begun after a Dungan man attacked an elderly Kazakh man. Private news agency Kaztag cited Kusei Daurov, head of the Dungan association as saying that more than ten homes were burned by young men that had arrived in the village of Masanchi on Friday. Kazakhstans leadership prides itself on guaranteeing inter-ethnic harmony in a country where the foreign ministry says over 100 ethnic groups are living in peace. GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON:GSK) shares fell 4.7% to UK17.00 in the week since its latest yearly results. The result was positive overall - although revenues of UK34b were in line with what analysts predicted, GlaxoSmithKline surprised by delivering a statutory profit of UK0.93 per share, modestly greater than expected. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what top analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. We thought readers would find it interesting to see analysts' latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year. See our latest analysis for GlaxoSmithKline LSE:GSK Past and Future Earnings, February 8th 2020 Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for GlaxoSmithKline from 17 analysts is for revenues of UK35.1b in 2020, which is an okay 4.1% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to rise 6.4% to UK1.00. Yet prior to the latest earnings, analysts had been forecasting revenues of UK34.7b and earnings per share (EPS) of UK1.01 in 2020. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates. Analysts reconfirmed their price target of UK18.80, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. The most optimistic GlaxoSmithKline analyst has a price target of UK23.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at UK15.50. This shows there is still quite a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation. Story continues One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's pretty clear that analysts expect GlaxoSmithKline's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 4.1%, compared to a historical growth rate of 7.8% over the past five years. By way of comparison, other companies in this market with analyst coverage, are forecast to grow their revenue at 6.8% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that analysts still expect GlaxoSmithKline to grow slower than the wider market. The Bottom Line The most obvious conclusion from these results is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with analysts holding earnings per share steady, in line with previous estimates. Fortunately, analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that GlaxoSmithKline's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target held steady at UK18.80, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on analysts' estimated valuations. Still, the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for GlaxoSmithKline going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.. You can also view our analysis of GlaxoSmithKline's balance sheet, and whether we think GlaxoSmithKline is carrying too much debt, for free on our platform here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. He flopped in Iowa, but the former US vice-president insists he will prevail and capture the Democratic nomination and oust Donald Trump from the White House, writes Mark Leibovich. Joe Biden has no trouble lingering in place, wherever he is, especially if theres a point he wants to finish or start. Generally it does not matter how many people are prodding him along or waiting out in the cold. And it seemed important to Biden that I hear what he was talking about right now before we finished. The former US vice president was seated in the back of a black SUV, idling for a few minutes on a frigid Iowa morning before a rally in Indianola. It was a Saturday in the middle of January, 16 days before the Iowa caucuses. Bidens silvery blue eyes looked glassy, maybe from the dry heat of the car or the daily deluge of his campaign. Already today, he had spoken at an education forum and also attended a finance committee meeting back at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines. He spent the previous two days in Texas, where he addressed a mostly black gathering at the National Baptist Convention and attended meetings, receptions, and a fund-raiser. Biden, who is 77, looked a bit worn down, and you couldnt help wondering if there were times like now that made him question why exactly he was putting himself through a presidential campaign, for the third time, after a perfectly distinguished career. On the drive, he talked about his campaign, which had endured a procession of dubious assessments in the media over nearly a year: a running catalogue of weak front-runner stories, too-old stories, sluggish-crowds stories even as polls consistently showed him in the lead, both nationally and in key states. Unlike his more ideological rivals, movement candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Biden does not have an easily identifiable why associated with his endeavor other than the necessity of a Donald Trump defeat. In all likelihood, Biden told me, he would not be running if it were, say, president Mitt Romney seeking re-election this year. Theres just an awful lot of this that is looking through the prism of what happens if we get four more years of Trump, Biden said. I had asked whether that rationale was enough. Shouldnt a presidential campaign have a mission statement that goes beyond the singular awfulness of the incumbent? Perhaps not, in the minds of voters and the view of the candidate himself. My dad used to kid, Biden told me. He said: Joey, dont compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative. As much as any US presidental campaign in recent memory, Bidens has been defined by the alternative. He is not a socialist, and he is not Trump. He is Joe Biden, the long-time senator and two-term vice president and elder statesman with a bunch of places that bear his name in the state of Delaware. People know him, for better and worse. Again and again, Biden has said that he is best equipped to confine Trumps presidency to a one-term aberration. You know, Ive been around a long time, thats the bad news. Biden told me. But the good news is, Ive also been around a long time. He is fond of these bad news/good news constructions. The bad news is that everybody knows me starts another one. The good news is everybody knows me. And this typically segues to a point both simple and foundational about Bidens campaign: survival. He is still sitting here, still the front-runner, despite everything despite himself. Ive taken it now for eight months, he said. Im still here. And Im still winning. People were holding signs, standing out in the cold, waiting for him to emerge. The Senate impeachment trial would start four days later in Washington, sidelining three of Bidens main rivals Senators Sanders, Warren and Amy Klobuchar, who would have to serve as jurors there for the foreseeable future. At the heart of that trial were Donald Trumps efforts to strong-arm the president of Ukraine into announcing an investigation into the business dealings of Hunter Biden, whom his father refers to as my only surviving son. Led by Eric Trump, the presidents son, Trump supporters were now chanting for Hunter to be locked up. Some Republicans were calling for his testimony. Why is Donald Trump doing this? the Biden campaign asked in a newly released video about Ukraine. He knows he cant beat Joe Biden. The Biden campaign hierarchy comprises a fairly conventional mix of established Democratic operatives, White House veterans and Biden loyalists. Several have been advising Biden for years and are considered family. Exceptions include Anita Dunn, who is a well-known Washington media strategist and was a top aide with Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign. Kate Bedingfield, the campaigns deputy manager and communications director, has been entrusted as much as anyone with disseminating Bidens message, his promise to restore the soul of America. The slogan was recently painted on the Biden campaign bus, replacing No Malarkey (the campaign remains firmly opposed to malarkey, Bedingfield insisted to me). Early on, when it was clear that Biden would be attacked as the rickety embodiment of a bygone Democratic establishment, the campaign faced a dilemma. Biden could try to win over the burn-it-down activists and young voters who were said to be taking over the party; he could lurch leftward, sign on to progressive preoccupations like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal and basically try to remake himself in the image of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the person of a septuagenarian with a hair transplant. Or, as the campaign chose to do, it could proceed from the assumption that any attempt at a makeover would fool no one. Biden would never be some ideological high priest. No matter what he did, the hot-takers would declare Biden to be fatally out of touch, too old, too moderate, too tired and not angry enough. Biden wanted no part of some on-the-fly repackaging. Instead, he and his team concluded that voters knew who the candidate was and thought he was a decent guy. He was maybe easy to roll your eyes at, but he was difficult to dislike. More to the point, he could do the job, and that might be good enough. When I met Brayden this week, he had a familiar anxiety on his face. It was the anxiety of a kid with a stutter, something I struggled to overcome when I was a kid too. Here's what I told him. pic.twitter.com/IIF386n2GU Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 7, 2020 What struck me in Iowa, both at Bidens appearances and from talking to dozens of the people who showed up at his rallies, is the extent to which he is running, unabashedly, as more of a transitional figure than a transformational one someone who can help lead the country out of this period of turmoil and division. Bidens emphasis on restoring plain decency and respect to the presidency was central to his appeal in Iowa, says Tom Vilsack, the states former governor and a visible Biden surrogate here. No one is going to out-anger Trump, Vilsack told me, but thats not what people want. They just want someone they can be proud of, someone they can say to your kids: Hey, thats the president, go shake his hand. Biden told me he did not buy the conceit that the Democratic Party shifted irreversibly to the left after 2016. Its the thing that I never quite understand, he said. Ive never seen any hard data that relates to that. In fact, a majority of Democrats who won congressional seats in 2018 were more mainstream, centrist candidates who had far more in common with Mitt Romney than with any member of the so-called squad of progressive congresswomen. If this dynamic returns in 2020, it might just be that Biden, past his prime, could be a decent fit for this moment. Bidens events can be sedate affairs compared with the more rollicking gatherings for Sanders, Warren and Trump. At the Iowa events I attended in January, Biden looked fit and rested after a few days off between Christmas and New Years Day. (PA Graphics) His game-show smile looks as mirror-honed as ever, but it somehow appeared looser than it used to. Age and circumstance seem to have unburdened Biden of the desperate edge he once brought to pursuing the White House. As a candidate, late-stage Biden has little in common with the impassioned orator of his younger days. He starts out quiet and eventually settles into a more conversational mode. His rallies radiate less seeming anger, compared with other candidates events, and more generalized strain. Grief is always a clear and present theme. Biden asks for a show of hands from anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer or in some cases, he asks about parents who have lost children. In Bidens experience, grief can be a powerful lubricant to human connection. In a naked political sense, it can also be a great blessing. Joe is someone who I know can hold me up, who has felt what I have felt on my saddest days, said Cindy Norton of Anamosa, whom I met after Bidens first rally in 2020, held at Anamosas National Motorcycle Museum. This country has never needed his compassion more than it does right now. Norton had just starred in what Biden watchers call a Joe moment. She told Biden that her son was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2014, at the age of 23. Today was his birthday he would have been 29 and she decided to take off work and come meet Biden at the museum. Bidens ledger of adversity is well known. He lost his first wife and daughter in a car crash just weeks after he was elected to the United States Senate in 1972; Beau Biden, one of the two sons along with Hunter who survived that crash, died of a brain tumour in 2015 at 46. It makes Joe Biden a magnet for the heartbreak of others wherever he goes. I was just walking out, just now, Biden had told me, pointing back to the loading dock at the Des Moines Marriott as we were pulling away in the SUV. And I had Im not at liberty to tell you the name, but a guy who comes from Delaware, says, Joe, so-and-so just got diagnosed with blood cancer, you got to call, you got to call. Biden is inclined to make these calls, although Beau always encouraged him not to overextend himself. Beau would say to me: Dad, youre working too hard, dont take that call. Interludes like this can exact a price. When that happens, when Jills around, she knows what happens, Biden told me, referring to his wife. And its impossible not to relive that. In talking to Biden, it takes very little to send him deep into his anguish. Beaus death is clearly still raw. I dont think Jill would mind me saying this, Biden told me. But for the first year-and-a-half, Jill got up in the morning and would say: Why are we even getting up? Were never, ever going to be why is this happening? And Id say, Honey, we got to, we got to. Things are better now, he said, though by no means is a presidential campaign the most natural place to weave a loss like that into an everyday routine. But there is also an element of safe harbour to these encounters. Biden seems to take comfort in their humanity. Shared grief offers a universal and very bipartisan space to commune, a refuge in the otherwise dehumanised chaos of a campaign. As soon as it was apparent that Cindy Norton was sharing a sorrow at the motorcycle museum, Biden seemed to click into a distinctive empathy mode. It is tough stuff, nothing like it, Biden said, touching Nortons arm. Its a terrible club to be in. But I promise you, there will come a day when you think about him, and you will smile before you cry. The number of people with whom Biden has forged similar little bonds is mind-blowing. I met them everywhere. We talk about politicians who are eloquent speakers, says the former senator Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat and a close friend of Bidens. We think they capture the emotion of the moment or something dazzling. But what we really should talk about is eloquent listeners. Biden is an eloquent listener. In 2016, Trump vowed to make America win so much, youll get tired of winning. Bidens pitch to Democrats is also largely predicated on winning, but once in November. To that end, Biden has essentially been running a general-election campaign before the primaries have even started. He has drawn inevitable scorn from the activist left for his promise to unite the country and try to work with Republicans. A few years ago, this would not have been a controversial goal. I refuse to accept the proposition that well be in a state of perpetual war with Republicans, Biden says. Its the United States of America. It doesnt work without the united. I was traveling with Biden in New Hampshire last spring when he predicted that as soon as Trump was gone, Republicans would have an epiphany and suddenly be willing to reach across the aisle again. Ridicule swiftly followed. But Biden has only leaned harder into the message of unity in recent months. He got lit up like crazy for that, Mike Donilon told me. Think about that. A person running for president is getting lit up because he stands in front of an audience and says: You know what, we need to unify this country. When a motorist pulls over to help a stranger, Biden says at campaign events, neither person cares what the others politics are. People who vote for Trump know this, too: How many of Trumps supporters want their kids to grow up just like him? Biden asks. The line always lands. People in the crowd shake their heads. We need plain, basic decency, Biden says. But one question has dogged Bidens campaign from the start: Can a 77-year-old white male moderate who spent more than 40 years in Washington excite Democrats increasingly eager for bold change? With a majority of the results from Iowa finally released after technological glitches brought the vote count to a halt, Biden was sitting in fourth place behind Buttigieg, Sanders and Warren. Now Biden must worry that the tepid result opens the door for billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, another moderate, who has surged in the polls since making a late entry into the race with a virtually bottomless cheque book. Biden must also account for the success of Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who provided a fresh face to voters looking for a moderate candidate and who made a generational argument that it was time to look past Bidens era of leadership. Buttigieg, 38, out hustled Biden on the trail and out-raised him in terms of campaign cash, playing to rowdy crowds that made Bidens look sedate. Bidens camp insists it will prevail in the long run, saying the result in Iowa 90% white would not suggest that Bidens core supporters particularly African-American voters are poised to abandon him. Even if he loses again in also predominantly white New Hampshire in next weeks primary, his campaign says Biden will make up ground in more diverse Nevada and South Carolina later in February. The point is, I count the four. The first four are the key, Biden told reporters. Adapted from an article that originally appeared in The New York Times Magazine. Additional reporting from Trevor Hunnicutt. A photographer who set up a fake modelling website to lure women to his studio for sex has been jailed for 21 years. (stock photo) A photographer who set up a fake modelling website to lure women to his studio for sex has been jailed for 21 years. Paul Brown, also known as Paul D Smart, was convicted of 15 counts of rape relating to six women and six counts of voyeurism relating to five others at Exeter Crown Court. Devon and Cornwall Police described Brown (41) of Okehampton, as "one of the most prolific sex offenders" in the English force's history. Brown used the fake website to "honey-trap" women, who he then referred back to himself as potential models for pornographic casting shoots, often involving him as a participant, police said. He required them to sign a non-disclosure agreement and kept records of his sexual activity in a little black book and a photo album. The women were promised footage would be sent to the modelling agency to be considered but this was not the case, police said. Voyeurism Officers initially arrested Brown in October 2017 following a complaint and identified further women, leading to him being charged with counts of rape, sexual assault and voyeurism in January 2019. He was convicted and sentenced following a six-week trial at Exeter Crown Court. Detective Inspector Praveen Naidoo said: "He raped and sexually assaulted women over a period of five years. He created a web of deceit to coerce women, many of whom were vulnerable, into allowing him to sexually assault and rape them. "It wasn't until one brave young woman came forward that police were able to unravel the web that he had created." Police thanked victims for their courage and bravery in speaking out. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Representatives of Bhutan participated in the meeting in an observer capacity as decided by the Royal Government of Bhutan. At a meeting on Saturday in the national capital, India along with two other neighbours Bangladesh and Nepal discussed a draft enabling memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed by the three countries for implementation of the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) MVA (Motor Vehicles Agreement). New Delhi: At a meeting on Saturday in the national capital, India along with two other neighbours Bangladesh and Nepal discussed a draft enabling memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed by the three countries for implementation of the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) MVA (Motor Vehicles Agreement). Bhutan will not join as of now pending the completion by Bhutan of its internal procedures for ratification of the BBIN MVA. But Bhutan which attended Saturdays meeting in New Delhi as an observer - has given its consent to the other three countries to go ahead. On Saturday, the MEA said, A meeting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal on the BBIN MVA was held at New Delhi on February 8. Representatives of Bhutan participated in the meeting in an observer capacity as decided by the Royal Government of Bhutan earlier. The meeting was held to discuss the passenger and cargo protocols that are to give effect to the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for the regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, signed on June 15, 2015. This is the first meeting of the group since their meeting in Bengaluru in January 2018, when the two protocols were last discussed. The MEA added, The delegations also discussed a draft enabling MOU to be signed by Bangladesh, India and Nepal for implementation of the BBIN MVA by the three countries, bearing in mind the consent provided by the Royal Government of Bhutan for the entry into force of the MVA among Bangladesh, India and Nepal, without obligation to Bhutan, pending the completion by Bhutan of its internal procedures for ratification of the BBIN MVA. The delegations of Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed to consider expediting the finalisation of this MoU, expressing gratitude to Bhutan for offering its consent in this regard. The MEA also said, Delegations recalled commitments made at the highest political level for implementation of the BBIN MVA and the importance of trade, economic cooperation and people-to-people contact, through enhanced regional connectivity, including through facilitation of regional cross-border road transport. Delegations expressed satisfaction over progress made by each country in internal consultations with their stakeholders for the protocol for movement of passengers. Photo credit: Getty Images From Harper's BAZAAR The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly turned down an invite to present an Oscar at this year's 92nd Academy Awards. Harry and Meghan were approached to hand out the top award of the night Best Picture, according to Hello!, and while the royal couple said they were "honoured by the request", they "declined the invitation". Organisers of the ceremony had hoped Harry and Meghan would join the annual event in Hollywood following their recent relocation with their son Archie to Canada. The duke and duchess announced that they were stepping back as senior royals to become financially independent in a statement released last month. They are splitting their time between Canada and North America. Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images Oscar nominees who are expected to attend the Oscars on Sunday night (February 9) include Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Cynthia Erivo, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt and Renee Zellwegger. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are said to have attended JP Morgan's banking summit in Miami last week, where Harry reportedly gave a speech. Last month, at one of Prince Harry's final official engagements in the UK before he left for Canada, the 35-year-old royal told attendees at a charity dinner for Sentebale that he had hoped that he and Meghan could continue carrying out royal duties on behalf of the Queen. He added the the UK would always be his home, and that would "never change". "I have grown up feeling support from so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life," he continued. "I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me. Together, you have given me an education about living. And this role has taught me more about what is right and just than I could have ever imagined. We are taking a leap of faith - thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step." Story continues The Oscars takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 9. Like this article? Sign up to our new newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP You Might Also Like Delhi, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu administration have emerged leaders among Union territories across all parameters for national e-governance service delivery assessment (NeSDA), according to an official report released here on Saturday. The assessment is done broadly for four categories Union territories, remaining states, union territories and central government ministries websites. Haryana and Rajasthan are the leading states in the assessment under the "remaining states" category comprising 18 states. Among the north-east and hill states, Nagaland has got the first rank with its service portal having an average compliance of more than 45 per cent to the criteria assessed across all seven parameters, including ease of use, end service delivery and content availability among others, according to the report released by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh at the 23rd National e-governance Conference here. The conference, which is being jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was attended by various senior functionaries of the state and central government, including V Srinivas, Additional Secretary, DARPG. The website of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the finance ministry is the winner under the assessment of central ministry service portals category. Whereas, the ministry portals of health & family welfare, and human resource have emerged leaders across "all parameters", the report said. The NeSDA framework primarily assessed all the service portals (state/UT and central ministry service portals) on seven key parameters, namely accessibility, content availability, ease of use, information security & privacy, end service delivery, integrated service delivery and status & request tracking. The framework covers six sectors, namely finance, labour & employment, education, local government & utilities, social welfare (including agriculture & health) and environment (including fire) sectors. Giving details of the assessment of the Union territories, it said data related to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Pondicherry were reviewed. Of these, the portal of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been adjudged first on the four parameters, viz., accessibility, content availability, ease of use, and information security and privacy, the report said. "Delhi, Chandigarh and Daman & Diu are the leading UTs with their service portals having average compliance of more than 10 per cent to the criteria assessed across all seven parameters," it said. Delhi and Chandigarh are the leading UTs with their service portals having average compliance of more than the prescribed criteria under integrated service delivery parameter. Under the "remaining states" category, Haryana and Rajasthan are the leading states with their service portals having average compliance of more than 60 per cent to the criteria assessed across all seven parameters. Haryana has got first position and Rajasthan secured second rank in the category. The remaining states category included West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In the north east and hill states category, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Assam are leading states with their portals with more than 60 per cent compliance to the criteria assessed across all the assessment parameters, including accessibility, content availability and ease of use. "Nagaland is the leading state with its service portal having average compliance of more than 45 per cent to the criteria assessed across all seven parameters," it said. The north east and hill states included Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur. The web portals of CBDT, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, were also assessed in their effectiveness in e-governance service delivery. "Ministry portals of health & family welfare and human resource development are the leading portals with compliance of more than 60 per cent to the criteria assessed across all the assessment parameters," it said. The CBDT portal has been ranked first under the assessment of central ministry service portals, according to the report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Humanities and Fine Arts Division of Chattanooga State Community College will host the fourth lecture of its sixth annual Chautauqua Lecture Series next Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Humanities Building, Room 133 on Chattanooga States main campus. There is no cost for the event. In 1874, people gathered on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York State to enjoy speakers, teachers, musicians and specialists who entertained and educated members of the community, thus catalyzing an adult education movement that subsequently spread throughout rural America. Since 2014, Chattanooga State has hosted its own monthly Chautauqua to unite faculty, students, staff and the larger Chattanooga community in exploring a wide array of topics within the humanities. This year, Chattanooga States Chautauqua Series features the compelling and culturally relevant research of seven Humanities & Fine Arts faculty as well as the series finale with Writers@Work 2019-2020 visiting author Daniel Wallace. This month, Dr. DeLara Khalili Stephens will present Time Reversed, Souls Severed and Psyches Split: Exploring Trauma and Redemption in Holocaust Literature and Film, a discussion of how recurring motifs are employed not only to deepen empathy, but also to heal and even redeem trauma. Dr. Stephens will discuss novels, poems and films, and will also include travel photography in her exploration of this topic. This presentation is open to anyone interested in Holocaust studies in the humanities. The audience will also have a chance to try some bibliotherapy a creative exercise writers use to process impactful events. In addition to Dr. Stephens presentation, two more Chautauqua sessions will be held this spring. On March 19, Dr. Nick Mansito and Dr. Buck Weiss will delve into the importance of superheroes in popular culture, and what their stories reveal about ethics, morality, philosophy and mythology in The Value of Superheroes. The final installment in the 2019-2020 Chautauqua Lecture Series will be held on April 9 in partnership with the Humanities Departments Writers@Work program. Fish Out of Water -Translating Fantasy to Film will feature an interview conducted by Associate Professor Sarah Page with the 2019-2020 Writers@Work visiting author Daniel Wallace about the film adaptation of his celebrated novel Big Fish. Leaders gather in Ethiopias capital ahead of the annual African Union summit, and the Libya conflict is high on the agenda. Leaders are gathering in Ethiopias capital ahead of the annual African Union summit which begins on Sunday, and high on the agenda will be the conflict in Libya. Attempts to end the conflict between the two rival sides have not produced a lasting peace. Al Jazeeras Mohamed Vall reports on how the war is now affecting other countries in the region. Extra vigil at Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive polling areas. Polling officials carry EVM machines and other polling material as they leave for their polling stations. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Riding on tech-savvy elements like QR codes and mobile apps, the poll authorities have geared up for elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly on Saturday, making tight security arrangements across the national capital and keeping an extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive polling areas. Over 1.47 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the electoral battle for the national capital, which is largely being seen as a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, a spirited Congress, and the opposition BJP which has campaigned very aggressively ahead of the election. In view of the ongoing anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi CEO Office has put all five polling stations in the area under the critical category and confidence-building measures are continuously being undertaken to reassure voters. Delhi chief electoral officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh reiterated that the area is under tight vigil and there is no obstruction in areas where poll activities will be conducted, so voters will face no problems. In all, 1,47,86,382 people are eligible to vote in the Delhi polls in which 2,32,815 are in the age group of 18-19. Voters in various categories include males (81,05,236), females (66,80,277), service voters (11,608), third gender voters (869), and senior citizen (aged 80 and above) voters (2,04,830), said an official. There are 13,750 polling booths, besides one auxiliary booth, located at 2,689 locations across Delhi. As far as critical polling stations are concerned, there are 516 locations and 3,704 booths in that category, said Mr Singh. There are 672 candidates in the fray for the 70 Assembly seats. Tight security arrangements have been made across the national capital and police force and paramilitary personnel have been deployed. The special commissioner of police (Intelligence), Praveer Ranjan, had earlier said that 190 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed as part of the security measures. This is nearly four times the number of CAPF personnel deployed during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Besides police security, polling stations falling in the critical category get paramilitary cover. Activities will be monitored through webcasting. The police and election machinery are on extra vigil and assessing the situation all the time across the national capital, Mr Ranjan added. Security personnel kept guard at strong rooms storing EVMs. The election staff carried EVMs and other polling material to the booths under tight supervision in all constituencies. The 2020 Delhi polls will be tech-driven with greater use of technological elements like mobile apps, QR codes, and social media interface, seeking to enhance the experience of all categories of voters, before polling or on the voting day. We are trying to make the best use of it, added a poll official. NEWSALERT-EUROPE-SASSOLI European Parliament says its president, David Sassoli, has died at 65. (AP)European Parliament says its president, David Sassoli, has died at 65. (AP) Bigg Boss 13 Weekend Ka Vaar: Shehnaz Gill Shilpa Shetty , | FilmiBeat The dramatic episodes of Bigg Boss 13 have been keeping the audience hooked to the television screens. As the reality show is headlong towards its finale, the competition has toughened. To lighten the mood of the contestants, the Bigg Boss makers invited Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. The Bollywood diva will be seen teaching yoga to the contestants. In a promo shared by Colors TV, Shilpa will be seen teaching the contestants breathing exercise. Shehnaz will be seen breathing too fast and Shilpa jokes and tells her that she doesn't want break-dance. Shehnaz will be seen trying again, but Shilpa teases her saying, "Yeh tu dhak-dhak karne laga kyon kar rahi hai," to which Sana laughs and says, "Mereko nahi aata." In the promo, Shilpa was seen asking everyone to do couple yoga, wherein one of them had to lie in the plank position and balance the weight of the other person, who lay on them should maintaining a plank position. Shehnaz and Sidharth were made partners. Instead of doing a plank, Sana was seen sitting on Sid as if she is set for a horse ride. Seeing the contestants do yoga, Shilpa couldn't control her laughter and was seen telling, "Hey bhagwan, bhin bhin prakar ke yoga dekne ko mile." Well, Sana has indeed turned Shilpa's yoga class into comedy class! During Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman Khan will be seen questioning Rashami Desai and Asim Riaz for calling Bigg Boss biased towards Sidharth Shukla. BiggBoss_Tak tweeted, "Salman was angry on Asim & Rashami as they stated Show is Biased towards Sidharth Shukla. Both justify the reasons to Salman why they feel it. Salman then said If you feel this then why u r part of this show. Leave house right now." - (sic) Apparently, on Monday (Somvaar Ka Vaar), Rajat Sharma will be seen questioning the contestants in 'Aap Ki Adalat' task. Also Read: Not Shehnaz But Asim To Have A Swayamvar; Sidharth & Rashami To Compete In A New Show! Also Read: Himanshi Asks Netizens Not To Create Rift Between Her & Umar; Shares Pic Of Asim Proposing Her Beef, spice and a kissing pig and goat took center stage at the Katy Independent School District FFA Chili Cook-off that raised money for Future Farmers of America programs. About 300 community members came out on Thursday, Feb. 6, to the parking lot at 814 East Ave. to eat chili, socialize and most importantly, raise funds for young students as they raise animals and learn responsibility, hard work and life skills. Bill Lacy, loan officer with Independent Bank Mortgage and vice president of the Katy ISD board, said he has been supporting FFA in Katy for more than 20 years through buying ads, going to their shows and rodeos and showing up for fundraisers. Its a group that I have a love for. Its a fantastic group to be affiliated with. There are so many things that the FFA does right, that the kids are doing right, said Lacy. Related: Katy Bengal Brigade and Cheerleaders director receives top honors He said students that raise animals are there at the barn early in the morning and again in the evening every day taking care of them and working diligently. While Lacy has seen the Katy FFA change many young lives for the better, he recalled his sons middle school best friend, who he said could have gone any which way then but got involved with FFA in high school. After he graduated four years ago, he went straight into the workforce, has a great work ethic and is very successful, Lacy said. In its second year, the event was a bit chilly and windy but brought out a good crowd. Each made a donation to eat chili and received a cup to sample chili from several booths sponsored by groups like State Farm, the Katy Chamber or Commerce and the Katy Business Association. Rick Ellis, vice president of the Chamber, said there wasnt much complexity or heat to their groups chili recipe. Its really simple. I mean we dont go crazy like these guys that enter all the contests, said Ellis. We threw some stuff, we threw some meat, we threw some canned stuff in there, put a little spice here and there. Were excited about it. Were not as spicy as the other ones, which is good. We have flavor. We dont have spice. It was the chambers first year to participate, partly because its new offices are at the events address. Ellis is excited that the chamber is now back in downtown Katy and ready to serve the community from its better location. We support the community. We definitely support the Katy ISD community. This is going back to the FFA. Give those kids some opportunities, which is great, Ellis said. Related: Get free kolaches for a year at Kolache Factory opening in Katy Mathew David was there representing the Katy Business Association and had a different approach to the chili cook-off: handing out crackers and swigs of milk for those with a little too much heat on their tongues. David said, We are trying to help put the fire out. Were trying to be a little bit more original. He said KBA is regularly there to boost small businesses in the community and allow them to network and that they were there Thursday to also help the students. His daughter is a freshman this year and plans to raise rabbits next year. Another option to help out the eight FFA programs at Katy ISD high schools was to buy tickets and write someones name on them with the hope that one would be drawn. But the winner had the choice of kissing a pig, a goat or paying $100 to get out of the ordeal. A lucky person was chosen several times through the evening. At one point, Mayor Bill Hastings name was drawn. He laughed as he opted to pucker up to the goat instead of paying up. It was all in good fun though, supporting the FFA program that goes back 77 years. Breaking News: Get email alerts from Chron.com sent directly to your inbox Although the count on how much was raised was unavailable in time for publication, Lacy said last years event raised around $3,000. The monies will be divided up among the eight programs to be used at their discretion, Lacy said. The cook-off came just days before the 77th Annual Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show & Katy Rodeo, slated for Tuesday, Feb. 11, through Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Katy ISD Agricultural Sciences Center, located at 5825 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road. Rodeo events include animal shows, performances, a barn sale, auction and parade. Events such as the Katy ISD Annual Livestock Show become the building blocks for students aspiring to grow into future veterinarians, engineers, agricultural teachers among other industry professions, said Sarah Martin, PhD, Katy ISD director of career and technical education, in a news release. Visit www.katyrodeo.org for details. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com A three-storey commercial building collapsed while digging work was on at an adjoining site in Punjab's Mohali district on Saturday, leaving several people trapped under the debris, officials said. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident which occurred on Kharar-Landran road, about 20 km from here, they said. "The commercial building collapsed when a JCB machine was digging an adjoining plot for construction of basement," Kharar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Himanshu Jain said. Two persons were rescued and one of them admitted to a local hospital with a fractured arm. Two other trapped persons including the JCB machine operator were in touch with rescue workers through mobile phones for some time, said Jain adding the rescuers were close to reaching them. The officials said the heavy earth moving machine might have hit the foundation of the building, but added that the exact cause of the incident would be known after the inquiry. A 30-member team of the National Disaster Response Force was engaged in the rescue operation and one more NDRF team from Ludhiana has also been called, the SDM, adding that police and civil administration personnel and members of some NGOs were also providing assistance in the rescue operation. The SDM said that the exact number of persons trapped under the debris is not clear. We have made all arrangements for undertaking rescue operation at night to ensure nobody remains under the debris," Jain said. "Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to help trace the trapped people," he said. Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said that the SDM of Kharar has been ordered to inquire into the incident and submit a report within three days. "How did this happen and did they (builder) have requisite permission to do this will be known only after the inquiry," said Dayalan. The Army has also been put on standby to assist in the rescue operation in case the need arises, said the DC. Requisite machinery and equipment were pressed into service in the rescue operation, said the SDM. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed anguish over the building collapse incident and said he has sought a detailed report from the Mohali Deputy Commissioner. "Anguished to learn of the collapse of a three-storeyed building in Kharar today with 2 people trapped. @NDRF , Fire Brigade & Mohali Admin are on the spot for immediate rescue and relief. Have asked DC Mohali @GirishDayalan to send a detailed report on what caused this collapse," Singh tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army on Saturday escalated the calibre firing and inflicted damages on the Pakistan side after a jawan was killed in the artillery shelling in the Degwar sector by Pakistan Army, according to sources in the Indian Army on Saturday. One Indian Army jawan lost his life and two were injured in the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army. Earlier, it was reported that Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by resorting to mortar shelling and small arms firing along LoC in Degwar sector of Poonch district. At about 1545 hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars in Degwar sector. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- High winds across the island knocked down trees, caused power outages, and affected traffic on Friday. Gusts brought down a tree along with power lines near the intersection of Hylan Boulevard and Chesterton Avenue in Oakwood. According to the Consolidated Edison website, more than 150 homes and businesses experienced power outages across the island. The Bayonne and Goethals bridges both had speed restrictions of 30 mph due to the high winds, according to the Port Authority. The Bayonne Bridges walkway was also closed.. Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority put a voluntary ban in place for certain types of large and empty trucks on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and restricted busses to the bridges lower level to avoid the strong winds. Traffic maps indicated delays for motorists across the borough. Police blocked off a portion of Todt Hill Road near its intersection with Richmond Road due to a telephone pole damaged by the wind. Police closed off a portion of Todt Hill Road due to a dangerous condition caused by a damaged telephone pole. (Staten Island Advance/ Paul Liotta) The National Weather Service has a high wind warning in effect until 7 p.m. with sustained winds between 25 and 30 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the NWS wrote on its website. Winds between 15 and 24 mph are expected to continue through the night with gusts reaching 38 mph, according to the NWS. Forecasters expect a low temperature of 27 degrees Friday night, and windchill values between 15 and 25 degrees. Police have registered a complaint against approximately 300 women, who are holding a protest against the amended Citizenship Act, said the Mumbai Police PRO Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pranay Ashok here on Saturday. "Under Nagpada Police Station, a protest has been going on since January 2 on the Morland Road. On February 7, we received a complaint against close to 300 women protesters, along with the organisers from the BMC, Assistant Municipal Commissioner," Ashok told ANI here. He further said that the BMC, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, in his complaint has cited that the ongoing protests are causing a delay in the development works being carried out in the area. "The complaint against them has been filed citing that the protest is leading to obstruction in the road concretisation work in the area. It also added that the protesters have installed seats and chairs on a public road," Ashok said. The Mumbai Police PRO further said that an investigation has been launched and the necessary steps will be taken in the coming days after the investigation process is over. Protests erupted in different parts of the country last year including the capital over the CAA which grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indians onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess which has been quarantined off Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak, have appealed to the government to rescue them. We are in a grave, dangerous situation. Yesterday, 21 passengers tested positive for coronavirus. Today, the number went up to 62. As many as 41 passengers and two were quarantined just now. There are 160 Indians among the crew members. Panic over coronavirus is growing, one of the crew members Binay Kumar Sarkar said in a Facebook video. All we want from the Indian government is that we are taken out and kept at an isolated place. Family members are worried. We are scared. We just want to disembark somehow. Please help us, Sarkar further said in the 1 minute 46 seconds video clip posted on Friday evening. Sarkar is a resident of Hatipa village in Kanki area, in the North Dinajpur district. After his post was shared on social media several hundred times, West Bengals disaster management minister Rajib Banerjee said that the state government was ready to do whatever it could to help the person. We will speak to the Japanese consulate in Kolkata to see if anything can be done. The Diamond Princess was placed on a two-week quarantine on arriving at Yokohama on Monday after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. The quarantine end date will be February 19, unless there are any other unforeseen developments. The Japanese government is also providing our ship and team members additional manpower support, Princess Cruises, the company that owns Diamond Princess, said in a statement on Thursday. On February 4, when its passengers were tested positive for coronavirus infection, the cruise had 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew members on board. In his first video post on February 6, Sarkar had said that on February 4, eight passengers and two crew members tested positive for coronavirus and were quarantined. But the next day, 11 more people tested positive. On February 6, another 41 people tested positive. I was supposed to go home on February 17 but right now, there is no information on when I can go, he had said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had on Friday that none of the Indians on board have tested positive for the virus. Many Indian crew & some Indian passengers are onboard the cruise ship #DiamondPrincess quarantined off Japan due to #Coronavirus. None have tested positive, as per the latest information provided by our Embassy @IndianEmbTokyo. We are closely following the developments, he had said on Twitter. The new coronavirus that emerged in a Chinese market at the end of last year has killed more than 630 people and spread around the world. The latest figures from China show there are over 30,000 people infected in the country. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday met the outgoing High Commissioner of Maldives Aishah Didi and thanked her for the work that she has done for bolstering India-Maldives relationship. "Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla congratulated High Commissioner of Maldives Aishah Didi on her appointment as Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services and thanked her for outstanding work in transforming India-Maldives relationship under the leadership of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih," Raveesh Kumar wrote on Twitter. Aishah Didi also took to Twitter to thank Shringla for a pleasant farewell. "I had a pleasant farewell call on Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Appreciate the opportunity to share my reflections on the sturdy relationship between Maldives India before my departure from this incredible country," she tweeted. Earlier in the day, Harsh Vardhan met Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong and discussed issues, including events related to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations of the two neighbouring countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spain is depriving its poor of basic rights, even as its businesses recover from the economic crisis, a U.N. poverty expert said on Friday. The country is facing housing problems of "stunning proportions" that are hitting people already struggling without jobs and sufficient benefits, said the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston in a report. Spain's Ministry of Social Rights and the Secretary of State for Communication did not immediately respond to requests for a response. Its Ministry for Transport, Mobility, and Urban Planning directed calls to its housing department which did not answer. His preliminary findings https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25524&LangID=E from a two-week tour of Spain came out as Madrids new Socialist-led leftist coalition government completed its first month in office. It has vowed to improve social spending and has raised the minimum wage by 5.5% - but Alston warned of "a deep mismatch between the needs and the policy responses being considered," especially on housing. In 2008-2014, Spain suffered one of the longest and most painful economic crises in Europe, sending unemployment shooting up to 27% and prompting large public spending cuts. Its solid economic recovery since then has heavily favoured corporations and the wealthy, but never restored social protections, Alston said. "The post-recession recovery that has been so good for some has left many people behind, and that all too little has been done for most members of that large group," his report said. It denounced: "Deep widespread poverty and high unemployment, a housing crisis of stunning proportions, a completely inadequate social protection system that leaves large numbers of people in poverty by design. Despite the clear need, low cost rental housing is almost nonexistent in Spain," he said citing data from the Housing Europe network of housing providers that show just 2.5% of Spain's occupied stock is social, compared with nearly 17% in France and 30% in the Netherlands. In Honrubia 9, a former council block in a humble Madrid neighbourhood which authorities sold to international investment fund Blackstone, residents said they were worried they would be evicted. "When I asked for social housing, (Madrid council) told me there was a lot of demand and very little availability," said one tenant. Alston's assessments of developing and industrialised countries have angered several governments in the past, including in the United States and Britain. - South Sudan has initiated plans of opening up bids with respect to the country's oil and gas reserves - The bidding process is expected to begin in March 2020 and plans are in place to ensure the best companies sail through - Sudan is the world's most oil-dependent nation and the natural resource accounts for almost all of its exports PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! South Sudan will host its first-ever oil and gas bidding round in March 2020, Briefly.co.za has learned. This comes after Sudan dissolves the central bank board as well as 11 other state-owned banks, in a bid to dismantle toppled president, Omar al-Bashirs regime. Sudan, the most oil-dependent nation in the world, has oil accounting for almost all of its exports and about 60% of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to the World Bank. South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Source: netbuzzafrica.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Rihanna flaunts fantastic body in tasteful African inspired dress South Sudans petroleum minister, Daniel Awow Chuang, said the move is a plan to accelerate the economy and an environmental audit into the bidding process has already started. Per a report by Business Insider, he added that companies that express interest in the process need to prove themselves as there would be a thorough evaluation process. Chuang went on to say that in August 2019, the country discovered the Adar oil field in Block 3, containing more than 37 million barrels of recoverable oil. Presently, the ministry is collecting data to make things easier for investors in the oil sector. In other news, Briefly.co.za has learned that Kenya has started work on Africas first hybrid power plant which costs $145 million. Information available shows that the project is the result of the combined efforts of the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) the Meru County Government and global renewable energy developers, Windlab. Described as the Meru County Energy Park, the project is expected to be a large scale facility that combines wind, solar PV and battery storage. When completed, the plant is expected to produce a total of 80MW of power to serve over 200,000 households. It is also expected to have 20 wind turbines and over 40,000 solar panels, Business Insider reports. READ ALSO: Maimane distances himself from DA past: Highlights new movement 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 After recently opening a regional branch on Saginaw Valley State University's campus, a small business-supporting state agency will receive a boost of its own thanks to $196,000 in grant funding from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. The two-year grant will support the 15 counties serviced by Michigan Small Business Development Center from its SVSU-based branch office. The new office also recently received a $25,000 grant from the Kochville Township Downtown Development Authority as well as a $20,000 grant from Northeast Michigan Council of Governments. "We're grateful to the Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation for their generous support," said J.D. Collins, state director of Michigan Small Business Development Center. "This is the type of generosity that fuels public-private partnerships and drives regional economic development. The support we receive from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Kochville Township Downtown Development Authority and Northeast Michigan Council of Governments enables our team to provide high-quality, no-cost business consulting services." The support will aid Michigan Small Business Development Center in services that include consulting, training and market research. Beginning in November, SVSU became home to both the Northeast Michigan and Great Lakes Bay regional offices for the Michigan Small Business Development Center, which provides consulting, training and secondary market research for small businesses. The Great Lakes Bay Region-based office previously was located at Delta College. While operations already have begun at its SVSU headquarters, the Michigan Small Business Development Center staff there will move into the building expansion at the university's Scott L. Carmona College of Business facility later in the winter academic semester. A $25 million, 38,500-square foot expansion was created in part to support regional business-boosting agencies such as the Michigan Small Business Development Center. The SVSU-based Michigan Small Business Development Center office serves small businesses in the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Midland, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Saginaw. In those counties, the Michigan Small Business Development Center in 2018 helped 40 new businesses start, helped create or retain 338 jobs, and generated $5.9 million in new capital investment for small business. In total, 590 small businesses were served by the agency in those 15 counties. For information about the Michigan Small Business Development Center office at SVSU, call 989-964-4908 or email SBDC@svsu.edu. In an interview with Politico, Hogan said that Republicans should have been allowed to call witnesses during the House phase of the process and that there should have been witnesses in the Senate. The popular moderate governor announced in June that he would not challenge Trump in the primary, dashing the hopes of some of Trumps GOP critics, who attempted for months to convince Hogan to run. The global demand for medical face masks is surging as the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak spreads. But medical face masks aren't as effective at protecting from coronavirus as most people think, doctors and scientists say. That's because face masks block only large particles and droplets, not small virus particles, and they're typically loose-fitting. Health organizations prioritize handwashing and using tissues when you cough or sneeze over wearing face masks to protect yourself. View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook. This story is based on an episode of "Business Insider Today." Watch the full episode here. Medical face masks have become the enduring image of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Chinese officials have urged citizens to don masks to curb the spread of the deadly disease, which has infected more than 31,000 people in China and killed more than 600. But doctors say face masks aren't as effective as most people think and there are better ways to protect yourself from the virus. Wearing a mask isn't the best way to prevent coronavirus. coronavirus face mask wuhan Getty Images The coronavirus outbreak has fueled intense demand for face masks in China, where people often wait in line for hours at pharmacies in hopes of buying one. As a response, factories around the world are working overtime to make more, and Chinese exports of the accessories have been temporarily halted so more locals can get their hands on them. There's no vaccine yet to prevent the spread of coronavirus from person to person, and many think that wearing a mask will be protect them. But that's not necessarily the case, according to scientists and doctors studying the disease. Surgical masks are typically more useful to people who are already sick because it prevents them from spreading an infection to others. Standard surgical masks are designed to block large particles and droplets, not small virus particles, and they're typically loose-fitting with gaps around the nose, mouth, and chin. More robust respirator masks can be more effective at protecting against viruses but only if they are individually fitted to form a tight seal. Story continues "Small infectious droplets cannot be filtered by the surgical masks," Hyo-Jick Choi, an assistant professor of chemical and materials engineering at the University of Alberta, told "Business Insider Today." "At the same time, the respirators and the surgical masks do not have the function to kill the virus, so when virus-carrying droplets sit on the surface of the masks and the respirators, they can survive minimum a few hours to a week." That means wearing a mask with virus particles on it for too long could actually put you and others at risk. In fact, the World Health Organization prioritizes several other safety measures over wearing masks, including washing your hands frequently, using and discarding tissues when you sneeze or cough, and maintaining a 3-foot distance from other people. The WHO recommends wearing face masks only in combination with frequent handwashing and proper disposal. But Choi believes he has found an effective mask one that's coated in salt crystals that can not only trap small virus particles but also deactivate them entirely. "I believe virus-deactivating filters can be a critical component of rapid response to the control and prevention of respiratory diseases during an epidemic and pandemic," he told "Business Insider Today." Choi added that people should not attempt to make their own salt-coated respirators. Factories around the world are ramping up production of masks to keep up with demand face mask coronavirus vietnam Linh Pham/Getty Images Meanwhile, medical-supply companies like 3M and Honeywell are ramping up production of surgical masks to keep up with surging demand. Prestige Ameritech, a mask manufacturer from Texas, is among the US companies that have shipped orders to foreign governments as the coronavirus spreads to places like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. "I have thousands of emails from people in Asia," Mike Bowen, the executive vice president of the company, told The New York Times. "Last week I sent over a million masks to China. That's one thing I never predicted, that I'd be sending masks to China." And Direct Relief, a California nonprofit that provides medical supplies during disasters, is sending air shipments of more than 300,000 masks to Chinese hospitals, according to The Wall Street Journal. As China tightens its quarantine of Wuhan residents, the demand for face masks is unlikely to subside anytime soon, regardless of their effectiveness. "There's little harm in it," Eric Toner, a scientist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Business Insider's Holly Secon. "But it's not likely to be very effective in preventing it." Read the original article on Business Insider A drop in visitors from worlds largest outbound market and fears at home over outbreak take a toll on other countries. Singapore China is the worlds largest source of outbound tourists. But travel bans, suspended flights, and government advisories are keeping many would-be tourists from mainland China at home with their tourist dollars. That means regional economies with traditionally high volumes of Chinese tourists are losing a lot of what used to be steady business and, in some of those markets, such as Singapore, many in the country are staying home for fear of the spreading coronavirus delivering a one-two punch to many local businesses. Tourists from mainland China make up about one-fifth of all visitors to Singapore. Despite its strong links with China, Singapore was among the first countries to impose a travel ban on Chinese visitors following the outbreak of the virus. Air travel from China to Asian destinations such as Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia was booming in recent years. But that has changed abruptly since the coronavirus outbreak, and its impact is also being felt in cities from Australia to the US and Europe that traditionally see high volumes of Chinese travellers. Youre seeing massive capacity cuts by airlines, Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of aviation news site FlightGlobal, told Al Jazeera. Its terrible for the airlines, its terrible for the hotels and businesses in the destination cities. Half-empty restaurants On Friday in Singapore, the countrys Ministry of Health raised its risk assessment for the coronavirus to the second-highest level, meaning the disease is severe but has not spread widely. There are at least 30 confirmed cases of infections in Singapore so far, including six Chinese and five Singaporean nationals. In the city-states Chinatown neighbourhood, merchants say business is down by 50 percent or more. At Wan Nian Stone Pot Fish restaurant, Patrick Xie wears a face mask as he stands at the door waiting for customers. Business is less than half the normal level, he said. Its because of the virus, people get paranoid and dont come out to eat, he told Al Jazeera. You see a decline in tourists, you see a decline in locals. People stock up on food and supplies after Singapore raised the coronavirus outbreak alert to orange [Edgar Su/Reuters] Derek Lim, who also wears a face mask as he hawks fresh durian and jackfruit from a street cart in Chinatown, said he normally makes a minimum of 500 Singapore dollars ($359) on a weekday and sometimes as much as 1,000 Singapore dollars ($719) on weekends. But in the last two weeks, he has made about 120 Singapore dollars ($86) on weekdays, and maybe 250 Singapore dollars ($179) on weekends. No business for Chinese tour guides Ben Richmond, a tailor in Chinatown for 25 years who lived through the 2003 SARS epidemic, worries the current outbreak can last several months because a cure has not been found, which he said explains the downturn in foot traffic. Theres a great dropoff in tourism, Lionel Chee, a Singaporean tour guide, told Al Jazeera. Usually if you walk along Trengganu Street, its shoulder to shoulder. When the buses come in with the tourists, its packed. He added, Chinatown is usually packed at Chinese New Year, the long festive season that ends on Saturday. Chee met for coffee recently with two other tour guides, Jasmine Tan and Stanley Foo. While they have a steady decline in customers, the situation is worse for Chinese-speaking tour guides, as tourist travel from the mainland has come to a halt. Because no one is coming from the PRC to Singapore, there is no business for Chinese tour guides, Foo said. Similar scenes play out all over the island nation, from Singapores Orchard Road shopping belt to the walkways along the Singapore River, where restaurants and bars normally cater to teeming crowds. Shopping malls, hotels and casinos reported that business had dropped last weekend by up to half, according to Singapore newspapers. Residents shun crowds In addition, with many residents opting to shun crowds and public events, many scheduled gatherings are being cancelled or postponed. It is kind of like a domino effect. A lot of these programmes are being postponed, that discourages people from moving around, and that impacts businesses, Chee said. A drop in the usual hustle-and-bustle became obvious to Wilson Leong, 42, when he took a bus trip from Singapore to Johor Bahru in Malaysia, where he makes frequent weekend getaways. In the past, his usual wait to go through customs at the border could have stretched to two hours or more. Last Saturday, it took less than 30 minutes, he said. The return trip to Singapore took almost no time at all, he added. Families with their kids are not going over (to Malaysia), nobody wants to risk the virus, Leong told Al Jazeera. Ang Choe Keng, 62, a homemaker in Singapore, says she avoids mass transit and public spaces. When she felt slightly ill a few days ago, she opted against going to a class she is taking. The class administrator was very appreciative that I did not attend. Theres anxiety everywhere, she told Al Jazeera. Self-quarantine Similarly, Singaporean PN Balji skipped a wedding last Saturday to avoid making contact with crowds. Just to be extra cautious. Im 72 years old, I do have preexisting conditions, so it was better to stay away, Balji told Al Jazeera. While he feels perfectly healthy, 24-year-old college student Keith Yap will not be able to go anywhere for a few more days. He had returned to Singapore from Beijing following a Chinese New Year family reunion, only to be told he had to self-quarantine for two weeks. When he went to his college dorm to collect his belongings and return to his parents Singapore home for the quarantine period, I saw people avoid me for the fear that I have the Wuhan virus, he told Al Jazeera. Medical staff prepare pre-screening procedure at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore [File: Roslan Rahman/AFP] The main drawback is that being self-quarantined does take a toll on your mental health. I have been unable to go to church, I cannot share meals with friends or go out with them. Another college student, Winnie Li, 22, is worried that her parents, Chinese citizens in Beijing, will not be able to attend her graduation in May. Others who deal with the public say they have to trust in government efforts to control the outbreak. Like Lim Tow Chiau, a rideshare driver, who says he does not expect his passengers to wear a face mask. What can you do? Life has to go on as normal, he told Al Jazeera. Business conferences and other events are being scaled down or postponed. The Singapore Airshow, Asias biggest aerospace gathering, is set to begin in the next few days but on a scaled-down level. Corporate events planned by a Singapore-based social enterprise were cancelled due to public fears. The coronavirus is really wreaking havoc for us, Tom Peacock-Nazil of Seven Clean Seas, a coastal clean-up organisation, told Al Jazeera. Corporate events are a huge part of our day-to-day funding and we have now had all clients scheduled for February and March cancel. A hackathon scheduled next week to develop a data collection app was just cancelled, too. Chloe Lim contributed to this story While voting in Delhi was slow in the early hours, it picked up between 3 pm and 4 pm, and in seven districts, the turnout increased by more than 10 percent. Till 4 pm on Saturday, Delhi recorded a poor turnout in the 2020 Assembly election, with barely 42.29 percent of the people stepping out to exercise their electoral franchise. This was despite a fiercely contested campaign by the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP). While voting was slow in the early hours, it picked up between 3 pm and 4 pm, and in seven districts, the turnout increased by more than 10 percent. District 03:00 pm turnout 04:00 pm turnout North West 28.73 43.31 North East 34.82 49.07 South 28.42 43.65 Central 29.39 38.41 South West 32.45 42.48 East 31.8 45.49 West 27.32 42.2 North 29.24 42.43 New Delhi 30.29 37.26 Shahdara 33.79 43.09 South East 30.34 39.41 At 3.30 pm, the constituency of Mustafabad had recorded the highest turnout at 53.10 percent, followed by the rural constituency of Narela at 49.76 percent. Earlier in the day, former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior RSS leader Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is seeking to repeat his party's 2015 Assembly election performance, voted at the Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Follow LIVE updates on Delhi Election here Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi seat, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents' blessings. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - As you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." - , Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2020 President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their right. Union ministers S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their vote on Saturday. Union home minister Amit Shah, who led a very aggressive campaign and covered 60 Assembly seats, appealed to voters to "free" the national capital from lies and vote-bank politics. "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions... I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics," Shah tweeted. BJP president JP Nadda also appealed to all the voters to vote in large numbers. "Each vote of you is important for the unity and integrity of the country and holistic development of Delhi. Your vote only will be script the golden future of Delhi. 'Pehle Matdan, Phir Jalpan'. Jai Hind," Nadda tweeted. Security measures Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel conducted flag marches in sensitive areas in the northeast and east Delhi during polling, officials said. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the Delhi Assembly elections, they said. "The personnel, including senior officers, conducted flag marches in sensitive areas. They also conducted patrolling on motorcycles. PCR and quick response teams have also been deployed at sensitive areas" Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar said. Flag marches were conducted in Brij Puri, Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri, Seemapuri, Khajuri Khass, Jaffrabad, Mustafabad, Krishna Nagar and Mayur Vihar in northeast Delhi, Shahdara and other east Delhi areas. In view of the ongoing anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi CEO Office has put all five polling stations in the area under the "critical" category, and confidence-building measures are continuously being undertaken to reassure voters, officials said. Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh reiterated that the area is under "tight vigil" and "there is no obstruction" in areas where poll activities will be conducted, so voters will face no problems. With inputs from PTI Makeda Mbewe was just six years old when she was kicked out of her primary school in Malawi for wearing her hair in the dreadlocks of her Rastafarian religion. Two years later, she is back in the playground, thanks to a landmark court ruling in January forcing state schools to accept children wearing their hair the Rastafarian way. The case was galvanised by her family, who joined forces with dozens of other Rastafarian parents to try to force the education system to end discrimination against children from one of the country's smallest religious minorities. "I am delighted with the ruling because it takes a huge burden off my shoulders," Makeda's dreadlocked father, Wisdom Mbewe, told AFP. At first there was no problem when Makeda enrolled at Blantyre Girls Primary School, in the country's capital. But after two years -- and as her hair grew long and prominent -- the child was told to leave. "They demanded that we cut her hair," said her father, a 40-year-old truck driver. Rastafarianism is a religious movement of Jamaican origin which considers former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie to be its Messiah. Many Rastafarians sport dreadlocks which for them symbolise the Lion of Judah, one of the late emperor's titles. Dreadlocks gained global recognition thanks to the cultural influence of the late reggae star Bob Marley, also a Rastafarian, and have since become popular the world over. Malawi's 15,000 Rastafarians have long suffered discrimination because of their hairstyle. In government-run schools, children were told either to shave or cut off the locks, refused enrolment or simply thrown out of class. Whether the practice had a legal foundation was the central point of the courtroom battle. The ministry of education said the ban was justified under a policy that required all pupils to have a smart appearance and keep clean hair. But, challenged by lawyers for the Rastafarian children, it was unable to produce documents to prove that the policy existed. - 'A burden off my shoulders' - As a result of her exclusion, Makeda was home-schooled for two years -- a change that placed a strain on her family's finances. Enraged, Wisdom Mbewe approached a local advocacy charity, the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), for help. Subsequently, the centre received complaints from the parents of 76 other Rastafarian children about being "denied admission into government schools," CHREAA lawyer Chikondi Chijozi said. It then took the issue to court. On January 14, High Court judge Zione Ntaba ordered the country's 7,000-odd government-run schools to admit "all children of Rastafari religion, who have dreadlocks." Ray Harawa, a Rastafari leader in the forefront of the fight for the rights of his co-religionists in Malawi, welcomed the ruling. "This judgment will go a long way in showcasing how seriously advanced our democracy is," he said. The order is in line with judgments by courts in Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. They all ruled that excluding dreadlocked children from school was an infringement of their right to freedom of religion, according to the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC). "The court's order recognises the injustice endured by many Rastafari children," said SALC's litigation director Anneke Meerkotter. The practice was a clear violation of Malawi's constitution, which guarantees the rights to freedom of religion and to equal treatment, said Edge Kanyongolo, a law professor at the University of Malawi. "In the case of Rastafarian children, I cannot see how allowing them to keep hair in dreadlocks harms anyone at all," said Kanyongolo. - 'Lots of damage' - Makeda was back in school days after the court ruling. In the playground the other children touched her hair with curiosity, but she appeared used to the attention and took it in her stride. For Rastafarian parents, the court victory is bittersweet. Ezaius Mkandawire said the judgment was "just the beginning" of the battle for compensation. "There has been lots of damage," Mkandawire told AFP. "What about those people that have not gone to school for the past 25 years? "Someone has to pay for that." PHILADELPHIA President Donald Trump turned a Philadelphia fourth-grader into a poster child for the school-choice movement Tuesday when he told the nation thousands of students were trapped in failing government schools and announced that she was finally getting a scholarship to attend the school of her choice. But the student, Janiyah Davis, already attends one of the citys most sought-after charter schools, the Inquirer has learned. In September, months before she was an honored guest at Trumps State of the Union Address, she entered Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III. MaST III opened in the fall in a gleaming facility on the site of the former Crown Cork and Seal headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia, part of a charter network so popular that the school received 6,500 applications for 100 seats next year. Davis is one of 900 students attending the school. Like all charters, it's part of the public school system and is independently run but funded by taxpayers. How she landed in the audience during Trump's prime time speech Tuesday remains a bit of a mystery to even Janiyah's mother, Stephanie Davis. In a phone interview Friday, Davis, a teacher's assistant who lives in Northeast Philadelphia, said she received a call several weeks ago from the principal at Janiyah's former school, Olney Christian. After attending public kindergarten, Janiyah moved to Olney Christian for first through third grades. She received a partial scholarship, Davis said, but it was still a struggle to afford. So, Janiyah transferred to MaST III after she was accepted last summer. The principal at Olney Christian told Davis someone had contacted her asking about students with financial issues who "may be up for scholarships," Davis said. Then, she got a call from a man, "saying pretty much the same thing that the principal said," and telling Davis to expect a call from the White House. When a call came in from Washington, "I was kind of hesitant to answer. I thought it was a scam," Davis said. She was told she had an invitation to the White House, but didn't quite believe it, until she received an official email confirming that she and Janiyah were invited to the State of the Union. Davis said she had no idea she and Janiyah would be named during Trump's speech. She had been told there was the possibility of her daughter receiving a scholarship, but "I never knew that it was going to be this big," she said. Janiyah, left, and Stephanie Davis of Philadelphia, stand as they are recognized by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)AP Trump pointed to Janiyah in pushing for expanded school choice an issue popular with conservatives and advocates who believe all students should have the right to attend a school of their choosing, paid for with government money. "For too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools," Trump said. "To rescue these students," he said 18 states had created scholarship programs "so popular that tens of thousands of students remain on a waiting list." "One of those students is Janiyah Davis, a fourth grader from Philadelphia," Trump said. "Janiyah's mom, Stephanie, is a single parent. She would do anything to give her daughter a better future." Because of a scholarship personally paid for by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the president told Janiyah Tuesday night, "you will soon be headed to the school of your choice." When Trump said their names, Davis said she was "really surprised" and "honored." She was also surprised that Janiyah was chosen to receive a scholarship: "I don't view MaST as a school you want to get out of at all. I view it as a great opportunity." She isn't sure whether Janiyah will stay at MaST, saying she and her daughter are still discussing their options. Asked why Janiyah was selected for a scholarship despite already attending a school in a high-performing charter network, Angela Morabito, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, said, Education freedom is about going to the best school for your child. Even the best school, as ranked by statistics and averages, isnt the best fit for every child. Each of the 50,000 kids waiting for a new opportunity in Pennsylvania has different needs and goals, let alone the millions of students across America stuck in a school that isnt right for them. By Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will begin the first tranche of its long-term repo operations on February 17 with three-year repo of Rs 25,000 crore, followed by another on February 24 for an equal amount. The operations date is announced a day after the RBI's monetary policy wherein it said long-term repos aggregating up to Rs 1 lakh crore will be conducted in tranches from mid-February to ease liquidity in the system. The RBI move is aimed at providing cheaper money to banks at the repo rate and, thus, improve liquidity in the banking system. Currently, the repo operations are of short-term, usually of overnight, wherein banks can borrow money from the RBI at the prevailing repo rate. As announced in the statement on 'Developmental and Regulatory Policies' on February 6, 2020, it has been decided to conduct Long Term Repo Operations (LTROs) for one-year and three-year tenors for up to a total amount of Rs 1 lakh crore at the policy repo rate, the RBI said in a release on Friday In this connection, the 3-year repo operations for an amount of Rs 25,000 crore will be conducted on February 17. While the 1-year repo operation will be conducted for the same amount on February 24, RBI said. The details of remaining LTROs will be announced in due course, the RBI said further. These LTROs will be in addition to the existing liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) and marginal standing facility (MSF) operations, the RBI said adding that the total amount of liquidity injected through these operations would be up to Rs 1 lakh crore. LTROs will be conducted on the CBS (E-KUBER) platform. The operations would be conducted at a fixed rate, the RBI said. Banks would be required to place their requests for the amount sought under LTRO during the window timing at the prevailing policy repo rate. Bids below or above policy rate will be rejected, it added. "In case of over-subscription of the notified amount, the allotment will be done on a pro-rata basis. RBI will, however, reserve the right to inject marginally higher amount than the notified amount due to rounding effects." The minimum bid amount would be Rs 1 crore and multiples thereof. There will be no restriction on the maximum amount of bidding by individual bidders. MANCHESTER, N.H. It was easy to tell who the new frontrunners are in the Democratic presidential race: The two with the targets on their back. Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders finished at the top of the still-not-certified Iowa caucuses on Monday and are now leading in polls for the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday. Not coincidentally, they found themselves the target for everything from their experience (or lack of it) to their history on gun control (Sanders) and their record on race (Buttigieg). The pace was faster and the attacks were harsher than in the previous debates, perhaps because the stakes have gotten higher as states begin to vote. Not all seven candidates are likely to make it to the debate stage next time. For liberal activist Tom Steyer and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, in particular, it might have been their last chance. Here are five takeaways: 1. Pete Buttigieg was in the crosshairs. His surge in Iowa, and the momentum it has given him in New Hampshire, made his rivals eager to portray him not as a fresh face but as an inexperienced figure not ready for the White House. A political newcomer with no record, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in an unmistakable reference to the former two-term mayor of South Bend, Ind., who just celebrated his 38th birthday. Volunteers hold up signs as they wait for Democratic presidential candidates to enter the media spin room near the end of a Democratic presidential primary debate. Buttigieg tried to flip the liability into an asset. He was not the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under his belt, he said former vice president Joe Biden gave a pained smile at that subtle jibe but he said the country needed a perspective that will allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past. The politics of the past were not all bad, Biden replied. That said, Buttigieg continued to be on the rise. The Boston Globe/WBZ/Suffolk University tracking poll in New Hampshire, released about an hour after the debate had ended, showed Buttigieg edging into the narrowest of leads, at 25% over Sanders at 24%. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was third at 14%.The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points. Story continues More: Buttigieg, Sanders feel heat at top as candidates draw stark contrasts at debate 2. Joe Biden is pleading for more time. The tracking poll put Biden in a distant fourth, at 11%. In the opening moments of the debate, the former vice president acknowledged a poor showing in Iowa and tried to lower expectations that he might stage a comeback in New Hampshire. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here, he said. He argued that the "starting point" was really not just the opening caucuses and primaries but the first four contests, including the Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary. Those two states happen to have more diverse electorates that have been friendlier to his appeal. That said, no candidate in modern times has ever finished as low as fourth in the first two contests and won the nomination, or even survived for much longer. 3. There was a touching moment. On an evening of fisticuffs, Buttigieg emotionally defended Biden when asked if it was risky to nominate Biden, given Republican investigations into him and the work of his son, Hunter, for a Ukrainian gas company. Weve got to draw a line here, he said. He decried the kind of president...the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son. Biden looked subdued, even a bit sad. Were not going to let them change the subject, Buttigieg said. 4. You needed a fight card. To keep track of whom was attacking who, and why. Sanders got a fair share. Biden charged that he wasn't ready to explain how much his Medicare for All health care plan would cost, and he took him to task for past votes against gun control measures. Sanders attacked Biden for voting to authorize the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2002. ("I made a mistake," Biden said.) Buttigieg attacked Sanders for insisting on ideological purity. Warren attacked Buttigieg for his record on race as mayor. Klobuchar portrayed herself as having a record of delivering that Buttigieg lacked, and she described herself as a similarly fresh face. "I'm 59, and 59 is the new 38," she said. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, speaks to a member of the audience during a break in a Democratic presidential primary debate. 5. What about Trump? During a familiar debate about health care over the cost and feasibility of Medicare-for-All Steyer broke in. The question before us today is how are we going to beat Donald Trump? he said. Who can take down Mr. Trump because hes the real threat to the country. He suggested Buttigieg wasnt up to the job, something Buttigieg countered. With the Democratic nomination far from settled, the contenders were naturally focused more on one another than their general-election foe. But everyone on stage, and the Democrats in the audience, would surely have agreed with Steyer's premise, and the argument over who could defeat Trump was the undercurrent of the evening. You need to be able to go toe-to-toe with this guy and take him down, Steyer said, or were going to lose. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic debate: Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders carry frontrunner mantle Photo: John Lamparski/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images In a recent interview, Harvey Weinsteins defense attorney Donna Rotunno glibly claimed that she has never been a victim of sexual assault, because I would never put myself in that position. Her words immediately drew backlash for not only being cavalier about survivors suffering, but also for deploying a worn-out misogynist trope but would we expect anything different from a woman whos chosen to defend a serial predator accused by over 90 women of misconduct? Rotunno made the comment in an interview with the New York Times podcast The Daily, speaking to the journalist Megan Twohey, who broke the Weinstein story with fellow reporter Jodi Kantor in September 2017. Rotunno, who has been representing Weinstein since last May, has made a career of defending high-profile men accused of sexual assault and rape. Weinstein, her most recent client, is currently on trial in New York, facing two counts of rape, two counts of predatory sexual assault, and one count of criminal sexual act (he denies the charges). Throughout the interview, Rotunno minimized the claims of six women who have been delivering harrowing testimony for the past two weeks alleging that Weinstein forced them, some violently, into sex and plied them with false promises of helping their careers. But this latest statement stood out, as it seemed that she was blaming victims of sexual assault for their experiences. Twohey, audibly shocked at Rotunnos answer, asked for clarification: So youre saying that you have never been sexually assaulted because you would never put yourself in the position of being sexually assaulted? Somehow, Rotunno doubled down. Ive always made choices, from college age on, where I never drank too much, I never went home with someone I didnt know, I just never put myself in any vulnerable circumstance ever, she reiterated. When Twohey pressed again if Rotunno was saying that all women who have been survivors of sexual assault and rape are to blame for what happened to them, Rotunno issued a quick denial. Absolutely not, she said. All Im saying is that women should take precautions. If you go out on a date with someone and you make a choice to go into their home at the end of the night, what do you think could potentially happen? she continued. If youre not prepared for what could potentially happen, I think were kidding ourselves. And then to leave, and say, I had no idea that this person would maybe try to be sexual with me I think is naive. When asked what men need to do differently to prevent sexual assault, Rotunno responded, If I was a man in todays world, before I was engaging in sexual behavior with any woman, today, I would ask them to sign a consent form. In court on Friday, after the episode aired, prosector Joan Illuzi-Orbon said that Rotunno had violated a previous order from the judge not to discuss the case and witnesses in public. Illuzi-Orbon complained that Rotunno, in the episode, was calling our witnesses liars [who are seeking] celebrity victim-hood status. Rotunno claimed that she had done the interview long ago and that she did not know it would air; BuzzFeed reports it was recorded last week, and that the Times says it informed her of the air-date. Update, February 24: Harvey Weinsteins verdict has been announced. France is closing two schools and trying to reassure vacationers in the Alps after five British citizens, including a 9-year-old child, contracted the new virus from China at a French ski resort. Saturday's announcement of the five new cases in France at the height of the ski season is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus can easily spread across multiple borders. The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc, and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore, travelled to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters Saturday. That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11. Britain has three confirmed cases. The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700, nearly all of them in China, since the first illnesses were detected in December. The five British citizens with new cases of the virus are being held in Lyon-area hospitals, along with six other Britons who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored, the French health ministry said. The chalet where they were staying housed a British family that lives in Contamines and another family of British vacationers. The sickened child lives in Contamines and attends a local school, and took French classes at another local school, regional officials told a conference Saturday. Both schools will be closed, and the pupils will be monitored for signs of the virus. Local officials sought to reassure tourists descending this weekend on one of the world's most prized ski areas that all preventive measures are being taken to stem further spread of the virus. This cluster of cases in France illustrates how the coronavirus can spread to countries indirectly of China. The French ski resort will have citizens from numerous other countries there, so there are implications for potential onward transmission," said Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton. Singapore is a major transport hub in south-east Asia, so going forward, we may well find further international cases that have travelled through Singapore. France's prime minister convened a special government meeting Saturday to discuss next steps in fighting the virus, and the government decided to harden its travel warning for China, cautioning against all travel there unless in case of imperative need. The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there January 20-22, Buzyn said. There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time, including people from Hubei, according to the French minister. The British citizen then spent January 24-28 in the French Alps, and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week. Separately, a British flight carrying some 150 Britons as well as French citizens from Wuhan is to arrive in the UK on Sunday. In Germany, the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 12:42:08|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the Middle East and other issues with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell here on Friday. Pompeo and Borrell discussed prospects for peace in the Middle East, U.S.-EU trade relations, and Iran and Russia, according to a statement issued by the State Department. The two top diplomats also talked about the support for a lasting ceasefire and return to a political process in Libya and Syria, as well as U.S.-EU cooperation on Ukraine. Transatlantic ties have strained recently, as Brussels and Washington do not see eye to eye with each other on issues regarding Iran and trade. Earlier this month, Borrell said the Middle East peace plan that the Trump administration released in late January has departed from "internationally agreed parameters." Doctors are in a unique position to identify and help victims of sex trafficking, but little is taught in medical school about this issue, a review paper suggests. About 400,000 people in the US are estimated to be affected by human trafficking, and research indicates that up to 88 per cent of them have seen a health care professional for treatment during their exploitation, the authors write in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. But there isnt enough discussion or education on the role doctors can play in helping these women, children and men, lead author Jennifer ... Gordon Sondland has become the second impeachment witness to be fired by President Trump, less than 48 hours after the Commander-in-chief was acquitted by the Senate on two charges. Sondland, who was Ambassador to the European Union, released a statement Friday evening, which read: 'I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately'. The statement continued: 'I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. 'I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career.' The bombshell announcement came just hours after Trump fired Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman from the White House after the war hero testified against him during the impeachment inquiry. Vindman was escorted out of the building and told his services were no longer needed, CNN reported. The swift purging is already being dubbed the 'Friday Night Massacre' by political pundits - a reference to the 'Saturday Night Massacre' that occurred during the Nixon Administration back in 1973. President Trump said he is not happy with Alexander Vindman Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman and Gordon Sondland both testified in the impeachment inquiry Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr tweeted about the purge on Friday evening, quipping: 'Allow me a moment to thankand this may be a bit of a surpriseAdam Schiff. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam #FullOfSchiff'. Earlier in the day, Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, released a statement about his client's firing from the White House. 'Today, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President'. 'He does so having spoken publicly once, and only pursuant to a subpoena from the United States Congress.' He indicated Vindman was fired for his testimony to the House. 'There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,' Pressman said. Vindman's twin brother Yevgeny Vindman, a National Security Council attorney, walked off the White House grounds alongside him. He was also fired. Earlier in the day, the president did not deny the reports of Alexander Vindman's imminent dismissal. 'I'm not happy with him. Am I supposed to be happy with him? I'm not,' he said to reporters at the White House on Friday who asked him about Vindman. Vindman, a National Security Council aide, oversaw American policy on the Ukraine in his role on the NSC. WHAT IS THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE? The Saturday Night Massacre occurred on October 20, 1973 - ten days before impeachment proceedings began against President Richard Nixon. Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox who was investigating the Watergate scandal. Richardson refused and resigned his position. Nixon then went to Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus and ordered him to fire Cox. Ruckelshaus also refused and resigned on the same night. Solicitor General Robert Bork eventually fired Cox. The episode was extremely damaging to Nixon, with a judge later ruling that Cox's firing at the order of Nixon was illegal. The resignation of two of Nixon's top officials also helped turned the tide in favor of his impeachment. Less than a week after the Saturday Night Massacre, an NBC poll revealed that, for the first time, a majority of voters supported the impeachment of Nixon for obstruction of justice. Former Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox speaks with reporters at the the morning after President Richard Nixon fired him during the Saturday Night Massacre Advertisement President Donald Trump is preparing to push Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman out of White House National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, left, and his twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, right, in November of last year Vindman, who received the Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, had told officials at the NSC that he intended to take an early exit from that assignment and leave by the end of the month, sources told the newspaper, but Trump wants to make a symbol out of the Army officer now that the president has been acquitted by the Senate. Vindman testified at Trump's impeachment inquiry on November 19, while Sondland delivered his damning testimony the following day. Vindman, a Ukrainian immigrant whose father brought his family to the United States from the former Soviet Union, testified in the House impeachment inquiry after receiving a subpoena from Congress. Vindman was the first White House aide who was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to testify in the inquiry. Dressed in his full Army dress uniform, he told lawmakers that he believed Trump acted 'improper' on the call. At the time of the call, Vindman reported his concerns that President Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden, particularly Hunter's work for the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. 'I was concerned by the call. I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. Government's support of Ukraine. I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security,' he told House investigators. Meanwhile, Sondland's damning testimony came the following day. Sondland told lawmakers there was a 'quid pro quo' at play in U.S. policy toward the Ukraine. Vindman was the first White House aide who was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to testify in the inquiry Sondland told lawmakers there was a 'quid pro quo' at play in U.S. policy toward the Ukraine during his testimony The ambassador, who Trump put in charge of relations with the Ukraine, said it was his understanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request for a White House meeting with Trump was contingent upon his opening investigations into the Bidens and the 2016 election. Sondland said he was not told why U.S. aid to the Ukraine was put on hold but said he guessed that was part of the 'quid pro quo.' Republicans point out the Ukraine did get the aid although Democrats argue that happened only after it was revealed Trump was holding it up. Trump responded by claiming he 'barely knows' Sondland. Jennifer Williams, who worked for Mike Pence and testified in the House impeachment inquiry, left the vice president's office Additionally, White House aides are now reportedly weighing to remove or reassign other officials who testified. Jennifer Williams, who worked for Mike Pence and testified in the House impeachment inquiry, left the vice president's office for a new position in Central Command. Her exit came two months ahead of a planned March departure. Trump also fired a warning shot to Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. The West Virginia senator hails from a state the president carried in the 2016 election. Trump has tried to woo Manchin to the Republican Party with no result. Manchin voted to convict Trump on both charges in the Senate impeachment trial, which the president took note of. He also noted Manchin's fellow West Virginia senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, voted for his acquittal on both charges. 'I was very surprised & disappointed that Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia voted against me on the Democrat's totally partisan Impeachment Hoax. No President has done more for the great people of West Virginia than me (Pensions), and that will always continue,' the president tweeted Friday afternoon. 'Every Republican Senator except Romney, many highly religious people, all very smart, voted against the Impeachment Hoax. @SenCapito was all in (a great person). I was told by many that Manchin was just a puppet for Schumer & Pelosi. That's all he is!,' he added. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who voted to convict the president on the abuse of power charge, is also expected to feel Trump's wrath. On Thursday, during his acquittal celebration at the White House Trump told Sen. Mike Lee - the other senator from Utah - to deliver a message to the people of that state: 'Tell them I'm sorry about Mitt Romney.' 'We can say, by far, Mike Lee is the most popular senator in the state,' Trump said. When he announced his decision on the president Wednesday, Romney said he expected the Trump to retaliate. 'I'm aware that there are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision, and in some quarters I will be vehemently denounced. I'm sure to hear abuse from the president and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe that I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before god demanded it of me?,' he said during his speech on the Senate floor. Trump slammed Romney for using his faith to justify his decision during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning. He did not mention Romney name but his meaning was clear. 'I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,' the president said. Romney, a devout Mormon, cited his faith as one of the reasons for his guilty vote. He voted to acquit the president on the second charge: obstruction of Congress. 'The allegations made in the articles of impeachment are very serious. As a senator juror, I swore an oath before god to exercise impartial justice. I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am. I take an oath before god as enormously consequential. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the president, the leader of my own party would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced,' Romney said. The White House has indicated the president is in a vengeful mood. Donald Trump also fired a warning shot at West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Mitt Romney cited his faith as the reason for his guilty vote on Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told Fox News Channel Thursday that people would 'pay' for what they've done. She noted the president was 'going to talk about just how horribly he was treated and, you know, that maybe people should pay for that.' The Senate will aid the president in some of his desire for revenge. Two powerful Republican Senate chairmen revealed they are cranking up a probe of Hunter Biden's travel in the minutes after the Senate acquitted President Trump of abuse of power over his own conduct toward Ukraine. The president makes Hunter Biden a frequent target of his mocks during campaign rallies. The Senators, Charles Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, released a letter they wrote to Secret Service Director James Murray seeking documents on the former vice president's surviving son immediately after the acquittal vote. They wrote that they are 'reviewing potential conflicts of interest posed by the business activities of Hunter Biden and his associates during the Obama administration' particularly in Ukraine and China, where he had business dealings. They are seeking information on any security detail provided to Hunter Biden, as well as travel aboard government aircraft. The same day the Senate acquitted President Trump, two GOP senators released a letter they wrote to the Secret Service seeking information about Hunter Biden Their letter underlined that the president is getting the investigation he wanted, after his request for the president of Ukraine to do him a 'favor' and investigate the Bidens and the 2016 elections prompted a House Democratic impeachment inquiry. Democrats called it cheating and inducing foreign interference in the U.S. elections, but Republicans said it was not an impeachable offense. Every Senate Republican other than Mitt Romney of Utah voted to acquit, and Trump brandished headlines of his acquittal at the congressional prayer breakfast Thursday morning. The letter explains that senators are reviewing transactions by Rosemont Seneca Partners, a companyHunter Biden formed in 2009 along with Christopher Heinz the step-son of former Secretary of State John Kerry. Sen. Charles Grassley, who announced the probe, has been a firm backer of Trump's. He was at the White House Thursday as Trump was set to proclaim victory over what he calls a hoax impeachment Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. released a letter about his own interactions with the Ukrainian president and with President Trump during key parts of the timeframe of the Democratic inquiry Vice President Joe Biden waves as he walks out of Air Force Two with his granddaughter Finnegan Biden and son Hunter Biden (R) on December 4, 2013 in Beijing, China. Biden was on the first leg of his week-long visit to Asia. The senators are seeking information on Hunter Biden's use of government aircraft and exploring any potential conflicts 'We write to request information about whether Hunter Biden used government-sponsored travel to help conduct private business, to include his work for Rosemont Seneca and related entities in China and Ukraine,' the senators wrote. The mentioned Hunter Biden's trip aboard Air Force Two along with his father to China in 2013. During the trip, he reportedly arranged for the CEO of a Chinese firm, Jonathan Li of Bohai Capital, to shake hands with the then-vice president, and ultimately landed a business deal. A millionaire has welcomed a homeless couple into his $4 million mansion in California to show people that living on the streets isn't 'contagious'. Greg Dunston, a former security guard injured on the job, and Marie Mckinzie, a former cashier and certified nurse assistant, lived on the streets of Oakland, California, for a decade before generous Bay Area homeowner Terry McGrath offered them a roof over their heads. McGrath gave the couple the in-law unit of his mansion in the upper-class Piedmont neighborhood after seeing a story that was published about them in the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2019. Otis Taylor, a journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle, told ABC News last year there is huge disparity in the Bay Area between the wealthy and the homeless. Greg Dunston, a former security guard injured on the job, (left) and Marie Mckinzie, a former cashier and certified nurse assistant, (right) lived on the streets of Oakland California for a decade before moving into the Piedmont home Generous Bay Area homeowner Terry McGrath (above) gave the couple his in-law unit of his mansion in the upper-class Piedmont neighborhood after seeing a story that was published about them in the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2019 San Francisco is both the wealthiest city in the US - with more billionaires per capita than any other - and one of the poorest, with a homeless population of almost 8,000 people. 'You have people able to purchase multimillion-dollar homes in cash and then you have people who don't even have enough money to eat on a daily basis. Who sleep in the same clothes in rags, they sleep in doorways and parking lots next to dumpsters,' Taylor told ABC News. Taylor said that when he met Dunston and Mckinzie, he recognized that while they both suffered from disabilities, they 'were still engaged with meeting people and they still had love for each other through it all'. After hearing about their plight, real estate developer McGrath, offered them the space in his hilltop home where they have lived ever since moving in on February 1 last year. 'The thing that struck me and got me right away was the love between Greg and Marie and how it was able to survive in probably one of the harshest environments on earth,' McGrath told ABC Nightline. He said he hopes the move will help break down perceptions many people have of homeless people. The black couple (above) had faced obstacles moving into the rich white neighborhood with several neighbors making 911 calls on seeing them New footage released in February by BBC News showed that there had been some tensions building between the couple and the homeowner one year on from them moving in, as McGrath encouraged them to get paid employment while they sought to volunteer to help others in similar positions to they had been on the streets. They are seen talking about their differences and learning from each others' experiences 'Our natural tendency is to move away from that kind of pain,' he said. 'That's why we avert our eyes. That's why they just become part of the background, part of of the wallpaper and it's easier to just move past it.' Taylor said: 'There was no decision, there was no thought, there was no judgement. I was just like 'this is done.' 'I didn't vet them. These are human beings and they're not serial killers. They want to get in out of the weather. They want a roof over their head. They want to be warm.' McGrath said many people have lived in the unit over the years, including his own children, other relatives and an intern. Yet, McGrath told ABC Nightline that the black couple faced obstacles when moving into the rich white neighborhood. California's growing homeless emergency. Figures as of August 2019, include San Francisco with 8,011 homeless people and San Diego with 8,576 According to data from the US Census, the Piedmont population is almost 72 percent white. Just one percent of residents are black. Despite McGrath saying several people had come and gone in the unit over the years, he had never had reports from neighbors about his previous white tenants. 'I got a call at 9:30 at night on my cellphone -- I thought she was calling about organizing the neighborhood summer block party,' McGrath said of one of the first responses. 'I realized when she mentioned the word 'situation' that she was referencing Marie and Greg. And I said, 'What situation?' Are they vandalizing cars? Are they burglarizing homes?'' 'I just said, 'This is one of the most offensive conversations I've ever had.',' he added. Several complaints were also raised with the police, when residents noticed the black couple in the wealthy white area. Dunston and Mckinzie said they were happy to leave life on the streets behind The homeless rate in the entire state has surged a staggering 16.4 per cent in the past twelve months, meaning more than 140,000 California residents are without shelter on any given night 'I just pulled into the driveway and there's some strange folks hanging around the house,' one resident told 911 dispatchers. Another said: 'I just wanted to notify you that this woman is sitting at Lexford and Hampton ... She's smoking a cigarette -- could be drugs.' Having anticipated such a response, McGrath said he had already informed Piedmont chief of police Jeremy Bowers that Dunston and Mckinzie had moved into his home, meaning officers knew how to handle it. Dunston and Mckinzie said they were happy to leave life on the streets behind. 'I don't want to live on the streets. A lot of people do, but I want to get in,' Mckinzie told ABC Nightline. 'I love to cook a lot so I wanted a kitchen, bed and shower.' 'We wanted to do that,' Dunston said about moving into McGrath's home. 'There are a lot of people out on the streets but they have no choice.' He added that they 'never dreamed or imagined we would be living in Piedmont'. McGrath said Dunston and Mckinzie are now 'family' and that they're welcome to stay in his home for as long as they want. Homelessness in California makes up more than a fifth of the entire homeless population across the US The epidemic has been used by Donald Trump to slam his political opponents. He tweeted in December that homelessness was 'easy' to fix and that the governors of California and New York, where the issue is rife, should 'call and 'politely' ask for help' 'They're like family. There's no way I'm going to let them go back to the street,' he said. 'Most people who know me well know it's easy to start and it's hard to finish. And I'm never not going to finish.' New footage released in February by BBC News showed that there had been some tensions building between the couple and the homeowner one year on from them moving in, as McGrath encouraged them to get paid employment while they sought to volunteer to help others on the streets. They are seen talking about their differences and learning from each others' experiences. Acts of kindness like this are critical as California's homelessness crisis continues to rumble on. The homeless rate in the entire state has surged a staggering 16.4 per cent in the past twelve months, meaning more than 140,000 California residents are without shelter on any given night. Homelessness in California makes up more than a fifth of the entire homeless population across the US. The epidemic has been used by Donald Trump to slam his political opponents. He tweeted in December that homelessness was 'easy' to fix and that the governors of California and New York, where the issue is also rife, should 'call and 'politely' ask for help.' He also attacked House Speaker and California Democrat Nancy Pelosi telling her to 'clean up her filthy dirty District & help the homeless there'. Then, on Christmas Day, he threatened to step in if California governor Gavin Newsom doesn't 'fix the problem'. 'If he can't fix the problem, the Federal Govt. will get involved!' the president said. The president has repeatedly proposed plans to implement a police crackdown in California to clear the streets of homeless people. 'We can't let Los Angeles, San Francisco, and numerous other cities destroy themselves,' he said back in September. Trump has been slammed by activist groups for fueling the problem further. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson rejected a housing aid request from Newson and mayors from the state's 13 biggest cities, which asked for additional resources to fight homelessness, including 50,000 housing vouchers for the poor. In December, California officials announced plans to channel almost $12 million in emergency money into clearing a mile-long homeless encampment that has grown to more than 200 people on a popular bike trail and is deemed a public health emergency after reports of it being rat-infested. California officials are threatening to clear a mile-long homeless encampment (pictured) that has grown to more than 200 people on a popular bike trail and is deemed a public health emergency In December, Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors approved nearly $12million in emergency money to provide housing and other services to those living in the encampment (pictured) of tents and makeshift shelters along the Joe Rodota Trail in Santa Rosa The $11.63 million plan was approved by Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors to provide housing and other services to those living in the encampment of tents and makeshift shelters along the Joe Rodota Trail in Santa Rosa. The funding includes around $7 million for county officials to buy existing multi-bedroom units and also to open at least two 'indoor-outdoor' shelters where people can hook up recreational vehicles and have safe parking spots if living in their cars. There will also be protected areas for people to sleep outdoors if they refuse to come inside. The vote came amid growing complaints from residents and businesses about squalid, unsanitary conditions, including rats and other pests and a rash of used needles in the area. Sonoma County isn't the only part of the State where homelessness is rife. A Guardian investigation found that homelessness had increased 16% in Los Angeles, 17% in San Francisco, 42% in San Jose, 47% in Oakland, and 52% in Sacramento county in the last year, with many people experiencing homelessness for the first time. The issue has perhaps hit headlines most in San Francisco where the makeshift tents and cardboard boxes are at stark odds with the global brands of Silicon Valley. In February, London Breed, the city's mayor, announced that a center for people experiencing methamphetamine-induced psychosis will open in San Francisco to help them get sober in a safe place. The center, believed to be the first in the US specifically for people who are high on methamphetamine, will open late this spring on a city-owned parking lot in the Tenderloin neighborhood, where streets are littered with syringes and addicts congregate. In February, London Breed, San Francisco's mayor, announced that a center for people experiencing methamphetamine-induced psychosis will open in San Francisco to help them get sober in a safe place Mayor London Breed said the 24-hour center will get high people off the streets and connect them with addiction treatment and other services. Each tent will have 15 beds. Breed has largely been praised for her efforts in tackling the city's homeless crisis. But last month she was rocked by revelations that a high-ranking public servant tasked with helping solve the crisis and an influential businessman were at the center of corruption claims. Mohammed Nuru, San Francisco's Director of Public Works, and the man tasked with keeping the city of San Francisco clean, including cleaning up trash, removing vandalism, repairing sidewalks, and tackling the city's homelessness crisis, was charged with corruption, after an FBI probe. Meanwhile, Breed received a donation from the second man involved in the scandal, Nick Bovis, 56, a well-known local restaurant boss in 2018 towards her mayoral campaign. Breed has largely been praised for her efforts in tackling the city's homeless crisis but was rocked by revelations that a high-ranking public servant tasked with helping solve the crisis and an influential businessman were at the center of corruption claims Mohammed Nuru, 58, (right) and Nick Bovis, 56, (left) a well-known local restaurant boss, have been charged with allegedly attempting to bribe an airport commissioner to win a bid for a restaurant contract at San Francisco International Airport In January, Bovis and Nuru were charged with allegedly attempting to bribe an airport commissioner to win a bid for a restaurant contract at San Francisco International Airport. Four other allegations of corruption continue to be investigated, authorities said. It includes one where Nuru is believed to have provided Bovis with insider information to bid on contracts for providing mobile housing and toilets for homeless people across the city. Since becoming director of Public Works in 2011, Nuru has come under fire for a lack of progress in tackling the city's homelessness problem. The so-called Mr Clean has struggled to clean up the city, with trash, used needles and human feces a big issue. Public officials have given a mixed response to news of his arrest. Aaron Peskin, supervisor on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said the news was 'explosive' and 'extremely disturbing.' It 'implicates not only the individuals that we've heard who were arrested but many other people, including commissioners and developers,' Peskin said. 'I feel ashamed for the city and county of San Francisco that this could be going on and I think the mayor and the board has some investigating to do and some house cleaning to do.' US Attorney for the Northern District of California David Anderson said at a press conference that the FBI investigation had uncovered a 'web of corruption'. Breed issued a statement saying the allegations were 'extremely serious' and that the city attorney would be conducting 'a thorough review of any implicated city contracts or other decisions'. The suit alleges that the downing of the plane was "an intentional and deliberate act of terrorism." Canadian lawyers, who previously successfully sued Iran, are seeking class action status in a lawsuit on behalf of victims aboard a Ukrainian plane shot down over Tehran last month, looking for at least C$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) in compensation. The suit names Iran, its supreme leader, the elite Revolutionary Guards and others as defendants, Reuters said. Read alsoIran not sharing evidence from airline crash with Ukraine after audio leak: Iran official Iran admitted its missiles downed Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 by mistake on January 8, killing all 176 people aboard, including 57 Canadians. The lead plaintiff in the case is anonymous, preliminarily identified as John Doe, and described as immediate family to a victim identified as Jack Doe. The filing says John Doe's identity must be protected because of the risk that "his Iranian family would be put at risk of harm or death by the Iranian regime." The suit alleges that the downing of the plane was "an intentional and deliberate act of terrorism." Iranian authorities did not immediately comment on Friday, when government offices are closed. By PTI CHANDIGARH: A three-storey commercial building collapsed while digging work was on at an adjoining site in Punjab's Mohali district on Saturday, leaving one person dead, officials said. Taking a serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the Mohali additional district magistrate to conduct a thorough probe into the matter and submit his report within a week. The officials said three persons have been rescued and efforts are on to find out if more people were trapped under the debris. "The commercial building collapsed when a JCB machine was digging an adjoining plot for construction of basement," Kharar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Himanshu Jain said. Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said the JCB machine driver, identified as Harvinder Singh, has died in the incident. His body was retrieved from the debris late on Saturday evening. The officials said the heavy earth-moving machine might have hit the foundation of the building, but added that the exact cause of the incident would be known after the inquiry. They further said sniffer dogs were still looking for any person trapped under the debris. Two persons were rescued earlier and one, who sustained a fracture in his arm, was taken out of the debris in the evening, Jain said. A 30-member team of the National Disaster Response Force was engaged in the rescue operation and one more NDRF team from Ludhiana was also called, the SDM, adding that police and civil administration personnel and members of some NGOs were also providing assistance in the rescue operation. The administration made all arrangements for undertaking rescue operation at night to ensure nobody remains trapped under the debris. The chief minister also directed the district administration to take all possible steps to rescue those trapped under the debris. As per the chief minister's order, the entire cost of the treatment of those injured in the incident would be borne by the Punjab government, a state government spokesperson said. Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dayalan said the SDM of Kharar has been ordered to inquire into the incident and submit a report within three days. "How did this happen and did they (builder) have requisite permission to do this will be known only after the inquiry," said Dayalan. The probe would also ascertain if the construction was illegal or not, the statement said. A mobile tower was also stated to have fallen down where the building collapsed, the officials said. The army was put on standby to assist in the rescue operation incase the need arises, the DC said. Requisite machinery and equipment were pressed into service in the rescue operation, the SDM said. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh earlier expressed anguish over the incident and said he has sought a detailed report from the Mohali deputy commissioner. "Anguished to learn of the collapse of a three-storeyed building in Kharar today with 2 people trapped. @NDRF , Fire Brigade & Mohali Admin are on the spot for immediate rescue and relief. Have asked DC Mohali @GirishDayalan to send a detailed report on what caused this collapse," Singh tweeted. After Zoe Friedland became pregnant with her first child, she was picky about choosing a doctor to guide her through delivery. With so many unpredictable things that can happen with a pregnancy, I wanted someone I could trust, Friedland said. That person also had to be in the health insurance network of Cigna, the Bloomfield, Conn., insurer that covers Friedland through her husbands employer. Friedland found an ob-gyn she liked, who told her that she delivered only at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, a part of San Francisco health care operator Dignity Health. Friedland and her husband, Bert Kaufman, live in Menlo Park, about 5 miles from the hospital, so that was not a problem for them until Dec. 12. Thats the day Friedland and Kaufman received a letter from Cigna informing them their care at Sequoia might not be covered after Jan. 1. The insurance company had not signed a contract for 2020 with the hospital operator, which meant Sequoia and many other Dignity medical facilities around the state would no longer be in Cignas network in the new year. Suddenly, it looked as if having their first baby at Sequoia could cost Friedland and Kaufman tens of thousands of dollars. I was honestly shocked that this could even happen because it hadnt entered my mind as a possibility, Friedland said. She and her husband are among an estimated 16,600 people caught in a financial dispute between two gigantic health care companies. Cigna is one of the largest health insurance companies in the nation, and Dignity Health has 31 hospitals in California, as well as seven in Arizona and three in Nevada. The contract fight affects Dignitys California and Nevada hospitals, but not the ones in Arizona. The problem is price, Cigna said in a statement just before the old contract expired on Dec. 31. Dignity thinks that Cigna customers should pay substantially more than what is normal in the region, and we think thats just wrong. Tammy Wilcox, a senior vice president at Dignity, said, At a time when many nonprofit community hospitals are struggling, Cigna is making billions of dollars in profits each year. Yet Cigna is demanding that it pay local hospitals even less. In 2018, the most recent full year for which earnings data is available, Cigna generated operating income of $3.6 billion on revenue of approximately $48 billion. Dignity Health reported operating income of $529 million on revenue of $14.2 billion in its 2018 fiscal year. Its possible Cigna and Dignity can still reach an agreement. Both sides said they will keep trying, though no talks are scheduled. Disagreements between insurers and health systems that leave patients stranded are a perennial problem in U.S. health care. Glenn Melnick, a professor of health economics at the University of Southern California, said such disputes, which are disruptive to consumers, are often settled. Melnick believes Dignity is using an all or nothing strategy in contract negotiations, meaning either all its facilities are in the insurers network or none are. This allows them to increase their market power to get higher prices, which is not necessarily good for consumers, Melnick said. Dignity replied in an emailed statement: We do not require payers to contract with all or none of Dignity Healths providers. We do try to make sure patients have access to the full range of Dignity Health services and facilities in each of our communities. Dignity faces a number of legal and financial challenges while it works to implement a February 2019 merger with Catholic Health Initiatives of Englewood, Colo., that created one of the nations largest Catholic hospital systems known as CommonSpirit Health. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra approved the deal with conditions, including that Dignitys California hospitals spend $10 million in the first three years on services for people experiencing homelessness and offer free care to more low-income patients. The requirement to treat more poor patients at no charge followed a period, from 2011 to 2016, in which Dignitys charity care declined about 35% while its net income was $3.2 billion. Last October, CommonSpirit announced an operating loss of $582 million on revenue of nearly $29 billion for the 2019 fiscal year, its first annual financial statement after the merger took effect. Much of the loss was due to merger-related costs and special charges. The same month, Dignity completed a five-year corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Office of the Inspector General following an investigation into how it billed the government for hospital inpatient stays. Dignity said it fully complied with the agreement. Dignity is also defending itself in a class-action lawsuit alleging that it bills uninsured patients at grossly inflated rates even though it claims to provide affordable care at the lowest possible cost. More recently, an appeals court judge ruled Dignity could not charge higher prices often a lot higher than state-set rates for treating enrollees of L.A. Cares Medi-Cal health plan at its Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Dignity disagreed with the courts ruling in that case, saying that although the Northridge facility did not have a contract with L.A. Care, many of the health plans enrollees who initially sought emergency treatment there stayed in the hospital for additional care after they had been stabilized. The hospital seeks appropriate reimbursement for providing this care, Dignity said. If Dignity does not reach an agreement with Cigna, its hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and medical groups in most of California will soon be out-of-network for many Cigna enrollees. In-network coverage for those on Open Access and Preferred Provider plans ended Feb. 1, and for HMO patients it is set to end April 1. Peter Welch, president and general manager for Cigna in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, said Cigna can provide adequate access to other hospitals and doctors. Certain Cigna enrollees can apply to continue visiting Dignity facilities and doctors under Californias Continuity of Care law, enacted in 2014. Eligible enrollees include patients with chronic conditions, those already scheduled for pre-authorized services, people in need of emergency care and pregnant women in their third trimester. Friedland and Kaufman applied, hoping she would be able to continue seeing her Dignity-affiliated ob-gyn at in-network rates. On Jan. 22, less than a month from Friedlands Feb. 15 due date, they received written confirmation that their request had been approved. They wouldnt have to shop for a new doctor or face stiff medical bills after all. Early Tuesday evening, Friedland gave birth to a baby girl, Eliza, who entered the world 11 days earlier than expected, weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. While the ordeal was stressful, and the communication fraught, we were happy to receive confirmation of continuity of care and that it ended in the best possible way with the birth of our healthy baby daughter with the provider where we established care, Kaufman said. For the sake of those caught in the middle and now having to start relationships with new health care providers, we hope the two sides can come to an agreement. Brian Krans is a Kaiser Health News writer. Kaiser Health News, a national health policy news service, is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. A British woman visiting the Maldives was arrested for indecent exposure at a public beach. The incident has led local authorities to issue an apology. The unnamed tourist was somewhat violently detained by three police officers while visiting Maafushi. an inhabited island in the Kaafu Atoll, on Thursday, Feb. 6. The woman repeatedly screamed at the officers, "Youre sexually assaulting me!". Maldives Police Service Commissioner Mohamed Hameed issued a public apology. stating that the incident was badly handled and that it was under investigation. The Maldives Police Service says that a member of the public first reported the woman for being inappropriately clad. and allegedly inebriated while walking along the islands main road. The Maldives is an Islamic nation, and travelers to any of the countrys islands are urged to become familiarized with local decorum before visiting. A code outlined on a Maafushi tourism website asks visitors to dress modest outside of tourist resorts as a sign of respect to the community" On social media, mornings look blissful. It seems everyone greets the day with beachfront meditation, green elixirs or a sweaty endorphin rush. While these are all worthy pursuits, I suspect those blissed-out moments are the exception, not the rule. For many of us, mornings are tough. The alarm goes off far too early. Then were juggling kids, pets, text messages, missing files and burnt toast. Ive learned that the first hour of my morning directly influences the rest of my day. If I hit snooze and skip the gym, I dont feel settled until lunchtime. But if I wake up rested and start the day with intention, Im ready to tackle whatever happens next. For entrepreneurs, every day brings new possibilities. The question is, how will you capitalize on them? Treat Yourself Like a Toddler Morning dread is that mind-racing, pulse-racing feeling that often emerges right after you wake up. Suddenly, your brain starts cataloguing all your to-dos and any struggles youre facing. First, take a deep breath. Then consider some powerful research from neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett. As Barrett explains, emotions are not hard-wired reflections of our external reality. Theyre actually guesses our brains make based on previous experiences. Anytime you feel miserable, Barrett writes in her book, How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, its because you are experiencing an unpleasant effect due to physical sensations. Related: 14 of the Best Morning-Routine Hacks Our brains try to predict the reasons for those physical sensations, and they often miss the mark. For example, you might be tired from a restless night. Or maybe youre hungry, hot, dehydrated or sore. Before you drown in negative thoughts, address your basic needs. Drink a big glass of water and eat something nourishing. Enjoy a hot shower. Dont let your mind spiral into dread or anxiety when the issue is often physical. Establish Your Favorite Rituals Raise your hand if youre tired of morning routines. Me, too. For the past few years, weve heard that a productive day demands everything from pre-dawn yoga to dunking yourself in ice water. So, lets talk about rituals instead. The first hour of your morning should ground and energize you. It should highlight activities that make you feel calm and, ideally, excited about the day ahead. That could mean meditating or even just making your bed. Maybe you want to savor an exceptional cup of coffee. There are no rules only what works for you. Experiment to discover what sets you up for a great day. Then, reflect on how those activities make you feel. Were more likely to continue with specific rituals if we label the positive feelings they elicit. Efficiency can also be your friend. Minimize friction by pre-planning your wardrobe (or establishing a daily uniform), meal prepping and setting up fitness appointments in your calendar to reduce decision fatigue and transform rituals into habits. Get Moving Speaking of decision fatigue, its increasingly difficult to make good decisions as the day unwinds. Thats why its easier to choose a healthy breakfast or a gym session in the morning than at 6 p,m., when youve already made hundreds, even thousands of choices. If youre able to exercise before work, thats a great option. I love knowing its done before I reach the office. If mornings simply dont work for you, sign up for a workout class at the end of the day or plan to meet a friend for a walk. Make it non-negotiable. Studies show that regular exercise improves concentration, sharpens memory, speeds up learning, prolongs mental stamina, enhances creativity, lowers stress and elevates mood. As psychologist Ron Friedman writes in Harvard Business Review, Instead of viewing exercise as something we do for ourselves a personal indulgence that takes us away from our work its time we started considering physical activity as part of the work itself. Tackle Critical Tasks First If youve ever struggled to do tough-yet-essential work early in the day, you can blame what scientists call the "urgency effect." Our brains are wired to seek immediate satisfaction over long-term rewards. New research also shows that were more likely to pick small tasks with urgent deadlines over important tasks without timelines. We have to battle our own biology to be productive instead of just busy. To trick your brain, try setting micro-goals. Take a critical task and break it down into the smallest possible units of progress. Then attack each task one by one. You can also try the five-minute rule. Pick a project and commit to working on it for just five minutes. Then stop even if you want to continue. This technique strengthens your starting muscle and primes you to return to the task at hand. Consistently choosing to do what matters in the first hour of your day also builds confidence, which ultimately feels better than a dopamine hit of instant gratification. Related: The Unusual Morning Routines That Set Successful Founders Apart Be Intentional Theres a reason why so many people practice mindfulness in the morning. Ideally, your brain is refreshed and open to the world around you after a night of sleep. Mindfulness can include meditation, but it might also mean free writing, listening to music or gentle stretching. According to the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, mindfulness is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment through a gentle, nurturing lens. Mindfulness helps to foster empathy and the ability to be present, which is essential for business, but also for a satisfying life. Even if sitting quietly or journaling doesnt feel like a smart use of your time, it will pay dividends. Much like exercise, mindfulness reduces stress, improves health outcomes and can make you a better leader and manager. Most importantly, it sets a calm, positive tone for your day and thats one of the best investments you can make each morning. Related: Jeffrey Archer: Storyteller and Best Selling Author for Four Decades How to Manage Time as a Busy Entrepreneur? The Executive Selection: Zenith Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Brian Henderson has emotionally revealed his decision to refuse any more treatment or surgery, after being diagnosed with kidney cancer aged 88. The Gold Logie winner and former news presenter told The Daily Telegraph he'd had a 'wonderful life', and wanted to spend his last days with those close to him. Brian, who has beat cancer on four previous occasions, said: 'I wont go tomorrow, but whats the point of living if you have to spend it in a hospital having treatment after treatment?' 'I've had a wonderful life': Brian Henderson told The Daily Telegraph he wanted to spend his last days with his family and doting wife of 48 years, Mardi Brian, who enjoyed a 47-year career on television, refused to have intrusive keyhole surgery to remove his right kidney and is not interested in undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. 'My doctor said the tumour in my kidney is likely to be slow growing so Ive decided, at my age, to leave it there,' he added. 'The doctor said Im likely to die of something else before this kills me.' In his past, Brian has had his prostate and some of his bowel taken out - and described his 2014 diagnosis with throat cancer as a 'toughie'. Heartbreaking: Brian revealed he's 'worried' his doting wife Mardi will be lonely 'when I'm gone'. Pictured with her in 2002 A lifetime of happiness: The couple met when Mardi was only 16, and Brian was 33, and her parents forbid them to marry until she had turned 18. Pictured together in 2006 The New Zealand born journalist has two children from his first marriage, and two children, Nicole, 49, and Jody, 47, with his second wife Mardi. He added that he worries about his doting wife being lonely when he's gone. The couple met when Mardi was only 16, and Brian was 33, and her parents forbid them to marry until she had turned 18. 'Brian was my first real love...It's been years of wedded bliss. We are also best friends - always have been,' Mardi told New Idea in 2014. An icon: Brian is currently Australia's longest serving newsreader, arriving in the country in 1953 to work as a DJ, before working for Channel 9 between 1957 and 2002 Brian is currently Australia's longest serving newsreader, arriving in the country in 1953 to work as a DJ, before working for Channel Nine between 1957 and 2002. He also hosted the wildly popular Australian version of music show Bandstand between 1958 and 1972, which launched now iconic stars such as Peter Allen and the Bee Gees. He retired from working in television in 2002. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A Lebanon man was arrested for allegedly breaking into a home on the 400 block of W Quinalt Street in Springfield early Saturday morning. The Springfield Police Department responded to a call from a female who reported she began hearing noises in her apartment and noticed her property thrown around throughout her kitchen area. Police say Jeremiah Johnson Jones, of Lebanon, ran out the door once the woman saw him and confronted him. The victim reported cash and cards were stolen. A Eugene Police K9 Officer and his dog responded and immediately picked up a track. After going through yards, and across Prescott Lane, the police dog located Jones hiding in a fenced yard. Jones was taken into custody without incident. The stolen property was recovered and returned to the victim. "The police dogs are pretty impressive if it was without the police dog we would've been checking yard to yard and it would've taken a while but in this case, it turned out great," said Sergeant Pete Kirkpatrick, Springfield Police Department. Jones was lodged at the Lane County Jail. Jack Dorsey attends the cocktail party hosted by Chrome Hearts X Jordan Barrett at La Maison Du Caviar in Paris, France. Victor Boyko | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images When Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told investors this week that he's planning for a future with a more distributed workforce, his Bay Area peers could easily relate. "Our concentration in San Francisco is not serving us any longer, and we will strive to be a far more distributed workforce, which we will use to improve our execution," Dorsey said on Twitter's fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday, adding that he expects to spend time traveling this year. San Francisco, while always posing a unique set of challenges, has become an unmanageable place for many companies as they look to expand. It commands the highest salaries of any U.S. city and has some of the most expensive real estate, both commercial and residential. Meanwhile, there are hundreds of nearby companies, including the most valuable in the world, ready to poach your top developers and sales reps. The tech talent in the Bay Area is undeniable. But with cloud infrastructure, faster internet speeds in more remote areas and a new generation of communications and collaboration tools, more companies are finding it advantageous to hire elsewhere. Online lender LendingClub slashed its San Francisco workforce last year and moved jobs to Utah, and Stripe announced in May that it was hiring over 100 remote engineers in 2019. Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is having second thoughts, recently telling an audience in Utah that if he were starting a company today, he wouldn't do it in the Bay Area. 'The Bay Area is a bloodbath' "The Bay Area is a bloodbath when it comes to talent," said Armon Dadgar, co-founder of HashiCorp, a cloud data center company that's based in San Francisco but has 85% of its employees in other locations. "It's very competitive, very hard to retain people and the compensation packages are all out of whack." Dadgar moved to Connecticut last year from the Bay Area because his husband got a job at Yale. His co-founder, Mitchell Hashimoto, lives in Los Angeles. CEO David McJannet is based in San Franciso. HashiCorp describes itself as "remote first and fully distributed." Its 900 employees are scattered across the U.S. and about a dozen other countries, working from home, local coffee shops or at desks in co-working locations. Similarly, open-source software developer GitLab calls itself a "remote-only company." Co-founder and CEO Sid Sijbrandij lives in San Francisco, but GitLab has no offices for its 1,100 employees in more than 65 countries. Sijbrandij says the company shaves off 10% of operating expenses by not renting physical space and another 40% because it focuses on hiring outside of the most expensive areas in the world. Dadgar estimates HashiCorp saves $10,000 to $15,000 a year per employee by steering mostly clear of real estate. "You have access to a way broader talent pool if not everyone has to show up to a specific building in San Francisco," said Sijbrandij. "A lot of people who work for GitLab get paid well at or above the market rate in their area. And they get to intersperse work with activities," whether it's going to the gym or supermarket or picking up their kids, he said. HashiCorp and GitLab were both founded in 2012, a few years after San Francisco's tech scene ballooned from the rapid growth of Twitter, Square (Dorsey's other company), Uber, Dropbox, Airbnb and Stripe. Prior to that era of sizzling tech start-ups, almost all of the notable tech companies except Salesforce were located to the south in Silicon Valley, where they could occupy large campuses in quieter cities and suburbs. Big tax break to stay in SF Twitter, founded in 2006, was planning to move south of San Francisco and only stayed in the city because of a 2011 tax break that was carved out for the company, and then expanded to others, as part of a plan to redevelop a rundown area of town called mid-Market. That's where Twitter opened its current headquarters in 2012. The neighborhood hasn't improved much despite the booming tech market. Homelessness and drug use remain rampant. Meanwhile, Twitter has grown from about 1,100 to about 4,000 people and housing costs in the city have skyrocketed. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco has jumped 73% since early 2011 to more than $4,500, according to Rent Jungle. And it's become the highest-paying city in the world for salaries, Deutsche Bank said last year. Dorsey said he hasn't made concrete plans for what the expansion will look like, but he sounds like a guy who's open to the HashiCorp and GitLab approach, especially after tweeting in November that he's moving to Africa. tweet "I do think that we need to figure out how to build a company that is distributed, that is not burdened by time zones, but is advantaged by them," he said on Twitter's earnings call with analysts. "And I think, it'll give us a lot more perspective into markets that continue to emerge and are growing extremely quickly, and to the point where even our peers are looking very, very deeply within those markets and within those continents." Brandon Borman, Twitter's vice president of communications, echoed that sentiment, tweeting that, "We remain committed to SF, but hiring global talent shouldn't require them to uproot their lives, leave their communities, and move to where we have an office." tweet Dorsey's other company, payments processor Square, hasn't made any similar announcements, even though it has almost as many employees as Twitter and is located less than a block away. Square has a large satellite office in St. Louis and is opening a facility in Oakland, across the Bay from San Francisco, this year for up to 2,000 employees. A Square spokesperson declined to provide further comment. How remote work can work Advances in technology over the last couple of decades mean the remote model can work, thanks to cloud-based tools like Zoom for video, Slack for messaging and Google Docs for document sharing. HashiCorp and GitLab executives have put in place additional processes for asynchronous work, so employees on opposite sides of the globe can communicate and collaborate. They also have annual events for which they fly the whole company to a particular spot HashiCorp's event is coming up in Atlanta and team members are encouraged to meet up with a little more frequency. Some of the savings they realize from office costs and salaries are redirected towards higher travel budgets. To keep new employees in the mix and up to speed, GitLab last year hired Darren Murph as the head of remote. Murph works out of his home, in a North Carolina town of 300 people, and handles tasks like onboarding and inclusivity. GitLab CEO Sid Sijbrandij at company event in London GitLab Coronavirus guidelines for SriLankan crews flying to China View(s): A Health Ministry Experts Committee met last morning to draw up guidelines for SriLankan Airlines crews who fly in and out of China which has been hit by the spread of a new coronavirus, the Sunday Times learns. Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jasinghe appointed the four-member Experts Committee to set out the guidelines on a request made by the Pilots Guild on Friday afternoon. We acted swiftly as soon as the Pilots Guild made the request and the Experts Committee met last morning, even though it was Poya. The committee members sat down with representatives of the Pilots Guild and the Civil Aviation Authority to get an understanding of the setting in which the airline crews work before undertaking the task of drawing up guidelines, Dr. Jasinghe said. The Director-General who is due to get the draft guidelines soon said such guidelines were vital as the 2019-nCoV, which was first detected in Wuhan, was not only being detected in other areas in China but also across the world. The Experts Committee comprises Public Health Services Deputy Director-General Dr. Paba Palihawadana; Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige of the Epidemiology Unit; Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama attached to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Angoda; and Consultant Medical Virologist Dr. Jude Jayamaha who is Head of the National Influenza Centre at the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo. The Sunday Times learns that SriLankan Airlines has been operating seven flights a week to the three destinations of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton) in China since February 6, having reduced the number from an earlier total of 15. Meanwhile, the Chinese tourist so far the only case of imported nCoV detected in Sri Lanka is well, the Sunday Times learns, while the 33 Sri Lankans who were flown to Mattala from the locked-down city of Wuhan on February 1 and are being quarantined in Diyatalawa are said to be in good health. The Chinese tourist who was detected with the nCoV on January 27 is well, but we are keeping her at the NIID until she is fit for air travel back to China, said Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama. The Sri Lankan returnees from Wuhan, meanwhile, may be able to go home next Friday, it is understood. Even with numerous appeals by the health authorities not to stigmatize or shun the Chinese, the once-busy and popular Chinese restaurants recorded a major drop in customer numbers and many in the city noticed with dismay trishaw drivers heading towards tourists and then swerving away on seeing that they were Chinese. Experts reiterate that the nCoV is less in severity than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), but more transmissible from human-to-human. Simple precautions being urged are constant hand-washing with soap and water and avoidance of touching the face to prevent any virus which causes a respiratory infection being transmitted from a contaminated surface to a persons body through the mouth, nose and eyes. Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwars breakthrough HBO Asia series continues down its occultish path, this time with the demon warfare taking place in the fittingly ominous underworld of Bangkok. Sophisticated, sexy and scary, its a powerful combination of Asian folklore, vampire glamour and zombie slasher. Its also a potential springboard to Hollywood for talent such as newcomer, Tia Taveepanichpan, a former contestant on Asias Next Top Model. Modern Family Credit: MODERN FAMILY Double episode series return 9pm, Seven Its partly because we have seen this delightfully dysfunctional family grow, and partly because the writing is so tight, that this show can stretch even its own limits of pantomime silliness and keep getting away with it. We forgive the gay dads petty tiffs and the farce in the central familys kitchen. But a storyline about the smart daughter appearing to be sexually harassed while on a science station in Antarctica? Maybe not. A Sinn Fein councillor has claimed a case of mistaken identity after he was arrested by gardai investigating allegations of intimidation. The councillor was arrested in connection with a probe into alleged threatening and abusive behaviour towards a company. He was brought to a Garda station and questioned over the incident and released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and gardai are treating the case as serious. However, the councillor said it was a "case of a doppelganger" and insisted he was at his local dog groomer on the day of the incident. "I was completely shocked to be even asked to speak to gardai on it," he told the Irish Independent. The case centres on a threatening package being sent to a company which was subsequently reported to gardai. Gardai traced the stamp on the package to a post office in another county. CCTV footage from the post office showed an individual who gardai believe was the councillor buying the stamps that were put on the package. The councillor was arrested within the last two months and shown the footage by gardai. "They thought it looked like me," he said. "I argued it looked nothing like me. "There were five videos shown from different angles. There was one that was far away that you could argue looked similar to me but also similar to 80pc of men my age," he added. The councillor said he could prove he was not in the same county as the post office on the day the footage was taken. "My wife had the car, she was away with her sister shopping," he said. "I was at the dog groomers in the town which I had in my diary. I have since checked with the dog groomers - they have it on their records. "I have checked my Google Maps to show I was in the area that day. I had a couple of drives around looking at roads and stuff." After speaking to the Irish Independent, the councillor's solicitors contacted the newspaper to say he had not been charged with any offence and "maintains his innocence of any criminal wrongdoing". The legal firm said its client "emphatically" stated the case was a matter of mistaken identity. A Garda spokesperson said: "A Garda investigation into an allegation of intimidation of a commercial company is ongoing. A file is currently being prepared for the DPP." After months of impeachment proceedings that exposed many divisions, the Senate on Wednesday acquitted Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, two bills submitted by Democrats. Speaking at the White House East Room Thursday, Trump congratulated the end of the impeachment process. The president also thanked Republicans in the House and Senate for being on his defense team or for supporting him most enthusiastically over the past few months. The president's acquittal and response to Thursday's White House speech were pouring in. U.S. Christian leaders, including Franklin Graham, have each responded to the recent rejection of an impeachment against President Donald Trump by the Senate. First, Franklin Graham, an evangelist who persistently defended the president with the loudest voice, said the impeachment was a waste of time. Graham wrote on his Facebook page, saying he was "not guilty" of Trump. "It's confusing and a waste of time for our country. In Washington, there are so many important things for the president to focus on. I hope Nancy Pelosi, Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer, and others will give up their grief and hate and start working with Lee instead of against him." He said, "The Bible warns us. 'If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25)" he added. On the other hand, Jim Wallis, a Christian writer and liberal, said on SNS that he was thankful for the courageous decision by Mitt Romney, the only Republican who voted in favor of the impeachment vote. Pete Buttigieg, seeking to become Americas first openly gay president, has said he was saddened after learning a woman in Iowa sought to cancel her vote for him after being told of his sexuality, but said he was running to be her president too. In a video that went viral days after the caucuses, where the former South Bend mayor sneaked past Bernie Sanders to claim victory, a woman was seen displaying surprise when she learned the 38-year-old was gay. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, asks if she can change her vote. Are you saying he has a same-sex partner? Are you kidding? A member of Mr Buttigieg's team seeks to persuade her that the candidates sexuality ought not to matter. The whole point of it is, though, hes a human being, right? Just like you and me, and it shouldnt really matter, said campaign member Nikki van den Heever. After flying to New Hampshire campaigning ahead of Tuesdays primary vote, Mr Buttigieg said on ABC News he wished the woman could see his marriage meant as much to him as it did to any married person. What I want her to know is that Im running to be her president too. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Later, he told TMZ he was saddened by her views. Its unfortunate you cant win everybody, but as somebody who got reelected with 80 per cent of the vote in my Indiana city, while Mike Pence was the governor of my state, Ive also seen how many people are able to move beyond prejudices when it comes to elections. This is not the first time Mr Buttigieg has confronted prejudice as he sought elected office. In his 2019 memoir, Shortest Way Home: One Mayors Challenge and a Model for Americas Future, he recounts making the decision to come out as gay before running for reelection in South Bend in 2015. I was well into adulthood before I was prepared to acknowledge the simple fact that I am gay, he wrote in the South Bend Tribune. It took years of struggle and growth for me to recognise that its just a fact of life, like having brown hair, and part of who I am. Mr Buttigiegs status in the race as the first openly gay candidate of a major party, has frequently been the focus of discussions among his supporters, those who back one of his many rivals, as well as political pundits. While some have said America is too bigoted to elect a gay mayor, others have said his candidacy might be another of Americas glass ceilings considered unbreakable until they shattered, such as Barack Obamas 2008 victory, or Hillary Clinton becoming the first woman nominated for the presidency for a major party in 2016. While Ms Clinton lost the electoral college to Donald Trump, and with it the White House, she beat him in the popular vote by almost three million ballots. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders claim Iowa wins despite results delay Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade, which focuses on many issues of interest to the LGBT+ community, wrote this week: Is America ready for a gay president? Maybe, maybe not. But Buttigieg has changed the narrative around whats possible for openly LGBT+ public officials, in part by confounding Republican bigots with his military service and eloquent speeches about faith. Mr Naff told The Independent he preferred to be hopeful about Mr Buttigiegs candidacy, and suggested the nation was living through a time of change. These changes do not always happen immediately, he said. But we were going through this epic moment in our life time. Mr Buttigieg, who is Christian, married and a military veteran, has not had to place his sexuality at the centre of his campaign for presidency. Some members of the LGBT+ community have criticised him for not being more outspoken on issues. Other commentators have pointed out it was telling the woman in Iowa had no idea about the sexuality of her preferred candidate, until after she had voted for him. Polls commissioned by Politico and published in October suggested half of American voters said they were personally ready for a gay or lesbian president, but were divided as to whether the country was. Around 50 per cent said they were ready to have a gay president, while 37 per cent said they were not. Around 40 per cent said they believed the country was ready to elect someone such as Mr Buttigieg, while 45 per cent said America was not at that point. When The Independent visited South Bend and spoke to both supporters and critics of the former mayor, there were many who had voted for him twice, who believed he could be the break-through candidate. Eilieen Mariani, 50, a teacher who was working on a laptop in a downtown coffee shop, said she liked him and had voted for him. She said she wondered if the nation was ready. I like Pete, she said. Hes progressive, smart and kind. While Mr Buttigieg appears to have won Iowa, and has momentum in New Hampshire, his numbers are not so good in South Carolina and Nevada, which have large African American and Latino populations. Some have suggested homophobia is one reason for him scoring less well among these communities of colour, but many commentators have dismissed such claims as base racism. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University in New York, said Mr Buttigieg was scoring less well among people of colour, because of controversies relating to his tenure as mayor in South Bend. Homophobia is just an easy scapegoat, she said. Black people are no more homophobic than any other group. That does not make any sense. In his comments to ABC News about the disgruntled Iowa voter, Mr Buttigieg said even if he could not change the womans opinion of him, he nevertheless had a message for her. I am still, if Im elected president, going to get up in the morning and try to make the best decisions for her and the people she loves, he said. As I will work to serve every American whether they supported me or not. The closure of the waiting room in Collooney Rail station has been described as "another reduction in passenger service" by local Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Healy. Irish Rail says vandalism caused it to close the station rooms and toilets on January 24th last. "We are living in an era of unprecedented environmental crisis where all of our policies are encouraging and promoting use of public transport instead of private vehicles," stated Cllr Healy. "The waiting room and toilet facilities in Collooney Rail Station are a vital part of the travel service as passengers are often waiting for prolonged periods in cold and wet weather. "This room has now been closed due to vandalism on Friday 24nd last and has remained closed. "Previously, the room was not heated and I had to campaign to keep the room open and warmed when the previous Station master retired," he said. He related how he was alerted to the current closure by the daughter of an elderly man who had left her father to wait for the train. "This man was soaked and cold through from having to wait on the platform in bad weather having expected to use the waiting room. "This is part of a pattern of poor service on trains and platforms due to lack of staff on site, passengers do not feel safe or secure. "I spoke to Irish Rail in order to clarify the damage done, date for reopening, security camera plans and interim arrangements for passengers made. "We need to work together on this as a community to promote the advantages of rail travel and ensure the comfort and safety of passengers," said Cllr Healy. While there's CCTV in the car park of the station there's none where the waiting rooms are located. A caretaker opens and closes the facilities for the first and last trains of the day and there is no permanent member of staff on duty at the station since the station master retired a couple of years ago. Damage was caused by the letting off a fire extinguisher and other acts of vandalsim including the braking of a disabled access door. Delhi Assembly Election Results 2020 LIVE updates, Delhi Assembly Polls: Check constituency-wise poll-results, candidates, winners, losers Delhi is heading for polling to elect a new Legislative Assembly, Voting for the 2020 Delhi Assembly election began at 8 am and will end in all 70 constituencies at 6 pm. Voting will be followed by releasing of exit polls by multiple news organisations and survey agencies. The Election Commission of India (EC) has banned any exit poll from being released at 6.30 pm on February 8. With the counting of votes in the national capital scheduled to happen on February 11, exit polls are the only piece of information available to voters in Delhi and people across the country to know who is likely to win the election. With a total of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi, the majority mark or the magic number to form the government is 36. It is to be noted that exit polls are based on on-ground surveys and their predictions have gone wrong on multiple occasions. For the latest updates online, readers can follow Moneycontrols Delhi Election Exit Poll Results 2020 LIVE blog on the website and on the smartphone application. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is hoping to retain power in the national capital amid a challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is in power at the Centre. The Indian National Congress which governed Delhi for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2013 is hoping to make a mark after having failed to win a single seat in 2015. Last time, AAP had won 67 out of the 70 seats. BJP had won the remaining three. Residents stand at the entrance to their village, blocked off to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at Jiuduhe, north of Beijing AFP/GREG BAKER "This commitment - along with the hundreds of millions generously donated by the American private sector - demonstrates strong US leadership in response to the outbreak," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "We encourage the rest of the world to match our commitment. Working together, we can have a profound impact to contain this growing threat," he said. Pompeo, who has frequently criticised China on issues from human rights to its overseas infrastructure spending, said the United States would provide the assistance either directly or through multilateral organisations. He said the spending would come out of unspecified funds that have already been allocated within the US government. The aid pledge comes after Beijing criticised the US response to the health crisis, saying that Washington has been spreading "panic" by banning the entry of foreign nationals who travelled to China. But President Donald Trump on Friday praised China's response as "very professional" after he spoke by telephone with his counterpart Xi Jinping. Pompeo said that the United States has donated close to 17.8 tonnes of medical supplies to China including masks, gowns, gauze and respirators. At least 34,000 people in two dozen countries have been infected, with more than 700 killed, since the virus emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, likely from a market that sold exotic animals for consumption. Many fruit-laden trucks are stuck at border gates because Chinese traders have stopped buying fruit following the novel coronavirus outbreak, hurting Vietnamese farmers. In the northern border province of Lang Son, there were over 330 containers of unsold fruit Monday, 190 of them containing 3,500 tonnes of dragon fruits. Nguyen Cong Truong, Deputy Chairman of the province, said at a meeting Monday that prices of dragon fruit have dropped 88 percent from VND35,000 ($1.5) per kilogram before the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday to VND4,000 (17 cents) now. Watermelon prices have also sharply fallen to VND2,000 (8.6 cents), and banana to VND5,000 (21 cents) per kilogram, he said. Hoang, a farmer in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, estimated that he will lose almost VND200 million ($8,600) on his two-hectare farm of watermelons with Chinese traders not buying them. Thanh Mai, a watermelon trader in the same region, said that she has not been able to export a single container truck to China so far this year, even though by the same time last year she exported seven. Lang Son Deputy Chairman Truong explained that as China, the largest buyer of Vietnamese agriculture produce, has banned the gathering of big crowds to contain the spread of the highly transmissible nCoV, many markets, restaurants and retail chains have downed shutters, leading to lower consumption of agriculture produce from Vietnam. "Containers with fruits keep arriving at the border gate even though China has stopped importing them. We have advised business and agriculture associations to distribute their produce locally." Pham Van Canh, Deputy Chairman of the southern province of Long An, said that 75 percent of the provinces dragon fruits are usually exported to China, but with at least two major buyers canceling orders for 500 containers, at least 20,000 tonnes are left in stock. The nCoV damage could be a prolonged one for Vietnamese agriculture. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh has said that all trading of agriculture produce and seafood between Vietnam and China could be negatively impacted by the novel coronavirus outbreak for the next six to eight months. As China will not resume border trading until February 9, Khanh proposed that the government allows a reduction in transport tariff during this time to minimize losses suffered by agriculture businesses. Other officials have proposed diversifying export markets. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that although China was a major buyer of Vietnamese produce, it would be risky to remain dependent on this market. "The ministry will send teams to promote trade in the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Japan and Russia in the upcoming months to expand markets for Vietnamese agriculture produce," he said. Vietnams exports value of agriculture, forestry and seafood last year rose 3.2 percent from 2018 to $41.3 billion, of which China accounted for 27.8 percent, according to the agriculture ministry. The Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) recorded 1,777 violations related to wild animal protection in 2019, according to deputy director of ENV Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung. Pangolins saved thanks to tips from locals The figure includes 146 transporting, 979 trading and advertising, and 610 illegal captivity cases, she said. Nearly 600 cases were reported by locals, Dung said, adding that authorities seized 321 wildlife animals alive. The penalty for trafficking, trading and capturing wild animals in 2019 was increased from the previous years. For example, in March, a man from the northern province of Nam Dinh was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison for smuggling 10 oriental small-clawed otters (Amblonyx cinerea). In late May, a man from the central province of Quang Tri was given 15-month suspended prison sentences for illegally trading eight bear nails on social networks. In October, a man from the Central Highland province of Kon Tum and another from the central province of Nghe An were sentenced to 5 years, and 5 years and six months in prison respectively for trafficking seven Java pangolins. In November, a person from the northern province of Quang Ninh was sentenced to 13 years in prison for keeping in captivity and smuggling 145 Java pangolins, seven kg of Java pangolin scales, and 71.4 kg of elephant skin. To protect wild animals, the ENV suggested intensifying inspections and punishment, while strictly controlling the raising of wild animals for commercial purposes./. VNA Coronavirus: China wildlife trade ban 'should be permanent' China should apply a permanent ban on the wildlife trade in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Nigerian actress, Genevieve Nnaji has wowed her fans after she attended the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Award luncheon. Nnaji paired her look with a mini black handbag and a white shoe. The actress impressed her fans like she always with her sense of style. The actress looked gorgeous while attending the event in the United States. READ ALSO Genevieve Moves To Go On A Date With Official Soft (Photo) It was gathered that the event took place at Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California, on Thursday, February 6. The event was attended by popular black female stars such as Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, Yvonne Orji, and many more. See Photo Here: On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to India stating that it was "a matter of joy" for the country that he had chosen India for his first visit after assuming PM's office. Mahinda Rajapaksa who assumed office as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka last year in November is on a five-day visit to India to improve bilateral ties between the two countries. Read: PM Modi welcomes Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, upholds 'neighborhood first' India is delighted to welcome @PresRajapaksa! It is a matter of joy for us that he has chosen India for his first visit after assuming the PMs office. We had wide ranging talks on multiple subjects that will further cement India-Sri Lanka friendship. pic.twitter.com/lI2FRtMfLf Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2020 Read: MEA confirms Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's India visit from Feb 8-11 PM Modi also said that they exchanged views on bilateral and global issues, fighting terrorism and boosting security cooperation. Joint economic projects in Sri Lanka also found a mention in the talks. "During todays talks, PresRajapaksa and I were able to exchange views on bilateral and global issues. Matters relating to fighting terrorism and boosting security cooperation featured prominently in our discussions. We also discussed progress on joint economic projects in SL," said the PM's official twitter handle. Read: PM Modi wishes newly sworn-in Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa Both @PresRajapaksa and I agreed that people-to-people relations can be made even stronger between our nations. This includes boosting connectivity. There were also discussions on well being of fishermen as it impacts people from both our countries. pic.twitter.com/3fDYXTjtFH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2020 Last year his brother and newly sworn-in President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also come to visit India, just two weeks after assuming office. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018. After his official engagement in Delhi, Mahinda Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. Read: Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa embarks on 4-day state visit to India Read: India, Lanka expected discuss trade, defence during Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit (With Agency Inputs) New Delhi, Feb 8 : Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde on Saturday asserted that there is huge ignorance about the arbitration system in India and pressed for the need for formation of arbitration bars. Arbitration is a technique to resolve disputes outside the court, by referring them to a neutral party for a binding decision. "Arbitration plays an essential role in the global infrastructure of international trade, commerce and investment. Presence of arbitration bars is imperative. There is, however, ignorance about arbitration and only few people resort to it," CJI Bobde. The Chief Justice said that institutional arbitration has met with "little success in India". Citing Justice B.N. Srikrishna committee report, Justice Bobde said that the lack of credible arbitral institutions, governmental support, specialist arbitration bars, misconception about institutional arbitration and judicial attitude are the reasons why it has not been able to set foot in the country. "A robust arbitration bar is critical to the development of institutional arbitration in India as it would ensure availability and accessibility of the practitioner with knowledge and experience in the field," he added. He said that artificial intelligence could provide immense benefit for arbitration process and its users. "AI-based analytics systems could be used to predict cost, duration and possible resolution, including proposing range of settlements based on analysis of previous arbitration of similar size and complexities," CJI Bobde said. He further rued that arbitration system is replicating the judicial system. "Arbitration was meant to be a simple process which it has ceased to be. It is not supposed to mirror litigation," he said. Bengaluru: Portfolio allocation to new ministers in Karnataka has been put off to Monday, February 10, as chief minister B S Yediyurappa is under pressure to give them plum assignments. The chief minister said the allocations are ready but they will only be given out on Monday. He did not say why. Ten defectors who had helped the BJP wrest power from the Congress-JD(S) coalition were rewarded with cabinet berths on Thursday and were expected to given new jobs on Saturday. Sources said one MLA in particular, Ramesh Jarkiholi, from Gokak, has his eyes set on the water resource department but the BJP leadership wants to give him public works. Jarkiholi is said to have had a meeting with Yediyurappa lasting well into the early hours of Saturday and left the place unhappy. The award of cabinet berths to the defectors has led to discontent within the party faithful. The expansion has taken the strength of the cabinet to 28, with six vacancies. In the first expansion last August, 17 ministers were inducted. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunny. Becoming windy late. High 34F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 29F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. EDMONTON, Alberta, Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Radient Technologies Inc. ("Radient" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: RTI; OTCQX: RDDTF), a global commercial manufacturer of high quality cannabinoid-based ingredients, formulations and products, announces the following changes to its Board of Directors, effective today. Addition of two Board Members: Radient is pleased to announce that Health Canada has approved the addition of Ms. Jocelyne F. Lafreniere and Mr. Yves Gougoux to its Board of Directors, effective today. Radient initially announced the appointment of Ms. Lafreniere and Mr. Gougoux to its Board in a press release dated April 17, 2019 . Denis Taschuk, President & CEO of Radient, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome these two very accomplished individuals to our Board of Directors. Both Ms. Lafreniere and Mr. Gougoux have achieved incredible success throughout their careers, and we know that their innovation, passion, and leadership will be a credit to Radient as we continue to grow." Ms. Jocelyne F. Lafreniere, CPA, CA, CICA, CPSC, Adm.A: Ms. Lafreniere is the President & Chief Executive Officer of JFL International Inc., a management consulting firm. She is a retired partner of KPMG where she led the Compliance, Infrastructure Advisory and International Development Assistance Services of their Ottawa office. With more than 35 years of audit and consulting experience, she has served as an advisor to a broad spectrum of public and private companies, non-profit organizations, government departments and agencies, crown corporations and United Nations agencies. Throughout her career, she has actively championed for the empowerment of women and the protection of children, as well as supporting education. She is the author of 12 business management courses and two self-empowerment books, and has served as a Director on several Boards. Ms. Lafreniere is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her significant contribution to the community in Canada and abroad. Mr. Yves Gougoux: Mr. Gougoux has spent more than 40 years in the field of advertising and marketing. After presiding over several national advertising agencies in Canada, in 1984 Mr. Gougoux acquired BCP, the first French Canadian advertising agency in Montreal. In 1996 BCP entered into a partnership with international advertising agency Publicis Groupe, resulting in the launch of Publicis in Canada, with locations in Toronto and Montreal. Mr. Gougoux was made CEO of Publicis Canada and under his guidance the agency proceeded with acquisitions in Toronto and Montreal, quickly becoming one of the leading advertising agencies in Canada. In 1998 Mr. Gougoux moved to Paris to preside over Publicis Conseil, the Paris office of Publicis, while remaining the CEO for Publicis Canada. After moving back to Canada in 2000, he sold his 30% stake of Publicis Canada to Publicis Groupe in 2013, and became Chairman of the Board of Publicis Canada in 2015. He currently serves as non-executive Chairman. Mr. Gougoux is also on the Board of Directors of the Mira Foundation, a non-profit organization that trains and supplies service dogs to blind and handicapped persons as well as children with autism. He completed his business studies at Concordia University in Montreal. Resignation of two Board Members: Radient announces today the resignation of Mr. Steve Dauphin from the Company's Board of Directors, for personal reasons. Francesco Ferlaino, Radient's Chairman of the Board, commented, "I would like to thank Steve on behalf of Radient for his significant contributions during his six-year tenure on the Board. His guidance, ongoing support and commitment to the development of the Company will be greatly missed." Mr. Dimitris Tzanis will also today be resigning from Radient's Board of Directors, in order to pursue other interests. "Mr. Tzanis has been a Director of Radient since 2016, and has been a strong supporter of the Company during that time. On behalf of Radient I would like to thank him for his contributions to the Company's success, and wish him well in his future endeavours," said Mr. Ferlaino. About Radient Radient Technologies is a commercial manufacturer of high quality cannabinoid based formulations, ingredients and products. Utilizing a proprietary extraction and downstream processing platform that recovers up to 99% of cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, Radient develops specialty products and ingredients that contain a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene profiles while meeting the highest standards of quality and safety. Please visit www.radientinc.com for more information. SOURCE: Radient Technologies Inc. Contact: Caitlin Cheadle, Director of Communications: ccheadle@radientinc.com Forward Looking Information: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the growth of the Company's business operations; the impact of changes to the Company's board of directors; the Company's ability to grow its business in the cannabis sector and the Company's future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Radient, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although Radient has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Radient does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. An exit poll for the Irish General Election suggests that the three main parties are neck and neck. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael party is still strongest, but just. The poll, from The Irish Times' pollsters Ipsos MRBI, and commissioned by broadcasters RTE and TG4 alongside University College Dublin shows a 0.1 per cent lead, ahead of Sinn Fein. The paper say a hung Dail is almost certain. The main three parties were just fractions apart, with Fianna Fail on 22.2 per cent, Fine Gael 22.4 per cent, Sinn Fein 22.3 per cent - with a 1.3% margin of error leaving them tied, with the real result not known until votes are counted. The poll, from The Irish Times, broadcasters RTE and TG4 alongside University College Dublin shows a 0.1 per cent lead for Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael, ahead of Sinn Fein The Green Party commanded the title for best of the rest on 7.9 per cent, while Labour scooped 4.6 per cent of the votes and the Social Democrats 3.4 per cent. Cross-border socialist party Solidarity-People Before Profit got 2.8 per cent of the vote and independents/others commanded 14.5 per cent. When the votes are counted, if the poll - which has in the past predicted correctly - is correct again, the outcome of the election will depend entirely on the parties' ability to turn their share of the vote into Dail seats. Sinn Fein are likely to struggle to match the other two parties' return in seats but commanded much of the younger vote, with figures suggesting that 31 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted for them. Negotiations to form a coalition government are likely to be complex with both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail previously stating they would not enter an agreement with Sinn Fein. Today was widely considered the most unpredictable General Election in years. Political experts warned that no party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own. No coalition will be discussed until the parties have filled their seats in the Dail and negotiations get under way between them. Earlier opinion polls suggest that Sinn Fein was on course to challenge the 90-year duopoly of the state's two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Leo Varadkar is still facing a difficult battle to hang on to power with recent polls putting his party in third place, despite the current situation showing differently. The poll was taken today at 250 locations across the State, among 5,376 respondents who had just voted. It has a margin of error of 1.3 per cent, The Irish Times reported. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (right) with partner Matthew Barrett before the Guinness Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, today The country is having its first Saturday General Election for more than a century, with votes expected to be counted by Monday or Tuesday, starting tomorrow morning. In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25 per cent, with Fianna Fail second on 23 per cent and Mr Varadkar's party on 20 per cent. It would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border if this is reflected when the votes are counted tomorrow. But the odds would still be stacked against their current party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, in leading the next government as Taoiseach. Irish President Michael D Higgins, accompanied by his wife Sabina Higgins, cast his vote at a polling station in St Mary's Hospital, Dublin. The president greeted the assembled count staff and said he was glad the weather had remained sunny on a day when Storm Ciara had threatened to dampen turnout. Mr Varadkar, right, and his partner Matthew Barrett watch the Six Nations rugby union international between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, today Michael D Higgins was accompanied by his wife Sabina Higgins to vote at a polling station in St Mary's Hospital in Dublin The president greeted the assembled count staff and said he was glad the weather had remained sunny on a day when Storm Ciara had threatened to dampen turnout. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own Sinn Fein's polling performance has far surpassed the expectations of party strategists who, coming off the back of several disappointing elections, only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliament's 160 seats. It means that even if the party had a perfect run and won all 42 seats which is an extremely unlikely outcome in itself it would still end up short of a majority. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. But it is thought that Sinn Fein may be unable to find enough like-minded left-leaning allies to form a workable government. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, both centre-right in outlook, have unequivocally ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein. For either to change their position would represent a major U-turn. Fianna Fail topped the opinion polls early in the campaign and leader Micheal Martin could yet emerge as Ireland's next Taoiseach. The current incumbent, Mr Varadkar, will be hoping his administration's economic record and handling of the Brexit process will convince enough voters to renew his tenure in Government Buildings in Dublin. Leader of Ireland's Fianna Fail party, Michael Martin (second from left) with his wife (centre) and their children as they arrived to cast their votes at St Anthony's boys school in Ballinlough, Cork However, Brexit did not feature prominently in his campaign that was instead dominated by domestic issues such as spiralling rental prices, record-breaking homeless numbers, controversy over the state pension age and a struggling health service. There appears to be a mood for change and Sinn Fein could attract support from younger voters who want to end Fine Gael's nine years in power but are unwilling to trust Fianna Fail again after the financial crash that marked its last term of office. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been keen to remind the electorate of Sinn Fein's historic IRA links and as the campaign entered its latter stages the past crimes of the provisional movement drew increasing focus. Mr Varadkar's last government a minority administration that included several independent TDs was sustained in power through a historic confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. Pictured: Polling station in Bunscoil Chriost Ri school, Cork That landmark pact between two parties founded from opposing sides of Ireland's civil war of the 1920s took 70 days to negotiate following the inconclusive 2016 General Election. Ireland could be in for more protracted government-formation talks if this election produces another fractured result. The willingness of smaller parties such as Labour and the Greens to become a junior coalition partner could prove critical. A new confidence and supply deal cannot be ruled out potentially a reverse of the last one with Fine Gael supporting a Fianna Fail led-minority. A strong result for Sinn Fein could even force Ireland's two traditional political superpowers to contemplate the once unthinkable a grand coalition in government together. A southeastern Pennsylvania man accused of beating his girlfriend to death and calling an Uber to take her to a hospital was charged with murder Thursday, according to police records. Nicholas Alexander Forman buckled 22-year-old Sabrina Haroonis beaten and injured body into an Uber on Monday and had the driver take them to a hospital, police said. Harooni, of Gilbertsville, was pronounced dead at the hospital from injuries to her face, head and neck. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office determined the manner of Harooni's death was homicide. It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Sabrina Harooni. She was a loving... Posted by Farah Zekria on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Forman, 23, of Collegeville, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with first- and third-degree murder. Forman has denied the charges and said Harooni had been attacked by a group of women. Court records detailed an account from a different Uber driver who drove the couple home earlier on the day of the alleged murder. The driver told police the couple got into a heated dispute regarding text messages from Haroonis ex-boyfriend. Police found a video on Formans cell phone, including an audio and video recording, shortly before midnight Sunday that appeared to show Harooni unresponsive and lying on her back. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said a mans voice can be heard saying, This is what a cheating liar gets. Authorities told the Associated Press Friday they dont know if Forman has an attorney yet or if he will be appointed a public defender. As police escorted him to prison Thursday, Forman cursed at journalists and told them he was innocent. Forman was sent to the Montgomery County prison without the possibility of bail and faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Feb. 12 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the murder case toward trial in county court. Court records show a lengthy criminal history for Forman dating to 2014, with guilty pleas for charges such as speeding, littering, disorderly conduct, trespassing, harassment and retail theft. At the time of his arrest on murder charges, Forman was free on $5,000 unsecured bail on a charge from last November of drug possession with intent to deliver. Reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. He may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. To passersby, he was known as the Broom Man of Notre Dame Avenue. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. To passersby, he was known as the "Broom Man" of Notre Dame Avenue. For years, he could be seen in front of his familys Winnipeg Modern Brush Co. building, keeping watch over a tiny patch of lawn with all kinds of brooms and brushes, in all kinds of weather. The family business is long gone, the buildings been sold, and on Sept. 24, Alexander Syzek died at the Middlechurch Home. He was 76. Winnipeggers who werent familiar with him got to know him in 2006, when he was interviewed by the Free Press. Carrying a broom over his shoulder, he talked about his parents, Mary and Nicholas Syzek, who started the brush manufacturing company in 1930, and his own life that took a dramatic turn when he was in law school. Readers may have forgotten Syzeks name but, as the saying goes, theyve never forgotten how he made them feel. When his Free Press obituary was published online, there was an outpouring of emotion. "(Syzek) was one of the first people I met when I moved downtown. Kind. Positive. Someone I always noted," one man wrote. "He was always so positive and so kind whenever he came in to do his banking," a bank employee wrote. "In the past few years when he stopped coming in, I missed chatting with him and hearing him tell me to have a beautiful day." One reminisced about chats they had concerning his brooms: "It would brighten my day... He had more than his fair share of challenges in life, yet he nonetheless left a positive mark on our city." That Syzek is remembered for bringing cheer to so many is remarkable, especially with the challenges he faced, says his younger brother, Nicholas. He looked up to his older sibling when they were kids, then looked out for him when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his 20s. "He was a nice person and very smart," said Nicholas. "When he was kid, he was at the top of his class. He was 10 miles ahead of me. I was a climb-a-tree-and-fall-out-of-it kid and he was the read-a-book kid." Syzek attended the old St. Marys School downtown, then St. Pauls College High School. When they were children, their mother would take them to the Selkirk Mental Health Centre; shed visit with her husband inside, while the boys played outside on the grounds. Their dad had been hospitalized since being violently attacked in Vancouver. He died when both his sons were very young. "I only met him twice," said his namesake, Nicholas. Mary was devoted to her sons. In the summer, shed hire a cab to take them from their suite in the broom factory to Winnipeg Beach for the day. The accomplished dressmaker and tailor sewed suits for her sons. ("We looked like little gangsters," Nicholas joked.) Syzek grew into a handsome young man and an excellent student when more heartbreak hit: his girlfriend was killed in a car accident. At the University of Manitoba, Alexander got an arts degree with honours, then went to law school for two years before the onset of mental illness. "He had a breakdown," said Nicholas. "He started to withdraw and became a little paranoid." Syzek didnt finish law school. He went to work at Eatons and Assiniboia Downs, sold brushes at the dwindling family business, and became devoted to their widowed mother. "My mother and him were inseparable. He was her guardian angel," his brother said. He took after their mother with his love for people and bonhomie. "My mother was that way, too wishing people good will and telling them, God bless you," said Nicholas, who, however, worried his brothers well wishes might be taken the wrong way. "...With women, when hed say, You look absolutely beautiful today. Id tell him: Maybe they dont want to be told they look beautiful." When hoarding and erratic behaviour became an issue, Nicholas decided his brother needed extra help. "Hed be walking down the middle of the street with cars on either side of him... I was worried hed hurt himself," his brother said. "Hed stand in winter with the door open, wishing people a merry Christmas and happy New Year." However, "he was never violent... He was the kind of guy who would give people $5 here or there till it was all gone. People would ask him for bus tickets on the streets, and hed give it all away." Nicholas was appointed to take control of his brothers financial and personal affairs. "I let him have his own space, but I was always watching him." It wasnt an easy role, he said. When Syzek would call people 30 times a day, day and night, theyd in turn call Nicholas, and tell him to make it stop. Syzek lived in a suite with his mother at the former broom factory at 422 Notre Dame Ave. until the pipes froze and burst one frigid Thanksgiving after the heat was mistakenly shut off. The pair then relocated to a nearby home Nicholas bought. When Mary died, Syzek got a place in the North End. When he couldnt live on his own anymore, he moved to Middlechurch Home, where he gave the staff a run for their money, said Nicholas. "I had to ride shotgun for him on the nursing home hed wear a tuque continuously. It was his security blanket." One of the staff insisted he take the cap off; Syzek argued with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye he had to leave it on for religious reasons. His brother could be aggravating, as well as charming, Nicholas said. The nursing home had to remove its lobby phone because people bothered by calls at all hours from Syzek had complained. However, "Anybody who came in to see their parents, hed tell them, Youre looking beautiful today that was kind of nice." Syzek never married nor had children, but was close to Nicholass family. One of Nicholass kids gave his baby the middle name Alexander, and introduced him to his great uncle in the nursing home to the 76-year-olds delight. "It was one day that he always talked about." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is pictured back home at the company's Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility, where it is undergoing inspection after its Orbital Flight Test mission in December 2019. (Image credit: Frank Michaux/NASA) Seven weeks after Boeing's CST-100 Starliner failed to reach the International Space Station as planned during its first orbital flight test, NASA and Boeing officials disclosed the preliminary results of an investigation into what went wrong. The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft launched atop an Atlas V rocket on Dec. 20, 2019, on a mission to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was designed to demonstrate the new spacecraft's ability to safely transport astronauts to and from the orbiting laboratory. However, Starliner failed to reach the correct orbit and instead spent the next two days circling Earth alone before executing a picture-perfect landing in New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range on Dec. 22. In a teleconference with reporters on Friday (Feb. 7), NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that an independent review team has identified several issues during the Orbital Flight Test (OFT) mission, particularly when it comes to the spacecraft's software. Along with the previously disclosed error with Starliner's onboard timer, a second software issue could have potentially led to a slight but problematic collision of two of the spacecraft's components, investigators determined. Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner flight test in photos The first software issue was identified shortly after Starliner launched, when the vehicle failed to execute an orbit-insertion burn. Boeing soon discovered that the spacecraft's onboard timing system, called a "mission elapsed timer," had erroneously pulled an incorrect time from the Atlas V rocket nearly 11 hours before liftoff. Starliner was supposed to retrieve that information from the rocket during the final countdown period before liftoff, and because this step happened prematurely, Starliner's internal clock had the incorrect time. Then a second software problem was discovered before the spacecraft's return to Earth, and this glitch could have potentially led to a collision between Starliner's crew module and its service module, which are designed to separate in orbit before the crew module lands. Related: How Boeing's Starliner orbital flight test works: A step-by-step guide This problem, which Boeing officials called a "valve mapping error," had to do with the software that tells Starliner's crew module and service module to separate before landing. The service module's thrusters are responsible for conducting the deorbit burn that takes Starliner out of orbit, sending it back to Earth for landing. After the deorbit burn, the service module detaches from the crew module and safely splashes down into the Pacific Ocean. "During what we call 'free flight,' when the crew module is attached to the service module, there's a certain valve mapping, and the flight computers on the crew module command all of the individual thruster firings. But after you separate the launch vehicle from the crew module, the propulsion controllers on the service module have to conduct those thruster firings to get the proper separation and disposal burn," John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of Boeing's Starliner program, said during the teleconference. "That valve mapping is different in those two cases, and the software unfortunately had the same valve mapping for both of those conditions, so we had an incorrect valve mapping for the separation and disposal burn," Mulholland said. Thankfully, the team detected that software error before Starliner began its descent procedure. "The team very quickly recoded the software, reverified it in the labs, and we were able to upload that software correction and safely complete the mission," Mulholland said. An artist's illustration of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in orbit. (Image credit: Boeing) If Boeing hadn't caught that glitch before Starliner came back to Earth, the two modules could have "bumped" into each other after separation, which could have destabilized the crew module during a critical point in its descent. "The thrusters' uneven firing would cause the service module, which is a piece of a cylinder, to come away from the crew module and recontact, or bump back into it," Jim Chilton, senior vice president for Boeing Space and Launch, said during the teleconference, adding that "bad things" can happen as a result of that eventuality. "That means you go poke the crew module, and it gets unstable and it has to go stabilize itself," Chilton said. "So, one question is, do you hit it hard enough to where it tumbles or you have a problem? Another thing is, you don't want to damage that heat shield, because you need the heat shield to come back in." "It's hard to say where the service module would have bumped, but nothing good can come from those two spacecraft bumping back in, so we sent the software to make sure that couldn't happen," he said. Communication problems A third major problem that Starliner encountered during its orbital flight test was not related to the spacecraft's software, but rather had to do with interference that disrupted communications between ground controllers and Starliner. When ground controllers tried to manually command Starliner to conduct an orbit-insertion burn after the timing error prevented that from happening automatically, they were unable to communicate with the spacecraft in a timely manner. Communications between Starliner and ground control are relayed via NASA's network of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, but "high noise" interfered with those signals, Mulholland said. The investigative review team is still working to determine the exact cause of this interference, but it appears to be associated with cell phone towers, he added. While the independent review of Starliner's OFT issues is still underway, NASA expects to have the final report by the end of February, Bridenstine said. He added that NASA has not yet decided whether to conduct a second orbital flight test before using Starliner to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. "This flight test taught us a lot," Chilton said. "What we wish we had done better is software." Doug Loverro, the director of NASA's Human Spaceflight Operations directorate, said during the teleconference that the software issues "are likely only symptoms. They are not the real problem." "The real problem is that we had numerous process escapes in the design, development and test cycle for software," Loverro said, "and as we go forward that is what we're going to be concentrating on ... how do we assure ourselves that all of the software that we've delivered, not just the two routines that were affected by these issues, are fixed?" Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common cancerous pediatric kidney tumor, generally seen in children of less than five years of age . It is also called as nephroblastoma and is named after Max Wilms, a German surgeon and pathologist, who was one of the first to describe this disease in 1899. Wilms tumor generally affects the kidney, but sometimes extra renal locations have been reported, such as the testis, retroperitoneum, inguinal canal, the sacrococcygeal region, uterus, and mediastinum. Age- This tumor is generally common in young children, with the average age being about 3 to 4 years. Race-The African-American children are at somewhat higher risk of getting Wilms tumor than whites and the risk is lowest among Asian-American children. Gender- Girls have a rather higher risk of Wilms tumor than boys. Family history- About 1-2% of children with Wilms tumors have one or more relatives but not the parents with the same kidney cancer and these children are somewhat more likely to have tumors in both kidneys. Birth defects /Genetic syndromes - About 1 child in 10 with Wilms tumor also has certain birth defects or syndromes. Wilms tumor is more common in children with congenital malformations and certain birth defects: Aniridia- It is characterized by complete or partial lack of the iris of the eyes. Hemihypertrophy- Children with this defect have an oversized arm and/or leg on one side of the body. Cryptorchidism- It is the failure of the testicles to descend into the scrotum in boys. Hypospadias- This is a defect in boys where the urinary opening is on the underside of the penis. Wilms tumor usually affects only one kidney (unilateral), but sometimes it affects both the kidneys (bilateral) in about 1 out of every 20 children diagnosed with Wilms tumor. Wilms tumors are classified into 2 major types based on their appearance under the microscope: Favorable: The tumor cells in this type dont look quite normal, but they are not of high malignant type or anaplastic. Majority of Wilms tumors have favorable histology and the chances of curing children with these tumors are very high. Unfavorable (Anaplastic): The appearance of the tumor cells varies greatly, with large and irregularly shaped nuclei and is called as anaplasia. The treatment of Wilms tumor becomes inversely proportional to the level of anaplasia the tumor exhibits. The reason why some children get Wilms tumor is not known, however researchers have made progress in determining how the Wilms tumor can arise during the course of normal development of kidneys. Genetic Mutations leading to Wilms tumor - Mutations in some genes increase the chances of getting a Wilms tumor. For example, mutations in WT1 or WT2 genes, which are tumor suppressor genes found on chromosome 11 give rise to a small number of Wilms tumors. In about 30 % of Wilms tumors, there is inactivation of WTX, a tumor suppressor gene present on the X chromosome. Further, CTNNB1, the gene encoding the proto-oncogene beta-catenin, is sometimes altered in Wilms tumor cells, but it is not clear exactly what causes these genes to be altered. Also, most cases do not have mutations in any of these genes. Some gene changes can be inherited, but most Wilms tumors are not the result of known inherited syndromes. Most Wilms tumors have no definite cause, but there are some factors that affect the risk. Syndromes linked to Wilms tumor include: WAGR syndrome: WAGR is a rare genetic syndrome and predisposes the affected children to - Wilms tumor Aniridia Genitourinary tract abnormalities (defects of the kidneys, urinary tract, penis, clitoris, scrotum, ovaries or testicles) Retardation Children suffering from this syndrome lack the part of chromosome 11 having the WT1 gene and often have tumors in both kidneys. Denys-Drash syndrome and Frasier syndrome: These syndromes are very rare and also been linked to mutations in the WT1 gene. In Denys-Drash syndrome, when the child is young, the kidneys become diseased, the Wilms tumors develop and the reproductive organs dont develop normally. As the risk of getting Wilms tumors is quite high, doctors often advise removing the kidneys soon after the diagnosis. In Frasier syndrome, the kidneys are also diseased, but they generally work till adolescence, the reproductive organs dont develop normally and these children are at increased risk for Wilms tumors and cancers in the reproductive organs. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: It is caused by a defect in chromosome 11 that affects the WT2 gene. The affected children are quite big for their age, have larger than normal internal organs, an enlarged tongue and suffer from hemihypertrophy and have about 5% risk of having Wilms tumor. Sometimes, Wilms tumor is linked to other syndromes such as Bloom syndrome, Perlman syndrome,Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Sotos syndrome, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome and Trisomy 18. It is difficult to find out the symptoms of Wilms tumor as these tumors grow large in the absence of any symptoms. Swelling or a hard mass in the abdomen -The first sign of a Wilms tumor is swelling or a hard mass in the abdomen which can be noticed by the parents while bathing or dressing the child. Generally, it is not painful, but it might cause abdominal pain and discomfort in some children. Nausea, fever, shortness of breath, constipation, loss of appetite, blood in the urine are some other symptoms. Sometimes, patients experience high blood pressure which can cause problems such as headaches, bleeding inside the eye, or even a change in consciousness, however, many of these symptoms can be caused by something else other than Wilms tumor. Newborn kids with WAGR syndrome are noticed to have aniridia and should be subjected to further diagnosis (aniridia - complete or partial lack of the iris of the eyes). To diagnose Wilms tumor, the doctor may suggest: Physical examination: The doctor will look for the possible signs of Wilms tumor. Blood and urine tests: These tests can't detect Wilms tumor, but they can indicate the kidney function and anemia. Imaging tests: Simple test like an ultrasound is sufficient to diagnose the tumor. Once the tumor is suspected, ultrasound can be supplemented by CT scan to determine the exact location of the tumor in the kidney and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Biopsy: In most instances, imaging tests are sufficient to diagnose and confirm Wilms tumor. Very rarely a biopsy maybe suggested, where a small piece of the tumor is removed and checked under a microscope. The cells in Wilms tumors have a characteristic appearance. Staging Once Wilms tumor is diagnosed, doctor tries to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer to determine the treatment options. Staging requires tests such as a chest X-ray and a bone scan to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the kidneys. CT scan too is reviewed for such staging. In the United States, guidelines developed through the National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS) of the Children's Oncology Group include five stages: Stage I: The cancer is localized within one kidney and can be completely removed with surgery. The cancer is localized within one kidney and can be completely removed with surgery. Stage II: The cancer has spread to the nearby fat or blood vessels, but it can still be completely removed by surgery. The cancer has spread to the nearby fat or blood vessels, but it can still be completely removed by surgery. Stage III: The cancer has spread beyond the kidney area to nearby lymph nodes or other structures within the abdomen, so, the tumor may splatter within the abdomen before or during surgery, or it may not be completely removed by surgery. The cancer has spread beyond the kidney area to nearby lymph nodes or other structures within the abdomen, so, the tumor may splatter within the abdomen before or during surgery, or it may not be completely removed by surgery. Stage IV: The cancer has spread outside the kidney to distant structures, such as the lungs, liver, bones or brain. The cancer has spread outside the kidney to distant structures, such as the lungs, liver, bones or brain. Stage V: In this stage, cancer cells are present in both the kidneys (bilateral tumors). Depending on the stage of the tumor, treatment may vary. Surgery: Treatment for Wilms tumor may begin with surgery to remove all or part of a kidney (nephrectomy). It may include: If the tumor is very small, partial nephrectomy can be performed which involves removal of the tumor and a small part of the kidney tissue surrounding it. can be performed which involves removal of the tumor and a small part of the kidney tissue surrounding it. In a radical nephrectomy, the kidney, surrounding tissues, part of the ureter, nearby lymph nodes and sometimes the adrenal gland are removed. If the cancer has affected both the kidneys, then both the kidneys might be removed and in that case, dialysis and kidney transplant at a later stage is an option. In an approach to cure the child of the cancer, different international groups have brought forward some different approaches. These are discussed below: Chemotherapy: If Societe Internationale D'oncologie Pediatrique (SIOP) method is followed, then chemotherapy is used before surgery to shrink tumors and make them easier to remove (called as neoadjuvant chemotherapy). NWTS too allows for chemotherapy to be used as an adjuvant therapy but after the surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain in the body. Further, chemotherapy may also be an option for children whose cancers are too advanced to be removed completely with surgery. Chemotherapy protocols vary from study to study; however, the main drugs administered include vincristine, dactinomycin, and doxorubicin. As most of the medications used in chemotherapy for Wilms tumor cause side effects, the doctors will warn the parents on how to manage and reduce them. Radiation therapy: Depending on the stage of the tumor, radiation therapy may be recommended. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to shrink a tumor before surgery or destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery and to treat a large tumor or a tumor that has spread to other parts of the body. It is generally preferred for children with stage III or IV Wilms tumor with a favorable histology and for all children who have tumors with an anaplastic histology. Prognosis: The outcome for Wilms tumor is very good for children and about 85 to 90% of Wilms tumor patients with favorable histology can be cured, however, the outcome is not good for patients with anaplastic histology, a more aggressive form of Wilms tumor. Patients who have undergone treatment for Wilms tumor should continue regular medical follow-up as 25% of survivors develop health problems such as high blood pressure and problems associated with heart and kidney function. The survivors of Wilms tumor are at increased risk of developing another cancer such as breast cancer, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, lymphoma, leukemia, gastrointestinal tumors and skin cancer. As Wilms tumor is not caused by any known lifestyle or environmental factor, there is no way to prevent Wilms tumor in children. Wilms tumor arises in the fetal cells that failed to develop into mature kidney cells and that cannot be prevented by any means during pregnancy. However, in children suffering from Denys-Drash syndrome, it is recommended to remove the kidneys at a very young age to prevent tumors from developing. Businesses in Chinatown have seen a steep drop in business due to Coronavirus fears, even though there isnt a single confirmed case in New York. [NY1] Some Chinatown restaurant owners say their business is off as much as 40%. [Grub Street] LGBTQ+ Asian and Pacific Islander groups have formed a coalition that will march in Sundays Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown. [Vice] Neighborhood activists are finding more success fighting large-scale development plans. Says Paula Segal, an attorney who helped community groups in the Two Bridges neighborhood win a potentially precedent-setting case: The developers are on notice that if they dont work with communities to come up with plans that work with everybody, well see them in court. [New York Times] Local groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the citys plans to rebuild East River Park in the name of resiliency. [Gothamist] People living in Steve Cromans many New York City buildings say living conditions did improve after his imprisonment and the passage of new tenant-friendly rent laws. But there are still problems. [Gothamist] Opinion: Why the mayor cant handle the truth when it comes to Rivington House and so many other messes of his own making. [New York Post] The state comptroller says the NYPD has taken steps to deal with nightlife noise, but a new report concludes theres still room for improvement. [Daily News] More press for the Market Line with barely a mention of its sunny neighbor, the Essex Market. [New York Post] A 26-year-old woman sub-inspector of the Delhi Police was shot dead near Rohini East Metro station on Friday night, officials said. New Delhi: A 26-year-old woman sub-inspector of the Delhi Police was shot dead near Rohini East Metro station on Friday night, officials said. The Sub-Inspector (SI), Preeti Ahlawat, was posted in Patparganj Industrial Area Police Station, police said. A call about the incident was received around 9.30 pm, they said, adding she received gunshot wounds on her head. "We have identified the suspects and CCTV footage of the area has been collected," said SD Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Rohini). Three empty cartridges were found from the spot, the officer said, adding a case has been registered and a probe is on. Personal enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the killing, the officer said. Ahlawat joined the Delhi Police in 2018. After three weeks of intense campaigning and frenetic toing and froing on the hustings, general election 2020 is here with one overriding question facing Longford voters-will the county erase the ghosts of 2016 and return a TD to the county. Six of the fifteen candidates vying for election to the 33rd Dail will be optimistic of ending that four year political hiatus when voters go to the polls on Saturday. They include Micheal Carrigy (Fine Gael), Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail), Anna Kavanagh (Independent), Frank Kilbride (Independent), James Reynolds (The National Party) and Barbara Smyth (People Before Profit). Check out the Longford Leader general election 2020 live blog HERE The task ahead of them is not easy, however especially when you consider a third of votes, or over 6,700 first preferences went to Westmeath candidates in 2016. Fine Gael's James Bannon paid the ultimate price for the sudden shift in voter apathy by relinquishing the seat he first gained for the party in 2007. This time around, Fine Gael are setting their sights on reclaiming that seat, courtesy of incumbent County Council Cathaoirleach Micheal Carrigy. His closest rival would appear to be Fianna Fail's Joe Flaherty. The father of three is looking to end a near decade long chasm of Fianna Fail national representation in Longford following the loss of the late Peter Kelly's seat in 2011. Mr Flaherty will, no doubt, be looking to capitalise on the credible performance of the party's previous candidate Connie Gerety Quinn in 2016. The Carrickedmond native managed to attract 4,000 first preference votes despite not having the full backing of the party at a local level. Whether it's Carrigy or Flaherty, the electoral stage looks set for a straight fight between the pair for the fourth an d final seat. Fianna Fail's Robert Troy, who topped the poll last time out, outgoing OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and sitting Fine Gael TD Peter Burke remain strong fancies to occupy the first three positions in the constituency's pecking order. Of course, the other ten candidates declared to contest this weekend's 2020 general election shootout will be keen to upset the political applecart and claim a seatfor themselves. Either way, it's going to be fascinating to see how this weekend's events in Athlone pan out. Elections are always exciting affairs and this weekend's offering promises to be no different. Taiwan will suspend flights to most cities in mainland China from Monday due to the coronavirus epidemic but those to the capital Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Chengdu will continue, the government said on Friday. The suspension will be in force until April 29, the Central Epidemic Command Centre said. The number of flights to the special regions of Hong Kong and Macau from Taiwan will also be reduced, the center said. Flights from the island go to about two dozen destinations in mainland China. Travelers who arrive in Taiwan from Monday having transited through China, Hong Kong or Macau must quarantine themselves at home for 14 days, it added. Taiwan has reported only 16 cases of coronavirus compared with more than 31,000 in China. Taiwan this week suspended entry to all mainland Chinese citizens who live in China and most visa applications for people from Hong Kong and Macau. Singapore on Friday reported three more coronavirus cases that have not been linked to previous infections or travel to China, prompting it to raise its alert to orange, the same level it reached during the SARS outbreak in 2003. Singapore now has 33 confirmed coronavirus cases. The orange alert means the virus is severe and passes easily from person to person and was last raised during an outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009-2010. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) killed more than 30 people in Singapore and hundreds worldwide. "As there are now a few local cases without any links to previous cases or travel history to China, we have stepped up our risk assessment," the health ministry said in a statement, adding that firms should be prepared for "widespread community transmission". The highest alert is red, which indicates the virus is spreading widely. Singapore advised businesses to cancel or defer non-essential large-scale events but said the Singapore Airshow will go ahead next week although organizers may limit public visitors. Of the new cases reported on Friday, one was a teacher and authorities said all students and staff who had come into contact with her would have to spend two weeks at home. A British man has also contracted the coronavirus after traveling to a business meeting in Singapore which has also been linked to cases in the city-state, Malaysia and South Korea, health ministry official Kenneth Mak said. Mak said authorities had not yet identified the source of infection at the meeting of more than 100 employees from an as-yet-unnamed firm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in mid-January. Prime Minister Narendra Modis lengthy replies in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Thursday to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address underscored a push on the eve of the Delhi Assembly polls to deepen the communal divide which his senior colleagues in the BJP and the government have been working hard to sharpen as a vote-polarising tactic. Perhaps the most graphic example of this came on the same day as the PMs intervention in Parliament as one of his ministers said suicide bombers were being trained at Shaheen Bagh. When the country is in the grip of a serious economic crisis, it is noteworthy the PMs reply showed no sign that the holder of the highest executive office was sensitive to the impact on the peoples lives of the economic downturn caused by faulty policies. The efforts of Opposition leaders to elicit from the PM a response framed under circumstances of urgency, and doing something special to alleviate the worsening jobs situation, proved futile. The Presidents address to the joint session is a document cleared by the government, and is seen as a statement of the governments priorities and intentions. It made explicit that the government would be focused on politics, not economics. The politics surrounding the revised citizenship law gained pride of place in this as this law is tailormade for deepening communal schisms if the ruling party is intent on doing so. Mr Modi lost no time in exploiting the situation. At the theoretical level, he had a hand packed with aces when he declared when a law passed by Parliament or a state Assembly is opposed by the people, this produces a recipe for chaos. As a broad principle, this is unexceptionable. This is why, in the normal course, laws duly passed are not opposed wholesale and, when they are, the government and ruling party typically come forward with ameliorative amendments in the spirit of democratic sensitivity. It is only a brute majoritarian government which, in the first place, brings a law that it knows will be deeply contentious and will be bitterly opposed, and then proposes to defend it in the public sphere on the ground that it has parliamentary sanction. In effect, this amounts to the defence of majoritarian rule, and not of democratic life, ethics and standards. In the case of the BJP-RSS, the CAA springs from its belief which, at base, sees people of a certain minority faith as the hostile other. This is not proclaimed officially but no stone is left unturned to propagate this to the faithful. Forceful civil society interventions are the instrument to diffuse the ruling partys ideological preferences to a wider public. Looking at this controversy, there would have been no need for a CAA if India had only announced, without naming religious groups, that it would offer citizenship to those facing persecution. For the BJP-RSS, however, a certain religious category had to be openly declared as being excluded in order for it to assert its politics. Update, February 8 Ciara Mooney has been located safe and well. Gardai have thanked the public for their assitance. Earlier: Gardai 'concerned' as they bid to find missing 14-year-old girl Gardai are asking for help to find a teenage girl who has been missing for three days. Ciara Mooney, aged 14, was last seen in the Ratoath area of Co Meath on Tuesday, February 4. Ciara is described as being around five foot seven inches tall with a slim build, dark brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen, she was wearing a black anorak and multi-coloured leggings. She is known to frequent the Celbridge and East Wall areas in Dublin Gardai are concerned for Ciara. Anyone with information on her whereabouts are asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on 01 801 0600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. Solomon Peter(23), who allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Patience Zakaria(25) to death says it was over an argument about a phone call. Peter who was arrested by the police following the death of his girlfriend on January 24 said the incident happened during an altercation in which he allegedly stabbed her in Gwallameji, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis. He was quoted by Daily Trust as saying, We were having an issue which I was trying to resolve. This is over one man who called her a prostitute. I asked her what relationship she had with the man and the next thing was her breaking a bottle on my head. She hit me with a bottle and there were witnesses when the incident happened. Read Also: 23-Year-Old Drug Addict Allegedly Stabs Parents To Death In Lagos It was not that I tried to kill her but I did it as a self defense because she broke my head with the bottle. At the time of the incident I did not intend to kill her rather, I acted in self defense out of anger. Our relationship is over one year and I had intention to marry her. I feel very bad over the outcome of my action, it was not intentional. I regret my action, he added. The spokesman of the police in Bauchi State, DSP Kamal Abubakar, confirmed the report saying , When he realised that she was unconscious amidst blood, he took her to a clinic for treatment. However, the clinic also treated her without informing the police and discharged her the same day. When her condition became worse, they took her back to the clinic where she was put on a drip and she eventually died while receiving treatment. We have arrested the owner of the clinic and the staff that treated her because they did not inform the police, he said. DSP Abubakar added that the suspect tried to hide the crime but that before fleeing the scene of the incident, he was arrested by the police. He said preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was a student who came from Borno State to study at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi and was living in a rented apartment. We do not know whether the deceased was still a student or has graduated from the purported school. As it roared northeast and plastered debris on cars and houses between 7:20 and 7:23 a.m., the Leesburg twister largely spared the historic downtown area and skipped over Route 7, the Weather Service said. But in one vivid incident, north of Battlefield Parkway NE, it uprooted 15 to 20 pine trees as much as two feet in diameter, according to the Weather Service. Gedara Yang with Gypsies View(s): The postponed concert Gedara Yang by Gypsies will come alive again on 9th February at the Maria Convent Auditorium in Negombo starting at 6.30pm. Gedara Yang, the very first concert of the Anniversary series of Gypsies was scheduled to hold at the same venue on January 26. But suddenly, the leader Sunil Perera was taken ill after a concert in Matara on 14th, made the organisers to reschedule the show. Sunil is much better after his routine checking and treatments and now fit to perform as usual. The Gypsies will be in action at the Gedara Yang Concert in Negombo on 9th, Sunday and to tour all over country to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary said brother Piyal Perera. Popular band Gypsies with Sunil Perera are back on the Concert stage after 15 year with their brand new theme Gedara Yang. Gypsies took a fifteen long years break after their highly popular I dont Know Why concert series started in 2005. After 15 long years off the concert saga, Gypsies are back with a series of brand new show Gedara Yang to celebrate their fiftieth Golden Anniversary, which falls in 2020. This will be our very first concert after one and a half decades and will hope to perform all over the country to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary in the showbiz leader Sunil said. The tickets for the opening Concert in Negombo are priced at Rs 7500/-, 5000/-, 4000/-, and Rs 3000/-. For more details, Contact Dushan on 0770 178 450 Your browser does not support the audio element. Authorities in Ha Tien City in the southern province of Kien Giang are working to identify a woman who was recently photographed slaughtering and selling meat from an animal allegedly belonging to a species of endangered sea turtles at a local market. In a recent photo shared by a sea turtle protection group in Vietnam, a woman is captured selling turtle meat together with fish at a wet market in the citys Phao Dai Ward. A fish seller slaughtered a Chelonia mydas green sea turtle and publicly sold its meat at the market, the caption under the photo posted on social media reads. The picture was said to have been taken on Friday when some members of the group visited the market. The slaughtered animal is estimated to weigh around 30 kilograms. Green turtles are rare and endangered animals protected under the governments regulations and Vietnam's Red Data Book, the group said in their post. However, the animals are still being caught and traded publicly, so surely our future generations will not have many opportunities to see them anymore, they added. Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are also listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species. The group also called on people to condemn the vendor's act, as well as expressed a hope that local authorities would pay attention to the issue. The post was shared hundreds of times and received multiple comments within a few hours, with many criticizing the actions of the market vendor. Ha Tien Chairman Nguyen Thanh Nhan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that local authorities are working to identify the woman as well as trace the slaughtered animals origin. Any violations will be handled in accordance with the law, he said. Catching, slaughtering, or trading endangered animals are punishable by up to seven years behind bars and a fine of up to VND100 million (US$4,300), according to the Penal Code of Vietnam. A screenshot shows green turtle (Chelonia mydas) being listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: A number of Kazakh-Iranian joint projects in Kazakhstan are currently at the various stages of implementation, the majority of them accounting for agriculture, a representative of Kazakhstans Ministry of Trade and Integration told Trend. According to the official, Kazakhstan and Iran have time after time confirmed their interest in development of mutual trade relations. Parties are also successfully cooperating within the framework of various international and regional organizations. "Talking the investment relations between the countries, Iran is among the main investors of Kazakhstan. Over the period from 2005 to 2018, gross inflow of direct foreign investments from Iran to Kazakhstans economy amounted to $123 million," the official said. Trade turnover between countries amounted to $333.8 million during 11 months of 2019, which is 28.8 percent less than during the same period of 2018 ($468.9 million). "Kazakhstan export to Iran during the reporting period decreased by 31.8 percent and equaled $263 million. The main goods exported from Kazakhstan to Iran are agricultural goods of vegetable and animal nature, mineral resources," the official said. He also noted that the decrease of export to Iran can be explained by export decrease of the following goods: flat unalloyed steel, wheat, and rapeseeds. "At the same time, the export increase of fresh, frozen beef, rapeseed oil, sheep, ferrous metal waste and scrap is also observed," the official said. Kazakhstans import from Iran amounted to $70.8 million during 11 months of 2019, which is 15.1 percent less than during the same period of last year. The main goods imported from Iran to Kazakhstan are mineral resources and fruit. "Decrease of import can be explained by import decrease of nuts, fresh apples, equipment for food items and beverages manufacturing, as well as processed stone," the official said. At the same time, import increase of cement, onions, garlic, carpets is also observed. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh France has confirmed that five British nationals including a child have tested positive for the deadly novel Coronavirus which has claimed hundreds of lives in China. France's Health Minister Agnes Buzyn reportedly said that the five Britons were staying in the same ski chalet. She further added that France has now detected a total of 11 coronavirus cases. Buzyn talked about a new cluster saying it is centred around a British national who recently returned from Singapore and stayed in Contamines-Montjoie, near Mont Blanc. The Minister said that the patients display no serious signs of a life-threatening infection. Apart from the confirmed cases, six other British nationals staying at the same chalet have been kept under observation. Meanwhile, the US embassy has confirmed that one of its citizens died from the Coronavirus in Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic. According to media reports, the Embassy revealed that a 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at a hospital in Wuhan but refused to disclose the identity of the deceased. Read: PM Lee Urges Singaporeans To Stay United In Facing Coronavirus Outbreak US suspends regular visa services The United States has temporarily suspended regular visa services at its Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang. The US Embassy, in a statement, said that they have very limited staffing and may be unable to respond to requests regarding regular visa services. While some limited emergency appointments may be available, intending applicants should note that on Sunday, February 2, a Presidential Proclamation was issued that suspended entry for individuals who have been in China less than 14 days prior to their arrival in the U.S. read the statement. Read: Coronavirus Temporarily Named NCP By China's National Health Commission US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the State Department has facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to the Chinese people, including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials. Calling it a testament to the generosity of the American people, Pompeo announced that the US is prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to assist China and other impacted countries to contain and combat the novel coronavirus. Read: Death Toll Rises To 723 In China Coronavirus; US Woman, Japanese Man First Foreigners To Die Read: US Citizen In Wuhan Dies From Coronavirus Infection, Confirm Officials (With Inputs from agencies) Former Vice President Joe Biden asked the audience of the Democratic debate in New Hampshire Friday night to give a standing ovation to the fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. 'And by the way, Colonel Vindman got thrown out of the White House today, walked out,' Biden told the crowd at St. Anselm College. 'He should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh.' Biden then asked for some audience participation. Former Vice President Joe Biden asked for some audience participation at Friday night's Democratic debate in New Hampshire, telling the audience they should stand and applaud for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman who got removed from the White House earlier in the day Audience members starting popping out of their chairs at the urging of former Vice President Joe Biden who asked them to give a standing ovation to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman Cameras panned to the Democratic debate audience on their feet applauding for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified against President Trump during the House's impeachment investigation Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was fired by President Trump Friday as part of a post-impeachment purge of officials who testified against him. Vindman testified about Trump's Ukraine plot in November before the House Intelligence Committee 'I think we should all stand and give Colonel Vindman a show of how much we support him,' the former vice president and 2020 hopeful said. 'Stand up and clap for Vindman,' he instructed those taking in the eighth Democratic debate.' 'Get up there,' he ordered. 'That's who we are, we are not what Trump is,' Biden said. Vindman was escorted from White House grounds Friday as President Trump started a post-impeachment purge of those who testified against him during House proceedings. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland met the same fate several hours later. Biden had segued to Vindman after the topic had once again turned to his son, Hunter Biden. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg had been asked whether the party should be concerned about nominating a candidate who was still 'under the threat of investigation.' 'No. And we're not going to let them change the subject. This is not about Hunter Biden or Vice President Biden or any Biden - this is about an abuse of power of the president,' Buttigieg said. 'The vice president and I and all of us are competing but we've got to draw a line here,' the ex-mayor added. Trump's impeachment revolved around a scheme to hold up nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the country's president to announce invesigations into Joe and Hunter Biden, as Hunter Biden had sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. During the weeks of impeachment hearings, Trump tried to paint Hunter Biden's board position as corrupt, of which there's no evidence. Republicans wanted to call Hunter Biden to testify, even though his business dealings in Ukraine were peripheral to Trump's plot that got the president impeached by House Democrats. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg slapped President Trump for 'seek[ing] to turn someone against his own son' and 'seek[ing] to weaponize a son against his own father' in refeence to Joe Biden (left) and Hunter Biden (right) Despite there being fireworks between Biden and Buttigieg, especially in light of the 38-year-old beating the ex-vice president soundly in Iowa, the former mayor expressed compassion in that moment. 'To be the kind of president - to be the kind of human being who would seek to turn someone against his own son, who would seek to weaponize a son against his own father, is an unbelievably dishonorable thing,' Buttigieg said. 'That is just one more example of why we as a party have to be completely united in doing whatever it takes at the end of the day to make sure that this president does not get a second term,' Buttigieg added. When it was Biden's turn to speak he said, 'I thank my colleague for saying that.' 'It is a diversion,' he said. 'But here's the deal, whomever Whomever the nominee is the president is going to make up lies about.' 'He thinks he has free rein right now,' Biden pointed out, using Vindman's firing as an example. Doctors have shared new details about the first case of Wuhan coronavirus in the United States in a paper published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the new report, doctors describe how the man progressed from initially mild, nonspecific symptoms to pneumonia on the ninth day of his illness. The patient -- a 35-year-old resident of Snohomish County, Washington, with no history of major health problems -- had returned from visiting family in Wuhan on January 15. He had not visited the seafood market where a number of early patients were initially linked, nor did he have any known contacts with sick people during his visit. Still, the man had seen a health alert by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and decided to visit an urgent care clinic on January 19, at which point he had been coughing for four days. Doctors initially found nothing abnormal on chest X-rays, but sent swabs to the CDC because of his recent travel to Wuhan. By the following day, on January 20, they confirmed the man had the novel coronavirus. At that point, the man was admitted to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington, and placed in an airborne-isolation unit. Throughout his illness, he experienced a range of symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and runny nose. But it wasn't until his fifth day in the hospital -- day nine of his illness -- that doctors saw signs of pneumonia on his chest X-ray, in the lower lobe of his left lung. On the following day, his chest X-ray showed "stable streaky opacities in the lung bases ... indicating likely atypical pneumonia." On his eighth day in the hospital, his condition improved. As of January 30, he no longer had a fever, and his symptoms were gone except for his cough, which was "decreasing in severity," the doctors wrote. Officials are monitoring close contacts in the US but have not found evidence he transmitted the virus to anyone else. The authors say the case underscores the importance of close collaboration between doctors, local and federal health authorities, and the quick dissemination of information throughout the medical community on how to care for patients like him. But it also illustrates what we don't know, the authors say, including how quickly and easily the virus spreads and the "full spectrum of clinical illness" it causes. Since the Washington case, six other confirmed cases have emerged in the United States: one in Arizona, three in California and two in Illinois. The second case in Illinois is also the first confirmed case of person-to-person transmission of the virus in the United States. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... The coronavirus outbreak is causing mass disruptions throughout China, and has indirectly affected supply chains of major tech companies. It has even prompted some major companies to skip out on MWC this year to deal with the disruptions. According to a memo obtained by Bloomberg, Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn has instructed its employees to avoid coming back home after the Chinese New Year extended break, which was expected to end on February 10. This, after Foxconn expected to reopen on February 9. Employees received the following message from Foxconn. To safeguard everyones health and safety and comply with government virus prevention measures, we urge you not to return to Shenzhen [] Well update you on the situation in the city. The company will protect everyones work-related rights and interests in the duration. As for the happy reunion date in Shenzhen, please wait for further notice. Although Apples main manufacturing takes place outside of Shenzhen in Zhengzhou, Shenzhen is essentially Foxconns Chinese headquarters office where it employs thousands of employees that dont live there. Note that it isnt clear whether the memo applies to only Shenzhen-based Foxconn workers or those in other regions as well. As per Bloomberg, Foxconn workers returning to Zhengzhou from outside the province will be quarantined for 14 days as this is how long it takes before a person is infected following exposure of the disease. The coronavirus outbreak continues to disrupt major US companies who operate in China. Source Mikhaila Peterson recorded a two-minute and 50-second YouTube video outlining how her father, Jordan Peterson, developed a physical dependency to prescribed psychoactive drugs, almost died, contracted pneumonia, flew to Russia to seek different treatment after several visits to North American hospitals, reportedly went into an induced coma, and, finally, as of Feb. 7, 2020, is in recovery. The drama began years before the spring of 2019, when Peterson, the University of Toronto professor, renowned clinical psychologist and international bestselling author, began taking a low dose of medication to treat anxiety and an autoimmune disorder, Mikhaila said. In April 2019, when Petersons wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer, doctors prescribed Peterson a higher dosage of the benzodiazepine, a type of medical tranquilizer, most commonly known via the brand-names, Xanax and Valium. Over the last eight months, her father has suffered from akathisia, a condition of irresistible restlessness and unbearable discomfort caused by a negative reaction to the high dose of drugs and physical withdrawal, making him suicidal. Jordan Update February 2020 After North American hospitals couldnt help him, Mikhaila said the family flew to Russia out of desperation to find a hospital that would medically detoxify him. Hes improving and is off the horrible medication. His sense of humour is back, hes smiling again for the first time in months, she said. But he still has a long way to go to recover fully. The uncertainty around his recovery has been one of the most difficult and scary experiences weve ever had. The 54-year-old has been at the centre of a debate about gender and free speech ever since he posted videos to YouTube in the fall of 2016 in which he said he would not use the preferred, gender-neutral pronouns of some students and faculty and opposed federal legislation dealing with gender expression. He said his work was based on research he conducted earlier in his life while studying the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. He said he viewed the imposition by the state of speech requirements as a dangerous step toward totalitarian control. The videos drew fire from trans activists, faculty and student and labour unions. Critics accused Peterson of helping to foster a climate for hate to thrive. Protests, sometimes violent, broke out on campus, and the controversy attracted international media coverage. Peterson received letters from the University of Toronto, which he said served as warnings, one reminding him that free speech had to be made in accordance with human rights legislation and the other noting that his refusal to use personal pronouns upon request could constitute discrimination. But Peterson gained a following at one point he was earning nearly $50,000 per month through crowd funding from his base of supporters and published his first international bestseller, 12 Rules for Life, in 2018. Correction: An earlier version of the headline and story said that Peterson was addicted to prescription drugs. In her video, Petersons daughter specifically stressed that her father had developed a physical dependence, not an addiction. With files from Alex McKeen, Patty Winsa and Sachin Maharaj. David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_ Read more about: LA PLATA, Md. (February 7, 2020)Tony Covington, State's Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, February 7, 2020, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Walter A. Rodriguez-August, 33, to 7 years in prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Upon his release, Rodriguez-August will be on supervised probation for a period of five years. On October 16, 2019, Rodriguez-August entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charge in Charles County Circuit Court. On April 1, 2019, the Charles County Sheriff's Office received a report from Child Protective Services regarding a sexual abuse incident involving a 12-year-old victim. Officers made contact with the victim, who stated that Rodriguez-August had sexual intercourse with her on March 31, 2019 inside of her residence located in Charlotte Hall. An investigation revealed that at the time of the incident, Rodriguez-August and the victim were alone together inside of a bedroom. Rodriguez-August began touching the victim inappropriately and then had sexual intercourse with her. The following day, the victim notified school officials, who notified Child Protective Services. During the course of the investigation, Rodriguez-August admitted to the sexual assault. A polling officer on duty in northeast Delhis Babarpur allegedly died of a cardiac attack on Saturday, around an hour before polling for the assembly elections began in the national capital, officials said. Shahdaras sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Debasis Biswal said Udham Singh, who was a municipal school teacher, complained of chest pain and uneasiness after which he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He died during the treatment in the hospital, said Biswal, adding that Singh was deployed at polling booth number 180 at Babarpur. Police said that the family members of Singh were informed about his death. No foul play is suspected, they said. Singhs body was sent to a government hospitals mortuary for an autopsy. Voting in the crucial Delhi assembly election began at 8am as the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are battling it out for the reigns of the Capital city. MANCHESTER, N.H. The two victors in the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., came under sharp and sustained criticism in a Democratic presidential debate Friday, as the group of candidates assailed Sanders for his left-wing policy platform and pushed Buttigieg onto the defensive over his light experience in government. In the opening stages of the most contentious debate so far, taking place four days before the New Hampshire primary, the runners-up in the Iowa contest charged at the winners in a bid to stop their momentum, focusing above all on the question of whether they could triumph in the general election. Former Vice President Joe Biden warned that nominating Sanders would brand down-ballot Democratic candidates with the label of socialism, while asserting that Buttigieg had shown no ability to mobilize black and Latino voters. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, another moderate, said Democrats could not defeat the divider in chief by nominating a divisive candidate of their own, and in an even blunter exchange she accused Buttigieg of presenting himself as a cool newcomer by dismissing the value of service in Washington. Sanders and Buttigieg gave no ground to their critics, arguing determinedly for their distinctive theories of the 2020 campaign. Sanders insisted that Democrats would win if they campaigned on an agenda that works for the working people of this country, reigniting a now-familiar debate about the practicality of single-payer health care. And Buttigieg batted away skepticism about his relative inexperience. I freely admit that if youre looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, he said, then youve got your candidate and of course its not me. The gibe drew forceful pushback from both Biden and Klobuchar, who quoted back to Buttigieg a dry line he delivered in Iowa, saying he found the impeachment proceedings exhausting and would have preferred to watch cartoons. She suggested Buttigieg was taking an unserious approach by playing to voters distaste for the federal government. Its easy to go after Washington, because thats a popular thing to do, Klobuchar said. It is much harder to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions. And Klobuchar drew a biting comparison between Buttigiegs outsider message and that of the Democrats shared adversary: We got a newcomer in the White House, she said, and look where it got us. The debate came at a moment of tumult and anxiety for Democrats, whose leadoff contest in Iowa on Monday turned into a fiasco of technical breakdowns, stalled and fumbled vote-counting and accusations of electoral illegitimacy from multiple presidential campaigns. On Friday afternoon, Buttigieg and Sanders both claimed victory in Iowa on different grounds, with Sanders brandishing his lead in the popular vote and Buttigieg staking his claim on a hairbreadth lead over Sanders in state delegates, the traditional metric for judging a winner in the caucuses there. The discussion of electability was not confined to Sanders and Buttigieg: Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, hammering at a theme that has come to define her campaign, argued that Democrats could unite their party and win crossover support in the general election by campaigning against corruption. We can bring in independents and Republicans on that, Warren said. They hate the corruption as well. And Tom Steyer, the wealthy investor, also cast a skeptical nod toward Buttigieg, arguing that the eventual nominee must be able to go toe to toe with President Trump on the debate stage, and for that reason he was worried about Mayor Pete. Steyer said the Democratic nominee had to be able to win support from minority voters, a feat he noted Buttigieg had not yet managed. By contrast, Steyer added, in an awkwardly clinical turn of phrase, that a recent poll showed that he had 24% of blacks in South Carolina supporting him. The lively back-and-forth, involving nearly all of the seven candidates onstage, showed that, for all the apparent momentum behind Buttigieg and Sanders, none of their opponents appeared poised to stand down and give way. But Biden also conceded in his first answer that the political currents were against him in the primary Tuesday and tried to set high expectations for Sanders, who captured New Hampshire easily in his 2016 presidential primary campaign. I took a hit in Iowa, and Ill probably take a hit here, Biden said, adding, Bernie won by 20 points last time. Even as Sanders defended himself from his current rivals, he sought to tamp down tensions with his previous primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, who has repeatedly criticized him this month. Our job is to look forward and not back to 2016, he said. And I hope that Secretary Clinton and all of us can come together and move forward. Buttigieg and Sanders both entered the debate with a chance to cement their claims on their respective wings of the party, with Buttigieg emerging from a strong finish in Iowa to present himself as a leader of more centrist forces and Sanders establishing a clear upper hand over Warren on the left. Polls in New Hampshire this week suggested that Sanders and Buttigieg had the best chance of winning the states primary; if one of them prevails here, it could bolster the winners prospects in the Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primary later this month, and across the Super Tuesday landscape in early March. But neither man has an open path forward, and even a commanding debate performance would seem unlikely to change that. Sanders has continued to struggle to grow his support beyond a sizable progressive faction, and as long as Warren remains a dogged competitor he is unlikely to be able to unify the left behind his candidacy. Buttigieg, meanwhile, still trails Biden by a wide margin in national polls, and moderate voters continue to be divided among the two of them and Klobuchar. Biden in particular was under considerable pressure to deliver a reassuring performance in New Hampshire starting with the debate after his slump in Iowa. His campaign appears to be under financial strain, and Friday it announced a staff shake-up, elevating veteran Democratic strategist Anita Dunn over his campaign manager and other advisers. For Biden, Warren and Klobuchar, the debate appeared to be the best opportunity to rally support and ignite the kind of new energy that could give one of them a chance to pull off an upset Tuesday. And Biden is not alone in showing signs of strain on the fundraising front: Warren trimmed back her television advertising in some places this week, while Andrew Yang, the entrepreneur who finished near the back of the pack in Iowa, laid off some members of his staff. After staking her campaign on Iowa, Klobuchar could well be nearing the end of her resources after a fifth-place finish there. Perhaps befitting those stakes, the tenor of the Democratic race grew sharply more combative this week, as Biden and Sanders shifted their footing to take on Buttigieg more directly. After trying to ignore his rivals and stay above the fray for most of the race, Biden appeared suddenly to recognize the urgency of the threats to his campaign, and in New Hampshire he bluntly questioned Buttigiegs qualifications for the presidency. Democrats, Biden said, should not nominate someone whos never held an office higher than the mayor of a town of 100,000 people in Indiana. And Sanders, who has also largely avoided confrontation and focused instead on hammering away at his core message about economic inequality, argued at an event in Manchester on Friday morning that Buttigieg was too beholden to the wealthy people who control not only our economy but our political system. Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin are New York Times writers. FILE PHOTO: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier and German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz arrive to attend a joint news conference after a meeting in Paris By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's future must be based on fair competition rules, EU antitrust regulators said on Monday, after Germany and France reiterated calls for a speedy overhaul of the bloc's rules to help EU companies better compete with U.S. and Chinese rivals. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, Italian Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli and Poland's Development Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz in a joint letter to EU competition and digital chief Margrethe Vestager called for proposals by the end of June. Le Maire and Altmaier kicked off the debate more than a year ago after Vestager vetoed Siemens and Alstom's bid to merge their rail operations to face off Chinese competitors. To mollify such concerns, Vestager has subsequently said she was looking to update various elements of EU competition rules to meet digital and green challenges and also reviewing guidelines on state aid and agreements between companies. She will also issue rules in the coming months which will rein in U.S. tech giants' market power. Vestager's spokeswoman said the letter from the four ministers would be taken into account in the debate. "Europe's future industrial, ecological and digital strategy must be based on fair competition," spokeswoman Arianna Podesta said. "Sound EU competition rules can enable pro-competitive cooperation, including data sharing and data pooling, support the growth and development of strong European companies, whether larger ones or SMEs, and further enable and support the greening of our economy." EU antitrust enforcers should take into account state aid provided to foreign companies, use interim measures to tackle online platforms' dominance, reinforce advisory committees made up of national competition watchdogs and set up an independent scientific expert body to assist them, they said. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Additional reporting by Leigh Thomas in Paris; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) If Republicans in Washington were enthusiastic about Citizens United, they were silent in 2013 after the Supreme Courts decision in Shelby County v. Holder, where that same Republican-appointed majority gutted a critical section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, clearing the way for new restrictions on voting. Neither McConnell nor the House speaker, John Boehner had any comment in the wake of the decision, despite the fact that they voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act seven years earlier, under President George W. Bush. Boehner had even called it an effective tool in protecting a right that is fundamental to our democracy. In 2015, he would effectively kill a House bill to restore the Voting Rights Act to its former strength. Bonnie Rippingille looked out at the wisps of steam curling from the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant across Biscayne Bay with a sense of dread. In December federal regulators approved Florida Power & Light Co.s request to let the facilitys twin nuclear reactors remain in operation for another 20 years beyond the end of their current licenses. By that point theyll be 80, making them the oldest reactors in operation anywhere in the world. Thats too old, said Rippingille, a lawyer and retired Miami-Dade County judge. They werent designed for this purpose. With backing from the Trump administration, utilities nationwide are preparing to follow suit, seeking permission to extend the life of reactors built in the 1970s to the 2050s as they run up against the end of their 60-year licenses. We are talking about running machines that were designed in the 1960s, constructed in the 1970s and have been operating under the most extreme radioactive and thermal conditions imaginable, said Damon Moglen, an official with the environmental group Friends of the Earth. There is no other country in the world that is thinking about operating reactors in the 60 to 80-year time frame. Indeed, the move comes as other nations shift away from atomic power over safety concerns, despite its appeal as a carbon-free alternative to coal and other fossil fuels. Japan, which used to get more than a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power, shut down all its plants in 2011 after a tsunami caused a nuclear meltdown at three reactors in Fukushima. Only a handful have restarted while others that cant meet stringent new standards are slated to close permanently. Germany decided that year to shutter its entire fleet by 2022 and is now having trouble meeting its ambitious climate goals. Other nations such as France and Sweden are allowing reactors to retire while they diversify into solar and wind power. By contrast, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is poised to decide this year on requests by subsidiaries of Exelon Corp. to extend the life of two nuclear reactors at its Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, about 160 kilometres from Washington, and Dominion Energy Inc. to extend the life of two nuclear reactors at a power plant in Surry, Virginia. Dominion has notified the commission it intends to ask permission to extend the life of two more reactors north of Richmond, Virginia. Duke Energy Corp. has said it plans to seek license extensions for its entire fleet of 11 nuclear reactors, starting with three in Seneca, South Carolina. There are economic benefits, said Rounette Nader, Dukes director of nuclear license renewal. Continuing to operate our existing nuclear fleet is cheaper than replacing it. The nuclear industry has been buffeted by a wave of early reactor retirements in the face of competition from cheap natural gas and subsidized renewable power. Constructing a new nuclear plantthe only one being built in the U.S. is years behind schedule and over budgetcan cost billions of dollars. Retrofitting an existing one is more likely to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars range. It just makes sense, said Maria Korsnick, president of the Nuclear Energy Institute, a Washington-based trade group that represents nuclear utilities. I dont think you should look at a plant just on calendar years, but rather the way that plant has been maintained, so many components have been replaced over the years. There is nothing magic about 80. Opponents such as Edward Lyman, a nuclear energy expert with the Union of Concerned Scientists, argue that older plants contain structures that cant be replaced or repaired, including the garage-sized steel reactor vessels that contain tons of nuclear fuel and can grow brittle after years of being bombarded by radioactive neutrons. They just get older and older, he said. If the vessel gets brittle, it becomes vulnerable to cracking or even catastrophic failure. That risk increases if its cooled down too rapidly-say in the case of a disaster, when cold water must be injected into the core to prevent a meltdown. Other concerns surround the durability of components such as concrete and electric cables, but an advisory board to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the independent government agency that gave Turkey Point the green light to operate into the 2050s, said those risks could be managed safely without undue risk to the health and safety of the public. The commissions decision doesnt sit well with Philip Stoddard, a bespectacled biology professor who serves as the mayor of South Miami, a city of 13,000 on about 28 kilometres away from the Turkey Point plant. He keeps a store of potassium iodide, used to prevent thyroid cancer, large enough to provide for every child in his city should the need arise. Youve got hurricanes, youve got storm surge, youve got increasing risks of hurricanes and storm surge, said Stoddard, 62, from the corner office in a biology building on Florida International Universitys palm-tree lined campus. All of this not only increases the likelihood of a nuclear disaster, it also complicates a potential evacuation, which could put even more lives at risk. Imagine being in a radiation cloud in your car and youre sitting there running out of gas because youre in a parking lot in the freeway, he said. Gabriel Ignetti, a 72-year-old Miami resident and retired music teacher, views nuclear power as a lesser evil than climate change and welcomes extending the life of the plant. We have a climate emergency, he said, and if you have a climate emergency you cant say we are not going to use that tool. Thats a point backers also highlight to make the case for extending the lives of nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy provides about 20 per cent of the nations electricity and about 55 per cent of the nations carbon-free energy. Climate change is also one of the main cases against extending the life of Turkey Point, said Kelly Cox, the general counsel for Miami Waterkeeper, a six-person environmental group that has joined with the Natural Resources Defense Council and Friends of the Earth to challenge the NRCs approval in federal court. New data show sea level rise in the area could reach as high as 1.37 metres by 2070, but regulators from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission didnt take those updated figures into account, said Cox. They are going to be flooded, Cox said. If we are relicensing a major utility we need to be preparing for the impacts of sea level rise. Scott Burnell, a NRC spokesman, said the agencys review process did take into account the most recent information available on sea level rise, but that the projected rate of sea level rise and associated revisions in flood hazard are slow enough that the plants will have ample time to appropriately analyze and address possible future effects. Other concerns exist about the condition of the plants unlined earthen cooling canals, a unique system that sprawls over nearly six thousand acres. Salty water from the canals is leaking underground toward the Biscayne aquifer, the source of drinking water for about 3 million Floridians, at a rate of about a foot a day, Cox said. Peter Robbins, a spokesman for Florida Power & Light Co., a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., said the utility is addressing that problem using a series of pumps to decrease the salinity in the cooling canals. The main power plant and its critical component are elevated 20 feet above sea level and are protected by concrete and reinforced buildings designed to withstand hurricanes and floods. At the end of the day its a very clean, reliable source of electricity, Robbins said. More than anything we think this is a win for our customers. It helps keep their reliability high, it helps keep their bills low, and there are no greenhouse gases as part of nuclear. In the city of Homestead, not far from the Turkey Point plant, Brian Goodwin, a burly 52-year-old farmer, said he didnt believe in climate change, but supports the reactors extension nonetheless. I hope they build another one, said Goodwin. Its good clean power. [February 07, 2020] Radient Technologies Inc. Announces Changes to its Board of Directors EDMONTON, Alberta, Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Radient Technologies Inc. (Radient or the Company) (TSX Venture: RTI; OTCQX: RDDTF), a global commercial manufacturer of high quality cannabinoid-based ingredients, formulations and products, announces the following changes to its Board of Directors, effective today. Addition of two Board Members: Radient is pleased to announce that Health Canada has approved the addition of Ms. Jocelyne F. Lafreniere and Mr. Yves Gougoux to its Board of Directors, effective today. Radient initially announced the appointment of Ms. Lafreniere and Mr. Gougoux to its Board in a press release dated April 17, 2019 . Denis Taschuk, President & CEO of Radient, commented, We are very pleased to welcome these two very accomplished individuals to our Board of Directors. Both Ms. Lafreniere and Mr. Gougoux have achieved incredible success throughout their careers, and we know that their innovation, passion, and leadership will be a credit to Radient as we continue to grow. Ms. Jocelyne F. Lafreniere, CPA, CA, CICA, CPSC, Adm.A: Ms. Lafreniere is the President & Chief Executive Officer of JFL International Inc., a management consulting firm. She is a retired partner of KPMG where she led the Compliance, Infrastructure Advisory and International Development Assistance Services of their Ottawa office. With more than 35 years of audit and consulting experience, she has served as an advisor to a broad spectrum of public and private companies, non-profit organizations, government departments and agencies, crown corporations and United Nations agencies. Throughout her career, she has actively championed for the empowerment of women and the protection of children, as well as supporting education. She is the author of 12 business management courses and two self-empowerment books, and has served as a Director on several Boards. Ms. Lafreniere is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her significant contribution to the community in Canada and abroad. Mr. Yves Gougoux: Mr. Gougoux has spent more than 40 years in the field of advertisingand marketing. After presiding over several national advertising agencies in Canada, in 1984 Mr. Gougoux acquired BCP, the first French Canadian advertising agency in Montreal. In 1996 BCP entered into a partnership with international advertising agency Publicis Groupe, resulting in the launch of Publicis in Canada, with locations in Toronto and Montreal. Mr. Gougoux was made CEO of Publicis Canada and under his guidance the agency proceeded with acquisitions in Toronto and Montreal, quickly becoming one of the leading advertising agencies in Canada. In 1998 Mr. Gougoux moved to Paris to preside over Publicis Conseil, the Paris office of Publicis, while remaining the CEO for Publicis Canada. After moving back to Canada in 2000, he sold his 30% stake of Publicis Canada to Publicis Groupe in 2013, and became Chairman of the Board of Publicis Canada in 2015. He currently serves as non-executive Chairman. Mr. Gougoux is also on the Board of Directors of the Mira Foundation, a non-profit organization that trains and supplies service dogs to blind and handicapped persons as well as children with autism. He completed his business studies at Concordia University in Montreal. Resignation of two Board Members: Radient announces today the resignation of Mr. Steve Dauphin from the Companys Board of Directors, for personal reasons. Francesco Ferlaino, Radients Chairman of the Board, commented, I would like to thank Steve on behalf of Radient for his significant contributions during his six-year tenure on the Board. His guidance, ongoing support and commitment to the development of the Company will be greatly missed. Mr. Dimitris Tzanis will also today be resigning from Radients Board of Directors, in order to pursue other interests. Mr. Tzanis has been a Director of Radient since 2016, and has been a strong supporter of the Company during that time. On behalf of Radient I would like to thank him for his contributions to the Companys success, and wish him well in his future endeavours, said Mr. Ferlaino. About Radient Radient Technologies is a commercial manufacturer of high quality cannabinoid based formulations, ingredients and products. Utilizing a proprietary extraction and downstream processing platform that recovers up to 99% of cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, Radient develops specialty products and ingredients that contain a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene profiles while meeting the highest standards of quality and safety. Please visit www.radientinc.com for more information. SOURCE: Radient Technologies Inc. Contact: Caitlin Cheadle, Director of Communications: [email protected] Forward Looking Information: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the growth of the Companys business operations; the impact of changes to the Companys board of directors; the Companys ability to grow its business in the cannabis sector and the Companys future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Radient, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although Radient has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Radient does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2020 / AMPD Ventures Inc. ("AMPD" or the "Company", (CSE:AMPD)(FRA:2Q0) is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced private placement financing for gross proceeds the amount of CAD $978,262.50 (the "Private Placement"). Under the Private Placement, the Company issued 4,119,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of CAD $0.2375 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant having an exercise price of CAD $0.50 and a term of 12 months from the date of closing of the Private Placement. As previously announced in the Company's news release dated January 10, 2020, the Private Placement initially contemplated the issuance and sale of up to 4,000,000 Units, but the size of the Private Placement was subsequently increased by the Company. The Private Placement remains subject to regulatory approval and all securities issued will be subject to a four-month hold period. As noted previously, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for expansion, key staff hiring, and general working capital purposes. Anthony Brown, CEO of the Company, and Paul Mari, VP Operations of the Company, each purchased 363,000 Units under the Private Placement. For further details concerning the Private Placement, including the participation by such insiders, please refer to the Company's news release dated January 10, 2020. Change of Year-End AMPD also announces that it is changing its fiscal year-end to May 31, from its current fiscal year-end of February 28. The notice for the year-end change required under National Instrument 51-102 has been filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. AMPD believes this change of year-end will better align the Company's financial reporting periods to that of its operating subsidiary. As a result, AMPD will report audited financial results for a fifteen-month transitional fiscal year from March 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 with a comparative of twelve-month audited financial statements from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. Subsequently, AMPD will revert to a customary quarterly reporting calendar based on a May 31 financial year-end, with fiscal quarters ending on the last day in August, November, February, and May each year. About AMPD Ventures Inc. AMPD specializes in providing high performance cloud and compute solutions for low latency applications, including video games and eSports, digital animation and visual effects, and big data collection, analysis and visualization. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS /s/ "Anthony Brown" Anthony Brown CEO & Director AMPD Ventures Inc. info@ampd.tech | Tel: 604-332-3329 For more information on AMPD, please contact: Satnam Brar Tel: 604-332-3329 ext. 3 satnam.brar@ampd.tech Or visit http://www.ampd.tech The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Certain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited, to statements or information with respect to the completion of the Private Placement, and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including receipt of all approvals required for the Private Placement and the use of proceeds of the Private Placement. Although our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include the ability to receive the approvals necessary to complete the Private Placement and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 2A Listing Statement dated October 17, 2019 and "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. All forward looking statements and information contained in this News Release are qualified by this cautionary statement. THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWS WIRES SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. SOURCE: AMPD Ventures Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/575789/AMPD-Ventures-Announces-Closing-of-Private-Placement A Labor powerbroker has been found dead hours before a newspaper was set to reveal child sex and porn charges against him. Andres Puig was found dead in his East Melbourne home on Friday night hours after learning The Australian planned to print that he was charged with child sex offences. The paper was set to publish that the influential lobbyist was charged with producing and possessing child pornography and other child sex offences and was listed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on April 16. Labor lobbyist Andres Puig was found dead in his East Melbourne home on Friday night The 44-year-old was charged over offences allegedly committed last year, with The Australian reporting that he was released on bail following heightened investigations in October. Victorian Police confirmed Mr Puig's death in a media release. 'Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in East Melbourne on Friday night,' the release said. 'The man was located deceased in his Powlett Street home shortly before 6.30pm. The death is not being treated as suspicious.' The former Victorian ALP assistant state secretary rose through political ranks before building the Civic Group consultancy firm before leaving the lobbying company in October 2019. An anonymous source said 'theres no coincidence he disappeared from public life at this time. 'Its the same time the investigation ramped up.' For confidential support in Australia LIFELINE: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au . Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 Learners of foreign languages can hear the errors in pronunciation that fellow learners tend to make, but continue to fall foul of them themselves despite years of practice. A new study of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich shows that everyone believes their own pronunciation to be best. One of the most difficult aspects of learning a foreign language has to do with pronunciation. Learners are typically prone to specific sets of errors, which differ depending on the learners first language. For instance, Germans typically have trouble articulating the initial 'th' in English, as evidenced by the classical expression 'Senk ju vor trawelling' familiar to passengers on German railways. Conversely, native speakers of English tend to have difficulty with the German 'u', which they tend to pronounce as 'u'. Many people laugh at these mistakes in pronunciation, even though they make the same mistakes themselves. But this reaction in itself points to a paradox: It demonstrates that learners register errors when made by others. Nevertheless, the majority of language learners finds it virtually impossible to eliminate these typical errors even after years of practice. A study carried out by LMU linguists Eva Reinisch and Nikola Eger, in collaboration with Holger Mitterer from the University of Malta, has now uncovered one reason for this paradox. "Learners have a tendency to overestimate the quality of their own pronunciation," says Reinisch. "As a rule, they believe that their English is better than that spoken by their fellow students at language schools, although they make the same set of errors." This exaggerated assessment of one's own ability is an important factor that helps explaining why it is so difficult to learn the sounds of a foreign language. In the study, the researchers asked 24 female German learners of English to read out 60 short sentences, such as "The family bought a house," "The jug is on the shelf," and "They heard a funny noise." Several weeks later, the same learners were invited back to the lab and asked to listen to recordings of four learners -- three others and themselves. Specifically, they were asked to grade the pronunciation of each sentence. In order to ensure that participants would not recognize their own productions, the recordings were manipulated in such a way that the female speakers sounded like male speakers. "This element of the experimental design is crucial. It was essential that none of listeners would be aware that their own productions were included in the test sample; otherwise their assessments couldn't be taken as unbiased," says Holger Mitterer. The results of this test were unambiguous. In all cases, the listeners rated their own pronunciation as better than others did, even though they were unable to recognize that it was their own recording. "We were surprised that the experiment so clearly pointed to the significance of overestimation of one's own abilities in this context," says Reinisch. There are several possible explanations for these findings. Previous research has shown that familiar accents are easier to understand than accents that are less familiar. "One is best acquainted with the sound of one's own voice, and has no difficulty understanding it," says Reinisch, who is at LMU's Institute of Phonetics and Language Processing. "Perhaps this familiarity leads us to regard our pronunciation as being better than it actually is." Another possible contributory factor is what is known as the 'mere exposure' effect. This term refers to the fact that we tend to rate things with which we are more familiar -- such as the sound of our own voice -- as more congenial. The results of the study underline the importance of external feedback in language courses, because it increases the learners; awareness of deficits in language production and comprehension. "As long as we believe that we are already pretty good, we are not going to put in more effort to improve," Reinisch points out. A lack of feedback increases the risk of what researchers refer to as 'fossilization'. Leaners feel that they have already mastered the unfamiliar articulation patterns in the new language, although that is in fact not the case. They therefore see no reason why they should invest more time in improving their pronunciation. The authors of the new study are not likely to fall into this sort of error. They are already considering ways to improve the situation with the aid of apps that generate the necessary external feedback -- irrespective of how users rate their own performance. Portland-area students have until Feb. 19 to prove theyre up to date on their immunizations or risk being sent home. The date is known as Exclusion Day, when children who arent vaccinated and dont have a medical or non-medical exemption on file wont be allowed in school. Some families received exclusion letters in November to notify them their school-aged child had missed a scheduled vaccination. The Multnomah County health department is hosting two free immunization clinics in Gresham on Feb. 18 and 19. Immunizations will cost $21.96 unless theyre covered by insurance. In Washington County, health centers at Beaverton, Century, Forest Grove and Tigard high schools will hold immunization clinics on Feb. 19 for children living within the respective districts boundaries. (Gaston and Banks district students can also attend the Forest Grove clinic.) The clinics are open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Neighborhood health centers at Templeton Elementary and Tualatin High will host free clinics on Feb. 10 and Feb. 13, respectively. The Templeton clinic runs from 7 a.m. to noon and the Tualatin High clinic runs from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Multnomah County families can also take their children to any of the eight student health clinics located in high schools, the hours and locations of which are listed below. There, any school-aged Multnomah child can get vaccinated at no out-of-pocket cost. Immunization requirements can change. Multnomah County has an updated list of every vaccination required for the 2019-20 school year. Heres a list of school-based health centers in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties and their hours. Families that received exclusion letters are asked to bring them in during immunizations. Portland Public Schools Cleveland High: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Wednesday, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Franklin High: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Wednesday, 9:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Jefferson High: Monday and Wednesday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Madison High, Marshall campus: Monday, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Roosevelt High: Monday and Wednesday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Tuesday, 9:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. David Douglas School District David Douglas High: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Centennial School District Centennial High: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Thursday 9:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Parkrose School District Parkrose High: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Thursday, 9:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Clackamas County Oregon City High: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Rex Putnam High: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sandy High: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Milwaukie High: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.-noon Washington County Beaverton High: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed noon-12:30 p.m.) Century High: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed noon-12:30 p.m.) Forest Grove High: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed noon-12:30 p.m.) Merlo Station High: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Closed 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.) Tigard High: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed noon-12:30 p.m.) Tualatin High: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Closed noon-12:30 p.m.) gps voice [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin Ill say a few things. So its a rainy day. Very, very gloomy, rainy day. And its a little loud because we have to keep the windows open, because thats the recommendation in these situations. You have to keep everything ventilated. [music] amy qin Two weeks ago, our researcher Elsie and I went down to Wuhan, which is this major city in the center of China that has been the epicenter of the recent coronavirus outbreak. By then, it had been under lockdown for about a week. And we were really curious to see how people were faring and what was going on, especially at the hospitals there. We took the train from Beijing to Wuhan. And we got off, and what we saw was totally crazy. I mean, wed never seen anything like it. This is a city of 11 million that had come to a complete standstill. It felt like being in a parallel reality. To see those streets completely empty was really striking. It was eerie to hear the silence. And the only time we heard anything was the occasional barking of a dog or an ambulance passing by. We were walking around this hospital and we walked into the courtyard in front of the outpatient department. And thats where we came upon this very jarring scene. You had 30 or so patients that were all kind of sitting quietly in the courtyard, all hooked up to IV drips that were hanging from tree branches or in their cars. interposing voices [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin We meet this mother and her two children who are all hooked up to IVs. The mothers name is Yang Ling. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin They tell me that they are actually a family of six. Theres Yang Ling. There is her husband, her husbands parents and then their son and their daughter. And they have all been staying together. And she tells us that their grandmother got sick first and one by one, each of them has gotten infected by the coronavirus. And now, her husband is the only one that doesnt have coronavirus. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin And then they tell me that just one week after the grandmother started showing symptoms, their grandfather died. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin She tells us that after the grandfather dies, the funeral home comes to take the body away yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin and he is cremated immediately. And she says that yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin he was taken away just like a dead dog or a dead pig. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin As shes talking, her voice is starting to carry across the courtyard outside this hospital. And other people are starting to listen in and crowd around us, and shes starting to get more and more upset. She was so palpably angry that at one point yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin the mother was waving her arms around in frustration and almost ripped the IV needle out of her hand. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin Ive been covering China for seven years. And Ive heard people express frustrations with the government before, but really only in private. This was one of the few times that Ive heard such raw anger toward the government publicly. yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN] amy qin And she basically says, is this really my country or is this some kind of [EXPLETIVE] up country a country that doesnt take care of anything? yang ling [SPEAKING MANDARIN]. amy qin And then she says, what kind of government is this? And after hearing that, that made me think that something was happening that was bigger than just an outbreak of a virus. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: Inside China, what began as a story of fear over the coronavirus has now become the story of fury over the governments handling of the crisis. Beijing correspondent Amy Qin on what she saw in Wuhan. Its Thursday, February 13. Amy, what is it about this moment that you think is making people like the Zhang family feel free to speak out about their anger and to pretty explicitly criticize the Chinese government? amy qin So for the Zhang family, this is for them a matter of life or death. And it was a common feeling I heard throughout the city. But theres another added frustration boiling across the rest of the country about how the government is handling this crisis. And for them, its really been captured in the story of this doctor named Dr. Li Wenliang. michael barbaro And who is this doctor? amy qin So Li Wenliang is an eye doctor at a hospital in Wuhan. And he had heard about this virus back in December that was going around the hospitals in the city. And so he went on WeChat, which is this big social messaging platform, and sent in a private messaging group with some of his med school classmates a text message basically warning them to protect themselves. And a few days later after he sent that message, he was actually called in by the police in Wuhan. They brought him into the police station and they made him sign a statement saying that he was spreading false and illegal information basically, that he was spreading rumors. archived recording Authorities say it is untrue and eight people were detained for spreading fake news online and no medical staff had been infected. amy qin But of course, it wasnt a rumor. archived recording Chinese health authorities are still working to identify the virus behind a pneumonia outbreak in the central city of Wuhan. amy qin By the time Dr. Li was brought into the police station, 41 people had the coronavirus. And from there, it just spread. archived recording 1 A SARS-like virus, which has infected hundreds in China, has now reached the United States. archived recording 2 Now China has announced the first death from an outbreak of pneumonia caused by an unidentified virus. archived recording 3 121 people are under medical observation in Wuhan. Rumors on social media alleged that the outbreak in Wuhan could be linked to SARS. archived recording 4 The World Health Organization says its a new type of coronavirus. michael barbaro And Amy, at this point, what is happening to Dr. Li? amy qin So after Dr. Li gets taken into the police station and forced to sign this statement, he was actually treating a patient for glaucoma. And she wasnt showing any symptoms at the time, but he ended up contracting the virus from her. michael barbaro Wow. amy qin And from his sickbed, he starts to speak out again. archived recording In a matter of days, Dr. Li Wenliang went from treating patients to becoming one. amy qin He gives some interviews to Chinese media and he starts to become this public figure. archived recording Struggling to communicate, Li spoke with CNN briefly by phone. You can hear the hospital machines pulsing in the background. amy qin He becomes known as a whistleblower archived recording Whistleblowers silenced by police. Calls for Li and the others to be vindicated grew online. amy qin that the government didnt act fast enough on information that they were given, and that they had missed this critical window of opportunity to get the outbreak under control. archived recording Chinas Supreme Court even weighed in, adding quote, It might have been a fortunate thing if the public had listened to this rumor at the time. But for many michael barbaro So hes becoming a kind of spokesperson for a lot of frustrations. amy qin Exactly. archived recording (li wenliang) [INAUDIBLE] [COUGHING] amy qin And so at this point, it just feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. archived recording 1 Now, the death toll in the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China has jumped to 17. archived recording 2 Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with a deadly virus known as the 2019 novel coronavirus. archived recording 3 Overall, there are now more than 31,500 confirmed cases worldwide. amy qin More and more people are getting sick. Were seeing the numbers just surge every day archived recording 4 600 deaths. amy qin people who are confirmed cases of the coronavirus, people who are dying of the coronavirus. archived recording 5 Has jumped to more than 700. amy qin Everything felt so uncertain. archived recording 6 Officials are imposing restrictions on travel out of Wuhan, China. archived recording 7 And 13 cities in lockdown this morning. archived recording 8 Near-empty shelves line supermarkets. archived recording 9 A need for masks and protective suits. archived recording 10 Chinas health minister, Ma Xiaowei, has said that he expects infections to continue to rise. And of course, that has everyone here in the country even more nervous. archived recording 11 The citizens are actually freaking out. archived recording 12 China right now is being massively rocked by anger. archived recording 13 And the State Department has said it is chartering a flight to evacuate Americans out of Wuhan. Justin, though, will not be on that amy qin So foreign governments started pulling their citizens out of Wuhan, and thats when I got the call. So it was late last week, and I had been on the phone all day with my editors. And I get a final call saying you need to go to the airport. There was one flight left that was being arranged by the U.S. State Department to go back to the U.S., so I start scrambling. I leave all my masks, my disinfectant wipes, my hazmat suit, my gloves with my colleagues. And then its about a 40-minute drive to the airport. amy qin O.K. So I am at the airport in Wuhan now. And its been a crazy, hectic day. I think that the next few weeks in quarantine on a military base will bring its own interesting moments. michael barbaro And what is the scene at the airport? amy qin The scene at the airport was a little bit frenzied. I mean, at this point, these are really some of the last flights out for these countries who are evacuating their citizens, so it wasnt just the Americans. There were also the Canadians, the Japanese. And we didnt even know at that point where they were taking us to. So Im in the airport lobby and Im waiting for my flight. And then my phone starts to buzz, and Im seeing all these messages come through. And I look at them, and then I see that Dr. Li has just died. And I could sense that this was going to be a big moment, because I had started overhearing people talking about it in the airport terminal. But then I just had to leave. I had to get on the flight. michael barbaro Well be right back. So Amy, Dr. Li has died from the very virus that he alerted the government to, and youre on a plane back to the U.S. from Wuhan. So what happens once you land? amy qin So once I land, I find that I am at the Miramar Marine base in San Diego, California. Im carted off to quarantine, and then I turn on my phone and I start going through my messages. And I see this huge upswelling of outrage over Dr. Lis death. People from every stripe of the political or social spectrum in China so you have people who are business people, who are blue-collar workers, artists, lawyers theyre all posting about Dr. Lis death. And Ive never seen people come together like this before and people were so upset about his death. michael barbaro And what are they saying? amy qin A lot of people were posting candle emojis and other kinds of remembrances for Dr. Li. They were posting photos of him. He had taken a selfie of himself wearing a surgical mask and someone had recreated that image to replace the surgical mask with barbed wire to kind of indicate that he had been muzzled. Some people were posting the anthem from Les Mis, Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? michael barbaro Wow. amy qin We actually saw the hashtag I want freedom of speech trending for five hours, which of course, it was quickly censored. And we saw petitions going up by Chinese academics calling for freedom of speech. And we even saw a local government social media account posting a portrait of Dr. Li, along with the lines, Heroes dont fall from the sky. Theyre just ordinary people who step forward. michael barbaro Wow. amy qin So the reaction is really remarkable. I mean, even the hospital where Dr. Li died posted an official notice of his death. And that had three million reactions and 300,000 comments. And so it was so clear that this was something that had really tapped into the frustration that was happening. michael barbaro And what do you make of those reactions? Because it feels like it no longer is really just about this virus and the way that it was handled? amy qin Yeah so at this point, it is clear that this is becoming so much bigger than just the virus. This is really about the government and this social contract that the people have had with the government, where they agree to keep silent as long as the government provides for their prosperity and health. It operates under this principle of stability at all costs. michael barbaro Right. And in their effort to create stability, in fact, they did the opposite. amy qin Yeah. I mean, I think that theres this realization definitely that there is something wrong with the system. And I dont think that it means that people are going out in the streets and calling for a revolution. But the fact that people are calling for freedom of speech, I mean, thats really what this brought out. People in China are already used to a pretty high level of censorship, but when it comes to censoring a warning about public health, that goes too far. And the reaction is so overwhelming that the government quickly realizes that they need to do something. And thats when we see Chinas leader Xi Jinping come forward out of the shadows and try to take control of the situation archived recording (xi jinping) [SPEAKING CHINESE] [LAUGHTER] amy qin He comes out and makes an appearance in Beijing. archived recording (xi jinping) [SPEAKING CHINESE] amy qin He visits a community center and a hospital. He gets his temperature taken. He talks with local residents. archived recording (xi jinping) [SPEAKING CHINESE] amy qin And he does a video conference with doctors in Wuhan. archived recording (xi jinping) [SPEAKING CHINESE] [APPLAUSE] amy qin So by this point, the government has sent the nations top anti-corruption agency to go down to Wuhan and investigate Dr. Lis death. And state media is calling Dr. Li a hero. michael barbaro This feels like a real shift for a government that originally reprimanded Dr. Li and is now sending a team to investigate why he was muzzled. It feels like a concession. amy qin It is. But at the same time, we have to remember that this is also part of the partys ethos, which is to always try to control the narrative. And for them, the path of least resistance in this situation is to hold Dr. Li up as a hero, but also to do it in a way that coheres with the party narrative. michael barbaro Huh. amy qin Erasing the parts that might challenge their legitimacy or authority, which is the fact that he was punished by the government for trying to call attention to the fact that there was this virus going around. michael barbaro Do you think that the people in China view the governments response as an attempt to protect them from the virus or to protect the government from the story of a situation thats out of control? amy qin Both. People really believe that the government wants to get this epidemic under control. But at the same time, they know that the government is only going to do this in a way that does not threaten its own hold on power. And that means taking control of the narrative sending in their own journalists to make sure that only the positive aspects of what theyre doing is being highlighted, and that people who are slipping through the cracks or all the failures of the policy are not being highlighted. michael barbaro Amy, Im curious. Have you been able to speak to the Zhang family since you evacuated, since you took that flight from Wuhan to California? amy qin We have. The last time we checked in with them, their situation had changed. The mother and the daughter were both infected with the coronavirus and have finally been able to get into one of the makeshift quarantine centers set up by the government. Bella, the daughter, sent us a video of the center, and it just shows a huge exhibition center with beds crowded tightly together and all these sick patients in these beds. Meanwhile, Bellas brother and their grandmother are still at home back in the family apartment sick and unable to get into a hospital. The grandmother is in very serious condition. She can barely get out of bed. And theyre also still living with their father, who is the only family member who hasnt gotten infected so fae. Though they all think that it will be a matter of time. michael barbaro So basically, half the family is being cared for and the other half have been kind of abandoned. amy qin Right. And remember, their grandfather had died in their family apartment and was taken to be cremated immediately. And they still dont even know where his ashes are. michael barbaro Is the reality that another death in the family could happen something that they are preparing for? amy qin Yes, theyve been planning for it. They told us that when the grandmother dies, theyre not going to let her go to the crematorium. But actually, the mother said shes going to drag her body to the local neighborhood committee and just put it there on the front steps to show them how their inaction has devastated their entire family. michael barbaro Do you know whether the family knows about Dr. Lis death, or if they were able to watch that video of Xi Jinping in public addressing the situation? amy qin I think if theyve seen, its barely registered. They are so consumed with just trying to survive right now, like so many other people in Wuhan, that theyre just putting their heads down trying to move forward. michael barbaro Amy, thank you very much. amy qin Thanks, Michael. michael barbaro On Thursday, nearly 15,000 new cases of coronavirus were added to the tally of infected people in the Chinese province where Wuhan is located the largest one-day increase of the epidemic so far. That brings the total number of cases to more than 48,000. At the same time, 242 new deaths were also reported, bringing the total death toll in the province to 1,310. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. For the second day in a row, President Trump intervened in the prosecution of his longtime friend and adviser, Roger Stone, this time by attacking the judge in the case. On Tuesday, at the presidents urging, the Department of Justice recommended a more lenient prison sentence for Stone, who was convicted of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. That move prompted four federal prosecutors to leave the case in protest. On Wednesday, Trump claimed without evidence in a tweet that the judge who will sentence Stone is biased against the president in what Democratic lawmakers said was a clear attempt to intimidate the judge before she sentences Stone. archived recording (chuck schumer) The president ran against the swamp in Washington, a place where the game is rigged by the powerful to benefit them personally. I ask my fellow Americans, what is more swampy, what is more fetid, what is more stinking than the most powerful person in the country literally changing the rules to benefit a crony guilty of breaking the law? michael barbaro In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation into Trumps conduct. archived recording (chuck schumer) As a result, I have formally requested that the inspector general of the Justice Department investigate this matter immediately. michael barbaro He said such steps are not good for democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. SRINAGAR: Congress and several other Opposition parties have deplored the Jammu and Kashmir administrations decision to slap stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on two former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, terming the move as unfortunate and shocking and negation of governments claims about normalcy in the Union Territory (UT). They remain incarcerated for past six months. During this period neither Omar Abdullah nor Mehbooba Mufti did anything not even gave any statement that could cause any law and order issue. Slapping PSA on them on false notions and merely on suspicion is violation of law and murder of democracy, said National Conference (NC) MP Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi. CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami asked, Both Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and home minister, Amit Shah have been claiming both inside and outside Parliament that Kashmir Valley is quiet and peaceful. But if it is so, why do then our leaders continue to be in jail. He said detaining Mr Abdullah, Ms Mufti and two other mainstream leaders like Ali Muhammad Sagar and Muhammad Sartaj Madni under the PSA is unfortunate and shocking. He said such steps are not good for democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and that making false claims will further alienate the people of the Valley who will definitely ask if booking leaders under the draconian law is a sign of normalcy. Evie Donohue shows off her handiwork after taking part in a Chinese New Year workshop Tralee's ten day celebration to mark the Chinese New Year drew to a close at the weekend and the event - in its first year - has been hailed as a major success. There were large crowds in the Town Centre on Saturday for the grand finale and centrepiece of the festival which saw the Town Square transformed into a mini version of Chinatown. A series of events were organised throughout the weekend including a Chinese Dragon performance in the town square; a 1000 lights ceremony; workshops and events in businesses throughout the town centre; a 'Taste of Asia' food fair in the Square; and a 'sights and sounds' of China event involving traditional Chinese music and dress. The weekend's events brought the curtain down on a very successful ten day programme that brought large crowds out onto the streets over two weekends that, given the weather and the time of year, would ordinarily be extremely quiet. The Chinese New Year Festival marked the latest step in Tralee Chamber Alliance's efforts to create new events throughout the year - last September's College Freshers festival being another notable example - and it can be regarded as a major success for all involved in organising it. Tralee Chamber Alliance Chief Executive Ken Tobin said the organisation is very pleased with how event played out and they are keen to build on it next year. Town centre pubs, cafes and restaurants have also had a very positive reaction to the event with several reporting two of their busiest January Saturday's for years. 'Red Envelope Day' on the festival's opening weekend was all about spreading happiness and good fortune. The festival certainly did just that. TDT/Manama The ninth edition of 'Bahrain For All' began on Thursday, bringing together more than 50,000 people from over 40 local and expatriate communities to showcase their respective cultures. The event was inaugurated by Capital Governor, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa at Bahrain Bay. 'Bahrain For All' is supported by the Capital Governorate along with the Office of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Held under the theme Leaving Nobody Behind, this years event featured performances by the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Filipino, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Tunisian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Thai, Indonesian, and Malaysian communities, among others. The highlight of the evening is showstopper performances by Bahraini rap artist Flipperachi who shot to fame with his single Ee La, and DJ Westside (Fahad). The event is being hosted by popular emcee Ali Fingerz Esbai. This year, for the first time, the event also features a sensory room for the differently abled community, set up in co-operation with therapists from Steps Rehabilitation Centre who will provide expert guidance and consultation at the event. A sensory room is a specially designed room which combines a range of stimuli, including lights, colours, sounds, textures and aromas, to help individuals engage and develop their senses in a safe environment. Sensory rooms can help those who have learning difficulties, developmental disabilities or sensory impairments learn to interact with the world around them. The partners of this years Bahrain For All are: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Arab International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment (AICEI), Steps Rehabilitation Centre, Out Of The Box, Tele Tech Media, Unreal Bahrain, and RMD Advisory. The Daily Tribune is one of the media partners. Event sponsors include Bahrain Bay, ParkPoint Parking Solutions, Manama Printing Press, Bapco, Spartan Fitness, Ramada by Wyndham Bahrain, Dragon City, Bahrain International Circuit, National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Bin Faqeeh, Aquacool, D3 Solutions and Hussain Mohammed Showaiter Sweets. 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Credit:Bloomberg In a heated debate in New Hampshire just four days before the state's pivotal primary, their Democratic rivals questioned whether Sanders' democratic socialist views and Buttigieg's relative lack of experience and lack of support with African-Americans and Latinos made them too much of a risk for the November 3 election. Sanders, 78, a US senator and leader of the party's progressive wing, and Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, finished in a virtual dead heat in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses earlier this week. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the one-time national front-runner who finished a disappointing fourth in Iowa, delivered his most aggressive performance yet, a sign of determination as he looks to rebound. Tom Cruise in Rogue Nation Mission: Impossible writer and director Christopher McQuarrie has provided a tantalising update on the upcoming seventh and eighth installments to the franchise, calling some of the stunts that Tom Cruise will have to film obscene. McQuarrie first told Empire Magazine that the consistent rumours Cruise will one day go to the space with the franchise were false, before teasing, We've figured out three obscene things that he's doing that I'm terrified of, that make the helicopter chase look like tinker toys. Read More: Hayley Atwell Joins Tom Cruise in Next Mission: Impossible Movie The filmmaker, who has previously written and directed Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible - Fallout, also opened up about the return of Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge for Mission: Impossible 7 and 8. An addition that was particularly surprising as the characters last appearance was all the way back in the 1996 original Mission: Impossible. Director Christopher McQuarrie poses during a photocall for the world premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" in Paris, France, July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes "I've been thinking about Kittridge going all the way back to Rogue Nation, said McQuarrie, who then admitted that he could just never think of a good reason to bring him back. Im much more interested in finding something great for that character to do. Early in this process I had an inkling that there could be a place for Kittridge the tone of the movie, the shape of the movie lent itself to that. I realised, 'Kittridge has got to be in this scene. Read More: Rebecca Ferguson hopes they 'never' stop making 'Mission: Impossible' movies (exclusive) I had written it not knowing who was in it, and then suddenly Kittridge came into it and the scene was transformed, it was really fun. I got to call Henry Czerny and say, 'You're in! Will you be in it?' He was great about it. Mission: Impossible 7 and 8 are due out on July 23, 2021, and August 5, 2022, respectively, with McQuarrie admitting that filming on the back-to-back films is due to begin soon. Srinagar: Since the removal of Section 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has been badly bombarded and is continuously firing from across the border. On Saturday, Pakistan broke the ceasefire once again and opened fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Dighwar sector of Poonch district. The Pakistani Army is continuously firing from across the border and firing shells. Delhi Assembly Elections: Clash between AAP and BJP, watch video here The Indian Army is also giving a befitting reply to the nefarious act of Pakistan. Earlier, a ceasefire was breached by Pakistan on Monday (February 4) in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara. One civilian was killed and four others were injured in this firing. Pakistan fired indiscriminately on Indian defense posts and villages near the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir and fired shells. Modi government will sell its stake in a very big company in the country Three terrorists of terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad were arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday, 7 February. All three terrorists were involved in the Srinagar grenade attack case. The terrorists arrested through the Srinagar police were identified as Naved ul Latif Padru, Shakeel Ahmed Padru, and Shamshad Manzoor. According to police records, all three are related to Jaish and have been involved in the grenade attack in Pratap Park. Big decision of Supreme court on reservation, says 'court orders to state governments.' New Delhi, Feb 8 : The Congress seems to be languishing in insignificance in Delhi Assembly polls with a seat projection of anything between zero and four seats, according to the IANS-CVoter Exit Poll. The Congress had drawn a blank in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. According to the exit poll, the Congress has hardly recovered from its rout in 2015. But many would say that the party's lacklustre campaign is also to blame for anti-BJP votes getting deflected towards AAP, which is tipped to get anywhere between 49 and 63 seats. Compared to the high-voltage public meetings organised by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (AAP) across the national capital, the Congress leadership pitched in only in the last leg of the campaign. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed only four public meetings in Delhi, including two addressed along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi's maiden public meeting was cancelled due to her ill-health. The absence of senior Congress leaders from the poll fray has also not gone down well with the party cadres and supporters. After Sonia Gandhi's intervention, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Rajesh Lilothia entered the poll fray though senior Delhi leaders such as Ajay Maken, Kiran Walia, J.P. Agarwal and the party's state unit President Subhash Chopra opted out. And that is now getting reflected in the IANS-CVoter Exit Poll results, according to which the party will either draw a blank again or at best get four seats. The Congress is expected to win from Chandni Chowk and one seat each from East Delhi, North East Delhi and South Delhi. The projections are based on personal interviews conducted on the polling day among 18+ adults across the national capital, all confirmed voters. The sample size was 11,839 people. During Stephen Bieguns ceremonial swearing in as the No. 2 official at the State Department, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo couldnt help but gently rib him about his popularity in Washington. Biegun, Pompeo noted, was confirmed by the Senate on 90-3 vote, a sign of the widespread, and bipartisan, respect for the secretarys new deputy. Pompeo, on the other hand, squeaked by on a 57-42 vote, with numerous Democrats arguing he didnt deserve to be the chief U.S. diplomat. Pompeos quip got plenty of laughs, according to three people familiar with the Jan. 17 ceremony. But it also spoke to a larger point: Many inside and outside the State Department are looking to Biegun as the man who can repair some serious rifts in Washington. Those rifts include the widening gulf between Pompeo and the career Civil and Foreign Service employees he leads, many of whom are unhappy with his handling of the Ukraine scandal that prompted President Donald Trumps impeachment. It also includes the growing chasm between Pompeo and Democrats on Capitol Hill, many of whom view him as a partisan warrior concerned above all with keeping the president happy. Biegun may be that rare bird in Washington capable of smoothing over, if not eliminating, the tensions. According to several current and former U.S. officials, Biegun is already making moves designed to present himself as both a healer and a risk-taker. Hes signaled that he wants to play a role in Ukraine policy a near-toxic issue now at the State Department and openly praised the rank and file. He has an enormous amount of good will and credibility coming into this position, said Heather Conley, a former official in the George W. Bush administration. But, of course, he comes in at an incredibly difficult moment. The 56-year-old Biegun has served in an array of roles in both the public and private sector, including as the executive secretary of the National Security Council during the second Bush administration. Story continues He joined the Trump administration first as a special envoy for North Korea, leaving behind his job as vice president of international governmental relations for Ford Motor Company. His online State Department bio says he has excelled in tough negotiating settings, although hes had little luck with the exceptionally tricky North Korea portfolio. Biegun was officially sworn in as deputy secretary on Dec. 21 of last year. He took over from John Sullivan, a well-liked figure who was often seen a stabilizing force at the State Department but one with limited influence on Pompeo or Trump. Sullivan is now the U.S. ambassador to Russia. In a Jan. 21 email to staffers, Biegun wrote that his number one priority is supporting the people of the Department of State, and that he wants the department to take care of, grow, and retain talent. But the carefully worded missive also contained a subtle warning. While Biegun praised career employees, he also urged them to uphold an ethos statement unveiled by Pompeo months earlier and made clear that he was working in tandem with the secretary. And while he stressed the importance of Americas international alliances, which Trump has dismissed in more than one way, he also mentioned the need to advance the interests of the United States a line in tune with Trumps America First foreign policy vision. Biegun further wrote that he wanted to hear staffers views, whether picking up a sandwich in the departments cafeteria or dropping by staff meetings in the various bureaus. Former and current department officials say hes definitely shown up in the cafeteria, always a signal that youre a man of the people at Foggy Bottom. One person Biegun has met in the cafeteria was Eric Rubin, the president of the diplomats union, the American Foreign Service Association. Among other things, the union wants him to push Pompeo to appoint more career staffers to leadership roles and ambassadorships. The dearth of career employees in positions such as assistant secretaries has contributed to the tensions between career staffers and Trumps political appointees. Those tensions have spiked due to Pompeos unwillingness to publicly defend U.S. diplomats caught in the impeachment scandal. Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in Washington on Nov. 13, 2019. One of those diplomats was William Taylor, the top U.S. official at the American Embassy in Kyiv who also testified in the impeachment inquiry. Pompeo ordered Taylor out of Ukraine before he visited the country last month. Taylor, however, attended Bieguns ceremonial swearing in at the departments headquarters, a person familiar with the event confirmed. Brett Bruen, an outspoken former U.S. diplomat who now leads Global Situation Room, a strategic communications firm, said Foreign Service officers know that Biegun is limited in what he can accomplish. Still, they hope that he can act as a strain that tries to filter out the wackiest ideas from Pompeo, Trump and others in the administration. Some career State Department staffers say they might have higher hopes for Biegun if Pompeo leaves and Biegun takes over as the acting secretary. Many expected that would happen as Pompeo mulled running for a Kansas Senate seat. But the secretary has ruled out that run and appears likely to stay at State for the foreseeable future. A former George W. Bush administration official who has worked with Biegun warned career staffers that they might rue the day they lose Pompeo. After all, Pompeo retains Trumps ear and confidence, despite running a department viewed by many Republicans as a liberal bastion. Biegun doesnt have that sort of access to or influence on Trump, and hes not a confrontational person. Given Trumps tendency to go by his instinct and ignore outside counsel, Biegun as acting secretary would be uniquely powerless, the former official predicted. At the end of the day hes constrained by the fact that hes working in the Trump administration, too, the former official said. In the Trump administration you need to pick your battles carefully. Biegun did not respond to a request for an interview. He has indicated in private settings that he wants to get involved in Ukraine policy, a highly sensitive topic given its role in Trumps impeachment, current and former U.S. diplomats say. Ambassador Kurt Volker, former special envoy to Ukraine, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in Washington on Nov. 19, 2019. In particular, hes eyeing the duties once assigned to Kurt Volker, the former special envoy who was tasked with trying to end Ukraines war with Russia in the Donbass region. Volker quit that position as Democrats impeachment inquiry ramped up, testifying in the process and handing over a key set of texts that were particularly damaging to Trump. In a recent op-ed, Volker urged Pompeo to name Biegun as the point person for Ukraine negotiations. Others in the foreign policy establishment have echoed that recommendation. Because the U.S. at present does not have an ambassador in Kyiv, theres a leadership vacuum on that issue. Biegun is unlikely to take on a formal Ukraine-related title. But he has experience and many contacts in that part of the world; in the 1990s, he worked in Moscow for the International Republican Institute, a democracy building organization funded by the U.S. government. He studied Russian while attending the University of Michigan. Biegun also intends to keep the portfolio hed earlier had under Trump: U.S. special representative for North Korea. Hes held that position since August 2018, and U.S. officials says it makes sense for him to retain it given how long hes worked to learn the issues and build connections in the region. That being said, despite three face-to-face meetings between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the U.S. has made no real progress in convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. The North Koreans prefer to deal directly with Trump, making the job of the special representative near-impossible, no matter who holds it. Theres some hope that Bieguns elevation to deputy secretary might entice Pyongyang to take him more seriously, but observers say its unlikely to make much difference. But theres one Trump adversary Biegun might have more success in dealing with: the Democrats in Congress. That relationship has long been sour under Pompeo, who has been unable or unwilling to shed his image on the Hill as a highly partisan congressman from Kansas. His refusal to hand over State Department documents and attempts to block witnesses during the impeachment inquiry has only deepened anger against him. More recently, hes rebuffed requests to testify on the Hill on non-impeachment issues. Current and former U.S. diplomats say Pompeo should dispatch Biegun as often as possible to the Hill to help right the relationship. Thats especially the case in the House, which is controlled by Democrats. Just this week, Biegun helped brief lawmakers on the U.S. response to the coronavirus outbreak. At this point, I would send the local dogcatcher to the Hill rather than Pompeo, one ex-diplomat said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 13:51:12|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump had dismissed Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who testified in the impeachment inquiry, days after a divided Senate acquitted Trump on impeachment charges, U.S. media reported Friday. Sondland said in a statement that Trump "intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union." The ambassador expressed his gratitude to Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the statement, saying "our work here has been the highlight of my career," according to the statement acquired by U.S. media. Sondland's dismissal came just hours after Alexander Vindman, an expert in National Security Council who also testified about Trump's contacts with Ukraine, was escorted out of the White House complex. Trump was alleged to have pressured his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, into launching investigations that could have politically benefited him by withholding military aid from Ukraine. Last November, Sondland said in a hearing that Trump conditioned a White House meeting for Ukraine's president on his assurance to conduct an investigation into Trump's Democratic rivals. "I know that members of this committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a 'quid pro quo?' As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes," Sondland said during a public House hearing. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last December over his interaction with Ukraine, while the president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or a "quid pro quo" with Kiev. Trump was acquitted on Wednesday afternoon by the Senate after the chamber voted down both articles of impeachment against him that the House approved in late 2019. Shannen Doherty has alleged State Farm made false claims about her smoking habits, in a battle over repairs to her house following the 2018 Woolsey fire. The 48-year-old -who recently revealed she's been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer- also alleged the insurance company invaded her privacy by including her medical records in court filings, according to TMZ. The 90210 alum and the property and casualty insurance provider are locked in a legal battle over damage sustained to her home during the wildfires, including from smoke. State Farm have alleged Doherty was smoking cigarettes until March 2019 say TMZ, a claim she disputes. The lies: Shannen Doherty recently hit back at State Farm after claiming they launched a smear campaign over her smoking habits She argued that she gave up the habit back in 2015, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time that March. According to TMZ, State Farm responded that Doherty 'once again distorts the facts. Rather than try this smoke damage case in the media, we will do so in a court of law.' It comes after her lawyer criticized the company for referring to her recent diagnosis as a strategy to 'garner sympathy.' Pay up: She's been battling the insurance company over repairs to her house following the 2018 Woolsey fire False statement: The 48-year-old refuted claims made in court documents that she was smoking up until March of 2019 Cold turkey: She argued that she gave up the habit back in 2015, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time that March (pictured here in 2004) The 90210 star made the announcement Tuesday on Good Morning America to get ahead of legal documents that would expose it. She said: 'I'd rather people hear it from me. I don't want it to be twisted; I don't want it to be a court document. 'I want it to be real and authentic, and I want to control the narrative. I want people to know from me.' Fighting dirty: It comes after her lawyer criticized the company for referring to her recent diagnosis as a strategy to 'garner sympathy'. Seen here in November 2016 A spokesperson for State Farm told USA Today: 'We empathize with Ms. Doherty's heath issues and wish her a full recovery. 'We strongly believe we have upheld our commitment to our customer and have paid what we owe on this claim. We are prepared to defend our position in court.' Doherty announced in April of 2017 that her cancer was in remission after several aggressive treatments. It is hard to believe that the Adelaide Hills, one of the places in Australia which has suffered devastation from bush fires, is one of the country's cooler wines regions. It is also one of the oldest. In the 1850s, early settlers planted vines, but faced with a difficulty in ripening the grapes, many were uprooted in the 1930s. It wasn't until the late 1970s that interest in growing vines was revived, and a core group of a dozen winemakers, which included Brian Croser, planted vineyards and inspired hundreds more to follow suit. Adelaide Hills is quite a large region, stretching 80km from north to south and about 30-40km in width. It touches the Eden Valley and Barossa in the north, and the McLaren Vale in the south. It can grow a range of grapes, with red varieties in the warmer valleys, and grapes for premium-quality sparkling wine in the higher vineyards. Just 20 minutes' drive from the city of Adelaide, the region is popular for wine tourism domestically, yet it's a bit off the radar for tourists from outside the country. On an early-morning visit to Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard last November, the mist had just lifted and the air was cool and crisp. Standing on the timber veranda, looking out onto the steep vineyards, I could see the lush green vines stretching out, neatly choreographed into a tapestry of blocks, the direction changing to suit the different aspect as it followed the lines of the hills. A few kilometres away, you reach Mount Lofty summit, a beautiful viewpoint that looks down from the hills to Adelaide, as long as it's not shrouded in spring fog, which it was when I got there. Garry Sweeney, who owns Mount Loft Ranges with his partner Sharon Pearson, had invited Amy Hickling, the winemaker at Croser and Petaluma, and Hamish Laurie of Deviation Road to host a tasting. Garry's and Hamish's wines are low production, so you won't find them exported, but Croser is stocked by O'Briens. Similar to Champagne, the grapes grown for sparkling wine here are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Pinot is grown at the highest altitude, up to 550 metres, and there can be four weeks' difference in ripening times between it and the Chardonnay down the slope. The orange-coloured soil has good water retention, so vines are dry farmed; but with slopes this steep, mechanisation is not possible, and pruning and harvesting is done by hand. The wines here are made using the traditional Champagne method, which means the bubbles are created by a second fermentation in the bottle. Unlike Prosecco, this takes time, so a bottle of Adelaide Hills sparkling wine will have spent at least six months, and probably a year, allowing this second fermentation to happen. This makes it considerably more complex and interesting to drink - perfect for Valentine's Day. Grapevine Beverly Matthews of L'Atitude 51 will be hosting a Valentine's Day speed tasting evening at St Peter's, North Main St, Cork, on February 14, a fun way to learn about wine, and you don't need to be a couple, just a wine lover, 30, info@latitude51.ie. Or head to the Corkscrew in Dublin for their Valentine's-themed tasting of six sparkling wines from around the globe, paired with chocolate, 49, thecorkscrew.ie Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvee NV 34.99 approx, 12pc, from Corkscrew, Baggot St Wines, Whelehan's, On the Grapevine, Blackrock Cellar and O'Briens Expand Close Jansz / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jansz Tasmania is another cool climate region in Australia which is perfect for making top-quality sparkling wine. This Champagne-style offering is made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with crisp citrus flavours mixing with brioche and nutty complexity. Tuffeau 2017 Blancs de Blancs Brut Nature 19.50-19.95, 12pc, from various suppliers nationwide Expand Close Tuffeau Blancs / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tuffeau Blancs For something a bit different, this sparkling Chardonnay from the Loire has a crown cap closure and is deliciously refreshing with zesty flavours of apple and a touch of citrus. Veuve Monsigny Brut Champagne 19.99, 12pc, from Aldi Expand Close Veuve Monsigny Brut Champagne / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Veuve Monsigny Brut Champagne No need to break the bank, this incredibly well-priced Champagne has a refreshing crunch of juicy apple, flecked with touches of lemon zest and a soft whisper of buttery complexity. Granzamy Brut NV Champagne 29.95 reduced from 34.95, 12pc, from O'Briens and obrienswine.ie Expand Close Granzamy Brut NV Champagne / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Granzamy Brut NV Champagne Made by a small, family-run Champagne house in the Marne Valley, this vegan-friendly, 100pc Pinot Meunier Champagne is rich and toasty, with flavours of apples, a touch of savoury cherry and a hint of spice. Wine of the week Croser Brut Rose 24.95 reduced from 27.95, 13pc, from O'Briens Expand Close Corser Brut Rose / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Corser Brut Rose From the Adelaide Hills, the grapes for this 100pc Pinot Noir sparkling rose are hand-picked and the fruit is whole-bunch pressed in the traditional manner. A small proportion of wine has skin contact. For added complexity and richness, some of the wine is fermented in old barrels. It is then allowed to age and rest on the lees for at least 12 months. The result is a sparkling wine with fresh lively flavours of just-ripe strawberries and peach, with a touch of ripe orange peel and a creamy shortbread note on the finish. Dear Tripped Up, I love The New York Edition Ive stayed there three times in the past year. What I hate is the destination fee $35 per room per night that includes credit toward the bar, spa and laundry. We traveled with our 16 and 18 year olds in April; their room was charged the fee even though they couldnt possibly use the bar. I have got the fee refunded twice, but hate having to fight with them every time we check out. Thanks, Kate Dear Kate, Resort fees sometimes called destination or facilities fees are per-diem fees, on top of the room rate, that hotels and resorts levy on guests for things like Wi-Fi, on-site activities, parking and dining credits. At Edition, like any hotel, resort fees apply whether or not you use the services and amenities. Hotel executives regularly downplay the issue of resort fees, which allow hotels and resorts to keep nightly rates (relatively) low while simultaneously driving revenue. But its one of the complaints I hear about most both in my email inbox and on social media, where experienced travelers regularly shame some of the most egregious offenders. Frommers has openly called them a scam. One woman sent me an email about a Virginia hotel where she paid a $39-a-night resort fee for Wi-Fi, nightly films and use of the pools. One of the pools was closed. Three people are said to be in isolation at University Hospital Limerick awaiting test results for the coronavirus. All three are believed to have recently travelled to Ireland from China. A source at the hospital says two women were admitted with flu-like symptoms after arriving in Ireland from China in the last few days. A third patient, a man, who also recently travelled here from China, says he has similar symptoms. Test results for all three are expected to take up to eight hours to process. The HSE and Department of Health have declined to comment on the three patients' status. A Department of Health spokesperson said they will not provide information unless a case of the virus is confirmed. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said a case of coronavirus in Ireland is possible given the continuing increase in the number of people infected internationally. Some 724 people have now died from coronavirus around the world. More than 34,000 have been infected, the vast majority in China. Thousands remain on lockdown on two cruise ships, in Japan and Hong Kong, after passengers were found with the virus. Nasik (Maharashtra): JET Jitendra New EV Tech is all set to make its presence in the Electric Motor-Cycle category after the successful launch of the scooters Jet 250 and JMT 1000 HS. The company was incorporated in 2016 and had its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nashik; The Jet 250 a low-speed electric scooter was approved by ARAI and had the Fame 1 subsidy. The JMT 1000 HS has the Fame 2 subsidy. The company has significant plans to export to the African sub-continent. They have already signed an MOU for Kenya and Nigeria. At the auto expo, Jitendra New EV Tech is all set to unveil two new products, a motor-cycle Klasoo and a scooter Yunik. As the brand name suggests, it will be a class apart and will be a unique proposition altogether. They will be available in three colour options. Highlights of Klasoo' motor-cycle * The Klasoo is equipped with a mid-drive electric motor. * The lithium-ion battery has a 3-year/50,000 km warranty. * It has a smart cluster with touch screen features * 0 to 60 in less than 4.5 seconds * Gradeability of 26 per cent * Range per charge 100 km (practically tested in Indian roads with 150 kg payload) * Top speed 130 Kmph (WOW) * It will have two portable batteries. Highlights of YUNIK, Scooter * The Yunik is equipped with a 1.5 KW electric motor. * The lithium-ion battery has a three year/50,000 km warranty. * It has a smart cluster * 0 to 60 in less than six seconds * Gradeability of 30 per cent * Range per charge 120 km (practically tested in Indian roads with 150 kg payload) * Fault detection and indication on The cluster assembly * It has a side stand position sensor * Smart safety feature to start the vehicle to avoid default start. The sales of Klasoo and Yunik will initially begin in all major cities. The vehicles are scheduled to launch in April 2020. The R&D Team worked for 27 months. The company also manufactures three-wheelers, namely the passenger, the loader, the garbage vehicle and have their eyes set to launch the three-wheelers L5 category auto rickshaw. The company is a closely-held entity within the Shah family and is debt-free. The company is looking for dealers and distributors to have a 100 per cent pan India presence. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. There was a reason Sen. Mitch McConnell was smiling as he left the US Capitol just before 11 p.m. Thursday night. The final stage of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump had arrived at last, thanks to one of the Republican Majority Leader's closest friends in the Senate. Only a few minutes before, Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander had himself left the Capitol through the east-facing carriage door, leading out to a plaza where cars awaited to whisk lawmakers away. Having spent the day surrounded by reporters, Alexander was again swarmed as he descended the steps and crossed the Capitol plaza in the cold. The questions, which came in rapid-fire succession, were all essentially the same: Would he support calling witnesses? In his calm, genteel Southern accent, Alexander assured the press they would receive his statement soon, that he had already informed McConnell of his decision, and that the statement would speak for itself. Clutching a set of briefing papers under his arm, Alexander ducked into the passenger seat of a black car, and drove into the night. Several minutes later, at 11 p.m. sharp, Alexander's lengthy statement landed in the inboxes of the handful of reporters still standing outside. The three-term Republican would vote against allowing witnesses, denying Democrats the chance at having 51 votes on the issue. Alexander's statement confirmed the consensus that had been building all week among GOP senators, that whatever Trump did with aid to Ukraine, it did not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. It also ended weeks and days of drama over how long the trial might go and to what extent more politically damaging information about the President's hold on aid to Ukraine might emerge. While the tension built in the final hours of Thursday's question-and-answer period, the moment of Alexander's announcement at precisely 11 p.m. deflated weeks of speculation. The impeachment trial is now effectively finished, and Trump is on a glide path toward acquittal. For the previous few days, it seemed possible, if not probable, that the trial could fall out of the Majority Leader's control. McConnell had sought to thwart any surprise moves from his members but could not prevent the bombshell news on Sunday that John Bolton, the former national security adviser, might testify that Trump had directly tied the hold to politically-motivated investigations. Party man Even before the pressure to call witnesses rose at the beginning of the week, Alexander had long been considered the most likely decisive fourth vote for witnesses needed to force the issue. A relative moderate in the increasingly conservative GOP conference, Alexander is also retiring at the end of his term this year, potentially liberating him to make a stand against his party if he were so inclined. But he is also a close friend of McConnell's and less willing to buck the GOP conference -- a group he had presided over as chairman for four years a decade earlier. It all underscores that no matter how damning the Bolton news, it was always going to be a longshot for Democrats to get their desired witnesses if the decision turned on a faithful party man like Alexander. Either way, Alexander had studiously avoided tipping his hand after Bolton's revelations came to light. All week he refused to talk to reporters asking about his views. He was among the more attentive Republican senators during arguments, but he rarely showed any emotional reaction to what either the White House lawyers or the Democratic managers had to say. While other senators occasionally nodded their heads or threw up their hands, Alexander had been nearly as stoic as his friend McConnell. Signs of a decision But by early evening Thursday, after days of waiting, Alexander began to show signs he had made a decision. All day, he had been seen at his desk in the chamber reading a book, off and on, about the history of presidential impeachments. Alexander asked his first question of the trial, about comparing the bipartisanship of the past impeachment proceedings to the current one. That alerted both his colleagues, who took notice of Alexander's sudden engagement, and the reporters studying every minor detail that something had changed. As he walked through the halls of the Capitol during the evening breaks, Alexander was mobbed by the press corps that had earlier in the week been so focused on the other swing votes -- Sens. Susan Collins, Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski. Still, Alexander refused to engage. But during the dinner break, Alexander was spotted entering his private office in the Capitol with Murkowski, which only heightened the tension. Was an alliance being forged? Would an announcement from both about how they would vote on witnesses be soon forthcoming? When he emerged from their meeting to join his other colleagues for dinner, Alexander demurred. "We were just talking," Alexander told CNN after emerging from their meeting. "Lisa and I often talk about what we are doing." The final hours of questions and answers on the floor became an exercise in scrutinizing every move by Alexander and Murkowski in the Senate chamber. An indication of where the two swing votes were headed became much clearer late in the 9 p.m. hour as senators continued to ask the legal teams questions. Alexander and Murkowski were spotted meeting with staunch Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina in the Republican cloakroom just off the Senate chamber. A few minutes later, after Alexander and Graham emerged and just after 10 p.m., Graham submitted a question on which several GOP senators, including both Alexander and Murkowski, added their names. The question spoke to that emerging consensus within the Republican conference: "Assuming for argument's sake that Bolton were to testify in the light most favorable to the allegations contained in the articles of impeachment, isn't it true that the allegations still would not rise to the level of an impeachable offense, and that therefore for this and other reasons his testimony would add nothing to this case?" End game The full message of Alexander's statement, which concedes the evidence shows Trump withheld aid to Ukraine in an attempt to extract an investigation into his political rivals, is that the President's actions nevertheless do not warrant removal from office. That's a position the GOP conference seemed to have arrived at earlier in the week. Practically, Alexander's decision removes all doubt about the trajectory of the trial. Without Murkowski's support and an unlikely tie-breaking vote from Chief Justice John Roberts, there are not enough votes to call Bolton to the stand. There are vanishingly fewer chances to sway Republican senators who might have otherwise been open to conviction. And as the Tennessean's statement indicated, Trump's ultimate future in the White House will not be determined by the Senate but by American voters. "I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday," Alexander said. Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain Once again, the integrity of America's election system is in question after the breakdown of Iowa's Democratic caucuses Monday. It wasn't a hack, apparently, but the result was the same: Technology failed. Backup reporting systems failed. Candidates and voters were left without an answer about who won. Republican campaign officials lunged: "They can't even run a caucus and they want to run the government," tweeted one. As the swirling uncertainty stretched into Tuesday, it was a hard point to argue. But the problem goes beyond Iowa Democrats. More than 70 years after "Dewey Defeats Truman" and two decades after the hanging chads of Florida, America has made precious little progress in its quest for election efficiency and faster, more accurate results. With the nation's elections already facing threats of manipulation from abroad -- at the invitation of the president, no less -- getting the numbers right is more crucial than ever. Both major national parties should be taking the lead in ensuring nothing like this happens again. By early Monday evening, it was evident that Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, already numbingly complicated by design, had gone off the rails. Precincts weren't reporting results to the state Democratic Party and the party initially couldn't explain why. During a conference call, party officials reportedly hung up on frustrated campaign officials. By early Tuesday, the campaigns were demanding audits of the results because of the doubt suddenly surrounding them. Several Democratic candidates took advantage of the chaos to imply they'd won, knowing the spotlight would shift from Iowa to New Hampshire before the final numbers were out. President Donald Trump, true to form, cynically used the debacle to undermine public confidence in the whole process, suggesting through his campaign -- with zero evidence -- that it was "rigged" against Bernie Sanders (apparently his preferred opponent). All indications are there was no rigging going on in Iowa, just poor planning complicated by technological failure. A phone app the party planned to use to calculate and report results was passed out to precinct officials without adequate training. When those officials warned it wasn't working right, they were ignored, even after National Public Radio reported on those concerns weeks ago. When caucus workers resorted to calling in their results, inadequately staffed phone lines were overloaded. Some officials just gave up and went home. The fact that Iowa party officials refused to even identify the maker of the problem app before the caucuses should have been an alarm bell. The last thing any U.S. election or caucus needs to project these days is lack of transparency. Primaries are state-party functions, but that doesn't mean the national parties can't demand transparency and other minimal standards. It's bad enough that America's president routinely displays his contempt for the sanctity of democracy's most basic mechanism, the vote. Iowa's meltdown has now invited the rest of America to share in that contempt. REPRINTED FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A gang of east London thugs who tied up sex workers and robbed them at knife point have been jailed. The four men were last year found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of taking part in attacks across the capital over a seven month period. Erlandos Vyte, 24, of Chigwell, pleaded guilty to nine counts of robbery on October 28. Robertas Zilionas, 21, of Chigwell, was found guilty of five counts in December. Four robbers who subjected a number of sex workers to terrifying knife-point attacks have been jailed / Met Police Jospin Ble, 23, of Newham, was also found guilty of five counts, while Joshua Coke, 21 of Newham, was found guilty of one count. During the trial, the court heard how the gang would use the same method for all the robberies. Vyte, on all but one occasion, would call up to book an appointment, then when the unsuspecting escort opened the door the other men would force their way in and rob the victim. The women were tied up and were often threatened with knives, before their cards, money, phones and other personal possessions were stolen. Erlandos Vyte pleaded to nine counts of robbery / Met Police The frightening ordeal left many of the victims with lasting psychologically damaging effects, the court heard. In a victim impact statement read out in court, Crisanta described how she and her friend, a fellow escort, who were targeted in the same incident had seen their confidence severely reduced. She recalled how she shook violently and suffered a panic attack as the robbers ransacked their flat and is still traumatised today. She said: Before this happened I was happy with the work I was doing, but now every time, I am aware of the risk and worry both of us have changed drastically the way we work. Robertas Zilionas was found guilty of five counts of robbery / Met Police Neither of us will now take any clients in the night time, which before wouldn't have been a problem; if they ask any details about the building it makes me scared and I will not take the appointment. "I used to sometimes travel around the country and work on my own and haven't been able to do this. All of this has obviously had an effect on the amount of money we are able to earn. She added that when she hears people speaking in her attackers accent, it triggers bad memories and causes her to leave the area. The men targeted seven locations in a wide variety of areas, starting in June 2018, with a robbery at an address in South Molton Street, Westminster. Jospin Ble pleaded to five counts of robbery / Met Police This was followed by three robberies over a three-day period in October 2018. Two took place on the Isle of Dogs and one in Hackney. By December 2018 they had moved onto Kensington. The final two robberies were both carried out in Tower Hamlets within a two-day period in January 2019. A CCTV camera at the final address captured Vyte and Zilionis - along with one other unidentified male - wielding a large knife and violently kicking in doors. Joshua Coke was found guilty of one count of robbery / Met Police Detectives investigating the series of crimes were faced with a challenging lack of forensic evidence. But one lead from all the scenes - a fragment of a latex glove left by Ble - led to police accessing his mobile phone data. They undertook the complex and painstaking process of analysing 327,000 separate 'lines' of phone data over many months - with each line representing a single text, phone call or "internet activity". In addition, a large number of hours of CCTV footage had to be recovered and examined. As a result of their efforts, Vyte was arrested on January 20, 2019 and charged the next day. Ble was initially arrested on January 2, 2019, first appearing at Thames Magistrates' Court on June 7 2019. Coke was arrested on April 12, 2019 and charged the following day and Zilionis was arrested on 21 May 2019, and charged the next day. After a six-week trial, Vyte was sentenced to 12-and-half years in jail, Zilionas, 14 years, Ble to 12 years, and Coke to 10. Detective Sergeant Patrick Allen, said: "These crimes were committed by a ruthless group of men armed with knives who targeted lone vulnerable women [working] in their own homes. They attacked these women believing they would not report the incidents to police due to fear, embarrassment or the belief that the women would just see this as an occupational hazard. "They were wrong, and I'd like to praise those women that did come forward. I would like to assure those women and men involved in the escort trade that no matter what work you do if you make an allegation of crime it will be taken seriously and robustly investigated by the Met. "We will continue to pursue other suspects we have reason to believe were involved and would urge any other victims out there to contact us." Detective Superintendent Guy Collings, who leads the Met's response to sex worker-related issues, added: "No one, regardless of their profession, should be the victim of any form of violence or abuse, and we will continue to support ending violence against those working in the sex trade. Passenger shoots Cancun taxi driver in the face when getting out of car Cancun, Q.R. A Cancun taxi driver that was shot by a passenger remains in hospital after receiving a gunshot to his jaw. The shooting happened to an unidentified Cancun taxi driver from the Andres Quintana Roo union after he picked up a man who requested he be driven to Las Palmas in SM 259. When they arrived, the passenger then took out a gun and shot the driver in the face. The taxi driver was hit in the jaw. The driver of the taxi was taken to hospital for medical attention via an ambulance. A witness to the shooting reported seeing a man descend from the unit and shoot at the driver several times with a bullet hitting his jaw. Municipal police arrived, noting that a message addressed to a person related to the injured taxi driver was located next to the taxi. The Kerala police on Saturday arrested a teacher-cum-director of a school in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly sexually abusing a ten-year-old girl in the classroom. The police said the accused, Dr M R Yashodharan was involved in a similar case in 2008 in the same school but was let off due to lack of evidence. The police said the latest incident took place on Friday. They said the accused allegedly abused a fifth-class student when she was alone in the classroom. Later, the girl complained to her mother and she alerted the police. All children were out of the classroom and the victim remained there as she was not keeping well. The survivor told police that the teacher approached her questioning why she was alone and made some advances towards her. She later told her mother that the accused had touched her inappropriately, said the station house officer of Valimala police station, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. He was arrested under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). During the investigation, police found that the accused was also involved in a similar assault case 12 years ago. In 2008, the POCSO act was not there. A case was registered against him under IPC Section 377 (unnatural offences) based on the complaint of the minor. Later, parents of the victim were not keen to follow the case. Two years later he was acquitted of all charges due to lack of enough evidence. And later he rejoined as a teacher, said the officer adding the accused was influential and involved in many social activities in the area. He is also one of the directors of the private upper primary school. Later a local court remanded him to judicial custody. Police said counselling sessions will be held at the school to know whether he assaulted more students. Managing indirect economic displacements for development By Hemantha Seneviratne Feature View(s): View(s): Infrastructure development plays a key role in overall development of a country and Sri Lanka, as a fast-developing nation, has recently invested a lot in upgrading its road network. Amid many other negative consequences of development such as irreversible environmental damages and acquisition of productive agricultural land for development projects, loss of livelihoods became more prominent in many infrastructure development projects happened recently in Sri Lanka. The direct economic displacements due to land acquisition and removal of traditional business locations are often addressed through a well-structured compensation plans and alternative solutions. However, loss of livelihoods due to the indirect impacts of development is rarely addressed in the country. The issue becomes more significant with the proposed and ongoing expressway projects that will connect many large towns and visitor destinations in Sri Lanka. We have a clear case for this situation after opening the first ever expressway in Sri Lanka, the Kottawa-Matara section of the Southern Expressway. The total travel time from Colombo to Matara has significantly improved and the convenience of driving through the expressway becomes a strong motivation for many travellers to avoid the busy Galle road. Over a period of time, generations of people who were engaged in micro-level businesses along the Galle road, have earned their living by providing various products and services to the Galle road users, especially the long distance travellers. These include (but not limited to) sale of products such as king coconut, roasted peanuts, wadey and fruits and providing services such as restaurants, vehicle repairs, tyre services and accommodation. There are several micro industries those are unique to certain areas. Rice and curry with Jadi, sale of boat-dried dry fish (Bottu Karawala) and bamboo products in Wadduwa area are some examples from Galle road between Panadura and Matara. These products are purchased mainly by the long-distance travellers who pass these areas, and when the traffic is diverted, they usually run out of business. Also, there are some SME level good industries including a well-known restaurant in Maggona area have already collapsed due to lack of business after opening the southern expressway. This is not an article to create a dialogue against expressways or any other development, but to suggest providing opportunities for the indirectly affected communities in a reasonable way to come out of this unfortunate fate. The Southern expressway extension from Matara to Mattala will be opened for public shortly. There are thousands of micro level business establishments such as roasted cashew sellers in Gandara area, vegetable and fruit stalls in Bata-atha and beyond, pillow sellers, boiled corn and beli mal drink sellers, Kirala drink outlets in Nonagama Ambalanthota area, curd sellers in Hambanthota Weerawila area and Dodol industry in Hambantota will be some of the critically affected industries while the cashew, corn, kirala and beli mal sellers will probably be left out without giving any alternatives for their loosing livelihoods. Similarly, the Central Expressway will affect the location-specific industries such as the cashew sellers in Pasyala, cane product outlets in Weweldeniya, fruit sellers in Kadugannawa area and many other fruit stalls along the existing Colombo Kandy A1 road. Cane product store in Weweldeniya For the purpose of identifying these indirect impacts on communities, strong social and environmental assessment process (including assessments on loss of livelihoods for these indirectly affecting communities) is necessary. On most occasions, loss of livelihoods due to land acquisition, removal of business locations such as the weekly pola locations and loss of access to traditional livelihoods are addressed and compensation is provided. However, indirectly affected communities described above are often neglected since identification or prediction of impacts is difficult as they will not lose any assets or opportunities to continue business directly. Further, these communities operate their businesses in the traditional roads those are outside the area under development. They will not be affected even during construction period or immediately after completion of the development, but after opening the expressways and the traditional road users diverted to these expressways. The interviews carried out by the writer with the cashew and cane sellers revealed that most of them are even unaware of the Kandy Colombo expressway project, which means that these communities have been ignored in the stakeholder consultation process. Further, the impacts on their businesses and future plans to support their livelihoods have not been properly communicated to these stakeholders. Cashew outlet in Pasyala It will not be a solution to give an allowance as compensation to the affected individuals as it will utilise taxpayers money unproductively, whilst creating avenues for corruption. The Government shall create new opportunities for these affected communities either to continue their business or to shift into new businesses. Opening special stalls in suitable locations (rest areas) in the expressways for area-specific industries and providing access to use these facilities exclusively for the people who traditionally engaged in the same industries may be an option for communities engaged in cane products, cashew, dodol and curd sellers etc. Likewise, allocating some stalls in food corners exclusively at a concessionary rate for established restaurants and food outlets that might be affected by the expressways due to loss of business, will help them to at least retain a portion of their business without allowing them for complete exits. However, these cannot be applied to micro level individuals such as the king coconut, corn and beli-mal sellers who are widespread in some areas and also unable to afford to move into new business locations. Providing training and supporting their new business start-ups could be a solution, provided that the issues and the best possible alternatives are properly identified and are included in the Environmental and Social Management Plans. There are corporate entities who benefit from these expressway projects. The construction firms who obtain contracts or sub contracts for road building, consultation firms involved in the project, financial institutions, supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants providing their services to the expressway users are examples and there is an opportunity to channel some of their CSR allocations towards improving livelihoods for the indirectly affected communities. However, a proper mechanism should be established to coordinate these firms, maintaining transparency on selection of beneficiaries and utilisation of funds. Development is a necessity of a country and many people will benefit directly or indirectly through these development activities. However, it is necessary to ensure the security and well-being of communities who operate micro business establishments in the areas considered for development projects and buffer zones, as well as in remote areas away from these projects, but will have adverse indirect social impacts to make the development more sustainable and bring happiness to many as a result of such projects. (The writer is the Assistant Manager Sustainable Business at HNB and holds an MSc in Environmental Science). New Delhi: Fridays namaz at the Idgah mosque in northeast Delhis Jafarabad Idgah was slightly different. The imam followed up the sermon with an appeal to the people to vote in large numbers on Saturday. Make sure that you vote, he said, adding that residents in the locality which comes under the Seelampur constituency should not be deterred by gunfire incidents. The imam was referring to an incident that took place around 1.30pm -- the same time when Friday prayers began in different mosques in the area -- in which two gunmen fired four rounds near a shop in the area, even as every nook and cranny of the constituency was guarded by a large posse of police personnel and officers of the Central Armed Police Force. Though no person was injured in the firing, local residents were anxious about it. A large number of them, however, maintained that they will vote in large numbers for reasons that range from education to civic issues. We will not be scared. We will vote in large numbers because our children need better education. We need a leader who can make that possible, said 43-year-old Rabia Khan, a resident of New Seelampur locality. We also expect that this election brings an end to sewer problems and we start getting cleaner water in our neighbourhood, said Intekhab Khan, 60, a resident of Jafarabad in Seelampur constituency, which had recorded a voter turnout of around 71.81% in the 2015 polls. In the run up to the 2020 polls, Seelampur witnessed violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and so has Delhis Jamia Nagar, which comes under the Okhla constituency in East Delhi parliamentary segment. Okhla has also hit the headlines for the ongoing anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh that also grabbed centrestage in Delhis political campaigns in the run up to the February 8 polls. Together, these two constituencies have around 260 polling stations that have been marked as critical or sensitive by the election commission. There are 3,841 polling booths in 516 polling locations across all 70 constituencies in Delhi. Polling locations designated as sensitive are guarded by larger number of security personnel. In 2015, as many as 715 polling locations were marked either critical or sensitive. Residents across localities in Okhla also claimed that they too would vote in large numbers some of them said that they would keep in mind a national crisis in the light of the anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh, others claimed that they would vote to register their protest against the Shaheen Bagh protest. Many, however, said they would stick to civic issues water, sewer, roads, schools and health care. People are anxious across the nation with the citizenship law and related issues. It is important to vote and people understand that better today, said 25-year-old Amreen, a corporate executive who lives in Abul Fazl Enclave, a locality in Okhla constituency, which had recorded 60.91% voter turnout in 2015 assembly polls. Sahi Ram, 47, a resident of Madanpur Khadar in Okhla constituency, said: These are strange times. A group of people have blocked an arterial road for nearly two months now. We need to vote for a leader who can assert that there is no place for such anarchy. For Nusrat Shaheen, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, this is an election for basic needs more than anything else. As she said so, her neighbour, 32-year-old Zakiya Irfan pointed towards overflowing drains and broken roads in the locality. Who is supposed to fix this? The person who is voted to power. We will vote in large numbers, said Irfan. On Friday, large parts of the Okhla assembly witnessed heavy deployment of security forces and barricades on major roads amid heightened threat perception ahead of the polls. In the last one month, Shaheen Bagh and neighbouring localities where protests are underway have witnessed three incidents of firing. Teck to be carbon neutral by 2050, Feb. 4 Can any of us really afford to wait another 30 years for Teck Resources to become carbon neutral? Canadas federal cabinet ministers are deciding whether to reject or approve the Teck Frontier Mine, slated to be developed 110 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta. a mine that would become Canadas largest tar sands project. This mine would produce 260,000 barrels of oil per day. It would cover 290 square kilometres, almost the combined area of Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond, and have a lifespan of 41 years. During those years, this mega-mine would add 4 million tonnes of CO2 per year to Canadas emissions, singlehandedly guaranteeing we will not meet our Paris Accord targets. A federal-provincial joint review panel found that the mine would not only cause permanent and irreversible damage to our environment, but it would also cause significant adverse effects on the rights, land use and culture of local Indigenous peoples. So I ask again: Can Canada, my grandchildren and your grandchildren afford to wait 30 years for Teck to become carbon neutral? The answer from the future is a resounding and imploring cry of no! Patricia Smith, Barrie Frontier oilsands mine might not be built even if permit issued, CEO concedes, Online, Jan. 29 Teck Resources Ltd. has a proposal to develop tar sands in Alberta that would become one of the largest mines in Canada. If approved, it would be impossible to reach our carbon reduction goals. It will do irreparable damage to the Indigenous people who live along the Assiniboine, downriver from the site. At current prices of $55 per barrel of oil, it doesnt make economic sense to invest in this project, which CEO Don Lindsay says would also need a pipeline. Saying it wouldnt necessarily be built and that Frontier would try to achieve its goal suggest a disingenuous spin at best. Reject Teck! Bonnie Porter, Etobicoke I oppose the expansion of tar sands production and call on Liberal cabinet ministers to reject the Teck Frontier mine. The Trudeau cabinets decision is due at the end of February. Its the first real climate test for this government. I am one of the two thirds of voters who voted for increased climate action in last years federal election. We have less than 10 years to limit climate catastrophe and must act quickly to cut carbon emissions. The Frontier mine is incompatible with our climate targets. It will produce about four million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. It would result in significant adverse effects on Indigenous rights and cause irreversible environmental damage. The mine would result in a loss of habitat for local species including wood bison and whooping cranes. And it will never be financially viable due to its reliance on unrealistically high oil prices. Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, Toronto As author of Hawk, a novel about the oil sands being used in many Canadian schools, I want to raise awareness about the Teck Frontier mine proposal currently up for approval by our federal government. This mega-mine, the biggest yet, will add an area twice the size of Vancouver to an already questionable tarsands industry and is undoubtedly incompatible with our climate targets. Canadians are doing their part to cut back on emissions, but our efforts to eat less meat or use public transport pale in comparison to the harm that will be done by this proposed project. We pray for Australia and send money to help burned koalas, we criticize others for cutting down the Amazon forest, depriving orangutans of their habitat, and we judge the U.S. for its climate-denying leadership. But here in Canada, with scientists telling us we have less than 10 years to limit climate catastrophe, we are poised to eradicate more boreal forest and add more greenhouse gases to an already beleaguered atmosphere. I saw former U.S. president Barack Obama on his recent visit to Toronto. He praised Canada for listening to the science. Have we stopped doing that? Now that the Supreme Court has given approval to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, it is time for the federal government to put the project up for sale and return it to the private sector where railways, airlines and pipelines belong. This is the only way we will know if a market for high sulfur bitumen exists. The price of oil has fallen below $50 (U.S.) per barrel. Saudi Arabia is talking about taking another million barrels out of production to support the price. U.S. sanctions against Venezuela and Iran have also removed millions of barrels from the market. There is a lot of oil, not to mention the warfare in Libya that has curtailed production there. Battery plants are being built all over the world (but not in Ontario) to support the electrification of the automobile, further reducing demand for oil. The marketplace needs to decide whether there is an economic case to build the pipeline. I am guessing there isnt and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney knows this. He needs the federal government to build the pipeline with taxpayer dollars to score a big political win. Dear Editor: I support the immediate adoption of the full ETPA (Emergency Tenant Protection Act) in Kingston. I am a resident of Ulster County, and want to remain a resident of this county and the city of Kingston. We are looking for your support in protecting us and our families and seniors citizen of our community. I have some faith in this organization to stand up for us, and not let someone come in and destroy our community. This is all myself and my family know. We are forced out of our homes and community and are totally helpless. Its time for us to take back our community, and not let some greedy investors destroy our community. I have college and high school kids who are attending school right in our community, and an 18-year-old son who is serving our country, only to come home in a few months, maybe, with nowhere to call home. Wuyatta Reece, Kingston, N.Y. If you're trying to sell yourself to a customer or an employer, or to millions of voters who can give or withhold the world's most powerful job, your instinct may be to talk about yourself, detailing all your strengths and accomplishments. But as last night's Democratic Presidential Debate proved, sometimes the most effective thing you can do is to praise or support someone else. Three of the most powerful moments in the debate came about when candidates -- all of them competing hard for a nomination that is very much up for grabs -- did just that. 1. Joe Biden gets the audience to give Lt. Col. Vindman a Standing Ovation. I'm pretty sure this has never happened before in a presidential debate. Former vice president Joe Biden was in the midst of answering a question about how to beat president Donald Trump in a general election when he asked the audience to stand up and clap, not for anything he himself had done or said, but for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran, was a National Security Council employee who testified against Trump during impeachment proceedings in Congress. Earlier on the day of the debate, Vindman was dismissed from his post and escorted out of the White House by security officers. That's what prompted Biden to reference him from the debate stage. It worked -- most of the audience did indeed stand up and clap. A very effective moment, and one that reflected at least as well on Biden as it did on Vindman. 2. Pete Buttigieg defends Hunter Biden. Much of the debate played out as a contest between the old and the new, or perhaps the old and the young. The youthful/new contender was, obviously, Pete Buttigieg. At 38, he was the youngest person on the stage; if he were just five years younger, he would actually be too young to run for president. Not only is he young, he's new to the Washington scene, having only held elected office as the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Buttigieg came out of the Iowa caucuses pretty much tied to win with Bernie Sanders, which made him a target of the candidates he'd bested. Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar accused him of selling himself as a "cool newcomer," and noted that Trump was also a newcomer when he took office. Biden, who is 78 and spent the whole evening reminding the audience of his previous experience in the White House and the Senate, leveled this criticism at Buttigieg: "I do believe it's a risk, to be just straight up with you, for this party to nominate someone who's never held an office higher than a mayor of 100,000 people in Indiana." But then a question came to Buttigieg about the risk of nominating someone who is under threat of investigation, as Joe Biden is. Following the impeachment proceedings, Republicans have begun an investigation into his son Hunter Biden, raising the possibility that Joe Biden might be next. (The impeachment, of course, centered around Trump's request that the Ukrainian government investigate the Bidens.) It was an invitation to strike back at his older, more experienced rival, but Buttigieg chose to defend them instead, and call for unity within the party. It was a highly effective answer that was met with prolonged cheering. And a lesson for all of us: Showing kindness to someone who has just attacked you is one of the most powerful things you can do. 3. Amy Klobuchar pays tribute to FDR. Admittedly, saying nice stuff about a hugely popular president who is long dead is an easy choice for any candidate and it's a fairly common debate tactic. That said, Klobuchar -- who had the best debate of her candidacy thus far -- used this approach to hit it out of the park on her last at-bat. The candidates were each asked to reply to a final question about child poverty, also an invitation to deliver any closing remarks. So after talking about child poverty, she launched into an emotional telling of a story about president Franklin D. Roosevelt's funeral train. Without precisely comparing herself to Roosevelt, Klobuchar continued naturally on to talk about what she would do as president, ending in a rousing speech where she repeated the phrase "I know you and I will fight for you," (a rhetorical device called epistrophe, by the way). The audience whistled and gave her a very long ovation, and afterward, Rahm Emanual, Chief of Staff to president Barack Obama, commented that with this debate, Klobuchar had gone from sounding like a senator to sounding like a candidate. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-09 01:51:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANGKOK, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantravanich on Saturday night confirmed 20 deaths so far from the shooting spree carnage by a junior army soldier in northeastern Thailand. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who arrived at the Nakorn Ratchasima Hospital where the injured were being treated, told the media that 31 people were injured, with 4 in critical condition. National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda who also arrived in Nakorn Ratchasima, told the media that 16 were still being held hostage by the gunman at the Terminal 21 shopping center. A Thai soldier on Saturday went on a shooting rampage in Nakorn Ratchasima, stole a Humvee from his base, then proceeded to shoot at shoppers inside a mall. He also took a selfie during the attack, and posted on social media. Police is still negotiating with the suspect on the hostages. The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has successfully cultivated and isolated the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the laboratory. The 2019-nCoV has been successfully cultivated and isolated in the laboratory (Photo: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology) This will enable quicker tests of the virus, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said on the sidelines of a meeting of the national steering committee for the nCoV-caused disease prevention and control in Hanoi on February 7. More than 1,000 people returning from China and nearly 500 others with close contact with infected patients are being quarantined and monitored and waiting for test results. With the latest achievement, Vietnam is able to test thousands of samples a day when necessary, Long said, noting that this will also be a prerequisite for developing a vaccine against the virus in the future. At present, the country still has enough materials for 2019-nCoV tests, the official added. Vietnam reported two more 2019-nCoV cases on February 6, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 12. On February 1, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision declaring the nCoV-caused disease an epidemic in Vietnam. Earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the 2019-nCoV outbreak a public health emergency of international concern./.VNA No stimulus package yet for battered economy amid coronavirus outbreak: Gov't Vietnam had no plans to offer a stimulus package to support companies hit by the coronavirus outbreak despite bleak economic forecasts for 2020, the Government said on Wednesday. Met Eireann is warning that Storm Ciara will mark the start of a very cold few days of weather which could see snowdrifts in parts of Ireland In her forecast after the RTE news on Friday night, Met Eierann meteorologist delivered the latest on what to expect over the weekend and into next week. The forecaster said Ireland is heading into a period of very 'inclement weather' is approaching featuring Storm Ciara. She said Saturday would see strong and increasing winds but there would be with even stronger winds as Storm Ciara pushes across Ireland right through Sunday. She said Saturday would bring heavy rain with up to 40 mms falling with winds freshening through the afternoon more rain is expected on Sunday. Status Orange and Yellow warnings are in place for Sunday due to strong winds with widespread heavy rain. She also warned that it would become cold when the rain goes through. Ms Donnelly advised that Met Eireann would be updating the alerts over the weekend. "Those models will be reviewed over Saturday as we get the high level computer resolution computer model information in over the next few hours so please stay updated to the wind models...we will be updating warnings for through Saturday for this event on Sunday," she warned. After Sunday and into the early days of next week she said the strong winds would continue dragging colder weather with it. "In fact, when the storm goes through it is going to get very cold as well as very windy," she said. She described it as "really cold blue air" that would bring wintry conditions through Monday and Tuesday "The showers come through on Monday and Tuesday will be of sleet and snow and with strong winds, there could be some drifting," she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE. She also warned that there would be an increased risk of coastal and river flooding over the next few days. MORE BELOW TWEET. Our Atlantic chart shows precipitation and pressure forecast in 6 hour intervals for the next 7 days.https://t.co/9Giuj4UrWU The national forecast and the national outlook for the coming days can be found here.https://t.co/9gKN6SDMVu pic.twitter.com/BsLIez1hFJ Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 7, 2020 NATIONAL FORECAST issued at 6.46pm 07 February SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY Warnings for strong winds and heavy rain have been issued for Saturday. There will be bright spells and scattered showers across the country during the morning accompanied by strengthening southerly winds. During the afternoon, heavy rain will develop across Munster, Connacht and west Ulster with bright spells and showers elsewhere. Southerly winds will strengthen further with severe gusts expected at times. On Saturday evening, heavy rain will extend to remaining counties and there is a risk of thundery downpours and localised flooding. Maximum afternoon temperatures ranging 6 to 10 degrees. NATIONAL OUTLOOK Headline: Very windy or stormy later Saturday night and on Sunday with heavy rain and a risk of flooding as storm Ciara tracks to the north of Ireland. Becoming cold and showery early next week. Early on Saturday night, rain will clear eastwards and strong southwest winds will ease for a time. Overnight and through Sunday morning, as storm Ciara tracks eastwards to the north of Ireland, south to southwest winds will strengthen and become very strong and very gusty with possibly damaging gusts and with gales along coasts. A band of heavy rain will move quickly southeastwards across the country with a risk of localised flooding. Showers will follow in the afternoon. Through the late afternoon and evening, winds will become westerly. They'll continue strong and very gusty, especially in coastal areas. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees. Sunday night will be cold, windy and showery. Monday and Tuesday will both be cold, windy and very showery days. Many of the showers will be wintry with hail, sleet and snow at times. Westerly winds will be strong and gusty with gales in western and northern coastal areas. Day time temperatures will be between 4 and 7 degrees. There'll be frost in places at night. Wednesday will continue cold. After a mainly dry start, a band of heavy rain will spread from the west, possibly falling as sleet for a time. It will be accompanied by strong southwest winds. Later the rain will clear. Showers will follow and winds will gradually ease. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. Thursday will bring a mix of sunshine and showers. Highest temperature of 6 to 9 degrees with Moderate northwest breezes. The latter part of next week will continue unsettled with rain at times. It will become milder. Iraq's top Shiite cleric on Friday criticised security forces for not doing more to prevent attacks on anti-government demonstrators, as new figures showed nearly 550 people have been killed since October. Eight demonstrators were killed this week in attacks on protest camps by supporters of populist cleric Moqtada Sadr, including in the shrine city of Najaf -- home to Iraq's Shiite religious leadership. In his weekly sermon delivered by a representative, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani condemned the bloodshed as "painful and unfortunate" and said state security forces are "indispensable" to keeping the country from "falling into the abyss of chaos." "There is no justification for them to stop fulfilling their duties in this regard, or for anyone to stop them from doing so," Sistani said. "They must bear responsibility for maintaining security and stability, protecting peaceful protesters and their gathering places, revealing the identities of aggressors and infiltrators, and protecting the interests of citizens from the attacks of saboteurs." Sadr recently called on his supporters to ensure the reopening of schools, roads and government offices that had been shut by months of demonstrations. Some 543 Iraqis have been killed in protest-related violence since unprecedented anti-government demonstrations calling for systemic reform erupted in the capital and southern cities in October, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission said on Friday. Iraq's health ministry confirmed the first protester shot dead on October 1 but was unforthcoming thereafter. The Commission has since repeatedly complained that authorities declined its requests for information on deaths, injuries and arrests. The Commission, which is government-funded but operates independently, became the only source for death tolls until it too faced pressure last year to stop reporting. It has resumed its public reporting and on Friday shared its latest statistics with AFP, showing that 276 have been killed in Baghdad alone since the start of October. Seventeen members of the security forces are among the dead nationwide, according to the updated list. The remaining are all protesters or activists, including 22 who were assassinated. Many were killed by tear gas canisters, live rounds and even machine gun fire, which Sistani had condemned in previous sermons. Up to 30,000 more have been wounded during the rallies, according to medical sources. Iraq's government has repeatedly denied its security forces are shooting at protesters. - The Sadr split - This week, demonstrators said they faced a new threat -- from supporters of Sadr, who initially backed the protest movement but then threw his support behind the nomination of Mohammad Allawi as Iraq's new prime minister last weekend. Most protesters rejected two-time communications minister Allawi as too close to the political elite they had been demonstrating against for months. Sadr supporters turned on the other demonstrators, driving them out of their protest camps in the centres of major cities. In Hilla on Monday, one demonstrator was fatally stabbed as Sadrists, wearing their trademark blue caps, clashed with anti-government protesters. And in Najaf on Wednesday, seven activists were shot dead after Sadr supporters stormed their camp. Sistani's sermon appeared to have buoyed the remaining demonstrators in Baghdad's central Tahrir Square on Friday. "I was watching, afraid that he would be too general and it would allow for more suppression of the protests," said one activist who gave his name only as Ali. "But he was able to deliver a message: he accepts only the official security forces, no 'blue caps' or anyone else." In Diwaniyah further south, demonstrator Mohammad al-Bulani said the sermon showed Sistani's support for the protest movement. "He is the only one that has stood with our demands and defended us," he said. "We hope we don't lose this important support because everyone -- from political parties to militias and illegal armed factions -- is trying to annihilate us to end the demonstrations." LAVAL, QC, Feb. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard" or the "Corporation") (TSX: ATD.A) (TSX: ATD.B) announces today that Mr. Brian Hannasch, President and Chief Executive Officer, has informed the Corporation of his intention to exercise 225,000 stock options of Class B subordinated voting shares. Following this exercise, Mr. Hannasch will sell the shares on the open market to meet certain financial planning commitments. The options, which are set to expire on April 23, 2020, stem from a grant in April 2010. About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of the number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel retail in the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), in the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), as well as in Ireland, and has an important presence in Poland. As of October 13, 2019, Couche-Tard's network comprised 9,815 convenience stores throughout North America, including 8,591 stores with road transportation fuel dispensing. Its North American network consists of 19 business units, including 15 in the United States covering 48 states and 4 in Canada covering all 10 provinces. Approximately 109,000 people are employed throughout its network and at its service offices in North America. In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across Scandinavia, Ireland, Poland, the Baltics and Russia through ten business units. As of October 13, 2019, Couche-Tard's network comprised 2,708 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience products while the others are unmanned automated fuel stations which only offer road transportation fuel. Couche-Tard also offers other products, including aviation fuel and energy for stationary engines. Including employees at branded franchise stores, approximately 24,000 people work in its retail network, terminals and service offices across Europe. In addition, under licensing agreements, approximately 2,280 stores are operated under the Circle K banner in 16 other countries and territories (Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Macau, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam), which brings the worldwide total network to more than 14,800 stores. For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. or to consult its quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis, please visit: https://corpo.couchetard.com. Forward-Looking Statements The statements set forth in this press release, which describes Couche-Tard's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts, may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as "believe", "can", "shall", "intend", "expect", "estimate", "assume" and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated in or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Major factors that may lead to a material difference between Couche Tard's actual results and the projections or expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins on motor fuel sales, competition in the convenience store and retail motor fuel industries, exchange rate variations, and such other risks as described in detail from time to time in the reports filed by Couche-Tard with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information available as of the date of the release. SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Related Links http://corpo.couche-tard.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2020) - Eric Sprott announces that he has agreed, pursuant to certain conditions, to sell to Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (the Company) and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries a 0.50% net smelter return royalty (Target Royalty) on the gold producing Jerritt Canyon Mine facility, operated by a private Nevada limited liability company of which Mr. Sprott is the beneficial owner. In consideration for the Target Royalty, the Company has agreed to pay $8,000,000 to Mr. Sprott, payable by issuance of 12,698,413 common shares of the Company at an issue price of $0.63 per share. Currently, Mr. Sprott beneficially owns and controls 5,615,454 shares and 19,023,942 common share purchase warrants representing 5.5% of the outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 20.4% assuming exercise of such warrants. After giving effect to sale of the Target Royalty, Mr. Sprott will beneficially own and control 18,313,867 shares and 19,023,942 share purchase warrants representing 18.0% of the outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis and 30.9% assuming exercise of all such warrants. However, pursuant to a pre-existing agreement, unless the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted Mr. Sprott becoming a "Control Person" (as defined in the policies of the exchange) of the Company, any portion of the warrants purchased on November 29, 2019 will not be exercised if, as a result Mr. Sprott would hold more than 19.9% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company Mr. Sprott understands that the Company will seek necessary shareholder approval therefor at the next annual general meeting. The Target Royalty agreement dated February 3, 2020, remains subject to certain conditions, including the Company's completion of its due diligence on the Target Royalty, approval of the transaction by the Company's shareholders, settling definitive transaction documentation and receipt of all approvals required under the TSX Venture Exchange policies and applicable securities laws. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the securities including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. The Company is located at 2833-595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1K8. A copy of the early warning report with respect to the foregoing will appear on the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294. Eric Sprott 200 Bay Street, Suite 2600 Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52244 Picturing Easter holidays at a Port Macquarie resort was enough to make Mark Skipper join a timeshare scheme in 1979. He heard about Vacation Village through friends and paid the $4000 upfront cost for the right to spend a week there with his family each year. While some participants are satisfied with their timeshare memberships, ASIC reports there is a high level of discontent overall in the industry. Credit: Its a great resort, says Skipper. Its got tennis courts, swimming pools, spa, squash courts, kids playground. In later years they even put in a nine-hole putt-putt golf course. But over time the membership lost its appeal. His children grew up and the annual levies of $700 were payable whether he used the timeshare or not. We are now doing data collection and trials on the European varieties that we planted. We have since realised that the performance has been very poor on three of the European varieties, and only two performed really well. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party have declared war on Transcendence. Transcendence refers to that which goes beyond and extends above the immanent, the horizontal scale. The Truly Transcendent is infinite, meaning unlimited. The immanent is finite, bounded. Yet the finite hungers for the infinite. Ultimately this is an intense desire for the InfiniteTranscendent Being God. Without a healthy understanding of and reverence for Transcendence humans have no standard for good. If there is no absolute standard for good, then there is no standard for identifying evil. Theologian Alvin Plantinga says that a strictly finite worldview has no place for genuine moral obligation of any sort. Richard E. Simmons III, in his book, Reflections on the Existence of God, discusses the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals. Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor, appealed to a law beyond the law, a universal standard. A system of ethics, he believed, as Simmons describes it, has to be transcendental, and its basis cannot rest in the finite world. If there is no standard for identifying evil, then anything goes from heists to Holocausts. Without the Transcendent standard how can anything be judged as truly wrong? However, Thomas Jefferson was thinking about Transcendence and the injustice of slavery, when he said, I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever. Most of the groups that Xi Jinpings government is now persecuting from among their own people are those who look beyond the earthly tyrants to Transcendent authority. Its not just Christians and their institutions in China that are under attack, but Muslims and Buddhists, and any others who look to authority above and beyond the stern councils of Beijing. That includes spiritual movements like Falun Gong. A shocking Canadian report exposed large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners. This passion to try to squelch the recognition of and hunger for Transcendence should come as no surprise, since all authoritarians ultimately come to this. If there is a Transcendent Being whom people worship, then the dictators are not at the top of the pole of power. They are compelled to eliminate every trace of Transcendence. In doing so they run into a confession of St. Augustine: Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee. A few centuries later, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal, in his Pensees (French for reflections, or thoughts), wrote: What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? Thus he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can only be filled with the infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. Xi Jinping and all the totalitarians can try to stifle the passion in the human soul for Transcendence and replace it with sloganeering, great spectacles of armies and weapons paraded before the nation and world, as well as their own personages, but none of these can fill the infinite abyss. Those of us who ministered in the former Soviet Bloc after the collapse of Communism were amazed at how quickly churches, seminaries, and ministries sprung up everywhere. When I think of Xis current war on Transcendence, I remember an afternoon in 1971 in the New Territories north of Hong Kong. President Richard Nixon, my boss at that time, would a year later surprise the world by traveling to China. On that 1971 day, however, China was closed tight to the United States and much of the world. Yet l could look a hundred yards ahead and see a farmer in China working his fields. There are some Chinese who believe Mao will never die, said my host. They have faith that at some future point he will ascend into the mountains and continue to rule China forever, my friend continued. To suggest that there were Chinese who, in the officially atheist state, had already exalted Mao to transcendent status in their minds at least proved both Augustine and Pascal right: the human soul must have Transcendence just as the human body must have oxygen or water. Take away true Transcendence and we begin glorifying and worshipping everything around us. The Antichrist spirit exploits this. Anti, in New Testament Greek, means in the place of as well as against. The Antichrist spirit is therefore that of opposition and imposition. The desire is not only to oppose Christ but to push Him aside and put oneself on the Lords throne. Lucifer tried this before creation, and, in the words of Jesus, fell from Heaven like lightning. (Luke 10:18) This has been the outcome for earthly despots driven by the Antichrist spirit to seize the thrones of their nations, civilizations, and, finally, the world itself. Nero tried. Stalin attempted. Hitler blitzed. Now Xi Jinping is making his run on the throne of time and history. However, the Chinese are spiritually hungry. During the relaxation of Marxist totalitarianism prior to 2018, great churches bloomed overnight the churches Xi is now bulldozing, bearing crosses he has ripped down. Xis war on Transcendence is not new. The outcome has already been written in the soul of humanity. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fiachra Gibbons (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Sat, February 8, 2020 16:02 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206350fed 2 Art & Culture Banksy,artist,Britain,France,Paris Free A man was charged Friday after two stolen Banksy artworks were recovered in Paris. An image of a masked rat wielding a box cutter--the alter ego the elusive British artist often uses--disappeared from outside the Pompidou Centre in September, a year after Bansky "blitzed" the French capital with murals. The museum, which houses Europe's biggest collection of modern art but does not have a Bansky, had filed a police complaint for destruction of property. The man charged with "stealing a cultural asset" is one of three men arrested in and around Paris earlier this week. Two works by Banksy were recovered in follow-up searches by the police but the stencilled work on the back of a sign for the Pompidou's car park is still missing. Thieves used a saw to cut it out of the sign. The Pompidou theft came seven months after another Banksy work paying homage to the victims of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris was stolen from outside the Bataclan, the concert venue where Islamic State gunmen massacred 90 people. Another anti-capitalist mural attributed to the secretive street art star disappeared shortly after Banksy's whirlwind trip, which the highly political artist said was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Paris student uprising of 1968. It featured a businessman in a suit offering a dog a bone having sawed the animal's leg off. Niqab Napoleon A source close to the investigation told AFP that they were trying to establish if the recovered artworks were original Banksys or copies. The two other suspects arrested on Tuesday were later released. Banksy appeared to authenticate eight of the Paris works on his Instagram account shortly after his trip. The most dramatic was a pastiche of Jacques-Louis David's "Napoleon Crossing the Alps", with Bonaparte wrapped in a red niqab, which appeared on a wall in an ethnically-mixed district of northern Paris. Banksy had earlier hailed the French capital as "the birthplace of modern stencil art". He took on the rat as his avatar -- a symbol of the vilified and downtrodden -- in homage to the Paris street artist Blek le Rat, who started out in 1968 when a general strike by students and workers brought France to a halt. The artist's work has sold for more than $1 million at auction and fans had covered some of his Paris works with Plexiglass to protect them. But one of a migrant girl was defaced with blue spray paint shortly after news of its discovery spread on social media. Topics : Banksy artist Britain France Paris Master harmonica player Peter Harper isnt much for labels. The Australian bluesman who will be returning to Leo & Leonas with his band, Harper and the Midwest Kind for a Valentines Day concert believes his music comes from somewhere beyond categorization. His successful integration of the didgeridoo into seemingly traditional blues is a prime example of that but its not the only one. Critics have noted that Harpers music has elements of 50s rhythm and blues, along with a message of love and unity from the 60s and funky soul from the 70s. Add in Harpers soulful voice and a deep mystical approach, and its easy to see why Harper defies easy classification. Despite his unique approach or perhaps because of it Harper has won 14 blues or roots music awards in the U.S., Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Show Your Love the groups last album went to #3 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 2016 and stayed in the Top Ten for more than six months. Harper performs more than 200 shows a year worldwide and although he says he absolutely loves both the process of performing and songwriting, he doesnt consciously aim for any particular style. Obviously there are going to be influences from what I listened to as a kid, Harper said. It just comes in and becomes a part of you. I dont want to call it anything, but the radio stations do. I guess world blues fusion is a pretty good tag because my music is a kind of fusion. Born in England, Harpers family moved to Australia when he was 10. My grandfather was a big blues fan and he gave me a harmonica, Harper said. I took to it quickly even though I never had any lessons. Harpers next instrument was the euphonium (essentially a miniature tuba). Theres not much call for miniature tubas in todays music world, but the lessons Harper took provided him with a skill he now regards as priceless for a songwriter the ability to read music. Although Harper began playing with blues bands in the 90s, there was little thought of music as a career. My dad insisted I learn a trade so I was working as a bookbinder during the day and performing at night, he said. Eventually I didnt need the day gig it was just a natural progression. The next step in Harpers career came when his band caught the attention of a General Motors executive who was working in Australia at the time. He invited Harper to bring his band to Detroit and check out the music scene there. When Harper did so he liked what he saw. When we first got there in 98 the city was kind of sad, but the music scene was still humping, he said. Not long after that Harper moved to Michigan. Today he lives in a rural area near Ann Arbor and owns a home with his own music studio. It worked out great, he says. After we started touring around and did some little gigs we thought to ourselves, These Michigan people are so friendly theyre just like Aussies. Plus, the area is central for touring. Harpers use of the haunting drone of the didgeridoo is probably the most unusual aspect of his music. Aborigines taught him how to play the instrument and he counts them among his friends. They are wonderful people, he said. Still, Harper admits that he had doubts about whether a didgeridoo could work in a blues setting. Fortunately the record company he was with at the time (Blind Pig) was very encouraging. Now when we perform it seems like the people who come to see us always want to hear more didgeridoo, Harper said. Another pivotal moment in Harpers music came at a festival in Colorado where he met a musician from the Hopi tribe who played the Indian flute. We had a lot in common and ended up talking for hours and hours, Harper said. He inspired me to write more songs about treating people with respect. This will be the bands second appearance at Leo & Leonas and Harper has nothing but praise for the venue. The people who are running it are fantastic and it has such a great vibe, Harper said. I wish there were more venues like this. Its not the kind of place where people are drinking with their back to you and watching TV theyre there because they want to hear the music. The Valentines Day show should have a special vibe because the groups latest album will have a Feb. 11 release. Its called Rise Up and it carries a message of hope for those troubled by the divisiveness in the world today. People who love our music can get the new CD at the show, Harper said. Asked what hed tell people not familiar with his music, Harper said this: Tell them to come see how rambunctious we are. IF YOU GO WHAT: Harper and the Midwest Kind WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 WHERE: Leo and Leonas, W1436 Hwy 33, Bangor COST: $15 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In an industry as dynamic as the film industry, everything changes in a blink of an eye. Maintaining and nourishing relationships isn't a cakewalk. However, some superstars do manage to strike the correct balance between their private and professional lives and Varun Dhawan for sure, is such an example. From childhood sweethearts to buddies to now partners, their relationship has grown stronger with years, proving real love conquers all. The couple is back in news and for a reason we all know- their impending wedding. While neither of the two has opened up about their wedding, Varun did confess on Koffee With Karan that the wedding is indeed on the cards for them. In an interview with Filmfare, Varun had stated, She and I went to school together. So, she knows my parents for ages. Shes been attending functions with my parents before also but it wasnt photographed then. Shes my rock, shes my anchor. Shes the stabilizing factor in my life. Its pretty much like family. Everyone can learn or thing or two from their relationship. Natasha, who is a fashion designer has an identity of her own and Varun respects that. When the actor had appeared on Koffee With Karan, he had said, "Where I and Natasha are concerned, I think, eventually, after we get married, we are together all that stuff, she has to, she has her own individuality. That's why I'm with her because she has her own individuality, she has her own voice which is super strong with things she wants to do and things she wants to achieve in life. And, as her partner, that is something I want to support, you know. And, she has been so supportive where my career is concerned, always, from day one actually." Natasha, who owns a fashion line - Natasha Dalal Label too had opened up on her relationship with Varun and said, Varun and I were in school together. I remember, we started dating around our 20s just before I moved away. It was around then that, we realized we were more than just good friends. Later on, when the wedding rumors were at the peak, Varuns filmmaker father, David Dhawan spoke to MensXP in 2019 and said, His marriage will happen next year maybe. I am very happy with their relationship. Taking their relationship to the next level was always on the cards for Varun and Natasha and their families are also prepped up. Contrary to earlier reports that stated that the wedding will take place in Thailand, new reports claim that the location will be changed because of Coronavirus scare in the country. While there's no update on when and where the wedding will take place, Varun and Natasha's love-story is as perfect as it can get and we hope they find a new beginning to take their rock-solid relationship to a new level! With Harvey Weinstein's fate hinging largely on what his accusers remember about alleged sexual assaults years ago, his lawyers yesterday turned to an expert known for studying false, repressed and unreliable memories. "It doesn't take a PhD to know that memory fades over time," cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus told jurors at Mr Weinstein's New York City rape trial. As memories fade, Ms Loftus said, people become more vulnerable to "post-event information", including media reports which can distort what they remember. They can also distort their own memories with inferences and guesses about past events. False memories "can be experienced with a great deal of detail, a great deal of emotion, even though they're false", she said. "The emotion is not a guarantee you're dealing with an authentic memory." Ms Loftus (75) took the stand a day after prosecutors rested their case. It featured more than two weeks of testimony, including accounts of six women who say the powerful Hollywood producer subjected them to vile sexual behaviour. Mr Weinstein's lawyers are aiming to cement doubts about the women's allegations after using cross-examination to highlight inconsistencies in some of their accounts. In some cases, the encounters the women were recalling happened a decade or longer ago. Mr Weinstein's lawyers haven't said whether he will testify. If he does, he faces the prospect of prosecutors grilling him over the allegations and could give them a opening to bring in more witnesses in an attempt to rebut anything he says. "That is a question that does not have an answer at this point," his lawyer Arthur Aidala said. "We want to see how our defence case goes." Mr Weinstein is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in March 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a different woman in 2006. Mr Weinstein (67) has maintained any sexual encounters were consensual. Ms Loftus was on the stand for about an hour, her testimony curtailed by a ruling barring her from testifying about memories specific to sexual interactions. Ms Loftus, co-author of the 1994 book 'The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegation of Sexual Abuse', has stirred controversy in her field, partly because her work on behalf of big-name clients such as serial killer Ted Bundy, but also because her testimony often helps undermine people who say they are victims. In her earlier book, 'Witness for the Defence', Ms Loftus wrote that in her work for Bundy she seized on "leading and suggestive questions" by investigators and "hesitations and uncertainties on the part of the victim" as signs of muddled memories. Yesterday, she sounded a similar note, telling jurors that interactions with law enforcement "can lead people to want to produce details". She added: "Some can be accurate and some can be false and inaccurate." When prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon asked the witness whether she was originally asked to be a defence consultant, rather than a witness, she responded: "I don't remember what I was asked exactly." "Is that due to post-event information?" the prosecutor quipped. Mr Weinstein's lawyers skipped plans to start yesterday by calling writer and director Warren Leight to the stand to testify about rape accuser Annabella Sciorra's prescription drug use during a movie shoot in the early 1990s. Sciorra, now 59, testified she was hooked on Valium when the film 'The Night We Never Met' started shooting in 1992, but rebuffed defence suggestions she was still using it when she alleges Mr Weinstein raped her in 1993 or 1994. A senior official of an educational institution here was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old student, police said. M R Yesodharan(53), Director of Sree Narayana International Study Centre, was arrested under various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after a complaint was filed in this connection by the parents of the child. Yesodharan was an accused in another child abuse case in 2008, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence, they said. "The child first mentioned the abuse to her mother following which the parents approached us. We took the accused into custody on Friday evening and arrested him today," investigating officer told PTI. Meanwhile, Culture Minister A K Balan, in a release said that Yesodharan was removed from his post. "He has been removed from the post after police registered a case under POCSO and recorded his arrest," the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You know that the toxicity of American politics has metastasized when even the National Prayer Breakfast is infected with vitriol. The annual National Prayer Breakfast, for goodness sake, an annual gathering of respect for others faith and a sanctuary from partisan diatribes since 1953. President Trump could not help himself Thursday morning. Love your enemies, as Jesus implores? No way: Trump lashed at the pursuers of his impeachment as very dishonest and corrupt people. He made thinly veiled references to Sen. Mitt Romney, the lone Republican who voted for conviction (I dont like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong) and scoffed at the claim of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a devout Catholic, that she prays for him. This was merely the warm-up for his gloat-a-thon before his staff and congressional sycophants at the East Room of the White House. His rambling, 62-minute diatribe, alternating between vanity and vitriol, shed any remaining shred of restraint or dignity he might have applied at the prayer breakfast. He called Pelosi a horrible person and questioned whether she even prayed at all. He called former FBI Director James Comey a sleazebag and others in the bureau the crookedest, most dishonest, dirtiest people Ive ever seen. He complained that his family was put through a phony, rotten ordeal by some very evil and sick people. He deplored the Mueller investigation, which resulted in six convictions of Trump associates and multiple instances of potential obstruction of justice by the president himself, as all bullshit. He compared his plight to that of George Washington after the Revolution. This was the president of the United States, who holds the controls to this nations ability to launch nuclear war, putting his temperament and ego on raw display after being acquitted of abusing his power in the Ukraine scandal. The mind reels at what might have happened if he had been convicted. Not far behind the National Prayer Breakfast traditions of dignity and suspension of partisan pettiness is the annual State of the Union address, which came Tuesday night, on the eve of the Senate vote. I attended several in the 1980s, when Republican Ronald Reagan was president and Democrat Tip ONeill was speaker of the House and the policy differences were profound. The reaction to Reagansspeeches hearty applause on one side of the chamber, stillness on the other reflected the deeply felt disagreements. Yet the atmosphere was always civil and respectful. On Tuesday, Trump came for combat. He shunned Pelosis handshake offer. He plunged into a speech with so many flat-out misrepresentations of the economy under his predecessor and his own actions Exhibit A: claiming he was fighting to preserve coverage for pre-existing conditions when his administration was arguing in court to eliminate them that some Democrats, including Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, walked out. His stick-in-the-eye approach extended to awarding a Presidential Medal of Freedom to ailing talk show blowhard Rush Limbaugh, who has a history of race baiting and misogyny. In disgust, Pelosi ripped the text of the speech in half at the conclusion. It was not a wise move from a political sense. It looked petty and provided material for Trump and his surrogates to exploit, as they did with hyperventilation. As Michelle Obama liked to say, When they go low, we go high. In this rare variance for a master tactician, Pelosi did not, despite her justifiable disgust at Trumps overt lies. Our nation is having an emotional meltdown, and its not pretty, observed Tracy Thomas, a Petaluma psychologist who specializes in emotional sensitivity. The chronic reactivity of our leaders has run away with itself, and they are all in desperate need of a timeout. Against the dispiriting backdrop of the week was that one shining moment from Sen. Mitt Romney, who stood tall and firmly with the evidence in breaking GOP party ranks to vote to convict the president of abuse of power for a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values. Romney knew he would be ostracized for it, and he was. The presidents son Don Jr. called for Romney to be immediate expelled from the GOP. The Utah senator was, predictably, excoriated on Fox News and by the president. Romney gave us a rare profile in courage in these polarized times. A bright light in a foggy harbor,as Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, told me. It was a moment to cherish in a week many Americans would rather forget. This nation could sure use that timeout. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron KAMPALA Uganda is one of the best green capitals of the world but due to the increased deforestation, swamp reclamation, unplanned settlements, pollution among others, the pristine nature has been running in the ruts of late. In the bid to stop this, Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU) a youth-driven non-profit organisation has championed the Run4Climate slated for Sunday, February 9, at Makerere University, Kampala. According to the organisers led by Dr. Charles Batte, this will be the first of its kind in Uganda bringing together youth, corporate bodies, government agencies, environmentalists, and other key stake holders to create awareness, enhancing synergy and action through the run since it also has other health benefits that accrue to keeping fit and sound. We believe that the gradual and small steps taken by TAU now will go a long way to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience of smallholder farmers, and most importantly reverse the soaring trend of natural disasters at a local and global scale, he said. Last year the organisation planted over 10,000 trees in Nakaseke district. It has also embraced technology through the eco-mapping system to monitor the growth of the trees. According to Batte, the funds raised from the Run4Climate will be used to support our programs for building climate resilience in Bududa in Eastern Uganda with running kits costing UGX 20,000 for adults and the kids UGX10,000 Related The Democrats' explanation for frantically pursuing President Trump's impeachment and conviction went like this: If he's not removed from office, he will rig this year's election as he did in 2016. According to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his hand-picked team of anti-Trump, pro-Hillary investigators, no evidence was found that presidential candidate Donald J. Trump was involved in election-rigging of any kind. But such rigging did occur in 2016, including the instances mentioned below. As Bernie Sanders can attest, his 2016 run for the presidency was rigged out of existence by collusion between the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, both of which were later implicated in a nationwide voter fraud operation. Three weeks prior to the election, investigative journalist James O'Keefe's Project Veritas released two videos of an undercover sting in which high-level Democrat operatives bragged about running a nationwide voter fraud operation financed by the DNC and the Clinton campaign: "We've been busing in people [illegal voters] for 50 years and we're not going to stop now." "[We know] this is illegal." "I think backward from how they would prosecute us, and then try to build out a method to avoid [getting caught]." "We implement the plan across every Republican-held state." "[Our operation] causes massive changes in state legislatures and Congress." "Hillary knows what's going on." One of the covert operatives caught in the Project Veritas sting is a longtime Democrat named Bob Creamer. Found guilty in 2005 of tax violations and bank fraud, Creamer was a respected player in Democratic Party politics. Official visitor logs show the convicted felon visited the Obama White House 342 times, including 47 personal meetings with President Obama, a fact that was buried by the mainstream media when O'Keefe's explosive exposes were released less than a month before the election Hillary Clinton was heavily favored to win. Although Creamer was forced to resign after being caught on tape discussing a nationwide voter fraud operation funded by the DNC and the Clinton campaign, the Democrat dirty tricks operative was honored with a front-row seat at President Obama's farewell address in January 2017. Click here to see an NBC News screen grab of Creamer and his wife seated directly in front of the podium where President Obama spoke. In the Democratic Party, getting caught bragging about a nationwide voter fraud operation is worthy of being awarded the most coveted seat in the house. How Democrats use false charges of Republican racism to justify and facilitate voter fraud Covert voter fraud operations aren't the only way Democrats subvert fair elections. Despite their feigned protests to the contrary, voter ID laws are not racist, nor do they suppress minority voting. How does requiring voters to present a photo ID suppress the ability of any adult citizen to vote? Government-issued photo IDs are easily obtainable by every legitimate voter in America, including those who don't drive. Virtually every voting-age citizen already has photo identification, yet Democrats aggressively oppose laws that require photo IDs to vote. Blocking voter ID laws is but another way Democrats knowingly rig elections by facilitating and encouraging illegal voting. Things that require photo identification: Driving a vehicle Airport check-in Hotel check-in Hospitals & outpatient testing Doctors' offices Social Security office Medicare/Medicaid Pawn shop transactions Federal, state & local courts Military bases Donating blood Volunteering at charities Professional applications College applications Job applications Buying a house Boarding a cruise ship Boarding a train Getting a license to hunt or fish Buying cigarettes & alcohol Opening a bank account Applying for credit Cashing a check Getting a tattoo or body piercing Getting a library card Visiting Congress Things that don't require photo ID in many Democrat-run jurisdictions: Voting Democrat election official admits rampant voter fraud As reported by The New York Post, Manhattan Board of Elections commissioner Alan Shulkin was caught on a Project Veritas undercover video slamming Mayor Bill de Blasio's municipal ID program as contributing to "all kinds of fraud," including voter fraud. Here's more of what Commissioner Shulkin had to say: "I think there's a lot of voter fraud." "There's thousands of absentee ballots and I don't know where they came from." "In some neighborhoods they bus people around to vote, they take them from poll to poll." "De Blasio's municipal IDs can be used for anything, including voting." "The city doesn't vet people who get ID cards to see who they really are." "Anybody can go in there and say I am John Smith and I want an ID card." So was Commissioner Shulkin praised by fellow Democrats for exposing voter fraud? Not a chance. A month after his comments were made public, he was told by party officials to hit the road. Bottom line: As shameless practitioners of the "ends justify the means" election tactics of Saul Alinsky, the modern Democratic Party actively encourages and facilitates voter fraud at every opportunity. If America had an honorable press, Democrat election-rigging operations would have been blown out of the water decades ago. An electrical engineering graduate of Georgia Tech and now retired, John Eidson is a freelance writer in Atlanta. Image: Tom Arthur via Wikimedia Commons. The Pentagon shrunk the size of its delegation traveling to the Singapore Airshow and U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin said it would not attend, as the impact of the coronavirus has reduced participation in the event. However, Boeing told CNBC on Saturday that it still plans to attend the airshow and will be "an active participant." Undersecretary of Defense Ellen Lord will no longer attend the event "due to extenuating circumstances," Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews said in a statement. Lord is the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer and was the Pentagon's lead representative at the event. Other Pentagon leaders including uniformed military officials plan to attend. Lockheed Martin became the first major U.S. defense company to announce it will not attend the airshow due to the coronavirus. "We determined this was in the best interest of our employees and aligned with the U.S. Department of Defenses decision to reduce its presence," Lockheed said in a statement. The airshow will continue next week, but organizers might look to limit public visitors, a Singaporean official said on Friday, as Singapore reported three more coronavirus cases that authorities have not yet linked to previous infections or travel to China. The new cases take Singapore's virus tally to 33 with the alert level raised to orange, denoting the disease is severe and passes easily from person-to-person. Red - the highest alert level - indicates it is spreading widely. The trade portion of the airshow, held every two years, is due to begin on Feb. 11. Business jet manufacturers Bombardier, Textron and General Dynamics' Gulfstream division are also among those to have pulled out of the airshow. CNBC's Audrey Tay and Ted Kemp contributed to this report. While other Democratic contenders for the White House battle it out in New Hampshire, Mike Bloomberg continues to train his sites on Texas and, more specifically, Houston. The former New York City mayor is set to make his third stop in Houston in six weeks next week as he continues to focus on states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 3. The Harris County Democratic Party announced that Bloomberg will be a featured speaker at its annual Johnson Rayburn Richards fundraiser dinner Thursday night. That event is also scheduled to include a speech from Julian Castro, who dropped out of the presidential race in early January and is now backing U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts for the Democratic nomination. Bloomberg has already made five trips to Texas since he jumped into the presidential race in late November. He was just in Houston on Jan. 29 to speak before a gathering of African Methodist Episcopal Church members from around the nation. Before that, he was in Houston just before the new year to attend a predominately black church service with Mayor Sylvester Turner. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox More Information Texas Presidential Primary dates Feb. 18 - The first day of early voting Feb. 28 - Early voting ends March 3 - Election day See More Collapse The latest visit to Houston comes as Bloomberg invests big in Texas. Hes been advertising all over Texas on TV and was opening 11 more field offices in the state this weekend. He now has 19 field offices and 150 staffers. No other campaign can match either of those in Texas. Bloomberg jumped into the race for the White House six months after most of the rest of the field jumped in. Hes largely bypassed the four early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Instead, Bloomberg has focused on Super Tuesday states including Texas, which will have 228 pledged delegates up for grabs March 3. That is more delegates than the first four states combined. A new poll of Texas voters released last week shows that Bloomberg is starting to make gains in Texas. The Texas Lyceum poll of 401 potential Democratic primary voters showed former Vice President Joe Biden still leads the field in Texas, with 28 percent, just ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who got 26 percent. Warren polled at 13 percent, and Bloomberg was at 9 percent. The margin of error in that poll was plus or minus 4.9 percent. Early voting for the March 3 primary runs from Feb. 18 to 28. A potent storm tracking across the southern half of the country through the beginning of next week will open the door for snow to return to parts of the southern Plains. The storm system that brought gusty winds to California over the weekend has dove southward across the southern Rockies for the early part of the week. As cold air sinks farther south behind the storm Monday night and Tuesday, snow levels will drop to around 5,000 to 7,000 feet. This will bring snow farther south and into the lower elevations of Arizona and New Mexico. Widespread snowfall totals of 3-6 inches are expected across these areas, including Flagstaff, Arizona and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Snowfall totals will climb higher in the mountains of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, where 6-10 inches could accumulate. This heavier snow has the potential to spread into parts of the northern Texas Panhandle. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Temperatures along the Front Range on Monday night are expected to fall around freezing in this area as precipitation arrives. This will allow for some light snow accumulations across the northern Texas Panhandle, the Oklahoma Panhandle and far-southwestern Kansas into Tuesday morning. The highest snowfall totals are likely across the high terrain of New Mexico where over two feet of snow is possible. Snowfall totals will likely vary across the Texas Panhandle, with the highest amounts closer to the New Mexico border. Farther south across northern Texas, marginal temperatures could bring a wintry mixture of sleet and snow to places like Lubbock, leading to a messy Tuesday morning commute. As temperatures rise into the afternoon hours, any precipitation still falling could begin to mix with rain, limiting the chance for any accumulation on roadways. As the storm begins to slowly push east on Tuesday, rain showers will spread into the southern Plains. Into the middle of the week, the storm will begin to push east and will bring the next round of rain that could aggravate flooding in the Southeast. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. Homeowners under the age of 50 in Melbourne's swelling outer suburbs and the state's regions are spearheading the uptake of solar in Victoria, with more than $124 million in rebates paid out since mid-2018. New government figures have revealed that more than half of the 10 most popular metropolitan suburbs for the state government's Solar Homes rebates are in Melbourne's western suburbs. Sutherson Ganeshan wanted to lower his electricity bill. Tarneit, Clyde North, Point Cook, Craigieburn, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Cranbourne East, Berwick, Werribee and Pakenham had the highest number of solar systems installed in metropolitan areas. More than 61,700 solar systems have now been installed across Victoria. According to the state government, an extra 300 megawatts of new capacity has been added to the grid since the program began. Eligible homeowners can get a $1888 subsidy for a solar panel system. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 07:53:43|Editor: ZD Video Player Close NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of New York will file a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s plan to block New Yorkers from participating in certain "trusted traveler programs (TTPs)" due to a state law that prevents immigration officials from accessing motor vehicle records. The lawsuit "will argue that the Federal Department of Homeland Security has violated New York's sovereign immunity, not provided our residents with equal protection and is acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner that denies the rights and privileges of all New Yorkers," according to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office on Friday. At a news conference in Manhattan, Cuomo, a Democrat, called the proposed block "an abuse of power" which is hurting New Yorkers to advance their political agenda. In December, a new law in New York state, dubbed "Green Light," took effect, allowing unauthorized immigrants to obtain a driver's license. It also prevents the state's Department of Motor Vehicles officials from handing over information to federal authorities. In response to the law, the DHS said on Wednesday that New Yorkers will no longer be able to enroll in or renew membership of its TTPs, including Global Entry, which allows people returning from abroad to skip passport check lines. The DHS said in a letter to New York state that the "Green Light" law prevents federal agencies from protecting residents from "menacing threats to national security and public safety." New York is not the only state that allows illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's licence, but it's the only state that bans the sharing of motor vehicle records with federal immigration agents, according to DHS officials. SHANGHAI A U.S. citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, American officials said on Saturday. It was the first known American death from the illness, and was likely to escalate diplomatic tensions over Beijings response to the epidemic. Few details about the American, who died on Thursday, were immediately available. According to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the person was around 60 years old and died at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, the inland metropolis at the center of the epidemic. Two people familiar with the matter said the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions. The U.S. government has been evacuating many of its diplomats and other citizens from Wuhan, which Chinese authorities have locked down in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. It could not immediately be learned whether the American who died had tried to leave the city on any of the flights organized by the State Department. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, said a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Out of respect for the familys privacy, we have no further comment. Word of the death emerged as frustrations about Beijings handling of the epidemic, which has already provoked outrage and criticism within China, were beginning to emerge at the diplomatic level as well. The virus has killed at least 700 people in China, sickened thousands more and spread across the globe. For more than a month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been offering to send a team of experts to China to observe the outbreak and help if possible. But no invitation has come. The World Health Organization, which made a similar offer about two weeks ago, appeared to be facing the same cold shoulder, though a spokeswoman said it was just sorting out arrangements. Current and former health officials and diplomats said they believed the reluctance came from Chinas top leaders, who do not want the world to think they need outside help. Within China, public discontent about the governments response to the crisis reached an extraordinary new peak on Friday after the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, who had warned his colleagues early on about the new virus but was reprimanded for spreading rumors. After Lis death, grieving internet users posted messages expressing anger about the way he had been treated and even demanding freedom of speech unheard-of in Chinas authoritarian political system. Communist Party officials said on Friday that they would send a team from the powerful anti-corruption committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Lis death. Chinese state news media also reported on Saturday that the government was sending two senior officials to Wuhan to reinforce efforts to bring the outbreak under control. It was not immediately clear if the appointments on Saturday amounted to a reshuffling of the local leadership or were simply an effort to reinforce officials on the front line. Still, it appeared to be an acknowledgment that authorities in Wuhan had been overwhelmed. Japan also said on Saturday that one of its citizens had died in a Wuhan hospital from a suspected case of the coronavirus. But the Japanese Foreign Ministry said that based on information it received from Chinese authorities, it could not confirm whether the man, who was in his 60s, had been infected with the new virus. The ministry called the cause of death viral pneumonia. As the new coronavirus spreads, China is confronting a growing sense of isolation a stark reversal for the country after decades of economic and diplomatic integration with the rest of the world. Many countries, including the United States, have placed entry restrictions on travelers from China. Airlines have canceled flights. Fears of the virus have fueled anti-Chinese racism in some parts of the world. Chinese officials have criticized the United States both for evacuating Americans from China and for imposing travel curbs, saying that such moves would spread panic. On Friday, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo each appeared to be trying to ease tensions. Pompeo said that the United States was prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to help China and other countries fight the epidemic. Pompeo also said that the State Department had helped transport about 18 tons of donated medical supplies, including masks, gowns and gauze, to the people of China in the past week. Trump praised Chinas handling of the crisis on a phone call with Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping, on Friday. And in a pair of Twitter posts, Trump said Xi was leading what will be a very successful operation. But other American officials have quietly voiced concerns about Chinas response to the epidemic. And the confirmation on Friday that repeated offers of help to China had been ignored only deepened the sense of worry. Alex Azar, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, said at a news briefing on Friday that he had recently reiterated the CDC offer to his Chinese counterpart, Dr. Ma Xiaowei. Asked about the holdup, Azar said: Its up to the Chinese. We continue to expect fully that President Xi will accept our offer. Were ready and willing and able to go. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. This year, about 20 countries have joined the traditional Sea Breeze military exercises in Odesa. "Ukraine and the US are traditional organizers of the exercises. About 20 countries have joined this year's drills. According to commander of the exercises from the Ukrainian side, Captain I rank Oleksiy Doskato, the attraction of new participants, namely representatives of Japan and South Korea, was an important indicator this year. A unit of the Norwegian Armed Forces plans to participate in the land component of Sea Breeze for the first time," the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports. During the past week, the multinational headquarters agreed on the concept and the main scenario of future maneuvers in Odesa. The experts from Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Denmark, Estonia, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Sweden worked at the multinational headquarters. Photo: U.S. Marine Corps/Staff Sgt. Marcin Platek ol The Democrats on the debate stage Friday night all agreed: greater reliance on diplomacy is critical to keeping Americans safer. But with tensions in the Middle East recently stoked by President Donald Trumps surprise decision to order a drone strike that killed Iranians top military and intelligence commander, Qassem Soleimani, the Democrats sought to distinguish themselves on judgment and who would make the best commander-in-chief. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, an Afghan war veteran, said he believed Soleimanis actions had led to the killing of hundreds of Americans, but he would have wanted to see more evidence of an imminent threat before ordering such an attack on a foreign leader. If we learned nothing else about the Iraq war, taking out a bad guy is not a good idea if you dont know what youre doing, said Buttigieg, who along with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, critiqued former Vice President Joe Biden for his vote to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in the early 2000s. Buttigieg added that Trump had ramped up tensions by pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which Biden helped work on during the Obama administration. Buttigieg said the nation faced new foreign policy and international challenges, including cybersecurity, election interference and global health crises, that demanded a new vision which could help restore our credibility. Biden acknowledged his vote on Iraq was a mistake, and argued in favor of strengthening the State Department. He added that he has experience working on every major initiative weve had relative to diplomacy." Biden also admonished Trump for talking about troops who suffered traumatic brain trauma during the strikes on Soleimani as having headaches. This guy doesnt deserve to be commander-in-chief for one more day, Biden said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called for bringing troops home from Afghanistan. Nobody has a solution to end this war," she said. When pressed on whether shed let special forces remain if that was the recommendation from top military aides, Warren said she wanted to see the plan. Not just, We need it for the next day or six months. And I want to know where our allies are, she said. We all have an interest in controlling terrorism. But that means it cant be just us waging endless war. That doesnt make us safer, doesnt make the region safer and doesnt make the world safer. The troops were there for us, she said, but we need to be there for them. And that means not sending our troops to do work that cannot be solved militarily. Sanders countered Biden on the issue by saying he listened carefully to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on the need to invade Iraq and concluded they were lying through their teeth. Sanders advocated for more diplomacy, bringing countries together, lets sit down and work out our differences through debate and discussion, not through more and more war and expenditures of trillions of dollars and the loss of countless lives. Sanders later flipped the conversation to one on climate change an issue ABC moderators did not ask any questions about by saying the U.S. should lead by taking on the greed of the fossil fuel industry, including by getting countries like China, Russia, Brazil, Pakistan and India to fight together against climate change. Instead of spending $1.8 trillion on weapons of destruction designed to kill each other, maybe we pool our resources and fight our common enemy, which is climate change, Sanders said. Ghanaian Comedian and founder of Comedy Bar, ID James Brown as part of his 10th anniversary as a comedian and artist started of his #ItsAboutToGoBrown activities at an English Stand Up Comedy Night Cologne 25 at the Boing Comedy Club hosted at the Coellner Pub, in Cologne in Germany February 5, 2020. My performance at the Boing Comedy Club is part of activities planned for my 10th anniversary celebration. And it was amazing to hear and observe the audience respond in such an affirmative manner. I was nervous, no ways about that, but I did well to enjoy myself. I cant wait to be back in Ghana, he noted in chitchat with amalarbieafrica. About activities slated for his 10 anniversary, James Brown indicated, I'm planning on doing a special show this year which includes a tour. There would also be a number of collaborations with other artistes in various industries on one stage to entertain my followers and comedy enthusiasts. So watch out for a very different side of Mr. Brown. The hashtag for his anniversary are #ItsAboutToGoBrown and you #[email protected] The English Stand up Comedy Night Cologne 25 show was hosted by Stand-up Comedian, Moderator, Musikkabarettist, and Improvisationsgenie, Manuel Wolff. Aside from James Brown, comedians Kat Nip, Lisa Spielmann, Muro Bakar and Drew Portnoy took their turns to entertain the audience. Watch Comedian James Browns performance; Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on Saturday called his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including Kashmir. The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement that the two ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship and reiterated the shared resolve to deepen the cooperation in diverse fields. Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's steadfast support for the Kashmir cause, including as a key member of the Saudi-led Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC Contact Group) on Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said. READ: Cold Wave Intensifies In Kashmir "Views were exchanged on working together to advance the Kashmir cause, including from the OIC platform," it said. They also exchanged views on regional developments and agreed to remain in close contact. Earlier, a media report said that Saudi Arabia was not doing enough to arrange a meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) on Kashmir despite requests by Pakistan. In its report on Monday quoting a diplomatic source, the Dawn newspaper said that Islamabad's feeling of unease with the OIC on its failure to get the CFM's meeting was growing, as Riyadh was showing reluctance to convene the meeting on Kashmir on Pakistan's request. In December, there were plans to convene a meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC on Kashmir by Saudi Arabia, in an apparent move by the kingdom to please Pakistan which skipped a recent summit of Muslim nations in Malaysia seen by Riyadh as an attempt to create a new bloc to replace the 57-member grouping led by it. Prime Minister Imran Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the summit hosted by Malaysia, but skipped the event at the eleventh hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country. The Jeddah-headquartered bloc, which is the second largest intergovernmental body after the UN, has usually been supportive of Pakistan and often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has been pushing for the foreign ministers' meeting on Kashmir since India abrogated the special provisions of Kashmir in August last year. Although there has been a meeting of the contact group on Kashmir on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York and a report by the OIC's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission on the alleged rights abuses in Kashmir, no progress could be made towards the CFM's meeting. Saudi Arabia, soon after Pakistan's absence at the Malaysia summit, showed flexibility in December on the proposal for the CFM on Kashmir. The Saudi flexibility, however, was short-lived as Riyadh reverted to its position. India, in a major diplomatic achievement in March last year, addressed the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi for the first time. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to address the grouping of the OIC which was turned down by the host the UAE, resulting in Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi boycotting the plenary. Actor Neetu Kapoor dug into her archives and shared a priceless photo with her husband and actor Rishi Kapoor. The throwback picture, taken a few decades ago, has them smiling with her arm around his shoulder. Lifelong relationship Friendship, she captioned her Instagram post. In just a little over 12 hours, Neetus post has already received tens of thousands of likes on the photo-sharing platform. Many celebrities showered love on the couple in the comments section. Neetu Kapoors post has received more than 50,000 likes on Instagram. Rishi and Neetus daughter and entrepreneur Riddhima Kapoor Sahni commented with a series of heart emojis. Actor Sonali Bendre, producer Ekta Kapoor, designer Manish Malhotra, casting director Shanoo Sharma and others gushed over the adorable click. Actor Soni Razdan, whose daughter and actor Alia Bhatt is dating Rishi and Neetus son and actor Ranbir Kapoor, also complimented them. Such a sweet pic, she wrote, along with a number of heart emojis. Fans also showered Rishi and Neetu with praise. Wow dil khush ho gaya ye photo dekhkar, one wrote, while another commented, Best couple of the world. me and my family love you sooooooo much. lots of love from Russia. Rishi and Neetu tied the knot on January 22, 1980. Earlier, on Annu Kapoors radio show, Neetu had revealed that her first meeting with Rishi was horrible. However, they eventually fell in love. Also read: Coronavirus scare leads to Sobhita Dhulipalas film shoot being cancelled in Kerala She said, according to IANS, I had a horrible first meeting with Rishi Kapoor. He had a habit of bullying, so he would comment on my makeup and clothes, and Id feel so angry. He was actually a brat who would bully everyone and I was very young at that time. I used to be furious with him. The couple has starred together in a number of hit films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein and Kabhi Kabhie. They were last seen together in Abhinav Kashyaps Besharam, which starred their son Ranbir in the lead role. Follow @htshowbiz for more All that previous govt did was latkana, atkana aur bhatkana ': Modi Massive fire breaks out at Navi Mumbai highrise, rescue team on the spot India oi-Mousumi Dash Mumbai, Feb 08: Massive fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building at Sector 44 Nerul Seawoods in Navi Mumbai on Saturday morning. Soon fire tenders have reached the spot to control the fire. No loss of life has been reported so far. On Wednesday evening, fire broke out in another on the 5th floor of a 15 storey residential building in a posh Malabar Hill area in south Mumbai. Navi Mumbai: Fire breaks out at high-rise apartment building at Sector 44 Nerul Seawoods; Fire tenders present at the spot. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/NIiK8c7kLe ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020 Reportedly, eight persons including five men and three women were rescued from the building and there were no reports of casualties. The fire broke out in the Palma Building located near the famous Hanging Gardens around 7 pm on Wednesday. Brisbane may be the "smartest" city in Queensland but it has fallen below dozens of other Australian local government areas, according to a report investigating the label. The study, published by researchers from the Queensland University of Technology's urban studies lab this week, attempted to lay out what the term meant in practice and address the "major limitation" of existing ways to measure it. Brisbane was the first city in Australia to brand itself a "smart city" in the mid-2000s. Credit:Lydia Lynch The federal government introduced a Smart Cities Plan in 2016, which operated largely as a blueprint for addressing urban sustainability and liveability issues through technology. Brisbane was the first city in Australia to brand itself a "smart city" in the mid-2000s. MANCHESTER, N.H. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday directly criticized Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont over his record on guns, drawing a sharp contrast with one of his top rivals on an issue that is important to many Democratic voters. Mr. Biden faulted Mr. Sanders for voting in favor of a 2005 bill to shield gun manufacturers from liability lawsuits. Mr. Biden said that the first thing Ill do as president is work to get rid of that. Mr. Biden also criticized Mr. Sanders for voting against the Brady Bill, which required background checks for gun purchases, in the 1990s. Mr. Sanders faced criticism on both of those fronts from Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race. Here is a transcript: BIDEN: Well, look, heres the deal. The biggest mistake that Bernie made, that Senator Sanders made, he voted to give the gun manufacturers, the only major industry in America, a loophole that does not allow them to be sued for the carnage they are creating. First thing Ill do as president is work to get rid of that. Its going to be hard. 08.02.2020 LISTEN January 2020, marked the 5-year anniversary of my first trip to Ghana. After 5 years, 15 plus trips and many experiences, this list highlights what I believe are the top 5 improvements in Ghana since my first visit to the country in January 2015. This list highlights the improvements of the country that I believe will continue to elevate Ghana into a major player in the global economy, make Ghana even more welcoming to expats, while also improving the life for Ghanaians citizens in both the long-term and short-term development of the country. With no further ado, here are the Top 5 Improvements in Ghana Over the Last 5 Years From the Eyes of a Black American. 5. The 100GHC & 200GHC note and the 2GHC coin. In November 2019, The Ghanaian government released the new 100GHC & 200GHC bank note, and the 2 Cedi coin. As someone who spends money in Ghana for various reasons, there is little more uncomfortable & frustrating than carrying, and handling large physical amounts of money in public. Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport and doing my usual routine of heading straight to the currency exchange station even before I collect my luggage, it was a wonderful sight to receive the new currency notes. After handing over what some may consider a large numerical amount of American dollars and expecting the usual large physical amounts of 50, 20 & 10 GHCs in return, I was giving a smaller physical amount of currency but equal numerical value of money in the new and beautiful 100GHC which are blue and 200 GHC notes which are red. To give an example lets say you have to pay 1,000GHC for an item or service. It is a clear difference in handling and paying with five 200GHC notes, or ten 100GHC notes, in comparison with handling and paying with twenty 50GHC notes or fifty 20GHC notes. Imagine the math when you start dealing with 5000GHC or 10,000GHC and more in cash transactions. One bit of warning, please be mindful when handling the blue 100GHC & the also blue 5GHC note. The size of the bank notes are the most notable difference with the 100GHC being significantly larger. Obviously, as a foreign traveler who conducts many transactions, I am a fan of the new notes, however, many locals actually complain about the new notes. With the 50 note, when you take a trotro and give it to the mate they normally complain they don't have change how much more the 100GHC and 200GHC said Mary from Upper East Region of Ghana. Mary is not the only person who has raised concerns with the New Ghana Banknote Eric Donkor from Accra explained, Some people wont even take the new 100GHC note. I also see new notes as an unintended form of class separation. What is a Ghanaian citizen who may only make 600GHC to 1200GHC a month going to do with multiple 100GHC and 200GHC banknotes? Just for mentioning, I was equally surprised when at a shell gas station I received a 2GHC coin. In conclusion, as Ghana continues to become more competitive in the global market, the increased bank notes will be something that allows Ghanaian businesses to make easier transactions, make the transportation of currency safer, and give confidence to many that there is more money to gain and inspire to take the steps to attain it. 4. Terminal 3 The newly constructed Terminal 3 in Ghanas Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is very impressive. To show the debts of my appreciation, the most extraordinary airport I have ever been to was in 2018 at the now closed Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey. I was in Istanbul for a 10-hour layover where I toured the countrys capital. The most memorable experience in Turkey was the mammoth and beautiful IST Airport. Istanbul New Airport also called (IST) opened April 2019, which is a significant upgrade to the previous airport that I visited. With that being said, I found out Ghana hired Turkish construction company Mapa Construction MNG Holding who is one of the three construction companies responsible for the architectural design and construction of the new IST airport. Being familiar with some of the previous work of the construction company hired by the Ghanaian government, I was able to get some insight into the solid planning that took place in the upgrading of KIA with the creation of terminal 3. A security guard at KAI airport who asked to remain unnamed share that many of their coworkers discussed that the new terminal is just a smaller version of the one in Turkey due to the Turkish Company doing the construction. Terminal 3 played a major role in Ghana being proactive in solving what would have been a major travel issues accommodating the increase of international travelers during the year of the return festivities. Upon entering Ghana, no more ridiculously long waits on line at customs just to enter the country, after 9, 14 and in some cases over 24 hours of total flying time by travelers no one wants to wait up to an hour just getting through customs. Terminal 3 also assists in swift departures. No more extremely long walks from security and immigration to the departure gates, followed by a shuttle bus ride, before finally boarding the plane. The new distance from immigration to departure gates in some cases oddly short depending on your gate number, sometimes it is literally right after security check. With the addition of over a thousand jobs when you count both temporary and permanent job opportunities for Ghanian citizens, Terminal 3 is an upgrade I believe the entire country should benefit from. The only criticism I have with terminal 3 is the Sanbra priority lounge, which is pleasantly comfortable and beautiful in terminal 2, is extremely small and underwhelming in terminal 3. 3. Cholera Prevention During my earlier trips to Ghana beginning in 2015, I recall being disturbed by the numerous individuals I witness defecating in public. I then began to take more note to the numerous warning signs throughout the country bringing awareness regarding the negative health effects of cholera, noticing warning signs with graphic images threatening to sack people for pooping or eliminating waste in public. Whether in my hotel room or at a friend's residents watching television, television commercials advocating for cholera prevention and encouraging people to call out people they see defecating in public, and encouraging people to wash their hands had regular commercial space. For the country, I fell in love with, cholera and the issue of people consistently defecating in public was one of the issues that I listed as a major con. In 2016, I remember reading an article regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) focusing on Cholera prevention in Ghana. Fast forward to 2019/2020 I spent over 4 months of time in Ghana and do not recall seeing anyone defecating in public and I dont recall any signs or television commercials speaking of Cholera. They are considerable more public bathrooms, and even more importantly clean and usable bathrooms through the country. Antoinette from Aburi in the Eastern Region says, Conditions are better but there is still more room for improvement. The district assemblys environmental health units have been tasked to facilitate toilets for each household and this project has been ongoing as it is affordable since the government has subsidized the cost of construction I believe from a new visitor's point of view they would have never known that just 5 years prior, cholera was an active health crisis in Ghana. Both national and international parties viewed cholera as a threat to public health. In my opinion, the country of Ghana greatly improved the conditions of the country through the cholera prevention campaign that originally started in the mid to late 2000s. 2. Year of the Return/ Beyond the Return In short, The Year of Return was a landmark yearlong event that commemorated 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. The Year of Return festivities celebrated the cumulative resilience of all the victims of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade who were scattered and displaced throughout the world in North America, South America, the Caribbeans, Europe and Asia said Isshak Abdullai of Accra. One of the main goals of the Year of Return campaign was to position Ghana as a key travel destination for Black Americans and the African Diaspora. Black Americans have been visiting Ghana for decades. Many prominent Americans have been encouraging others to visit Ghana including Marcus Garvey, W.E.B Dubois, many expats and potential expats. I get questions all the time asking about right of adobe passage and dual citizenship. I also share the disappointing news that yes, Ghana has right of adobe and allows for dual citizenship but the United States is the country that denies dual citizenship making an individual choose one or the other. What the year of the return did was use the new age technology of the internet, to give people from the diaspora the confidence to make their dream of coming home to mother Africa true. Ghana on a countrywide masses scale let the world know members of the African diaspora were welcomed here from the top of the government down to the smallest of communities. As a leading Black American influencer of international travel to Africa and a pioneer in the social media ages back to Africa movement, literally dozens of my brothers and sisters contacted me saying things such as Youve been doing this for some time and now everyone is finally catching on. Walking through AfroChella, Accra Mall, Labadi Beach, and various parties and tourism areas throughout Ghana, Americans would stop me saying they know me from social media. The visuals and commentary from my Instagram page www.instagram.com/Rashad_McCrorey gave them a clearer view of what to expect and the courage to take the voyage home. In my opinion, the Year of Return was a phenomenal success and we hope that Beyond the Return the 2020 campaign continues the tradition. Events like Afrochella, AfroNation, and Deity Rave continue to move Ghana into the spotlight as a major travel destination for Black Americans and others of African descent from around the world. 1. Dumsor / Load shedding I remember in 2015 several times a day Ghanaians first letting out a long and disappointing sigh of frustration, and then screaming in unison dumsor pronounced dum so. Dumsor is an Akan Twi term loosely translated as lights off (dum) lights on (so). When I first arrived in Ghana, power outages were a regular occurrence, I am talking about in some cases up to several times a day ranging from only a few minutes, up to hours on end, and usually if the lights went off late in the evening they were off all night. You would never really know when the lights would go out nor when they would come back on. Gilbert Hayford of Bukom Accra shared his opinion stating that; People blamed the sitting government during the time of dumsor, but when I was asked to give a reason for the crisis, I defended the president by saying, electricity has been extended to the deep villages and hinterlands of Ghana, therefore load shedding shouldn't be blamed on the government. I remember walking during the days of daily dumsor outages on the streets; hearing the sounds of various generators that powered machines for businesses. Despite the unfortunate situation, I admired as a fellow entrepreneur how others were cashing in by selling generators. I remember phone charging ports also became an additional source of income for some people, especially at lorry stations and market centers. My first experience with dumsor was in the Akuapem Mountains. I remember getting upset with a mate as they began shinning their cell phone flashlight only trying to accommodate me for the lights going off, but me being from New York City I wanted to see the moonlight and stars in total darkness. I had no idea that that moment would not be my last time being in total darkness back then. Fast forward to my stays in 2019 and 2020, every time the lights went out in Ghana, it actually served as a reminder for me how far the country has come. I never heard the dumsor chant not one time. With my stays in Ghana usually ranging between 7 days minimum to about 6 weeks at an average of about 3 to 4 times a year. I went from experiencing power outages several times a day in 2015, to only experiencing power outages three maybe four times an entire visit. On my most recent trip in January of 2020, the lights went out while some American guest and I were eating dinner at a restaurant. I quickly pulled out my phone, turned on the phones flashlight, sat the phone down flash up on the dinner table, and finally put an empty, green Alvaro bottle over the phone. The table turned into a green candlelight dinner. What my associates did not know was that this was an old trick from my dumsor days. Many believes that load shedding is still mandatory and the days dumsor will return, and much of the outskirts of the country still lack sufficient energy. Ghana with its rapidly developing economy deserves a more consistent energy source in order to compete in the global economy, however from this American point of view. The country has greatly improved and has taken considerable leaps in energy sustainability over the last 5 years. So there you have it, my top 5 improvements in Ghana over the last 5 years. I love Ghana, its definitely my first love. I am excited about what the next 5 years will bring. About Rashad McCrorey Rashad McCrorey is an entrepreneur, and nation builder. He specializes in entrepreneurship, human rights, self-care, and self-empowerment. To learn more about Rashad and planning a trip to Africa, visit http://www.ghcrossculture.com or http://www.egyptcrossculture.com . Follow McCrorey and his adventures on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/rashad_mccrorey . Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laurent Banguet (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States Sat, February 8, 2020 22:05 702 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063578c5 2 Entertainment Oscars,Academy-awards,film-awards,Oscars-2020,film,Vegan,food Free Organizers have touted plans to go mostly vegan at this year's Oscars party but celebrities need not fear--there will still be plenty of caviar, smoked salmon and wagyu, the event's main chef assured Friday. "We work with everything because a lot of people like vegan but still, the big majority eats meat and fish," said celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck who will be feeding Hollywood's elite after the Academy Awards on February 9. The 70-year-old has catered the extravagant post-Oscars party--the Governors Ball--for 26 years, preparing thousands of dishes for the 1,500 guests, including the night's winners, who attend the bash. He said the menu will be 70 percent plant-based this year, in line with what appears to be a trend this awards season. Among the vegan dishes will be roasted cauliflower, sweet potato tempura, wild mushroom bolognese and avocado toast. Puck, who worked in some of France's top restaurants before relocating to the United States at age 24, said while he himself is not vegan, he still enjoys concocting vegan dishes at his many restaurants. "We want everybody to be happy," he told AFP during a tour of his kitchen where he was prepping for the extravaganza. "At the end of the day you can make vegan food taste really good and you won't miss meat or fish." Read also: Oscars go green with plant-based menus, no plastic bottles Puck--who heads an empire of restaurants stretching from Beverly Hills to Las Vegas and Singapore--said he had no trouble adapting this year's Oscars menu to the last-minute desire of organizers given he already serves vegan dishes at his establishments. "It's easy because we have all the chefs from all our different restaurants and I can call them and ask 'what do you do for vegan?'" he said. He said this year's menu will feature some classics--including smoked salmon, wagyu beef and caviar--but that he also added 18 vegan dishes. On the sweet side, most of the desserts will also be vegan, to the despair of some chefs who rely heavily on butter and eggs. "We managed to overcome the difficulties of not working with these ingredients by using lots of almond and coconut milk," said Kamel Guechida, who heads a team of 25 pastry chefs preparing for the event. On offer will be salted caramel brownie cookies, ube (purple yam) and coconut cream pillow tarts, and dark chocolate and yuzu (citrus fruit) raviolis. Let's not forget the 5,000 or so Oscar statuettes covered in 24 karat gold which will also be vegan thanks to chocolate maker Valrhona which supplied Puck with some 400 kilograms of strawberry and yuzu-flavored chocolate. She's the Australian model who never gets it wrong when it comes to fashion. And Jessica Gomes certainly didn't disappoint on Thursday, when she stepped out at the Global Ocean Gala in Los Angeles. The 35-year-old stunned in a flowing black gown with metallic detailing from the label, The Vampires Wife, as she attended the event at the Palazzo di Amore. All eyes on her! Jessica Gomes stunned in a flowing gown with metallic detailing at the Global Ocean Gala in Los Angeles on Thursday The dress featured a high neck and long sleeves and a flowing A-line skirt. She complimented the stylish dress with a pair of black kitten heels that featured diamante details, and a flashy gold clutch. Jessica opted for an understated makeup palette for the outing, wearing a matte foundation, a hint of blush and a smokey eye shadow. The Perth-born beauty let her brunette locks gently cascade down her shoulders in a perfectly coiled wave. All in the details! She complimented the stylish dress with a pair of black kitten heels that featured diamante details, and a flashy gold clutch Jessica was in good company at the exclusive event with big names, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman and Michelle Rodriguez also in attendance. Described as a 'major fundraising event', the gala 'gathers international artists and philanthropists' to raise money for initiatives dedicated to saving the ocean. This prestigious evening, organised by Prince Albert II of Monaco, honored legendary actor Robert Redford for his activism in issues related to the environment. Previously, the foundation honored actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom for their work to protect and preserve the ocean. Natural beauty: Jessica flaunted her flawless visage with an understated makeup palette for the outing In December last year, Jessica took to Instagram to announce that she's stepping down from her role as brand ambassador for Australian retail giant David Jones. 'Well, that's a wrap on eight amazing years as Brand Ambassador for David Jones,' the budding actress began her post. 'What a privilege and honour it has been to represent this iconic Australian brand that has and continues to be a pioneer in the world of retail and luxury experience.' New chapter: In December last year, Jessica took to Instagram to announce that she's stepping down from her role as brand ambassador for Australian retail giant David Jones 'It has been so wonderful to grow and evolve together on this collaborative journey, and we have done so creating many magical moments including the launch of my own beauty brand Equal Beauty!' Despite the minor drawback, Jessica went on to say she's looking forward to 'the next chapter' that is 2020. The brunette replaced Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr as the store's lead female ambassador back in August 2012. Jessica - who hails from Perth - is now based in Los Angeles and is focusing on an acting career. Louise O'Neill writes about her love for Irish author Marian Keyes In my final year of college, I took a module on Jane Austen. The professor was exactly the sort of man I had imagined I would encounter at Trinity he was eccentric, dryly funny, knowledgeable about his chosen subjects, and a compelling lecturer. One day, he told us a story about a programme he had been asked to contribute to as an expert on Austens novels. He had, he said, been given a list of contemporary novels written by women, chick-lit as we so derogatorily referred to them at the time, and hed been asked to decide which modern author, if any, could claim to be the successor to Jane herself. Our professor hadnt enjoyed any of those novels as much as he loved Austen, but he did compliment one author amongst the bunch. Marian Keyes, he said. She was very good. There was a moment of silence and then a quiet voice piped up at the back of the room. A young woman, saying I love Marian Keyes, her hesitation evident. But with that, it was as if a dam had burst, with more and more of us speaking up in agreement, declaring that we too, loved Marian. I often think of that lecture, of the way we referred to her by her first name, as if we knew her, as if she was our friend. But I also think of our collective reluctance to speak up in the first place, our reticence to admit our affection for her brilliant, thought-provoking novels until a man said he admired her work, thus giving us permission to say the same. Jane Austen Ive written before in this column about the systemic sexism within the publishing industry, despite the vast majority of fiction readers being female. There have been concentrated attempts to improve in recent years, but the majority of books reviewed in media publications are by men, and the people writing the reviews themselves tend to be men as well. Women are less likely to win prestigious literary awards and when they do, statistics show many of those novels feature male protagonists rather than female. Women writing about issues that directly impact womens lives are dismissed as writers of mere domestic fiction, and that it is less important somehow than mens fiction. Even for younger readers, there is a belief that boys wont read books written by women, or books with a female heroine, whereas girls are presumed to be happy enough to read either. This has resulted in years of female readers feeling ashamed of the books they love, and an entire generation of wildly successful Irish writers being ignored. If there were male literary writers in the 90s who were selling books in the same quantities as Marian Keyes, Maeve Binchy, Cathy Kelly, Cecelia Ahern, and Sheila O Flanagan, there would have been bonfires lit at the crossroads in their honour, politicians waiting at the airport to welcome them home. Instead, we continued to sell that age-old poster of Irish Writers, a cast of all-male faces, Joyce and Beckett and Wilde and Yeats staring out at us. Reminding us that in order to be a Proper Irish Writer, you had to be a white man. Marian Keyes Ive loved Marian Keyess novels for as long as I can remember, and Ive often been put in the position of having to defend her work when people say oh, I dont read that sort of novel. Excellent novels, I ask in return? Well-written, laugh-out-loud funny, heartbreakingly honest novels? Novels that deal with issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and depression? No less than Zadie Smith hailed her as one of the most important feminists in modern writing, saying she found Marians novels moving and brave. Are those the sort of novels you dont read? But I do feel that things have been slowly changing. More and more women I know cite Keyes as an inspiration, waxing lyrically about how much comfort and joy her work has given them. For my own part, I often talk about my memory of reading Rachels Holiday, Keyess third novel, and realising the main characters behaviour was all too familiar. I could see myself in Rachel and I didnt like it because it forced me to confront my own addiction. It was an uncomfortable and yet ultimately transformative moment. Her work is important, not just to me but to the millions of readers around the world who have had their own moment of uneasy recognition when reading a Marian Keyes book, in realising that they too have been raped or abused, that they too are suffering with a mental health issue. Im lucky enough to call Marian a friend now, and time and time again I have been blown away by her kindness, by the love and generosity both she and her husband, Himself, have shown me. Shes endlessly supportive of other writers, always trying to lift other Irish women up, using her voice to amplify theirs. And so I want to use my platform to say this: Marian Keyess new novel, Grown Ups, is out this week. It is, to my mind, one of her very best. If youve never read her before, start here. She is a national treasure and we are lucky to have her. LOUISE SAYS READ: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes. The Caseys are a glamourous family, using any opportunity they can to spend time together. But at a birthday party, one careless remark threatens to unravel all the lies theyve been telling, the secrets theyve been keeping from one another. Its wise, empathetic, and compassionate; Marian Keyes at her best. I absolutely loved it. LISTEN: Im so excited that the brilliant Louise McSharry finally has her own chat show she was born to do this. Tune into 2fm on Saturdays from 9 11am. The coronavirus appears to be spreading at a rapid clip around the globe, with thousands of new confirmed cases and dozens of new deaths surfacing in recent days. The virus, now considered a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, is wreaking havoc on travel, the economy, and now weddings, too. According to the BBC, Joseph Yew and his wife, Kang Ting, had just returned to their home in Singapore after a trip to China a few days prior to their wedding. Although their family and friends were excited for the couple to tie the knot, they werent as thrilled to attend with two people who may now be carrying the coronavirus. So, the couple came up with a plan: Rather than attend their own wedding, theyd allow guests to enjoy the day while they livestreamed into the event from a safe distance. "We wanted to postpone the wedding, but the hotel was not willing to, the couple said in an interview with the BBC. They said everything had been arranged and it was non-negotiable. So we felt like we had no choice but to proceed with the wedding." The couple then told their family about their plan to teleconference into the event, saying many of their guests were "shocked" with the choice. "I think if we had been there, the atmosphere would be different. People would have been wary, Yew said. "My parents were not [happy about it] at first, but they eventually agreed." As for the event, the couple said they were not sad, but rather just a bit disappointed to not be able to attend in person. "We thanked the guests for coming and told them to enjoy the dinner," Yew said. "I think there were no other options, so [I have] no regrets." While some fears about the virus are valid, there are many untruths circling the web. Take a look at our guide to coronavirus, including which countries are impacted, how airlines and cruises are responding, what you can do to stay safe, and more. Last month The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald faced criminal charges for breaking cybersecurity laws in Brazil. Now a judge has dismissed the hacking charges, linked to six people who allegedly stole information from the phones of public officials and judges. His outlet published excerpts of a group chat allegedly showing coordination between the judge and prosecutors working on a corruption investigation. The Intercept reports that the judge's dismissal is "for now," with an indication that if a previous injunction by a Supreme Court minister blocking investigation of the journalist were overturned, charges could be refiled. As it stands, the other six people will still face charges of alleged hacking to obtain the messages. In a statement, Greenwald said, "this ruling, while good, is insufficient as a protection of core press freedom. We will continue reporting and will also go to the Supreme Court for an even stronger ruling." As the reported number of coronavirus infections in China grew beyond 34,000, NVIDIA announced that it will not send employees to the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain this year. According to the company, "Given public health risks around the coronavirus, ensuring the safety of our colleagues, partners and customers is our highest concern...We've been looking forward to sharing our work in AI, 5G and vRAN with the industry. We regret not attending, but believe this is the right decision." The list of organizations passing on MWC under the current circumstances now includes NIVIDIA along with Ericsson and LG. While Spain only confirmed its first case of the virus a week ago, some are deciding that without a vaccine and more information about the virus, which has killed more than 720 people, they'd rather stay home. MWC 2020 between February 24th and 27th, and the GSMA said in a statement that "It is of great importance to the GSMA to continue to convene the industry at this critical time where connectivity is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. Advocating across the industry through government and ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders has never been more critical." 'The GSMA continues to monitor and assess the potential impact of the Coronavirus on MWC Barcelona 2020 as the health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees and staff are of paramount importance." CCTV footage showed the men ransacking a woman's flat while she is left defenceless (Picture: Met Police) An east London gang who robbed sex workers at knife-point after forcing their way into their homes have been jailed. Four men were convicted of seven robberies against nine female victims carried out across London over a seven-month period in 2018. Erlandos Vyte, 24, on all but one occasion would call up to book an appointment, then when the escort opened the door the other men Robertas Zilionas, 21, Jospin Ble, 23, and Joshua Coke, 21, would force their way in and rob the victim. Vyte pleaded guilty to nine counts of robbery, while his three co-defendants were all found guilty by the jury on December 6 following the conclusion of the six-week trial. He was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in jail. Zilionas, 21, was found guilty of five counts and jailed for 14 years. Ble, 23, was also found guilty of five counts, and sentenced to 12 years. Coke, 21, was guilty of one count and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Joshua Coke was part of the gang (Picture: Met Police) The women were tied up with items the men came equipped with or found at their homes. The sex workers were often threatened with knives before their cards, money, phones and other personal possessions were stolen. Police say the attacks left many of the victims with "lasting psychologically damaging effects". One of the women said she recalled shaking violently during the robbery, suffering a panic attack as the robbers ransacked the flat. She said: Before this happened I was happy with the work I was doing, but now every time, I am aware of the risk and worry both of us have changed drastically the way we work. She added that even hearing the same foreign accent of the men who attacked them in a bar triggers such fear it can cause them to have to leave the vicinity. Jospin Ble was also jailed (Picture: Met Police) The men targeted seven locations, starting in June 2018 in Westminster, followed by three robberies on the Isle of Dogs and Hackney in October 2018. In December 2018, they moved onto Kensington, while the final two robberies were carried out in Tower Hamlets. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Story continues Three men stabbed within minutes of each other in separate London incidents Rapist photographer who lured models to studio with fake website is jailed Passengers escape unhurt after bus has roof 'peeled open like bean can' Detectives managed to track down the robbers from just one lead, a fragment of a latex glove left by Ble. This led to managing to track and analyse 327,000 separate lines of phone data as well as many hours of CCTV footage. The four men were arrested from January to May 2019 and charged. CCTV footage showed the men ransacking a woman's flat while she is left defenceless against her armed attackers. Robertas Zilionis was part of the east London gang (Picture: Met Police) Erlandos Vyte would call up to book an appointment with the women (Picture: Met Police) Detective Sergeant Patrick Allen, said: "These crimes were committed by a ruthless group of men armed with knives who targeted lone vulnerable women [working] in their own homes. "They attacked these women believing they would not report the incidents to police due to fear, embarrassment or the belief that the women would just see this as an occupational hazard. "They were wrong, and I'd like to praise those women that did come forward. I would like to assure those women and men involved in the escort trade that no matter what work you do if you make an allegation of crime it will be taken seriously and robustly investigated by the Met. Related: Man Jailed for 16 Years for Brutal Machete Attack on Police Officer MANCHESTER, NHFormer Vice-President Joe Biden has been telling his supporters here in New Hampshire, We took a gut punch in Iowa. True enough; a week ago, he was the presumptive favourite in the Democratic partys presidential nomination contest. Now he appears to be struggling to keep his hopes alive after a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. But then again, the whole party took a gut punch in Iowa. The showcase contest there on Monday, kicking off the entire nomination process to determine who gets to take on President Donald Trump later this year, derailed when the announcement of the results dragged on for days due to a software failure. Four days after the caucuses were held, its still unclear who won. (Bernie Sanders seems to have won the popular vote, while he and upstart Pete Buttigieg are a toss-up for the delegate lead.) Some numbers are disputed. There is talk of a recanvas and there are calls for the resignation of the head of the party. President Donald Trump has been crowing about the dissarray of his opponents. And right now, the projection website FiveThrtyEight.com says a brokered convention, in which no candidate secures a majority of delegates at the end of the primary process, is the second most likely result (after a Sanders victory). Which means that as the rain fell Friday night in New Hampshire and the candidates gathered at St. Anselm Colleges arena for a televised debate, the stakes were high. They always are, during the primary here. Iowas first-in-the-nation caucus usually provides a Field of Dreams for the candidates, just as one of its corn fields did for Kevin Costners character in the magical movie of the same name. They campaign up close and personal with voters for most of a year, and previously unknown candidates, such as Buttigieg ,can use it as a launching pad to national prominence. But then comes New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary a week later, where the license plates bearing the state motto outline what can happen to a campaign from here: Live free or die. The free part may be superfluous. The trail of dreams that died here may begin with Lyndon Johnson in 1968, a sitting president laid low by an underperformance against an anti-war candidate. For those dreams that live on, the resonant memory is of Bill Clintons Comeback Kid performance second place in 1992, which revived the future presidents fortunes in the middle of a scandal. It isnt that those who win in New Hampshire always go on to be the nominee (just ask past surprise Republican winner Pat Buchanan, or the 2016 Democratic winner Bernie Sanders). But what happens in New Hampshire shapes the race. Among Democrats, the eventual nominee has placed first or second here in every primary since 1972. This year, Biden and Elizabeth Warren seem particularly vulnerable after finishing fourth and third, respectively, in Iowa. While both hope to be the New Hampshire Comeback Kid of this cycle, it gets much harder for them to recover with a second weak showing. Biden has long been counting on strong support from the Black community of South Carolina, which votes later this month, but it isnt certain that support will withstand a prolonged fall from frontrunner status. Buttigieg, meanwhile, has to demonstrate that his success in Iowa wasnt a flash-in-the-pan; as the least known of the major candidates and someone who has had trouble drawing support among non-white voters so far, he needs to cement his frontrunner status and build a sense of momentum. Sanders hopes to turn his movement-based campaign into a steamroller. A convincing win could start to give his campaign a feeling of inevitability. Sanders is the only candidate that has drawn vocal opposition from the Democratic establishment represented by Hillary Clinton, who, again, Friday, was discussing why she thought he was a bad candidate. He is the one who scares prominent moderate former Republicans such as David Frum and Tom Nichols, who have long vowed to vote Democrat, but have warned centrists will stay home rather than vote for Sanders. But hes also the candidate who has inspired the most enthusiastic following among younger voters. On the way into New Hampshire, I talked with a 29-year-old Latino lawyer (who I wont name because he works for a government agency), who says he gets all his news from YouTube and Instagram and is jealous of Canadian healthcare. Hes been donating $30 a month to Sanders since he announced his candidacy. He flatly said he wouldnt vote in the general election if someone such as Biden is the nominee. Even though Trump is the alternative? I asked. He said he and others of his generation, in his estimation, would rather burn it all to the ground, if the American party of the left cant stomach a genuinely progressive candidate such as Sanders. Voters wholl stay home if Sanders is the nominee; other voters wholl stay home if he isnt. Potential gut punches for the Democratic party either way. But first it needs to recover from the one it suffered this week in Iowa. In New Hampshire over the next few days, it will try. Read more about: DefExpo 2020 has shattered all records of international cooperation and will prove to be a breakthrough in the field of Indian defence manufacturing sector, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday at the concluding function of the five-day event here. Singh, who is also a Member of Parliament from Lucknow, asserted that it was not just the success for Uttar Pradesh but also a realisation of fulfilment of all countrymen's aspirations towards defence. "I am feeling immensely proud of the successful organising of the biggest DefExpo. This expo is a breakthrough in the field of Indian defence manufacturing, which has broken all records of peoples participation, private-public participation and international cooperation," he said. "This expo has shown that the new India is ready to march ahead, matching steps with the superpowers in this field. This is a clarion call that the future will be that of India. In the times to come, our country will emerge as a major centre of global defence manufacturing," the defence minister said. Stating that during the DefExpo he had the chance to hold bilateral talks with the defence ministers of different countries, Singh said it also become a platform for improving India's defence cooperation with other countries and having dialogues on issues of mutual cooperation. "During this expo, over 200 MoUs and agreements were signed. These agreements have made a sort of new history. This expo has been so successful that representatives of other countries praised it during their talks with me," he said. "Participation of over 3,000 delegates from all over the world is a big thing. Their presence made this event even more attractive. Our country will not only be self-reliant in the field of defence but will also become an exporter. This DefExpo will have a major contribution in achieving this feat," the minister said. Congratulating Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his team for the successful holding of the expo, Rajnath Singh said his government has proved that "UP stands for 'Unlimited Potential'". "This event has provided an international identity to Lucknow. Not only at national level but also at international level, Lucknow has become a topic of discussion," he said. "The expo besides being an opportunity was also a challenge for us. It is a matter of happiness that along with the defence ministry, our team in Uttar Pradesh has successfully organised this event," Singh said. The defence minister said that the world's perception towards Uttar Pradesh has changed and that is the "biggest achievement". "We have managed to get a very solid base for the defence corridor which is coming up in the state." Uttar Pradesh Industry Minister Satish Mahana, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman R Madhavan also addressed the event. Winners of a photo competition organised during the expo were also felicitated and a coffee table book on Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor was also released on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amritsar Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has ordered the charge-sheeting of medical superintendent Dr Prempal Singh of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital, Majitha Road, for absence from duty. The minister had paid a surprise visit to the hospital on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the minister, along with civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal and senior medical officer (SMO) of Amritsar civil hospital Dr Arun Sharma, held a meeting with medical officers across blocks of the city and inspected facilities at the civil hospital. Dr Prempal did not attend this meeting. We have been receiving complaints about the functioning of the ESI Hospital and its staff. When I reached the ESI hospital, no one there knew about the whereabouts of the MS, with the SMO claiming that he was in Patiala to attend a conference. We will file a charge-sheet against the MS for being absent from his duties, as he needed to inform the authorities before leaving station, Sidhu said. Dr Prempal claimed, I wasnt absent from duty, but had gone to Patiala to attend a conference of doctors. I can prove this with evidence. If my bosses still doubt my performance, I will resign. After the civil hospital inspection, the minister directed the hospital to stock every medicine to ensure patients did not have to buy these from outside. The hospital could purchase medicines for patients from user charges also, the minister added. . . , ... Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign stop at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4, 2020. Seven Democrats vying to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020 appeared on the Manchester, New Hampshire, stage Friday night, just days before that state's crucial primary election. Four candidates in the primary race were not on the stage, however: former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. But Bloomberg, the multibillionaire who arrived late to the race, became part of the discussion when Sen. Elizabeth Warren bashed him over the piles of cash he's spent on his campaign so far. Asked why she believed she was a better fit than Bloomberg to beat Trump, Warren said, "I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into nomination or to be president of the United States." The line scored a round of applause from the crowd. And Warren added in an apparent dig at former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg as she continued. "I don't think any billionaire ought to be able to do it, and I don't think people who suck up to billionaires in order to fund their campaigns ought to do it," she said. Warren had previously blasted Buttigieg, who claimed victory in the Iowa caucus this week, for holding a ritzy fundraising event inside a "wine cave" a moment that quickly went viral. Bloomberg will not appear on any ballots until Super Tuesday. But he is rising in the polls after dumping hundreds of millions of dollars into his campaign. He even bought a 60-second Super Bowl ad, one of the priciest time slots on television. Bloomberg has piled money into states that hold their primaries on March 3, Super Tuesday. The slate of 14 primaries includes the delegate-rich California and Texas. Asked after the debate what kind of support he expects Bloomberg to get on Super Tuesday, Bernie Sanders advisor Jeff Weaver contended voters would oppose the former mayor's strategy of ignoring the first four nominating states and funneling money into later contests. "I think Democratic voters are going to be sort of repulsed by that kind of politics when the time comes," he said. His efforts appear to be paying off: Bloomberg has surpassed multiple other candidates, according to RealClearPolitics' polling average, and he is seen in betting markets as the most likely candidate to beat Trump in a general election. Other candidates at the debate piled on Bloomberg when they got the chance. "I can't stand the big money in politics," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, tore into Bloomberg's strategy as "nonsense." He called for moving the U.S. to a system of "public funding of elections." CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. (Newser) Harvey Weinstein's defense lawyer has kicked up a hornet's nest by saying she "would never put herself" in the position of being sexually assaulted, the New York Post reports. "I have not because I would never put myself in that position," Donna Rotunno told New York Times reporter Megan Twohey on the Times podcast, The Daily, which aired Friday. "I've always made choices from college-age on where I never drank too much, I never went home with someone I didn't know, I just never put myself in any vulnerable circumstance ever." Rotunno denied that all sexual-assault victims were partly responsible, but Fox News quotes her as saying that "we have created a society of celebrity victimhood status. ... a society where women don't have to take responsibility for their actions." story continues below Prosecutors argued in court Friday that Rotunno had violated an explicit order from Judge James Burke about publicly discussing the case, per BuzzFeed. "She's calling our witnesses liars and celebrity victimhood status, and it is completely in contradiction to your order," prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said after the jury had been allowed to leave. Totunno said the interview was done "a long time ago," before the case began, and she "had no idea" it would air Friday, the day after prosecutors rested their case. There's no record of the judge's response, but a Times spokeswoman says Rotunno's interview was recorded on Jan. 28well after the trial began Jan. 7and she was "made aware of the air date." (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.) We are talking about post-peace when the peace is not yet known, Mr. Andarabi said. When it comes to polices professionalization, I have no doubt the fight is really impacting it. Mr. Andarabi, 39, a systems and data man who spent a decade in the countrys spy agency before he was moved to lead the interior ministry, was part of a young team brought in last year to shake up a corrupt bureaucracy that was losing on the battlefield. The team largely delivered on its immediate task holding ground in the face of what amounted to the highest number of Taliban attacks in a decade. But in a sign of how distrusted and depleted the regular police forces had become, the ministry had to draw heavily on the elite special forces. From the police chiefs of half of the countrys 34 provinces up to the countrys top cop, all were replaced with young special forces officers who are more used to leading commando raids in enemy territory than the patient work of community policing. To aid their fight, Mr. Andarabi has introduced improvements. They include assigning remote police outposts GPS technology to help in resupplying them (and avoiding being mistakenly bombed by the United States), and bringing more accountability to the forces use of munition, fuel and food. He initiated a 2,500-strong internal security unit tasked with watching over the police, long seen as corrupt, and starting detailed files on each officer around the country. But all that was mostly to try to stop the bleeding on the battlefield and establish basic accountability. Mr. Andarabi also believed that it was time to improve the forces crime-fighting, too. Even as more major Pa. cities decriminalize marijuana, police dont seem to be getting the message, a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer shows. This, as 21,789 people were arrested in 2019 and charged for possessing less than 30 grams (just over an ounce) of cannabis, the Inquirer wrote, citing preliminary data released by the Pennsylvania State Police. And while that marks a nearly 11% decline from the record 24,305 pot busts in 2018, the 2019 total tops the number of petty pot busts in 2014 - the year before Pennsylvanias largest cities began passing ordinances decriminalizing marijuana, the Inquirer noted. Were still arresting more people than we did 10 years ago, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman told the newspaper. Its lunacy. Patrick Nightingale, a cannabis law attorney and advocate in Pittsburgh, told the Inquirer police are simply ignoring the move to decriminalize pot. Its because police in many of those cities dont follow the decriminalization statutes, Nightingale said. The statutes are not binding on police or the District Attorneys Offices. Theyre voluntary. Police can still make arrests at their discretion. Background from the Inquirer report: City councils in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, and most recently Norristown have all officially decriminalized possession of a small amounts of marijuana. However, those city ordinances cant repeal state or federal law. So even if a municipality passes a decriminalization ordinance, state law still says possession is illegal and a person can be arrested. As a result, the pot busts go on almost unabated, the stats show. READ MORE: Woman found in blood-soaked blanket; man accused of imprisoning her for sex: Pa. cops Pause for a cause: No one wakes up saying, Im going to kill somebody with my car Finger gun by Down syndrome girl, 6, triggers Pa. school to call cops, mom says Cards 4 Haley: Strangers touched by story of girl run over by tractor show their big hearts I heard him yelp: Pa. dog on leash killed with bow and arrow in backyard Pa. judge accused of calling black juror Aunt Jemima Coronavirus threat at Pa. college after 1 of its students who visited China gets sick Unsafe conditions ahead: Phuket Rajabhat University student project runner up for road safety goals Phuket Rajabhat University student project was selected as one of ten finalists in a Creative Ideas competition in order to reduce the number of car accidents in Thailand. The competition was hosted by Roojai.com, Thailands leading online car insurance provider. CommunityEducation By Khunanya Wanchanwet Saturday 8 February 2020, 11:00AM Students preparing for Roojai.coms Road to The Future The idea contest titled Roojai.coms Road to The Futurecampaign invited university students from across Thailand to propose how technology can be used to reduce road traffic incidents and improve Thailands status as one of the worlds most dangerous driving environments together with the aim of bringing fresh ideas on how to drive more safely while embracing the objectives of Thailands 4.0 national digital initiative. The selected idea under the name Knows Well was presented by three members of Easy Normal team, from Phuket Rajabhat University: Mr Koonnatham Kengkaew, Miss Nitiya Thipthapthai, and Mr Eua-angkul Khwansrisut. All three are second-year students majoring in Faculty of Management Science. After reviewing accident reports, the team found that road conditions such as potholes, roadside debris, drainage grates, and other such obstacles, are a leading cause of accidents. The team proposed a solution by affixing a smart camera with artificial intelligence which would evaluate the terrain and warn the driver of the upcoming conditions in advance to reduce the speed and take evasive manoeuvres. New Media Creativity lecturer for Communication Arts course, PhD Suthasinee Nirattimanon, explained that she presented her students idea to this competition, as it related to the course. I submitted all ideas from the ten student teams in my class, and one was selected to be among the ten finalists. I want my students to apply what they have learned towards inventing new products or even just to develop existing concepts, she said. Additionally, the finalists were selected to attend a workshop earlier this month (Jan 11-12) at Roojai.coms head office in Sriracha, Chonburi and take part in the road safety lecture conducted by the Department of Highways. They were able to learn and develop their ideas with public and private sector industry professionals from the Department of Highway, G-Able; ION Go developer and Toyota Tsusho Nexty Electronics, the good driving behaviour app and staff of G-Able Co Ltd, which created iON Go application, and future technology for cars by Toyota Tsusho Co Ltd. Each group of students presented their final work and were assessed by these experts. The criteria included creativity, practicality and effectiveness of their ideas and solutions, as well as their presentation quality and teamwork. Winners were awarded B100,000 for first place, B50,000 for second place, and B30,000 for third place, along with the opportunity to have their idea developed with the support from Roojai.com. Awards were given on Sunday (Jan 12). Camlife team from Prince of Songkla University placed first receiving the B100,000. In second place was The Blank team of Mahidol University, receiving B50,000, and in third place was VoodooCam team from Bangkok University, winning B30,000 respectively. Professor Nirattimanon said of her students, Even if they didnt win, Im so proud of my students to be selected as the top ten among the 42 creative ideas presented from every part of the country. It could be great if someone can make their idea happen she explained. Roojai.com founder and CEO Nicholas Faquet explained his company is very focused on improving road safety in Thailand and thus the objective of this competition is to raise awareness of road safety and to encourage young people in academia to solve these problems together. According to the WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018, road traffic deaths in Thailand ranked 9th in the world, ranking the highest in ASEAN for traffic death rate, with 32.7 deaths every 100,000 people. Road traffic injury is now the leading cause of death for children and young adults. Mr Faquet said, Road safety is our priority and Roojai.com would like to play our part in reducing accidents and making roadways safer for people. Its inspiring to see young people create solutions that are useful for their communities. In addition, we are grateful to the experts who take the time to join and share useful information. The contest goals are to find the best ideas and solutions to make the roads safer and an opportunity for us to find new talents. In addition, we would like to create a platform for Thai students to show their skills and to raise awareness of road safety for young generations, said Mr Faquet. Mr Faquet further explained that Roojai.com, being a car insurance operator, has a vested interest in road safety and seeks to reduce the number of car accidents to make Thai roads safer for all motorists, and was quite pleased to see the number of young people who came together to work on road safety solutions. Orson Bean, the free-spirited television, stage and film comedian who stepped out of his storybook life to found a progressive school, move to Australia, give away his possessions and wander around a turbulent America in the 1970s as a late-blooming hippie, was killed in a traffic accident on Friday in Venice, Calif. He was 91. His death was confirmed on Saturday by the Los Angeles County coroners office. Capt. Brian Wendling of the Los Angeles Police Department said Mr. Bean was struck by a car while crossing the street. Early in his career, in the 1950s and 60s, Mr. Bean, a subtle comic who looked like a naive farm boy, was ubiquitous on TV. He popped up on all the networks as an ad-libbing game-show panelist (a mainstay on To Tell the Truth), a frequent guest of Jack Paar and Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, a regular on drama anthology shows and, in 1954, the host of his own CBS variety show, The Blue Angel. He also starred on and off Broadway, made Hollywood films, founded a society of Laurel and Hardy aficionados, amassed a fortune and was blacklisted briefly as a suspected Communist. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE While debate on the issue simmers at the Roundhouse, most New Mexico adults continue to support legalizing recreational marijuana use and taxing its sales, a new Journal Poll has found. Sixty-one percent of adults surveyed over the last week said they support New Mexico becoming the 12th state in the nation to legalize cannabis, while 33% said they oppose the idea. The rest either had mixed feelings or declined to answer. The biggest predictor on New Mexicans feelings about marijuana legalization was age, as those ages 18 to 49 were far more likely to support the idea than those ages 50 and older. Theres a big divide based on age, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc., which conducted the poll. Attitudes toward marijuana legalization are definitely generational. New Mexicans who identified as Democrats were also far more likely than Republicans to support legalizing recreational pot use. Meanwhile, the Journal Poll also found that New Mexicans were still more likely to support legalizing marijuana when asked whether they preferred legalization, decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis or neither option. When presented with those three options, 54% said they preferred legalization, 23% said they preferred decriminalization and 17% said they opposed both options. New Mexico already has a decriminalization law on its books, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last year signed into law a bill that made possession of up a half-ounce of marijuana a civil offense punishable with a $50 fine. Overall support for marijuana legalization in New Mexico has increased steadily in recent years. Just 44% of voters supported the idea in a September 2014 poll, but that figure increased to 60% support in a Journal Poll conducted in September 2018. Sanderoff said that trend matches a national shift on the issue of legalizing marijuana over the past several decades. Its just one of those social issues that has gained support in New Mexico and nationally over time, he said. The Journal Poll found that support for legalizing cannabis was highest in north-central New Mexico which includes Santa Fe but residents of all regions of the state were more likely to support legalization than oppose it. In addition, 25% of those surveyed said they had used marijuana in the past year. Facing long odds Proposals to legalize recreational marijuana have made incremental progress at the Roundhouse in recent years but have all stalled before reaching the governors desk. A bill filed during this years 30-day session has cleared one Senate committee but has languished for more than a week in its second assigned committee. With less than two weeks left in the session, it appears to be facing long odds to win final approval due to opposition from Republican lawmakers and some moderate Democrats. But that hasnt deterred Lujan Grisham, who has made the bill one of her top session priorities, arguing that legalizing recreational cannabis would immediately create 11,000 jobs and generate tax dollars that could be used on public safety programs. Were fighting to get it done this year, Dominic Gabello, the governors senior policy adviser, told reporters during a briefing last week. Among other components, this years bill calls for state-level licensing, expunging marijuana possession convictions from individuals criminal records and giving local governments some authority to determine where cannabis dispensaries could be located. Although tax rates would vary by city and county, the average statewide tax rate would be about 20%, backers say. However, critics say legalizing marijuana could erode drug-free workplace policies, increase crime rates and lead to more impaired drivers on the states roadways. Polling information The Journal Poll is based on a scientific, statewide sample of 515 New Mexico adults that is representative of the age, gender, race and geographical region of the states adult population. The poll was conducted from Jan. 31 through Feb. 4. The voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples. All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone. Both cellphone numbers (75%) and landlines (25%) of New Mexico adults were used. Poll results: Legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana sales by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd Three Tauranga nurses who were inspired by a grassroots healthcare programme in Bangladesh are fundraising to see its continuation. Lyn Elliot travelled with Nerida Galley and Marie Monk to Bangladesh early last year to volunteer at the Kailakuri healthcare project. They spent five weeks providing healthcare at the rudimentary facility. It was incredible, says Lyn. They do the most incredible work. Kailakuri was established more than 40 years ago by Whakatane physician Dr Edric Baker with the intention of teaching locals how to care for themselves. He began by treating patients and handpicked some to train as barefoot paramedics medics with no formal training or education. Lyn says she frequently saw severe burns caused by womens saris catching on fire while cooking over open pits. She also saw countless diabetic patients with injuries that would normally warrant amputation. They preferred that we try to heal them so they could continue working, Lyn says. They cannot afford the operation or the prosthesis. They are very brave people. Nerida says she knew what she was getting herself into with Kailakuri and has previously spent time in India doing similar work. Its a privilege to serve the very poor and treat them with dignity and respect. The project survives on the generosity of others, like that of a physician from Bangladeshs top diabetic centre. He was moved by Edrics devotion to his patients and promised to supply Kailakuri with insulin for his lifetime. The physician has since died and his daughter, also a physician, continues to honour the agreement. Kailakuri also receives aid from a plastic surgeon who often visits the clinic and will operate on patients free of charge at his hospital overnight. Edric died in 2015 at Kailakuri and is survived by the clinics success. The clinic today sees up to 150 patients a day and more than 44,000 a year. Around 95 per cent of the project is funded by donations, which Lyn says they desperately need more of now. On February 15 at 7pm the movie Soldiers Without Guns will be screened at Wesley Church Main Hall as a fundraiser. Admission costs $10 and all proceeds will be donated to the Kailakuri Project. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 8, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org has released a new blog post that explains how to compare car insurance prices and track the best deals on the insurance market Buying auto insurance is necessary for every driver. Without a legal insurance policy, drivers are not allowed to legally drive, and if they are caught driving without insurance, they can face severe penalties. Finding affordable online car insurance is not that hard for drivers that know what they have to do. Gone are the days when drivers had to travel from one insurance agency to another in order to find insurance quotes to compare. Policyholders had to waste days in order to get a few insurance quotes to compare. Nowadays, drivers can send all their details and receive an answer in just a few minutes. That's one of the advantages offered by online insurance quotes. Also, online quotes are a more attractive option since they are free. 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On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, please visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org/. "Brokerage websites will help drivers find affordable auto insurance in no time," said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing Company Person for contact Name: Gurgu C Phone Number: (818) 359-3898 Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/575798/Best-Car-Insurance-2020-How-to-Find-Affordable-Car-Insurance Photo credit: Getty Images/NMNH Photo Services From Town & Country We will all (or is this just me?) be focused on red carpet Oscar jewelry choices on Sunday. But how did those diamonds and emeralds and the odd tourmaline end up being a Ryan Seacrest question in the first place? It was Katharine Hepburn. Harry Winston helped. Hepburn wore fifteen 17th-century emeralds and 374 diamonds on the red carpet in 1947 in the form of a necklace Harry Winston let her borrow for the evening. It was an historic piece, one that is now on exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. They call it the Spanish Inquisition necklace though no one knows exactly why; it has nothing to do with that chapter in history. But it did perhaps at one point belong to Spanish royalty. The fifteen prized Colombian emeralds were shipped back to Spain by conquistadors; they were cut and polished in India; and before Harry Winston owned it, the necklace belonged to the Maharajah of Indore. (Winston toured the piece in its famous Court of Jewels traveling exhibition of rare jewels, including the Hope Diamond, in the early 1950s and sold the Spanish necklace to Pittsburghs Cora Hubbard Williams in 1955. She bequeathed it to the Smithsonian in 1972.) Photo credit: NMNH Photo Services Hepburn in a rare, museum-worthy necklace would certainly make news, and Instagram feeds, todayhistoric jewels like Lady Gagas Tiffany Diamond last year, or 2000s Hillary Swank in a nineteenth century diamond Asprey bib that once belonged to Queen Victorias daughters, tend to do thatbut in the 1940s, Winstons loan to Hepburn signaled a seismic shift in the relationship between Hollywood and jewelry. The idea of the jewelry loan to a celebrity for a red carpet appearance, now standard practice and the cornerstone of an industry, was a novel one then. And Harry Winston, who pioneered red carpet jewelry loans with this emerald necklace and with jewelry for actress Jennifer Jones's appearance at the 1944 Oscars, is still at it. Now, when a Winston piece appears, you have some jewelry trivia to share. You Might Also Like Inequitable medicare reimbursements threaten care of most vulnerable Hospitals, doctors and Medicare Advantage insurance plans that care for some of the most vulnerable patients are not reimbursed fairly by Medicare, according to recent findings in JAMA. It costs more to care for patients who are frail, have dementia, are depressed or are poor. However providers that treat them and health insurance plans that provide their coverage are not paid fairly to treat these health conditions because Medicare doesn't account for them in its existing risk payment system. That system rates patients based upon how sick they are, which determines Medicare reimbursements. "While it's an unintended consequence of the current Medicare payment policy, those who are among the most vulnerable are less likely to get the care that they need," said Kenton Johnston, Ph.D., assistant professor of health management and policy at Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, and lead author of the paper. "This disparity has already created an incentive for providers and plans to avoid treating Medicare beneficiaries with those conditions." Medicare compensates health insurance plans in Medicare Advantage and medical providers under value-based payment models based on how sick their patients are, which is measured by a risk score. Because patients who have higher risk scores cost more to treat than those with lower scores, Medicare pays insurance plans and providers more to treat them. In this paper, Johnston highlighted a problem with Medicare payments. Medicare does not include frailty, dementia, depression or poverty in its risk scores even though patients with those conditions are sicker and costlier to treat. Johnston and his co-authors Julie P. W. Bynum, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., assistant professor of cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, recommend an easy fix to correct the disparity. Medicare should include patient frailty, dementia, depression and poverty in its risk scores - conditions for which there are standard diagnosis codes that clinicians can enter at the time they treat patients. Medicare has resisted the change, Johnston said, arguing clinicians and facilities might over-code those conditions to increase their reimbursement. "That can be addressed through existing fraud procedures that Medicare already has in place. A clinician who codes a patient for those conditions when the patient does not have the conditions is committing Medicare fraud and can be penalized," Johnston said. "It is unfair to clinicians, facilities and plans that do treat patients with those conditions to not reimburse them fairly for their services." ### The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the College offers nationally recognized programs in public health, social work, health administration, applied behavior analysis, and criminology and criminal justice. This story has been published on: 2020-02-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Coronavirus is disrupting meat shipments to China as the country faces a shortage due to an outbreak of a fatal pig disease, Tyson Foods Inc and U.S. agricultural groups said on Thursday. An outbreak of African swine fever, which infects only pigs, has decimated Chinas herd, pushing Chinese pork prices to record highs and increasing the need for meat imports. However, coronavirus - which has killed 563 people so far - is keeping consumers and workers at home in China, delaying purchases at stores and restaurants and slowing the unloading of products at ports. The disruption exasperates Beijings efforts to ensure adequate meat supplies and the plans of global companies like Tyson and JBS SA to profit from the shortage. The dual disease outbreaks also highlight the problems facing import-dependant China in its efforts to feed its population. Theres been disruptions at the ports, Tyson Chief Executive Noel White said on a call with analysts. That has skewed shipments, receivals. China has increased meat imports from the United States, Europe and Brazil as African swine fever has killed up to half its pigs since August 2018. Beijing pledged to increase purchases of U.S. farm goods in an initial trade deal last month, raising traders expectations for more pork shipments. China also eased restrictions on U.S. beef imports and in November lifted a ban on U.S. poultry meat shipments. But coronavirus has clouded the outlook for Chinese demand, White said, as cities have been quarantined. He said Tyson is still shipping meat to China and has orders on its books. Once we get past the coronavirus incident, whenever that might be, I do think there is going to be very strong demand, he said. Meat is shipped to China in refrigerated containers that must be plugged into electrical outlets once they are offloaded to keep products cold. Importing companies normally receive containers as they arrive, freeing up space for others. But several Chinese ports are at capacity on space for refrigerated containers and outlets because few receivers are picking them up, said Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. Shanghai and Xingang have reported 100% utilization of available plugs, he said. Meat shippers are also scrambling, selling to other countries or shipping to other Chinese ports, Friedmann said. Things are really getting bad over there, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council President Jim Sumner said. She's a world famous supermodel. And Stella Maxwell proved to be more than just an ordinary model as she emerged from the sea wearing snorkeling goggles for a photo shoot in Miami, Florida on Friday night. The 29-year-old stunner flaunted her flawless frame wearing a skimpy black bikini as she posed for a few frames while the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean. Tan: Stella Maxwell proved to be more than just an ordinary model as she emerged from the sea wearing snorkeling goggles for a photo shoot in Miami, Florida on Friday night Maxwell's slender figure was on display in a small triangle top with straps tied across her shoulders and back. She showed off her toned and tanned torso in a pair of matching black bottoms as she made her way out of the water. Stella's dark blonde hair was partially tied back with wet tendrils cascading down her chest and back. Blessed: The 29-year-old stunner flaunted her flawless frame wearing a skimpy black bikini as she posed for a few frames while the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean Bold: Maxwell's slender figure was on display in a small triangle top with straps tied across her shoulders and back Stella donned a matching bucket hand and kept her hands in the pockets of a long skirt while waiting for the sunset. Maxwell wore thick black eyeliner around her baby blue eyes and a massive snorkel mask on her head. She took a break from standing in front of the lens and enjoyed a quick snack while wrapped up in a towel. Fashion: Stella donned a matching bucket hand and kept her hands in the pockets of a long skirt while waiting for the sunset Maxwell was just one of several to receive criticism for attending the MDL Beast Festival in December, including Sofia Richie, Winnie Harlow, Alessandra Ambrosio, Luka Sabbat, Armie Hammer and Ryan Phillippe. She, along with the star-studded roster, faced some backlash on social media from fans calling out the tone-deaf nature of such an event in Saudi Arabia. They cited last year's government-sanctioned murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi, the arrest of womens rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul and the outing of gay journalists, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death. A lot of restaurants have had to shut down, but Vietnam remains an attractive market in the eyes of many investors. Chu Hong Minh, chair of the Vietnam Restaurant Association, said many investors want to join the market but they lack information. It is estimated that there are 540,000 restaurants, bars and eateries throughout the country. This includes 400,000 small restaurants and eateries, 80,000 independent restaurants and restaurants in hotels, and others. Bars and cafes account for more than 13 percent of total shops and see the strongest growth. Many businesses from Asia, especially Singapore and Taiwan, where the culinary markets are stable, are interested in fast growing markets like Vietnam. It is estimated that there are 540,000 restaurants, bars and eateries throughout the country. This includes 400,000 small restaurants and eateries, 80,000 independent restaurants and restaurants in hotels, and others. The Restaurant Association of Singapore considers Vietnam the No 1 market. Soon after the association and the Vietnam Restaurant Association signed an MOU on cooperation, two Singaporean groups of businesses came to Vietnam to survey the market. Singaporean businesses have promised many different cooperation models, from franchising to contributing capital to settingup companies. But investors often lack necessary information to make decisions. Le Tan, secretary of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association said the success rate is just 20 percent The profitability rate in developing restaurants in Vietnam is low. The number of businesses joining the market and succeeding is also low. The success rate is just 20 percent. Many investors just follow the crowd when opening restaurants, and they do not make thorough preparation or have necessary knowledge to join the market. Other investors take on too many things and dont gather strength on the core business field, which is also a reason behind the failure. Duong Tan Hoai, president of Ngon (delicious) Chain said there are not many opportunities for shops which sell everything. Running eateries proves to be in high fashion at this moment. One and all want to run restaurants, bubble tea shops and cafes. But only 10 percent succeed, 20 percent make little profit, 20 percent sometimes can make profit and the remaining 50 percent have to shut down. In many cases, restaurants have to shut down just after several months of operation. They dont know how much capital they need, how many products they can sell and who their major customers are. Albert Kong, managing director of Asiawide Franchise Consultants Pte suggested that businesses do the things that rivals cannot do. Investors need to understand their strength, customers taste and their affordability before opening restaurants. I wouldnt open a cafe because there are too many cafes in the market. Pho is also popular. However, I would sell pho if I have special pho that my rivals dont have, he said. Kim Chi Restaurants lack customers after drink driving law tightened Restaurants are reporting a sharp fall in the number of customers after a few days the new fines on drink driving took effect. For those who could call Mary Christopher, Coolbawn, Ferns, their friend, her death in Wexford General Hospital on Saturday, January 25, evoked feelings of sadness. This was particularly true for her husband, Charles, and family members including her daughters, Theresa, Mary-Anne and Margaret, sons, Charles and Walter, and her extended family. Mary, who was 82, hailed from a well-known and respected family in the area; she was a daughter of the late Walter and Mary Carter. She was born on May 12, 1937, in Boar's Alley, Ferns, and was the youngest child in the Carter family. The family moved to live in 27 Coolbawn, Ferns, which became the family home for many years. In her younger years Mary worked for McEvoy solicitors, however, she gave up that position when she married Charles Christopher on Tuesday, January 27, 1959, in Ferns Old Church. The couple were married at 8 a.m. in the morning with Fr Michael Sinnott as Chief Celebrant. The best man was Sean (John) Christopher while the bridesmaid was Mary's sister, Theresa Carter. The wedding breakfast, at it was called back then, was in Murphy Flood's Hotel, Enniscorthy. Mary took on the role of homemaker and the couple were blessed with three daughters, Theresa, Mary-Anne and Margaret, and two sons, Charles and Walter. Mary welcomed nine grandchildren into the family and she also lived to see the arrival of 10 great-grandchildren. Family meant everything to her, however, she still managed to find the time to make her mark outside the family circle. A talented camogie player in her youth she was a member of the Ferns branch of the ICA, the Ferns Pioneer Association and also the local Ferns Church Choir. She was also an avid Liverpool FC fan. Knitting was another passion of Mary's and she created numerous Aran jumpers. She and Charles loved dancing and the two were placed in many dancing competitions over the years. Watching soaps on TV was another pastime Mary loved and in particular she ranked Fair City, Eastenders and Home & Away, among her favourites - watching them every day. Mary was a woman of many talents and cooking was one of them. She was renowned for her homemade bread and scones and no visitor ever left the house without getting a cup of tea. Mary was also a devout Christian and always attended mass and ceremonies in Ferns Church for many years. St Padre Pio, St Gerard and the Blessed Virgin were very important to her in her prayer life; she prayed to them everyday throughout her life. Mary loved company and always had a smile or kind word for everyone. Poignantly, her funeral took place on her and Charles' 61st wedding anniversary. The high regard in which she was held was underlined by the large gathering of mourners who congregated in Ferns Parish Church to comfort her husband, Charles, and her sorrowing family. Mary leaves behind her heartbroken husband, Charles, sons, Charles and Walter, daughters, Theresa, Mary-Anne and Margaret, daughters-in-law, Margaret and Linda, sons-in-law, Eamonn, James and Mikie; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, relatives and large circle of friends. Her funeral mass was conducted by Parish Priest, Fr Paddy Cushen, assisted by Fr Richard Redmond, with music and singing provided by Arthur Moynihan and David O'Connor. May her gentle soul rest in peace. GREENFIELD A retired Springfield police lieutenant invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when called to testify Friday in a hearing about evidence in the long-running Nathan Bills cop brawl case. Retired Springfield Police Lt. Thomas Kennedy appeared in Franklin Superior Court under a subpoena from an attorney for one of 15 defendants in the case. Kennedy was one of a dozen detectives conducting a criminal investigation into the fight in the summer of 2015. Defense lawyer Shawn Allyn, representing defendant Officer Daniel Billingsley, was expected to quiz Kennedy about photo arrays the police compiled for the alleged civilian victims, who said they were jumped outside by off-duty police officers after a verbal altercation inside the popular East Forest Park bar. Kennedy was also expected to answer a series of questions about video evidence from inside the bar that may or may not have been destroyed. Instead, Kennedy refused to answer any questions at all. My client is exercising his constitutional right to decline to testify, said his lawyer, William Bennett, a former longtime Hampden district attorney. Bennett declined to comment following Kennedys brief court appearance. Kennedy retired from the police department in 2016 and now works as an investigator in the Hampden district attorneys office. The majority of the defendants in the case are current or former Springfield police officers, plus two of the bars owners. Some are charged in connection with the fight itself while others are implicated in an alleged cover-up. The case was investigated jointly by the state attorney generals office and the FBI. At issue in a series of pretrial hearings in recent weeks before Judge Mark D. Mason is whether the cover-up defendants were properly advised by the government that they were at risk of being indicted, as opposed to merely being called as witnesses. While Assistant Attorney General Stephen Carley has argued all were informed of their respective exposures in the case, many defense attorneys have disputed this. The debate has yielded a cascade of motions by defendants seeking to get their charges tossed, which have been argued amid a tangle of other motions to dismiss, suppress evidence and postpone trial dates. Also testifying Friday was Boston attorney Stanley Wheatley, who represented perjury defendant Officer Joseph DAmour before his grand jury appearance in 2017. DAmour was a brand new patrolman still in training when he responded to the Nathan Bills disturbance. Subsequently, DAmour and others participated in interviews with the FBI, assistant attorneys general and state police before the grand jury session, Wheatley said. Wheatley testified that DAmour was prepared to cooperate with law enforcement. He said the interview felt collaborative and that he was stunned when DAmour was charged criminally. I remember saying to ... Carley that I cant believe you indicted this guy; he tried to cooperate. Thats the last time I do that. It made me look bad, Wheatley said under direct examination by DAmours defense lawyer, Michael Packard. During cross-examination, Assistant Attorney General Andrea Mauro suggested Wheatley lacked experience representing clients in criminal cases and it was he who dropped the ball by not protecting DAmours interests. Thats one of the reasons people retain attorneys, right? she asked. Following Wheatleys testimony, Paul Federico, who runs trivia nights at Nathan Bills, said some of the alleged victims in the case drunkenly hassled him and his girlfriend before they began arguing with off-duty police. They were being aggressive and inappropriate. ... I think they may have touched her, but Im not sure, Federico said, adding that he reported the exchanges to a bar manager, who asked the civilians to leave. Throughout the case, it has been hotly contested who started the fight, as men on both sides suffered injuries. The city paid out $885,000 in a civil settlement to the civilians in 2018. Capping a full day of pretrial hearings Friday, Mason denied a motion by the attorney generals office to delay the Nathan Bills trials by four months. They will begin March 30 in Hampden Superior Court. Virginia is not among the highest- or lowest-ranked states in terms of overall and juvenile incarceration rates and racial disparity in sentencing, according to data collected by the nonprofit Sentencing Project. But the commonwealth is an outlier in felony disenfranchisement. Only five other states let juries determine sentences, and no other state limits them as Virginia does in what they can know and how they can craft that punishment. Defense attorneys say the higher penalties juries must impose make going to trial too risky for even some innocent people. New York, Feb 8 : Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently visited the New York University and interacted with the students there. Kher spoke to the third year class in the Meisner Studio in the Department of Undergraduate Drama of the Tisch School of the Arts. He opened up about how films and acting happened to him and gave some valuable lessons to the students. "It was fantastic to speak to such brilliant students at New York University. They're all so bright and talented; it was a pleasure to share with them my experience at movies and the love for my craft. I hope it helps them in the long run," Kher said. Kher is currently seen playing Dr. Vijay Kapoor in medical drama "New Amsterdam" on NBC. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Flash As the Chinese government's effective response to the novel coronavirus outbreak has injected confidence into the business community, China's economy is expected to rebound rapidly after the epidemic, said Tan Kok Wai, the Malaysian government's special envoy to China. "China will rebound rapidly after the novel coronavirus outbreak burns itself out, because we are talking about a huge economy that is essential to the world's supply chain and in the long run this outbreak will seem to have a smaller and smaller impact," Tan told Xinhua in an interview on Friday. Tan praised the Chinese government's effective handling of the outbreak. Its efforts to mobilize resources to do everything from learning about the nature of the virus to the rapid construction of hospitals for those infected are a clear testament to the resilience of the Chinese government in doing what is right for the country, he said. More importantly are the implications for the economy from these solid responses, as that will build the confidence of the business community and push everyone from small businesses to state-owned companies to move beyond this temporary problem, he said. "The message is clear -- this will pass and it will be back to business as usual," he added. Tan is also confident that the relations and cooperation between Malaysia and China would emerge as stronger after the outbreak. China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years and accounted for 17.2 percent of Malaysia's total trade in 2019. Among the ever-closer cooperation and friendship, the China-Malaysia Year of Culture and Tourism 2020 is expected to bring more Chinese tourists to Malaysia, he said. "Despite the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak, with the administrative efficiency and capability of the Chinese government, we believe such an obstacle can be overcome in no time and the trade between both nations will recover with a higher peak within reach," he said. Since the outbreak, Malaysians have expressed genuine concern for the Chinese people, with Malaysian companies sending millions of medical gloves and the Malaysian people collecting aid and materials to be sent over, which demonstrates the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries, he said. "We are not just friends with China in good times, (but) we will offer whatever help we can in bad times as well," he said. Phillip Schofield has told fans how important their support had been. Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) Phillip Schofield has thanked those who lent their support to him after he bravely came out as gay on Friday morning in a lengthy post to Instagram. Taking to Instagram stories later on Friday, he told followers how he had read as many messages sent to him as possible, but that anyone else facing internal struggles should "talk to someone". "You will never know how important your support has been today," he wrote. "Ive read as much as I can. Please please, no matter your age or your thoughts TALK to someone. Read more: Phillip Schofield coming out is 'massive moment' for him and for society - Stonewall "Dont let your head beat you and hopefully youll find out that your friends & family have a remarkable ability to surprise you with their love and understanding." The 57-year-old finished the post with the hashtag "be kind" and included a rainbow and heart emoji in his message. It has also been reported that his daughter Molly Schofield has voiced support for her father on her Instagram account, which is currently set to private. Metro.co.uk reports that Molly posted a family photo which included both her parents and sister, writing alongside the image: "Love you always, so proud of you." She then tagged her father's Instagram account in the post. Stephanie Lowe (2nd L), Phillip Schofield (2nd R) and family attend the UK Premiere of "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald" at Cineworld Leicester Square on November 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Yesterday, after Schofield made the post to his social media channel he was then on This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby where he candidly opened up about his sexuality. He explained how speaking to others, including Willoughby, before his public coming-out had "brought [him] back from some dark places". Schofield shared: "All you can be in your life is honest with yourself and I was getting to the point where I knew I wasn't honest with myself. I was getting to the point where I didn't like myself very much because I wasn't being honest with myself." Story continues He has been married to wife Stephanie for 27 years and the pair share two daughters. In his statement, Schofield said his wife had been "incredible", describing her as the "kindest soul [he'd] ever met". Stephanie Lowe and Phillip Schofield attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) In his interview, he also explained how his mother had lovingly accepted his coming out after he went to visit her at her Cornwall home to tell her. Pat, 83, went on to praise her son's bravery in an interview with The Mirror. "Yes it was a shock, but nothing as a family that we can't support and applaud," she said. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health says there have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the province. The provincial Healthline has received 50 calls from people concerned that they might have the virus, which is spreading outside of China, despite the best efforts of officials. The province has tested 13 people in the province who have travelled to China and showed symptoms. Six tests have come back negative and seven are still pending. Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said people in the province do not need to be concerned about the virus spreading. "If you have not travelled to China, and you are in Saskatchewan, there should not be any concern at this point," he said. "It is not transmitting person to person in Canada or in Saskatchewan." The Health Ministry has updated its rules around people returning from China. Anyone entering the province who has recently been in Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease, is asked to isolate themselves for two weeks and to call the provincial Healthline. As well, anyone coming into Saskatchewan who has travelled to anywhere in China recently and is showing flu-like symptoms are also asked to isolate themselves for two weeks and to call provincial officials for more instructions. "That includes mild symptoms like a cough, fatigue, fever," said Shahab. "The reason why we want to make these two recommendations is we obviously want to limit the importation of the spread of the novel coronavirus." So far, there have been five confirmed cases of coronavirus across the country, two in Vancouver and three in Toronto. People without symptoms are less infectious; if a person is very sick they are more infectious. The province had a previous protocol for viruses like this but it has now refocused to make sure that people declare their travel history, Shahab said. Two persons were arrested for allegedly diverting the attention of a senior citizen at an ATM and stealing money from his account, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on February 1, when a 64-year- old man visited the ATM of a nationalised bank on Ghodbunder Road in Maharashtra's Thane city, senior inspector Kishore Khairnar of the Kasarwadavali police station said. The accused pretended to help the old man withdraw cash and instead took away his ATM card, replacing it with a fake one, he said. The duo later withdrew Rs 19,000 from the man's account, following which a case of cheating was registered with the Kasarwadavali police, he added. During investigation, the police found that the accused had been involved in similar cases of cheating. Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap at Mumbra railway station on Thursday and nabbed Giyasuddin Abu Siddiqui (26) and Souzan Abdul Rehman Aga (24), the official said. The police seized 55 ATM cards of different banks, expensive four mobile phones and cash to the tune of Rs 2,200 from the duo's home in Mumbra. The accused have 20 cases of cheating registered against them in different police stations, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To revive demand, put cash in peoples hands: Chidambaram India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: Alleging that the BJP-led Union government was in a state of denial about the economic slowdown, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram advocated putting cash in people's hands to revive demand. He also sought to debunk Prime Minister's assertion that rejection of duly passed laws will lead to anarchy, saying that unjust laws must be opposed. Taking potshots at the Union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chidambaram said that after 160 minutes, it sounded like "Satyanarayan Pooja". Abomination in democracy: Chidambaram on detaining Omar, Mehbooba without charge The senior Congress leader was here to deliver a lecture on "CAA-NPR-NRC and Union Budget". For the last six quarters, the growth rate has declined, and this has never happened in India before, the former finance minister said. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman "did not utter a word about demonetization but it all started with demonetization in November 2016," he said. Every number presented in the Budget was suspect, Chidambaram alleged. The Goods and Services Tax was a good idea but it was implemented by bad "implementors", he said. "The problem with Indian economy is that there is no demand because people do not have money. There is no investment. "Answer to (problems of) India's economy is very simple. First, admit the state of the patient. We have a patient who has to be wheeled to the ICU. But Prime Minister and FM are keeping the patient outside the ICU saying it is alright and there is no need to go to ICU, while the world says alright you keep him outside the ICU, but at least you can not have these incompetent doctors treat him," he said. "So we have a very sick patient and a very incompetent manager and I don't think India deserves it," he added. "The classic solution to India's economic situation is to put the money into the hands of the poor. In economy language, put the money into the hands of masses and not classes," he said. "But this government will not do that because this government is suit-boot ki Sarkar' (government of the rich)," he said. The government gave Rs 1.44 lakh crore to 200 companies through corporate tax cuts, the Congress leader claimed. 'On day of shooting: Chidambaram questions extension to Delhi Police chief "They have money to (give to) the classes but the companies did not invest, instead they spent money in paying their loans," he said. Investors shy away when the economy is declining, and also when there is social disharmony, the Congress leader said. "Today we are hit by both negative factors. There are protests and there are morchas and there is a sliding economy," he added. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chidambaram said, "PM comes out with a theory that if you are protesting, it will lead to anarchy. He should have been born then and told this to Mahatma Gandhi. He (Modi) said that you can not protest the law that is made by Parliament, but Rowlatt's Act was also made by (British) Parliament," he said. Quoting Gandhi, Chidambaram said unjust laws must be disobeyed and opposed. "Satyagraha and disobedience is the DNA of India given by Mahatma Gandhi," he said. The new XZ+ variant is likely to be offered with both manual and automatic transmissions. Additional features like panoramic sunroof, powered driver seat, auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror confirmed . To be offered with the same 2.0-litre diesel engine, although in BS6 tune. It will make 30PS more power than the BS4 version. Likely to command a premium of over Rs 1 lakh compared to current top-spec XZ variant at least for manual. A couple of spy shots recently surfaced online that gave us a glimpse into the Harrier ATs interior. Now, Tata has officially teased the SUV in a couple of new teasers, revealing key details. Tata is likely to offer a new, top-spec variant (XZ+) of the Harrier with the automatic transmission option. A manual gearbox is also expected to be offered with this new variant. The latest teasers reveal that this variant will get auto-dimming IRVM (inside rearview mirror) and powered driver seat along with a panoramic sunroof. Apart from these features, it will also get a new red exterior shade with a black roof, a bigger set of alloy wheels (18-inches), and connected car tech as seen on the recently launched Nexon facelift. Whats more, it is also expected to come with the same three-spoke steering wheel, 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, brown leather upholstery, circular drive mode selector and pull-type handbrake. Tata will offer the Harrier automatic with a BS6-compliant 2.0-litre diesel engine. It will come mated to a 6-speed torque converter sourced from Hyundai. As per the latest teaser, it is now confirmed that the power output will go up from 140PS to 170PS, making the Harrier as powerful as the MG Hector and Jeep Compass. However, the SUV will continue to produce the same amount of torque as before (350Nm). It is expected to get a price hike of over Rs 1 lakh compared to the current top-spec XZ variant of the Harrier at least for the manual variant. The 2020 Tata Harrier will continue to take on existing rivals like the MG Hector, Jeep Compass, Kia Seltos and the top-spec variants of the Hyundai Creta. We expect Tata to launch it at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020 . Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho. (Bloomberg) Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun finally shared a meal with legendary investor Warren Buffett. Back in July, the 29-year-old postponed a lunch meeting he had won with a record $4.57 million donation to a Buffett-supported charity, first citing health issues and then issuing a broad apology for touting the plan to dine with one of Americas richest people, noting it raised concerns among authorities. Instead of lunch in San Francisco, Sun and four other cryptocurrency advocates met Buffett Jan. 23 for a more than three-hour dinner that featured steaks and Coca-Cola at the Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett famously referred to bitcoin as probably rat poison squared in 2018. It was really an honor, and I am grateful for Mr. Buffetts dinner, wisdom and vision, Sun said. Ill always remember his kindness and support and will take Mr. Buffetts advice and guidance to make Tron a better ecosystem, business with all the partners in the blockchain space and beyond. Tron is a network and digital token that Sun founded. Buffetts assistant, Debbie Bosanek, said the pair had an interesting and enjoyable discussion at the dinner. Suns guests were Charlie Lee, founder of the Litecoin Foundation; Chris Lee, chief financial officer of the Chinese exchange Huobi; Yoni Assia, chief executive of the trading platform eToro; and Helen Hai, head of Binance Charity Foundation. Crypto Phone Among a slew of gifts, Sun presented Buffett with a Samsung phone loaded with one Bitcoin and a number of Tron TRX coins that corresponded with the 89-year-olds birthday. After the dinner, Sun is considering joining the Giving Pledge with Buffett and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates to donate the bulk of his fortune to charity, according to Ryan Dennis, a spokesman for Tron. Justins approach to entrepreneurship, his outlook on investments and business, in general, have evolved since dining with Mr. Buffett, Dennis said. There were many learning opportunities and more details are yet to come. Suns earlier postponement came amid a flurry of speculation and articles asserting that he was denied an exit visa from China and that his venture and his token faced investigation. Sun used proceeds from an early investment in bitcoin while in college to create Peiwo, a popular Snapchat-like app that has millions of users in China. He then created Tron and has expanded through acquisitions of companies such as file-sharing service BitTorrent and a stake in the crypto exchange Poloniex. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Sat, February 8, 2020 08:24 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20633d8c1 2 World #UK,#Terrorism,ISIS,citizenship,Bangladesh Free A British woman who traveled to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State on Friday lost the first round of her legal challenge against a decision to revoke her citizenship. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled that the government decision to strip 20-year-old Shamima Begum of her citizenship "did not make her stateless" as she was a citizen of Bangladesh by descent. "The appellant [Begum] was in that situation as a result of her own choices, and of the actions of others, but not because of anything the Secretary of State had done," said judge Doron Blum referring to then-interior minister Sajid Javid. The judgment was made despite SIAC finding that Begum could not have "a fair and effective appeal" against the decision as she is currently in a Syrian refugee camp. Begum's lawyer Daniel Furner said she would "immediately initiate an appeal" against the decision. "The logic of the decision will appear baffling, accepting as it does the key underlying factual assessments of extreme danger and extreme unfairness and yet declining to provide any legal remedy," he said. Begum, then 15, was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green in east London who left home to join the jihadist group on February 17, 2015. She claims she married a Dutch convert soon after arriving in IS-held territory. She was discovered, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year. Her newborn baby died soon after she gave birth. Two of her other children also died under IS rule. Javid removed her British citizenship soon after amid an outcry led by right-wing media. He has said more than 100 people had been deprived of their British citizenship. Begum took legal action against the Home Office last year. Her lawyer, Tom Hickman, argued his client "is not considered a national of Bangladesh and was therefore rendered stateless" by the Home Office. The decision was unlawful as it breached the Home Office's extraterritorial human rights policy by exposing Begum to "a real risk of death or inhuman or degrading treatment," he argued. In the next stage of the process, the court will have to decide if the government had legitimate national security grounds to prevent her from returning to the UK. GCDS calreg11 Of the 60 families in a certain (20160103).jpg [ 23.73 KiB | Viewed 11796 times ] Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solutionOf the 60 families in a certain neighborhood, 38 have a cat. How many of the families in this neighborhood have a dog?(1) 28 of the families in this neighborhood have a cat but not a dog(2) The number of families in the neighborhood who have a dog and a cat is the same as the number of families who have neither a cat nor a dog.This is a 2-by-2 question, one of the most common types of questions in GMAT math. From modifying the original condition and the question, we can obtain a table below.From the table, we can see that the question is a+b=? There are 4 variables (a,b,c, and d) and 2 equations (a+b+c+d=60 and a+c=38). In order to match the number of variables and the number of equations, we need 2 more equations. Since the condition 1) and 2) each has 1 equation, there is high chance that C is the answer.Using both the condition 1) and 2), we get c=28. Also, since a=d, we get a+c=d+c=a+28=d+28=38. Then, a=d=10. So, if we substitute in a+b+c+d=60, we get 10+b+28+10=60. Then, b=12. So, a+b=10+12=22. So, the answer is unique and the condition is sufficient. So we can see how C could be the answer.However, a question involving hidden integer is one of key questions (integer, statistics, inequality, probability, absolute value) and we have to consider Mistake Type 4(A).In the case of the condition 2), since a=d, we get a+c=d+c=38. Then, if we substitute it into a+b+c+d=60, we get a+b+38=60. So, a+b=22. The answer is unique and the condition is sufficient. If both C and B are the answers to the question, the final correct answer choice is B.For cases where we need 2 more equations, such as original conditions with 2 variables, or 3 variables and 1 equation, or 4 variables and 2 equations, we have 1 equation each in both 1) and 2). Therefore, there is 70% chance that C is the answer, while E has 25% chance. These two are the majority. In case of common mistake type 3,4, the answer may be from A, B or D but there is only 5% chance. Since C is most likely to be the answer using 1) and 2) separately according to DS definition (It saves us time). Obviously there may be cases where the answer is A, B, D or E._________________ Graduated from the Military Medical University in 1991, Prof. Phan Toan Thang started his career at the National Burn Hospital until 1996 before working as a researcher in the burns unit in Singapore General Hospital in 1997. From 2002 to 2004, he went to the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, at Stanford University in the US, during which he focused his researches on extracting stem cells from umbilical cord lining. When he returned to Singapore in 2004, he conducted further experiments on the umbilical cord. The Vietnamese scientist failed several times to keep the tissue in the umbilical cord alive, as well as decontaminating it at the right level. During that time, he turned off his phone and almost spent all of his time in the lab. His efforts were finally rewarded. He published his research results the same year and harvested overwhelming success. Thang shared that he was motivated to find a new source of stem cells which is available and affordable for patients in a way which doesnt go against medical ethics. Although the umbilical cord used to be something considered medical waste, Thang discovered that it can provide billions of stem cells and his technology can multiply these stem cells many times. Stem cells have been considered a revolution in modern medicine, ushering a new era of regenerative medicine. Studies have shown that the human body includes more than 200 different cell types, all derived from stem cells. Prior to Prof. Thangs findings, growing stem cells and finding new sources of stem cells were not easy and were very costly. Solutions to separate stem cells from the placenta not only face ethnic issue but also could generate limited amount of stem cells. Extracting stem cells from the umbilical cord lining has not only brought fame to Prof. Thang but also opened up new doors in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and rheumatism. Prof. Phan Toan Thang and his partners are operating a laboratory at the National University of Singapore and conducting deeper researches on stem cells. In 2008, based on Thangs research outcomes, his wife, Nguyen Ngoc Anh founded KenCare Holdings in Singapore, which provides stem cell-based therapy for skin, wound healing and anti-aging. Kencare has also operated in Vietnam with an aim to advance regenerative bio-medicine for the discovery and development of diagnostics and treatments in the country. In the near future, stem cell-based technology will further develop, changing the worlds medicine and the quality of human life. Experts believe that the application of stem cells will bring about tremendous progress in Vietnam, especially in pharmaceutical production, medical services, cosmetics, and anti-aging treatments. In Ankara, the delegations of Russia and Turkey discussed the situation in Syrian Idlib and steps to advance the political process in the country, the representative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry informed. Ankara hosted three-hour negotiations between interdepartmental delegations led by Turkish and Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sedat Onal and Sergey Vershinin with the participation of Russian Presidents Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentyev. The representatives of the Foreign Ministries, military and intelligence agencies of the two countries also participated in the negotiations. During the meeting, the delegates discussed the situation in Syrian Idlib, as well as steps to advance the political process in Syria. The parties decided to continue negotiations next week, " Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, RIA Novosti reports. A Winnipeg group is raising awareness of young women recently kidnapped in Ethiopia, hoping to spur the East African nation's government to do more to get them back. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg group is raising awareness of young women recently kidnapped in Ethiopia, hoping to spur the East African nation's government to do more to get them back. The "Bring Back Our Sisters" event Sunday at 3 p.m. at the West End Cultural Centre is being organized by the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners and Refugees. "It's like (terror group) Boko Haram attacking the women," said organizer Ali Saeed, referring to the religious extremists in 2014 who kidnapped girls from their school in Chibok, Nigeria. That prompted the Bring Back Our Girls social media campaign that resulted in some of the young women returned. In this case, at least a dozen university students and five other people are believed to have been kidnapped from a bus by masked men on Dec. 4, 2019. The students, mostly women and members of the Amhara tribe, were studying at Dembi Dolo University in Oromia, a region populated by tribal Oromos, officials said. The two ethnic groups have clashed before, and make up nearly 60 per cent of Ethiopia's 100 million people. The abduction of the students comes after a number of deadly clashes on Ethiopian campuses in recent months. In November, the government confirmed the death of three students two students at Woldia University in Amhara region and one at Dembi Dolo University. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Saeed, who was political prisoner tortured in Ethiopia before finding refuge in Canada decades ago, said Bring Back Our Sisters is part of global efforts aiming to pressure the Ethiopian government to find the missing women. "This is targeting only females from one tribe," said Saeed, adding it's going after the vulnerable and vital. "They're the backbone of the family and the social structure." The campaign has allies among Indigenous women in Winnipeg, said Saeed, whose group has shown solidarity with efforts to address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. "We advocate for them," said Saeed, who wants action to protect women everywhere. "I have a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister. What would I do if it happened to them?" With files from the New York Times carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Voters form a love sign as they wait in queues to cast their votes at the Shaheen Public School polling station in the Shaheen Bagh area of New Delhi, which has been witnessing a peaceful protest against the Citizenship Act for several weeks, during the Delhi Assembly elections, in New Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: Voting in the Delhi Assembly election reached 57.06 per cent by dusk Saturday and exit polls broadcast shortly thereafter forecast a comfortable victory for the ruling party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Notably, the highest percentage of voting occurred in three Muslim-dominated constituencies, which points to a vigorous from the community to the new citizenship law brought in by the BJP government at the Centre. Voting continued in some places even after 6 pm to accommodate latecomers. Among the exit polls, Times Now-Ipsos exit polls predicted 44 seats for AAP, a sharp drop from the 67 it won in 2015 but comfortable enough to bid for power again in the 70-member Assembly. The BJP was tipped to get 27 seats. The Republic-Jan ki Baat survey gave AAP 48-61 seats and the BJP 9-21. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero predicted 54 for AAP, 15 for BJP and 1 for Congress. Clearly, there's no prospect of a sharp upturn in the Congress tally. The party drew a blank in 2015. The notable point on a predictable day was the high voting seen in three minority-dominated seats: Mustafabad, Matia Mahal and Seelampur, which recorded the highest voter turnout on Saturday. According to the data shared by officials, Mustafabad in northeast Delhi recorded 66.29 per cent till 5 pm; Matia Mahal in old Delhi, the area where saw anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (AA) protests are taking place, recorded 65.62 per cent; and Seelampur recorded 64.92 per cent. Long queues were seen at Shaheen Bagh, the venue of a continuing protest against the CAA, right through the day. There were several reports of ' names missing from the voters list, notably at Shaheen Bagh. "A few voters could not cast their votes in Shaheen Bagh as their names were either found deleted or incorrect in the list," said a poll staffer on duty. Waqil Malik, a voter in Seelampur constituency, said his mother Zarina (62) could not vote since her name was missing. "My mother's name was there in the list in the last Lok Sabha polls. I have no idea why her name was deleted," Malik rued. In Krishna Nagar constituency, a 34-year-old resident of Khureji Khas, Fallahuddin Falahi, claimed that he could not find his name in the electoral rolls. "I have a voter ID card. I voted in the Lok Sabha elections and the last Delhi elections. This is the first time I could not vote," he said. The Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 started on February 8 morning and the counting of votes will take place on February 11. When the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 ends on February 8, all eyes will be on exit polls which will be out after voting concludes. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed media to not release exit polls before 6:30 pm on February 8. The counting of the votes polled in all the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi will start from 8 am on February 11, while Delhi Assembly Election result will be announced on the same day. Delhi Assembly Election 2020 will be a three-cornered contest this time between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP and the Congress. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP saw a landslide victory in 2015 Assembly Elections with the party securing 67 seats, leaving just three (seats) for the BJP. The Congress party failed to open its account. Exit polls and prediction The exit polls for the Delhi elections will be released after 6:30 PM on February 8. According to reports, the Kejriwal-led AAP seems to be on a strong position. A major reason is believed to be Kejriwal's focus on the Delhi-specific issues and steering clear of the Shaheen Bagh protests against CAA-NRC (Citizenship Amendment Act-National Register of Citizens). Exit polls are basically a poll or survey of voters that is conducted immediately after they cast their votes. While election opinion polls try to gauge the mood of the nation by asking people who they are likely to vote for, exit polls ask voters which party did they actually vote for. Such polls are conducted by various organisations which use different methods for the purpose. But, it's important to note that this is, ultimately, just educated crystal-ball-gazing and not necessarily the writing on the wall. How are exit polls conducted? Agencies conduct exit polls in India using several methods, but the basic step remains the same - sampling. Some agencies conduct a random sampling of constituencies while others opt for systematic sampling. The random sampling can be of the electorate as well, covering parameters such as age, sex, caste, region and more. Election Commission advisory on Delhi exit polls Last month, Election Commission of India notified the period between 8.00 A.M. and 6.30 P.M. on 8th February, 2020 (Saturday) as the period during which conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicising the result of exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or in any other manner will be prohibited in the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020. The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in Delhi after Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced the election dates for the much-anticipated Delhi assembly elections on January 6. He also said that 90,000 policemen will be deployed for the smooth conducting of Delhi election. There are 13,750 polling stations in Delhi. Also read: Delhi Election 2020 Voting Live: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, leader Rahul Gandhi cast votes Delhi Election 2020: How to watch Live TV coverage on voting day The voting process for Delhi assembly elections for a total of 70 constituencies will be held in a single phase on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The exit poll results of the Delhi Election 2020 will be declared soon after the voting ends. The official counting of votes by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the state's assembly elections will commence on February 11 and the results will be declared on the same date. The Election Commission announced the poll schedule for Delhi on 6 February 2020. The tenure of the current Delhi Legislative Assembly ends on February 22. As per the final electoral list for Delhi, a total of 1.46 crore voters will exercise their franchise. This includes 80.55 lakh males and 66.35 lakh females who will decide the fate of total 70 constituencies in Delhi assembly elections 2020. The voting in all the polling booths of all the 70 constituencies will begin at 8 am and continue till 6 pm. The live coverage on the polling process can be watched on the Business Today website, or on Aaj Tak and India Today website and TV, from 7 am onwards. The last date of filing nominations was 22 January 2020, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations was 24 January 2020. Elections for 70 constituencies in Delhi Assembly will see a triangular contest between Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Indian National Congress. While AAP is contesting on all 70 Assembly constituencies, the Congress has fielded candidates on 66 seats. Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting 67 seats in the Delhi Assembly Election 2020. This will be the first polls in the national capital since the Narendra Modi-led-BJP swept to a massive win in Lok Sabha polls in 2019, with the party taking all 7 parliamentary seats in Delhi. In Delhi Election 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party had swept 67 seats with a landslide majority, while the BJP was reduced to only 3 seats and Congress to zero. Also Read: Delhi Exit Poll Results Updates: Surveys to predict voters' mood expected soon Also read: Delhi Election 2020: Voting date, Exit poll result, election FAQs, full schedule, seats Also read: Delhi Election 2020: Polling in national capital today; here's all you need Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 08:36:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members of a medical team from Peking University First Hospital head to the airport in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 7, 2020. 113 medical workers from the hospital left Beijing Friday for Hubei Province to help with the fight against the novel coronavirus there. (Photo by Fu Jingbo/Xinhua) New Delhi: After discussions with visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Hyderabad House in the Capital on Saturday openly on issues related to reconciliation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the Sri Lankan Government would realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a united Sri Lanka. He added that for this, it will be necessary to carry forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka that stands for devolution of power to provinces. But interestingly, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister did not refer to either the reconciliation issue or the 13th amendment in his statement before the media. However, Indian Government sources said the Sri Lankan Government has already been maintaining that it stands for all its country's citizens irrespective of ethnicity and that therefore too much should not be read into this omission. On the issue of Indian fishermen caught fishing while straying into Sri Lankan waters, PM Modi meanwhile said both he and the Sri Lankan PM had agreed to continue a constructive and humanitarian approach on this issue which directly affected livelihood. While India has built thousands of houses in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka with a huge Tamil population, Mr Rajapaksa interestingly also pitched for enhancement of these housing facilities to other parts of Sri Lanka. Both nations also discussed economic cooperation as well ways to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation. But it was the reference to the reconciliation issue by PM Modi that was significant. Mr Rajapaksa, during his tenure as Sri Pankan President from 2005-15 was seen as a hardliner by the island nation's Tamils. Mr Rajapaksa, as President earlier, was in power in 2009 when the Sri Lankan Army crushed the LTTE but the final months of that military campaign earned both widespread praise and bitter criticism for Mr. Rajapaksa who became Prime Minister late last year. Junjie Li has been the CEO of Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited (HKG:187) since 2017. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid. View our latest analysis for Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric How Does Junjie Li's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited has a market capitalization of HK$1.7b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth CN577k over the year to December 2018. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at CN220k. Importantly, there may be performance hurdles relating to the non-salary component of the total compensation. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from CN697m to CN2.8b, and the median CEO total compensation was CN1.9m. Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Junjie Li takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. However, before we heap on the praise, we should delve deeper to understand business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric has changed from year to year. SEHK:187 CEO Compensation, February 7th 2020 Is Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited Growing? Over the last three years Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 30% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 11% over last year. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. It's also good to see decent revenue growth in the last year, suggesting the business is healthy and growing. Although we don't have analyst forecasts shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues Has Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited Been A Good Investment? Given the total loss of 59% over three years, many shareholders in Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. So shareholders would probably think the company shouldn't be too generous with CEO compensation. In Summary... Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Company Limited is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size. Since the business is growing, many would argue this suggests the pay is modest. Unfortunately, some shareholders may be disappointed with their returns, given the company's performance over the last three years. So while we would not say that Junjie Li is generously paid, it would be good to see an improvement in business performance before too an increase in pay. In this case we may want to look deeper into the company. There are some real positives and we could see improved returns in the longer term. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric (free visualization of insider trades). Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Darius Brown believes he was born to help animals, a vision that formed the first time he saw an animal cruelty commercial. Every time the ASPCA segment aired in 2010, the sensitive 3-year-old boy from Newark was moved to tears. I would just drop, crying," said Brown, thinking about it now that hes 13. The love for animals never waned, prompting Brown to merge his calling with his dapper sense of fashion to help dogs across the country. Brown, a seventh grader at North Star Academy, makes bowties for dogs waiting to be adopted in animal shelters. He calls the campaign "Pawsome Mission. Brown is the awesome one, though, and how he got started in 2017 is a Kleenex moment. He saw clips of a telethon on Facebook. Dogs from Texas and Puerto Rico were being flown to the New York ASPCA for adoption when Hurricanes Harvey and Irma struck. The footage triggered childhood images of the forgotten dogs and cats in that commercial that made him cry. I was devastated," he said. I was distraught." But he could fix it this time. The lightbulb in his 10-year-old thoughts had dogs wearing his bowties. His attractive neckwear would make them irresistible to potential owners and reduce the amount of time they would be in cages. I realized if I use my passion in making bowties, then it could also help the dogs get adopted faster," Brown said. Excited about the idea, Brown told his mother after she suggested that he come up with a way to help. Joy listened to her boy as any mother would. He had it all figured out, but mom admits that she didnt get it at first. How are bowties going to help dogs get adopted?" she remembered thinking. She was focused on developing his fine motor skills, comprehension and speech delays that were diagnosed when he was 2-years-old. Tying his shoes, holding a pencil and picking up coins were difficult for her kid. Who knew scissors would lead to this when she had him work on a project with his teenager sister, Dazhai? He adored her and wanted to do everything she did. Dazhai was making hair bows and Brown, who was 8-years-old at the time, helped cut the fabric. All of that snipping improved his dexterity, but Brown didnt see himself wearing hair bows and wanted to make something else. His sister suggested bowties, since he admired the appearance of professionally dressed men. The first few were his. Then he started a little business selling his wares to family friends taken with his style. Mans best friend didnt have to pay after Brown saw the telethon. He donated about 20 ties to the New York ASPCA and wanted to do more when he learned what happens to dogs that dont get adopted. He lost it," his mother said. Brown was upset and forever changed. I dont believe that dogs or any animal deserve to be euthanized," he said. I feel they all should be loved and cared for." Darius Brown, 13, of Newark holds a dog that is wearing a bowtie he made to help the pooch get adopted.Joy Brown A lot of folks about 50,000 or more connect with his passion. They love pictures of him and dogs wearing bowties on his Instagram page. His Pawsome Mission went viral last June after an animal rights group posted a letter on Reddit from Browns website. It was from President Barack Obama, applauding his community service in 2018. Rachel Ray found him, too, and so did other national media. So did Points of Light, the national non-profit organization launched by President George H. W. Bush to support volunteerism. He was the GoFundMe Hero last month and the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association from China gave him an award. The best part, though, is right in his Newark backyard. Prudential Financial, in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), picked him and Isobel Costello, 17, of Andover, as New Jerseys top youth volunteers of 2020 for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. As honorees, they will each receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where they will meet top honorees from other states. Naturally, Brown didnt see any of this coming. I was just doing it from the heart," he said. This was never about attention. Hes more humbled by it than anything, making him grateful for overcoming his challenges. Brown no longer has an Individualized Education Plan in school. He tested out last year, working his tail off since kindergarten. Honor roll has his name on it now. His confidence is soaring, and hes warmed up to the fact that what hes done socially is worth sharing. For the longest time, his mother said, he didnt want anyone to know about the bowties. He wouldnt let us tell anyone," she said. Brown said he was embarrassed at first. If someone knew, he thought teasing would follow. Now that he realizes its good a thing, Brown has accepted invitations to speak at luncheons and conferences, encouraging people to give back. During school breaks, Brown has visited animal shelters in seven states over the past year to deliver bowties. Donations from people touched by his work have made it possible for him to travel and produce 500 pieces for the dogs. He doesnt know how many have led to adoptions, but Brown thinks its a big number. His creative gift, however, isnt limited to dogs. Brown has made mittens for the Koalas, who suffered burns in the Australia bushfires. Closer to home, he was in New York City Thursday night giving his time for the cause from which all of this started. Brown walked the runway at the New York Pet Fashion Show wearing a bowtie, carrying a dog that was up for adoption. The pooch had on the same bowtie, too. Darius Brown, 13, of Newark holds a dog that is wearing a bowtie he made to help the pooch get adopted.Joy Brown Read More Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. PARKERSBURG Pauline Engelking, 95, of Springfield, Mo., passed away Feb. 2, 2020. She was born April 20, 1925, in Parkersburg, Iowa, to John and Jeanne DuBois Simon. She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1943, where she served as class vice president. After high school, Polly attended Drake University and graduated with a degree in English and drama. Polly met her husband, Dr. David Engelking, while working as the Veteran Recreation Specialist at the Dearborn, Mich., VA Hospital, and they were married on Aug. 4, 1956. Their only child, daughter Rebecca, was born in Danville, Ill. They moved to Raytown (Kansas City), Mo., where they opened their own internal medicine office. They later moved to Olympia Fields (Chicago), then to Madison, Minn., before returning to Missouri, where they made their final home. Pauline and Dave enjoyed entertaining family and friends, dining out and attending concerts and theatre. Polly was a warm, loving person, full of laughter and life. She was a wonderful hostess, welcoming to anyone who visited and treated her nieces and nephews with love. Pauline is survived by a daughter, Rebecca Levine (Alan) of Chicago, Ill.; one brother, Vern Simon (Mary Ann) of Parkersburg; and one sister, Marcelle Windham (Lenny) of Rockford, Ill.; and a myriad of nieces and nephews. Polly was preceded in death by her parents and husband; five brothers, John, Raymond, Daniel, Donald and Russell; and five sisters, Helen, Marguerite, Doris, Darlene and Simone (in infancy). New Delhi, Feb 8 : Senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah has called a closed-door meeting on Saturday night of all the seven MPs of the party from Delhi and key Central Ministers, including Piyush Goyal. Party chief J.P. Nadda is likely to attend the meeting, sources said. The meeting, party sources said, will review party's performance in the Delhi Assembly polls, the exit polls and the strategy for the post-result scenario. Most exit polls have projected the AAm AAdmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal to win the polls, leaving the BJP to a distant second position. Delhi went to the polls on Saturday and the results are due on February 11. Extend clearing date for vehicle LCs opened before 31st Oct. 2019 Letter View(s): View(s): Firstly we wish to thank the Government for granting vehicle permits to Government Servants to import vehicles of our choice at concessionary Customs duty rates. We are writing with regard to the luxury tax introduced on November 1, 2019 and concessions given to us who opened LCs before October 31, 2019. We decided to order the vehicle based on the media release dated October 29 that was published in the Finance Ministry web site, signed by the Information Director, Mohamed Ali Hassan of the Finance Ministry. According to this statement, it was mentioned that the vehicles can be cleared through Customs before April 21, 2020. Based on the above information provided, we opened an LC for a Mercedes Benz GLB New Model. Though it is a Mercedes Benz, it is a 7 Seater Family SUV and has a 1.3 L small engine that suits the basic family needs. This model is being released in the UK, end February 2020. Taking into consideration time taken for shipment etc, we assumed we could clear the vehicle before the April 21 deadline. Subsequently a circular was released on November 1, 2019; by the Finance Ministry signed by the Minister Mangala Samaraweera that the final date to clear from Sri Lanka Customs was March 31, 2020, advancing it by three weeks from the previous April 21. Both circulars are still available on the Finance Ministry website. Generally, when the Government publishes a regulation change, the usual procedure is to extend the dates accordingly. However in this instance they have advanced the time limit within just three days after the initial media release. The common practice is when subsequent circulars are issued and if a time limit is mentioned, dates are extended accordingly. Subsequently circulars are not issued advancing dates. Thus they have inconvenienced the permit holders. We solely depend on the manufacturer which in this case Mercedes Benz as their release dates and shipment dates are totally in their control. The new Mercedes Benz GLB Model currently fetches a Customs Duty of Rs.1.4 million based on the old rates. However with the inclusion of the luxury tax of Rs. 3.2 million the total duty amount is around Rs. 4.6 million! We will now have to pay Customs Duty beyond what we can afford. When compared to the old tax with the new tax there is 225 per cent increase much more than what we had planned. If we were aware of this haphazard increase of Customs Duty we would not have planned on importing this GLB Model of the Mercedes Benz. We do thank the government and appreciate the new amendment issued in the gazette of December 14, 2019 allowing amendments to the LC such as changing the vehicle model etc. However the deadline for the clearing remains the same as March 31. Even though this new amendment has been issued we in this case are unable to request for a change of vehicle, as new vehicle orders take 3-4 months to deliver. The Model GLB is a new release and we are not sure of when the actual release date will be. Further there is no time now to order another similar vehicle for our permit as there is only two months left. We kindly request the government to give due consideration to the above mentioned facts and below. Would very much appreciate if point No. 1 is given priority: 1. Extend the clearing deadline till May 31 as the delivery for GLB vehicle might take some time from the initially announced date as it is a new model. 2. Please consider the Bill of Lading date as April 21 when doing any amendments if possible as some ships take more than the stipulated time of four weeks to reach Colombo from the UK due to various reasons which are beyond anyones control. 3. If the first two options are not possible, at least make the Bill of Lading date as March 31 as the deadline instead of the clearing date as March 31. We hope that our new Prime Minister/Finance Minister will look into the matters mentioned above as he is known to be a people friendly PM and give us and others affected the requested relief. Affected group of professionals 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. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of BreadTalk Group Limited (SGX:CTN). BreadTalk Group has a ROE of 8.9%, based on the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each SGD1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made SGD0.09 in profit. See our latest analysis for BreadTalk Group How Do You Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for BreadTalk Group: 8.9% = S$13m S$147m (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 the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets. What Does Return On Equity Signify? Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies. Does BreadTalk Group Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see BreadTalk Group has a similar ROE to the average in the Hospitality industry classification (8.6%). Story continues SGX:CTN Past Revenue and Net Income, February 7th 2020 That's neither particularly good, nor bad. ROE can give us a view about company quality, but many investors also look to other factors, such as whether there are insiders buying shares. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. How Does Debt Impact ROE? Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. 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 BreadTalk Group's Debt And Its 8.9% Return On Equity It's worth noting the significant use of debt by BreadTalk Group, leading to its debt to equity ratio of 1.62. While the ROE isn't too bad, it would probably be a lot lower if the company was forced to reduce debt. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it. But It's Just One Metric Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfree list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Question: What does the Chinese coronavirus, thus far killing 638 (and counting), have in common with the Iranian shoot down of a commercial airliner last month, leaving 176 dead? Answer: Both are "black swan" events that expose the flaws of authoritarian governments in dealing with unanticipated crisis. More to the point, both provide President Donald Trump unforeseen opportunities to advance the two most significant foreign policy issues of his administration changing China's unfair trading practices and pushing back against Iran's malign behavior. By definition, black swan events are rare, unpredicted occurrences that have the potential for far-reaching consequences. In the case of Beijing, global concerns over the spread of coronavirus provide the chance for Washington to rally a more cohesive set of countries in Asia and Europe to demand full Chinese transparency in the handling and spread of the virus. That, in turn, could be a step toward coalescing like-minded democratic countries to address a host of other Chinese-related concerns. Regarding Iran, recent events provide Washington a new chance to re-engage its European partners on efforts to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions, reign in its development of ballistic missiles and push back on its support for regional proxies and global terrorist activity. Iran's newest moves to break out of its current nuclear constraints, for example, have moved France, Germany and the United Kingdom in Washington's direction. There's just one problem. For the United States to seize these openings, irrespective of who is elected president this November, it will have to regain its appetite for and rediscover its skill at building the sorts of alliances and like-minded coalitions that have been the bedrock of U.S.-led global leadership for the past 70 years. For Trump, this would demand a rethinking of how to execute his "America first" approach to global affairs. Yet if there's one matter on which even many of Trump's political allies and current and foreign officials generally agree, it is that the president has hurt American interests by undervaluing and, in some cases, needlessly undermining American alliances and long-time partnerships. The notion that the United States could address emerging global challenges alone, without making greater effort to galvanize Asian and European partners in common cause, was always short-sighted. With every year of Chinese growth and Iranian aggression, the urgency grows for a change in direction. Regarding Beijing, apprehensions have grown in lockstep with China's expanding influence. China's share of global GDP has quadrupled to 16.3% in 2019 compared to 4.2% in 2003, when it last wrestled with the SARS pandemic threat. On its current trajectory, China is on track not only to be the world's largest economy but also over time to become the world's dominant political force, technological leader and even military power. Regarding Iran, the accidental shoot down of the Ukrainian Airlines 752 on January 8, and the regime's initial efforts to conceal its responsibility, have provided a new opportunity in Iran and internationally. In Iran, public protests that were aimed at the U.S. for its drone-strike killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani on January 3rd have morphed into protests targeted against Iran's corrupt, opaque and authoritarian leadership. Initial fears among U.S. allies that President Trump had acted recklessly in killing Soleimani have now shifted into conversations about the need for a new initiative with Tehran to avoid escalation risk or nuclear breakout. The good news is that Trump has at least three immediate opportunities to repair relations with his European allies, and members of his administration are already taking some steps to do so. Those three fronts include: Reducing tensions and deepening integration in the Western Balkans. For example, Richard Grenell, President Trump's special envoy for Kosovo and Serbia, this week urged the new Kosovo government to deliver on promises to abolish punitive tariffs on Serbian goods that have blocked negotiations between the two parties, having previously brokered a tentative deal to resume rail and airway links. Promoting the "Three Seas Initiative," an unfolding effort to more closely link, from north-to-south, the economies of the twelve European Union members of Central Europe. This effort has recently gained new momentum, due to growing interest among senior Trump administration officials, ahead of a head-of-state summit in Estonia this June. Avoiding the implementation of new tariffs on Europe while seeking a pathway to transatlantic trade and investment talks. Trump's off-hand comment in Davos about the possibility of a "big trade deal," before meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, reflects a change of tone inside the White House from new tariff threats to new deal opportunities. Regarding Iran and the Middle East, the prospects are less promising but nevertheless growing. The muted regional response to the Trump administration's new Mideast peace offering underscores Arab fatigue with the status quo and the promise of their improved relations with Israel in the face of the Iranian threat. To its credit, the Trump administration began efforts toward greater regional integration by creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), a security partnership between Gulf Cooperation Council nations, Jordan and Egypt. That said, efforts to push it forward have stalled. MESA also neglected the greatest opportunity of all in a more integrated regional economy. It may seem far-fetched to expect a US administration in the final months of its first term to look for breakthrough opportunities regarding China or Iran. It might seem out of character for President Trump to reach out so assertively to allies on either front. That said, Trump has never been an orthodox leader, and he might be swayed by the reported advice of Machiavelli: "Never waste the opportunity provided by a good crisis." Game-changing progress with China and Iran won't be easy or immediate. It also won't be possible without greater common cause of the United States alongside partners and allies around the world. Frederick Kempe is a best-selling author, prize-winning journalist and president & CEO of the Atlantic Council, one of the United States' most influential think tanks on global affairs. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years as a foreign correspondent, assistant managing editor and as the longest-serving editor of the paper's European edition. His latest book "Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth" was a New York Times best-seller and has been published in more than a dozen languages. Follow him on Twitter @FredKempe and subscribe here to Inflection Points, his look each Saturday at the past week's top stories and trends. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. CLEVELAND, Ohio U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will stop using a private prison in Youngstown to house immigrants awaiting either deportation or a court decision that could allow them to stay in the country. ICE officials said in an emailed statement Friday night that its contract with CoreCivic, the Nashville-based owner of the 2,016-bed Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, ends Feb. 29 and that the prison was never meant to be a permanent ICE detention location. The statement did not give additional details about why ICE would cease using the prison, which has housed immigrant detainees for several years. ICEs use of the prison has been met with opposition from advocates who not only protest the aggressive enforcement of immigration laws by President Donald Trumps administration, but also the administrations use of private facilities that they say have substandard and inhumane conditions. Immigration advocates have complained about problems theyve heard about from inside the prison walls, from denial of religious services to poor food quality. Detainees also told their attorneys last year that they felt their wing was overpopulated. However, immigration attorneys have said the prison doesnt have many of the problems seen at other private facilities nationwide, as well as in makeshift holding facilities such as sweltering camps and abandoned warehouses. Lawyers have also said the staff is helpful in accommodating client visits. ICEs statement did not explain where immigrants currently housed in Youngstown would be moved but said such decisions are made on the basis of complete and accurate case information and are undertaken as needed for a variety for reasons to include (but are not limited to) available space, court appearances or in preparation to depart the U.S. There is nothing unusual about transfers from one location to another, the statement continues. A spokeswoman for CoreCivic deferred to ICE for comment. ICE entered into a contract with CoreCivic in late 2016 for beds at the Youngstown prison. At the time, President Barack Obamas administration was preparing for an expected influx of Haitian refugee seekers. The initial contract was only for a few months though ICE continued to use the prison. Officials said in May that the then-current agreement allowed for up to 352 detainees to be housed in pods at the prison and that an additional 60 detainees could be housed temporarily on emergency beds. An inspection done for the federal government by The Nakamoto Group in March 2019 said the prisons immigration wing met all required standards, though it found prison staff should make improvements related to food service and suicide prevention programs. ICEs Office of Detention Oversight also inspected the prison in 2018 and found problems related to security, medical care and food service, as well as in other areas. In Ohio, ICE also has contracts to house immigrants in local jails in Geauga, Seneca, Morrow and Butler counties. The Youngstown prison also holds defendants awaiting trial in federal court and inmates serving state prison sentences. It operated as a federal prison for about a decade, though the Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to renew its contract in late 2014. The end of CoreCivics contract with ICE means the prison will have more empty beds. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, whose office oversees the detention of federal inmates awaiting trial, said Friday that the marshals administration is in negotiations with CoreCivic for more beds. You can read the full statement here: Our contract with CoreCivic culminates on Feb. 29. The CoreCivic facility was never meant to be a permanent ICE detention location. Transfers in ICE custody are made by authorized officials on the basis of complete and accurate case information, as outlined in ICE detention standards, and are undertaken as needed for a variety for reasons to include (but are not limited to) available space, court appearances or in preparation to depart the U.S. There is nothing unusual about transfers from one location to another. ICE detainees are housed in a variety of facilities across the United States, including ICE-owned-and-operated facilities; local, county or state facilities contracted through Intergovernmental Service Agreements, and contractor-owned-and-operated facilities. ICE uses these various models to meet the agencys detention needs while achieving the highest possible cost savings for the taxpayer. Read more: Immigrant inmates at Youngstown prison complain of crowded conditions Ohio counties earn millions on ICEs hunt for undocumented immigrants Trumps immigration policies mean big bucks for company that owns private Youngstown prison Homeland Security seeks space at private Youngstown prison to hold undocumented immigrants Private prison in Youngstown to stop housing inmates in May after losing federal contract He has been quoted in the New York Times as an advocate for young people suffering from drug and alcohol addictions. His Facebook page boasts photos of him with major public figures, including the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings. On Twitter, he says hes enjoyed sustained recovery since 2001. And he was recently appointed as the chief public policy officer to a Florida-based recovery charity that had half a million in charitable contributions in 2018, the last year of available public filings. On Monday, Andrew Burki, 38, was arrested and charged with several counts of sexual assault, aggravated assault on a domestic violence victim and weapons offenses. Burki, a Collingswood resident who has a long history in the New Jersey recovery community, could not be reached for comment and his attorneys information was not immediately available. A judge on Friday ordered Burki to remain in jail pending the outcome of his case. He is scheduled to be back in Superior Court in Camden County on March 18. The charges filed against him are for two separate incidents. In the first incident, on Nov. 11, 2019, Burki sexually assaulted his victim by penetrating her with his penis after she told him to stop and that she was experiencing pain, according to court documents. Burki is accused of doing the same thing on Jan. 28, the court documents say. However, on this occasion, he also held his victims hands down causing bruising to both arms, according to the documents. NJ Advance Media does not identify victims of sexual assault. The victims name is also redacted in the court documents. Authorities say he also had a gun magazine in his attic that could hold 25 rounds. In New Jersey, its illegal to have a gun with a magazine containing more than 10 rounds. In June, Burki became the chief public policy officer of the Hanley Foundation, a charity that strives to educate schools, churches and community groups on substance use disorder. "The Foundation is thrilled to have Andrew and his extensive history of recovery advocacy, collaborative experience and coalition-building philosophy join our team, the foundations CEO, Jan Cairnes, said in a press statement announcing Burkis appointment. He shares our belief that all stakeholders in substance abuse prevention, education and treatment need to work together to combat addiction and overdose, one of the most destructive public health crises in our nations history. In a brief phone conversation Friday, Cairnes said Burki was placed on a leave of absence from the foundation. We are shocked and saddened by the news and our hearts ache for the family, she said, before declining to comment further. The June press statement touted Burkis achievements prior to joining the Hanley Foundation. It said he is a member of the Young People in Recovery national board, a board member of a recovery high school in Philadelphia and he once served on the Florida Sober Homes Task Force. According to a recovery trade publication, Burki was also the founder of Life of Purpose Treatment, which had clinics in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, though it appears Life of Purpose is no longer in service. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. 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. Women who have general anesthesia during C-sections are significantly more likely to experience postpartum depression resulting in hospitalization, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and anxiety, according to recent study. This may be because general anesthesia during C-section deliveries can delay skin-to-skin interaction or breastfeeding from mother to infant, and can cause more acute postpartum pain. 'These situations are often coupled with a new mother's dissatisfaction with anesthesia in general, and can lead to negative mental health outcomes,' said Jean Guglielminotti, MD, PhD, in the Department of Anesthesiology at Columbia University and lead author, in a statement. The study, published in Anesthesia and Analgesia, is the first of its kind to examine the role general anesthesia during C-sections play in postpartum depression, or PPD, and how regional anesthesia may have a 'protective effect.' Research published in Anesthesia and Analgesia suggests women who use general anesthesia during C-sections are more likely to experience postpartum depression Around one in nine women experience PPD in the United States. Researchers used hospital discharge records of C-section deliveries performed in New York State hospitals between 2006 and 2013. Of the 428,304 individual cases they analyzed, 34,356 women - or eight percent - received general anesthesia during child birth. 1,158 of the women, or three percent, who received general anesthesia experienced severe PPD that led to hospitalization. The study found women who underwent general anesthesia were 91 percent more likely to have thoughts of suicide or self harm, and 54 percent more likely to experience PPD. Women who had general anesthesia during C-sections tended to be non-white, older and on Medicare or Medicaid. This is compared to women who had regional anesthesia, like spinal blocks and epidurals. Jean Guglielminotti (left) cautioned against believing general anesthesia is always bad and Grace Lim (right) said the 'nature of the emergency delivery' may also play a role in developing PPD However, researchers maintain that the findings don't directly mean general anesthesia causes PPD. Guglielminotti told CNN: 'We don't want people to believe that general anesthesia is always bad. It can be good in some situations, when you require an emergency C-section. What we're saying is that general anesthesia is not always good, and when it can [it should] be avoided.' General anesthesia isn't often used in North America and fewer than five out of every 100 C-sections are done with it in the United States. General anesthesia is usually used in emergency C-sections or in instances when regional anesthesia cannot be utilized, said says Grace Lim, director of obstetric anesthesiology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. Lim says the emergency C-sections, which are more likely used for babies who are early or ill, or for mother's with health problems, could also explain the increase in PPD. She told CNN: 'Thus, the nature of the emergency delivery, rather than the general anesthetic itself, may be the real reason why these women end up with higher odds of depression.' While researchers have not previously studied the connection between general anesthesia, C-sections and psychological outcomes, others have monitored the link between C-sections and PPD. Lim: 'Thus, the nature of the emergency delivery, rather than the general anesthetic itself, may be the real reason why these women end up with higher odds of depression' A 2017 analysis suggested C-sections and emergency C-sections can raise the risk of PPD, and a 2019 study from the United Kingdom found first-time mothers who have C-sections were 15 percent more likely to experience PPD. In 2018, researchers found that epidurals were linked to to a reduced risk of PPD, but authors warned that other factors could play a larger role. Guglielminotti said more research is needed to formally confirm the link between general anesthesia in C-sections and PPD. For instance, researchers used administrative hospitals as opposed to clinical data, meaning they don't know the exact reason why general anesthesia was used in the cases. It can be difficult to grasp all the reasons a patient may choose to use general anesthesia. The new study also doesn't account for women who sought outpatient visits, emergency department visits and only tracked women in New York. A longtime midstate engineering firm has merged with a firm with offices across the country. Skelly and Loy, which has been in business for 51 years, has merged with Terracon Consultants, a Kansas company that provides environmental consulting, geotechnical engineering, materials testing, and building enclosure services. Skelly and Loy has an office in Swatara Township as well as offices in the State College and Pittsburgh areas, Maryland and West Virginia. Terracon has more than 150 offices and 5,000 employees across the United States. Gayle Packer is the president of Terracon Consultants. (Photo provided) Skelly and Loy provides environmental consulting and engineering services, and the companys 150 employees will become part of Terracon and will now be known as Skelly and Loy, A Terracon Company. The merger took place on Jan. 31. Skelly and Loys services include mining, civil, and environmental engineering; natural resource management; wastewater permitting; noise and air quality investigations; hazardous waste management investigations and remedial design, and other services. --Business Buzz --Sign up for PennLives newsletters 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. You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness Young people have often been early adopters of technology. And this fact could make them the best people to repair it. A high school in the Bay Area in California will partner with a maker of autonomous vehicle technology to begin a maintenance and repair program with the schools shop class.The Pittsburg Unified School District has formed a partnership with the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Local Motors, a maker of small autonomous electric shuttles, to provide technical education related to AVs. Pittsburg High School will be the first K-12 school in the state to provide this level of instruction.Autonomous vehicles are on the very cutting edge of the automotive industry, said Sherene Sasser, workforce liaison for the Pittsburg Unified School District, adding, very soon technicians and mechanics who have experience in autonomous technologies will be in high demand.Looking to tomorrows workers for tomorrows jobs and skill sets is a logical move, said Local Motors officials.Consumer demand for both autonomous and electric vehicles is expected to skyrocket creating multi-billion and trillion-dollar industries within the next five to ten years. To handle such growth, these industries need highly skilled technicians with experience producing, updating and maintaining vehicle technology, said Vikrant Aggarwal, president of Local Motors. Its imperative that students have access to the training and on-hands experience today for the jobs of tomorrow.Local Motors will make its Olli autonomous shuttles available for the high schools new advanced auto shop program as a laboratory for instruction and research into both autonomous technologies as well as electric vehicle insight. Local Motors will make its technicians available to students and teachers. The program will launch this fall.Currently, about 160 students are enrolled in either the more basic auto repair coursework, or Advanced Auto, with its focus on electric vehicles and some of the more advanced automotive systems.We have had a couple of opportunities to learn about autonomous technologies, but only briefly, said Sasser.Expanded coursework in the 2020-21 school year will allow the students to delve deeper into the workings of not only AVs, but EVs as well. The school will have access to an electric car kit they will break down and reassemble.In addition, we are receiving two hybrid cars through the Bureau of Automotive Repairs Cars for Schools program, said Sasser, adding that these will arrive in the coming weeks.Local Motors has been using the GoMentum Station , operated by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, as a basecamp for testing, while also deploying the vehicles into real-world applications such as a shared AV shuttle program at Sacramento State University last year . CCTA has long been a vanguard to test Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs), as well as secure government permission to allow SAVs on public roads. What we dont have is a trained workforce to support this emerging industry sector, said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki, in a statement.Local Motors officials say the company is open to additional partnerships with schools or community colleges to further AV understanding and repair knowledge.Weve long supported educational and research-driven initiatives by either providing on-hands Olli experience or inviting students to join us for the day at our micro-factories to learn about our manufacturing, said Aggarwal. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) (L) talks with Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during a Senate Finance Committee committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 24, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Leaks by Senate Democrats Could Interfere With Hunter Biden Probe, Grassleys Office Says The office of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says recent disclosures from the office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) could interfere with the Senate Finance Committees investigation of Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden. Citing Wydens spokesperson, Yahoo News reported on Feb. 6 that the Treasury Department is rapidly complying with a request from Grassleys office for financial documents on Biden. A spokesperson for Grassley criticized the disclosure in a statement to The Epoch Times. Its unfortunate that Democrats whom weve kept in the loop on our investigations would recklessly seek to interfere with legitimate government oversight, said Taylor Foy, a Grassley spokesperson. Grassley, whose initial inquiry to the department dates back to mid-August 2019, received a classified briefing about the inquiry in October. The spokesperson for Wydens office didnt respond to a request for comment. In the Yahoo News report, a spokesperson for Wyden, who is the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, claims that the Treasury Department is giving preference to requests from Republicans over those from the Democrats. Applying a blatant double standard, Trump administration agencies like the Treasury Department are rapidly complying with Senate Republican requestsno subpoenas necessaryand producing evidence of questionable origin, Ashley Schapitl, a Wyden spokesperson, said in a statement. The administration told House Democrats to go pound sand when their oversight authority was mandatory while voluntarily cooperating with the Senate Republicans sideshow at lightning speed. Three Republican-led Senate committees are investigating Hunter Bidens business dealings in Ukraine and China. The Republicans sent a wave of requests in November 2019 to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the State Department, and the National Archives. The Yahoo report cites a source familiar with the matter to claim that the Treasury began to comply with the FinCEN request two months after Grassleys initial inquiry on Nov. 15. Three weeks after Grassley filed his request, Wyden and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) wrote a letter to FinCEN calling on the agency to act free of partisan influence and to handle requests from Congress in the order theyre received. FinCEN must take steps to ensure that its partnership with Congress is free of partisan influence. FinCENs integrity is vital to its mission, and any appearance of favoritism could compromise FinCENs ability to promote national security, the senators wrote. The Treasury Department didnt respond to a request for comment. The Republicans document requests in November went out when House Democrats were conducting an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and are closely related to the matters in the impeachment inquiry. The Democrats probed whether Trump abused his power when he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to probe Hunter Biden. The Republicans specifically inquired about the subject the president brought up on the July 25, 2019, phone call with Zelensky. Trump asked Zelensky to look into the firing of Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. Joe Biden has bragged about forcing Shokins ouster by withholding $1 billion in loan guarantees from Ukraine. At the time Joe Biden applied the pressure, his son was receiving as much as $1 million per year to serve on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company under investigation by the prosecutor general. Weeks prior to being forced to submit his resignation, Shokin seized the assets of Mykola Zlochevsky, Burismas owner. The FinCEN documents reportedly that were provided to Grassley could be particularly illuminating, since the publics knowledge about Hunter Bidens financial transactions is limited to financial statements disclosed during the trial of his business partner, Devon Archer, who also served on the board of Burisma. The statements show Archer and Biden receiving over $83,000 per month from Burisma starting in 2014. The Bidens say they have done nothing wrong. Hunter Biden stepped down from Burismas board in April 2019. The Senate acquitted Trump on both counts brought by House Democrats, who impeached the president for inquiring about Bidens conduct. The Democrats alleged that the president abused the power of his office by pressuring an allied nation into conducting investigations into his political rivals and obstructed Congress when the Democrats opened inquiries into the matter. An 18-year-old San Leandro man was arrested on suspicion of murder after stabbing his mothers boyfriend to death on Friday night, police said. Ty Bothwellmitlitsk allegedly stabbed the 62-year-old victim inside a home on the 500 block of Beverly Avenue. Police were called to the home around 11:30 p.m. and found the victim, who was not immediately identified, suffering multiple stab wounds, officials said. Paramedics took the victim to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators were working to determine a motive for the attack. Bothwellmitlitsks mother witnessed the stabbing and told officers her son had fled in a vehicle, officers said. Police believed the suspect may have fled to San Francisco. Around 3:40 a.m. Saturday, investigators located the man driving his moms vehicle eastbound across the Bay Bridge. Officers attempted to stop the driver who sped off, leading to a 20-minute chase that went through Dublin and back toward Castro Valley, where he stopped and was taken into custody, police said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The fast and thorough work of our officers and detectives led to the swift arrest of the suspect, San Leandro police Lt. Isaac Benabou said in a statement. This was a violent and seemingly unprovoked incident by a dangerous individual who needed to be caught quickly. The suspect may be in custody, but this is still an active investigation. The incident marks San Leandros first homicide of the year. The city had no murders last year and one homicide in 2018. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Sri Lankan corporates shun Asian Cities By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): The coronavirus outbreak has not just impacted Sri Lankas outbound travel market but also caused uncertainty in trade with China as Sri Lankas tourism industry readies to participate at the biggest travel fairs next month in Berlin. Organisers at the ITB Berlin fair have announced precautionary measures against the coronavirus. The fair normally results in 64 participating companies from Colombo. Another fair in Milan already has 16 companies confirmed. Issuing a media release the ITB organisers have stated that though they do not foresee any impacts for the upcoming ITB Berlin, they have adopted a number of precautionary measures to ensure safety of all attendees. A number of rapid response English speaking medical teams will be deployed along with other health professionals onsite; hand disinfectors will be provided at all entrances to exhibition and hand sanitation already installed in all toilets and washrooms; and authorities will be increasing the frequency with which sanitary facilities are disinfected. More countries are shunning China and closing borders in a bid to contain the virus from spreading and in this respect, the European Union (EU) is also reportedly discussing the possibility of introducing entry restrictions to Chinese nationals and recent visitors to mainland China are currently being discussed among EU member states, according to a report on the Schenegen Visa website. Member states are said to be considering a suspension of visa issuance for nationals of a few countries in addition to China is also an option if the situation does not improve for the better. Meanwhile, foreign local tour operators note that under the circumstances large tour operators that usually market China are now temporarily stopping this and have looked at attracting visitors to Sri Lanka. In fact, JourneyScapes Managing Director Devendre Senaratne said that large tour operators will be conducting a special promotion as well. He explained the main focus of the ITB fair would be the Western European market and how to cash in on arrivals from these markets. The virus continues to increase its impact having infected 28, 276 confirmed cases globally and 564 deaths within China and one outside as of February 6, according to the World Health Organisation. The WHO has declared the current situation as global public health emergency and has recommended a number of precautions to adopt in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. In the wake of the increase in the number of cases and a drop in revenue, the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has urged the government to consider extending the moratoriums on all loans and interest granted by financial institutions for the tourism industry since the Easter Sunday attacks. The tourism industry globally is likely to be impacted by the virus outbreak for at least another 6-9 months. Sri Lanka attracts 10 per cent of its tourists from China but cancellations particularly of group travels have impacted on arrivals and earnings for an industry that was just picking up. Corporates shun Asia Most corporates in Sri Lanka are shunning the Asian region and as a result, of the seven companies scheduled to attend the Philippines travel fair, five had withdrawn participation this year. The China World Travel Fair scheduled to be held in Guangzhou later this month has been cancelled by authorities. However, the World Travel Fair in Shanghai scheduled to be held in April has not been cancelled by the Chinese authorities and Sri Lanka is currently going ahead with the necessary preparations to attend the fair. But there are concerns about the epidemic and in this regard, authorities would be taking a decision later on whether they would actually participate at the event. Another travel show scheduled for March in Singapore has been postponed to May as more and more companies are concerned about travelling to Asian destinations. Trade impact Traders are concerned that a drop in imports of mobile phones, printer cartridges, printers, computers and accessories is likely to be adversely impacted as Sri Lanka is a large buyer of these items from China. The Chinese factories have not opened up for operations due to the virus outbreak and the extension of the holiday week by the Chinese government. The incidence of the epidemic is set to create an impact on one of Sri Lankas largest exporter, the apparel industry as China is the largest supplier of raw materials and fabrics. Currently, each manufacturer is in discussion with the individual Chinese factories regarding the next shipment of raw materials and fabrics but at present there is a lot of uncertainty, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLEA) Rehan Lakahny told the Business Times on Friday. He noted that the industry is still waiting to see the impact but they believe there is potential for quite an impact. The apparel industry generally awaits their fabrics and raw materials shipments soon after the Chinese New Year. But issues have arisen since the holiday period has been extended and transportation disrupted and some factories closed as a result of the current situation in China, Mr. Lakahny said. He explained, under the circumstances they were unaware of the real shipment dates and following this they would have to negotiate the shipments of garments individually with their own end customers if delays do occur. Plans curtailed Sri Lankans have curtailed travel plans overseas directly hurting incentive travel over concerns of the coronavirus outbreak in a number of countries. Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) President Trevor Rajaratnam said that Sri Lankans are in trepidation particularly going to the Asian region, mainly to Thailand, China and Vietnam. As a result incentive tours are being rescheduled particularly to Asian countries and companies are not keen on taking responsibility and dont want to run the risk of sending their teams overseas. Mr. Rajaratnam noted this has affected the outbound travel to some extent although travel to other destinations has not been impacted so far. People who have been travelling and plan to travel in a month or two are rescheduling because nobody wants to take a chance or expose themselves, he explained. Asked to comment on how long this epidemic outbreak could affect overseas travel by Sri Lankans, he noted they were uncertain. There is no term in the English language that describes your conduct as well as the Yiddish term of chutzpah. JUDGE NATHANIEL M. GORTON, as he sentenced Douglas Hodge, the retired chief of the bond giant Pimco, for his attempt to bribe college officials to gain admission for four of his children. In the end, she was never able to prove that her father held an account with a Swiss bank. Nevertheless, when Korman began to disburse the money from the Swiss banks in 2002, the first check, in the amount of $100,000, went to Mrs. Beer in recognition of her services to victims of the Holocaust. KWEKWE, Zimbabwe (AP) Zimbabwe's rescue agency said Friday it has ended operations at a mine where two people died after being trapped underground. Nathan Nkomo, director of the Civil Protection Unit, told The Associated Press that "we have retrieved all the bodies." An injured miner was taken to a hospital, he said. Nkomo and police spokesman Paul Nyathi said they could not confirm the number of people underground. Due to the unregulated nature of the mining, it is "impossible to know how many people are underground at any given time," Nkomo said. He said the mine was no longer operational and had been taken over by artisanal miners who use rudimentary and unsafe mining methods. It was quiet at the scene in the gold-rich town of Kwekwe in central Zimbabwe, with only a handful of miners milling around and seemingly unmoved by the deaths. "Two people (dead) ... that's not a disaster. It happens all the time in these mines," said Davison Chidhakwa, a fellow miner. Hundreds of artisanal miners work in disused mines in the area connected by a network of tunnels. Chidhakwa said he had come from a local hospital to check on the miner rescued on Thursday. "He had some head injuries but he has already been discharged. He is fine," he said. Deep gullies and abandoned, rusty equipment lay around. A diesel generator used to power a water pump was the only sign of functional equipment at the site. A survivor, Bekithemba Takawira, said his "syndicate" of five people were most affected by the collapse of a mine shaft that occurred after the miners entered on Wednesday. "I had left briefly to collect my tools in the other side of the tunnel. On my return I found my colleagues crushed by huge rock," he said. "People enter the mine from all directions. I can't say how many people were underground," he said. Delhi recorded 61.46 per cent voter turnout on Saturday, down from 67.47 per cent in 2015 assembly election, with exit polls predicting an easy win for Aam Aadmi Party, which sought to retain power on development plank, against the Bharatiya Janata Party that ran an aggressive campaign centred around the issues of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests and nationalism. IMAGE: Voters show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at Jamia Nagar polling station in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo The polling went off peacefully, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh told reporters. Over 60,000 security personnel, including Quick Response Teams, had been deployed for the election while police and paramilitary forces conducted flag marches in sensitive areas. The voting percentage was 57.04 till 6 pm deadline, and rose to 61.46 per cent as those in queues at polling stations were allowed to vote, poll officials said, adding it may increase further. The officials said Mustafabad (66.29 per cent), Matia Mahal (65.62 per cent) and Seelampur (64.92 per cent) -- all three with large Muslim population -- recorded the highest voting percentage till 5 pm. Long queues were seen outside polling stations in areas like Jaffrabad, Jamia Nagar, Turkman Gate and Shaheen Bagh which have been witnessing protests against the CAA. In the 11 districts in the national capital, northeast recorded 65.24 per cent turn out, northwest (62.23 per cent), south (59.65 per cent), central (58.57 per cent), southwest 61.57 (per cent), east (61.29 per cent), west (61.79 per cent), north (57.19 per cent), New Delhi (56.10 per cent), Shahadra (62.96 per cent) and southeast (54.89 per cent). On a sit-in for over a month against the CAA, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh in south-east Delhi voted in batches 'so that the agitation remains unaffected'. Mehzabeen Qureshi, who returned to the protest site after voting, said, "I stayed at home to let other women in the house go out and vote. Now I have joined them here at Shaheen Bagh after voting. I voted today to secure democracy". IMAGE: A wheelchair bound voter shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote at Old Rajinder Nagar polling station. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Polling started at a sluggish pace and the voting percentage was low till noon. However, it picked up pace as the day grew warmer. A senior Delhi poll official said the lower turnout compared to 67.47 per cent in the 2015 Assembly polls could be attributed to the polling day falling on a weekend as a section of people may have gone out of the city. The voting percentage was 60.6 in 2019 Lok Sabha election. A poll officer died apparently due to a heart condition at a polling booth at Babarpur, just before the voting began, Singh said. Congress' Chandni Chowk candidate Alka Lamba got into an altercation with an AAP worker outside a polling booth and tried to slap the man, but missed. Lamba alleged that the man used 'very foul' and objectional language against her. Free electricity and water, development, jobs, national security and CAA were among the key issues on the minds of Delhiites in the polls where 672 candidates were in the fray in 70 Assembly seats. Sonakshi Ranjan (22), a first-time voter, said she opted for development while casting her vote. S C Sharma (74), a voter in Kalkaji constituency, said he voted for development and national security. Exit polls have predicted a clean sweep for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party while the BJP was a distant second. Most exit polls also predicted that Congress is unlikely to open its account even this time in Delhi, which it ruled from 1998-2013. After the polls ended, BJP President J P Nadda held a meeting with party's Delhi unit leaders and took stock of the situation. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari put up a brave face amid prediction of defeat for his party, claiming it will win 48 seats and form a government in the city. IMAGE: A polling official applies indelible ink on the finger of a voter during the Delhi assembly elections. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party is going to win with a big margin. There were some complaints related to Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. Congress' New Delhi candidate Romesh Sabharwal said VVAPT slips did not show his name and photo. "I gave a written complaint to poll authorities after which the machine was replaced," Sabharwal said, adding that polling was halted for sometime. Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said that (VVPAT) failure was only one per cent this time. "There was very little VVPAT failure this time. In the Lok Sabha election, the VVPAT failure was more than 12.5 per cent and this time it is less than 1 per cent," he said. "Because of our enforcement and preventive action we took, the elections went off peacefully," Singh told reporters. Police said over 200 calls related to election complaints were received at the Delhi Police's control room on the polling day. First time voters and women turned out in large numbers. More than 60 centenarians voted in the assembly polls, Singh said. President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their franchise. Union Ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their votes. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal voted at Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents' blessings. Former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionary Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, 'Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - as you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders.' IMAGE: Voters show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting their vote at Old Rajinder Nagar polling station. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who covered 60 assembly seats during his whirlwind campaign, appealed to voters to 'free' the national capital from lies and vote-bank politics. 'By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions. 'I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics,' Shah tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan and Kejriwal's son Pulkit were among first-time voters. Asked if his father will be the CM again, Pulkit said whoever people choose will become the chief minister of Delhi. Talking to reporters, Rehan said that public transport should be more affordable for students. Taking a swipe at those protesting against CAA-NRC, senior RSS functionary Ram Lal said those shouting 'kagaz nahin dikhayenge' would be defeated in the Delhi assembly election as he appealed to people to show documents while voting. He asked voters to keep in mind who can make Delhi the best capital city in the world. Hundreds of people, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in many areas across the country, often raise the slogan of 'kagaz nahi dikhayenge' (we will not show show documents). "My message to the voters is 'aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen' (Today, take your document along with you and show your document)," Lal said. In New Mexico, our communities are at the heart of our states decisions. We celebrate Small Business Saturday to support the mom-and-pop shops that have become symbols in our cities, we work to preserve the time-honored traditions that make our state so colorful and we never hesitate to tell corporations new in town to watch and learn before they make waves that would affect the community. Why arent we this protective of schools founded by our unique communities specifically to respond to unique communities needs? In other words, why dont we recognize charter schools as the expressions of a communitys values and needs that they are? One year ago, when New Mexicos public education budget was exploding with growth, many growing community charter schools lost the supplemental funding they had received for years to keep the buses running and the lights on. Unlike school districts that serve many schools and can extend services to them from a central location, standalone schools have to do all of that themselves, creating an additional financial burden on top of the challenge of maintaining operations without a central office to support them. That was why New Mexicos growing schools had, prior to this administration, received additional government support. This year, Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, has proposed House Bill 147, which would restore some of that funding before it can phase out completely in four years. Its a godsend for our new and growing community charter schools already sweating the 20% reduction in the adjustment they took this year. But HB 147 has no chance of a hearing unless the governor signals to the Legislature that the bill should be heard. Why wouldnt Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham want to support these communities and their schools? MAS Charter Schools outgrew the small school size adjustment years ago, but I remember those early days well. It seems theres never enough money to go around in education, and charters have it even harder. Like districts, were funded based on our previous years enrollment, but charter schools like ours start small and add at least one grade per year. That means that, while were growing to accommodate more students and families, we have to do it with less state support. For schools struggling to grow without the necessary funding, the shortfall may be too much to bear in order to be able to serve families in their communities. For many charter schools, their smaller class size and school size is part of the draw for families. Some families intentionally seek a smaller school community, where their students wont feel lost in the crowd, or where they can get more one-on-one time with teachers to finally succeed academically. I believe all charters should have growth as a goal, both to meet the need for quality choice in our state and to avoid being a burden on the system; thats why MAS now serves over 1,300 students instead of the 100 we started with. But without funding that supports the robust growth charters need to become sustainable on their own, many more would fail in their first years. If you havent already, I encourage you to contact the Governors Office to request a message for HB 147, Public School Size Adjustment Program Units just to request the bill be given a committee hearing to see where we can find common ground. Give our charter school community, and the families it serves, the chance to be heard. JoAnn Mitchell was 2013 Principal of the Year. MAS has been an A-rated state charter school since 2015 and serves over 1,300 students across Albuquerque. She praises Bandts "clear" communication skills and his ability to talk to everyone from policy experts to schoolchildren. The partys other co-deputy, Nick McKim, stresses Bandts intelligence: "He's a very deep thinker about politics [and] outstanding in his capacity to get across detailed policy." Greens leader Adam Bandt, left, with Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud during Question Time on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Independent Andrew Wilkie, who has sat with Bandt on the crossbench since 2010, is also a big fan. He says the former deputy to both Christine Milne and Di Natale is "a leader for the times". Sydney University senior lecturer in Australian politics Stewart Jackson expects Bandt to put climate change even more to the fore of the Greens' activities and take advantage of the increased public attention on the issue after a summer of devastating fires. "The policies haven't changed [but] the emphasis is going to change," said Jackson, a former national convener of the Greens. Jackson also notes Bandt has a different presentation style than Di Natale, "with a little bit of fire in the belly". Bandts direct communication style may be praised by his colleagues but it is not always as well received in other quarters. After the Greens leaders' first press conference, Sydney breakfast show host Alan Jones said Bandt was a "master" of "hate speech". Labor was also unimpressed, with Victorian MP Tim Watts observing: "This sort of hectoring, lecturing, sometimes abusive model of public advocacy, it just doesnt work in the Australian community." Initial Liberal thinking is that the leadership switch is good news for their party, particularly in the blue ribbon Melbourne seats of Higgins and Kooyong, which came under threat from the Greens in 2019. "No one was happier - other than Adam Bandt - at his election as Greens leader than the Liberal Party this week," Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson told Sky News. "For all of Richard Di Natale's faults, he is the soft, cuddly version of the Greens and Adam Bandt is the hard-edged left-wing version of the Greens. And I don't think it's going to go down very well in the community, and it's particularly not going to go down in those areas where the Greens were making some gains in those kind of leafy suburbs of our big cities." Labor MPs have played down the impact on the leadership change, with Labor left Victorian MP Andrew Giles saying "our focus is on doing our job, not on anyone else". Cuddlier?: Senator Richard Di Natale embraces his children Luca and Ben and his wife Lucy Quarterman after announcing his resignation as Greens leader on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen When asked about his presentation style, Bandt is nonplussed. "Look, I'm passionate. And I believe these things. And I've believed in social justice and looking after the planet since I was a kid." Bandt, 47, went to his first demonstration in high school when a nuclear-powered warship pulled into the ports in Fremantle where he was growing up. He also tracks his interest in politics back to his father, the first person in his family to go to university, where he did a social work degree. Bandt, who briefly joined the ALP in his youth, makes no secret of the fact that he wants to see the Coalition voted out at the next election and the Greens to come away with the balance of power in both houses. All six of the party's senators up for re-election in 2019 were returned, and the Greens captured 10.4 per cent of lower house first preferences - a slight increase on 2016. Nevertheless, much-hyped conquests in Kooyong and Higgins and Labor seats such as Macnamara failed to materialise. Despite great expectations, Bandt remains the partys only lower house MP. Loading Two years out from the next federal election, election analyst Kevin Bonham cautions that "the Greens need a lot of luck" when it comes to securing the balance of power. In the lower house, he noted, they would be relying on the fact that neither party would get a majority. He also wonders, "Where are they going to get the [extra] seats?" In the Senate, Bonham said the Greens could pick up between one and three extra spots, but this does not necessarily mean anything in terms of the balance of power. "I feel that, when the Greens publicly campaign on 'we want the balance of power' openly, that can scare voters a bit." Bandt has not put a number yet on the extra seats he thinks his party could win. He said the party should "campaign where we could win seats", adding there was nothing "earth-shattering" about this assessment. "I think closer to the next election we might have a better idea about what those seats are." Di Natale's resignation comes right as the country grapples with a catastrophic bushfire season and heightened community anxiety about climate change. But the outgoing leader insisted it was the "right time" for the party to change leaders. "The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was really important that we give someone a good opportunity to launch into the next election and particularly at the moment, when it's so critical to hold this shocking government to account for their failure on fires," the outgoing leader said. While Greens colleagues and members have been very understanding of Di Natale's decision to retire for family reasons, some were disappointed about the timing. Since 2017, the Greens have been actively debating whether to let party members directly elect the leader, with a range of views about what model could be adopted. Some members, such as NSW senator Mehreen Faruqi, have expressed frustration that the partys national conference is due to make a decision on the issue in May (and Di Natales resignation has seen another leadership vote by the party room). For his part, Bandt favours a mixed model where members and MPs get a vote and sees "no reason" why the issue wont be resolved by May (although other Greens sources say the issue could easily drag on longer). Leadership positions are automatically spilled after elections, so if the party does change its method of electing leaders, Bandt could face a membership vote within two years. His more pressing challenge, however, will be to capitalise on the increased focus on climate change. The member for Melbourne said the biggest risk for the Greens was the Morrison governments "greenwashing campaign". People rallying outside Parliament House on Tuesday listen to new Greens leader Adam Bandt speak. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong CALGARYThe current epicentre of Canadas oil-versus-the-environment furor is a project that would level 29,000 acres in the forests of northern Alberta. You might call that an open pit mine and most do. But in the official brochure and website, Teck Resources Ltd., a mining and natural resources juggernaut, refers to its Frontier project as a truck and shovel mine, and touts the 2,500 people it would employ during its roughly 40 years of operation. Its corporate spin, sure, with wording that hints at hardworking people toiling away. But it also nods to the growing divide of how the mine is viewed in Alberta where it would be a much needed shot to the arm for the ailing oil industry versus the rest of the country. The Teck project is significant to many Albertans, not just because of its enormity, but because many see it as a canary in the oilsands mine. This province has never shaken fears sparked at a 2017 town hall, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implied mistakenly, apparently that the oilsands would have to be phased out. When asked what the reaction will be if the mine isnt approved, Jack Mintz has one word: Apoplectic. Leaving aside the economics of it, says the presidents fellow at the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy. If its turned down, that is a major signal that ... maybe any future oilsands project will not be possible. The mine, as envisioned, would be built in the heart of northern Albertas oilsands, between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan. It would include surface mining, a processing plant and tailings ponds, a plan that has drawn fierce opposition from environmentalists. At full capacity, the company estimates it would produce 260,000 barrels of bitumen per day. Thats a lot of oil, even for Alberta. For context, the existing Trans Mountain pipeline currently being expanded can ship about 300,000 barrels a day. A joint federal-provincial review panel signed off on the project last summer. Its final report noted the project would have significant adverse project and cumulative effects on the environment and Indigenous communities, but ultimately concluded that the mine, and the $70 billion its estimated to contribute to government revenue, was in the public interest. Now, it has to be approved by both the Alberta and federal governments. The sticking point, of course, is the federal Liberals, who are due to decide by the end of February. Reports this week say the feds are prepping an aid package for Alberta to soften the blow if the $20.6-billion project is nixed. But on Friday, Albertas environment minister implied that the federal and provincial governments have different views of the value of the oil industry. Specifically, Minister Jason Nixon shot back at the idea of a bailout, and what he said was the implication that the approval was somehow a gift from Ottawa; a gift that could just as soon be paid off. Albertans are not looking for a Justin Trudeau handout. Were not interested in that, Nixon told reporters in Calgary on Friday. Instead, he argued the project should be approved on its own merits. The UCP government was voted in last spring with a pledge to support workers and return the oil industry to its former glory in Alberta, and Premier Jason Kenney has laid Teck at Trudeaus feet. Ive been very clear to the prime minister ... if they say no to this project, then they are signalling his earlier statement that he wants to phase out the oilsands, Kenney said back in January. At a time when the inability to get oil infrastructure built has strained relations between Alberta and Ottawa, there will be political consequences for Teck isnt built, Mintz says. Notably, itll give further ammunition to a small but vocal separatist movement, which could, eventually, undercut traditional conservative support. Kenney will likely face scrutiny about whether he took the right tack in raising support for the project if it fails to get approved, according to Lori Williams, a policy studies professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. If you see it as having been too demanding or too obstreperous, and that that actually alienated rather than increased support, that could come back. But much depends on whether the economy approves by the next election. Of course, Trudeau is in a political quagmire of his own. The federal government has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050, and the Teck mine would mean contending with an additional 4.1 megatonnes of emissions every year. Mintz argues that the federal government is covering for a lack of a concrete plan by taking a shot at an easy target and turning down an oil project. Theres no plans, or knowledge, or idea about how well get (to carbon neutral) or what it means in terms of the Canadian economy, adding that many Canadians are in support of responsible development. In a sign that energy projects are increasingly evaluated in the context of their carbon footprint, Teck Resources announced a new goal last week of being carbon neutral by 2050, an objective it claims it can accomplish by being more efficient, looking at new ways to move materials at mines and switching to cleaner power. Despite the uproar over the mines impact, there is no guarantee that an approval will mean the project is actually built. Teck CEO Don Lindsay conceded last month that the application process didnt cost much, and even a green light wont guarantee shovels in the ground. Meanwhile, critics have pointed out that the project wont be profitable until oil is above $75 US a barrel. Regardless, Nixon said in a statement, Albertans will be watching closely. Prime Minister Trudeau has emphasized his desire to work with Alberta and to preserve national unity. Its time he backed up his words with action. With files from The Canadian Press and Kieran Leavitt Update, Feb. 7, 2020 An earlier version of this file misspelled the surname of Jack Mintz. Read more about: "Missing" posters of Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav have surfaced in his parliamentary constituency of Azamgarh questioning the MP's absence in the wake of police action on women protesting against the CAA and NRC. Put up by the minority cell of the Uttar Pradesh Congress, the posters showing Yadav with a black band on his mouth, have come up in different parts of the the city including the Civil Lines area. Leader of Congress minority cell, Nadeem said, "The SP leader claims to be a well-wisher of Muslims but has confined himself to merely tweeting on the police action on the woman protesters." He claimed that Yadav has not visited Azamgarh ever since the general election concluded last year. In Bilariaganj area of the city, several Muslim women had started a protest at Maulana Johar park on Tuesday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) but were forcibly removed by police. An FIR was registered against 35 named and over 100 unidentified people involved in the protests. Of them, 20 people were arrested, police had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King George VI is said to have advised his daughter Elizabeth that when she became Queen, she should never forget that, although she would not remember them, everyone she ever met would remember whatever she said to them for their rest of their lives. Advice she seems to have taken to heart. In public at least, throughout her 68-year reign, Elizabeth II has rarely said anything memorable. She appears entirely lacking in small talk. Have you come far?, For me? How kind are often the extent of her exchanges with members of the public. Usually she sticks doggedly to the official script, expressing no sentiment or opinion on even the least controversial matters. Prime Ministers have remarked how well informed she is, but there is little known evidence. Dogs and horses are the only things that appear to excite her. Taken to heart: King George VI told Queen Elizabeth II (pictured in 1966) that when she became Queen, everyone she ever met would remember whatever she said to them for their rest of their lives. She has chosen to stick doggedly to the official script throughout her royal life And this strategy, if that is what it is, has served her well. Unlike her husband and sons, who have often found themselves in hot water, she remains unscathed, utterly above the fray. On the rare occasions her private utterances have been leaked, they are remarkably bland. Why did nobody notice it? she famously wondered of experts about the run-up to the 2008 financial crash. Brexit, she told President Trump, was complicated. Although these remarks caused great excitement in the media, theyre hardly earth-shattering. Occasionally one glimpses evidence that, behind that apparently bland exterior, there lurks a sense of mischief the twinkle in her eye and the rubbing of hands recorded in a rare television documentary as she prepared to receive yet another ambassador. There is also evidence of a finely honed sense of humour, not to mention withering sarcasm. She remains unscathed, utterly above the fray unlike her husbands and sons. She is pictured at RAF Marham on February 3, 2020 There was the occasion when Labour Minister Clare Shorts phone went off during an audience for Privy Counsellors. Ms Short reached in her handbag to silence it and in doing so glanced at the message. The Queen looked up. Oh, dear. I hope it wasnt anyone important, she said. Some years ago, on a visit to the North East, she opened the extension of the Metro from Newcastle to Sunderland. Needless to say, great excitement preceded her arrival. A visit from the Queen is a big deal in Sunderland. Crowds lined the streets. As her train pulled in to Sunderlands unprepossessing station, the driver had difficulty aligning with the red carpet and had to shunt briefly back and forth. Are we expected? she was heard to say under her breath. Best of all was that magnificent put-down of Margaret Thatcher when, after the Falklands War, they turned up to the same event wearing colours that clashed. When she got back to Downing Street, Mrs Thatcher sent a note to the Palace respectfully suggesting that in future their private offices should liaise to ensure there would be no repeat. Back came the reply, no doubt dictated by the Queen herself: Her Majesty does not notice what other people are wearing. On the rare occasion her utterances have been leaked, they are remarkably bland. Her Majesty described Brexit as 'complicated' to President Trump (pictured on June 3, 2019) There is evidence, too, of steel. When, in 1973, the killer of Sir Richard Sharples, the Governor of Bermuda, had his appeal against the death sentence rejected, his last hope was a plea to the Queen for mercy. A Privy Counsellor of my acquaintance was dispatched to the Palace with the relevant paperwork. Needless to say the advice was reject. She duly signed away the culprits life, remarking as she did so: Fancy appealing to me for mercy. Do you know he even shot the dog? I have come across the Queen (or perhaps I should say she has come across me) on half a dozen occasions. Two or three times at Palace receptions, several times in my capacity as a Foreign Office Minister and, as George VI correctly predicted, I can recall each fleeting encounter, whereas I am sure that even at the time my presence barely registered. Rise above it: After a minor awkwardness of turning up wearing colours that clashed, Margaret Thatcher (pictured at Buckingham Palace in 1984) sent a note to the Palace respectfully suggesting that in future their private offices should liaise to ensure there would be no repeat. In response, the Queen wrote: Her Majesty does not notice what other people are wearing' Usually I have kept my head down because as Tony Blairs press secretary Alastair Campbell remarked, there is always a danger of saying something stupid in the presence of royalty. In his diaries, he recounted standing next to the Duke of Edinburgh on a canal boat while the Queen was opening a restored section of a canal in the Midlands. Campbell, for want of something to say, inquired of the Duke Do you think you could handle one of these? and received the withering reply: Well, I did command a bloody destroyer during the war! In 1973, Queen Elizabeth II showed a glimmer of steel as she turned to the Privy Counsellor handling the paperwork which came with signing away the life of killer of Sir Richard Sharples, , Fancy appealing to me for mercy. Do you know he even shot the dog?. Here she is captured at the Windsor Horse Show in 1976 My own attempt at foolish banter also ran into the sand. I was part of the reception committee when the Queen and the Duke opened the new GCHQ headquarters at Cheltenham. Instead of just shaking hands and wishing her good day, I said: Morning Maam, youve brought the rain with you. To which she replied testily: Well, it wasnt raining when we left London. Just a little faux pas. One that she would scarcely notice, but 15 years later I have not forgotten. The Duke was an enormous success that day. While HM steamed on ahead, he took his time pausing to engage in light banter with the assembled spooks, triggering rounds of laughter and spontaneous applause. My most memorable encounter was in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2003. The Queen was there for the Commonwealth Conference, from where she went on to open the new British Council offices. In the absence of the Foreign Secretary, it fell to me to attend upon her. So I found myself on the roof of the new building. The councils director-general, Sir David Green, read a speech from a lectern. The Queen was standing next to him. I was a few paces away, next to the Duke, and beyond the Duke were three English women whom we took to be teachers. After Sir David finished, the Duke remarked, rather too loudly: Hmm, that speech contained rather more jargon per square inch than any Ive heard for a long while. Then he turned to the English women and said: Youre teachers, arent you? Have you got any idea what all that meant? The women were a bit right-on. No, Sir, one replied, were not actually teachers. Not teachers. What are you then? Well, Sir, we empower people. That set him off. EMPOWER? That doesnt sound like English to me. Her Majesty pictured with Don McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth at dinner in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 5, 2003. During the trip, where she went to open the new British Council offices, she pulled the Duke aside after he remarked that a speech contained 'far more jargon' to look at pottery below. it looked like a little trick she has developed for emergencies At which point Her Majesty noticed that something was up and somehow signalled, without saying anything, that he should join her immediately. The Duke stopped mid-sentence and trooped meekly to her side, whereupon she turned around and pointed at something below. He hadnt got a clue what he was supposed to be looking at and I heard her say: The pottery. The pottery. After theyd gone, I went and looked. True, there was some unremarkable pottery below, but I dont think that was the object of the exercise. To me, it looked like a little trick she has developed for emergencies. There are people, usually on the Left, who believe we should replace the Monarchy with an elected presidency. Every so often Im invited to put my name to a campaign for a pledge of abolition to be included in the next Labour manifesto. I decline on the grounds that such a commitment is a sure-fire election-loser. And anyway, there isnt a problem that needs solving. Within obvious constraints, the present system works well. One occasionally hears it argued that the Prince of Wales is unsuited to succeed because he has opinions that he has scarcely bothered to conceal and that, if you are King in a constitutional monarchy, opinions are the one thing you cannot have. I beg to differ. It is certainly right to say that he will have to be more discreet once he assumes the top job, but whatever his foibles and eccentricities, there are reasons to respect Charles. He once related to me an incident in which a woman shouted at him: Abolish the Monarchy! Charles told me: I nearly said to her, Fine, Ill run for president. And should that day dawn, given the low esteem in which politics and politicians are held, he might just win. Chris Mullins latest novel, The Friends Of Harry Perkins, has recently been published in paperback. Ziguinchor, Senegal (PANA) - A movement called 99 -05 was launched by young girls here Thursday in Kolda, in the south of Senegal, to contribute to the fight against the practice of excision, still very widespread in this part of the country LOS ANGELES (AP) Orson Bean, the witty actor and comedian, was hit and killed by a car in Los Angeles, authorities said. He was 91. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed Bean's Friday night death, saying it was being investigated as a "traffic-related" fatality. The coroner's office provided the location where Bean was found, which matched reports from local news outlets. A man was walking in the Venice neighborhood when he was clipped by a vehicle and fell, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Brian Wendling initially told local stations. A second driver then struck him in what police say was the fatal collision. Both drivers remained on the scene. Police were investigating and didnt identify the pedestrian to local outlets, which named Bean based on eyewitness accounts. Bean enlivened such TV game shows as "To Tell the Truth" and played a crotchety merchant on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." He appeared in a number of films notably, Anatomy of a Murder and Being John Malkovich and starred in several top Broadway productions, receiving a Tony nod for the 1962 Comden-Green musical Subways Are for Sleeping. But fans remembered him most for his many TV appearances from the 1950s onward. Born in Burlington, Vt., in 1928 as Dallas Frederick Burrows, he never lost the Yankee accent that proved a perfect complement to the dry, laconic storytelling that established him as popular humorist. He had picked the stage name Orson Bean because it sounded funny. His father, George, was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Bean recalled later that his "house was filled with causes." But he left home at 16 after his mother died by suicide. Bean's style appealed to both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, and he appeared on "The Tonight Show" more than 200 times. But his early career was hobbled for a time when he found himself on the Hollywood blacklist in the early years of the Cold War. Basically I was blacklisted because I had a cute communist girlfriend, he explained in a 2001 interview. I stopped working on TV for a year. The blacklist didn't stop him in the theater. Bean starred on Broadway as a timid fan magazine writer in George Axelrod's 1955 Hollywood spoof "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" alongside Jayne Mansfield and Walter Matthau. He also starred on Broadway with Maureen O'Sullivan in "Never Too Late" and with Melina Mercouri in "Illya Darling," based on her hit film "Never on Sunday." Bean took a break from his career for a time in the 1970s when he dropped out and moved to Australia, where he lived a hippie lifestyle. But he returned to the U.S. and after a period as a self-described "house-husband" resumed his career. In the 1990s, he played the shopkeeper Loren Bray on the long-running drama "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." He remained active on the screen in recent years with guest shots in such shows as "Desperate Housewives," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Modern Family." Meanwhile, his politics turned more conservative. He became related to a leading right-wing commentator, Andrew Breitbart , when his daughter, Susannah, married him. Breitbart died in 2012 and Steve Bannon, later a top adviser to Donald Trump, took over Breitbarts eponymous website, for which Bean had penned occasional columns. More recently, income from "Dr. Quinn" and other voice and acting work allowed Bean to finance the Pacific Resident Theater Ensemble in Venice, where he appeared with his third wife, actress Alley Mills. He had a daughter, Michele, from his first marriage to Jacqueline de Sibour, and sons Max and Ezekiel and daughter Susannah from his marriage to Carolyn Maxwell. Luxury prizes a lure for pricey condos, Feb. 6 Housing in Toronto is at crisis levels; this isnt news. Affordable and available housing for tenants and potential first-time home buyers is virtually nonexistent. Despite plans, proposals and platitudes from city hall, developers continue to run amok, producing only the highest-end product. In this case, their interest is the highest-end buyers, who need to be lured with Birkin bags, Rolex watches and Porsches. They fiddle while Rome burns, contributing little or nothing to the city or society. Unbelievable While in the Air Force I lived throughout the U.S. and overseas. It was common for new coworkers to ask. Where are you from? I was always proud to answer, North Carolina. I would be ashamed to say that now because of the cowardly way Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis voted for no witnesses in President Trumps impeachment trial. As I write this, they have given every indication they will vote to acquit. They swore an oath to defend the Constitution. It did not say defend the Republican Party and Donald Trump. Apparently they are more concerned about their political futures than about a president who abuses the powers of his office and has set a precedent for foreign powers to influence (dictate?) who sits in the White House, and probably the House and Senate as well. When Burr announced he would not seek reelection, I had hoped he would rise above the Republican muck and stand up for democracy. Were his votes tainted by hopes for a government appointment or a Republican-affiliated position in the private sector? Micheal Martin arrived at the polling station with his family at St. Anthony's Boy's National School in Ballinlough, Cork. Saturday's vote could wrest power away from both the ruling Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which have essentially handed control back and forth since the foundation of the Republic in 1937. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar faces a challenge to hold onto power after his Fine Gael party came third in an opinion poll on earlier this week. Whether he manages to hold on or not, both he and Martin have ruled out going into coalition with centre-left republicans Sinn Fein who are expected to make gains after topping Monday's poll. CLINTON, Miss. - A mother and her six children died when a fire destroyed their home early Saturday in central Mississippi, authorities said. The father was the lone survivor of the 12:30 a.m. blaze in Clinton, a city of about 26,500 people just outside the capital city of Jackson. He tried unsuccessfully to save family members and suffered smoke inhalation, burns, cuts and bruises, city spokesman Mark Jones told The Associated Press. He was taken to a local hospital but wanted to stay at the scene, Jones said. Officials later released a list of those killed: Brittany Presley, 33, and her children Landon Brookshire, 15; Lane Presley, 13; Lawson Presley, 12; Grayson Presley, 6; Malcom Presley, 4; and Felicity Presley, 1. Brittany Presley was an elementary school teacher, the Canton Public School District said in a statement on Facebook. Mrs. Presley was a team leader who was a good, nurturing, and loving teacher who gave her all for her students. Her compassionate heart and giving spirit will forever live on in the hearts of the countless lives she touched, the district wrote. The scene at the house later in the day was one of devastation. The charred remains of the single-story wood frame house partially covered with melted siding could be seen along with the remains of an SUV in the burned-out garage. Clothes, toys and furniture were strewn on the yard in the aftermath of firefighters fighting the blaze. Burglar bars could be seen in the windows or, in some cases, on the lawn. It was not immediately known if they had hindered escapes from the fire. Nearby, under a tree, someone had left a bouquet of carnations. The state Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire, Jones said. He said the house was built around 1951. He had no information on whether it was equipped with smoke detectors. Jones said friends of the family had established a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical and funeral expenses. ___ The spelling of Brittany Presleys first name has been corrected. This story has also been corrected to show that the GoFundMe page was established by friends of the family, not the familys church. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin McGill in New Orleans contributed to this report. When I came to India first, I had been suffering for months from parasites that I had picked up in Africa. And despite several rounds of allopathic treatments I could not eliminate the problem. It was only after I began a programme of treatment with Ayurveda that I could eventually heal. Thereafter, I have continued to use Ayurveda often on myself! says Dr Robert Svoboda, the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice it in India. Dr Svobodas association with India dates back to 1973, but his leaning towards wellness and medicine had earlier beginnings. Born in Texas, he obtained a B.S in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma and then went on to become the first white member of north Kenyas Pokot tribe. Fortunately, I was good in school, and after graduating with a bachelors degree at the age of 18, the next step for me seemed to be to study medicine. It was after getting admitted into a medical school that I decided to travel in Africa, to see some of the rest of the world, he says. When he joined the Pokot tribe in Kenya and got to know a couple of its healers, Dr Svoboda realised that there was more to health and healing than modern medicine could provide. So he started looking further. I first heard about Ayurveda in Nepal, and was extraordinarily fortunate to be introduced to Pandit Shiv Sharma, who was at that time Indias most eminent Ayurvedic physician. Thanks to Panditji, I was admitted to the Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya of the University of Pune, from where I graduated in 1980, shares Dr Svoboda. Country roads Dr Svoboda says all you need to do is simply develop a healthy daily routine In June 1973, he crossed into India overland via the Attari Road border, and that night took a train from Amritsar to Delhi - the first Indian city he spent any time in. My first impression of the country was that it was overwhelming: so many people, so much activity, such apparent chaos. I didnt know what to make of it, he says. However, he says his overall experience of studying Ayurveda in India was excellent. I had several sincere, experienced teachers, particularly Vd. B P Nanal and Vd. Vasant Lad, and I was guided overall by my mentor, Vimalananda. The move, naturally, came with challenges the language barrier being one of them. However, Dr Svoboda not only picked up Sanskrit and Marathi but also learnt Gujarati and Hindi. Fortunately my college had one batch of students that year being taught in English, so I didnt have to learn both Marathi and Sanskrit simultaneously. After studying Sanskrit for three hours a day for nine months, some momentum developed and I gained a certain confidence in reading that language, and then I tried to pick up a little Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati. Eventually, I focused on Hindi. He spends at least three months in India every year and this time around hes moderating a three-day wellness retreat on The Concept of Time at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh. We all have a concept of time, but it is often implicit, not explicit. It is something we dont even realise we have, though it affects us significantly. That means that often we interact with the world without realising that we have chosen to do so in a way that does not serve us well. Learning more about how we perceive the passage of time enables us to align ourselves better with temporal reality, he explains. Present perfect Dr Svoboda might have specialised in ancient Ayurvedic techniques, but he is also aware of how the country has evolved over all these years hes been visiting. Forty-five years ago India was much less urbanised, and I was fortunate to be exposed to many traditions that now no longer exist but were still vibrant and vital then, and many sacred sites that were off the beaten path. On the good side of things, phone and Internet are now excellent, and only rarely do I ever see a khatmal anywhere! he laughs. His simplicity and lightheartedness translates to his concept of wellness in Ayurveda too. Pay attention to everything in your life, determine what supports your health and what damages it, and make healthy choices for yourself. Ayurveda is an excellent tool for learning how to navigate existence, which is not at all simple nowadays, explains Dr Svoboda. Heal the world Dr Svoboda will be conducting his wellness retreat on The Concept of Time at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh What are the most common ailments his patients approach him with? Its surprising as well as refreshing to know that though many people do have serious medical issues, most problems are not complicated even when they appear to be, he replies. How? They do not eat right, do not get enough sleep or enough exercise, and they overstimulate themselves. When the causes of a condition are properly dealt with, the symptoms often then disappear automatically, says Dr Svoboda. Isnt participation on three and four day retreats a temporary exercise in disciplining the body and mind? Well, says Dr Svoboda, a few basic wellness techniques can be incorporated into your lifestyle for healthy living. All you need to do is simply develop a healthy daily routine, he explains. It can make a tremendous difference in your life. The human body and mind love healthy habits and the discipline that comes with them, and regularly following a well-rounded wellness pattern is possibly the most important action you can take to promote wellness. No wonder the West is taking to the concept of Ayurveda. Interest in it is gradually but progressively increasing there, says Dr Svoboda. But outside India few people are aware of its existence. Most non-Indians who have heard of Ayurveda know it only from its spa treatments or as a way of classifying people by personal constitution. In my experience, as individuals learn more about the system and the depth of what it offers, they come to greatly appreciate what Ayurveda can do to improve their lives, says the doctor of Ayurveda who also speaks on Jyotish and Tantra and has written books on Ayurveda that are sold the world over. Follow @lubnasalim1234 on twitter From HT Brunch, February 9, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi, Feb 8 : A few students of Gargi College on Saturday alleged that some "drunken men" -- said to be pro-CAA demonstrators -- had entered the women college's campus and misbehaved with students. The incident, the students say, took place a few days ago during Day 3 of the annual festival 'Reverie'. A group of drunken men reportedly entered the college affiliated to Delhi University, and manhandled the students. "Girls were groped, locked in washrooms, stalked to the nearby Green Park metro, cat-called, eve-teased and misbehaved with during the festival," read the blog of one of the students of Gargi College. The blog added: "The men were allegedly shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans that made us presume they had 'Hindutva/BJP' affiliation. We don't know how true this is as those who witnessed the episode are scared to come forward." A student requesting anonymity told IANS: "I can't confirm the allegations of molestation but a large a group of drunken men had dropped in and manhandled students." "We will hold a discussion and stage a protest," the student said. The college administration has yet to confirm the alleged incident. After a steady start, polling for Delhi assembly elections picked up the pace at about afternoon, as residents of Delhi including First Citizen of India, President Ram Nath Kovind and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among others exercised their democratic franchise on Saturday. Former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi along with their family members also reached at polling booths to cast their vote. Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am today amid tight security arrangements at the polling stations. A voter turnout of 27.48 per cent was recorded till 2 pm for Delhi Assembly polls, according to Election Commission's Voter Turnout app. Among the high profile dignitaries who polled their votes earlier today were former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP leader Ram Madhav. Entire Gandhi family also stepped out to cast their votes including Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with her husband Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora exercised their franchise at respective polling booths. Key politicians including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also queued up outside polling booths to cast their votes for Assembly polls in the capital. Jaishankar cast his vote at NDMC School of Science and Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent whereas Kejriwal along with his wife - Sunita Kejriwal, mother and son, a first-time voter, cast their votes at a booth in Civil Lines. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia expressed hope that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will return to power with full majority and said people are voting for better education and the future of their children. Apart from the eminent faces, 110-yrs-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi also cast her vote at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency. A groom and his family, dressed up in wedding attire were also seen standing in a queue to cast their vote at a polling booth in MCD Primary School in the Shakarpur area of Laxmi Nagar constituency. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 07:26:41|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. space agency NASA released on Friday its initial findings from an investigation over Boeing's spacecraft Starliner, which scrapped its plan to dock with the International Space Station due to an orbit insertion anomaly last December. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft lifted off on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Dec. 20, but then the spacecraft had an off-nominal insertion and was not in its planned orbit. After that, NASA and Boeing formed a joint investigation team and they found three specific concerns. Among them is an error with the Mission Elapsed Timer (MET), which incorrectly polled time from the rocket booster nearly 11 hours prior to launch. They also found a software issue within the spacecraft's Service Module Disposal Sequence, which incorrectly translated the disposal sequence into the Service Module Integrated Propulsion Controller, according to NASA. Third, an Intermittent Space-to-Ground forward link issue impeded the Flight Control team's ability to command and control the vehicle. The investigation team has identified the direct causes and preliminary corrective actions for the first two anomalies. The intermittent communications issues are still under investigation. NASA said there were numerous instances where the Boeing software quality processes "either should have or could have uncovered the defects." Due to the breakdowns found in design, code and test of the software, the Starliner team have to take systemic corrective actions. Also, NASA will examine the workplace culture with the commercial crew provider ahead of a mission with astronauts. Boeing said in a statement on Friday that it is going to build a plan that incorporates those findings and once NASA approves that plan, the company will be able to better estimate timelines for the completion of all tasks. "It remains too soon to speculate about next flight dates," according to Boeing. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/07/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics released the research report of Global Social Media Management Tools Market, offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the global business scope. Social Media Management Tools Market research report shows the latest market insights with upcoming trends and breakdown of the products and services. The report provides key statistics on the market status, size, share, growth factors of the Loan Origination Software. This Report covers the emerging player's data, including: competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are Hootsuite [Canada], Zoho [United States], Sprout [South Africa], AgoraPulse [United States], Sendible [United Kingdom], Falcon.io [Denmark], Socialbakers [Czech Republic], Buffer [United States], Searchmetrics [United States] and Salesforce [United States] Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/28569-global-social-media-management-tools-market Overview of the Report of Social Media Management Tools Social media management tools make sharing content on social media platform easier for all kind of businesses. As social media has become integral part across businesses, popularity of social media management tools is rising. Using these tools, companies promote their business, reach out to target audience and manage the responses swiftly. With 2.77 billion social media users worldwide as of early 2019, companies look to exploit such a huge customer base. The report also covers segments and Market Data Break down, including major players. If you are involved in the Global Social Media Management Tools industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. This study analyzes the market share, growth rate, market drivers, future trends, restraints, opportunities and challenges. Market Trend Enterprise's Inclination Towards Automation, Rising Analytics Adoption in Marketing and Management of Customer Relationship Market Drivers Need for Brand Awareness Among Companies Amid Fierce Competition and Availability of Large Number of Consumer Base on Social Media Opportunities Growing Digitization in Emerging Countries, Rising Cloud Application in Social Media Management Tools and High Adoption Rate Among SMEs Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows: Historical year 2013-2017 Base year 2018 Forecast period** 2019 to 2025 [** unless otherwise stated] **Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players. For Early Buyers | Get Up to 20% Discount on This Premium Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/28569-global-social-media-management-tools-market The Global Social Media Management Tools is segmented by following Product Types: by (Web Based, Cloud Based), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises, SMEs) Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc. The study objectives of this report are: - To analyze Social Media Management Tools status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. - To present the Global Social Media Management Tools development in United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. - To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies. - To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions. Get More Information: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/28569-global-social-media-management-tools-market Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Social Media Management Tools Market: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Social Media Management Tools market Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Social Media Management Tools Market. Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Social Media Management Tools Chapter 4: Presenting the Social Media Management Tools Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis. Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2018 Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Social Media Management Tools market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions. Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source Finally, Social Media Management Tools Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies. Data Sources & Methodology The primary sources involves the industry experts from the Global Social Media Management Tools Market including the management organizations, processing organizations, analytics service providers of the industry's value chain. All primary sources were interviewed to gather and authenticate qualitative & quantitative information and determine the future prospects. In the extensive primary research process undertaken for this study, the primary sources Postal Surveys, telephone, Online & Face-to-Face Survey were considered to obtain and verify both qualitative and quantitative aspects of this research study. When it comes to secondary sources Company's Annual reports, press Releases, Websites, Investor Presentation, Conference Call transcripts, Webinar, Journals, Regulators, National Customs and Industry Associations were given primary weight-age. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. About Advance Market Analytics Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com AFTER a slow start to voting in the general election this Saturday, turnout in Limerick has stabilised, and is exceeding 40% in some areas. Polling stations across the city and county opened at seven oclock this morning. And with it being Saturday, there was no traditional pre-work surge to the stations. Instead, it appears voters have taken a more leisurely approach to their visits to the polls, with a lunchtime rush suggesting many were hoping to either get in before Storm Ciara takes hold, and indeed Irelands Six Nations clash kicks off. Turnout at St Michaels National School in Barrington Street had climbed to approximately 25% by mid-way through this afternoon, while one-in-five voters had had their say in the Model School in OConnell Avenue. St Pauls National School in Dooradoyle was back open for the first time in three counts, following renovation work. There was a buzz of people, with 25% having turned out by lunchtime. Turnout was averaging 34% at the County Library, the voting location for many in the Dooradoyle Road area. By 2pm, four in every ten eligible voters at Scoil Mhathair De had had their say in Election 2020, while turnout stood between 29% and 30% at Milford National School. Here, many voters took shelter from the wind after casting their vote. At John F Kennedy memorial school in the Ennis Road, a polling station widely considered a belwether for voter turnout in the city, 41.5% had turned out by 3pm. Elsewhere on the northside, St Leilas Community Centre turnout was at 41%. In West Limerick, the turnout was 25% in one box by lunchtime, with staff telling Leader reporter Norma Prendiville they were expecting a rush in the early afternoon before the weather took a turn for the worse. At St Marys National School in Abbeyfeale, turnout stood at 28%, In the east, turnout in Bilboa was at 25% as of 1pm, while it was 40% in Bruff as of 2pm. Kilmallock turnout was 18% just before lunch. Earlier in the day, turnout was recorded at just below 5% in Croom, with the same figure in Castleconnell. Count staff there were suggesting it was as quiet as its ever been. Despite this, its widely expected in some areas, turnout will climb to around 60%. Polling closes 10pm this evening, while counting is, at the moment, set to get under way at 9am in the Limerick Racecourse. The Limerick Leader will be providing extensive coverage online from tomorrow morning, including a dedicated live blog on our web site, www.limerickleader.ie BAGHDAD Iraqs most powerful Shiite cleric called for security forces to protect antigovernment protesters in a Friday sermon, after weeks of violence in Baghdad and southern Iraq, and amid seething tensions between demonstrators and followers of a radical preacher. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistanis words came two days after at least eight protesters were killed in the southern city of Najaf. They died when followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed a protest site and fired live rounds. Al-Sistani, a revered Shiite religious figure whose opinion holds sway over Iraqis, said security forces were indispensable and responsible for maintaining law and order. His comments came in his weekly Friday sermon delivered by a representative in Najaf. He directly condemned Wednesdays attack. Security forces must bear the responsibility for maintaining security and stability, protecting peaceful protests and protest sites, uncovering the aggressors and infiltrators, he said. At least eight antigovernment protesters were shot dead and 52 were wounded in the clashes with followers of al-Sadr in Najaf on Wednesday. Al-Sadr initially threw his weight behind the antigovernment uprising but recently re-positioned himself toward the political establishment after political elites selected Mohammed Allawi as prime minister-designate, a candidate he endorsed. Since then, al-Sadr has issued a dizzying array of calls to followers, asking them to return to the streets days after withdrawing support from protests. The often contradictory orders have exacerbated existing tensions between demonstrators and his followers, with some activists claiming al-Sadrs followers had threatened them to toe the clerics line or leave protest sites. Protesters who have taken to the streets since Oct. 1 in Baghdad and southern Iraq to decry rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, have rejected Allawis candidacy. At least 500 have died under fire from security forces in the movement, now in its fifth month. Al-Sistani also reiterated calls for the speedy establishment of a new government in line with the demands of the protesters. Allawi was selected as prime minister-designate by rival blocs last week. He has 30 days to present a cabinet and government program which parliament is expected to put to a vote. Samya Kullab is an Associated Press writer. FOUR young men were forced to flee after shots were fired at them in a drive-by shooting on the northside of Limerick city. Details of the incident, which happened almost two years ago, were revealed in court this Tuesday in the case of the self-confessed gunman. Adam ODwyer, aged 20, of Abbey View, Island Road has pleaded guilty to possession of a double-barrelled shotgun with intent to endanger life at Dalgish Park, Moyross on April 15, 2015. Detective Garda Enda Haugh told Limerick Circuit Court that gardai were alerted to the shooting incident at around 11.30pm and that when they arrived they encountered one youth who had obvious pellet marks on his face and body. While the man was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick, he discharged himself before he received any medical attention. Detective Garda Haugh said the car, which was later found burned out in Clonlara, can be seen on CCTV reversing to the alley where the four youths were drinking. The rear-seat passenger, he said, opened the window and discharged two shots from a shotgun in the direction of the youth. While ODywer made admissions following his arrest, the driver of the car Mr X did not. Detective Garda Haugh told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, the defendant owed Mr X 100 and that he had received a phone call earlier in the night ordering him to carry out the attack. Mr X, he confirmed, has not been prosecuted in relation to the shooting. Judge Tom ODonnell was told gardai believe the youth who was injured was the intended target and that the incident was in retaliation to a machete attack which took place a number of months earlier. Detective Garda Haugh agreed with Andrew Sexton SC that ODwyer is an impressionable sort of young man and that he is someone who is easily manipulated. He also agreed that the offence was very much out of character for him. The case has been adjourned to March 29, next Mitt Romney Regarding Senate Republicans make wrong choice, (A15, Feb. 6): The hypocrisy exhibited by many of faith must stop. It doesnt matter if you are a President Donald Trump supporter or not. Whether you are a Christian, Jew, Muslim or any other religion, one thing is undeniable. It is simply wrong and unacceptable for the president of the United States, referencing Senator Mitt Romneys authentic and heartfelt justification for conviction (grounded in his faith), to arrogantly say as he did Thursday morning at a National Prayer Breakfast: I dont like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong nor do I like people who say, I pray for you, when they know that is not so. Those who are religious and believe in sacred moral principles should condemn this unequivocally and emphatically. But even condemnation is not enough. Those of faith must do more than merely give lip service to their beliefs. They should act on their religious convictions, recognizing that the ends dont justify the means. Just because one agrees with Trumps policy positions (e.g., abortion, school prayer, etc.) or concur with his appointment of conservative federal judges does not justify supporting a president whose words and behaviors contradict so many foundational religious principles. The time has come for more persons of faith to vote against someone who defies and contradicts so many of their spiritual precepts. Richard Cherwitz, Austin U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, thank you, sir, for your lone vote as a Republican to convict President Donald Trump of the charge of abuse of power. Your determination to do the right thing, unfettered by partisanship, was something the country needed to see, so we could be reminded that our elected leaders still retain the capacity to do such a thing; to think independently and to not be cowed into submission by the party or by the president. Your courageous adherence to values such as honesty and integrity reminded us that these values really matter and are the underpinnings of success in life, both political and personal. As tough as it was, Sen. Romney, you will reap the reward of a clear conscience that comes from dedication to your duty as an elected representative of the people and a defender of the Constitution. I am a Texan, not a Utahn, but I thank you all the same, Sen. Romney. Pattie Murchison, Houston A shout out to U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney: Thank you for voting for conviction. I feel President Donald Trump is not fit to be president. He has done so many outrageous behaviors in the past three years. Republicans did nothing to stand up to these behaviors. But you did. Thank you for standing for decency, honesty and integrity. Is it too late for you to run against him? People are hungry for a Republican candidate who is not Trump. I dont know if you will win the election, but you will at the very least keep Trump from winning. You will be the hero that saves our democracy. Thank you. Patti Henry, Houston SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Members of San Francisco's Japanese American community on Friday spoke about their experiences being interred in camps during World War II, while standing in solidarity with present-day immigrants being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. Speaking at the National Japanese American Historical Society at 1684 Post St. to commemorate the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s, several survivors shared their stories. "It was really hard, because your country tells you you're no good. So, you reject your language, your food, your culture," said Sadako Kashiwagi, who was sent to the Tule Lake interment camp in Northern California along with her family. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to internment camps, mostly located along the West Coast, after President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942. The order essentially labeled Japanese people living in the U.S. as possible spies. "All I can say is know your language, be proud of who you are, be strong, be kind and so on. And that is important because you need a base," Kashiwagi said. "When Pearl Harbor happened, it was like, I didn't even know where it was or anything. It seemed very distant, or at least it didn't seem to have anything to do with me. But, of course, they rounded us all up," said Chizu Omori, who lived on a farm near San Diego before her family was sent to a camp. Kaz Naganuma, who was detained with his family for more than three years, said the main message he wants people to take away from his story is that people are continuing to be detained by the U.S. government unjustly, referring to the detainment of thousands of Mexican and Central American families at the border. "We have to stop repeating history," he said. "It must change, not just what's happening with the administration (of President Donald Trump), but at the border." He added, "It's hard to imagine after 75 plus years this is still happening." Jon Osaki, whose father was interred in a camp, recently produced the film "Alternative Facts: the Lies of Executive Order 9066," which explores reasons for the incarceration of Japanese Americans. "I believe that one of the greatest lessons that must be remembered from the incarceration of our community, is that in 1942, no one stood up for us. There were no protests. There was no organized effort to insist that incarcerating an entire group of people was wrong. "Unlike 1942, today we have an opportunity to make a stand, to speak out and send a message to the so called leaders of our country that we will not allow an injustice like the incarceration of Japanese Americans to continue," he said. As part of the 78th interment anniversary, several members of the city's Japanese American community will take part in a rally outside the San Francisco Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on Sansome Street on Feb. 14, starting at 11:30 a.m. Participants at the "Compassion Has No Walls" event will share their experiences and call for the closure of immigrant detention centers. On Feb. 16, community members will take part in a day of remembrance, starting with a 2 p.m. candle lighting ceremony, followed by a procession through Japantown. 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. Slurp Noodle Bar at 469 Castro St. is now closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline After six years in the Castro, Slurp Noodle Bar (469 Castro St.) quietly closed on Thursday marking the second closure in a week for the prominent 400 block of Castro Street, between Market and 18th streets. Premium hot dog shop Dapper Dog, just up the block from Slurp at 417 Castro, closed on Friday. Slurp owner Nam Kim did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the closure. A sign in the noodle bar's window simply states Sorry, Slurp is closed. Inside Slurp prior to its closure. | Photo: Tori G./Yelp 469 Castro was previously home to Fork Cafe, which Kim took over in 2013. A year later, he decided to change concepts to Slurp, serving noodle dishes from a variety of Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. "It took a while to figure out the right concept for that location that [would] be both unique and exciting," Kim told Hoodline at the time. Two notable factors may have contributed to Slurp's closure. The first is the suspension of Slurp's beer and wine license, which began in October 2019 and has yet to be lifted. Last fall, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) spokesperson John Carr told Hoodline that the suspension was related to an issue with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). A CDTFA representative informed Hoodline that Slurp was currently in collections, but declined to provide more details. Kim also owns Japanese restaurant Osaka Sushi, located across the street at 460 Castro. Along with three neighboring businesses, it sustained serious damage in a four-alarm November fire. One of the businesses damaged by the fire, men's clothing store Body, closed the following month. Cafe Mystique reopened quickly after sustaining minor damage, and Q Bar is set to reopen later this year. But Osaka's fate remains unclear. A permit was filed last month to begin removal of fire-damaged debris at 460 Castro, with costs estimated at $60,000. Kim also did not respond to a request for comment at that time. Story continues Osaka Sushi, owned by the team behind Slurp, remains closed after sustaining fire damage in November. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline Alongside Slurp, Dapper Dog and Body, the 400 block of Castro has two other vacancies: the former homes of Sunglasses on Castro and Sweet Castro/Park Gyros. There's also Flying Falafel/Socialhaus, which is mired in ongoing permitting issues with the Planning Department, and may or may not reopen. Hoodline has reached out to Castro leaders, including District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Castro Merchants president Masood Samereie and Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District executive director Andrea Aiello. Expect a full story on their plans to combat the neighborhood's growing retail vacancy issues in the coming days. Thanks to Hoodline tipster Michael Petrelis. See something interesting while youre out and about? Text Hoodline and well try to find out whats going on: (415) 200-3233. A clerical error was cited in the mistaken release of an inmate from the Bexar County Jail, the first such incident of the year for the facilty that was plagued with problems in 2019. Dylan Alexander Murray, 24, was released at about 1 a.m. Thursday on a personal recognizance bond. He was arrested Wednesday and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said. Upton County officials also had issued a warrant for Murrays arrest in connection with a home burglary, but he was released before he could be charged on that count. According to investigators, a clerical error that occurred while Murray was being admitted into the jail led to his release. Sheriff Javier Salazar and several investigators began searching for Murray when they learned he was let released. They found him on the east side of downtown in the 200 block of Nolan, deputies said. He was taken back to the jail without incident at about 9 p.m., according to the Bexar County Central Magistrates website states. Murrays release is the latest in a string of incidents over the past year that plagued the jail, which was out of compliance for months before inspectors gave it a passing grade in November. On Friday, the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Bexar County created a campaign called Keep Bexar Safe to raise awareness about problems at the jail. The campaign opened by highlighting that in 2019, there were 16 inmate releases made in error and nine inmate deaths. Jeremy Payne, the associations president, attributed the mistaken releases to the more than 200 vacancies in the Sheriffs Office, saying that many deputies were stressed by having to work overtime. Salazar fired back at the comments during a press conference Friday saying that deputies are working overtime to maintain compliance with jail standards. He also outlined several efforts the department is making to alleviate the situation. If weve got a certain number of inmates in this building, we have to have a certain number of deputies to accompany that, he said. The sheriff said he is not happy about having to keep deputies in overtime, but there are not enough deputies to relieve them because the department saw several resignations over the past year. Salazar said he could hire 200 people tomorrow, but argued the need for using higher standards in employing applicants. He recounted a time when the department declined to hire two similar applicants who passed exams and physical fitness tests, but admitted that they frequented prostitutes. If the DSABC would like to come in and discuss hiring people like that? Im open to discussing it, but I dont think Im going to change my mind. I dont think Im going to be lowering those standards, he said. He also said that he turned down a pay raise with the goal of attracting high quality deputies, and has a recruiting team that heavily scrutinizes applicants. Were not bringing in just anyone with a pulse, I guarantee that, Salazar said. Salazar also outlined two classes of future jailers, a total of 35 new employees, coming into the department in March. Some of the new hires will undergo a weeks training and be put to work as temporary jailers, fulfilling a minimal role. Theyre not dealing directly with inmates. Theyre there to relieve deputies to be able to do their cell checks, Salazar said. He said many deputies also leave the sheriffs office for other jobs that appear nicer, but decide to come back shortly after. The problem is that deputies cannot return to the county within a year of leaving employment. He said the Sheriffs Office went to the Commissioners Court two weeks ago to relax the policy, allowing them to return in three months. With every person that I bring back, thats probably a $20,000 savings to the taxpayers because they dont have to now pay to train up a cadet to assume that role, Salazar said. Im bringing back people they already know. Its just: Hey, I hope your uniform still fits. Come on back. jbeltran@express-news.net Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA BARRY A Barry man is facing charge of indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child and grooming after being accused of sending inappropriate messages to an underage girl. Isaac E. Henson, 19, of Barry was arrested Wednesday, according to Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood. The Pakistani Taliban has confirmed that one of its key leaders and another member of the group were killed in a clash with security forces in Afghanistan. In a statement published by the SITE monitoring group Friday, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, who served on the group's consultative council and had been a deputy leader, had been killed January 31. Haqqani's close confidant Qari Saifullah Peshawari was also killed in the clash that took place inside Afghanistan during a "mission", a senior Pakistani Taliban leader told AFP. Afghan security forces declined to comment, and it was not immediately clear what type of mission Haqqani may have been on. Haqqani was not thought to be related to the Haqqani network, which is also affiliated to the Afghan Taliban. Both Islamabad and Kabul have long accused each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability. Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade, with thousands of civilians and security personnel dying in extremist attacks, especially after the TTP began their campaign of violence in 2007. But overall levels of extremist-linked violence dropped dramatically last year, with 2019 seeing the fewest deaths since 2007 -- the year the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group was formed. Analysts have credited the fall to military offensives against the Taliban in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and Khyber where they were headquartered, as well as operations in the country's largest city of Karachi. In 2018, the TTP was further degraded after a US strike in Afghanistan killed their leader Maulana Fazlullah, who was notorious for allegedly having ordered the attack on education activist Malala Yousafzai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) openecosystem-final-800x450.png Coordinate the existing environment: With this model, information is aggregated about each mode of transportation in their existing environment, including pricing and parking rules. With this model, information is aggregated about each mode of transportation in their existing environment, including pricing and parking rules. Execute parking transactions beyond traditional parking applications: A centralized rate engine and payments processor is also incorporated to integrate with public-facing applications such as navigation and lifestyle applications. This model can also extend to popular technologies beyond traditional parking apps (micro-mobility, ridesharing, commercial loading vehicles, etc.). A centralized rate engine and payments processor is also incorporated to integrate with public-facing applications such as navigation and lifestyle applications. This model can also extend to popular technologies beyond traditional parking apps (micro-mobility, ridesharing, commercial loading vehicles, etc.). Manage the mobility ecosystem with policies: A city can then implement mixed-use policies to digitally regulate and charge for all time spent at the curb, no matter what vehicles are parking there or how users choose to pay. Improve curbside congestion Cities can securely analyze data about curb usage to predict who will need the space at what time and implement parking rules to support this. For example, the curb can be digitized to allow for deliveries in the morning, consumer parking in the afternoon, and rideshare parking in the evening. Administrators can also easily visualize and analyze activity data from new modes of mobility, including scooters and dockless bikes. By identifying trends in real time, curbside policy can be adjusted to distribute alternative modes of transport as first- and last-mile solutions from public transit and improve equity within the city. More effectively share parking rules By coordinating a citys rules, rates and restrictions for all curbside transactions (traditional parking with meters, parking applications, or even using other types of applications to pay), systems can consume that information from a single source. Consistent articulation of these rules across all systems minimizes the regulatory impact of incorrect rates. Maximize revenue and lower costs A model like this empowers a city to create a multi-tenant environment where multiple applications and payment options are available. This improves convenience and encourages customers to pay digitally with applications. By doing so, a city can reduce its reliance on hardware to create a parking session and lower costs in the long term. In addition, this model allows a city to manage all parts of its mobility ecosystem from one place. This eliminates the need for multiple back-end systems and optimizes administrative expenditure. Accelerate innovation An open ecosystem easily enables private companies to integrate with government organizations to bring innovative solutions to market faster. In the future, it becomes easier to add new payment methods or transportation modalities without new technology, processes, or procurements. This lays the foundation for what lies ahead in micro-mobility, ridesharing, commercial loading, and autonomous vehicles. VIDEO: Why an Open Mobility Ecosystem is the FutureCities are evolving faster than ever. With denser populations, increased congestion, and new modes of transportation such as scooters and dockless bikes, people and vehicles alike are having trouble finding space at the curb. It is estimated that New York drivers spend 107 hours per year searching for parking, costing $4.3 billion in time, fuel, and emissions.To provide relief, integrated management of all modes of transportation is crucial.Without a centralized platform, cities have to manage multiple systems for different parking applications, meters, and other parts of their mobility ecosystem, which feed into separate portals (Figure A). This creates an operational and management challenge for administrators.The solution is to create an open mobility ecosystem via a series of APIs that meet in a centralized platform (Figure B).This centralized management platform allows the city to:The result of this type of integration is the creation of an open mobility ecosystem. This can benefit the city in many ways:By engaging in an open mobility ecosystem model, cities can more efficiently power their ecosystem today and drive sustainable innovation for tomorrow.Company Bio:Passport is transforming mobility management for cities, empowering them to create more livable and equitable communities. Passport enables clients to facilitate digital payments and control their curbsides through a mobility software platform. Trusted by 1,000 cities, universities and agencies, including Chicago, Toronto, London, Los Angeles, and Miami, Passport is one of the fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 lists. Passport is backed by Rho Capital Partners, H.I.G. Growth Partners, ThornTree Capital Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, Grotech Ventures, MK Capital, and Relevance Capital. For more information, visit passportinc.com. Investors are seeing hope in Vietnamese real estate after suffering from issues elsewhere in the region, Photo: Le Toan As 2020 began, Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation announced the acquisition of full stakes in Lotus Hotel Development Company the developer of the Diamond Rice Hotel Complex, from Tan Hoang Minh Corporation. The deal was done with the total value of VND1.85 trillion, or $80 million. The Diamond Rice Hotel Complex covers more than 4.2 hectares of land area located next to the Vietnam National Convention Center in Hanois My Dinh area. With the proposed investment capital of $250 million, development of a 100-storey hotel building, an 80-storey building, and another 15-storey building has been set. At the same time, Saigon Glory, another domestic company, was announced as the new investor of The Spirit of Saigon, the 5-star complex located right at the heart of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, opposite to Ben Thanh Market. This complex previously belonged to Bitexco Group and the transaction deal was valued at VND7 trillion ($300 million). The two outstanding cases of transactions are proving an opportunity for new investors to push them forward after long delays. Attracting investors Although mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are amassing through domestic investors, overseas equivalents are increasing their interest and participation into the field. According to Akihiko Iwatani, chief representative from Haseko Corporation, Vietnam is assessed as one of the biggest potential markets for Japanese investors in particular and other foreign investors in general. Choosing a suitable segment of the real estate market depends on each investor. However, I think that apartments, offices, and hotel developments in major cities of Vietnam are the most fruitful segments which attract foreign investors, Iwatani said. Iwatani further compared the Vietnamese real estate market with other countries in the region, saying that international investors are finding it tough when investing in other mature markets like Indonesia or Malaysia, while Singapore is a small market. Vietnam, meanwhile, has more favourable conditions, with a huge population, stable economic development, and a fast urbanisation growth rate which consistently pushes the demand for accommodation. Luu Thi Thanh Mau, CEO of Phuc Khang Corporation, said that M&A deals are needed to increase more financial sources and ensure the Vietnamese real estate market becomes more transparent. I see great opportunity for domestic investors to mobilise financial sources from foreign investors, especially those who own compensated land with clear legal dossiers, Mau said. According to figures released by the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, foreign direct investment (FDI) pledged to Vietnam surpassed $38 billion in 2019, marking a 10-year high and representing an on-year increase of 7.2 per cent. Of those, 65 per cent or $24.56 billion was directed into the processing and manufacturing sector, while 10 per cent, or $3.88 billion, went into the real estate sector, and the remainder into wholesale and retail, and science and technology. The capital contribution trend emerges as both domestic and foreign companies realise the complementary support that they can offer to each other. Foreign investors are usually hesitant to enter the market because of the changing legal environment. Therefore, co-operation with Vietnamese partners through share purchase and capital contribution enables them to receive access to land plots, which are ready for construction. Meanwhile, due to the State Bank of Vietnams stricter control on bank loans to domestic real estate developers to avoid a market bubble, Vietnamese businesses often turn to foreign investors through share sales and joint ventures as a new funding source. Also, sharp land prices and hindrances within the regulatory framework could be obstacles to FDI, so they resort to M&A deals with local counterparts who have easier access to cleared land for the development of projects. Ben Gray, director of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, said that during the last two years, some transactions were reported as the well-known benchmark in the market. Last year saw SK Group invest $1 billion into Vingroup, while Saigon Co.op joined forces with Auchan, taking over 18 physical stores at an undisclosed value. Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) also increased its holdings in Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group after buying over $100 million of convertible bonds. Meanwhile, SonKim Land closed a round of investment worth $121 million from a consortium led by existing investors EXS Capital and ACA Investments, as well as a new backer in Credit Suisses Singapore branch. Although Japan and South Korea have been the leading investors in M&A in the real estate market, domestic investors are still retaining promises with a range of deals carried out in the last quarter of 2019 and even the first days of this year. Existing concerns According to Gray, when looking at the Vietnamese market, real estate investors are identifying the same key concerns they have been highlighting for years. These risks include the regulatory and legal framework that investors must navigate, the complex nature of Vietnamese tax law, and the sometimes unfavourable business and deal-making environment. The valuation of assets continues to be problematic. Investors expectations on pricing are frequently incongruous with the sellers perception of the assets worth, he said. Furthermore, Gray added that management and accounting standards are lagging behind international standards. When investors are considering target companies for acquisition or joint venture partnerships, they tend to be guided by existing relationships or their knowledge of a real estate submarket in Vietnam, he added. In the absence of quality public information on target companies, partners, or transaction evidence, investors find it difficult to crystallise a deal that is in line with international standards of transparency and fair market pricing. Gray added that for real estate M&A in Vietnam, the lack of comparable evidence that can be analysed and the common practice of mismatched or even dual book accounting systems is holding back the growth of the market. The value of a partnership or a company and its underlying asset base or project is often over-optimistic or overestimated due to differing valuation standards, and Vietnamese companies failing to regularly produce business plans or financial projections. This is a strong contributor to deal failure and accounts for the low closing rate for M&A in Vietnam, with only 2 per cent of deals being successful, he explained. Most of these hurdles can be readily cleared if investors use third-party advisors to track records from deal origination to execution and provide post-deal support. According to Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, going forward, the real estate segments that will continue to attract foreign investment will be infrastructure and development, utilities, and support services. Developers will continue to seek joint venture partners to help manage how their projects are funded now that the banking sectors view of real estate lending is more closely aligned with international risk management, said Gray. Meanwhile, Phan Huu Thang, vice chairman of Vietnams Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, said that condominiums, offices for lease, industrial and warehouse properties, trading centres, and hotel resorts are still attractive for foreign investors currently and will remain so in the coming years. South Korea and Japan remain the leading investors into the Vietnamese real estate market, especially via M&A deals, together with a remarkable investors coming from Singapore and Hong Kong, Thang said. In regards to regulation, the Vietnamese government should continue on its current path with rules that are well-drafted, clear, and contribute to the continued improvement of the market, according to several experts. Additionally, Vietnamese companies aligning themselves with standard international practices for accounting and management will be better positioned regionally and globally. In addition, the proposed revisions to securities, enterprise, and investment laws would greatly improve the M&A environment, resolving many of the structural issues investors face such as licensing, conditional business lines, the ability to offshore capital, and ownership limits and ratios. Meanwhile, Savills Vietnam also said that 2020 would see rising demand in new segments of the industry, including resort and industrial property. With more than 15 per cent growth in the number of international tourists, it creates good opportunities for real estate developers in popular tourist areas such as Danang, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang to introduce resort properties. Such resort properties are designed to harmoniously combine cultural characteristics and natural features. Thanks to manufacturing companies transition from China amid the trade dispute with the United States, and new free trade agreements (FTAs) including the EU-Vietnam FTA, industrial property is in high demand in key industrial clusters such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai in the south, as well as Haiphong and Bac Ninh in the north. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sat, February 8, 2020 07:09 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20633a2c2 2 News Beijing,wine,Museum,travel,destination Free At a time when China is expected to become the second largest wine market after the United States by 2021, the capital of the Middle Kingdom is planning to educate residents and tourists in the culture of winemaking. A vast museum, which will be located in the heart of a village entirely dedicated to all things oenological, is due to open next year. Clustered buildings, cubist lines, structures in stone, the iconic medieval village of Saint-Emilion, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, has provided the main source of inspiration for the future "Universal Wine Museum" in Beijing. Devised by the French foundation, which participated in the launch of the Cite du Vin in Bordeaux, France, the project aims to become the main center in China and Asia for all things relating to wine. At only 40 kilometers from the Forbidden City, an 18,000-square-meter site has been reserved for the future pedagogical resource, which will offer a comprehensive introduction to oenology and wine culture. Drawing extensively on the architecture of Saint-Emilion, the new complex, which will be set in a sea of vines, will feature a tower and a cloister. Visitors to the future tourist attraction will be invited on a tour covering 6,700 sq m that will elucidate all the aspects of winemaking, as well as the long history of a drink that is for many western civilizations a key aspect of the art of living. Read also: Beijing to close section of Great Wall, other tourist sites Like the Cite du Vin in Bordeaux, the new facility will offer multi-sensory exhibits to educate visitors on all aspects of wine tasting, including the balance of acidity and sweetness and the expression of tannins. It will also be home to a school, where students can embark on courses to develop their understanding of how to pair and serve wine, a cellar and a gourmet restaurant. "The concept of the museum is the same as the Cite du Vin, but its DNA has taken a different form," points out Philippe Massol, the managing director of Fondation de la culture et des civilisations du vin. "The tour will follow an established route, because many Chinese visitors will benefit from a more guided approach, as opposed to the Cite du Vin in Bordeaux, where visitors come and go as they please." Another important difference will be the absence of interactive pedagogical installations. "Chinese tourists favor more concrete exhibits," explains Massol. The Beijing "Universal Wine Museum" aims to welcome half a million visitors in its first year. Building work is set to begin next April. It will be the first step in a plan that has been developed over the last two years, points out the museum's president and founder, Weinxing Tang, at a presentation of the project. Future tourist destination The museum will be just one destination in a wine village extending over eight square kilometers, where travelers will have the opportunity to spend several days exploring the world of Bacchus. There are plans for a luxury hotel to be built at the foot of Mount Wulan, while more budget-conscious visitors can opt for a second, more affordable establishment. Visiting families can reserve weekend cottages at the village's educational farm and riding stables. Last but not least, there will be a mall with stores and restaurants, which will once again be inspired by French urban architecture. Although China is more traditionally oriented towards beer and strong liquor like maotai, wine is increasingly popular in the Middle Kingdom. According to the 2018 Vinexpo study, the Chinese market accounts for 1.46 billion liters of wine per year, which makes it the world's fifth largest. It is also worth noting that the current level of consumption is expected to rise by 18.5% by 2021, just in time for the opening of Beijing's new "Universal Museum of Wine." Topics : Beijing wine Museum travel destination JERUSALEM The Palestinians on Friday rejected U.S. allegations of incitement after a day of clashes and attacks left three Palestinians dead, including a member of the security forces, and wounded more than a dozen Israeli soldiers. They instead linked the violence to President Trumps Mideast plan, which favors Israel on the most contentious issues of the conflict and would allow it to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. Those who introduce plans for annexation and apartheid and the legalization of occupation and settlements are the ones who bear full responsibility for deepening the cycle of violence and extremism, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement. He was responding to remarks delivered the day before by Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and the architect of the Mideast blueprint, who had blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the latest violence. Dont call for days of rage and encourage (your) people to pursue violence if theyre not getting what they want, Kushner said on Thursday after briefing the U.N. Security Council on the plan. He said Abbas was surprised with how good the plan was for the Palestinian people, but he locked himself into a position by rejecting it before it came out. Erekat said Abbas will soon bring his own plan to the Security Council, one that he said is rooted in international law and based on a two-state solution along the 1967 lines. Meanwhile, a Palestinian teenager died after being shot in the neck in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the West Bank town of Tulkarem on Friday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. It identified the deceased as 19-year-old Badir Nafleh. The Israeli military said the Palestinians hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails, and that troops fired on one of them after he threw a firebomb at the soldiers. Dozens of demonstrators were wounded in clashes with Israeli forces in different parts of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent medical service. The health ministry said eight Palestinians were hospitalized after being shot by Israeli forces. The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. They view Israels settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a major obstacle to peace. Most of the international community views the settlements as illegal. Joseph Krauss is an Associated Press writer. At least 34 unauthorised IDP camps exist within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an overflow of the insurgency-propelled migration from battered communities in the North-east. This humanitarian crisis is on a scale that is insufficiently captured by the agencies charged with the responsibility of such capture. The Internally Displaced Persons within the FCT are forced to forge a life for themselves outside of the much-needed care and very necessary watch of the government. Kuchingoro Camp Ladi Mathias sat in front of her makeshift house at the Kuchingoro camp, sharing a seemingly endless string of lamentations describing the horrors of being displaced, unrecognized and uncared for by her own government. With a detachment that is typical of one whose nightmares have become her reality, she recounts tale after tale of grave health challenges, hunger and the desperation that have driven the men to work as farm labourers in neighbouring towns (Kunchingoro, Durumi, Lugbe and Nassarawa) just to barely afford a meal. These men do not own these farms, neither do they own the farm produce that comes from it, they simply farm for another who in turn pays them. The average fee for farm labourers is a thousand naira, not nearly enough to cater for one man much less a wife and 4 to 5 kids. This is the lot of the sole providers of whole households. Ms Mathias who shared her story in her local language said: Most displaced persons here are from Borno and Adamawa and they moved to the camp four years ago. Before the Boko Haram outbreak we never moved into the city of Maiduguri talk more of another state, but once the crisis started we had to run. When we first migrated here, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took care of us for a few months but we havent gotten any help from the government since then. Identified but Unauthorized Kuchingoro IDP camp is one of the IDP camps that are unauthorised according to the FEMA. These IDP camps develop within the suburbs of the Nigerian capital but the agency charged with the management and care acknowledge their existence describe these camps as unregistered. By this label, it is implied that this status disqualifies them from getting aid. Although unauthorised, the Kuchingoro camp had once received help from FEMA but that help has since dried up and the persons in this camp are at the mercy of good samaritans, NGOs and religious institutions. According to residents of the camp, promises that were made to them of the provision of health care and education for their children have gone unfulfilled. Residents of Kuchingoro camp claim FEMA had previously issued them a letter saying they could access healthcare at the Asokoro District Hospital. But according to the women leader of the camp the hospital demanded money and turned them back when they couldnt pay. The DG of FEMA, Abbas Idriss, said the Minister of the FCT had approved two hospitals, Wuse District Hospital and Asokoro District Hospital, for the free treatment of the IDPs. He added that the hospital has been directed to treat the IDPs free. He further said The FCT does not have any budgetary allocation for the IDPs we just want to input something to provide them with toilet, we mobilize NGO and other groups to provide them with some materials At Wuse District Hospital, Mr Hassan, the desk officer in charge of the treatment of IDPs, corroborated FEMAs position that IDPs can indeed get treatment on the condition that they present a letter authorising such treatment from the FEMA office in Asokoro. The workability of this process for barely educated, displaced persons bears questioning. Overhead shot of Kuchingoro camp No access to healthcare means that women in this camp act as each others midwives; excited when a baby lives, sad when one dies and providing as much support as they are able to give to each other. The unavailability of maternal and child care has however not slowed the reproduction cycle in the camp, woman after woman in the camp get pregnant and give birth to babies. Ladi Mathias, the women leader in the camp, is herself nursing a baby, her 9th child. She explained that her attempt at family planning had failed Sometimes last year, an organization came and gave family planning doze, which I took but after few days I started bleeding until I stopped using the drugs. The public health challenges that dwellers of this camp face are unparalleled, with no access to clean water, sanitation challenges and the ease of spread of diseases within such cramped quarters. Ms Mathias listed the diseases they battle with in the camp. We usually have Malaria, Cholera, and Stomach pain, Cough and Catarrh, we use our surroundings as toilets because we do not have a specific place for defecating, she explained pointing to the sparse bushes around them. Five deaths were recorded in the last year and two of the deaths were from HIV complications. With the absence of health care facilities, there is no way to check the spread of communicable diseases. What passes for education in this camp is a single structure with leaky roofs that houses the school. Just as the camp itself is unauthorised, the school, sponsored and managed by a religious outreach, is not accredited and thus cannot issue certificates to the children. The camp is located on an empty piece of land that has not yet been claimed and dwellers in this camp face the constant fear of eviction as the Kuchingoro community itself is a fast-growing suburb of the FCT with new buildings going up all around the campsite. The contrast between rich and poor, privileged and underprivileged could not be clearer as is depicted in the cluster of makeshift buildings made with cardboard and sacks surrounded by beautifully designed and built high rises and residences. Durumi/Area One Camp The story in this camp is not much different from its Kuchingoro counterpart, dilapidated makeshift buildings are overcrowded with more humans per square meter than there is space to accommodate them. Abbas Isa is the resident non-certified healthcare provider in the Durumi camp. His ambition as a young boy was a career in nursing, taking care of the sick and bringing reprieve where there is pain and this dream was on its way to becoming a reality as an undergraduate studying nursing at the University of Maiduguri. All of that, however, came to a screeching halt with the Boko Haram insurgency. He, alongside many others, had to flee his home and found himself in the Durumi IDP camp. Sitting in a building ironically called the Primary Health Center in the Durumi camp, ironic because the centre itself lacked the health to provide any kind of primary care to its charges; Mr Isa is somewhat living his dream. He is the sole health care provider for the displaced people in the camp, though he never got a degree in nursing, neither did he practice the profession under the watchful eye of supervisors. Nevertheless, in this particular camp his services are highly sought after; for most people in the camp, he is the most qualified health care professional they will likely ever see. The secretary of the camp Bala Yusuf explained simply in his local language the treatment of people is in care of Isa. Ladi Mathias Women leader of the camp Mr Isas hospital does not enjoy government recognition nor funding. It is sponsored by the Usrah Peace Care Foundation and good samaritans. In cases beyond Mr Isas expertise, the Usrah Foundation has made provisions for members of this camp to visit the National Hospital, where doctors have been commissioned by the foundation for such a purpose. The extent of this coverage by the foundation and the number of residents of the camp who take advantage of their magnanimity is uncertain. According to Mr Isa, the biggest health challenges are coughing, diarrhoea, fever and ulcer. Childbirth is overseen by women in the camp, whose main qualification is that they are mothers. Babies are lost not just in childbirth but also to malnutrition, this is sadly not shocking as the mothers and fathers are themselves suffering from ulcers that are likely hunger-induced. On top of all the challenges residents of this camp face, there is the drug and harmful substances addiction problem that is running unchecked in the camp. Most of the young men are said to be drug addicts, always on the lookout for their next high. Wassa IDP Camp For a token of N25,000, displaced persons can actually get some kind of permanent structure to stay in. These structures were not built for this purpose though, the Wassa camp is situated in and around 200 previously uninhabited housing units constructed by the FCT for the people of Gbagi community. Curiously, the people of Gbagi community did not stay in these housing units and the security guards placed there by the construction companies to watch over the units saw an opportunity for extra income in the displaced people looking for a place to stay. Although they have permanent structures in this camp, the stories are very similar to that of the other camps visited. It is overcrowded with facilities that are too small to cater for the number of people living there. The camp has been visited at various times by members of government including the Minister of the FCT, IDP Coordinator for FEMA and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who donated a mobile clinic to the camp. The clinic is however that in name only, there are no medical personnel or drugs in the clinic. When the residents are in dire need of health care, they go through the rigour of first getting a referral letter from the FEMA office before heading to the hospitals where according to the residents they are still turned back with flimsy excuses of no bed. Advertisements Jeofrey Idris is the chairman of the Wassa camp and he described how often residents die because of the absence of healthcare facilities. He explained that most male residents of the camp are farmers and motorcycle riders and some of the females do petty businesses and are unable to afford the cost of even going to town to get referrals from FEMA or visit the hospital. In the three months before this visit to the camp, 8 children had died as well as two women, one of them with a newborn. Mr Idris said the camp has very high maternal and child mortality rate especially of children under five. He described the illness that kills the kids in his local language as Shunsuusu, which means convulsion. Recently, one of the women in the camp who was five months pregnant started bleeding and after four days, he had taken the pains to get a referral letter from FEMA and gone to the two designated hospital where they had been turned back for lack of space. By the time he found a private hospital they could afford, the woman had lost the baby and needed surgery to survive. Tales like this are the norm for Wassa camp residents and Mr Idris said all the complaints they had made to FEMA about the way the hospitals treated them had not yielded any results. Aishatu Iliasu is the wife of the camps grave-digger and she said women die often of common illnesses like typhoid and malaria. She lamented the lack of basic drugs in the mobile clinic that results more often than she can recall in grave illnesses and death. Just as the camp chairman had said, she explained that they had no money to visit the town to get healthcare from any of the hospitals that had been designated to them. In a pained voice, she recounted the sad death of a woman and her newborn. Two weeks ago, two women died in the camp. The first one is pregnant, no money for hospital, she stay in her house and treat herself. After delivery baby died and the following day she died, she narrated. The camp had experienced a Cholera outbreak earlier in the year and FEMA had intervened but not before some lives were lost to the outbreak. The children from the camp attend the LEA Nomadic School where the environmental conditions are so poor that it bothers on dangerous. The classes have no ceilings and the beams that hold up the roof are exposed, feces surround the school building because the toilet facilities are insufficient. Despite the conditions, at the time of the visit, classes were ongoing with the kids responding enthusiastically to their teachers, oblivious of the conditions around them because they simply do not know better or have no other option. To be continued 'March is fast approaching and so is Local Enterprise Week,' Cllr Liam Reilly, Louth County Council chairperson stated at the launch of Local Enterprise Week 2020. The event, which is planned and managed by Louth County Council's Local Enterprise Office, takes place from Monday March to Friday March 6. 'It is, he continued 'the time of year when we invite business owners, managers and anyone thinking of starting a business to join us for a host of free educational and networking events.' Louth County Council's Local Enterprise Office (LEO) provides mentoring, training, advice, and grant aid all year round, enabling local business to grow and thrive. However, Local Enterprise Week provides business owners with an intensive week of educational events to support them in their development. Head of Enterprise in Louth Thomas McEvoy explains, 'We look at business here in Louth under three key headings: Pre-start, Start and Grow. We have designed the programme for 2020 to ensure that we provide valuable learning opportunities for businesses at each of these stages." 'The week commences with a highly intensive event for companies in the 'Grow' phase. 'Working Smarter to Future Proof Your Business' will focus on making businesses more competitive and productive.' Business advice clinics will take place in Ardee, Dunleer, and Omeath, providing business owners with expert advice from LEO mentors and advisors. Anyone thinking of starting a business can sign up for a free Getting Started: Could You Be Your Own Boss? workshop. This will take place in both Dundalk and Drogheda on Monday 2nd and Wednesday 4th March. Supporting the retail sector in Louth is one of the key themes for Local Enterprise Week 2020. A specially designed event for retailers called Bricks & Clicks will help retailers across the country navigate and respond to the changing trends in consumer behaviour. Thursday evening sees Network Louth hosting their annual International Womens Day event, entitled Stepping Up and Driving Change. Accountant, and founder of Empower The Family, Deborah Somorin will be the keynote speaker at this educational and networking event. Enterprise Week is also an important time stop and celebrate the achievements of local business. The county winners of the National Enterprise Awards will be announced at a gala networking lunch at the Monasterboice Inn on Friday, 6th March. The overall winner will represent Louth in the National Enterprise Award finals at the Mansion House, Dublin in May. Cathaoirleach Cllr. Liam Reilly concludes Make time in your diary to join us for Local Enterprise Week and take the opportunity to learn, network and grow. Discover the full programme of events on www.localenterprise.ie/louth and book your free tickets today! With each edition, the exercise became more of a spectacle and less of an update; more about the president and less about the Union; more about humbling Congress and less about communicating with it. Presidents come and go, now this party, now that one, but the humiliation is forever. The presidents partisans are expected to leap up with a roar at every boilerplate banality, while the opposition is to sit politely as he attempts to dig their political graves. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 07:32:42|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ROME, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Already reeling from new tariffs on exports to the United States, Italy's wine industry could face a new set of obstacles if a trade deal isn't reached with the United Kingdom in the wake of Brexit, analysts said. The UK formally left the European Union (EU) on Jan. 31. Its government was unable to finalize most of the trade agreements it said it wanted before that deadline. However, the two sides gave themselves until the end of the year to hammer out bilateral trade deals. If no agreement is struck for Italian wines, analysts told Xinhua it could create two new hurdles for Italian wines: new tax barriers for exports from Italy to the UK, and the possibility that Italian wine trademarks will not be respected. "We've been following Brexit closely, and it represents some real risks for Italian winemakers," Francesca Migliarucci, head of the international trade division for Italian wine industry group Federvini, said in an interview. "The most obvious is the danger of more tariffs, but the most complex involves intellectual property rights." The UK could put tax barriers in place to give a competitive advantage to its growing domestic wine industry, analysts said. As global temperatures rise over time, the UK becomes increasingly viable as a wine producer. According to analysts, the intellectual property risks come from the possibility that wines made outside the EU could be labeled to imply they come from Italy, even to the point of using the names of well-known Italian wines like Chianti, Barolo, or Amarone. With no agreement on intellectual property with Italy, those wines could be legally sold in the UK. If either or both of the risks are realized, it would be an unwanted blow following the import barriers the United States put into place for Italian wine in 2019. The United States and the UK are Italy's first and third largest export markets for wine in terms of overall value, respectively, importing a combined 2.3 billion euros (2.5 billion U.S. dollars) of Italian wines in 2018. Germany is second on the list. "It's too early to know what the specific impacts would be, but we think negotiating a trade deal to reduce these risks should be a high priority for Italy," Lorenzo Bazzana, chief economist for Coldiretti, Italy's main agricultural association, told Xinhua. Both of the potential Brexit-related impacts would be felt the most in northeastern Italy, where Italy's famous prosecco sparkling wine is produced. According to Bazzana, prosecco is the most popular Italian wine in the UK, accounting for around half of the estimated 850 million euros (944 million U.S. dollars) in Italian wine exported to the country last year. "There's no doubt that if no trade deal with the United Kingdom is reached, the prosecco producers will bear the brunt of the impact," Bazzana said. Enditem The first time I was in Warsaw, I found myself in a bar looking to order a drink. I knew the word for beer (piwo), but I didn't want a beer, so I tried the one full question in Polish that I had spent weeks learning by repetition - "Czy mowisz po angielsku?" (Do you speak English?) The barman's expression, until then disinterested and mildly irritated, changed instantly. A broad smile burst through his heavy moustache like a dancing girl through a stage curtain. He shook his head and said something that ended with the word "polsku!" There followed a torrent of words I couldn't understand, but which made us both smile. He was doing his best to help me, and I was doing my best to get a drink. It turns out that the Polish word for vodka is wodka. Who knew? Modern technology has given us high-speed communication. We can zip messages all over the world in the blink of an eye. But online-dominated exchanges have also created bubbles that shield us from reality. Looking back on that drinks order in Warsaw, it struck me that one of those bubbles comes with us on our travels - a bubble that makes us think everyone in the world speaks English. It's an easy habit to fall into. Lots of people speak a little English nowadays. Every airport in the world has signage and staff that speak English. Tourist resorts and city public transport systems abound with secondary signage in English. In some countries (such as Sweden), English has practically been adopted as another main language. But the fact remains that, as a mother tongue, English is the world's third most-spoken language, after Mandarin and Spanish. "By assuming that everyone is going to have English because it's so widespread now, you do get into a mind-set of 'People are going to cater to me and I don't really have to make much of an effort'," says Claire Long, a brand ambassador for Languages Connect (languagesconnect.ie), an awareness campaign run by Post Primary Languages Ireland as part of the Government's strategy for foreign languages in education. "That's not a great mindset to have when you're trying to create new experiences. If you really want to get a broader world view and actually talk to people and see what the people are like in the country you're visiting, you need the language otherwise, you're in a kind of parallel world to the people who are actually living there, because you're not interacting with them in a real way." Long speaks French and Japanese, and says using those languages while travelling in France and Japan led to her being embraced into the cultural heart of those countries and living unforgettable experiences. Expand Close Tagine / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tagine Not everyone speaks a second language, of course. Learning one is rewarding, but you don't have to go that far. On my travels, I've learned that simply trying, or making a small but genuine effort to communicate in the local language, can open up the hearts and minds of those you're speaking with in disarming ways. Modern travellers can also draw on tech to help dip their toes into new languages. Google Translate is a superb free tool, for example - a dictionary, translator and interpreter in your pocket. I once had a conversation with a man in Japan using the app, where we typed sentences and watched the words switch from one language to the other. My new-found friend was amazed at how Google knew the correct kanji (symbol) for his surname - something, he said, most Japanese people don't even get right. Google isn't the only show in town. You can download entire dictionaries of foreign languages before you leave home, and there are many excellent language apps that have streamlined the language-learning process, too. Busuu is one of the better ones, making good use of technology and connecting with other language enthusiasts around the world so that you're not alone on your linguistic journey. Travel is so accessible and quick nowadays, it's easy to jet off without as much as a word of the local language. But taking a little time to go beyond the token 'gracias' or 'bonjour' also gains you little parts of a key that can gradually unlock entire worlds around you. "No matter how much English becomes a common working language of business, or tourism, or whatever, in every country, people will continue to create and tell stories," says David Little, a retired linguist professor at Trinity College Dublin. While it sometimes seems like English is set for world domination, and that there's little point learning alternatives, he argues otherwise. Those stories "add to their infinite cultural hinterland and the only way you can access any of that is by learning the language", Little says. Throwing in those few words with my Polish drinks order felt like respect and good manners; the same as if I was visiting someone else's house. And once travel feels like that, all kinds of wonderful things can happen. Top 5 language layovers Expand Close Andalucia / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andalucia 1. Irish in Donegal Oideas Gael offers various activities to make embracing Gaeilge more fun. Courses in Co Donegal start at 110 (for a weekend course in March revolving around bodhran-playing). oideas-gael.com 2. French in Dublin The Alliance Francaise in Dublin offers an intensive, two-day pre-travel course to prepare for practical situations tourists will likely encounter while exploring France. Essential savoir-faire for 120. alliance-francaise.ie 3. Spanish in Andalucia Peublo Espanol offers fully-immersive, eight-day courses in Andalucia, Spain. The 1,950 price includes room and board, activities, guided tours, return transport to Madrid and a team of a team of native speakers to provide 100 hours of strictly Spanish-only conversation. puebloespanol.com 4. Arabic in Morocco GoLearnTo.com has a range of courses in different countries that marry language learning with a cultural activity. The week-long 'Arabic and Moroccan Cooking' course in Tetouan is one pick of the bunch. From 235 B&B. 5. Italian in Florence With Euro Pass, you can learn Italian in Florence. Morning lessons, guided tours and accommodation options mean a per-week variation from 280 (course only) to 570 (half board with host family). europassitalian.com NB: All prices subject to availability/change The New Patriotic Party (NPP), earlier this week, openly accused former President John Mahama of complicity in the Airbus bribery scandal. On Monday [February 3, 2020], the ruling party called on former President John Dramani Mahama to respond to allegations that an individual close to a top government official was bribed by Airbus between 2011 and 2015 in the now-famous scandal. All Fingers Point To Mahama Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, Communications Director for the NPP said "the companies used to receive the bribe money have been named. The shareholder who is very close to the former President has been named. Document falsification, kickbacks, lies and overpayments is what the Airbus scandal is all about. And it appears John Mahama is deeply involved." Adding that, he cannot continue to hide behind his party members including a former Attorney-General. Of course, we are all aware that he hates answering questions on corruption, but answer he must, because at this moment, all fingers point to him and one of his brothers. Airbus Saga - UK Version Reports of a bribery scandal emerged over the weekend citing Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Taiwan as destinations where Airbus, the largest aerospace multinational in Europe, admitted that it paid huge bribes in order to secure contracts. The Crown Court at Southwark in the United Kingdom passed judgment on 31st January 2020, between the Director of the Serious Fraud Office and Airbus SE, in which the European multinational aerospace corporation was fined $3.9 billion for the payment of bribes to secure deals in the five countries named Ghana. The London High Court found Airbus guilty and imposed a fine of three billion pounds (3bn) as penalties. Airbus was charged with five counts of failing to prevent bribery, having used a network of secret agents to pay large-scale backhanders to officials in foreign countries to land high-value contracts. In the case of Ghana, the operations were reported to have taken place between 2009 and 2015; during which period John Dramani Mahama served as Vice President and then later as President. Even though no name was mentioned in the UK Crown Court in Southwark's ruling, the NPP at a press conference, was categorical that government official 1 is Mahama and has, therefore, asked him to break his silence over the allegation. GO 1 Exists But Ain't Mahama However, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku constituency, says he will not join the bandwagon of pointing fingers and mentioning names. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Dr Okoe Boye added: "If you access the individuals during 2009 and 2015, some qualify more to be individual 1 than others. I will not be quick to settle on a person but the fact is that the person exists in this country; the people are around; those who did the transaction. Osei Kyei Mensah said he saw a relative of the ex-President, but I will not be quick to say for that matter it is the ex-President (former)". It is however not too clear if the NPP MP was being real or just being ironic. Majority leader Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu a few days ago recalled how the then Minority NPP were pushed aside by the then NDC majority when the Airbus deal was brought to parliament under the Mills-Mahama administrationAccording to him, the then majority members (the NDC) used their superior numbers in the house to push through the deal despite fierce opposition from the NPP.If you look at the indecent haste they rushed the process through, it was awful...We went to the website of this company and saw the price...They had described the specifics of the aeroplanes and said the cost of the CASA, the new one as of 2011 was 25 million dollars if my memory serves me right. And the government then came to say it was 35 million, not dollars but Euro. And that was scary...they said they even had to refurbish the airstairs of the plane and that was about 18 million dollars.So those were some of the things that we raised and they didnt dispute it. The third-hand plane that they procured the price was higher than a brand new plane! So those were the issues that we raised but as I said, our voices got lost because the government was in a situation to push their way through," Osei Kyei reportedly said. 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. Featured Video The question, as Marian Keyes went to work on her new book, was: had she used up all her tragedies? She wondered it herself and it was a reasonable query. Beneath the breeziness of her signature wit and perhaps obscured by her fondness for a happy ending, sadness has always been a key component of Marian's magic, an indigo shadow behind all the sparkly jokes. And, inasmuch as she draws from her own life at all, depression was used up already - brilliantly described in The Mystery of Mercy Close. So was alcoholism - she tapped into her own recovery journey for Rachel's Holiday, now a classic. What was left for Grown Ups, her new novel about all the secrets, snobberies and resentments in one Irish family? She is already one step ahead of me. "I know already what everyone's going to wonder after they read this: is she bulimic?" she says, crossing her legs under her in a sitting room at the back of her house. "I'm not bulimic. But from the age of 11, I felt guilt about every bite of food that has gone into my mouth. I'm very porous and I absorbed messages from an early age. A lot of us can't help it. If I'm in the company of goddesses - tall, thin women - I feel inadequate." Those feelings of inadequacy also afflict Cara, one of the central characters in Grown Ups. At the beginning of the novel a guest in the hotel where she works calls her "a fat bitch". The insult is deeply felt and Keyes skilfully peels back the layers of Cara's insecurities about food, about her body, about the image she sees - and hates - when she looks in the mirror. It's a nuanced and at times shocking depiction of an eating disorder: the binge eating, the purging, the secrecy and guilt, and Marian says that ideas of addiction and recovery helped her when it came to writing the character. "As an addict, I know food is connected to the way I want to sidestep pain. Any addiction is about escaping pain, whether it is drink, food, gambling or sex. "I think food addiction is trivialised not because it predominantly affects women but because it only kills at the extremes. "An eating disorder can hide in plain sight more than a cocaine addiction, where things would fall apart very quickly. "I'm happy to be an alcoholic: it's a very handy thing, I just don't have to drink - but everyone has to eat. That means you deal with the object of your problem every day, and it's challenging." Marian's own salve for her insecurities about food has been some hard-won perspective about weight and body shape. "I've had to realise that I'm not defined by the length of my legs or the size of my waist; I have a kind heart and I can make people laugh. "I'm 56 now, though, so that kind of perspective doesn't happen overnight. And I still have to have a word with myself and say 'knock off that nonsense, look at how well-intentioned you are'." And she is well-intentioned. She seems worried about saying too much or getting things wrong. She speaks in a careful, breathy voice that seems to implore you to understand exactly what she means. One of the themes of the new book is the sense that as adults we are faking our competence at life. "When I was a kid I thought it would be incredible to be grown up because I wouldn't be afraid any more then," she says. "I thought I'd be powerful and able to make my own decisions who to see and where to go. That never really happens for anyone; we remain afraid." What is she afraid of now? "I'm afraid of my mother dying. Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night. I really worry about the state of the planet and the way we've abandoned the poor in our country. People will say I'm virtue signalling but I'm sincere." Men will not read books written by women; statistically it just doesn't really happen. And when she's being funny this sincerity seems heightened. We meet in her home, where the hallway is strewn with what might be called her latest wild enthusiasm: painting. Huge colourful canvasses line the floor and walls, and she cannot get enough art supplies. She says her commitment to painting is reminiscent of her alcoholism: "When I was drinking I'd go from off-licence to off-licence and when I started painting I went from zero to Picasso in 30 seconds." She offers me a canvas of my own ("Tony! Have we bubble wrap?") And while he looks she leans in and tells me that the neighbours are worn out from her gifts of art pieces. "It was like the baking, they thought it was a joke at the start; they don't think it's a joke now." The house is beautiful and large and I wonder if it, and the love she gets from legions of readers, represent a kind of two fingers to those who dismiss her as chick lit? "I can't complain, I've got what I wanted, the lovely house, the relationship with readers," she begins. "But I feel for the other women who are not getting what they deserve. Men will not read books written by women; statistically it just doesn't really happen. "Gay men will read my books sometimes, but it's very rare for straight men to do so. If a woman writes about family it's silly domestic concerns, but if a man does the same thing it's a searing exploration of the dynamics of family." This calls to mind another recent quip. Last summer, in what was seen as a thinly veiled reference to Colm Toibin - who told The Guardian that he gets bored by genre fiction books - Marian tweeted: "Sez the lad who wrote a Maeve Binchy pastiche and managed to persuade people it was literary fiction." Did she mean Tobin's Brooklyn? "The fact that I didn't even have to name it proved my point," she replies. "It's a bit silly to be making fun of genre fiction when you've written a piece of genre fiction. That was the only point I was making. Literary authors do this from time to time - they think they've invented a genre. Like, Martin Amis wrote a crime novel and it was treated as a completely different beast to ordinary crime fiction." One of the characters in Grown Ups bemoans a journalist's "sh**** attempt at psychoanalysing me", but Marian herself gamely humours all attempts to extrapolate from her life to her writings. "I don't mind the s***** psychoanalysing and it's not s*****!" She tries to avoid any kind of confrontation, even when provoked. "To be human is to be irritated irrationally. But you don't want to be a hermit; you have to button the lip occasionally. Except the odd time. I told someone to f*** off on Twitter the other day. "I said I'd give a signed copy of the new book to raise funds for victims of the fires in Australia. And a guy wrote 'oh you mean to advertise' and so I told him where to go. I mean, come on. How could you be so cynical?" Her Twitter is somewhat compulsive reading, an endless feed of witty observations and exasperated conversations with her mother ("old vumman"). It was her publisher's idea to join but she took to it. She has tweeted 105,000 times in eight years - an average of more than 30 times a day - and she says she prefers it to all other social media platforms. "Facebook was people from years ago coming out of the woodwork and it was like 'you were b****** in school so why would I want to be friends with you now?' Twitter though: duck to water. It suits me in that my head works fast, thoughts occur to me. Yes I've had spells where I've thought I'm doing too much of it, I have to step back. I try not to be online as much now because it steals time and it steals words. "Instagram is all envy. If you post a pair of socks on Instagram everyone will go 'oh look at your lovely socks', whereas if you post the same thing on Twitter everyone will say 'you and your socks - would you ever think of the homeless people who haven't had new socks in 20 years!' "It's all the bile. And when it comes you're actually relieved because you can say 'it's come now and I'm grand about it'." From the start of her career she was a genius at alchemising her personal pain into fiction. In her twenties, after a law degree at UCD, she moved to London, found work as an accounts clerk and started binge-drinking in earnest. At her lowest point, around her 30th birthday, she found herself writing short stories in the sober interludes and submitted a few of them to Poolbeg Press. The publisher encouraged her to submit a full-length novel and Keyes began work on her first book, Watermelon. The novel was published the same year. Since 1995, she has published 13 novels and four works of non-fiction and won a large, loyal readership - Grown Ups is a big release for publisher Penguin. She has always had a gimlet eye for the gleaming detail, particularly in her descriptions of depression: "At a party, everyone would be looking at the glittering chandeliers," she once said, "and I'd be looking at the waitress's cracked shoes." She has written openly about the condition, which at times left her unable to sleep, read, write or talk. Even now, she says, it requires constant management. "It's a real illness and I have learned to deal with it. I can't manage too much fear or adrenaline. I can't do travel the way I used to. I can't handle too much of the adrenaline you need to do telly interviews. "I can't cope with too much airports. I don't like crowds. I just do less and I'm lucky to have that luxury." Tony is everything you could want in a husband: tall, handsome and very calm Her father died at the end of 2018 and she was concerned that her depression would resurface as she mourned. "I was worried then that it would kick it all off again and it didn't. It's been awful and strange but it's been within the parameters of normal grief. I know the warning signs. If I start to feel like I'm dreaming it's an actual thing called derealisation." She met Tony, an Englishman affectionately known as 'himself' on her Twitter feed, while she was living in London and they'll be married 25 years this year. He is everything you could want in a husband: tall, handsome and very calm. "Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night and I have to put my hand on Tony's tummy to make sure he's still alive, still there. I touch him and I feel better." The setting for much of the drama in Grown Ups is a family get-together in a hotel, but Marian says that while she and her own family do organise similar country getaways, she drew her inspiration more broadly. "There's a group of us who have been friends for a long time and recently enough one of them has acquired a new partner who is tricky, to put it mildly, and just has this unerring ability to upset people. "We all went away for a yoke and she didn't come, and the next time I met her she made reference. She said how did you get on, and there was a split second where I nearly said it was great because you weren't there. But we all have to finesse our way through life - it's tact, it's kindness." Writing has become more physically arduous because of the joint pain in her hands. "My hands are very bad at the moment. I am worried about physically being able to write. I'm going to have to move to voice-activated. It'll be a big change." I murmur something about how well she looks, but she bats away the compliment. Danny DeVito is the person who would play her in Marian, the biopic, she says, as she explains how wrecked she would look if someone cut off her supply of hair extensions, expensive skincare and IPL (something to do with lasers). Her editors talked her out of the title All Our Secrets for the new book - "she said it was too low-rent" and she says she can't count the number of people who have taken her aside and asked her to "knock off the one-liners" but awards shortlists and critics be damned, she's not for turning. "It's an Irish thing, we use humour to make our misfortunes bearable. So for me that's non-negotiable. That's just the way I write." Speaking of which, she is rumoured to be working on a sequel to Rachel's Holiday - is there any truth in that? "Well, I don't believe in sequels," she says. "The Break was meant to be a sequel to Watermelon and I couldn't do it in the end because most of my characters go through such an arc that if I were to waltz in a few years later and go 'right lads, I'm going to make it all awful for you again' that would be wrong. But I have about 10,000 words written and it's a Walsh book. But it's tricky because Rachel's Holiday was a special book to a lot of people and she was so me. "Maeve Binchy once said that readers want you to be the way you were when they found you. This, if it is written, has to come with the caveat that I'm older, Rachel is older and my readers are older. So I realise it's a dangerous thing to be doing, but my gut and my heart wants to do it. And those are the things I listen to." Grown Ups by Marian Keyes is published by Michael Joseph, 20 By NICKI BRUCE LOGAN Herald Lifestyles Editor If you live in the Plainview area, chances are your life has been touched in some manner by the James and Eva Mayer Foundation and according to David Wilder, Eva Mayer would be pleased. When Mrs. Mayer was alive, she was concerned about what would happen to her estate after her death, Wilder says. With no children or other heirs, she wondered what to do. After many conversations and discussions with her attorney, Gene Owen, he suggested she set up a foundation to benefit others in the future. Eva Hoyle Mayer was a native Plainviewan and she and her husband, James, lived in several metropolitan areas, ending in Philadelphia, until his death in the 1960s. She came back to Plainview to take care of her mother, Elizabeth Hoyle, and stayed. We had a number of conversations concerning the distribution of her assets, Gene Owen said in earlier interviews. Owen died in 2006 after serving as trustee of the James and Eva Mayer Foundation, along with Paul Lyle and David Wilder, since it was established. His son, Rudd, succeeded him as trustee. And while the Mayers and their foundation have benefited a large number of people, little is known about the Mayers personally and few photos exist. Although the Mayers had considerable wealth, Owen said few would have known it by Mrs. Mayers demeanor. She was a very private person, and she lived in an apartment at the Hilton Hotel, said Owen. She played bridge and joined the Womans Club. She was a very gracious, kind person and was very interested in Plainview. Records show that her interest extended to Wayland Baptist University. She was a devoted supporter of Wayland, Owen said. She was a strong believer in education and wanted everyone to have a chance at education. Mrs. Mayers concern for others has formed the basis trustees use when they consider grant requests. We try to always take into consideration her interests when studying requests, Wilder says, adding with pride that since the foundation was established in 1987, it has doubled its assets while giving a like amount to projects. We do focus on brick-and-mortar gifts, going toward capital projects and buildings, Wilder adds. Projects that can make a lasting difference. The three men agree that seeing the Mayer Foundation money go to help worthy causes around the South Plains and beyond has been rewarding, and they feel the Mayers would be pleased with how their estate has been able to touch lives. Wilder said the foundation also likes to issue challenge grants, encouraging the support of other foundations in a fundraising project. There is no limit to the life of the foundation, and as long as the trio continues to manage the Mayers money well, the grants will continue. Established Sept. 1, 1987, the foundation is in its 25th year. Grants are made exclusively to organizations operated for religious, charitable, educational, literary or scientific purposes. Grants are only for use within the United States and recipient organizations must be tax exempt. The Mayer Foundation recently completed presenting its annual assistance with donations to a variety of local and area organizations, including the Faith in Sharing House, The Salvation Army, Hale County Senior Citizens Center, Happy Feet and RSVP. Those organizations join a long list of others that have benefited from the Mayer Foundation through the years. Just a few include Wayland Baptist University, Wee Care Child Center, Plainview Education Partnership, Faith In Sharing House, Fair Theatre, The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Junior Service League Fire Safety House, Kidsville, Floyd County Unity Center, Ronald McDonald House, YMCA and Lubbock Christian University. The more visible signs of the Mayer philanthropy in Plainview are the James and Eva Mayer Building for the Wee Care Child Center, the James and Eva Mayer Circle at the west entrance of Harral Auditorium, the James and Eva Mayer Reference and Research Library, located within the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Learning Resources Center, and the James E. and Nelda Laney Activities Center on the Wayland Baptist University campus. The foundation is a past recipient of Waylands Distinguished Benefactor Alumni Award and several scholarships have been established in honor of the Mayers. In all, the Mayer Foundation has given $985,000 to Wayland. Wilder pointed out that through the years about 85 percent of the foundations gifts has been given to organizations between Amarillo and Lubbock, and 95 percent has stayed within the state. He adds that the foundation has given approximately $2.5 million to the Plainview area and $500,000 each to Lubbock and Amarillo area groups. To date, the Mayer Foundation has given $4,165,000 to deserving causes and organizations, Wilder says. The Mayers have been a great blessing to many people, especially those of us in the Plainview area. To comment: nlogan@hearstnp.com 806.296.1362 HOLYOKE From language barriers to fear of revealing immigration status to lack of internet access, filling out the census can be intimidating for many people. But the Pioneer Valley Census Complete Count Committee is teaming up with more than 100 businesses and organizations across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to urge every Western Massachusetts resident to do just that. Our aim is to educate residents on the importance of filling out the census in the coming months, as well as discussing which communities have proven historically hard to count and what is being done to overcome the barriers to participation they may experience, said Patrick Beaudry, who oversees policy, communications and public engagement at the planning commission in Springfield. Meetings were held in Amherst and Holyoke on Friday to bring together people from many of the organizations teaming up to educate residents on the importance of filling out the census. Laura Medrado, supervisor of the committee for the U.S. Census Bureau, said there is a timeline people need to be aware of. The week of March 12 you will receive an official-looking letter with a request to fill out the census online or on the phone, she said at the Holyoke meeting. After a week everyone will get a reminder postcard to fill out the census. A week later, those addresses we dont have a response from yet will receive another reminder letter, and a week after that you will get a fourth letter with the paper version of the census. The final reminder will alert you that a census taker will be coming to your door. Betty Medina Lichtenstein, executive director of Enlace de Familias in Holyoke, said her organization will have computers and phone lines available for people who do not have access to the internet or feel more comfortable getting assistance filling out the survey. Her staff has been trained to help people with the census, as well as register them to vote if they choose. If we do not have an accurate count of every single person that is breathing here, we will not be able to get the services we need, she said. For the nonprofit world, every grant that we write we have to refer to the census to be able to defend who it is that we are trying to make sure receives the services they are in need of. One particular group that may not fill out the census is undocumented residents. We are going to struggle with the immigrant community. Its not only about gaining their trust, but also helping them fill it out, Medina Lichtenstein said. Andrea Schmidt, co-director and organizer for the grassroots organization Pioneer Valley Workers Center, said many people are misinformed about the census. Most of our members are farm workers and restaurant workers, a majority of which are undocumented, she said. The citizenship question will not be on the census, but a lot of folks dont know that is the case, so the idea of someone walking up to their door and asking them questions is terrifying to them." Schmidt said she wants people to see the census as an opportunity for empowerment. These are the people doing the invisible labor that makes our society function. They cook our food, they care for our children, they pick our fruits and vegetables, she said. We want to use this as an opportunity to advance community power. Micheal Moriarty, executive director of OneHolyoke CDC, said if the numbers do not accurately reflect the population of a city or town the results hurt poor communities the most. An undercount is an inequity. It does genuine harm to the poorest neighborhoods that fail to get a full count, he said. In 2010 our population in Holyoke was counted at just under 40,000 people. There is absolutely no way that was true. We were over 40,000 but we didnt find all the people that needed to be counted and there are consequences to that. There were several other speakers Friday including state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, and Jeanne LeClair, economic development director of Gateway Hilltowns, who talked about the challenges faced in rural communities, including a high proportion of elderly residents, lack of access to the internet and rural poverty. The Moroccan Atlantic city of Agadir is being turned into an attractive and competitive economic hub, thanks to several development projects launched or inaugurated this week by King Mohammed VI. Among these landmark projects, King Mohammed VI launched the citys urban development program, worth $62 million. The program aims at consolidating Agadirs positioning and strengthening its attractiveness as a national and international tourist destination, improving human development indexes, promoting the living conditions of the population, particularly in neighborhoods with poor infrastructure, and consolidating the citys road network for a better mobility. This program is being carried out in implementation of royal orientations, as expressed by the Monarch last November in a speech marking the 44th anniversary of the Green March. The King had then called for upgrading the basic infrastructure of the Souss-Massa region and its road network, the establishment of a Marrakech-Agadir rail link and the consolidation of the strategic position of the region. I invite the authorities concerned to give serious thought to the development of a rail link between Marrakech and Agadir, as a first step before extending it to the rest of the southern regions, the King had said in his speech, adding that the Souss-Massa region must become an economic hub linking Moroccos north to its south from Tangier, in the north, to Oujda, in the east, to our southern provinces, in the south. Implementing the urban development program, which is also part of the regionalization strategy, in the Souss Massa region is not fortuitous. The region boasts abundant economic assets, and enormous potentials enabling it to become a real, attractive and competitive economic hub, capable of meeting the challenge of advanced regionalization and consolidating its influence at the national and regional levels, mainly in Africa. Among the other structuring projects in the region, King Mohammed VI inaugurated the Souss-Massa City of Innovation, worth $4.3 million. The city hosts business incubators and scientific labs and seeks to encourage entrepreneurship and the creation of innovative start-ups and support the local economic sectors & industrial ecosystems. The Monarch also launched the construction works of a local City of trades & skills that will train up to 3,000 students a year in various trades and sectors including industry, offshoring, management, marketing, tourism, healthThe project will cost over $ 44.5 million. Out of concern to improve the living and work conditions of fishermen in the Souss-Massa region, King Mohammed VI also inaugurated a new fishing dock in the town of Imourane, near Agadir, that will benefit more than 130 fishermen. The project, worth $2.5 million (24.6 million DH) is projected to handle an annual production of 2,500 tons and post a turnover of over $7.7 million (75 million DH). The dockyard includes 52 warehouses for fishermen, five warehouses for fish wholesalers, a fuel station, and a fish market. The project also features repair shops for boats and engines, a refrigeration chamber, an ice factory, and other administrative facilities. Part of efforts to promote the fishing sector in Souss-Massa, a similar infrastructure was established in the town of Gourizim, near Tiznit, for a a budget of about $2 million. It benefits 80 fishermen from the town, operating 20 artisanal boats. Facilities of the dockyard include warehouses, workshops, a market, a refrigeration chamber, a multipurpose room, and a docking area. Besides, some 24 aquaculture projects, notably shellfish and seaweed farming, are being developed in several localities in the region. About $40 million were earmarked for the projects that are expected to create more than 670 jobs and produce nearly 23,240 tons of oysters and 38,660 tons of algae annually. The projects are part of a large-scale national program for the development of aquaculture and fisheries, aiming to upgrade and modernize Moroccos fishing sector and improve its competitiveness and performance. Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidates debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., Feb 7, 2020. Seven Democrats vying to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020 appeared on the Manchester, New Hampshire, debate stage Friday night, just days before that state's crucial primary election. Former Vice President Joe Biden admitted early in the debate that he expects to take a hit in the upcoming New Hampshire primary after his poor performance in the Iowa caucus. "I took a hit in Iowa and I'll probably take a hit here," he said on the debate stage in Manchester. Biden came in fourth place in the first nominating contest, a devastating blow to his campaign. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg took home the top prizes in Iowa, appearing to be nearly tied for first place. Still, Biden promised to stay in the fight. "I always knew that the first four encounters -- two primaries, two caucuses" would be a starting point, he said. Biden claimed that he is the candidate who has the best chance to unseat Trump in November. Biden said that Trump "wants very much to stick a label on every candidate." Biden said Sanders has already labeled himself a democratic socialist. "That's the label Trump will use," Biden said. In response, Sanders called Trump a liar, saying that his comments should not matter to anybody on the stage. Govt. to go ahead with recruiting teacher assistants View(s): The Government is to go ahead with a programme to recruit 50,000 Teacher Assistants for national and provincial schools, despite opposition from trade unions. The unions want the Government to recruit them as Teachers, not Teacher Assistants. However, the Government said they could recruit only Teacher Assistants as the cadre for teachers was full. It is estimated that 2000 teachers are in excess in the national school cadre of teachers, while it is estimated that 25,000 additional teachers are present in provincial schools. According to the proposal, plans were underway to recruit the Teacher Assistants who will be required to serve in difficult areas. Sri Lanka Teachers Service Union Dhammika Alahapperuma Secretary said the Governments plan was not acceptable as it was a violation of the service minutes. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events, with prompts from Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. The impeachment saga is over. In the end, did Democrats improve President Trumps chance to win re-election? Julie: It remains to be seen. I continue to believe that the greatest predictor of the presidents chances is the economy. Mike: Yes, it helped Trump. The numbers make it hard to argue otherwise. His approval rating in Gallup just hit its highest mark of his presidency. Almost two-thirds of the country approve of his handling of the US economy, which people care more about than Ukraine or Hunter Biden. Trump and his allies are poised to wage what could be the most extensive disinformation campaign in U.S. history this yearand were not ready. My new feature for the March issue of The Atlantic: https://t.co/wW3zihKoqo McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) February 6, 2020 Q. What about the Senate? Could this help Democrats beat moderate Republicans from states that opposed Trump in 2016, like Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado? Julie: Colorado has been trending ever more blue, so Gardner was in danger even before this vote. Ive worked in Maine and its a very unique state politically. I wouldnt count Susan Collins out. Mike: Collins and Gardner were always going to have tough races. Most voters who passionately wanted the president removed from office in their states are never voting Republican any way, no matter how their senators voted on impeachment. Politically, it was probably the safe choice for them to not cross party lines, just like it was safer politically for the Democrat senators from conservative states Joe Manchin of WV, Kyrsten Sinema of AZ and Doug Jones of AL to vote for removal, which they did. Just spoke with Sen. Collins She now says she probably shouldn't have said that she "believes" Pres. Trump has learned his lessons from the fallout from his dealings with Ukraine and #Impeachment She now says a better word would have been "hopes"#mepolitics pic.twitter.com/k5pC3nrVsc Gregg Lagerquist (@GreggWGME) February 5, 2020 Q. What was your reaction when you saw Speaker Nancy Pelosis rip up her copy of Trumps State of the Union address at the end of the speech? Julie: I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it underscored how much Trump has changed the tenor in Washington and how much its infected our body politic. On the other hand, Democrats have been playing by Marquess of Queensberry rules ever since Mitch McConnell played hardball and broke precedent on Merrick Garlands Supreme Court nomination even before Trump became president. Pelosis move was designed as a vital social media meme, which just shows that our body politic appeals to the Twitter generation. During Obamas 2011 State of the Union, there was a big push among lawmakers to have a bipartisan seating buddy. And it worked! Our politics have been blissfully harmonious ever since. Sam Stein (@samstein) February 3, 2020 Mike: Big mistake. She only hurt herself and her fellow Democrats by looking petty. This is not MSNBC. This is the State of the Union. Act like it. Q. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, female staffers revolted against what they called a toxic work environment in the host committee for the 2020 Democratic convention, blaming two political operatives from New Jersey, Adam Alonso and Liz Gilbert both close allies of Gov. Phil Murphy. Julie, full disclosure: You have made similar charges against the Murphy campaign. Any message here for him? Julie: How many more women need to come forward from New Jersey to Wisconsin before the governor cleans house, apologizes to the women whose concerns he dismissed for years and promises to do better going forward? The toxicity from the Murphy campaign was exported to the DNC and to the DGA, where men accused of toxic behavior are on the payroll now and were even as far back as 2017, when they engaged in the toxicity. By placing these men in national organizations, Governor Murphy has ensured that this scandal will go national. Its unfair to the national Democratic Party at a time when we should be focused on being the party of the #MeToo movement, not the party defending toxic behavior by men. This is a great point. Gov. Phil Murphy kept the men accused of toxic behavior in his inner circle, as the accusers got cut out of meetings and sidelined, as Murphy allies spread lies about them as retaliation. Shameful stuff. https://t.co/dr3EPBhqNm tom moran (@tomamoran) February 4, 2020 Mike: When I was 29 and hired by President George W. Bush, I was given a very important lesson by one of the great mentors in my career, Ken Mehlman, who was Bushs campaign manager at the time. He said that everything we did as staff now reflected on the President of the United States, so were compelled to act appropriately and ethically at all times, not just at the office, but in all professional and personal dealings. It has stuck with me. When we dedicate ourselves to a principal, especially someone as high profile as a governor, senator or president, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard so as to reflect well on him or her. As heads are put on pikes, let us remember that his handpicked, FoxNews-connected replacement for Fiona Hill was on the job less than 3 months before he apparently got honey potted and his phone and laptop stolen https://t.co/SIsf2PDshP zeddy (@Zeddary) February 7, 2020 Mike: Thats part of the promise we make in return for having the honor of working for someone in such a high office. Like it or not, our actions reflect on those who hire us, and we owe it to that person to behave in a way that reflects well, not poorly. In Milwaukee, they got those jobs, in large part, because their service to Gov. Murphy. They owed it to him do a good job, behave appropriately like professional adults, and certainly to stay out of the newspaper for anything negative. Q. The screw ups in Iowa are renewing calls to end that states special status, and some say New Jersey should go first instead. Does that make sense? No way it would happen, right? Julie: Anything is possible. I look forward to the debate over ethanol subsidies being replaced by the debate over whether its pork roll or Taylor Ham. Mike: As political director of the RNC 15 years ago, I floated the idea limiting the influence of Iowa and New Hampshire and felt the ire of those states political leaders. A few years later when I managed Mayor Giulianis campaign, we worked with many states, including NJ, NY, Illinois and California to move their states earlier, to have greater influence. Iowa moved the caucus all the way up to around January 2nd that year to maintain its influence. Personally, I value the idea that small states early in the process force candidates to personally campaign, rather than simply buying ads. But Iowa isnt even a primary; its a party run caucus and an inept one at that. That means low participation, no state oversight, and apparently an inability to do simple math in a timely fashion. Polling in Iowa helped determine who was on the debate stage. Numerous Democrats dropped out because they werent going to fare well in Iowa. Staff gave up a year of their lives to pursue a cause. And now they couldnt even count the votes, robbing the eventual winner of any real momentum. Both the RNC and DNC will have to do some soul-searching to do before 2024. A change is overdue. Q. Here at home, Sen. Nicholas Scutari proposed a Constitutional amendment to let judges serve past the age of 70. But it would leave that decision to the Senate alone, cutting out the governor. So, the Senate might be able to deny a governor the ability to make his or her appointment by extending the term of incumbents. Is this a power grab? Will it fly? Julie: The governor should get to pick the Supreme Court justice and the senate should advise and consent on his nomination. Having said that, I think the mandatory retirement age is a bit ridiculous, considering how vibrant and professionally active many people are at 70. I would support a constitutional amendment to modify the retirement age but, if it passes, I would also support the governor having a say in renominating any existing justices who may want to stay past the age of 70. Mike: I dont like it. Elections have consequences. The governor should pick. The Supreme Court quietly has been a major force in NJ government with spending and housing mandates, to name just two, that have had far reaching and sometimes negative impacts on our state. At times, they are more powerful than the governor or legislature, yet no average voter even knows how many justices we have no less any of their names. The governor is the only person elected statewide and should have the right to appoint the court, with Senate consent. The voters expect the governor to follow their will. Sen. Sweeney was wrong to block Gov. Christies attempts to remake the Supreme Court because it blocked the fundamental change that the voters called for, which is partly why we are still in this fiscal mess in the state. This would give the Senate the sole say on whether judges and justices can stay on past the mandatory retirement age https://t.co/0h9Tt3Bgen Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) February 5, 2020 Q. Finally, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) moved to establish Sept. 23 as Bruce Springsteen Day in honor of his birthday. Could it be that there is at least some common ground in this godforsaken land? Julie: I prefer to think of it as the Land of Hope and Dreams. Mike: I am as big a fan of Bruce as the next Jersey guy, but can we please stop now? A note to readers: DuHaime and Roginsky are both deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players we discuss in this column. Given that, we will not normally disclose each specific connection, trusting that readers understand they are not impartial observers. DuHaime, a principal at Mercury Public Affairs, was chief political advisor to former Gov. Chris Christie, and has worked for Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Optimus Communications, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg and Phil Murphy. Henceforth, we will disclose specific connections in the text only when readers might otherwise be misled, at the discretion of the editors. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 19:31:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti announced that Prime Minister Hassan Diab will soon visit Gulf and Arab countries to boost ties with the Arab world, a local media outlet reported Saturday. "The main goal of our government in the coming period is to strengthen our relations with Arab countries and the international community in addition to saving our country from its economic and financial crisis," Hitti was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. The government will commit to the ministerial statement that emphasizes good ties with Arab countries on the basis of mutual interests, he added. Supported by the parliamentary majority, Diab formed on Jan. 21 a government of 19 ministers who are specialists and academics. However, the new cabinet has been labelled as Hezbollah's cabinet which poses great challenges for Lebanon with regard to its relations with Arab countries. Diab has repreatedly denied this, saying the current cabinet will work in favor of all Lebanese people. Exclusive: Germany ran world's largest current account surplus in 2019: Ifo FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Merkel attends news conference after meeting with chairmen of international economic and financial organisations at Chancellery in Berlin By Rene Wagner BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's current account surplus remained the world's largest last year despite trade tensions, the Ifo economic institute said on Monday, in an estimate likely to renew criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel's fiscal policies. The Ifo calculations, reported exclusively by Reuters ahead of publication by the economic institute, put Germany's current account surplus -- which measures the flow of goods, services and investments -- at some $293 billion in 2019. It is the fourth successive year that Germany's current account surplus has been the world's largest, with Japan's the next biggest at $194 billion, according to Ifo calculations. The International Monetary Fund and the European Commission have for years urged Germany, Europe's largest economy, to do more to lift domestic demand and imports as a way to reduce global economic imbalances and stimulate growth elsewhere. Since his election, U.S. President Donald Trump has also criticized Germany's export strength. Germany's current account surplus can mainly be attributed to the fact that far more German products and services are sold overseas than imported into Europe's largest economy. Merkel said last year: "We are proud of our cars and so we should be." But she added that many were built in the United States and exported to China. Ifo economist Christian Grimme said the German surplus increased last year to some 7.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) from 7.3% in 2018. "Stronger exports to the U.S. due to the stronger depreciation of the euro and increased exports to the UK, where demand recovered somewhat, saw total German exports rise sharply again in the second half of the year," Grimme told Reuters. "By contrast, imports expanded very weakly in the summer half of 2019 - the ongoing industrial recession in Germany severely curbed imports of intermediate goods." The European Commission, the EU's executive, considers a current account surplus of 6% as sustainable over the long-term when measured by the size of a country's economy. (Reporting by Rene Wagner, Writing by Paul Carrel, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Catherine Evans) Chip Somodevilla Just two days after he was acquitted of abuse of power charges, President Trump ousted two key impeachment witnesses on Friday: U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and National Security Council official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Sondland, who had tied Trump to the pressure campaign against Ukraine at the heart of impeachment proceedings, announced he had been let go but gave no reason for his removal. I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union, he said in a statement. That was only hours after Vindman was demonstratively marched out of the White House, along with his attorney brother, in what his lawyer described as retaliation for telling the truth during impeachment proceedings. Alexander Vindman Decries Callow and Cowardly Attacks on Witnesses in Impeachment Inquiry Many had expected Trump to exact vengeance following his impeachment acquittal. After all, it was only two weeks ago that Eric Ueland, Trump's legislative affairs director, had breezed past a group of reporters and was quoted saying, I can't wait for the revenge. And Trump allies were quick to gloat, with the presidents son facetiously thanking Rep. Adam Schiff for helping to identify who in the administration needed to be fired through the impeachment process. Still, some U.S. officials were left alarmed by the moves. Its incredibly disturbing that the president is unaware of his Constitutional powers until his corrupt intent is clear, a State Department official told The Daily Beast. All Americans should easily recognize at this point his personnel decisions have nothing to do with valid policy decisions for the public good and are only about the zero sum game of his own personal power interests. It was unclear if the post-impeachment bloodletting is over. A dozen witnesses appeared on camera for the House impeachment hearings, and most have either left government or transferred to different positions. Those who remain in their posts include David Holmes, a diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Ukraine; Laura Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary at the Pentagon; and George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state. All three are career officials but, like Vindman, could be transferred or removed. Story continues Both Vindman and Sondland had provided crucial testimony during House impeachment hearings, with Vindman recalling his shock when he said he heard Trump pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and Bidens son, Hunter. Vindman, a war hero who served as director of European affair on the NSC, testified that he revealed his concerns about Trumps request to other NSC officials. Trump had foreshadowed Vindmans departure on Friday, telling reporters that he wasnt happy with the colonel. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not. Sondlands departure came more than two months after his stunning testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee, when he singled out top Trump officials and said they were all in on the campaign to coerce Ukraine to conduct politically motivated investigations pushed by Trump. Here Are All the People Sondland Just Threw Under the Bus Sondland told the panel that senior players including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and Vice President Mike Pence knew about his attempt to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make a public commitment to investigate a conspiracy theory around 2016 election and the gas company Burisma. Sondland stopped short of saying the president directed him personally, instead saying he was following orders from Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who the president had directed Sondland, U.S. Envoy Kurt Volker and Energy Secretary Rick Perry to deal with on Ukraine. Two officials who spoke to The Daily Beast on Friday night said they had been expecting Sondlands removal for months. The EU Ambassador had been absent for meetings and conference calls he had in the past frequented. One former official said Sondlands departure was not surprising and that the former ambassador had indicated privately that he knew he was on his way out. The State Department official said Sondlands ouster was even more concerning than Vindmans. Regardless of our concerns with Sondlands initial nomination, he was a duly sworn Ambassador and even more so than LTC Vindman, this is retributive, the official said. I think we were anticipating that after the president was acquitted he was going to purge the people he couldnt before because it was too politically costly beforehand, another U.S. official said. Plus, what if these people had known something that they had not yet publicized? The official added that Sondlands departure came as more of a shock since he hadnt been as critical in his testimony as Vindman. Vindman, the official said, seemed to have no political leanings when he started at the National Security Council and was devoted to serving the president. I think the idea that they had to fire him and not let him leave quietly is the big dramatic signal. The Secret Service comes in and walks you out. It was meant to humiliate him, the official said. A Republican Senate aide told The Daily Beast there was nothing unseemly about the Friday firings. This has nothing to do with loyalty or with questioning their patriotism. The president is entitled to his own staffing selections, the aide said. And if theres one thing we learned through the past six months, its that there are a number of staff who think it is their job, not the presidents job, to set foreign policy. The Twitter account for Trumps re-election campaign retweeted old tweets accusing Vindman of colluding in the impeachment coup and leaking information to the whistleblower whose complaint triggered the impeachment trial. Additional reporting by Adam Rawnsley Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. For years, a large, richly colored painting depicting a moment of sexual violence has stopped visitors in Gallery 634 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Once viewed as an image of Tarquin attacking Lucretia, as in Roman legend, the 17th-century work attributed to Eustache Le Sueur has more recently been described as a portrayal of the rape of Tamar from the Old Testament. Now newly discovered evidence suggests the paintings history is as painful as its theme. Old court records indicate the painting, purchased by the Met in 1984, is likely the same one a Jewish art dealer, Siegfried Aram, left behind when he fled Germany as Hitler took power in 1933. The records, which recount the dealers unsuccessful effort to reclaim his painting for more than a decade after the war, were discovered by a researcher and photographer, Joachim Peter, who has spent years studying the history of Heilbronn, the German city where Mr. Aram once lived, including the treatment of its Jews and the devastation from Allied bombing. The United States Of America highlighted the plight of Hindus in Pakistan as it officially launched a 27-nation International Religious Freedom Alliance, which will try to protect and preserve religious freedom across the world. Prominent countries like Australia, Brazil, Israel, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Netherlands and Greece have joined this alliance, which is a consensus-based group that will soon meet and focus on the area of religious persecution. Speaking in its official address, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: We condemn terrorists and violent extremists who target religious minorities, whether they are Yazidis in Iraq, Hindus in Pakistan, Christians in northeast Nigeria, or Muslims in Burma. We condemn blasphemy and apostasy laws that criminalise matters of the soul. We condemn the Chinese Communist Partys hostility to all faiths. We know several of you courageously pushed back against Chinese pressure by agreeing to be part of this Alliance, and we thank you for that, Pompeo added. This comes in light after more than 100 families crossed the Attari-Wagah border and reached Amritsar on Monday. The government had introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act to speed up the process of such refugees living in India till the year 2014. This has faced a backlash from opposition political parties which have accused the Act of being unconstitutional in nature. While the USA has condemned Pakistan and its Jihadis for the persecution of Hindus, the Ummah has categorically refused to believe the urgent need for human rights for Hindus in the Islamic state of Pakistan. The persecution of Hindus in Pakistan is widely known. Only recently, a Muslim had abducted a Hindu girl while her wedding was in progress and then proceeded to convert her to Islam and marry her. India recently passed the Citizenship Amendment Act which gives fast-track citizenship to persecuted minorities of the three neighbouring Islamic states of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. After the passage of the Act, Muslim mobs went on a rampage, rioting and causing arson and violence throughout the country. Islamists came out of the woodwork to claim that the Muslims were being discriminated against since CAA provided fast-track citizenship to only persecuted minorities of Islamic nations but not Muslims. Adding to that, Muslim leader Asadduddin Owaisi went as far as to demand proof that minorities were persecuted in Pakistan. Source : OpIndia Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal A proposal to build a homeless shelter at the University of New Mexico generated mixed responses during the first of four UNM forums and a survey on the topic but many attendees spoke in favor of the idea and one hospital employee called the prospective spot perfect. UNM on Friday hosted the first on-campus assembly about an idea to build what the city of Albuquerque is calling a Gateway Center on undeveloped land owned by the university south of the Office of the Medical Investigator and north of Lomas. The center will be a 24/7 emergency shelter meant to sleep about 300 people and guide them toward permanent housing and other resources. Albuquerque voters last fall approved $14 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction on a shelter, though there was no specified location for the project when the votes were cast. The forum, at the Domenici Center for Health Sciences Education, drew about 40 people who asked questions and made statements to a panel that included the leaders of behavioral sciences at UNM Hospital and Albuquerque police, the city of Albuquerques deputy director of housing and homelessness and a UNM police official. The city received feedback about possible locations at a community forum last year and with an online survey, and UNM has emerged as one of the leading candidates for where to build the complex. UNM President Garnett Stokes said at the forum Friday that she agreed to keep an open mind on using university property for the shelter, which would not be run by the university or branded as a UNM building. Last year, Stokes, UNM Health Sciences Chancellor Paul Roth and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed a letter of intent signifying a shared commitment to helping the citys homeless population. I agreed at the time that I would not close the door to any discussions with the city about the possibility of using UNM land that was not currently part of planned development and did have proximity to UNM Hospital, Stokes said during Fridays forum. She made it clear that no decision has been made. It is an open question whether the gateway facility will be placed on our campus, she said. There is much that remains to be considered, including your feedback and your perspective. During the forum, several safety concerns were raised about the proposed shelter, including its proximity to a UNM childcare center. Others spoke in favor of it. I think the site is perfect, said a health care provider at UNM Hospital. Rhonda Reynolds, who lives near the campus and attended the forum, said she is glad the city is going to build a 24/7 homeless shelter, but doesnt favor one particular location. I think its very needed to have a facility where the focus isnt just triage and then out the door. Where the focus is trying to connect people with services that can help them, she said. She said shell be interested in how the university handles security if the shelter is built at UNM. Is it going to increase crime, either violent crime or property crime? We dont want to see either of those increase, she said. I would want to see what is the plan for mitigating that. Fridays forum will be followed by three additional forums at UNM next week. The student government is hosting one at 1 p.m. Tuesday, theres a forum at the student union at noon Wednesday and at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. The school is conducting a university-wide survey beginning Friday. Continuing with the capacity building tours (CBT) for students of Kashmir valley, the Army has sent 20 students on tour to Delhi. "Twenty children are going to Delhi where they will meet President Ram Nath Kovind. They will also visit various monuments in the city," an Army official told ANI on Friday. "Thereafter, they will be taken to Dehradun, where they will visit Forest Research Institute. They will also visit the Indian Military Academy (IMA) where the officers get commissioned," he added. He also said that they will continue to organize such tours for the students of the valley. Taking about the benefits of the exposure trip, a student said, "We will be able to visit our historic monuments and also meet President Ram Nath Kovind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Feb 8 : The two Assembly seats, among 15, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) replaced its sitting MLAs were among the constituencies that recorded the highest and lowest turnouts this time. While Matia Mahal recorded 68.36 per cent votes, the highest among the 70 constituencies, the turnout was lowest in the Delhi Cantt seat at 39.52 per cent. In Matia Mahal, the AAP named former Congressman Shoaib Iqbal, a five-time MLA (1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013) representing different parties. He joined the AAP in January. He had lost the seat to Asim Ahmed Khan (AAP) in 2015. In the Delhi Cantonment constituency, the AAP replaced Surinder Singh, who had won the seat in 2015 with 51.82 per cent votes, by former Air Force Sergeant and advocate Virender Singh Kadian, who had been with the party since the beginning. In Timarpur, the turnout was 51.17 per cent. The AAP had replaced Pankaj Pushkar, who won the seat receiving 51.05 per cent votes, by unsuccessful 2019 Lok Sabha candidate Dilip Pandey. Similarly, in Bawana, the party preferred Jai Bhagwan Upkar, a former BSP councillor who joined the AAP in January, over Ram Chander who had won the seat with 45.39 per cent votes. This time, the seat witnessed 41.95 per cent turnout. In Mundka, the AAP went with Dharampal Lakra, a former Congress MLA who joined the AAP in 2014. It dropped Sukhbir Dalal, who had won the seat with 57.22 per cent votes. The seat recorded 59.24 per cent turnout, this time. In Patel Nagar, Dalit activist Raj Kumar Anand, who rejoined the AAP in July 2019 after quitting it during the 2015 Assembly elections, replaced Hazari Lal Chauhan, who won the seat with 59.05 per cent votes. Over 55.84 per cent voters came out to polling booths on Saturday. In Hari Nagar constituency, Rajkumari Dhillon, a former Congress councillor who joined the AAP in January, was favoured over sitting MLA Jagdeep Singh. The turnout was 57.35 per cent, this time. The Dwarka Assembly seat witnessed 58.79 per cent turnout, where the AAP decided to go with Vinay Kumar Mishra, a former Congress leader and son of ex-Congress MP Mahabal Mishra, who joined the party in January. The AAP sitting MLA Adarsh Shastri, grandson of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, shifted to the Congress, which promptly fielded him from the seat won by him with 59.08 per cent votes in 2015. In Rajinder Nagar, Raghav Chadha replaced Vijender Garg who had won the seat with 54.39 per cent votes. The turnout here was 55.44 per cent this time. To accommodate unsuccessful 2019 Lok Sabha candidate Atishi, who had been involved with the AAP's education reforms, the party dropped Avtar Singh who had won the Kalkaji seat with 51.72 per cent votes. The turnout this time was 53.82 per cent. In the Badarpur seat, Ram Singh Netaji, a two-time Congress MLA from the area, was nominated by the AAP that he joined in January. He replaced sitting AAP legislator N.D. Sharma who had received 59.30 per cent votes in 2015. THis time, the turnout was 53.99 per cent. The Trilokpuri seat reported 55.78 per cent turnout. The AAP favoured Rohit Kumar Mehraulia, ward representative in the municipal commission, over Raju Dhingan who had won the seat with 58.62 per cent votes. The AAP fielded another MCD winner from Kalyan Puri ward Kuldeep Kumar (Monu) in the Kondli seat by dropping Manoj Kumar who had won the seat with 50.66 per cent votes. The turnout this time was 60.84 per cent. The turnout was also high at 60.63 per cent in Seelampur, where Abdul Rehman, also a MCD winner from East Delhi, was given the ticket by the AAP replacing Haji Ishraq who had won the seat with 51.26 per cent votes. In Gokalpur, Surendra Kumar, a former BJP leader who joined the AAP in October 2019, replaced Fateh Singh who had won it with 48.71 per cent votes. The turnout this time was 61.93 per cent. (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) Nwafua Lawrence Forwang, Ndian SDO Atia Azohnwi Ntouou Ndong Chamberlain, Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Meme Division and Nwafua Lawrence Forwang, SDO for Ndian, all in the South West Region, have advised civil servants against boycotting Sundays polls. Following letter no. 005/L/G40/C25/ND/SP addressed to All Divisional Delegates and Service Heads in Ndian, the Principals of GTTC, GBHS and GTHS Mundemba, the Ndian SDO obliges all civil servants to be at their duty posts and to effectively vote on Sunday. Titled Effective presence in post and dated February 5, 2020, Nwafua Forwang writes: In execution of hierarchical instructions, I have the honour to inform you that all of you, together with your respective collaborators must be present in Mundemba and take active part by voting during the twin elections of February 9, 2020. He furthers that: Those who will not adhere to these pertinent instructions will face administrative sanctions. In order not to be considered as an accomplice in the non-execution of this instruction, all Divisional Delegates and Service Heads shall forward to my office latest on February 11, 2020 the names and matricule numbers of all their collaborators who will not be present at their place of work as well as take part in the said elections. On January 31, Meme SDO Ntouou Ndong said all those who will fail to be at their duty posts until February 12, 2020 will be considered as having resigned. Honour to inform you that in execution of high instructions from hierarchy, all public agents in your services including you shall effectively bet at their duty posts from the date of signature of this message till February 12, 2020. Defaulters shall be considered as having resigned. Unexpected checks shall personally be carried out by myself to that effect, said Ntouou Ndong in a fax to all Divisional Officers and Divisional Delegates in Meme Division. Parliamentary and municipal elections will take place in Cameroon on February 9, 2020 amid threats by separatists. Separatist leaders imposed a six-day lockdown from February 6 to 12 in the troubled Anglophone regions where they are fighting to create an independent nation in a bid to stop the elections from taking place. They also seek to stop National Youths Day Celebrations on February 11, 2020. Security and administrative authorities have thus taken measures to ensure that government business goes on hitch free. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday apologised for comments questioning the sincerity of young climate protesters and joking that they have "Greta syndrome". Borrell triggered the row by saying he believed school students had been galvanised by teen Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg without fully realising the costs they would have to bear to ensure a carbon-neutral future. It "can be called 'Greta syndrome'," Borrell, 72, had said during a meeting at the European Parliament on Wednesday. The Greens grouping of MEPs in the European Parliament criticised Borrell, tweeting that his comments "are unacceptable for a representative of the EU". On Saturday, Borrell said he had not meant to offend. "I want to apologise to anyone that may have felt offended by my inappropriate reference to the important youth movement fighting #climatechange," he tweeted in Spanish. The Commission has made tackling climate change the centrepiece of its action, pledging to spend billions of euros a year towards its Green Deal with the goal of making the EU climate change neutral by 2050. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Martina | Photo: Kara D./Yelp Wondering where to find the best cocktail bars near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top cocktail bars in Minneapolis, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings. 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. 1. Martina Photo: Anne J./Yelp First on the list is Martina. Located at 4312 S. Upton Ave. in Linden Hills, the cocktail bar, Argentine and breakfast and brunch spot is the highest-rated cocktail bar in Minneapolis, boasting 4.5 stars out of 478 reviews on Yelp. 2. Lawless Distilling Company Photo: Kat B./Yelp Seward's Lawless Distilling Company, located at 2619 28th Ave. South, Suite 100, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the cocktail bar 4.5 stars out of 99 reviews. 3. Firelake Grill House & Cocktail Bar PHOTO: FIRELAKE GRILL HOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR/YELP Firelake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, a cocktail bar and traditional American and breakfast and brunch spot in Downtown West, is another go-to, with four stars out of 352 Yelp reviews. Head over to 31 S. Seventh St. to see for yourself. 4. Parlour Photo: Journey C./Yelp Over in North Loop, check out Parlour, which has earned four stars out of 317 reviews on Yelp. You can find the cocktail bar and New American spot at 730 N. Washington Ave. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security, in collaboration with the National Parks & Conservation Service, celebrated the World Wetlands Day 2020, on the 5th of February at Bras DEau National Park. The Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Sudheer Maudhoo, was also present. The theme of this years edition is Wetlands and Biodiversity. It has been chosen to initiate action for the protection of wetlands and its biodiversity for the future generations. [Message from the Ramsar Convention]. Mauritius became a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention on 30 September 2001. The first Ramsar Site in Mauritius is the Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary for the protection of migratory birds. Two other Ramsar Sites were identified: the Blue Bay Marine Park, which focuses mainly on coral protection; and Pointe DEsny, whose main focus is mangroves protection. Apart from the Ramsar Sites, which are recognized internationally, there are dozens of wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas that need to be protected and preserved and Government is fully aware of the need to identify and protect these ecosystems and is putting in place the necessary legal and administrative frameworks, said Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, in his speech. Several measures are being taken. With a view to providing better protection to the wetlands, Government in collaboration with UNDP is preparing a Wetland Bill, under the project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Management of the Coastal Zone in the Republic of Mauritius financed by the UNDP. A first draft has already been prepared. A National Ramsar Committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry and comprising members from all relevant institutions involved with wetlands to assist the Ministry in implementing the provisions contained in the Ramsar Convention and to advise the Ministry on Wetland development issues. Presently, under the Outline Planning Schemes, there is a wetland policy, the Environmental Conservation policy, which states that no development is allowed on wetland and a minimum setback distance of 30 m from the wetland should be complied with. This applies to all local authorities. Please note that endemic plants were symbolically planted in the National Park by students of Simadry Virasawmy SSS of Riviere du Rempart and MGSS Flacq. The ceremony was attended by Deepak Balgobin, Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Tim Taylor, Chairperson of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and representatives of Reef Conservation, PPS Rajanah Dhaliah, Mr Ellayah (Chairman of Riviere du Rempart District Council), and Mr Bhunsee (Chairman of Flacq District Council), The World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd of February to mark the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea, where one of the most important wetland, the Anzali wetland, covering an area of about 19,095 hectares, is located. The Ramsar Convention is an international government agreement acknowledging the importance of wetlands and plays a central role in the wise use and conservation of these critical ecosystems. There are 2,375 wetlands of international importance, so called Ramsar sites, around the world, with a total surface area of the designated sites of about 253,615ha. One hundred and seventy-one countries worldwide are contracting parties to the Convention. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Staff & Students, past and present gathered at IT Sligo on Wednesday evening for the launch of their 50th Anniversary book with guests from across the region. The publication, "Of what is past, or passing, or to come", a line taken from WB Yeats' "Sailing to Bysantium", is a compilation of memoirs from 40 contributors made up of present and former President's, staff and students. Launching the book, President of IT Sligo, Dr Brendan McCormack said: "As this book shows, IT Sligo has a record of being the first RTC and IoT to take the initiative on a range of new developments across our sector. "This includes being one of the first to be delegated authority to award our own degrees, the first to receive chartered recognition from Engineers Ireland, the first to produce a PhD graduate, the leader of online higher education in Ireland, the first to provide a higher level apprenticeship, as we have done with the Insurance Institute. "And, most recently, the first Institute to be recognised by the regulatory body, CORU, as a provider of training for social workers." For 50 years the Institute has been the talent pipeline for regional development and has helped to attract new investment to the region over the past five decades. "I would like to thank all of the people who contributed to the content of this book, and I would especially like to thank our Head Librarian, Jim Foran who took on the onerous task of editing it and did so very successfully." Head of Faculty of Engineering & Design at IT Sligo, Una Parsons also spoke at the launch. Una was a student at the then Regional Technical College in the 1970's becoming only the second women in Ireland to graduate as a tool-maker. Una shared memories of her student days in Sligo and described the massive transformation of the Institute from her time as a student. The final word was left to the editor of the book, Head Librarian, Jim Foran who described the process behind the final publication. "Over a few meetings we discussed ways to develop content. Given that none of us had the time required for extensive research on the history of the Institute we put out a call to present and former staff and suggested they might write contributions in the form of stories or memoirs. "We also put out a call for alumni experiences of life after graduating. "As the time passed, we began to get contributions. The question was, how to merge them together as a collection. We had been thinking in terms of past, present and future and the contributions began to fall into a series of sections. The 156 page full colour publication is available in the "Book Nest" at IT Sligo priced 5 and marks the start of many events planned for the fiftieth anniversary. Scarlett Johansson, at the BAFTAs, has been one of the most consistent dressers on the red carpet this awards season. Credit:PA Chrissy Teigen, the model and wife of musician John Legend, tapped into a truism of red-carpet dressing when she tweeted ahead of the Screen Actors Guild Awards: I love the sag awards. Everyone gets to wear their 3rd favourite dress. And so it is that on Monday, Australian time, Hollywoods top stars will converge on the Dolby Theatre in their first favourite dress for what is the grand final of awards season. New York-based celebrity stylist Cat Pope, who works with The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel star Tony Shalhoub among others, says this awards season, which began with the Golden Globes in what feels like three months ago, has seen the weirdest combination of looks for a lot of girls. Still, she has had her favourites. Jennifer Aniston: You dont have to peacock it, just do what suits you. Renee Zellweger: Absolutely polished to perfection. Scarlett Johansson: Flawless. After writing an earlier column about bourbon, Charles Duque, New York-based managing director and the U.S. liaison for The French Dairy Board, found me and called to chat about cheese. He was especially emphatic about the often under-played possibilities for cheeses to be paired with spirits like bourbon, whiskey and cognac, in addition to the traditional libations such as wine and champagne. Los Angeles, Feb 8 : Hollywood star couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the son and daughter-in-law of the legendary actor who passed away this week, along with their family attended Kirk Douglas' funeral. The actor was laid to rest at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles on Friday, two days after he died at the age of 103, reports etonline.com. Kirk's family and friends were all in attendance, including his wife of 65 years, Anne Buydens, and his three sons, Michael, Peter and Joel Douglas. Michael's wife, Catherine, and his 41-year-old son, Cameron Douglas, were also present for the funeral. Cameron posted a tribute to his grandfather on Instagram following the service, writing: "The King. You will be sorely missed, but your run was nothing short of perfection! There are no words adequate to express the Love and reverence that I feel towards you. Your legacy lives on through the ages; as will my connection with you." When news of Kirk's death broke on Wednesday, Michael was one of the first to pay tribute on social media. "It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to," he shared. "But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband." "Kirk's life was well-lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet," he continued. "Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad -- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son." Kirk celebrated his 103rd birthday on December 9, and Catherine celebrated it with a photo of the "Spartacus" star sitting on her knee. "This guy on my knee, is 103!!!!!" she captioned it. "Happy Birthday Pappy!!! I love you with all my heart." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text ANNAPOLIS (Feb. 7, 2020)Teens could be exempted from Maryland's child pornography laws in certain cases if the General Assembly passes any one of four bills filed this session. Lawmakers want to decriminalize teen "sexting," a practice that arose with the mass adoption of smartphones and that experts say is fairly common among teenagers. But legislators will have to do more than protect teenagers from prosecution under established laws written to protect them from adult predators. They must decide what should be done when teens send explicit "selfies" and draw a line on when an act becomes more sinister without creating loopholes that exempt minors who are exploiting their peers. Legislators hope to protect boys and girls like a 16-year-old convicted as her own pornographer. Maryland's top court called on the legislature to craft the exemption when it upheld that girl's conviction last year. Other states have answered this question27 according to a 2018 studybut that doesn't mean it will be easy in Maryland. Passing any one of the bills would be the first time legislators have weakened the state's child pornography laws since they were first passed in 1978. "If this was an easy question, we would have figured it out already, or the court would have done it for us," said Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, D-Montgomery, sponsor of one proposal. "Instead, we are dealing with a complicated stew of privacy, morals, children and criminalization. We will have to weigh all of the issues before us and make a final decision." Waldstreicher's bill is similar to one filed in the House by Delegate C.T. Wilson, D-Charles, on behalf of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Those bills would remove violations of teen sexting laws from the juvenile justice systemthe top priority of the Office of the Public Defender and the Maryland American Civil Liberties Union this session. Two other bills would keep violations of the state's child pornography laws by minors in the juvenile justice system but would create a diversion program requiring minors who violated the law to attend an educational program that teaches them the risks of sexting. Lawmakers who have proposed these bills told Capital News Service the legislature needs to prevent unjust prosecutions, but send a clear message to Maryland teens that they should not sext. "Sometimes children do things that are a little foolish," said Sen. Susan Lee, D-Montgomery, who introduced the most comprehensive bill. "I think an education program is very important to make them aware that what they did was wrong and they should never do it again." Delegate Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore, is chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which is likely to take up this question. His bill also requires an education program. He said he wants to see a law that discourages teens from sexting. He wants to protect first-time offenders while still punishing deliberate, repeated violations. "If this happens more than once, it starts to look less like an innocent mistake and more like a deliberate act," Clippinger said. In the legal case at the center of this call to action, a 16-year-old girl was involved in a "one-up" competition with her best friends, another 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, according to court records. The girl sent a video of herself performing a sex act to a group chat she maintained with those friends. Later, after a falling-out, her friends shared the video with other students at their school and with a school resource officer. Noting that the General Assembly has "consistently expanded the scope" of child pornography laws since they were first passed, Judge Joseph M. Getty wrote in the court's August opinion upholding the girl's conviction that lawmakers have made "no distinction whether a minor or an adult is distributing" the material. "However, we recognize that there may be compelling policy reasons for treating teenage sexting different from child pornography," Getty wrote in the 35-page opinion. "Such legislation ought to be considered by the General Assembly in the future." The 16-year-old girl was prosecuted in the juvenile justice system, meaning she was not subject to the full punishment mandated by the state's child pornography laws, court records show. She also did not have to register as a sex offender as part of her sentence, which did include probation and weekly drug screenings. The public defender's office represented the girl. The office's director of government relations, Ricardo Flores, said teens should still be told texting is bad, but it's the Maryland Department of Social Services that should decide outcomes. A psychologist who has studied teen sexting and how state laws address it told Capital News Service that sexting is a common and generally healthy practice for 16- and 17-year-olds to engage in. He said education programs for those ages are not needed. Instead, he suggested lawmakers in Maryland consider programs in schools that teach healthy relationships and better "digital citizenship" while taking a more proactive approach with younger sexters. "Early sexual debut is related to negative outcomes. Consensual sex between 16- and 17-year-olds is not. We expect to see the same with sexting," said Jeff R. Temple, a professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch and director of its Center for Violence Prevention. "If a 14-year-old is sexting, that is alarming to me. That does suggest to me something is going on." A study published by Temple and three others in December 2018 found most states that have considered this question have created separate statutes to address teen sexting. That's what Pennsylvania, West Virginia and 17 other states did. Only New Mexico and Maine have exempted children from child pornography laws. New York and New Jersey created diversion programs. Four other states also adapted their laws, keeping minors in mind. The same study also reviewed 39 other studies of teen sexting and determined that the practice is common, usually consensual, increases with age, and its growth has likely paralleled teen smartphone ownership. The survey said 15% of teens have sent a sext and 27% have received a sext. The first hearing on teen sexting is expected to be held by the powerful Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday. Waldstreicher is the committee's vice chair. Lee is a longtime member. Both of their bills are scheduled to be heard. Waldstreicher said he prefers an approach that keeps teen violations out of the criminal justice system, but is willing to support a more comprehensive proposal like Lee's that creates exceptions that could still charge minors with child pornography if they have already been convicted of crimes like sexual abuse, sextortion or revenge porn. "As a philosophical matter, I work hard to make sure that issues of discipline are between their children, their familyand maybe their school(and) are not over criminalized in a way that penalizes children and creates a school-to-prison pipeline," Waldstreicher said. "I think the legislature often struggles with line drawing but it is something we do. We have two thirds of the legislative session left and I think all of us will be wrestling with these difficult issues for the next 60 years." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Aam Aadmi Party to score a hat-trick in national capital, while right-wing BJP may improve 2015 tally, predictions say. Indias capital has voted in a crucial state election, with exit polls showing the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (Common Mans Party or AAP) led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set for a hat-trick victory. Residents on Saturday lined up in long queues across New Delhi neighbourhoods, where nearly 57 percent of the capitals 14.7 million voters cast their ballots. Results will be declared on Tuesday. Exit polls telecast on Indian news channels shortly after the voting ended at 6pm (12:30 GMT) predicted a strong showing for the AAP, which could win more than 50 of the 70 seats. In 2015, the party won a landslide 67 seats, and is now eyeing a second successive five-year term. An average of nine exit polls showed Kejriwals party was likely to win 52 seats. We are winning by a huge margin, tweeted Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister of Delhi. #ElectionsWithNDTV | AAP may get 53 seats, BJP+ 16 and Congress+ 1, predicts poll of polls at 7:42 pm. *Disclaimer: exit polls often get it wrong.#DelhiElections2020 #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/HfKJz4VYVX NDTV (@ndtv) February 8, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has not governed the national capital territory of Delhi for 22 years, is expected to win approximately 15 seats. Indias main opposition Congress party, which governed the capital for 15 consecutive years before AAP unseated it in 2013, is predicted to come a distant third. AAP, born out of an anti-corruption campaign in 2012, stunned the country by forming the Delhi government in 2013. However, Kejriwal resigned after 49 days when legislation he was pursuing could not be passed, but later went on to secure his second term in 2015. The AAP partys pro-poor policies have focused on fixing state-run schools and providing free healthcare and bus fares for women during its first term. In the past two years, the Hindu nationalist BJP has lost power in key state assembly elections such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, raising the stakes even further for it in the Saturday vote. They [BJP] have been losing power on the state level for the past 18 months to two years, including in states that are considered the Hindi heartland, said Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam, reporting from New Delhi, referring to the Hindi-speaking north Indian states where BJP enjoys most support. Polls amid anti-CAA protests The New Delhi election is being seen as a test of Modis popularity following months of deadly nationwide anti-government protests against a new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that saw thousands of people take to the streets daily in the capital and across India. The law makes it easier for non-Muslim immigrants from three neighbouring countries who came to India before 2015 to become Indian citizens, a provision that forces critics to call the legislation anti-Muslim. The CAA and a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens have stoked suspicion that Modi wants to turn secular India into a Hindu nation, something his party denies. Three minority-dominated seats of Mustafabad, Matia Mahal and Seelampur recorded highest voter turnout of 66.29%, 65.62% and 64.92% respectively in Delhi Assembly elections: Poll officials #DelhiElections2020 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 8, 2020 In its New Delhi campaign, BJP focused on the passage of the CAA and ran one of the most divisive poll campaigns, with its leaders exhorting people to shoot the protesters. Two BJP politicians were banned from campaigning after one likened the protesters to rapists and murderers and said they want to turn India into a Muslim country. Another said protesters should be shot, said Al Jazeeras Puranam. The right-wing party also appealed to its Hindu base with actions such as revoking the limited autonomy of the disputed Muslim-majority Kashmir region, and backing a controversial court ruling that cleared the way for the construction of a Hindu temple on a long-disputed site in northern India. The vote in the national capital also came as Indias economic growth is at its slowest in six years. A win for the BJP would be hugely symbolic and likely embolden Modi and his party to continue pursuing a pro-Hindu agenda, while a loss could further dent his popularity. They [BJP] must be given a jolt. We are poor, but we are also humans. They only talk about divisions, said Shabnam Mukhtar, a housewife from Shaheen Bagh, a working-class New Delhi neighbourhood where Muslim women have led a sit-in for nearly two months to protest against the CAA. On the eve of the elections, the BJP had sent out messages telling people to vote for the party if they wanted an end to the Shaheen Bagh demonstration. Thousands of Chinese tourists stranded on the Indonesian island of Bali appeared happy to extend their holiday as only a few dozen boarded a repatriation flight on Saturday back to the coronavirus-stricken city of Wuhan, officials said. As many as 189 seats on the charter flight were offered to around 3,000 Chinese tourists stranded on the island after Indonesia suspended flights to mainland China, according to Bali authorities. However only 61 people, including 12 children, took up the offer and boarded the China Eastern Airlines flight for Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak which has killed more than 700 people in China and spread around the world. All of them were Wuhan residents "who wanted to go back to their country" Gou Haodong, the Chinese consul general in Denpasar, said. "We will consider it (another flight) if we receive requests," Gou said, adding the evacuees "love Bali and would return again". He said those who had decided to stay had done so mainly to enjoy a longer holiday. Bali Airport Authority head Elfi Amir said the evacuees had undergone medical checks and "they are all healthy". Indonesia attracts about 2.1 million Chinese visitors annually but the number has fallen from about 6,000 arrivals per day to just 1,000 since the new coronavirus outbreak began in mid-December. The sprawling archipelago -- the world's fourth most populous country with over 260 million people -- has not reported a confirmed case of coronavirus. That has stirred concerns cases may be going undetected in a nation with strong tourism and business links to China. On Friday, Bali officials said they had refused entry to 41 foreign tourists who had recently been in China, including visitors from Russia, Brazil, New Zealand, Morocco and Britain. Thousands of Chinese tourists were stranded on Bali after Indonesia suspended flights to mainland China but few have taken up the offer of a repatration flight Walking into the Longchamp show today, you immediately noticed the beams of light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The space was located on the 25th floor of an office building skyscraper that provided the best views of Manhattan the Empire State Building to the east and the World Trade Center to the south. When asked about the switch in venues (last season's show was held in an outdoor courtyard near Lincoln Square), creative director Sophie Delafontaine told PAPER that she wanted to capture the essence of winter in New York. "I love the light in New York in the winter, the light is really special," she said. "I'm really happy to have found a place where you can feel the cold of outside but you feel how warm it is inside." On the runway, the models descended from a flight of stairs down to the space, where they showcased some of Delafontaine's signatures carried over from last season like wispy floor-length dresses, wide leather belts and architectural lines. Delafontaine said that she was inspired famous Parisian women like Carole Bouquet and Catherine Deneuve as well the French movies done in the '70s. "But I really wanted to work it for a woman in 2020," she explained. "The idea was to translate it in a modern way." This came across the most in new iterations of the brand's famous Roseau bags in different dimensions, as well as new plays on the Longchamp logo on both ready-to-wear and accessories. As this was a winter collection, there were plenty of shearlings, puffers and what Delafontaine describes as "cocooning clothes" for maximum warmth. Kaia Gerber, walking in her first show for Fall 2020, had perhaps one of the day's standout looks: an army green suede jacket with leather inserts and matching pants that were cut just above the ankle. It captured the feminine spirit of Longchamp's brand while retaining a tough, utilitarian edge that feels decidedly of-the-moment. Eight people were killed, dozens hurt and property burned during clashes in southern Kazakhstan, prompting concern Saturday from authorities who portray the country as a beacon of stability. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an emergency government session Saturday to tackle Friday's violence in an ethnically-mixed pocket of the Jambyl region, near the border with Kyrgyzstan. A commission of enquiry was also set up. "Eight died, more than 40 were injured" in the clashes, Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev said in the capital Nur-Sultan. An AFP journalist who visited Masanchi -- one of the villages where clashes took place -- said few people were out walking on streets lined by smouldering houses as fire crews put out the remaining fires. Some residents could be seen gathering belongings from houses partly destroyed by fire as they prepared to leave the village, which is under the guard of police and special forces. The clashes that saw 47 people detained occurred close to the Kyrgyz border where an AFP journalist saw over a thousand people queuing to get into oil-rich Kazakhstan's poorer neighbour. Border authorities were only letting women and children through, he said. Kyrgyzstan's health ministry said that a hospital in the city of Tokmak close to the border admitted 18 patients following the clashes, 10 of whom were still being treated. President Tokayev said the fighting that subsided overnight occurred in a number of settlements in the Kordai district of Jambyl region. "Unfortunately there are injuries and fatalities. I express my sincere condolences to the close ones of those who died," Tokayev said during the emergency session. A government commission set up to "determine the reasons for the conflict, decide questions of a socioeconomic and humanitarian character, and determine the scale of the damage" arrived in the area on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbayev visited a hospital in Korday and pledged that "the guilty will be punished." "The main question now is ensuring stability, the law and security in the region," he said in comments published on the prime minister's website. Footage posted on social media late Friday showed scenes of young men, some armed with clubs, marching along the road of a village with buildings ablaze either side. The conflict is widely believed to have pitted Kazakhs against minority Dungans. Dauren Abayev, Kazakhstan's information minister, said it had been sparked by an "everyday confrontation." Abayev also said that key bazaars in Almaty had been closed to ensure the conflict did not spread. "There were calls for violence at these markets," he told journalists in the capital Nur-Sultan. "Accordingly, precautionary measures were taken," he said of the markets where ethnically diverse populations of traders sell wares from China, Turkey and other countries. A Dungan lawmaker, a chair of a Dungan association and the deputy chairman of the Kazakhstan's Assembly of the Peoples are among those included in the commission. A driver called Bakytjan who takes passengers from Kazakhstan's border with Kyrgyzstan to the main city of Almaty, told AFP that the conflict had begun after a man from the Dungan minority ethnic group attacked an elderly Kazakh man. Private agency Kaztag cited Kusei Daurov, head of the Dungan association, as saying that more than ten homes were burned by "young men that had arrived" in the village of Masanchi on Friday. He also claimed that the attackers had fired shots at local residents. Kazakhstan's authoritarian leadership prides itself on guaranteeing inter-ethnic harmony in a country where the foreign ministry says "over 100 ethnic groups are living in peace." The Dungans are a Muslim people who live in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and northwestern China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rodney Syme, Yandoit Hills A sad reflection on the medical profession Your article about the bureaucratic difficulties facing people wanting to end their lives under the state's voluntary assisted dying laws is a sad reflection on the medical profession (including those doctors who have taken the euthanasia training). The profession has more than sufficient means to relieve unbearable pain, as reflected in the ability to do the most severe surgery with no awareness of anything. In those with a terminal illness, use of this ability does not require legislated safeguards in the way that a process with the specific intention of causing death requires. If any of these folk had been referred by these doctors to their local community palliative care service, they could have been assessed in their own home and if other relief measures were inadequate, been given some combination of medicines until there was no more awareness of their pain. A request under these laws should not distract doctors from using a more available means of relieving the person's distress. Geoff Sheahan, Wantirna South THE FORUM Look at the numbers On World Wetlands Day, The Sunday Age featured a beautiful Postcard about a Chinese sanctuary hosting 700,000 migratory waterbirds including the critically endangered Siberian white crane. Those cranes have been hunted almost to extinction ("Crane fans band to create lotus-land", 2/2). Victoria's Premier is mute about our waterbirds afraid to cancel duck shooting, but embarrassed to support it amid devastating drought, withering wetlands, declining ducks, ferocious fires and burnt birds. We're urged to help regional businesses recover. But the sound and sight of guns is a turn-off for tourists, especially families. The Premier must decide: who will splash more cash in the bush the two in every 1000 Victorians who shoot ducks, or the 998 who don't? Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills Confusion and division Go back a few decades and Aboriginal ancestry was something hidden. Moreover, people who were identified as Aboriginal were often not allowed to marry who they chose or live where they wanted to live. Records would often not have been created where ancestry was secret or subject to "shame", and it is not surprising these records which were never created cannot be found now by descendants. Josephine Cashman, who questions Bruce Pascoe's indigeneity ("Everybody I know has been called and told I am mad", The Sunday Age, 2/2), should look to the company she keeps and be aware that Andrew Bolt's purpose is not a search for wisdom. It is a campaign to create confusion and division in the Aboriginal community by which his previous assertion of the non-Aboriginality of those with light skin will be vindicated. Di Cousens, Mount Waverley A chance to rebuild We have a wonderful opportunity when rebuilding after the bushfires to construct eco-villages in places like Cobargo. They could be showpieces of what the future could look like and showrooms for Australian technology. As tourist destinations, done properly, they could become as popular, and certainly more relevant, than a trip to the penguins or a drive along the Great Ocean Road. Both of which have limited futures should we not do something to reverse the current pattern of anthropogenic climate change. John Mosig, Kew Leading the way New Zealand Justice Minister and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little, take a bow ("Little's speech in Maori a stunning start", The Age, 5/2). Not only is the NZ government making efforts such as this, they are actively looking to bridge the gap with their indigenous people. Jacinda Ardern is a progressive and modern leader, and NZ represents a nation that has taken far more steps in the right direction than Australia. The chances of a minister making a speech like that on Australia Day would be next to none. Shameful. Julian Roberts, Burwood Courage after the fact If only Malcolm Turnbull had the courage that he now displays, but lacked when he was prime minister in staring down the climate change deniers and their acolytes, what a different country we would be seeing now. Like John Hewson in his myriad articles, they both appear to have all the answers today that they didn't have when they could have made a great difference. As Ned Kelly said, such is life. Hans Pieterse, Narre Warren North Why the hysteria? Last year in Australia there were hundreds of thousand of influenza cases and about 500 deaths. In America there were tens of thousands of deaths. Worldwide the number of fatalities was estimated at between 60,000 and 650,000. Yet no borders were closed; no cities shut down; nobody was isolated on Christmas island; no industries were crippled. Why the hysteria over a worldwide tally of 720 deaths? The Prime Minister insists that these measures are necessary to protect Australians. If that's the stated aim then how many of us will be punted off to Christmas Island next flu season? Stephen Williams, Wandin North It's not racism Claims of racism in Australia by protesters who are upset at the action the government is taking in response to the coronavirus outbreak are unjustified. The World Health Organisation has for only the sixth time declared an international emergency situation in response to the outbreak. Every country now has an international responsibility to limit the spread of the virus. What is racist about that? What would Australians expect leaders to do? Taking potential life-saving action and minimising risk is the prime responsibility of our government. Using accusations of racism undermines and destroys genuine protest and action against racism. It's disingenuous and it appears, that in 2020 if you don't like something then playing the "headline grabbing" racist protest card is the default position. I'm all for inconveniencing a few to protect the lives of many. That doesn't sound racist to me. Ross Kroger, Highton Don't use it as an excuse Barbara Chapman (Letters, 8/2), is right to point out the need to stop human rights abuses associated with lithium-ion battery production. However, this problem should not be used as an excuse to stop the development of electric vehicles. The oil industry that provides the fuel for our current vehicles has a long history of riding roughshod over local people and manipulating governments to achieve its goals. We only have to look to events in the Middle East to see the effect of the oil industry on human rights. Rod Andrew, Malmsbury He just doesn't get it Scott Morrison continues to prove that he just doesn't get it. He gives the water portfolio to Keith Pitt, who also looks after mining and resources. Apart from the fact that water is not a "resource", it is a necessity for life, this will lead to many more potential conflicts of interest. He says words to the effect that the minister will have the nous to ensure he doesn't get into conflict, but why put someone into this position in the first place? Proof again that he is not leadership material. Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park A booking dilemma A friend and I have booked a trip to China and Japan at the end of April which includes a cruise. Because of the coronavirus and the possibility of spending two weeks incarcerated on Christmas Island, it might be seen wise to cancel. However when the tour company was approached we were informed that doing so would be a voluntary cancellation and, as such, we would get $300 back from the $4000 we have already paid as a 75 per cent deposit. The DFAT site states clearly China has a "Do not travel" advice. My travel insurance company says they can offer no advice when the situation was explained. I hear the sights of China are breathtaking, but I have no desire for it to be the place I take my last breath. Greg Tuck, Warragul Political donations David Crowe ("Hidden donations scourge", Comment, 7/2) offers us little hope on political funding. Donations to political parties should be capped at a low level in the spirit of democracy. If a pensioner couldn't afford it, it's probably too high; $500 would seem right, but perhaps we could go as far as a $1000, but not more. They should be limited to people on the electoral role and company donations should be banned (this is supposed to be a democracy of people not companies buying favour with money). There is hope: one party, the Greens, want fundamental reform and they could probably achieve it if given balance of power in both houses by the voters. Brewis Atkinson, Tyabb No need to rush it The delays at the Eltham roundabout are no more problematic than delays at many locations throughout Melbourne's north. The difference is that the government is already acting to fix the delays. The solution is called the North East Link and it will divert traffic away from Eltham. The environmental impact statement documents say so. The replacement of the roundabout should be postponed until the North East Link is opened and we see the effects. Nada Cunningham, Eltham PHILIPSBURG:--- In an effort to combat the increase in car theft crimes on both the Dutch side and the French side of the island, the Sint Maarten Police Force(KPSM) together with the Public Prosecutor (OM) met with the Gendarmerie on Thursday 6th February, to come up with plan of approach to solve this growing issue. The meeting, which was held at the Philipsburg police station, was a means for all parties to come up with a joint solution to help alleviate car theft and formulate a tackle plan to do so. During the meeting, information was exchanged of all current cases of car theft reports on both the Dutch side and the French side of the island. In the upcoming weeks, KPSM, the OM, and the Gendarmerie will be meeting with the different key stakeholders to derive a plan on how we can better reintegrate cars into circulation. The different stakeholders that will be met with are the insurance companies on the island as well as TEATTs inspection department. The hope is to better understand how the processes are currently done and to brainstorm on how we all can jointly come up with new and improved ways to register and ensure all cars. This will then make it next to impossible for stolen vehicles not to be detected and reported when the thieves try to reintegrate the cars into the circulation. The proper authorizes can then be immediately alerted and these car thieves can be apprehended. We know cars are an important part of our lives, almost as important as our homes. Instead of making yourself an easy target take a moment to inspect your vehicle. Take precautionary measures by always taking your keys with you when you leave your vehicle; always close your windows and doors when you are not in your vehicle; make an effort to park in well-lit areas at all times; never leave your vehicle unattended while running; never leave valuables in the vehicle in plain eyes view; protect your vehicle with an antitheft / immobilizer device. In the end, Law Enforcement can only do so much to help prevent your cars from being stolen. Prevention is always better than finding a cure, protect your property by taking the necessary precautionary measures. KPSM Press Release. An Anti-Putin blogger has been murdered amid fears a Russian hit squad is running amok in Europe. Imran Aliev was found with his throat slit in a hotel room in Lille, France, last week. The 44-year-old had vocally opposed both Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. French police believe that his murder was 'politically motivated'. Anti-Putin blogger Imran Aliev (pictured) was found with his throat slit in a hotel room in Lille, France, last week Officers are now hoping to track down the victim's 35-year-old travelling companion who disappeared shortly after the murder. The pair had travelled from Mr Aliev's home in Belgium to northern France via train on January 29 where they booked into the hotel. The manager went to check on the guests the following day and discovered Mr Aliev's body. It is thought that a knife was also found at the scene which has since been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. '[Aliev] left Belgium Wednesday where he was under police protection because of threats out of Russia and Chechnya over his opposition blogging,' said a senior French police official. 'He was accompanied by another Chechen, who we have tentatively identified based on his travel documents.' He added that France had not yet contacted Russia for assistance in the case. The 44-year-old had vocally opposed both Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured together) Mr Aliev was originally from Chechnya, a southeastern Russian region, that has seen two brutal wars for independence in recent decades. The region has been controlled by Mr Kadyrov since 2007 with approval from Moscow. The father-of-four often uploaded YouTube videos that were critical of the Chechen government under the pseudonyms of Mansur Stariy or Old Mansur. Mr Aliev was originally from Chechnya, a southeastern Russian region, that has seen two brutal wars for independence in recent decades. The region has been controlled by Mr Kadyrov (right) since 2007 with approval from Moscow (left, Putin) His murder is the latest death to spark concerns of a Russian hit squad running amok in Europe. Fears have become more acute since the attempted assassination of Sergei and Yulia Skripal with a nerve agent in Salisbury, England, in 2018. Similarly, former Chechen rebel commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili was shot dead in a crowded park in Berlin. It prompted German authorities to expel two Russian diplomats despite Moscow denying any role in the murder. - Nico Bolzico shared a clip on Instagram 'showing' baby Thylane's face - However, the video showed Bolzicos face edited onto baby Thylane's head - Nicko previously shared a picture of Thylane's eyes and explained that Solenn is still not allowing him to share their baby's face - Thylane, who was born last New Years Day, is the first child of Heussaff and Bolzico PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Nico Bolzico amazed the netizens with his Instagram post 'revealing' baby Thylane's face finally. According to him, his wife Solenn Heussaff allowed him to show their baby's face to the public. He shared a clip where he was carrying the baby girl in his arms and his friend Gran Berta holding the microphone. When the camera then moved to Thylanes face, it showed Bolzicos face edited onto the babys. The baby then uttered her first words, Gran Berta, causing the Nico to walk out angrily from the scene. He wrote, "The moment you all have been waiting for, after permission from @solenn granted, here is #Thylane!!!!!!! As you can see she really looks like #ElPadre" 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 post, Nico shared a picture of Thylane's blue eyes. He previously said he was not allowed yet by Solenn to share Thylane's face. Thylane was born last New Years Day, is the first child of Heussaff and Bolzico. Heussaffs brother Erwann will also have his first child with wife, Anne Curtis, this year. Nicko Bolzico married Solenn Heussaff on May 21, 2016, in Combourg, France. Solenn came to.prominence after joining survivor Philippines in GMA network. Solenn Heussaff is the second child of Cynthia Adea, a Filipina, and Louis Paul Heussaff, a former sailor in the French Navy from Douarnenez, in Brittany. She has an older sister named Vanessa and a younger brother named Erwan. Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! Source: KAMI.com.gh A scuffle broke out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress workers outside a polling booth in Majnu ka Teela in north Delhi. Congress candidate Alka Lamba tried to slap an AAP worker after he tried to interrupt her during a media interaction. Lamba is Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk constituency and is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of AAP and BJPs Suman Gupta. Delhi Assembly Elections: Track Live Updates A video recording shows Lamba speaking to mediapersons outside a polling booth, and an AAP volunteer interrupting her. The Congress candidate tried to ignore the young man, but he continued speaking. Miffed, Lamba immediately rushed towards him and tried to slap him but missed. WATCH | Congress Alka Lamba tries to slap AAP worker outside polling booth She said the volunteer made objectionable comments about her son. The policeman present outsude the polling booth intervened, surrounded the AAP volunteer and took him away from the spot. But Lamba followed and demanded an FIR be registered against him. The police, however, said no compliant was registered as the issue was resolved. The AAP volunteer was apparently protesting that Lamba was giving byte to media, said Additional DCP, North, Dinesh Kumar Gupta. Kumar Vishvas, who stepped away from the Aam Aadmi Party that he had co-founded after a bitter parting with Arvind Kejriwal, tweeted in support of Lamba. By making indecent remark against his former colleague and MLA and her son, the volunteer has shown his masters true colours. Alka Lamba is a warrior, her victory is her self respect, Vishwas said on Twitter in Hindi. ! @LambaAlka ! ! Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) February 8, 2020 Lamba, 44, who is seeking a re-election from Chandni Chowk for the Congress, was Delhi university Students Union (DUSU) president at the age of 19 in 1995-96 as a NSUI candidate. Lamba was in news when she joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2014 after spending 20 years with the Congress. But she snapped ties with Kejriwals party after disagreements. She was elected as an MLA from Chandni Chowk on an AAP ticket in 2015. She has a BSc degree in Chemistry from DUs Dyal Singh College. She had later joined Bundelkhand University in Uttar Pradesh. Her successor to the DUSU top post, Rekha Gupta, said people in her constituency still know her as a DU leader. To his many fans in Europe and the outside world, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is a kind of a pop star politician - in his well-cut suits, with his gay partner by his side, he is a symbol of a young, socially liberal, dynamic Ireland. And yet as the Republic of Ireland goes to the polls for a general election on Saturday, Varadkar and his party are struggling. Varadkar became Ireland's youngest-ever leader when he took office in June 2017, at age 38. A former doctor, born in Dublin of mixed Irish-Indian heritage, he's also Ireland's first gay leader. He once represented change. But maybe not today. In pre-ballot opinion surveys, Varadkar is facing a surge by the rejuvenated republican Sinn Fein party, which is pushing a popular left-wing social spending spree, and not shy about its ultimate goal, which is to see Northern Ireland quit the United Kingdom and join the Republic of Ireland as one nation, north and south, one day. Pollsters, voters, politicians and analysts say Varadkar is in many ways a victim of Ireland's successes. He and his centrist Fine Gael party helped steer Ireland through historic change: the country rejected appeals by the Catholic Church and ended its ban on abortion in 2018 - what the prime minister called "the culmination of a quiet revolution." Ireland also was the first nation to legalize by popular vote same-sex marriage, in 2015. Having weathered a brutal banking crisis and global recession a decade ago, the Irish economy is now zipping along. Although Brexit could have threatened that growth, and the republic's trade relationship with Northern Ireland and the European continent, Varadkar played hardball, outmaneuvering British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, winning a guarantee there would be no border on the Irish island. In a direct personal appeal to the Irish voters in the closing days of the campaign, Varadkar said, "I remember 2010. We were told that our futures were lost. I remember the mass unemployment, the dole queues, people emigrating. Empty main streets, our country humiliated on the world stage." He alluded to a bailout by the International Monentary Fund back then, which sparked austerity budgets, higher taxes and cuts in services. Varadkar thanked the country for its hard work and sacrifices. "We're in so much a better place now than we were then," said the prime minister, called the Taoiseach in Irish. As part of its transformation, Ireland invested heavily in the future, in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and tech. The country serves as European headquarters for Google, Facebook, Airbnb, LinkedIn and Microsoft. It now boasts the second fastest growing economy in the European Union, after tiny Malta. Unemployment at 4.8% is at a 13-year-low. With a surge in corporate tax receipts, the government is now running a surplus. Dublin is booming. But with its newfound wealth has come social stress. Housing prices and rents have skyrocketed, which means young Irish, even with university degrees, despair they will never be able to buy their own homes. Social media is full of posts mocking the tiny "room shares" available - a toilet, a stove, a bed - for thousands of euros a month. It's not just "generation rent" complaining. Wait times for doctor's appointments and hospital beds doubled, then tripled. The construction of a new hospital in Dublin is behind schedule and over-budget. With six in ten people having to pay upfront for medicines and doctor's visits, health care is the most important issue for 40% of voters, according to a January poll by the Irish Times. Gross domestic product has soared, but so have tax bills. Pensioners are in revolt, after the government floated plans to extend their state retirement dates to age 68 by 2028. Varadkar and Fine Gael wanted the election to be all about their management of the economy and Brexit, but the voters are focused on health care and housing. "The are lagging because the issues they want to campaign on are not issues resonating with the public," said David Farrell, a professor of politics at University College Dublin. Experts were surprised by Sinn Fein's jump in pre-election opinion polls. "None of us anticipated it," Farrell said. "The working class vote and youth vote feel the neoliberal agenda is leaving them behind, so that manifests itself as a vote for change." In other countries, this has seen citizens move to the populist right, but not in Ireland's case. "In Ireland, it's a swing to the populist left, and Sinn Fein are capturing that vote," Farrell said. Varadkar says he hears the public. In a campaign ad, the prime minister said, "Now that we have fixed the economy, we have the money to invest in health care and housing that we didn't have before." But after his party has had years in power, many aren't convinced. Sinn Fein has undergone its own transformation. Historically, it was associated with the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which fought in Northern Ireland's long, bloody "Troubles." But the republican party is fully committed to pursuing Irish unity using democratic means. And the more time that passes since the IRA's armed campaign, the more willing people are to support Sinn Fein. Longtime leader Gerry Adams remains a central figure. "Everyone is talking about Irish unity, except the government. Now is the time to start planning for Irish unity so that we can reap the economic benefits of a United Ireland," Adams, 71, said on the campaign trail. "Our final mission will be to secure a referendum, north and south on Irish unity, and win it for the people of Ireland." But Adams officially stepped aside two years ago, replaced by Mary Lou McDonald, 50, who is not associated with armed republicanism. McDonald has dismissed barbs about Sinn Fein's past connection with the IRA, telling reporters that "war is over" and it was time to move on. "There's nothing dangerous about housing people," she said. Sinn Fein is campaigning on social needs. Sinn Fein lawmaker Eoin O Broin, promised his party "would deliver the biggest public housing program in the history of this state. We will cut rents and freeze them. We will ensure that affordable housing is available and really affordable to people. We will also end the scandal of homelessness, which has been allowed to increase under the failed policies of this government." Jesuit priest Father Peter McVerry has spent his life working with homeless people and said he is not surprised the election is turning on housing. "The private rental sector can't cope," he said. "In Dublin, if you view an apartment or house to rent, there will be 40 people standing outside waiting to view it. Landlords now have all the cards stacked in their favor." In the last general election in 2016, no party won an outright majority - and that result is likely be repeated, followed by a long struggle by one party or another form a coalition government. At a debate this past week, Varadkar said if his party failed to win a majority, he would seek to form a coalition government with Labour, Independents, Greens or Social Democrats. "What I won't do is negotiate a coalition with Sinn Fein. I'm concerned about their past, but I'm much more concerned about the present and the future," Varadkar said. Even if Sinn Fein comes out on top in Saturday's election, which is possible, the party cannot form a government on its own, as it is only running 42 candidates and the threshold is 80 in the 159-seat Irish Parliament. If it does becomes a prominent party once the results are in, it would look to work with those on the left of the political spectrum first, McDonald said. If Sinn Fein is the new power broker, things could get really interesting - not only for Ireland but the United Kingdom. - - - Ferguson reported from Belfast. Booth reported from London. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 22:02:00|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Taliban fighters attend a surrender ceremony in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2020. A total of 28 Taliban fighters have given up fighting and surrendered to security forces in the eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, provincial governor Shah Mahmoud Miakhil said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28 Taliban fighters have given up fighting and surrendered to security forces in the eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, provincial governor Shah Mahmoud Miakhil said. The former militants were engaged in anti-government activities in Khogiani, Chaparhar, Haska Mina and Lalpor districts over the past couple of years, the official said, adding their surrender would help security forces to further stabilize security in the area. Taliban militants have yet to make a comment. More than 1,000 militants affiliated with the hardliner Islamic State group and nearly 200 Taliban fighters, according to the official, have given up fighting and surrendered to security forces in Nangarhar province over the past several months. Access Hollywood Full House fans aren't the only ones mourning a sad loss after Bob Saget, best known for his starring role as Danny Tanner on the classic sitcom passed away at 65 years old. His family is shared in a statement that they are devastated over his unexpected passing. Bobs oldest daughter, Aubrey Saget, 34, revealed a screenshot of the last text message she received from her late dad prior to his death. It appeared that the message was sent ahead of his last stand-up comedy show in Florida on Janu Onondaga County Republicans on Friday designated Angela Renna of Manlius as their candidate to run for the state Senate seat left vacant when Bob Antonacci was elected state Supreme Court judge in November. Renna, 45, president of Sterling Financial Group in Liverpool, won the GOP designation over East Syracuse Mayor Robert Tackman in a vote Friday night by the Onondaga County Republican Committee. Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey said that Tackman agreed to support the committees decision and will not try to force a primary election in June for the 50th Senate District seat. Tackman confirmed later Friday that he would not seek to challenge Renna in June. Renna will likely face Democrat John Mannion in the November election. Mannion lost to Antonacci by about 2,300 votes, or 2 percentage points, in the 2018 election. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not said if he will call a special election to fill the vacant Senate seat. Cuomo previously said he will consider adding the special election to the states presidential primary on April 28. Mannion has announced he intends to run as the Democratic candidate if theres a special election. Dadey said that Republicans would have to meet and consider how to proceed if a special election is called by the governor. Dadey said an April 28 election would leave only a few weeks for the new senator to serve in Albany before the end of the 2020 legislative session in June. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. What just happened? Nvidia has decided not to send any employees to Mobile World Congress this year, citing concerns about the dangers of international travel during the coronavirus outbreak. While theyre not the first company to cancel their travel plans, as a major MWC partner theyre sacrificing more than most. Given public health risks around the coronavirus, ensuring the safety of out colleagues, partners and customers is out highest concern. Weve been looking forward to sharing our work in AI, 5G and vRAN with the industry. We regret not attending, but believe this is the right decision. Nvidia isnt known for their mobile products exactly, but theyve got a vested interest in the GPU-powered AI that enables mobile speech recognition, camera optimizations, and more. Even when these services are provided on-device, the neural network training and designing is still done on servers with recognizable Nvidia hardware. Nvidia has ten sessions and roundtables focusing on AI planned for this year's MWC. They've also designed some sort of AI Edge Innovation Center revolving around AI, 5G and edge computing. Nvidia hasnt clarified if these events are still going ahead, but without Nvidia employees present the events wont benefit the company much regardless. Most of MWCs attendees havent expressed much concern about the coronavirus, with Qualcomm, Lenovo, Motorola, Xiaomi, Vivo and Honor reaffirming their plans to attend the event, according to The Verge. ZTE cancelled their attendance, then changed their minds. LG and Ericsson are the two major withdrawals, apart from Nvidia. The Mobile World Congress will begin on February 24 in Barcelona, and will bear witness to announcements and demonstrations of a variety of new flagship smartphones and 5G devices. 08.02.2020 LISTEN Just imagine what the political temperature of Ghana would have been if John Mahama were President and 500 excavators had gone flying to a country of no name. Just imagine what some members of the clergy would have said if John Mahama were President and 400 tricycles had gone missing, especially in the north. Just imagine what the civil society groups would have said if John Mahama were President and through the greediness of his family, Ghana had lost at least $190 million through PDS? Just imagine what the media would be discussing if John Mahama, as President, had rented an airplane and paid $17,000 an hour to go and watch a game in Europe. Just imagine what some chiefs would have said if John Mahama, as President had been misled to sign a $1.2 billion Ameri deal. Just imagine if John Mahama had attempted to buy a property in Oslo to be used as an embassy and the purchase had gone bad. Nobody will have mentioned the foreign mission. Everybody would have mentioned John Mahama. At the end of the day, Ghana was going to lose $12 million. A court has ruled in UK with no mention of any name in the ruling but the NPP are quick to mention John Mahama. When Kwesi Nyantakyi mentioned Nana Addo as being in his pocket with a 5:3:2:1 formula for distributing bribes, everybody acted like Ghana is a ghost country. Imagine if Mr. Nyantakyi had said John Mahama was in his pocket. Just imagine if John Mahama were President and a Ministry in his administration was going to use GHC 800 million to develop a website. The demonstration people would have embarked on would have been unprecedented. Just imagine if John Mahama were the President and the only way to kill a current scandal was to create a new one, much bigger than the current scandal, what would have been the political temperature in Ghana? The hatred for John Mahama is just too much. I dont think all these people and groups hate John Mahama because he is handsome or because he comes from the north. They just hate him because he is the most successful living politician in Africa. Unfortunately for them, the God of John Mahama still reigns. Lawrence Appiah-Osei 1-703-400-1621 Droves of voters are making their way to polling stations across the country today, with many areas reporting a high early turnout. The Dublin County returning officer noted a 20pc turnout across a selection of schools by 12 noon. A breakdown of attendance figures showed 18.5pc of voters visited St Malaga's NS, Ballbriggan by 12 noon, while 21pc attended Skerries Community Centre. In Dublin-West, 18.6pc of voters were recorded at Laurel Lodge, and 23pc at St John Bosco NS Hall, Navan Road. As for Dublin Mid-West, turnout figures as high as 16.4pc have been reported at Lucan Educate Together, and Scoil Aine Naofa have 20pc. A high turnout of 27pc has been recorded at Glenageary/Killiney N.S. Wyvern, Dun Laoghaire. Expand Close Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan casting his vote Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie Meanwhile, Athboy in Co Meath has seen the highest turnout in that area so far today, with 18pc stepping out to cast their vote. Turnout in Longford-Westmeath was slow this morning before becoming busy just before the Ireland vs Wales Six Nations clash began at 2.15pm. Expand Close Simon Coveney casting his ballot / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Simon Coveney casting his ballot A turnout of 15.5 pc cast their votes in Mullingar, Co Westmeath by 1pm today. Athlone saw a turnout of 15.25 pc, while Longford recorded 20 pc. The Cork returning office reported a "brisk morning" at the polling stations. In Roscommon, there was tea and cake laid on when 103-year-old Michael Coyne arrived at the polling station in Boyle. Expand Close A woman and two dogs are seen outside a polling station during Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A woman and two dogs are seen outside a polling station during Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble Michael flashed his Fianna Fail membership card and announced that Micheal Martin is going to be the next Taoiseach, after casting his vote at Scoil na nAingeal Naofa . Born on January 14, 1917 he was around in 1918, the last time a general election was held in Ireland on a Saturday. As he well knows it was also an election when Sinn Fein made its mark with the election of Countess Markievicz, Michael Collins and Eamon deValera heralding the arrival of a new dawn in Irish politics. He is inclined to think the party is going to be a significant player this time round too. "I think Michal Martin will be Taoiseach but he will have trouble ahead, he chuckled. I think he should join up with Sinn Fein. I am not too fond of Sinn Fein, but they are as good as Fine Gael. Ireland's President and the main political leaders have also cast their votes in one of the most unpredictable General Elections for years. Sinn Fein could challenge the 90-year duopoly of the state's two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and the process of forming a coalition Government could be challenging, opinion polls suggest. President Michael D Higgins was accompanied by his wife Sabina at a Dublin polling station. Micheal Martin, the leader of main opposition party Fianna Fail, voted with his wife, daughter and two sons early on Saturday morning in Co Cork. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power - recent polls put his party behind Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. He brought a box of Roses sweets for count staff at his polling station in west Dublin. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also cast her vote in the capital on an "important" day. She said: "Today is the day that people are in charge and every single vote counts. "People have told us throughout this campaign that they want change, that they want a change in our presentation and they want a change in government, so I am saying to people please come out today and vote for a change. "Bring your family, your neighbours and friends and come down and use your vote - today is your day." In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25pc, with Fianna Fail second on 23pc and Mr Varadkar's party on 20pc. If those levels of support are borne out when counting begins on Sunday, it would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border. The odds would still be stacked against Ms McDonald leading the next government as Taoiseach since Sinn Fein only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliament's 160 seats. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own, and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. Sinn Fein may be unable to find enough like-minded left-leaning allies to form a workable government. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are both centre-right in outlook and appeal to middle Ireland so have unequivocally ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein. For either to change position on coalition partners would represent a major U-turn. If that case Sinn Fein would be unlikely to secure a place in the next government. Fianna Fail topped the opinion polls early in the campaign, and leader Mr Martin could yet emerge as the next Taoiseach. Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, will be hoping his administration's economic record and handling of the Brexit process will convince enough voters to renew his tenure in Government Buildings. Brexit did not feature prominently in a campaign dominated by domestic issues like spiralling rental prices, record-breaking homeless numbers, controversy over the state pension age and a struggling health service. There appears to be a mood for change and Sinn Fein could attract support from younger voters who want to end Fine Gael's nine years in power but are unwilling to trust Fianna Fail again after the financial crash that tarnished its last term of office. However, voters aren't the only ones looking to participate in election day. Dog-owners have been using Twitter's #DogsAtPollingStations hashtag to share adorable snaps of their pets waiting patiently outside polling stations while their owner casts their vote Here are some of our favourite snaps of dogs venturing to the polls today: Gabby was the first dog at the polling station. #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/5cHm6gylFo Jim Healy (@JJ5000) February 8, 2020 Meanwhile, among the crowds of voters at a polling station in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, today was a woman dressed as celery. The woman (40s) was ejected from the station after attempting to accompany Independent TD Danny Healy Rae into vote. It is believed the woman, who was accompanied by a man, had been waiting outside the primary school in the village before the station opened at 7am. The pair are understood to be vegan and involved in anti meat eating campaigns. Is he saying something? Powerful image of leopard rescued in Assam goes viral Leopard vs cat in Nashik well: See who wins the battle in viral video Numbers on decline: After tigers, is it time for 'save leopard' project in India India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 08: Trashing reports that claim an increasing leopard population is leading to a rise in man-animal conflict, a recent study by scientists has revealed that their numbers have in fact dropped by 75-90% in the past 120 to 200 years. The findings has once again triggered a debate for a tiger like conservation efforts to save leopards, known to exist very close to human habitations. The scientists have recommended that similar conservation attention be given to leopards as is given to tigers to contain a further decline in distribution and numbers. A study by the scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore, has found that leopards have experienced a "human-induced 75 to 90 per cent population decline" over the past 120 to 200 years. Explained: Why Delhi Assembly Election is a vital one The report contrasts with earlier studies in India that had suggested stable or even increasing local leopard population trends. However, the study also said that despite this population decline, leopards in India still retain high genetic variation, marked by four distinct genetic subpopulations, similar to patterns found in eastern and southern Africa. "It is amazing - we have similar findings from two research approaches," said Krithi Karanth, chief conservation scientist at the CWS. The research team has used historical records from hunting and taxidermy notes to documented observations from the mid-19th century through the 20th century to map changing habitats and occupancy of leopards. "Leopards demand similar conservation attention like tigers in India," the researchers said. The report believes that habitat loss, prey population declines, wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict have contributed to the fall in the leopard population. An effort akin to Project Tiger? Save tiger project was a milestone for India but the journey has not been easy. Around the 1970s the tiger count was only one thousand and two hundred. But now we have as many as 2,967 tigers in the wild, a thirty per cent rise in the population in the last eight years. This says a lot about the efforts put in by the government and the national parks. India has shown its magic of conserving wildlife with novel initiatives, right from turning hunting grounds to tiger reserves. They have also updated the acts regarding forest and wildlife. Any kind of illegal trading of animals has been banned. Human interference in any of the reserves and forests is not allowed and the world has recognised this project as the 'Most successful project'. The project made sure that along with tigers, other wildlife also gets protected. Explained: What words MPs are not allowed to use in Parliament What we now know about leopards Despite being majestic as well as endangered, leopards are the most ignored big cats in India. Also referred to as Panthera pardus fusca, Leopard is a vulnerable species listed on the IUCN Red List because of its declining population. The world got to know about this panther-like animal only in the 18th century. Leopard could run faster than any other animal. In India, the population of Leopard was estimated to be around 12,000-14,000 as per 2015 census. The big cats conservation is often clubbed with tigers because many leopards are in tiger reserves. Lack of a reliable count of their numbers has led to negligence, with no systematic protection plans. SC on Project leopard In November 2018, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to launch efforts to save leopards on the lines of Project Tiger. The order was passed following a public interest litigation filed by animal rights activist Anupam Tripathi. Tripathi claimed in the year 2016 alone, India lost 455 leopards followed by 431 leopard deaths in 2017. In the first two months of this year i.e. January and February 2018, India has lost 106 leopards owing to a wide number of reasons....which are a mix of poaching and man and leopard conflict. The court had sought a response from the Centre on whether it was open to launching a "Project Leopard" along the lines of Project Tiger. Project Tiger is a considered a highly successful conservation programme for the national animal. Challenges Poaching and habitat loss have been major hurdle in saving the big cat. Their bones and other body parts are also in demand for use in traditional Asian medicines. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 11:04 [IST] A 26-year-old sub-inspector (SI) of the Delhi Police allegedly committed suicide after shooting dead a woman SI, who was also his batchmate, near Rohini East Metro station in the national capital, officials said on Saturday. Preeti Ahlawat (26), a 2018-batch personnel, was shot dead on Friday night allegedly by Deepanshu Rathee, who later committed suicide near Murthal in Sonepath, police said. Ahlawat was posted at Patparganj Industrial Area police station. She was shot dead at around 9.30 pm when she was on her way home in Rohini Sector 8 from the Metro station, they said. Investigation has revealed that Rathee got the service revolver issued from Bhajanpura police station, where he was undergoing training. He had been stalking Ahlawat for the past three to four days to target her, a senior police official said. Police suspect that the SIs were in a relationship but they broke up around three months ago. However, it was learnt that Rathee was pressuring Ahlawat to be with him, the official said. Police are contacting the friends and colleagues of the deceased SIs to ascertain facts. Rathee was identified with the help of CCTV footage where he was seen following Ahlawat after she came out from the Metro station and shot her later on her head, he said. Three cartridges of 9mm were found from the spot, he said, adding after firing at her, Rathee walked towards his car which was parked in the same area. The mobile location of Rathee was traced to Murthal. On reaching there, police found his car in an isolated spot near Murthal at around 2 am and his body was found on the driver's seat with a revolver in the right hand, police said. Ahlawat, was living with her two batchmates in Rohini while Rathee's family lives in Sonepat and his father was retired from Haryana police, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Led by the US, many countries are demanding that Taiwan be accepted by the organisation. Beijing's opposition complicates Taiwanese efforts to contain the epidemic. Taipei complains that international flights to the island have been cancelled because WHO treats it as part of China. Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) Support for Taiwan's place in the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to grow. The exclusion is due to the opposition of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), which considers the island a rebel province, and this is making it hard for Taiwanese authorities to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Taiwanese experts are unable to attend WHO emergency meetings because of Chinese pressure on the organization's top management. As of 7 February, 16 cases have been reported in Taiwan. The island paid a high price in human lives during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. Local authorities have suspended flights to and from mainland China for fear of further contagion. The restrictions also apply to travel to Hong Kong and Macau. Maritime links between the Kinmen Islands, Matsu and Penghu and the Chinese province of Fujian have also been halted. The United States, backed by Taiwans diplomatic allies (Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Marshall Islands, but not the Vatican), has asked the WHO to open a direct channel with Taiwanese health authorities and involve them in joint efforts to contain the emergency. The Taiwanese government has accused the WHO of providing "inaccurate" information on the epidemic. In its reports Taiwan is indicated as part of China, which has pushed countries like Italy and Vietnam to suspend flights to and from the island. After the protests by the Tsai Ing-wen government, Hanoi lifted the ban, whilst Rome kept it in effect. The European Union, Canada, Australia and Japan have also renewed their support for Taiwans inclusion in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. Since 2017, immediately after Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen as president, WHO stopped inviting Taiwan to the WHA under pressure from the PRC. The latter has accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and President Tsai of seeking the island's formal independence from mainland China. The Planet Fitness club in Midland has plans to renovate and move into the former JCPenney space in the Midland Mall this summer. The club, located at 701 Joe Mann Blvd., is owned by the PF Michigan Group, LLC, which is one of the nation's largest franchises of Planet Fitness, according to the company. Company owner Bryan Rief recently announced the relocation. "The residents of Midland have always been so supportive of us, and we are excited to offer them a brand-new facility," Rief said in a statement. "Since acquiring this location, we've been looking for a larger space that is closer to our current footprint." Less than a mile from the current location, the franchise group signed a lease for a 30,000-square-foot space at the mall, more than doubling their space. This will allow for additional amenities, such as a "black card" lounge with new HydroMassage loungers, premium massage chairs and upgraded tanning units. The new club will also include a larger selection of cardio and strength equipment, new PF360 modular training equipment and TRX suspension training. Mary Scott, marketing director for the PF Michigan Group, said the goal is to move into the new space this summer, with little gap between services. "Personally, I love a new club -- it's a lot of fun," she said. Scott said there will also be a grand re-opening event and celebration for the public to attend, with further details to-be-announced. In addition to the location in Midland, the Northville-based PFMG owns and operates 49 other Planet Fitness locations throughout Southeastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Grand Rapids and Toledo. Jim Stokas and Alex Bieri, Stokas Bieri Real Estate, represented Planet Fitness in the transaction with Miami-based Lionheart Capital, who purchased the JC Penney building recently. Planet Fitness is a national health club franchise that was founded in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire, with more than 1,800 stores in the U.S. and other countries such as Mexico and Canada. However, more than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent businesspeople. The membership-based fitness clubs offer a judgment-free place to workout, as their slogan states, and customers can get memberships for as low as $10 a month. Rajya Sabha 2020: With assets worth Rs 25,77,75,79,180, he is the richest of the new lot The average assets of a candidate contesting Delhi poll was Rs 7.25 crore India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 08: The average assets of the 55 re-contesting MLAs fielded by various parties including independents in 2015 was Rs 7.25 Crores. The average asset of these 55 re-contesting MLAs in 2020 is Rs 8.17 Crores, says a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms. The average asset growth for these 55 re-contesting MLAs, between the Delhi Assembly Elections of 2015 and 2020 is Rs 92.12 Lakhs. Average percentage growth in assets for these 55 re-contesting MLAs is 13 per cent. Kailash Gahlot of AAP from Najafgarh constituency has declared a maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 8.62 Crores i.e from Rs 37.45 Crores in 2015 to Rs 46.07 Crores in 2020. Delhi: Average assets of re-contesting MLAs grew by Rs 92.12 lakh Assets of Shiv Charan Goel of AAP from Moti Nagar constituency has increased by Rs 6.28 Crores, from Rs 18.14 Crores in 2015 to Rs 24.43 Crores in 2020. Assets of Kartar Singh Tanwar of AAP from Chhatarpur constituency have risen by Rs 6.19 Crores, from Rs 17.65 Crores in 2015 to Rs 23.84 Crores in 2020. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 19:58 [IST] Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate would further lower the number of SOL tests students would be required to take. Instead of the 29 tests taken between third and 12th grades, students would only take the 17 assessments required under federal education law. Among the tests that would be jettisoned: Grade 8 writing, End of Course Algebra II, and Civics and Economics. The House bill appears to be dead this session, and prospects for the Senate bill are unclear. But education advocates opposed to the measure fear there will be an effort to slip the language into appropriations measures. Readers hoping to buy Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. If you purchase the stock on or after the 13th of February, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 28th of February. Provident Financial Services's upcoming dividend is US$0.23 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.92 per share to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Provident Financial Services has a trailing yield of approximately 4.0% on its current stock price of $23.29. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing. Check out our latest analysis for Provident Financial Services Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Provident Financial Services paid out 53% of its earnings to investors last year, a normal payout level for most businesses. Companies that pay out less in dividends than they earn in profits generally have more sustainable dividends. The lower the payout ratio, the more wiggle room the business has before it could be forced to cut the dividend. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:PFS Historical Dividend Yield, February 8th 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Provident Financial Services, with earnings per share up 7.4% on average over the last five years. Story continues The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Provident Financial Services has delivered an average of 7.7% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past ten years of dividend payments. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders. Final Takeaway Has Provident Financial Services got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Provident Financial Services has been generating some growth in earnings per share while paying out more than half of its earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends. We think there are likely better opportunities out there. Ever wonder what the future holds for Provident Financial Services? See what the five analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. NATIONAL A political memo on Friday about President Trumps remarks at the White House the day after his acquittal misstated the year of a shooting that gravely wounded Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana. It was 2017, not 2018. NEW YORK An article on Monday about a teenager who jumped to his death from the Vessel at Hudson Yards misidentified the publication where Audrey Wachs formerly worked. She was the associate editor of The Architects Newspaper, not of ArchDaily. OBITUARIES An obituary on Jan. 30 about the disc jockey Harry Harrison misstated the year he joined the New York radio station WMCA. It was 1959, not 1958. It also referred incorrectly to the disc jockeys Dan Daniel and Jack Spector. They were not yet with WMCA when Mr. Harrison was hired; they both joined the station in 1961. And it incorrectly included Scott Muni on a list of disc jockeys who were at WABC when Mr. Harrison moved to that station in 1968; he had left in 1965. In addition, the obituary misidentified the song May You Always, which Mr. Harrison performed every holiday season. It was a different song from the one of the same name that was a hit for the McGuire Sisters. OPINION An Op-Ed article on Wednesday about the National Archives misstated the affiliation of employees who reassembled documents torn up by President Trump and the circumstances of their dismissal. They were employees of the White House records management office, not of the National Archives, and they say they were dismissed without explanation; they were not told it was because of their work on the documents. Penguin Random House and Barnes & Nobles Diverse Editions: an initiative in which classic works of literature were re-outfitted with covers featuring non-white protagonists. Photo: Vulture and Penguin Random House Either publishing is losing it or we are. This week, Penguin Random House and Barnes & Noble announced their collaborative effort to, as they put it, champion the need for diversity in literature. Timed to Black History Month, the Diverse Editions initiative, would have sold a reimagined collection of classics re-outfitted with covers featuring non-white protagonists. The insides of these books, which includes titles such as Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, Moby Dick, and Frankenstein (in which not Dr. Frankenstein, but his inhuman creature is rendered as a black masculine Neanderthal with a fade), were to remain as is. According to the press release, the works were selected with the assistance of an A.I. tasked with mining the text of 100 classic literature books in order to pick out occasions in which a main characters race is kept opaque assumed rather than stated plainly. Diverse Editions was rightfully ridiculed for thinking canonical exclusion ought to be remedied cover-first. Days later, after a public backlash, the effort was scrapped. The covers are pretty cool to my eye. Were they still set to be released, I cant say this Americanist wouldnt have leapt at the opportunity to own the sleek, sea-foam Moby Dick with black Ahab on the cover (those unable to walk into the lone Fifth Avenue store set to carry the editions were invited to download and print copies of the covers for free). It works well as an artistic initiative. As a political one, not so much. The genuinely bonkers explained impetus for Diverse Editions falls in lockstep with a shallow refrain bandied about frequently: Representation matters. A mighty yet modest observation that the art and culture around us, consumed and therefore inside of us, which expands and contracts our capacity to imagine living in the world has gone tinny in its rallying cry, hollowed by the markets appropriative appetites. Yet its deserved death rattle still hasnt arrived. Elsewhere with more fanfare, in film and television, appeals to representation are the go-to means to critique projects that replicate the social and political exclusions found in real life. However, as statements about the way things are (#SoWhite) move toward prescriptive measures from observation to politics the fandom-driven conversation begins to evade nuance. Somehow, any dislike or even ambivalence of works featuring people of color as exhibited by debates over Insecure, 2016s Ghostbusters, Crazy Rich Asians, and Queen & Slim becomes tantamount to bad politics. In the book world, a title like American Dirt finds a home (in Flatiron Books) and a cheerleader (in Oprah, et al.) off the strength of the same language that would ostensibly critique its existence. The publishers letter sent with a galley included the note that author Jeanine Cumminss husband was once undocumented, encouraging potential reviewers to make positive assumptions about Cumminss proximity to the real-life Mexican migrants fictionalized in her novel, omitting that the husband in question is Irish. In response to recent criticism, Cummins pulls from the playbook of her liberal critics: I am also Puerto Rican, she told NPRs Rachel Martin, And I you know, that fact has been attacked and sidelined by people who, frankly, are attempting to police my identity. It is a testament to the fickle flexibility of representation and the ways in which publishers can take it for a ride. As Vultures Lila Shapiro has reported, the popularity of hashtags like #weneeddiversebooks and #ownvoices have, indeed, inspired publishers to seek out diverse manuscripts, But, she writes, the majority of these books were written by white people both succeeding and failing by the metric of representation. When visibility is the goal above all else, the litmus by which ethical publishing decisions are made is determined in tallies and totals. When representation is the only measure worth considering, only the surface matters. And while American Dirt did also earn granular critiques for its plot, characters, and diction, representation was still the shorthand that both critics and publishers used to their advantage. More than any recent controversy, Diverse Editions was almost refreshing in how bluntly it exposed the tendency to use representation to utterly meaningless ends. It is fitting that Penguin latched onto the canon, a body of works not only representative of power but also no small amount of angst among the same people inclined to be critical about contemporary publishing habits. The canon is an easy punching bag, not undeservedly. Theres a certain sect of Prompt Twitter the unaffiliated community of users who collect responses to inane questions on that platform haunted by the books they were required to read in school. Answers to prompts like these trend toward the ethical-seeming imperative to uppercut the steely jaw of the literary canon. Unpopular opinion: James Joyce is a hack. Unpopular opinion: Moby Dick is too long. Unpopular opinion: Uncle Toms Cabin is hella racist. Huckleberry Finn isnt even that good; Catcher in the Rye isnt even that good; Native Son isnt even that good; A Tale of Two Cities isnt even that good. The Scarlet Letter: trash. It seems hell hath no vitriol like that inspired by the Advanced Placement English test. Similar to the sentiment guiding #representationmatters, the one here is understandable, even admirable. The literature lauded and, more crucially, assigned as the best, most original, and aesthetically daring in America is very white, very male, and very straight (though not nearly as white, male, and straight as were inclined to believe). But in the language of the internet, aesthetic judgements so often serve as threadbare proxies for the political discussions we ought to have. The canon gets trashed not because its bad, but because its canon. Meanwhile, the patriarchy, whiteness, imperialism all the bad things escape attention. It feels like a win, though its not really. (The opponents are dead or at the very least not listening.) Toni Morrison, the finest reader of American literature from whom weve ever had the profound gift of learning, took the canon seriously as a thing to behold. Not for purposes of slaughter or reification, as she cautions in the speech that acts as the precursor to her 1992 work of literary criticism, Playing in the Dark. Her search for the ghost in the machine of so much American literature meant going into the soul of Herman Melville, Willa Cather, her precious Faulkner, to explain how those texts tell on themselves, and the nation in turn, excavating what it means for representation to matter. The canon is not a stable thing. Theres something disingenuous or at the very least uncomfortable about those who bemoan its whiteness and yet so rarely seem to sustain any curiosity about what historical works by people of color have been returned to print in the decades since graduation. Publishers both lead and follow suit in this regard. It is ultimately easier to paper over good books whose legacies are secure than to reexamine them, or to invest financially, emotionally in lesser discussed masterpieces. Only in a world where the logic goes that more representation is better would Diverse Editions seem like a good idea, solving literatures existential crises by literally throwing brown faces at the problem. In Washington D.C. hundreds of MEK supporters gathered in front of the Whitehouse on Saturday, February 8, 2020, showing solidarity with the uprisings in Iran and demanding the immediate release of the detained protesters. The demonstrators holding the colorful Iranian flags expressed their full support for the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Irans Resistance Units, who are at the forefront of the free Iran uprising. The demonstrators chanted slogans calling for regime change in Iran as the only solution to the dictatorship ruling Iran. Protesters held pictures of some of the 1500 martyrs who were slain during last Novembers protests by the Iranian regime brutal IRGC and Basiji forces. One of the prominent speakers at the Washington D.C. rally was the former U.S. representative, Judge Ted Poe, former chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation. Judge Poe, referring to the destructive role the Iranian regime has had to its people, suggested that the regime will not last long, just as the notorious Qassem Soleimani did not. Judge Poe said: Soleimanis job for years was to oppress, assault and murder Iranians, Syrians, and Americans, but he is gone. And its good that he is gone, because he was the number one terrorist in the world, in a (regime) that is the number one terrorist in the world. He had killed Iranians throughout the world, and he was instrumental in killing Iranians in Camp Ashraf and in Camp Liberty. Judge Poe offered his support for the protesters in Iran and quoting Thomas Jefferson, said: When governments become destructive to those ends, its the right of the people to alter or abolish that government. Embraced by the enthusiastic crowd, and supporters of MEK, Judge Poe urged Western governments to support the protesters in Iran, and called on his government to make sure that the internet is free and available to the people in Iran so that they can talk to each other about freedom. In London, hundreds of supporters of the MEK and NCRI, gathered at Trafalgar Square to show solidarity with the Iranian uprisings for regime change in Iran. The rally started by paying tribute to the 1500 martyrs of the November 2019 Iran protests. The rally also marked the 41st anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchy revolution, which is still in pursuit of freedom and democracy, and recalled the popular slogans during the recent Students protests this January, chanting Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or Khamenei. Dr. Matthew Offord, MP, speaking at the rally, stated support and solidarity with the people of Iran and their uprising to achieve freedom and democracy in Iran. Dr. Offord said: We call upon all governments to recognize Madam [Maryam] Rajavi as the legitimate opposition to the regime in Iran. We call upon the international community to accept Madam Rajavis ten-point plan for Iran. A plan that seeks to promote a secular, non-nuclear, judicial Iran, with respect to minorities, and where women and children are respected. The International community must hear Irans cry and Iran indeed must see change. Mr. Mark William, MP, spoke at the rally, expressing his support for the Iranian resistance under the leadership of the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Mr. Williams reminded everyone that the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people in 1979 were highjacked by the now ruling theocracy. He also recalled the atrocities of the Iranian regime, particularly the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners who were slain by the direct fatwa of the then regime supreme leader, Khomeini. Mr. Williams called on the UK government and its allies in the European Union to put pressure on the Iranian regime to release all political prisoners and all detained dual citizens and all of the latest detainees after the demonstrations. We call on the United Nations to send fact-finding missions to explore the truth of what happened in 1988. He added. Mr. Williams emphasized that we must take immediate actions at the United Nations Security Council to declare the leaders of this regime as perpetrators of crimes against humanity, for the four decades of systematic torture and abuse. Those responsible must be held to account. Rallies took place in Amsterdam and in Geneva as well, in solidarity with the Iranian protests and in support of the MEK, the principal opposition group. Last week, as January became February, I noticed that green shoots from the daffodils in my front yard in Ohio were already poking above the ground. On Sunday, writer Josie George shared a photo on Twitter of a scarf she had been knitting, with a daily row for the temperature and weather in her town. It felt like a good way to engage with the changing climate and with the changing year, she wrote. A way to notice and not look away. Advertisement I decided that this year, every day, I would knit a row on a scarf to mark the corresponding daily temperature/weather of my town. It felt like a good way to engage with the changing climate and with the changing year. A way to notice and not look away. Here's January then. pic.twitter.com/XQ9scIMX5c Josie George (@porridgebrain) February 2, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Georges viral Tweet, a number of knitters, cross-stitchers, and quilters shared their own projects. The idea of a temperature scarf, it turns out, is at least a half a decade old, and a whole lot of people are trying to chart the new normal in yarn. In 2015, Joan Sheldon, a marine scientist, knit a scarf depicting global average temperatures from the 1600s to the present. Last year, the St. Paul Star Tribune covered a knit-along called Weather or Knot, conducted by one of the citys yarn stores, that asked knitters to make a temperature blanket or scarf; that knit-along was inspired by the Tempestry Project, a group founded in Washington state in 2017, that now has chapters across the country. Climate crafting, it seems, has come into its own. Advertisement Advertisement This is my 2018 temperature blanket. Might do another in 2023 and see how different it looks pic.twitter.com/EBDs21uqQV Rachel Chilton (@labtech666) February 2, 2020 Advertisement Knitters replying to Georges tweet didnt always begin their projects with climate change in mind. Im an inexperienced knitter, had seen temperature blankets on Pinterest and just thought they looked cool, Rachel Chilton said via email after I asked how she came up with the idea for the project she shared to Georges thread. Now that I have this record of 2018 I am seriously considering repeating the exercise every five yearsprobably not more blankets, but perhaps scarves instead, since the blanket took me over 120 hours to knit and cost a small fortune in yarn! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The image at the top of this article is the work of a cross-stitcher from France, who is making a little village of houses with the low temperature of the day stitched on the door and windows and the high temperature on the walls. She said via email that she started her project after seeing the idea discussed on a Facebook fan group for the French cross-stitch designer Nathalie Cichon. Like others using climate data for craft projects, this cross-stitcher, who preferred to remain anonymous, began the work without intending for it to become a conversation piece, but feels differently now. Advertisement Advertisement I pictured my project as a personal memo of the temperatures of 2020, she said over email. However, the further I go the more I can see the impact it can have. I am angry and sad every time I have to stitch a house with a color that shouldnt be there. It makes me want to show it more and more so that people can see. I shouldnt have green houses in January or February, and yet I do! For her part, Rachel Chilton said that she didnt think anyone else would find her temperature-blanket project very interesting, but everyone who has seen the blanket has wanted to talk about how hot the summer was and how late into the autumn the warm temperatures continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its possible to keep a plan for a temperature blanket quite simple, or to use a template or kit (like the Tempestery Projects) to make one, embarking on a more complicated climate-related craft project that you design yourself can have the side effect of connecting the knitter or quilter to climate data in a new way. I spoke with Fran Sharp, a quilter from Massachusetts who had begun work on a temperature quilt without quite knowing how many other people were carrying out similar projects. (Her quilt, above, represents temperature data for Boston from January to October of 2019; each rectangle has two triangles representing the high and low temperatures of each day, and Jan. 1 is on the upper left.) When I shared Georges thread with Sharp, she was full of new ideas. This got me thinking about all the different things one could portray, she said. I made a list. Temperature extremes, effects on animal life, food production an unlimited number of ways you could depict the ways climate change is affecting the earth. Advertisement The knitter, quilter, or cross-stitcher who works on a climate-related design can make interesting design choices that force deep interaction with the data. The Weather or Knot design, for example, featured different colors for absolute temperatures, and varied stitches that reflected whether the days temperature was above or below the average. A Philadelphia group inspired by the Tempestry Project assigned individual knitters separate years of the citys temperature data, with the hope of displaying more than 100 tempestries next to each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did this blanket for my 50th birth year (2017). I used a 2 degree difference for colour. Ended up with 23 colours and an enormous blanket. The green around the edge represents the seasons. pic.twitter.com/C7vYhNmsBS YorkshireTweetChick (@YorkshireBird_) February 2, 2020 Advertisement Paying attention changes the way you interact with the world, historian of science Mark Hineline argued in his 2018 book advocating that people adopt practices of local observation during climate change. Climate crafting takes that kind of daily attentiveness and amplifies it. As Katharine Schwab pointed out in a Fast Company piece, knitting has long been recognized as conveying mental health benefits. But theres more to this particular kind of craftivism than self-care. The act of craftingyou are, after all, doing something slowly that machines could do much quickeris, itself, a sort of protest against the industrial world that gave us climate change in the first place. Crafting creates slow space, a speed at odds with the imperative toward hyperproduction, Jack Bratich and Heidi Brush write in a history of crafting and activism. Crafting also ruptures the seamlessness of the technological present. Advertisement These projects also play with the idea of steganographythe concealment of secret information in plain sight. The Tempestry Projects Emily McNeil told the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2019 that the group formed after hearing about scientists and archivists who were preserving climate-related research data before the Trump inauguration in early 2017. We were just sort of joking one night about how we should return to more concrete forms of data storage, like tapestries, because you cant just get rid of them on the Internet, McNeil said. The history and mythology of fiber and textile art is full of steganography, real, fictional, and apocryphalthe Belgian resistance during World War II, recruiting women whose windows were located over train yards to knit patterns of the trains arrivals and departures; Madame Defarge of Dickens A Tale of Two Cities, knitting a list of people to be guillotined; enslaved women sewing codes into quilts that helped people navigate the Underground Railroad. Climate change is a classic open secret: a thing that we all know is happening, but that our officials (by and large) choose to ignore when they are making the decisions that matter. The temperature blanket is a very 2020 way to call attention to the reality of this data. There it is, warming your legs. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. State NPF demands resolution against CAA Day-2 of the ongoing fifth session of the 13th NLA, Saturday. Correspondent KOHIMA, FEB 8 (NPN) | Publish Date: 2/8/2020 12:49:44 PM IST SAYS ART. 371 (A) & ILP WILL NOT PROTECT NAGALAND FROM CAA Opposition members Saturday were vehement in arguing for passing a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the third day of the ongoing fifth session of the 13th NLA. Initiating the discussion against the CAA under matter of urgent public importance, NPF member Dr. Chotisuh Sazo cited reports of the Intelligence Bureau, that the immediate beneficiaries of CAA would be a total of 25,447 persons of which Hindus form 5,807 Sikhs, 55 Christians, 2 Buddhists and 2 Parsis. He said grant of Indian citizenship through a fast track Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who arrived in India before 31 December 2014 was on the assumption of religious persecution to illegal immigrants. He also cited various estimates of religious minorities in Bangladesh and Nepal. Chotisuh said though Nagaland and some of the north eastern states may not be under imminent danger due to CAA, yet the threat posed by lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to the region cannot be ignored. According to Chotisuh, shrinking land space in Bangladesh due to rise in sea level was a compelling factor for influx into India. He said while as per the Assam Accord signed in 1985, the cut off date was March 24,1971 but the CAA has extended it to December 31,2014. Chotisuh also pointed out that though CAA exempted tribal areas of Tripura, Mizoram, Assam and Meghalaya under the Sixth Schedule and Areas under the ILP notified under the BEFR 1873, yet it did not exempt urban area in the region. He said the notion that ILP would protect Nagas was not based on facts as it has failed to check immigrants and instead practically becoming a permanent residency permit for immigrants whose numbers were rising alarmingly. Chotisuh also pointed out that more than 60% of the business establishments in Dimapur and Kohima are controlled by non-locals who have penetrated the most remote villages in Nagaland. He cited a report of Kohima Municipal Council which stated that there are 6668 shops registered in Kohima till August 2019, out of which, 1720 shops are registered under Non-Nagas. However, he said many Non-Nagas have registered their shops in the name of Nagas. He cautioned that this would eventually lead to a replication in Nagaland or Arunachal Pradesh over what happened in Tripura where the immigrant population became dominant over the indigenous tribals. He said this can happen if Nagas do not wake up and take a stand today and appealed to members to pass a resolution rejecting this contentious Act (CAA) 2019. NPF MLA Dr. Chumben Murry echoed the same stating that in spite of the huge protest, resentment and opposition against the Bill country wide, it was unfortunate that NDA Government decided to pass the Bill and eventually became a Law. He said such an Act can come by if only there was vested interest and hidden agenda. He said the ruling PDA heeded to the voices of the people against the CAB and agreed to pass the house resolution on February 23, 2019 though with a rider, that Article 371(A) and BEFR 1873 protects Nagaland from CAB. Dr. Chumben Murry explained that Article 371(A) involved social and religious practices, Naga Customary Law and Land and its Resources and not related with citizenship issue. He also reminded the house of the central government notification which maintained that Nagaland does not have legislative powers to frame the NP&NG Rules and Regulations. He said this has made the Article 371(A) almost a redundant law because, it did not act in given due time. He urged ruling members not to believe the Union Home Minister Amit Shah who assured that provisions in CAA were being made for protection of Nagaland. He however said Shah stated : CAA is not a state subject, during the recent interview with Times Now when asked whether states have any option if they dont want to implement CAA. Murry said the ground reality was that the state has no role whatsoever in granting of citizenship or exemption as provided under the amended CAA that have no meaning. Therefore, he sought that resolution be passed rejecting CAA. Concluding the speech from the opposition bench, Leader of the Opposition (LoO) T.R. Zeliang gave a detailed explanation that with CAA, illegal immigrants will no longer be illegal since , any person who came to India without any proper documentation can be granted citizenship by residing in the country for a minimum of six years. He said if the government of India sought to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities of neighbouring countries, why were refugees from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and the Buddhists from Tibet not given the same opportunity? He said the Act was mainly to create political vote banks taking without considering the sentiments of the people across the country. Zeliang said Nagaland was the most vulnerable to the threat from migrants and illegal immigrants taking over the States economy as the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland have been depended on them for decades. Citing the flip-flop decision of the PDA government, Zeliang said PDA government does not know what they themselves are doing and to add salt to the wounds of the Naga public, he said PDA has called for consultative meet after taking unilateral decisions after decisions. LoO asserted that though the BJP as well as the NDPP members was equally concerned for the future generation of the Nagas, they however for their political survival were bound to obey the central directives at the cost of the Naga people. He questioned the stand of the lone independent, who was former NSF president and who was not bound by any party whip but who should not be scared to speak his mind on CAA. Zeliang expressed doubt that since BEFR 1873 was not even enacted by Parliament, it can be removed and annulled. He also reminded that no matter how the ruling bench claim protection, as long as Nagaland was under the constitution of India, CAA will definitely have a huge negative impact on the social set up of the people if not immediately then in the long run. LoO appealed the government to take a firm stand and also show the public that they care for the posterity of the Nagas so that Nagas will not be taken by immigrant populace and become a minority in the own State like Tripura. He concluded by commenting that as long as Assam was not protected from the threat of these illegal immigrants, none of the neighbouring states in North East would be safe and the false illusion that Nagaland was safe for having ILP regime should be done away so the house must oppose CAA implementation in unison. If you are starting a new job this year, or just want to update your tax information with your employer, some of the paperwork is going to look different. A lot different. The IRS has introduced a new Form W-4 that must be used by all employers in 2020 to better accommodate recent changes to the tax law. The overhaul of the form is the biggest in decades and makes a once quick exercise a bit more involved. In return, according to the IRS, it will yield more accurate results. That is particularly important as the new tax law led to surprises for some folks last year, due in part to improper withholdings. So the new form is worth a look, regardless of how long you have been on the job. The more accurate your W-4, the more accurate your withholdings are. Withhold too little and you'll owe money at tax time and possibly face a penalty. Withhold too much and you may be due a refund which means you missed out on that money all year. Ideally you should break even. Here's what you should know: What's different Say goodbye to allowances, the backbone of the old W-4. Employees used to answer a series of questions to arrive at a number of "allowances." The allowances were based on personal exemptions essentially how much income was exempt from tax based on how many people were dependent on the employee. But the new tax law did away with personal exemptions, so the IRS had to change its approach. The form now collects information about all the income in an employee's household, as well as dependents, to calculate how much to withhold. The details The form is five steps long. Steps 1 and 5 are mandatory fill out your personal information and sign the form. For some people, that will be it. The other steps are optional but can help a taxpayer get more accurate results, says Alice Jacobsohn, senior manager of government relations for the American Payroll Association Step 2 asks employees to provide information about all the income in their household if there are multiple jobs. This applies if the employee has more than one job or if both spouses work and file taxes jointly. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Employees can use an online calculator or worksheet to arrive at the correct amount, or they can simply check a box if the pay at both jobs is roughly equal. Step 3 is for claiming any dependents, which are generally consider those who are under age 17 and living with you more than half the year. You'll need to complete an additional worksheet if you have other types of dependents to claim. And Step 4 is where you can make any adjustments for other income, deductions or optional withholdings. This includes reporting other forms of income such as dividends or withdrawals from retirement accounts. There is also an option to enter a set amount of additional money to be withheld, including those who simply want to ensure they have a large refund. If you are confused, check out the IRS website. The IRS Withholding Estimator walks employees through the process. "Perhaps initially it is going to be difficult for people because it is a change," Jacobsohn said. "But I suspect over time it will make it easier for people." Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday assured all support to Adani Group which has shown interest in investing in different sectors in the state. The company has already expressed interest to invest in logistics, industrial park, new age technology and metal industries in the state. The assurance was given by the chief minister when he met the Group's chairman Gautam Adani at the Naveen Niwas, Patnaik's residence here. They discussed Adani Group's investment plan in different sectors in Odisha, sources said. Patnaik also invited Adani to the state's biennial industrial event, 'Make in Odisha Conclave 2020', scheduled to be held in November-December. The Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates, has already been running an all-weather port at Dhamra in Odisha's Bhadrak district and also started work on the LNG terminal and an LPG terminal. "CM assured all support & invited the Adani Group to the upcoming #MIO2020 Conclave," the Odisha Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 08.02.2020 LISTEN Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has described as 'reckless' Yaw Buaben Asamoa comments that government official 1 is former President John Mahama. He is reported to have said that Samuel Adams Mahama was the Intermediary 5 stated in the Airbus scandal which took place between 2009 and 2015. "This intermediary 5 was named to be the brother of the yet to be known government official 1." In responding to the claim made by the NPP stalwart, the National Communications Director of the NDC stated that "no serious-minded person would draw conclusions based on conjecture and wilful misinterpretation of the approved judgement of the UK Crown Court". He emphasised that "no ex-government official of Ghana is cited in any part of the approved judgements for receiving a bribe or committing any offence. In fact, not even the unnamed government official 1 is cited in the report or approved judgement for demanding or receiving a bribe". Sammy Gyamfi urged Ghanaians to treat with contempt Yaw Buaben Asamoa's "pathetic and reckless" statements levelled against Mahama over the Airbus scandal. Labour leadership contender Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled his campaign events this weekend because his mother-in-law remains in a critical condition in intensive care. Shadow cabinet member Sir Keir was due to take part in hustings with other candidates in the battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday and Sunday. A spokesperson for the early front-runner in the leadership race said: 'Since being admitted to hospital two weeks ago, Keir's mother-in-law remains in a critical condition in intensive care. 'For this reason, he will be cancelling all campaign events this weekend and will be unable to attend hustings. 'We ask that his family's privacy is respected at this time.' Shadow cabinet member Sir Keir was due to take part in hustings with other candidates in the battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday and Sunday (he is pictured last weekend during a party leadership hustings) Polls have regularly been suggesting that Sir Keir is likely to come out on top in the leadership ballot in which he is pitted against Rebecca Long-Bailey (right, last weekend), Emily Thornberry (left, last weekend) and Lisa Nandy Sir Keir pulled out of campaign events for a number of days in January after his mother-in-law was admitted to hospital following an accident. At the time the shadow cabinet member thanked people for their 'support and kindness' in what he said had been - and would continue to be - a 'very difficult time'. Polls have regularly been suggesting that Sir Keir is likely to come out on top in the leadership ballot in which he is pitted against Rebecca Long-Bailey, Emily Thornberry and Lisa Nandy. At a rally in Sheffield on Friday night, Ms Long-Bailey pledged to back workers and trade unions in every strike and dispute 'no questions asked' if she succeeds in becoming Labour leader. The shadow business secretary said the party's path back to power after its worst general election defeat since 1935 is by 'rebuilding' the trade union movement. She added that the next leader must be 'as comfortable on the picket line as at the dispatch box' and commit to giving workers a 'right to unplug' from emails and calls outside of work hours. 'As leader, I'll put trade unions at the heart of Labour's path to power, and back workers in every dispute,' she said. Keir Starmer speaks during the Labour leadership hustings at Cardiff City Hall last weekend. He will not take part in any campaign events this weekend She said that Labour would 'back workers in every dispute and strike against unfair, exploitative and unjust employers' under her leadership. And she said that 'standing on the side of workers and trade unions, no questions asked, is going to be crucial in standing up to this reactionary Conservative Government'. Although she is seen as the current leadership's favoured candidate, it appears she is facing an uphill battle to convince the membership to vote for her. An Ipsos Mori study released on Thursday put Ms Long-Bailey in last place when 1,001 voters were asked if she has what it takes to be a prime minister. She also trailed in last place - with Sir Keir on top, Lisa Nandy second and Emily Thornberry third - when Labour supporters were asked the same question. The campaign result will be announced on April 4. The Tamilnadu Postal Circle under India Post, Tamil Nadu, has invited applications in a prescribed format from eligible and interested candidates for filling 37,750 vacancies to the post of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) through direct recruitment to posted across postal divisions in the State. The offline application process towards the same started on February 4, 2020 and closes on February 17, 2020. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) Organisation Tamilnadu Postal Circle - India Post Educational Qualification Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent or any other qualification as prescribed Experience Freshers can apply Job Location Tamil Nadu, Chennai Salary Scale Level 1 of the pay matrix Industry Postal Service Application Start Date February 4, 2020 Application End Date February 17, 2020 Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for GDS & MTS posts under Tamilnadu Postal Circle must have attained 18 years of age and not be more than 25 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 5 years (SC/ST) as specified in the notification. For details regarding fee towards application processing, refer to the official notification given at the end of the article. Karnataka Postal Circle Recruitment For 37,987 Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) And Multi-Tasking Staff Posts Educational Criteria And Eligibility Candidates applying for GDS & MTS posts under Tamilnadu Postal Circle must have passed Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent or any other qualification as specified in the advertisement given at the end of the article. Candidates must have knowledge of Tamil language - speak, read and write. Selection And Pay Scale The selection for GDS & MTS posts under Tamilnadu Postal Circle Circle will be done through a Competitive Examination and Interview. Candidates selected for GDS & MTS posts under Tamilnadu Postal Circle will be paid emolument under Level 1 of the pay matrix. MOSPI Recruitment For 48 Consultants And Executive Assistants Post, Apply Offline Before February 29 How To Apply Candidates applying for GDS & MTS posts under Tamilnadu Postal Circle must fill the application form in a prescribed format attached with the advertisement, and send the same along with relevant supporting documents, etc. to the "Divisional Office" or "The Assistant Director (Recruitment), O/o Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai-600002" on or before February 17, 2020 by registered/speed post. The envelope containing application form and other supporting documents must be superscribed as, "Application For Recruitment to The Post Of GDS/MTS in Tamilnadu Circle." Download application form and read the detailed notification about Tamilnadu Postal Circle recruitment for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) posts here One and the same. Yet the senator from Utah finally seems to have found the hill hes willing to die on. Its courage that demands respect. Ive been reading and rereading Romneys moving and masterly Senate floor speech on Wednesday, in which he explained his vote. I will only be one name among many, no more, no less, to future generations of Americans who look at the record of this trial, he said in his peroration. They will note merely that I was among the senators who determined that what the president did was wrong, grievously wrong. The central theme of Romneys address is obligation: the things to which we are bound, and those to which we are not. Romney says, and clearly believes, that he is bound by the Constitution, his oath to God, the evidence, his conscience and the judgment of history. What doesnt bind him: loyalty to president and party, the opinions of his constituents, the need to stand with the team or most specious of all the idea that, whatever the facts, the Senate is obliged to acquit Trump so that voters can render their own verdict in November. Yet there is no constitutional case to leave to voters decisions that belong only to Congress the dark road Mitch McConnell went down when he denied Judge Merrick Garland a confirmation hearing in 2016, on the theory that the American people should choose Justice Antonin Scalias replacement. The whole concept of small-r republicanism rests on the idea that self-government works only when public opinion is filtered through multiple institutions and wiser heads, not merely flushed through Congress like sewage in a drain. MANCHESTER, N.H. - Three days before the critical New Hampshire Primary, seven Democratic presidential candidates debated, with many of them fighting to survive in the race to challenge President Donald Trump. Here are some key takeaways. MAYOR PETE MAKES HIS CASE Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend., Ind., was the candidate of the moment Friday. All eyes were on him Friday night to see if he could make his case. And he did with one significant stumble. Attacked for his thin resume, Buttigieg shot back, If youre looking for the person with the most years of Washington, D.C., experience under their belt, that candidate is not me. He promoted his youth compared with the lawmakers onstage talking their achievements from decades ago. We cannot solve the problems before us by looking back, Buttigieg said. We have to be ready to turn the page. A former military intelligence officer, Buttigieg seemed comfortable discussing foreign affairs, such as the Trump administrations killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. There is no evidence that that made our country safer, he said, adding later, This is not an episode of 24. But Buttigiegs trouble spot has long been race. Asked about a spike in arrests of black people for marijuana possession in his city after he became mayor, Buttigieg began to decry systemic racism but seemed to acknowledge he couldnt escape it in the city that he ran. SANDERS UNDER ATTACK It didnt take long for the candidates to make clear whom they saw as the front-runner. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was piled on by competitors fighting to become the moderate alternative to the self-declared democratic socialist. There were two lines of attack -- Sanders uncompromising liberal positions and, specifically, his proposal to immediately have the federal government take over the entire health care system. The most notable punch was thrown by Buttigieg, who said Democrats will have a problem working to unite this country at a moment when we need unification when our nominee is dividing people. Asked if he meant Sanders, he said yes. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar scoffed at Sanders health care proposal. Former Vice-President Joe Biden noted that Sanders says he has no idea how much his proposal could cost, though experts have put it at at least $30 trillion. But he showed a characteristic durability. In the deeply divided field, Sanders is now leading in many polls by virtue of that following. BIDEN BOUNCE BACK? After his disappointing showing in Iowa, Biden was fighting to survive. Sometimes it didnt seem like it, but Biden also displayed flashes of the fire and emotion that have traditionally endeared him to Democratic voters. Offered a chance early to swing at his two main rivals Sanders and Buttigieg Biden opened by basically admitting he was going to lose New Hampshire. Bernie won by 20 points last time, Biden said softly. His criticisms of Sanders and Buttigieg werent nearly as sharp as those offered by other candidates. Bidens had difficulty talking about the GOP investigation into his own son that triggered Trumps impeachment and that has coincided with the former vice-presidents slide in the polls. The former vice-president was left asking the crowd to give a standing ovation to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was led out of the White House hours earlier. Vindman had testified in December before Democrats investigating Trumps dealings with Ukraine. Biden, 77, was more energized in the later hours of the debate. He was visibly enraged at Trumps dismissive comments on U.S. casualties during the Iranian retaliation for the U.S. killing of an Iranian general. He sharply attacked Sanders over the Vermont senators prior support for gun rights, defended his long record on the Supreme Court and promoted his historic support from African-Americans. But its not clear whether his performance will quell worries. WARREN DIDNT HAVE A PLAN FOR BREAKING THROUGH Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren invested deeply in neighbouring New Hampshire as a key part of her 2020 run, but she struggled to find a standout moment as she begins to make her final case to the states voters. Warren skipped a chance to differentiate herself more from Sanders, a fellow progressive whom she calls a longtime friend. Given the chance to create some distance, Warren said, We have a lot of things in common, we have a lot of things that we differ on. She quickly shifted to making a party unity plea and echoing her stump speech lines about big money in politics and corruption. We bring our party together, its an issue we can all agree on and fight to end the corruption, Warren said. Were the Democrats. We should be the party on the side of hardworking people and we can bring in independents and Republicans on that. They hate the corruption as well. Warren also did little to explicitly come to Sanders defence as her Vermont rival was attacked by the more moderate candidates over his prized Medicare for All policy goal, an idea Warren supports. KLOBUCHAR MADE A MARK Klobuchar was quick with the quips as she tried gain an edge in the primarys moderate lane. She repeatedly made a virtue of her ability to compromise and work with Republicans. There was an urgency to her presentation, with good reason: She needs an upset in New Hampshire. She hit familiar notes of criticizing Medicare for All as she touted her Midwestern appeal and legislative success in the Senate. Klobuchars plea boiled down to making a case for Democratic sensibility as a break from the smash-mouth nature of Trumps presidency. I didnt come from money, Klobuchar said, insisting voters want to have someone that they can understand in the White House. STEYERS FIERY PLAY ... FOR SOUTH CAROLINA Billionaire activist Tom Steyer does not have much of a chance in New Hampshire. So he used the debate to make a strong appeal to African American voters in South Carolina, where his campaign has invested heavily and black voters make up two-thirds of the primary electorate. The billionaire noted that well into the debate, we have not said one word tonight about race. Are you kidding me? he asked as a discussion of race ensued. He added later, I am for reparations to African Americans in this country and anyone who thinks that racism is a thing of the past and not an ongoing problem is not dealing with reality. YANG NOT BURDENED Businessman Andrew Yang was not burdened by low expectations. He was at ease and having fun on the debate stage Friday night, even though his chances to win New Hampshire, let alone the Democratic nomination, are minuscule. He bounced onto the stage without a tie, in stark contrast to his more buttoned-up male rivals. But Yang was largely left out of the heated exchanges that simmered through the debate, focusing instead on stepping back and looking at the larger picture. Donald Trump is not the cause of all of our problems, Yang said. And we are making a mistake when we act like he is. He is a symptom of a disease that has been building up in our communities for years and decades. THE ELEPHANT NOT IN THE ROOM Two words were spoken Friday night that have rarely come up on the trail or in prior debates: Mike Bloomberg. The former New York mayor and multibillionaire is skipping the early nominating states and instead spending hundreds of millions on Super Tuesday states with far more delegates at stake. A viewer-submitted question asked why the candidates were better than Bloomberg. I dont think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States, Warren said. I just simply dont think people look at the guy in the White House and say, Can we get someone richer? Klobuchar said. There are millions of people who can desire to run for office but I guess if youre worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred millions of dollars on advertising you have a slight advantage, Sanders said. The responses were clear signals that they take Bloomberg seriously. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States had killed Qassim al-Raymi, the leader of Islamist group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in a counterterrorism operation in Yemen. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States had killed Qassim al-Raymi, the leader of Islamist group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in a counterterrorism operation in Yemen. "Under Rimi, AQAP committed unconscionable violence against civilians in Yemen and sought to conduct and inspire numerous attacks against the United States and our forces," Trump said in a statement. "His death further degrades AQAP and the global al-Qaida movement, and it brings us closer to eliminating the threats these groups pose to our national security," the president said. He did not say when Raymi was killed. The United States regards AQAP as one of the deadliest branches of the al Qaeda network founded by Osama bin Laden. Reports in Yemen have suggested in recent days that Raymi had been killed in a drone strike in Marib. Reuters was unable to verify the reports. One Yemeni government official told Reuters there had been a drone strike in Marib but it was not Raymi who had been killed. (This story refiles to correct to show leader killed, in headline) (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Tom Brown) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. County Wexford Chamber of Commerce has appointed corporate finance expert Fiona Lewis as its new chief executive officer. Lewis joins the newly amalgamated Chamber after holding the position of CEO at the Southeast Simon Community for five years. She will lead the 'county' chamber which has over 400 members from Wexford, New Ross and Gorey. Previously Lewis spent 15 years with Ulster Bank before starting her own company Business Lending Solutions in 2007. Lewis said: 'This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved with a vibrant new board of directors and a very engaged business community,' 'It is evident all around us of the commitment that there is by the various stakeholders in Wexford. Accessibility to Wexford has never been better and this offers opportunities to attract inward investment. 'County Wexford Chamber of Commerce will look to capitalise on the investment that has been made in infrastructure in the county by highlighting the advantages of setting up and growing business in the county. I look forward to working with the county council and other business associations in the knowledge that with collaboration, we can achieve the very best outcomes for County Wexford.' Lewis's appointment was announced after a competitive search by the Chamber's executive committee that attracted many high quality applications. Lewis recently graduated with a Level 9 qualification in Economics and Finance from WIT and was a past participant on the EU-funded Going for Growth programme for women entrepreneurs. Previously Lewis was also president of Junior Chamber Waterford and former Southeast Regional Director of Junior Chamber International Ireland (JCI). Chamber President Sean Reidy, who took up his role last October, said: 'We were very impressed by the calibre of all applicants for the position of full-time Chamber CEO. 'Following a rigorous selection process, the Chamber were delighted to offer Fiona the position of CEO. Having started a business herself in 2007, she is no stranger to the challenges faced by business owners. Fiona brings huge experience to the role and will be a major asset to the new Chamber, our members and the entire county.' By Express News Service Artist Sarojini Duttas excitement at having her first solo show at 64 is quite palpable, and so, we let her tell us all about it, without interrupting. This is my maiden painting venture after 40 years, so Im on a high! I was 16 when I had my first show, and now Im 64. Its my first solo, though I asked Dr Vaneeta Kapur to join me. We were both from the same school, Mater Dei Convent [now School], same class, are of the same age... only she took up science and became a doctor, and I went into humanities. We caught up after nearly 45 years and did this show. I married at 20, then had kids and though I did a few group shows, even sent my paintings Chicago and Bhutan, I couldnt actively paint. But I cant sit idle in one place, so I did my BEd, learnt computers, started making dresses, and finally opened a boutique 28 years ago to give my creativity a pathway. When I lost my husband 13 years ago, it took me 2-3 years to get back on feet. Thats when I encountered Buddhism the prayers, chanting and philosophy, removed the blocks of fear from mind and heart. Recently, I won first prize in a watercolour painting competition. That made me go ahead and plan this show. Vaneeta does impressionist landscapes, her use of colours are beautiful I do more detailed works in watercolours and acrylicswe have a mutual admiration society going on here! I love to travel, but didnt start till I turned 50. Now I am covering the world with vengeance. Most of my paintings are memories from my travels. My work is very different, theres no comparison and no competition! My works are priced from Rs 3,000 to 15,000. But both of us paint for the fun of it, and the sales will be part of that fun. I always carry my sketchbooks, and paint while waiting for the doctor or for the train. I always say, if you paint, you will never get bored. Oh, were here till the 13th. Do come and visit me. Till: February 13 At: CSOI Vinay Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi, Feb 8 : Residents of south west Delhi were in for a surprise on Saturday with three model booths offering red carpet welcome to voters as polling started for the Assembly elections. Setting the tone high, in Dwarka at a model pink polling booth, all women officials have been deputed by the administration. At the Oxford public school Vikas Puri, the entire polling station has been manned by differently abled citizens to encourage people with disabilities to vote. At new Uttam Nagar's Nigam Pratibha vidyalaya polling booth, token system has been introduced to make it hassle-free and convenient for voters to exercise their franchise. A woman voter Meghna Yadav said, "The new token system has avoided long queues. It took me barely 15 minutes to cast my vote." The Mumbai unit of the BJP on Saturday honoured an Uber driver with Alert Citizen Award after he reported a passenger to cops assuming the phone conversation that the man was having was about the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Police had recorded statements of both the passenger poet-activist Bappadittya Sarkar and the driver Rohit Singh Gour but found nothing suspicious. Rohit Gaur handed over a passenger who was conspiring against the Citizenship Amendment Act to the police. We called Rohit Gaur to Santacruz and greeted him on behalf of the people of Mumbai and honored him with the Alert Citizen Award, Lodha wrote on Twitter. Watch | BJP honors Uber driver who alerted about pasengers anti-CAA call Uber had acted swiftly to suspend Gour for reporting his passenger to the police. Gour said he stood by his decision to report Sarkar after overhearing his conversation. I have done my job as an alert citizen, he had said Friday. Sarkar reportedly took an Uber cab from Juhu to Kurla around 10.30 pm on Wednesday. During the journey he was discussing with his friend on mobile phone peoples discomfort with `Laal Salaam slogan at Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi. Gour, who was listening, stopped the cab and told Sarkar he wanted to withdraw money from ATM. But he then returned with two policemen with him. The policemen took both the men to a police station where Sarkar was questioned before he was allowed to leave. Gaurav Bandera is aboard this cruiseliner, World Dream, which is docked at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The cruise ship with approximately 1,800 passengers remained quarantined in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on Saturday. Several passengers from mainland China on a previous World Dream cruise were found to have the new coronavirus on returning home. (AP) Mangaluru/Karwar: The coronavirus has not only claimed hundreds of lives in China, it has upset the wedding plans of Gaurav Bandera of Kumapala village near Mangaluru. The employee of Star Cruises, which operates cruiseliners, is presently aboard a ship World Dream anchored off Hong Kong while the authorities are performing repeated coronavirus screenings of everyone on board. The wedding was fixed for Monday, February 10, but with no hope of the groom reaching the venue on time, it has had to be postponed. Dozens of guests whod already arrived for the festivities are put off. The marriage was fixed about eight months ago when Gaurav came to Mangaluru for a holiday. He was supposed to arrive here on January 26 to prepare for the wedding, but the ship was held up at Hong Kong due to the coronavirus scare, said Sabitha Raj, a relative. "The authorities promised to let those on board go if they tested negative. Gaurav has tested negative 3-4 times. But it looks like they are taking extra precautions and are not sending anyone out," she added. Meanwhile in Mangaluru, several of Gauravs relatives arrived for the wedding from distant places as they could not cancel their tickets at the last moment. "We had sent a message to all our relatives and friends that the wedding has been postponed, but some who could not cancel the tickets have arrived. We had hopes (of his arrival) till yesterday, but we cannot go ahead with the wedding now, she added. The family has sought the help of three layers of the administrationdistrict, state and Union government--to secure Gauravs release. Would-be groom Gaurav Bandera is not the only person from Uttara Kannada district to be stranded on a ship due to the coronavirus scare. Twenty-six-year-old Abhishek Magar, who works for Bermuda-based Princess Cruise Lines, is on the cruiseliner Diamond Princess which has been moored off Yokohama midway through its voyage to Japan from China. The young mans father, Balakrishna B Magar, a resident of Nandagadda in Karwar, has written to deputy commissioner Harish Kumar urging him to approach the Ministry of External Affairs for help. Anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh had emerged as a major poll issue during the high-octane electoral campaigning but voters in south Delhi are divided on whether it will have any bearing on the outcome of the assembly election. A section of voters claimed that the prolonged street agitation in the area demanding revocation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was "not an issue in the beginning of the campaign" but "political parties slowly turned it into one". Syed Asif, 30, a trained engineer, who runs a business near the site of the protest that has been going on for over 50 days now, lamented that Shaheen Bagh agitation was about "human issue" but "made into a poll issue to serve selfish interests". "Thus, it surely polarised minds of people and that will have an impact on the outcome of the polls. But Delhi also has very sensible people and I am very hopeful that most of the people have voted or will vote wisely," he said as he stood in a long queue at a polling station in Shaheen Bagh thronged by voters till late afternoon. Looking to capture power after a gap of 22 years, the BJP had mounted its one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge fuelled by its planks of Hindutva and nationalism, and its strident opposition to Shaheen Bagh protests. The issue often dominated the political discourse during the campaign, with many BJP leaders targeting the ruling AAP, and the Congress, accusing them of "misleading people" holding anti-CAA protests in Delhi. Sakit Mallik, 25, came to vote along with his family, which also included two young women, who exercised their franchise for the first time. "We live in Shaheen Bagh area and we have taken part in the protests and will go and sit again. One woman lost her baby in this fight. And they accused women of taking money and coming to protests for free 'biryani'. How shameful is that. Our protest is a national-level fight for a large cause. And development will have an impact on poll results not the protests, which was deliberately made into an issue," said 30-year-old Gulshan Mallik. Mohammed Yasin, 62, agreed with Mallik and claimed that the Shaheen Bagh protests issue "will not impact the poll results". "The protests are about CAA and NRC and aims to fight for a better future for our people, irrespective of the religion they belong to. The protests have been supported by members of other communities too, Hindus and Sikhs, it was not about just Delhi. It is making global headlines," he said. "And people of Delhi are not foolish, they understand what is hollow and what is pro-development agenda," he asserted. Meanwhile, women protesters at Shaheen Bagh voted in batches on Saturday so that the agitation remains unaffected. In view of the ongoing protests in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's Office had put all the five polling stations in the area under the "critical" category. "All the booths are in sensitive areas so extra vigil is being maintained. Paramilitary forces are also patrolling the area and webcasting is being done at polling stations," a senior poll official told PTI in the afternoon when about 40-45 per cent votes were cast at a polling station located in the building of Abul Kalam Azad Boys School. At Shaheen Bagh, young and old, men and women queued up since morning at the five polling stations to cast their votes. In Jamia Nagar, Mohammad Zubair, 63, who came to vote along with his 26-year-old daughter Sarah Madiha, an architect, said he will choose development. "Attempts were made to polarise voters by a party over the anti-CAA protests, but it will not work much," he said. Sarah agreed with her father, saying, "Yes, I am all for nationalism. But nationalism to me means Hindus ad Muslims being treated equally." "I have a lot of my friends who are non-Muslims and have different ideologies, but even they don't sanction the idea of using a peaceful protest for political gains. They made the protests a poll issue but it will not have any impact on the polls results," she claimed. However, S C Sharma, 74, who came to vote along with his wife in the Kalkaji constituency, said he voted for "development and national security". Several BJP leaders during campaigning have denounced the Shaheen Bagh protests, terming it a "threat to security", "anti-India" and an "attempt to malign the image of a rising India". Though the Shaheen Bagh protest site is far away from Kalkaji, a section of voters in the Kalkaji constituency also feel that the anti-CAA protests there will "have a bearing" on the elections that concluded on Saturday evening. Amit Lal, 18, who mans a shop at Kalkaji Mandir voted for the first time. He said the Shaheen Bagh issue will "have an impact" but development agenda also cannot be ignored. "I live in a JJ Colony in Madanpur Khadar that neighbours the protest site, and the anti-CAA protests were made a major poll issue by parties. But agenda should have been development, education and health and jobs." However, as a responsible voter no one should get "swayed by polarisation", he said. Nearly, 57 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes by 6 pm in the Delhi Assembly election held on Saturday but the figure is likely to be updated later. The votes will be counted on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Data Collection (TNS) A state district judge in Houston, Texas, told Facebook on Jan. 29 that it must take down a privacy tool announced with much ballyhoo that same day and promoted with a blog post by founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.But if you go to the Off-Facebook Activity tool on either the social giants website or in its mobile app settings, the feature is still there, despite the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Tanya Garrison in Harris Countys 334th State District Court.Even sprawling, multinational corporations like Facebook must follow the law. So why is this particular order being ignored?Facebook continues to be in contempt of Judge Garrisons order, said Annie McAdams, the attorney who won the TRO. She has filed for a contempt-of-court ruling, and Facebook has requested an emergency appeal with the Houston-based 14th State Court of Appeals.Both legal maneuvers are on hold because the two sides are talking, and met Thursday in San Francisco for the deposition of a Facebook executive.Facebook works with third-party sites and mobile apps to collect data about its users behavior on those sites. That data is then used to make Facebook ads and those distributed through affiliated third-party ad networks more personalized to user interests. This is so effective that it has caused some people to believe Facebook is using their smartphones microphone to spy on what they are saying.The Off-Facebook Activity tool does two things: It lets you see a list of third-party apps and sites that funnel your activity back to Facebook. You can then instruct Facebook not to associate data from those apps and sites with your account in the future. You can also toggle a setting that disassociates your identity from all previous data that has been collected.McAdams is concerned that the tool could delete or damage data needed for her case, filed on behalf of a client identified only as Jane Doe. As a 16-year-old girl, the client met a man on Facebook McAdams alleges groomed her with promises of money from modeling, then lured her into sex trafficking. After a meeting with the man, the girl allegedly was gang-raped by seven men.The lawsuit, Jane Doe vs. Facebook, alleges the social giant does little to prevent such activity its platform. McAdams who has other, similar suits against Facebook requested as part of the discovery process data that the alleged perpetrator generated both on and off the platform. She said Facebook has so far not produced that data, though Facebooks attorney has said in court that the evidence has been preserved.According to court documents, Facebook contends it is protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a part of that law that shields the operators of online services from liability due to content posted by its users.But that does not explain why Facebook would ignoring a judges order to take down the privacy tool. The answer, said attorney Katie Sunstrom of Lorance Thompson not involved in the matter, may have to do with economics.It might make more economic sense to not comply with the order, said Sunstrom, who specializes in internet, intellectual property and technology law. Whatever amount of damage Facebook might incur from not complying with the ruling would pale in comparison to the damage from taking it down.In other words: Court fines for disobeying a TRO in Harris County would be pocket change for Facebook, which reported $7.3 billion in profit on $21.1 billion in revenue for the final quarter of 2019 alone.Facebooks attorney handling the case did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Sunstrom said Facebook also is between a rock and a hard place, because an increasing number of states are passing laws that require online companies to provide a way for users to delete their data. Thats particularly true in California, which last year passed the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA. Facebook may face more legal threats if it does not make tools such as Off-Facebook Activity available, she said.McAdams said her ultimate goal is to acquire the evidence she needs from Facebook. If that occurs, she said she will pull down our motion for contempt.We are not looking to stop Facebook from advancing its privacy applications, she said. We just want to understand and preserve evidence, and protect childrens interactions on Facebook. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan newspapers this week focused on the resumption of the political dialogue scheduled in Geneva on February 26, the ceasefire monitoring mechanisms in the face of European divisions and the enthusiasm of African countries to deploy observers DES MOINES, Iowa Iowa Democrats are recovering from severak disappointments after Mondays Iowa caucuses, though one has received less attention than the others. About 176,000 Iowans attended their precinct caucuses, a slight uptick from 2016 but fewer than expected. The number is certain to rattle Democrats, who are banking on high turnout in battlegrounds across the country to win in November. And it raises doubts about whether Iowa is winnable by Democrats, after a recent shift toward Republicans. The number was perhaps most disappointing to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose strategy in the primary and the general election hinges on bringing out young and infrequent voters. Asked about the turnout at a debate Friday night, Sanders acknowledged it was off the mark. Thats a disappointment, and I think all of us probably could have done a better job of bringing out our supporters, he said. The parade of candidates, a Democratic base seething to unseat President Trump and high participation in 2018 midterms had party insiders braced for a turnout could match or top the contests high-water mark. But Monday came nowhere near the 2008 caucuses, when roughly 238,000 Iowans participated in the kickoff clash among Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, onetime Iowa favorite John Edwards and a handful of others. The 2020 caucuses did draw 5,000 more than 2016, when Clinton very narrowly beat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, but went on to lose to Donald Trump. It was lower than I expected, said former Iowa Democratic Party executive director Norm Sterzenbach, who has been advising Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchars campaign. It was definitely lower than what the conventional wisdom was. Democrats in Iowa are fighting to overcome a decade-long slide that has shrunk their ranks in rural areas and once reliably Democratic-voting manufacturing towns along the Mississippi River. Its part of a shift from the partys 50-year high point in 2008, when it controlled not just the governorship and both houses of the state Legislature but three of five U.S. House seats and a U.S. Senate seat. Since 2010, Democrats have struggled in rural areas while the party has grown in Iowas burgeoning suburbs around Des Moines and the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor. Today, Republicans control the statehouse and both U.S. Senate seats in Iowa, where Trump won by 9.5 percentage points over Clinton in 2016. Thomas Beaumont is an Associated Press writer. Two neighbors, a woman and a man who said they were outside during the shooting, ventured over to the sidewalk on Homan afterward but were also apprehensive about getting too close. The woman asked a reporter to walk up to the tape and describe the body for her, so she could discern whether she knew him, before deciding to do so herself. The man stayed back. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg might have not qualified for the Democratic debates yet, but he still had a cameo on Friday. George Stephanopoulos during Friday's New Hampshire debate asked a question all about Bloomberg submitted via Apple News, asking the candidates why they're "better positioned" to take on President Trump than he is. The Democrats on the stage, naturally, didn't pass up the opportunity to get in some attacks on a candidate who wasn't actually there to respond. "I don't think anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or to be president of the United States," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. Sanders joined in as well, saying, "It's a funny thing. There are millions of people who can desire to run for office, but I guess if you're worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred million dollars on commercials, you have a slight advantage. That is nonsense." These attacks may end up serving as solid practice for an upcoming debate, as a recent rule change leaves the door open for Bloomberg to soon join the fun himself. Sen. Sanders on Michael Bloomberg: "I guess if you're worth $60 billion and you can spend several hundred million dollars on commercials you have a slight advantage. That is nonsense." https://t.co/0GxKJz7e8Y #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/6p6YtLnEjF ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020 More stories from theweek.com American democracy is dying For better pasta sauce, throw away your garlic Trump's $4.8 trillion budget would cut domestic safety net, hike military spending New Delhi, Feb 8 : An estimated 42.29 per cent of the 1.47 crore eligible voters cast their votes in the first eight hours till 4 p.m. on Saturday in the election for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. The early hours saw low polling as very few voters chose to brave the early morning chill to cast their franchise even after the polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security. Polling was peaceful, with no untoward incidents reported. Polling officer, Udham Singh, posted at Babarpur Assembly constituency in east Delhi, died due to cardiac arrest. A total of 81,05,236 male voters, 66,80,277 female voters and 869 third gender voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 13,570 polling booths across 2,689 areas. According to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout App, the estimated turnout, area wise till 4 p.m., was Northeast Delhi (49.07 per cent), East Delhi (45.49 per cent polling), North West Delhi (43.31 per cent), West Delhi (42.20 per cent), South Delhi (43.65 per cent), Southwest (42.48 per cent) and Central Delhi (38.22 per cent). There are 672 candidates in the fray to elect a new government. President Ram Nath Kovind, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan and S. Jaishankar and controversial BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who cast their votes early morning along with their families. Kejriwal, who is seeking another term from the New Delhi constituency, cast his vote along with his father, mother and wife at a polling booth in Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area. Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former party President Rahul Gandhi turned up at the polling stations early in the day. Sonia Gandhi, who was discharged from hospital after four days following stomach infection, arrived at a polling booth in central Delhi's Nirman Bhawan. Manmohan Singh also exercised his franchise there. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi cast his vote at the NP Senior Secondary School in Aurangzeb Lane here. There was enthusiasm among voters of Neb Sarai, one of Asia's largest unauthorised colonies, as young voters came out in large numbers to exercise their right to choose their representative. The polling will end at 6 p.m. and the results will be announced on February 11. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making yet another attempt to return to power, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is determined to stage a comeback after 20 years and the Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, is expecting a resurgence in its vote share. In the last elections, the AAP had registered a landslide victory by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP had got three seats and the Congress drew a blank. The AAP is contesting on all the 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies - two for Janata Dal-United and one for Lok Janshakti Party. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal. The Election Commission had identified 516 locations and 3,704 polling booths as critical, 144 polling stations as vulnerable and 102 pockets as expenditure sensitive and paramilitary forces have been deployed there. Activities at each polling station are being monitored through webcasting. All the five polling stations in Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of anti-CAA protests, have been declared "critical". Around 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of 67.12 per cent in the 2015 Assembly polls. Juliet and Stephen doing the Tree Pose with Yoga Teacher Simon Pachikara at the Boherbue Traditional Indian Yoga Centre Little Stephen Pachikara who is a senior infants pupil at Boherbue National School previously attended the Boherbue Educare Centre. From a very young age, Stephen has loved Yoga and was taught by his Dad Simon who is a Yoga Guru. When Simon gave a Yoga demonstration to Stephen's little friends at the Creche, he was so inundated with requests for local classes that he has since opened a Yoga Centre in Boherbue, providing three classes each day, Monday to Friday, and catering for children and adults of all ages. Locals have taken to the discipline like ducks to water, and as practicing Yoga is said to calm and focus the mind, help with sleep disorders, boost immunity and improve overall health and wellbeing, everyone is a winner! Simon Pachikara moved to Boherbue from Kerala, India, seven years ago. He is a fully qualified Yoga Teacher in the art of Raja/Royal Type Yoga from the Sree Chakra Yoga Research Centre in South India which is under the direction of Yogacharya Paul Madathikandam. "The classes are based on traditional Indian foundations, with benefits of Yoga being increased flexibility and muscle strength coupled with improved respiration, energy, vitality and relaxation. All classes are suitable for every one at all levels" Simon said. Simon explains which muscles and areas of the body benefit from certain exercises and moves. "I am delighted to bring Yoga to the locality and I thank everybody for all the local support. I am delighted that all participants enjoy my classes and benefit from them," he said. Due to popular demand classes have recently commenced in Kanturk and Newmarket. Readers can check out Simon's Facebook Page Simon Pachikara for further details. Key politicians including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday queued up outside polling booths to exercise their franchise for Assembly polls in the capital. Jaishankar cast his vote at NDMC School of Science and Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent whereas Kejriwal along with his wife - Sunita Kejriwal, mother and son, a first-time voter, cast their votes at a booth in Civil Lines. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Manish Sisodia, Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi parliamentarians including Manoj Tiwari, Vijay Goel, Parvesh Verma and Meenakshi Lekhi also voted in the capital. The city is witnessing a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, which won a landslide majority in the last elections, the BJP and the Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, the BJP 3. Congress didn't open its account. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is hoping to retain power for the second consecutive term. Similarly, the BJP is hopeful to gain a majority by cashing in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years at a stretch in Delhi under the leadership of former Chief Minister late Sheila Dixit till the party lost to AAP in 2015 polls, will be hoping for a revival. AAP is contesting on all 70 seats, while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for JD-U and one for LJP. On the other hand, Congress is contesting on 66 seats and has given four seats to its ally RJD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Michelle and Chloe Murphy from Ballymurn at the Credit Unions What Next event Enniscorthy Credit Union was involved in organising a wellbeing event recently in the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, specifically for Fifth and Sixth Year students. The 'What Next?' event was organised in conjunction with Wexford Credit Union. A spokesperson for Enniscorthy Credit Union told this newspaper: 'The ethos of the night promoted well-being among students while providing real-life examples of what to expect from life after school and how to achieve real success.' The event featured an impressive line-up of speakers and the spokesperson said they achieved the ultimate goal of educating the students who attended in the areas they felt were most important in terms of considering their next step after school. The night ended on a high note with one student, Jonathan Breen, walking away with a brand-new iPhone 11, while 10 others won cash prizes. Among the guest speakers on the night were Darren Malone, Vice-President for the Southern Region with the Union of Students Ireland (USI) He represents over 60,000 students on social and academic issues in addition to working with students' unions across the country. During his time as Welfare Officer, Mr Malone worked with hundreds of students on issues relating to accommodation, finances, mental health, and equality issues, and he spoke on those topics at the event. Another speaker was Ellen Hogan who is an Internationally sought-after bio-energy specialist,nutritional therapist, naturopath, plant-based chef, and motivational speaker. Having experienced a life-threatening battle with ME, she has studied with health leaders all over the world. She spoke of about health issues and highlighted ways that people can change in the way they look at their bodies,food, lives, health, and happiness. Niall O Muiri, a retired mental health nurse who is also a board member of Wexford Mental Health Association, spoke about mental health awareness. Enniscorthy based Seamus Whitney, who is founder of Whitney Career Guidance, talked about personal development and career decisions. The organisers were delighted with the success of the event and they thanked the speakers for providing very important advice to the students. Airbus bribes: CID probe on Lankans who got money from Kapila and wife View(s): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has opened investigations to track the foreign bank accounts maintained by two or three Sri Lankans who have received funds from former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and his wife accused of accepting bribes from Airbus for re-fleeting the airline. Mr Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Wijenayake, were remanded on Thursday until February 19 after they were accused of accepting US$ 2mn (Rs 362mn) out of a total US$ 16.84mn (Rs 3bn) bribe promised in return for ensuring SriLankan bought aircraft from Airbus. This CID team is due to investigate overseas bank transactions conducted by both Mr Chandrasena and his wife from the period dating back to his time at SriLankan Airlines as the CEO. The team will request details from foreign banks where the suspects are known to have maintained accounts as part of its investigation, the official added. Earlier the Attorney General instructed police to obtain warrants for their arrest in relation to accusations that Airbus channeled a USD 2 million bribe to an account maintained in Singapore by a SriLankan executives wife who had floated a straw company in Brunei. The information surfaced as part of a court case being heard in the UK. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige told courts that it has been revealed that there were transactions through the accounts held by the couple to accounts held overseas by other persons. He said two to three of these persons are currently in Sri Lanka. He said that Singapore too had begun an investigation and some of the details of it had already been shared with Sri Lanka. It is alleged that two persons in Sri Lanka too have received money from the account of Ms Wijenayake. General Nka Valere Spm The Commander of the 5th Joint Military Region, Brigadier General Nka Valere and the Commander of the 5th Gendarmerie Region, Brigadier General Ekongwese Divine Nnoko, inform the population of the North West Region that the Defense and Security Forces are in the Region for their protection and security. The above is contained in a document dated Thursday, February 6, 2020 and attributed to the two top security officials in the North West Region where the Security and Defence Forces are battling armed separatists who seek an independent state they call Ambazonia. Parliamentary and municipal elections will take place in Cameroon on February 9, 2020 amid threats by separatists. In early January, separatist leaders said they will be imposing a six-day lockdown from February 6 to 12 in the troubled Anglophone regions where they are fighting to create an independent nation in a bid to stop the elections from taking place. In the joint communique, Brigadier General Nka Valere and Brigadier General Ekongwese Divine Nnoko call on the population to shun fear and be aware that the Defense and Security Forces are there for their protection. The communique reads: They hereby reassure the people that there is no need for fear as they go about their daily activities. The generals make it clear that the Defense and Security Forces are friends of the people. The population is informed that the following toll-free numbers are available for them to call in case of any complaints they may have about their security: 113, 117 and 118. The Defense and Security Forces will attend to any complaints forwarded to them immediately. Last month, Brigadier General Nka said the army will crush separatists who persist to disturb the elections. To the so-called (separatist) generals I want to issue them a strong warning. We are aware of the plans to disrupt the electoral process and we already know the hideouts, Nka told reporters after 400 troops jogged through the city of Bamenda to demonstrate strength and assure civilians of security. We are going to step up military operations and if they dont lay down their weapons, we are going to strike and crush them, he added. Cameroon has deployed troops to the regions to ensure security before, during and after the elections. The renewed security assurance from the Commanders goes to squash any fears that might have been in the minds of the population of the North West Region. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laurent Thomet (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China Sat, February 8, 2020 12:13 703 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20634ad68 2 World #China,#HongKong,coronavirus,quarantine,death-toll Free The death toll from China's coronavirus outbreak soared to 722 on Saturday as Hong Kong imposed a mandatory quarantine on mainland arrivals to block the spread of an epidemic that has caused global panic. With 86 more people dying in mainland China -- the highest one-day jump so far -- the toll was closing in on the 774 killed worldwide during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. Nearly 35,000 people have been infected by the new strain, which is believed to have emerged in a market selling wild animals in the central city of Wuhan last year before spreading across China. The epidemic has prompted the government to lock down cities home to tens of millions of people, as anger mounts over its handling of the crisis, especially after a whistleblowing doctor fell victim to the virus. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, on a visit to quarantined Wuhan this week, instructed officials to take a "wartime" approach as they implement drastic measures that include combing the city for feverish residents. With panic spiralling around the globe -- more than 320 cases have emerged in nearly 30 other countries -- researchers were racing to find treatments and a vaccine to fight the virus. Hong Kong quarantine Hong Kong began enforcing a two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from mainland China, under threat of both fines and jail terms. Most people will be able to be quarantined at home or in hotels but they will face daily phone calls and spot checks. The financial hub has 25 confirmed cases with one patient who died earlier this week. The city has been on edge as the virus has revived memories of the SARS outbreak that killed 299 in the semi-autonomous city. City officials hope the new measures will virtually halt the flow of people across the border while allowing the financial hub to remain stocked with food and goods from the mainland. The SARS epidemic left profound psychological scars and saddled residents with a deep distrust of authorities in Beijing who initially covered up the outbreak. In the last week, Hong Kong has been hit by a wave of panic-buying with supermarket shelves frequently emptied of staple goods such as toilet paper, hand sanitiser, rice and pasta. The government has blamed unfounded rumours of shortages. Cruise ship quarantined Other governments around the world have hardened their defences, with several countries banning arrivals from China and advising their citizens to avoid travelling there. Major airlines have suspended flights to and from China. Asian cruise ships have become a focal point as dozens of cases have been confirmed on a vessel off Japan's coast. Sixty-four people aboard the Diamond Princess off Yokohama have tested positive and passengers aboard the cruise ship have been asked to stay inside their cabins to prevent new infections. Another cruise ship carrying a passenger suspected of infection with coronavirus will not be allowed to dock in southern Japan, the government said. In Hong Kong, 3,600 people were confined aboard the World Dream, where eight former passengers have tested positive for the virus. - Hero doctor - On the mainland, the death Friday of a Wuhan doctor who was reprimanded by police after he had sent messages warning about the virus back in December sparked a rare outpouring of grief and anger on social media. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who contracted the disease while treating a patient, was eulogised as a "hero" while people on Twitter-like Weibo railed against "fat officials" and demanded "freedom of speech". Videos shared on Weibo showed a small group of people blowing whistles late Friday in front of a floral tribute to Li at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he died. As people across China fumed, the government expressed condolences and ordered an investigation. Wuhan's government will award Li's family 800,000 yuan ($114,000) in compensation covered by "work-related injury insurance", according to the official Xinhua news agency. - Scientists scramble - Researchers, meanwhile, are scrambling to develop a drug to combat the virus. The US health department is working with pharmaceutical firm Regeneron to develop a treatment using a class of drug that has boosted survival rates among Ebola patients. Two weeks ago Chinese doctors confirmed they had been giving anti-HIV drugs to coronavirus patients in Beijing, based on a 2004 study published after the SARS outbreak that showed "favourable" responses. Scientists around the world are also working to develop a vaccine, which experts say could take months. Chinese researchers looking at how the virus spread said the endangered pangolin, also known as the scaly anteater, may be the "missing link" between bats and humans. An earlier study -- since discredited -- pointed to snakes, and there remain numerous other possible candidates in the Wuhan wildlife market thought to be ground zero of the epidemic. In an imagined meeting between Marxism's founder, Karl Marx and socialist Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, we do not know of course, what they would say, but one thing is certain Marx would have been dumbfounded to learn that Sanders is a self-proclaimed socialist, too. For the founding fathers of the Marxist movement, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the main driving force of history was the class struggle between the working class (proletariat) and the capitalists (bourgeoisie). They predicted that a proletarian revolution would overthrow the bourgeoisie, and that would pave the way to a perfect, classless society. Latter-day socialists serve a very different constituency: college students, especially those whose major fields include the word studies social studies, ethnic studies, gender studies; former college students living in their parents basements and wishing that their student loans could be cancelled; and big-city dwellers, whose paychecks or welfare checks come for the most part from the government. Their generous promises appeal to other categories as well. Yet, the original constituents of the socialists, the heirs of the proletariat the blue-collar workers living mostly in small- and medium-sized cities in the flyover states have been lost, perhaps irrevocably, to Donald Trump, or to Boris Johnson, if they happen to live in England. The Marxist theorists had the pejorative term lumpenproletariat for an underclass strata consisting of miscellaneous groups, such as the chronically unemployed, the homeless, criminals and other outcasts who were uninterested in revolutionary advancement. They were explicitly excluded from the concept of proletariat, because they were "isolated from the forces of production and incapable of having a working-class consciousness." The Manifesto of the Communist Party written by Marx and Engels contemptuously calls them the social scum, that passively rotting mass thrown off by the lowest layers of the old society. Yet, Sanders is eager to attract them to his camp, too. Not only would Marx be shocked to learn about Sanders views, the feeling would be mutual. The notion that the Socialists are protectors of the rights of all oppressed minorities whether defined in terms of race, religion or otherwise is relatively recent. The founding fathers of Marxism did not subscribe to it. The ugly truth about their attitude toward non-Western peoples is exposed by Black social scientist Carlos Moore in his paper Were Marx and Engels White Racists? published in Berkeley Journal of Sociology, vol. 19 (1974-75), pp. 125-156. Here is its very brief summary. The paper quotes numerous derogatory racial and ethnic slurs and tropes from Marx and Engels works that I do not wish to reproduce here. More importantly, it sheds light on the bigger picture that explains the roots of their disdain for non-Western societies. Marx and Engels lived in the period of colonial conquests in Asia and Africa by the West. In their view of the world, capitalism was the last class society that would be replaced by a classless paradise. They believed that the pre-capitalist societies in Asia and Africa had to pass the capitalist stage of development in order to enter the paradise. Hence, according to Marx and Engels, their colonization by the West and integration into the capitalist world system was a progressive step, a prerequisite for reaching an eventual egalitarian Eden. But let Moore speak for himself; direct excerpts from his paper are in italics: The Mexican-American war of 1846-48 was "a typical example of brazen imperialistic conquest and expansionism. But not to the founders of Marxism, who greeted it as a "civilizing" event along the road to universal progress. The "energetic Yankees," they argued, would carry out a quick exploitation of the California gold mines, people of the conquered areas, and open up the Pacific to civilization, all of which the "lazy Mexicans" were naturally incapable of doing. Similarly, ... Marx and Engels saw the conquest of Algeria by the French as an "important and fortunate fact for the progress of civilization ..." Nowadays, trying to save the face of the founding fathers, Aryan Marxists make all sorts of posthumous excuses for Marx and Engels. These apologists will engage in multiple and ingenious intellectual acrobatics to make us believe that the architects of Marxism didn't really "mean" what they said, but meant what they did not say. We are asked to understand the "dialectical nature" of their pro-slavery, pro-colonialist, pro-imperialist, white supremacist (and Germanic) pronouncements. The "complexity" of their thinking and analytical process is also invoked by the apologists, as if to intimidate us into swallowing the crass racism of Marx and Engels. There are personal differences between Sanders and his ideological forerunners as well. First, Sanders was enamored with Russia when it was still known as the USSR, so much so that he spent his honeymoon there. His Marxist forerunners had nothing but contempt for Russia and for Slavic peoples in general, designating them as less advanced societies. Thats what prompted Moore to call them Aryan Marxists. Second, unlike Marx, Sanders wrote a commercially successful book that made him a millionaire. Marxs Das Kapital turned out to be more influential, but it did not raise much capital for its author. Unlike Sanders, who enjoys the opportunities provided by capitalism, Marx was impractical; he lived in poverty, had many children and few friends. One might explain away Marx and Engels racism by saying that we should not judge people living in the 19th century by todays standards, which is correct. However, prominent Marxists expressed the same attitude toward "natives" of Asia and Africa much more recently. Here is an example: Senator Marco Rubio criticized prominent African Americans for their admiration of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. According to Rubio, Guevara "wrote extensively about the superiority of white Europeans over people of African descent. PolitiFact, a reputable fact-checker, analyzed Rubios statement and indeed, found a rabidly racist quotation from Guevaras book, The Motorcycle Diaries, written in the 1950s. The quotation is so vile that I have decided not to dignify it by reproducing it here, but it is available on the PolitiFact website. PolitiFact confirmed its authenticity, but still rated Rubios statement Mostly False, because Rubio used the adverb extensively. To put a more innocuous spin on Guevaras statement, PolitiFact consulted experts who did not dispute the accuracy of that ugly racist quote, but tried to explain it away by pointing to Guevaras youth he was 24 when he wrote it. Later in his life Guevara, who was killed at 39, spoke out against racial discrimination. We have no way of knowing if he truly changed his views or simply watched his language when he rose to prominence. There should be a special place in hell reserved for college professors who extol the virtues of socialism to their students without mentioning monumental failures of real life socialist experiments that destroyed figuratively and literally millions of lives. While these tenured professors enjoy six-digit salaries and generous vacations, they cynically doom the impressionable kids to a life of misery. Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of public domain image colorized by Olga Klimbim / Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 SHANGHAI A United States citizen died from the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, American officials said on Saturday. It was the first known American death from the illness, and was likely to add to diplomatic friction over Beijings response to the epidemic. The death is also certain to raise questions over whether the Trump administration and the State Department in particular have taken sufficient action to ensure the safety of Americans in China and to aid in the evacuation of those who want to leave. In a statement, the State Department took a defensive tone, saying that since Jan. 29, it had evacuated around 850 people, most of them Americans, on five charter flights out of Wuhan. The agency said it had no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad, but there are no current plans to conduct additional evacuation flights, even as some Americans in other parts of China have been asking for the United States government to evacuate them. A federal appeals court dismissed Friday a lawsuit from 215 congressional Democrats against President Trump alleging that the Trump Organization is in breach of the Constitution's emoluments clause. The big picture: It's just one of several emoluments-linked cases facing Trump while in office, including others filed by the attorneys general of Maryland and D.C. and the federal ethics watchdog CREW. The ruling asserted that individual members of Congress lacked the standing to assert the powers of the institution as a whole. Democrats had hoped the case could carve a path to access Trump's finances. Read the opinion: Go deeper: Trump made at least $434 million from his business in 2018 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:21:14|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) said Friday that there will be no "Huawei ban," as Sweden moves forward with plans to roll out 5G technology in the country. Sweden's 5G frequency licenses will be assigned following an auction on Oct. 13, Anna Beckius, head of the spectrum analysis unit at PTS, told Swedish Television (SVT) on Friday. Although Chinese tech company Huawei will not be automatically excluded from the bidding process, any company that wants to take part in the auction must first undergo a review by the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Security Service, according to PTS. Beckius said that "it will be up to the mobile operators to determine whether or not 5G can become a reality." Next-generation 5G wireless networks could give Swedes up to 10 times faster web speeds than current 4G technology allows. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr., who earlier questioned the Department of Information and Communications Technology's multimillion-peso confidential fund, now says the money was used properly. Rio on Friday issued a joint statement with DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan saying "[we] have mutually agreed to settle our differences" in a bid to put to rest questions surrounding the DICT's integrity. "To set the record straight, Undersecretary Rio never mentioned any anomaly in the disbursement of the Confidential Expense of the DICT," their two-page joint statement read. It said Rio's statements about the need for the confidential and intelligence fund may have been misinterpreted. Earlier, Rio said the former senator now DICT chief had secured cash advances worth 300 million, charged against the 400 million earmarked for "confidential, intelligence and extraordinary expenses" of the agency in 2019. A copy of a memorandum from the Commission on Audit obtained by CNN Philippines showed that the amount was indeed released to Honasan in three tranches worth 100 million each in a span of six weeks from November to December last year. Among the reasons Rio cited for his resignation early this month is the need for DICT to have its own intelligence and surveillance funds something which should be left in the hands of military and police, he said. In the joint statement, however, Rio agreed that the disbursement was "lawful and legitimate" and used solely for the purpose of protecting the country's cybersecurity and national security. Rio and Honasan stressed that it is part of DICT's mandate is to protect the privacy, security and confidentiality in the Philippines' cyber space. "The returns of the Confidential Fund investment will soon be felt by our people because it will move us even closer towards a cybersafe Philippines," Rio and Honasan said. READ: 300-M intel funds used to combat spike in cyber threats, DICT says All procedures were followed in the allocation of the fund, which was a line item in the 2019 General Appropriations Act approved by Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte himself, their joint statement said. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senate Committee on National Defense and Security Chairman Panfilo "Ping" Lacson previously said they are seeking to look into allegations of fund misuse at the DICT by creating an oversight body that will review the usage of intelligence funds held by state agencies. READ: Probe on Honasan possible as Senate, House seek oversight of intel funds Malacanang said Duterte will observe the Senate hearing. "As to the allegations of Rio, he will listen to him when they meet but [there's] no schedule yet," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a text message. He added that Rio remains Undersecretary for Operations in the agency, since the President has not read his resignation letter but has already received it. Earlier, Rio said he was leaving his post due to some conflicting views with other officials in the agency, and that among the points of contention were the millions of pesos in confidential funds lodged with the agency. The joint statement now says Rio's resignation "was due to personal reasons, and not due to any rift with the Secretary, nor to any anomaly in the Confidential Expense." CNN Philippines' Melissa Lopez contributed to this report. Iran and North Korea are updating their aging fleets and building new and more advanced submarines in order to counter their adversaries in open waters. As Newsweek reports, Iranian navy commander Admiral Hossein Khanzadi touted his country's underwater military capabilities during a speech Thursday in the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan. He stated that "the most complex pieces equipment in the world are those found in the military and among the military equipment, the most complex are those found in the navy, especially submarines," according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. "But today, thanks to the efforts of the youth of this land," he added, "the country has made significant progress in this area." The senior military leader's remarks came just days after Iranian media aired an animated short depicting one of its Ghadir-class midget submarines taking out a U.S. Navy carrier strike group in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a decades-old arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council, the Islamic Republic has continued to develop its surface and underwater forces as Washington and Tehran face tensions in the Persian Gulf region. Last February, shortly after the submarine cartoon originally aired, Iran unveiled a new semi-heavy Fateh-class submarine at a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani himself at the naval base of Bandar Abbas. The vessel debuted its cruise missile capabilities a week later at the Velayat-97 war games that covered more than 770,000 square miles across the Strait of Hormuz, Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The Persian Gulf and its peripheries have been a flashpoint for worsening international frictions since President Donald Trump's administration pulled out of a multilateral nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018. Unilateral sanctions since imposed on Iran have increasingly restricted its ability to engage in trade, especially in the lucrative oil market. While the U.S. has sent additional troops and assets to the region to shore up its defenses, Iran has two separate maritime forces deployed thereIran's conventional navy and the navy of the elite Revolutionary Guard. Only the former is believed to operate submarines, though Revolutionary Guard navy commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri told Tasnim News Agency last month that the country may soon begin building submarines. It is estimated that Iran has about 34 submarines altogether, comprising what would be the fifth-largest fleet in the world, according to Global Firepower. Leading the pack is another longtime U.S. foe subject to a "maximum pressure" campaign led by the Trump administration. North Korea is believed to possess up to 83 submarines, though just how many of the old, mostly Cold War-era vessels are operational is unclear. North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un has set out to revamp his naval force, however. Last July, the young ruler was seen touring a "newly built submarine" believed to the experimental Gorae-class submarine, also called Sinpo-class or Pongdae-class and potentially the country's largest-ever such vessel. Some photos of the submarine appearing in the country's state-run media were partially censored, obscuring what South Korean intelligence also suspected were up to three submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers. After a spate of short-range missile and rocket tests designed to pressure the U.S. into advancing their denuclearization-for-peace process, North Korea test-fired a medium-range SLBM from a submersible barge for the first time in three years in October. Months later, Kim made a New Year's promise to debut a "new strategic weapon" in the "near future." That same day, a Sinpo-class submarine was present alongside a midget submarine and submersible test stand barge at the Sinpo South Shipyard, as indicated in Planet Labs satellite imagery featured in a report by the Stimson Center's 38 North project. While Iran is not known to possess any nuclear weapons and has publicly declared it did not seek such capabilities, North Korea has already conducted six nuclear tests and is believed to have amassed a stockpile of at least dozens of nuclear warheads. Pyongyang has also already made significant progress in developing nuclear-capable, land-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and honing its sea-based capabilities may be next on Kim's agenda. The Trump administration has so far failed to secure new deals for a lasting detente with either Tehran or Pyongyang, both which have vowed to resist what they see as hardline policies to undermine their respective national security. The White House has placed an emphasis on honing the Pentagon's strategic capabilities and the U.S. military announced Tuesday that the W76-2 low-yield nuclear warhead had been deployed to Trident II SLBMs for the first time. While the report blamed "potential adversaries, like Russia" for first seeking such low-yield weapons, Newsweek reported last month that the W76-2 could also be seen as a more usable and prompt option to counter potential attacks from Iran or North Korea. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, which was released almost exactly two years ago and called for the deployment of U.S. low-yield nuclear weapons, warned that "North Korea's nuclear provocations threaten regional and global peace, despite universal condemnation in the United Nations" and "Iran's nuclear ambitions remain an unresolved concern." (L-R) Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and businessman Tom Steyer stand on stage at the start of the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 7, 2020. Seven candidates qualified for the second Democratic presidential primary debate of 2020 which comes just days before the New Hampshire primary on February 11. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Democrats Hold Last Debate Before First-in-the-Nation Primary The final Democratic presidential debate before the Feb. 11 first-in-the-nation primary began at 8 p.m. Friday night at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. The seven candidates are former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70; former Vice President Joe Biden, 78; former tech executive Andrew Yang, 45; businessman Tom Steyer, 62; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59. Here were some key moments in the debate: Sanders Defends Vote Against USMCA Sanders said he wouldnt apologize for voting against the U.S.Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Sanders announced during the last debate that he wouldnt support the agreement, known as USMCA, because it didnt address climate change. We could do much better than a Trump-led trade deal. This deal, and I think the proponents of it would acknowledge, will result in the continuation of the loss of hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs as a result of outsourcing, he said Speaking on Feb. 7, Sanders said he voted no because the deal didnt mention climate change and because he believes it will continue the export of jobs from the United States. Klobuchar, who voted yes, said she did so because there were some major improvements in this trade agreement, including improvements related to labor inspections and pharmaceuticals. Not having a trade agreement with the United States and Canada puts the United States at a disadvantage against China, Klobuchar said. Warren said she voted yes because the deal made things somewhat better for farmers and workers. She said shes working on a better trade deal on climate. The trade deal passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in late 2019. The GOP-held Senate passed the deal last month, and Trump signed the deal on Jan. 29. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), center, speaks at former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) listen during the Democratic presidential debate in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb.7, 2020. (Elise Amendola/AP Photo) Candidates Criticize Bloomberg Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs Twitter account was active on Friday night as the billionaire, 77, missed another debate. Candidates were invited by a moderator to weigh in on Bloombergs candidacy, and everyone heard from criticized the billionaire. I dont [think] anyone ought to be able to buy their way into a nomination or [for] president of the United States, Warren said. I cant stand the big money in politics, Klobuchar added. Bloomberg or the person who was tweeting, meanwhile, championed the former mayors stance on healthcare, gun restrictions, and his chances against President Trump. Everyone on the stage tonight will argue about whos most electable. If any one of them is the nominee, Ill be in their corner. But there should be no debating which one of us can actually beat Trump. Because Ive beaten him beforeand I will beat him again, one tweet said. Another said that Democrats need to fight for accessible and affordable health care for every American without mortgaging our future, in an apparent critique of the Medicare for All proposals put forth by some candidates, which would cost trillions of dollars. Because he is self-funding his campaign, Bloomberg did not meet the donor threshold set by the Democratic National Committee. Bloomberg could qualify for the next debate after the committee eliminated the threshold. Former New York City mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg during the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington on Jan. 22, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Buttigieg Reiterates Call for Supreme Court Reform Buttigieg reiterated a proposal to expand the size of the Supreme Court, claiming such a move would help depoliticize the nations highest court. We cannot allow the Supreme Court to continue to become one more political battlefield, as we are seeing today. And the time has come for us to think bigger, he said. Buttigieg has called for adding six justices to the current nine and allow Democrats and Republicans to each name five appointees, while those 10 justices would choose another five. Biden has called any expansion of the court a non-starter. I agree with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Biden said during the debate, referring to the eldest justice on the court. Ginsburg has dismissed proposals to change the courts size or the length of time a justice serves. If rules are changed, Biden argued, the court would lose its legitimacy. Instead, he said Democrats need to flip the Senate in November, noting that senators approve the justices nominated by President Donald Trump. Several candidates said they wouldnt nominate justices who dont agree with Roe v. Wade, a ruling which said abortion was a constitutional right. Sanders, who has suggested rotating justices to and from the Supreme Court, said he would use abortion as a litmus test, as did Biden. (L-R) Democratic presidential candidates Andrew Yang, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Vice President Joe Biden at the debate in New Hampshire on Friday night. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Warren Calls for Pulling Troops From Afghanistan Warren said she would, if elected, remove troops from Afghanistan. Nobody sees a solution to this war. Nobody can describe what winning looks like. All they can describe is endless war, she said. Warren said she was not willing to leave troops there, questioning what the years of war have brought. We sent our troops in, and they did our best. They were there for us, and we need to be there for them. And that means not send[ing] our troops to do work that cannot be solved militarily, Warren said. Sanders, meanwhile, brought up Bidens Senate 2002 vote supporting the Iraq War. If I might, like Joe and others, I also heard the arguments in terms of the war in Iraq from [George W.] Bush, from [Dick] Cheney, from John Bolton, from the whole administration. I listened very carefully, said Sanders, who was also in office at the time. And I concluded that they were lying through their teeth. And I not only voted against that war, but I helped lead the opposition. Biden warned against pulling troops out of Afghanistan entirely. Such actions, he said, can lead to regional instability. Biden recalled the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, saying troops were ashamed to leave while the Kurds asked Americans to stay. Biden was responding to Warren. Democratic presidential candidates former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) during the eighth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 7, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Candidates Oppose Soleimani Strike Several presidential candidates said the President Donald Trump-ordered strike that took out Iranian General Qassem Soleimani either was or may not have been a good idea. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on what the different effects would be, Buttigieg said. If we learned nothing else from the war in Iraq, its that taking out a bad guy is not a good idea if you do not know what you are doing. Sanders and Biden both said they would not have ordered the strike. The reason I wouldnt have ordered the strike: theres no evidence yet of imminent threat that was going to come from him, Biden said. Soleimani was commander of Irans Quds Force, which the United States designates as a terrorist group. U.S. officials say he was responsible for thousands of American deaths or injuries. Opposition to the strike arose shortly after it was announced in December 2019 and prompted Congress to introduce several bills aimed at reducing Trumps power to take military action against Iran. Irans Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani attends a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Revolutionary Guard commanders in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 18, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Standing Applause for Vindman Biden urged people in the audience to give a standing applause for Alexander Vindman, a military veteran who was on the National Security Council before he was apparently removed on Friday. Vindman testified against President Donald Trump during the impeachment inquiry. Stand up! Biden told the audience. The audience complied, giving Vindman a standing ovation. Trump should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not Rush Limbaugh, Biden said. Limbaugh, the longtime conservative radio host, was recently diagnosed with cancer. He attended the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, where Trump surprised him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The audience also applauded Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted for one article of impeachment against Trump. Every other GOP senator voted against both articles. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a military officer at the National Security Council who testified during the impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill, lower right, walks down the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) Battle Over Medicare for All Erupts Candidates battled over the Medicare for All proposals on stage, with Klobuchar and Biden taking stances against the proposals and Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg saying theyre for it. Klobuchar said Medicare for All would kick 149 million Americans off of their health care, and she advocated for a nonprofit, public option that builds on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Biden said that Sanders wrote the Medicare for All bill but wont say how much it would cost. It will cost more than the entire federal budget we spend now. The idea middle-class taxes arent going to go up is just crazy, Biden said. Sanders claimed that his plan, which would involve the government taking over the entire healthcare sector, would actually drive healthcare prices down. Biden argued that that wasnt true. Sanders later wondered why people have been talking for healthcare so long. If you want real change in healthcare, at the end of the day, youre going to have to take on the insurance companies and the drug companies and their price-fixing, he said. Warren posited that people are looking at healthcare the wrong way. Thirty-six million Americans last year, she said, couldnt afford to have a prescription filled. They were worried about or sick enough to go to a doctor walked out and said, its either that or groceries. Its either that or pay the rent on time, she said. How about we start with what a president can doI love saying thisall by herself. On day one, I will defend the Affordable Care Act, and I will using marching orders to reduce the cost of commonly used prescription drugs, she added. Buttigieg, who has proposed a scaled-back Medicare for All plan, attacked Sanders, warning against a politics that says if you dont go all the way to the edge, it doesnt count. A politics that says its my way or the highway. Asked if he was talking about Sanders, Buttigieg said yes. Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and businessman Tom Steyer speak during the primary debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 7, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Experience Needed for the White House? Klobuchar said experience would be good for the candidate who wins the Democratic nomination, hitting Buttigieg over his relative lack of experience. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us, Klobuchar said. Steyer said the most important factor in the nomination was the ability to beat President Trump. Thats why Im worried about Mayor Pete. You need to be able to go toe to toe with this guy on the debate stage, or were gonna lose, Steyer said. Buttigieg said Democrats would win back the presidency by putting the president next to somebody that actually lives in a middle-class neighborhood in the industrial Midwest, Buttigieg, an Indiana resident, said. He noted his service in the U.S. military and said hed be able to unify the country around a new and better vision. Sanders said that bolstering turnout in November was important. No matter who wins this damned thing, were all going to stand together to defeat Donald Trump, he added. Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during the eighth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 7, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Biden: I Took a Hit in Iowa Biden, asked about why he would advise Democratic voters against voting for Buttigieg or Sanders, said: This is a long race. I took a hit in Iowa and Ill probably take a hit here. Ive always viewed the first four encounters as the starting point, he said, referring to the first two caucuses and the first two primaries, including the upcoming New Hampshire primary. Pressed on his past criticism of Buttigieg and Sanders, who were first and second in Iowa, Biden said Buttigieg is a great guy and a patriot. But Buttigieg, the mayor of a small city, Biden added, has not demonstrated he has the ability to get a broad scope of support across the spectrum, including African-Americans and Latinos. About Sanders, he added: The president wants very much to stick a label on every candidate Bernies labeled himself, not me, a Democratic socialist. If Sanders wins, Biden said, Trump would put that label on every Democratic running nationwide. Troy Price, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, addresses the media about the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa on Feb. 7, 2020. (Steve Pope/Getty Images) Iowa Democratic Chair Calls for Probe of Caucuses The Iowa Democratic Party chairman called for an independent probe of the recent caucuses in Iowa, which have been plagued by technological and reporting issues. Troy Price, the chairman of the party, or IDP, said that 100 percent of the results were reported, but the party is still working on ensuring the results were accurate. Even when the results are finalized, an independent investigation of what happened is necessary, Price said in a statement Friday night, just hours before the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire. We will be undergoing an independent, forensic review, Price added to reporters on Friday in Des Moines. What went right? What went wrong? Start to finish. Both Buttigieg and Sanders have declared victory. The Associated Press contributed to this report. It is easy to go after Washington, because thats a popular thing to do. It makes you look like a cool newcomer. I just, I dont think thats what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House. And look where it got us. Bernies labeled himself, not me a democratic socialist. I think thats the label that the presidents going to lay on everyone running with Bernie if hes the nominee. When our nominee is dividing people with a politics that says if you dont go all the way to the edge it doesnt count, a politics that says its my way or the highway Are you talking about Senator Sanders? Yes. Pete, Pete, fundamentally, you are missing the lesson of Donald Trumps victory. Donald Trump is not the cause of all of our problems. And we are making a mistake when we act like he is. I busted my neck getting Obamacare passed, getting every Democratic vote. I know how hard it is. Bernies plan costs double. For a start, but the studies show if we do what Joe wants, well be spending some $50 trillion on health care over the next 10 years. Thats the status quo, Joe. The Affordable Care Act is now nearly 10 points more popular than the president of the United States. So why would we talk about blowing it up? The question is, who can go toe to toe with Mr. Trump? Who can take down Mr. Trump? Because hes the real threat to the country. We need people with experience. Thats why Im worried about Mayor Pete. Is anyone else on the stage concerned about having a democratic socialist at the top of the Democratic ticket? We are not going to be able to out-divide the divider in chief. And I think we need someone to head up this ticket that actually brings people with her instead of shutting them out. While I was pushing the Brady background bill, background checks, Bernie voted five times against it when he was in the House. It is time to have a national law to protect the right of a womans choice. We adopted a strategy that said that drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder. Senator Warren, is that a substantial answer from Mayor Buttigieg? No. Its important to own up to the facts about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system. You cannot go around saying, Youre a bad guy, were going to assassinate you. And then youre going to have if that happens, youre opening the door to international anarchy. Colonel Vindman got thrown out of the White House today. He should have been pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh. Stand up and clap for Vindman! Get your get up there! [cheers] Who we are thats who we are. We are not what Trump is. Former Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram continued the attack on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and called it "malicious and mischievous" law. Chidambaram was speaking at an event in Pune on Friday. READ: Secularism, Citizenship Under Challenge In Country: Chidambaram Chidambaram said, "We are opposing the Act on the basis of constitutional morality and constitutional legality. Right now, the ball is in the Supreme Court and we are confident that it will strike down (the law) and redeem the honour of the people of India." On the alleged discrimination, he said, "We are just asking if persecuted Hindu minorities from these three countries are allowed, why not Tamils and Hindus from Sri Lanka and Burma and Buddhist from Nepal and Bhutan are allowed." READ: PM Modi Slams Opposition To NPR, Reminds Congress 'UPA Introduced And Promoted It' Speaking on the National Register of Citizens (NRC), he said, "After spending Rs 1,400 crore for the NRC exercise, 40 lakh people were labelled stateless -- not once but twice. Revised exercise rendered 19 lakh people stateless. When the people of Assam rejected it, the (Narendra) Modi government suddenly thought that something should be done and they brought this CAA." Chidambaram and Congress have led multiple protests against the CAA across the country, with Chidambaram also leading a protest of more than a thousand people in Tamil Nadu along with the Congress' regional allies, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). READ: Rajasthan Assembly Passes Anti-CAA Resolution, Third After Kerala And Punjab PM Modi hit back at the opposition for protesting against the CAA across the country in the Parliament earlier this week. He said that the repeal of the CAA in certain States will lead to anarchy. If the Rajasthan assembly enacts a law and no one accepts it, what will be the situation? If the Madhya Pradesh assembly decides something and people come out on the streets against it, can you run a country like this? This will be the path to anarchy." The Prime Minister also accused the opposition leaders, "Who were once sleeping" of now becoming violent. READ: 'Opposition Netas Who Were Once Silent Are Now Violent': PM Modi Strikes Back Over CAA (Natural News) The Green Lake County Sheriffs Office has arrested six people on December 11th in connection with a sex trafficking case, according to a news release. (Article by Sean Walton republished from TheDailySheeple.com) Law enforcement officials said they received a 911 call on Thanksgiving Day around 11:00 p.m. from a juvenile on the run. According to police, she had escaped from a residence where she was being sex trafficked. Police said she was able to provide information that allowed police to start an investigation. Police executed a search warrant on Nov. 29th at a home in Manchester, Wisconsin, where they seized multiple items of evidence believed to be connected to the assault of the juvenile. The warrant also led to the arrest of six people who all lived in the home. The six men arrested for second-degree sexual assault were identified by sheriffs officials as follows: Esler Hugo Rivera, male, 33 Rolando Corado Gonzalez, male, 28 Avelino Sarceno-Sarceno, male, 40 Ember Rivera, male, 37 Noe Bautista-Martinez, male 28 Evis Amabilio Garcia-Rivera, male 31 Sheriffs officials said Evis Amabilio Garcia-Rivera is suspected of trafficking the victim within the residence among the others. All of the suspects are believed to be illegal aliens from Guatemala. Sheriffs officials said they were being held at the Green Lake County Correctional Facility on cash bonds that vary from $20,000 to $50,000. Sheriffs officials say Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be involved with the case. Read more at: TheDailySheeple.com 08.02.2020 LISTEN Never undertake a prosecution unless you have good grounds, and prospects, for a solid conviction. In the case against President Donald Trump, there was never a serious prospect that the Senate would cool sufficiently to give the Democrats the votes necessary to affirm vote of impeachment in the House. The GOP remains very much in Trumps pocket, a remarkable if opportunistic transformation given the innate hostility shown towards him prior to the 2016 elections. With their allegiance pinned to the Trump juggernaut, the hope is that, come November, the entire effort wont sink under the toxic miasma that is US politics. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had agonised over the original decision to pursue Trump through impeachment proceedings. One argument that seemed persuasive was the sense that too much energy would be consumed in the process, taking away from the election cycle and jeopardising the campaign to oust Trump at the ballot box. She held out for a time, keeping the firebrands at bay. But the demands of her office, and those around her to do something to combat Trumps claimed misdemeanours in office, were too profound to ignore. Even if the effort was bound to loose, a stand had to be made. Political strategists, however, thought of alternatives as to how best to land enduring blows. Douglas Heye, former deputy chief of staff to House Majority leader Eric Cantor, felt that censure was more appropriate and would have constituted a serious rebuke of Trumps action and might have even garnered some bipartisan support. Once commenced, the approach of the Democrats seemed clipped, a crude abridgment that was as much a matter of caution as it was of fear. The articles of impeachment were narrow, pegged to the issue of Ukraine, the nexus with US electoral interference, and obstruction of Congress. The meaty report of the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, played no part. For all that, the case against Trump did convince Senator Mitt Romney, the only Republican to be swayed by the arguments that Trump be removed. The bar for misconduct in executive office, as opposed to the wheeling and dealing that keeps company with the occupant of that office, remains a high one indeed. The school of thought favouring Pelosi that the Democrats had to pursue the impeachment route has force with the likes of Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect. Trumps contempt for the rule of law was so flagrant that it would have been a dereliction of constitutional duty for the House Democrats to turn the other cheek. While Trump was not removed from office, it had to be done, and could yet produce major benefits for the Democrats and the country. Kuttner, it would seem, is no political strategist. Keith E. Whittington of Princeton University is also of similar mind. There were a host of good reasons, he claims in Lawfare, in pursuing an impeachment process despite falling at the final hurdle. It constituted a kind of formal censure and an effort to reassert important constitutional norms. For all that, Whittington makes a concession. While an impeachment process might not be a failure because it ends in acquittal, one that heightens political divisions without reinforcing the proper limits on conduct of government officials is not much of a success. Those divisions were laid bare in their partisanship. The Republicans ensured minimal scrutiny in the trial process itself, including jettisoning any prospect for calling witnesses. Further avenues of embarrassment were cut off. It was a reminder that, however such processes are framed, impeachment is a political scrap rather than a sober judicial assessment. The Democrats, despite their desperate attempts to make Russiagate swallow Trump, or the allegations regarding the withholding of funding to Ukraine as a quid quo pro for investigating the Bidens, have not been able to shift the ground. Trumps fantastically oily manner of conducting politics an aping of business acumen and crassness has left opponents wanting. He slips, ducks and eventually turns the gun pointed at him against the opponent. He makes sure it is armed, then fires. The impeachment episode is now being loaded and launched as a means of acquittal and exoneration, while the Democrats are being accused of failed venality. We, claimed Trump have that gorgeous word. I never thought a word would sound so good its called, total acquittal. Arithmetic is evidently not the presidents strong suit. The ever demagogic Louis Dobb of Fox Business is also happily restocking the arsenal, having told his audience that the Senate had acquitted President Trump of both charges fabricated by Congressional Democrats, led by Speaker Pelosi and Adam Schiff, to carry out the most egregious and partisan attack against any president in our history a man they knew to be innocent. The representative Republican position, and not just one held by them, was to be found in the views of the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Right now, this is a political loser for [the Democrats]. They initiated it. They thought this was a great idea. In the short term, it has been a colossal political mistake. Much reading of the tea leaves is bound to follow. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected] In brief: Whether you like it or not, Google is phasing out the classic web interface for YouTube in March. The company also noted you'll need an up-to-date browser to make sure you don't miss out on all the features it's added over the last few years. Google introduced a new look for YouTube in 2017 for desktop browsers, which polarized its audience who either hated or loved the new experience. The company went on to make numerous tweaks, the last of which made video thumbnails a bit too large for comfort, prompting a wave of outrage from users all over the world. However, the search giant has so far let users opt out of the new web interface and use the classic one instead. That changes next month, as Google says it will retire the older web interface, which means that you'll soon have to get used to the dreaded Material revamp, which is the de facto UI for YouTube moving forward. Those of you using older browsers (but why?) may also get a less than ideal experience, so you'll have to update that to get the new UI to work correctly. Google says the older web interface lacks many of the new features and design improvements introduced over the last three years, including a dark theme, picture-in-picture mode, and "top requests based on your feedback." It seems the company is confident that users want larger thumbnails, longer video titles, and manually combing through videos to train the algorithm to stop recommending things that don't match your interests. The good news is that the transition won't be abrupt, so if you're still using the classic UI you'll start seeing a notification that asks you to "Switch to the new YouTube." The comments on YouTube's support forum show that a lot of users are dissatisfied with how the new UI works on their desktops, so we'll have to wait and see if Google decides to take that feedback into consideration. To put things in perspective, Google is pushing the new YouTube because it's trying to graduate it into a profitable business. Expect to see more notifications to sign up for YouTube Music and YouTube Premium, which have 20 million paying subscribers as of writing. Ad revenue for 2019 was $15.15 billion, but despite it being a strong 36.5 percent jump compared to 2018, the profit Google makes from that after covering costs is still nebulous for investors. In the meantime, Google will continue tweaking the web interface, so let's hope it will add a way to adjust the size of those thumbnails for those of us who want to make more efficient use of our screen real estate. A 28-year-old Utica man was arrested and accused of committing three bank robberies in Western New York, federal prosecutors said Friday. Nicholas Ferrone was charged with three counts of bank robbery for stick-ups in Depew, a Buffalo suburb, as well as Gates and Penfield, Rochester suburbs, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. Ferrone previously admitted to robbing seven Central New York banks in the first two months of 2013 before being sentenced to three years in federal prison. This time, Ferrone was arrested on Jan. 13 after a New York State trooper pulled Ferrone over on the thruway, prosecutors said. The car Ferrone was driving did not have a valid inspection sticker nor did it have a license plate displayed, according to prosecutors. The trooper found controlled substances -- they didnt specify what type of controlled substance -- and high-quality latex masks, including one that appeared to have been used in a robbery at a Bank of America in Depew, prosecutors said. Another mask appeared to have been used in two robberies near Rochester, according to prosecutors. Police also found two handwritten notes that read I Have Gun Large Bills and I Have Gun All Large Bills, according to prosecutors. Ferrone is accused of robbing the following banks in a three-month span: Bank of America, located at 5091 Broadway in Depew, on Aug. 20, 2019 Chase Bank, located at 6 Spencerport Road in Gates, on Oct. 31, 2019 M&T Bank, located at 625 Panorama Trail in Penfield, on Dec. 17 If convicted, Ferrones charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The HCM City Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs has told a number of firms that 1,079 foreign workers who recently travelled to China and returned to HCM City to work after the Lunar New Year holiday must be quarantined. A health official sprays disinfectant at the HCM City University of Transport. Photo thanhnien.vn The department asked the HCM City Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park and Authority (HEPZA) and the management board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park to work quickly with local authorities to send any worker who has returned from the city of Wuhan and Hubei Province in China to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in HCM City for quarantine and treatment, said Le Minh Tan, director of the department. Foreign workers who have returned from travelling to other cities and provinces in China are required to "self-quarantine" for 14 days in the basement of their homes, apartments, hotels or other lodgings. Quarantined staff are not allowed to come to the workplace and must work from their lodging facility during the 14-day period when they are required to isolate themselves, Tan said. Firms have also been asked to set aside a separate area for self-quarantine for Chinese employees in factories and workshops, he said. Leaders of State agencies and enterprises are responsible for requiring Chinese staff to schedule health check-ups and treatment to protect themselves and the community from the coronavirus infection, he said. Workers from China have been informed not to return to HCM City to work if they have not left the country yet, he added. A total of 3,571 Chinese labourers are licensed to work at 187 firms in HCM City, according to the department. The department, HEPZA and the management board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park have temporarily stopped granting work licenses to Chinese labourers. Many universities in the city are stepping up measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at campuses and dormitories, including delaying the opening of schools and spraying disinfectants. ang Ba Binh, head of the cultural information and student support unit at the dormitory of HCM City National University, said the dormitory was equipped with 20 thermometres to check students body temperature at entrance and exit gates. Lavabos and anti-viral hand foam are available for more than 34,000 students at the dormitory for easy access to hand washing, Binh said. The school has also sprayed disinfectant in the dormitory. Bui Huu Toan, rector of the HCM City University of Banking, said the school had set up a board dedicated to combat the coronavirus outbreak. The board of 22 staff led by the rector has been implementing preventive measures such as spraying disinfectant in classrooms and the dormitory, Toan said. The board has also disseminated information about the coronavirus infection and preventive measures to students, and urged them to wash their hands frequently, he said. VNS HCMC traces 67 South Koreans potentially infected with coronavirus HCMC authorities are searching for 67 South Koreans who arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on February 5, to isolate them as they had earlier had a layover in China. Night curfew timings revised in Bengaluru; Major roads to be closed from 6 pm today till 5 am tomorrow 'Bulli Bai' app case: 21-year-old engineering student detained in Bengaluru; identity yet to be revealed Karnataka imposes weekend curfew to contain the surge in Covid-19 cases; details here Crime rate in Bengaluru: Murders and burglary cases dropped in 2021 in Karnataka's capital Bengaluru techie drowns in Kalkere lake while enjoying coracle ride India oi-Mousumi Dash Bengaluru, Feb 08: In a tragic incident a techie drowned in Kalkere lake at Ramamurthynagar in Bengaluru on Saturday, and his friend managed to swim back safely. The rescue team and police have reached the spot and search operations are underway. Reportedly, the incident took place when the two youths Sachin and Ullas, techie by profession were enjoying coracle ride in Kalkere lake after a party on Friday late night. But, the coracle ride brought ill fate for them, unfortunately Sachin got drowned in the Kalkere lake, however, Ullas managed to swim back to safety, Meanwhile, rescue team and Karnataka police have reached the spot. The search operations are underway. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2020, 12:17 [IST] Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's name is again back in the news in connection to the U.S. Senate race, as the website Politico reported Thursday evening the termed-out Democrat met with former President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., earlier that day. As recently as last week when meeting with newspaper editorial boards around Montana, Bullock reiterated he wouldn't run for the Senate, even while listing the reasons he thinks Daines is vulnerable. Daines is seeking his second term and four Democrats are running in the primary: Cora Neumann, a Bozeman resident who has worked in the public lands and public health fields; Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins; John Mues, a Navy veteran and engineer who works in the energy field; and scientist Mike Knoles, of Bozeman. None has the name recognition or experience winning statewide races like Bullock, though Neumann posted an impressive $460,000 raised in her first campaign finance report. The Politico story did not say what Bullock and Obama discussed, and a spokeswoman for Bullock didn't expand Friday. "Gov. Bullock will not be discussing the contents of the meeting," said press secretary Erin Loranger. "He is in D.C. for the National Governors Association Winter Meeting and for meetings as the longest serving member on the Council of Governors. His focus is on discussing bipartisan solutions with fellow governors on issues ranging from infrastructure to health care to broadband." The deadline to file to get on the ballot in Montana is March 9. Lee Banville, a political analyst and professor at the University of Montana, said Friday it's not uncommon for former presidents or other major players in the national party to meet with people they think would be strong candidates, especially with Democrats hoping to regain a majority in the U.S. Senate. The balance of power now is 53 Republicans to 45 Democrats plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. The Cook Political Report marks Daines' as a solid seat for Republicans to keep in 2020. "The last time an incumbent Republican senator lost it was Conrad Burns and he had all sorts of problems," Banville said. "Daines has none of those problems right now." Banville said its interesting that information about the meeting was leaked, something that both keeps Bullocks name in the news and could put pressure on him to enter the race. While repeatedly ruling out a Senate run, Bullock has not said what he'll do next. Bullock's presidential campaign reported about $122,000 in cash left in the bank, according to reports filed at the end of the year. Love 8 Funny 5 Wow 2 Sad 2 Angry 4 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Yes, some candidates in the race are to the left of others. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) not only want to make sure that all Americans have access to health care, as do all the Democrats, but they want maximum government control in achieving that goal. Their proposals would cost more and would require more regulation than other candidates plans. Mr. Sanderss program, which includes the Medicare-for-all plan that Ms. Warren has endorsed, would cost some $60 trillion to $90 trillion over 10 years, an astonishing number that would imply doubling the size of the federal government. Phillip Schofields announcement that he is gay has been hailed as a hugely powerful and courageous move by the head of media for LGBT equality charity Stonewall. The TV presenter, 57, posted an emotional message on his Instagram stories on Friday morning in which he said he has been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay. He later appeared on This Morning alongside his co-presenter and friend Holly Willoughby to discuss his decision, telling her: Ive had to deal with this in my head for quite some time. It's a massive moment, I think for him and for society in generalJeff Ingold, Stonewall Speaking to the PA news agency, Stonewalls Jeff Ingold said: Having high-profile, visible, out LGBT people can make a massive difference not just to the lives of LGBT people, to be able to watch something and see themselves reflected and someone who they identify with; but also for the general public to see and hear the stories of LGBT people can go a long way in changing the way that people see and think and feel about LGBT people as a community. Its a hugely powerful and courageous move Phillip has made to be open about himself, particularly in the public eye at a time when everyone will have an opinion on social media. Its a massive moment, I think for him and for society in general. He said coming out is something that unites all LGBT people and theres no right or wrong way to do it, adding: Everyone has to do it in the way they feel is right for them. Its always a personal decision and its a really powerful moment where an LGBT person gets to declare this is who they are. But I think we also sometimes forget that coming out isnt just a one-time event, its something LGBT people have to do many times in their lives and I think the reaction to Phillip shows how important it can be for LGBT people in the public eye to be themselves. Incredibly brave and moving announcement from Phillip Schofield this morning. It takes a lot of courage and is always a hugely personal decision to be open about who you are. Congrats Phillip https://t.co/TY32BaL2vL Stonewall (@stonewalluk) February 7, 2020 Video of the Day I think all the positive reaction Ive seen has shown that we want to create a world where more people feel comfortable being themselves but for right now its such a huge moment and I think it really speaks to the journey hes been on as well and how authentic hes been in talking about the difficulties hes been through, which I think a lot of LGBT people will relate to. Ryan Butcher, web editor of LGBT online newspaper PinkNews, said it was interesting to have had two quite big coming out stories in two days, with Schofields announcement coming just days after Jameela Jamil revealed she is queer. According to Stonewall, queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity and it can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community (racism, sizeism, ableism etc). Mr Butcher said of Schofield: It shows that youre never too old or too young, or theres no kind of rule book for coming out, and everyone does so in their own time. You have to wonder about Phillip Schofield, how long must he have been grappling with these issues, for how many years has he been living this life? Its like he said himself, on his show he always encourages people to talk about their feelings, talk about their issues, and it feels somewhat a shame that a man who has promoted that to his audience of millions for so long has felt he couldnt until now. We come across a lot of coming out stories from people who arent in the public eye, people just living their everyday lives who come out at late points in their life, and it just shows there is no rule book for it. Jameela Jamil earlier this week revealed she is queer (Matt Crossick/PA) Butcher also said he was definitely shocked and surprised, though added: I guess Id never really spent time wondering what Phillip Schofields sexuality might be. Hes been such a mainstay of TV and ingrained in British culture for so long. I remember back in the day with Gordon the Gopher and stuff. Phillip has just always been around, regardless of what your opinion is about him or are indifferent about him. You know who Phillip Schofield is, so I think this is the first time in a long time I can remember a coming out announcement being as big as this. I was thinking as well that a lot of this has to do with the fact that hes doing it on his own terms. A suspect who authorities say pointed what appeared to be a weapon at police officers near Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston was shot and killed by police after leading officers on a car chase into Brookline, Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Gregory Long told reporters Friday. Long said that before the shooter fled the scene he physically attacked an officer and drove away. The officer has no serious injuries. Long also provided an update on the condition an employee injured Friday. The employee, a 49-year-old valet at the hospital, is in critical condition. He is being treated at Brigham and Womens Hospital. The investigation into days events are under investigation by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office and Boston police. State police assigned to Norfolk District Attorneys Office are assisting in the investigation. Long asked for anyone with any further information regarding the incident to contact 1-800-434-TIPS. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/08/2020 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Brandon Reid claims wife Taylor Dunklin said she didn't want to be married to him and dismissed his panic attacks while they were honeymooning in Panama.During Wednesday night's episode of : Unfiltered, Brandon watched back a Season 10 MAFS clip of Taylor downplaying the alleged panic attack Brandon had when she woke him up with a camera in his face, saying it wasn't "that bad" and he didn't seem overly scared or anxious."I was shaking -- it was that bad," Brandon insisted to Taylor in the clip while the pair was out for dinner in Panama.When Unfiltered host Jamie Otis asked Brandon why he had a panic attack that morning in Panama, Brandon replied, "I was having a hard time adjusting to having cameras in my face 24/7.""I'm a very private person, and I wake up to her Diary Cam in my face and she's recording him," Brandon explained. "It freaked me out, so I immediately hopped out of bed and I ran all the way to our balcony."Brandon said once he had a moment to "calm down," Taylor approached him on the balcony."We talked for a little bit. She apologized. She told me what happened, and I still wasn't okay," Brandon admitted.Brandon therefore said he went to the beach and sat by himself "for a few hours," where he was able to unwind and release some tension."I relaxed and shut myself off from the world, and because of that, she got upset with me," Brandon recalled.Taylor did, in fact, accuse Brandon of ignoring her all day and basically pulling a temper-tantrum over something small and insignificant."So by the time I had the opportunity to talk to her about it, she didn't want to talk to me -- at all," Brandon recalled."She was like, 'I don't want to talk. If this is how our marriage is going to be, I don't want to be married to you.' That's kind of how it went."Jamie then asked Brandon if Taylor understood where he was coming from once they were able to hash things out later on."No, she seemed like she was pretty upset and didn't really care about my panic attacks, which is like a big deal," Brandon said."I don't usually go out and blast the fact that I have panic attacks, so it was kind of a big deal for me to let her know that I struggle with them and to let her know on camera that I struggle with them. I felt like she was just attacking me."Jamie, however, thought Brandon and Taylor were able to resolve their conflict pretty fast, based on what was shown on a recent episode of ."I mean, it got resolved, yeah, it got resolved," Brandon noted. "I apologized [for avoiding her] and we moved on."Fellow Season 10 grooms, Zach Justice and Michael Watson , also joined Brandon on the Unfiltered broadcast and were asked to share their opinions on Brandon leaving his wife alone for nearly an entire day."Everyone handles things differently, like, you have to give them a moment to collect their thoughts and kind of get that equilibrium back and then they're more willing to come talk to you," Michael shared."At this point, there was an opportunity missed with him and Taylor when he talked about his panic attacks, and it kind of just got brushed over."Michael continued, "It's hard for us as men in general to open up and express ourselves in that way, but I think they have something and I really want to see them get through it. And I think they ended it off well to rebound and come back."And Zach could totally relate to what Brandon was going through."I am also a space guy. I need my space, you know? And to Taylor, Brandon is a complete stranger, so if he says he needs space, you have to let him have space," Zach explained.Following Taylor and Brandon's fight, the couple kissed and made up, and then they really seemed to enjoy the rest of their honeymoon together.One night, Brandon even decorated their hotel bathroom with candles and rose petals so he and Taylor could enjoy a hot bath with each other and a bottle of champagne. Taylor gushed about how a man had never planned something so romantic for her before.However, things came crashing down once the honeymoon was over and Brandon was fed up with having cameras follow him around.During the latest episode of 's tenth season, Brandon told a crew member, "You're trying to play me," before putting his hand over a camera lens.Taylor called her husband "abrasive" and "rude" to the show's production team, and she didn't like what she was seeing.Taylor recalled telling Brandon, "The difficult person that you're being on camera is not somebody I really want to be married to. I like being married to the sweet, kind Brandon."Taylor's words apparently set Brandon off, and all he paid attention to was the "I don't want to be married" part of her statement."He takes that and runs with it," Taylor explained. "He responds like, 'Oh, you don't want to be married to me!' He takes off his ring, he throws it and says, 'We don't have to be in this marriage,' and he leaves."Taylor therefore packed all of their bags and mentioned how Brandon had left his wedding ring and passport behind in the room."Brandon was having a full-blown meltdown," Taylor told the cameras.Brandon was then shown yelling and swearing in the van outside of the hotel that also held the other four couples."I ain't got time for this sh-t," Brandon said, before Taylor could be heard saying, "I tried."Brandon then told his wife, "No, you didn't try to do sh-t... You know what, f-ck you, Taylor. F-ck you!""Calm down," Taylor requested."I'm gonna calm down when I'm in Washington," Brandon replied. "F-ck y'all."'s tenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights on Lifetime, also stars Zach's wife Mindy Shiben and Michael's wife Meka Jones as well as Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd To read jaw-dropping spoilers on how Brandon and Taylor's marriage turned out and whether they're still together, click here Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived in Delhi on Friday on a five-day visit New Delhi: India on Saturday hoped that the Sri Lankan government will realise the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation as the issue figured prominently in wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. In their talks, the two prime ministers deliberated on the entire expanse of bilateral ties and resolved to further deepen anti-terror cooperation and boost trade and investment ties. Rajapaksa's visit in Delhi assumed significance as his tenure as Sri Lanka's president from 2005 to 2016 saw expansion of China's footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India. "Stability, security and prosperity in Sri Lanka is in India's interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean Region," Modi said in his media statement. He said India has been a "trusted partner" in Sri Lanka's development and will continue to assist the country in its journey for peace and development. On the long-pending Tamil issue, Modi said he was confident that the Sri Lankan government will realise expectations of equality, justice, peace and respect of the Tamil people within a united Sri Lanka, Referring to the fishermen issue, Modi said both sides have decided to adopt a humanitarian approach in dealing with it. "We have decided to deepen cooperation to combat terrorism," Modi said. Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived in Delhi on Friday on a five-day visit, his first overseas tour after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year. A multibillion-dollar airport rail plan being considered by the state and federal governments was rejected four years ago by Victorian bureaucrats because it would starve booming suburbs in Melbournes west of desperately needed train services. Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Scott Morrison are believed to be moving ahead with plans to announce the $8-$13 billion project, with sources saying a dedicated airport tunnel from the city to Sunshine is likely to be ditched. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Daniel Andrews have vowed to co-operate on Melbourne's airport rail project. Credit:AAP Instead, trains would be wedged on to congested tracks between the city and Sunshine and enter the CBD via the new $11 billion Metro Tunnel. A new track between Tullamarine and Sunshine would be built. This is despite a state government promise to build "additional tracks" between the city and Sunshine, most probably through a tunnel an upgrade that rail experts say is necessary for an efficient airport train service and fast trains to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. A lightning strike has killed four rare mountain gorillas, including a pregnant female, a conservation group in Uganda has reported. Three adult females and a male infant were found in the east of Mgahinga National Park with large wounds on their bodies indicating electrocution, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) said in a statement. A spokesperson for the group called the deaths a "big loss for the species". Only around 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Foundation, which lists the species as endangered. A baby mountain gorilla is pictured in the Sabyinyo Mountains of Rwanda / AFP via Getty Images The four that died were part of a 17-member group, known by conservationists as the Hirwa family. The Hirwas had crossed the border from Rwanda into Uganda in August last year and had been living in the Mgahinga National Park, which straddles the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. GVTC executive secretary Andrew Seguya told the BBC: This was extremely sad. "The potential of the three females for their contribution to the population was immense. He added that the 13 surviving members of the Hirwa family have been found and are feeding well. (Reuters) - The death toll in mainland China rose by 86 to 722 on Saturday, according to authorities, and is likely to pass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Here are the latest developments: * The death toll in mainland China rose to 722 on Saturday,up by 86 from the previous day, Chinese authorities said.[L4N2A801T] * The virus infected five British nationals staying in thesame chalet at a ski resort in Savoie in southeastern France,the French health minister said. * A Chinese doctor who issued an early warning about thevirus outbreak before it was officially recognised died of thevirus on Friday. * The virus has spread to 27 countries and regions,according to a Reuters count based on official reports,infecting more than 330 people. * There have been two deaths outside mainland China, in HongKong and the Philippines. * In Hong Kong, 3,600 passengers and crew were confined totheir ship for a fourth day after three people on board werefound to be infected. * Taiwan, which has 16 cases, banned international cruiseships from docking. * Asian share markets slipped on Friday and oil price gainsstalled, as the growing death toll and economic damage from thecoronavirus outbreak put a lid on the week's sharp rally.[MKTS/GLOB] * China's central bank said its economy could be disruptedin the first quarter due to the virus outbreak, adding that itwould step up policy support. * Chinese President Xi Jinping assured U.S. President DonaldTrump on Friday that China is doing all it can to contain thevirus and was confident it could defeat the epidemic with nolong-term consequences for economic development. * Taiwan and China are embroiled in a new spat over the fateof Taiwanese stranded in the Chinese city of Wuhan, thecoronavirus epicentre, after Taiwan said one of its citizenssent back on the first flight was infected with the disease. * Taiwan said it would suspend entry for all Chinesecitizens who live in mainland China from Thursday. * China will halve tariffs on some U.S. imports amid growingrisks from coronavirus. * A Chinese city with only eight confirmed cases of a newcoronavirus has been accused of intercepting a shipment ofsurgical masks bound for a municipality with 400 cases. (Compiled by Uttaresh.V) Rome, N.Y. - Quite a chilly morning on Saturday to go for a walk, unless that walk was indoors! The 18th annual Rome Indoor Walk was once again put on by the American Heart Association at the indoor track at RFA in Rome and this year more than 300 people attended. This event here in Rome in February is a warm up to its bigger counterpart, America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk in March in Utica. The goal of both events is to raise money to fight heart disease and stroke. Each year the American Heart Association designates a number of Red Cap Ambassadors for the Rome Run & Indoor Walk. They are local survivors of heart disease and or stroke. One of this year's ambassadors is 4 year old Peter Corigliano IV of Rome who was born with a congenital heart defect. Peter's mom, Ashley Corigliano, says this is truly an emotional event to see so many people come out to help fight all heart issues, "Its kind of overwhelming. You kind of get very emotional and you know that everyones been touched by it in someway or another." Even the chairperson of Saturday's Rome Indoor Heart Walk at RFA, Brenda McMonagle, has a personal reason for getting involved with this event, "I got involved many years ago because my husband had a major heart attack at 42, so its great to have people out here. So many kids that are coming to volunteer, and volunteering at a young age, so they keep coming back year after year and making this a big success." Here in the Mohawk Valley the goal once again to raise around $1 million to help fight heart disease and stroke, and now all eyes move from today in Rome to four weeks from today in Utica. The 46th annual America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk is set for Saturday, March 7th. No word yet on just how much money was raised in Rome on Saturday which will ultimately be added to the grand total on March 7th. A Winnipeg non-profit organization and the head of the city-based Canadian Foodgrains Bank charity have been recognized as innovators in finding ways to reduce global poverty and hunger. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/2/2020 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg non-profit organization and the head of the city-based Canadian Foodgrains Bank charity have been recognized as innovators in finding ways to reduce global poverty and hunger. iDE Canada and Jim Cornelius were honoured Thursday at the Lewis Perinbam Innovation and Impact Awards in Ottawa. The annual awards were presented at an event hosted by Canadian Council for International Co-Operation, celebrating International Development Week. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. SUPPLIED iDE Canada developed a project in Ghana, where it set up a business to sell affordable toilets to reduce illnesses linked to poor sanitation and hygiene practices. iDE Canada develops business solutions for rural customers in low-income countries. Its award is partly for a project in Ghana, where it set up a business to sell affordable toilets to reduce illnesses linked to poor sanitation and hygiene practices. With help from the Canadian government and donors, iDE staff worked with local manufacturers, banks and salespeople to deliver and install durable, locally made toilets, and to come up with compelling marketing and door-to-door sales campaigns. Cornelius has been the executive director of the foodgrains bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church-based agencies working to end global hunger, for 20 years. Before 2005, 90 per cent of money for Canadian food aid had to be used to buy and ship Canadian grain to countries in need a practice that did little to help Canadian or local farmers, cost too much and took too long. Cornelius led a successful lobbying effort to convince the federal government to change the way it provides food aid. The awards are named after Lewis Perinbam (1925-2007) who helped build the international development sector in Canada. He was the founding head of the Canadian University Service Overseas, the first full-time secretary-general of the Canadian National Commission of UNESCO, and the executive director of World University Service of Canada. Perinbam joined a fledgling Canadian International Development Agency in 1969, and became the founding director general of the NGO division. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at 9 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Manoj Tiwari disses exit polls that project Kejriwal win, makes his projection Disappointed at exit polls that have projected another term for Aam Aadmi Partys Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Manoj Tiwari tweeted his rejoinder on Saturday evening. Read More Exit polls predict a comfortable majority for Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Five exit polls have projected a comfortable majority for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party which had led a fierce Delhi assembly election campaign focused on his governments achievements during the past five years. Read More Thai soldier on shooting rampage kills at least 13, toll could go up A Thai soldier killed at least 13 people in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east of Thailand and is still at large in a shopping mall, local authorities and the police said. Read More India vs New Zealand: Ravindra Jadeja scripts history, surpasses MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev in elite ODI list Jadeja crossed the 50-run mark and created an Indian record in ODIs. This was his seventh half-century while batting at number seven. Read More Kalki Koechlin and boyfriend Guy Hershberg welcome baby girl Actor Kalki Koechlin and her Israeli classical pianist boyfriend Guy Hershberg have become the proud parents of a baby girl, according to an Instagram post by photographer Viral Bhayani. Read More Almost 4.5 lakh Indian debit,credit card records are being sold on dark net for $9 a piece According to Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB, records of nearly 4.5 lakh payment cards of Indian banks are being sold for $9 a piece on Jokers Stash. Read More Oscars 2020: Here is what the spread at the Academy Awards will look like An extravaganza of cinematic moments with celebrities stepping out in their best, the evening also sees a magnificent and elaborate culinary spread being presented to the guests. Read More Standing with Gandhi in Ahmedabad, writes Ramachandra Guha Ahmedabad was once Gandhis city. Yet, in recent decades, Ahmedabad has wilfully, deliberately, turned its back on the legacy of its greatest resident. Read More President Akufo-Addos fight against illegal mining [galamsey] in the country has been described as a failure by the Special Aide of former President John Dramani Mahama, Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe. According to him, President Akufo-Addo has not been successful in his quest to fight the galamsey menace as his own New Patriotic Party (NPP) leaders have taken over the galamsey business by sharing the concession among themselves. Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the private legal practitioner asserted that President Akufo-Addo could not walk his talk to end illegal mining as he put his presidency on the line. The President himself should sit down and do self-introspection and realize that he has disappointed all Ghanaians in his fight against galamsey. If it will even be possible, the way he quickly refers people to Special Prosecutor, he should refer all these cases to the office of the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu and the President himself should render an unqualified apology to all Ghanaians on national television, he suggested. He, however, described as profound what a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Kennedy Agyapong said about his own party members seriously engaging in the galamsey business, contrary to the position of President Nana Akufo-Addo. I listened to Hon. Ken Agyapong on Net2 TV and I was so sad hearing his submission on the matter. He is not a member of the NDC; this is a leading member and serious financier of the MP. He said something which is very profound, that Nana Akufo-Addo has become like a tree whose roots have been destroyed in terms of the fight against galamsey; very profound statement and we cannot challenge him on that since he is a member of the party [NPP]. He is an insider and he went on to say that NPP MP, Ministers, and party leaders are all involved in the galamsey business, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe stated. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bhopal gas tragedy is known as the worst industrial disaster as one can still witness the repercussions of the tragedy. The disaster that killed at least 25,000 people and injured thousands more for a lifetime has many heart rendering stories hidden in the past. One such story is of Lt Col Gurcharan Singh Khanuja (retired) who on the ill-fated night of December 2, 1984, helped rescue 10,000 lives, but, is now forced to live a life of darkness as he suffered total vision loss as a side effect of the rescue operation. Col Khanuja was the guest of honour at an event hosted by Rotary Club of Pune, Lokmanyanagar at Deccan Gymkhana on February 7. Though he cant see anymore, his memories of that tragic night in Bhopal remain vivid. Colonel Khanuja was the first man from the Army to reach the Union Carbide factory with a few jawans and just their hankies to protect them from the spewing venom. It was the longest and the darkest night. It was 1:45am when I was woken up by the employees who had gathered near the Sanchi gate of our 3 EME Centre in Bairagarh, Bhopal. I took 13 vehicles including cars, army buses and ambulance to the factory. My job was to rescue the employees and bring them to the Military Hospital that was 13km away, he said. While heading towards the hospital a pile of dead bodies greeted us, we could see women and children of the nearby slums dead due to the gas leak. There was also a huge loss of livestock and other animals. While continuing the rescue operation, I felt my eyes burning, I washed my eyes with water and continued the rescue operation, he said. As if the entire sequence is etched in his mind, he further said, I worked for more than 12 hours that day, with a wet cloth covering my mouth and saved 10,000 people. My wife who was working in Kendriya Vidyalaya expressed disbelief when I walked into our house as she was worried about my health. It was only after two days, during a check up that I found out that due to this rescue operation, I suffered a severe disability of total loss of vision. However, that doesnt stop me from going about in my life. I am now retired and living in Pune where I do volunteer work, he added. UK resident Shamima Begum has lost the first stage of a legal challenge against the decision to revoke her British Citizenship, British media reported. Last year, she was found nine months pregnant in a Syrian camp after which British home secretary Sajid Javid stripped her of her citizenship. Joined ISIS in 2015 Shamima is amongst the three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy in East London who quit their school to join ISIS in 2015. She took legal action against the Home office at the High Court and Special Immigration appeals commission last year after her citizenship was revoked. Read: Coronavirus Crisis Deepens In China As Death Toll Touches 560; Over 28,000 Confirmed Cases Begum is of Bangladeshi descent and was born in the UK. Her lawyer argued that the decision was unlawful as it rendered her stateless and exposed her to the risk of torture or death. However, on Friday the Tribunal which was led by SIAC president Ms Justice Elisabeth Liang ruled that she (Shamima) was a citizen of Bangladesh by decent was therefore not rendered stateless. The Tribunal also added that while her living conditions in the Syrian refugee camp breached article three of the European Convention on Human Rights, they did not breach the Home Offices policy on the extraterritorial application of human rights. The tribunal finally concluded that she was in that situation as a result of her own choices and of the actions of others and not because of anything the Secretary had done. Shamina's solicitor, Daniel Furner of Birnberg Peirce, said his client will immediately initiate an appeal against the decision as a matter of exceptional urgency. Read: ISIS Unhindered By Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi's Death; Financial Network Intact: Pentagon He further said that the ruling will be hard to explain to her, adding that the logic of the decision will appear baffling, accepting as it does the key underlying factual assessments of extreme danger and extreme unfairness and yet declining to provide any legal remedy. He said that the stark reality of her situation was brought before the court last year. He added, how could she in any meaningful and fair way challenge the decision to deprive her of her nationality, a young woman in grave danger who had by then lost her three children? He further said that Shamimas decision to pursue an appeal against the Home Secretarys deprivation of her citizenship has been rendered meaningless. Read: 'Frustrated' UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Calls Libyan Crisis A 'scandal' Read: Nigeria: Mass Evictions Spark Protests As Housing Crisis Mounts (With Agency Inputs) New Delhi: A view of a mohalla clinic at Sarai Kale Khan ISBT in New Delhi on Dec 2, 2016. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK New Delhi, Feb 8 : Men, women, youth, rural folk, urban folk, forward and backward classes, minorities, locals and migrants -- the strategy of benefit schemes for virtually every section of voters appears to have paid rich dividends for the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Assembly elections which was held on Saturday. Data from the IANS-CVoter Exit Poll released immediately after the polling ended show that the ruling party has cornered 50.6 per cent of votes and is poised to storm back to power yet again. But what is even more interesting is that the AAP has scored consistently among 11 major demographics. While it was perceived that women voters are more inclined towards the AAP, due to schemes such as free bus rides, the exit poll shows that almost equal proportion of men (49.3 per cent) have voted as have women (50.6 per cent). Even across age groups, the AAP has scored consistently with a high of 52.2 per cent in 18-22 age group to a low of 46.1 per cent in the above 50 age group. Going by the education levels of voters too, AAP has scored a high of 54.7 per cent among illiterate voters and 44.9 per cent among qualified professionals. The ruling party enjoys the same level of backing (37.8 per cent to 55.9 per cent) among people from different occupations, including housewives. While people from all social backgrounds have endorsed AAP, Muslims have given the highest level of support with 61 per cent voters backing the party. The voting percentage levels range between a low of 44.7 per cent and a high of 60.8 per cent across various social groups. As part of its poll promises, the AAP has offered a number of freebies to the people of Delhi. Schemes likes free power, WiFi, free bus rides for women and a host of initiatives in the health and education sectors have endeared the party led by Arvind Kejriwal to the people of Delhi. Brenda Hawkes We welcome you to the 20th annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting! Born and bred in Northern California, we are proud of establishing ourselves as one of the worlds most respected wine competitions. With small-town roots, we are honored to host thousands of wines from all over North America with our judges choosing the best of the best in each category. The March 7, 2001 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle is faded now and crinkly. In 1982, the article reads, two wine industry insiders sat down over a glass of Zinfandel and laid plans for the first Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition the following year. The story goes on to announce a name change, as Cloverdale Citrus Fair had just collaborated with the San Francisco Chronicle to conduct the largest Northern California Wine Competition. What a remarkable time it has been, as the nonprofit San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition now enters its second decade, furthering the Cloverdale legacy born 37 years ago. As the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition celebrates its 20th anniversary, the sheer numbers have grown: from 25 judges in 2001, to more than 65 national talents now. From 981 medals awarded among 240 regional wineries then, to XXXX awarded among more than 1,000 North American wineries this year. And at the public tasting being held Feb. 15 at San Franciscos Fort Mason Centers Festival Pavilion, guests will be able to taste more than 1,500 SFCWC gold medal winners alone, as well as many winning wines in other categories. Wine expert Pat Henderson has had a front row seat to the competitions evolution, as one of the original Cloverdale judges and a current judge for this 2020 season. I have not kept count, but I think that I have been a judge at least 20 times I have had to miss a few over the years due to conflicts with my work schedule, he said. For the 2001 judging, Henderson was the winemaker at Valley of the Moon Winery in Kenwood, sitting alongside notable other judges including Gina Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery/ Gallo Signature Series, and Wilfred Wong, then a wine buyer for Beverages & More (now BevMo!), and today chief storyteller for wine.com plus a current judge. Now owner of a business development firm in Santa Rosa called About Wine Consulting, Henderson looks forward to the annual gathering as a reunion as well as a time for great wine appreciation. I love the camaraderie of the event, he said. Every year I get to reconnect with fellow judges who are old friends and enjoy a few glasses of wine. I dont think that everyone realizes it is a lot of work, but I certainly cannot complain about tasting wine for four days straight. Over the years, one thing hasnt changed. Bringing things all together has always been a monumental task, said Bob Fraser, SFCWC executive director and owner of winejudging.com. He points to Anne Vercelli, the assistant director for SFCWC who has been affiliated with the event for more than 30 years, spanning back to when it was the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition. I work on the judging coordination all year long, with a concentrated effort from October to February, Vercelli said. I am also the volunteer coordinator, so I recruit volunteers all year long, speaking to Wine Studies Program classes at Santa Rosa Junior College to encourage students to participate, placing announcements in local papers seeking volunteers and giving presentations to service clubs. Over the decades, the competition has grown so much it received nearly 6,700 wines this year that logging in and coding the entries takes two dedicated months. Vercellis team is manned with clipboards for supply inventory (thousands of glittering wine glasses line the judging tables) and myriad details down to making sure the judges have the proper food to clean their taste buds and keep their bellies full at hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners (no spicy food to interfere with the judges palates, Vercelli said). She also coordinates the massive public tasting held after the competition each year. That includes managing wine transfers from Cloverdale to San Francisco, setting up for the massive venue and supporting multiple staff from security to photographers. One of the most innovative tasks she handles is the trainee schedule and also the SFCWC College Wine Student Intern Program. To the best of my knowledge, this competition is the only one that has an internship program, Vercelli said. Interns volunteer 40 hours preparing for the judging, working the judging week and working at the Fort Mason tasting. We rotate the interns with various job duties so they will experience all aspects; there is no better way to learn about wine competitions than to work one and be involved. Some of the competitions sponsors can boast lengthy track records, too. Presenting sponsor BevMo! has been funding the event for 16 years, and some of its management attends annual insider events like the judges dinner, to connect with professional tasters as well as their guests. We love the outreach the competition has with the general public, showcasing more than 5,000 medal winners, and the great variety at the public tasting in San Francisco, said BevMo! category lead Olivier Kielwasser. BevMo! puts such stock in the competition that it enters its own collection of private label portfolio wines, reflecting bottlings that are proprietary blends from vineyards around the world and are exclusive for sale at BevMo!. The company garnered more than 50 medals this year, and will offer many of those winning wines at BevMos popular 5 cent sale available to store members. The 5 cent sale, where you buy a bottle of wine, and get to purchase the second bottle for 5 cents, offer a tremendous value to the customer, Kielwasser said. Its like the exposure from the competition and public tasting this gives an opportunity for wine enthusiasts around the country to access and discover a curated selection of wines. Investing.com - European stock markets pushed lower Friday, amid caution over the growth of the coronavirus outbreak and the associated economic damage. Weak German and French data and losses in heavyweight bank Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) after the departure of iits CEO also weighed. At 03:50 ET (0850 GMT), the U.K.'s FTSE index was trading 15 points, or 0.2%, lower, DAX dropped 43 points, or 0.3%, while France's CAC 40 outperformed, up 5 points, or 0.1%. The Euro Stoxx 50 index, which measures the movement of blue chip stocks in the eurozone, fell 2 points, or 0.1%. In economic news, German industrial production slumped 3.5% in December, its biggest drop in more than a decade, highlighting the weakness of the manufacturing sector that is dragging on overall growth in Europe's largest economy. Earlier Friday, the death toll from the coronavirus in China reached 636, with those affected topping 31,000, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that it was "too early" to declare a peak in the spread of the new disease. There were also concrete signs of the disruption to the regions economies. China's trade balance fell to a surplus of $39.16 billion in January, from $46.79 billion the previous month, with imports falling 1.5% year on year. Additionally, Singapore's biggest bank DBS on Friday downgraded its forecast for the city-state's 2020 growth rate to 0.9% from 1.4% previously, while Australias central bank said the virus could shave 0.2 percentage points off the country's economic growth in the current quarter. Turning back to Europe, in corporate news, shares in Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) slumped 3.5% after the Swiss banking giant announced it had accepted Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam's resignation following a spying scandal. He will be replaced by Thomas Gottstein, the head of the bank's Swiss business. Shares in Burberry (LON:BRBY) dropped over 1% after the fashion house warned that the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a material negative effect on luxury demand in the Chinese market. Story continues Fiat Chrysler (MI:FCHA) dropped almost 2% after the car maker, one of Europes largest, said it could be forced to halt production at one of four European plants if the supply of parts from China continued to be affected. On the flip side, LOreal (PA:OREP) climbed 3.6% after the French personal care company still expected to outperform rivals in 2020 despite the coronavirus crisis having a short-term hit on its Asian business. And both Nokia (HE:NOKIA) and Ericsson (BS:ERICAs) posted healthy gains, 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively, after the U.S. Attorney General William Barr suggested his country should consider taking a controlling stake in the two companies to compete against Chinese giant Huawei in building out 5G networks. The key data release Friday will be the U.S. Labor Department's closely watched monthly employment report, at 08:30 AM ET (1330 GMT), which is expected to show nonfarm payrolls increased by 160,000 jobs in January. The risk is for a surprise to the upside, as this estimate predates ADP's release on Wednesday, which showed private payrolls increased by 291,000 jobs in January, the most since May 2015. Elsewhere, the oil market traded cautiously Friday, with market players still expecting some form of response from the OPEC-led coalition regarding further cuts in production. AT 03:50 AM ET (0850 GMT), U.S. crude futures traded flat at $50.95 while the international benchmark Brent contract rose 0.1% to $55.00. Related Articles German Recession Risk Returns With Crisis-Era Plunge in Output Energy bills to fall for millions of Britons from April China's State Grid to resume some tenders, energy projects ANN ARBOR, MI - Michael Cox, Ann Arbors chief of police, has been placed on paid administrative leave. City Administrator Howard Lazarus confirmed the news in a Saturday, Feb. 8 email. City Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, said the leave is expected to last two weeks. Jane Lumm, I-2nd Ward, said she talked with Lazarus about the circumstances behind Coxs leave, but could not yet reveal details. Ramlawi and Lumm serve as liaisons to the citys Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, which was established last year. Lisa Jackson, police oversight commission chair, said Coxs leave was due to a personnel matter after speaking with council members. She added that she and the oversight commission are otherwise in the dark at this point. The Ann Arbor News/MLive has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for city records related to Cox being placed on administrative leave. After three decades with the Boston Police Department, Cox was appointed Ann Arbor Police chief last summer after a unanimous City Council vote July 1, 2019. His starting salary was $160,000. I would love to (comment), Cox said in a message, but this is not the appropriate time. Lazarus recommended Cox for the position in June after interviews with three finalists. Deputy Chief Jason Forsberg will serve in Coxs place. READ MORE ON CHIEF MICHAEL COX: Ann Arbor council hires Boston cop to serve as new police chief New Ann Arbor Police chief just getting his feet wet, ready to serve Minority residents discuss fair policing, more with Washtenaw County justice leaders Licences to hunt 60 elephants sold, the first to be allowed since President Masisi scrapped a blanket ban on hunting. Botswana, home to the worlds largest elephant population, has held its first major auction for trophy elephant hunting quotas since scrapping a hunting ban last year. Six licences to hunt a total of 60 elephants were auctioned on Friday, the first to be allowed in the southern African country since President Mokgweetsi Masisi revoked a five-year moratorium in May, raising the ire of conservationists. The one-hour sale was conducted by a local firm, Auction It Botswana, from the premises of the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism in the capital Gaborone. Seven hunting packages, of 10 elephants each, were available for auction. Only one (package) was not sold as no bidders met the reserve price of 2 million pula ($181,000), said Adrian Rass, managing director of Auction It. The six (packages) were sold for a total price of 25.7 million pula ($2.3m). 191028162233348 Africas overall elephant population is declining due to poaching but Botswana, home to almost one-third of the continents elephants, has seen numbers grow to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s. Botswanan officials say hunting is necessary to ease conflict between animals and humans, especially farmers who have seen their crops and infrastructure destroyed by elephants roaming outside their feeding zones. Masisis decision to lift the hunting ban last year was highly praised by local communities but derided by conservationists. Elephants have killed a lot of people and destroyed livelihoods. I think government is doing the right thing in reducing their numbers, Tiro Segosebe, a Gaborone resident whose home village of Maun is one of the areas most affected by the human-wildlife conflict, told Reuters news agency. Deeply concerning The 2020 hunting season is expected to start in April. The government said hunting would be controlled and confined to areas most impacted by human-wildlife conflict, a reference to elephants roaming off game parks and into communities. Environmentalists are divided on the best means to manage the conflict, with some fearing licensed hunting could fuel demand and thus encourage even more illegal poaching. Audrey Delsink, Africas wildlife director for the global conservation lobby charity Humane Society International said: The Botswanan elephant hunting auctions are deeply concerning and questionable. Hunting is not an effective long-term human-elephant mitigation tool or population control method, she told AFP news agency from neighbouring South Africa. Neil Fitt, who heads the Kalahari Conservation Society in Botswana, said hunting was a new source of revenue for the country but cautioned it had to be practised ethically and properly. The killing of Cecil the Lion four years ago by an American tourist in Zimbabwe sparked international uproar, and in 2019 Botswana banned two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and then tried to hide the evidence. A 60-year-old American has died of the new coronavirus, the first confirmed non-Chinese death of the illness, US officials said, as millions of Chinese began returning home after a Lunar New Year break that was extended to try to contain the outbreak. While the vast majority of cases have been in China, the virus has spread to some two dozen countries abroad, including five British nationals infected in a French ski resort. The American man died on Thursday in Wuhan, epicentre of the virus outbreak in the central Chinese province of Hubei, a US embassy spokesman said in Beijing ... The creation of a research centre that will focus on agricultural development in Western Canada has been announced by the University of Calgary's school of public policy. At the project's unveiling on Friday, speakers said the Simpson Centre for Agricultural and Food Innovation and Public Education will work to facilitate the growth, success and sustainability of the agricultural sector. It aims to do this by contributing to public education and shaping policy surrounding Canadian agri-food and agri-business. The institute takes its name from Calgary rancher and businessman John Simpson, who donated more than $5 million to the project. 'We need to defend our own turf' Simpson, the self-described "champion" of the research centre, told CBC News at the centre's unveiling that it will be an important development for an industry that he says is under threat. "Agriculture has been left behind [in] the way the world is changing, and we need to collaborate. We need to get everyone together and we need to defend our own turf, so to speak, so that we don't lose our industry," Simpson said. The centre has highlighted the four focuses of its research on its website: trade policy, climate change, agriculture as a major resource sector, and food and agriculture technology. Simpson says the sector is up against misconceptions about the environmental impact of agriculture, and businesses that are publicly distancing themselves from animal products are another concern. He cited the recent announcement that coffee-giant Starbucks will move away from dairy in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, as an example. "The press picks it up, and we don't have a position to defend that. So we need to have a spokesperson, with facts and honesty," Simpson said. Another key goal of the institute, Simpson said, will be to streamline communication and research within the industry. Agriculture insiders excited Story continues Colleen Underwood/CBC Calgary The centre's unveiling has prompted excitement within the sector. Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, the CEO of CL Ranches Ltd., was in attendance and said she is optimistic the centre will bring farmers and ranchers to the table. "We have a small voice but not necessarily a big enough voice to really impact policy. But this is going to be our foothold. We're excited about this," Copithorne-Barnes said. "A lot of it is helping us to mitigate concerns, public concerns, regarding climate change. We have a tremendous amount of research going on, but it needs to be co-ordinated." The next step for the research centre, Simpson said, is finding a director. He also told the CBC that the centre will be privately funded and hopefully run, at least in part, by volunteers. Ultimately, what Simpson wants, he said, is for the centre to reclaim the faith of the public through research. "Agriculture does produce our breakfast, our lunch and our supper, and we need to care about how we produce that so that we get the people back onside, to believing that farmers and ranchers in agriculture are good for us," Simpson said. (Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more. The German establishments playbook for dealing with populism is simple: you ignore the problem and hope it goes away. So when a state leader from Angela Merkels Christian Democrats threw in his lot with the far right this week, he met with opprobrium across the mainstream. Merkel called it unforgivable. Her coalition partner said a taboo had been broken. That much is clear. But Mike Mohring, the CDU chief in Thuringia, might legitimately ask what else he was supposed to do. Hes been fighting to keep the party relevant in the poorer east where many voters feel its center-right policies have failed them and resent the support Merkel has offered to a wave of refugees. And he knows that the fundamental challenge isnt the nationalist Alternative for Germany, or AfDs local leader a bona fide fascist according to a German court ruling but that 260,000 voters decided to back him. National party leader and Merkel heir Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer may never recover from the humiliation, and it may well push more angry easterners into the arms of the anti-immigrant AfD. That would leave the CDU no closer to tackling the real issue the shadow of fascism in Germany. Global Headlines Growing discontent | President Xi Jinpings government has worked hard to channel anxiety over the coronavirus into patriotic fervor. But the death of a 34-year-old doctor today has unleashed a wave of fury thats sparking a rare crisis of confidence in Chinas Communist Party. The death of Li Wenliang, who was sanctioned by authorities after blowing the whistle on the disease last month, was met with an outpouring of grief and outrage by hundreds of millions of social media users. Post-Iowa showdown | Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders will meet face-to-face on the debate stage tonight in New Hampshire, amid a bitter and unanswered dispute over which one of them will come out victorious from the Iowa caucuses. Their tie sets them up as the co-front-runners in the all-important delegate race and for now the standard-bearers of two distinct wings of the Democratic party. Story continues Click here for more on Sanderss efforts to win in delegate-rich California. Fearing reprisal | Now that President Donald Trump has been acquitted of two impeachment charges, many career national security officials fear that he could unleash on the foreign policy establishment hes long equated with what some of his advisers and supporters call the Deep State. Jennifer Jacobs and Nick Wadhams exclusively report that the White House is weighing a plan to dismiss Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council after he testified in Trumps impeachment inquiry. Syrias defiance | A day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Syria end its siege of two Turkish military outposts in northwestern Idlib province, the Russian-backed forces loyal to Damascus captured a strategic town, besieging a third Turkish military outpost. The assault heightened tensions between Ankara and Moscow following an attack on Monday by Syrian troops that killed seven Turkish soldiers and a civilian. Falling behind | Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar looks set to lose power in tomorrows election. He may have scored successes in Brexit negotiations, but as Dara Doyle reports, voters dont seem to care much theyre focused on the nations ailing health service, a housing shortage and Varadkars posh boy persona. Polls indicate the Fianna Fail party, which oversaw Irelands economic collapse and the 2010 bailout, will emerge as the winner. What to Watch Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Venezuela for talks with President Nicolas Maduro. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis party is set for a tough fight in the Delhi state election tomorrow, in the first major test at the polls of his religion-based citizenship law thats spurred nationwide protests. The U.S. announced yesterday plans to start trade negotiations with Kenya in what could be the first such agreement with a sub-Saharan African nation. Pop quiz, readers (no cheating!). What African country's Constitutional Court ordered fresh elections within five months after annulling the results of a presidential vote last year that the opposition said was rigged? Send us your answers and tell us how were doing or what were missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.And finally ... Months of protests in Hong Kong have brought a large number of women to the front lines, upending gender roles that saw them act more as cheerleaders during a previous pro-democracy movement in the financial hub. Theyre not the only ones, as Shelly Banjo and Josie Wong found. Women from Sudan to India are bucking tradition and putting themselves at the forefront of a global wave of protests. --With assistance from Karen Leigh, Kathleen Hunter, Dara Doyle and Selcan Hacaoglu. To contact the author of this story: Ben Sills in Madrid at bsills@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Karl Maier 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. Delhi Assembly Election Results 2020 LIVE updates, Delhi Assembly Polls: Check constituency-wise poll-results, candidates, winners, losers Exit polls released after voting to the 70-member Delhi Assembly concluded on February 8 have given the lead to Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and suggested that the BJP will be a distant second in the race to the throne. While the Times Now - IPSOS survey has given 47 seats to AAP and 23 to the BJP, the Republic-Jan Ki Baat survey has awarded AAP seats in the range of 48-61, giving BJP 9 -21 seats. Both the surveys have given the Congress 0-2 seats. The ABP News-CVoter, while predicting a similar trend, has given 49-63 seats to the AAP and 5-19 seats to the BJP. The Congress has given single-digit seats in the range zero to five. India Today Axis Poll also predicted victory for the Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi, giving 59-68 seats to AAP and 2-11 seats to the BJP. Voting to the 70-member Delhi Assembly concluded at 6 pm on February 8. A voter turnout of 55 percent was recorded, significantly lower than the 65 percent turnout recorded during the 2015 Assembly polls. To form the government in the capital city, a party needs to win at least 36 seats. The ruling AAP contested the election hoping to win a second term with Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister. The party is banking on the work it has done in the last five years including subsidised electricity and water bills, Mohalla clinics, better government schools and free rides to women in DTC buses to appeal to the electorate. The BJP, which has not been able to form the government in Delhi since 1993, despite winning all seven parliamentary seats in the 2019 as well as 2014 Lok Sabha Polls, has campaigned aggressively in the capital city this time around. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is said to have held rallies in 60 of the 70 assembly constituencies. The saffron party has not declared their chief ministerial candidate, saying that they will fight these elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which has not been able to win a single seat in the 2015 assembly polls as well as the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is fighting to improve its tally. It is depending on the party's vote share increasing marginally during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, where the Grand Old Party was able to push AAP to the third place in five of the seven parliamentary constituencies. The final results to the high-octane capital contest will be declared on February 11. For all the latest updates on Delhi Elections, click here Elianor Vessali, 43, an Iranian-born Christian with strong sentiments about her native turf and liberty in her adopted homeland, has an impressive resume, one that includes law school (and work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate), classroom teaching, public service and real estate. Also on her resume: joining the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets as the first woman in the male-only company P-2, an experience that prepared her well enough, her campaign bio says, that no D.C. lobbyist or special interest group is going to intimidate her into shrinking away from her strongly held conservative beliefs and the grassroots. Vessali ran unsuccessfully for College Station City Council in November 2017 but succeeded in a second run in November 2018, vowing to draw upon her experience on the planning and zoning commission to help College Station manage its growth. A year later she announced her decision to run as a Republican for Congressional District 17, insisting that Congress was out of control. We are as impressed by her resume, energy and ambition as we are underwhelmed by her announced intention to join the zealously right-wing House Freedom Caucus. Q Was there a defining moment that prompted you to run? A Absolutely. The discussion was centered around the issues in Washington and people being elected on a certain statement or platform, then going to Washington and no longer representing that and, as they say, being lost to what everybody likes to call the Swamp. That rang true to me because, in my service on city council, I have been through those tough fights and have had those moments where Ive been the lone vote, whether it was on the budget and tax issue or a property rights issue. I knew that I had been tested according to my principles and had stood my ground. I believe I could do the same in D.C. for our district. Q Research indicates lawmakers who have previously served on a city council, a school board, a planning and zoning commission or a philanthropic board demonstrate superior results in terms of passing bipartisan legislation. A I think any sort of experience in serving as a representative of the people is always eye-opening. So its definitely helpful. But according to what you refer to as compromise or working with other sides, I think thats something thats already in my nature and is why I had such a broad base of support locally. I am a conservative. Ive never hidden my conservative principles, but people also know that I am reasonable. And for me, its about having all parties at the table and part of the discussion. Thats always been my belief and thats what Ive carried through. It definitely was necessary on the council. Q Donald Trump has been a transformative figure, not only for the Republican Party but for the nation. How has he made the Republican Party better, if indeed he has? A What I think Donald Trump has accomplished, and that the people appreciate, is he has clearly stated what his goals are. Since his first day in office, he has worked toward those goals. I think the frustration with the electorate and the people is that there have been many promises made. Now, you can argue over the party in power, but even when the party was in power, those promises were not kept. That type of representation and public service is what leads to frustration. Its why somebody like our president, who is clear just like a business owner [who] has set goals and charges toward those goals, is so appreciated, I think, by the people. Thats definitely something thats been worthwhile and beneficial to the party. Q On your website, you note that as an immigrant, you have firsthand knowledge of lost liberties. Explain your immigrant background and why that perhaps gives you a greater appreciation of what we have in America. A My quick story: I was born in Iran, what I call a pre-revolution baby. [The Iranian revolution erupted in 1978.] And so, we left in 78. My father literally was on the only plane that left on the day he was traveling as they closed the airports. My parents had already been in Houston since the 1960s. But I have family left behind in Iran. My grandfather was jailed and tortured during the revolution. I still have family there to this day: uncle, cousins. And on my mothers side, I have family in Europe. So Ive lived in Europe, worked in Europe, and have traveled extensively there and throughout the world. The only place that I havent been, since 78, is Iran. So my experiences are based not only on that story of origin and what my [extended] family is still undergoing under that regime but also my experience in Europe, under leftist/socialist policies France, specifically. So my personal experience and my familys experience with those policies, and especially as a child growing up, whether its educational progression, professional progression, seeing the opportunities of one versus the other, have been very eye-opening. As a conservative, I believe [conservative] principles are key to our fundamental freedoms and prosperity. Q When did you settle in the United States? A I came directly back from Iran. My parents, for them, its a stint back, because that was a branch office that my father had opened in Tehran at the time, when everything was going well. So he went back to close the branch office, came back to the business in Houston. Hes originally an architect. So at the time in Houston, he had an architecture firm with a partner. I grew up in Houston, spending my time as soon as the school year was over, two, two and a half months, in France, every year, along with Christmas. Same thing throughout law school. Q As an immigrant, what was the biggest challenge in assimilation? This is one of the fears conservatives have about immigrants, that they will not assimilate. A I did not find it difficult to assimilate because I had parents who absolutely fell in love with the United States and Texas in the 60s, embraced everything that was back then Texan, embraced the opportunities they had. They were students, working multiple jobs, and then eventually had their business. So for us? We really were here to follow that American Dream. Q Your bio on your website is impressive, yet I sense a degree of aimlessness. Heres someone whos obviously intelligent, has a law degree, ends up teaching chemistry in school, then ends up in the very competitive real estate business. A It may seem that way, but all of them are very tied together. The law degree, I personally feel, is something everybody should go through. Its so educational and informative in just basic legal education that so many of our fellow citizens dont have or grasp. And as you go throughout your daily life, whether its dealing with your personal insurance or even issues in your workplace, such as if all of a sudden you have a personal HR issue, to have that legal mind and analysis or perspective, I think, is so beneficial. Education? My mothers originally an educator, so I had grown up with it. She started a school in Houston. The French School, which is now Awty International School. And so that was something I always had been surrounded by and had also helped her out. Private school schedules are off of public schools, so if she ever needed help when I was in college, I would come in and chip in for a teacher who was out. So Id always been around education and had always loved it. And then real estate? Same thing, it has been a family business. My fathers originally an architect, but throughout his career he has done everything related to that, including construction and real estate. Really, to me, maybe if there were any odd man out, it would be the law school. But in the end, it has helped me, both in my teaching profession when dealing in difficult situations but it helps me now in my real estate profession. But education and real estate I grew up with. Q Fair enough. In 2018 you won a seat on the College Station City Council by stressing your background in challenging planning and zoning commission work. My compliments to anyone involved in that. You won the City Council seat by vowing to help manage growth drawing from your knowledge of the citys comprehensive plan. Congratulations again. Yet now youre running for Congress. If I had voted for you, wouldnt I have a right to be concerned? Hey, I just voted for you to be on the council to help manage growth. Why have you not stuck with that? A Thats an interesting question, and I can understand where its coming from. It was not an easy decision. I think what made it easier, beyond what Ive already talked about and will touch on, is that those who supported me in my quest for council are supporting me in this campaign as well. That was an important key to it. We are at such a critical time, and I truly believe that I have experience and a background that is unique, that no other candidate offers to the issues that we are dealing with today at the congressional level, that I felt compelled to make that transition. Thats a discussion that I had with my supporters. The fact that Im sitting here today is proof that it was a positive one. Q Lets talk about Article I. James Madison famously described the legislative branch as the first among equals. In republican government the legislative authority necessarily predominates. Yet we see considerable overreach by the executive branch, whether its Obama, Trump or George W. Bush. These presidents say this is not only a necessity but constitutionally legitimate. Where do you stand? A Thats a valid issue. I think the issue of overreach also has to do with congressional delegation of their authority in the past. Thats something concerning that needs to be dealt with. I think Congress needs to take back a lot of its authority that it has itself delegated to the agencies. Q How does that happen if the Democrats are always going to justify executive overreach when its done by, say, President Obama, and Republicans very clearly justify executive overreach when its done by one of their guys in the White House? Whos going to step forward and stop what may well be evolving into an imperial presidency? A Can you give me the example of overreach youre thinking about? Q Well, for instance, do you believe DACA [implemented by executive order through the Obama White House] was executive overreach? A Yes, I do believe DACA was executive overreach. I think its under Congress authority to legislate our immigration laws. Q Even though it was a temporary shelving of a program? It wasnt resetting law. A Right, but even though it was a temporary measure, its basically the equivalent of changing the congressional intent. Q The Trump administration has introduced such policies as Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico. Are these proper uses of executive oversight? Thats a major change also. A That one I dont see as a fairly major change because I see that in line with our current policies and the issues that weve been dealing with [involving] the neighboring countries and their processing of these migrants or allowing these migrants to travel through [and] beyond their borders and through their laws up to our border itself. Q So you dont think thats executive overreach, but DACA is. A Correct. Q I think thats a good example of what Im talking about. Incidentally, we have pastors who have gone to these tent cities just over the borderline. They have seen refugees fleeing violence much as I presume your family fled violence, fleeing Central America. Yet the law was for asylum-seekers to come to the United States, not to be sent back to Mexico and put in tent cities where theyve been subjected to human trafficking, killing. I dont see how thats not executive overreach by a mighty stride. A Its definitely a humanitarian issue. But I think theres a difference when were looking at immigration between immigrants and asylum-seekers seeking that status. Thats through a legal status through a point of entry. That is a status that they can request. Q Lets talk about Iran. Thats an area important to you. Explain the logic of pulling out of a pact that everyone, right and left, agreed froze Irans nuclear program when we obviously cant restrain North Korea, which is in the very same game. A Right. And so I wasnt in favor of the pact. And so Im in favor of us pulling out. I think there are a lot of issues with our European [allies] and different reasons for which they base their decisions that are often in conflict with ours, which is nothing new. But what has been going on for over 40 years with Iran has been exactly the same. They have progressed [in their threat] and have violated the expectations out of the nuclear terms and have continued in violation of that. Q But the Trump administration said they were abiding by the agreement. [Note: Several Republican congressional candidates insist Iran was not abiding by the 2015 pact; yet everyone from Air Force Gen. John Hyten of U.S. Strategic Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the International Atomic Energy Agency in charge of verifying compliance indicate Iran was compliant before the Trump decision to abandon the pact. The Trump administration has said the pact did not go far enough.] A That is not my understanding of the details of the agreement. Its that they were and especially have violated it since then. Beyond that, to the point of your question, nothing has changed or gotten better with Iran, even if there is the idea that there was a nuclear agreement that they, lets say, did not violate. They continue to oppress their people, violate human rights, throw gays and homosexuals off of rooftops, torture, export terrorism. And so to me, whats important is understanding that the status quo for the past 40 years, trying to work and appease this government, has not moved anything forward. I do have some hope about the internal protests [in Iran]. Theyre the biggest that weve seen in years from the people. So thats a little light at the end of the tunnel, even though they themselves have been killed and tortured throughout these protests. Q What questions are you being asked on the campaign trail? A The two main topics are always the budget and, even though were not on the border, people are always concerned about border security and immigration. Q Is there anything that you would like to stress? A Just as I have been committed in the past in my seats of service, whether on commission or council, and even in charitable causes , Im committed to serve those people. Im just as committed to serve the entire district as well. And that means coming back home to the district, putting the miles on the car to see all the different parts of the district, to reach all parts from Waco to Bryan-College Station, from Oakwood to Pflugerville. Interview conducted by Trib editor Steve Boggs and opinion editor Bill Whitaker. It has been condensed for space and edited for clarity. Hidden Harvest is so thankful for the partnerships that make our food rescue and hunger relief efforts successful throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. One of those partnerships is the annual donation drive held by Dow Chemical Employees' Credit Union. Their support through the years has equaled 7,110 pounds of canned good donations to share with our hunger relief partners through the region. ASHGABAT, Tukrmenistan, Feb. 8 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ezizgeldi Annamuhammedov has been appointed Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the decree of the country's president. Former Minister Batyr Bazarov has been appointed to another position. In Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Finance and Economy in this format was created relatively recently. The new ministry combined the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Economy and Development, and became their legal successor. According to the decree of the head of state, this measure was taken with the purpose of transformation of the financial, economic and banking sector of Turkmenistan and improvement of its activities. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 27F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 24F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. A detailed analysis report of the Global Peripheral Guidewires Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. Drivers Rising demand for minimally invasive surgeries Growing prevalence of neurological, cardiovascular and urology disorders Restraints Availability of substitute method The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. 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SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT: By Applications: Diagnostics Interventional By Geography: North America (NA) US, Canada & Rest of North America Europe (EU) UK, Germany, France & Rest of Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) China, Japan, India & Rest of APAC Latin America (LA) Brazil & Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) Middle East and Africa Download Free Sample Report of Global Peripheral Guidewires Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-22826 The Global Peripheral Guidewires Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters Chapter 1 Peripheral Guidewires Market Preface Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Peripheral Guidewires Industry Analysis Chapter 4 Peripheral Guidewires Market Value Chain Analysis Chapter 5 Peripheral Guidewires Market Analysis By Applications Chapter 6 Peripheral Guidewires Market Analysis By Geography Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape Of Peripheral Guidewires Companies Chapter 8 Company Profiles Of Peripheral Guidewires Industry Purchase the complete Global Peripheral Guidewires Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-22826 Other Reports by DecisionDatabases.com: Global Vascular Guidewires Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast Global M-Health Applications Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 Global Pediatrics Healthcare Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast About-Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: In yet another case of Punjabis falling prey to unscrupulous travel agents in order to go abroad to earn a livelihood, eleven women from the state are stuck in Muscat and have sent an SOS back home requesting to be rescued from the Gulf country. In a video message shared by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, who is also the Punjab unit AAP president, on his Twitter handle on Saturday, the eleven women sitting in the Indian Embassy in Muscat are seen asking for help so that they can come back home. With their faces covered, one the women pleaded, "We are eleven girls in the Indian embassy here (Muscat). We have been cheated by travel agents in Punjab. We were sent here for some other work but were forced to work as maids in the houses of our sponsors here. They used to beat us up and also did not give us food. The medical condition of all of us is bad. The woman further said, "As I was beaten up. I have developed a disk problem and now cannot walk properly. I have high blood pressure and also developed a cervical issue. I came to the embassy here seven months ago. They told me to get my passport. The agent and the sponsor are not giving my passport so I am stuck here. The sponsor is asking for 1200 in Muscat currency to give my passport back and the same is the case with the other girls. We are poor girls and cannot give such kind of money to get back our passports so please help us. We tried to contact ministers in the Punjab government but nobody came forward to help us, adding that her two children are alone back in Punjab and there is nobody to take care of them. She also said there is another girl in the group who has a heart problem. Meanwhile, Mann said that he has sought time from the Union External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and will request him to bring these eleven women from Punjab back to India. He also requested anyone having the contact numbers or passport numbers of these women to get back to him. In a similar case last November, 26 youths of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala were stuck in Russia after they were cheated by a travel agent. One of them, 30-year-old Malkiat Singh, died there as he did not get medical aid. Later, the agent was arrested by the Punjab Police. Singhs body was brought back home and cremated. Also, in July last year, seven Punjabi youths were stuck in Iraq for months after being cheated by a travel agent. Of them, five were from Phillaur and one each from Phagwara and Bholath. They were eventually rescued and sent back home. For Democrats, this was supposed be a moment to begin easing three years of built-up of anxieties. Instead, the launch of the 2020 presidential primary has left the party deeply unsettled and President Donald Trump gleeful about the chaos. Party leaders are on edge over embarrassing technical issues that marred this past week's Iowa caucuses, as well as lower than expected turnout in the leadoff state. Front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg face questions about their long-term political viability, while some supporters of the two leading women left in the race Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are raising alarms about what they view as persistent sexism. It's a hard start, said Laura Keeler, a 35-year-old from Concord, New Hampshire. Indeed, it's far from the 2020 launchpad most Democrats envisioned as they eagerly anticipated their opportunity to take on Trump. The turbulent start to this election year has also crystallised the challenges confronting Democrats in trying to mount a formidable challenge to an incumbent backed by an energized and united Republican Party and fortified by a soaring economy. We're capable of shooting ourselves in the foot, warned Jim Hodges, an ex-South Carolina governor who supports former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 race. Hodges is among those who predict that Sanders, a Vermont senator who is a self-described democratic socialist, would be a weak general election candidate. With one primary contest complete and the second scheduled for Tuesday in New Hampshire, some sorting of the Democratic field has begun. Though The Associated Press has been unable to declare a winner in last Monday's Iowa caucuses, Sanders and Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, emerged in an effective tie. Biden, the longtime national front-runner, finished a distant fourth in Iowa. He's now facing a money crunch, a staff shakeup, and a looming challenge from billionaire Michael Bloomberg. The former New York City mayor isn't competing in the early states, but is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in later contests. Sandwiched in between is Warren, who finished third in Iowa and is struggling for a breakout moment. Some Democrats argue that she's been discounted prematurely, and suggest sexism is at play. We're going to decide after one night in which she placed third, and a strong third, we're going to decide there are four candidates left, one of whom finished fourth and one of whom wasn't even running in Iowa, said Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications at Emily's List. It is sadly not surprising because unfortunately it's happened way too much in this campaign. Even with the technical glitches and delayed results, Iowa does appear to have rewarded Sanders and Buttigieg with a burst of momentum heading into New Hampshire. Both, however, face questions about their viability. Some party leaders privately view a Sanders as a risky nominee in swing states, and for House and Senate candidates in places such as Colorado and Arizona. Sanders is attuned to that concern and has made an appeal for party unity a central part of his pitch in recent weeks. Buttigieg, the youngest candidate in the race at 38, has made a compelling case for generational change, but there are questions about his experience and his appeal to minority voters who are the backbone of the Democratic Party. He struggled in the Friday's debate when challenged on the incarceration rates for black residents of South Bend, where he was mayor for eight years. It's the highest electoral office he's held. New Hampshire is the next chance for Sanders and Buttigieg to project strength. Expectations are particularly high for Sanders, who won the state by more than 20 percentage points in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, the eventual nominee. Sanders struggled in the later, more diverse states, and has spent the past four years courting voters and community leaders in those places in hopes of avoiding a repeat. The prominence of Iowa and New Hampshire has long been criticised by Democrats who argue that two small and predominantly white states set the tone for the nominating contest. That criticism skyrocketed after this week's caucus failures. But no Democrat has become the nominee without winning at least one of the first two states since Bill Clinton in 1992. Biden is all but conceding that he will have to follow that same path if he is to become the nominee. After a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa, Biden said in Friday's debate that he expects to take a hit in New Hampshire as well. After the Iowa debacle, Bloomberg's team announced plans to double the USD 300 million it already has spent on television advertisements, and campaign strategists are signalling that they expect Biden to crater in the coming weeks. I don't think that, quite frankly, anyone that has not won one of those two states, other than Mike, will go on to be the nominee, said Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg's campaign manager. Bloomberg is courting Biden donors for support, not money as well as moderate lawmakers who worry that Sanders or another liberal would put their House seats in swing districts at risk. On Thursday, Bloomberg's team announced an endorsement from New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who was also being pursued by Biden. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Co. Wicklow Children and Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC) were part of a seminar which looked at the experiences of practitioners who have been using the Non Violence Resistance (NVR) model in their work with parents in recent years. The seminar also featured Tusla's Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Dublin South/East Wicklow, and East Coast NVR Practitioners Network. The East Coast NVR Practitioners network is an interagency group that is led by Tusla. NVR offers an innovative approach to addressing the complex problem of Child to Parent Violence. This model has also been used in other areas of family support work such as supporting children with anxiety and ASD, school non-attendance and drug and alcohol misuse. Presenters throughout the day, including both leading NVR practitioners and parents, looked at recent experiences of using the NVR model to address the issue of child-to-parent violence. The seminar also explored the future possibilities for the NVR model in addressing other areas of concern for families such as school non-attendance, drug and alcohol misuse and child and adolescent anxiety. Tara Kelly, Project Leader, Partnership, Prevention and Family Support, Tusla, said: 'In recent years an increasing number of families are seeking support in relation to child-to-parent violence and abuse. Parents can feel that they have lost authority, and struggle to deal with challenging behaviour from their child. This behaviour can include physical violence, threats of violence, and damage to property. In Tusla, we are using and developing the Non Violent Resistance model to help and empower parents to bring the violence to an end and to re-build their relationship with their child. Parents are reporting that they find the model to be very effective, and we are exploring the use of the NVR model to support parents with other difficulties such as school non-attendance and anxiety.' The seminar aimed to promote best practice and a shared approach to the issue, with a view to utilising the NVR model to create better outcomes for children and families. Child-to-parent violence is an increasingly recognised problem affecting families both in Ireland and internationally. It's a problem that is often hidden from view, and parents can be reluctant to talk about their child or adolescent's behaviour. Please DOUX follow us Doux Reviews has been on the web since 2004 and features thousands of episode reviews of the best classic and current television shows as well as many book and movie reviews Paul Kitagaki Jr. / Associated Press Five people who were under quarantine at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield have been hospitalized with fevers and are being evaluated for possible infection by the new coronavirus, a public health official said Friday. Two government flights evacuating Americans from China to the United States landed at Travis this week, one early Wednesday and a second Friday morning. One passenger from the first flight reported symptoms upon landing and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where that person is being cared for in isolation, said Jason McDonald, a spokesman with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. McDonald is currently at Travis. On February 1, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a two-week travel ban on foreign nationals returning to Australia from China. The measure followed an Australian Health Protection Principal Committee assessment that there was an increased risk posed from travellers from all of mainland China in spreading the novel coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan, China last month. The reactionary ban on travel does not apply to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family. However, those able to return to Australia are forced to undergo 14 days of isolation in quarantine, and those evacuated from Wuhan by the government are being held on Christmas Islandone of Australias immigrant detention centresor in a disused mining camp near the northern city of Darwin. The Australian travel restrictions were announced after the US imposed a ban on travel on foreign nationals who had entered mainland China within the previous 14 days. According to the Guardian, some British universities are warning international students travelling to China that they risk being quarantined upon returning to the UK. With many overseas Chinese nationals travelling to China to celebrate Lunar New Year with family and friends, the timing of the ban has left tens of thousands unable to return to work and studies in Australia. Over 106,000 of the 189,000 Chinese international students in Australian tertiary education institutions are currently unable to return to Australia, under conditions in which the academic year is due to begin within weeks. Despite the coronavirus being largely restricted to Hubei province, the blanket ban by the Morrison government affects any foreign national trying to enter Australia from mainland China. Wang Xining, the deputy head of mission of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, criticised the Australian governments decision and the escalation to level four do not travel advice for all of mainland China. He told the Age: The World Health Organisation didnt recommend any restrictions over international travel and trade. Actually, it opposes such measures. Chinese students, who make up around 10 percent of Australias international student population, now confront the possibility of missing classes, having to defer and even losing their visas due to the ban. Some Australian universities, the including University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Macquarie University, University of New South Wales, Queensland University of Technology and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, have said that students will be able to defer their studies without penalty. Other universities, such as La Trobe, University of Tasmania and University of Sydney, have said that classes will resume and affected students will be able to participate online. Phil HoneywoodCEO of the International Education Association of Australia and former Victorian Liberal government tertiary education ministerhas been appointed chair of a Global Reputation Taskforce. The taskforce, which established last month, warned that the Australian education industry that uses international students as an a lucrative source of revenue faces an $8 billion hit from the coronavirus crisis. Honeywood said: The challenge will be the extent to which the government of China is willing to facilitate online learning and video-based teaching by Australian schools and universities into China. In the past the government of China has not viewed online learning as good as face-to-face classroom-based learning. One Chinese nursing student at UTS told the Sydney Morning Herald through WeChat: The school of medicine only starts in February every year. If I miss it, I will be delayed for one year. Australia also proposed that schools provide online teaching, but I think this is impossible. We cant access Google in China, we cant open foreign websites and the quality of online teaching is very unstable. Monash University has delayed the start of semester by one week. There are calls for other universities to push back their start dates. As of Monday, over 11,000 students had signed a petition on the Chinese website WJX calling for the University of Sydney to delay the start of semester two weeks, pushing it back from February 24 to March 9. The petition was started by Student Representative Council (SRC) general secretary Abbey Shi. SRC President Liam Donohoe told the Sydney Morning Herald that the petition is a means to an end. Whats ultimately more pleasing is getting the outcome that we want. Donohoe said that a planned protest yesterday afternoon outside the Department of Immigration office would express our solidarity to not just Chinese students, but all Chinese people whove been affected. He condemned the ban as Sinophobic, noting that many University of Sydney students and SRC student office bearers would be affected by the ban. SRC general secretary Shi told the University of Sydneys student newspaper Honi Soit that, Most students that have been trapped in China understand the virus and are taking preventative methods way more carefully than the institutional instructions. Speaking with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a Sydney law student, who wanted to be identified only as Ritsu, explained that he was meant to return to Australia this week. Ritsu told the ABC that as soon as he heard about the US travel ban, he knew Australia would follow suit. I have absolutely no idea what will happen from here he said. He described the travel ban as an excuse for racism. Many students travel arrangements are being restricted despite posing no threat of spreading the virus. Ritsu has not been outside his apartment in Xiaogan50 kilometres from the centre of Wuhanfor almost two weeks. Ritsu has already enrolled in classes and paid the exorbitant tuition fees required of international students for this academic year. I feel anxious every day and am constantly checking my emails for updates from my uni but they have only given out very general advice, he said. Unable to begin a planned internship with a research centre, Ritsu is worried he may have to suspend his legal studies. Another international student, Ray, spoke with the ABC. She is currently in quarantine at home in Beijing. Ray expressed anger at the Australian government and called the travel ban a poorly thought out knee-jerk reaction to follow the US. Ray said deferring her studies will be disastrous. Im a law student, so many units have iron-clad pre-requisites, she said. This means if I miss one semester, I might as well have missed the whole year. Many of Rays friends are unsure how long they can continue paying rent. Ray also told the ABC she is concerned about finding a paid job in Sydney if the travel ban is extended: Its already extremely difficult to find a job in Australia as an international student, even if you are already doing really well academically. Some international university students Australian visa status could be under threat due to anti-democratic, minimum attendance requirements. University of Melbourne student Jessica Xu will face isolation of up to two months if she returns from Wuhan on February 26 as planned. She told the Age: Im worried about my life, about my studies. Study abroad is not cheap, so Im just afraid I cannot study in Australia this year. Post-graduate student Mengting Chen is also in Wuhan. She does not know whether to pay her tuition fees for this year, which are due one day before the travel ban ends. Speaking with the Age, she said, Me and my roommate have already booked an apartment for our next semester. We have to pay the bond, and the rent for the first month, and now we cant get back to Melbourne on time. Xu told the Age: If I cant get back for March, I'll have to delay all those plans for one year: graduation, graduate study, then my future career would be delayed for a year. Asked if students would receive refunds on tuition fees and universities would be covered for lost revenue, Australian Minister for Education Dan Tehan cautioned: Lets wait and see what happens over the next fortnight, over the next month. Some Chinese Australians have said they have been subjected to racial profiling as a result of the ban. Speaking with the ABC, Jono Gu said he saw racist graffiti on walls in Melbourne and a driver shouted at him to go home while he was wearing a face mask. Its all adding to an atmosphere of increased racial tension, he stated. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-07 23:55:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cars and trucks embark on a ferry in Port of Dover on the first day after Brexit in Dover, Britain, Feb. 1, 2020. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua) The new tariff regime, known as the UK Global Tariff, will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2021 for imports from any country that Britain does not have a free trade agreement with. It is the latest effort by the British government to shape its post-Brexit trade policy. LONDON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The British government has started developing the country's new tariff regime for imports after the Brexit transition period, which ends in December this year. It is the latest effort by the British government to shape its post-Brexit trade policy. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain will seek a Canada-style trade agreement with the European Union (EU) as part of its future trade relationship with the bloc, and diverge from EU rules. The new tariff regime, known as the UK Global Tariff, will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2021 for imports from any country that Britain does not have a free trade agreement with. The Department for International Trade on Thursday launched a four-week public consultation, seeking views on simplifying and tailoring the tariff to suit British businesses and households, such as removing tariffs of less than 2.5 percent and rounding tariffs down to the nearest 2.5 percent, 5 percent or 10 percent band. A ferry arrives at the Port of Dovert on the first day after Brexit in Dover, Britain, Feb. 1, 2020.(Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua) Other contents for consultation include removing tariffs on key inputs to production which could reduce costs for British manufacturers, and removing tariffs where the Britain has zero or limited domestic production which could help to lower prices for consumers. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: "The UK has left the EU and it is time for us to look forward to our future as an independent, global champion of free trade...It is vitally important that we now move away from complex tariff schedule imposed on us by the European Union." Trucks wait to embark a ferry to Britain at the Calais Port in France on Jan. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) In Johnson's vision for Britain's post-Brexit trade relations, the country will be unshackled after 47 years tied to the EU. "We have so often been told that we must choose between full access to the EU market, along with accepting its rules and courts on the Norway model, or a free trade agreement, which opens up markets and avoids the full panoply of EU regulation, like the Canada deal," Johnson said earlier this week in a speech to business leaders in London. "We want a comprehensive free trade agreement, similar to Canada's. But in the very unlikely event that we do not succeed, then our trade will have to be based on our existing Withdrawal Agreement with the EU," he said. The prime minister said the choice for Britain is emphatically not a case of "deal or no deal", the question is whether Britain agrees a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada's -- or more like Australia's. "And I have no doubt that in either case the UK will prosper," he said. Canada and the EU signed in 2016 the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement after seven years of negotiation. It is regarded as the most ambitious trade agreement that the EU has ever concluded with non-EU countries. Under it, import tariffs on most goods have been eliminated, though customs and VAT checks still remain. The flow of services, such as banking between the two sides are much more restricted. Australia and the EU launched negotiations for a free trade agreement in June 2018, aiming at removing barriers to trade in goods and services while creating opportunities for small and large companies. "There is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policy, subsidies, social protection, the environment, or anything similar any more than the EU should be obliged to accept UK rules," Johnson said. Britain and the EU are expected to start trade talks in March. Britain will continue to follow all EU rules and regulations during a transition period after Brexit, due to end on Dec. 31. The multiple exposure photo shows Michel Barnier, EU chief Brexit negotiator, speaking during a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 3, 2020.(Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said earlier this week that the bloc was ready to offer a "highly ambitious trade deal as the central pillar of this partnership", but Britain needs to agree to "specific and effective guarantees to ensure a level playing field" to ensure competition "is and remains open and fair." The editorial further noted that the BJP government should have used the Kejriwal model in other states. Mumbai: A day before the Delhi Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena Friday heaped praises on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for his governments ideal work in the last five years and said that the Centre should have replicated the Delhi model of development in other states. The party said in its mouthpiece Saamana that the Delhi CM had overshadowed the BJP brigade including all the chief ministers of BJP ruled states and the MPs through the work carried out by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The Sena also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah had put in all their efforts into the Delhi Assembly elections following the defeat in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. They may be thinking of coming to power in the capital of India and there is nothing wrong in that, the party said. The editorial said that despite the differences in policies and working style of the BJP and Mr Kejriwal, and despite the AAP government having limited power not to mention continuous tussles with the Centre, its works in sectors such as health, education and civic amenities were perceived as an ideal. Mr Kejriwal is seeking votes on the basis of the work done in five years. This is a new experiment in the country's politics. This should be welcomed beyond party lines. The voters of Delhi are intelligent, it said. The editorial further noted that the BJP government should have used the Kejriwal model in other states. Instead of doing that, the entire system was being used to prove Mr Kejriwal a liar. If a state is doing well, appreciating it is the duty of the leader, but that kind of large-heartedness is there no more," it said. Good Morning America The Biden administration's plan to send 500 million at-home tests to Americans for free is an historic undertaking, but one that will take weeks or months to fully execute, recently released contracts and interviews with seven test manufacturers suggest. Contracts for the first two batches of tests were announced on Friday, one for 13.3 million kits from a health technology company and another for an undisclosed amount from a distribution company in Virginia that had extras on hand -- all to be distributed in an effort to reduce the massive testing shortage in the U.S. Tests won't be available to be ordered through a government website until later this month, the official said, meaning it's unlikely the average American will get free tests delivered in time for the January peak of omicron cases predicted by most models. WASHINGTON - Two days after he was acquitted by the Senate for abuse of power and obstruction, President Donald Trump exacted vengeance Friday against two administration officials who gave damaging testimony during the House impeachment inquiry, firing his ambassador to the European Union and ousting the top Ukraine expert at the National Security Council. The reprisals transformed the president's rage over his impeachment into bitter personal payback, bringing the massive firepower of his office against a well-heeled political appointee and a highly decorated Army officer who had complied with congressional subpoenas and gave sworn testimony. Democrats swiftly criticized Trump for what they called his latest effort to intimidate critics, whistleblowers and witnesses. Although some Trump allies cheered, the targeted retribution may rattle Republicans who hoped the president would turn the page on the divisive impeachment battle, not raise tensions further. The first to go was Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, who was escorted out of the White House on Friday in what his lawyer called an act of presidential revenge. Vindman was among the White House aides who listened to Trump's infamous July 25 phone call with the Ukrainian president, and he later testified that he was so alarmed that Trump had asked the foreign leader to investigate a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, that he reported it to his superiors. ADVERTISEMENT Vindman was punished for "telling the truth," his attorney David Pressman said in a statement. It cost him "his job, his career, and his privacy." "He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day: He followed orders, he obeyed his oath, and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril," Pressman said. "And for that, the most powerful man in the world - buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit - has decided to exact revenge." Trump had made clear his displeasure with Vindman earlier Friday after news reports indicated that his departure was imminent. "You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not," Trump said. Trump's anger extended to Vindman's twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, a senior lawyer and ethics official at the National Security Council, who also was escorted off the White House grounds on Friday. Pressman said he was ordered out "suddenly and with no explanation." The purge continued Friday evening when Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, said he was being ordered home. "I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately," Sondland said in a statement. He thanked Trump "for having given me the opportunity to serve." A longtime Republican donor, the Oregon hotelier was appointed ambassador after he donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee. Although Ukraine is not part of the European Union, Sondland ended up playing a key role in handling diplomatic relations with the struggling young democracy as it fought a Russian-backed insurgency. ADVERTISEMENT Sondland testified that "everyone was in the loop" on Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to open investigations that would help his reelection bid. Sondland also said he believed that Trump had frozen $391 million in weapons and other U.S. security aid for Ukraine's conflict with Russia as leverage to get an anti-Biden inquiry going. "Was there a quid pro quo?" he testified. "The answer is yes." Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, denounced Trump's purge as "clear political retaliation, the likes of which is seen only in authoritarian countries around the world." "Those who suggested President Trump's behavior would improve following his impeachment have been proven wrong," he said. "I sincerely hope that all members of Congress condemn this latest reprehensible, yet sadly predictable conduct by President Trump." Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called Vindman's ouster "shameful," saying Trump "believes the only loyalty that matters is loyalty to him personally." Although Trump directed members of his administration not to testify during the impeachment proceedings, several current and former officials stepped forward and provided evidence. Jennifer Williams, who was an adviser on European issues in Vice President Mike Pence's office, reportedly left two months early. She is expected to take a new position at U.S. Central Command in Florida. Veteran diplomat William B. Taylor, who had served temporarily as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, stepped down from his position in January. ADVERTISEMENT His predecessor, Marie Yovanovitch, recently retired from the State Department. A career diplomat, she was forced from her post in Kyiv on April 25, 2019, after she was targeted in a smear campaign led by Trump's personal attorney, Rudolph W. Giuliani. "She's going to go through some things," Trump said in his July 25 phone call with the Ukrainian president. Alexander Vindman was one of the more memorable witnesses in the impeachment drama. Born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet bloc, his parents brought him to America as a 3-year-old and he wound up making his career in the U.S. Army. He served more than 20 years, earning a Ranger tab and a chest full of other medals and honors. He was awarded the Purple Heart after he was wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004. He served on the Pentagon's Joint Staff for three years before he joined Trump's White House in July 2018 for what was supposed to be a two-year assignment. Vindman's public testimony on Nov. 19 triggered an onslaught of vitriolic attacks from Trump and his Republican allies. Vindman and his family received so many threats he asked the Army to provide security. Trump's defenders argued that the president was right to get him out of the White House. Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said the removal is "not about retaliation. It's because he cannot be trusted, he disagrees with the president's policies, and his term there is coming to an end regardless." During the Senate trial, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., tweeted that Vindman "leaked the contents of the President's July 25th phone call to his pal, the 'whistleblower.'" During his testimony, Vindman denied leaking and knowing the identity of the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump's behavior sparked the impeachment proceedings. Since the Vindman brothers are both active-duty Army officers, they will return to jobs at the Pentagon. An Army spokeswoman confirmed the reassignments. A National Security Council spokesman declined to comment on their departure. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday they would not face retaliation from the Pentagon for the impeachment testimony. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Peter B. Zwack, a former defense attache at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow who was once Vindman's boss, praised him Friday on Twitter. "To me, Alex, your principled stand was not partisanship but rather about right and wrong. Stand tall, stand proud!" --- (Times staff writer David S. Cloud contributed to this report.) --- (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection to a shooting in Paterson during the summer that injured two people, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced Saturday. Dijon Sellow, of Paterson, was arrested Friday and faces a first-degree attempted murder charge in connection to a shooting that occurred Aug. 3, 2019, authorities said. He also faces various weapons offenses, including a fourth-degree count of possession of a defaced firearm. Paterson police responded to the area of North Main and Clinton streets on Aug. 3 on a report of a shooting, but authorities said no victims were found. Police were advised a short time later that two men -- ages 18 and 20 -- had arrived at Saint Josephs Regional Medical Center in Paterson for treatment of non-fatal gunshot wounds, authorities said. An investigation involving the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and local authorities identified Sellow in the shooting, the prosecutors office said. He was arrested in the area of Ellison Street, authorities added. Sellow faces a minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Retail giant Harvey Norman has been blasted over a 'racist' sign stating their mattresses do not have coronavirus because they are made in Australia. Victorian man Michael Ryan saw the sign outside the Albury store on Saturday before uploading it to Twitter. The photo received disapproving comments from outraged social media users who condemned the multinational chain for trying to capitalise on the crisis. A sign placed out the front of the Harvey Norman store in Albury has caused a furore online 'Fixed it for you: "No coronaviruses in any mattresses but we'll shamelessly exploit misinformation for commercial gain". FFS!' one man wrote. 'This is disgusting! Would definitely NOT buy from any store advertising this way,' some else added. Another comment read: 'No money for Harvey Norman. No money for racists.' 'The store had Better throw out all the other made in China products then,' a fourth person quipped. The furniture, bedding, and electrical goods company commented on Mr Ryan's post asking which store was responsible, before reporting back an hour later that the franchisee had removed the sign. In a later statement, Harvey Norman said the store operator acted alone and apologised for the incident. 'Albury franchisee acted in isolation without any consultation or communication beyond their store,' a Harvey Norman spokesperson said on Twitter. 'As soon as the company was made aware, the sign was immediately removed and the franchisee told this was unacceptable. Our apologies.' People wearing surgical masks in central district of Hong Kong as a preventative measure following the Coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan But many people felt the Australian-owned enterprise's apology was not enough. 'Well done. Did Albury store owner also apologize?' a woman asked. 'Surely there is something in the franchise's contract to prevent this from happening,' one man wrote. Another added: 'But youll stop short at disciplinary action, because the dirty secret is that while youre aware of the bad PR and optics of that sign, theres not a zero tolerance culture towards it within Harvey Norman.' As of Saturday, 724 people have died and there are currently 34,878 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, that began in Wuhan in December. Last week, Sydney cafe Casanova by Cucina 105 came under fire for writing 'the coronavirus won't last long because it was made in China' on an instore display cabinet. Parliament on Friday declined a request to set up a committee to investigate a request by Rev John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, to probe the Airbus bribery scandal. Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, is alleged to have paid bribes to some government officials of Ghana when it sold three military aircraft, in 2011 and 2015, and Rev Fordjour, in a statement to the House, said the scandal discredited the name of Ghana. However, there was an application thereafter, by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah to the Speaker to stay contributions, and rather allow the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), on the request of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to proceed with the probe into the Airbus bribery scandal. Speaker Oquaye initially rejected the application by the Majority Leader. And during the contributions, which appeared rather than a debate, the Minority Side, argued that by the Standing Orders, the request should have come through a motion rather than a statement. With the support from some other members that the parliamentary probe would not lead the investigation anywhere, the Speaker acceded to the request to have the OSP to proceed with the probe. Speaker Oquaye, in his ruling, said although Parliament had the powers to do so, it would be premature since the President asked the Special Prosecutor to investigate the matter. He, however, said the House would still live by investigative powers granted it and would come into the probe as and when it mattered. Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim said the Leadership should recommend a statement to the Speaker and the House by its Standing Orders by a motion to appoint an adhoc committee to investigate a matter. Furthermore, he argued that members of the House were part of the delegation that went for the purchase of the aircraft, adding that the proposed parliamentary probe would be tantamount to conflict of interest. He further called for the House to expunge the request for the probe from its records. Mr Inusah Fuseini, MP for Tamale Central said it was the same Parliament that approved the sales contract, which was found to be satisfactory. He said two of the three aircraft in question came as a result of a breach of OECD 1997 rules, and on behalf of the Minority welcomed an investigation that would be fair just and transparent, with the hope that the House would be vindicated. Mr John Jinapor, MP for Yapei Kusawgu, said Rev Fordjours request for a parliamentary probe was needless because no Ghanaian government official was indicted of any crime by the UK authorities. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu welcomed the enquiry, but indicated that it would open the floodgates for investigations into scandals that also affected the ruling government. Rev Fordjour, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi; Patrick Boamah, NPP MP for Okaikwei Central; and Bernard Oko Boye, NPP MP for Ledzokuku, did not agree with the Majority Leaders request for Parliament to leave the enquiry entirely in the hands of OSP. First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu, who sits close to Second Deputy Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford, said he had consultations with the Second Deputy Speaker, and the agreement was that the OSP proceeded with the Presidents request for the probe as a number of such parliamentary inquiries, from experience had ended nowhere. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 'When a globally plugged-in economy like China sneezes the world catches cold, and Ireland will not be immune' (stock image) The effects of the coronavirus outbreak in China will soon be felt on Irish high streets if factories in a country that is now the workshop of the world remain closed. While direct exposure to China is small in that it accounts for just 4pc of goods exports and 2.5pc of services, it is a growing market, and tourism and investment links are on the rise. China sits at the centre of global supply chains that criss-cross a world in which parts of products are sourced in one country, assembled in others and finally sold here in shops up and down the country. The Chinese government has imposed quarantine restrictions in response to the coronavirus that has killed 636 and infected more than 31,000 people, mostly in the province of Hubei, an industrial centre for cars, electronics, textiles and machinery. The outbreak has rekindled fears of a global wave of infections that are similar to the concerns that emerged during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak which killed 800 people across the world in 2003 after it broke out in China's Guangdong province. At the time Sars hit, stock markets fell sharply, as they have done now, on fears a pandemic would disrupt the global economy. China's economic heft has increased dramatically since then and its share of world output is quadruple what it was 17 years ago. "The first issue is that firms are likely to have limited contingencies to deal with supply disruptions from China due to the use of just-in-time manufacturing processes - in sectors such as automotive - and a lack of opportunity to build up inventories beforehand," said Ben May, who is director, global macro research, at Oxford Economics. If you are wearing a pair of Doc Martens, they might have been made in China or Thailand rather than England, as the company has offshored some of its production. China's role as a supplier of car parts is now so big that a buyer in the market for a new Fiat Chrysler may have to wait as the company has warned that one of its European plants would have to close unless shuttered factories in China reopen soon. Even though direct trade links from Ireland to China are small, they will be amplified if the health crisis deepens as we also trade with the likes of Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, which have been hit far harder by economic disruption from the outbreak. Exports to Japan totalled 2.6bn last year and imports were worth 1.44bn, for example. "By sector, Asian industrial goods producers relying on Chinese suppliers - such as South Korean autos and electronics and Japanese textiles - are particularly vulnerable to Chinese industrial disruption," said Mr May. "But if coronavirus's severity and duration were to intensify, the impact on global industrial production and trade could deepen." For companies selling into China, the picture is far worse, and the outbreak represents another risk to the world economy, where growth is limping along at just over 1pc a year. Falling sales in China will result in lower profits for western companies and there is a risk that could translate into layoffs if it is sustained. European companies such as Volkswagen and Airbus have closed factories in China already. "Overall, assuming the outbreak remains confined largely to China, the coronavirus is likely to knock only around 0.1 percentage points off first-quarter GDP growth in the eurozone," said Andrew Kenningham, chief Europe economist at Capital Economics, who noted that could mean the bloc's economies would stagnate in the quarter. For companies with direct exposure to the Chinese retail market, the impact is even worse as the country is home to 1.4 billion increasingly affluent consumers. Shares in London fashion brand Burberry skidded 1.7pc after it warned on its China exposure, following in the footsteps of Nike. Rising wealth has also put Ireland on the map for Chinese visitors. Tourism Ireland is spending 1m in a campaign to double the number of visitors to 200,000 by 2025, although overall that is a small number compared with 10 million tourist trips here. Investment is also growing. WuXi Biologics, a leading medicine manufacturer, is investing 325m in a new biopharmaceuticals plant in Dundalk, while Bank of China has bid 150m to buy Goodbody, the State's oldest stockbroker. For now, it is wait and see, and although there are signs that the spread of coronavirus may be slowing, it is too early to say the worst is over. "Given the virus has a 14-day incubation period, the full spread may only become apparent over coming days. And despite market optimism on potential vaccines, it could be several months before these can come into use," investment bank ING said in a report. 5 1 of 5 Jorge Vela /Laredo Morning Times Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy of Angelica Cruz Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy of the City of El Cenizo Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Residents of El Cenizo are on standby as a fire on the Mexican side continues to ravage in the late hours on Friday night after starting that morning. Smoke can be seen from as far as south Laredo, and flames at one point made its way across the border. However, the mayor of El Cenizo says everything is under control. For more than a month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been offering to send a team of experts to China to observe its coronavirus outbreak and help if it can. Normally, teams from the agencys Epidemic Intelligence Service can be in the air within 24 hours. But no invitation has come and no one can publicly explain why. The World Health Organization, which made a similar offer about two weeks ago, appears to be facing the same cold shoulder, though a spokeswoman said it is just sorting out arrangements. Current and former public health officials and diplomats, speaking anonymously for fear of upsetting diplomatic relations, said they believe the reluctance comes from Chinas top leaders, who do not want the world to think they need outside help. A serious case of violent skirmish has come to light in Kazakhstan. In which eight people died and dozens were injured during violent clashes between hundreds of villagers. Kazakhstan's President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev called an emergency hathack on Saturday. During this, he said that the situation is under the control of police and national defenders. On this matter, Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbev said that in the violent clashes on Friday in the Jambeel region, about three hours from Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan and close to the border with Kyrgyzstan, several dozen people were injured, while eight died happened. Turgumbev said that 30 houses, 15 commercial properties and 23 cars were damaged in the clashes, during which around 47 people have been detained. Apart from this, President Tokayev said that there were clashes between local residents in several settlements in Kordai district of Jambeel area. People have also died in it unfortunately. I express my condolences to the people who died. For your information, let us tell you that on Friday late night, a post on social media went viral. In it, people holding poles in their hands are seen marching along the roads. A driver transporting the people from Kazakhstan to the town of Almaty, set off the border of Kyrgyzstan, said that the village of Masanchi, the epicenter of the conflict, was completely closed. At the moment you cannot reach there, because now the police and army are present there. He told that a Kazakh elderly man was attacked by a person from the Dungan minority ethnic group, after which the struggle started. Also Read: Donald Trump interferes in impeachment process, two officers were dismissed Imran Khan's party leader posted anti-Hindu posters, apologized after opposition Likee creator donates 50,000 masks in China to help people combat Coronavirus Terror Funding Case: Today Pakistan court will give verdict on terrorist Hafiz Saeed The U.S. Air Force has special prefixes for all its weapons. For example, GAU stands for Gun Automatic Unit and are basically machine-guns used by aircraft. Most fire 20mm-30mm shells from multiple rotating barrels to achieve very high (50 a second or more) rates of fire. The smallest caliber GAU weapons are 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine-guns. But now there is a new GAU weapon, the GAU-5A, which will be installed in over 2,000 combat aircraft. It sounds normal enough, but it isnt. GAU-5A is a single-barrel 5.56mm semi-automatic weapon. Actually GAI-5A is a lightweight version of the M-4 assault rifle that is standard with most American troops. One big difference from the M-4 is that GAU-5A does not have full-automatic fire capability. It is meant for single shots or, at best, automatic three-round bursts. The GAU-5A is a lightweight rifle that, when disassembled, fits into the Aces II ejection seat survival kit. The GAU-5A is basically a smaller version of the M-4 assault rifle using commercially available components to create a rifle with the M-4 receiver but shorter adjustable stock and barrel. All these components, when broken down, fit into the standard 406x356x89mm (16x14x3.5 inch) 18.2 kg (40 pound) survival kit that comes with each Aces II ejection seat found in A-10, F-15, F-16 and F-22 fighters as well as B-1 and B-2 bombers. The survival kit normally contains no weapons, except for perhaps a knife. The only weapon the pilot usually (and still) has is a 9mm pistol carried in a holster. The GAU-5A weighs less than 3.2 kg (seven pounds) and assembles in less than a minute or 30 seconds with some practice. The air force is buying 2,136 GAU-5As for survival kits of pilots operating over territory containing Islamic terrorists. This is welcome news to the pilots because the few downed pilots who have been captured by Islamic terrorists have usually been executed in grisly fashion like beheading or burned alive. Downed pilots already have pilot recovery teams standing by that can reach the downed pilot quickly but often not quickly enough. The GAU-5A, which comes with four standard 30 round M-16/4 magazines, can fire single shots or three round bursts. It has basic iron sights so, even with practice, it is only accurate out to 200-300 meters. Some air forces have equipped their pilots with similar, but bulkier weapons. Russia provides an AK-74 carbine (the smallest version of this standard AK type assault rifle) while others have included 9mm machineguns. The GAU-5A does not require modification of the ejection seat to accommodate a larger and bulkier weapon and is similar enough to the standard M-16/4, which all pilots learn to use in basic training, to be used effectively without much additional training. Many of the first pilots to receive the GAU-5As in their survival kits took them to the rifle range to practice assembling and firing them. The weapon was found to perform as advertised and proved to be a morale boost for pilots operating over particularly dangerous territory. A pilot with a GAU-5A can hold off, or perhaps even drive off, armed attackers and provide time for another fighter to use its targeting pod and laser-guided missiles to find any other attackers and kill or discourage them with missiles or cannon fire. Many fighter-bombers operating over Islamic terrorist territory now carry the smaller APKWS 70mm guided missiles. These weigh 13.6 kg (30 pounds) with a 2.7 kg (six pound) warhead and a range of about six kilometers. Four or more can be carried in place of one larger smart bomb. APKWS is also carried on helicopters. These missiles are preferable to the larger (45 kg) Hellfire because the smaller warhead allows the APKWS to be fired on armed enemies who have gotten very close to the downed pilot. The survival kit includes a small radio that enables communications with nearby aircraft. The survival kits also contain long-range satellite location transponders, flares, flotation devices, emergency food items, some water and so on. Staying within the standard weight of the survival kit is important because the effectiveness of the ejection seat depends on the seat, with all its contents (like the pilot) being within certain weight limits. WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump and his aides wasted little time opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing on Friday two of the most prominent witnesses in the inquiry against him, barely 48 hours after the Senate acquitted him. Emboldened by his victory and determined to strike back, Trump fired Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, within hours of the White House dismissing Lt.-Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran who was a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council. Both officials testified to a House committee about the presidents efforts to pressure Ukraine to help him against his domestic political rivals. I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States ambassador to the European Union, Sondland said in a statement just hours after Vindmans dismissal. He expressed gratitude to Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve. Vindman was escorted out of the White House by security officers Friday afternoon and told that his services were no longer needed. His twin brother, Lt.-Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who also worked on the NSC staff, was fired, too, and escorted out at the same time. Both will be sent back to the Defence Department. There is no question in the mind of any American why this mans job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House, David Pressman, Alexander Vindmans lawyer, said in a statement. Lt.-Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honour, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful. Vindman spoke publicly only once, when ordered to under subpoena, Pressman added. And for that, the most powerful man in the world buoyed by the silent, the pliable and the complicit has decided to exact revenge. Trump signalled Vindmans fate hours ahead of time, when he told reporters that a decision would be coming soon. Well, Im not happy with him, the president said of Vindman. You think Im supposed to be happy with him? Im not. The ouster of the Vindman brothers and Sondland may only presage a broader effort to even accounts with the presidents perceived enemies. In the two days since his acquittal in the Senate, Trump has railed about those who stood against him, like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer, calling them evil, corrupt and crooked, while his White House press secretary declared that those who hurt the president should pay for it. The presidents critics had warned that he would feel unbound if acquitted, no longer restrained by the threat of congressional action, and some said the dismissal of the Vindman brothers proved their point. This is shameful of course, said Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee. But this is also what we should now expect from an impeached president whose party has decided he is above the law and accountable to no one. Schumer said the action showed that the White House was running away from the truth. This action is not a sign of strength, he said. It only shows President Trumps weakness. The White House would not discuss the decision. We do not comment on personnel matters, said John Ullyot, a spokesman for the NSC. Vindman was the latest impeachment witness to lose his job, but the first to be dismissed with security guards taking him out of the White House compound. Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine who was recalled from her post because she was seen as an obstacle to the presidents plans, retired from the Foreign Service last month. William B. Taylor Jr., who replaced her in an acting capacity, was essentially brought back early as well. Jennifer Williams, a career official detailed to Vice-President Mike Pences office, quietly left recently to return to the Defence Department. Several who testified had already left the government, like Fiona Hill, the Europe policy chief at the National Security Council, while Kurt Volker, the special envoy for Ukraine, resigned days before testifying. But others so far remain at their posts, including George Kent at the State Department, Laura Cooper at the Defence Department and David Holmes at the embassy in Ukraine. Both Vindman brothers, whose tours at the White House were scheduled to last until July, will retain their army ranks and return to military service. Alexander Vindman, who had been expecting the move and had begun removing personal items, was told he will go to the Pentagon before moving to the National War College in July as originally planned, according to one person close to the situation. Yevgeny Vindman, who goes by Eugene, was more surprised and told he will report to the office of the army general counsel. Eugene Vindman did not testify and had no role in the impeachment hearings other than to show up to sit behind his brother when he appeared in November. He was given no explanation for his dismissal despite over two decades of loyal service to this country, said Pressman, the lawyer. He deeply regrets that he will not be able to continue his service at the White House. Alexander Vindman, a Ukrainian immigrant who earned a Purple Heart after being injured while serving in Iraq, told the House intelligence committee that he was surprised to hear Trump pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine to investigate former vice-president Joe Biden and other Democrats during a July 25 telephone call. He told lawmakers that he reported his concerns to other NSC officials. Trump has made clear his personal antipathy for Vindman. Lt.-Col. Vindman and his twin brother, right? the president said at one point during a rambling, hour-long venting session at the White House on Thursday, his voice dripping with disdain. We had some people that really amazing. On Friday morning, the president reposted a Twitter message from a supporter advocating the colonels dismissal: Vindmans behaviour is a scandal. He should be removed from the @RealDonaldTrump White House ASAP to protect our foreign policy from his machinations. Pelosi said she was stunned by Vindmans dismissal. Thats such a shame, she told reporters. What a patriotic person. This goes too far. Sen. Susan Collins, who voted to acquit but expressed hope that Trump would learn a lesson from the impeachment, said that witnesses should not be punished for giving the House required testimony. I obviously am not in favour of any kind of retribution against anyone who came forward with evidence, she said in Maine, according to the Portland Press Herald. With impeachment over, Trump is debating whether to make additional changes in the White House staff. Some advisers are encouraging him to part ways with his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, who was involved in freezing security aid to Ukraine, which paved the way for impeachment. Other advisers are telling Trump that he should wait to make major changes until after the election. Some advisers hope that Rep. Mark Meadows, who is retiring, will join the White House as a senior adviser, though not as chief of staff. Meadows travelled with Trump on Air Force One to North Carolina on Friday. Trump disputed speculation that Mulvaney would be pushed out in favour of Meadows. I have a great relationship with Mick, the president told reporters. I have a great relationship with Mark. And its false. Read more about: Parvesh Verma, the West Delhi lawmaker who was twice gagged by the Election Commission for his inflammatory remarks in the run-up to the Delhi election, tweeted a last-minute video appeal to voters to show up at election booths. In a 82-second video tweeted by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Parvesh Verma said people of Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia and Seelampur kind of places were voting in large numbers in support of the Aam Aadmi Party and appealed to nationalists and patriots to come out of their homes to vote for the patriotic party. Delhi Assembly Election 2020: Follow live updates here Parvesh Verma was twice banned from campaigning in this election season by the Election Commission, the first time for 96 hours for claiming that protesters at Shaheen Bagh will enter houses of Delhiites and rape your family. ALSO WATCH | Delhi: Long voter queues at Shaheen Bagh, tight security at CAA protest hub Shaheen Bagh has been the ground zero for protests against the amended citizenship law that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The BJP leadership has projected the protests at Shaheen Bagh and the citizenship law as anti-national in character and claimed that it suited Pakistans narrative against India. It has blamed the AAP and the Congress for backing these protests. In his video released when polling was half-way through, Parvesh Verma claimed media channels had started saying what he had been saying for several days. In Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia, Seelampur kind of places, people from one community are declaring that they are going to vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. And why shouldnt they vote? For a month, the Aam Aadmi Party had been serving them biryani, paying them money. Today, they are repaying their debt, he said. Parvesh Verma continued. I want to tell people of Delhi that you are indebted to the country, the debt to people who made the supreme sacrifice. You are nationalists, patriots. We will not let Delhi be split. You should also queue up, show your ID cards, say that you will vote for the patriotic party and shout, Jai Sri Ram, he said in the video. Manama An initiative aimed at integrating students with special needs to become scouts was launched in the Kingdom yesterday. This is the first time such an initiative is being implemented in a Gulf Co-operation Country (GCC). Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi announced, during a ceremony which was held at the National Action Monument, the initiative themed Together we bring joy and nurture culture of integration. Under the first phase, a batch of 68 students with special needs from different school levels have joined the scout initiative. The students who were integrating into public schools suffer from physical and mental disabilities, in addition to sight and hearing impairment. Forty other students who are members of the support team have also joined the initiative. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Al Nuaimi underlined the ministrys continuous efforts to integrate students with special needs in public schools and activities, and enable them to overcome their health conditions. Dr Al Nuaimi conferred the initiative badge on the scouts with special needs and honoured scouts and leaders taking part in the initiative. He also honoured a group of female diff-abled scouts. Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh on Saturday urged people to vote for BJP to save Delhi from becoming an "Islamic state". "Shaheen Bagh supporters have come out to vote for Kejriwal. My appeal to the people of Delhi is that if Shaheen Bagh has to be stopped... if Delhi has to be saved from becoming an Islamic state, then go out and vote for the BJP," Singh tweeted. The polling for 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won three seats. The Congress failed to open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Mick Mulvaney will remain as his acting chief of staff amid media reports that the aide's future at the White House is in doubt. "That was a false report. I have a great relationship with Mick," Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for an event in Charlotte, North Carolina. The president also said he has "a great relationship with Mark," referring to retiring North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, reportedly a possible replacement of Mulvaney. There is long-running speculation that Mulvaney, a central figure in the House impeachment inquiry into Trump, would leave his White House role after the end of the case, which fell on Wednesday when a sharply divided Senate voted to acquit the president on both impeachment charges. While Trump claimed victory over the acquittal, Democrats have maintained their argument that the evidence of wrongdoing against him is "overwhelming." On Friday, Trump also weighed in on a reported removal of Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council (NSC). The top Ukraine expert on the NSC, Vindman testified in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry late last year. "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him?" He told reporters. Vindman is likely to return to the U.S. Army, according to media reports. The House impeached Trump in December last year after an inquiry triggered by a whistleblower complaint that raised concerns about the White House's interactions with Ukraine. Trump was alleged to have pressured his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, into launching investigations that could politically benefit him by withholding military aid from Ukraine. Furthermore, the White House allegedly tried to cover it up. The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or a "quid pro quo" with Ukraine. The chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Kaduna, Pastor John Joseph Hayab has criticized the apparent insensitivity of government to the plight of the people of Kaduna State, especially Christians. Hayab said the people had suffered horrendous feats at the hands of bandits in the state, with little coming in form genuine efforts from government stamp out the men of evil. The late seminarian was buried on Tuesday in the premises of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Karu, Kaduna. The four students were abducted from their hostel by gunmen dressed in military uniforms on January 9, 2020, according to a statement last Saturday night by Registrar, Good Shepherd Major Seminary Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Dr. Joel Usman. Hayab used the occasion to renew his call on security personnel in the country to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens, even as he commended renewed efforts by the Police to Free Kaduna State from Criminals; urging them to keep the momentum until the state and country are free from criminals. Kaduna State citizens have suffered untold hardship in the hands of bandits and evil men in recent years. As a result of an increase in banditry, many have been chased away from their homes and villages. The sad story is that bandits have kidnapped, killed and collected huge ransoms from victims for years. When such evil was going on, we cried to the government and security agencies to carry out their constitutional duties but it seemed the cries fell on deaf ears. However, the news that security men went after bandits in Birnin Gwari forest and killed many of them yesterday brings back hope and the expectations that good and peaceful days may be returning to our dear state and country. CAN Kaduna State, therefore, commends the Inspector General of Police and all the team for doing what law-abiding have expected them to do. Even though this effort may be coming late but it is better late than never. Therefore, we celebrate this feat and encourage the Police to keep the momentum until every criminal and all their hideouts are cleared for citizens to have a new lease of life. CAN appeals to all citizens to continue to pray for our security men and women and also to render any form of support needed to win the war against the enemies of the state. We pray for a quick recovery for those who sustained injuries in the course of the operation. Their sacrifices are appreciated and duly acknowledged, Pastor Hayab stated. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese, expressed sorrow at the death of the young seminarian. In a statement he made available to Saturday Vanguard by its Director of Social Communications, Rev. Father Chris Omotosho, he said, One of four Nigerian seminarians kidnapped last month has been killed, reportedly by his abductors. The three seminarians kidnapped along with him were released in the weeks following their kidnapping. With a very heavy heart, I wish to inform you that our dear son, Michael was murdered by the bandits on a date we cannot confirm. He and the wife of a doctor were arbitrarily separated from the group and killed. The Rector identified the corpse this afternoon, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto, Nigeria, said in a statement released February 1. Michael Nnadi was 18 years old. Information about the woman killed with Nnadi is not yet available. Nnadi himself was taken by gunmen from Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna, around 10.30 p.m. on January 8. With him were Pius Kanwai, 19; Peter Umenukor, 23; and Stephen Amos, 23. The four seminarians were at the beginning of their philosophy studies. The gunmen, disguised in military camouflage, broke through the fence surrounding the seminarians' living quarters and began shooting sporadically. They stole laptops and phones before kidnapping the four young men. On January 20, ACI Africa, CNA's African news partner, reported that one of the abducted seminarians had been freed by his kidnappers after 10 days in captivity. That seminarian was dumped alongside the highway with extensive injuries, which are believed to have been sustained during the kidnapping. He is now receiving treatment. On Friday, January 31, an official at Good Shepherd Seminary announced that two more of the kidnapped seminarians had been released. At that time, it was reported that one seminarian was still at large, and was presumed to remain in captivity. That seminarian was Nnadi. In his February 1 statement, Bishop Kukah said that he had to delay the announcement of Nnadi's death slightly until his mother could be informed. We have broken the news to her and I will be with her, Kukah said February 1. The Lord knows best. Let's remain strong and pray for the repose of his soul, Kukah added. Nearly 270 seminarians live at Good Shepherd. The seminary is located just off the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Expressway. According to AFP, the area is notorious for criminal gangs kidnapping travelers for ransom. Schoolgirls and staff from a boarding school located near the same highway were kidnapped in October, and were later released. In the last year, several priests and seminarians, along with pastors from other Christian denominations, have been kidnapped in Nigeria, some for ranson, and some by Islamist militant and terrorist groups. Church leaders have called on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens. The March sisters, pictured here about medium size on a scale from little to big women. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing It has come to my attention that some of you [gestures in direction of nearest man] were confused by Greta Gerwigs Little Women. Dont be embarrassed! I spoke with several teenage girls after watching the film in theaters this past Christmas, and they, too, had questions. Mostly about Gerwigs decision to add a meta twist ending, and also, more broadly, about the meaning of ambition and what it means to be a woman in 2020. But Im sure your questions are valid, too! Oh, whats that now you were confused by Gerwigs decision to play with the form of the original novel, jumping through time from past, to present, to further past, to the slightly less past, and back to present, to create a new version of the classic tale? Hmm, yes. The teens did not seem to be even remotely confused by that device. You could, as a certain anonymous Academy voter suggested in his Oscar ballot for The Hollywood Reporter, use Saoirse Ronans cropped hair midway through the film to help you figure out where you are in time while watching. (Though Florence Pughs bangs make for better and more frequent time stamps.) You could also recognize your implicit biases and grant art made by women the same freedom for innovation and exploration that men have always been granted. You could even skip your veiled critiques and just admit you hate women. Alternatively, Ive made you this handy guide. [Spoilers ahead, also the Titanic sinks in the end of Titanic.] When the Women Are Little When Beth is alive. When the Women Are Medium-Size When Beth is alive but coughing more. When the Women Are Big When Beth is not alive. Any questions? Prince Harry has reportedly revealed he has been in therapy for the past few years coping with the loss of his mother. The admission came during his first event with his wife Meghan since announcing they will leave the British royal family. In a speech at a JP Morgan- sponsored alternative investment summit in Florida, Harry also said he did not regret stepping down as a senior royal, as he did not want Meghan and son Archie to experience what he went through when he was younger. Speculation It is not known if Harry - who in a decision dubbed Megxit chose financial freedom over being a member of the monarchy - was paid for the speaking engagement. However, speculation is rife that he could have received a fee worth several hundred thousand euro. The New York Post reported Harry attended the event in Miami on Thursday and quoted a source as saying: "Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother. "He talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional. "Harry touched on Megxit, saying that while it has been very difficult on him and Meghan, he does not regret their decision to step down as senior royals because he wants to protect his family. "He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child." In 2017, the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash, Harry also spoke about how he had sought counselling after two years of "total chaos", having spent nearly two decades "not thinking" about the death of his mother. Details have not been released about why the couple attended the summit, but a number of charitable organisations have been featured at the event, staged at the 1 Hotel in Miami's South Beach. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "I can confirm reports the Sussexes attended a JP Morgan gathering in Miami yesterday, where the Duke spoke." The couple are living in Canada with their baby son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, as they prepare to drop their HRH styles and quit the monarchy in favour of financial freedom. HARRISBURG A former Philadelphia police sergeant has been released after spending nearly five years in federal detention for failing to unlock encrypted hard drives on which investigators believed he was storing child pornography. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled 2-1 Thursday that federal law allows the government to hold someone for no longer than 18 months for civil contempt. The appeals court directed that Francis Rawls be set free. Rawls had been in federal custody since September 2015 because investigators say he refused to hand over passwords to decrypt a pair of external hard drives they seized during a search of his home. Rawls has maintained that he does not know the passwords, according to his lawyer, Keith M. Donoghue with the Philadelphia-based Federal Community Defender Office. The former sergeants case had attracted national attention from prosecutors, defense attorneys, and advocates including the Electronic Frontier Foundation for its potential ramifications on fundamental concepts including privacy, self-incrimination, and unreasonable search and seizure. Donoghue said Rawls was released Thursday night, and faces the challenge of rebuilding his life outside jail. He was fired in 2015 after 17 years with the city police force. It's a daunting prospect, Donoghue said. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney William McSwains office, asked if prosecutors intended to appeal the decision or whether Rawls might face criminal charges, said only that they are reviewing their options. A federal district judge ordered in 2015 that Rawls be held in jail indefinitely and Rawls had lost an earlier appeal, in which the Third Circuit ruled that he could be compelled to unlock the devices because investigators had amassed enough evidence even without the passwords to prove that the encrypted files were illegal pornographic material. In its 2017 opinion, the court sidestepped the question of whether forcing him to do so violated Rawls Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. In its ruling Thursday, a different three-judge Third Circuit panel addressed a new question: whether Rawls continued incarceration for contempt violated federal laws capping at 18 months the amount of time witnesses could be jailed for refusing to testify. The government argued those limits did not apply to Rawls and disputed characterizing him as a witness. He had simply been ordered first by a search warrant, then by a series of courts to provide access to his unencrypted hard drives, not provide testimony or new evidence against himself, prosecutors said. The appellate panel disagreed. Rawls maintains a dual identity Rawls is a witness for purposes of contempt, while a suspect for child pornography offenses," Judge Julio M. Fuentes wrote for the majority. We find that [federal law] caps Rawls detention for committing civil contempt in his capacity as a material witness at 18 months. Judge Jane Richards Roth wrote in a dissent that the 18-month limit should not apply to Rawls because he is not a witness but rather someone who has not complied with a lawful search warrant. If Rawls should contend that he has forgotten his passwords, he is free to file a motion with the district court seeking his release on the ground that his confinement has ceased to be coercive and has therefore become punitive, Roth wrote. In a previous court filing, Rawls lawyers wrote that during a District Court hearing, a detective testified it was his best guess that child pornography would be found on the hard drives. They also said Rawls remained jailed rather than waiving his right against self-incrimination by testifying to his inability to comply with the decryption order. The case against Rawls began in March 2015, when detectives with the Delaware County District Attorneys Office identified him as a suspect in an investigation of a website called Freenet, a site that allegedly allowed users to share child pornography. Investigators said data showed that devices owned by Rawls referred to as John Doe in court documents had been routing or requesting such files. Authorities seized electronic devices from Rawls home, including an Apple Mac Pro computer on which they found one image depicting a pubescent girl in a sexually suggestive position and logs that suggested he had visited groups with titles common in child exploitation. But they were unable to unlock the hard drives, which also were encrypted. The labeling of some files caused investigators to believe that the hard drives contained child pornography and Rawls sister reported he once accessed the drives in her presence, revealing that they contained hundreds of illicit videos and photos. This article contains reporting from the Associated Press. Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill Co Galway is battered by waves as Ireland and the UK brace for Storm Ciara (Liam McBurney/PA). The opening ceremony of Galways year as European Capital of Culture has been cancelled due to bad weather buffeting Irelands west coast. The fire-lighting spectacle had been expected to draw thousands of spectators, but was called off due to the severe conditions. Forecaster Met Eireann issued a status orange wind warning for the city. Gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour were expected with the arrival of Storm Ciara this weekend. High waves battered the coastline at nearby Salthill (Liam McBurney/PA) High waves battered the coastline at nearby Salthill. Spectators stood close by as the ocean and spray engulfed the Blackrock diving board. Pedestrians including dog walkers braced themselves against the strong winds sweeping in off the Atlantic. We are saddened for the community cast, our volunteers and the whole team who have worked so hard during the last weeks and monthsGalway 2020 Sandbags protected the entrances of businesses on the seafront, while part of the main coastal road from Galway was closed. Sandbags are placed at the entrance to Coco Cafe Salthill, Co Galway (Liam McBurney/PA) An orange wind warning for the whole country will come into effect in the early hours of Sunday. The Galway ceremony organisers said: We have been in constant contact with the relevant authorities since the weather warnings were put in place earlier this week and, in the interests of the safety of the public the weather warnings currently in place mean that it has been deemed unsafe to go ahead. We are saddened for the community cast, our volunteers and the whole team who have worked so hard during the last weeks and months. Construction workers dismantle steps at Galways South Park (Liam McBurney/PA) Todays event would have marked the finale of what has been a hugely successful week-long series of events on the fire tour of lighting ceremonies that have lit up towns across the county. President Michael D Higgins had to been scheduled to attend as well as musicians and artists. Saturday evenings ceremony was designed to be the culmination of smaller fire events around Galway this week. People walking their dogs on Salthill promenade in Co Galway (Liam McBurney/PA) Met Eireann warned that a combination of spring high tides and high seas as well as stormy conditions create a significant risk of coastal flooding, particularly along western and north-western coasts. Irish airline Aer Lingus has advised passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport. Meanwhile, a yellow alert for rain in Northern Ireland has been issued by the Met Office. Flooding of a small number of homes and businesses is possible as well as difficult driving conditions, the forecaster said. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has directed security agencies to arrest Okoi O... The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has directed security agencies to arrest Okoi Obono-Obla, former chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), wherever he is found. Rasheedat Okoduwa, ICPC spokesperson, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, on Friday. The commission had declared Obono-Obla wanted after he refused to honour an invitation over allegations of forgery and financial impropriety. Okoduwa said Obono-Obla has resorted to spreading propaganda against the ICPC instead of turning himself in to clear his name. She said the commission is aware of Obono-Oblas return to the country and security agencies have been alerted to pick him once seen. We are aware that Obono-Obla has returned to the county, and everything he has been saying about the commission and its chairman, she said. He is reportedly going about saying ICPC is a rival office to his own. I have people calling me to react on what he has said. The decent thing is for the gentleman to come to ICPC to clear his name. We have given him an opportunity to clear his name in the allegations against him. Come forward, let us hear your own side of the story. We have done our investigations and have facts. We want to confront him with these facts. Signals have been sent to all the law enforcement agencies. Whenever they see him I am sure they will pick him up. President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended the former SPIP chairman, pending the conclusion of investigations by the ICPC. In a Facebook post, the ex-SPIP chairman said he is yet to receive an official letter notifying him of his suspension. Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had earlier accused Obono-Obla of carrying out 50 illegal investigations while he was chairman of SPIP. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak has led to several countries in South Asia placing restrictions on travel and the entry of foreign nationals into the country. Speaking on the global epidemic, Surya Thappalia, Tourism Development Board of Nepal manager, said, Coronavirus has hit tourism to a large extent. There is a need for all South Asian countries to join hands with India to decide which destinations are safe to travel to. He was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day Travel and Tourism Fair in the city on Friday. He said that the fear of coronavirus was starting to show not just in Nepal, but in other South Asian countries as well. He said that the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, Indo-Nepal religious tourism remained unaffected and in fact, the number of tourists from India and other countries increased. However, the outbreak is starting to affect tourism. Any global phenomena has a direct impact on tourism. So India as a country, should take the lead and tell the world that it was safe to travel to South Asian countries, he said. Rajanath Atnayaka, a delegate from Sri Lanka, said that the Easter Bombings in 2019 did not have a profound impact on Sri Lankan tourism but the nCoV outbreak is starting to take a toll on the industry and that the problem needed to be addressed. Delegates from various Indian states, used the platform to assert that tourism in India was still an expensive affair due to the high taxes associated with hotels and inbound travel. They said, For domestic tourism to grow, the government should relax taxes. In fact, even staying at low-cost hotels is an expensive affair for domestic tourists due to the taxes, even though the services provided are poor. International and domestic tourists have taken a note of this and now even the government should look into it. The three-day event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Karnataka state tourism board, national tourist organisations and private stakeholders. Participants from 10 countries, 23 states and Union Territories participated in a trade fair, with over 200 stalls offering the itineraries of various destinations. Police are now investigating the gruesome murder of a woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase at an East Valley apartment complex in Las Vegas, according to an article by CNN. The body was found following a report filed by a woman who told Las Vegas police that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted at a residence by the suspect later identified as Gary Walker. When detectives went to the home reported by the woman, they were notified by someone whose identity remains unclear until now, that the 55-year old suspect had allegedly killed another woman at the same residence. Police discovered a gruesome scene and immediately arrested Walker. "Homicide detectives responded to the residence where a deceased female was found in a suitcase," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released a statement on Thursday. On Friday, police identified the victim as Morgan Amaya, 22. She suffered a gunshot wound to the head which was likely the cause of death, according to Candace Caterer, a Clark County Coroner's Office specialist. Walker has been charged with murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and eight counts of sexual assault. According to an article by Fox News, the Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure ordered Walker held without bail, saying he had multiple felony and misdemeanor convictions in other states. Amaya's sister-in-law, Nicole Marie said that Amaya had been battling drug addiction and trying to get clean so she could get custody of her 1-year-old daughter, according to Associated Press. Marie said she and her fiance had met Walker and that they thought he was a friend who was helping Amaya by giving her a place to stay since she and her husband were separated. "We just talked to her Tuesday; everything was fine, and I talked to the guy; he seemed like he was cool," Victor Hougesen, Marie's fiance, told KSNV-TV. Following the incident, neighbors shared their horror with 8 News Now. "Who would do something like that?" said Lauretta Kynard who lives near Nellis Boulevard and Bonanza Road, where the 22-year-old victim was discovered Wednesday. "Shocked, devastated," she added. "Hardly anything really happens over here." "It's one thing to be angry and upset, but to take somebody's life?" Kynard reflected. "No, that's not acceptable." This is definitely not the first time an incident like this has happened in the City of Sin. In September of 2019, police found the remains of a murdered 39-year-old woman inside a 55 gallon drum near Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Valley Parkway. In September of 2018, a three-year old child was killed by her own mother. Her body was found wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a duffel bag inside an apartment near Lake Mead and Hollywood Boulevard. Back in 2015, a 71-year-old woman was also murdered and placed inside a duffel bag and thrown underground near Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue. The Clark County Coroner is yet to release Amaya's official cause of death. Walker is set to appear in court on Monday, February 10, 2020. The companies will need to pay their taxes by March to benefit from the interest and penalty waivers under the program, Pramod Chandra Mody, chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, said. We are trying to see to it that the litigation is kept to barest minimum, Mody said, adding that if they wish to come, they are welcome. Vodafones dispute relates to its $11-billion acquisition of ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor An unauthorised guest house built on government land in Odisha's Jajpur district and owned by a person who is the main accused in the alleged mysterious death of a woman village level worker (VLW) and panchayat extension officer (PEO), was demolished by the administration in Odishas Jajpur district. The opposition BJP, which has been alleging that the woman VLW was raped and killed in the illegal guest house, hit out at the BJD government for the demolition saying it was aimed at protecting the ruling party leaders. Senior BJP leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar alleged that the demolition was "nothing but a part of a conspiracy to destroy all evidence" in the building relating to the death of the woman. "Had the state government demolished the illegal and unauthorised guest house well in time the woman VLW would have been alive today, she said. No comment was made by the ruling BJD. The houseowner had been arrested in October 19 last year on charges of abetting suicide of the VLW of Haridaspur, where his wife is the sarpanch. The house stood partly on forest land and partly on 'anabadi kisam' (non agricultural) land at Baligari village in the district, additional district magistrate Mihir Prasad Mohanty said. The woman village level worker had gone to Haridaspur panchayat on October 16 last year to disburse old age pension. Afterwards she had gone to the private guesthouse in the owner's car to freshen up. She was found dead in her room after some time. Her father had complained that the woman was killed in the guest house and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Editor, As a hospice advocate, I find it troubling that patients at rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers must leave their trusted physicians when they transition to hospice care. Because of a billing issue, these vulnerable patients are forced to seek a different physician, sometimes having to travel miles and hours to find an office accepting new patients and willing to accompany them to hospice. Most RHC/FQHC physicians would prefer to remain with their patients, but are prevented from doing so by a quirk in the law. Thankfully, legislators in Washington, D.C., have taken up this issue and introduced the Rural Access to Hospice Act, which would fix the billing issue and allow patients at RHCs and FQHCs to keep their physicians. The bill is bipartisan, bicameral, has technical assistance from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), and has a low CBO (Congressional Budget Office) score. It is ripe and ready to move this year. I call on all our members of Congress to cosponsor the Rural Access to Hospice Act and ensure that all Americans are able to access quality hospice care with the physician of their choice. Sandra Cassese, RN Woodstock, N.Y. A 29-year-old man who was shot near Danforth and Greenwood avenues this week and later died in hospital has been identified by police as Thomas Michael Alcott. Police received multiple calls after a shooting around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. When they arrived, officers found a man who was unconscious and suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. Officers are looking for witnesses who were in the area and captured on video, but provided no information on a suspect. Police are urging anyone who was in the area at the time, or has any information about the shooting, to immediately contact 416-808-5500 or 416-808-7400. France's Health Minister Agnes Buzyn arrives to a meeting, at the hotel Matignon, Paris, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. The announcement Saturday Agnes Buzyn brings the total number of people with the virus in France to 11. Buzyn said they appear linked to a British person who stayed there in late January, and was later to confirmed to have the virus after returning to Britain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) France is closing two schools and trying to reassure vacationers in the Alps after five British citizens, including a 9-year-old child, contracted the new virus from China at a French ski resort. Saturday's announcement of the five new cases in France at the height of the ski season is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus can easily spread across multiple borders. The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc, and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore, traveled to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters Saturday. That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11. Britain has three confirmed cases. The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700, nearly all of them in China, since the first illnesses were detected in December. The five British citizens with new cases of the virus are being held in Lyon-area hospitals, along with six other Britons who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored, the French health ministry said. The chalet where they were staying housed a British family that lives in Contamines and another family of British vacationers. The sickened child lives in Contamines and attends a local school, and took French classes at another local school, regional officials told a news conference Saturday. Both schools will be closed, and the pupils will be monitored for signs of the virus. Local officials sought to reassure tourists descending this weekend on one of the world's most prized ski areas that all preventive measures are being taken to stem further spread of the virus. This cluster of cases in France illustrates how the coronavirus can spread to countries indirectly of China. The French ski resort will have citizens from numerous other countries there, so there are implications for potential onward transmission," said Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton. Story continues After a special virus meeting Saturday, the French government decided to harden its travel warning for China, cautioning against all travel there unless in case of imperative need. The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there Jan. 20-22. There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time, including people from Hubei, according to the French minister. The British citizen then spent Jan. 24-28 in the French Alps, and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week. Singapore, a major southeast Asia transport hub, confirmed seven new local cases Saturday, including two more citizens who attended the gas industry conference at the Grand Hyatt. Singapore authorities urged calm amid a wave of panic. Separately, a British flight carrying some 150 Britons as well as French citizens from Wuhan is to arrive in the U.K. on Sunday. In Germany, the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far. In Italy, health authorities are now recommending students returning from China stay home for 14 days to make sure they dont have the virus. The health ministry says the measure covers all nationalities, not just Chinese students. Italy has three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. ___ Kirka reported from London. Geir Moulson in Berlin and Nicole Winfield in Rome. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly said that the crimes of the United States can be turned into opportunities to save the countrys economy. Khamenei said that Iran doesnt seek to threaten anyone rather their military power is for preventing the threats from enemies. The 80-year-old leader was addressing at the anniversary event of historical allegiance of Air Force commanders with Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Khomeini had started an opposition movement from Paris in 1978 which was followed by the famous Iranian revolution that forced Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to relinquish his leadership. Khomeini proclaimed an Islamic republic after toppling Pahlavi and 52 Americans were held hostage for more than a year. The US tried to rescue the hostages through a secret operation but had to abort the plan after eight service members died in a helicopter crash due to bad weather. Read: Republican Senators Urge Twitter To Ban Accounts Of Khamenei, Iranian Foreign Minister Speaking at the event, Khamenei said that the Air Force was one of the closest forces to the regime and the US during Pahlavis rule. The Iranian leader added that the Air Force suddenly turned in favour of the revolution at the most sensitive time which caused a blow to the enemy that it didnt expect. Our Air Force, which had no right to and couldnt even repair parts of planes during the Pahlavis, now builds them. This is turning threats into opportunities. When did this become possible? When reliance on foreigners ended, said Khamenei. Read: Canada Urges Iran To Send Black Boxes Of Crashed Ukrainian Airliner To France 'Sanctions are literally crimes' He further added that sanctions against Iran were there from the beginning and have now become intensified. Sanctions are literally crimes, but they can be turned into opportunities and save Irans economy from reliance on oil. Reliance on oil leads to ignorance of domestic potential and strengths, said the Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, a group of US Republican Senators urged Twitter to suspend the accounts of Khamenei and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. The Senators wrote a letter to Twitter chief executive officer (CEO) Jack Dorsey to comply with the sanctions announced by US President Donald Trump through his executive order on June 24, 2019. Read: Iran Knew It Downed Ukraine Plane Killing 176 Passengers, Leaked Recordings Reveal Read: Passenger Plane Skids Off Snowy Runaway In Iran Due To Low Visibility A woman has issued an urgent plea to find her brother who has been missing for more than two days. Sarah Issa took to Facebook in search of her brother, Ahmad Issa, who has been missing from Sydney since Thursday. The 29-year-old has also turned his phone to call barring, meaning he cannot receiving any incoming calls or texts. Sarah Issa took to Facebook in search of her brother, Ahmad Issa (pictured), who has been missing from Sydney since Thursday Ms Issa said her family is extremely worried for his safety has he is 'emotionally unstable at the moment'. 'We have filed a report with police and exhausted all avenues,' she said. Her brother does not have any social media and lives in a blue van that he has converted into a 'mini-home'. Mr Issa is believed to frequent Merrylands and Fairfiend in Sydney's west or Coogee Beach in the city's east. 'He hangs out at Fairfield library a lot and the kebab shop in Bankstown on the Hume Highway,' she wrote on Friday. The vehicle is a Volkswagen blue van with the number plate CDL 04U, Ms Issa is desperate to find her brother and urges anyone with any information to contact her immediately. A section of Islamic clerics in Pakistan is up in arms after a minor Hindu girl Mehak Kumari retracted her previous statement in the court where she stated that she wasn't converted forcefully to Islam. Mehak Kumari had earlier admitted to willfully marrying Ali Raza and denied any external pressure behind her conversion to Islam. This, however, sparked major protests from the Hindu community which accuses a government-Moulvi nexus behind widespread conversions in the country and selective targeting of Hindu girls. Clerics have even demanded a death penalty to the minor who they say is a culprit of insulting Islam. They have rejected the probe and proceedings of Sessions Court and have already moved to the high court. The clerics have even threatened to go to the Shariat Court if the girl is not brought to justice in a manner they want. "The girl has renounced Islam and we will be acting as the Sharia law in the future. We have made an appeal in the high court and will be receiving an order tomorrow. If required, we will go to the Supreme Court and the Shariat Court," said one of the clerics while interacting with media. The court, which has yet not announced its verdict, has sent Mehak Kumari to a local Dar-ul-Aman for eleven days. The counsel representing the parents of Mehak, who are also the complainants in the case, informed that the court wanted to have a thorough investigation into the case and didn't want to rush the judgment under any pressure. "The court has not announced any verdict and we have been given a time frame of eleven days. The court has further ordered to keep Mehak Kumari alias Nanki Kumari at a Dar-ul-Aman in Larkana district of Sindh. The next hearing is on February 18. The Additional Sessions Judge has also said that both the parties, the accused Ali Raza Solanki and complainant Ajay Kumar Wadwani will make separate requests to meet the girl. They will meet her separately in the presence of their own counsels," he said. "We have moved our request to meet the girl. Ajay Kumar and I will be meeting the girl. Ali Raza Solanki has not moved any request thus far. We are hoping for the best to transpire on the 18th of the month. We have a lot of hopes from the judiciary, the judicial system and the government of Pakistan," he added. While the cases of forceful conversions have always existed in Pakistan, a significant spike has been registered lately. The fundamentalists who hold great sway in the country have been pushing for such practices and have been encouraging youth into doing so. While Prime Minister Imran Khan has presented several narratives about the condition of minorities in Pakistan, a perennially unsafe and scared minority in Pakistan is a harsh reality. This is pertinent to mention here that India brought in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the month of December last year to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities from three of its neighbouring countries including Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Experts opined that investors were peeved at the absence of any action on LTCG and the shift on DDT. Mumbai: Under criticism for not abolishing the long term capital gains tax (LTCG), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said her ministry will wait for one "normal year" before taking a call on the cess. On the dividend distribution tax (DDT), she clarified that the liability was shifted to the investor's applicable rate from the company to reduce middle-class investors' outgoes. Stock market benchmark indices had tanked by over 2.5 per cent on the budget day last Saturday. Experts opined that investors were peeved at the absence of any action on LTCG and the shift on DDT. Speaking to opinion makers and analysts in the financial capital, Sitharaman said the LTCG was introduced in 2018 and the volatilities in the markets have ensured that she cannot make a reasonable assessment on it. "Much before let us say I have burnt my fingers, I am told withdraw it. The reason why we didn't go that far on LTCG is because let us have an assessment at least one-year of a normal response to a tax. Lets us hope this year, after which we would take up considered view," she said. Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said that the government's view is that all kinds of incomes need to be taxed, and not levying it on a particular stream like LTCG will create arbitrage opportunities. She had an interesting duel with veteran i-banker Hemendra Kothari and Motilal Oswal, the promoter of a brokerage house named after himself at the session over the two taxes. Oswal pointed out that the DDT move is pinching promoters dearly because they are anyways in high tax bracket and claimed that the overall outgo is going till 58 per cent. "You (Oswal) are talking about one section, whereas we thought that we want to put money in the hands of the other section which is the retail," she said. When Oswal replied saying promoters may not declare dividends at all because of the tax liability, Sitharaman had an interesting retort. "Will the shareholders be tempted to go to the company which does not pay dividends?" Later, she clarified at a press conference that a lot of thought was given to the issue of DDT. "The middle class will pay lesser than what they were paying. a middle-class shareholder will have more money now," she said. Meanwhile, on concerns regarding an ambitious divestment target of Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty said they are confident of achieving the "reasonably decent" target. He said there are spillover transactions of BPCL and Concord, IDBI Bank and LIC on the financial side, which will ensure that the money gets mopped up. Additionally, there is also up to Rs 70,000 crore from minority stake sales in companies which the government will be collecting, he said. Chakraborty also said that spectrum sale revenues on 5G or AGR receipts are not included in the Rs 1.33 lakh crore target from the communications front, exuding confidence that the ministry will be able to mop-up the figure. He said routine spectrum license fee payments alone will deliver up to Rs 65,000 crore. Meanwhile, Sitharaman lauded the "dynamism" of Reserve Bank in responding to the budgetary move by extending the restructuring scheme for small businesses, and also welcomed the changes on cash reserve ratio against lending to certain sectors of the economy. On the changes in the cooperative banking laws, she made it clear that the powers of the registrar of cooperative societies at the state level have not gone down but explained that the monitoring of entities has gone up to restore credibility in banking. "If you are being called a 'bank', it will be only then that it will be regulated by the RBI so that the credibility of the banking functions in India are kept intact," she said. The John Coltrane House (center) at 1511 N. 33rd St in Phila., Pa. on Feb. 7, 2020. Read more For over a decade, the paint-chipped Strawberry Mansion home where jazz legend John Coltrane once lived and honed his skills has echoed a silently somber tune, sitting in a state of disrepair on North 33rd Street. And now, the house is officially at risk, according to a state preservation organization. The John Coltrane House is listed on Preservation Pennsylvanias 2020 roster of at risk sites, a designation intended to draw statewide attention to the plight of Pennsylvanias historic resources; promote and support local action to protect historic properties; and encourage funding and legislation that supports preservation activities, according to the organization. Preservation Pennsylvania hopes to work with the owners and supporters in the local preservation and jazz communities to find a way forward for this property, said Julia Chain, the organizations associate director. The home is the first Philadelphia landmark to make the nonprofits list since 2017, when Jewelers Row was dubbed at risk. The designation doesnt come with money or the promise of preservation as evidenced by the fate of Jewelers Row, part of which is under demolition but gives visibility and awareness to the site, said Faye Anderson, activist and director of All That Philly Jazz, a public history project. READ MORE: Part of Jewelers Row has been demolished for a Toll Brothers tower. What will happen to the rest? Frustrated by the state of the home, Anderson nominated the Coltrane House for the 2020 list, which also includes the Strickler Farmhouse in York County and a 160-year-old stone bridge in the Lehigh Valley. Its embarrassing to the legacy of John Coltrane to be on such a list, Anderson said. And it should be embarrassing to this city, too. The Coltrane House has been on Philadelphias Register of Historic Places since 1985, and has a blue marker dedicated to the "pioneering African-American jazz musician, composer, saxophonist. In 1999, it became a National Historic Landmark. But neither title has kept the vacant home from falling into disrepair. READ MORE: How to explore Phillys black history: A historical marker tour The North Carolina native was in his mid-20s when he bought the three-story rowhouse at 1511 N. 33rd in 1952. He lived in the home while he was featured on Miles Davis 'Round About Midnight album in 1957 and produced Blue Train the following year. It was also at Tranes House that he signed his first record contract, kicked heroin addiction, and composed tracks for the groundbreaking album Giant Steps. Hed go on to play with the greats of the day Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie before starting his own quartet. After Coltrane left Philadelphia for the bright lights and soulful sounds of New York City in 1958, his cousin Mary Lyerly Alexander to whom he dedicated a track on Giant Steps maintained Tranes legacy in Philly. Founding the John W. Coltrane Cultural Society, Cousin Mary hosted a series of backyard concerts at the home, introducing children across the city to jazz. In 2004, Alexander moved into a nursing home, selling the property to jazz lover Norman Gadson, who died three years later. Gadsons daughter, Aminta Weldon, is now responsible for the home, and has started a 501(c)3 nonprofit in an effort to rehab the landmark site. Anderson said she worries for the historic houses structure, and hopes Preservation Pennsylvanias at risk designation will move the city to help protect the facade for years to come. The issues with the Coltrane House are complicated, but not unique in a city like Philadelphia, a city spokesperson said, adding that the issue is on the citys radar, but unfortunately, our ability to address them using current resources is limited. The citys power does not extend to compelling a property owner to maintain a cultural site, the spokesperson added. The Department of Licenses and Inspections intends to visit the site within the coming weeks, a spokesperson said. Its too important to wait. Time is not our friend, Anderson said. "This property is associated with this jazz giant who belongs to the world, and it deserves that respect. Agartala/Aizawl/Imphal, Feb 8 : In the wake of special summary revisions of the electoral rolls, women voters again outnumber men in the northeastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, while Tripura has witnessed a record gender ratio in its voters list, officials said on Saturday. After around the two-month-long special summary revision of photo-affixed electoral rolls, the final lists were published on Friday in many states with January 1, 2020, as the qualifying date for age. In Imphal, Manipur Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ramananda Nongmeikapam said that according to the final photo-electoral rolls, the state has 19,12,649 voters, including 9,30,931 male and 88 third-gender voters. With 9,81,630 female voters, Manipur is the fourth northeastern state after Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya where female voters have exceeded male voters for the past several years. In Manipur, there are 1,054 female voters for every 1,000 male voters. "Following Election Commission orders, the state Election Department carried out special summary revision of electoral rolls in Manipur. The names of more than 67,000 persons were removed on various grounds, and 38,000 new voters enrolled," Nongmeikapam told IANS. In Aizawl, a Mizoram Election Department official said there were a total of 7,99,328 voters in the final list, including 4,10,085 women and 3,89,243 men. There is no third gender voter in this northeastern state. "In seven of the eight districts, except Mamit, the number of women voters is higher than male voters," the official pointed out. According to the final electoral rolls in Christian-dominated Mizoram, there were 1,054 female voters for every 1,000 male voters. With 15,429 new voters, the final electoral rolls recorded an increase of 1.97 per cent voters over last year's rolls, which had 7,83,899 voters. In Agartala, the Tripura rolls published on Friday showed a record increase of gender ratio to 976 females to 1,000 males. "Though we have no exact data available, sex ratio in Tripura (in electoral rolls) is quite good compared with the national average and many states in India," an official of the Tripura Election Department told IANS. In the 2019 electoral rolls in Tripura, there were 972 female voters for every 1,000 male voters; and in the 2018 voters' list, there were 965 women voters for every 1,000 men. The number of Tripura voters has now risen to 26,42,616, including 13,05,522 women, 13,37,068 men and 26 third-gender voters. With 53,418 new voters, the increase is 2.06 per cent voters over last year's list, which had 25,89,198 voters. Since at least 2017, the US federal government has been buying commercially-available cellphone location data to aid in immigration and border-related enforcement actions, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The data is the type of anonymized location information that analytics firms typically sell to digital advertisers so that they target specific consumers. In other words, it's information most people consent to sharing every time they install a new app on their phone. The WSJ reports law enforcement agencies such as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have used this data to find leads on illegal immigrants and border crossings. In one case, for example, the agency used the data to uncover an underground tunnel that ran between Mexico and a closed KFC in San Luis, Arizona. The discovery eventually led to the arrest of the restaurant's owner on conspiracy charges -- though there's no mention of the role location data played in the case in police records. The publication says the government bought the data from a company called Venntel, which in turn purchased it from a variety of marketing companies. In 2018, ICE bought $190,000 worth of Venntel licenses. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the purchase and others but stressed to The Wall Street Journal the anonymized nature of the data. It also didn't comment on exactly how it uses the data. The way the government is obtaining this data likely falls into a legal gray area. In the 2017 Carpenter v. United States case, the Supreme Court ruled law enforcement agencies need a warrant to obtain cellphone-tower location data. However, because the data the government is buying is available commercially (and it doesn't include cell-site data), its lawyers say Carpenter v. United States doesn't apply. "This is a classic situation where creeping commercial surveillance in the private sector is now bleeding directly over into government," Alan Butler, the general counsel of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told the WSJ. This report is the latest to underscore just how supposedly anonymized and harmless location data can be used to pinpoint people. In December, The New York Times published a report that shows how, in some circumstances, tieing a specific individual to anonymous location data is actually fairly easy. Khamenei says Iran must become strong to end 'enemy threat' Tehran, Feb 8 (AFP) Feb 08, 2020 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that the Islamic republic must become strong enough to ward off the "enemy's threats" and prevent a war. Khamenei also said Iran had a strong air force despite decades of US pressure and sanctions on the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "We must become strong so that there will not be a war, become strong so that enemy's threats will end," he told a gathering of air force commanders and staff. "We do not want to threaten anyone... this is to prevent threats, to maintain the country's security," he added in a speech aired on state television. Tensions escalated between Tehran and Washington after a January 3 US drone strike killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran retaliated days later by firing a wave of missiles at American troops stationed in Iraq. Its defence forces had been braced for US retaliation when they shot down a Ukraine International Airlines flight a few minutes after take-off from Tehran on January 8. "Our Air Force, which had no right to & couldn't even repair parts of aircrafts (before the revolution) now builds planes," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his English-language Twitter account. "Sanctions are literally crimes, BUT they can be turned into opportunities," he added. In 2018, the United States withdrew unilaterally from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and began reimposing sanctions as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign on the country. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrel visited Tehran last week on a mission aimed at lowering tensions over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme, which has been crumbling since the US withdrawal. Iran has gradually stepped back from its own commitments under the deal, prompting the European parties to trigger a complaint mechanism under the deal to pressure Tehran to return to full implementation. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (front, second from right) checks the fight against coronavirus in Thua Thien-Hue province on February 7 (Photo: VNA) To date, no nCoV infection cases have been reported in the locality. Earlier on February 2, a drill on preventing the virus outbreak was held at the Hue Central Hospital in Phong Dien district. Vietnam has so far recorded 13 cases tested positive for the virus. The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has successfully cultivated and isolated the virus in the laboratory. This will enable quicker tests of the virus, according to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long. With the latest achievement, Vietnam is able to test thousands of samples a day when necessary, he said, noting that this will also be a prerequisite for developing a vaccine against the virus in the future. More than 1,000 people returning from China and nearly 500 others with close contact with infected patients are being quarantined and monitored and waiting for test results. China's ruling Communist Party faced public anger over the death of a doctor who was threatened by authorities for trying to alert the public about the new coronavirus in December, before the outbreak spread and became a global crisis. Meanwhile, China early on February 8 said the death toll from the virus in the country surged to 722 with the number of infections rising to 34,546. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing reported on February 8 that a 60-year-old U.S. citizen diagnosed with the virus had died in the city of Wuhan, while Japan said that a citizen of that country, a man in his 60s, also died from the virus in the city, considered to be the epicenter of the outbreak. A Reuters count of official statements showed that there have been 320 cases now in 27 countries and regions outside mainland China. The Chinese government has faced an online uproar over its treatment of doctor Li Wenliang, leading it to strike a conciliatory tone, saying it is sending a team to fully investigate relevant issues raised by the public. The 34-year-old Li, an ophthalmologist, contracted the virus while treating patients and later died. Experts say Li's work as an eye doctor required him to sit very close to patients during examinations, something that may have subjected him to an especially large dose of the virus that made his illness more severe. He was one of eight medical professionals in Wuhan who tried to warn colleagues and others when the government did not. He had said that police forced him to sign a statement admitting he was spreading falsehoods. The government-backed Global Times newspaper said Li's treatment was "evidence of local authorities' incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus." "Wuhan indeed owes Li Wenliang an apology," editor Hu Xilinx said. The Amnesty International rights watchdog called his death a "tragic reminder" of how China's obsession with stability leads it suppress vital information. The case brought to light long-standing complaints that Communist Party officials lie about or cover up disease outbreaks, chemical spills, dangerous consumer products, or financial fraud. In 2003, China was accused of attempting to cover up the SARS outbreak -- a similar virus -- that killed almost 800 people worldwide. Chinese citizens in the past have been jailed on charges of rumor-mongering or making trouble. To fight the spread of the virus, Chinas government has sealed off cities, canceled flights, and closed factories, putting strains on the world's second-largest economy and roiling markets worldwide. Concerns about the virus remained high outside of China. President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and urged Washington to respond reasonably" to the outbreak, echoing complaints that some countries are overreacting by restricting Chinese travelers and those who have visited the country recently. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on February 7 said the United States was prepared to provide up to $100 million to assist China and support coronavirus efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is seeking $675 million for its coronavirus response through April. In Japan, three more cases were diagnosed on February 8 among 3,700 passengers and crew on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total of cases to 61. All aboard the ship remain under 14-day quarantine. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Harm reduction advocates say the state government's decision to destroy drugs ditched in amnesty bins at music festivals is a wasted opportunity to test the dangerous substances on the market. The bins - announced late last year - have so far been used at eight NSW events deemed "high risk" by state authorities between December 31 and February 2, including major festivals such as Field Day and Laneway festival. Drug amnesty bins were placed near the entry of Field Day music festival in the Domain on New Year's Day. Credit:James Alcock A response to Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame's inquest into the deaths of six young people at NSW music festivals, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the bins would allow punters to avoid panicking when they see police and dispose of their drugs "without any questions asked". Ms Grahame said amnesty bins would also give authorities the chance to test the discarded substances and provide information to health providers. Results can also be used to send out real-time alerts to revellers about dangerous drugs that may be present at a music festival. U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland arrives to testify before a House Intelligence Committee hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 20, 2019. President Donald Trump on Friday recalled U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, a key witness in House Democrats' impeachment inquiry, NBC News reported. The move was reported hours after it was revealed that Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, another witness in the impeachment proceedings, was recalled from his post as a National Security Council staffer. David Pressman, a lawyer for Vindman, decried the action as an attempt by Trump to "exact revenge" against officials in his administration who cooperated with House Democrats. Just two days earlier, the GOP-led Senate voted nearly along party lines to acquit Trump on two articles of impeachment that the House passed in December. A day later, Trump lashed out at his perceived political enemies during a loud and lengthy victory lap. "So many people have been hurt, and we can't let that go on," Trump said during remarks at the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning. The apparent purge of Sondland and Vindman and Vindman's brother Yevgeny, who worked as an attorney at the National Security Council came a day after Trump's remarks. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, one of the world's leading roasters and retailers of specialty coffee and tea, is treating guests and their loved ones this Valentine's Day with a buy one get one free special. From Friday, February 14th through Sunday, February 16th, coffee, tea, and Original Ice Blended lovers can purchase any regular or larger drink and get a second beverage for free from 2 p.m. close at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations. "We invite our community to share the love this Valentine's day," said Darrin Kellaris, Vice President, Marketing The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. "Our signature blends and specialty drinks taste better when savored alongside those who mean the most to us." The iconic coffee and tea pioneer has made gratitude a key focus for 2020, giving every cup an extra purpose. It is not just about the taste but the moments of greater goodness that come with every hand-crafted drink at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Valentine's Day is just one of those many moments year-round. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's signature drinks include over 20 specialty beverages all made with the finest grades of Arabica coffee, 25 different tea blends, cold brew teas, and of course, a variety of the signature Ice Blended beverages. With such a vast array of choices, guests are sure to find the perfect choice for them and their significant other. For more information, please visit www.coffeebean.com . About The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a leading global roaster and retailer of specialty coffees and teas, and is widely credited for driving high quality and innovation to the coffee and tea industry. The company sources the finest ingredients and flavors from around the world and hand blends coffee and tea for the freshest flavors. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf started the frozen coffee drink craze with the invention of The Original Ice Blended drink and is also the first and only coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. The company currently has more than 1,200 retail locations across the globe and can also be found in grocery aisles as well as specialty locations including airports and hotels. For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com . About The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's buy one get one free special: Offer valid only at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf retail locations from 2:00 pm store closing on 2/14/20 2/16/20. Store hours may vary. Offer for one (1) complimentary beverage with the purchase of one beverage that is regular-sized or larger. Offer applies to beverage of equal or lesser value. Offer does not apply to any applicable sales tax and gift cards. Limit one (1) offer per customer, per transaction. Promotional offer must be presented at time of purchase. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, promotion, or discount. Not valid on previous purchases. No cash value, except where required by law. No substitutions. No rainchecks. Company reserves the right to withdraw, or change, the offer's terms and conditions at any time, at Company's discretion, and without notice. While supplies last. 2020 International Coffee & Tea, LLC. All rights reserved. Media Contacts Laura Hernandez JCUTLER Media Group [email protected] SOURCE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Related Links http://www.coffeebean.com As all exit polls for Delhi assembly elections point to only one outcome- a thumping win for Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a prominent leader of the ruling party has spelled out what he thinks are its two possible implications. Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP MLA and spokesperson, who is contesting against BJPs Shikha Roy and Congress Sukhbir Singh Pawar from the Greater Kailash seat, said the outcome of the exit poll was likely to result in the exit of rival party the BJPs Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari. The exit poll has two meanings. One, it is exit poll for Delhi elections 2020 and the other is that it is an exit poll for Manoj Tiwari, Bharadwaj was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Bharadwajs comments came soon after the BJP leader dismissed exit poll projections and suggested the BJP could surprise all with its showing on the counting day, February 11. Certain exit polls are showing that BJP will win 26 seats, but let me tell you that all these exit polls will fail on 11 Feb. BJP will be forming govt in Delhi with over 48 seats, Tiwari said. Five exit polls have projected a comfortable majority for Aam Aadmi Party which fought a fierce election campaign battle with the BJP while banking on Kejriwal governments achievements during the past five years to take it through. While Tiwari refused to accept the exit poll estimates, Bharadwaj said it meant the end of the road for Tiwari as Delhi BJP chief. He will soon get an exit as Delhi BJP Chief and he knows this very well, Bharadwaj added. Five exit polls, Times Now- IPSOS, REPUBLIC-Jan Ki Baat, NewsX POLSTRAT, ABP-C Voter and India Today- AXIS have projected between 44 and 68 seats for AAP and 2-26 seats for the BJP. All five dont see the Congress crossing the tally of five seats. Parents of more than 600 children died due to COVID-19 from April to May 28: Government 'AntiWomenKejriwal': Smriti Irani slams AAP chief over his election day tweet India oi-Deepika S Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over a tweet wherein he asked women in Delhi to discuss with men in their families whom they should vote for in the Delhi assembly elections. "Definitely go and vote. A special appeal to all women, just as you take up the responsibility of the home, the responsibility of the nation and Delhi is with you. All of you women must go to vote and take the men in your families along with you. Discuss with men who it is who it right to vote for," Kejriwal had tweeted in Hindi. In a strong response, Irani tweeted, "Do you not consider women capable enough to decide for themselves who to vote for?" with a hashtag "#AntiWomenKejriwal". AAP will form 3rd time govt in Delhi: Kerjiwal after voting with his family Responding to the attack, Kejriwal tweeted: "Smriti ji, women of Delhi have decided who to vote for. And across Delhi, women have decided who their family will vote for. After all, they have to run the house." The BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress are locked in a triangular contest in Delhi's electoral battle. In the 2015 Delhi assembly election, AAP won 67 of the 70 seats, while the BJP won three seats. The BJP won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and hopes to repeat the performance in the assembly polls too. The Congress came second in all seats and AAP a distant third. As Vietnam confirmed the 13th novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) patient on Friday, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspapers reporter followed staff who have been spraying disinfectant at public places in the Mekong Delta region to help stop the virus' spread. Nguyen The Phuong, a 27-year-old staff at the Preventive Medicine Center in Thoi Binh District located in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau, told Tuoi Tre that disinfectant spraying is no easy work. According to Phuong, the backpack disinfectant sprayer is not only heavy but also leaves much more pressure on the shoulders when it is in operation as disinfectant coming out the tank generate an opposite push. I did not even have an appetite for meals after I did it for the first time, Phuong said. Nguyen Anh Diep, a colleague of Phuong, said that the disinfectant has a very unpleasant odor and dries out peoples throats when they breathe it in. My throat felt dry even with my protective suit on when spraying the disinfectant, Diep told Tuoi Tre. During their work, the staff said they are often unable to breathe naturally, taking only very short breaths and then breathing out slowly, Diep explained. As their medical mask gets soaked with sweat while spraying disinfectant, it becomes even more difficult to breathe, Diep explained. Phuong and Diep said their team visits several venues a day to perform the disinfection work. Staff mix Cloramin B, a disinfectant, with water before spraying at a venue in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau. Photo: Khanh Tran / Tuoi Tre Staff mix Cloramin B, a disinfectant, with water before spraying at a venue in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau. Photo: Khanh Tran / Tuoi Tre The novel coronavirus, which first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has killed 724 people and infected nearly 34,900 globally as of Saturday, according to the South China Morning Post. It has since spread across mainland China and to 27 other countries and regions, according to a Reuters report. Vietnam has so far confirmed 13 cases of the virus, including ten Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, one Chinese and two Vietnamese had fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital as of Thursday. They were all treated for free. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. A staff member puts on a protective suit before spraying disinfectant at a venue in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau. Photo: Khanh Tran / Tuoi Tre Staff mix Cloramin B, a disinfectant, with water before spraying at a venue in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau. Photo: Khanh Tran / Tuoi Tre Staff mix Cloramin B, a disinfectant, with water before spraying at a venue in the southernmost Vietnamese province of Ca Mau. Photo: Khanh Tran / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The bill for the 16-year war in Iraq comes to about $1.92 trillion through the end of 2019, says Neta C. Crawford, a political scientist who helps run the Cost of Wars project at Brown University. The cost breakdown: $838 billion for emergency and overseas contingency operation funding in Iraq. $382 billion in increases related to Iraq in the base budget of the Pentagon (out of a total $800 billion in increases since 9/11). $59 billion for State Department and USAID efforts in Iraq and Syria. $199 billion for the care of veterans who served in Iraq. $444 billion in interest on federal borrowing to pay for the Iraq war effort. Crawford says that spending in Iraq has fallen off sharply since its peak of roughly $140 billion in 2008, with the Pentagon requesting less than $10 billion in 2020 for Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria. However, Crawford notes, that budget may already be blown. Earlier this month, the US sent more troops into a war zone that was supposed to be winding down. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. London: The Duke of Sussex has reportedly revealed, during the Sussexes' first event since announcing they will leave the royal family, he has been in therapy for the past few years coping with the loss of his mother. Prince Harry has spoken about his difficulties following his mother's death. Credit:Chris Jackson In a speech at a JP Morgan-sponsored alternative investment summit in Florida, Harry also said he did not regret stepping down as a senior royal, as he did not want Meghan and son Archie to experience what he went through when younger. It is not known if the duke - who in a decision dubbed Megxit chose financial freedom over being a member of the monarchy - was paid for the speaking engagement but speculation is rife he could have received a fee worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. The New York Post reported Harry attended the event in Miami on Thursday and the newspaper quoted a source as saying: "Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother. China recorded its deadliest day since the outbreak of coronavirus on Friday as 86 people died from the pneumonia-like illness that has been ravaging the country. According to the Chinas National Health Commission, a total of 722 people have died from the disease and 34,546 were infected in mainland China. Majority of the new cases were recorded in Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan, which is the epicenter of the outbreak. The 2019-nC0V originated from Wuhan in December, and by January had spread across China and so far to over 25 countries. Though authorities in China have been making efforts containing the spread of the disease, new cases and deaths are still being reported on a daily basis. Currently, there has been no clear knowledge of the nature of the disease, its origin or its transmission pattern. When the disease first broke out, scientists said that natural host might have been bats and was transmitted to humans. It was also thought the disease could only be transmitted from animals to humans. However, cases of human to human transmission of the disease have been proven and the youngest infected person was a newborn baby. There is no clear clue on how the baby got infected. Global cases While foreigners living in China are part of the infected population, the US Embassy in Beijing, confirmed the death of a 60-year-old US citizen who had died from the virus at Jinyintian Hospital, in Wuhan, on February 6. This is the first confirmed death of a foreigner reported from China. Meanwhile, more people on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship currently sitting in the Yokohama Bay of South Tokyo, Japan, have tested positive to the virus. As of Friday, 41 new confirmed cases among the passengers of the ship was reported. Ten people had earlier tested positive for the virus on Wednesday and were taken to the hospital, while authorities waited for the test results of other passengers. The ship has been held at the Japanese harbour since Tuesday, after the virus was detected in Hong-Kong from a man who had disembarked from the ship. The ship has about 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew on board. READ ALSO: More cases are also being reported across many countries and there is no certainty of how soon the disease will be contained Globally, more than 370 people have contracted the disease, though there is yet to be a confirmed case reported in Africa. Travel ban Although the World Health Organisation has said the disease has not reached a pandemic status, many countries are beginning to place restrictions on travels from China. WHO, as of January 30, had declared the ongoing coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. This announcement led to many countries intensifying disease surveillance across their borders and some outrightly placed ban on foreigners travelling from China from entering. Meanwhile, WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, had said there was no need for countries to ban international travel and trade from China. The US was one of the first countries to place a restriction on foreigners from China from entering into its country. Other countries have also followed, while some placed partial ban. Mr Ghebreyesus, briefing the status of the disease on Friday said to date, 72 countries have been identified to be implementing travel restrictions through official reports, official statements and the media. Of these, WHO received 23 official reports from countries about their travel restrictions, he said. Advertisements However, Nigeria and most African countries are not part of the countries restricting travellers to and from China. Though Africa has been strengthening its disease detection, diagnosis and treatment capacity with the help of WHO, some health experts are still faulting the free movement of passengers from China into Africa due to the fast spread, human to human transmission and the unknown nature of the disease. People lay down flowers at a vigil for victims following a deadly mass shooting in Korat, Thailand, Feb. 9, 2020. Updated at 1:45 p.m. ET on 2020-02-09 A Thai soldier allegedly angry over a property deal gone sour killed 29 people and injured another 58 before security forces shot him dead in northeastern Thailand, officials said Sunday, as they updated the death toll in an unprecedented 17-hour shooting spree. About half of the dead were at a mall where the soldier barricaded himself for hours and reportedly took hostages, although officials did not say if any hostages had been killed. Another 14 people died at a residence, an army barracks and near a temple the shooter drove by in Nakhon Ratchasima, a city of 2.6 million about 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Bangkok, according to a list of victims released by its chief health official. "This kind of incident is unprecedented. The government cannot deny responsibility... We will help make sure it does not happen again," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha told reporters Sunday, after visiting wounded people in hospital in the city, also known as Korat. Thirty of the 58 injured were still in hospital late Sunday, according to Narinrat Phitchayakhamin, the health official. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha visits an injured man in a hospital following a gun battle involving a Thai soldier on a shooting rampage, in Korat, Thailand, Feb. 9, 2020. [Government House/Handout via Reuters] Prayuth said that the gunman, identified as Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma, 32, was motivated by an argument over a property deal with his commander, the first victim of the shooting. "It was a personal conflict. He had a problem over a property deal. They argued over 3 days," Prayuth said when reporters asked about the shooters motive. Thousands of people staged a candlelight vigil to honor the dead late Sunday in downtown Korat. The night before, gunfire and explosions could be heard at intervals as SWAT teams and special forces tried to end the standoff inside the mall. Police rushed nine people out of the mall and into ambulances at around 3:00 a.m., live news broadcasts showed. "He was killed. We are investigating the scene," Lt. Gen. Thanya Kiatsarn, army commander for northeastern Thailand, told the media hours later. Thai security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they try to apprehend a shooter who took hostages in a ]shopping mall after a rampage in Korat, Thailand, Feb. 9, 2020. [Reuters] The rampage began at around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, allegedly following an altercation over a land deal between the soldier and his commander, local media reported, citing police. Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma had a psychotic break and shot at officials in a barracks, then took guns and bullets to shoot people, causing many public injuries and deaths, Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanich, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, told BenarNews. Jakrapanth allegedly shot dead his commander, Col. Ananroj Krasae, and an elderly woman at a residence in Korat. Then he drove to his barracks where he killed another soldier, and stole weapons, ammunition and a military vehicle. He continued shooting as he drove to the Terminal 21 shopping mall, killing among others two policemen who tried to stop him. More people were killed and injured outside the crowded, seven-story mall. Relatives of people stranded in the mall said the gunman had taken hostages on its fifth floor, media reports said. Commandos flown in by helicopter from Bangkok cordoned off the area and stormed the mall, then began evacuating terrified customers from its ground floor. Facebook said it had suspended the gunmans accounts and was working to remove any violating content after what appeared to be posts uploaded by the soldier during the rampage circulated online. "We have removed the gunmans presence on our services and have found no evidence that he broadcasted this violence on FBLive, a company spokesman said in a statement emailed to BenarNews. The suspect appeared briefly on FBLive but the seconds-long broadcast did not depict any violence, the statement said. Uayporn Satitpanyapan in Washington contributed to this report. The cost of constructing a government-owned pipeline to the Pacific coast that would open new overseas markets for Canadian oil has jumped 70 percent, the management company announced Friday. Design changes, additional regulatory processes and delays caused by environmental activists' protests and legal challenges drove the pipeline costs to $9.5 billion (Can$12.6 billion), up from a $5.6 billion estimate three years ago, said Ian Anderson, the chief executive of government subsidiary Trans Mountain. At a press conference in Ottawa, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the Trans Mountain pipeline project, which was nationalized in 2018 to prevent its collapse, was still "commercially viable." "Getting our resources to global markets in a way that is efficient and safe is in Canada's best interest," he added. But Greenpeace's Patrick Bonin responded that "this explosion in the costs of Trans Mountain's expansion is enough to scare environmentalists as much as fiscal conservatives." He said the money would be better invested in public transit and renewable energy projects. The government in 2016 approved the project connecting the Alberta oil sands to a Pacific coast shipping terminal, and two years later bought the troubled project for $3.3 billion from Kinder Morgan. On Tuesday, a federal court denied the latest bid by indigenous tribes to block construction, dismissing their claim that they had not been adequately consulted on the project. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called the ruling the "last remaining legal obstacle" to its construction. But the tribes vowed to bring their fight to the Supreme Court. The Trans Mountain project would expand an existing 715-mile (1,150 kilometer) conduit to move 890,000 barrels of oil a day across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, replacing a smaller, crumbling conduit built in 1953. Morneau noted that construction is now underway and would create up to 5,500 jobs. More than 2,900 have already been hired. Design changes, additional regulatory processes and delays caused by environmental activists' protests and legal challenges have driven the costs for the Trans Mountain pipleine to $9.5 billion (Can$12.6 billion) Hemafuse, a surgical autotransfusion device, will revolutionize blood access across Africa. Hemafuse is designed to salvage and recycle whole blood from cases of internal bleeding. The device can be used in both emergencies and scheduled procedures to recover blood from where it pools inside of a patient, into a blood bag, where it is immediately available to be re-transfused back to that same patient. Hemafuse was created for patients suffering from internal bleeding resulting from trauma, ruptured ectopic pregnancies, or for use in planned surgeries. Hemafuse can be used in cases where there is no donor blood available, and even as the preferred option over donor blood. When compared to autotransfusion, the use of donor blood comes with a higher risk of disease transfer, increased length of stay, readmissions, and other complications. Hemafuse is now used in 10 different hospitals across Kenya. Last month, Hemafuse received an endorsement from The First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta at the launch of the Nairobi Beyond Zero Medical Safari held at Uhuru Park Nairobi on January, 25 2020. The First Ladys Beyond Zero Kenya initiative donated Hemafuse to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to aid in the reduction of maternal deaths. During the event, Dr. Elizabeth Wala, Programme Director for Health Systems Strengthening at Amref Health Africa in Kenya, spoke about the importance of using a high-quality device to save lives. She announced that the Kenya Pharmacy and Poison Board have approved Hemafuse. Blood is a matter of life and death, the impact of this device is saving lives that could have been lost due to lack of blood. Achieving [Universal Health Coverage] requires innovations for essential medicines and health technologies that save lives. Hemafuse should be part of the essential medical devices in each hospital, she added. Use of the device is now being rolled out in Ghana, where it has already been used to save lives in cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Dr. Gerald Osei-Owusu, a Medical Officer at Tema General, has used Hemafuse in several different surgeries. After experiencing Hemafuse first hand, he says the device cuts down on cost, the time it takes to save the patient, and reduces their recovery time. Its a good device, I think its something we should use nationally and continentally It makes life easier, work easier, and costs less. I think its a good device. Using Hemafuse to recycle a patients own blood saves the donor blood that is available for other patients who are not candidates for autotransfusion. Dr. Rafia Abanga, another Medical Officer at Tema General has experienced Hemafuse first hand, The Hemafuse is a great device, Ive used it only twice, it was much needed and helped save a young ladys life. I am grateful to the person who invented this, she added. Autotransfusion reduces the risk of infection and disease transmission because using a patients own blood is safer than someone elses. Dorothy Kesewah Denkyi, a theatre nurse at Tema General, explains her experience using Hemafuse and implementing autotransfusion. Autotransfusion is the bestIts better than giving someone [elses] blood to the patient. So we are encouraging autotransfusion if that is what will help out. Now that Hemafuse is here [in Ghana], we are advocating to get more in the system. Every theatre should have one, if not one, two. Hemafuse is now available at hospitals in Kenya and Ghana, and will be coming to hospitals across Africa. In Kenya, Hemafuse is sold through Surgipharm and in partnership with Amref. All other locations should reach out to Sisus global partner, VIA Global Health Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Reality TV star Billie Faiers is featured on the cover of the latest edition of OK! wearing a stunning evening dress created for her by Dundalk fashion designer Eamonn McGill. Eamonn shared the news that his creation had made the cover of the celebrity magazine on his instagram account, saying he had been 'keeping this secret for a while but wasn't expecting it to be on the cover of Ok mag.' Describing The Mummy Diaries and The Only Way Is Essex star Billie as 'stunning and super sweet', he revealed he had designed the customer made dress for her when she celebrated her 30th birthday with a Gatsby themed party. The magazine enthused: 'Mother-of-two Billie looked incredible for her big night, wowing in a bespoke gown by Eamonn McGill, who has dressed Maura Higgins in the past, and flew over from Ireland to help her look her very best. The slinky gold dress was show-stopping and put her incredible figure on display, while she accessorised with a matching 1920s style headpiece while her blonde hair was styled in an up-do typical of era.' Billie finished off her look with matching gold gloves and a furry white stole slung over her arms. Eamonn, who is a graduate of thhe National College of Art and Design, has his design studio in Dublin and is known for his bespoke creations. His spectacular dresses are much in demand by celebrities on both sides of the Irish sea. Love Island stars Maura Higgins, Molly-Mae Hague and Georgia Steel, model Holly Carpenter, and presenter Doireann Garrihy,are among those who have been spotted wearing his creations on the red carpets in recent months. He also dressed Ireland's entry in last year's Eurovision Song Contest, Sarah McTernan for her appearance in Tel Aviv. Eamonn was named as Fashion Designer of the Year at the Hi Style Awards at the end of last year. For the past two years, he has been involved in designing Brown and Thomas' iconic Christmas windows. The Christmas 2019 design was inspired by the glamour of the 1930s and the Orient Express and Eamonn was thrilled to be able to feature dresses and coats worn by Hollywood star Maureen O'Hara in the windows. The United Kingdom conducted more experiments on animals than any other country in Europe in 2017, a damning report has revealed. A comprehensive landmark review from the European Commission provided detailed animal testing statistics for each member state for the first time under new legislation. Animal rights groups are calling for the UK government to slash this number now Britain has left the EU and stop the majority of animal testing. Scroll down for video Almost ten million experiments are conducted in the EU every year In the EU, there are strict regulations in place for how many times an animal can be used in animal testing. For example, the report reveals 71 per cent of sheep are reused as well as 44 per cent of cats and 36 per cent of dogs Pictured, the breakdown of animal testing by percentage done in the EU. The total number is 9.39 million excluding genetic modification experiments and the majority are done on mice The report broke down animal testing for the 28 members between 2015 and 2017. It revealed a total of 1,885,933 procedures were performed on animals in the UK in 2017. This figure accounts for 19 per cent of all of the EU which saw 9,581,741 total experiments in 2017. The total number was 9,782,570 in 2015 and 10,028,498 in 2016. The most commonly used animals were mice and rats and on average, two per cent of all animals used have been reused, but this rises for large mammals. In the EU, there are strict regulations in place for how many times an animal can be used in animal testing. For example, the report reveals 71 per cent of sheep are reused as well as 44 per cent of cats and 36 per cent of dogs. It is unclear for how long, or how many times, these animals are tested upon. MailOnline understands that if an animal is not killed as a direct result of its experiment it can be reused, but as is more often the case, these animals which are purpose bred for research are euthanised. Kerry Postlewhite, Director of Public Affairs for Cruelty Free International, says: 'This is one league table that the UK should not be proud to top. 'Now that the UK has left the EU, the government needs to put its money where its mouth is in terms of improving animal protection standards. 'We want to see plans for getting this horrific number of animal experiments down and down fast.' MailOnline understands that if an animal is not killed as a direct result of its experiment it can be reused, but as is more often the case, these animals which are purpose bred for research are euthanised The most commonly used animals were mice and rats and on average, two per cent of all animals used have been reused, but this rises for large mammals Jan Creamer, President of Animal Defenders International, adds: 'As the highest user of animals in research in Europe, the UK needs to walk the talk and set out a plan to review and replace animal tests with advanced research methods at the earliest opportunity. 'Failure to act could delay scientific progress, risking harm to animals and people, and leaving the UK trailing behind.' Germany is the second highest user, while France is third. 'Few experiments on animals no matter how painful or irrelevant are prohibited by law,' says PETA Science Policy Adviser Dr Julia Baines. 'Yet their systemic failure to benefit humans in the areas of neurodegenerative disease, mental health disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and more is well documented. Most research animals are specifically bred for research. If they are not killed as a direct result of the experiments they are used in, the vast majority are still euthanised Kirk Leech, executive director of the European Animal Research Association (EARA) said in a statement: 'Using animals as a research model is often the only way to develop new treatments and an understanding of the human body'. many charities disagree 'PETA is calling on the EU to reconsider our reliance on these archaic procedures and champion the funding and development of humane and human-relevant technology. 'This is where the future of science and human health clearly lies.' Animal Defenders International agrees, and believes the UK government and regulators must drive research toward modern methods. For example, they say the majority of animal testing can be replaced with the use of databases, sophisticated analytical techniques, organ-on-a chip models, microdosing, computer simulations and modelling, and human tissue and 3D cell cultures. But Kirk Leech, executive director of the European Animal Research Association (EARA) said in a statement: 'Using animals as a research model is often the only way to develop new treatments and an understanding of the human body, and we congratulate the European Commission for making these numbers public.' Chris Magee, from Understanding Animal Research, adds: 'Animal research involves a lot more than just the testing of drugs. For cancer research alone, studies on mice gave us both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and these EU figures include animals used to manufacture cancer drugs. There is no other way to get them. 'Animals have also been critical in developing most medicines like insulin and asthma treatments, and are being used at the moment to create a vaccine against the new Coronavirus. 'Scientists also use all non-animal methods at the same time, but animals often provide that missing piece of the puzzle to get a medicine off the lab bench and into clinical practice.' But animal protection and advocacy group Cruelty Free International says that of all the experiments conducted, more than two thirds (68 per cent) are not required by law and could be prevented. The number of total experiments on 'naive' animals - defined as animals used for the first time for research and testing - has fluctuated slightly since 2015. The report also reveals how severe the animal reaction was to the experiments they were subjected to. Six per cent (621,054) of all experiments in the EU in 2017 resulted in non-recovery of the animal. Over three years, this total reaches almost 1.85million animals. This is defined as when an experiment occurs under general anaesthetic and the information is collected before the anaesthetic is increased and the animal subsequently dies. Eleven per cent of the 2017 experiments, more than a million (1,023,138), resulted in a 'severe' reaction. These can be similar to the forced swim test where a mouse is placed in a beaker of water for up to six minutes. It is pulled out if it begins to sink. Mild suffering could be a blood sample and moderate suffering could be akin to surgery under general anaesthetic. The report states: 'In general, however, over 50 per cent of all uses in research and testing are of mild severity.' However, MailOnline understands that even if the animal does not die as a direct response of the experiment, the animal will still be killed in most cases. This is because the internal organs must be studied to determine the effect of the experiment is needed. Its not that he has to be obligated to be activist of the year, but there seems to be a very specific distancing of himself from any obligation to be concerned or know about those things, Gaither said in an interview recently. Its really hard to understand where he wants to be, other than to use the opportunity to be the first openly gay candidate as a way for his campaign to have significance and meaning it otherwise would not have. West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) will release the class 10th admit card for the board examination on February 8. Candidates will be able to get the admit cards between 11 am and 5 pm. In an official notice released by WBBSE, the admit cards will be distributed through respective camp offices organised by the board on February 8 from 11 am to 5 pm. Principals or heads of the institutions will have to collect the admit cards of their students from the camp offices and provide it to the students. Any discrepancies/ error in the admit card has to be brought in the notice of regional council offices of the board in writing before February 15. The West Bengal class 10th Board Exam 2020 is scheduled to commence from February 18, 2020. Check official notice here SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This post was published in partnership with Wirecutter , the site devoted to finding the best gear and gadgets. Every product is independently selected by the Wirecutter team. We update links when possible, but note that deals may expire and prices are subject to change. If you buy something through our links, Slate and Wirecutter may earn an affiliate commission. Cooking is always easier when youre organized, especially in a small kitchen. To help you make better use of tight quarters, we spoke with organizing experts and chefs, and tested 40 shelves, racks, magnets, and other space-saving options. Below are the tips and tools you need to optimize every inch of a tiny kitchen. Why you should trust me I interviewed professional organizers with lots of experience developing space-saving solutions for small New York City apartment kitchens, including Faith Roberson, a former personal chef who is now the owner of Organize With Faith; Robert Mizrahi, owner of Chaos Commandos; and Ann Sullivan (no relation to the author), owner of the organizing company Ann Sullivan, Inc. Advertisement For a cooks perspective, I interviewed chef Janet Crandall, the executive chef instructor at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I also spoke with Paula Johnson, the curator of the Division of Work and Industry at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History, about how Julia Child organized her kitchen. Johnson was part of the team that documented and collected Childs iconic kitchen from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, I consulted with my colleagues on the Wirecutter kitchen team about living in spaces with tiny kitchenscollectively, we have over 50 years of experience cooking in small apartment kitchens. Finally, I looked at hundreds of items on Amazon and at Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, Home Depot, and IKEA. I read owner reviews and went to stores to look at items in person when possible. I also referred to our small bathroom ideas guide and our gear for small apartments guide. Guiding principles for small kitchens In a 1977 interview for an issue of Design Quarterly (PDF), Julia Child said, Living in an apartment with a small cramped kitchen is no excuse for not cooking good food. Nevertheless, kitchens that lack ample work and storage space are the most challenging to cook in. Since the size and layout of every kitchen is differentsome lack sufficient wall space, while others are short on drawer or cupboard spacewe did our best to find items that would work for various configurations, and we focused on a few guiding principles. Advertisement Advertisement Organize your kitchen into zones: Dividing your kitchen into zones makes it easy to find everything you need, when you need it. Zoning isnt cookie cutter, and thats whats so great about it. Its really about where things are naturally placed in the home that you cant move, said Faith Roberson. In other words, the arrangement of your stove, fridge, and sink determines where the zones should be. Here are the five main zones we recommend for organizing your kitchen: Advertisement a food prep zone for cutting boards, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and knives a cooking zone for handheld cooking tools, pots, pans, baking pans, and spices a food storage zone for pantry items Advertisement a non-food storage zone for dinnerware, servingware, cups, stemware, and flatware Advertisement Advertisement a cleaning zone for cleaning products, hand towels, and trash If you have an exceptionally small kitchen, youll have to be creative. Set up mini zones and know that you can be flexible depending on the activities taking place in the kitchen. For instance, the counter space youve established as your prep zone for chopping vegetables may also function as your cleaning zone for drying dishes. Take stock of what you need: Be realistic about the items in your kitchen. Donate food and equipment you never use to make space. Paula Johnson, a curator at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History, told us that Julia Child would keep only the tools that worked. If something was pretty but completely nonfunctionalboom, it would be gone, Johnson said. Chef Janet Crandalls main advice is to stick with the basic tools, such as a few good-quality knives and only the essential cooking equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take advantage of vertical space: As Ann Sullivan told us, Most people always think of organizing in terms of square footage, and I say lay on the ground and look up and look at all the extra space you might have. Hang as many items as you can on the wall to free up cluttered cupboards and drawers. Take advantage of the areas above your fridge and cupboards if you have them, and maximize cupboard space by using shelf risers and over-the-door hooks or baskets. Consolidate: Use items already in your kitchen to contain smaller items. For instance, measuring cups and measuring spoons nest nicely in mixing bowls. Also, choose dual-purpose items whenever possiblea large mixing bowl, for instance, can double as a serving bowl for salad or pasta. Advertisement Move things out of the kitchen: Move items that dont pertain to cooking, such as medicine, first aid kits, and tools. Also move kitchen gear you use less often into cupboards or out of the kitchen altogether. Stemware, liquor, and wine bottles hog a lot of space, so try stowing them on a bar cart elsewhere. Likewise, cookbooks are bulky and better off on a bookshelf. Or maybe all of your cleaning supplies and everything related to that zone are going to have to move into the front hall closet, Roberson noted. And dont be like Sex and the Citys Carrie Bradshawavoid storing anything other than pots and pans in your oven. Ive had clients whove had fires, its not good, Sullivan said. Advertisement Advertisement Avoid buying in bulk: Several of our experts said to avoid buying in bulk if you dont have the space for it. A good rule of thumb is to keep only what you need for one or two weeks. Crandall said, Shop for perishable items in amounts that you will use, which simultaneously helps save space and cuts down on food waste. Zone 1: Food prep Knife storage Benchcrafted Mag-Blok This handsome knife strip is made of strong magnets encased in wood. It keeps knives in place but remains gentle on their blades. $39 from Benchcrafted Modern Innovations Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar This metal knife strip is great for holding tools such as measuring spoons and scissors, but it may dull knife blades. $18 from Amazon The professional organizers we spoke to recommended using magnetic strips for storing knives in lieu of bulky, counter-hogging knife blocks. We like Benchcrafteds Mag-Blok, which is made of impressively strong magnets and is available in 12- and 18-inch lengths. The wood exterior, which comes in maple, walnut, cherry, white oak, or sycamore, is gentle on knife blades and handsome enough to be on display in your kitchen. Other metal magnetic strips we tested, such as the Norpro 18-Inch Magnetic Knife Tool Bar, are more likely to dull or dent blades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the less expensive Modern Innovations Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar is not great for knives, we do recommend it for holding other toolssuch as measuring spoons, scissors, or a corkscrewto declutter your drawers. Our experts noted that you can even mount it inside cupboard doors (though youll need shorter screws so you dont drill through the door). Messermeister Knife Edge-Guard Set The brightly colored Messermeister blade guards save valuable counter space and keep your fingers intact when youre rummaging through a drawer. $15 from Amazon If you dont have enough wall space for a magnetic knife strip, blade guards are a great alternative for storing knives in a drawer. We like the translucent, color-coded Messermeister Edge-Guards, which slide on easily and let you quickly identify knives. The four-pack comes with guards measuring 4, 6, 8, and 10 inches, but theyre also sold individually. One drawback: These guards dont completely cover knives with a handle that extends up the blade, such as the Wusthof Pro chefs knife, our budget chefs knife pick. We tested Ergo Chef and Noble Home & Chef blade guards, too, but since theyre not see-through, they make differentiating knives more difficult. Cutting board storage YouCopia Storemore Adjustable Bakeware Rack This adjustable bakeware rack helps save space by keeping baking pans and cutting boards upright and contained. $20 from Amazon A bakeware rack keeps sheet pans and cutting boards from falling over or getting jammed together haphazardly. Its also a great way to store casserole dishes. We like the YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack because it has seven easily adjustable dividers. Vinyl feet prevent it from sliding around, and its sturdy enough that it wont tip over while holding heavy items such as a wood cutting board or a pizza stone. Measuring 7 by 11 inches, the YouCopia rack is small enough to fit inside most cupboards. Kitchen cart IKEA Bekvam Kitchen Cart This rolling wood cart has two shelves that provide ample storage space, and its surface is wide enough to fit a large cutting board. $60 from Ikea If the layout of your kitchen allows for it, a rolling cart is one of the easiest ways to increase counter and storage space. The IKEA Bekvam kitchen cart is the sturdiest cart we tested; its also easy to assemble, and it has two shelves that provide plenty of extra storage space. The two wheels are handy for moving the cart around your kitchen, and although they dont lock, they do remain securely in place while you chop. The IKEA cart has a few drawbacks. First, since the wood is untreated, it stains easily (though you could seal the wood to prevent it from discoloring). We also found that the surface dents easily, so its best to use a cutting board on top. And since the cart is 33 inches high, its a little lower than standard counter height (34 to 36 inches high). Advertisement Advertisement If you dont need more prep space and youre just looking for equipment storage options, we recommend getting Ulines Mobile Shelving units with locking casters, which come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. Zone 2: Cooking Pot lid rack Pot lids are impossible to stack, so to keep them from becoming a jumbled mess, we recommend the Organize It All Cabinet Door Lid Rack. Weve used it in our test kitchen for over a year, and we love how it keeps lids organized and accessible. Its lightweight yet sturdy, and it mounts easily to a wall or the back of a cabinet door. The slots hold every size of lid, from 6 to 14 inches, and you can bend them outward to adjust for wider handles. Pot and pan storage Wall Control Metal Pegboard These sturdy metal pegboards are a great way to make use of unused wall space. Theyre easy to install, and they securely hold pots, pans, and utensils. $31 from Amazon If you have sufficient wall space, hang as much equipment as possible. Julia Child used an old-school pegboard for hanging her batterie de cuisine, but today you can find more durable options. We like the 20-gauge steel Wall Control Metal Pegboard because its easy to install and the holes never droop. The company sells a variety of hooks, too, though we found the 1-inch hooks and 2-inch hooks most useful for hanging pots, pans, and utensils. You can even purchase 4-inch-wide shelves that attach to the pegboard. According to Wall Control, a single 16-by-32-inch panel can hold up to 200 pounds when properly installed. Unlike with a traditional pegboard, you cant cut the Wall Control panels to size, but theyre small enough to fit in most tiny kitchens. The panels come in a range of colors, and you can get them in a vertical or horizontal orientation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Range Kleen Expanding Bar Pot Rack This extendable rack holds a substantial amount of kitchen equipment; in our tests, it remained securely anchored to the wall with 20 pounds of cookware. $22 from Amazon If you dont have room for a pegboard, we recommend hanging your pots and pans on Range Kleens Expanding Bar Pot Rack. This rack extends from 24 inches to 40 inches and can hold a surprising amount of equipment. In our tests it held about 20 pounds of cookware for a week without budging, even with a heavy 12-inch cast-iron skillet positioned at the most vulnerable spot in the middle of the rack. The included wall anchors worked well in our tests, but for added strength we recommend attaching the rack to a stud (see our advice on how to hang heavy stuff). We dont recommend extending it to the full 40 inchesin our tests it felt too flimsy past 36 inches. Spice storage The Container Stores Expand-A-Shelf is the best option weve found for keeping spices consolidated and easy to find. The plastic shelf expands from 14 inches to 27 inches, so it will fit the width of most cupboards. One drawback is that you may not be able to read the labels on spice jars placed on the back two tiers, but Julia Child remedied this issue by labeling the top of each jar with the first letter of the spices name and organizing them alphabetically. We liked the pull-down Rubbermaid Spice Rack, but it didnt fit the width of some cupboards, so its not suitable for every kitchen. We also tested the Southern Homewares 4-Tier Wall Spice Rack, but its too big for small kitchens. Zone 3: Food storage Multipurpose containers After testing a number of options for our guide to the best food storage containers, we found that the Pyrex 18-Piece Simply Store Food Storage Set was the best for small kitchens. These containers are more convenient to store in tight spaces because they nest well. Professional organizer Faith Roberson said she preferred glass Pyrex containers because they could do double duty: Since theyre oven-safe, you can use them as baking dishes. Theyre also microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe. We were impressed with how durable these containers werein our tests, the tempered glass survived several counter-height drops onto a hardwood floor without breaking. Hanging produce basket Sur la Tables Three-Tier Hanging Basket offers an attractive way to display produce while keeping it off your kitchen counter. It hangs evenly, and small clips allow you to adjust the height of the tiers. The spacious baskets hold more produce than the shallower DecoBros 3-Tier Hanging Basket, and their rounded shape and slightly flexible aluminum wires put less pressure on delicate fruits. And whereas the chain on The Container Stores Chrome 3-Tier Hanging Basket snapped during testing, the durable Sur la Table basket successfully held a 15-pound weight for a week. Lazy Susan OXO Good Grips Turntable One of the simplest ways to maximize shelf or counter space, the OXO Turntable makes it easier to find items in hard-to-reach places. $17 from Amazon Nearly all the professional organizers we spoke to recommended using lazy Susans. Faith Roberson said, To me, theyre better than any riser or bin or basket because you can actually see everything as youre twirling. We like the OXO Good Grips Turntable, which comes in 10.5- and 16-inch-diameter sizes and has grips on the bottom to keep it from sliding around. The smaller size is better for pantry shelves or corner nooks on a counter, while the larger option is ideal for deep cupboards or the fridge. Pro tip: To ensure everything stays visible, place taller items, such as bottles of oil and vinegar, in the center of the lazy Susan and shorter items, like spice jars, around the perimeter. Zone 4: Non-food storage Shelf riser Shelf risers are a great way to get the most out of cupboards. The Seville Classics Expandable Kitchen Counter and Cabinet Shelf is the best weve found because it expands from 15 inches to 30 inches wide, so it can fit a range of cabinet sizes. This sturdy, heavyweight iron riser doesnt wobble like most of the thin wire-frame risers we tested, and the slats lock into place so the surface of the shelf stays level. At 5 inches tall, it allowed us to slide a stack of dinner plates under the shelf and keep three stacks of cereal bowls on top. Cooking utensil storage BronaGrand Nickel Plated Metal Screw-in Cup Hooks These 1-inch cup hooks are great for hanging cooking utensils instead of keeping them in a drawer or in a crock on a counter, where space is limited. $8 from Amazon During a 1977 interview in Design Quarterly (PDF), Julia Child said, The harder the utensils are to see, the less you will use them. Thats why we think cup hooks are such an excellent storage option. Installed below an upper cabinet, they keep tools out of the way yet still easy to reach. You can customize their arrangement to suit your needs, and they require no special equipment to install (though you can use a small nail and hammer or a drill to get the hole started, or pliers for added leverage). Stemware storage The 10-inch Winco GHC-10 Chrome Plated Wire Glass Hanger is the best option weve found for storing stemware under most cupboards. Its easy to install, and it fits most glasses, including the extra-wide foot of a Zalto Universal wine glass (our former upgrade pick in our guide to the best wine glasses). The 10-inch rack holds two wine glasses, but Winco also sells a 16-inch length that can hold up to four wine glasses. Just note that the included screws may be too long for the thickness of some cupboards, so be sure to check before drilling. We also tested the Rustic State Under Cabinet Wooden Hanging Wine Glass Holder, but it was more difficult to install, and wine glasses could potentially fall off the racks open back. Drawer organization Dividing your drawer with organizers can bring order to an unruly pile of tools. Since utensil trays are often too big for narrow drawers, as Roberson said, you need something that has more flexibility, and individual dividers help with that. We recommend the 3-inch-tall Dream Drawer Organizers. Their spring-loaded mechanism made them easier to adjust than the competition, and they fit drawers from 12 to 18 inches long. In our tests, the dividers remained firmly in place. For deeper drawers, we recommend the 4-inch version, which has extra pieces (sold separately) to subdivide drawers both vertically and horizontally. Advertisement Advertisement We recommend the InterDesign Linus Shallow Drawer Organizers for containing smaller items in drawers. The grippy feet on the bottom of each container make these bins stand out from the competition. These containers come in a variety of sizes, and their 2-inch depth is ideal for shallow kitchen drawers. The smaller bins are perfect for holding rubber bands, bottle stoppers, or piping tips, while the larger containers keep tools and utensils, such as scissors or can openers, in place. The 12-by-3-inch container is great for storing flatware, especially if you have narrow drawers that cant accommodate a wide utensil bin. These pieces have a couple of drawbacks, however: Theyre not dishwasher safe, and each container comes with three stickers that are annoying to remove. Equipment storage Simplehuman In-Cabinet Trash Can This small Simplehuman trash can sits securely on a cabinet door and frees up space in a snug kitchen. $30 from Amazon If your kitchen is too tight for a regular trash can, we recommend the compact 10-liter Simplehuman In-Cabinet Trash Can. Its foam-lined hook fits snugly on a cupboard door, keeping your trash out of the way and out of sight. It fits 2.6-gallon trash bags or regular plastic grocery bags. The obvious drawback is that it may be too small for larger households. Sources 1. Paula Johnson, curator, Division of Work and Industry, at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History, phone interview, February 27, 2019 2. Faith Roberson, professional organizer and owner of Organize With Faith, phone interview, February 26, 2019 3. Robert Mizrahi, professional organizer and owner of Chaos Commandos, phone interview, March 1, 2019 4. Ann Sullivan, professional organizer and owner of Ann Sullivan, Inc., phone interview, March 18, 2019 5. Bill Stumpf, Nicholas Polites, Julias Kitchen: A Design Anatomy (PDF), Design Quarterly 104, 1977 Delhi Polls: Over 54% Voter Turnout Recorded An estimated 42.29 per cent of the 1.47 crore eligible voters cast their votes in the first eight hours till 4 PM on Saturday in the election for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. The early hours saw low polling as very few voters chose to brave the early morning chill to cast their franchise even after the polling began at 8 a.m. amid tight security. A total of 81,05,236 male voters, 66,80,277 female voters and 869 third gender voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 13,570 polling booths across 2,689 areas. Read more. Here's the other top news of the day: Death Toll Rises To 723 In China Coronavirus; US Woman, Japanese Man First Foreigners To Die An American woman and a Japanese man became the first foreigners to have died from the new coronavirus in China as the death toll jumped to 723 in the country with the confirmed cases soaring to 34,598, health officials said on Saturday. The American citizen died in Wuhan, the US embassy said, the first confirmed foreign death from the outbreak. Read more. Kashmiri Youth Beaten To Death By Co-Workers In Jaipur; Police Say It Is Not Hate Crime Rajasthan Police have ruled out hate crime angle in the murder of a Kashmiri youth in Jaipur. Basit Khan, a 17-year-old boy from Kunan village of Kupwara, who was working in an event management companys catering wing in Jaipur was killed on the night of February 5 after an altercation with some co-workers. Read more. Progressive Move! After Kerala, Rajasthan To Issue Separate Identity Cards For Transgenders The Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has decided to issue separate identity cards for persons belonging to the transgender community in the state. Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal said that providing separate identity cards will help people of the community to get the benefit of government jobs as well as all government schemes. Read more. Please Rescue Us, Indian Crew Of Ship Quarantined Off Japan With Coronavirus Patients Sends SOS More than 200 Indian nationals, including passengers and crew members, are among the nearly 3,700 people who are stranded in a quarantined ship in Japan after some of them were tested positive for the Coronavirus. The cruise liner, Diamond Princess, is currently quarantined near Yokohama port in Japan. Read more. Kudos! Indian Army Major Develops World's First Bulletproof Helmet Against Ak-47 Bullets Our soldiers always strive to keep us safe as they guard the borders. Despite the torturous terrains, they always put the nation ahead of themselves. Every now and then, some inventions are made for the army jawans to ensure their protection and security and in yet another development, an Indian Army Major who had developed a bulletproof jacket for protection against sniper bullets, has now developed a helmet which is claimed to be first such in the world that can stop an AK-47 bullet round from a distance of 10 meters. Read more. The democratic island of Taiwan has called on China to prioritize the most vulnerable of its nationals when arranging their evacuation from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which is at the center of the coronavirus epidemic. President Tsai Ing-wen said Chinese officials had excluded some of its most vulnerable nationals from the first evacuation flight to leave Wuhan since the outbreak left the city paralyzed last month. She also hit out at China's insistence that the World Health Organization (WHO) refer to Taiwan, which has never been part of the People's Republic of China, nor been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, as "Taipei and environs." "We in Taiwan are on the front line of epidemic prevention and deserve the respect of the international community," Tsai said. "In particular, our participation in the WHO is the key to a very important network for international epidemic prevention work." "Taiwan's participation is necessary and crucial," she said, adding that the Chinese authorities are giving erroneous information about infections in Taiwan to the WHO. "We have seen a surge in cases," Tsai said. "That is absolutely clear, which is why we need to participate in the WHO." "The information obtained by the WHO was obviously inaccurate ... and could cause the WHO to make mistakes in dealing with the global epidemic." Beijing ignores arrangements In a further source of tension between Taipei and Beijing, one passenger on a charter flight that arrived on from Wuhan later tested positive for the coronavirus, and became the 11th confirmed case in Taiwan. Taiwan health officials have called on Chinese officials to allow them to decide who gets priority on future evacuation flights. "Arrangements for the first evacuation were totally taken over by Chinese officials and didn't meet the priorities previously agreed by the two sides," Tsai said on . "The most vulnerable, especially those who need special treatment, weren't on the first flight, and they are stuck there still." "This has also caused some problems for our quarantine procedures, so we still need to ensure that we give priority to the most vulnerable on the next charter flight, and quarantine them first," she said. Ma Xiaoguang, head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, has accused Tsai's administration of playing politics and preventing a second China Eastern Airlines flight from delivering the next group of evacuees in a timely manner. He said 979 Taiwanese have applied to the Chinese authorities to be repatriated. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said the careful management of quarantine procedures after repatriation flights is of the highest importance. The democratic island has a handful of confirmed coronavirus cases so far, all of which have been contained and isolated. There have been no infections reported in the local community. MAC spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng said such evacuations can't be conducted in haste. "Such an urgent and hasty approach will lead to an increased risk of the epidemic spreading," Chiu said. Prioritize the vulnerable He said Taiwan had agreed with the Chinese authorities to prioritize the evacuation of the elderly, children, people on long-term and specialist medication, and those with special care needs, such as people with injuries and hemophiliacs. A passenger surnamed Lin who was aboard the first evacuation flight back to Taiwan said Chinese officials had initially contacted Taiwanese businessmen who lived closer to the airport, rather than following the agreed protocols. "They didn't do any blood tests before we got on the plane, just a body temperature check," Lin said. "They let anyone on the plane whose temperature wasn't raised, and there was no protective clothing or isolated seats." "We didn't find out until we got to Taiwan that there was a confirmed coronavirus patient on the plane," she said. "I'm really angry: how could they have behaved like that?" Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said that two newly confirmed cases of coronavirus in Taiwan had both traveled there from Wuhan. One was in a stable condition, while the other was close to recovered. It also announced that all regular passenger flights across the Taiwan Strait will be grounded from through , with the exception of Shanghai, Xiamen and Chengdu, in a bid to slow the influx of travelers carrying the 2019-nCoV coronavirus. "The command center is continuing to keep the epidemic out of the country," it said in a statement on . "We haven't reached the stage of transmission within the community." CECC commander Chen Shih-chung told a news conference on that, in addition to a ban on all arrivals from mainland China, anyone transiting or visiting Hong Kong and Macau in recent weeks will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days after arriving in Taiwan. Tsai has repeatedly insisted that Taiwan will only deal with China on an equal footing, and will continue to insist on its freedom, democracy and sovereignty in the face of the growing threat of invasion and infiltration from Beijing. In her 2020 New Year's Address on Jan. 1, Tsai called on China to recognize the existence of the Republic of China, founded by the Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist party after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 and relocated to Taiwan after Chiang Kai-shek lost the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists in 1949. She said China has used diplomatic offensives, military threats, interference and infiltration to try to force the island to compromise its sovereignty. But Tsai said Taiwan would never agree to becoming part of the People's Republic of China in its current, authoritarian state. Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony in the 50 years prior to the end of World War II, and was occupied by KMT troops in 1945. The rest of the KMT regime under Chiang Kai shek relocated to the island after losing the civil war with Mao Zedong's communists on the mainland. Taiwan began a transition to democracy following the death of President Chiang Ching-kuo in , starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996. Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. WESTMORELAND, N.H. Go, Bernie, go! Thats the consensus among the locals who hang around the general store in this small town in the hills of southern New Hampshire. They dont want Bernie Sanders elected president. They just want him nominated so Donald Trump can give him a solid thumping in November. A seventh-generation New Hampshire guy named Claude was describing how the pro-Trump forces might achieve the goal of getting Sanders on stage for his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention this summer. Almost half of the states voters, including Claude, remain undeclared. That gives them the option of voting in either partys primary. Theres no contest on the Republican side this year, so Trump supporters can cross over and vote for the guy who looks easiest to beat, which is the self-proclaimed democratic socialist from neighboring Vermont. The same is true in South Carolina, which is the next state to hold a primary election. There, the GOP simply canceled its primary, the better to let Republicans participate in Operation Chaos, an organized effort by Trump supporters to get Republicans to vote for Sanders. That might sound like a dirty trick. But its fine with Claude. I remember in the old days when the Democratic Party competed with the Republican on jobs and growth, he said. Now theyve gone totally to the left. Its not just Bernie. The evening before Id attended a rally for Tom Steyer, the California billionaire whos basing his campaign on replacing fossil fuels with alternative energy. Steyer was critical of a statement on energy Trump made in his State of the Union address. He was crowing over the fact were the biggest fossil-fuel producer in the world, Steyer said. Thats his idea of success. I suspect it also sounds like success to all those New Hampshire residents who can buy gas for $2.13 a gallon, as I saw on my drive to the college campus where the rally was held. Not to Steyer. What drives change in the United States is rules, he said. We say were gonna produce clean energy. We will only let this many gas- powered cars be built in this period. Done. Live with it. That got a round of applause from the college crowd. But Claude sure wouldnt want to live with it. He makes his living plowing snow a reliable source of income if the mornings six-inch snowfall was any indication. Cheap gas is essential, as it is to the many locals who live five miles or so from the nearest store. Steyer wont be the nominee. But hes capable of causing as much chaos in the nominating process as any Republicans are. The partys leaders have staked their hopes on naming former vice president Joe Biden as the nominee. But he finished fourth in Iowa. And the latest two New Hampshire polls have him losing to Sanders by a 4-1 margin and a 3-1 margin. Bidens firewall is supposedly in South Carolina, where his supposed strong support among the majority African-American electorate will put him back in the running, at least in theory. Steyer doesnt subscribe to that theory. Much of his speech centered on what he said was his own support among minorities. Afterward I asked him how he expected to do among blacks in South Carolina. If you look at whats going on in South Carolina, I can do it. Im at 24 percent with the black community, Steyer said. When I asked if he could beat Biden among blacks there, he replied, I think I will. I dont think he will. But Steyer is self-funding. He can afford to keep running up single-digit results and clouding the primary picture. Biden is on the verge of being priced out of the race. If the recent polls are any indication, thats become a two-man race. After an effective tie with Sanders in Iowa, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg looks like hes on the way to a second-place finish in New Hampshire. The 38-year-old Buttigieg would be a much stronger candidate than Sanders in the general election. He is a moderate at least by current Democratic standards. But hes not moderate by the standards of the general store. The gun issue alone is enough to keep many residents of rural areas from voting Democratic. In their view, the government cant prosecute you for what you might do with a gun, only what you did do with it. Merely possessing it should not be a crime. This may not be a big issue in states like New Jersey, but its non-negotiable in many of the Rust Belt states that flipped the election to Trump in 2016. If the polls are predictive, Sanders will have a solid lead by the middle of next week. I dont know how many Democrats will be celebrating. But a lot of Republicans will. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Civil Line polling station, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife after casting their vote. (Image: Twitter/@rashtrapatibhvn) Former prime minister Manmohan Singh after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Nirman Bhawan polling station, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) Former vice-president Hamid Ansari shows his inked finger after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Nirman Bhawan polling station, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader LK Advani after his casting his vote. (Image: ANI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves after casting his vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Aurangzeb lane polling station. (Image: PTI) Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia Singh show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Pandav Nagar polling station. (Image: PTI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi (C) and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leave after casting their vote during the Delhi Assembly elections, at Nirman Bhawan polling station in New Delhi. (Image: PTI) BJP MP Gautam Gambhir along with his wife Natasha Jain and family members show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Delhi Assembly elections at Old Rajinder Nagar polling station. (Image: PTI) (Photo : Screenshot From Rocket Launch Facebook Page) NASA new launch Cape Canaveral, Florida, was widely known to be the first place to come into mind when people in the United States think of rocket launching, but coming soon is a new location from which a rocket is said to launch, the shores of the mid-Atlantic! There is a less popular spaceport located on the shores of the mid-Atlantic, which is seeing the launch of a new rocket this Sunday evening. The rocket set to launch A simple but new launch site seems to be the beginning of even bigger projects by NASA as an Antares rocket is said to launch off from Wallops Island, Virginia, where a smaller and less known launch facility is located along the Atlantic coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. NASA has been more active now more than ever as they are preparing themselves for multiple projects within this year alone. Read Also: BWX and NASA: Will Lynchburg Be the Start of the Mars Expedition? The launch is said to be scheduled at 5:39 pm EST just a little beyond sunset! Although the launch may be quite inconvenient to watch compared to Cape Canaveral, Florida, it should still be an interesting launch as it is just by the water. A glimpse of the rocket The rocket is set to launch during the evening, which means that the people across the mid-Atlantic may even be able to catch a glow from the rocket engines as the rocket makes its way up into space on its way to the International Space Station. People around the Atlantic may be able to see the rocket as it breaks the atmosphere. Although it really depends on the type of weather on Sunday evening. The actual reach of visibility is aimed to be the mid-Atlantic region and maybe even the East Coast of the whole United States. If weather conditions are favorable, people from Philadelphia, New York City, and even Wilmington, North Carolina, can watch this rocket in action. The weather forecast so far So far, positive outcomes are expected during the launch. According to the Senior Meteorologist named Carl Erickson from AccuWeather, the day might start out with a short shower or two, but dry weather should happen to start the afternoon until night. The possibility of positive weather is 90% so far, which is good for the citizens who are within visibility reach of this launch. Read Also: NASA: Sending More Humans on Moon by 2024 Now Possible With This Newly-Built Mega-Rocket Future launches around the area There are a few expected major launches to take place a few more times in a year around Wallops Island, which is really beneficial for the citizens living nearby. NASA spends a lot on building its launch sites, and they only pick the best geographical locations, which will be both beneficial for the launch facility and also for the rocket itself. This goes to show that the mid-Atlantic shore is something NASA sees as a high potential launch facility. Citizens around the area finally have something else to look forward to! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Haiti - News : Zapping... Coronavirus February 8 global report On Saturday February 8, 2020, the number of people infected worldwide (laboratory confirmed cases) rose to 34,945 people, an increase of 3,430 cases (+ 10.9%) compared to the previous day (31,515 cases); 725 dead (+ 13.6%) or 87 more than the day before (638 dead) and 2,326 people healed or 661 people (+ 39.7%) more than the day before (1,665) and 3.2 times more healing than deaths against 2.6 times the day before. 4 police officers killed in January During the month of January 2020 in the metropolitan area, 20 people including 4 police officers were killed including 16 by bullets, according to a report of the National Episcopal Commission Justice and Peace. Gonaives : attempted fire at a UNIBANK branch Friday morning in downtown Gonaives (dept. Artiobonite) on the sidelines of an anti-government demonstration, individuals tried in vain to burn down a branch of the Unibank, the damage is minor. Police demonstration Friday, plainclothes and uniformed police blocked the Delmas highway at Delmas 2 level and fired numerous shots in the air to protest against the Directorate General of Police which opposes the creation of a police union. Recall that the regulations of the National Police of Haiti which prohibit collective bargaining within the framework of a trade union, is in accordance with international conventions which authorize States to impose restrictions on the exercise in particular of the right to strike within the military and police forces for national security reasons. In addition, police officer Yannick Joseph, coordinator of the PNH trade union movement, was interviewed the same day at the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti. 3rd negotiation meeting with the postponed opposition The 3rd negotiation meeting with the opposition after the 2nd failure to the apostolic nunciature https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29925-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-political-conference-for-a-way-out-of-the-crisis.html which was supposed to start on Friday did not take place and was postponed "sine die". "Konpa Danse Challenge" TV schedule Tele Superstar, Saturday February 8, 8:00 p.m. TV 20, Sunday February 9, 11:00 a.m. TNH, Sunday February 9, 5:00 p.m. Tele 20, Monday February 10, 8:00 p.m. Tennis Fed Cup : Bad start for Naomi Osaka Friday on clay court in Cartagena (South-East of Spain) in the framework of the qualifications for the Fed Cup of tennis, the Japanese Naomi Osaka of Haitian origin was largely dominated in 2 sets [6-0, 6-3 ] by the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo. A surprise defeat for Naomi who comes 2 weeks after her elimination in the third round of the Australian Open https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29846-icihaiti-australian-open-naomi-osake-eliminated-by-the-young-american-prodigy-of-15-years-cori-gauff.html . This Saturday, Naomi Osaka in search of a victory, will face the Spanish Suarez Navarro at 10:00 GMT HL/ HaitiLibre A scuffle broke out between anti-CAA protesters and BJP supporters on Saturday when a senior saffron party leader visited two stalls of a BJP mouthpiece and the VHP at the International Kolkata Book Fair. The two sides allegedly exchanged blows after West Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha entered a stall around 4.30 pm. A section of Left-backed student bodies, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students Association (AISA), surrounded Sinha when he visited the stall and raised slogans against the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Bidhannagar Police confirmed the incident and said five protesters were detained. VHP supporters claimed that a worker of the outfit suffered injuries in the tussle. "A karyakarta, Somesh, was beaten up by Left goons who created disturbances in front of our stall where a large number of people had gathered on seeing Sinha there. We showed utmost restraint," a personnel at the VHP stall told PTI. "The people have discarded them (the Left parties). We are not fools to allow them to steal the limelight by getting into a fight with them. Our fight is with the TMC," Sinha, who left the venue after the incident, said. Later in the night, some students, including women, went to Bidhannagar North police station to protest the detention of five protesters, some of whom belonged to the Jadavpur University, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate sources said. As there was commotion inside the police station, the personnel removed the protesters from the premises. Ushashi Paul, SFI's Jadavpur University unit leader, alleged that the police misbehaved with the protesters, which included women. She threatened to stage a sit-in outside the police station till the five protesters are released and the police "apologise for their behaviour". Organisers and police said the incident did not disrupt the book fair which had a large turnout on the penultimate day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Feb 8 : A woman sub-inspector of Delhi Police was shot dead in Rohini area of north west Delhi, the police said. According to the police, sub-inspector Preeti Ahlawat, 26, was posted at Patparganj industrial area police station. The incident took place on Friday around 9.30 p.m. when Ahlawat was walking home from Rohini Metro station. Assistant Commissioner of Police, S.D. Mishra, said, "We have got the CCTV footage of the area and identified the suspects. Three cartridges have been found from the spot." However, no arrest has been made so far. It could be a case of personal enmity, the police said. Ahlawat was a 2018 batch sub-inspector from Haryana's Sonepat and was staying at a rented accommodation in Rohini. Swiss voters will head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to support a measure that would make it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation. Polls show solid support for what has been billed as an anti-homophobia law, but opponents gathered enough signatures in a petition drive to put the issue to a public ballot. Switzerland holds regular referendums that give voters a direct say in policy-making. The referendum asks voters whether they support a legal change that passed through parliament in December 2018 to strengthen the criminal and military justice codes against incitement of hatred and discrimination. Opponents of those efforts insist such moves violate a right to freedom of opinion. The measures, which expand on existing laws banning racial discrimination, would make it illegal to publicly denigrate, discriminate against, or stir up hatred against people based on their sexual orientation. LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty Operators of restaurants, cinemas and public facilities such as swimming pools, for example, would not be able to discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation if the measure passes. Backers of a small political party, which claims to have Christian values and is behind the petition, say parliamentary efforts would be freedom-killing and that protections against denigration are already enshrined in Swiss law. Supporters of the parliamentary moves say the enhancements to Swiss anti-racism laws are needed and will not prevent legitimate public debate as long as it doesnt stray into fomenting hate or discrimination. Green, left-leaning and centrist parties support the enhanced protections, while the populist, right-wing Swiss Peoples Party the largest single faction in parliament opposes them. Results are expected at around midday on Sunday, after polls close. Most voters have already cast their ballots through the post. Associated Press SALEM, Ore. - Oregon National Guard troops aboard two helicopters airlifted 21 people to safety on Saturday, and authorities reported a 62-year-old woman who lived in one of the areas hit by floods was missing. Waters covering roads in flood-hit northeastern Oregon were starting to recede Saturday, allowing residents who spent the night in shelters to return and assess the damage, a Red Cross official said. Residents in the foothills of the Blue Mountains in northeast Oregon had to be airlifted by from their flooded homes by helicopter and even were taken out in a front-end loader as rain and melting snow caused rivers to crest their banks. Lower-income neighbourhoods in Pendleton, a town of 16,000, were hit, damaging mobile homes, authorities said. Seventeen evacuees spent Friday night at the Red Cross shelter in the Pendleton Convention Center, and numerous people dropped off blankets, pillows and other comfort items, said Nadine McCrindle, the Red Cross executive director for central and eastern Oregon. Another eight people stayed at a shelter in Walla Walla, Washington. Theyll be able to go to their homes and see what is left, if anything, and see what the damage is, McCrindle said. The rain had stopped on Saturday morning, but more was forecast before sunny weather comes on Sunday. The National Weather Service said flood warnings remained in effect. On Saturday, National Guard troops, working with the Umatilla County Sheriffs Office, used two helicopters to evacuate 21 people who were stranded by the floods. A total of 16 people were evacuated from the Bingham Road area. Five people were evacuated from the Mill Creek area, the Umatilla Flood Joint Information Center said in a statement. More evacuations are planned for Sunday, the centre said. Many roads in Umatilla County, where Pendleton is the county seat, were still closed because of high water or damage, the county sheriffs office said Saturday on Facebook. On Friday, 26 people were evacuated by Umatilla County Search and Rescue, mostly from unincorporated communities east of Pendleton, with air support provided by the National Guard, the sheriffs office said. The Umatilla River crested just before 10 p.m. Thursday at more than 19 feet (5.79 metres), nearly four times the average height for that date. Rivers all around the region overran their banks. The Umatilla County Sheriffs Office said Saturday night that it is searching for a woman who went missing near Bar M Ranch, which has had flooding in recent days. Janet Tobkin Conley, 62, was last seen about 7 p.m. Thursday in the Bar M Ranch area, the sheriffs office said. Neighbors discovered she was missing Friday morning. Conley is an experienced hiker and camper and is familiar with the area, the sheriffs office said. She has gray hair, blue eyes, stands 5 feet 8 inches, weighs 140 pounds. She may be wearing glasses. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Umatilla, Wallowa and Union counties late Friday, allowing mobilization of the National Guard. Further north, thousands of Puget Sound Energy customers lost power as a cold front moved through western Washington Friday evening. Also in Washington state, flood warnings have been lifted for the Snohomish River near Monroe, Issaquah Creek and the Carbon River near Fairfax, KOMO-TV reported. However, many roads remain closed by landslides, flooding and fallen trees across much of King, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston and Lewis counties. The worst nightmare that anyone can have is when a family member is hospitalized without health insurance coverage. Here is an example A noteworthy businessmen Mr.Rao always dreamt big. Small and minor achievements seldom quenched his thirst for accomplishing big things in life. Over the years he proved his merit and escalated new heights of success. Coveted awards and accolades flooded him. As a shrewd businessman he was planning for health insurance before the formidable tax month of March. The decision was postponed by a month due to several reasons. Rao was busy with his commitments and the insurance advisor who contacted him was also busy with his clients. The dreaded day On a sunny morning as Rao was driving towards his office a lorry driven by a drunken driver crashed on his vehicle and he rammed against a wall of a house and lost consciousness Today Rao is not able to use his hands and legs effectively and within a year his financial position dwindled due to mounting hospital expenses and continued absence from business. None of the insurance companies are ready to give him a health policy at this stage. We live in the world of uncertainty. Sometimes a seemingly small ailment can turn into a major one. In a moment life can come to a grinding halt if you are involved in a major road traffic accident. And the situation is worse when the earning member of your family is hospitalized! But with a health policy you and your family can be rest assured and have some security! Poor quality of service is rendered to the citizen by government hospitals while private medicare has become exorbitantly expensive; it is mandatory for a middle class person to seriously consider the option of health insurance. A major surgical operation of the heart may cost anywhere between two to three lakhs today. Not many individuals can afford to spend out this amount in a short and sudden situation. Even if they have insurance that is reimbursable under their Mediclaim plans the strain on the family can be immense. The option of cashless hospitalization becomes attractive under these circumstances. The entry of private players has stirred fierce competition, ultimately benefiting the consumer thereby heralding a new era in health insurance. The advent of foreign and private players into the life and general insurance sector has directly resulted in the huge development of insurance market including significant increase in medi-claim insurance. With the Indian middle-class population almost similar to the total population of United States, India looks attractive for business opportunities to international players in this field. This is the ideal time to look at the health insurance market and make the best of what is available. The insurance business professionals strongly say that the limitless medical insurance market has not been fully tapped so far due to lack of awareness among the public about the importance of health insurance and also due to the lack of rightly targeted policies from the companies. An appropriate policy has the potential to rope in more than 2 million customers. The new coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak has now claimed 722 lives in China with 86 new deaths reported overnight, health officials said on Saturday. At least one foreigner is said to have died from the disease in Wuhan, the outbreaks ground zero. The total number of infections has soared to 34546, while at least 6101 patients were critical, the National Health Commission (NHC) said, adding that a staggering 1,89,660 people were under medical observation. At the current pace, the NCP toll is set to cross the global toll of the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 774, the last health epidemic which wrecked havoc in China. Two deaths have been reported outside of mainland China - from Hong Kong and the Philippines - from nearly 300 cases in at least 25 countries. Both deceased were Chinese nationals. Hong Kong, Chinas special administrative region (SAR) has begun a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone from the mainland to contain the spread of the contagion. Visitors will either be isolated in government-run centres or have to isolate themselves in hotel rooms. A US citizen became the first confirmed non-Chinese victim of the disease on Saturday; a Japanese man also died with symptoms associated with it. The 60-year old U.S. citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died at Jinyintan Hospital in Chinas Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, on February 6, a US embassy spokesperson in Beijing told US media. A Japanese man in his 60s died in Wuhan on Saturday after battling severe pneumonia. Though his cause of death is suspected to be NCP as of now, no definitive conclusion has been reached yet, Chinese state media quoted the Japanese foreign ministry as saying. At least 17 foreigners are under quarantine and treatment for the disease in China. Chinas top economic planner has invested 200 million yuan (about USD28.67 million) by Friday from the central budget to help treat severe cases of novel coronavirus infection. The investment was directed to three hospitals in Hubei Province, the heart of the coronavirus outbreak, for building treatment units for severe cases, the National Development and Reform Commission said. The infection numbers for the disease are already many more than that of SARS. Experts say the NCP numbers indicate that it is more infectious than SARS but has a lower mortality rate. Majority of the deaths have been reported from the epicentre of Wuhan, the capital city of central Chinas Hubei province, the province worst-hit by the outbreak. More than 15 cities in Hubei are under lockdown, virtually sealed off with exit and entry of people severely restricted. Chinas economy, the second largest in the world after the US, has taken a hard hit from the outbreak with several sectors including transport and tourism badly impacted. China will accelerate the technical review of newly developed drugs and medical devices that may be effective on the novel coronavirus pneumonia, and strive to get them on the market as soon as possible, the National Medical Products Administration announced on Saturday. Respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan has told state media that no inflection point for NPC is in sight despite numbers of newly reported cases dropping for two consecutive days. The whole country should continue focusing on finding suspected cases and strictly imposing quarantine measures, Zhong added. More than 11,000 medics from across China have been sent to Wuhan including over 3,000 specialised in treating critical-condition patients. As many as 16 provinces have sent province-city teams to support other cities in Hubei, a state media report said. The NHC on Saturday gave the virus a temporary official name novel coronavirus pneumonia, or NCP. It said the name should be adopted by Chinas government departments and organisations in China until a permanent name for the infection has been determined. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, has said that the WHO has also provided an interim name for the disease, calling it the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease. We thought it was very important that we provide an interim name, so no location was associated with the name, she said. We want to ensure that there was no stigma associated with this virus. The WHO, as per a state media report, said the final name of the disease will be provided by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), with the final decision being made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Zimbabwe should use its God-given resources, including the skills of its people, to develop the country and stop mourning the negative impact of sanctions imposed by the West, President Mnangagwa said yesterday. Speaking after joining Banket residents in a clean-up of Kuwadzana Shopping Centre in the town, he said students will be exposed to modern science so that they develop inventions that develop the economy. Already over 90 patents have been granted to local students since the introduction of innovation hubs at State universities two years ago and he said the inventions would result in an increase in locally produced products. Innovation hubs, which are a brainchild of President Mnangagwa, provide a platform for innovators and researchers to develop their inventions up to prototypes with the aid of experienced staff in the area of technical skills development, entrepreneurship and business incubation. Zimbabweans had the capacity to overcome the effects of the illegal sanctions if they united towards a common goal and vision. We introduced innovation hubs at our universities. In the past 18 months that we have so far after introducing these innovation hubs, we now have over 90 patents or inventions done by our children, said President Mnangagwa. We thank them for that. We have brilliant boys and girls in this country. Going forward, we can see that our country is going to be transformed by inventions by our children and skills from our children. We are a developing country but we should not cry that we have sanctions imposed on us. We should look at what God has given us and develop our country. Those who want to come and assist us, they should do so on our own terms. We dont want them to come and lecture us or rule us. They should rule their countries and we rule ours. This is our country. To you the school children, we will do our best as Government to make sure you are exposed to modern science and technologies because the future of this country lies in science and technology, in yourselves creating employment, jobs and products and services for the nation. The future is upon you. Its your duty to develop our country for it to be at par with other countries. President Mnangagwa said unity was the major catalyst for national development, adding that challenges are there and every country has its own. He said even though Zimbabwe was slapped with illegal sanctions by the West, the country will still develop if citizens united and shun violence. We dont want people with a spirit of violence. Even God wants to see his people living in peace. If you see a church that preaches violence do not go to that church again. Churches should preach peace and unity. President Mnangagwa said Government had declared 2020 the year of productivity and trade, adding that Government will continue with the engagement and re-engagement drive with all countries of the world. The President said following two consecutive years of drought, water levels in Kariba Dam had dropped thereby reducing power generation capacity from 1 050MW to 100MW. Due to climate change, we are already implementing other projects such as solar and thermal to avert load shedding, he said. Turning to the clean-up exercise, President Mnangagwa said Government would soon strengthen anti-litter laws to ensure a clean environment. The clean-up campaign was a national programme not meant to clean cities and towns alone. The President said companies should contribute towards a clean environment through buying litter bins for their localities. At Mahusekwa Growth Point in Mashonaland East, hundreds of villagers from surrounding communities took part in the clean-up. In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of State in his office Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga commended the villagers for cleanliness at the growth point. I would like to thank you all for continuing to show team spirit by continuously cleaning your environment, he said. VP Chiwenga said this year, the monthly clean-up exercise will focus on smaller towns and other outlying areas. Over this past year, the national clean-up programme has been concentrated around cities. However, 2020 is a year with a difference as we are focusing on small towns, rural business centres, growth points so that no one is left behind, he added. At the Simon Muzenda Street Bus Terminus in Harare, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said: Our constitution is very clear and very explicit that we want to keep our environment very clean for our benefit as a current generation, but also we need to keep that environment clean for future generations. We are very happy that our President Cde Mnangagwa is a lawyer and takes the issue of constitutionalism seriously. That is why he is taking the lead to ensure that we clean our environment. This will ensure that we breathe clean air and also we will enjoy clean water. So it is important to know that an environment which is clean guarantees people good health. Herald Associated Press contributor Zoya Shu, a photographer based in Kyiv, has been covering Ukraine's conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, documenting the fates of prisoners in a war that has claimed more than 13,000 lives since it began in 2014. In many cases, the captives are not combatants but ordinary people, singled out by the separatists for their participation in protests or their activities on social media. Shu's work became a labor of love that she has shared with the world on her website, called After Captivity. There have been two prisoner exchanges since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy came to power in May 2019 -- one in September and the other in late December. Shu focuses on the pain and injuries -- both physical and mental -- of those who have been released. Volodymyr Zhemchuhov spent a year held captive by Russia-backed separatists before he was released in a prisoner swap. He is wearing a Gold Star Hero of Ukraine medal. He was captured after he was injured by a land mine. "Captivity is not the same as imprisonment. Prison has its rules, but when someone is taken hostage and unlawfully held against their will, unthinkable things can happen," Shu says on her English-language website.* "People are kept in cellars on absurd allegations, for ransom or as human shields, without sunlight, fresh air, food or a toilet. They face beatings, rape and torture, and they never know when and if they will be released." Dmytro Kluher, wearing a robe he was given in captivity, shows how he was tied up in an underground dungeon. Russia-backed separatists detained him in the spring of 2015. "The wanton use of violence towards civilians, in particular those in captivity, is a crime against humanity and can be considered a means of psychological warfare aimed at humiliating, dehumanizing and de-socializing the population in an armed conflict zone," Shu says. Tetyana Borysenko holds a Ukrainian flag that she hid from her captors throughout her time in prison. It's signed by 12 people who were held with her. Borysenko was a military medic in the volunteer Aidar battalion. She was captured in September 2015. RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Oleksandra Vagner interviewed Shu about her work. The interview was conducted in Russian: RFE/RL: Your series shows people in an unusual way. Many of them demonstrate what happened to them in prison and during torture. How did you persuade them to tell their stories? Was it difficult to convince Bohdan Serhiyets, the man with a swastika carved on his back, to show it? Reliving such moments of the past must have been a grave experience for these people. ZOYA SHU: When I started working on this series, I tried to be as delicate as I could because Id never dealt with such issues before. I knew that if I wanted them to open up I had to meet them halfway, to be more open. Photographer Zoya Shu: "My series is about survivors, not victims." It was a transformational experience for me. It was a new style of communication. I started to make friends and interact. As for the young man with a scar on his back, he only spent 10 hours in captivity. He didnt even know that there is a movement for war prisoners rights and that the people who have survived captivity are trying to receive support from the government. We started talking, and I asked him cautiously if I could take a picture of his scar, and he said: "Yes, of course." Tetyana kisses an urn containing the ashes of her husband, Oleksandr, who was captured by separatists in 2018. He died a year after his release. Before releasing the photo, I asked if he wanted me to omit his name, but he insisted that I publish it because he wanted everyone to know. There has been a lot of talk about the prisoner exchanges [themselves], but [the prisoners] have to live with this [reality]. Talking about it publicly may have a therapeutic effect for those who survived captivity. Besides, its a search for justice. RFE/RL: You are saying that some of the former prisoners dont know that they are eligible for help from the government. Does it mean that they are left on their own after they are released? SHU: Yes, Im talking about the civilians. Not all of them who were freed came as a result of a prisoner swap. Some paid a ransom. Others were just lucky: They were released because someone interfered or they were simply let go. Those are completely different stories. Russia-backed separatists arrested Hanna Serhiyeva, a former real-estate agent, in her home. She spent six days in prison. As a civilian, Serhiyeva doesnt have the status of a former prisoner of war and receives no governmental support. She currently lives on the outskirts of Kyiv with her two children. Serhiyeva says she was beaten regularly. In one incident of torture, her captors severely injured her finger. The wound is still visible. A few thousand people are estimated to have been captured. There is no precise data. Most of them are trying to forget everything or have already forgotten. They see it as a story from the past. Many are left to survive, as theres not a systematic solution for their problems. RFE/RL: The prisoners have different backgrounds. They belong to different social groups, have different educations, are of different ages, and have had different experiences. Most of them survived torture, but the story of each one is unique. Did you feel anything that they have in common when you talked to them and photographed them? SHU: They share a traumatic experience that has affected them deeply. Weve all experienced stressful situations and we know that you need resources to recover. Those who survived extreme violence and stress need more resources. Thats why they need comprehensive governmental support. Artist Serhiy Zakharov says he was tortured by his captors. According to him, three times he was taken outside for an execution by a firing squad. Captivity is a subject of one of his graphic series. This photo was taken in his studio in Kyiv. Besides, this situation affects the society in general, as there are many people who survived captivity and war. They are plenty, and their trauma is very deep. We need to realize this and do something about it systematically and comprehensively. RFE/RL: Your project is focused on grave experiences but somehow it feels a little optimistic. Lets take, for example, the story of the priest, Vitaliy Paraskun. He was kept in a cellar in brutal conditions, but he still found the strength to preach to his cellmates. Later, he found strength to leave the past behind and move on. SHU: My series is about survivors, not victims. These people have survived, so its a positive project, but its goal is to start a discussion about the traumatization of our society. Of course, this project is about very strong people who found the inner resources to live on without any governmental support. Its the positive side of it. Priest Vitaliy Paraskun shows a photo of himself taken shortly after he was released after being tortured for 199 days in an unheated basement filled with rats. He says he doesn't hold a grudge against his torturers. He's happy that he persuaded four people in the prison to become believers. My series features a Spaniard who spent a month in captivity. He said that the traditional concept of treating a "victim" with superiority and condescendence is wrong and the people who have survived this horrible experience should not be seen as victims: They dont need our compassion. We usually demonstrate compassion as a ritual. We think that since we have expressed our compassion we may move on. The people who survived traumatic situations must be respected and their opinions heard. They potentially can make a more valuable contribution than those who call themselves experts in this field. Besides, they have additional resources, some additional value, so they shouldnt be downgraded to victims with passive needs. They can make a very positive contribution to the development of society. William McFeely was found in his car after an apparent suicide in a cemetery after shooting and killing his brother-in-law Frank Trombetta at the Saugus gas station. The shooting at the Mobil gas station, where Trombetta was working as a mechanic, happened just after noon Friday. The 63-year-old Trombetta was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Essex District Attorneys office. Authorities said that 63-year-old McFeely drove away from the gas station in a 2016 white Mini Cooper. He was then found dead inside the car at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Details of why McFeely might have wanted to kill Trombetta are unclear but a spokesperson at the DAs office suspects a disagreement between the two of them that spiraled. Everett officials put the citys schools on lockdown Friday as a response to the shooting. Mayor Carlo DeMaria said at the time that police had been searching for a violent offender with connections to Everett, according to the Boston Globe. When officers tried to arrest Williams on Thursday, he rammed a sergeants car with the vehicle he was in and then ran over an officers foot, said Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan. Williams then got out of his car and ran away before he was caught. - Kenyans from all corners of the country will get a chance to pay their last respects to the former commander in chief from Saturday, February 8 to Monday, February 10 - The body left Lee Funeral Home in the morning of Saturday, February 8, with the casket covered in Kenya's national flag - It will lie in state at Parliament buildings for three days - A funeral service will then be held on Tuesday, February 11, at Nyayo National Stadium - Moi who died on Tuesday, February 4, will laid to rest at his Kabarak home on Wednesday, February 12 The late former president Daniel arap Mois cortege has arrived at Parliament buildings, Nairobi. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to lead Kenyans in viewing the body of Kenya's second head of state. READ ALSO: 2 Akorino pastors want Mois funeral stopped Moi's body will lie in state at Parliament buildings for three days. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Daniel Moi: Residents march on streets demanding late ex-president's body be flown to Baringo for viewing Kenyans from all corners of the country will get a chance to pay their last respects to the former commander in chief from Saturday, February 8 to Monday, February 10. The body left Lee Funeral Home at 7am with the casket covered in Kenya's national flag. The body snaked its way from Lee Funeral Home through Valley Road to Parliament in the morning of Saturday, February 8. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Doctors reveal Serena and Venus Williams' father Richard is battling dementia, brain damage A military parade will be mounted in honour of Moi who served the country as the longest EVER Head of State from 1978 to 2002. After three days of public viewing, the body will be transported to Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday, February 11 for a funeral service. A file photo of the late Daniel arap Moi. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC The government declared Tuesday 11 a public holiday so Kenyans could get a chance to attend the interdenominational prayers. Baringo residents had earlier took to the streets of Baringo to demanding the late Moi's body be flown to the region for viewing. The former KANU leader served as MP for Baringo Central from 1966 to 2002. He will be laid to rest at his Kabarak home on Wednesday, February 12. 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. Suzanna by Sauti Sol reactions | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Keeping children in full-time education until the age of 18 is contributing to rising crime figures, according to a police chief. Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Dave Thompson, believes there may be a link between raising the age children are allowed to leave school and the recent surge in violent crime. He has asked Ofsted to look into sixth form colleges which run courses that don't have enough contact hours - leaving teenagers to roam the streets in their free time. Keeping children in full-time education until the age of 18 is contributing to rising crime figures, according to a police chief. Stock picture In 2008 it was made illegal to leave education or training before the age of 18 without undertaking an apprenticeship. The changes didn't come into effect until 2015 and it was the first time the law in that area had changed since 1972. The number of homicides among 16 to 24-year-olds has risen by 75 per cent since 2015, from 87 in a year to 152. Arrests for the possession of weapons have gone up by 28 per cent since 2015 in children aged 10-17 and 18-20, according to Home Office data seen by The Telegraph. Mr Thompson told The Telegraph: 'Let's be really honest, the neighbourhoods where the violence happens and the young people affected are most likely to be in deprived areas. Many of those people do not have the qualifications to necessarily be securing some of the better apprenticeships.' He believes that because young people don't enter the workplace until they're 18, they aren't maturing fast enough - especially young men. Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Dave Thompson (pictured with Boris Johnson and Priti Patel), believes there may be a link between raising the age children are allowed to leave school and the recent surge in violent crime He added: 'They are much closer to adulthood but they're not socialising with many older people and growing up by relationships through work. In the old days, people would be in a factory they'd tend to be working much older people.' Mr Thompson believes that because young people don't enter the workplace until they're 18, they aren't maturing fast enough - especially young men While Mr Thompson admits that he doesn't have any 'empirical evidence' to prove the link, he has continued to question it. He believes that the explosion in knife crime is, in part, down to a lack of maturity and inability to deal with conflicts. He also takes issue with how much time teenagers are actually spending in the classroom. 'The amount of time they're actually in face to face time in class, warrants some examination by bodies like Ofsted, because I actually think the class time is fairly low,' he said. 'They are not accessing money legitimately or quickly. So the appeal of fast money and the drugs market can be there.' He added that other factors which have caused the surge in knife crime include the normalisation of violence in music, social media and cuts to youth services. A Government spokesperson told the Telegraph: 'Young people have a choice about how they continue in education or training post-16. This can be through a job combined with study, via full-time education or through an apprenticeship. 'Engagement in education is a strong protective factor against the risk of involvement in serious violence. 'Issues surrounding crime and serious violence are complicated, and we are working with the education and care sectors, the Home Office and other departments to support young people at risk of exploitation and involvement in serious violence.' Billionaire activist Tom Steyer couldnt sit through a discussion on health care during the February Democratic debate, saying hes tired of hearing the same arguments over and over again. Steyer interjected, saying Democrats should instead be focused on the economy and countering President Donald Trumps claims of the best economy in American history. He said everyone on the stage has a better plan for health care than Trump, but that is not the question in front of us today. How are we going to beat Donald Trump? Its the economy, stupid, Steyer said, citing a famous quote from President Bill Clintons 1992 campaign. Steyer also expressed concern that Trump could sail to reelection after being acquitted of impeachment charges this week. I dont think theres any question, George, that after this week, theres a real threat that Donald Trump can get reelected, Steyer said moderators. Businessman Andrew Yang, who like Steyer is polling near the bottom of the primary field, agreed with Steyers appeal to focus on Trump. Trump used much of Tuesdays State of the Union speech to tout his impact on the American economy. Americas enemies are on the run, Trump said. Americas fortunes are on the rise. Americas future is blazing bright. The years of economic decay are over. A 19-year-old Nigerian is in the grip of the Amasaman police following the death of one out of nine Nigerian young men he brought to Ghana to engage in illegal cyber business. The suspect, Godwin Iboro, was arrested last Wednesday when one of the young men he had brought from Nigeria reported the sudden death of a colleague to the Amasaman police. Confirming the arrest, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Effia Tenge, said the deceased, Shadrack Marcel, 26, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Amasaman Hospital by doctors. She said the deceased was rushed to the hospital by his friends who claimed they found him motionless in his bed. The friends who took Marcel to the hospital were directed to report the incident to the police at Amasaman, where they were given an extract of occurrence and taken to the ACP Police Station to effect the arrest of Godwin Iboro. Beatings Investigations conducted by the police revealed that Iboro, in January brought nine young men, including the deceased, Shadrack Marcel, 26, Thomas Daep, 26, Henry Joshua, 25, Wendell Osayamen, 19, Udo Edem, 17, David Solomon,18, Desmond Archibong, 18, Saviour Iboro, 17, Wisdom Ashambe, 20, and another who has been identified only as Influence, to Ghana to engage in cyber business. The nine young men were camped in a house at ACP, Pokuase where with the help of a laptop and internet connection, they were engaged in all forms of cybercrime. However on February 4, 2020, the deceased told Iboro that he was not too happy with the kind of job he had been introduced to so he wanted to go back to Nigeria, but Iboro was not happy with Marcels intention. So in the evening of that same day, at about 9:30 p.m. when Marcel had packed all his belongings and wanted to leave the house for Nigeria, Iboro prevented him, and when Marcel attempted to force his way out of the house, Iboro strongly resisted and was alleged to have beaten Marcel ruthlessly. Marcel, who went to bed after the beating he received, was found motionless the following morning and was pronounced dead when his friends took him to the hospital. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Eva Kruse doesn't have time to mince words. As the founder of the world's most influential sustainable fashion event, the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, she is in an authoritative position to assess the state of the industry. And it's not good. "I would probably give the industry a five or six [out of 10] for courage and for putting [sustainability] on the agenda, if I think about how many more CEOs and leaders we are seeing being vocal and raising their voices and taking action and steps towards creating more sustainable systems," Kruse says. "But I would only give it a three for impact or pace or how far we have come." Copenhagen Fashion Summit founder and CEO of Global Fashion Agenda, Eva Kruse, is coming to Australia next month. Credit:Getty Images After starting her career in fashion media, in 2005 Kruse founded Copenhagen Fashion Week, which put Danish brands on the map. Four years later, she launched the summit, which has cemented the region's reputation as an agenda-setter, with Kruse its chief architect (Australian-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is the summit's patron). "When we look at the general picture and I have been working on this topic for more than 10 years when we started out, we hoped it would get on the agenda of the [political] leadership and in boardrooms," she says. "If we look at the pace that things are picking up, even though there is so much innovation happening, there are numerous startups coming out with amazing solutions, tech, materials, new ways of business ... its still on such a small scale." SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges investors in Sasol ADRs (NYSE: SSL) who have suffered significant losses to submit their losses now . A securities class action has been filed and certain investors may have valuable claims. Class Period: Mar. 10, 2015 Jan. 13, 2020 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 6, 2020 Sign Up: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SSL Contact An Attorney Now: SSL@hbsslaw.com / 844-916-0895 Sasol Limited (SSL) Securities Class Action: According to the Complaint, Defendants misled investors by misrepresenting and failing to disclose that; (1) Sasol conducted insufficient due diligence into, and did not account for multiple issues with, Sasols Lake Charles chemical plant (LCCP), as well as its true cost; (2) construction and operation of the LCCP was plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; and (3) Sasols top-level management exacerbated these issues by engaging in improper and unethical behavior concerning financial reporting for, and oversight of, the LCCP. Investors began to learn the truth through a series of disclosures, including on May 22, 2019, when Sasol abruptly raised the projects cost estimate by $1 billion and disclosed an internal review into the projects costs and construction schedule. The company admitted to weaknesses in the projects integrated controls, as well as significant additional concerns related to the projects forecasting process. Then, on Oct. 27, 2019, Sasol terminated its co-CEOs following an internal probe showing that the Lake Charles project management team acted inappropriately, lacked experience, and was overly focused on maintaining cost and schedule estimates instead of providing accurate information. Finally, on Jan. 13, 2020, Sasol disclosed an explosion and fire at its Lake Charles projects low-density polyethylene unit, requiring the company to shut down the unit. Each of these disclosures caused the price of Sasol ADRs to decline sharply. Were focused on investors losses and proving Sasol misled investors about the Lake Charles projects cost, timing and internal controls, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you purchased Sasol ADRs and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman . Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Sasol should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SSL@hbsslaw.com . About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw . Srinagar:Senior Peoples Democratic Party leader (PDP) and former minister Naeem Akhtar was booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) by the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday, becoming the fifth politician to be detained this week under the stringent law that allows up to two years of detention without trial. National Conference leaders Mubarak Gul and Tanveer Sadiq, who were also under detention at the MLA Hostel in Srinagar, were shifted to their homes at the same time to be put under house arrest. Akhtar has been under detention since August 5 last year when the Centre pushed through provisions revoking Jammu and Kashmirs special status and moved to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. On Thursday, the administration booked former chief ministers Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC), Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP and one each of their party colleagues under the PSA after they spent six months in preventive custody under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Abdullahs father Farooq had his arrest under the PSA extended for three months in December. Naeem Akhtar has been booked under PSA while Gul and Sadiq have been shifted to their homes, said additional director general of police (ADGP), security, Munir Khan. Today only these three leaders have been moved out of MLA Hostel.. Akhtar had been a member of J&K assemblys legislative council and also served as education minister and public works minister. He has been an influential leader of the PDP owing to his proximity to party leaders, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayed, and his daughter and current president Mehbooba Mufti. Akhtars daughter Shehryar Khanum said she was shocked at the way her father and other mainstream politicians were being treated in Kashmir. She noted that her father had been a cabinet minister and served as a spokesperson for the PDPs coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that collapsed in June 2018 after the latter parted ways with the Kashmiri party. ...so today, if he government of India is thinking that the same person who held on to the idea of mainstream in Kashmir despite its own share of turbulence here, if they are the enemies and they are going to be treated at par with persons whose ideology is different from the idea of India, it is very shocking, she said. She said that the central dispensation had made it quite clear in the last couple of days that mainstream politicians are the enemy in Kashmir. There is a larger message in it, the message is that we dont care what Kashmiris say, we dont care how they feel , we dont care if in the face of things we are suspending basic constitutional rights , she said. Of the two leaders shifted to their homes, Gul is a senior leader of the NC and served as speaker of the J&K Assembly. Sadiq is the NC spokesperson and advisor to former chief minister Omar Abdullah. At least eight leaders are still under detention at MLA Hostel, including bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal. Akhtar was shifted to the M5 government quarters on Gupkar Road where NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and former PDP vice president Sartaj Madni, who is also the maternal uncle of Mehbooba Mufti, were moved on Thursday after they were booked under the PSA, . Omar Abdullah is lodged at Hari Niwas, an erstwhile palace, while Mehbooba Mufti is incarcerated in a government building on M.A Road. On Wednesday afternoon, Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Lone and PDP youth president Waheed-ur- Rehman Parra were released from MLA Hostel. Relatives of both the leaders claim that they had been kept under house arrest in their homes. A night earlier, Abdul Qayoom Wan, who unsuccessfully contested last years parliamentary elections on a PDP ticket from Baramulla, was released from Srinagar Central jail. On Tuesday evening, former assembly member and PDP leader Ajaz Ahmad Mir and former president of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir Shakeel Qalander were released from custody. While Mir had been held at MLA Hostel, Qalandar was detained at the central jail in Srinagar. A 16-year-old schoolboy who was bombarded with social media messages by Scotland's former finance secretary Derek Mackay has talked to police about the situation. Police Scotland said that it has not "received any complaint of criminality" regarding the SNP politician's behaviour but it is "assessing available information". Meanwhile, Mr Mackay - who quit the Scottish Government hours before he was due to present the Budget after the scandal broke - has deleted or restricted access to his social media accounts. His resignation came after The Scottish Sun reported he had sent 270 messages to a 16-year-old he befriended on Facebook and Instagram. Mr Mackay with Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon / Getty Images The youngster told the paper: "I was happy to speak to the police and will tell them everything that happened. "I didn't think what he was doing was a crime but I knew it was wrong and should be highlighted." A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "We have not received any complaint of criminality, however we are currently assessing available information. "We would encourage anyone with information to please come forward. Police Scotland will always listen to anyone who wishes to seek advice or formally report a matter to us." Police have spoken to the 16-year-old schoolboy who was bombarded with social media messages by Scotland's former finance secretary Derek Mackay / Getty Images Mr Mackay - who has also been suspended from the SNP pending investigation - is reported to have called the youngster "cute" as well as offering to take him to a rugby game and out to dinner. Opposition politicians have condemned the behaviour from Mr Mackay - who had been tipped as a future successor to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - saying the messages amounted to "grooming". Mr Mackay, a father-of-two who came out as gay in 2013, has not been seen in public since the story broke on Wednesday night. It was later reported that the Renfrewshire North and West MSP had also sent dozens of unwanted messages to an SNP activist over a period of four years. Shaun Cameron, 25, told the Daily Record on Friday that the MSP contacted him on Facebook after meeting him at an SNP event when he was 21. He said some of the messages were "quite suggestive" - alleging the then finance secretary had asked him in September 2017: "Got any naughty pics?" Ms Sturgeon confirmed to MSPs at Holyrood on Thursday that she had accepted Mr Mackay's resignation from Government - saying his behaviour had fallen "seriously below the standard required of a minister". In his resignation statement, Mr Mackay accepted he had "behaved foolishly" and he apologised unreservedly to the teenage boy and his family. He said at the time: "I take full responsibility for my actions. I have behaved foolishly and I am truly sorry." The White House has been disseminating talking points attacking Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump of abuse of power. Trump has privately discussed with Republican lawmakers ways to exact revenge on House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) for his leading role in the presidents impeachment, according to people familiar with the conversations. Trump has tried to block the release of a tell-all book by former national security adviser John Bolton, and some Republicans are calling for Boltons security clearance to be stripped. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Three gas-fired electricity generating units at a power plant south of Tripoli resumed Saturday after maintenance work on the facilities, an official source told PANA here Saturday Ranchi, Feb 8 : The falling healthcare system in the country accounted for yet another life, this time in Jharkhand. A 48-year-old woman died after the ambulance reportedly reached late in state's Gumla district, police said on Saturday. According to Police, Sadhan Devi, who was admitted to Sadar hospital on January 29, suddenly complained of her deteriorated condition. Soon after, the attending doctor referred her to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Ranchi, for treatment on Friday afternoon. The victim's family members said that they called an ambulance to take her to the state capital, but it allegedly came three hours late, which delayed the treatment leading eventually to her death. "Prima facie it appears that the family members had spoken to a driver of an 108 ambulance services but the driver did not reach on time as a result of which the patient died. A Committee has been formed to probe into the matter," said Vijay Bhengara, Civil Surgeon of Gumla Sadar hospital. There are two ambulances in the Sadar hospital and six 108 service ambulances. Parents and family members of children who died in a 2014 terror attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar moved the Peshawar High Court on Saturday over the escape of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) former spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan from a Pakistani jail. The kin of victims filed a petition with the court, seeking contempt of court proceedings against multiple government officials -- including the Director-General of the ISI, the Army Chief as well as the federal and provincial secretaries, Dawn reported. The petition, submitted by Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan Advocate, said that the respondents had violated earlier orders of the PHC barring authorities from releasing Ehsan. "Despite clear cut directions of this honourable court... now it has come to light that (a) luxurious home (was provided to Ehsan) from which the terrorist has made his escape: a fact not denied by the respondents," the petition read. "The petitioner has been informed through reliable sources that clemency was in order of Ehsanullah Ehsan for his 'full and frank disclosure' which is not only highly deplorable but also outrightly illegal and unconstitutional," it added. In an audio message released on Thursday, Ehsan claimed he escaped from the jail on January 11. However, no confirmation has been made by the Pakistani Army in this regard yet. The escape of Ehsan has created an uproar in Pakistan where the opposition is accusing the government of "sheer incompetence". Pakistan's opposition leader and PPP member Farhatullah Babar on Friday slammed the Pakistan government and demanded an explanation over the release of 'self-confessed terrorists'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A German state governor installed with the help of a far-right party said Saturday he is resigning with immediate effect, three days after his election shook the country's and stoked new tensions in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. Thomas Kemmerich's announcement came as leaders of Merkel's governing coalition, meeting in Berlin to discuss the fallout, demanded that he go and the legislature of the eastern state of Thuringia promptly choose a successor. They called for that to be followed quickly by a new regional election. Pro-business politician Kemmerich's election was only possible because the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, supported him in a vote in the state legislature as did the regional branch of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, against the wishes of its national leadership. Kemmerich's acceptance of AfD's votes appalled left-leaning parties and many in his own center-right camp. Merkel called his election inexcusable. The politician from the small Free Democrats a party that is in opposition nationally but it is a traditional ally of Merkel's CDU announced a day after he was elected that he planned to step down, though he left unclear when. That wasn't enough for many, including the center-left Social Democrats, the junior partners in Merkel's governing coalition. The Thuringia mess was the latest in a succession of events that have periodically cast doubt on whether the government will last until the end of its term in late 2021. Kemmerich said in a statement Saturday that he was resigning with immediate effect and paying back to the state all wages earned as a result of his election. It wasn't immediately clear when exactly a successor might be elected. That came as leaders of Merkel's coalition released a statement demanding that he leave and a replacement be elected by state lawmakers. They added that, above and beyond that, the coalition partners are convinced that for reasons of political legitimacy ... new elections are necessary in Thuringia soon. Earlier Saturday, Merkel fired a federal official whose departure the Social Democrats had sought over the fiasco, another move toward defusing tensions. Christian Hirte, a member of Merkel's CDU who was the government's commissioner for the formerly communist east and a deputy economy minister, tweeted that he resigned after Merkel told him he could no longer do the job. Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, confirmed his dismissal. Hirte, a deputy leader of the CDU's Thuringia branch who sits in the national parliament, had congratulated Kemmerich Wednesday on his election as a candidate of the center, tweeting that it showed the state had voted out its previous left-wing government, and making no mention of AfD's role. The debacle also has prompted new criticism of the leadership of Merkel's successor as CDU chairwoman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who was unable before and immediately after Kemmerich's election to force her party's local branch into line. Saturday's coalition statement underlined that we rule out forming governments and political majorities with votes from AfD. That, it added, goes for the coalition parties at all levels. Social Democrat co-leader Saskia Esken said Saturday's meeting was marked by unity and it was important that the parties from the democratic spectrum had reinforced their position on AfD. Whether a new election in Thuringia would produce a less awkward outcome remains to be seen. Its last election in October stripped the previous state government of its majority. In a first for Germany, it produced no majority for any combination without either AfD or the Left Party of previous governor Bodo Ramelow, which the CDU shuns as a descendant of East Germany's ruling communists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Throughout 1920, this anti-Wilson would rise up as the original wasted away. Still, commentators worried about what it meant to retreat so quickly from the world, with no plan. Harding seemed to have no ideas about anything. One of Americas shrewdest observers was the journalist H.L. Mencken, the so-called Sage of Baltimore. From that city, close to Washington but not of it, Mencken could ridicule both sides of the widening divide, and did, skewering fundamentalists and Eastern eggheads alike. But he worried about the transparent incapacity of a man like Harding. Mencken could be cruel and predicted that if the trend continued of electing candidates with no clear qualification, the White House would soon be adorned by a complete moron. As it turned out, normalcy meant an administration that would be ruined by scandal and greed, much of it tied to another powerful new force, Big Oil, engorged with money and influence after helping the war effort. But there would always be boats against the current, as Fitzgerald put it; that is the nature of American politics. The excesses of one side inevitably lead to the rise of the other, and back again, with tidal regularity. As the Republican wave was cresting, a young Democrat was trying to position himself as a candidate for higher office, and on Feb. 1, he gave an immodest speech, boasting of his wartime achievements. In fact, they were considerable. Franklin Roosevelt had not served in the war, but as assistant secretary of the Navy, he had been quite close to the development of radio during the war; he would profit from the radio again, later in his career. It has been a long time since the winter of 1920, but the old fault lines are still visible, not only in the United States but around the world. In Turkey, neo-Ottoman ambitions are emerging as the country seeks to enlarge its influence in Libya and everywhere else the sultans once held sway. In Russia, a new czar is all too happy to undermine the Wests quaint belief in Wilsonian self-determination. Should the United States try to solve these and all of the other vexing problems out there? It has become fashionable to denounce Wilsons idealism in the century since his crack-up. Obviously, he tried too much, too fast and destroyed himself in the process. But to inhabit a world with no ideals of any kind seems like an invitation to a different kind of crack-up and a return to the earlier history that we were delighted to escape from in 1919. In the long century since, Americans faced a dizzying array of problems, new and old. When they worked together, they generally solved them. When they retreated into ideological extremes, they generally did not. In The Crack-Up, Fitzgerald diagnosed the problem, then offered a formula. If enough readers could see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise, then there was always a chance for a new decade to live up to its glittering potential. On Wednesday, a neo-fascist party helped form a regional government in Germany for the first time since the end of Nazi rule. Despite the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) receiving just five percent of the vote in the regional election in the state of Thuringia, Thomas Kemmerich was officially appointed to the position of Thuringias minister president, the equivalent of a governor in the United States. This was made possible by an alliance between the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD), who joined forces to prevent the Left Party from forming a government, despite the fact that the Left Party received the highest vote in the election. Germany's Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble speaks during the G20 news conference at the 2017 World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, Friday, April 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) The announcement marked the first time since the end of the Nazi Third Reich that an establishment party had worked with the fascists to form a government. It represents a shattering of the pledges by the major parties not to cooperate with the neo-fascists of the AfD. This is a historic turning point. It makes clear that the ruling class is once again relying on fascist forces to implement its policies of militarism, dictatorship and austerity. All the attempts of leading politicians to distance themselves from the events in Thuringia, and the subsequent resignation of the new state premier, cannot hide a fundamental reality: 75 years after the end of Nazi rule in Germany, the maxim of the German bourgeoisie is no longer Never again, but Onward to new wars and crimes. This reality was made clear in an interview that Bundestag (federal parliament) President Wolfgang Schauble conducted last weekend with the newspapers of the Funke media group and the French newspaper Ouest-France. This interview, in which Schauble advocated German rearmament and participation in foreign wars, appeared just one week after German officials held public commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. Asked whether Germany must again risk soldiers lives in war, Schauble replied, We cannot leave everything to the French and Americans. The lessons of Auschwitz cannot be an argument for not becoming involved in the long term. The immediate issue was the preparation of combat operations in Africa and the Middle East. We cannot duck away. If Europe is to play a stronger role, we must do our part, Schauble said. He raised the possibility of German participation in the civil war in Mali as well as action in Libya with German soldiers. The recent Libya conference in Berlin, in which the European powers plotted a new scramble for Africa, had been a great success for the chancellor, he said, and it was undisputed that we must continue to get involved there and, in case of doubt, also take on unpleasant tasks. No one should have any illusions about the far-reaching significance of such statements: 75 years after the fall of the Third Reich, the German ruling class is again willing to pursue its geostrategic and economic interests through war. When asked whether Germany was too weak for interventions abroad, Schauble replied, We cannot continuously pass on the moral costs to others. Schauble had previously expressed similar sentiments in his foreign policy keynote speech on Germany's role in the globalized world last October. In that speech he declared that staying out is not an option, at least not a viable foreign policy strategy. We Europeans must do more for our own securityand that also means for the security of the world around us, he said. This included the readiness to use military force. This also has a moral price," he said, adding, "And carrying this burden is a great challenge, especially for the Germans. The last time Germany carried the burden of aggressive great power politics and enforced its interests with military might the most terrible crimes in the history of mankind followed. In the Second World War, unleashed by Nazi Germany, the moral price was six million murdered Jews, 27 million victims of the war of extermination against the Soviet Union and several tens of millions more dead throughout Europe and in Germany. Schaubles barely concealed calls for new wars and imperialist crimes express the mood of the entire ruling class. In a recent interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper, Herfried Munkler, now emeritus professor at Humboldt University and a foreign policy adviser to the German government, rejoiced, saying, I am delighted when, for example, the German chancellor talks about strategic autonomy or Ms. von der Leyen [the former defence minister and current president of the European Commission] talks about the language of power. The professor added, in his cynical and arrogant manner, When I started long ago to emphasize power as a factor that will play a role in the future, it was not easy to make this idea stick. It was said, how terrible and cruel. We have our values after all. Those candy suckers thought that everything would proceed by itself. Supported by a latent theological faith in Gods work in the form of humanitarian values in the world, it was somehow forgotten that these are also questions of power. Munkler has repeatedly made clear in the past what he means by questions of power and candy sucking. In countless interviews he has called for the acquisition and deployment of combat drones and lamented the post-heroic society whose population is no longer prepared to pay the price for the imperialist appetites of the ruling class. In a conversation with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Munkler went so far as to describe the poison gas used in World War I as a humane weapon. Then there is the case of Munklers colleague, the right-wing extremist Professor Jorg Baberowski (who declared, Hitler was not vicious), who is publicly defended by the German government and who recently physically attacked a left-wing student at his university. During a panel discussion at the German Historical Museum in 2014, Baberowski declared, And if you are not prepared to take hostages, burn villages and hang people and spread fear and terror, as the terrorists do, if you are not prepared to do so, you will not win such an argument, then you should leave it alone. That such criminal language can be used by a German academic who enjoys the support of dominant sections of the state is a testament to the fact that German rearmament and preparations for new wars are accompanied by the legitimization of the criminal and barbarous violence for which the Nazis were notorious. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and its youth and student organization, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), will fight to mobilize the growing opposition among workers and youth to the danger of militarism and fascism on the basis of an international socialist program. This time, the reckoning with Nazism must occur before the German ruling class has the opportunity to instigate new crimes and catastrophies. Because of other disasters afflicting the Democratic Party in recent days, this story, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, hasnt gotten a lot of attention. But it fits with other recent instances of Democratic Party incompetence and worse: Leaders of 2020 DNC Host Committee fired. The two leaders of Milwaukees host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention are out. Late Tuesday, the board for the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee terminated President Liz Gilbert and her chief of staff, Adam Alonso. The move comes just one day after the board suspended the pair and launched an investigation into toxic workplace allegations. The Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday that a group of senior women staffers wrote an unsigned letter last week complaining of being bullied and intimidated by Alonso something they said Gilbert did nothing to stop. They said Alonsos actions fostered a toxic and unstable culture. I would like to see the word toxic banned, unless it refers to a poisonous physical substance. This flap resembles the Elizabeth Warren fiasco that Paul wrote about earlier today, where a similarly toxic environmentwhatever that meanswas alleged. Whats it all about? The Journal Sentinel doesnt provide a lot of details, and the politicians have made all the expected, unhelpful noises. This is as close as we get to the facts: Alonso and Gilbert had previously come under criticism for continuing to do work for New Jersey Democrats while leading the host committee full time. The New Jersey Democratic Party connection does not inspire a lot of confidence. In interviews, the two experienced political hands described the host committee as having a toxic culture rife with power struggles, backbiting and mismanagement. They accused Gilbert and Alonso of giving contracts to their friends in New Jersey, calling meetings and then failing to attend them and being more focused on accumulating power than promoting Milwaukee. That is easy to believe. Sources said it appears that these current and former employees have been emboldened to speak out after Alonso was accused in his home state of New Jersey of shaking down campaign contributors for his own consulting firm, the Cratos Group. Julie Roginsky, a former strategist for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, said Murphys gubernatorial campaign operation was toxic and that she experienced rank misogyny. She has also said lobbyists told her during the 2018 campaign that Alonso and the campaign manager were shaking them down for private business. The Democratic Party is corrupt and often misogynistic. Importing self-interested operatives from New Jersey, and asking them to run the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukeewho could have foreseen that it might end badly? Happily, from the Democrats perspective, news outlets outside of Milwaukee are not likely to inform their readers or viewers of this story. House Plant, a new work by Sarah Einspanier at the Fourth Street Theatre (part of the Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop season), is full of clever insights and shrewd wit, but has a big old clunky metaphor tying it all together. In her 90-minute one-act directed by Jaki Bradley, Einspanier dives into the nature of long-term relationships romantic, platonic, and creative and how they form, how they grow, and how they are nurtured (or neglected, as the case may be). The title house plant sits on a table center stage, mostly ignored, but we don't really need the presence of a forgotten shrub to see that its revolving door of caretakers are emotionally drying up as well. Like an artist tweaking her creation, Deepali Gupta is tucked away on a perch, adding music and sound effects (designed by John Gasper) to the proceedings below (clean, minimalist set design by Meredith Ries), where we find June (Emma Ramos) and Max (Ugo Chukwu). The two have been together nearly seven years the amount of time, according to a scientific article, it takes for all of your cells to replace themselves. Ergo, June decides she is a completely new person one who is no longer satisfied with their couple routine of eating, having sex, and watching medical dramas. So, in one of House Plant's many fanciful moments, June flies off to Los Angeles to star ina medical drama (prior to her spontaneous acting career, she was fielding online questions from customers of a Blue Apron-type service). Deepali Gupta, Molly Bernard, Ugo Chukwu, and Emma Ramos in a scene from House Plant. ( Elke Young) After June moves out, her best friend Chloe (Molly Bernard) a queer avant-garde artist in an off-and-on relationship with a musician named Agnes (Gupta) moves in. Chloe works on a new piece while Max pursues his own creative career in the delicate art of "hold music" composition, though he quickly shifts his focus to a new project: winning back June with a blog about his make-believe ascent of a mountain in Peru. Chloe and Max begin their cohabitation as adversaries, but fall into the patterns of any other domestic partnership sharing creative ideas, swapping thoughts on love (Chloe has a particularly compelling speech about love as a capitalist product), and of course, watching medical dramas. Einspanier's humor is broad in its situations but specific in its dialogue, and I find the latter far more compelling than our frequent campy sojourns into the medical drama versions of reality (after her character leaves for LA, these magical vignettes unfortunately make up the majority of Ramos's material). Although to be fair, I suppose that opinion mirrors the conclusion our characters come to as well, as they all end their independent "hero's journeys" with the determination that the plateau of domesticity is preferable to fictional adventures. Einspanier implies the same applies to art, the silly mundanity of which is highlighted from the opening scene when Gupta (suggesting that this bizarre world is Agnes's musical creation) starts spouting science gobbledygook with the conviction of an omniscient deity. Within the cast, Bernard is by far the most successful at delivering the humor, sincerity, and oddball blend of the two that Einspanier's anti-romantic artistic point of view turns on. Chloe rejects the societal formality of pairing off, values originality in her bold-bordering-on-pornographic art, and yet harbors a secret lust for tourist traps and basic white-girl brunches. Bernard lets us laugh through all of it, but we never once doubt her sincerity or the intelligence with which she holds her contradictions. That balance is the tightrope the play as a whole has to walk, and ultimately, what keeps this House Plant alive. Home Search ICH Gas Wars in the Mediterranean By Mike Whitney February 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The unexpected alliance between Turkey and Libya is a geopolitical earthquake that changes the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean and across the Middle East. Turkeys audacious move has enraged its rivals in the region and cleared the way for a dramatic escalation in the 9 year-long Libyan civil war. It has also forced leaders in Europe and Washington to decide how they will counter Turkeys plan to defend the U.N-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), and to extend its maritime borders from Europe to Africa basically creating a water corridor through the eastern Mediterranean linking the coasts of Turkey and Libya. Leaders in Ankara believe that the agreement is a major coup in energy geopolitics that helps defend Turkeys sovereign rights against the gatekeepers of the regional status quo. But Turkeys rivals strongly disagree. They see the deal as a naked power grab that undermines their ability to transport natural gas from the East Mediterranean to Europe without crossing Turkish waters. In any event, the Turkey-Libya agreement has set the stage for a broader conflict that will unavoidably involve Egypt, Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Russia and the United States. All parties appear to have abandoned diplomatic channels altogether and are, instead, preparing for war. On November 27, Turkey and Libya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that commits Turkey to providing military assistance to Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA). The MoU also redraws Turkeys maritime boundaries in a way that dramatically impacts the transport of gas from the East Mediterranean to Europe. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Israel is particularly worried that this new deal will undermine its plans for a 1,900-kilometer EastMed pipeline connecting the Leviathan gas field, off the coast of Israel, to the EU. YNET News summarized Israels concerns in an ominously titled article: Turkeys maneuver could block Israels access to the sea. Heres an excerpt: Two of Israels wars (1956 Sinai campaign and 1967 Six-Day War) broke out over navigation rights. Israel must take note of a new reality taking hold in the Mediterranean. It must regard Turkeys actions as a substantial strategic threat and consider what it may do to respond to it This EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zones) designation essentially carved up much of the energy-rich Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Libya, prompting a wave of international condemnations first and foremost from Greece, Egypt, and Cyprus, who may be directly or indirectly affected..Turkeys disregard for the economic waters of Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt. Ankara is in effect annexing those areas pending an appeal to international tribunals, which can take many years to resolve. In practical terms, Turkey created a sea border the width of the entire Mediterranean. (Turkeys maneuver could block Israels access to the sea, ynet news) The analysis from Americas premier Foreign Policy magazine was no less foreboding. Check it out: Turkey is meshing together two Mediterranean crises in a desperate bid to reshape the region in its own favor, with potentially nasty implications both for the ongoing civil war in Libya and future energy development in the eastern Mediterranean. This month, Turkeys unusual outreach to the internationally recognized government of Libya has resulted in a formal agreement for Ankara to provide military support, including arms and possibly troops, in its bid to hold off an offensive from Russian-backed rebels in the eastern part of the country. The military agreement came just weeks after Turkey and that same Government of National Accord reached an unusual agreement to essentially carve up much of the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean between themthreatening to cut out Greece and Cyprus from the coming bonanza. (Newly Aggressive Turkey Forges Alliance With Libya, Foreign Policy) While these new developments are likely to intensify the fighting on the ground in Libya, they also portend a deepening of divisions within the region itself where new coalitions are forming and battle-lines are being drawn. On the one side is the Turkey-Libya Axis, while on the other is Greece, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, France, Germany, UK and probably the United States although the Trump administration has not yet clarified its position. In any event, the war between Libyas internationally-recognized government and Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) is just a small part of a much larger struggle over vital hydrocarbons in a strategically-located area of the Mediterranean. Heres a clip from an article at War On The Rocks that helps to underscore the stakes involved: The discovery of significant deposits of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean beginning in 2009 was a game-changer that upended regional geopolitics. It prompted new and unexpected alliances between Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt to maximize their chances of energy self-sufficiency. The bulk of the gas lies in Egypts Zohr field, the Leviathan and Tamar fields in Israeli waters, and the Aphrodite near the island of Cyprus. With recoverable natural gas reserves in the region estimated at upward of 120 trillion cubic feet, the strategic implications could not be bigger. This is about the same amount as the proven gas in the whole of Iraq, the 12th largest reserve globally.(Israels gas field) Leviathan is estimated to hold 22 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, and a potential half a million barrels of oil. (Hydrocarbon Diplomacy: Turkeys Gambit Might Yet Pay a Peace Dividend, warontherocks.com) Turkeys ambitious gambit makes it more likely that its rivals will increase their support for the Libyan warlord, Haftar, who is, by-most-accounts, a CIA asset that was sent to Libya in 2014 to topple the government in Tripoli and unify the country under a US puppet. Haftars forces currently control more than 70% of the Libyan territory while almost 60% of the population is under the control of the GNA led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. According to Turkish news: More than half of Haftars troops are mercenaries from Russia and Sudan, who are mainly paid by the Gulf states. In April, 2019, Haftar launched an offensive on the government in Tripoli but was easily repelled. In recent days, however, Haftar has resumed his attacks on the city of Misrata and on the Tripoli airport in clear violation of the Berlin ceasefire agreement. He has also received shipments of weapons from the UAE despite an arms embargo that was unanimously approved two weeks ago at the same Berlin Conference. We expect that support for Haftar will continue to grow in the months ahead as Berlin, Paris and particularly Washington settle on a plan for reinforcing proxies to prosecute the ground war and for blunting Turkeys power projection in the Mediterranean. The Turkey-Libya agreement is a clumsy attempt to impose Turkeys preferred maritime boundaries on the other countries bordering the Mediterranean. Naturally, Washington will not allow this unilateral assertion of power to go unchallenged. And while Washingtons strategy has not yet been announced, that merely indicates that the foreign policy establishment was caught off-guard by Turkeys November 27 announcement. It does not mean that Washington will accept the status quo. To the contrary, US war-planners are undoubtedly putting the finishing touches on a new strategy aimed at achieving their objectives in Libya while at the same time dealing a stinging blow to a NATO ally that has grown closer to Russia, caused endless headaches in Syria, and is now disrupting Washingtons plans for controlling vital resources in the East Mediterranean. Washington sees Turkeys assertive foreign policy as a sign of defiance which requires a iron-fisted response. But any attack on Turkey or Turkish interests will only intensify the bad blood between Ankara and Washington, it will only put more pressure on the threadbare NATO alliance, and it will only push Turkish president Erdogan further into Moscows corner. Indeed, the Trump team should realize that an overreaction on their part could trigger a fateful realignment that could reshape the region while hastening the emergence of a new order. Mike lives in Washington state. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com. This article was published by " Unz " - Mike lives in Washington state. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. The company has been receiving full support from the Andhra Pradesh government under the leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Hyderabad: Kia Motors India on Friday denied reports of moving its Andhra Pradesh plant to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The reports said Kia Motors was in talks with Tamil Nadu government to relocate its plant from Anantapur to the neighbouring state for a variety of reasons. The Korean auto-maker, in a statement, said the company has been receiving full support from the Andhra Pradesh government under the leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Kia has a long-term commitment to the Indian market and has made an investment of USD 1.1 billion in the manufacturing plant at Anantapur. We will continue to offer worldclass, made-in-Anantapur vehicles and innovative mobility experience to our valuable customers in India..." Kia said. The facility in Anantapur, spread across 536 acres, has an annual capacity of three lakh vehicles. The plant can produce hybrid and electric vehicles. In 2019, more people than ever before took to the railways around the United States. According to Amtrak, it saw a rider increase of three percent on its Washington DC, to Boston route, as well as a four percent increase in premium "Acela" high-speed service. However, theres one place where they need more riders, and that is long-distance routes, which saw ridership climb just one percent throughout the year. %image1 That slow growth of longer routes may simply come down to people not understanding just how many options are available to them. But, thats where Wanderus new cross-country train map comes in. In February, Wanderu, a transportation booking website, released a brand-new map that will help people travel on a massive train loop all over the United States. And heres the best part: The entire journey can be done for less than $1,000 and takes just seven days to complete. Courtesy of Wanderu The route takes guests from New England down the eastern seaboard straight to the South, crosses over the Sun Belt, up the West Coast, crossing to the upper Midwest and Rust Belt, and right back to New England. The one thing the team at Wanderu is warning potential passengers about is the fact that some legs of the route are a little lengthy. We admit, youd probably have to be a special kind of extra to ride 46 straight hours on a train, the team wrote in a blog post. Not that were judging if youve got that kind of longevity then kudos! However, those that want to do the route and take their time still can as they can get on and off wherever and whenever theyd like. And passengers may want to do just that considering the loop is made up of some of the most scenic Amtrak routes in the country. The route around the United States includes taking a train from Boston, MA to Washington, DC. Next, guests will hop aboard a train from DC to New Orleans. From there its a train to Los Angeles, direct to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago, then on to Cleveland. From Ohio, guests will head to Albany, NY, and finally settle back in Boston. Want to take the entire route or find your own partial journey? Check out the Wanderu map and get your tickets on Amtrak now. Taapsee Pannu, who flew to Delhi to cast her vote for the Assembly elections with her family, was questioned by one of her followers about why people living in Mumbai were deciding the future of those living in Delhi. Taapsee slammed the Twitter user saying that she is more of a Delhite than a lot of others who do not contribute to the capital. The user said, Why are people who live in Mumbai deciding for us, its been quite a long time since @taapsee shifted to Mumbai. She should get her vote shifted too. I am living in Delhi as much if not more than Mumbai. My income is taxed through Delhi and I am more of a Delhite than a lot of others who might just be living here but probably dont contribute. Kindly dont question my citizenship, worry about yours n your contribution to it. taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 8, 2020 And also to add, you can take a girl out of Delhi but you can not take Delhi out of this girl. And YOU are no one to tell me what I SHOULD do and what I SHOULD NOT! I guess this response will be enough to tell u how much of a Delhiite I am. taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 8, 2020 To this, Taapsee replied on Twitter, I am living in Delhi as much if not more than Mumbai. My income is taxed through Delhi and I am more of a Delhite than a lot of others who might just be living here but probably dont contribute. Kindly dont question my citizenship, worry about yours n your contribution to it. She wrote in another tweet, And also to add, you can take a girl out of Delhi but you can not take Delhi out of this girl. And YOU are no one to tell me what I SHOULD do and what I SHOULD NOT! I guess this response will be enough to tell u how much of a Delhiite I am. Ab Dilli mein badhe hote hue maine hindi Urdu Punjabi ke mixture mein baat karte samay zyada farak nahi notice kiya. Sab mil ke ek hi bhasha ban jaati thi. Aur shayad aaj bhi zyada farak samajh nahi aata mujhe toh. taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 8, 2020 Also read: Delhi Assembly Election 2020 voting live updates: Former President Pranab Mukherjee casts his vote in New Delhi constituency Also read: Delhi elections 2020: Taapsee Pannu casts vote with her family, jokes how her parents werent prepared to host her Taapsee had posted a family picture after they cast their votes and captioned it on Twitter, Aaj ka ek khoobsurat kaarya karne ke baad (After doing a beautiful task). Anubhav Sinha, the director of her upcoming film Thappad, praised her usage of Urdu word khoobsurat to which she replied, Ab Dilli mein badhe hote hue maine hindi Urdu Punjabi ke mixture mein baat karte samay zyada farak nahi notice kiya. Sab mil ke ek hi bhasha ban jaati thi. Aur shayad aaj bhi zyada farak samajh nahi aata mujhe toh (While growing up in Delhi, I havent noticed much difference while talking in a mixture of Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. It eventually becomes one language. And even today, I cant differentiate much). Follow @htshowbiz for more In this 2018 photo from Lancaster County's 11th Congressional District race, Democratic volunteers assemble door hangers promoting Jess King, who pushed turnout in the conservative county uncharacteristically high in her loss to Republican Lloyd Smucker. Read more I called Amish country a few days ago. It was tricky. I wanted to know why Democrats in Lancaster County had recently forced out the leader of their local party. How in the world could this be anything but bad news for Democrats trying to win the White House through battleground Pennsylvania? Its been brewing for quite some time, said outgoing chair JoAnn Hentz, 68, a retired educator who spent 10 years as vice chair and, more recently, leader of the party. Hentz was forced to resign by newer members of the party who want to more aggressively court the conservative countys moderate Democrats and independents. There was no compromise, she said. It was either leave, or ... She added: Its new leadership. Let them pull the party together. Ouch. Lancaster County is important to both political parties vying for the White House: Republicans have sought to turn its typically disengaged Amish farmers into Donald Trumpsters. Democrats, fueled by newcomers energized by antipathy toward the president, have been flipping local GOP seats with their own enlivened grassroots maneuvering, even though this is majority-GOP turf just west of the much-ado-blue Philadelphia suburbs. Blood on the floor in a Democratic skirmish, and making headlines in the local paper the same week as the Iowa caucus vote-counting debacle that showed astounding Democratic Party chaos at the presidential primary level. This doesnt seem ideal. Maybe, though, it will work? High Democratic turnout this year in Lancaster County could send as many as 10,000 new votes (by one operatives estimate) to the partys presidential favorite that werent there in 2016. Considering Trump won Pennsylvania by only 44,000 votes over Hillary Clinton in 2016, thats quite a chunk of change. Already, progressives boosted turnout in an unlikely outsider congressional campaign two years ago by Jess King, even as she lost to incumbent Rep. Lloyd Smucker. This county is so crucial, historically, that presidential candidates from both parties have visited in election years. So what went down ahead of Hentzs resignation in late January? Apparently, an irreconcilable divide in outlook and strategy between Old Guard and New Guard. The New Guard see this short-term turmoil as necessary to make immediate and long-term strides toward turning this red county purple. Thats how one of the key figures in the coup, Ismail Smith-Wade-El, explained it to me. The 30-year-old Lancaster City Council president and party vice chair said this fight with the outgoing chair was about embracing new strategies to make leaps forward. Im gonna speak broadly here, said Smith-Wade-El, a Carnegie Mellon University grad who is in his third year as an elected councilman. We believe that our former leadership was not maintaining internal and external relationships the way that they should have been maintained, and was not either welcoming the energy or the strategy that this party needs to move forward. This type of clash is not unique to Lancaster Countys Democrats. It has been playing out to some extent, also, in Southeastern Pennsylvania since the election of Trump sparked a surge of engagement by newly energized Democratic grassroots foot soldiers. Those newcomers have helped win elections across the suburbs of Philadelphia since 2017. Many are women, previously uninvolved in the party. They challenged Republicans even for seats that Democrats had not run for previously, making Republicans spend money and break a sweat. They flipped historically Republican Delaware, Chester, and Bucks Counties. READ MORE: The Philadelphia suburbs turned blue in a big way. What do Democrats plan to do with their new power? They have forced Republican retirements at the state legislative level, which is giving Democrats hope of winning the state House of Representatives this fall and having a say in the drawing of legislative district boundaries. The sweat equity and outrage of these newcomers have rebuilt the Democratic grassroots organizations on the local level, and in most cases establishment leaders have welcomed them. But they have demanded clout. The party for years leading up to Trumps Pennsylvania upset over Clinton in 2016 had devoted most of its resources to races for president, governor, and the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, it became the minority party in both state legislative chambers. On the local level, turnout suffered as the party became zombielike. In Lancaster County, the newcomers want the party to push with audacious field operations a message of health care and economic equity even in communities that are moderate or conservative. The incoming new party chair, Diane Topakian, is a longtime labor organizer. Even in deeply conservative towns like Gap and Elizabethtown," Smith-Wade-El said, they are asking "about what we can be doing to persuade and reach out to voters in more rural parts of the county. We have to be willing to listen to them. The other vice chair central to the leadership change, 34-year-old Mary Auker-Endres, agreed when we spoke Friday that maybe this wasnt the greatest timing for turmoil, given whats at stake this year. But she says all systems are now go for aggressive electoral gains in November. The Manheim native, for example, is running two Democratic state legislative challengers in heavily Republican districts. We all recognized that 2020 is an absolutely must-win year for Democrats," Auker-Endres said. "If we want to see our values reflected for maybe the next decade or more, this is the year we absolutely have to win and we need everybody to be able to work together well. If only not for that bloody little clash. First in the U13 Listowel Credit Union Quiz was Dromclough. From left, Denis Dillane, Listowel Credit Union, Leo Daly, Listowel Credit Union, Marcos Leahy, Breda Carmody,Teacher, Joseph McElligott, Cara Leahy, Catriona Dillon Teacher, Ronan Kelly and Ashley Fitzgerald, Listowel Credit Union. Photos by John Stack Talk about smarts! When children from across the greater Listowel area came together to contest the Listowel Credit Union schools quiz on Friday they left the adults reeling. Their brain power was something else, as they answered question after question after question over the course of the gruelling general knowledge test -getting most of them right in the process! Some, of course, got more right than others as the annual quiz put two age groups to the test - the under-11s and the under-13s. Lisselton and Dromclough National Schools emerged victorious in the u-11s and u-13 respectively, and now move forward to regional competition. Held in Presentation Secondary School Listowel on Friday night the quiz saw 33 teams in all across both age categories competing, representing no fewer than 13 primary schools. "In what is always a very competitive atmosphere, most teams were in close contest to the very end," Listowel Credit Union Marketing Manager Ashley Fitzgerald said. "Our annual quiz continues to grow in popularity and is a firm favourite in the calendars of our local schools. "We are delighted to encourage these enthusiastic students and test their knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Congratulations to all our winners and a special thank you to all the schools for their continued support." Both winning teams will now represent Listowel Credit Union at the Chapter 23 Finals being held on March 1 at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel. Alexander Vindman Andrew Harnik/AP US Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council adviser who testified in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, was escorted from the White House Friday afternoon. Vindman, who emigrated at 3 with his parents from Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, has served in the Army since 1999. Business Insider obtained military documents showing the announcement of his Purple Heart award. Vindman's Purple Heart citation is one of the career hallmarks that Democratic lawmakers have referenced to support his account as a credible witness. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. US Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council adviser who testified in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, was escorted out of the White House on Friday afternoon. His attorney David Pressman of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP said in a statement on his departure from the White House: "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful." Image from iOS (2) Business Insider The career soldier is expected to be reassigned within the Defense Department. Vindman was scheduled to leave his White House role in July, according to CNN. Vindman's departure came the day after Trump railed against him for his October testimony to House representatives. "Well, I'm not happy with him," Trump said on Thursday, referring to Vindman. "You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not." During his testimony, Vindman said he "did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen," referring to Trump's demand that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate his political rival former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Vindman, who emigrated with his parents from then-Soviet controlled Ukraine when he was 3, has served in the Army since 1999. As an infantryman, his most notable accomplishments include completing the US Army's Ranger course and earning the Expert Infantryman Badge. Story continues He would later deploy to Iraq with the 5th Infantry Regiment. According to a military citation, he received a Purple Heart in 2004 after he was injured in an improvised-explosive-device attack. Vindman's Purple Heart citation is one of the career hallmarks that Democratic lawmakers have referenced to support his account as a credible witness. He was a member of the Pentagon's Joint Staff from 2015 to 2018 and later a foreign-area officer focusing on Eurasia. Image from iOS (1) Business Insider Despite numerous attacks by Trump and his surrogates, Vindman described his actions as being motivated by patriotism, rather than politics. "I sit here as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, an immigrant," Vindman said during his public testimony in November "I have a deep appreciation for American values and ideals and the power of freedom," he added. "I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honor to advance and defend our country, irrespective of party or politics." Related: Professor Explains Exactly How Impeachment Works Business Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-08 14:52:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Xiaogan, a city with the nation's second-largest number of novel coronavirus infections, said it has been fast-tracking the nucleic acid testing (NAT) and expanding its coverage, which explained the recent surge in its confirmed cases. The city in Hubei Province reported 172 new confirmed cases of the 2019-nCov infection on Friday, adding to its tally of 2,313, which is only second to the provincial capital Wuhan that has 13,603 confirmed cases. Wu Haitao, mayor of Xiaogan, attributed the local epidemic outbreak to the city's adjacency to Wuhan. The city of 5 million people received a large number of home-bound travelers from Wuhan before this year's Spring Festival, including many infected people, he said in an interview on Friday evening. Moreover, Xiaogan has been enhancing its NAT efforts, with samples sent for testing nearly doubled between Feb. 1 to 6. The coverage of the tests has also expanded to include more fever patients. Wu said the measures contributed to the recent surge in its confirmed cases. "The increase in numbers has raised public concerns and fears, pushing us into the spotlight," the official said. "But the enhanced testing and expanded coverage meets the requirements of 'early detection, quarantine, diagnosis and treatment' and is conducive to containing the outbreak." Local health authorities said the pneumonia cases caused by the new virus in Xiaogan had peaked in late January and is now in the plateau period. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office reportedly is investigating whether the Jehovah's Witnesses repeatedly failed to report child sexual abuse allegations to authorities in what is believed to be the first wide-scale examination by a U.S. law enforcement agency. The attorney general's office told USA TODAY it "cannot confirm or deny the existence of investigations." But Mark O'Donnell, a former Jehovah's Witness who left the religion when he was 46, said the Pennsylvania attorney general's office interviewed him last summer at his home in Baltimore. Then he was subpoenaed to testify before a statewide investigating grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. O'Donnell provided USA TODAY a copy of his subpoena. A copy of the subpoena Mark O'Donnell said he received from the statewide investigating grand jury. O'Donnell said he first testified before the grand jury for more than two hours on Aug. 22 about his experiences as a Jehovahs Witness and the structure of the governing body and congregation. A former Jehovah's Witness elder testified next, O'Donnell said. O'Donnell said he testified again in December. He also outlined the chain of events in a new post he wrote Saturday for JW Survey, a website critical of the Jehovah's Witnesses. O'Donnell said he doesn't want to destroy anyone's faith; He wants transparency. "Witnesses believe that theyre obeying God, that theyre putting Gods law ahead of man's law," he said. "And the reality is that theyre harming people." Nov. 2018: Jehovah's Witnesses culture shrouds child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania The Jehovah's Witnesses U.S. Branch in WallKill, New York, provided a statement to USA TODAY, saying the organization "care(s) deeply about children" and always tries to follow the law. "Any suggestion that Jehovahs Witnesses foster or enable abuse is false," the statement continued. "We welcome an opportunity to explain our beliefs and practices to government officials and look forward to any recommendations they may have as we continue to focus on educating and equipping parents to protect their children from the horrible crime of abuse." Story continues Lawsuits filed across the country since the 1990s have accused the Jehovah's Witnesses and their legal corporations including the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York Inc. of failing to report child abuse. In 2018, a Montana jury awarded $35 million to Alexis Nunez, who said she was sexually abused for years by a member of the Thompson Falls Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses. Two others told elders in 2004 that they had been abused by the same man, according to court records, but the elders never reported it to authorities. The elders expelled the abuser from the congregation but then reinstated him, court records state. The man continued to abuse Nunez until 2007, according to the lawsuit. The defense argued in court records that the elders were exempt from Montana's mandatory child abuse reporting law because of an exception that allows clergy members to keep certain communications confidential. The Jehovah's Witnesses appealed the case. Last month, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in the organization's favor, finding that the lower court erred when it said Jehovah's Witnesses had a duty to report. In its opinion, the court said the Jehovah's Witnesses were exempt. That was not the first time the organization argued it has no duty to report suspected abuse. A sign marks the entrance of the Jehovah's Witness world headquarters in Tuxedo Park, New York. In 2014, the state of Delaware sued a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation and two elders, accusing them of failing to report child sexual abuse to authorities. A female member of their congregation had raped a teenage boy, according to the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry. The Jehovah's Witnesses and elders initially argued they were exempt from Delawares child abuse reporting law. They later reached a settlement with state officials, agreeing to pay $19,500 to the Delaware Department of Justice, participate in child abuse prevention training and report such allegations to authorities, court records show. New York's Child Victims Act: Boy Scouts, Catholic Church, more face new lawsuits as window to sue opens Heather Steele sued several Jehovah's Witnesses entities in New York, claiming church leaders in 1982 tried to discourage her family from cooperating with a criminal investigation into an elder who had been molesting her for eight years. In August, Heather Steele sued several Jehovah's Witnesses entities in New York, claiming religious leaders in 1982 tried to discourage her family from cooperating with a criminal investigation there into an elder who had been molesting her for eight years. According to the lawsuit, the sexual abuse began when she was 2. Steele worked with law enforcement anyway. Her abuser, Donald Nicholson, was convicted of sexual abuse and served 3 1/2 years in prison in New York, according to Department of Corrections and Community Supervision records. When he was released, Nicholson moved to New Jersey where, according to the lawsuit, he was reinstated as a Jehovah's Witness. The scope of the Pennsylvania attorney general's office's investigation into the Jehovah's Witnesses is unclear. But the office has significant experience investigating sexual abuse at religious organizations. In 2018, it released a report that detailed findings of a statewide investigative grand jury that had spent two years examining the Catholic Church's handling of child sexual abuse allegations. The jury identified 301 "predator priests" and found that "senior church officials, including bishops, monsignors and others, knew about the abuse committed by priests but routinely covered it up to avoid scandal, criminal charges against priests, and monetary damages to the dioceses," according to the release. The grand jury found that most of the allegations were now too old to be prosecuted. But some individuals did face criminal charges. The attorney general's office charged the Rev. John Sweeney with sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in the early 1990s. Sweeney pleaded guilty last year to indecent assault, court records show. He is currently in prison. The Rev. David Poulson faced myriad charges, including corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children, for repeatedly sexually assaulting one boy and attempting to assault another, according to court records and a release from the attorney general's office. Poulson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. O'Donnell said when people speak out about their experiences, it becomes easier for others to share their stories. "It takes a few people that are willing to come forward and do the right thing in order to get the ball rolling," he said, "and to provide sort of a safe landing place for those people who are suffering because of what an organization did." Marisa Kwiatkowski is a reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team, focusing primarily on children and social services. Contact her at mkwiatko@usatoday.com, @IndyMarisaK or by phone, Signal or WhatsApp at (317) 207-2855. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jehovah's Witnesses face Pennsylvania grand jury investigation DANBURY Main Street is closed by the juvenille courthouse and the power is out for the surrounding neighborhood as crews address a transformer fire and downed wire. The road was closed around 10:30 a.m. and traffic is being directed along Wooster Street and Deer Hill Avenue. We aim for consequential public service journalism at The Oregonian/OregonLive. Weve been in continuous operation since 1850, and weve always taken our watchdog role seriously. In the past several days, weve seen some gratifying results from our recent work. Part of our mission is to hold major institutions accountable. We, like you, want to make this place we live even better. We want government that works, for the little guy and the powerbroker. We want tax dollars spent with care and equity across communities. Sometimes we spend months investigating a wrong and sometimes a relatively simple David vs. Goliath story takes just a day or two. Thats the case when reporter and videographer Samantha Swindler chronicled the story of Emily James, who worked in a U.S. Bank call center. It had all the elements of an unforgettable read: the grinch-like big bank casting out a good-hearted everywoman during the holiday season. James left her post, with approval of her supervisor, to deliver $20 to a customer on Christmas Eve. The customers paycheck was not yet available in his account and he was stranded. When we published the story online Jan. 16, dozens of readers tore into the bank on social media, but the bank issued only a bland statement defending the decision. Even after a followup article, nothing of substance happened until Nicholas Kristof, an Oregon-raised New York Times columnist, saw our work and decided to write about James. That got the banks attention, and the banks CEO quickly pledged to fix the situation. Were thrilled when national media amplify our coverage and credit us, as Kristof did. And note that the first reporting on this case was in The Oregonian by @editorswindler. Without her excellent articles, the case would never have gained attention. So I second the recommendation to support The @Oregonian and other local papers across the country. https://t.co/cA4h6TiPaL Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) February 2, 2020 Sometimes, we go looking for a news outlet with more reach. In our investigation into Saudi nationals fleeing the U.S. justice system, presumably with the help of their government, we invited ProPublica, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative website, to join our reporting efforts. Reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh had chronicled more than two dozen cases where Saudi citizens were accused of serious crimes but then disappeared sometimes even when their passports had been confiscated. As a regional newspaper, we do not have the national intelligence sources that ProPublica has. The partnership paid off. On April 26, we published reporting by ProPublicas Sebastian Rotella and Tim Golden, with help from Kavanaugh, that revealed federal agencies had been aware of Saudi Arabias suspected role in helping suspects escape prosecution in the U.S. for at least a decade. The government, however, didnt want to risk losing help in the fight against Islamist terrorism so no one confronted the Saudis. Kavanaughs work through 2019 led to a new federal law that required the declassification of FBI documents, which showed the FBI believed the Saudis were almost certainly helping their citizens escape justice in the U.S. court system. Kavanaughs investigation is a finalist for the prestigious Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. Truth be told, we also dont mind if contest judges amplify our work. Last week, we also saw results from our investigation into radon in public housing. Reporter Brad Schmidt showed that housing authorities were failing to test for radon, which causes cancer. HUD announced last week that it was seeking a record amount of money from Congress to work on radon, along with other hazards. Some of the nations most vulnerable citizens, the poor and the elderly, rely on public housing and cannot investigate for themselves or fix the problem. Last, our investigation into Mercy Corps handling of complaints from the daughter of co-founder Ellsworth Culver prompted an external review, which was released publicly this week. The team of Noelle Crombie, Kale Williams, Beth Nakamura and Dave Killen devoted months to their investigation. They found the charity had mishandled Tania Culver Humphreys case and had allowed Culver to remain in a top position even after she revealed to Mercy Corps in the 1990s that he had sexually abused her. The charity also bobbled Humphreys request for a re-examination in 2018, we reported. The external inquiry by Vestry Laight, a consulting firm, substantiated our reporting that the complaints had been poorly handled. The charitys chief executive officer, a longtime board member and its senior legal counsel resigned after our reporting. The organization, which employs 5,500 people around the world and has helped 220 million people in over 40 countries, said it would adopt the reforms suggested by Vestry Laight and an outside law firm, Nichols Liu. Thats what I mean by journalism of consequence. We could bore readers with lengthy homework assignments on bureaucratic issues. But our time is best spent on identifying problems, researching the facts and presenting our findings -- often with potential solutions -- in an engaging, accessible way. When we do this well, our readers unfailingly pay attention. In each case outlined here, progress has been made, but there is still work to be done. The Saudi cases, in particular, leave victims without any recourse. Defendants walk free. When we do this important work, we keep front of mind the humans at the heart of the story. Emily James, the bank call center worker. Thomas Faison, who grew up in Portland public housing and now has late-stage lung cancer believed to be caused by radon. Tania Culver Humphrey, the resilient survivor of her fathers abuse. And, heartbreakingly, Fawn Lengvenis and Seth Smart, the parents of Fallon Smart, the teen who was killed by a Saudi student driving at high speed on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. That case started our reporting on the issue. Fallons parents are left with abiding grief and no resolution of the case against the driver, who disappeared after he was charged and is now back in Saudi Arabia. We thank each of them for trusting us to tell their stories, and we thank our subscribers for supporting independent local journalism. Therese Bottomly is editor and vice president of content for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at tbottomly@oregonian.com or 503-221-8434. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A 10-day event graced by 30 German doctors and new findings were unveiled by Dr. Prafull Vijayakar and the team In a first-of-its kind initiative, MD doctors from all across Europe are attended a seminar Predictive Homeopathy- International Seminar 2020, organized by renowned Indian Homeopath Dr. Prafull Vijayakar and his school in Mumbai. The 10-day event, scheduled for 27 th January-7 th Feb 2020, was held at Predictive Homeopathys Corporate Office in Khar West. This is the first ever international seminar on predictive homeopathy in India, where not only the new findings from the field were presented, but live cases of patients were taken on stage too. The event, graced by 30 European doctors, was inaugurated by Dr. Prafull Vijayakar & Dr. Ambrish Vijayakar. In course of the seminar, recent breakthroughs and research carried out by Dr. Prafull Vijayakar and his team were shared with the attendees, that focused on relevance of modern homeopathy treating a wide variety of diseases. One of the largest gathering of European homeopaths in India, this also happens to be the only platform, where live cases were attended and discussed. Talking about the initiative, Dr. Prafull Vijayakar said, An age-old method of treatment, homeopathy has also evolved with time and there have been a lot of breakthroughs in the field. Predictive homeopathy in India has reached a height with its findings and research to treat a wide variety of diseases, that needs to be shared with the world as well as patients. This international seminar is an occasion to spread that knowledge in presence of the renowned European homeopaths. Predictive Homeopathy by Dr. Prafull Vijayakar is the only school of homeopathy, that has received affiliation from ECPD UN. Besides, its also the only school of homeopathy, that assimilates Genetics and embryology. Conducting more than thousands of seminars across the world, the institute is now hosting this kind of an event for the first time in this country. The Rochester Fire Department was dispatched just before 2 a.m. Friday to 1961 N. Broadway for multiple reports of flames seen north of the Rochester Recreation Center. According to a fire department news release, law enforcement reported a vehicle fully engulfed in flames, electrical wires down and sparking, and the building beginning to burn. There were also reports of a second vehicle beginning to burn. The fire department was able to extinguish the majority of the fire associated with the vehicle nearest to the building. The fire associated with the second vehicle was also extinguished. Rochester Public Utilities and Minnesota Energy were asked to assist at the scene. RPU secured the downed power line that was still energized. According to the release, one vehicle was a complete loss, the second vehicle's exterior was damaged, and the building's exterior received "significant fire damage." The building's interior and contents also receive significant fire and smoke damage. ADVERTISEMENT The cause of the fire is under investigation. Former Vice President Hamid Ansari and RSS leader Ram Lal on Saturday polled their votes at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi Assembly constituency. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is contesting from the New Delhi Assembly constituency. BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress Romesh Sabharwal are fielded against the Kejriwal. Asked about the issues raised by political parties while campaigning, Ram Lal told ANI, "I think today everyone will have to show their papers. The Election Commission has also said that you will not be able to vote without showing papers. So, today the idea of showing paper will win. The concept of not showing papers will lose today. Today everyone will have to show their papers else they will not be able to vote." The polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today from 8 am. Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. The Congress didn't open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pune, Feb 8 : The 7th edition of the Vh1 Supersonic music festival kicked off at Pune's Mahalakshmi Lawns on Friday. The first day of the multi-genre music festival got an amazing response, with not just Punekars flocking the venue but also youngsters from other parts of the country turning up to catch the renowned artists performing live. Some of the artists who performed on the first day include names like Divine, Prateek Kuhad, Swadesi Live, Paper Queen, Ankur Tewari and the Ghalat Family, Ramiro Lopez, Sez and the MVMNT, Nosh and SJ, Arjun Vagale and Taba Chake among others. Talking about the energy of the crowd at the audience after his performance on the opening day, rapper Divine said: "I always get nervous when I go on stage. There is never a day when I am not nervous because I am still learning. And going in front of a crowd like that it's not easy. Some people just look into your eyes straight and you are like, what do I tell them now! But you just get in the moment and whatever energy they give me, I give them back. If you have seen me perform good over here, it's because of the crowd." Ramiro Lopez added: "I am really excited! People were so enthusiastic and I can feel their energy. The crowd was so energetic, they were dancing which made me happier. It felt amazing!" For the DJ from Spain, it is not just the music festival but also Indian food which he loved. "My second passion after music is food and whenever I am going to a new country I love to try the local food. Over here, I had a chance to try Indian food. I went to a friend's house yesterday and I tasted the real homemade Indian food and it was delicious! I am going to keep that in my mind forever," he told IANS. Mumbai-based Progressive House DJs Nosh and SJ who also performed on day one, loved the experience. They shared: "This is the first time we are performing at Vh1 Supersonic, so we are quite thrilled and happy. We are loving the vibe! To be very honest, we are overwhelmed at the response here. We love the decor, music, lineup of artists, food and the team. People are on the rock! It's a very nice platform for artists especially newcomers. For us to be on Supersonic it's a great thing!" Mumbai-based DJ Paper Queen also expressed her excitement and said: "I think people really liked my performance today, the crowd was very warm and enjoying my music. I am really happy about my performance at the Vh1 Supersonic 2020. I am quite regular here, it's my fifth time at the festival but this year I got the main stage for the first time. I feel blessed! A big thanks to Supersonic for trusting me and giving me this opportunity." Presented by Budweiser and powered by American Tourister, Vh1 Supersonic 2020 also has a lineup of celebrated artists such as Diplo, Machine Gun Kelly, Illenium, Gryffin, Sampa the Great, Speedy J and other renowned talents from across the globe over the weekend. The festival concludes on February 9, Sunday. The Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has decided to issue separate identity cards for persons belonging to the transgender community in the state. Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal said that providing separate identity cards will help people of the community to get the benefit of government jobs as well as all government schemes. BCCL Meghwal also informed that orders have been issued in writing to all the district collectors of the state to create a separate identity card for this community. Last month Rajsthan had announced an empowerment scheme for transgenders in the state, under which members of the community will be provided vocational training. Rajasthan is only the second Indian state to issue separate ID cards for transgenders. In 2018, Kerala had become had the first state to give ID cards to the transgender community to ensure the privileges and benefits offered by the government to reach the members of the community. BCCL Kerala was also the first Indian state to have a transgender policy. In 2019 the Kerala Social Justice Department had made the entire application process by which transgenders can apply for ID cards with the click of a button. This was based on the feedback received by the community which said the application process was protracted. Members of the transgender community were not keen on visiting various offices either. They also wanted a change in the card they wanted it to specify their gender. Despite the Supreme Court in a 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, gave an Indian citizen the sole right to self-identification of their gender identity and recognizing transgenders as the third gender, not much has been done to improve their social status. Rights groups say they often face huge discrimination and that sometimes hospitals refuse to admit them. They have been forced to choose either male or female as their gender in most public spheres. According to one estimate, India has about two million transgender people. BCCL Last year, despite the opposition from a large section of the community last year the government had passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill. Many in the community say that certain provisions in the law are unconstitutional, including the formation of district-level, five-member screening committees to certify the gender of a transgender person a provision that apparently runs against the Supreme Courts 2014 judgment that granted the right to self-recognition of gender to transgender individuals. You know, its something entirely separate from what we do, she said. I liken it to the baby contests back in the Southwest when I was growing up. It was kind of a hilarious thing: Look at this baby with the nice plump legs! Though the Sistahs Soiree orbits the Oscars, Woodard said that her goal was to foster camaraderie, not competition. Its important to me that when we hear our sisters names, we think good thoughts and feel protective of them, she said, so that we dont get into that bogus sense of competition that the business wants to put you in by saying, Too bad theres only three roles for black women this year, and then they send everybody from KiKi Layne to Cicely Tyson up for the same role. Sipping a glass of champagne, Woodard noted that Lupita Nyongo, who won an Oscar for 12 Years a Slave six years ago, was not handed a starring role until the horror film Us last year. She is still the great mahogany hope, but youve seen Lupita more on magazine covers than you have onscreen, Woodard said. Every time out, Lupita is fabulous, but look at what shes done since she won that Oscar and then look at the opportunities of a Scarlett or a Charlize. To change the system, Woodard said, a black actress will need not just fierce advocates but also the sort of support that the Sistahs Soiree is uniquely positioned to provide. If theres 100 roles in a year for women on film, we should be up for 99 of those roles, Woodard said. Well let the Cates have the queens of England. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Smoke alarms sounded in the dark, bitterly cold morning at a Skunk City home in Syracuse. The Syracuse Fire Department were called to 333 Fitch St. at 4:05 a.m. When firefighters arrived four minutes later, smoke was billowing from the attic, said Capt. David Ellis, fire department spokesman. Thanks in part to working smoke detectors, the residents living inside the two-family home escaped the blaze before firefighters arrived, Ellis said. Temperatures were hovering around 18 degrees while firefighters fought the fire, National Weather Service logs show. With wind chills, it felt like a bitterly cold 8 degrees. The fire started in the attic, Ellis said. The cause is under investigation. In addition to firefighters, the Syracuse Police Department, American Medical Response and National Grid responded to the scene. The American Red Cross is helping the residents. 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. Geniecast, The Virtual Experience Company, has access to thousands of experts who provide insight and intelligence to businesses every day. With the rise of the coronavirus from China and its global spread, theyve reviewed their roster to find the experts who can bring their considerable knowledge and experience to bear for companies working to navigate the coronavirus event. 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Dozens more people on a cruise ship quarantined in a Japanese port tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday and thousands of passengers remained confined to their cabins, only allowed on deck briefly for fresh air, Trend reports citing Reuters. The Diamond Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, was placed on a two-week quarantine on arriving at Yokohama on Monday after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference 41 people on the ship had tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 61. Twenty one of the new cases were Japanese. Those infected were moved to hospitals in Tokyo and neighboring towns, the Health Ministry said. Blue and white tarpaulin sheets were hung up to screen them from the view of other passengers. About 3,700 people are aboard the Diamond Princess, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is facing a tough challenge in Saturday's (February 8) election as Irish republican party Sinn Fein has emerged as a favourite, according to opinion polls. The left-wing Sinn Fein shocked the country when it emerged as the most popular party in an opinion poll released on Monday (February 3), with 25% of support, up from 14% support in the 2016 vote. The party is likely running too few candidates to lead the next administration and its rivals, Varadkar's Fine Gael and centre-right Fianna Fail, say they will not form a coalition government with it. Many Irish voters still oppose Sinn Fein for its role as the political wing of the IRA during a decades-long fight against British rule in Northern Ireland in which some 3,600 people were killed. Pete Buttigieg, a newly minted frontrunner in the Democratic presidential race, had a difficult time at Fridays debate explaining statistics that showed disproportionately high arrest rates for African-Americans for marijuana possession during his tenure as mayor of South Bend, Ind. Asked to account for the statistics by ABC News moderator Linsey Davis, Buttigieg launched into a notably long-winded answer that seemed to veer off course. The reality is that, on my watch, under my leadership, drug arrests in South Bend were lower than the national average, and specifically to marijuana, lower than in Indiana, Buttigieg began. But there is no question that systemic racism has penetrated to every level of our system, and my city was not immune. I took a lot of heat for discussing systemic racism with my own police department, but weve got to confront the fact that there is no escaping how this is part of all of our policies. Earlier we are talking about opioids and, thankfully, America has come to a better understanding that opioid addiction is best understood as a medical problem, Buttigieg said, but there are a lot of people, including African-American activists in my community, who have made the very good point: Its great that everybodys so enlightened about drug policy now when it comes to opioids, but where were you when it came to marijuana, where were you when it came to the crack epidemic in the 1990s? He went on to discuss his proposal to end incarceration as a response to possession and make sure that we legalize marijuana, but was interrupted by Davis, asking him to respond to the question about arrest rates on his watch. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Mayor Pete Buttigieg. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images (2)) And again, the overall rate was lower Buttigieg began. One of the strategies that we adopted was to target cases where there was gun violence and gang violence, which was slaughtering so many in our community, burying teenagers, disproportionately black teenagers. We adopted a strategy that said that drug enforcement would be targeted in cases where there was a connection to the most violent group or gang connected to a murder. These things are all connected, but thats the point. So are all of the things that need to change in order to prevent violence and remove the effects of systemic racism not just from criminal justice but from our economy, from health, from housing and from our democracy itself. Story continues Davis then turned to one of his rivals for an opinion on that belabored response. Senator Warren, was that a substantial answer from Mayor Buttigieg? No, Warren replied crisply, to applause from the audience at St. Anselm College. After a beat, Warren continued, as Buttigieg, at the adjacent lectern, glared at her. You have to own up to the facts. And it is important to own up to the facts about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system. You know, for the exact same crimes, study after study now shows that African-Americans are more likely than whites to be detained, to be arrested, to be taken to trial and convicted and be sentenced to harsher sentences. We need to rework our criminal justice system from the very front end on what we make illegal, all the way through the system and how we help people come back into the community. But we cannot just say that criminal justice is the only time we want to talk about race, specifically. We need to start having race-conscious laws. Buttigieg had a strong showing in the Iowa caucus, where he virtually tied for first place with Sen. Bernie Sanders. Warren finished third. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart is launching a self-defense initiative after she says she was assaulted on a flight to Utah last summer. "I had been asleep and all of a sudden I woke up because I felt someone's hand rubbing in between my legs on my inner thigh," Smart told Gayle King of "CBS This Morning." Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home when she was 14 by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee in 2002. During the interview, Smart said she was shocked that a strange man sitting next to her would do something like that. "The last time somebody touched me without my say so was when I was kidnapped and I froze. I didn't know what to do," Smart said in the interview that aired Thursday. Smart says she reported the incident to law enforcement and Delta Air Lines. The airline confirmed that Smart "shared that another passenger had acted inappropriately towards her" and it "does not tolerate passenger misconduct." "We took the matter seriously and have continued to cooperate with Ms. Smart and the appropriate authorities as the matter is investigated," the airline told CNN. Sandra Yi Barker, a spokeswoman with the FBI's Salt Lake City office, said that she could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. Smart said there's an ongoing investigation into the incident. Since the incident, Smart has been working to create Smart Defense, a self-defense program for women and girls. The program, designed by mixed martial arts and law enforcement experts, "empowers women and girls with confidence and self-defense skills to prevent, ward off, and fight back against sexual assault in a safe, controlled environment," according to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation website. CNN has reached out to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation for comment. While Smart said she is not sure if taking a self-class would have prevented her from being kidnapped as a teenager, she said it would have given her the confidence to try to run away. "We are not training assassins, we are trying to train them to give themselves an opportunity to get away," she said. After 134 tumultuous days, the impeachment of President Donald Trump ended in a predictable near-party-line acquittal this week by the Republican-controlled Senate. Out of 250 Republicans in Congress, only one - Senator Mitt Romney of Utah - had the courage of his conscience, voting to convict on first of the two articles. (Representative Justin Amash of Michigan, a former Republican, also supported impeachment.) Was it worth it? As Zhou Enlai supposedly said of the French Revolution, it's too early to say. But so far, impeachment has not lived up to either the greatest hopes or the worst fears of its advocates. In the best-case scenario, the incontrovertible weight of evidence would have led more than one Republican to turn against the president. No one ever imagined that there would be 67 votes to remove him, but it was at least conceivable that advocates of impeachment could obtain a bare Senate majority and thus make it harder for Trump to claim that this was all a partisan plot. That that didn't happen is a testament to the power of political polarisation, with a record-setting 87-point split between Democratic and Republican views of Trump in the latest Gallup poll. (He has the support of 94pc of Republicans and 7pc of Democrats.) The craven Senate Republicans were so terrified of Trump's hold on their base that all but two of them voted against hearing from witnesses for the first time in impeachment history. Their behaviour brings to mind the Nixon defender who defiantly declared: "Don't confuse me with the facts. I've got a closed mind." Wednesday's acquittal comes despite, not because of, the evidence. Mr Trump emerges with higher than normal - if far from stellar - approval ratings. The latest FiveThirtyEight polling average has him at 43.4pc approval and 52.1pc disapproval. He has gone up in the polls recently (49pc support him in the new Gallup poll), but this is probably because the public approves of the economy, not of his conduct. Consumer confidence in the IDB/TIPP poll is at its highest level in 16 years and the incumbent tends to get credit - which Trump was eager to claim in the State of the Union. The good news for President Trump's opponents is that so far there is little evidence of a popular backlash against impeachment. Nearly 50pc of the American public supports impeachment and removal in the FiveThirtyEight polling average. That's not enough to drive him out of office. But it is actually slightly higher than the number (46pc) who wanted president Richard M Nixon convicted in July 1974, just a few weeks before he resigned, and it's far higher than support for impeaching president Bill Clinton, which topped out at a paltry 35pc. The Economist/YouGov poll shows that, by 50pc to 34pc, Americans think Mr Trump is guilty of withholding military aid to Ukraine to force an investigation of the Bidens and, by 48pc to 39pc, they think he is guilty of obstructing Congress. By an even larger margin, respondents in recent polls said the Senate should call witnesses. The Republicans' failure to do so denies Trump the full exoneration he craves. The US public isn't rallying to Trump and the Republicans as they rallied to Clinton and the Democrats after impeachment in 1999 because what Trump did was far worse than lying about sex. In those days, Clinton's popularity shot up to 73pc and the Democrats' advantage in party identification expanded to 17 points. By contrast, the RealClearPolitics polling average for a generic congressional ballot, showing a seven-point advantage for Democrats, is now nearly identical to the average of polls taken right before the 2018 midterm election. In short, impeachment hasn't fundamentally altered the political dynamics - and its impact is likely to dissipate even more before the election. Impeachment could have its biggest impact on House Democrats in red districts and Senate Republicans in blue states, but opinions of Trump are so entrenched that it doesn't seem likely to leave a lasting mark on the presidential race one way or the other. I still believe impeachment was the right thing to do, because it brought out so much evidence of Trump's wrongdoing - even without the testimony of important witnesses such as John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney. Even some of the senators voting to acquit acknowledge that Trump did something wrong. They just don't care. Now it will be up to the voters to decide if it matters to them or not. I'm resigned to the likelihood that Trump's outrageous abuse of office won't prevent him from winning a second term. But I don't think there's much House Democrats could or should have done differently. Ignoring Trump's attempt to rig the election wasn't a serious option and pushing for censure wouldn't have been any more successful in winning bipartisan support. Sure, Trump may be emboldened after he's acquitted - but he also would have been emboldened if there had been no consequences at all once he was caught in a corrupt quid pro quo. Representative Adam B Schiff, Democrat for California, and the other House managers proved their case. They did their duty with honour and eloquence. All of the vulnerable Democrats such as Senator Doug Jones, Alabama, and the House freshmen who risked their seats to support impeachment were profiles in courage. So too were all the civil servants - beginning with the whistleblower - who exposed Trump's dirty deeds at real risk of retribution. It's not their fault that in Trump's America "truth" and "right" matter less than partisan might. The Washington Post He is famous for playing cult figure Max Rockatansky in the first three Mad Max films. And fans will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with Hollywood superstar Mel Gibson at a fan convention being held in Melbourne mid-year. The 54-year-old told the Herald Sun he was looking forward to attending Cospendium Cosplay and Gaming Convention on July 4. Confirmed: Fans will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Mad Max as Mel Gibson is confirmed to headline a fan convention in Melbourne this July 'I look forward to meeting all my fans in Melbourne and sharing all the thrilling, funny and sometimes very weird stories from my life and career,' he said. Fans will have unprecedented access to the Braveheart star as he takes part in meet and greets where they will be able to take one-on-one photos with the star He will also take part in a panel discussion where he will share highlights from his amazing career and take questions from the audience. This will be Mel's first appearance at a fan convention. Iconic role: Mel is famous for playing cult figure Max Rockatansky in the first three Mad Max films The news comes just days after producer Dan Lin announced that the actor was set to reprise his role as Detective Martin Riggs in the fifth installment of hit franchise Lethal Weapon. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Producers Roundtable on Tuesday, he said the film would focus on Mel's character and his partner Detective Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover. 'We're trying to make the last Lethal Weapon movie. And Dick Donner's (the original director) coming back. The original cast is coming back. And it's just amazing. The story is very personal to him,' he said They're back! Lethal Weapon 5 was confirmed on Tuesday by producer Dan Lin He also said both of the actors were 'ready to go', but the script for the project still needs to be finished so the film is still in its pre-production stage. The original Lethal Weapon was released in 1987 and the popularity of the detective duo meant that it spawned three sequels. The last installment in the franchise was released 22 years ago. Swara Bhasker was among the Delhi citizens who cast their vote in the assembly elections on Saturday. The actor shared a picture of herself, showing off the ink mark on her finger along with a sarcastic caption to hit back at her detractors. Sharing the post-voting picture on Twitter, she wrote, Done my deed #Delhi #DelhiElections2020 How about you??? P.S. RW Twitter - heres another ungli photo to help you get by this year! Swara has always been vocal about her opinions on current issues and often gives it back to trolls on Twitter. She had started a signature campaign demanding an independent judicial enquiry into the violence against the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who were attacked by a masked mob in January. Among other Bollywood celebrities who flew to Delhi to cast their vote was Taapsee Pannu. The actor was shooting for her next film titled Haseen Dillruba in Haridwar but flew to Delhi for the poll day. She had also shared a family picture in which the actor, her sister Shagun Pannu and their parents are showing off their ink marks. Also read: Delhi Assembly Election 2020 voting live updates: Former President Pranab Mukherjee casts his vote in New Delhi constituency Also read: Taapsee Pannu slams Twitter user who questioned her for voting in Delhi, says You cant take Delhi out of her Taapsee had reacted to a Twitter user who asked her to shift her vote to Mumbai as she shouldnt be deciding the fate of people living in Delhi. She had replied, I am living in Delhi as much if not more than Mumbai. My income is taxed through Delhi and I am more of a Delhite than a lot of others who might just be living here but probably dont contribute. Kindly dont question my citizenship, worry about yours n your contribution to it. She added, And also to add, you can take a girl out of Delhi but you can not take Delhi out of this girl. And YOU are no one to tell me what I SHOULD do and what I SHOULD NOT! I guess this response will be enough to tell u how much of a Delhiite I am. Follow @htshowbiz for more Beaming with enthusiasm, Senior citizens and specially-abled voters turned out in large numbers to exercise their adult franchise in Delhi assembly elections, here on Saturday. Many of these citizens arrived at their polling booths, early in the morning to poll votes in their respective constituencies. Senior citizen Jwala Devi (90) was one of the early morning voters who came out to vote. Another senior citizen SM Kataria (82) came on his wheelchair to cast his vote and to motivate other voters to come out and exercise their franchise. Specially-abled Ikrar Mohammed came on his scooter to cast his vote at a booth in Aurangzeb lane of New Delhi Constituency. Another specially-abled voter, Rushkad polled her vote at a poll booth in Jamia Nagar of Okhla constituency. Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi started today at 8 am.Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest among AAP, BJP, and Congress. In the last poll, the AAP had won 67 seats, while the BJP won 3 seats. Congress did not open its account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JAIPUR, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / FEBRUARY 8, 2020 / Pratima Totla has been an icon for women all over the country due to her success and an interesting life story. Today there is so much competition in the beauty industry that everyone claims to be an expert. In such an industry people like Pratima Totla are changing the rules and setting the bar high for the newcomers. There are so many young girls who look up to Pratima Totla for various reasons. Starting from her impeccable style sense to her stunning personality, there are so many things that amaze these young souls. This nationwide popularity is mainly because of her being the Mrs. India Fashion Icon in 2017. Ever since she won that title she has constantly been on the news with the media not getting enough of her, no matter how many interviews she gave. It's not hard to imagine why the country's youth is going gaga over her the past few years! This is not all, she was also declared to be the brand ambassador of Mrs. Heritage World 2017 which can be considered to be a massive achievement in such a glamorous industry. Many models, as well as aspiring contestants of countless beauty pageants, follow her footsteps to achieve success. There are so many who follow her styles closely, while there are others who strictly follow her lifestyle and try to develop a peppy personality like her. So in her own way, she has encouraged millions of girls who wish to make a name in this industry. This is a major reason why she won the Top 50 Indian Icon awards right in 2017. She is surrounded by a loving and passionate group of fans wherever she goes and especially on social media. Her widespread popularity in this country is also the reason why she was the ultimate choice for the talk show The Star Gazers Of India'. The show is aired on India TV' and is hosted by none other than the incredible Pratima Totla. She brings plenty of charm and charisma to the show with her years of experience and expertise in this industry. Her personality takes this show to a whole new level and makes it such an enjoyable show for people of all ages. The ratings have been high since day one as the youth of the entire nation including her fans stay tuned to know what new element is yet to be uncovered in the upcoming episodes. As a host, no one could have handled the unique elements of the show better than her. Due to her popularity following this show and the numerous awards she received for her remarkable work in the others sections of the society, soon she became an international celebrity who is loved and cherished worldwide. Today vibrant young girls and guys from almost every part of the world recognize her due to her beauty, class and universal humanitarian works which is why on 2018 she won the World Icon award. Not just this, in 2019 she also became the brand ambassador of the World Icon awards at Sri Lanka. In all these years she has been invited in multiple shows as well as beauty pageants to become a jury or for hosting it. Apart from this, Pratima Totla is also internationally famous as a motivational speaker, model, and even as a writer! Once she was even honored at the globally renowned Vishnu Temple in Bangkok. What makes her stand apart from the crowd, in this volatile industry is the fact that there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She is not only a legend in the beauty industry but is also widely known because of her intelligence and humanitarian works. She is what you can say, A beauty with a brain! No wonder she has been given multiple awards for both of these aspects in the past few years. While the Dr. APJ AbdulKalam campaign was announced Pratima Totla was declared as the national brand ambassador. Some of the other awards she achieved are: Story continues Asia pride award 2018 National excellence award 2018 National superwoman award 2018 Top 10 most powerful personality of Rajasthan 2017, 2019 Pride of Rajasthan 2018 Rashtra Gaurav award India excellence prize award 2018 Top 100 most powerful women in India All these achievements, but what many people aren't aware of, is that the journey started after she turned 40. Her story is an inspiration for married women all over the country who are still searching for their identity and doubting themselves at every step. She motivates all housewives to come out of their comfort zones and work hard to conquer the world and live their dreams. In fact, to inspire more people and make them realize that it's never too late to start, she has started the I Can' campaign. Hopefully, more and more women will join the campaign in the near future and find the right path to achieving their dreams. About Dr. Pratima Totla People all over the world know Pratima Totla as a renowned model and host. Only a few know that she is also a doctorate which makes her so appealing to the youth that craves for an idol who is not just a pretty face but also has an intelligent & bright mind with a heart of gold that yearns to assist people who are in need of it. Her doctorate degree was awarded by the Academy of universal global peace - the USA due to her awards and achievements. Due to her groundbreaking works for the society, she even became the International Chairperson of the Anti-corruption foundation of India. Media Contact Name: Pratima Totla Email: pratimatotla@gmail.com Website: http://www.pratimatotla.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DrPratimaTotla/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/pratimatotla Twitter: https://twitter.com/pratimatotla SOURCE: Pratima Totla View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/575796/The-Inspirational-Life-of-the-Beauty-Legend-Dr-Pratima-Totla Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi on Saturday said that those participating in a Left front rally in Bihar today could be "identified by their clothes", and also added that the protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh came from a "particular community". He also claimed that it was thanks to the "efforts of PM Narendra Modi" that the Supreme Court decided the Ayodhya Ram temple case in Hindus' favour. "Aaj Bihar ke andar jo rally ho rahi hai vampanthiyon ki, usme kaun log jaa rahe hain? Ek varg vishesh ke log ja rahe hain jinko unke kapde se pehchana jaa sakta hai (Who are these people going to a Left front rally in Bihar today? They are from a certain community who can be identified by their clothes)," the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said while speaking at an event here. Speaking on Saturday at an event to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century poet-saint venerated by the Dalits, Sushil Modi said that "some elements" in the country were trying to forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance. He vowed to foil such efforts. "There are some elements in the country who are attempting to forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance in recent times. These people tell the Dalits that they are being neglected in the Hindu society. Such attempts to alienate the Dalits from the Hindu society have been going on since British era," Modi said while addressing a gathering here. "The effort that has been going on for last 100 years and which we have foiled...we won't let this alliance happen in coming times too," he added. Speaking on the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Bihar Deputy CM said: "Who are the people sitting on dharna at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh? They are from a particular community who are angry with the work done by the Narendra Modi government in the last six months." "They are not angry over the CAA. They are angry with the work of Narendra Modi government that has ended triple talaq, abrogated Article 370 and also with the efforts of PM Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court decided the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri masjid case in favour of the Hindus to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It is this anger that is coming out in the form of Shaheen Bagh," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in December last year said that those protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill could be identified by their clothes. The Prime Minister's remarks were criticised by the Opposition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India, Nepal, and Bangladesh on Saturday decided to go ahead to implement a four-nation agreement inked almost five years ago to facilitate hassle-free movement of vehicles within the three nations, in spite of dilly-dallying by the pact's fourth signatory Bhutan. The officials of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal met in New Delhi and agreed to ink a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would be similar to the four-nation pact signed on June 15, 2015, but would be effective only for movement of vehicles within the three nations without any obligation for Bhutan. They also agreed to work fast on two separate protocols, which, once finalized, would govern the movement of passenger and cargo vehicles among the three nations. Bhutan also sent its officials to take part in the meeting hosted by India but as observers. A press-release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi noted that India, Bangladesh and Nepal had decided to start facilitating movement of cargo and passenger vehicles within the three nations only after getting the go-ahead from Bhutan. The BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic was inked on June 15, 2015. New Delhi took the lead in negotiating the four-nation agreement, which, if implemented, would have made it possible for vehicles registered in one of the four countries to move into or transit though the other three nations without any hassle. India was keen to ink such an agreement to promote sub-regional connectivity as similar initiatives involving all the eight nations in entire South Asia region could not move ahead due to the reluctance of Pakistan. Bhutan like India, Nepal and Bangladesh did sign the agreement, but the upper House of the tiny nation's Parliament National Council declined to ratify it. The members of the National Council had apprehension that Bhutan's unspoilt environment and culture would be in peril when such a large number passenger and cargo vehicles from Bangladesh, Nepal and India would be allowed to roll into the tiny Himalayan Shangri La. The BBIN motor vehicle pact was conceived after a similar agreement proposed within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was blocked by Pakistan in November 2014. Bhutan's failure to get the nod of its National Assembly stalled implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement. It was a setback for India, which was keen to implement the four-nation agreement even as Pakistan has been persistently playing spoilsport in South Asian nations pursuit for greater regional connectivity. New Delhi has been exploring the possibility of resolving the stalemate and start implementing the sub-regional connectivity initiative, initially within India, Nepal and Bangladesh and leaving aside Bhutan. It finally succeeded on Saturday, when Bangladesh and Nepal agreed with it to move ahead even without Bhutan - the fourth signatory of the 2015 agreement. Sources in New Delhi said that when Thimphu would be able to get its National Council to ratify the original Motor Vehicle Agreement inked five years ago, Bangladesh, Nepal and India would implement the 2015 four-nation pact along with Bhutan. The delegations from Bangladesh, India and Nepal on Saturday agreed upon the need to expeditiously finalize the Passenger and Cargo Protocols for implementation of the BBIN MVA (Motor Vehicle Agreement). The meeting agreed to endeavor to revert by May 2020 on the process of internal consultations by respective countries based on the discussions of the meeting, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg visits the Dollarhide Community Center for a campaign event in Compton, California, U.S. February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen Reuters In 2016, Michael Bloomberg brought up transgender people using the bathroom when he was asked a question about Brexit. The current presidential hopeful referred to a hypothetical transgender woman as a "man wearing a dress" and implied people in the Midwest couldn't understand social issues. A statement from the Bloomberg campaign insists he is dedicated to protecting the rights of the transgender community. A spokesperson for the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund told Business Insider that the former mayor should be allowed to grow, and said his past comments indicated an issue with his education on trans issues. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg came under fire Thursday after a recently surfaced 2016 video showed him referring to transgender women as a "man wearing a dress," and suggesting that people in the US Midwest are not intelligent enough to understand social issues. While speaking at a University of Oxford event in England, Bloomberg, 77, brought up the topic of transgender people using the bathroom, which at the time was a controversial issue in the U.S. "We, the intelligentsia, the people who could make it into this room, we believe a lot of things in terms of equality and protecting individual rights that make no sense to the vast bulk of people," the former New York City mayor and billionaire business mogul said while responding to a question about Brexit. Related Video: Why Medical Treatments for Transgender People Are so Expensive Bloomberg pointed to the issue around trans rights and bathrooms to support his argument that there is "a fundamental disconnect between us believing the rights of the individual come first and the general belief around the world I think it's fair to say that the rights of society come first." In 2016, nearly 20 states pursued "bathroom bills" to block transgender people from using public facilities. Around the time Bloomberg made his comments, 60% of transgender people said they avoided using the restroom in public over fears of harassment. Story continues "If you want to know if somebody is a good salesman, give them the job of going to the Midwest and picking a town and selling to that town the concept that some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter," Bloomberg said. "If you can sell that, you can sell anything." The presidential hopeful, who came in tenth place in the Iowa caucus, then pivoted to explain a policy in New York prisons requiring inmates "drop their trousers" to determine whether they are sent to a men or women's correctional facility. "You can't sit there, you can't mix things in a jail," Bloomberg said. "That's a practical case of when you have to make a decision." Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign rally at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Associated Press Partisan stances on trans rights and bathroom policies intensified amid former President Barack Obama's 2016 guidance to public schools, stating trans students were protected by Title IX and could use the bathroom of their identified gender. A year later, the Trump administration rescinded this directive, arguing that transgender status was not protected by the decades-old statute. The reversal was just one move in a series of actions that targeted the trans community, and why, despite Bloomberg's comments, the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund Executive Director Mara Keisling told Business Insider her organization would support any candidate trying to prevent Trump's reelection. "This year everybody needs to understand, and our community needs to understand, we really have a choice between four more years of this heartless, thoughtless, dangerous agenda of President Trump, or whoever his opponent is," Keisling said Friday. "And whoever his opponent is, they are most certainly going to need some education." While Kiesling did not approve of the way Bloomberg had addressed transgender issues in 2016, she referred to his current pro-equality policy proposals, saying, "We have to allow people to change and grow and embrace them when they come around and become more educated and more respectful." "Almost every Democratic candidate, including Mayor Bloomberg," she continued, "really has a strong pro-equality agenda on paper, and we're just going to need to make sure that they are individually sufficiently educated so that they respect us, and they work to make things better for us," Keisling told Business Insider. Kiesling called Bloomberg's framing of the Midwest "geographic bias," and "cliche," adding she thought it was "equally true of people in Brooklyn and in the South." Bloomberg's campaign did not directly address the candidate's 2016 comments, but in a statement said he "understands" the transgender community and pointed to some of his past efforts to support them, such as providing "comprehensive healthcare" to his transgender employees while he was mayor of New York City. "Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community," the statement read. Last month, Bloomberg released a plan pledging to sign the Equality Act into law, reverse the Trump administration's LGBT policies, and reduce violence against transgender people. "As president, I will work to protect every member of the LGBTQ+ community from hatred, violence, and discrimination," Bloomberg said on January 28. "We will close disparities in health care access and quality, stop violence against transgender people, and advocate for equal rights across the world. We cannot settle for anything less and I won't." Read more: An Iowa woman tried to retract her support for Pete Buttigieg after learning he's gay Ex-Fox News journalist Gretchen Carlson calls on Michael Bloomberg to release women from NDAs they signed as his employees NikkieTutorials says she could 'destroy the life' of her blackmailer and knows where he lives, but told fans to stop looking for him in her first video since coming out 12 transgender models who are changing the industry Business Insider Advertisement Crowds of Kenyans queued up to pay their respects to their former president Daniel arap Moi today as his body lay in state following his death on Tuesday aged 95. A military escort transported his coffin through the streets to the Parliament Buildings in the capital Nairobi before the public were allowed in to view it. Moi, who ruled the country with an iron fist between 1978 and 2002, will be honoured with a state funeral on February 11, the government said. Despite being labelled a dictator who routinely tortured political opponents, the former school teacher was popular among many ordinary Kenyans. A military officer salutes in front of the body of Daniel arap Moi as it lies in state in parliament in the capital Nairobi A civilian dressed in national colours reacts as she arrives for the viewing the body of late former Kenya's President Daniel Arap Moi, lying in state at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi Military officers push the coffin of late former Kenya's President Daniel Arap Moi, draped in the National Flag, from the Lee Funeral Home as it arrives to Lie-in-State for public viewing at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, Kenya Crowds of Kenyans queued up to pay their respects to their former president Daniel arap Moi today as his body lay in state Family members are among the first to pay their respects today as the body of former Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi lies in state at the parliament buildings in the capital Nairobi Badges and T-shirts depicting Moi were on sale in the streets today. President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier eulogized the former president in a live televised broadcast from State House Nairobi, his official residence. He said: 'Today as the solemn procession of the late President Moi's remains proceeds to the streets of our nation's capital, to lie in state at Parliament Buildings, we commence the final journey of a great son of Kenya, a cherished brother, a loving father, a mentor to many, a father of our nation, a champion of pan-Africanism, and the second president of the republic of Kenya.' Kenyatta and first lady Margaret Kenyatta were the first to view the body, before the public were allowed in. Rebecca Andisi, who queued to see his body, said: 'I remember Moi as a president who helped people, people would go to him and he would help them, he paid school fees for school children,' she said. 'May God rest his soul in eternal peace' Moi's body will lie in state for public viewing from Saturday until Monday, before a memorial service on Tuesday in the Nyayo national stadium in the capital Nairobi, officials said. 'The former president will be accorded a state funeral with full civilian and military ceremonial honours,' said Joseph Kinyua, Kenya's Head of Public Service. Tuesday has been declared a national holiday. 'We encourage each and every Kenyan to plant a tree in his memory,' Kinyua said. His presidency began with great optimism and in 1980 he hosted former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at the State House in the Kenyan capital Nairobi He was given a guard of honour when he left power in 2002 (pictured) by which time the struggling Kenyan economy was rife with corruption. Military officers march in a procession as they escort the coffin of late former Kenya's President Daniel Arap Moi, draped in the National Flag, from the Lee Funeral Home on its way to Lie-in-State for public viewing at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, Kenya Badges are offered for sale to people waiting to view the body of Daniel arap Moi, Kenya's second president, lying-in-state at the parliament in Nairobi, Kenya Members of the Kenya Judiciary pay their last respects to former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi in Nairobi today A Kenyan military officer stands by a memorial poster for former president Daniel arap Moi as his body lies in state today Moi became vice president of Kenya in 1967, a position he held until taking power 11 years later. He is pictured here in 1968, walking along a row of traditional dancers who performed for him on a visit to Muranga, north of Nairobi Moi ruled Kenya with an iron grip for 24 years from 1978 when he first took power until 2002 From school teacher to ruthless dictator: Key dates in the life of Daniel arap Moi 1924: He is born into a poor family from the Kalenjin people and grows up in the cattle-herding and farming county of Baringo in northwestern Kenya. 1955: After working as a teacher, he enters politics and serves in legislative councils under British colonial rule. 1967: Named vice president of Kenya. 1978: Moi becomes president after death of Jomo Kenyatta, father of Kenyan independence. 1982: He survives a botched coup, responding swiftly and harshly, with dozens arrested and fired. 1991: Under domestic and international pressure, Moi puts an end to one-party rule and allows a multi-party system. He is re-elected leader in 1992 and 1997 elections, both marred by political and ethnic violence. 1997: The World Bank and IMF withhold aid to Kenya, saying the government has not kept its pledge to fight corruption. 2002: The constitution blocks Moi from standing for re-election. He quits and peacefully hands over power to Mwai Kibaki. 2004: He launches a humanitarian foundation called Moi Africa Institute (MAI), focused on preventing conflicts on the continent. 2006: Moi asks for forgiveness for acts of misrule during his 24-year-regime. 2020: Moi dies aged 95. Advertisement His body will be buried the next day in his home area of Kabarak, 220 kilometres (135 miles) northwest of Nairobi. Moi's 24-year rule saw his country become a one-party state where critical voices were crushed, corruption became endemic and tribal divisions were stoked and turned bloody. Moi was however praised for keeping Kenya a relative haven of peace during a chaotic period in east Africa. Despite being called a dictator by critics, Moi enjoyed strong support from many Kenyans and was seen as a uniting figure when he took power after founding president Jomo Kenyatta died in office in 1978. Some allies of the ailing Kenyatta, however, had tried to change the constitution to prevent Moi, then the vice president, from automatically taking power upon Kenyatta's death. So wary was Moi of any threat during that uncertain period that he fled his Rift Valley home when he heard of Kenyatta's death, returning only after receiving assurances of his safety. In 1982 Moi's government pushed through parliament a constitutional amendment that made Kenya effectively a one-party state. Later that year the army quelled a coup attempt plotted by opposition members and some air force officers. At least 159 people were killed. Moi's government then became more repressive in dealing with dissent, according to a report by the government's Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission that assessed his rule. Political activists and others who dared oppose Moi's rule were routinely detained and tortured, the report said, noting unlawful detentions and assassinations, including the killing of a foreign affairs minister, Robert Ouko. 'The judiciary became an accomplice in the perpetuation of violations, while parliament was transformed into a puppet controlled by the heavy hand of the executive,' the report said. Corruption, especially the illegal allocation of land, became institutionalized, the report said, while economic power was centralized in the hands of a few. In 1991, Moi yielded to demands for a multi-party state due to internal pressure, including a demonstration in 1991 during which police killed more than 20 people, and external pressure from the West. Multi-party elections in 1992 and 1997 were marred by political and ethnic violence that critics asserted were caused by the state. A supporter of Daniel arap Moi wears badges of the former Kenyan president as his body lay in state today in Nairobi A man sells T-shirts bearing the photo of Kenya's former President Daniel Arap Moi whose body is lying in state today By the time Moi left power in 2002, corruption had left Kenya's economy, the most developed in East Africa, with negative growth. Moi often blamed the West for bad publicity and the economic hardships many Kenyans had to endure during his rule. As with his predecessor, Kenyatta, many government projects, buildings and currency notes and coins were named after Moi. Fed up, Kenyans voted for a new constitution that was implemented in 2010 and made provisions to bar personality cults. Mixed reaction greeted Moi's death. Commentator Patrick Gathara said in a tweet that Tuesday was a day to remember Moi's victims 'as well as the thousands who stood against his brutal and murderous kleptocracy. It is a day to remember that the current crop of politicians helped him escape justice for his crimes.' Salime Lone, a former U.N. spokesman who fled into exile because of harassment under Moi, said the former president began so well and 'so many supported your promise of a free more inclusive, corruption-free Kenya.' He said that Moi at the beginning of his rule released political prisoners and famously said it was better to eat sukuma wiki (kale) and sleep in peace than seek riches. 'How it went wrong is not for now,' Lone said in a tweet. KALAMAZOO, MI During a phone call, a Grand Rapids man told a woman that he was going to kill the next person he saw, the woman testified Friday in Kalamazoo County District Court. Then she heard gunshots, she testified. Michael Anthony Thigpen, 31, sat in an orange jumpsuit and sandals and watched in silence as witnesses testified about the Nov. 20 fatal shooting of 54-year-old Roosevelt Thompson. Thigpen was bound over for a trial on the murder charge, Kalamazoo County District Judge Kathleen Hemingway ruled after a preliminary hearing Friday, Feb. 7. Dianna Moore, who said she is a friend of the defendant, testified Friday that she she saw Thigpen obtain ammunition and a magazine at a business. On the day of the shooting, Thigpen told Moore on the phone that he was going to kill the first person he saw, Moore testified. He just told me to listen, basically, she said. A minute or two later, she heard gunshots over the phone, Moore testified. Later that day, Thigpen told her he killed someone, she testified. Thompson, according to police, was originally from Alabama, and had been living in Kalamazoo since 2017. Thigpen was later charged with open murder in Thompsons death. Police responded to the 700 block of Mabel Street, near the intersection of Mabel and Cobb Avenue, at 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 20. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officer Nicholas DeLeeuw testified Friday that he responded to a report of a man down in the street and found the man later identified as Thompson. Blood was coming from the mans head and his body was steaming, DeLeeuw testified. An officer on scene found a shell casing on the ground soon after, he said. We realized this wasnt someone who had just fallen and hit their head, DeLeeuw said. Fridays hearing to determine if there was sufficient evidence to bind the case over to Kalamazoo County Circuit Court for trial also included testimony about the autopsy. Detectives said they began working with minimal leads into Thompsons death, but were able to work in conjunction with multiple area law enforcement agencies to identify a suspect in the case and make an arrest Friday, Nov. 22. Thigpen was taken into custody and then arraigned Monday, Nov. 25 in Kalamazoo County District Court. In addition to the murder charge, Thigpen was also bound over Friday on the other charges he faces: two counts of felony firearm and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. More: Grand Rapids man arrested in connection with Kalamazoo mans killing The much-awaited Delhi Assembly polls are here.Polling booths open for 1.47 crore voters to either re-elect the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government or opt for a change. Delhi will have polling on all 70 seats with the primary contest being between AAP and BJP. The polls are held in the backdrop of simmering tensions in the national capital following months of unrest over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens. The campaign saw communally-charged rhetoric as well as promises of an expansive welfare state for Delhiites. Here are the four key things noteworthy of Delhi elections: Arvind Kejriwal vs Amit Shah Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led his new-found party to a sweeping victory in 2015 by winning 67 out of 70 seats. He is fighting the election to retain his position. On the other hand, BJP has not named a chief ministerial candidate, something the party usually does in state polls. Former BJP chief Amit Shah had been carrying the baton to campaign for his party. The campaign has seen a head-to-head contest between Kejriwal and Shah. Both have challenged each other to a debate on a host of issues, although that never materialized. The elections hold significance for Shah as it comes amid anti-CAA agitation and heightened student activism on the streets of Delhi. He has come under fire from critics for the way Delhi Police, which comes under his authority, handled the agitations. READ | Delhi Elections 2019 LIVE Updates: 70-seat Assembly Goes To Polls, AAP Eyes 2015 Repeat Welfare promises AAP is banking its re-election pitch on public approval to a host of welfare initiatives of the government. From slashing electricity and water bills to providing free bus rides to women, AAP dolled out wide-ranging welfare schemes for the middle class. It has set the theme of its campaign on a continual of such initiatives and even greater expansion. BJP has also latched on to this and has promised "five times more" freebies, as stated by Manoj Tiwari, to win the election. The party has cited the welfare initiatives of the Modi government to drive its message. Although, lately, the campaign has shifted focus to sentimental issues like nationalism and the Shaheen Bagh protests. READ | Delhi Polls Nigh Upon Them, Top Netas Arvind Kejriwal & Manoj Tiwari Make Temple Visits Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia factor Among the key features of this election is the manner in which anti-CAA protests at two locations Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia Islamia University shaped the narrative. Shaheen Bagh, a working-class neighbourhood in southeast Delhi has hosted daily sit-in protest against the CAA and NRC since December. The BJP has left no stone unturned to tag the agitation as a "Pakistan sponsored" and "money guzzling" movement. The AAP has treaded the matter cautiously and has expressed sympathy and support for Shaheen Bagh's cause. On the other hand, Jamia University witnessed incidents of violence since January. Two cases of firing were reported within weeks. Near-daily demonstrations in the campus grabbed national headlines. BJP leaders like Union Minister Anurag Thakur have come under fire for making provocative statements that are alleged to have incited such acts of violence. AAP has put the onus of the issue to the Centre saying law and order are under its purview. The Election Commission has made tight security arrangements at both the locations to ensure smooth and tension-free voting. READ | Delhi Authorities Seize 99,210 Litres Of Liquor, Huge Cache Of Ammunition Ahead Of Polling Congress virtually out of picture Although Congress was in power for 15 years in the city-state before AAP took over in 2015, the party has led a pretty lackluster campaign. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were seen campaigning together only once in the final days of campaigning. The party has been nothing but missing from the picture of long roadshows and large rallies. The party's virtual disappearance from an otherwise feisty campaign season has left many wondering does it have any hunger left to take on the AAP and BJP. READ | Delhi Election: FIR Against AAP For Morphing Sholay Scene Against BJP This tweet by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reflects the former bartenders deep dive into intellectual history: There is a town in England called Milton Keynes, but no famed economist of that name. Upon being corrected by fellow tweeters, AOC explained that she had conflated John Maynard Keynes and Milton Friedman. Which is funny it its own way. I dont suppose anyone has told her about Keyness view that income inequality is key to long-term growth, either. Is it considered impolite to point out that the leaders of the Democratic Party are, for the most part, ill-informed and not very intelligent? UPDATE: Coincidentally, Milton Keynes is in the news today. The Daily Mail reports: Blankets and clothes delivered to Milton Keynes conference centre that has been surrounded by 10ft wire fence to house 200 Britons evacuated from Chinese coronavirus capital in flight just hours from touchdown. Then there is this Milton Keynes road sign: OK, its a sign that apparently dates from the 1970s, photoshopped to mock AOC. Still, worth a chuckle. NASA is reviewing Boeing Co.s software engineering, and it doesnt like what it sees. Lurking behind 1 million lines of code for Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft lies a deficient development process that led to two software flaws during a failed test flight, the U.S. space agency said Friday. The critical software defects either of which could have caused the uncrewed Starliners destruction prompted NASA to open a broad review of Boeings quality control. The two software issues you all know about are indicators of the software problems but they are likely only symptoms, they are not the real problem, said Doug Loverro, the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations associate administrator overseeing human spaceflight. The assessment further pressures Boeing as it tries to show NASA it can fly people safely into space. The aerospace giant, already reeling from a deep crisis because of crashes of its 737 Max jetliner, is one of two contractors hired by NASA to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. The other, Elon Musks Space Exploration Technologies Corp., completed an uncrewed test flight in March and aims to fly astronauts soon. Boeings coding skills have been under intense scrutiny because of software implicated in two Max crashes that killed 346 people. NASA officials conceded that the high-profile problems of Boeings best-selling jet suggested the need for a broader look into the companys culture and why systems designed to find coding faults had failed. Risk of Loss The errors could have led to risk of spacecraft loss, NASA said, though engineers were able to compensate during the test flight and return the vehicle back to Earth undamaged. The space agency and Boeing are now verifying all past programming work on the vehicle. Boeing also plans to check all software that controls the Starliners flight, company officials said Friday at a news conference. Boeings problems cast a negative light on NASAs oversight of contractors, the agency acknowledged. That could complicate efforts to land humans on the moon with systems that NASA purchases from the private sector. Our NASA oversight was insufficient of the Starliner software, Loverro said. Thats obvious. And we recognize that and I think thats good learning for us. The joint NASA-Boeing news conference was convened one day after a NASA safety panel disclosed the second software glitch, which wasnt discovered until hours before the Starliners descent and landing Dec. 22 in New Mexico. In this case, what we wished wed done better was software so theres a lot of learning there, said Jim Chilton, a Boeing senior vice president, who thanked the independent review team for excellent work. The Starliner suffered a problem with its mission timing software shortly after reaching space on Dec. 20, with the craft showing an elapsed time 11 hours different from the actual mission time. That caused it to fire multiple thrusters too early, burning too much propellant to allow for the craft to continue its flight to the space station and forcing its return after 48 hours. The second flaw which NASA and Boeing had not disclosed at the time involved a valve mapping software issue, which Boeing said was also diagnosed and fixed in flight. That error in the software would have resulted in an incorrect thruster separation and disposal burn, Boeing said. The consequences of that mistake might have made the crew and service modules bump into each other after separation, Boeing officials said Friday, although its still unclear. Communications Failure The review teams are also investigating a problem with data linking between the Starliner and U.S. satellites during the flight due to ground noise in certain locations, which Boeing engineers believe was generated by cell phone towers. The signal loss prevented flight controllers from communicating with the vehicle during the early part of its ascent to orbit. NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX to develop new orbital vehicles to carry astronauts back and forth from the space station. Russias Soyuz spacecraft have been the sole crew transport since the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. Boeing took a $410 million charge to cover the cost of a second Starliner uncrewed test flight if NASA deems one necessary before it allows astronauts to fly on the craft. A decision will be made after a full investigation is completed by months end, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. NASA and Boeing declined to say when the Starliners next flight may be. Now read: Boeing finds another software bug in 737 Max John Gray says Ron Carpenter leased him church with $13M debt, refused to meet privately over dispute Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pastor John Gray of Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina, says he is eagerly waiting to go to court Friday with fellow megachurch leader, pastor Ron Carpenter of Redemption Church, in a dispute over payments for the Relentless Church campus owned by Carpenter. Gray, who is fighting a lawsuit filed by Carpenter and his wife, Hope, to evict Relentless Church from the Greenville property, was given until the end of 2019 to take his church elsewhere amid allegations that he had been shady and dishonest in executing an agreement with the Carpenters after they passed the reins of their Redemption Church to him in 2018, which he rebranded as Relentless Church. In dueling statements released by the pastors Tuesday, which were published by Fox Carolina, they promised to present strong evidence showing bad faith by the other party and concerted efforts to settle the ongoing dispute privately. After many unsuccessful attempts to rectify these matters privately and spiritually, we had no confidence that the truth of the situation would be revealed except through the legal process. On February 7, 2020, we will submit to the court over a hundred pages of evidence of Relentlesss slow payments, non-payments, delinquencies, repossession notices, and pre-foreclosure notices related to their operations at the Greenville church campus, Carpenter said in his statement. In 2018, after handing the keys of their church to Gray, the Carpenters moved to San Jose, California, to officially become the new pastors of the 14,000-member Jubilee Christian Center, which they renamed Redemption. Carpenter alleged that it has been a difficult year for his church financially as a result of the dispute and said he is looking forward to a swift resolution so everyone can move on. This last year has been financially devastating to Redemption. We do not have the ability to continue to carry the responsibilities of both campuses in California and in South Carolina. Relentlesss decisions have put us in a position that is not sustainable. Our desire is to simply have a chance to continue the Greenville ministry and save the properties from foreclosure, Carpenter said. In his response, Gray said it was Carpenter who behaved improperly and tried to saddle his church with his more than $13 million debt. Pastor Ron Carpenter publicly handed over the keys to a building he could not legally transfer at the time because of Redemptions outstanding debt to the third-party entity that has a secured interest in the properties. However, Pastor Carpenter still left the city of Greenville and its people to pursue what he said was Gods call on his life. In that, he took the name of the Redemption Church, the core staff and tangible assets while also leaving a campus with over $13 million in debt, with over 10 entities paying to sustain the campus, Gray said. He explained that once his church learned of the Carpenters debt obligation, his church hastily entered into a lease agreement that they have been honoring and disputed the allegation that Relentless Church is in danger of foreclosure. To Pastor Rons assertion that the Relentless campus is in danger of foreclosure, we categorically deny and vigorously refute these claims. The Relentless Church maintains documented proof of every property payment made each month since our arrival. As such, there has never been a chance of any of these buildings being foreclosed on. To say so is not only inflammatory and disingenuous, it is also purposefully misleading and dishonest to members of our community, Gray said. He further noted that he attempted to meet face-to-face with Carpenter at least 10 times to settle the disagreement and he has refused. We eagerly await Fridays court hearing, as we will give copious amounts of corroborating documentation that shows a consistent pattern of disinformation and obfuscation in an effort to hinder The Relentless Churchs ability to do what we are assigned to do: preach Jesus Christ and meet the needs of this city, this region, this nation and the world, Gray added. Macron urges greater EU role in curbing nuclear threats Paris, Feb 7 (AFP) Feb 07, 2020 French President Emmanuel Macron called Friday for European nations to play a more direct role in halting a new nuclear arms race, saying they "cannot remain spectators" against a threat to the continent's collective security. "In the absence of a legal framework, they could rapidly face a new race for conventional weapons, even nuclear weapons, on their own soil," Macron told military officers in a speech laying out France's post-Brexit nuclear strategy. Following Britain's departure from the EU France is now the only nuclear-armed power in the European bloc, Union at a time when long-standing accords on limiting the growth of nuclear arsenals appear increasingly at risk. The US and Russia have abandoned the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, each blaming the other for breaching its limits, and Washington is threatening to quit the New START arms reduction treaty when it expires next year. Add to that China's bid for global sway, there is a strong need for Europe to ensure it does not find itself in the middle of a Cold War-style standoff "which could jeopardise the peace obtained after so many tragedies on our continent," Macron said. He warned of "the possibility of a pure and unrestrained military and nuclear competition, the likes of which we haven't seen since the end of the 1960s." "The vital interests of France now have a European dimension," Macron said. European nations should also insist on being signatories of any new deal to limit the development of new intermediate-range weapons," he added. - No sharing - France has already reduced the number of its warheads to under 300, Macron said, giving it "the legitimacy to demand concrete moves from other nuclear powers toward global disarmament that is gradual, credible and can be verified." But he stopped short of offering to share France's nuclear deterrence capabilities, a pillar of its security strategy since implemented by Charles de Gaulle in the 1960s. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, dismissed Macron's comments, underscoring that he refused to sign the UN's Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Arguing that two-thirds of people in France back the treaty, Jean-Marie Collin of ICAN France said: "It's time for Macron to become a realist and listen to experts and citizens." Germany remains strongly opposed to atomic weapons meanwhile, although a leader in Chancellor Angela Merkel's party said this week that Paris should consider putting its arsenal under the auspices of the EU or NATO. Macron invited European partners to engage in a "strategic dialogue" on the deterrent role of France's nuclear capacity as the country embarks on a costly modernisation of its arsenal. "Our independence in terms of decision-making is fully compatible with an unshakeable solidarity with our European partners," Macron said. Macron also warned of the need for "a greater capacity for autonomous action by Europeans," who must step up their military spending. - 'Restore trust with Russia' - His speech came as a diplomatic freeze between the EU and Russia since Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine has rekindled fears of fresh conflict along Europe's eastern flank. France has broken with some EU nations by recently reaching out to restore dialogue with President Vladimir Putin, who controls the world's largest nuclear arsenal. "There can be no defence and security project for European citizens without a political vision that seeks to progressively restore trust with Russia," Macron said. "We cannot accept the current situation, where the chasm deepens and talks diminish even as the security issues that need to be addressed with Moscow are multiplying." Macron did not specify whether Britain, Europe's other nuclear power, should be part of the deeper EU cooperation now that is has quit the bloc. But he noted that "since 1995, France and the United Kingdom have stated clearly there is no situation in which a threat to one's vital interests would not also be a threat to the other's." "Brexit doesn't change this at all." New Delhi: Outside a polling booth in Ballimaran, a group of people carefully folded their voting slips and put them back in their wallets after casting their votes Saturday. The voters said they have decided to safely keep the voting slips, a document to prove their citizenship, in the event a National Register of Citizens (NRC) is carried out in the country. Syyed Shahid Ali, a voter, said locals have collectively decided not to throw away the slips like they would do earlier. There is a fear among locals here regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC. We have decided to keep our voting slips safe. What else can be a more important document to prove our citizenship than these slips that give us a right to vote? he said. Residents in several neighbourhoods of the Walled City, including Jama Masjid, Matia Mahal, Turkman Gate and Ajmeri Gate, said they were also keeping their voting slips. Kausar Bi, a homemaker in Matia Mahal, said they had received WhatsApp forwards Friday wherein people were requested to save their voting slips. We were informed that these slips can be produced as an important document to prove our citizenship, especially for those who do not have proper documents, she said. On the day when Delhi went to polls, the Karnataka unit of BJP sparked a controversy by posting a video of Muslim women queuing up with voter IDs in their hands on its Twitter handle and said, Kaagaz Nahi Dikayenge Hum (we will not show the paper)!!! Keep the documents safe, you will need to show them again during NPR exercise. In Turkman Gate, a group of women, who are sitting on an indefinite sit-in against the CAA and NRC akin to the protest in Shaheen Bagh, said they have also requested voters to preserve their voting slips. Ruby Khan, one of the women protesters, said, At a time when the government is saying that even Aadhaar card will not be sufficient to prove our citizenship, every small thing matters. We have requested the women in the neighbourhood to safely keep the voting slips of all their family members. VICTORIA - Efforts by hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation to halt a pipeline project have prompted arrests and spurred a national movement that saw protesters light a ceremonial fire at the front steps of the legislature in Victoria and block railway traffic in Ontario. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 8/2/2020 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Protester Kolin Sutherland-Wilson is shown at the legislature in Victoria, Saturday, Feb.8, 2020. Protesters supporting the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs fight against the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern B.C. spent the night camped outside the legislature. Their camp includes a ceremonial fire on the front steps. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner VICTORIA - Efforts by hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation to halt a pipeline project have prompted arrests and spurred a national movement that saw protesters light a ceremonial fire at the front steps of the legislature in Victoria and block railway traffic in Ontario. The mounting protests came as RCMP officers arrested 11 people who allegedly barricaded themselves in a warming centre in a forested area near the work site in northwest British Columbia on Saturday. They're accused of breaching a court injunction related to opposition to the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline that crosses Wet'suwet'en territory. Four others were arrested on Friday. The pipeline, part of the massive $40 billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export terminal project, runs from Dawson Creek to Kitimat on the northwest coast. An Indigenous youth spokesman told about 300 people gathered at the B.C. legislature Saturday that RCMP presence in the Wet'suwet'en territories represents an armed invasion. "This is the third day of an invasion," said Kolin Sutherland-Wilson. "What Canada is willing to do to the Wet'suwet'en people they are willing to do to any of us. We will not stand down because our ancestors never stood down." Sutherland-Wilson said the fire burning in a steel fire pit on the front steps of the building is sacred and will continue to burn during the protests. He said the presence of a large pile of chopped firewood indicates people could be planning an extended stay. Earlier Saturday, dozens of youths who slept near the legislature's ceremonial entrance gates, huddled around the fire wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags. "We're definitely occupying this space while the invasion takes place because it's highly symbolic," said Sutherland-Wilson. "We're here at the gates, the royal gates that only the royalty and the lieutenant governor general can use. We're making it clear that the Canadian rule of law has never been just to Indigenous peoples." B.C.'s legislature is set to resume sitting Tuesday. The return of politicians for the spring session includes the arrival of Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin at the legislature gates to officially start the proceedings. The B.C. legislature was not the only location where people came out against the pipeline protesters in Ontario stopped railway traffic east of Toronto. Ontario provincial police said protesters have blocked VIA Rail and Canadian National Rail traffic from Toronto to Montreal and Ottawa since Thursday night. They said officers were monitoring the protest, which is taking place near Belleville, Ont. GO Transit said train service on their Barrie line had been suspended within Toronto due to protester activity. "It's important for us to make economic disruption because the government isn't listening and they're invading unceded Indigenous territory," said Toronto protest organizer Kayleigh McGregor. "A lot of people are really appalled and angry." She said the protests around Ontario were prompted by the increase in police presence in Wet'suwet'en territories and the arrest of people at the camps. Protesters also showed up to the constituency offices for Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Finance Minister Bill Morneau, McGregor said. Meanwhile, the RCMP said several of their vehicles have been damaged by metal spikes at a protest site where people are opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Wet'suwet'en nation near Smithers. Mounties say the vehicles were damaged when they entered a court-ordered exclusion zone for protesters on Friday night. A post from the Unist'ot'en camp in Wet'suwet'en territory Saturday said RCMP helicopters left the area in the afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2020. with files from Salmaan Farooqui in Toronto. Voting is under way in Ireland in what is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable elections in years. On a day when Storm Ciara threatens to dampen turnout, the country is having its first Saturday General Election for more than a century. If opinion polls prove correct, Sinn Fein is on course to challenge the 90-year duopoly of the states two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is facing a difficult battle to hang on to power, with recent polls putting his party in third place. In the last major survey of the electorate before polling day, Sinn Fein was leading the popularity stakes on 25%, with Fianna Fail second on 23% and Mr Varadkars party on 20%. If those levels of support are borne out when the counting of votes begins on Sunday, it would herald a major breakthrough for Sinn Fein south of the border. However, the odds would still be stacked against party leader Mary Lou McDonald leading the next government as Taoiseach. Its polling performance has far surpassed the expectations of party strategists who, coming off the back of several disappointing elections, only fielded 42 candidates in the race for the Dail parliaments 160 seats. That means even if Sinn Fein had a perfect day and won all 42 seats an extremely unlikely outcome in itself it would still end up well short of a majority. No party is expected to reach the 80-seat threshold to enable it to govern on its own, and a coalition administration of some complexion is almost inevitable. But Sinn Fein is in a slightly different position to its two main rivals, as it may be unable to find enough like-minded left-leaning allies to form a workable government. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, both centre-right in outlook, have unequivocally ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein, and for either to change position would represent a major U-turn. If it is unable to strike an alliance with either of the other two main parties, Sinn Fein would be unlikely to secure a place in the next government. Story continues Fianna Fail topped the opinion polls early in the campaign, and leader Micheal Martin could yet emerge as Irelands next taoiseach. Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, will be hoping his administrations economic record and handling of the Brexit process will convince enough voters to renew his tenure in Government Buildings in Dublin. However, Brexit did not feature prominently in a campaign that was instead dominated by domestic issues such as spiralling rental prices, record-breaking homeless numbers, controversy over the state pension age and a struggling health service. There appears to be a mood for change and Sinn Fein could attract support from younger voters who want to end Fine Gaels nine years in power but are unwilling to trust Fianna Fail again after the financial crash that marked its last term of office. Faced with the Sinn Fein surge, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been keen to remind the electorate of the partys historic IRA links and, as the campaign entered its latter stages, the past crimes of the provisional movement drew increasing focus. Mr Varadkars last government a minority administration that included several independent TDs was sustained in power through a historic confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail. That landmark pact between two parties founded from opposing sides of Irelands civil war of the 1920s took 70 days to negotiate following the inconclusive 2016 General Election. Ireland could be in for more protracted government-formation talks if this election produces another fractured result. The willingness of smaller parties such as Labour and the Greens to become a junior coalition partner could prove critical. A new confidence and supply deal cannot be ruled out potentially a reverse of the last one, with Fine Gael supporting a Fianna Fail led-minority. A strong result for Sinn Fein could even force Irelands two traditional political superpowers to contemplate the once unthinkable a grand coalition in government together. Britain's Foreign Secretary said during his visit to Japan on Saturday that the UK hopes to work closely with Japan in future trade and investment following the UK's departure from the European Union. Dominic Raab met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo and held discussions about working more closely together as partners and global leaders. In a joint news conference with Raab, Motegi said Japan's relationship with the UK is "important now more than ever." This is Raab's first visit to Japan as British Foreign Secretary as well as his first overseas trip abroad after the UK left the EU on 31 January. As important contributors the the UK economy, Raab said he hoped to ensure certainty to both Japanese and UK businesses following Brexit and said the nations would forge a new relationship. Raab was in Australia prior to Japan and will next travel to Singapore and Malaysia. - Thieves have broken into the home of gospel musician Bernice Ansah and made away with several items - The items stolen are estimated to be worth about GHc30,000 and included perfumes and luggage from France - Attempts to get the thieves arrested after the act fell on deaf ears and they vanished into thin air after the act Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in YEN.com.gh has learned that thieves broke into the home of gospel musician, Bernice Ansah, and made away with items valued at about GHc30,000. The incident, per a report by zionfelix.net, occurred at Ansahs home located at Weija Oblogo-Manchester, in Accra. Information available shows that the actress owns a cosmetic shop at Kaneshie, also in Accra. READ ALSO: Sudan dissolves central bank as South Sudan prepares for its first oil and gas bid The items stolen include perfumes as well as three big luggage sent from Paris, France. According to Ansah, the items were placed in a storeroom around 5:30pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, but the thieves made away with them in the wee hours of the following day. The musician explained that her son, who was answering natures call, heard a noise from the storeroom and alerted her. She then asked her husband to check only for all of them to hear a loud noise from the storeroom. The thieves, who were three in number vanished from the scene after they were spotted committing the act. No one was hurt in the course of the incident but all items in the storeroom were taken by the thieves. In other news, a young photographer known as Sharon Okai, quit her office job to become a fashion photographer. Sharons decision to switch profession was fully formed when she started watching a series titled Americas Next Top Model. According to her, I loved how the pictures came out. So I keep telling myself it is either Im taking pictures like that as the model or I am taking pictures of people like that. Per a report by Business Insider by Pulse, she loves travelling and taking pictures. This, she says, compelled her to buy her first camera, quit her job and begin a career in photography. Her family and friends refused to support her career choice as they feared she would end up destitute. Sharon is however convinced that photography pays, especially if a good marketing strategy is implemented. READ ALSO: Nissan sets record in United Kingdom; performs longest and most complex driverless ride Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Playstore now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #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 Before digging a grave, you have to make sure the ground isnt already occupied. John Wilson, the caretaker at Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, has a tool for this very purpose: a thin metal bar, about four feet long, shaped like an upside-down L. A funeral was scheduled for Feb. 3, and around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 1, Wilson was testing the plot, jabbing the bar into the ground at different places to see if there was anything already buried there. Some older occupants of the graveyard were buried two by two, he said, one on top of the other." Sometimes, headstones do double duty: bodies are buried both in front and in back, and names are carved onto both sides. Wilson has dug up shingles, fragments of caskets, shells, arrowheads. Occasionally he finds bones. (I) put them back in," he said. Got to respect them, no matter who it is. Digging graves is only one of Wilsons many jobs at Jersey City and Harsimus. From the house on cemetery grounds, where he has lived for the past 10 years, Wilson, 57, has overseen the cemeterys transformation from overgrown, abandoned ruin into the thriving community space it is today. Wed be lost without John, said Eileen Markenstein, the cemeterys president. He does so much. John Wilson has been the live-in caretaker of the Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery for ten years.Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal In 2008, after years of disrepair, a coalition of people who owned plots in Jersey City and Harsimus gathered together and and elected a new board of trustees. Markenstein, the newly elected president, was faced with the daunting task of turning the place around. The six-acre cemetery had gone months with no formal leadership; burial records and nearly $100,000 in maintenance funds had gone missing. Waist-high grass swallowed tombstones and the house was despicable," Wilson said. Thieves had stolen all the copper piping in the house, and the floors in the home were littered with liquor bottles and hypodermic needles. Decades of trains passing on the tracks down the hill had shaken the building so much that the walls had cracked; when it rained, water seeped through. We had no idea yet how much of an undertaking this was, Markenstein said. To clean up the grounds, the board organized volunteer cleanups. One of those who volunteered was Wilson. After some months volunteering every Saturday, cleaning the grounds, maintaining machinery, and digging graves, the cemeterys new administrators offered him the caretaker position. It was a lucky break. At the time, Wilson said, he was perilously close to becoming homeless; the rent in his Downtown apartment was being hiked and he couldnt afford to move into a new apartment. After the herculean task of fixing up the house, Wilson moved in and took over the day-to-day maintenance of the cemetery. He led teams of volunteers to clean up the grounds: cutting the grass, trimming foliage, chopping down old trees, disposing of moldering flags and flowers. You couldnt see none of these headstones when I first came here, he said. (I) had to weed whack everything. In his 10 years there, Wilson has overseen the cemeterys transformation into the mostly tidy place it is today. The work keeps him busy. He maintains the grounds, fixes the machinery, and keeps the house in good condition. In summer, the cemetery rents goats and sheep, who eat weeds and keep the grass short. Wilson takes care of the animals and feeds the plump graveyard cats. He helps with the cemeterys many events, from Christmas tree lightings to Arbor Day celebrations. And he digs graves. Burials at Jersey City and Harsimus happen only a few times a year. The cemetery no longer sells plots, and funerals take place only in space that was sold years ago. The ground is just too crowded, said Markenstein, who estimates that about 90,000 people are buried there. Markenstein believes that Jersey City and Harsimus, which was founded in 1829, is the oldest private cemetery in the country. But its history goes back even farther. American and British troops battled over the land during the Revolutionary War, and the grounds are home to a ruined munitions bunker built during the War of 1812. Hundreds of Civil War soldiers are buried there. During cleanup events after Markenstein took over as president, volunteers uncovered a number of World War I-era artifacts on the grounds. This is a treasure chest of hidden secrets," she said. Entrance to what served as an underground ammunitions bunker at the Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery.Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal In practical terms, this means that you never know what youll find when you start digging. But on Saturday, after probing the ground with his metal bar, Wilson was satisfied that the ground was vacant. With shovel blades, Wilson and some volunteers cut lines in the ground in the shape of a casket, prying out chunks of grass. You got to break the roots first," he said. Once you get the top done, itll start to get easier. Sharing a home with so many dead bodies, one might expect a few close encounters with ghosts. Wilson described the cemetery as occupied, not haunted. In the early days in the house, he said, he would sometimes hear childrens voices from the crawl space upstairs, saying it sounded like a tea party going. One night during his first winter there, he said, he spotted a man standing in the snow on the hillside, smoking a cigar. By the time he arrived to investigate, the man had vanished. There was no footprints in the snow or nothing," he said. "But I could still smell the tobacco. About a foot and a half down, Wilson and the other volunteer gravediggers hit a layer of reddish clay. The digging had gone smoothly, uncovering nothing more interesting than a few scraps of metal and a constellation of small white seashells. Indigenous peoples used to eat them, Wilson said, collecting them from the Hudson River, which used to be closer before hundreds of years of development had filled in land. Does Wilson ever get existential, living among so many reminders of the inevitable passage of time? No, he said. Hes too busy. Its a handful in here, he said. Theres always something that has to be done. The CPI(M)'s tribal wing TRUGMP took out a march here on Saturday to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. Members of the Tripura Rajya Upajati Gana Mukti Parishad (TRUGMP) began the protest march from Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan and after touring several areas of the city, it culminated at Swami Vivekananda Ground. The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), floated by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, also took out a bike rally in Khumulwng to protest against the CAA. TRUGMP president and former MP Jitendra Chaudhury criticised the CAA, saying that the central government has no policy to tackle unemployment, but is "crying" for the minorities in foreign countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. "We want to let Amit Shah and others know that nobody will accept the CAA. The country will turn into Shaheen Bagh, but we will not allow this Act to be implemented," Chaudhury, who is also the CPI(M)'s central committee member, said. The CPI(M) also launched a door-to-door campaign in the state against the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). The campaign is scheduled to continue till March. Royal scion Debbarma, who resigned from the post of state Congress president last year, led a bike rally with tribal youths in Khumulwng and called on people to agitate against the CAA. He said, "400 motorbikes will go to villages across the state and spread the message about the downside of the CAA. This is a totally youth-driven movement." Both Debbarma and Chaudhury had filed petitions in the Supreme Court, challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: A close contest or a one-sided match? Delhi has spoken but the verdict will be known only on February 11 when the votes will be counted and results of Assembly election 2020 will be declared. Delhi voters had to choose between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and a host of other smaller parties and independent candidates and over 61.43 per cent of the 1,47,86,382 eligible people had their franchise till about 10:17 pm, according to the Election Commission of India. The overall voting witnessed a massive dip as compared to the 2015 Delhi Assembly election when 67.1 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes. However, the final voting percentage of the 2020 Delhi poll is yet to come. But exit polls by different pollsters and the Zee News Maha Exit Poll predict a massive victory for the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP with the BJP a distant second and Congress not even in the reckoning. AAP is expected to retain power with 55 seats while BJP would bag 14 and Congress just 1. It seems Delhi has decided to go with AAP's positive campaign and not taken the bigger national issues like nationalism, Pakistan etc., into account and instead voted on local issues which they face on a day to day basis. The other concern is the fall in voting percentage which had been rising steadily for the last several Assembly elections. In the 1998 Assembly election, Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of just 48.99 per cent which was a sharp decline of more than 12 percentage points from 61.75 per cent from the 1993 election. Since 1998, the capital city had seen a rise in the overall voter turnout. In 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2015 Assembly elections recorded 53.42 per cent, 57.58 per cent, 65.63 per cent, and 67.12 per cent, voter turnout respectively. Ballimaran, the smallest constituency of Delhi in terms of area, witnessed a moderate polling percentage of 47.35 per cent till 6 pm, while Narela, which is the largest constituency of the metropolis, witnessed a polling percentage of 61.81 per cent. Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain earlier said the elections took place peacefully and smoothly. He informed that a total of 672 candidates were in the fray and more than 98,000 officials were deployed for the polling. Among the exit polls, the Times Now-Ipsos predicted 47 seats for AAP and 23 for BJP. The ABP News-C Voter poll predicted that AAP will get 49-63 seats and the BJP 5-19 seats, while the Congress could win 0-4 seats. The TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero exit poll predicted that AAP would win 54 seats, BJP 15 seats and Congress one seat. The Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat exit poll gave 48-61 seats to AAP, 9-21 seats to BJP and 0-1 seat for the Congress. India TV-IPSOS prediction gives AAP 44 seats, BJP 26, and Cong zero. News24-Jan Ki Baat exit poll prediction extends 54 seats for AAP 54, 15 for BJP, and merely one for Congress. India Today-Axis has predicted 59-68 seats for AAP, 02-11 for BJP, and zero seats for Congress. NewsX-Polstrap prediction, AAP will get 50-56 seats, BJP is restricted between 10 and 14, while the Congress fails to open its account. NewsX-NETA prediction gives 53-57 seats for AAP, 11-17 for BJP, and 0-2 seats for Congress. The AAP had registered a landslide victory in 2015 elections getting 67 of 70 seats. The BJP had won three seats while Congress failed to open its account. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari refused to believe the exit poll predictions, and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also scoffed at them. However, AAP leaders were upbeat about the results. Linda Morgan has a simple message for the driver who killed her son Friday evening: Turn yourself in. I just want to know who did this to my son, she said, through tears, the day after the car crash that claimed her sons life. Ricardo Sepulveda, 26, had been waiting at a red light at Gulf Bank off the Gulf Freeway about 9:05 p.m. Friday when a driver in an SUV smashed into his Suzuki motorcycle and a Nissan Cube also waiting at the light. The SUV then sped off without waiting for police to arrive, according to Houston Police spokesman Kese Smith. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 713-333-TIPS. Houston Fire Department paramedics rushed Sepulveda to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. OUT OF CONTROL: Houston is ground zero for drunken and drugged driving Four people were traveling in the Nissan Cube, Smith said, including a pregnant mother and two children, ages 7 and 13 months. Fortunately they were not injured, Smith said. On Saturday afternoon, however, Sepulvedas friends and family were grieving. David Morgan recalled his stepson as a vivacious and friendly man with a love for flying, motorcycles, and off-road rally racing. Sepulveda had grown up in Monterrey, Mexico, and the greater Houston area. He graduated from Jersey Village High School. His music tastes ranged from Travis Scott to Pink Floyd who he went to see with his mom, in concert and hed had recently become interested in sport bikes, Morgan said. He loved Jeeps, and off-roading, and attending races in Mexico, they said. Sometimes he made extra money helping drivers upgrade their cars. In Houston, Sepulveda had worked several logistics jobs in local warehouses. In recent months, however, he had quit to pursue his pilots license full time, Morgan said. Like Linda, he called on the driver who killed Sepulveda to turn himself in. Id like for whoever did this to take responsibility, admit what theyve done and be prosecuted, he said. There needs to be some reckoning for that. st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs The Lao Cai International Border Gate in the northern mountain province of Lao Cai-Photo baotintuc.vn Speaking at a meeting in Long An Province on Wednesday, Le Minh Duc, director of the local Department of Industry and Trade, said the provinces exports of dragon fruit have been badly hit since a number of Chinese importers have cancelled their orders. Hong Thai Duong Company, a Chinese importer that buys a whopping 30-40 per cent of the provinces entire exports, has cancelled imports of some 300 containers of the fruit (15 tonnes per container at VND40,000- 50,000 per kilogramme) to be delivered between January end and February end. The company has paid a compensation of VND4,000 per kilogramme. Another Chinese importer, Phu Quy Company, cancelled around 200 containers, but later said it would buy though at VND5,000 or lower per kilogramme. Long An has 9,587 hectares under dragon fruit, and produces around 320,000 tonnes a year, according to its Department of Industry and Trade. Some 70-80 per cent of the fruit is exported to China, with the rest going to Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Dubai, New Zealand, India and Australia besides the domestic market, it said. Between the end of January and the end of February, Long An Province is expected to have inventories of around 90,000 tonnes of the fruit. Of this, 2,000 tonnes are in cold storage where they can be kept for 30 days. New markets Duc, director of the Long An Province Department of Industry and Trade, said it is important to boost the domestic market and expand to other markets to avoid the overwhelming dependence on China. The province will focus on growing clean and organic dragon fruit with traceability to expand to more choosy markets. The Government should consider building a distribution centre in China to ensure reliable distribution of Vietnamese goods there, he added. Nguyen Minh Toai, director of the Can Tho City Department of Industry and Trade, attributed the dependence on the Chinese market to the lower quality demand there. Dragon fruit output in the Mekong Delta is quite large, especially in Long An, Can Tho, Vinh Long and Tien Giang provinces, he said. The current difficult situation has forced farmers to aim for higher standards like VietGAP and GlobalGAP, he said. The prices of watermelon and jackfruit have also dropped dramatically to just VND8,000-10,000 per kilogramme, he said. The Tien Giang Department of Industry and Trade said the province would connect farmers with supermarkets and convenience stores in the province such as Bach Hoa Xanh, Big C and Co.opmart. Nguyen Huynh Trang, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, called for boosting domestic consumption and processing of dragon fruit to overcome the current difficulty. She also suggested that retailers should meet with the Long An Dragon Fruit Association and officials from various provinces and cities to discuss solutions. Clean production Duc said the current difficulty is in fact an opportunity for the agricultural sector to switch to clean production with clear traceability and adopt advanced technologies. The Chinese market has long been an easy one, not requiring high standards, and bought large quantities. Other more choosy markets such as Singapore, South Korea, Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, or Australia require much higher standards, he said. The suspension of cross-border trade between Viet Nam and China due to the current novel coronavirus scare has left hundreds of tonnes of crops stuck on farms and on the border with that country. Speaking at a recent meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the agriculture sector is likely to be the worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak in China. China is a huge market, accounting for 22-24 per cent of the countrys agricultural exports, he pointed out. He called on agriculture departments around the country to build scenarios to cope with the outbreak with concrete measures. PORTLAND, Ore.Residents in the foothills of the towering Blue Mountains in rural northeast Oregon were plucked from their flooded homes by helicopter and others rode to safety in the bucket of a front-end loader as relentless rain and melting snow pushed multiple rivers over their banks. An earlier heavy snowfall in the mountains combined with two days of steady rain and warming temperatures to unleash floodwaters on the city of Pendleton and rural, mountain foothill communities to its east late Thursday and Friday. The Umatilla River crested just before 10 p.m. Thursday at more than 19 feet, nearly four times the average height for that date. Rivers all around the region overran their banks, setting records as they went. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Umatilla, Wallowa and Union counties late Friday to help communities deal with the severe flooding. The declaration means Oregon can mobilize the National Guard if needed. Authorities were still conducting search and rescue operations Friday with two helicopters, trying to reach residents still boxed in by high water in rural communities like Gibbon and Bingham Springs. They also described a chaotic scene from late Thursday, when rescue personal had to improvise to get the last few residents out of a rapidly flooding area of Pendleton using heavy machinery usually used for road maintenance. The last few residents that we evacuated, we used a front-end loader and put them in the bucket. The current was pretty heavy, and there were a lot of obstructions underwater, Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said. It was difficult to navigate. A breach in the levee sent water into several large manufacturing plants and the wastewater treatment plant, Roberts said. Residents on wells were advised to boil their water. Authorities in Umatilla County had used 35,000 sandbags by Friday and another 50,000 were en route from Portland, Oregon, about 210 miles to the west. Evacuation shelters were open in Pendleton and on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which was also hit hard by the flooding. All but a nine-mile stretch of I-84 was once more open Friday after much more extensive closures earlier in the day. About a five-mile stretch of the freewaywhich links Idaho and Oregonwill be closed for up to a week because of damage from the flooding, said Tom Strandberg, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Theres now a river running between the median, so its interestingbut at least the freeway is open now except for that detour, he said Friday in a phone interview. Resident Chantel Fuller told the East Oregonian that she watched the water rise Thursday until it filled her home in a matter of hours. Her neighbors home in rural Thorn Hollow was underwater, and other neighbors were stranded, she said. Our neighbors are stuck in their house and my husband and a friend went to go help them out and now theyre stuck on the roof. Ive never seen it like this, she said in a video clip posted on the newspapers website. It flooded good last yearwhich is the highest Ive seen itand this year tops (that). The four were rescued. But the rescuers themselves had to spend the night there because of a fuel issue with the helicopter and were pulled out on Friday, Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan said. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported 10 total rescues, but Rowan could not confirm that number. Elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, officials braced for more flooding and landslides from relentless rains. King County in western Washington announced on Friday night that the Green River had reached flood stage. The county told people living near the river to take precautions. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued an updated emergency proclamation for 20 counties because of damage from storms that are forecast to continue into the weekend. King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an emergency declaration Thursday to speed up response. A small number of National Guard troops were assisting residents near hard-hit Carnation, Washington. Seventeen rivers in western Washington had reached flood stage, authorities said. Near Walla Walla, Washington, just north of the Oregon border, the Mill River crested at more than 20 feet, setting a record, the National Weather Service said. In western Washington, a tree fell on a car on State Route 18 west of Issaquah on Thursday night, blocking the highway for hours. No one was injured. People living in an apartment building in Issaquah were evacuated Thursday after Issaquah Creek breached its banks and began running under the building. Snow levels will drop and heavy snow is expected in the Cascade Mountains through Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. Winds are expected to pick up, too, they said. Snow is also expected in the Blue Mountains, but lower temperatures should stop the snow from melting and ease flooding. Rivers were expected to drop below flood stage by Saturday morning, authorities said. By Gillian Flaccus In the face of public health crisis, all countries should unite as one and cooperate with each other to ride out the storm. Since the outbreak of the epidemic of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), there has been a growing awareness of the importance of solidarity and cooperation in the international community. On Feb.4, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for strong international solidarity and strong support for China and other countries that might be impacted in the difficult circumstances of the current coronavirus epidemic. On the same day, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on all countries to share accurate information about the epidemic with WHO and the world. We are all in this together, and we can only stop it together, Tedros said, stressing that all countries should work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. To work together to fight the epidemic, countries should have a correct understanding of why the WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In recent years, the WHO has declared multiple outbreaks of epidemic as PHEIC. The aim of such move is to mobilize more international resources to fight epidemic. In the meantime, the WHO has tried to coordinate actions of various countries by releasing temporary recommendations, intending to avoid overreactions of some countries. Restrictions on trade and travel imposed by some countries may increase fear and are of little benefit to public health, according to the WHO, which said it would seek clarification on the reasons for the restrictive measures taken by relevant countries. The international community should respect the professional and authoritative recommendations of the WHO and devote themselves to fighting the current public health crisis through cooperation. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Chinese government has taken unprecedented strict prevention and control measures, the standards of which far exceed WHO recommendations and International Health Regulations requirements. The WHO applauded China for its efforts in combating the epidemic as saying it is setting a new standard for outbreak response. According to reports, in 2009, the A/H1N1 swine flu originated in the U.S. caused over 1.63 million infection cases, 284,500 deaths, with a mortality rate of 17.4 percent. With the unremitting efforts of China in fighting the novel coronavirus, the 2019-nCoV mortality rate in China is about 2.1 percent, much lower than that of previous epidemics. Besides, since Feb.1, cured cases of infections began to outnumber deaths. According to a WHO report on the current epidemic released on Feb.3, there are altogether 153 confirmed cases of infections caused by the novel coronavirus outside China, which is less than 1 percent of the number in China. The novel coronavirus epidemic has not become a pandemic, said WHO. What China has shown the world in tackling the current crisis is the strength of solidarity and cooperation. It is a consensus among the international community that Chinas efforts have effectively contained the spread of the virus to other countries. The human race is a whole when facing virus outbreaks, and epidemic is a common challenge confronting mankind. Every time when there is a PHEIC, we see heart-touching scenes of concerted efforts of the international community. In 2014 when the Ebola virus hit Africa, the international community immediately provided assistance for the countries and regions in need. As the first among all countries to offer emergency supplies and send medical teams to the affected areas, China was widely praised for its efforts. After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, many countries and international organizations have offered support and assistance for China in various ways, saying they share the weal and woe with China. Burj Khalifa was recently lit up in red in solidarity with China over coronavirus. Equatorial Guinea, the country with a population of only 1.3 million, donated $2 million to China. In addition, people and enterprises from all over the world have actively donated and transported medical supplies to China. All these efforts have proven that human beings are a community with a shared future. As Chinese often say, unity is iron, steel and strength. The world is fighting the epidemic together with the Chinese people and all people in every corner of the world who have been affected by the novel coronavirus The WHO is working hard on promoting international solidarity and cooperation amid the crisis. In the world where everyone is closely interconnected in the tide of globalization, only by working together, can countries around the world effectively contain the spread of the epidemic, safeguard common wellbeing of each country, and eventually guarantee tranquility of all mankind. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, left, watches as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., answers a question Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky Former Vice President Joe Biden began Friday night's Democratic debate in Manchester, New Hampshire by conceding that he'll "probably take a hit" in the New Hampshire primaries next week. He suggested that Sen. Bernie Sanders would probably win the state, noting the Vermont lawmaker swept the 2016 New Hampshire primary against Hillary Clinton. Biden is indeed at risk of a poor showing in next week's primary. He's trailing Sanders in New Hampshire, a state with similar demographics as Iowa. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Former Vice President Joe Biden began Friday night's Democratic debate in Manchester, New Hampshire by conceding that he "took a hit" in the Iowa caucuses and he'll "probably take a hit" in the New Hampshire primaries next Tuesday. "This is a long race and I took a hit in Iowa and I'll probably take a hit here," Biden said, adding that Sen. Bernie Sanders swept the 2016 New Hampshire primary against Hillary Clinton. "Bernie won by 20 points last time and usually it's the neighboring senators that do well, but no matter what I'm still in this for the same reason." Biden then added he wants to bring the country together and "restore the soul of the nation" his basic pitch for the presidency. The centrist former vice president stunned many by coming in fourth place in Iowa, trailing behind former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He underperformed his campaign's expectations and recent polling a rocky start to the primary season for a candidate widely viewed as the field's frontrunner. Biden is indeed at risk of a poor showing in next week's primary. He's trailing Sanders in New Hampshire, a state with similar demographics as Iowa. Biden is also running behind his competitors in cash on hand and he's had to take time off of the campaign trail this week to court donors. Story continues The former vice president's supporters argue he was always at a disadvantage in the very white states of Iowa and New Hampshire because his strength is with voters of color. The campaign is banking on a big win in South Carolina, where black voters are expected to play a key role. Sarah Dolan Schneider (@sarahedolan) February 8, 2020 Read the original article on Business Insider Haiti - Agriculture : $76M in emergency agricultural assistance from FAO The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced the launch of a program to strengthen its operations in Haiti to provide emergency agricultural assistance to meet immediate and long-term food needs to 1.2 million people with severe acute food insecurity (IPC Phases 3-4 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29874-icihaiti-social-food-insecurity-persists-throughout-the-country.html ), the FAO mobilizes 76 million US dollars. To cope with the gravity of the situation, has implemented procedures allowing a coordinated and exceptional response having already enabled it to mobilize 1.5 million dollars from its own funds which will make it possible to provide agricultural assistance to 12,800 households (64,000 people) in the Nord-Est and Nippes departments. If no action was taken to strengthen the livelihoods of these people, this figure could rise to 4.1 million from March 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29849-haiti-flash-41-million-haitians-will-be-food-insecure-between-march-and-june-2020.html "Given the severity of the situation, it is essential to respond quickly to support the efforts of the Haitian Government in improving the food security and nutrition of the communities most affected by the food crisis," said Jose Luis Fernandez, FAO Representative in Haiti. FAO's emergency response (January-March 2020), in collaboration with the Government and many operational partners, will focus on reviving production activities during the spring agricultural season which runs from March to June considered the most important for the majority of producers, because it is suitable for all food crops, covers all the agro-climatic zones of the country and contributes to more than 50% of Haiti's agricultural production. The support to vulnerable households within the framework of this campaign will consist in providing food and vegetable seeds as well as agricultural tools in order to strengthen production and increase food availability and accessibility. Unconditional cash transfers will also be provided by the World Food Program (WFP) in certain areas to ensure food security for families during the planting season, before harvest. Among the activities that FAO will implement within the framework of the program are : the distribution of animals (goats and poultry) to agro-pastoralists affected by drought, the establishment of mobile veterinary clinics, the supply of equipment fishing and conservation units to facilitate marketing, as well as cash-for-work activities for the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure. In addition, technical support will be provided to strengthen social cohesion and the resilience of vulnerable families, in particular through the establishment of Farmer Field Schools and village savings and credit associations. "In addition to immediate agricultural support, we support the Government of Haiti in the search for durable solutions adapted to the needs of the country in order to strengthen institutional capacities, develop agricultural sectors, better manage natural resources and strengthen the resilience of households in the face of natural hazards and food crises," said Jose Luis Fernandez, See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29874-icihaiti-social-food-insecurity-persists-throughout-the-country.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29849-haiti-flash-41-million-haitians-will-be-food-insecure-between-march-and-june-2020.html HL/ HaitiLibre An American Pit Bull Terrier: Getty Images/iStockphoto A man accidentally killed his neighbour by shooting him with a crossbow while trying to save him from being attacked by two pit bulls. The unnamed man was targeting the dogs with the weapon, but the arrow ricocheted off one animal and hit Joshua Jadusingh, prosecutors say. The 27-year-old victim had been in his own apartment with the pit bulls in the US town of Adams, Massachusetts, when they turned on him. It is unclear what sparked the attack but both dogs adult males had a history of being aggressive, authorities have since said. Mr Jadusinghs daughter was also in the apartment but remained unhurt in a different room. The events unfolded Wednesday afternoon with police receiving multiple calls about the dog attack, Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington said during a news conference. The neighbour described by authorities as a good Samaritan grabbed a crossbow, entered the apartment and fired, striking one of the pit bulls in the neck. But the arrow somehow ricocheted into the victim as he was trying to barricade himself from the dogs, Ms Harrington told reporters. The neighbour shot the crossbow, hit the dog in the scruff of the neck, she said. The dog did not die, but the crossbow, its called a bolt, the bolt went through the door and unfortunately hit somebody behind the door. So aggressive were the animals, she added, that they then turned to attack arriving police. Officers shot them both dead on site. Mr Jadusinghs death is being treated as accidental. The neighbour, who had a licence for the crossbow, is cooperating with police and no charges are expected. He was actually quite good friends with his neighbour, and he knew that there was a child in the home, and it was a really, really difficult and stressful situation for him to be in and I think he did his best under the circumstances, Ms Harrington said. Read more Dog attack leaves one woman dead and another severely injured The movie Shikara was highly-anticipated by everyone, especially Kashmiri Pandits, because their painful story was finally being told on the big screen and people would maybe get a sense of all the horrible things that actually happened years ago. But, looks like all that people have been getting is disappointment, as the movie is being called out, along with its director Vidhu Vinod Chopra. A video of a Kashmiri Pandit woman lashing out at the movie and the director after a screening in Delhi is going around. Calling it a ghatiya movie and disowning it, she says the movie was too commercialized and not actually authentic. Shame on @VVCFilms for #Shikara No matter if Kashmiri Hindu Women Breaks down into tears Vidhu Vinod Chopra chose money making over facts @neelakantha how he said this "Bahut acha boli , talli bajao, inke liye shikara 2 banayenge" pic.twitter.com/Fun2M1kQgo Social Crusader (@Xs2partner) February 7, 2020 She said, "Ye aapka commercialism aapko mubarak ho. As a Kashmiri Pandit, I disown your film, I disown it." She was clearly upset about Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who was also present at the screening, for not showing the unspeakable things that Kashmiri Pandits had to face where they had to flee their homes, including radicalism and genocide. To this, Chopra responded saying, "Bahut acha boli, talli bajao, inke liye shikara 2 banayenge." He also tried to explain that the truth has two faces and people have different perspectives. However, turns out, it's not just one woman against the movie, as a lot of people who several expectations were just left disappointed. The hashtag #BoycottShikara has been trending on Twitter and people are accusing the movie of mellowing down the reality and going as far as to justify the exodus. If you are planning for watching #Shikara listing the lady crying ANGRILY on movie. VVC, Rahul Pandit, Aditya Raj Kaul all played with emotions of Kashmiri Pandits for a movie scene of camp. The whole movie gives Clean chit to Islamist.#BoycottShikara pic.twitter.com/UHmjUUocOy #RenukaJain (@RenukaJain6) February 8, 2020 Vidhu Vinod Chopra & Co. tries to mellow down the.horrific tales of Kashmiri Pandit Genocide ! They want us to believe the massacre was justified. But let us not forget what happened in Kashmir Valley. Let us not forgive the killers. #BoycottShikara https://t.co/E2jnqhqGHQ Keya Ghosh (@keyakahe) February 8, 2020 #BoycottShikara @VVCFilms Earlier I stand with this movie... We Indian thought you will represent true fact. But I am wrong, you completely represent wrong narrative which doesn't exist.... Now your movie whichever you will produce in future... We are going to #bycottall pic.twitter.com/ykj5oYqPUj SantoshKr.Jha (@Kumar_santosh08) February 8, 2020 A seafood salesman attempted to smuggle 5.7m-worth of critically endangered baby eels to east Asia in the first conviction of its kind in the UK. Gilbert Khoo tried to conceal the European glass eels, an estimated 5.3 million of them, under a load of chilled fish at Heathrow Airport. Specialist border force officers seized the highly desirable delicacy before it was due to be exported to Hong Kong in 2017. The seized eels were eventually allowed to return to the wild. The live consignment, weighing about 200kg, had first been transported from Spain to the UK at a farm in Gloucestershire, before he repackaged and labelled them as chilled fish to be sold on the black market in East Asia. How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Show all 16 1 /16 How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A thirsty pig on transport truck is given water by a Melbourne Pig Save activist Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs being transported to slaughter in freezing weather Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada A volunteer gives water to thirsty pigs Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs en route to an abattoir How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Canada A cow looks out of transport truck just outside the slaughterhouse gates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain Stacked crates of rabbits awaiting slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Australia A pig finds some air at a sale yard Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Toronto, Canada Pigs in a transport lorry en route to an abattoir Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 A pig in a transport truck touches noses with a man Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Melbourne, Australia, 2017 Chickens in transport crates Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain, 2014 A rabbit's nose and feet poke out from between plastic crates Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain A rabbit looks out between plastic crate slats Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Nepal, 2017 A chicken looks out through fencing on a crowded transport truck Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Spain Broiler chickens are captured and loaded into transport crates for slaughter Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality How they reach your plate: live animal transport worldwide Israel, 2018 A ship carrying up to 30,000 sheep and cattle from Australia to Israel arrives at port after almost three weeks at sea Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments Elvers, or baby eels, fetch more than 10 times the price on the east Asian black market than they would in the UK. Due to their status as an endangered animal, there are strict controls on their export. Khoo, from Chessington, was arrested on 23 February 2017 when he disembarked a flight from Singapore at Heathrow Airport. When interviewed, he told officers that he was a middleman for buying and selling seafood. NCA investigators estimate that in two years Khoo exported or had attempted to export 1,775kg of eels with an estimated value of 53m on the black market. Recommended Nine tonnes of elephant tusks seized in Singapore He was found guilty yesterday at Southwark Crown Court of six offences relating to the illegal importation and movement of the rare eels. Khoo is due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 6 March 2020. NCA senior investigating officer Ian Truby said: The entire operation run by Khoo to trade in these critically endangered animals was illegal from start to finish, and there is no doubt his sole motivation was money. The profits to be made from illegally smuggling live eels to Hong Kong and the Far East are significant. But, the NCA are determined to protect vulnerable wildlife from criminals who wish to benefit financially. Along with our partners, like border force and the Fish Health Inspectorate, we are determined to do all we can to stop the global black market trade of endangered species. SWNS Amidst the Coronavirus outbreak that has taken over China and other countries, Nepal announced that it has donated 1,00,000 protective masks to the country. Coronavirus in China has claimed the lives of 722 people and has also claimed lives outside the nation, with multiple cases springing up around the world. The Nepal Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that due to the acute shortage of protective medical gear in China, it donated around 1 lakh masks to 'stand with solidarity' with the aggrieved nation. Read: WHO announces 'severe' disruption in global supply of masks and medical equipment The masks were handed over by Nepali Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Minister for Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, to Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi here, as per a statement by the ministry. "The Government of Nepal has decided to donate 100,000 units of protective masks to the Government of China as a gesture of friendship to the Chinese people and the government and solidarity with China's fight against Novel Coronavirus," the statement read. Read: Hawaii union asks hotels to grant workers use of virus masks WHO: 'Severe' shortage of masks Due to the rapid spread of the deadly Coronavirus in China, there has been a severe disruption in the global supply of masks, gowns, gloves and other protective gear. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) chief, the prices of these items have risen 100 times their normal price. According to Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the situation is being made worse by people buying masks and medical equipment for personal use as it results in a shortage of supply for medical professionals that are fighting on the frontline of the battle against the virus. Read: Coronavirus outbreak: Visitors, delegates wear masks at Auto Expo 2020 "WHO is sending testing kits, masks, gloves, respirators & gowns to countries in every region. However, the is facing severe disruption in the market for personal protective equipment. Demand is up to 100x higher than normal & prices are up to 20x higher" read a statement by the WHO Chief. Read: South Korea: Couples arrive wearing masks at mass wedding amid coronavirus dread (With Agency Inputs) Those who introduce plans for annexation and apartheid and the legalization of occupation and settlements are the ones who bear full responsibility for deepening the cycle of violence and extremism, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement. The much anticipated second Poco smartphone finally released this week. The Poco X2 debuted as the first smartphone launched under the Poco brand since it spun off as an independent company from Xiaomi. However, it was the Xiaomi Redmi K30 4G, which launched in China in December 2019, was simply rebranded as the Poco X2 in India. Nevertheless, the phone does feature an impressive premium mid-range spec sheet with a more-than-reasonable asking price. The Poco X2 is priced in India starting from Rs 15,999. Two months after Qualcomm announced its flagship Snapdragon 800 SoC for 2020, we finally got the first smartphone with the new chipset. The ZTE Axon 10s Pro became the first Snapdragon 865-powered smartphone. Additionally, the Axon 10s Pro also becomes the first phone to use LPDDR5 RAM. Since the Snapdragon 865 SoC is a 5G ready chipset, the Axon 10s Pro offers 5G connectivity. The phone was only announced in China, and there is no confirmation of pricing yet. In what is perhaps one of the biggest stories from the world of tech this week; the Chinese smartphone giants are joining forces to take on Google. Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo are teaming up to create a platform for developers outside China to upload apps onto all of their respective app stores simultaneously. Analysts believe that the move is meant to challenge the dominance of the Google Play Store. The platform aims to make it easier for music, movie, game and other app developers to market their apps overseas. The new platform dubbed as the Global Developer Service Alliance (GDSA) is expected to go live sometime next month. Disneys video-on-demand streaming service has hit the ground running since its launch in November last year. However, Disney Plus was only launched in selected countries The US, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands until now. This week, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the platform would arrive in India through Hotstar on March 29, just before the highly anticipated IPL season. Hotstar prices are also expected to increase with the arrival of Disneys entire library on the platform. A foldable smartphone made the news for the wrong reasons yet again. In an unexpected development, the Moto Razr failed a recent bending test. CNET hosted a livestream to test the Razrs durability with the Foldbot, a machine designed to test the durability for foldable smartphones by continually folding and unfolding the device. However, the livestream had to be cut short as the Moto Razrs hinge gave way after little over 27,000, which is the equivalent of 37 folds an unfolds a day. On average, American users check their phones 80 times a day, in which case the Razr would give way in less than a year. In a previous test, Samsungs updated Galaxy Fold gave way after more than 1,19,000 folds and unfolds. It is worth noting that the Moto Razr screen was still useable after the hinge gave way. After stating that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos data would be safer on Telegram, company founder Pavel Durov took yet another jibe at the Facebook-owned messaging service. In his blog post titled Why Using WhatsApp Is Dangerous, Durov explained why WhatsApps much-advertised end-to-end encryption is useless. He wrote backdoor bugs could leave all smartphone data exposed at accessible to hackers and that these bugs render end-to-end encryption useless. WhatsApps corrupt video vulnerability was present not only on iOS but also on Android and even Windows Phone devices. Meaning, on all mobile devices with WhatsApp installed, he said. He was also critical of both Facebook and Apple for passing the buck to each other when Bezos iPhone was hacked. BEREA, Ohio -- Residents urged the Berea Planning Commission on Thursday (Feb. 6) to deny a rezoning request that would allow a six-unit apartment building to be constructed on a vacant two-parcel site in their neighborhood. Sprague Road property owner Van Kirkendall wants the site to be reclassified from residential single family to multi-family residential. The discussion at the Planning Commission meeting was a do-over resulting from a U.S. Post Office glitch that prevented homeowners from receiving timely notification of the commissions Dec. 19 meeting, where the rezoning proposal first was addressed. Commission members referred the legislation to City Council for possible approval at that time. Council returned it to the commission in January for reconsideration after learning of the mail problem. On Feb. 6, residents got their say. We dont like it and we dont want it, said Berea resident Susan Mallardi, adding that she wants something on the property that looks like a house. Other residents mentioned increased traffic flow, reduced driver response times, potential decreases in property values, and having singles -- not families -- living in the six one-bedroom units as factors leading to their opposition. "I think it's very fitting for the neighborhood," Kirkendall said about his proposed two-story building. "It's kind of in a corner all by itself." Parking would be located in the back. Regarding traffic, City Engineer Tony Armagno said the vertical sight stopping distance and decision sight distance are sufficient for "competent, non-distracted" drivers to react. Measurements show it is 534 feet from the crest of a nearby bridge to Kirkendall's property line. "The existing conditions are compliant for the proposed development," Armagno said. Commission member Daniel Smith disagreed with residents about the negative impact of adding six cars to the traffic flow and their claim of possible property value declines. I know youd love to see this stay green space forever, but one way or another, something is going to be developed, Smith said, while Commission Chairman Matt Madzy added that it is the citys goal to utilize properties to their best use. The Planning Commission ultimately reaffirmed its December decision to recommend that City Council approve the rezoning request. Architectural renderings and a site plan would have to come before the Planning Commission for approval before any construction could begin. City Councils next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18. Read more stories from the News Sun. Photograph: Gregory Bull/AP The annual migration of monarch butterflies from the US and Canada is one of the most resplendent sights in the natural world a rippling orange-and-black wave containing millions of butterflies fluttering instinctively southward to escape the winter cold. The spectacle when they reach their destination in central Mexico is perhaps even more astonishing. Patches of alpine forest turn from green to orange as the monarchs roost in the fir trees, the sheer weight of butterflies causing branches to sag to the point of snapping. Tens of thousands of the insects bounce haphazardly overhead, searching replenishment from nearby plants. Monarch butterflies weigh just half a gram but are able to undertake an epic migration of up to 3,000 miles a unique phenomenon in the insect world. A voracious eater, the monarch caterpillar can consume an entire milkweed leaf in less than five minutes. The species is entirely dependent upon milkweed for its propagation. The monarchs bodies retain the toxins present in the milkweed, making them an unappetizing snack for birds. Scientists believe that monarchs navigate using the angle of the sun, setting off on their southward journey when the sun hits a certain point in the sky, no matter the stage of their journey. The species roosts in huge numbers in fir trees situated more than 3,000 metres above sea level in the forested volcanoes of central Mexico, having travelled from as far north as southern Canada. Monarchs are an important tourist drawcard for communities in and around the protected reserve in Mexico. The species has long had a cultural resonance, too pottery unearthed from the era before Spanish conquest features depictions of the butterflies. To witness this sight is as if to enter a waking dream. People have a spiritual and emotional connection to monarchs, said Sonia Altizer, a monarch butterfly researcher at the University of Georgia. Many people tell me that seeing them was a highlight of their life. Story continues The recent deaths of two butterfly conservationists in the region has, however, drawn attention to a troubling tangle of disputes, resentments and occasional bouts of harrowing violence that has lingered over the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a sprawling world heritage site situated 60 miles north-west of Mexico City. En el Santuario El Rosario Ocampo Michoacan miles de Monarcas buscando agua .....El mas grande del mundo pic.twitter.com/hXgAYk1Ztb Homero gomez g. (@Homerogomez_g) January 13, 2020 Mustachioed and gregarious, Homero Gomez Gonzalez tirelessly promoted the El Rosario sanctuary, a section of the butterfly reserve that receives the bulk of tourists who come from around the world to see the monarchs. He featured in mesmerizing social media videos posing with butterflies fluttering around him and called the creatures a marvel of nature. Gomez, who was 50, disappeared on 13 January after attending a patron saint festival in the municipality of Ocampo; his body was found two weeks later at the bottom of a watering hole. His death has yet to be ruled a murder, although police say he suffered a blunt trauma to the head. The incident raised fears that gangs, possibly tied to the illegal logging of the butterfly reserve, had targeted Gomez for his advocacy of ecotourism over the felling of trees in this rugged swath of Mexico where communities, often beset by poverty, have traditionally relied upon the harvesting of timber, potatoes and wheat. Those concerns were further heightened this week after the death of a part-time tour guide from another nearby butterfly sanctuary, called Raul Hernandez Romero. His body was found 1 February with injuries possibly inflicted by a sharp object. The panorama for the community, the forest and the monarch butterflies is now very complicated and uncertain, Amado Gomez Gonzalez, one of Gomezs nine siblings, told the Guardian. There are now these two crimes and it has spread fear. You find yourself thinking What if this is a group that is coming to try and take the sanctuary away from us? Related: Are Mexican avocados the world's new conflict commodity? Investigations into the two deaths are ongoing. But some conservationists fret they are a byproduct of the violence that has long troubled the state of Michoacan, which stretches from the mountains of central Mexico to the west coast. As they have done across the country, organized crime groups linked to the drug trade have diversified into many other activities, including kidnapping, avocado cultivation, land theft and the lucrative market in pine, fir and cedar wood. Logging is supposedly under tight controls, but high prices mean lumber mafias often stray into protected areas and are prepared to use violence. In Michoacan, a tree is worth more than a human life, said one former state official. Homero Gomez was in conflict with these loggers, said Homero Aridjis, an environmentalist and poet, who is a longtime defender of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries. Theyve always been a very dangerous group because there are always politicians, businessmen involved in deforestation. People mourn next to the coffin with the remains of Mexican environmentalist Homero Gomez, during his funeral in El Rosario village, Michoacan, on 30 January. Photograph: Enrique Castro/AFP via Getty Images Aridjis said his own activism against illegal logging, the planting of avocado orchards and the proposed construction of a mine near the sanctuaries has brought threats. He largely stays away from the butterfly sanctuaries due to security concerns. But others suggest Gomez may have fallen foul of a backlash to his buccaneering self-promotion and questions over his role as the former leader of the El Rosario community, which is run as an ejido a traditional Mexican collectivist arrangement where residents share ownership of the land and its bounty. In this system, its easy for a leader to become abusive with the communitys income, said a Michoacan conservationist who was familiar with Gomez and the sanctuary but did not want to be named. The conservationist insisted it was still safe for butterfly guardians to do their work. He was an outspoken person, he drew a lot of attention to himself. I dont know why he was killed, but because of the non-transparent management of the ejido he had a lot of enemies. Its difficult to say this in Mexico because the press has portrayed him nearly as a saint. Regardless, Amado Gomezs fears that large groups might seize the sanctuary are not without foundation. Criminal groups have already moved in on resources such as water, forests and minerals most famously in the indigenous Purepecha community of Cheran, where locals rose up in 2011 to halt illegal loggers, backed by a drug cartel, from clearcutting their forests. The demise of Gomez also highlights the misery suffered by Mexicos beleaguered environmental defenders, who have been murdered with impunity in shocking numbers. Fourteen defenders were murdered in Mexico in 2018, according to Global Witness. Security concerns are rife in the region, and many prefer silence. Its very difficult [to speak out], and even more so for those who live here, said a local researcher, who preferred to remain anonymous. While the reasons for the deaths of the two men have yet to fully emerge, concerns are already swelling that the incidents will hurt tourism. The fragile security situation across Mexico has been blamed for a quiet winter for visitors in one of the major sanctuaries, Sierra Chincua, even before the deaths. The monarch butterflies themselves are also coming under growing pressures. A historic low in overwintering populations was recorded in 2013-14, amid a longer-term slump that has prompted mayors in cities across North America to promise remedial action. Its suspected that butterfly numbers have been winnowed away by the use of toxic pesticides and razing of critical monarch habitat in the US and Canada. The decline was reversed somewhat last year but scientists warn the annual monarch migration faces an existential threat due to the climate crisis. The oyamel firs preferred by monarchs in Mexico are being stressed by rising temperatures and drought, with predictions the trees will be virtually wiped out by the end of the century. Global heating is also reducing the viability of milkweed, the sole plant where the monarch reproduces, in US and Canada. This trend is set to restrict the butterflies to isolated pockets and end their epic migration to Mexico, a journey that can stretch for 3,000 miles. A separate monarch migration, which brings butterflies to the warmth of coastal California, has shrunk from millions of insects in the 1980s to fewer than 30,000 individuals now. Monarch butterflies fly near a tree at the Sierra Chincua butterfly sanctuary on a mountain in Angangeo, Michoacan. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/Reuters Its so obvious that its painful, said Orley Taylor, a biologist and co-founder of Monarch Watch, a group of US volunteers focused on studying and conserving the species. Within 30 years or so we probably wont be talking about the monarch migration. We risk losing something very special indeed. The demise of the overwintering monarchs would send an economic and cultural shock through central Mexico, although there are currently more pressing concerns in a region beset by crime and few economic opportunities. Related: 'It's a sad reality': a troubling trend sees a 97% decline in monarch butterflies People are all for protecting the butterflies, but people have to have the necessities to survive, said Father Martin Cruz Morales, a local priest, on a break from a community lunch of tacos and aguas frescas to celebrate the anniversary of a colleagues ordination. In El Rosario this week, Gomezs friends and family packed a billiards hall emblazoned with the image of Homer Simpson to pray the novena, or nine days of prayer. Over pastries and hot cups of fruit punch, Amado Gomez remembered his brother, a former logger, as an ambitious but often altruistic man, who graduated from Mexicos premier agricultural university and mostly worked in government until launching his activism in favour of the monarch butterflies. Homero Gomez led tree-planting initiatives in El Rosario. He also helped organize patrols to protect the forests; teams of 10 persons still head out day and night into the hills to guard against incursions from illegal logging something that locals say hasnt occurred in the butterfly reserve for at least two years. They know that people are organized here and know that its difficult to cut down a tree and escape, Amado Gomez said. Nobody trusts the local police so they do [security] themselves with sticks, with guns, with whatever they can use themselves. Women dressed as monarch butterflies perform during the Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City on 27 October 2019 in Mexico City. Photograph: Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images Altizer, the University of Georgia researcher stressed that she didnt think the reserve was too dangerous to visit and argued that tourism and conservation efforts should continue as before. El Rosario has so much to offer tourists, its right in the core of the biosphere reserve, said Altizer. If you think any place should be safe for monarchs and people it should be there, which makes this shocking. It makes me wonder if this will deter tourists from going there in the future. It sends a worrying message. She said scientists have long been advised to be cautious in the region, to not drive around at night and to avoid certain areas. A vehicle owned by the WWF had to cover its logo up on a previous visit due to fears of attack. You see federal police patrolling the forest in military-style vehicles which is a little disconcerting, she said. There is drug cartel violence in Michoacan, and if that bleeds over into logging operations I dont know what the best strategy to combat that is. People in these communities already have to deal with a lot of hardships. Its difficult to promote ecotourism when logging continues even after the designation of the biosphere reserves. An ambitious group of Saudi Arabian farmers is trying to preserve traditional coffee production in the face of cultural shifts and climate change. Jabir Ahmed Ali Al-Salmi Al-Maliki says his family has been growing Khawlani, a type of Arabica coffee, for nearly 300 years on the terraced hillside slopes of Jazan in southwestern Saudi Arabia. "We use traditional farming techniques to collect rainwater. If collected properly, the farm can store enough rainwater to last for three months," he told Al-Monitor. While preserving tradition, Maliki admits that coffee can prove to be a problematic crop to grow. "The hardest part of being a coffee farmer is the manual labor," he said, which may be why he has increasingly sought to diversify. His farm has tried to blend traditional techniques with modern approaches. His son markets the coffee on social media platforms and has helped to build a brand that has attracted buyers from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Small picnic areas are set up where guests can picnic amongst the coffee, fig and banana trees. Half a dozen or so groups visit the site each day a recent visitor hailed from the Ivory Coast. A 2017 article from The Telegraph ranked Saudi Arabia the 10th largest per capita consumer of coffee in the world. Traditionally, Saudi coffee culture centered on the dallah, a parrot-beaked coffee pot being produced well into the 1960s that is placed on a spit over an open fire. Sometimes referred to as white coffee, it is consumed in multiple servings at receptions and as part of restaurant hospitality in small finjan cups usually with dates. Traditionally, the coffee is flavored with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and saffron, which gives it a golden hue. The verdant Jazan region is home to over 79,000 Khawlani coffee trees that cling to its hillsides. Beginning in the second half of the 20th century, the region began to turn away from coffee as a source of economic sustenance as another black substance with its own Midas touch oil began to dominate the economy. As farmers became soldiers or bureaucrats, the number of those farming coffee dropped to the low hundreds. Today, the Saudi Arabian government and the government of Jazan province is seeking to revive the industry. Farmers are being encouraged to plant trees on terraces that have in some cases been neglected for decades or given over to herding. Coffee production has continued elsewhere, but often at artisanal levels of production. To revive the industry, experts from Brazil and elsewhere have been flown in to share contemporary techniques. While Maliki does not worry about water access, other farmers complain that drilling boreholes is a significant expenditure. "Only 15% of terraces in the mountain that have the potential for coffee production is being used," said Nayef bin Lebdah, the emir of Al-Dayer governorate who is seeking ways to solve the water challenges. He told Al-Monitor, "I am amazed by the passion of our farmers as we try to reclaim our heritage." Part of efforts to preserve these ancient coffee techniques is a push to give Khawlani coffee production UNESCO's intangible heritage status a campaign Saudi Arabia officially launched in March 2019. The region produced a modest 336 tons of coffee in 2019, but the governor explains the region has bigger ambitions. Saudi Arabia seeks to produce 5,000 tons of quality coffee per annum under the terms of the economic diversification goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The goal is to become self-sufficient in Arabica production. Then, by 2040, they hope to start exporting the coffee they produce. Saudi farmers point to the example of Vietnam, which has become a global player in coffee over the past few decades. But not all the Khawlani beans and Saudi coffee production will end up served in dallahs. Consumers of the world's most popular stimulant may well embrace the new supply. A report published in 2016 by Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand argued climate change could threaten to cut global production in half. Saudi Arabia is home to numerous Western-style coffee shops. Since 2000, 150 Starbucks branches have opened in the country, and the American company boasts openly of having met the goals of "Saudization" with a number of Saudi nationals in senior positions. Efforts by Saudi Arabia's coffee culture to stratify micro-roasteries began in Riyadh in 2014, and one Saudi coffee startup even exported cold brew to the United Kingdom. "I personally am not a fan of Starbucks," said Adeeb Mathari, who agrees that the American corporate chain tends to over-roast its coffee beans. Mathari loves coffee served the traditional way but is also a fan of cold brew and exotic coffee concoctions, he told Al-Monitor. Mathari founded Cove the first local coffee shop in the southwestern port city of Jazan last spring. The line at the coffee shop is longer than that for Al-Baik the Saudi fried chicken chain that has emerged from Jeddah in the last decade as a cult favorite. Cove serves traditional coffee as well as local adaptations of international favorites. Cafe con leche is marketed as a Spanish latte. The Cove is located two hours from the coffee farming region, and Mathari dreams of being able to provide his consumers with fresh farm-to-cup coffee in the near future. "Knowledge is a big challenge for farmers; some farmers are old and do not know about modern techniques," Mathari said. Khawlani (Khoulani in English) coffee is of high quality, but sustainably maintaining production standards remains an issue. While some farmers can have near-perfect conditions one season, water scarcity can be an issue. Saudi Arabia has sought to maintain gender segregation in coffee shops and restaurants for decades. That policy began to ease over the previous three years before being repealed in December 2019. As recently in 2016, a Starbucks in Riyadh received international attention for briefly banning women from the premises while it was under renovation. Elsewhere in the country, a few daring cafes have begun testing their boundaries in recent years. Mathari says indignantly that from the beginning, they never sought to separate male and female customers. "My dream is to sell a variety of Saudi coffee to all of my customers, and I think with some work, we will get there soon," Mathari said. Long queues of people were seen in Shaheen Bagh, the centre stage of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for almost three months now, as they turned out to cast their vote for the Delhi assembly elections on Saturday. The colony in southeast Delhi has been thrust into the national spotlight as protesters have blocked a major road for months, demanding the repeal of the contentious citizenship act with women in the forefront of the agitation. Security forces kept a tight watch across all the five polling stations in Shaheen Bagh, which have been declared critical amid two incidents of shooting in the area within a week. ALSO WATCH | Delhi: Long voter queues at Shaheen Bagh, tight security at CAA protest hub Follow Delhi assembly election 2020 voting live updates here Police will also use aerial cameras if there is a problem in the law and order situation, senior officials have said. I am voting for India and its Constitution. We are citizens of India, a woman said while waiting to vote outside a polling booth at the Shaheen Public School, according to news agency ANI. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Amanatullah, the current legislator, against the Congress Parvez Hashmi and Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) Brahm Singh Bidhuri. Anti-nationals, governance The election campaign was a bitter battle between the AAP and BJP as the ruling party at the Centre projected Shaheen Bagh as one of its main poll planks. The BJP leaders, led by Union home minister Amit Shah, focused on Shaheen Bagh, attempting to discredit the protesters and called them anti-national in character. Some even called Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist, and accused protesters of being rapists. Some even asserted that the process of clearing Shaheen Bagh will begin once the BJP comes to power after the Delhi assembly polls. It blamed the AAP of spreading anarchy and violence and causing inconvenience to the citys residents. In turn, Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of polarising the issues and vitiating the electoral scene. The AAP also talked about on local governance issues and its track record in the past five years such as fixing state-run schools and healthcare in the city of more than 16 million people. The ruling party on Delhi also focussed on the provision of electricity and water supply and subsidised rates and free public transport for women. It has also promised to focus on pollution, provision of clean water and cleanliness in its next term if elected to power. Protests have erupted across the country against CAA under which illegal migrants, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who entered India on or before 2015 will be eligible for Indian citizenship. Critics say the law discriminates against Muslims as only non-Muslims from the three neighbouring countries can become Indian citizens. As you read this, horseman Gilles Barrieau will be in Florida, enjoying the sun and possibly a cold beverage. Many would agree that he's earned it. Barrieau took home the OBrien bronze for the OBrien Award of Horsemanship at last Saturday's 2019 O'Brien Awards. Annually one of the top percentage drivers in the country, the Saint John, N.B. native posted a 0.401 UDRS in 2019 while competing regularly on the Red Shores circuit. The veteran horseman, who also won this award in 2005, finished second in the driver standings for both wins and earnings at Red Shores Charlottetown & Summerside venues last year and ended his season with 151 victories and more than $435,000 in earnings. "To be nominated again in 2019, it was just great to be back here and got the award so it's all good." In addition to catch driving, Barrieau continues to train a compact stable that registered 40 wins and $178,000 in purse earnings last year. He plans to once again campaign a relatively small stable in 2020, and his bucket list for the year is as modest as the man himself. "Just to stay consistent," Barrieau told SC's Rachel Oenema. "I'm very competitive and I don't like to lose." Given the recent news that Barrieau would be moving from his longtime base in New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island, would Barrieau consider moving to a more lucrative location? And what is it about Maritime horsemen that makes them so competitive away from eastern Canada? Find out all that and more in the interview below. This is the fourth in a series of post-event video interviews with O'Brien Award finalists, sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta. On Saturday, February 1, Standardbred Canada announced the winners for the 2019 OBrien Award at the 31st edition of the annual OBrien Awards Black Tie Gala held at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale hotel in Mississauga, Ont. The OBrien Awards honour Canadas best in harness racing over the past season and are named in honour of the late Joe OBrien, an outstanding horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The event was covered live on the SC website. The official list of winners is available here, with the official voting results available here. February 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Even though the Syrian Army, with the aid of its international friends and allies, especially Russia, has been able to score many victories and liberate most of Syrias major cities from the control of terrorist groups, the fight is far from over. Before the situation in the American-controlled North-East is addressed, the Western regions, including Idlib and its surrounds must be put back fully under the legitimate government control. As a matter of fact, politically speaking, the situation now is perhaps more complex to deal with than nine years ago when the War on Syria took form. Almost exactly nine years ago, the enemies of Syria combined efforts to launch a joint attack. United only by their hatred for Syria, they had diverse agendas, but they combined efforts in order to capitalize on each others strengths. The Wahhabi version of Islamists, headed by Saudi Arabia, joined hands with the Muslim Brotherhood version headed by Turkey and financed by Qatar, and they all joined hands with NATO, Israel and Lebanese ultra-right militia among other vendetta groups, for the single purpose of deposing President Assad and replacing the legitimate secular Syrian Government with one that is sectarian and pliable to the will of the Western roadmap. They failed. They failed in achieving their combined objectives and some of the armies they created, such as Jaysh Al-Islam, headed by former Syrian Army officer Zahran Alloush, ceased to exist. Alloush was killed in a Syrian Army attack in December 2015, but the casualties also included conspirators who were sidelined and lost their careers; the most prominent of which is Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, who was perhaps the single biggest architect of the attack on Syria. The tides began to turn in favour of Syria after the Syrian Army scored its huge victory in the Battle of Qusayr in mid-2013. This was a decisive battle that basically disabled the terrorists from linking the Damascus province with their northern supply lines. Without this victory, in retrospect, it would be arguable if Syria would have been able to earn much support from Russia; if any at all. Syria had to show a fighting spirit, resolve, determination and respect for her to reach such an echelon. After all, Russia does not only by tradition honour and respect those who stand up with dignity against all odds, but on the geopolitical scene, and after decades of being sidelined by the Western bloc, any Russian global move had to be fully and thoroughly assessed before any venture was to be undertaken. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It was crucial for Russia therefore, and for President Putin in particular, to ensure that the presence of Russian troops in Syria had very high chances of success. The fragmentation of Syrias enemies began to take form before Russian action in the skies and on the soil of Syria. The Saudis first and biggest disappointment was when the USA refused to level Damascus to the ground after Prince Bandar orchestrated the alleged Ghouta chemical attack in September 2013. That was Bandars last draw after the loss of Al-Qusayr and his attempts to blackmail Putin by threatening him to unleash Islamists in Chechnya. From that point in time onwards, the Saudi role in the War on Syria dwindled and came to an end with the demise of Alloush. But as the tensions between Qatar and Saudi Arabia emerged in 2017, Qatar remained represented via its ally Turkey. Erdogan was initially determined to victoriously pray at the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus early in the piece. But he is still determined to get a bite of the cherry, a consolation prize, despite all the setbacks that his former camp has endured. After Turkey downed the Russian Su-24 in November 2015, the relationship between Turkey and Russia reached its nadir. But the pragmatist Erdogan soon apologized to Putin and eventually reached an agreement about how to deal with the deadlock situation in Idlib. But Erdogan is not coming clean about his commitment to what became to be known as the Sochi Agreement. https://thedefensepost.com/2019/10/22/russia-turkey-syria-mou/. Erdogan defiantly continues to wear the hat of a fully-fledged NATO member, a close friend and ally of Russia, the leader of the nation that is desirous to enter the EU, an Islamist who wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire, and a nationalist who is willing and able to deal with Kurdish issue. What he does not see is that whilst those antics gain him popularity amongst sympathetic Muslim supporters, on the international scene, he is increasingly making a mockery out of himself. His clear-to-see contradictions seem mind-boggling, but to the pragmatic Erdogan who is trying as hard as he can to be Sultan, his mind is fixated on Islamism and nationalism, and he is performing as if he has found himself a Fatwa that permits him to dance to the tunes of the devil to reach his ultimate objectives. Among other things, to Putin, Erdogan portrays himself as Russias friend who is reconsidering his alliance with the US and even wants to buy Russian S-400 defence missile systems. To America, he remains as a NATO member and an American ally who wants to buy Americas latest state-of the-art F-35 fighter jets. On one hand, he makes verbal attacks against Israel, but continues to opt to have strong diplomatic ties with that state. He pledges support for the Palestinian cause but offers no evidence to put his words into action. If Erdogan truly deserves any recognition and respect at all, it would have to be for his ability to meander his way through and survive amongst all the contradictions that he has deliberately and systemically implanted along his path. He could be running out of options; at least in Syria, but this doesnt stop him from making yet more contradictory statements within a few days of each other. By the end of January 2020 he threatened to take a new offensive in Syria over the Russian-backed Syrian Army offensive in Idlib. https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001311078189883-erdogan-threatens-new-offensive-in-syriareport/ A few days later, he made a U-turn and declared that he will not allow the situation in Idlib to sour his relationship with Russia. https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202002041078225599-turkey-will-not-escalate-tensions-with-russia-over-syrias-idliberdogan/? But in between the two statements which are only four days apart, the Syrian Army has shelled Turkish positions and purportedly killed six Turkish soldiers and injured about a dozen. Whilst such an unprecedented incident should have sent Erdogan firing up as one would expect, according to Palestinian veteran journalist, Abdul Bari Atwan, this wasnt to happen this time. In a translation-worthy article, Russia and Syria have decided to take action in Idlib and they are no longer waiting for Erdogan to abide by his promises and agreements. Atwans articles title translates as: What does the Syrian shelling of Turkish troops in Sarakob and the killing of six Turkish soldiers signify? And, what is the Russian message to Erdogan? And, did the Russians and the Turks tear up the Sochi Agreement? And, who will emerge as a winner in the bone-crushing battle in Idlib? https://www.raialyoum.com/index.php/-------/ According to Atwans analysis, the Syrian shelling of Turkish positions signaled the end of the line of joint Russian-Syrian patience with Erdogans lack of commitment to the Sochi Agreement. Atwan argues that opinion polls within Turkey indicate that Erdogan does not have the support of escalating in Syria and neither that of sending troops to Libya for that matter. Did Atwan see the end of the line of Erdogans lies and contradictions this time? I personally hope he did. I must admit that in my previous analysis I have predicted several times that Erdogan had made his final and detrimental mistake . Somehow he always manages to slither out of the hole he was in and keep going. Has he made his final and lethal mistake or is he going to relent and let Syria be? Time will tell. This article was published by " The Saker " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== 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 Britons will have up to 22 per cent more to spend on holiday thanks to a bounce in the pound after Brexit. Sterling is now stronger than four in five major holiday currencies, meaning Brits abroad will find their cash goes further this year. Post Office Travel Money, the UK's biggest currency provider, found the pound is worth 19 per cent more than the Turkish lira when compared to February last year giving Britons 80 more lira for every 500 exchanged. Post Office Travel Money, the UK's biggest currency provider, has found that the sterling is now stronger than four in five major holiday currencies. (Stock image) City break tourists visiting the Hungarian capital Budapest can now get 44 more in spending power for every 500, while visitors to Norway can get an extra 42. The biggest gain is against the Chilean peso at 22 per cent an additional 87.48. Britons can also get more for their pound across the eurozone because sterling is 4 per cent stronger than the euro meaning 500 will now buy you 17.57 more euros than a year ago. Meanwhile winter sun seekers can also now benefit from an extra 10 per cent spending power in South Africa, and 9 per cent in Mauritius. The bounce in the pound after Brexit will mean Brits abroad will find their cash goes further this year. (Stock image) However, the research found British visitors to Egypt's top resort Sharm-el-Sheikh will have 10 per cent less spending power, while those going to Costa Rica will be 7 per cent down. After leaving the EU on January 31, the UK is now thrashing out trade and travel deals in a transition period until December 31. ... and home prices are four per cent higher House prices are growing at the fastest pace in two years in the latest sign of a surge in confidence after the general election. According to Halifax, the price of the average home grew by 4.1 per cent in the year to January. The increase, equivalent to 9,720 over the course of the year or 772 a month, is the biggest since February 2018. House prices rose 0.4 per cent last month, down from 1.8 per cent in December, when Boris Johnson won the Tories' biggest majority since the 1980s. Halifax said there had been a 'pick-up' in transactions 'consistent with a reduction in uncertainty in the UK economy'. Lucy Pendleton, of independent estate agents James Pendleton, said: 'Confidence is key and it has been driven close to extinction since the Brexit vote but now it's everywhere.' Advertisement Nick Boden, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: 'Sterling is now stronger against the vast majority of holiday currencies and that spells great news for holidaymakers. UK tourists can do even better by picking a destination where the cost of living is low so they benefit from both the stronger pound and low prices in resort restaurants and shops.' But he warned: 'Sterling is entering uncharted territory and exchange rates could continue to fluctuate throughout 2020 as trade negotiations with the EU progress.' Paul Brewer, founder of Currency Online, said that as new trade deal negotiations take shape with countries around the world, increased consumer and business confidence 'should see the pound continue its rise upwards'. However Ian Strafford-Taylor, of international money specialist Equals, warned that the pound could fall again after three tumultuous years following the Brexit referendum. He said: 'There will continue to be an unprecedented journey for the pound which could see further turbulence against the euro and other currencies as the UK tries to secure trade deals before the end of the Brexit transition period.' Last year, a week before Christmas 2019, the Sligo-Strandhill Local Election Area (LEA) became designated as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ). This means that rents in the area may not be increased by more than 4% per annum, and it also effectively bans AirBnB or other short-term leasing within the LEA. This stubborn and backward approach to solving the rent crisis exposes the County Council's cowardly refusal to take meaningful action on the issue of rent in Sligo. The only effect of an AirBnB ban will be to curb tourism to Sligo, and imposing a rent-increase maximum as a response to a rent crisis is like handing out sandbags after a flood. This is a problem of supply and demand. Right now, the demand is too high. The only good solution is to increase the supply by creating more housing. If private investment isn't accomplishing that, it's up to the Council to install incentives for housing creation, or to build new housing with government funds. It's as simple as that. For whatever reason, governments typically do not want to build housing, presumably because it's a relatively invisible accomplishment, compared to, say, new roads and infrastructure projects that have a tangible, if negligible, benefit to a much higher percentage of the population. Sligo has unquestionably fallen for this showy, near-useless infrastructure spending. In 2018, and 2017, Sligo County Council spent more than 18 million on road maintenance and improvement, and nothing on housing creation. Certainly some of that road spending is necessary, but equally much of it is useless, rebuilding perfectly serviceable roads for the sake of having something to point at as an accomplishment. Sligo is not in danger of becoming a Road Pressure Zone. We don't need granite footpaths on O'Connell Street or fancy bollards in front of the Cranmore Road government buildings. What we need is meaningful action that will actually address the root of the housing problem. If Sligo would reallocate half the road-maintenance budget for housing creation-9 million-they could build 100-150 units per year. If they had been doing that instead of tearing up and rebuilding perfectly good roads for the past decade, there would be no housing crisis here. Another facet of the new RPZ regulations is the nearly total ban of short-term rentals like AirBnB. This is a national law, but Sligo actively supports it. The planners denied change-of-use permission to the first AirBnB that requested it last year, stating as part of their reasoning that over 1,000 families are waiting for council housing. This kind of short-term-rental ban has been shown to be entirely ineffective at reversing rental shortages. Berlin's ground-breaking AirBnB ban was reversed after just two years, because it hurt the tourism industry and did nothing for rental prices. The reason AirBnB bans don't work is that there simply aren't enough AirBnBs to make a dent in the rental market. In Berlin, there were 20,000 AirBnBs, but to ease the housing crisis they needed more than 100,000 new units. Here in Sligo, we can compare that figure from the council- 1,000 families waiting for housing-to the number of short-term-rentals in the entire Sligo-Strandhill LEA: 30. So we can say without a doubt that the AirBnB ban will have no effect on rent. However, it will hurt tourism, the fastest growing industry in Ireland. Sligo is a hidden gem of the West Coast. Currently, it's rarely a destination for tourists, but often a stopover between Donegal or the North and Galway or Kerry. The last thing we need is a disincentive for people, especially young people, to visit. But this County Council prefers a show of action over real action, and so I'm sure they'll continue to enthusiastically enforce this backward ban. It's something they can point to as a step taken against the rent crisis-never mind about the actual supply and demand problem at the heart of the crisis. The thing about a supply and demand problem is that it will sort itself out eventually. If the Council doesn't take steps to increase supply, then the market will take steps to reduce demand. More people will move away from Sligo, fewer people will move in, fewer tourists will visit, and fewer businesses will be created here. >>> Vietnam actively proposes common efforts against epidemics >>> Int'l community supports China in fighting novel coronavirus epidemic >>> Vietnam strengthens efforts against-nCoV after two more infection cases revealed Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long announced the good news during a meeting of the National Steering Committee for the nCoV-caused disease prevention and control in Hanoi on February 7. According to Long, with the latest achievement, Vietnam is able to test thousands of samples a day when necessary, noting that it will be a prerequisite for developing a vaccine against the virus in the near future. At present, the country still has enough materials for 2019-nCoV tests, the health official added. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the meeting of the national steering committee for the nCoV-caused disease prevention and control in Hanoi on February 7. (Photo VGP) Assoc. Prof., Dr. Le Thi Quynh Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, also confirmed the good news on the same day, adding that this will enable quicker tests for the virus. Vietnam reported two more 2019-nCoV cases on February 6, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 12, of which seven are from the northern province of Vinh Phuc. Among them, three have completely recovered and were discharged from hospital. The health situation of the remaining cases is also steadily improving. More than 1,000 people returning from China and nearly 500 others who were in close contact with infected patients are being quarantined and monitored and are waiting for test results. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is also considering organising treatment for infection cases at the district level medical facilities. The ministry once again affirmed that Vietnam's health sector is capable of coping with the epidemic. * Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the MoHs Preventive Medicine Department, emphasised that Vietnam is in the golden stage of preventing and controlling nCoV, as the country is implementing an important measure to control epidemics, which involves limiting and isolating people returning to Vietnam from the affected areas. The measure has proved effective as it helped Vietnam become the first country in the world that successful controlled the SARS epidemic in 2003. * In the face of the extremely complicated nCoV situation, more localities have decided to allow students to leave school. On Thursday afternoon, Minister of Education and Training, Phung Xuan Nha, chaired a meeting of his ministrys Steering Committee for nCoV disease prevention and control, in which they proposed local authorities based on the actual situation to extend the leaving period for students for one more week. Spraying disinfectant chemicals in a school to prevent nCoV infection. (Photo: NDO) The ministry has guided localities to implement measures to compensate for the time of students absence due to epidemics, while suggesting schools to disinfect their local facilities. As of February 6, a total of 309 Vietnamese overseas students and family members in China have kept in contact with the Vietnamese Embassy in China. They are living in 20 provinces and cities of China, with 26 in Wuhan, the centre of the nCoV epidemic. Currently, these Vietnamese students are healthy, without any cases of infection or suspected nCoV infection. * Starting from Friday morning (February 7), Hai Phong City welcomes 311 people at risk of nCoV infection in the area to be isolated at an Viet Tiep Friendship Hospitals second base in An Dong Commune, An Duong District. They returned to Hai Phong on February 2 from areas where the nCoV epidemic occurring. The duration of their medical isolation is 14 days from the date of entry into Vietnam. Medical staff preparing to receive suspected cases of nCoV infected patients in a medical isolation area at Viet Tiep Hospital in Hai Phong. (Photo: NDO) * Long An Province are isolating 11 Chinese nationals in Duc Hoa Ha Commune, Duc Hoa District. They are from Wuhan and returned to work in Long An industrial parks after the Lunar New Year holiday. * On Friday afternoon, the Department of Health of Dak Lak Province announced that a notice from the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute showed nCoV negative test results for samples of four isolated cases under surveillance in the province. They have been released from hospital after being confirmed negative for nCoV. Up to now, Dak Lak has not recorded any cases of the nCoV infection. By this afternoon, of the 11 cases of isolation due to suspected nCoV infection in Dak Lak, six were discharged. Currently, Dak Lak has five isolation cases who are waiting for their test results. * On February 7, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union visited and encouraged the medical staff at Cho Ray Hospital, who successfully cured one among the first two nCoV infection cases detected in Vietnam. One day earlier, the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guards sprayed disinfectants at its border-gate agencies and units in to prevent nCoV infection. In addition, it also provided free medical masks for tourists and crew members visiting the city, while establishing a mobile epidemic control team and fully preparing facilities serving the prevention, isolation and treatment of nCoV suspected cases. The same day, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade also proposed a solution to consume dragon fruits for Long An Provinces farmers who are affected by the nCoV spread in China. Accordingly, the unit will encourage distribution systems in the city to increase purchasing fresh and processed dragon fruit from Long An. * From February 4, the authorities in Lao Cai Province received Vietnamese citizens returning home from China. As of February 6, 165 Vietnamese received health isolation at Lao Cai Military School, located 19 km from Lao Cai City, following a procedure from the MoH to prevent dangerous epidemic diseases from spreading throughout the community. Processing food to serve people in medical isolated areas in Lao Cai. (Photo: NDO) * Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to restore export and import activities at border gates with China but quarantine rules must be rigorously obeyed, according to an announcement of the Government Office. The announcement, which informed the PMs conclusions at the meeting of the Governments standing board earlier this week, also said the PM agreed to license charter flights carrying Chinese citizens in Vietnam back home with the return flights required to be without any passengers onboard. Cross-border cargo railway services and cargo flights from/to China were also permitted but they must strictly follow firm rules on preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, called nCoV, which is ravaging the region. The announcement also notes that the Ministry of Health was asked to envision different scenarios for countering the virus and be well-prepared for any medical emergency. * On February 7, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society organised a ceremony to launch its communications campaign on nCoV prevention. At the launch, the society offered 10,000 free medical masks, 1,000 bottles of antiseptic hand sanitiser and 10,000 leaflets providing information on measures to prevent and control diseases for locals across Hanoi. The association also organised demonstrations on how to use medical masks and how to wash hands with proper disinfectant soap. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Sunday to participate in Guru Ravidas birth anniversary celebrations. According to Congress leaders, Priyanka Gandhi, who is also in-charge of the eastern Uttar Pradesh, will be on a day-long visit to Varanasi. During her visit to the temple town, she will participate in Guru Ravidas birth anniversary celebrations at Sri Guru Ravidas Janamsthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur. This is Priyanka's second visit to the temple town this year. She had visited Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus on January 10 to interact with the students and civil society members, who were arrested and jailed for two weeks for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). During her last visit, she had met the family members of Sagir, a nine-year-old boy who died in a stampede triggered by a police lathi-charge during the anti-CAA protests. Over 60 more persons who were protesting against the CAA and the NRC were arrested on December 19. The opposition's crushing defeat in Peru's legislative elections has left a fragmented Congress without a dominant party -- but with a surprising newcomer threatening to become a serious player. Keiko Fujimori's Popular Force lost dozens of seats Sunday in the Congress it had dominated since 2016, shrinking from 73 out of 130 seats to an expected 16. The Christian evangelical fundamentalist party Frepap is expected to have a larger representation as the fourth largest group with a projected 12 seats. "Frepap's success is in part due to a transfer of votes from the collapse of Fujimorism," analyst Luis Benavente, director of the Vox Populi consultancy, told AFP. The vote share for Frepap, whose leaders wear long beards and flowing tunics in the style of Jesus, "is part of Peru's significant protest vote," political analyst Carlos Melendez said on Twitter. Popular Force looks to have paid for its leader's implication in the sprawling Odebrecht corruption scandal. Fujimori is accused of accepting $1.2 million in illicit party funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht for her unsuccessful 2011 presidential election campaign. Odebrecht has admitted to paying at least $29 million to Peruvian officials since 2004, and bribing four former Peruvian presidents. Voters queue at a polling station during legislative elections in Lima, on January 26, 2020 / AFP/File The scandal destroyed the popularity of the 44-year-old daughter of jailed former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000). She spent 13 months in pre-trial detention before being released in November, and on Tuesday faces a judge's decision on whether to send her back to jail. "It's the collapse of Fujimorism, it's a very deep fall, a very hard blow," Benavente said of the election result. - 'Political minorities' - The big winner was center-right President Martin Vizcarra, who dissolved parliament in September and called snap legislative elections in a bid to end a political crisis between the executive and Congress. Keiko Fujimori / AFP His attempts to push through anti-corruption reforms had been repeatedly blocked by Popular Force. Vizcarra said he wants to establish with the new Congress "a responsible, mature relationship that seeks a consensus that benefits Peru." Vizcarra doesn't have a party but with centrist parties in the ascendency, the president will "achieve a more bearable relationship" with Congress than he had done with Fujimori, said political analyst Augusto Alvarez. The new Congress will sit for only 16 months as a general election is already scheduled for April 2021. With 60 percent of Sunday's votes counted, hardly any party has managed more than 10 percent. The center-right Popular Action party is expected to come out on top, with 24 seats. Another center-right party, Alliance for Progress, is next on 18 seats, with the nationalist Union for Peru on 17. The opposition accused Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra, pictured casting his vote on January 26, 2020, of a accused him of a "coup d'etat" / Peruvian Presidency/AFP/File The largest left-wing party, the Broad Front, is expected to come in joint fifth with the right-wing Popular Force on 12 seats. It has been an even worse election for Popular Force's main ally, the social-democratic APRA of former president Alan Garcia, who died by suicide in April as police arrived at his home to arrest him in a corruption case related to the Odebrecht scandal. APRA, Peru's oldest political party, is expected to lose all of its seats. "This election... shows that we're a country of political minorities, practically microscopic" ones, Melendez told AFP. - Huge support for Vizcarra - There were more than 2,300 candidates representing 21 parties in Sunday's election -- the first time legislative polls have been held separately from presidential voting. It came about after Vizcarra dissolved Congress on September 30, a move that was popular among Peru's 25 million population. The opposition accused him of a "coup d'etat" and swore in Vice President Mercedes Araoz as "acting president" but she resigned the following day. The opposition took its case to the constitutional court, which ruled in Vizcarra's favor. Demonstrators took to the streets to support Vizcarra and his anti-corruption push. Polls showed 90 percent support for the president's daring move. Voting percentage improved slightly to over 41 per cent by 3 pm as Delhiites queued up to cast their votes for the Assembly election on Saturday, poll officials said. The turnout was low considering that only three hours of voting hours were left, they said. The polling was smooth and police maintained a strict vigil in sensitive areas. Delhi Police personnel, along with paramilitary force, conducted flag marches in sensitive areas of northeast Delhi, Shahdara and east Delhi. Over 1.47 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that will decide the fate of 672 candidates in 70 assembly constituencies which are seeing a triangular contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), opposition BJP and the Congress. Poll officials said 41.5 per cent votes were cast till 3 pm. The city recorded 14.75 per cent voter turnout in the first three hours of polling which began at 8 am. Polling is scheduled to end at 6 pm. In the 2015 assembly elections, the national capital had recorded a voter turnout of 67.08 per cent. Of the 11 districts, northeast recorded highest 50.75 per cent of voting, while New Delhi recorded 40.63 per cent, the lowest. There were long queues outside some polling booths in areas dominated by minorities such as Jaffrabad, Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur and Jamia Nagar. Asked why was the voting percentage low in the morning, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said it usually picks up as the day progresses. There were some complaints related to VVPAT slips. Congress's New Delhi candidate Romesh Sabharwal said VVAPT slips did not show his name and photo. "I gave a written complaint to poll authorities after which the machine was replaced," Sabharwal said, adding that polling was halted for sometime. "Senior officers, along with forces, have been conducting flag marches in sensitive areas. Motorcycle patrolling are also being done. Besides, PCR and Quick Response Teams have also been deployed in sensitive areas," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar. President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their franchise. Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their votes. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal voted at the Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents blessings. Former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior RSS functionary Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - as you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who led a very aggressive campaign and covered 60 assembly seats, appealed to voters to "free" the national capital from lies and vote-bank "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions. "I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics," Shah tweeted. BJP president J P Nadda also appealed to all the voters to vote in large numbers. "Each vote of you is important for the unity and integrity of the country and holistic development of Delhi. Your vote only will be script the golden future of Delhi. 'Pehle Matdan, Phir Jalpan'. Jai Hind," Nadda tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan and Kejriwal's son Pulkit were among first-time voters. Pulkit said he felt good after voting for the first time. He said whoever people choose will become the chief minister of Delhi when asked if his father will be the CM again. Talking to reporters, Rehan said the public transport should be more affordable for students. Taking a swipe at those protesting against CAA-NRC, senior RSS functionary Ram Lal said those shouting "kagaz nahin dikhayenge" would be defeated in the Delhi assembly election as he appealed to people to show documents while voting. He asked voters to keep in mind who can make Delhi the best capital city in the world. Hundreds of people, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in many areas across the country, often raise the slogan of "kagaz nahi dikhayenge" (we will not show show documents. "My message to the voters is 'aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen' (Today, take your document along with you and show your document)," Lal said. Responding to AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that no one in the BJP was worthy of becoming the CM, senior BJP leader Shyam Jaju, "We have no dearth of chief ministerial candidates. We will declare our CM face at the right time." AAP candidate from Chandni Chowk Prahalad Sahni said that vote is being cast on the development plank, asserting that the Shaheen Bagh issue has no impact in the Delhi assembly elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man jailed for raping two teenage boys in a "republican safe house", and whose abuse allegedly led to an IRA-convened "kangaroo court", is still seeking an extension of time in which to bring an appeal against his conviction. Seamus Marley was said to have used his standing in the republican movement, a movement "well capable of clandestine killings", to silence his victims, according to the Central Criminal Court judge who jailed him. The 45-year-old, with an address at Belfield Court, Stillorgan Road, in Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting and anally raping the two boys in Co. Louth on dates in the early 1990s. He was unanimously found guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape by a Central Criminal Court jury, following a six-day trial, and was given concurrent seven year and six year sentences by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on May 2, 2019. The alleged IRA man has filed for an appeal against his conviction outside of the required 28-day period in which to lodge an appeal. His lawyers are seeking an extension of time in which to bring an appeal so the case can go to full hearing. However, before his application to extend time was heard in the Court of Appeal last week, Marley's lawyers sought an adjournment. Counsel for Marley, Michael Bowman SC, said his client had recently changed solicitor and an issue had arisen which couldn't be addressed "at this juncture". Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, put the case back two weeks when a new date for hearing is expected to be fixed. Marley was not in court for the adjournment application. Prosecuting counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, told the Central Criminal Court jury that Marley's victims lived in a large home owned by a "dedicated republican" and that it began to be used as a "safe house". The jury heard that IRA volunteers would be brought to the house during the night and stay for a few days or weeks. Marley was one of these guests in the early 1990s and he was welcomed into the family, according to Detective Garda Seamus Nolan. In his victim impact statement, the younger survivor said they had "quiet neighbours, dead ones" because their house was beside a graveyard. It was "not the dead we should be afraid of, but the living," he added. He said Marley "preyed on me, groomed me, abused me and raped me". He said the life he had dreamed of was in "tatters" from the moment Marley entered the house. He said he ended up in hospital and called Councillor Pearse McGeough of Sinn Fein to ask for help, but that after the call he knew he was on his own. He said it had taken longer to reach this point than it should have as "people with power sought to protect their own interests". The older victim said he had spent the previous 27 years living in despair and looking over his shoulder. He said he had finally reached the end of the tunnel and that his life now revolved around his wife and children. Gardai agreed with John Fitzgerald SC, defending, that they had no intelligence that the accused was involved in any paramilitary organisation until the complainants came forward with their allegations and that the accused had never been arrested for any "alleged subversive activities". Hundreds of people braved a Colorado snowstorm and icy roads to attend the funeral of a U.S. Air Force veteran they never met when it was revealed he had no mourners. Staff Sgt. Clyde Baldwin, 91, had no family members or friends to attend his funeral on Friday, the Cheyenne Mountain VFW Post 3917 explained. Baldwin, who served in the military from 1950 to 1970, was never never married, had no children and his only living relative - a 93-year-old sister in Oklahoma - was not able to make this trip. 'We have an unaccompanied Veteran with no known family members that is being laid to rest at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Friday morning,' VFW's Facebook post read. 'Please help get the word out for a good showing.' Hundreds of people arrived to Baldwin's funeral in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after it was revealed he had not family or friends to attend Several people decided to attend Baldwin's funeral when Cheyenne Mountain VFW Post 3917 posted about the situation on Facebook Justin Clark, founder of Veterans Referring Veterans, also begged people to attend the funeral to 'show as much support as possible' in a Facebook video. Despite attendance expectations being low, VFW's post sparked a tremendous turnout as several social media users vowed to see Baldwin off. Photos from the service show hundreds of people arriving with American flags, balloons, bagpipes and dressed in military uniform all to salute a soldier they never knew. Attendee Robert Aholt told KRDO: 'I'd like to call him a brother. Even though I, myself, have not served in the military, I still feel like he's part of our family.' Attendees stood outside during a snowstorm with American flags, balloons and wearing military uniforms in honor of Baldwin Baldwin, who served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars, was living with The Brigade Assistance before he passed Don Rohacek admitted he didn't know Baldwin, but is 'eternally grateful' for the veteran. 'I never met the man we just buried. None of us did. I do not know if he was white or black, a man of faith or not, a husband or father or brother. I do not know if he experienced the pain of losing his family or lived a life of solitude,' he wrote on Facebook. 'It turns out Staff Sgt. Clyde Baldwin had one last thing to do for us before he left. He brought together men and women, young and old, rich and poor, to show us in this day of division that compassion and love for complete strangers still exists.' 'He managed to bring hundreds of us together, outside in the middle of a snowstorm in the dead of winter in Colorado, to prove to us that the best of us is still here.' Don Rohacek: 'He brought together men and women, young and old, rich and poor, to show us in this day of division that compassion and love for complete strangers still exists' Baldwin served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and is survived by his 93-year-old sister who lives in Oklahoma Two men attending the funeral service salute Baldwin before he was buried at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Friday 'We lose vets every day who think no one cares. We came to say we do. You are not forgotten.' Nici Heisler said she cared for Baldwin at The Brigade Assisted Living and was one of several people who attended the funeral. She said: 'There were hundreds upon hundreds of cars full of people that literally flowed out of the cemetery and miles down the road.' 'Our team at The Bridge Assisted Living was blessed to care for this humble, kind man over the last 3 years. Our hearts were all so deeply touched & thankful to be a part of this today.' During his time in the Air Force, Baldwin served in the Vietnam War and the Korean War. He was originally from Kansas. According to Razumkov, the Minsk agreements did not specify the law for holding elections, but only indicated they should be held under Ukrainian law. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov has said there are all legislative acts in accordance with the Minsk agreements to hold elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Read alsoLeading faction chief names conditions for holding elections in Donbas According to him, the Minsk agreements did not specify the law for holding elections, but only indicated they should be held under Ukrainian law. "The elections should be held according to Ukrainian law. In fact, the law on elections has been passed, and it allows holding elections in the temporarily occupied territories. I don't think that we need a separate law," Razumkov told NewsOne TV channel, according to the Novoe Vremya online publication. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's aide Andriy Yermak said Ukraine would come to the next meeting of the Normandy Four with a package of agreements that will allow local elections to be held in October throughout the country, including the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Kangana Ranauts sister Rangoli Chandel has compared the actor to Hollywood legend Marlon Brando. Sharing an article about Brandos boycott of the Oscars in 1973 in protest of Hollywoods treatment of Native Americans, she said that the similarities between him and Kangana were too obvious to ignore. I cant pretend not to see many similarities here, Kangana has always been upset about disrespected portrayal of Hindus ( Native Indians) like great talent Brando, Kangana too gained huge respect nation wide, Rangoli wrote. In another tweet, she added, she too used her popularity to ask imp questions, she too refused honours given to her by film awards, Wow!! Getting goosebumps. Brando, who had won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1973 for his portrayal of Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather, did not attend the ceremony. Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather attended on his behalf and told the audience that Brando very regretfully cannot accept this generous award because of the depiction of Native Americans in films and television series. Later, on The Dick Cavett Show, Brando had reiterated that he would not have done anything differently. Since the American Indian hasnt been able to have his voice heard anywhere in the history of the United States, I thought it was a marvelous opportunity to voice his opinion to 85 million people. I felt that he had a right to, in view of what Hollywood has done to him, he had said. Kangana has made her dislike for awards functions clear on several occasions in the past. There is a lot of manipulation in our award shows. Like they will tell you in advance that you will get this award, but will ask to perform for them. I try to stay away from all this, she was earlier quoted by IANS as saying. The three-time National Award-winning actor has also expressed pride in her religion. I am a very proud Hindu. The foundation of my personality is laid on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda or Sanatan Dharm or the Gita, she earlier told India Today Television. She has also built a temple in Himachal Pradesh, where she hails from. Follow @htshowbiz for more In simpler times, back when television was young, a man named Art Linkletter hosted a program called People Are Funny. On it, stunts were pulled that tickled the quaint funny bones of the 60s and, at worst, led to some mild embarrassment for participants. You might say that People Are Funny begat Americas Funniest Home Videos which in turn begat Here, Hold My Beer and Watch This! That latest iteration of self-abasement for yuks being a Twitter feed that delivers endless videos of people mostly men, mostly young doing breathtakingly stupid, self-destructive things. It would be possible to dismiss Hold My Beer as an aberration in the conduct of human affairs if it wasnt so regularly duplicated in the daily news. The latest entrant in the What-was-he-thinking? sweepstakes is James Potok, a 28-year-old from Vaughan who caused a flight bound for Montego Bay to turn back to Toronto after he announced falsely that he was just back from China and hinted that he had coronavirus. It certainly wasnt a smart thing to do, he allowed later. So, why do people of apparently normal intelligence do such moronic things? Well, theres a reason the phrase it seemed like a good idea at the time is a staple of the language. Mere intelligence, it turns out, does not make people rational. Its possible to be intelligent without being rational, and rational without being particularly intelligent. Theres even a name for the mismatch: dysrationalia. Thinking rationally demands critical thinking, a skill many of us dont have, or dont use. In short, critical thinking relies on logic, facts and evidence to guide opinions and behaviours. Skills which Potok if he had them must have powered down for the flight. If it helps, Potok should know that a book was published last year called The Intelligence Trap chronicling dumb decisions though not quite that dumb by the likes of Socrates, Charles Darwin and Steve Jobs. It turns out that among what psychologists call the Big Five personality traits is one known as openness. This can suggest a penchant for adventure. Sort of a spirit of YOLO. It can, alas, cause us to engage in risky and dangerous behaviour we might rue the rest of our days. We are, moreover, mobile collections of biases, usually tilted in our own favour. No one will mind. Actually, were famous for not understanding things like probability and statistics. We buy lottery tickets even while believing the snow chunks that blow off our car roof will never hit anyone. Luckily, most of our impulsive, self-destructive acts are no worse than sending an injudicious email to the boss. But there is a bull market of late in idiocies of a certain type, those fueled by a formula that goes like this: Intoxicating spirits + undeveloped prefrontal cortex + YouTube/Selfie = Disaster. Consider the young woman who, after a night of drinking in 2017, walked past a Toronto construction site at 3 a.m. and was inspired to hop the fence and climb a 100-metre crane. She reached the top, snapped a few selfies, then slipped and became snagged in the crane hook 45 metres above the ground until morning broke and help was summoned. She became known as Crane Girl, not to be confused with Chair Girl. That would be the young woman who tossed a chair off a high-rise balcony, blithely unconcerned for who or what might be below. Happily, this kind of thing doesnt happen every day. But it does happen often enough for the Stars Rosie DiManno to file an annual column on another year of living stupidly in Toronto. Were sure Mr. Potok has her thanks. A man and a woman from Lithuania have been jailed for murder after the fatal stabbing of the woman's ex-husband in east London. Giedrius Juskauskas, 42, was stabbed to death in a Newham alleyway last June, Scotland Yard said in a statement. His ex-wife Asta Juskauskiene, 35, of Crayford, was sentenced to 24 years for murder, and two years for perverting the court of justice, to run concurrently, when she appeared in the Old Bailey on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said. Her partner Mantas Kvedaras, 25, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Giedrius Juskauskas, the ex-husband of Asta Juskauskiene, who was stabbed to death in Newham / PA The court heard police were called to Whalebone Lane, Newham, on June 17 where they found Mr Juskauskas lying on the ground and bleeding from the neck. He died at the scene, with a post-mortem examination showing at least 35 stab wounds to his body, chest and neck. Mr Juskauskas had been living in London for some 10 years. Police told the court he had been continuing a physical relationship with Juskauskiene, despite the couple having divorced in December 2018. Police said the attacker was later identified as Kvedaras, who had come to the UK five days before the murder to stay with Juskauskiene, after they had begun a relationship on social media while he was in prison for the sexual assault of a teenager. The couple were arrested two days after the attack and charged with murder the following day. Kvedaras pleaded guilty to Mr Juskauskas's murder at the Old Bailey on Thursday October 17. Guard and Grace. | Photo: Naresh S./Yelp Wondering where to indulge at the finest steakhouses near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the most exceptional high-end steakhouses in Denver, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best places to celebrate your next special occasion. 1. Guard and Grace Photo: Pete Z./Yelp Topping the list is Guard and Grace. Located at 1801 California St. in downtown Denver's Central Business District, the bistro and wine bar, which is known for its steaks, seafood and more, is the most popular upscale steakhouse in Denver, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,053 reviews on Yelp. Yelper Aveeda G., who reviewed Guard and Grace on Feb. 3, wrote, "The angus ribeye steak, which came out a perfect medium probably the most perfect medium I've had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant. ... Definitely not cheap, but so totally worth it for a birthday or celebration meal." And Claire B. noted, "Guard and Grace is not your traditional steakhouse. It's hip, trendy and not at all stiff. Do make a reservation though, because this place gets busy!" 2. Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse Photo: Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse/Yelp This outpost of the national chain Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, a Brazilian restaurant in LoDo, is another pricey go-to, with four stars out of 760 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1513 Wynkoop St. to experience it for yourself. "Fogo de Chao is a leading Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria, which has specialized in fire-roasting high-quality meats since 1979, utilizing the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique of churrasco," the business states on Yelp in the section explaining specialties. Regarding signature items, "Fogo offers guests a wide variety of simply seasoned meats that are carefully fire-roasted to expose their natural flavors, including the house specialty picanha sirloin, filet mignon, ribeye and lamb chops, to name a few." 3. Old Major Photo: Crystal H./Yelp Over in Highland, check out Old Major, which has earned four stars out of 685 reviews on Yelp. Treat yourself at the wine bar and New American steakhouse by heading over to 3316 Tejon St. Story continues As written in the history section of the business' Yelp profile, "Old Major was conceived with the idea of being a place for the kind of elevated cuisine that isn't found in the Highland neighborhood, but still a place approachable for our neighbors." "Built into an abandoned roller rink with repurposed wood and corrugated steel, the dining room [at Old Major] seats 60 guests with room in the bar for an additional 25. Reservations for dinner are strongly encouraged," its Yelp bio continues. "The bar and beer programs are aggressive and seasonal, while the wine list features selections from around the world and down the street. In-house butchery is featured in the open." 4. Denver ChopHouse & Brewery Photo: Denver ChopHouse & Brewery/Yelp Last but not least, there's the Denver ChopHouse & Brewery, a LoDo favorite with four stars out of 640 reviews. Stop by 1735 19th St., Suite 100, to hit up the ritzy steakhouse and wine bar next time you're in the mood to splurge. "Here at the ChopHouse you'll find a relaxed atmosphere, friendly, professional service and a diverse menu, featuring steaks, chops, seafood and a great tavern menu in the bar," touts the business' Yelp profile. "Handcrafted ales brewed on-site, small batch bourbons and an extensive wine list are all reasons to visit us today." This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. 180 Pure Products We invest in our products and customer experience because we know that our consumers invest in us The first dedicated CBD store in Illinois is relaunching as 180 Pure with a large amount of fanfare and national recognition. While this exciting rebrand will bring together a brick and mortar location with the hugely successful eCommerce store, the focus will be on continuing to deliver the same supreme quality products they have been known for. The product line will continue with an array of affordable THC-free CBD products including tinctures, soft gels, gummies, along with the critically acclaimed salves that the brand has built a solid consumer reputation nationally with. The official launch of 180 Pure takes place during a special Celebration Weekend on Friday, February 7 Sunday, February 9 at 20530 N. Rand Rd Ste 340, Deer Park, IL 60010. As a special offering for the surrounding community, the store will offer 40% off 180 Pure products throughout the weekend, along with daily giveaways and other wonderful surprises and in-store activities. On Celebration Sunday, February 9, the store will offer a special gift with purchase. When we first opened, the general consumer was not familiar with CBD and we saw an immediate opportunity to educate consumers on its benefit. says Sandra McFarland, owner of 180 Pure. Today with CBD becoming a part of mainstream culture and more open dialogue happening, I find that a large segment still doesnt understand what it really is or how it works. And they certainly don't understand how the vast number of CBD products out there are different. The 180 Pure values and mission remain the same. 180 Pure is founded on the principle that consumer education and understanding is critical to success. We are obsessed with quality in every regard, explains McFarland. Whether it is with the formulations and ingredients, the manufacturing, the transparency by which we do business, or just the service we provide, our goal is a well-informed consumer that walks away with a solution that betters their quality of life. We invest in our products and customer experience because we know that our consumers invest in us. McFarland, an Illinois native, believes in being present with her customers and values the benefit that being proactive in her local community has garnered the brand. The brand loyalty and surge in sales has been an added benefit. Living up to its core mission of prioritizing consumer education and comfort levels, 180 Pure is hosting a free CBD seminar featuring local licensed pharmacist, Sean Gale on Sunday, February 9th at 2:00pm. As part of the seminar, Gale will include a Q&A session to answer any individual questions visitors have about CBD and its benefits. The biggest obstacle for todays consumer in the CBD world is finding a product you can trust, says Gale. With thousands of wanna-be imposters flooding the market, its easy to be overwhelmed with the choices. I always recommend my patients check out 180 Pure. ABOUT 180 Pure: 180 Pure is a woman-owned business, operates both an eCommerce store and a brick and mortar location located at 20530 N. Rand Rd Ste 340, Deer Park, IL 60010 that is staffed with a well-trained compassionate team of CBD experts focused on helping customers cut through the confusion surrounding CBD products currently available in the marketplace, and find what best meets their individual needs. All 180 Pure products are THC-Free, Broad Spectrum, non-GMO and made from organically grown hemp on American farms. The 180 Pure brand is founded on the core value that natural, 100% organically grown hemp from American farms has the power to promote wellness and bring balance to your life. To learn more about 180 Pure, visit:180Pure.com or contact the store at (847)481-6030 Media and Press Inquiries should be directed to the brands global marketing partner, TLK Fusion, Inc to the attention of Tim McCouch at tim@tlkfusion.com or (818) 208-4582 Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will offer prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala on Tuesday, a temple official said. An ardent devotee of the ancient hill temple, Rajapaksa, who is now on a four-day state visit to India on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since yesterday, would arrive at Renigunta airport near here on Monday night, the temple official told PTI A 19-member Sri Lankan delegation including two ministers A Thondaman and KN Devananda, would also accompany the PM of neighbouring island nation during his spiritual visit here. After offering his obeisance to Lord Venkateswara here, Rajapaksa would immediately emplane for Colombo, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A view of the house where five British nationals including a child, who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus after staying in the same ski chalet with a person who had been in Singapore, were staying at the French Alpine resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, France on Feb. 8, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters) 5 British Nationals Contract Coronavirus in France Five British nationals including one child tested positive for the new coronavirus after staying at a ski chalet in France, health officials said on Saturday. The five people were staying in the same accommodation as a British man who was in Singapore from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. That man became infected with the coronavirus. After arriving in France on Jan. 24, the man stayed in the chalet in Contamines-Montjoie in eastern France, according to Agnes Buzyn, Frances health minister. Those positive cases and the contacts this British national had with others11 British people in totalwere all staying in the same chalet and were hospitalized during the night in four hospitals, the university hospitals of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, and Grenoble, Buzyn said at a press conference. They are not in a serious clinical condition. French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn (L) leaves a meeting about the situation of the new coronavirus at the Hotel Matignon in Paris on Feb. 8, 2020. (Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images) The total number of people infected with the virus in France has now reached 11. The six others include one man in a serious condition; the others have shown signs of improvement in recent days, according to medical officials. Regional health official Jean-Yves Grall told a televised news conference later Saturday that two schools near the ski resort were being closed. He said that the 11 who were hospitalized include three children, including a 9-year-old who recently spent time in a school in Contaminesa mountain village of which he was also a residentas well as in another establishment where he attended French lessons. Singapore Conference The French government has been in touch with Singapore and the United Kingdom, and Singaporean authorities are looking into a business congress that took place in a hotel there, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. Ninety-four foreigners attended the business conference, authorities said, including Chinese nationals. The British man now known to be at the origin of the latest French outbreak had traveled to that meeting, according to health officials in Singapore, which recently raised its coronavirus alert to SARS level. Multiple other cases have been linked to the meeting, including a 41-year-old Malaysian man and two South Koreans. A person wearing a mask walks into a residence at a quarantined vacation center in Carry-le-Rouet, southern France, which is currently accommodating French citizens repatriated from the virus-hit city of Wuhan, on Feb. 5, 2020. (Daniel Cole/AP Photo) Based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, the UKs chief medical officers advised Thursday that anyone returning from Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau, as well as mainland China, should immediately stay inside and avoid contact with people and contact the National Health Service if they have symptoms of a cough, a fever, or experience shortness of breath. People should do so even if symptoms are mild, the officers said. These areas have been identified because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and number of reported cases. This list will be kept under review, the UK government said in a statement. There are three confirmed cases in the UK. The infections in France came as two foreigners, a Japanese national and an American, died in Wuhan from the new virus. The Japanese man was in his 60s, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, while the American was 60. The new virus started in Wuhan, a city of some 11 million in China, and the vast majority of cases have been in the country. A growing number of cases have been confirmed outside of China, with patients testing positive in more than two dozen countries. Reuters contributed to this report. A rocket has been launched from Gaza towards Israel's Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, according to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Trend reports citing Sputnik. The IDF has confirmed that an air raid siren was activated. The IDF says that it was holding Hamas responsible for any attack coming from the Gaza Strip. The air raid comes after the Israeli air force hit facilities of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip after rocket fire and the launch of several explosive balloons from the Palestinian enclave on 6 February. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop wants the Board of Education to use its underutilized assets to fund the renovation of the shuttered A. Harry Moore building, and suggested selling the (School 3) Frank Conwell School building. In a letter addressed to BOE President Lorenzo Richardson that was made public, Fulop was critical of the Jersey City Board of Education for its inaction on plans to repair the school attended by 76 multiply disabled students who range in age from 3 to 21. The students have attended classes in trailer-like facilities at the Gerard J. Dynes Regional Day School on Johnston Avenue since September, when there was a partial collapse of the front entrance roof at the A. Harry Moore School. As I have repeatedly asked both parties over the last few months, and I will ask you yet again: What is your plan as the first steps need to be taken by the BOE, Fulop asked Friday in his letter. They certainly do not deserve to be pushed around to crammed temporary facilities or long-term trailers, as currently proposed by the BOE. Would you find this acceptable for your children? The letter was released in response to news that New Jersey City University, which provides instruction at the school, could lay off as many as 20 AHM staff members because of declining number at the school. Under a 50-year-old arrangement, the Jersey City BOE is responsible for the facility attended by students from Jersey City and other communities. Fulop suggested that the BOE partner with the citys redevelopment authority to sell the School 3 building on Bright Street that houses the districts Renaissance program, an alternative high school. The money could then pay for the renovations at A. Harry Moore. There is no reason that a building like the old (School 3) should be sitting virtually empty when the demand is so high for seats and the need for renovation at A. Harry Moore exists, Fulop said. It is time that the Board of Education takes action. Richardson and NJCU spokeswoman Sherrie Madia could not be reached for comment. NJCU President Sue Henderson blindsided A. Harry Moore parents, Richardson and Fulop with an announcement of staff layoffs at the school Wednesday. In an email to the NJCU community, she blamed a lack of student enrollment for the eliminated position, which Fulop Thursday called a hollow excuse. Former BOE President Sudhan Thomas, who is facing state and federal charges, gave the A. Harry Moore parents several options for the schools future home, including the complete rehabilitation of the building, which could cost up to $25 million. Thomas also told parents and teachers in October the district could use School 3, School 9 and Middle School 40. In October, Madia said the district and the Jersey City school board were exploring alternate locations to see if another facility might be retrofitted to meet the needs of the students. Nicole Gohde, an A. Harry Moore parent and PTSA member, said Fulop discussed the idea before, after a PTSA meeting held at city hall a week ago. Gohde said the mayor wants to see what is best for their kids and they appreciate his support. We are not on board with displacing 50 to 70 other children in order for us to have a new facility, Gohde said. Taking away their home and their school is not going to help anybody. It is just going to cause more problems. She said the only options theyve heard so far are to keep moving people around. We cant keep uprooting peoples lives, especially childrens lives who are working to provide some kind of structure and theyre trying to help them, Gohde said. They need the stability of knowing where they are and where they are going to be everyday. To uproot them and just shove them somewhere new is just going to disrupt their lives completely. We cant do that. Only a dozen foreign-language films have even been nominated and the most recent, Mexico's masterful Roma, was beaten by the Hollywood crowd-pleaser Green Book last year. While Parasite has been acclaimed since claiming the Palme d'Or at Cannes, it was the surprise win for best ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards when most of the voters would not even have known the actors' names that showed how much Hollywood has embraced it. Searching for free Wi-Fi: Park So-dam and Choi Woo-shik in Parasite. Credit:Madman Given actors are the largest single group of the almost 8500 academy members reportedly 16 per cent it could easily win best picture. On the Hardhead Index, it is hard to fault: it's a creatively brilliant and savage commentary on inequality that stays gripping as it switches from dark comedy to thriller. But it's in a foreign language. While Mendes is favourite to win best director after the Directors Guild Awards 90 per cent of winners there have won the same category at the Oscars Bong deserves the award. Parasite's best picture chances might depend on Have Oscar voters overcome their distaste for Netflix? A key factor in Roma's loss to Green Book last year was Hollywood anger about Netflix's disruptive strategy of limited cinema seasons just before a streaming release. Netflix has two really strong films up for best picture this year in epic mob drama The Irishman and divorce drama Marriage Story. But even with another year of streaming services, these two films have not been getting the rewards they deserve during the awards season. Laura Dern, left, and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story. Credit:Netflix via AP While the sprawling length of The Irishman counts against it, Marriage Story is as deserving as Parasite for its creative excellence especially the writing, direction, casting and acting for what it says about relationships and the raw emotional impact. Can any other best picture nominee spring a surprise? Given the preferential voting for best picture, it's possible a much-admired film could win even if it's not the most popular first choice. Jojo Rabbit is a brilliantly warm-hearted and witty film with a contemporary resonance given the rise of neo-Nazis, but writer-director Taika Waititi's idiosyncratic humour seems to be lost on some American critics and, you suspect, Oscar voters. Taika Waititi, left, and Roman Griffin Davis in Jojo Rabbit. Credit:Twentieth Century Fox Joker is up there with Parasite and Marriage Story on the Hardhead Index a raw creative take on a comic book origin story but has been divisive. Little Women has been widely acclaimed as a fresh take on a classic novel, but plays best to fans of the book. The race car drama Ford v Ferrari is lucky to be nominated ahead of the likes of sexual harassment drama Bombshell, religious dramedy The Two Popes, Spanish drama Pain and Glory and French lesbian romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Whether any of these nominees can surprise might depend on Is this Quentin Tarantino's year to finally claim best picture or director? When the Oscar nominations were announced, Once Upon A Time ... In Hollywood was immediately favourite to win best picture. And that made sense: made by one of Hollywood's favourite directors, it taps into nostalgia for a golden past for Hollywood, stars Hollywood royalty and centres on that favourite location for best picture winners Hollywood. Brad Pitt, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood. Tarantino has had three films up for best picture without winning Pulp Fiction (1994), Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012). While winning two screenplay Oscars, he has also lost when nominated as best director for Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds. As1917 and Parasite have picked up momentum during the awards season, Once Upon A Time has drifted away from Oscars favouritism. While hugely entertaining, the Hardhead Index suggests it runs too long at 161 minutes, lacks the pace and wit of Pulp Fiction and the climax is unnecessarily violent. None of these drawbacks might matter, of course. Anyone who has followed The Hollywood Reporter's demonstration in recent years that some academy members are shallow, egotistical philistines, its series on "brutally honest" Oscar voters, will recognise votes are cast for all sorts of reasons, including a sense that someone is due a win. If it's about sheer cinematic excellence, best picture should go to Parasite or Marriage Story. Can Margot Robbie win? With nominations for I, Tonya and now Bombshell in three years, Robbie has proven to be the real deal. But there are five virtual certainties at the Oscars this year and she is up against one of them Laura Dern for Marriage Story. Margot Robbie, left, and Kate McKinnon in Bombshell. Credit:Lionsgate via AP Taking into account the eye-catching quality of the work and success over awards season, it's hard to see anyone beating Dern for best supporting actress, Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) over the excellent Adam Driver (Marriage Story) for best actor, Brad Pitt (Once Upon A Time) for best supporting actor, Roger Deakins (1917) for best cinematography and Parasite for best international feature film. Renee Zellweger (Judy) is close to a certainty for best actress, though the film is disappointing and Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) is just as deserving, especially given she is also up for best supporting actress (Jojo Rabbit). With the smarts she has shown as an actor-producer, Robbie's time will come. Loading Can these awards restore the Oscars' credibility? The #OscarsSoWhite controversy in 2015, the fiasco over wrongly announcing La La Land best picture winner in 2017 and Green Book's controversial win over Roma last year have all tarnished the awards' credibility. Despite an aggressive drive to include more academy members from diverse backgrounds, Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) is the only non-white acting nominee this year, with the Parasite cast, Awkwafina (The Farewell) and Lupita Nyong'o (Us) among the deserving contenders overlooked. And despite the cinematic boldness of Celine Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood) and even Australia's Jennifer Kent (The Nightingale), best director is an all-male line-up yet again. Women are finally getting to direct more Hollywood movies - though still hugely under-represented - but it is shameful that only five have been nominated for best director in entire history of the awards - Gerwig (Lady Bird), winner Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation), Jane Campion (The Piano) and Lina Wertmuller (Seven Beauties). Adele Haenel (left) and Noemie Merlant in Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The fact the best picture nomination of the unremarkable Ford v Ferrari was not controversial when there were so many more accomplished (and more diverse) films eligible shows the staleness that has infected the nominations ... and Hollywood's limited perception of the types of films that should be honoured. A historic best picture win for Parasite could signal a change but, even so, the Academy has much more work to do to stay relevant.